Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: The Fastest Light
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After deciding to take the royal commander's test.
“Then I'll let you know when I hear back.”
“Heh heh, I hope it's good news.”
“Don't worry about it.”
I sent my companions back to District 6.
Elbert had written me a letter of recommendation, but I couldn't take the test right away.
‘It'll take up to two days at most.’
That's how long it would take to decide whether I could take the test or not.
In the worst case, I might fail despite the recommendation.
Of course, Elbert said that hardly ever happened, so I wasn't particularly worried.
Anyway, after sending my companions off.
With time to spare, I headed straight to District 3.
“Master!”
“Oh, my disciple!”
No, it was because I wanted to show Ani Person my improved magic as soon as possible.
My head was filled with happy imaginings.
‘Maybe I can develop my light magic even further now.’
Having reached the 7th circle realm, my light magic was nearly perfect.
But that was just my own judgment.
I had no idea how it would look through the eyes of Ani Person, the light magic expert.
That said.
“Take a look at this.”
The moment I met Ani Person, I immediately cast my light magic.
Ani Person, confirming my magic, showed exactly the reaction I'd hoped for.
“. . .Ma, magic?”
His eyes were wide round, which looked pretty comical.
I couldn't help but put some force into my voice.
“Heh heh, what do you think? Of my light magic.”
“. . .It's like looking at someone else's light magic. Truly amazing!”
“Right?”
“What on earth happened in the meantime!”
Ani Person gestured for me to explain quickly, his face full of eagerness.
I could guess how someone so passionate about light magic must feel, so I didn't hesitate and started talking.
“I achieved a lot in this [Prophecy of the Red Moon] war. Real combat is definitely necessary for magic to advance.”
“Indeed, indeed. Good experience leads to faster growth. But . . . that's not all, is it?”
“As expected, you're sharp. No, it wasn't just that.”
Just as I was about to continue explaining.
I suddenly had second thoughts.
Should I mention the ‘Room of Time and Spirit’ too?
I decided quickly.
‘Better to keep that to myself.’
No matter how famous that room was, it was a place guarded by successive academy presidents.
Spreading word that I'd used it everywhere wouldn't do me any good.
Above all.
‘I can't fully trust Master yet.’
I hadn't given Ani Person my complete trust yet.
There were the rumors I'd heard, and even to my eyes, he was a suspicious man in many ways.
I still knew next to nothing about Ani Person.
Well, anyway.
Leaving that out, I began my explanation.
“Through this war, I realized my mana circuits were a complete mess.”
“Your mana circuits?”
“Yes. So with the academy's help, I completely rebuilt them. And this is the result.”
Wooong!
A brilliant orb of light still spun gracefully above my palm.
Ani Person, staring at the orb alongside me, nodded as if it made sense.
“I see, so that's how it is. If you fixed your circuits, it all adds up. Even accounting for that, it's an enormous advancement . . . .”
“Haha, my mana circuits weren't just ordinarily messed up.”
At that moment.
The timing felt right, so I brought up what I'd been curious about.
“By the way, Master, what circle level do you think my magic has reached?”
I was asking directly about his assessment.
You never know.
Ani Person's evaluation might differ from the academy president's.
Unlike the president, he might say it's only 6th circle level.
But was that unnecessary worry?
“At this level . . . I'd say it's at least 7th circle light magic.”
Ani Person's assessment wasn't much different from Asion Gail's.
No, it even seemed a bit higher.
“‘At least’?”
“Yes. Tinker with it just a bit more, and you could aim for 8th circle.”
“. . .8th circle? You serious?”
“Of course. Dead serious. Ah, don't get the wrong idea, disciple. Just because I said that doesn't mean it's easy by any means.”
Of course not.
The gap between 7th and 8th circle is immense. The differences between previous circles seem laughable by comparison.
The important part was that Ani Person thought 8th circle was possible.
It's not easy, but at least there's a path visible.
‘I've seen plenty who gave up being mages because they couldn't reach 8th circle.’
Mostly NPCs, not players, but still—that's how hard it was.
Ani Person's praise was no light matter.
Calming my exhilarated heart, I asked steadily.
“. . .Then, Master, what should I improve here?”
Now it was time for Ani Person's full-on special lecture.
***
A pitch-black dark room where nothing was visible.
After sitting there quietly with my eyes closed for a long time, I suddenly summoned a single light-attribute orb.
Whoooong!
An orb containing the [Essence of Light].
In the dark room, its bright, beautiful glow filled my vision.
However.
‘Still a long way off. This is pathetic light.’
I deliberately belittled my own light, searching for flaws.
It was because of Ani Person's first piece of advice.
-Only by not becoming intoxicated with your own power will you finally see the shortcomings.
Not getting drunk on my own power.
It was the most necessary thing for me now, the first step to the next level.
Of course, even desperately wanting that mindset didn't make it easy.
Whoooong!
‘. . .No clue.’
No matter how I looked, it was flawless light. I couldn't find a single flaw.
Unlike before, the mana was stable, the form distinct, and the color even more radiant.
What more could you do with light like this?
‘. . .Next for now.’
Pushing aside my frustration, I moved to the next step.
Ani Person's second piece of advice.
-Light is freer in form than any other attribute. In other words, you can develop it in your own direction.
Develop it in my own direction.
Ani Person had added that he couldn't help with this part.
It had to be done solely with my own power and thoughts.
No need to feel defeated.
Just find my own direction, as he said.
A thought I'd never considered before swirled in my mind.
‘What kind of light do I want?’
The question of what light I desired.
With light attributes, everyone pursues different paths.
For example, Dershion's light felt like it was desperately chasing something.
Compared to the other elders' light magic, the mana moving within it was faster, and its form shifted constantly.
It was light that seemed desperate to change into something else right away.
‘Then what about my light?’
For now, it was still sticking to the orthodox Aldeon style.
But that had its limits.
I needed something special, like Dershion's light.
Something special that was uniquely mine.
While pondering deeply, a certain image suddenly came to mind.
‘. . .Light faster than anything else.’
The first thought when I thought of light, the form of light I wanted.
Unrivaled in speed by anything.
I wanted my light magic to be like that.
And as I harbored that desire.
Fwaaaah!
The mana within the light orb began circulating at tremendous speed.
As if it might explode any moment.
My desire manifesting through the mana.
Whoooong!
Honestly, the rapidly circulating light orb looked a bit dangerous.
But instead of holding back, I pushed the speed even higher.
I knew instinctively.
Whether I could surpass this would determine if I could break through my limits or not.
‘Faster, even faster . . . !’
Whiiiiiing!
Now so fast that even the circulation itself was invisible to the eye.
‘It’s working!’
The moment I finally sensed the possibility.
Boom!
The orb exploded, scattering light in all directions.
At the same time, my body got caught in the blast and flung backward.
Crash!
I slammed into the dark room's wall and slid down.
Only then did I exhale the breath I'd been holding.
“Keok!”
It hurt like hell. My body had no strength left; I had no idea how hard I'd hit.
That's when Ani Person hurriedly opened the dark room door and rushed in.
“Disciple . . . ! Are you okay?”
“Ah, Master.”
It seemed the noise had carried outside.
“What is this . . . .”
Turning his head to check around, Ani Person immediately helped me up and sat me down.
Pat pat. With a worried face, he dusted off my body and asked.
“What on earth happened?”
“. . .Well, I found the path I want to take. Practicing it . . . led to this.”
“Rushing ahead like this again? I told you to decide on a direction, not practice it right away.”
“. . .Haha.”
“Sigh, disciple. You don't need to be so impatient. As long as you don't give up, you'll reach it someday. But rushing like this might cause an accident before that day comes.”
Ani Person scolded me.
The sound must have been loud; he seemed genuinely worried.
“I'm sorry.”
“No, you don't owe me an apology. Apologize to your own body.”
“. . .Sorry, body.”
“Good.”
Only then did Ani Person nod in satisfaction and shake his head before speaking.
“So, what path did you decide on?”
Ani Person's eyes gleamed brightly.
He seemed inwardly expectant.
No reason to hide it, so I explained in detail.
“I realized light can't be separated from speed.”
“. . .Speed?”
“Yes. So I decided to pursue light pushed to the limit of speed. Practicing that process caused the explosion.”
“. . .”
Did I say something wrong?
“. . .Master?”
“. . .”
Ani Person clamped his mouth shut, saying nothing.
And with a quite serious expression.
It was a long while later that Ani Person finally spoke.
“. . .Disciple.”
“Yes?”
With a more serious face than ever, he said quietly.
“It seems our meeting really was fate.”
And that was a statement I couldn't comprehend at all.