Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Became the Greatest Genius in History
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“Young Master Ester! What brings you here without any notice….”
As I entered the faculty office, Aria greeted me with a startled expression.
“I have business with the Red Tower Lord.”
I briefly explained my errand.
Aria nodded and swiftly escorted me to the Red Tower in the same manner as before.
“…….”
On the way to the Red Tower, I sensed something off about Aria’s gaze.
It was like the expression of a rookie salesperson who had to entertain an important client alone—smiling, but with tension lingering beneath.
She had treated me like an honored guest before, but this time, she seemed even more wary of my reactions, which felt strangely off.
It was good that she wasn’t adding unnecessary chit-chat, but it made me uncomfortable too.
“Is there something you want to say to me?”
I asked Aria, who kept stealing glances at my face.
“…….”
Aria fell silent.
Then she opened her mouth and said something incomprehensible.
“Thank you for protecting the Justina Kingdom.”
What? Suddenly?
“I just wanted to express my gratitude to you, Young Master. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
I stared at her awkwardly as she bowed her head.
Of course, thanks to Nob AI, my facial muscles didn’t move, but I couldn’t help feeling perplexed.
It wasn’t like some comment from a past-life video site saying, “Thank you for protecting Earth again today. Ham.” What had I done to suddenly deserve this…?
“…….”
A chill ran down my spine.
I wouldn’t learn the reason behind Aria’s polite gratitude until after meeting Erfus.
***
Erfus read the report.
He swallowed a groan and muttered to himself.
“At this rate, we won’t meet the deadline….”
The Flame Faction was a group of mages dedicated to researching war magic.
They held the strongest voice in matters of combat and warfare above all others.
Countless magical weapons and spells active on the front lines were their creations.
Other factions had combat spells too, but none could compare to the Flame Faction, who devoted their lives solely to violence and destruction.
Thus, the Red Tower was playing the biggest role in countering this Insein curse.
Flame Faction magic was essential for exterminating the demons appearing across the kingdom.
“…….”
Erfus’s expression was grim.
It was because of the urgent report from the Blue Tower.
【Anomaly detected in the kingdom’s eastern region. Time to polar anomaly shortened. Estimated occurrence: in two weeks.】
The anomaly had struck abruptly.
To prepare for this polar point, the Red Tower had mobilized all its faction mages to produce weapons.
However, no matter how diligently the mages churned them out from the tower, there were limits to human effort.
The original plan had been to complete the target quantity within a month and distribute them sequentially across the kingdom—a tight schedule already.
Having only two weeks left was nothing short of a disaster.
Erfus racked his brain for a way to overcome this crisis, but no viable solution emerged.
“Lord Tower Master, you’re as charming as ever.”
He sighed.
It was a moment when he longed for the old days, when he could focus solely on research and training.
He couldn’t leisurely supplement his protein while juggling workouts and studies in such a dire situation.
Erfus’s eyes fell on the line at the end of the report.
【Observer of the anomaly: Ester Tristy…】
“Ester Tristy….”
Erfus felt his own worries seemed indulgent.
Had Ester Tristy not observed it, the Justina Kingdom would be in an even more dire state right now.
“It’s truly unbelievable.”
The genius boy had seen through an anomaly that even the Blue Tower couldn’t detect.
In war, knowing the enemy was paramount.
Just knowing when, where, and how the enemy would strike exponentially increased the odds of victory.
As the founding king of the kingdom famously said: “The outcome of war is decided not during the battle, but before it begins.”
Being able to prepare in advance was a tremendous advantage.
Thanks to Ester Tristy’s observation, the kingdom’s eastern region now had a chance.
This wasn’t the time to sigh over unfavorable odds.
Those who didn’t seize opportunities could never triumph in life.
It was then.
“Lord Ester Tristy requests an audience.”
A voice came from the crystal orb.
Erfus granted permission the instant he heard the guest’s name.
“Open the rift.”
“Understood.”
Ester entered the tower lord’s chamber via the rift.
He was a handsome boy who vaguely resembled Erfus in his youth.
“It’s been a while, War Archmage.”
“Hahaha!!”
Erfus laughed heartily.
“This is only our second meeting today, so how about dropping the burdensome title?”
“Understood.”
Erfus smiled contentedly, then rose from his seat.
He retrieved a stored box and offered it.
Inside were the items Ester had requested previously.
“These are the materials you asked for. I consulted with renowned physicians and clerics in the kingdom, gathering papers and books related to Lady Haniel Tristy’s condition. It’s modest, but I hope it helps.”
“Thank you, Lord Erfus.”
Ester caressed the box.
It was a kind and beautiful sentiment, cherishing his sister so dearly.
‘The chances of improving Haniel’s condition with mere documents like these are slim, but I hope she recovers fully.’
Magic and medicine were separate realms.
To Erfus, magic was nearly omnipotent, but there was one glaring exception.
Healing magic was practically impossible.
Even setting aside the complexity of the human body, the unpredictable variables mana could introduce into it were too numerous.
The rarity of those who could use ‘aura’ to enhance their bodies had reasons.
At its core, magic involved the intricate process of converting mana into something else.
With knowledge of the precisely woven human body still imperfect, creating something meaningful by adding magic was exceedingly difficult.
Only someone like Erfus, who had witnessed countless corpses in wars against demons, could perform something like artificial mana circuit implantation.
No matter how genius Ester was, the odds of saving Haniel remained slim.
Still, he didn’t voice that fact.
He hoped these materials would at least offer the boy some small comfort.
“Ester.”
“Yes.”
“Thanks to your observation, the kingdom has gained two weeks. On behalf of the Red Tower, I offer my gratitude. We’ll do our utmost to ensure your efforts aren’t in vain.”
Ester tilted his head.
“Pardon?”
“I’m referring to the Insein curse matter. His Majesty the King was told by the Blue Tower Lord that he’d personally commend your contributions.”
Ester fell silent.
Unlike other children, he had no thirst for glory. He could stand to show off a bit more.
“I see….”
He was a boy after Erfus’s own heart.
“Anyway, with the Insein curse and the Tristy heirs busy with the family head trials, I’d heard. I’d originally planned the mana circuit procedure after the curse ends, when things calm down. It wouldn’t hurt to do it now, though. Shall we proceed?”
Erfus assumed Ester’s visit to the Red Tower was for the mana circuit implantation and medical materials.
But.
“I’d be grateful if you would, but I came here for a different reason.”
“Hm?”
Ester pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to Erfus.
The old man blinked.
It was a blueprint.
In the exact format used by Flame Faction mages when developing new weapons.
‘He’s considerate, making it easy for me to understand.’
Erfus slowly scanned the blueprint.
And moments later, he was stunned.
“What in the world is this weapon…?”
“It’s an upgraded steam tank.”
Ester called the weapon on the blueprint an upgraded steam tank, but it was fundamentally different.
It revolutionized defense, mobility, and even the chronic communication issues of steam tanks.
Most overwhelming was its firepower.
By applying the hellfire replication Ester had elucidated, it fired powerful hell mana cannons—a league beyond magical shells.
“…….”
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed unrealistic.
Mithril alloys, corrupted mana fuel, hellfire main gun—the bizarre terms on the blueprint bordered on a mage’s delusion.
But.
“You must know, Lord Erfus, the eastern kingdom has no time to counter the curse right now. We need a masterstroke.”
The moment he saw the uncanny gleam in Ester’s eyes.
“Would you care to invest in me once?”
Erfus was utterly convinced by the genius boy.