Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Heir to the Magic Tower (3)
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“SSS+++? What the hell!”
Nazario had assumed that Theo wouldn’t find any answers even after activating Paracelsus.
After all, handling Paracelsus required specialized knowledge that even those in the Magic Tower didn’t possess.
At the very least, you’d need something on the level of Belphegor...
- Judgment initiated. EX rank... Additional data confirmed. Attempting upgrade. EX+ rank. Multiple mystical properties confirmed. EX++, EX+++... Final judgment: R rank.
“What?!”
“No way!”
But at the mechanical voice that followed from Paracelsus, Nazario had no choice but to leap to his feet.
Zirimado was just as shocked.
In all the years collecting grimoires and mysteries for the Homunculus Project, the highest rank they’d ever cataloged was EX.
And even that had come from just one item: the skull of an ancient giant corpse, luckily unearthed from the North Sea glacier.
Only divine beings could achieve that level, so who could have imagined an R-rank—something theoretically possible but never before seen—would appear!
“Stop it!!”
Nazario rushed desperately toward Theo.
He didn’t know what Theo was feeding into Paracelsus.
But if that went in, Paracelsus was done for.
Paracelsus’s artificial intelligence was built on meticulous calculations, using only carefully selected data as its base.
If something far superior to all that accumulated data—an entirely different kind—were mixed in?
It would only lead to corruption.
“Sit still.”
But Nazario was forcibly seated back in place by Wellington.
“Please! I’m begging you, stop it!”
“If you keep resisting, we’ll have no choice but to use force.”
He wanted to channel mana, but the restraint devices binding his limbs wouldn’t budge.
This only made Nazario more frantic.
“Paracelsus! I command you as a Level 1 authority holder! Halt data acquisition immediately! Shut down all functions!!”
But,
“Hahaha! You’ve come this far—do you think I’d let you?”
The moment Lodbrok intervened, Nazario’s final efforts turned to nothing.
- Function shutdown command activated. Failed. Reboot system termination. Forced shutdown program initiated. Failed. Cause analysis. Failed. Existing command holder list has been completely deleted.
“What...?”
Nazario’s face drained to a pale blue.
It had happened because the ancient dragon’s genetic data had mixed into the existing database, enabling Lodbrok’s hack.
- Confirmed as a completely different category from the devil’s source code. Attempting to reinterpret existing algorithms for new data analysis. Failed. Retrying. Failed. Judged impossible to compare with current database holdings.
Paracelsus’s mouth had now swallowed Theo’s index finger whole.
Like a starving beast, it struggled greedily to gulp down more blood.
- Partially isolating existing algorithm system. Expanding database to incorporate ancient dragon genetic data and search for new patterns. Failed. Searching. Failed. Requires more data. Decomposing command structure to propose new model...
Tssshhh!
Paracelsus twisted and writhed, white steam rising in curls from the overheated orb.
Each time, Nazario tried to lunge forward, but Wellington’s restraint held him back.
“Alright, all firewalls breached. Now, let’s take a peek inside, shall we?”
Like someone with a delicious meal before them.
Along with Lodbrok’s laughter echoed a barrage of messages on Theo’s retina.
[Ancient dragon genetic data designated as protocol.]
[Hack successful.]
[Thought reading commencing.]
Fwoosh!
“...!”
In that instant, a flood of data surged into Theo’s mind like a tidal wave.
- Devils are beings who failed to become gods.
- What must we do, fallen to purgatory without attaining true rank.
- How to drag down the guardian dragons like them.
.
- The only chance to reach the heavenly pantheon of all gods.
.
- How to attempt the apocalypse.
- Why have the shackles of time and prison of space brought such trials upon us.
.
.
Data jumbled together in a chaotic mess, unsorted like trash.
Full of things impossible to comprehend, it was all Theo could do to keep his balance amid the dizziness.
“Best keep your wits about you. The algorithms were forcibly shattered, scattering the data everywhere. Misinterpret any of it, and your brain’s neural circuits will fry.”
Lodbrok’s warning was utterly indifferent and calm.
Even with her brilliant intellect, sorting all this would take immense effort—she had no spare capacity to help him.
“The artificial intelligence of the homunculus built by humans... I’m curious about its structure. I’ll hold back the data deluge for you, so focus on extracting what you need.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Lodbrok and Theo divided the labor.
Lodbrok protected Theo’s mind from being overwhelmed by the data pile while sorting and analyzing the Paracelsus database and algorithms that had piqued her curiosity most.
Theo pulled out the final chapter data of Belphegor that he needed from it.
It wasn’t easy, but his prior studies on time magic let him pluck the essential materials with ease.
-Time is relative.
-But conversely, time is also special. If one could wield it at will, greater things could be aimed for.
-Examine time macroscopically. Analyze it microscopically. Just as time, once divided only into day and night, became divisible into hours, minutes, seconds—allowing finer thought—if split into even shorter units and lined up horizontally, it becomes infinity (∞).
-Securing the independence of thought alone grants the wisdom to wisely overcome any adversity or disaster.
His understanding of time stacked up steadily in his mind.
-If mind and will achieve independence, what of the body? How to exploit it to escape time’s bonds.
-The laws of the macro-world differ from the micro-world. At their center lies light, the unit of measure.
-Photons, neither wave nor particle, possess absolute speed, enabling the fastest data transmission.
-If I encode my information into that speed. Load my will into it. Contain my independent mind within.
.
-Light is knowledge. A lantern to dispel the darkness of ignorance.
-If that lantern illuminates my path, its end transcends hell, crosses infinite timelines, breaks the circle’s loop, reaching some transcendent beyond...
.
.
‘No. This is more than that. Knowledge from other devils and grimoires is mixed in too.’
Theo swiftly sorted only the needed materials from that infinite sea of information and regained his senses.
Paracelsus dangled half-limp in his palm, puffing out white smoke.
-Algorithm restoration in progress... Designating new data as priority 1 for new system build... Resetting command holders... Reestablishing grimoire...
The unknown messages it spat made it hard to see this as the same old Paracelsus.
“Hahaha! Humanity’s progress in magical knowledge is fascinating. Even us dragons might be on shaky ground now.”
‘What exactly did you do?’
“Oh, nothing much. Just played a cute little prank.”
Theo pictured Lodbrok in her lair, grinning mischievously with a wink.
‘A prank?’
“Spoiling it ruins the fun. Take your time exploring. The thrill of discovery will be quite rewarding. Hehehe!”
For some reason, Lodbrok’s laughter felt ominous to Theo.
Of course, if she played a prank, it would help him, not hinder.
But it didn’t feel like something she’d reveal easily.
“What... the hell did you do?”
“Nothing.”
Theo shrugged lightly at Nazario’s question and tossed Paracelsus back to him.
Nazario looked uneasy but inspected it closely—no apparent issues with the AI system itself.
“You... what are you, exactly?”
An R-rank data that even the Magic Tower and Alchemy Guild couldn’t obtain.
Theo had fed it blood, but Nazario didn’t buy it as mere sleight of hand or catalyst—it couldn’t be the true essence of R-rank.
‘I need to uncover what data he fed into Paracelsus. Otherwise, the project is doomed.’
There had to be some hidden secret about Ragnar unknown to the world.
It was just a needless misunderstanding, but Nazario couldn’t tear his eyes from Theo.
But whether he did or not.
Theo was facing a new change.
[Obtained new clues about time, successfully completing the subject’s perspective.]
[Current achievement rate: 115%]
[Achievement rate exceeded target. Congratulations! You’ve uncovered the secret of regression and safely completed Scenario Quest #6.]
[Evaluation: S+]
[As reward, acquired ■■ Regression ability.]
[Additional reward: Acquired Winding Reinforcement ability.]
[Details of abilities must be comprehended independently.]
‘■■ Regression ability... huh.’
Theo could vaguely guess the blinded message’s content.
Recalling how this quest arose made inference possible.
‘Probably related to the Chronograph used by the Magic Empress.’
If it could partially revive ghosts from the Phantom Sword in reality, it would be a tremendous power.
But he couldn’t check the ability right now.
Boom!
Right then, the door to their room burst open.
“Theo Ragnar!”
It was Klevé.
She’d shoved aside Selphard and Arin—who kept blocking her with pointless chatter—and barged in forcefully.
Selphard, arriving a beat late, shook his head at Theo.
Meaning this was as far as he could go.
Theo nodded in thanks, then bowed his head to Klevé.
“Long time no see, Klevé. Didn’t expect to meet here.”
“You...!”
“You seem out of breath from rushing over—how about a cup of tea to catch it?”
Seeing Theo’s relaxed smile made Klevé’s blood boil.
But she quickly regained composure, scanning the room coldly.
Inside, her original targets—Nazario and Zirimado—sat simply restrained.
Fortunately, no signs of interrogation or torture.
Klevé jerked her chin at Theo, signaling him to follow.
“Let’s talk.”
* * *
A room with just Klevé and Theo.
Klevé enveloped the area in aura to block any sound leaks, then asked coldly.
“What the hell are you thinking?”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
Theo smiled faintly.
“Truth is, I wasn’t trying to interfere with Black Snow.”
“Then?”
“I was after something personal. Turns out the Magic Tower’s sub-tower lord’s group got it first.”
“Coincidence?”
“Yes.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“You may not, but it’s the truth. I’m done here, so feel free to take the Magic Tower group with Black Snow now.”
Klevé’s eyebrow twitched.
“Your business is done, so you’re disposable... But the damage Black Snow suffered because of it is huge. What now?”
“Seems Black Snow wasn’t after the sub-tower lord’s person after all.”
“That’s...!”
Klevé trailed off, frowning.
“Almost slipped there.”
“Too bad. I heard it.”
Klevé could only let out a hollow laugh.
Cute yet infuriating—wrecking their plans while slyly prying info.
It was how she’d come to acknowledge him in the past.
Meeting him as a political rival instead of ally just gave her a headache.
“Then I’ll be direct. Why is Black Snow chasing the Magic Tower’s sub-tower lord group?”
“Why do you care?”
“It might be relevant for me and the White Dragon Knights’ future operations.”
Even if caught too easily, the sub-tower lord’s political clout was no small thing.
If such a figure roamed openly in Ragnar territory and got nabbed, there was intent behind it.
“The Magic Tower’s sub-tower lord requests a meeting with our side’s top authority. As if he knew exactly ‘who’ to come to.”
Theo didn’t miss Klevé’s face subtly hardening.
“To meet Anti-Dragon, right?”
“...!”
“But Anti-Dragon hasn’t been active outside for decades. No real ties to the Magic Tower either, so there’s someone higher. Only one conclusion.”
“...Don’t speak that name.”
Klevé issued her first warning.
Push further, and even Theo wouldn’t walk away unscathed.
But Theo ignored it, driving the point home.
“Former Family Head, Hilda Ragnar.”
“You really...!”
“So it was her—the one the Magic Tower sought to contact.”
Theo’s eyes cooled to ice.
“But what I still don’t get is why the sub-tower lord paraded so openly, when a quiet contact would’ve sufficed.”