Now I'm a 4th Circle Mage Too #1
Fortress. It was a place brimming with supplies. To Lawrence, every supply was a potential material, and he'd brought only the finest selections. He'd secretly pocketed over twenty kinds. Among them, the artifact he planned to craft this time was this one.
Grade:4th Circle
Manifestations: 7/7
Multi-Manifest: 1
A 4th circle manifestation artifact made from materials owned by an orc, obtained from inside a relic. Since it was for implantation, he had to choose the medium carefully.
"I've got something good this time."
Engraving a magic circle required skill in selecting the right canvas. Anything too curved was tricky, so he avoided those, and anything too large would require expanding the magic circle. His 3D pen creator's enthusiasm boiled over, but with no idea where or how far they'd travel next, he prioritized efficiency this time.
◈ +3 Manifestations for Non-Attribute Magic
◈ Ideal for 4th Circle Manifestation Magic
The first artifact was decided: Mana Spear. A spell that compressed mana into a massive mana spear shape to hurl or thrust. As a non-attribute magic, its raw destructive power was top-tier among 4th circle spells.
'But ordinary mages don't favor non-attribute magic.'
It guzzled mana like crazy. Like bulldozing through with brute force instead of finesse.
'But I have no such risks.'
Lacking mana roads now felt like a blessing. Who knew a single authority could flip his fortunes like this? He realized blessings and curses were paper-thin, hinging on circumstances. What was once hellish was now the ultimate advantage.
One careless moment, and you're done— that's how it went for everyone else. Lawrence smirked, diligently wielding his pen.
Scritch-scratch.
In his quarters, only low breaths and the pen's scrape echoed. The creator was hard at work today, as always.
"It's really amazing."
"Don't interrupt."
Ades, watching Lawrence from the shadows, spoke up. Since he was already a guardian, there was no need to hide secrets—he let him watch the process. A good employer should know what his boss was up to to provide seamless help, right?
'Authority, was it? Sigh, I hitched myself to one hell of a golden rope... The problem is the forces gunning for him aren't pushovers either.'
If that ability went public, the fallout would be massive. Lunatics would swarm, doing anything for his artifacts. It hit him anew how much protection being under the Montemer umbrella provided. Even if relations with the family members were rocky.
"Mm—."
He'd forged a major connection with the Northern Duke too. No one with half a brain would touch him. Give him ten years—no, five—and he'd have no equals.
Ades stroked his chin, pondering. Yep, Lawrence's connections were a golden lifeline.
"Oh, right, Ades."
"Yeah? What?"
"Ever thought about taking a disciple?"
"...Out of nowhere?"
And he realized he could never predict this kid's thoughts. At his prime age, a disciple? Bullshit—
#2
Scritch-scratch sounds sporadically filled the room. Lawrence told Ades about Rachel. What was she doing now? Probably cooking, handling chores, worrying about him. And squeezing in training too.
Honestly, he lacked the capacity to teach her himself, so why not have his senior-in-a-way, Ades, step up? That's why he brought it up.
"I'm swamped with missions. Gotta check in with the family regularly, and now—huh? An unwanted boss too? But... take a disciple on top?"
"Not forcing you. I've got one condition. It's a deal from your superior, no less. Think it over."
"Sigh... "
Golden lifeline my ass. It was a labor rope wrapping him tight, yanking him around. Still, he should hear it out.
"What’s the deal, then?"
"An artifact just for you. 4th circle grade. Procure the materials, and I'll make it right away."
"So, what do I start teaching first?"
Too tempting to refuse. Having tasted an artifact's power, Ades couldn't say no. One from Lawrence was like gaining an extra talent.
"Come to the Iron Tower after this job. Swing by the family, tell Media the mission failed."
"...That last one's kinda scary."
"Then just ghost her."
Not an option. Luckily, his gambling winnings covered the penalty fee. Not that it mattered much to her.
Ades wondered what artifact he'd get.
"Tell me if you need anything. Materials are all I need—I can make as many as you want."
"Got it. Watching's getting boring anyway. No next mission?"
"Hmm... Yeah. We need to scout what the Deferters are up to in their territory's capital. Take point as scout."
"Speaking of Deferter—"
The topic shifted naturally to the Deferter family. Sudden intrusion. Veering toward the capital. And the items the warlocks had. Too many red flags.
But Ades's words were something else entirely.
"Your sister—is she really a Montemer?"
"Don't go soap opera on me. Before I yank that artifact—"
"Whoa, hear me out. Your sister—is she Media's kid?"
Lawrence nodded. All the others were Media's spawn.
"But lately, Media's been meeting someone. Or maybe even before that."
"Who?"
"Someone from Deferter... Don't know who exactly, but they've been visiting Montemer occasionally."
Wait. Did that mean...?
Lawrence's jaw dropped.
"No way. Then the attempt on Loria—!?"
"Probably what you're thinking."
"Ha, so that's why...?"
Rage boiled in Lawrence's heart. Now he vaguely understood Media's desperation to kill Loria. Her hair's slight discoloration—he'd thought it premature graying or mana-related. But... no.
Lawrence muttered bitterly.
"Gotta investigate now. If it's true... "
Media and the Deferter family alike—he couldn't forgive them. Oh, don't worry. Loria was still his sister to him.
"Breaks my heart."
Ades sighed deeply, shaking his head. Lawrence, meanwhile, wore an unforgiving scowl.
He was from an era where abandoning a dog got you punished. Betraying blood ties? Utterly, absolutely unforgivable by his standards.
"This time, I won't stand by, Father."
He ground his teeth, recalling the patriarch's vow to watch. To budge Edward's heavy ass, he'd need ironclad proof.
#3
Shayan Deferter, eldest son of the Deferter Duke family. He'd arrived at Alzeras's capital with his mages. Precisely, setting up camp where the capital was visible. They gazed at the territory's capital, shrouded in dark energy, preparing to advance.
Finally, the chance to erase their black history had come.
"Young master, a guest."
"Who?"
Shayan, polishing his necklace and rings, frowned slightly. Guests... He'd explicitly said not to disturb his most cherished time.
With a sigh, he rose to greet the intruder.
The tent flap parted, revealing a suspicious figure.
"Finally met you, Shayan."
"And you are...?"
"High priest of the Amon Church. Here because you promised aid."
"Ah—."
Shayan nodded leisurely. The high priest scowled. This was way off from the agreement.
"Listen, young master. This isn't what your letter promised. Deferter pledged support, we seized Alzeras. But it all failed!"
"Did it? Hmm... "
"You—"
"If you want a proper answer, first: Send a letter before visiting. Like a noble."
Shayan cut off the warlock's outburst, raising one finger. The air chilled; the warlock clamped his mouth shut.
"Second: Don't interrupt my sacred time. Cleaning dust and blood from my jewelry is a noble ritual."
"... "
"And third."
Crack!
Shayan's hand clamped the warlock's throat with overwhelming force. Veins bulged, screaming his monstrous strength.
"Guhk!?"
"Why should I help warlocks?"
"Kuhhh—!"
Face purpling, eyes rolling back. Shayan sighed softly at the sight.
"Are you worth interrupting my time? I doubt it."
"Grrk... "
Snap.
Shayan snapped the man's neck one-handed. His arm rippled, spewing eerie energy. He watched impassively, then clicked his tongue.
"Filthy."
He flung the limp corpse outside, chanting Clean on his hand and the tent. Only after repeated casts did he sit back down.
"You outside?"
"...Yes!"
"We move at dawn. To purge the filth."
"Understood."
One more thing nagged him—the warlocks who hit the Phoenix Mage Corps.
"What of the warlocks who ambushed the Phoenix Mage Corps?"
"Yes. No survivors, it seems. And... Eckel fell."
"Loria?"
"Missing."
Shayan nodded. She was just Media's petty whim anyway. Alzeras's fall mattered more. He erased Lorelian from his mind.
What a day of upheavals.