Chapter 630 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

"A complex magic circle... The magic circle's depth increased by four layers, but the amplification is only doubled... Just as I feared. It's too complicated for the amplification gained." "In other words, a little brainpower can yield amplified initiating mana, right?" There was some progress, albeit minor, from my research with Avant-Garde. My issue is the severe lack of initiating mana. No matter how brilliantly I design a magic circle, it’s pointless if there's no mana to operate and control it. I can turn on and off completed magical tools with mana, but casting magic spontaneously is challenging. I can barely manage to use battle-level magic with all my might. Naturally, in this floating fortress filled with monstrous magicians, I'm at the bottom of the barrel. "But the overlapping magic circle is too complicated. Using the magic circle’s mana to power the magic circle itself? It's like trying to pick up a fork with chopsticks and then using that fork to eat." "Oh, I can do that." I had tried it out of boredom. It was surprisingly doable. "...I know you're adept, but it's unrealistic and inefficient. It's your fingers that should be holding the fork, not chopsticks! The responsiveness also drastically decreases!" "What if someone’s fingers are exceptionally short like mine? You can't do what's impossible." What can I do? They say controlling and sensing mana isn't a 'normal' ability. Avant-Garde's frustration grew at my nonchalant response. "Aren't you even a bit frustrated? Despite your intelligence, you might get expelled from this floating fortress because of your lack of mana?" "Everyone who couldn't come to this fortress has their own reasons, I assume. I’m no different." "No! You're different....! Your knowledge alone is at its peak!" It seemed that a wizard's intellect didn’t necessarily correlate with their ability to articulate their feelings. Avant-Garde kept trying to speak but fell silent before forming a sentence. As we walked through the crystal tower, someone approached. Avant-Garde was visibly startled by the person. "Hughes. Have there been any results?" On the 10th floor. A mage in the double-digit floors—Lord Johannes. No longer a mere disciple, he’s a great wizard who chooses to explore on his own rather than receive teachings. One of only five mentors in this crystal tower, he had been here even longer than the Blue Tower Lord, possessing deeper knowledge in certain areas. A pure researcher and magician. The aging wizard regarded me kindly. I bowed my head in greeting. "Lord Johannes. Thanks to your concern, the research is progressing well." "And the results?" “While there were some achievements, to speak honestly, it’s far from enough. It’s a method that tries to make up for lacking abilities with unconventional means.” "Haha, indeed. There's a reason why the proper path is called the proper path." With a gentle smile, Johannes encouraged me. "With your level of intellect, you might find the solution someday. Keep at it." "Thank you." "I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, feel free to speak up." ‘It's a shame, such a waste. Even a genius like that can't fulfill their potential blocked by a wall of talent….’ They say the older you get, the more forgiving you become. But that's not true for wizards. Wizards are those who must immerse themselves in their own world. The older they get, the more eccentric they become, and everyone knows it. Although wizard eccentricity is notorious, this old mage I was dealing with seemed like a person of character to anyone. ‘If he had mana, he might have been an even more difficult magician than Lankart. Good with words and amiable… What a pity. Given his intellect, he could have made a great assistant.’ Of course, that was a compassion shown because I posed no threat as a competitor. I had a deficiency. With extremely little mana, I couldn't directly threaten their positions. It was known to everyone, which was why the crystal tower accepted me kindly. If I were to gain mana? How would they react? At the very least, Lord Johannes would likely regard me with caution, just as he did Lankart. "Hughes, my junior. It's not over yet. There are dozens of mana amplification methods. Surely there’s something among them that will aid you!" Though Avant-Garde was earnestly rooting for me... I couldn’t help but feel disheartened. When the descent is over, I'll have to continue my studies independently below. Can I find a way without the support of the crystal tower? Swallowing my gloom with a forced smile, Avant-Garde anxiously hugged my arm tight. Was this supposed to be comfort? Well, maybe because of the softness of an untrained, gentle body, it actually worked as a consolation. Just then, the elevator doors opened, and the Blue Tower Lord emerged. With long strides, the Blue Tower Lord approached and watched Avant-Garde and me with interest. Though she hesitated briefly, Avant-Garde’s presence wasn’t reason enough to stop her. The Blue Tower Lord approached and lightly tapped Avant-Garde on the shoulder. "Hello, Avant-Garde. Sorry to interrupt your good time, but could I borrow him for a moment?" "Y-Yes? Lady Elisha?!" "Spending time with my student must be hard. I've just had an idea, so I came to take him back." The revered master of the crystal tower, guardian of the historical and knowledgeable crystal scholasticism. Upon the Blue Tower Lord’s request, Avant-Garde flusteredly released my arm. Despite casting lingering glances of reluctance my way, there wasn’t much I could do at the moment. "See you later, Avant-Garde. I’ll come by after I’m done." "O-Okay...!" Avant-Garde nodded and dashed off. Though he was peeking from the nearby hallway corner, I decided to ignore it. The Blue Tower Lord asked me. "How’s it going?" "As you suspected." "If there were a risk-free way to amplify mana, all magicians would be using it. Naturally." "Are you here to mock me?" "Not at all. Even if I were teasing, I wouldn’t come empty-handed. Tada." The Blue Tower Lord displayed four gemstones clasped between her fingers. Gems radiating a swirling crimson mana—the sight of these crystalline jewels had become all too familiar in the crystal tower. "A crystal imbued with mana... A High Crystal, right? Judging by its type, it looks like a bloodstone." "Indeed." "Considering it's a High Crystal prepared by you, Blue Tower Lord, surely it's special... But, I wonder, could it truly solve my problem?" "You must have been struggling a lot. Even starting to complain now." With a wry smile, the Blue Tower Lord gestured for me to follow as she clutched the gems in her hand. "It's not ideal to demonstrate here. Shall we head to my chamber?" "Certainly." The Blue Tower Lord's room, with its floors and walls entirely made of crystal, continued to emanate a formidable presence. As I sat down in the now familiar surroundings, she, as always, poured me some hot tea in a crystal cup and handed it over. Once I sipped and placed the cup back, it served as her cue to get to the point. "Do you know what this High Crystal is?" “A High Crystal is a crystal oversaturated with mana. It requires the design and control of a high-level magician to infuse mana beyond its limits. Since the Blue Tower Lord, a master of crystallography, crafted it personally, it must possess immense value.” The Blue Tower Lord, accustomed to my sudden reverence, responded nonchalantly. "Praising words come easily to many. While you are particularly adept at it, that's not what I’m asking. Tell me about the characteristics you’ve noticed." Tch. Seems like the charm is wearing off. Feigning intense scrutiny of the High Crystal, I spoke out what I read from her thoughts. "The fluidity is especially high—mana is leaking out without even being touched. It's too unstable to be considered a true High Crystal... I doubt you made a mistake, so is there a reason for this?" "There is." The Blue Tower Lord extended her hand to grasp my left hand, then rolled up my sleeve to remove the bracelet I was wearing. In the moments I surrendered without resistance to her assertive actions, she unveiled my hidden secret. A biological terminal—the arch avatar implanted by the military government into every citizen. To put it nicely, it's an arch avatar. It magically measures a human's body and creates a path for external mana infusion. Its main purposes are to verify identity and impose restrictions on citizens of the military government. "A remnant of black magic's ‘human catalyst’ procedure. It looks rather uncomfortable." While clicking her tongue in displeasure at the biological terminal, the Blue Tower Lord inserted the High Crystal into it. The crystal imbued with mana began to merge into my body. Though I feigned surprise, I didn’t withdraw my hand. I had already predicted the purpose of the High Crystal. As the High Crystal seeped into my biological terminal, I distinctly sensed the overflowing mana, even with my dulled senses. "Huh? I can feel the mana." "Bloodstone is a gem with properties most similar to the human body. By infusing it with mana and enhancing its fluidity, the mana from the High Crystal can seep into you. How is it?" "I do feel the mana... But it’s not mine, so it doesn’t act according to my will." "You can't expect to be satisfied all at once. Even for me, there's more to finalize. Moreover, it hasn't been fully adjusted yet." With a light gesture, the Blue Tower Lord made the High Crystal dislodge from my biological terminal. After examining its state through mana-sensing, she jotted down some notes with a fountain pen. "I’ve recorded your heartbeat and mana flow. I'll adjust the High Crystal to sync with your heartbeat, making it easier to utilize the mana it contains." "Oh...! I lack mana, not that I'm completely void of it. If the scattering High Crystal mana aligns with mine, I can benefit from its amplification effect!" "That's correct, my student. Due to the principle of diminishing returns, the amplification won't exceed double, but a boost of up to 1.8 times should be achievable." "Having a great mentor is indeed a blessing! Thank you! I always admire you!" YW9peUx5cktZYXhyU2hzY1VsMkQ0WDFmM2pYMG9jSXd2bmN6dVNYTEdNV3BBVVVvRGpFRWpWWFliOXRLUHIrLw Ultimately, it might be akin to a temporary boost, and once the High Crystal's mana is depleted, I'll return to my original state, but still—it's something. Small improvements like this can accumulate into a great discovery. The Blue Tower Lord, inspecting the High Crystal, casually asked, "How is Avant-Garde? You've been spending a lot of time together lately." "Avant-Garde senior? He's a great mentor. Though not at the exalted level of a magician like you, Blue Tower Lord, his more approachable expertise provides a lot for me to learn." Trying to subtly hint that my true teacher is none other than her, while acknowledging Avant-Garde's utility, I kept my praise focused on my superior. After all, between a superior and a subordinate, one should uphold the superior more. With an enigmatic smile, the Blue Tower Lord remarked, "Just as Lankart said." "Pardon? What do you mean?" "I finally understand the nature of your genius." What on earth. What expectations do they have for someone like me, who hasn't even demonstrated anything yet? As I watched her with a bewildered expression, she twirled her pen and began to explain. "Avant-Garde is a master of mana amplification through crystal resonance. He's a magician who focuses on the sheer scale of mana. On the 5th floor—a status that isn't very high, yet allows him to align with your pace. He's precisely the magician who can help you most right now." "Yes, indeed. He's been immensely helpful." "How did you come to choose Avant-Garde?" "It wasn't me who chose him; Avant-Garde senior challenged me to a duel. The reward for my victory was for him to teach me, and he indeed knows quite a lot." I was really fortunate. It's not something that happens every day... "The rumor was that you lack mana. Being unable to control or sense mana would typically disqualify someone. Naturally, if you received education from the tower's lord, there would be objections." "Such elitism exists everywhere. It doesn’t bother me." "Of course, you aren't bothered by it. After all, you’re the one who started the rumor." With a click of my tongue and averting my gaze, the Blue Tower Lord smiled gently at my face. "I haven't exactly gone around discussing your lack of mana with others. What kind of mentor would go about exposing their student's weaknesses? Even if they weren't my student, I don't point out others' inferiorities." 'Most humans are inferior to me, after all. If I were to point out each flaw, it would never end.' Truly full of herself. "But the rumor had already spread throughout the crystal tower. He probably challenged you to a duel because he was certain of his victory. Among the magicians researching mana amplification, Avant-Garde is the lowest floor magician who would want to step up." "I just got lucky." "Was it really just luck?" The Blue Tower Lord asked with a penetrating blue gaze, as if she could see right through me, and I nodded honestly. “Yes. It was luck. Even if I designed it, I couldn't be certain they’d follow through. Humans are fickle, after all.”