Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Unexpected Meeting (3)
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The mage affiliated with the Knight Order.
Former Crimson Mage Tower Lord, Libert let out a sigh.
The reason was the desperate state of the battlefield.
The ancient lich Skeval.
The damage inflicted by that loathsome undead was growing day by day. Just a month ago, Libert hadn't thought that skeleton would pose much of a problem.
'It was all thanks to Lady Raniel.'
Whenever that Ashen Mage appeared on the battlefield, Skeval would tuck tail and flee. Skeval's barriers tore apart like paper in front of Raniel.
Such a superhuman presence made anyone sharing the battlefield with her lose their vigilance. That complacency had come to Libert as well.
'I relied on her too much.'
The mage who always stood at the forefront.
The result of pinning all hopes on that one superhuman was disastrous.
With the Ashen Mage's retirement—whom they'd thought would always be there—the Knight Order lost any way to breach Skeval's barriers.
'Embarrassing...'
Libert felt ashamed at the fact.
Despite being in a position that should find answers before anyone else, he hadn't been able to and had left everything to her.
Of course, it wasn't that he hadn't sought her teachings.
He had sought them, but failed to understand.
It had been far too advanced for him.
It was simply a method of mana utilization possible only because she was the 'Ashen Mage.' That was what his past self had declared and given up on.
'Why didn't I ask more back then?'
He should have kept seeking teachings until he understood.
He pitied his past self for giving up so easily.
"Hoo..."
Regretting it now was probably too late.
The communication network connected to the Ashen Mage was held only by Knight Commander Heinkel, and even that was one-way.
They could reply to letters received.
But the Knight Order couldn't send letters directly.
As Libert sighed like that.
A voice came from outside the tent.
"Libert, are you inside?"
"Knight Commander Heinkel? What brings you..."
"I'm coming in."
Heinkel, who had come to the barracks, immediately held out a single letter to Libert.
"Could you take a look at this letter?"
Libert took the letter Heinkel offered. It bore the royal seal.
"This is..."
"It's a letter from the 4th Princess."
"What would the Princess want..."
"Open it first."
Libert nodded and tore open the letter. Inside was a single sheet of paper.
"Isn't this... the Academik?"
"The Princess sent word that someone solved problem 1. That's the solution."
Libert knew problem 1 of the Academik well. It was the issue regarding Skeval's circuits, one he'd posed just in case.
"...Someone solved it?"
"According to the Princess. But she asked for a cool-headed review. Seems she isn't fully convinced herself."
"Hmm..."
Libert wore a dubious expression.
He knew well that the 4th Princess Aila, the child blessed by the stars, was born with talent in magic.
However, interpreting circuits was a different realm from mere talent.
It required memorizing countless theories and 'learning' through extensive practical experience; otherwise, circuit interpretation wouldn't improve.
'She probably hasn't even studied circuits.'
So what made her send such a letter?
Since the ancient lich Skeval appeared on the battlefield, no one except one person had solved that impossible problem. It couldn't be solved so easily.
"I get why you're skeptical. Still, please check it over."
"...Understood."
Libert reluctantly examined the letter.
It didn't even note the solver's name. The handwriting was neat but somewhat messy, as if intentionally twisted.
-Skeval's circuits are engraved with the central circuit for the spell amid hundreds of false circuits.
Who didn't know that?
Because you had to dismantle each of those hundreds of circuits one by one to reach the center, Skeval's circuits were tricky.
-That's why mages on the front lines struggle. The hundreds of circuits interlock organically. Circuits meshed like gears are twice as hard to dismantle.
Libert, feeling no interest, continued reading until he frowned at the next line.
-This solution hinges on that point.
-There's no need to dismantle hundreds of circuits one by one.
......No need to dismantle the circuits?
-Circuits connect to circuits, meshed like gears. That's an advantage and a weakness.
-A crack in one circuit spreads like an infection to the hundreds interlocked with it. Meaning no need to dismantle each one individually.
-Instead of dismantling, ruin the circuits.
Libert narrowed his eyes.
-Refine the mana.
-Process it to have properties like the poison of 'Mana Eater' that spreads through veins sharply across the body.
-Pour that mana into the circuits.
-Like spreading poison.
His pupils shook.
-Think of Skeval's barrier as a pond.
-In this case, the central circuit is a fish living in the pond's depths.
-What most mages do—dismantling circuits—is like draining the entire pond to expose the bottom and hunt the fish.
-Nothing could be more inefficient. Of course it takes time.
"......"
-Why drain the whole pond? There's no reason to.
-Poison the pond.
-Just release poison to make that fish surface on its own.
Libert was now engrossed in the solution, forgetting to even swallow.
The words danced alive before his eyes.
'What is this...'
This was a method he'd never considered.
A way he hadn't thought of was right there.
-Below is the mana operation method.
Beneath it, the details were meticulously recorded: how to 'transform' the mana and how to handle the transformed mana.
"......"
Libert silently folded the letter.
Then he looked up at Heinkel.
"Heinkel."
"What's wrong, Libert?"
"Who solved this problem?"
"The Princess said it's someone of unknown identity. Why? Is there a problem?"
It wasn't a problem—there was nothing but problems.
"This is... strange."
"Strange how?"
"I don't know how to explain it..."
The history of magic studies is long.
Among the most developed over that vast history were spell circuits and their interpretation.
Laws built over thousands of years.
Systematized formulas to unravel those laws.
Thus, for modern mages, circuit interpretation was merely applying the knowledge accumulated by ancestors to situations.
But what of the mage who wrote this solution?
'It wasn't bound by formulas.'
Bound by formulas, this mage saw what others missed.
'And by seeing, proposed a new method.'
A completely new solution.
'Imitation, not application—creation.'
Not walking the paved path of magic, but forging their own. Libert knew what such people were called.
'Genius.'
A mage to lead this era.
Suddenly, the image of one mage flashed in Libert's mind.
"The one who wrote this solution—isn't it Lady Raniel?"
"Doesn't seem like it. The Princess wouldn't lie about something like this."
"Then maybe disguised so the Princess wouldn't recognize..."
Mid-sentence, Libert shut his mouth.
He realized he was talking nonsense. Hiding one's identity in front of the 4th Princess? Absurd.
'She saw through even the polymorph of that ancient dragon mage who visited the palace in secret.'
No mere disguise would fool such a princess.
In the end, it meant there was another mage with talent comparable to the Ashen Mage.
At that fact, Libert smiled bitterly.
"...The world is vast indeed."
"What suddenly?"
"Nothing. I want to tell the Princess to find this mage who wrote the solution and place them in an important position."
Libert set the letter down on the table.
Then, steadying his breath, he spoke not as a mage but as a member of the 'Knight Order.'
"It's a completely new approach. Theoretically possible, but I can't guarantee its application in actual combat."
"......"
"But, if I may boldly say."
Libert spoke in a firm voice.
"It's worth trying."
"......"
Instead of replying, Heinkel narrowed his eyes.
That gaze conveyed more than words.
Libert, who had served Heinkel for so long, understood what he meant.
Libert nodded.
"I'll assemble the Knight Order's mages."
2.
"Master."
"What's wrong, Raniel?"
"Am I bad at explaining things?"
What was that out of nowhere?
Rosel tilted his head as he looked at Raniel.
"What do you mean? You bad at explaining?"
"No, think about it—among all the people who came to learn from me, not one left having properly understood."
Raniel muttered, propping her chin.
"Back in the day, mages asked a ton about Skeval's circuits. I definitely explained it, but they didn't get it."
"How exactly did you explain it?"
"Well, like..."
Rosel listened to Raniel's explanation for a while.
After about thirty minutes, Rosel pressed his temple.
"...Raniel."
"Yes?"
"Teaching someone starts with understanding their level."
"Uh..."
"'Just do it,' 'Why can't you?', 'If it doesn't work, keep trying until it does'—that's not teaching."
That's just boomer talk.
"Oh..."
Watching his disciple marvel like she'd gained new insight, Rosel let out a deep sigh.
'Was assigning this child to teach a grave mistake?'
Such a thought briefly crossed Rosel's mind.
"Ah, but I'm good at explaining in writing."
"Doesn't seem like it."
"No, really? This time they seemed to understand..."
"Enough. Come to my room later. Seems I need to teach you teaching from the basics..."
"It's true..."
Author's Note
Wrote too much so cutting it here.
Feels a bit explanation-heavy this chapter...
Yeah, thought I should tidy things up once before the academy entrance ceremony, so I did.