Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: The Last Resort
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The underground of the Daina family mansion.
Kwaaaaaaaaah!
A pillar of blue magical energy shooting up into the sky. Originally, all this mana should have been used for the manifestation of 'Divine Magic'.
[Aaaaah, nooooooooo!]
Unless it was a 'Holy Vein', the mana of a ley line was not infinite. And even that ley line mana wasn't enough, so they had diligently saved up by gathering magic stones, only for it all to be shot skyward now, disappearing at a terrifying rate. Darken Daina was screaming in immense shock, scattering blue flames.
[My... how I gathered it all... No! No!]
"Wha, what on earth is happening?"
[Ooh... Kkrkrkrlrgkakakakakakak!]
"Ancestor! Please stabilize it first. We must stop this mana discharge immediately. We are insufficient alone. Please help us, Ancestor!"
Darian advised his ancestor Darken, who was in the midst of a mental breakdown, while desperately adjusting magical tools, trying to eliminate that pillar of mana.
Why this had happened was also important, but for now, stopping this mana leak was the priority.
If they didn't stop this quickly, not only would the ley line's mana be completely depleted, but the magic stones accumulated over centuries would all turn into mere rocks, setting 'Divine Magic' research back by hundreds of years.
"Let's see... let's see... if I adjust the formula here like this......"
[Step aside! Damn it! I don't know how this happened! But I won't let whoever played this trick get away with it! Krrrrrlrg! ...Stars of the firmament!]
The lich, Darken Daina, raised his staff, pointing it towards the sky, seeking the stars.
'Astronomical Magic'. A magic that uses earthly mana to manifest the different rules governing the stars and the cosmos floating in the universe.
A secret among secrets, requiring such difficult theory, metaphysical knowledge, and mana control that only Darken Daina could wield it.
A black sphere was summoned above the blue pillar, and it began to swallow the mana spewing from the pillar.
Thanks to the black star absorbing the endless mana discharge, the shockwaves from the various magical tools and the ley line calmed momentarily. In that brief respite, Darken Daina, Darian Daina, and the other mages destroyed the magical tools, and the black star descended to plug the ley line, preventing further discharge. As Darken Daina simultaneously used magic to close the ley line's gate, the situation finally settled.
"Phew... Y-you are indeed the Ancestor."
[...Grrrrrrlrg! Find... find the cause immediately. Those damn bastards... How dare they! How dare they... my research... Grlrg! My research!]
Although one crisis was averted, the scene was a wreck.
The destroyed mansion had a hole so large you could see the sky through the ceiling above. The painstakingly gathered magical tools and formula magic circles were a complete mess.
The intricately engraved magic circles, layered two or three times with care, were now mere shattered rocks. The magic stones connected to the tools barely emitted any mana.
Yes, it was all gone.
[Kk... Kkrrrrrrrrrrlrg! Which bastard diiiiiid this......! Grrrrrlrg! Kkrrrrrrlrg!]
"Th-that... Ancestor, it seems someone made a mistake. According to the mages who witnessed it, the moment they installed the tool and began the experiment, it suddenly malfunctioned, causing the mana to run wild......"
[I'm sure I ordered thorough inspections when bringing things in?]
"O-of course we inspected the formulas as well. But there was nothing wrong with the mana circuits or the formulas. We have committed a sin worthy of death, Ancestor! We... we have ruined your dream......"
[...No. It's not your fault. Grrrrrrrlrg!]
Darken Daina, scattering blue flames, sank into calm thought.
The system of this underground laboratory was clearly built by him. Naturally, the procedure and process for inspecting the formulas on magical tools were also meticulously established by him, with mages from the family checking them two or three times before bringing them in.
[If someone more skilled than you interfered... Grrrlrg! That's only natural. That rotten... Beonald bastard!]
With a natural progression to the conclusion, Darken Daina thought it was the work of Beonald von Neumel, having previously exchanged declarations of war over the magic book.
There was no evidence, but circumstantially, after the declaration of war, the only one who would know he was resuming 'Divine Magic' research and interfere was that bastard.
[Grrrlrg! ...Anyway, he's a vicious one! Damn Beonald brat! Kkrrrrrrlrg!]
"So you mean... this is that person's doing?"
[Yes. Ggggggk! I knew he would come and prepared thoroughly... but in the end, I was had. Krrrrlrg!]
He had resolved to prepare thoroughly ever since discovering that bastard's traces, meticulously vetting everything brought in and every process, but he was still had in the end.
However, Darken Daina, knowing the bastard's skill, stopped being disappointed.
Because no matter how much a sparrow tears its legs trying to catch up with a stork, it can never succeed.
"Ancestor, then... what will you do?"
[Then... I'll have no choice but to use the final method. Kkrrrrlrg!]
Burning his blue flames even brighter, Darken Daina pondered something deeply.
The final method wasn't something he prepared thinking he'd be defeated by Beonald. It was a method he had prepared to mobilize if research failed repeatedly or seemed utterly impossible.
[Darian... I leave the rest to you. You know who it is now... right?]
"Yes. Hearing your words, Ancestor, I now understand the culprit is ultimately that alchemist, that 'Neumel' bastard. I let him off because he abandoned his family name, but......"
[Just as you did... in the end, he too will have no choice but to follow when an ancestor appears. Grrrrrlrg! Yes, anyway, now that you know... deal with him definitively so he can't interfere with me anymore. Understood?]
"Yes. I stake my life on it! I will definitely handle it."
Darian Daina bowed respectfully to his ancestor Darken Daina and nodded.
He didn't know what trick was played on the magical tool, but he had figured out the culprit had tampered with the 'magical tool'. Since they seemed intent on interfering with their work to the end, they had to be dealt with.
Watching Darken Daina disappear via magic, he gripped his staff, steeled his resolve, and went to prepare to receive the perpetrators of this act, summoning all the Daina family mages cleaning up the scene.
And at the same time, Beonald was struggling with Dean Arjen to push through the protesting crowd and enter the Daina family mansion.
In the situation where the sudden appearance of the giant pillar of magical light had drawn personnel from all departments for investigation and protest, the Daina family was trying their utmost to prevent anyone from entering, with mages using magic to erect barriers and block the way.
"Shouldn't you explain what happened?"
[Now, now! Everyone, please calm down first. The Mage King is currently investigating. We will announce it afterwards, so please return for now.]
"What kind of dangerous experiment did you conduct to cause this mess?"
"I even heard ley line mana was sucked out?"
"When an incident like this occurs, shouldn't all department heads be gathered to resolve it, not just the Daina family alone?"
"Let us in! Let us in!"
As harsh words flew and those who came to protest were also mages, they were using their own magic to dismantle the barriers, fighting and causing a commotion.
Fortunately, the Necromancy and Darkness departments, being on the Daina family's side, had gone inside and joined the ranks of Daina family mages, helping to erect the magical barriers.
"Hmm... It'll be quite hard to get in."
"The commotion was just too big. Anyway, shall I also resort to a show of force? As a department head... I must maintain some dignity."
"Ooh......"
"'Dimensional Gate Open'......"
Woooooong! Koooooong!
With the incantation, a magic circle opened, and from it emerged a lion-shaped figure made of steel, slightly larger than a human.
Magic formulas were engraved all over the lion's body, and as mana flowed from Dean Arjen's body and transmitted to it, they began to activate.
"'Mana Circuit Connection'... successful. 'Control Formula' operational... 'Initiate Activation'."
[Krrrrrrrlung! Keheheheheng!]
"Ooh... I thought a golem was just a lump of rock or iron... but this is amazing."
Beonald had never imagined it would be modeled after a beast.
Anyway, the steel lion roared like a real one and immediately moved, swiping at the mana-made barrier with its front paw.
Mana flowed through the formulas engraved all over its body, allowing it to attack like a magic-enchanted weapon.
"Ooh......"
Beonald watched with pure admiration, observing the achievement created by his descendant.
An animal-shaped golem, and one in the form of a valiant lion at that, moving so naturally. Beonald's eyes sparkled as he analyzed it.
First, the steel body was composed of smaller and more detailed parts than expected, with a considerable number of formulas engraved, which he could confirm.
And its teeth and claws were sharp, honed like blades—a clear indication it was made for combat.
'Above all, that movement is astonishing. Setting aside the control, how were the internal formulas structured? Did they create a new technique? I finally get to see... the formulas developed over 500 years.'
While he was engrossed in admiration for the lion-shaped golem, the Daina family mages, sensing the unusual power pounding the barrier, swarmed over. Recognizing the Dean of the Alchemy Department had arrived, they partially withdrew the barrier and urgently spoke to Arjen.
"Ah, Dean Arjen! Please stop. Just now, it was said that Dean Arjen and the other department heads are permitted to enter."
"Good. Very well. 'Cease'. Then let us enter."
"Yes! Understood."
A portion of the barrier opened, and Beonald followed Arjen inside.
At the same time, other department heads appeared from elsewhere—the familiar black goat beastman Professor Gemini and Selina had entered. The two rushed over as soon as they saw Beonald.
"Meeeeh~ You came after all."
"What on earth happened? You disappeared on your own, gave no proper contact all this time, where were you and what were you doing that you only show up now? And could it be your true identity is that one from the past...! Beo... mmph!"
"Ahem! Wait, wait~ There are circumstances for all that, so hold your tongue for a moment. Ahem! And... I'm currently disguised under the name 'Beo'. Got it? I'll explain the details later, so let it go for now."
Beonald rushed over and covered Selina's mouth before his name could be fully spoken, quickly making the two understand he was using an alias.
Professor Gemini nodded as if he understood, and Selina had a look of disbelief, but she thought it best to follow his lead for now.
Then they joined, quickly introduced themselves to Dean Arjen, and as Beonald watched other department heads entering and gathering, he began to adjust the fine details of his plan.