Chapter 165
Chapter 165
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: A Dangerous Deal (2)
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“Huh? The government is controlling access? But the Galliante government and the Indigenous Autonomous Zone are separate administrative bodies, aren't they? If we just say we're going in, there's not much they can do, right?”
“Well, you're right. It's only a restriction in name. I just figured there must be a reason they're trying so hard to keep people out. Sorry if I overstepped.”
“No, it's okay. We didn't know either. But we're still set on going. Provided you'll be our guide, Jis.”
“Of course! When it comes to guides, I'm your man!”
Jis confidently thumped his chest, then gasped in pain. It took a long moment for the agony to subside before he could speak again.
“B-but, in my current state, I'm not sure I'll be able to get around properly.”
“Don't worry about that. Tomorrow, we're going to the healing mage Mr. Freeman told us about. They should be able to fix most physical injuries there.”
“Whoa, a healing mage? Isn't that kind of treatment super expensive?”
As Jis's eyes widened in surprise, Amy narrowed hers and said,
“It'll be cheaper than the guide fee you quoted.”
Jis scratched his head. Put that way, it really hit home just how much he'd tried to overcharge them.
“Haha, why bring that up all of a sudden? That's all in the past.”
Shirone sank into the plush sofa.
“Anyway, we should rest for today. My mental energy will recover after a night's sleep, but Rian and Tess will be in discomfort until they get healing magic.”
“Huh? No, I'm fine. My wounds have already healed.”
At Tess's words, the entire party turned to look at her. Sure enough, the sword cuts on her cheeks and arms were cleanly healed.
“Whoa, how did you do that? Is it something like what Mr. Freeman did?”
“Yes. I chose mitochondria for my second Schema.”
“Mitochondria?”
“It's the cellular organelle that produces energy. Using a mitochondria Schema dramatically improves basic physical abilities like reflexes, regeneration, and stamina. That's why swordsmen who aren't exceptionally talented often choose it as their base build. Kingdom soldiers and mercenaries probably use mitochondria builds a lot.”
“I see. But what do you mean by 'second build' or 'base build'?”
Having been overwhelmed by the swordsmen during the fight with the Parrot Mercenary Corps, Shirone wanted to learn more about Schema.
It was certainly a different dynamic from magical combat. Not knowing what dangers awaited in the ruins, it was best to gather as much information about combat as possible.
“'Build' refers to a technique tree. People often say to picture a virtual body when explaining Schema, but the actual sensation of learning it is different. It's more like the cells making up your body awaken and expand their definition. So, here's a question: How do swordsmen stack multiple builds?”
Amy and Rian knew the answer but didn't reply. Tess had the best understanding of Schema among them, so they decided to let her explain.
“Hmm. If it's a virtual diagram, maybe you develop it in sections, like the arms or the legs?”
“That's what most people think. It's not impossible, of course. But you can't maintain the body's balance that way. For example, if you only developed your nervous system, your muscles would tear. Conversely, if you only developed muscular strength, your fist could shatter when you throw a punch.”
“So that's the problem. I've actually been wondering about that for a while. I understood it strengthened the body, but not how the balance was maintained.”
“It's probably similar to magic. I'm sure you have a systematic way of handling the mind. A specific pattern, maybe.”
“Yeah. We call it the Four-Way Method. There's also the Sequence Method.”
“It's the same for swordsmen. That's what a 'build' is. Think of it as creating several virtual diagrams and layering them. For instance, you could lay a mitochondria Schema as the foundation, then a muscle enhancement Schema on top of that, and then an ocular technique on top of that. Since you're following a technique tree on top of a completed base, the risk of your body breaking down from imbalance is significantly reduced.”
“Ah! So that's how it works.”
“The base Schema is the most efficient. If the efficiency of the bottom-most Schema is 100, the second layer is 50, and the third is 25. It decreases drastically like that. You can change the order, but unless you're a master of the technique tree, it's difficult to apply it in a real battle. However, there are a few exceptions, most notably a technique called Reversal.”
“That's the technique Mr. Freeman uses, the one Amy mentioned, right? How does it work? Do you set up a specific pattern, like the Four-Way Method?”
“No, Schema doesn't work like that. To put it simply, Reversal is possible because you can change the perspective from which you perceive the Schema.”
Tess reached over the table, mimicking the motion of picking up a piece of paper and moving it.
“For example, let's say you stack three transparent sheets of paper here. If you look down, your gaze will pass through them in order. If we call that 1, 2, 3, Reversal inverts your perspective, making you look from the bottom up. 3, 2, 1. Just like that. Besides this, there are countless other techniques related to the technique tree, like Detachment, Permeation, Folding, and Intersection. The process of layering Schema while considering all these factors is what's called a 'build'.”
Shirone was amazed. He had thought being a swordsman was simply about enhancing physical abilities, but now he saw it was as technical as being a mage.
“I see. So, Tess, that means you placed the mitochondria Schema on your second technique tree. And its efficiency is half that of the first.”
“That's right. The mitochondria build is popular, but it's a bit of a waste to dedicate the slot with 100 percent Schema efficiency to physical activity. Unless it's a pure battle of physique versus physique, that is. So, those who truly master the sword choose the Schema best suited to their techniques. In my case, I chose a nervous system build. Precision is the most important thing when wielding a rapier.”
Shirone understood now. If two combatants with the same rapier and Schema abilities were to fight, the one with the nervous system build would overwhelm the one with the mitochondria build.
“The mercenaries we met in the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice were pretty skilled, considering they didn't choose a mitochondria build. The warrior seemed to have a muscle enhancement type, and the archer probably had a sensory system build.”
“Huh? Are the nervous and sensory systems different?”
“They're similar, but what they enhance is different. Simply put, think of it as the difference between internal and external senses. My nervous system build is an internal sense. It allows me to execute my body's movements with unparalleled precision. Conversely, a sensory system build is an external sense. It refers to the distant senses like sight, smell, and hearing, and the proximate senses like taste and touch. It's only natural for an archer to master the distant senses. That's why their sight, smell, and hearing are several times more sensitive than others. Of course, my third build is a sensory system as well.”
“Ah, so that's why you said it's hard to tail someone when an archer is present.”
“Exactly. In any case, the important thing is to find a build that suits you. Of course, diligently honing each Schema is fundamental. Even with a mitochondria build, if your training is lacking, you could end up with weaker physical abilities than a swordsman who chose mitochondria for their third technique tree.”
“Now I get it. I understand the concept of Schema, and why it's called a diagram of the human body.”
“Ultimately, you can think of it as another self-image. Take the phenomenon of phantom limb pain, for instance. Someone with an amputated arm might still unconsciously feel pain if an object is placed in the space where their arm used to be. That's the true nature of Schema.”
As she listened, Amy, much like Shirone, found herself learning a great deal. She had initially let Tess explain, thinking a swordsman's perspective would be clearer, but as the conversation progressed, topics even she was unfamiliar with came up.
“Then, Tess, how many Schema layers did my dad stack? I remember him having a ton of techniques when I was little. If the efficiency drops with each layer, wouldn't building up past the fourth layer be pretty much useless?”
“That's right. Usually, it would be. But there's a way around it. A method to make the second technique tree's efficiency 100 percent.”
Shirone, already completely captivated by the allure of Schema, asked with keen interest.
“Oh, really? What is it?”
“Swordsmen call it Embodiment. Like I said before, you can think of a Schema as a shadow in your own shape. To open a Schema means to strip away the black parts, making them transparent. But honestly, how many people have perfectly understood their own bodies? I mean someone who has completely stripped away all the black parts on a single Schema layer.”
“Hmm, that definitely sounds difficult.”
“Exactly. It requires immense training and prodigious talent. But there are people in the world who have managed it. They become perfectly transparent, eventually fusing the Schema with their own body. Therefore, a person who has Embodied a specific Schema essentially makes that layer disappear. For someone who has Embodied five Schema layers, their sixth Schema would have an efficiency of 100 percent. But this is a matter of time and effort. Talent can shorten the process, but that's all.”
“Whoa.”
Shirone exhaled the breath he'd been holding. Though he had dreamed of being a mage since he was a child, he'd also had a glimpse into the infinite potential of the sword during his duel with Rian.
Mages and swordsmen. The Spirit Zone and the Schema. There was a reason they were called the two martial powers that defined the world.
“That's really amazing, Tess.”
Tess's cheeks flushed at Shirone's sincere praise.
“Oh, it's nothing special. I only know this stuff because I learned it from a young age. To be honest, I got a little long-winded hoping it might be helpful to you, being a mage and all.”
“Yeah. It was a huge help. Now, if a situation like today's happens again, I think I'll be able to handle it better. So, Tess is already healed, which means only you, Jis, and Rian need to get healing magic tomorrow.”
Shirone said it casually, but Tess's face suddenly stiffened as she realized something.
Come to think of it, Rian hadn't said a single word throughout the entire conversation about swordsmen and Schema.
Tess surreptitiously glanced at Rian. He was listening with his usual impassive expression, but his gaze was fixed on his own body.
His body was, quite literally, a wreck.
He had overwhelmed Falcoa at the end with an imaginary Schema, but his weakness—not having truly mastered it—was significant.
Even now, far from recovering, it felt as if his wounds were only getting worse.
‘Damn it! Why can't I…’
Tess looked at Rian with pity, but her heart also pounded with tension. She felt a pang of guilt, as if she had unintentionally hurt his feelings.
‘His pride must be wounded. He must be the one who's most upset.’
Realizing his friends were looking at him, Rian quickly composed himself. He put on a bright smile as if nothing was wrong and thumped his chest.
“Haha! I'm fine. I don't need any healing magic. I'm tough.”
Indeed, despite pounding on his body with immense force, Rian showed no sign of pain, his expression unchanging.
But they all knew. He was enduring it with nothing but superhuman willpower.
Of course, his mental fortitude was astonishing in itself, but if his wounds weren't treated, his combat effectiveness would plummet.
Still, no one pressed Rian to get healing magic. They understood the misery of being forced to show weakness.
But Shirone was different. On this trip, Rian had taken his duties as a guardian knight seriously. If Rian was going to be serious, Shirone felt he had to face him with the same level of resolve.