Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Method of Crossing Space
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The morning after Victoria woke from her sleep.
In a small clearing not far from the inn, the Hero and I were huddled together, racking our brains for a way to quickly travel to the Holy Kingdom and back.
"...So, do you have a method in mind? This is the Demon Realm, where spatial coordinates are hard to obtain."
Hero Kyle scratched his chin, expressing his worry. Unlike the continent we had lived on, this was the Demon Realm ruled by the Demon King.
There was no reason for them to disclose the coordinates needed for magic to outsiders. Doing so could lead to immediate ambushes using spatial teleportation, after all.
The very reason we had embarked on a year-long adventure to kill one of the Four Heavenly Kings was because of this.
"Even if moving to the Holy Kingdom is possible, returning seems impossible..."
There was merit in Kyle's words as his expression darkened. There were three essential conditions for using spatial teleportation magic.
1. The spatial coordinates of the departure point.
2. The spatial coordinates of the destination point.
And finally, as was widely known, a powerful force capable of twisting the wall of space itself was required.
"Yeah, that's how it is normally."
I was installing a row of magic circles, brushing the dirt off my hands. They were all magic circles imbued with speed-enhancing and lightning-attribute magic.
"Spatial teleportation magic typically manifests as a vortex in the form of a Gate. The standard method is to pour vast magical power to distort space."
I stared intently at the worried Kyle, explaining basic common sense. Because the method I was about to attempt was far from ordinary.
"...But that's the conventional method, requiring you to open a Gate at both the departure and destination points, right?"
I shrugged as if it were no big deal and continued. I had already thought of a solution while staying up all night.
Dozens of magic circles, crackling with blue lightning and glowing brightly.
The magic circles, lined up in a row, looked almost like a finish line a runner must pass through.
"...If you move in a perfectly straight line by precisely controlling speed and angle, wouldn't you only need one set of coordinates?"
I would use a paradigm shift to traverse space using these. By moving in a perfectly straight line, I could eliminate the need for one side's coordinates.
Of course, similar to the conventional method, while the Gate is maintained, others could potentially use it, so Kyle's role in guarding it remained unchanged.
"Huh? I don't really understand..."
Kyle made a blank face, as if asking me to explain more simply. It seemed there were aspects too esoteric for the average person to grasp.
"Hmm, you've heard the old tale about a Hero who fought the Demon King using a sword slash that cut space itself, right?"
I brought up the ancient tale that had inspired me, to aid his understanding.
If the songs of the bards weren't lies, then this tale gained credibility alongside the stories of the Saints.
"I've heard that one too. I think it was the Hero from the generation before ours."
Kyle nodded readily in response. It was the achievement of a Hero, like him, chosen by the Holy Sword.
"But Demon King Ergothum didn't completely perish even after being hit by such an attack, to the point legends say he revived again in this era."
I continued speaking while unwrapping the bandages from my hands. I had worn them for using magic and fists together, but now they might only be a hindrance.
"The lesson I learned from this old tale is that an individual's power just needs to be strong enough to wound space itself."
This was the method I had conceived while staying up all night.
A large-scale spatial teleportation magic that would normally require dozens of Dragon-class mages—a level below me—to perform.
For a single individual to use it, technique and meticulous calculation were necessary.
"I'm going to combine technique and brute force like that Hero did... and momentarily shatter space itself."
I gazed thoughtfully at the magic circle before me, a smile touching my lips.
By aligning the magic circles in sequence to minimize mana consumption, and passing through them, I would generate explosive mass and force.
"Exactly like the principle of smashing a sturdy castle wall by charging an incredibly fast battering ram."
To save Victoria and minimize the risk of monsters or demons crossing over from the Demon Realm, this was the best course.
At this point, seeking help from my master or other Tower Masters via messenger would be too late.
"Is that even possible? It's not that I don't trust you, but this method seems far too dangerous. Shouldn't we just open a Gate the standard way...?"
I chuckled softly seeing Kyle's worried expression. This guy had been thoughtful since before, but he was almost too good-natured.
He truly lived up to the name 'Hero' in the classic sense. Not just because he was chosen by the Holy Sword, but his actions themselves embodied it.
If I had to pick one hero, praised by countless voices, a model for others whose tales would be told for generations, I would choose Kyle Dragonica without hesitation.
"Have you forgotten who the mage before you is? Astar Kaiseroth, called the strongest on the continent."
To ease Kyle's worries, I puffed out my chest and declared my ambition boldly.
Frankly, I had no doubt of failure.
I already knew it was theoretically quite possible, and to save Victoria, I was willing to use any method.
I never wanted to see someone die before my eyes again.
"...The human body has magic circuits, so it can also be thought of as another magic circle, Kyle."
Along with those words, a magic circle glowing blue and crackling, and another kicking up dust, floated above my hand.
I combined the Dragon-class magic Scar of Lightning, which calls down lightning upon the earth,
with the Dragon-class magic Earth Fortitude, which makes the body as solid as the earth, to create a new magic.
It was a combination akin to a suicide bomb that could kill me if it failed, but I was in no position to be picky about means or methods now.
*Crackle—!*
I clapped my hands together, shattering the newly formed three-dimensional magic circle. At this sudden, bizarre action, Kyle's gaze snapped toward it.
"You, what are you doing?! Doing that, your body won't hold up...!"
Normally, the magic circle exploding would kill or severely injure the caster. After all, I had physically broken an activated magic circle.
"Just watch. I'll be right back."
*Zap, crackle-crackle—!*
Electric current surged through my body, releasing immense heat and shock.
But,
'I must use Earth Fortitude to attempt grounding, minimizing the load on my body, and control Scar of Lightning to direct the electricity only to the mana core...!'
I had to endure. My mana core was overloading from the lightning, blood flowing from my eyes, nose, and mouth, yet I had to grit my teeth and bear the pain as much as possible.
Because Victoria had always sacrificed herself this way to save others.
Because she used miracles with a peaceful face, as if feeling no pain or suffering.
I would make sure she never did such foolish things again.
If there was exactly one person who had to die on this adventure, it had to be me.
'...This probably can't compare to the pain Victoria must have endured.'
I exhaled a rough breath with a complicated heart. How much pain had she endured with a smiling face?
The contradictory image of her, knowing her remaining life was short, trying to push me away with a contract relationship came to mind.
'What I need now is speed and mass enough to pierce through space. So electricity is right, more than other elements.'
I gritted my teeth and endured the pain. The sensation and agony, as if my whole body were burning, were blowing my reason away.
"Elemental Transmutation..."
Commonly called Element Conversion Magic.
A technique capable of altering even the elements composing the body itself, an application of the intermediate magic Element Conversion.
Normally, it only went as far as turning steel into flame or air into lightning.
While the concept itself was simple enough for any intermediate mage to conceive,
this required such precise control that only I, with my experience and talent, could barely manage it.
Because the slightest mistake would be a suicidal act—my entire body melting like water, boiling, or evaporating.
"You madman... You're probably the only lunatic who'd risk his life for a girlfriend he's only been with for a few days."
Hero Kyle, witnessing the spectacle, swore uncharacteristically. He likely thought my relationship with Victoria wasn't that deep yet.
"...I'm just trying to avoid troublesome things later."
I let out a hollow laugh toward the Hero. Even if it were another comrade, not Victoria, I would have made the same choice.
Thus, lightning imbued my mana core, beginning to spin violently, flowing through my entire body to maintain its form.
"...Thunder Lord."
Finally, the moment all incantations were successfully completed.
*Kwa-rurururung—!*
A blue bolt of lightning struck down, transforming my appearance into a living mass of electricity.
With the new realization that I could consider my own body a magic circle, I had become able to transform my entire body into an element itself.
Now, all I had to do was pierce through the wall of space with this.
*Tadadadadak—!*
Having transformed into a form akin to lightning, I began charging toward the magic circle before me. The magic circles imbued with speed-enhancing and lightning-attribute magic.
*Pakan, pakan, pajijijik—!*
Each one I passed through added acceleration to my body, and the surrounding scenery all began to thin into fine lines.
"So you're crashing your lightning-transformed body at full speed to create a temporary Gate..."
Hero Kyle uttered an exclamation of admiration as he watched my actions. It was a method no ordinary mage could conceive, no matter how you thought about it.
Kyle then drew his Flame Holy Sword, finishing preparations to guard the surroundings safely.
Passing through the final magic circle, I succeeded in distorting space by kicking the air powerfully with my right foot.
"Astrape...!!!"
In that instant, I pierced through the wall of space, arriving at the Holy Kingdom Aurelium.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And,
"T-This can't be...? Why would Lord Astar do such a thing?!"
Witnessing that scene from afar, Victoria covered her mouth with her hand, swallowing a cry of shock.