Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Chapter 31 Check
I reduced the mana consumption by extremely limiting the scope of manifestation.
Naturally, the method I used cannot be applied to Baek Ryeon's manifestation, which is specialized in dominating the surroundings.
Of course, it could be used as a self-targeting buff and recovery technique, but in that case, it would be better to just use Holy Arts.
The reason her manifestation is special is that the ability automatically distinguishes between enemies and allies and can affect multiple targets.
But besides my method, I recently learned another approach. I shared that with her.
"How about you directly choose where to bloom the flowers? Right now, they bloom automatically in the surroundings, and when enemies or allies touch them, they receive effects."
The fact that it was an ability that activated automatically without her having to pay special attention was very convenient, but waste was inevitably occurring for the sake of convenience.
"So if you consciously bloom flowers only in areas where enemies or allies exist, the effect would be the same, but wouldn't the mana consumption be greatly reduced?"
That would mean she'd have to divide her consciousness and think about more things, but the consciousness size of a Hwa-gyeong martial artist is originally large.
If she could preserve mana by paying attention to such minor details, it was naturally right to preserve the mana.
I also obtained this method from the avatar.
'Agares's avatar did that.'
That fellow surprisingly possessed the power to manipulate space.
Its mana would dominate the surrounding space and automatically attack enemies within range, but when I moved too quickly and its mana was consumed rapidly, it consciously changed to attacking only the space where I was located.
Of course, I won in the end, but by responding with that method, it could fight longer while producing the same power but reducing mana consumption by more than half.
The additional cost it used was nothing but Mental Strength.
Baek Ryeon tried using manifestation the way I taught her.
After directly choosing where to bloom the flowers, the duration increased noticeably—a meaningful difference from before.
"I definitely have more things to pay attention to, but it uses much less mana. As expected, Master is amazing..!"
I just analyzed how Agares handled power and shared it with her, but hearing that I was amazing gave me somewhat complicated feelings.
"I'm just sharing methods I figured out; it's not that amazing."
At my words, she firmly shook her head.
"Being able to share what you've figured out with the right people at the right time is what's amazing. Ordinary people would get stuck at the analysis part from the beginning, wouldn't they?"
'She's definitely logical. I can't argue with that.'
The avatars were beings that required at least mastering Deep Insight—the combination of Energy Sense and Observation skills—to even attempt analysis.
Even after mastering Deep Insight, analysis was still quite difficult, but perhaps because I had devoured so many of Baal's avatars, I had become enlightened in analysis.
I inwardly acknowledged her words.
"No. Why are you so good with words? Did you attend some speech academy?"
Honestly, this was professional-level.
"When my body got better and I could mingle with people, I thought every day about what conversations I should have and how I should speak. Now I'm finally putting it to good use."
It was a sadder story than I expected. It was a tragedy that occurred because of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians body that could have seizures at any time.
"Now you can do everything you wanted to try. If something you want to do comes up, do it without hesitation. I'll help you with anything from the side."
But I had cured her Nine Yin Severed Meridians. Now she had a much healthier body than ordinary people—a body capable of living long without illness.
If there was something she wanted to do, she could do anything.
"...Yes. I will."
Having finished her manifestation, she smiled brightly and hugged me. This was something we did every day when we were together in the first cycle, but in the second cycle, we seemed unable to do it often due to being busy.
It was my duty to ensure this smile wouldn't be lost.
I hoped such peaceful days would continue, but all of this felt like the calm before the storm.
The Earthlings were like a candle in the wind against the massive enemies called gods.
'But this time will be different.'
Because I'm here. My existence will create an intense flame that no longer flickers before the wind.
*
The next day, I went out to inspect whether the plan was proceeding without any setbacks.
The angels said they would have Tower Entrants visit the workshop at least once, so I wasn't too worried, but I needed to confirm whether things were developing as I thought.
Unlike the first cycle, the people in the tutorial were all training while wearing decent equipment.
Some wore Heroic-grade, some Rare-grade, some High-grade, and some Normal-grade sets.
Everyone had completed their choices according to their preferences. Though they wore different equipment, they shared one common point.
They were rapidly growing through the Newbie Encyclopedia that didn't exist in the first cycle. Through it, they were building power more systematically and quickly.
As I watched them with a pleased expression, Uriel appeared behind me and spoke with the same smile.
"You finally came to see! Thanks to Player Han Yeong-min, people are getting stronger quickly. To think just one person could have such a great impact on so many people... truly amazing."
Her eyes held admiration for me. I could feel her utmost sincerity.
"Thank you for the praise. Were there any particular problems?"
I expected there would be people who felt reluctant about the contract itself and refused it, but looking at the people so far, there wasn't a single person without equipment.
That meant everyone had completed their contracts.
"At first, there were those who felt aversion to the very act of contracting and didn't make choices. About... 30% of the total? But when those who completed contracts rapidly became stronger through equipment and the Newbie Encyclopedia, their thoughts seemed to change."
Certainly, to change people's thoughts, there needed to be comparable targets around them.
"Those who initially refused gradually began contracting, and eventually, without exception, everyone completed their contracts. The ratio of those who chose Heroic-grade and Rare-grade seems to be about 80%."
It was exactly the ideal ratio. I did need people who would bring me information from the gods' factions.
"That's good. It's all thanks to Uriel-nim helping me diligently."
Without the angels, achieving such success would likely have been impossible.
Originally, the number of people wandering around places other than training areas was small, so there would have been almost no one discovering the workshop's existence.
She blushed as if embarrassed.
"It's something I should naturally do. If I just work a little harder, all Earthlings can become stronger."
That dedication was truly appreciated. Thanks to her, all prospective Tower Entrants obtained the Newbie Encyclopedia, gaining systematic training methods rather than the haphazard approach of the first cycle.
Systematic training was no longer the exclusive domain of other worlders.
Of course, the Newbie Encyclopedia I created might not match the techniques they had accumulated over thousands of years, but at least regarding handling the System, I could confidently say I was better.
'They said I was the first to reach All-Master since the beginning of time.'
With such All-Master knowledge containing even the know-how of comrades who had already experienced the Tower, at least in the special environment of the Tower, it could be comparable.
"I'm grateful for that sentiment itself. Were there any improvement points or things that seemed additionally necessary while proceeding with the work?"
I never think my plans are perfect. Trial and error is natural, and if others' opinions are valid, I can immediately accept them and modify my plans.
Uriel showed a thoughtful expression, then clapped her palm as if something occurred to her.
"Among those who chose Normal-grade, there were some who regretted it and wanted to switch to other options. The numbers are small now, but more people will enter the tutorial in the future—won't the number of such people also increase?"
A very helpful comment emerged. Actually, people who chose Normal-grade equipment were simply the 'least valuable' to me.
Those who, despite being given three choices for humanity's future, rejected them all and wanted to contract with just any Constellation.
Of course, they didn't know that all of this led to the best future, but I didn't need to consider everyone who escaped my influence.
Ten years later, even if they were killed within the gods' factions, I wouldn't feel any guilt.
'Honestly, I've done enough at this point. I've done everything for them.'
But giving them one last mercy also seemed fine.
As Uriel said, more people would enter in the future, so having such a mechanism would be good.
"Then, limited to those who chose Normal-grade, exactly once. Would it be good to allow them to return equipment and re-contract?"
This way, even choosing Normal-grade could become a strategy.
Initially testing with Normal-grade, then switching to Heroic-grade or Rare-grade after seeing how others handled them would become possible.
She nodded.
"Yes. If there were such a thing, the burden on people making choices would be greatly reduced."
Because of this privilege given to Normal-grade contracts, people would contract more readily, and the Newbie Encyclopedia would spread to more people.
My first plan to raise the average martial power level of Earthlings was proceeding smoothly.
Since I thought of it, I immediately went to the workshop and added a new effect using spare materials and magic circles I had left behind in case such situations arose.
It was an effect containing mercy for those who chose Normal-grade.
"Then could I also ask you to spread word about the newly added function to those who chose Normal-grade?"
Uriel smiled at my words.
"I knew you'd do that, so I already informed the angels under me! I'll bring them quickly."
Fast. So fast. As if research on my behavior patterns was already complete, she acted as if she already knew what I would request.
"As expected, you're competent."
Thus, the task of confirming whether my plan was proceeding well was also finished.
Now it was time to face multiple avatars simultaneously and develop combat instincts.
'Alright. Let's go.'
I was already excited about how fun it would be.