Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: First Steps (7)
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The day after spending time with Hepiriya, I was able to borrow a workshop thanks to the Holy Kingdom's consideration.
In truth, though they called it consideration, I could see they intended to treat me with the utmost hospitality.
Whether it was deliberate or not, there had been that incident in the dungeon, after all.
The duke was handling all the negotiations himself, while I was basically just sightseeing.
I'd definitely come here for cultural exchange purposes.
"Well, it suits me just fine."
By the way, they were also actively pushing to import my books into the Holy Kingdom.
Of course, there were some tricky hurdles to overcome.
Anyway, the reason I'd borrowed the workshop was to examine the grimoire and my Heart Realm.
I hadn't properly looked over the grimoire we'd found in the dungeon where the accident happened.
And for some reason, my Heart Realm had formed, so that needed checking too.
"When I glanced at it briefly, the handwriting looked eerily similar to mine."
I sat down at the table and placed the grimoire on it.
First, I opened the initial page.
Sure enough, the handwriting was all too familiar.
Why on earth was it written in my handwriting?
Numerous questions bubbled up, but staring at the script alone wouldn't reveal any answers.
So I started poring over the contents.
"...This is spatial magic?"
That space from before, and the enlightenment I'd gained this time.
Everything was tied to space, and the writing here was no different.
In other words, it was a grimoire on spatial magic.
For starters, the pages contained musings on space itself.
"Space—or more precisely, the concept known as spacetime—is something we already understand. We feel it through our skin and senses without needing to commit it to words. And yet, I intend to set it down in writing."
That was how the introduction read.
There were various discussions further down, some parts I could interpret, others I couldn't.
But the unreadable sections weren't the sort that would yield to mere time and effort.
"My enlightenment is lacking, huh."
I simply didn't have sufficient enlightenment to perceive them yet.
In other words, unless I contemplated my magic and insights to gain new revelations, they would remain hidden.
I wanted to read them right away, but that could wait.
"As long as I don't quit magic, anyway."
No such thing would happen, so no need to rush.
With little I could read immediately, I closed the grimoire.
Next to inspect was my Heart Realm.
I'd gained enlightenment at some point, and now I had to properly confront it.
Normally, enlightenment strikes while delving into magic, battling someone, or in any number of other scenarios.
Naturally, you sense it during the process and internalize it.
But mine had come abruptly, out of nowhere.
It felt like suddenly becoming aware of an action I'd been doing unconsciously.
Or like recalling something long forgotten.
"The former feels closer, but..."
Actually, maybe both?
Anyway, time to examine the enlightenment properly.
I closed my eyes and took deep breaths to focus inward.
Soon, the Heart Realm formed from that enlightenment came into view.
My Heart Realm was incredibly small, yet simultaneously vast.
"It looks like the universe."
Or maybe a black hole.
Being my first enlightenment, it was surprisingly underwhelming.
Still, stars dotted here and there amid that expansive, cosmic feel—it was fascinating.
By now, you've probably caught on.
My enlightenment was related to space.
Truth be told, it was impossible not to notice.
That space from before, my Heart Realm now—both tied to spacetime.
The revelation I'd gained was: 'Everything converges to a single point.'
It evoked the Big Bang.
This world might not know it, but back on Earth, they say the universe began from one point.
Fringe theories veer into black hole cosmology or fractal universes, sure.
"But those are fringe for a reason."
Anyway, enough about outliers—gazing at the enlightenment, I still didn't quite get it.
What did 'Everything converges to a single point' truly mean?
On the surface, it sounded like the Big Bang: everything starting from one point.
But the phrasing—converges to—hinted at something subtly different.
Maybe it meant this:
That everything, in some way, ultimately returns to a single point.
Apply that to spacetime, and it becomes a black hole.
Overwhelming mass warps spacetime, drawing everything to a singularity.
"This explanation fits, right?"
Thinking in terms of a black hole made it straightforward enough.
So that's why the Heart Realm resembled both a universe and a black hole?
I looked at the Heart Realm once more.
It still appeared as an incomplete universe at times, a black hole at others.
Without my Earth memories, the sight might have stunned me.
As you know, this world has no such notions of space.
The universe? Even less so.
"Except for this grimoire."
After admiring my Heart Realm a bit longer, I pulled back out.
Opening my eyes, I saw the still-unfamiliar workshop, with intense sunlight pouring down outside.
The interior was quiet, and the area beyond sparsely trafficked.
In short, an ideal spot for experiments all around.
"Time to internalize this enlightenment and test out the grimoire."
My Holy Kingdom schedule wasn't over yet.
Plenty of time left for experiments.
And so, I spent the next while in the workshop, delighting in tests and contemplation.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Every beginning has an end, and my time in the Holy Kingdom drew to a close today.
After wrapping up the final schedule and boarding the carriage, Hepiriya grabbed my arm reluctantly.
"We'll see each other again, right?"
"Of course. Come visit like last time. Ah, secretly, of course."
Otherwise, the territory would erupt in chaos.
I tossed out the light joke, and she chuckled, waving goodbye.
I returned the farewell and climbed into the carriage.
Thus, I departed the Holy Kingdom and returned to the Empire.
Regrettably, the imperial palace came before Rerangbur territory.
I had to report to the emperor and handle various matters.
Fortunately, it wasn't a big ordeal.
I'd met him several times before, and it didn't take long.
The emperor shot me an odd look, but said little.
I finished the audience swiftly and headed to Rerangbur.
Upon arriving, I beelined straight to my room, bypassing everywhere else!
Just as I was about to flop onto the bed, a familiar face caught my eye.
"Katiranya, what are you doing there?"
"You're back, Edn. Well then, let's begin."
Huh? Begin what?
I'd meant to greet her warmly, but she advanced with an intensely serious expression.
Approaching slowly, her mana flow felt off—ominous.
Her hand even swirled with blood like a vortex, downright terrifying!
"W-wait a sec?! Let's talk first, Katiranya!"
"Hehe, didn't I tell you? Once you're back from the Holy Kingdom, we'd strip away that damned Holy Kingdom taint."
Right, she had said that.
But why approach so menacingly!
She seemed utterly unreceptive to words, so I opted to flee.
Escape first, wait for Katiranya to cool off.
I leaped off the bed and sprinted toward the door at what felt like my life's top speed.
"Almost—! There?"
"Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry? Don't even dream of escaping."
No way, this is insane!
How had she blocked it so fast? Tar-like darkness already sealed the door.
I whipped my head toward the window in a panic, but it was blocked too.
Damn, no wonder it looked dim!
I retreated to the room's corner, hands raised.
"K-Katiranya? No need for that, right? I was in the Holy Kingdom, sure, but honestly, I didn't even get blessed."
Did my panicked plea get through?
Katiranya halted briefly, staring me down.
Then she sighed and resumed approaching.
"True, you might not have received a blessing. But with that foul stench wafting from your body, how could I stand idly by?"
"...I took a bath."
"You know that's not what I mean."
Damn, cornered.
Katiranya had no intention of backing down, it seemed.
Of course—if she did, she'd have stopped ages ago.
Pondering my options, I sighed as she closed in right up to my face.
"Sigh, do whatever you want."
Fine, call it repaying a past favor.
When refining the mana stone engine, she'd handled those golems in my stead.
Plus, she helped me in subtle ways all the time.
I spread my arms wide, signaling surrender.
Katiranya approached without hesitation.
Bracing for the onrushing calamity—no, the future—I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Uh, what's this?"
"What else? Cleaning."
Her mana and blood enveloped my entire body.
It felt like plunging underwater, holy power searing her blood.
Wait, there really was holy power?
My shock was fleeting; soon, the burning subsided.
Only then did Katiranya, containing the blood, flash a satisfied smile.
"It went better than expected. Good, you're back to the usual Edn."
"...It's kinda anticlimactic compared to what I braced for."
In the deflating moment, a mutter escaped me unwittingly.
She gave me a puzzled look.
"Hm? What was that?"
"Nothing."
I shook my head slightly, and she shrugged after eyeing me curiously.
"Boring. Anyway, that's done."
"What a relief. I half-expected something weird."
"As if. Hmph, you've got quite the imagination."
If not, all the better.
Unlike the heart-stopping terror, nothing major happened.
I sighed in relief and began chatting with her to shake off the travel fatigue.
And so, the day passed peacefully.