Chapter 38
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 038
Chapter Title: It Wasn't Luck
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Today, Andy headed to Estelle's workshop as usual.
"You remember the lighting circuit from yesterday, right? Just engrave that one. I'll handle adding the rest."
"Got it. I'll give it a shot."
Yesterday had been about understanding circuit structures, so today was the real start: engraving them for real.
Andy sat at his assigned workstation. Around it sat several mana crystals, along with the engraving pen tool.
"Don't sweat mistakes. Just go for it. Alright, let's get started."
Andy carefully lifted the pen.
A pen filled with mana ink. He channeled his mana into it.
The boy's spiritual energy settled into the magic tool, soon extending to the ink inside.
A strange sensation followed.
'Like the tool and I have become one.'
If he had to compare it, it felt like an extension of his body.
The pen in his hand, and the mana ink within it—they felt like part of himself.
He'd heard that knights who wielded mana treated their swords as extensions of their bodies... This must be what that was like.
Andy moved the pen without hesitation.
Scratch, scratch...
The pen tip dug into the mana crystal with quiet sounds. Mana ink flowed out, gradually completing the circuit.
Andy focused on the sensation in his fingertips.
'I can feel the mana flowing along the ink.'
Resonating with the mana ink, perhaps.
As the circuit—the path for mana—took shape, he could vividly sense the mana surging through it.
This wasn't ambient mana in the air; it was mana embedded in an object, and its movement felt so clear.
Quite an unusual sensation.
Andy busily moved the hand gripping the pen.
With the mana flow so distinct, he naturally knew where to draw and with how much power.
It was as if his soul was guiding his fingers.
Andy followed his soul's instincts, drawing the circuit.
Time flowed slowly by.
One by one, mana crystals etched with circuits began piling up beside him.
Meanwhile...
"..."
Estelle watched the boy work from nearby.
She examined the structure of a finished crystal.
Discreetly rotating her circles, she analyzed the circuit with her soul's senses.
At last, she was certain.
'As I thought. It wasn't luck.'
The circuits on the boy's finished crystals were incredibly precise, every one of them.
These were circuits that even she—a third-circle mage—had to pour all her focus into making.
And he was producing them one after another.
She had no choice but to acknowledge it.
'This kid's mana sensitivity... it rivals mine at third circle. Or maybe even surpasses it.'
Andy was merely first circle, yet he sensed mana more acutely than her at third.
Estelle gazed at the boy's back as he focused intently on his work.
A single word came to mind.
'Genius.'
At just twelve years old, he'd completed his circle. And with only first circle, he had mana sensitivity surpassing third circle.
It was talent beyond any doubt worthy of the word "genius." If not him, then who could claim the title?
Estelle looked at the boy with newfound eyes.
'I thought I was pretty talented myself, but this kid's on a whole other level... Is this what a real genius is like?'
Estelle had built three circles by her early twenties.
Not quite at "once-in-a-century genius" level, but certainly talented enough to be called a prodigy.
That was Estelle Lefen.
But that was all.
She'd grown faster than most, but not to the point of making history. Just a competent mage.
That was her reputation in mage society.
But the boy before her was different.
A clear genius.
Born with overwhelming talent, even in the harsh environment of an orphanage, he'd formed his circle at a young age.
Now that he'd begun his career as a mage, his growth would accelerate even more.
If time passed and he kept growing... how far could he go?
Suddenly, she thought:
'I should really get on Andy's good side.'
With such radiant talent, he could become tower master someday without anyone batting an eye.
If she buttered him up now, she'd have an incredible connection later, right?
She watched Andy's back with that in mind.
Two weeks flew by in the blink of an eye.
In that time, Andy learned a variety of circuits.
"Today, I'll teach you the timer circuit. It delays spell activation or makes it trigger and end repeatedly at set intervals. It's a common one in lots of magic tools."
"This one's the mana gathering circuit. It slowly absorbs and stores ambient mana... A bit complex, but you should handle it fine."
"Next circuit is..."
Estelle taught him the structures needed for magic tools, one by one. Andy absorbed every lesson without missing a beat.
Day by day, the boy's skills improved.
And so, after two weeks...
This was how long it took Andy to complete a mana lamp entirely on his own.
*Flash!*
A brilliant light burst from the mana lamp Andy had finished.
The boy murmured, filled with emotion.
"I made this all by myself."
"That's right. Every circuit engraved there—you did them yourself. You completed a full magic tool on your own."
"Feels surreal."
Andy gazed at the lighting crystal before him.
A crystal the size of a person's head. Intricate circuits wove across its surface—the circuits of the mana lamp.
The boy looked at it with a satisfied smile.
'Making things... it's fun.'
He was genuinely intrigued by magic tool crafting.
Manifesting mana through tools instead of his soul. Learning complex circuits one by one, expanding his knowledge and skills.
All of it was fascinating and exciting.
And magic tool crafting had another big perk.
"Here—your pay for the week. Good work."
Making a lot of money.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you. You've made my job a breeze. Take it—threw in a little extra. Buy something nice, and have a good weekend."
Five gold coins.
That was Andy's weekly wage.
'That's a hefty sum.'
Five gold a week meant twenty a month.
No small amount. It was a commoner's two-year earnings in just one month.
And he wasn't even running his own shop—just assisting another mage, yet earning this much.
Lately, Andy had been pondering.
'A magitech engineer... Maybe I should seriously consider it as a career?'
Should he pursue becoming a magitech engineer?
In truth, it wasn't the most popular path among mages.
The top choice was "battle mage."
They could hunt dangerous beasts or rack up battlefield merits to honor their families.
Plus, battle mages got potion support, letting them spam powerful attack spells.
That made advancing circles easier, so most mages aimed for it.
Mages in fringe fields like alchemists or magitech engineers were usually the type who avoided combat.
Estelle was a prime example.
Her talent was top-notch, but her timid nature kept her from fighting, leading her to magitech engineering.
That meant a life far from battle.
Andy liked that idea.
'Fighting... it's scary.'
He'd battled imperial cavalry and even hundreds of imperial infantry in the past.
Still, combat remained something he dreaded.
Before magic, he'd been timid. Even growing as a mage now, he wasn't aggressive.
For a boy who feared battle, a combat-free job like magitech engineer was appealing.
'No fighting, good money... suits me perfectly. Maybe it's the ideal fit for me?'
That was his thinking.
But he soon shook his head.
'No need to rush my future. I can try different things first and decide later... Take it slow.'
He was still young, with plenty of time. No need to commit hastily.
Right now, whether magitech or pure magic, anything involving mana was fun and intriguing.
He wanted to experience as much as possible before choosing his path.
Step, step.
The boy walked slowly.
On his way back from Estelle's to the inn after work.
Andy turned his gaze somewhere.
'The count's castle.'
In the city's heart stood the count's castle.
The largest, most majestic fortress here. Its towering form overlooked the cityscape even today.
Andy stared at it intently.
One name came to mind.
'Dietrich.'
For some reason, looking at the castle brought his face to mind.
The boy muttered softly.
"When the heck is Dietrich coming back? It's been two weeks already..."
Dietrich had left the inn room, saying he'd get support from his family.
But even after two weeks, no sign of him.
He'd said it'd take just a few days. Why the delay?
'Did something happen? Or... no way.'
Did he ditch the group and run?
'No. That can't be.'
The boy shook off the grim thought.
As far as he knew, Dietrich wasn't the type to break promises so casually.
There must be some unavoidable circumstance. That's what he believed.
'For now, I'll settle into the city. He'll come back eventually.'
Fortunately, Andy was adapting well.
He had a job, steady income—life was stable.
If only Dietrich returned safely, it'd be perfect.
The boy headed to the inn.
Night fell over the city.
The city's night, shrouded in darkness.
In the count's castle's top floor: the count's study.
A white-haired old man spoke lowly.
"He still won't change his mind?"
"Yes, Lord Count. We've kept persuading him, but... no progress."
"That damn fool."
The old man's name was Damian.
Dietrich's father, lord of Carius County. A count, powerful figure, and heavyweight in the anti-war faction.
Tsk. He clicked his tongue softly.
"Renounce his succession rights? What nonsense... Still as foolish as ever, Dietrich."
Two weeks ago, his forgotten son Dietrich had returned after ages, demanding: Give up family succession rights for mage gear in return.
It sounded reasonable at first.
Illegitimate or not, he was Damian's blood. If all elder brothers died, he'd inherit the vast county.
The family saw him as a thorn—surely they'd accept... That's what Dietrich must've thought.
Far from it.
"You think I'd just hand over my 'spare' that easily?"
Nobles lived solely for their house.
To them, children were the lord's "spares." If the head fell, they'd step up to steady the house.
Children had uses too: marriage alliances, or bargaining chips.
Thus, direct heirs were vital to nobles.
Especially in Carius County, with only two legitimate children—three including the bastard Dietrich.
In a house with just three direct heirs, even a bastard wasn't easily discarded.
So Damian rejected the proposal. He even confined Dietrich forcibly, pushing aggressive persuasion via retainers to bring him back to the fold.
Yet after two weeks, no results.
"He harbors deep hatred for the house. As you know, the other young masters..."
"I know. Those two half-brothers tormented him badly. Assassination attempts too."
"That's why persuasion's tough. He says he'd rather die than serve the house—let him go."
Dietrich had fled to a remote small town early due to that resentment. Joining the house now would be worse than death for him.
Thus, persuasion dragged on, keeping him castle-bound for two full weeks.
Damian scowled deeply, dissatisfied.
On the other hand, he pondered.
'Andy, was it?'
The items Dietrich demanded: mana potions, mage robe. All for a young mage.
Andy. The boy mage who'd come to the city with Dietrich.
What kind of person could make his dim-witted son give up succession rights to procure gear for him?
Damian grew curious about this Andy. Who was the one his fool of a son favored so?
'Incompetent and dim, but he had a good eye for people. This mage Andy... worth meeting.'
The count planned to see Andy soon.
And the very next day...
An invitation from the count arrived at Andy's inn room.