Chapter 61

61.

“Oh…”

An utterly peaceful state without any resistance. After testing the appropriate strength control by flexing my hands and standing up, I spoke.

“How about it? Seeing how the flame-like form of the soul has calmed, it seems effective at least on the surface.”

“I’ll try it out briefly.”

In response to Nia’s question, I moved to a suitable space. After calmly adjusting my breathing,

I thrust my fist into the air.

Whoosh—

A gentle wind arose from the softly unleashed punch.

After retracting the extended fist,

I applied more strength, aiming to achieve the force needed to shatter rocks this time.

Pang—

A weak tearing sound occurred, and a powerful gust swept through the room.

‘…Good.’

The wild force that had been hard to control like a restive calf now followed my commands properly.

Originally, it was often overcharged due to the surging heat within me.

For instance, during one occasion while guiding the knights’ training, a light shove I gave sent a dent into a knight’s armor.

Noticing an opening, I had lightly tapped the knight to refocus him, but the recipient soared dramatically across the Training Grounds.

I still vividly remember the expression on the knight’s face as he stared at his damaged breastplate while coughing.

“Whoa, what kind of punch is that?”

“It’s truly terrifying.”

Ignoring these casual comments from the two onlookers, I glanced at my hand.

‘The inside is considerably more stable.’

Nia had mentioned that her methods would merely relieve or assist, but combined with the breathing techniques, the effects were significant. As the source of stress disappeared, my mind grew peaceful.

After regulating my breath, relaxing my body, and returning to the chair, Nia grinned confidently and said,

“Judging by your expression, it seems to be okay.”

“It’s better than expected. It feels like I’ve advanced a bit in cultivation…”

The magic workshop was filled with mana.

Although I began to see mana when dealing with Panray, after drinking tea and calming my inner self, I noticed something new.

The faintly glowing blue orbs amidst the surrounding mana felt like some kind of core controlling it.

Mana radiating from Nia was spreading throughout the room, centered on that core.

‘This might work…’

Something about this felt different this time.

The wild mana that passed through the core moved in a well-regulated manner. I lightly swung my fist towards the invisible center of that power.

Booom.

“Ugh!”

When the wind pressure from my fist struck the core, it produced a heavy sound.

Despite a slight wobble, the invisible core remained intact.

‘If I aim well, maybe I can break it…’

As I gripped my fist again, ignoring the strange sound that Nia made, she rushed over.

“Aah! No! Stop!”

“Eek…!”

When Nia pounced on me, a faint shock ran through my body, causing it to waver.

Ignoring the soft sensation felt through her regular clothes, I looked down to see her shouting with tears in her eyes,

“Don’t destroy it! It took so much effort to make, and if it breaks, the barrier will collapse!”

“Barrier?”

“Yes! Do you want to be crushed by spatial collapse?! How exactly did you interfere with the core anyway!”

“Understand the danger please. Calm down first… I said, calm down!”

With that, Nia and Rani, who had also rushed over, started arguing loudly.

Their voices ringing in my ears, especially since the room wasn’t exceptionally large and the noise echoed.

These two, despite their ages, why are they suddenly so restless? Their talk of spatial collapse indicates a rather serious situation—but since it was only a test, does that mean it won’t happen?

“Ah!”

Trying to calm down these two who were acting like lunatics, I ended up giving them a firm tap on the head.

Bang!

*

After the temporary chaos settled,

Nia mumbled irritably while stroking her head.

“Nobody has treated me like this except you.”

“I said I’m sorry.”

“Look at my crown. I thought I was struck by lightning.”

“You should maintain some dignity…”

Turning away from Nia’s glaring hollow eyes,

“This place is messier than ever…”

While Rani began cleaning up the now disordered workshop without finding a proper place to discard the trash,

I noticed Nia sigh.

“Cain, even though you’re not a mana emanator, can you see mana? Is it due to the influence of your soul?”

“Perhaps. My teacher also mentioned that my strange power stems from that.”

“Teacher… you mean Landeck, right? I heard he vanished, but it seems he’s doing well. Hmph, being a Transcender, he’s unlikely to have perished anywhere.”

Nia then entered the storage room.

Rustle. Bang!

Kerchak!

For a while, sounds of something collapsing and flying, followed by Nia coughing, were busily heard from inside the storage.

After Rani finished cleaning and slumped into a chair with a weary expression, right when Rani was patting her head,

Nia emerged from the storage room.

Shaking off the dust on her body and sneezing, she—abandoning her mystical and noble aura—extended out something sparkling.

“You should come by regularly to see the progress. It would be good if you also helped with the research.”

On Nia’s palm rested a glittering silver ring.

There was no gemstone on the plain ring, but the interior had a complex symbol engraved in intaglio.

“What is this?”

“With this, you can enter my workshop from anywhere. Of course, only within the confines of the Imperial Palace. Iris might have one too.”

“Oh ho.”

There’s no need to search through Huiwol Palace to see Nia anymore. Though rather extreme, it could also serve as an emergency escape route.

“Could you make one more?”

“One more? For who? Her?”

Thus speaking, Nia’s gaze turned toward Rani, who was slouched in the chair.

“She’s fine. She can already enter the workshop herself.”

“She can enter alone? Rani?”

“Her name is Rani?”

“Yes!”

With a nod to Rani’s lively answer, Nia abruptly dropped a bombshell.

“It’s been roughly three hundred years, hasn’t it? Looks like the successor has finally come.”

“What?

“You mean…a successor?”

“Yes. If my memory serves, this girl should become Altain’s third wizard.”

As Nia confirmed this with a lackadaisical expression, I glanced at Rani.

Our girl, a wizard?

My mouth opens unconsciously.

With a tired expression, Nia continued.

“This workshop can’t be found by just anyone. Without magical talent—or the blessing of the three realms—it’s invisible. Perhaps only a Transcendent-level entity like a Swordmaster would sense a discrepancy in this artificial space, but this girl is no such being.”

That was true; Rani wasn’t even a mana emanator.

With a nod at Nia’s words, she proceeded.

“Mana is friendly to her. This isn’t like mana emanators who can directly perceive and control the three realms. Rather, it’s mana itself, with its own will, protecting and following her. That’s why she could even find this workshop.”

As Nia absently caressed the blankly staring Rani’s head, she said,

“Haven’t you noticed how people tend to be unusually kind to her or how things seem to go smoothly for her?”

I first encountered Rani in the monster-infested forest of Ruben.

Even though she was thin and tattered from hunger, the five-year-old had somehow managed to survive alone.

Moved by thoughts of my younger siblings, I took her in. Soon, she started work as a maid and quickly adapted to life in Ruben, where the townsfolk cherished the outsider Rani like a daughter.

“…Come to think of it, that’s how it seemed.”

“One common trait among wizards is that they are naturally protected by the fundamental force of the world. While there are slight differences, most people generally feel goodwill towards wizards for this reason.”

The people of Ruben? She’s going to be a wizard?

While I looked at Rani with a complicated expression,

Nia softly said,

“Rani? I’ll teach you various things, so come play often.”

“Really?”

With a beaming smile, Nia nodded and shifted her gaze.

“Is that okay?”

“Yes. That’s fine.”

Of course, it’s fine. They’re going to teach her magic.

While Rani enthusiastically chatted and Nia poured herself a cool apple drink,

Nia yawned as she indulged in light conversation about various worldly affairs.

“Cain. Given the current supply, I can only prepare a month’s worth for now. Take it three times a day, about 30 minutes after a meal. It’s best to avoid excessive strain until the effects stabilize.”

Exhausted, she extended the packet containing Rubinela Syrup. Instructions for preparing the tea and a reminder to drink it without fail were written on the envelope.

‘…Is she…a pharmacist?’

As I internally chuckled at what felt like a familiar line, Nia flicked her finger lightly.

Snap.

“…!”

A cheerful sound resonated, and a wave of intense mana enveloped my body all at once.

My vision blurred, and I felt my body being dragged somewhere. While focusing my mind and holding onto Rani amidst this sudden phenomenon,

Nia’s voice reached my ears.

“I’m still a little tired, so I’ll take a nap. Come back later. Haaam…”

With her dismissal, the image of the workshop stretched out.

As the world seemed to move further away, so did the sounds.

Her slow waving hand left an afterimage, and in response, I bowed. Vertigo soon followed.

As a dizzying sensation rose, I tightly closed my eyes, then reopened them.

“Oh.”

Now in front of one of the thick pillars at the Record Repository.

The dazed feeling caused me to reach toward the pillar, but

Tap.

The expected illusion of passing through didn’t occur; instead, the touch felt solid and firm.

Tap Tap.

Similarly testing it out with another tap, Rani spoke:

“It seems this isn’t the place anymore.”

To her downcast comment, I lightly patted her head.

‘Closer to an academic who studies mysteries…’

Is this what they call the power of a scholar?

If flicking one’s finger can generate a space-transfer-like phenomena, aren’t these scholars essentially genuine wizards?

A faint chuckle escaped my lips as I pulled out the ring from my pocket.

“How do you use this thing?”

If I got a new product, I should test it for defects.

Thud.

Tapping the ring against the pillar unleashed a spread of mana.

The pillar, covered in mana, emitted a blue glow. Slowly reaching out to this peculiar sight, my hand passed through unobstructed this time.

“Let’s go back inside.”

“Yes!”

We re-entered the workshop, and the landscape transformed from the Repository to the dim workshop once again. Sensing our presence, Nia kicked up her legs and shouted.

“I’m going to sleep, so come back later!”

Once again, we were thrown out of the workshop.

Okay, performance test is complete.

‘…Hmm.’

Three weeks until the grand festival.

A week remains before visitors from foreign lands arrive at the capital.

I’ve met the wizard, resolved my body condition, and now preparations for making the best appearance are complete.

‘Thankfully, we don’t need to go to Ruben.’

Among the visitors is Sylvester.

Even if time has passed post-war, their status as rival nations remains unchanged, and the same likely holds true for Sylvester.

One could possibly send a junior envoy merely for formality, but given that it’s also an occasion for key figures from other nations,

Sylvester must surely be aware of this fact.

They likely understand that quite high-ranking officials will be involved and not merely average envoys.

‘Emperor Myers hasn’t been reported as having risen from bed yet. Excluding him, who else is left…’

By now, the envoy could either consist of rising figures from the original story or higher-ups among secondary characters.

Or else…

The second Swordmaster of Sylvester, aside from the ailing Emperor Myers.

‘Helsia Ashraff.’

Perhaps the one who cut off Teacher’s arm will appear.