Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Golden Lifeline
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"Fourth circle is easy."
As I poured mana into it, the orb of light smoothly finished its calculations and completed its preparations.
It was now in a state waiting only for my command.
All I had to do was utter the incantation. It was like a gun with my finger already on the trigger.
I still hadn't added anything to the core's surface.
But if I wanted, I could shape it anytime with my mana, mimicking the appearance of one of those relic-grade artifacts I'd seen before.
After all, the core itself had a shorter duration than any shaped shell, so there was no need to make it overly intricate.
"Freeze Shard."
As I opened my palm, a chill rapidly seeped into the floor in front of me.
The cold energy spread gently, thinly freezing the stone surface.
I hadn't poured in much mana, so it didn't spread far.
It was just a quick check of the artifact's performance.
As expected, the performance wasn't perfect.
Of course it wasn't. This was a core made from derivative mana, not primal mana.
Mass-produced model fit it perfectly.
Not that I planned to mass-produce it.
I couldn't test up to sixth-circle magic in the lab. I didn't even know sixth-circle magic properly yet.
But roughly speaking, the limit of what I could manifest this way was probably sixth circle.
"I need to find a training ground."
I briefly considered returning to a house with a dedicated training hall, but there was another issue.
Magic grimoires.
I needed to acquire magic grimoires.
Especially from sixth circle onward, that meant either having a ton of money... or...
solid connections.
My connection.
The one golden lifeline who could handle everything from land for a training ground to the necessary grimoires.
The prestigious magic family, the Eldis Family.
To deepen my understanding of principles, I planned to learn other attributes too, so I'd need plenty of lower-circle grimoires in various types.
I didn't expect them for free, but no matter how I thought about it, getting help from the Eldis Family was clearly the fastest way.
Guess I won't be living it up on money for a while.
For now, I wrote letters. One to Parovian Eldis, and one to send directly to the Eldis Family.
Strictly speaking, Parovian had already left the family, so it was questionable if he'd be of real help.
But since I had no rapport with the family head, it was a form of insurance.
In the letter to Parovian, I plainly stated my business.
The one to the family, on the other hand, I laced with the ornate rhetoric and flourishes common in noble society.
Only toward the end did I slip in my hopeful wish to meet once.
With everything done, I decided to leave the lab.
I'd head to the city where the Eldis Family's castle was.
As I tidied up the lab to leave, I ran straight into Professor Palrez.
Startled, I looked at him, but his eyes were twice as wide as mine, staring back.
"You... you've been here this whole time?"
Has the semester already ended?
Come to think of it, time had flown by that much.
Palrez scanned me up and down before speaking.
His voice tone had risen a notch.
"Don't tell me you're back to your original research? Did you find a breakthrough?"
Original research meant the manaphone, of course.
What did I look like...?
Oh, right. Artifact crafting plus training on top—I hadn't slept properly.
I shook my head.
"No."
I had found a breakthrough... but that wasn't why I'd stayed here.
"Then... don't tell me."
For some reason, his expression brightened even more. Was that gold coins sparkling in his eyes, or was I imagining it?
"Did you make something new?"
"No."
"..."
"No need to be disappointed. We already have our hands full with what we've started."
Palrez shook his head firmly.
"No. The headaches so far were all from those annoying political issues, but at the last banquet, I met the nobles and secured solid investment promises. Mass production isn't a dream anymore. So go ahead and unleash whatever's in that head of yours!"
"..."
As I stayed silent, Palrez belatedly noticed the lab's mess.
"Th-this... is..."
Guilt crept up as his eyes surveyed the lab.
"Well, I do have something in mind, actually."
"...Really?"
His darkening expression brightened again.
"W-well... it's fine. Haha... I can just have someone clean it up anyway."
His eyes sparkled as he casually probed.
"What'd you come up with?"
I hesitated for a moment.
Should I say I made a mass-produced computation artifact?
But... no, that was impossible.
Turning a relic-grade artifact mass-producible... that was way too much.
It would only draw unnecessary attention.
Besides, relic-grade still couldn't be preserved long-term like general or rider-grade.
Well, if I released it, they probably wouldn't care.
With the two artifacts I'd already made, evil forces had their eyes on me, so I needed to be cautious.
Better to deflect with something less attention-grabbing.
I needed money anyway. I could just whip up something moderate.
"I'll tell you if it works out."
"Sure, no rush. Tell me whenever you're ready."
His tone softened, and he grinned like he'd swallow anything I said.
The Eldis Family was not far from the capital.
Before the massive castle gate, knights stood with spears blocking the way.
One went inside to report, and soon Oz appeared.
I'd expected to run into her, but not that she'd come out to greet me personally.
But for someone greeting me, why did she look so unhappy?
Without a word of greeting, she led me inside.
We walked through the garden in silence.
For some reason, sweat beaded on my skin. Was the sunlight too intense?
Then Oz suddenly spoke.
"You want magic grimoires, right?"
"Uh... could I get some help? Not for free, of course."
"Yeah..."
Her deflated reply came.
I was used to her being forceful, but this side was new.
Well, I'd seen her cry and laugh recently too, but...
Anyway, this was a first, which meant something was off.
My mind spun like a compass in a storm, but the answer came quickly despite the urgency.
Because the last time we'd been together was fixed in my memory.
The banquet... I slipped out alone.
And I hadn't explained a word since.
Leaving your partner behind was rude, no matter the reason.
Even if she understood, I should've at least asked how she felt and explained—but I hadn't.
Couldn't focus because of the transcendent forces of evil.
Sure enough, problems crop up at banquets I'm not used to.
"Sorry for ditching you alone at the banquet last time."
"..."
She stayed silent.
But her gaze turned to me.
For the first time since that brief glance in front of the castle.
"I should've stayed till the end... Must've been awkward for you."
"No. I told you to go."
"Still, it was an imperial banquet, and your partner bailed alone. Must've put you in a tough spot. Sorry."
Oz was quiet for a moment, then asked casually, like it was no big deal.
"But you've been super busy since then? No reply to my letter..."
Then it hit me.
That's what this was.
I'd pretended to be in Palrez's lab but actually went north, so I never saw her letter.
And now, after ages, I'd suddenly sent letters to Parovian and the family head.
Yeah, easy to misunderstand.
"I didn't ignore it on purpose. I didn't even know you'd sent one."
"..."
Oz stared at me again.
"You're right, I should've checked... but I didn't. Not much of an excuse, huh?"
I added it because her stare embarrassed me, and it seemed her mood softened a bit.
Her voice gentled soon after.
"Looks like you really were swamped. But it worked out? You surprised me asking for grimoires out of the blue."
"Yeah, I've been feeling the need for training lately. Planning to set up a training ground nearby too. So—"
"For real?"
I nearly jumped.
She suddenly shoved her face close and raised her voice, startling me.
Realizing it late, Oz hurriedly stepped back.
"Ahem, no, I was just surprised. You never cared about training before."
"...True."
"So you'll be staying around here from now on?"
"Once I get the family head's permission. That's why I'm here."
Oz nodded along.
"Then I'll put in a good word for you."
"Nah... Better if I ask directly."
"Why?"
"The family head will want to hear it from me."
I'd already hinted at my intentions in the letter to Parovian.
Asking Oz on top of that might seem overly pushy to the family head.
I needed to do the minimum convincing myself.
"Fine, if you say so, I won't stop you. But... don't be too blunt. He's a bit picky."
She cautioned carefully, knowing my personality well.
Her gaze was like watching a kid take its first steps.
How picky could he be?
I got a little curious.