Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 30: Overwhelming Talent
A space deep underground where light doesn't reach, completely different from Helon's flashy Main Castle.
There wasn't a single window in the conference room surrounded by thick stone walls, and only a few candlesticks hanging on the walls were barely pushing away darkness with shaking lights.
Obsidian was placed on the ceiling and floor to hinder blocking, soundproofing, and mana interference, so words exchanged inside here couldn't leak out even an inch.
On the long table in the center, a map of the entire Northern Territory, troop deployment chart, and structural diagram of Helon area were spread out, and red pins were stuck here and there on top.
"Didn't you say the installation was perfect? You said mana condensation crack induction, detonation timing, even location selection as the warehouse beyond the library wall were all according to calculation!"
With words spat out roughly, one executive slammed the table.
Another executive sitting opposite retorted clenching his teeth.
"We received a report that Emiline definitely entered that room. Guard movement lines were also checked, and explosion radius matched exactly. But why is she fine?"
Voices grew louder.
"Unless someone was inside—"
Chairs were pushed making sharp sounds, and some half rose from seats glaring at each other. Tension and anger tangled shaking the air inside the conference room roughly.
It was that moment.
Bang—!
The sound of a palm hitting the center of the table overwhelmed the space.
As dull vibration spread along the wood grain, agitated voices stopped simultaneously.
All gazes headed to the head table.
Redric Ricardo.
Slowly withdrawing his hand, he looked around without moving from his seat.
Black hair assimilated into deep darkness and red eyes seemingly holding blood color, face hardly revealing emotions.
He was an existence of completely different temperature from executives raising voices until just now.
"Raising voices changes nothing."
Low and dry voice crossed the conference room.
"I received a report that the explosion proceeded normally though."
His gaze fixed on one executive.
"Isn't that so."
The pointed executive swallowed his breath and nodded.
"Yes. Mana crack of the condensed mass was induced as planned. Detonation formula was also within error range, and destruction radius also matched calculated values. Even residual mana elimination to leave no traces was completed."
Redric tapped the table slowly with his finger.
"Then the problem isn't detonation but... a variable."
His eyes narrowed.
"Speak."
The executive bowed his head and continued.
"A person named Iden Summonfield intervened."
"Iden?"
Redric's glabella moved very subtly.
"He is the one called Summoner of the Dark Night. He showed prominence in Hamelon siege warfare, and is an emerging noble who recently bought Baronet title. Just before the explosion, he intruded into the library side corridor, subdued two white crest knights, and entered the room. And—"
The executive stopped speaking for a moment, then added low.
"He deployed a defensive summoning circle and wrapped Princess Emiline. The explosion happened as scheduled, but damage was minimized by the protective barrier."
Brief silence.
Redric tilted his head slightly.
"Meaning he detected the explosion... with Summoning Arts."
"It is presumed so."
Redric repeated that name inwardly.
Iden.
Summoner of the Dark Night.
He knew he was the one who captured the Northern Barbarian Chief alive, won Hamelon victory, received the Grand Duke's direct call, and is one of the names most quickly talked about in recent Northern noble society.
Because that name was now a celebrity in the Northern Territory.
Redric wore a faint smile on his lips.
"Interesting."
Rising from his seat, he walked slowly and scanned the map on the long table with his fingertips.
"Summoning Arts... if it's sensory ability detecting minute mana fluctuations in the atmosphere, he might read incomplete amplification."
His gaze stopped on one red pin.
"But to view as coincidence, the timing is excessively accurate."
One executive asked carefully.
"Shall we eliminate him?"
That question made the air colder.
Redric shook his head immediately.
"No."
His voice was still consistent.
"Until confirming what and how far that guy knows, do not move hastily."
He turned slowly and continued speaking.
"For now, watch."
It was a short word, but calculation was contained in it.
Candlelight shook and his shadow cast long on the wall.
"And investigate about the bastard."
This time was merely a warning.
Next time will be more precise.
Redric rolled the name slowly for the last time.
"Iden Summonfield..."
Cool interest spread in those pupils.
The plan went awry, but the board hasn't ended yet.
Rather, a new piece came up.
The plan to overthrow the ruler of the Northern Territory, Wintel family, has only just begun, and the appearance of a new piece couldn't even be counted as a setback axis.
Redric's red eyes fix on one piece on the map.
Redric Ricardo, the head of the group [Endermit] shouting for national subversion ultimately.
He is the final dark curtain appearing in the latter half of the original work which is the basis of this world.
A villain trying to execute the original male lead Cale Bailus to take Vivienne.
And an unfortunate(?) figure who couldn't even start the story due to Edom Rivan's quick escape.
**
The outdoor training ground was full of long stretched shadows of late evening.
Straw piles were already half burnt, and burnt smell still remained faintly in the air.
Iden looked at Erwin dusting off his hands.
"You said magic... must be operated differently from Summoning Arts."
Erwin nodded with her arms crossed.
"I said Summoning Arts is a technique 'connecting' with outside, right? Magic is different. Not connection, but 'composition'."
She drew a simple diagram on the dirt floor with her toe.
"Detecting mana in the atmosphere is the same, but the next step is different. General magic circulates mana into internal circuits to grant attribute, compress, and shape."
"Internal circuit...?"
"Mana circuit network. You must consciously open the flow starting from the origin near the heart leading to arms and fingertips. Most are congenitally open to some extent, but expansion is possible with training."
Iden closed his eyes calming his breathing slowly.
Mana.
He is already skilled at detecting flows floating in the atmosphere.
However, now he must not spread it out, but pull it in.
Erwin's explanation continued.
"For fire attribute, don't rely only on the image of heat. Recall conditions of combustion. Oxygen, ignition, fuel. Take mana as fuel, and will as ignition. And—"
She flicked her fingertip.
"Compression."
Whoosh.
A spherical flame rises above Erwin's palm.
Iden followed exactly.
Exhaling slowly, he detects mana in the atmosphere.
Sensation of fine particles tickling the skin.
Without pulling it forcibly, absorb naturally.
Subtle trembling near the heart.
He envisions what is called a circuit as heard from Erwin.
However, mana gathered at fingertips then scattered.
Heat was created but shape doesn't form.
"Concentration is disrupted."
Erwin pointed out calmly.
Iden clenched his teeth.
Again.
This time he tries to draw conscious of the circuit more clearly.
Recalling structure like when drawing a summoning circle, imagining drawing inside the body not outside.
Make it flow along the arm as if drawing the path mana passes with a line.
With the feeling of summoning the element called fire, condense mana in the drawn internal circuit.
Flash.
But failure again.
Still, weak flame rose fleetingly at fingertips then went out.
Erwin walked over and held his wrist lightly.
"Don't keep trying to look 'outside'. Magic starts from inside."
Her hand was warm.
"Don't spread mana outside, condense inside the circuit first. Then, open the exit."
Iden closed his eyes.
Groping sensation and explanation transmitted through her fingertips, he tries drawing the circuit again.
"Phew..."
Iden took a deep breath.
Flow starting from the heart rides ribs to shoulder, passes arm and goes down to fingertips.
That process was felt more clearly than the first time.
Like feeling liquid flowing down the esophagus when drinking strong alcohol.
Like stepping on a path known from long ago again.
Recalling conditions of combustion, not image of heat.
And compress mana gathering above palm.
Mana concentrates and air distorts.
Erwin's pupils grew a little big.
"Wait—"
Before her words ended.
Whoosh!
A red sphere formed on Iden's palm.
At first it was a small ember.
However, density increased in an instant forming a perfect sphere.
Surface was stable without shaking, and the center shone with vivid red.
Fireball.
He succeeded in using basic elementary rank magic.
Iden stared at the risen red flame with a stiff face.
"...Is, is it done?"
Erwin stepped back with a surprised face.
She was expecting hundreds of failures.
She set hundreds considering that potential, talent, and innate sense Iden possesses are excellent.
Because general people took months just for circuit opening and attribute shaping.
But...
"This easily?"
Iden completed at the end of just a few attempts.
With mana density and control power exceeding a certain level at that.
Something more than awe was contained in Erwin's eyes.
As expected.
My husb—