310 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 310 “No, how many times have I warned you about the extreme danger of this experiment! Yet you barged in just like that…!” Clayton, who rarely showed anger despite his stern demeanor, yelled furiously at the king. Logan had nothing to say, so he just bowed his head. Meanwhile, the attendants and guards, watching this scene, were trying their best to stifle their laughter. Clayton's once lush brown hair and beard were completely singed, leaving his head, especially the top, bare and red. This unexpected appearance of the kingdom’s only mage, usually so fierce and taciturn, was enough to tickle everyone's funny bone. It was only after his outburst that Clayton became aware of the situation. Every servant he glanced at blushed and lowered their heads, and for the first time, he felt the breeze brush against his now-exposed scalp, reigniting his anger. “This could have been catastrophic! Even if you and I are fine, Victoria could have truly died! Regardless of your status, you must sincerely reflect on this!” "I have no excuse. It won't happen again." The sight of Clayton angrily exposing his bald spot was rather amusing, but Logan couldn't laugh. Even the knight who had escorted him and was standing outside was seriously injured, receiving healing from priests. Without Clayton's desperate protection, Victoria really might have perished. Trying to excuse such a serious incident by claiming he hadn’t anticipated the explosion from a single experiment felt pitiful, even to Logan himself. “Victoria is a genius who will leave a mark on the magic history of not just our kingdom, but the world! We almost lost such brilliance!” Though he thought Clayton might be exaggerating, Logan had no grounds to retort. “What about Ria, how is she?” “She's not badly injured, but she's in shock. The magic circle was disrupted, so I plan to have her rest for a while.” “…It can't be helped. I'll personally visit Ria to apologize.” It wasn't just because of Clayton's angry face or Viktor's sharp gaze from the side. ‘I almost lost a national treasure.’ Logan intended to offer genuine apologies and substantial compensation to the badly injured knight and to Victoria. As Logan continued to display humility, Clayton's fury gradually subsided. However, the sensation of his exposed scalp would undoubtedly leave a lingering grievance. “…I will announce it as my failed experiment to outsiders. But you must accept the delay in your plans because of this. It was just within reach…” “No, that…!” At Clayton’s words, Logan’s head, which had been hanging low, snapped up. “The experimental equipment is entirely destroyed. It will take at least a fortnight just to prepare everything again.” Faced with such an obvious truth, Logan had to lower his head once more. Furthermore. “And the leader of this project is not me, but Ria. So, we can’t proceed until she returns.” “Was her role really that significant?” “Yes, more than Your Majesty can imagine.” Even amidst his apology, Clayton’s words piqued Logan’s curiosity. * * * "I definitely saw it…" The blue-haired girl lying still on the bed reached her hand toward the ceiling. Her hand grasped at the empty air. However, her odd-colored eyes, one red and one blue, weren't focused on her hand but replaying the explosion from the previous day. ‘It wasn’t even proper magic.’ The explosion that occurred as pure mana mixed with prepared reagents in irregular patterns. Although it resulted in a complete disaster different from the intended results of the research, Victoria drew unexpected inspiration from it. She was so entranced by the scene that she forgot to deploy a defensive spell. Because of this, her mentor suffered considerable injuries, and her own magic circle at her heart was shaken. Yet, the impressive sight was etched into her memory as compensation for the damage. ‘A small amount. Mana powerful enough to break through my mentor’s defenses and cause harm wasn’t involved.’ For a lesser ability to momentarily overwhelm a greater one, the total energy would need to be overwhelmingly greater. The sight, defying that obvious logic, was vividly replayed in her mind. ‘As mana mixed with the reagents, it condensed without limit. It was different from ordinary mana force.’ At nineteen, standing on the brink of surpassing the 5th Circle, she saw the path she needed to take within that mysterious scene. ‘It wasn't necessarily the manifestation of multiple attributes that was needed.’ When a mage becomes a sorcerer, most circle mages who initially handle a single attribute gain mastery over another. Her mentor, Clayton, could control numerous combat golems from an incredible distance with the newly acquired wind attribute, in addition to his original earth attribute. This was much higher in ratio compared to aura users, who, upon awakening, usually gain comprehensive power rather than new abilities. While not definitively studied, it could be stated as “all” rather than “most.” And sorcerers explain that dealing with natural laws requires more than one attribute. However, through the research journals left by unknown figures that Clayton possessed, Victoria began exploring other possibilities regarding magic circles. ‘Magic circles maintain their effectiveness regardless of mana attributes. There's no necessity to possess multi-attribute mana to manipulate natural laws.’ Additionally, stories of grand mages recorded in history gave her confidence. Over three hundred years have passed since a Grand Magician officially appeared on the continent. Most of those illustrious figures whose names were etched in history practiced class magic, belonging to branches of the Wizard School with multiple attributes. This fueled the assumption that mastering various attributes through circle magic was the path to becoming a Grand Magician. However, in a very few, rare cases. If you go back not just three hundred years but a thousand, there are legends of mages like the Fiery Wizard who could turn an entire nation into a desert with a gesture, or the Earth Ruler who could artificially create mountain ranges. Of course, as folklore, these tales are naturally exaggerated, but records still exist showing that these legendary mages outshone the common Grand Magicians of the Wizard School who lived at the time. Victoria held a vague notion that perhaps these legendary mages maximized the potential of a single attribute rather than multiple ones as they surpassed their limits. Yesterday's explosion showed her that this idea was more than mere fantasy—it was a viable reality right before her eyes. “It’s definitely possible.” As her voice, filled with conviction, echoed through the room, ochre-colored mana began to move along her fingertips. Though her mentor advised her to rest and refrain from using magic, given her heart's circle was still unstable, she shelved that advice for just this moment. ‘A small amount of mana will suffice for the demonstration, so it’ll be fine.’ Wooong. Responding to her determination, the earth’s mana produced a faint vibration. The mana, guided by her will, started to condense according to the pattern she observed in yesterday's explosion. She was now attempting the enhancement of single-attribute magic that she had contemplated and envisioned. She didn't consider the chance of another explosion, which could seriously endanger her life, as a deterrent at this moment. – Got a good idea? Then you have to try it. This philosophy, held by the benefactor who saved her and her brother’s lives and who also ruled the kingdom, ensured she didn't consciously worry about the troubles her actions could cause for others. Thinking only of the kingdom’s achievements, Victoria followed her inspiration. ‘Just do it!’ And that expectation was promptly answered. Woooong. As she saw the ochre mana darken, turning a deep, rich brown, Victoria felt a surge of exhilaration. ‘Finally!’ She realized her mana was attempting to surpass its limits with a distinctly different feel from her mentor’s mana force. The unsteady mana circles in her heart, like misaligned gears, responded to her revelation by settling back into place. The circles resumed their position, contrasting her mentor’s concerns that she would need weeks of recuperation. Victoria’s face was alight with joy, and as her circle tried to form yet another, a familiar face burst into the room. “Ria!” The door swung open, and he hurried in. “Can you see who’s come…? Huh?” “Wh-what….” Victoria’s face twisted with frustration. The mana that had been transforming with her magic suddenly lost its balance and started to shake unstably again. “Aha…” Viktor, who instinctively knew he’d come at the wrong moment, gave a sheepish smile. “Get out! You idiot!!” Victoria didn’t even realize it was the first time she ever cursed her brother. And from the finger pointed at her brother came— Rumble. Boom! Ochre light burst forth, blowing out a section of the second-floor wall of the mansion. * * * “Is that so? Well, at least it's good you’ve recovered from your injuries.” Logan, who had come to visit Victoria, glanced awkwardly toward the corner. Viktor, missing one gauntlet, knelt with his hands raised in a position of punishment elsewhere. Although it wouldn’t really pain an aura user, he looked sufficiently miserable. Beside him, Clayton, wearing an unnecessarily wide-brimmed hat, was delivering an endless tirade. “Do you realize what you’ve done? You almost witnessed the birth of the youngest magician in history… You’ve ruined history. Ruined it…” ‘Listening to that would make my ears bleed.’ Logan chuckled at the thought and turned back to Victoria. “A magician at your age, it’s impressive, Ria.” “N-No, Your Majesty. Because of my foolish brother, who knows when I’ll get another opportunity…” “Having experienced it, you’ll surely get another chance. Don’t be too impatient.” Contrary to the sulking siblings, Logan’s face was full of smiles. He’d heard countless times from Clayton about Victoria’s rare magical genius. Yet, considering her age and the impending war, he hadn’t expected her to reach transcendence within that time frame. But hadn’t she already dipped her toes in, so to speak? While she probably didn’t realize it due to her emotional turmoil, Logan’s heightened senses detected the half-formed sixth circle around her heart. The research on the grand magic circle, as a preparation against the empire, had cultivated another formidable force, much to his satisfaction. “And perhaps that time will come much sooner than you think. So forgive your brother already.” Victoria’s face, which had started to soften, once again turned crimson as if she’d suddenly remembered something. “I can’t forgive him!” “Huh?” “He hid his aura too, what kind of family is this… Jeez.” Her long-forgotten childish grumbling emerged. It seemed Viktor had shown his aura when the mansion exploded. The once tiny child was now a mature young lady, and seeing this trace of her old self brought a smile to Logan’s face. “It was my order. If you want to be angry, direct it at me.” “But how can I, Your Majesty….” “If you can’t take it out on me, then forgive your brother as well.” “…Yes.” Though her sulky expression remained, resolving the issue with Viktor was his own responsibility. Logan couldn’t help but wear a satisfied smile, as if he had discovered an unexpected gem during what was meant to be a simple visit of apology. And it was just a few days after that pleasant smile had graced his face. — The research on the manifestation and application of the Grand Magic Circle has reached its final stages. Upon hearing Clayton's report, Logan's face broke into a broad, radiant grin once more.