Chapter 138: The Big Picture (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 138: The Big Picture (3)
July 20, 1796.
Three months had passed since Jin became Kidad’s disciple. Even after they formed their master-disciple bond, Kidad continued to track Jin’s past for a time. Eventually, he confirmed that the Grey Owl Mercenaries had indeed been annihilated by the Zipple Clan.
However, even Kidad could not dig any deeper. He feared that further investigation might expose him to the Zipples, potentially costing him the only disciple and successor he had gained in his twilight years.
To Kidad, Jin was nothing short of a godsend.
“That brat… he talked a big game about finding a chance to kill me after becoming my disciple, but he’s been on his best behavior so far. Sometimes I get the feeling that little fellow has a few tricks up his sleeve.”
“We can’t perform close surveillance for fear of being discovered, but according to the Seven-Colored Bird’s reports, Kidad is spending more and more time with Young Master Jin as the days go by, Lord Murakan.”
The Seven-Colored Bird was currently monitoring Jin and Kidad’s movements by disguising themselves as merchants who regularly transported supplies to Romp.
However, since their target was a 9-star mage, they couldn’t observe the finer details. They could barely manage to confirm that Jin was still alive during their trips back and forth.
Still, it was possible to piece things together from the gossip circulating among the people of Romp. The fact that the eccentric old monster of the small village had taken in a magic aspirant was naturally a hot topic among the locals.
“Haa, my heart is in my throat every single day. It seems Kidad dotes on the Young Master for now, but what if he suddenly has a change of heart and harms him?”
“Don’t worry, Strawberry Pie. That loafer Jet said Kidad looks at Jin with eyes practically dripping with honey. In my opinion, the kid has already completely captivated the old man.”
“Ugh, hearing you put it that way sounds a bit strange, Murakan. I can actually picture it.”
“Exactly! It makes it sound like our Young Master Jin is wagging his tail for that wicked man! This is a mission, strictly a mission.”
As Quicantel and Enya shook their heads, the little ones of Tikan chimed in.
“Does Big Brother Jin have a tail?”
“No, Pinte. Only Nabi Runcandel has a tail.”
“I miss Big Brother Jin…”
“Me too.”
Enya’s younger brother, Pinte, and Yuria. As the children’s eyes welled up while they munched on ice treats, Alisa scooped them both up and led them out of the room.
“You’ve had your snacks, so it’s time to exercise, right? Everyone, please try not to mention Young Master Jin in front of the children. Once his name comes up, they look for him all day. There, there. Big Brother Jin will be back soon.”
The two dragons and the others scratched their heads awkwardly as they watched Alisa’s retreating back.
“Ta-da! Latri’s special apple cookies are ready. I thought the flavor might be too intense for the children, so I was waiting for a chance to share them with all of you.”
As Latri brought out the refreshments, the companions resumed their conversation about Jin.
“This must be the only place in the world where a dragon bakes cookies. What is the world coming to? Hmph, the taste is decent enough, I suppose. I’ll enjoy them. Anyway… Strawberry Pie, don’t stress yourself out too much thinking about the kid.”
“I do worry occasionally as well. If something were to go wrong with the Young Master, we have very few means to intervene,” Casimir said.
“You’re right, Sir Casimir. That’s what scares me the most… I want to trust the Young Master, but his opponent is a 9-star. Will Kidad Hall really fall for the Young Master’s plan?”
“If all he does is fall for the kid’s plan, he should consider himself lucky.”
Murakan curled his lips into a smirk. He spoke with a face that suggested he already knew exactly how things would unfold.
Good grief, and you were the one who was most against it, fuming at me in the beginning…
Casimir had no choice but to swallow those words.
*
“Huwell.”
Kidad called out to Jin in a gentle voice.
“Over the past three months, you have mastered the basics of Reverse Flow magic. In a sense, you have redefined the very concept of ‘Backflow’ as ordinary mages know it.”
“Yes, Master. I am deeply grateful. Since I began learning your Reverse Flow, I feel as though the horizons of my magic have broadened…”
It was the truth.
Even if he was a man who deserved to die, Kidad was a genius mage who had reached the 9-star rank on his own. His magic possessed a level of profound ingenuity that exceeded Jin’s expectations.
Mana Backflow—the most fatal phenomenon for mages.
Because of Backflow, duels between mages were often decided more quickly than those between warriors. It usually ended when the side capable of wielding more mana induced a Backflow in their opponent.
Normally, mages gathered mana into a single point when attempting to trigger a Backflow. The core of the technique involved compressing mana to an extreme at the tip of a staff or finger, then piercing the opponent to inject it and destabilize their mana.
However, Kidad’s Reverse Flow was fundamentally different; it induced Backflow by sucking in the opponent’s mana instead.
It was a superlative method that combined offense and defense, allowing one to absorb an opponent’s magic and return it as a Backflow.
“Manifest a 3-star Reverse Flow Sphere.”
Whirrr…
Jin manifested a swirling sphere of mana above his palm. The vortex looked much weaker than the one Kidad had first shown him, but Kidad nodded in satisfaction.
“Even at that level, third-rate fools won’t even realize you’ve started inducing a Backflow before they collapse. It won’t be long before you’re capable of killing second-rate mages. But to defeat the first-rate, you must learn Advanced Reverse Flow.”
Ahem!
Emphasizing the words ‘Advanced Reverse Flow,’ Kidad cleared his throat while slyly gauging Jin’s reaction.
“Yes, you’ve emphasized that several times. You also mentioned that one of the Advanced Reverse Flow spells can induce Backflow without even needing to return the opponent’s magic. When do you plan to teach it to me?”
“Hmph, hmph. With your level of comprehension, we could start right now.”
“Is that true?”
“Indeed. However, Huwell… before that, your Master has a request for you.”
“Please, speak, Master.”
Jin already knew what Kidad was going to ask.
“Shuziel Hister’s magic tome. Would you be willing to show it to your Master?”
“I cannot, Master.”
Jin refused flatly.
Kidad’s eyes narrowed into sharp slits as he glared at Jin.
“I am well aware that the tome is more precious to you than your own life! But three months have already passed since I became your master. Do you still not trust me?”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Master. It’s simply a matter of principle. I apologize. Did I not tell you before that this was the one thing I could not do?”
“Hah! Principles! Huwell, to be honest, taking that tome from you by force would be as easy as breathing. Despite that, out of affection for my only disciple, am I not trying to be reasonable with you?”
“Master.”
Jin’s eyes widened as he stared intently at Kidad. At the calculated gesture, Kidad cleared his throat and averted his gaze.
“Oh, dear. I misspoke. Still, I can’t help but feel disappointed. I intend to pass everything down to you, yet you continue to keep me at a distance.”
“No, it is just your foolish disciple being needlessly stubborn.”
“Does that mean you will show me Shuziel Hister’s magic tome…?”
The old man’s eyes shone with a dark greed. Kidad had once elevated his own Reverse Flow by deciphering a Hister magic tome, and he was completely intoxicated by the mysteries of their clan.
Ever since taking Jin as his disciple, Kidad had been itching to devour the book.
Instead of a scoff, Jin let out a sigh, pretending to be deep in thought.
“Haa, Master. Then how about we do this?”
“Speak.”
“I will lend you the magic tome of my ancestor, Shuziel Hister.”
“Oh!”
“However, I have one condition. I know I’m in no position to impose conditions on you, Master, but please give me a way to uphold my principles.”
“Very well, fine. I will grant anything within my power. What is it?”
“Please entrust me with something as precious as your own life, just as I am doing.”
Kidad’s eyebrows twitched, and a brief silence filled the room.
Generally, there is only one thing as precious as life to a mage—especially for someone like Kidad, who had achieved his own unique magical accomplishments.
“…The Book of Reverse Flow. Are you asking me to entrust that to you?”
The magic tome containing the culmination of the mage’s life’s work.
This was the primary reason Jin had kept Kidad alive.
There had been several opportunities to kill him. But each time, Jin had restrained himself, waiting for the day he would obtain the Book of Reverse Flow.
Simply killing him could not be called revenge.
Since my previous life, I have spent so much time imagining finding and killing you. Waiting a little longer for a small reward wasn’t so difficult…
Would he give it up?
While Jin gauged the situation with a calm face, Kidad was thinking:
The Book of Reverse Flow… I should only give that to Huwell on the day I die. Hmm, this is a difficult choice.
Soon, Kidad reached a conclusion.
In any case, Huwell cannot yet understand the Book of Reverse Flow, nor can he extract the Rune characters written within. Even if he is a genius who surpasses me, he is still just a fledgling. He won’t be able to run away with it, so there should be no problem.
Kidad nodded.
“…Fine. While I am borrowing Shuziel Hister’s magic tome, you shall hold onto the Book of Reverse Flow. That’s not a difficult request.”
“Thank you for understanding, Master.”
“However, I will need some time. The Book of Reverse Flow is not here; it is stored in the Eternal Warehouse of the Vankella Holy Kingdom. Continue practicing Advanced Reverse Flow until I bring it back.”
Thud, thud. Kidad placed two volumes of Advanced Reverse Flow magic tomes on the table.
“I shall be back.”
It was ten days later when Kidad returned. Withdrawing an item from Vankella’s Eternal Warehouse required a fairly complicated procedure.
“You’ve returned, Master.”
“Have you finished reading the Advanced Reverse Flow tomes?”
“Yes.”
As Kidad held out the Book of Reverse Flow, Jin pulled Shuziel Hister’s magic tome from his robes. Kidad’s face brightened instantly upon receiving the book.
“Oh, ohhh…!”
“Are you that pleased?”
“I can tell just by looking! This is a tome regarding Record Magic! It will take quite some time to decipher… Hehe. Thank you, disciple. You may examine the Book of Reverse Flow as much as you like.”
“I am not yet at a level where I can understand the depth of your masterpiece, Master. I am content just to keep it safe for you.”
“Do as you wish, haha. Anyway, since you’ve begun learning Advanced Reverse Flow… it’s time for some serious practical training. Starting tomorrow, we’ll use some bugs to experience the power of Reverse Flow magic firsthand.”
“Bugs? Can you induce Mana Backflow in bugs as well? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
Kidad shook his head.
“Not those bugs. I’m talking about the human bugs who do nothing but breathe their entire lives. In that sense, the people of this trivial village are perfect subjects for your practice.”