Chapter 51
Chapter 51. Ian the Mage
For now, Ian’s skill had improved by leaps and bounds, quite literally.
The more he observed the celestial bodies, the more he gained ‘inspiration’, and although the ‘memories’ disappeared, the inspiration remained and helped advance his magic.
There was something peculiar here. The lineages of the formulas used by Yul and Ian had diverged.
“The fifth stage is the [Resonance] Formula. It’s the stage where you search for the common ground between the devoured target and yourself.”
-So what exactly does it do?
“It depends on the target used. When applied to a target with magic power, energy is amplified. I tried using Resonance on a staff embedded with a magic stone, and both the target’s energy and my own total amount of magic power increased.”
-Really? That’s amazing.
“But if Resonance exceeds a certain limit, both sides are destroyed. So you have to keep it within moderation. With other targets, it merely imparts an appropriate vibration. However, that isn’t the true purpose.”
-Then what is?
“If you expand the self within the ‘whole’ of oneself and the target through Resonance, you eventually reach the sixth stage.”
Yul had heard of the subsequent stages before, and they were completed according to what had already been designed.
The sixth stage [Assimilation] Formula. It intertwines with the target’s magic power, binding them with a cohesion higher than Resonance.
“As a secondary effect, you can discern truth and dispel things that were concealed. Or you can create magical contracts.”
-Hm. Because you assimilate with the target?
“That’s right.”
The seventh stage [Equilibrium] Formula. A state of perfect internal and external harmony.
“Equilibrium is the stage immediately preceding the Great Balance. The preparation process is extremely long, and once used, it’s difficult to undo. It can only be used on things that are in a state of imbalance.”
-What about the secondary effects?
“You reach a state of magical equilibrium with the target.”
-Wow. That alone is incredible.
Regardless of who the target was, reaching a state of magical equilibrium meant that the greater the opponent’s magic power, the stronger the result.
“Don’t focus too much on the secondary effects, Yul. All of these formulas are preparation for the Great Balance.”
-I see. But I ended up creating a fifth-stage formula on my own.
“…Pardon?”
Yul explained what had happened when he fought the Ogh of the Rising Tide.
Because of Ogh’s final struggle, he had needed to use his soul, and through isolation, he had stored a part of his soul in a completely different place.
“Yul… I’ve never seen a creature capable of that in my entire life. I have always believed the soul to be something that cannot be separated like magic or matter.”
-Then I’ll show you, do you want to try sensing it?
“Yes.”
As the [Devourment] Formula unfolded, Yul closed his eyes and accepted Ian’s devourment.
He never even considered that Ian might attack him. That was how much Yul trusted him.
When Yul isolated a portion of his soul, Ian was so shocked that he shouted aloud.
“Th-this shouldn't be possible…”
-Why?
“Yul, you may be walking the path of a god.”
-……??
What was he talking about all of a sudden?
“Imagine pushing this isolation to the extreme and completely severing it.”
-Uh… would another me appear?
Completely severing it was something he’d never even considered. Would another him be created, like a planarian? But if part of his soul were torn away, wouldn’t the main body, Yul, be in danger?
“It may be even more than that. Perhaps … no, never mind. It’s not something I’m certain of, so I’ll need to dig through some ancient texts later.”
-I get it, but can’t I learn the sixth stage or seventh stage?
“It’ll be difficult since the lineage has diverged. Yul, you will have to discover your own sixth-stage and seventh-stage formulas.”
-No way.
He thought he might be able to ride the bus in one go, but not a chance. His lineage had completely diverged from Ian’s, so only by developing formulas unique to himself would he be able to reach the eight-stage Great Balance.
-So then, what’s this about you becoming famous?
“Um….”
In Britain, there exists a peculiar system known as magic scholars. They can use magic, but they are not called mages.
Until they are officially recognized by the state, magic users are referred to as magic scholars, essentially amateurs before becoming mages.
And after completing his seventh-stage formula, Ian underwent a regular evaluation.
“I haven’t yet completed the final formula, but this is an examination that all magic scholars undergo on a regular basis. Every year, we go to the Linden Court of Britain to have ourselves evaluated. The court mage apparently judged me to be a mage in every respect.”
-Oh. That’s great.
He was glad that Ian’s true worth was being recognized. As much as Ian possessed an unconventional way of thinking, he continued to diligently hone himself.
“I still haven’t completed the Great Balance, though. But something happened in the meantime. An envoy from a neighboring country behaved rudely.”
-An envoy?
“Yes. A mage, from the Empire.”
The Empire was the nation with the greatest national power on the Randa Continent.
Compared to it, Britain, Frangia, and Aragon were all weaker nations.
The Imperial mage who came as an envoy to the British court was a member of a prestigious noble family, with a lofty reputation and an equally lofty arrogance.
So arrogant and overbearing that he looked down even on the royalty of other nations.
That the Empire would send such a person as an envoy made it obvious how it viewed other countries.
Ian sharply rebuked the Imperial mage who openly acted arrogantly.
‘Apologize for your rudeness! Do the Imperial people not even know basic manners?’
‘Do I need to show courtesy to pathetic British mages like you?’
The Imperial mage and Ian ended up engaging in a magical duel.
In the end, the Imperial mage was utterly crushed by Ian, who had completed the seventh-stage formula.
As he fled while whining, the British court turned Ian into a hero.
For the king, this was very much intentional. He had put the arrogant Imperial mage in his place, and it had also been revealed that this mage belonged to a newly certified school of magic.
“Part of it was because the magic I possess isn’t common magic but unique magic. Still, the fact remains that the Imperial mage lost face and fled.”
He spoke modestly, but judging from the circumstances, it seemed that Ian had overwhelmingly defeated the Imperial mage.
-Oh ho, interesting. And then?
“The unique magic, the Great Balance, is also my family’s magic, but it was decided that I could form a school if I wished. So I did take in a few disciples under me. Various noble families kept submitting petitions, so the family accepted them.”
-Ah. I understand. You’re saying a new school of magic has been born?
It seemed everyone had come to learn a thing or two after witnessing Ian’s skill. This was what had transpired while Yul was away.
-So a lineage of Great Balance magic has formed.
“That’s how it turned out. I’m no longer just a lighthouse keeper or a mage, but someone who has created a new school. It doesn’t quite feel real to me, though. Yul, what about you?”
-Hm. Should I tell my story? Where should I start? With the Ogh of the Rising Tide, perhaps.
Yul explained the tenacity of the Ogh of the Rising Tide. He also spoke about how Ogh had threatened to kill Ian’s family.
“What? I was made a hostage target?”
-You probably didn’t even know it, but yes. Though that was just a pretext. Even if you hadn’t existed, Ogh would’ve attacked anyway.
Ogh of the Rising Tide patiently stalked Yul, and in the end seized an excuse to attack him.
Having absorbed part of the now-dead Ogh’s memories, Yul knew that no matter what, the creature had been filled with thoughts of capturing Yul and dissecting him.
-That thing used something called a Mantra Combination, combining mantras together.
“Oh. Like magic?”
-Probably.
A Mantra Combination that could only be used if one possessed at least eight mantras.
-After defeating Ogh, I learned that it was the first calamity of the Orca Tribe. And that there were a second and a third.
Yul briefly explained the Abyssal Polyhedron, then went on to describe the second calamity, the Hive.
“You’re saying such a horrific creature exists?”
-Unfortunately.
“My goodness. If it had been on land, it would’ve been a monster capable of destroying an entire nation.”
-It could’ve been even worse.
It might have devoured all life on the entire continent. Humans should be grateful that such a thing existed in the sea.
And the story continued. How the Orca Tribe had stopped it with all their might, and how there had been Nugh’s sacrifice.
“I am sorry to hear that, Yul. You have lost a good person.”
-Yeah.
He added the story of how things became noisy after defeating the Hive, forcing him to lie low for a while.
He also told him that it wasn’t just that and spoke about the ruins of the Age of the Gods, which might become the third calamity.
“Ruins of the Age of the Gods…… are you saying they’re from a civilization even older than the immortal deep-sea beings, the Turusains?”
-According to Lancia, yes.
“Then we may need to go back to the very era when the world was created. Such ancient records would only be found by going to the island in the lake at the center of the Randa continent.”
They said that at the heart of the Randa Continent lay a lake as vast as the sea. And at the center of that lake stood a massive island, home to a magical institution called the Magisterium. The Great Library of the Magisterium was said to hold records of everything.
-Getting there would be difficult, wouldn’t it?
“Yes. You’d have to pass through the Empire, so travel would be hard. It’s the holy land of mages, but almost no one has ever been able to visit.”
-That’s a shame.
“But we can send someone. I’ve gained a certain degree of influence myself, so I’m thinking of sending one of my disciples. Yul, please wait a moment. Could you try using the Mantra of Communication on me?”
-Why?
Though puzzled, Yul used the Mantra of Communication to speak directly into Ian’s mind.
“I will apply Assimilation here. I’ll try sending replies along this line.”
-Is that possible?
-Yes. If the distance isn’t too great, it should be possible.
-Oh. It works?
-Then even if we’re far apart, I can inform you about anything regarding the ruins of the Age of the Gods. If I learn anything, I’ll let you know right away.
-Thanks.
-Ah, and I remade the Krelsite spear.
The Krelsite spear that had been damaged before. Yul had placed another order for it from afar through the Mantra of Communication.
Of course, the materials were delivered by the crew of Le Céleste.
-It’s good. The grip feels nice.
-I designed it to be a bit sleeker than before.
The thickness had been reduced slightly compared to before. But the length had increased a bit, giving it a much stronger impression of a true spear.
‘Once Yalmuka finds out the spear’s been restored, he’ll make a fuss.’
Yul had been using the broken Krelsite spear as an excuse to fend off Yalmuka’s constant urging to learn spear techniques. Seeing this, he’d surely start nagging again.
The conversation ended. Yul briefly looked at Lucian, who was now shedding the air of a child and entering boyhood. He still looked healthy, and his hands were always clad in Krelsite gloves.
According to what he’d heard from Celestia, he took after his father, being intelligent and possessing the talent of a magic scholar.
Well, it didn’t seem like there was a second child yet.
Yul soon parted ways with Ian’s family.
Even without Yul, Ian was carving out his own path just fine.
If anything, Yul might’ve fallen behind Ian.
‘I need to finish the next evolution quickly.’
Just as he was about to spend his remaining evolution points, Yul heard from Lancia.
-Yul, a decision has been made. Can you make it by before the full moon next month?
-Yes, I can.
One month later, Yul attended the assembly hall where the ruins expedition team had gathered.