Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Ability Manifestation
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Mana had spread across the world.
Typical unlicensed nanomachines were fused with a factor called "universal induced stem cells."
That factor, designed to activate upon specific command words, served as the medium for magic.
Normally, one would implant a nanomachine suited to their constitution or traits into their heart, draw a circle with it, and wield it to become a mage.
However, not all unlicensed nanomachines contained those stem cells.
Very rarely, there existed humans who harbored "special mana."
Psionic energy was one such type of mana.
'Nano Machines that don't require command words.'
In a word, chantless casting.
Superpowers.
Even the nanomachines under Zero's control required drawing a circle and voicing command words to produce special phenomena.
The ability to manifest magic without drawing a circle or uttering incantations was nothing short of cheating—a divine authority that defied explanation.
Especially for powerful high-circle spells, the casting time was prolonged.
To ignore that meant gaining overwhelming superiority in battles against all mages.
It was the collapse of everything the mage society had built up until now.
'Even the Demon Queen of White Silver wielded ice magic without chanting.'
Even the nanomachines under Zero's control required drawing a circle and voicing command words to produce special phenomena.
It was the collapse of everything the mage society had built up until now.
The ability to manifest magic without drawing a circle or uttering incantations was nothing short of cheating—a divine authority that defied explanation.
'Even the Demon Queen of White Silver wielded ice magic without chanting.'
Especially for powerful high-circle spells, the casting time was prolonged.
She froze rivers and unleashed a rain of ice spears that engulfed an entire territory.
To ignore that meant gaining overwhelming superiority in battles against all mages.
Hundreds of knights perished before they could even reach her, and countless mages had their throats slit while chanting in her presence.
This must have been Baal's authority.
Yet even that Demon Queen of White Silver met her end.
The Demon Queen, who seemed to have no equal under the heavens, was merely a single meal for Malfiel.
The tale of battling for three days and nights was surely embellished.
Especially for powerful high-circle spells, the casting time was prolonged.
It was the collapse of everything the mage society had built up until now.
To ignore that meant gaining overwhelming superiority in battles against all mages.
'Even the Demon Queen of White Silver wielded ice magic without chanting.'
She froze rivers and unleashed a rain of ice spears that engulfed an entire territory.
Hundreds of knights perished before they could even reach her, and countless mages had their throats slit while chanting in her presence.
Malfiel saw her as a subject of interest and was diligently crafting his own "myth."
And toward Malfiel, who had slain the Demon Queen of White Silver, the mage towers made enormous overtures, requesting the relinquishment and transfer of her corpse for research.
They were desperate to uncover the secret of chantless casting.
"Thank you, Your Highness. How could I ever repay such heavenly grace..."
Edis spoke after finally calming his heart.
His eyes were still red-rimmed.
He had wept until his blood vessels nearly burst.
From overwhelming joy and a chest aching as if it might explode.
Kaichel. His granddaughter, whom he cherished more than his own eyes.
Nearly ten years had passed since her rampage began, years in which he hadn't held her even once.
He devoured every kind of magic.
He illegally procured corpses that had died from rampages and experimented on beasts.
Even that wasn't enough, so he accelerated the rampage in his own body.
But the secret remained unsolved. Kaichel remained frozen.
In the end, he became a wreck.
Had he not been forced to the imperial palace by the mage council's demands, he would have remained a shell of himself.
On that first day of the princes' demonstrations.
Seeing 3rd Prince Carmen's rampage halt, his body trembled finely.
It wasn't just a rampage—it was one caused by double-overlapping and mana reversal phenomena.
A phenomenon like an incurable poison spreading through the body, where survival meant not truly living, and death was inevitable.
Yet the rampage stopped.
In an instant.
When the crown prince was named as the subject, he frankly didn't believe it.
—They're putting on a show.
That's what he thought.
That the man called the strongest swordsman was acting to prop up the crown prince.
He couldn't fathom that it was mere coincidence and that the crown prince had truly stopped the rampage.
So, risking grave discourtesy, he rolled up his sleeve to check.
This was a massive gamble that could doom the entire Ice Tower to the imperial family.
But he didn't care. Solving the rampage was his priority.
—It's really... the rampage has eased.
Even when the rampage symptoms on his arm had clearly eased, he couldn't easily believe it.
It was something he'd clung to for over ten years.
And some third party had abruptly resolved it.
But he was a mage. Humbly accepting it, he circled around Crown Prince Reinhardt.
Learning what kind of person he was came first.
—Subhuman scum, trash, madman.
There were many words describing him, but they all pointed to similar traits.
A figure who had reached the extreme of negativity.
A brutal monster one couldn't conceive as human.
Still, he had no choice.
He had to drag this man to his granddaughter's side in the north, even if it meant discarding everything.
But realizing those rumors were wrong didn't take much time.
—There's only one thing I desire. Your complete recovery.
Even if those were mere honeyed words, he kept his promise.
Most nobles' words and actions never matched.
So, despite some lingering doubt, he couldn't fully trust.
He had been distant from the word "trust" for too long.
Yet Reinhardt traveled to the far north and eradicated Kaichel's rampage in one go.
The man seated as crown prince.
For a mere mage's request, to come to the heart of the battlefield—such a thing was unimaginable even in other kingdoms.
It felt like a dream.
And if it was a dream, he hoped it would never end...
"Good. And I desire nothing. I'merely kept my promise."
The promise: help summon the spirit, and he'd ease his granddaughter's rampage.
How many would truly keep such a vow?
Those in power were all talk.
Once their own troubles were resolved, they wiped their mouths clean.
That was why mages despised nobles.
The imperial family, too, demanded more than they gave in research funds.
Edis's eyes reddened once more.
He couldn't shamelessly let his granddaughter's return slide.
"Mana, obey my will."
A brilliant cluster of light extended from his entire body.
All of Edis's mana was responding to him.
It was "Spirit," usable only by those who had reached the 8th circle.
A spell that enabled high-circle magic with just a short incantation.
Edis dropped to one knee.
With an utterly solemn expression, he bowed his head.
"I, Edis, pledge my loyalty to Lord Reinhardt. I swear it upon my 'circles.'"
A vow upon the circles.
A will etched into the mana.
Break it, and rampage ensues.
Thus, mages never form "mana vows."
Even if they do, they include "escape clauses."
For example, specifying "Ice Tower Master Edis" means simply stepping down voids it.
No rampage occurs even if loyalty falters.
But Edis added no qualifiers or flourishes.
Loyalty. A pledge to follow from the heart.
It wasn't just for saving his granddaughter's life.
This man—Reinhardt—possessed worth worthy of it.
"A mage's loyalty. It feels embarrassingly ticklish."
Mages don't offer loyalty.
Mages are calculating and profit-driven.
But that's a mistaken prejudice.
Mages simply don't open their hearts easily.
Once they do, they grant unconditional trust.
Edis was that way.
"Lord Reinhardt is noble and dignified. Worthy of my loyalty."
"As an archmage, even your words are fantastical."
"No... I'merely..."
Drip.
In that instant, Edis's expression hardened.
Not just Edis—Croft and Pegan as well.
All looked up.
"Someone has triggered the 'trap.'"
"The pursuit force."
The trap Edis had set.
Someone had sprung it.
Croft immediately knew they were the pursuit force Carlos had sent to capture them.
"The trap has been disarmed. Seems there's a considerable expert among them."
Edis furrowed his brow.
An 8th-circle archmage's trap, detected and removed.
It meant formidable foes were included.
"Your Highness, shall we evade?"
Croft asked.
Fast. Faster than anticipated pursuit.
But there was still ample time to escape now.
However.
"Coming this quickly means they must miss me like mad."
"...Yes. Probably Thebeus."
Thebeus.
That wastrel bastard was furious.
He'd rushed to Carlos, tattled, and secured pursuit troops.
Knowing Croft was with him, he'd brought a tailored force.
Likely accompanied by one or two superior Sword Masters.
But Thebeus didn't know Edis was an 8th-circle mage.
Nor did he know much about me.
'As expected.'
Within predicted bounds.
Thebeus's personality wouldn't let him sit idle.
He'd faithfully played messenger to Carlos and was hastily pursuing with suitable soldiers.
There were ways to drag it out and wear them down.
But.
"Let's greet them."
Croft, Edis, Pegan.
And that loathsome Baal deceiving them all.
Perfect timing—I'd been uneasy about letting Thebeus go earlier.
It wouldn't have been easy before, but now?
'I won't lose.'
The idea of defeat against that idiot didn't even form in my mind.
***
'No matter how I think about it, he's a walking good-luck charm.'
Thebeus couldn't stop grinning.
Patrick and Crowe.
The strongest Sword Masters followed him.
Not only that—he was heading to capture none other than "Croft" with numerous knights in tow.
'I'll capture Reinhardt and Croft. No greater merit exists.'
Sword King, the empire's top powerhouse.
A golden opportunity to seize him.
And avenging himself on Reinhardt would yield merits incomparable to his siblings.
How could he not be excited?
Reinhardt appearing before him was pure fortune.
So he'd toy with him gently. Until he clung to his legs, sobbing and begging for mercy.
"They went this way."
"Strong mana fluctuations. They're close."
"A powerful mage is with them."
"Numbers: seven."
Moreover, Patrick and Crowe were masters of tracking.
They pinpointed the position in moments and raced ahead.
And soon enough, Thebeus spotted them.
"Reinhardt! No time to run, eh?"
He'd arrived too quickly, it seemed.
No chance to flee, forcing them to face him.
No response from Reinhardt.
Naturally—he must be terrified seeing Patrick and Crowe.
Those two were favorites even of Grand Duke Carlos.
"Reinhardt is mine. I'll play with that one. Got it?"
Patrick and Crowe nodded.
Even they tensed at the sight of Croft before them.
They instantly noticed Pegan beside him and the powerful mage's presence.
Thebeus opened his mouth with an arrogant face.
"Reinhardt! Scared shitless? Or gone mute? Come on, spout your nonsense like before...!"
But Thebeus couldn't finish his words.
Something was off.
His field of vision was lowering.
Looking aside, Patrick and Crowe had their eyes wide, swords drawn, auras blazing.
They'd instinctively blocked a spell from somewhere, but failed to protect Thebeus.
'What?'
This was bizarre.
He couldn't miss a spell being chanted.
No matter how high-level the mage, they couldn't cast without incantation.
And even a hidden sniper would be caught in a Sword Master's senses.
Patrick and Crowe would have eliminated them ages ago.
Yet no warning at all.
'Why?'
Then why was his vision dropping to the horse's underside?
And sinking lower still.
Thud!
Only when his head hit the ground did Thebeus finally comprehend his death.
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End of Ability Manifestation