Chapter 150

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 150

Chapter Title: Night Journey with the Eccentric Mage

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Prannen was undoubtedly an oddball.

"Working here would be tough. This house is my retreat from all the headaches."

"Pardon?"

"You're heading to Timbrian, right? Perfect timing—I've got a villa there. Let's go together."

"What're you doing? Not moving?"

He said this as he casually packed his bags.

"Keep the house safe while I'm gone, you hear?"

"Yes, sir."

"And clear the cobwebs from the storeroom!"

"The spiders aren't harmful, though..."

"Your laziness is harmful, Yon! Anyway... I'm off!"

"Safe travels, sir."

With that heartfelt exchange with his servant, Prannen joined Kang Seol's group.

The party ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had to navigate a forest path where even moonlight barely filtered through.

Even in the dead of night, they pressed on without sleep—thanks to Prannen.

"Why sleep? Got time to burn?"

Prannen's Night Eyes.

It looked like an ordinary lantern covered in dense magical runes.

And its performance was incredible.

"...It's bright as day now?"

"Right? I made these ages ago, supplied a few to the royals, then shelved them. The effort wasn't worth the profit, and the side effects outweighed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the benefits."

"You mean attracting magical beasts?"

"Yeah, but I clean this area regularly, so no worries."

Kang Seol hadn't gotten much on Prannen from Count Brispin.

Which made sense—their personalities didn't overlap much.

'Still, he was a Holy Seat mage...'

Holy Seat mages. Zodiac's Twelve Towers.

And at the pinnacle of each tower: the Tower Lord.

If you asked Pandea's natives who was second only to the Tower Lord in skill, they'd all say the tower's 'Holy Seat mage.'

Holy Seat mages were the elite elder council each tower boasted.

'Wonder what level the current Holy Seat mages are at...'

Kang Seol's Duke of Frost had founded Zodiac, but he'd only set it up—never really contributed.

Titles like Holy Seat mage or Little Star were all self-made.

Kang Seol subtly probed Prannen.

"What duties did you hold in the past, Prannen...?"

"Oh, Brispin didn't tell you?"

"Just that you'd served on the Holy Seat."

"Hmm... Yeah, but that's ancient history."

With that, silence fell again.

Prannen succumbed to the booze and dozed off.

"Zzz... Zzz..."

About an hour later, Prannen woke.

"Finally feeling human. Good morning."

"It's still night, Prannen."

"Heh... Slept like a log, but time crawls. Why can't we magic time itself? World's so dull. Oh, right—pick up where we left off. You need my info, yeah?"

"...Pardon?"

"Brispin dumped everything on me, the lazy bum."

"How do you know Count Brispin?"

"His old man was a friend. A real standout. Dust now, though."

"I see."

"Anyway, road's boring—story time. Ahem..."

Prannen cleared his throat, eyes on the ceiling, reminiscing.

"I was with Libra. Know their specialty?"

"Support magic over combat spells."

"...Transmigrator, huh?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... Most transmigrators don't know that. Anyway, I studied there. While others blew shit up and leveled mountains, I hunkered in my lab. My field: enchantment."

Enchantment.

Also called enchants—this niche had few students, regardless of tower depth.

High difficulty, and even mastery didn't yield omnipotent power like other schools.

'That's why they recommended Prannen.'

Kang Seol had suspected as much.

A mage-turned artisan handling Bi-tan? Had to be Libra.

Prannen continued.

"If you ever pick a specialty, choose wisely. Or you'll rot in a lab like me."

They listened to Prannen's tales of exploits and research for a while.

Then Carmeli asked,

"What's Zodiac like?"

As a high-ranking cleric, she knew basics.

But Zodiac's mystique, plus having an ex-top brass nearby, sparked curiosity.

"Heh... Zodiac? Ah, well... it's not that glamorous..."

"Pardon?"

"Bundling stuffy towers means maximum stuffiness. Rigid vibe too. Personally, pre-Zodiac wasn't bad."

"Ah... But it's one of the Duke of Frost's great legacies..."

Prannen bristled at Carmeli's words.

"Yeah, that Duke of Frost prick... Thought dumping a huge turd and bailing made him legendary?"

He did become legendary.

Shit-dumping unclear, but among mages, Duke of Frost was legend.

"He... did, didn't he?"

"Sigh... That's the point. Pisses me off more. Mages hit walls because of him. And his Zodiac? Wild outfit. Hey, nun. Know what mages are in Pandea?"

"Yes, pureblood mages are... a headache."

"Mages come pre-loaded with elite superiority. Not average natives—they're Pandea's upper crust."

Carmeli proceeded cautiously.

"But... isn't that shaky lately?"

"Kek... You're well-informed. Transmigrators, yeah. Hey, you! Magic's three elements?"

Prannen knew Kang Seol was a transmigrator.

So he tossed a tough question to simplify.

"Mana, wisdom, knowledge."

"...Not a transmigrator?"

"I am."

"Huh, sharper than most. Explains the gig. Transmigrators pick up spells easy, but shallow depth. Towers double as academies, rejecting mass-produced mages. Wouldn't you? Fire from their hands, no clue why."

"...Fair point."

"They demand control of phenomena and knowledge."

Carmeli added recent news.

"Still... they're working on symbiosis?"

"Oh, that? Yeah."

Kang Seol had heard too.

"Recruit skilled transmigrators as apprentices. Win-win: stability for them, misuse prevention and expansion for towers. Sorry to interrupt..."

Prannen glanced around.

"Let's rest here. Hungry."

Snap!

Prannen snapped—the carriage halted magically.

Kang Seol peeked out: massive magic circle on the ground.

Vrrr...

Some time after the carriage stopped.

Carmeli scurried to Kang Seol, deflated.

"Sorry... Geon-sik said no to dried foods..."

"It's fine. I don't love preserved stuff either."

Kang Seol dumped ingredients into a massive wok and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stirred.

Sizzle...

"Sniff sniff... Hey, smells decent?"

Prannen, nursing booze sans snacks, perked at the aroma.

"Really... smells just like..."

Kang Seol served it to the pilgrims and Prannen.

"Here..."

"Me too..."

Everyone piled ribs on their plates.

And.

"Hm? This..."

"How's it taste?"

"Tasty."

"Not just tasty—incredibly tasty?"

Kang Seol calmly took his share.

'Good thing I had leftover Totrio ribs from the Labyrinth of Penance desert hunt.'

Kang Seol met Prannen's eyes.

"Impressive skill... Even head chefs struggle with this flavor. You do this often?"

"Hobby."

"Haha! We match! But this texture's new—not quite pork, not chicken..."

It wouldn't be.

It was monster meat midway between pig and fowl.

"Totrio meat."

Thud. Splatter.

Pilgrims spat out chewed ribs in horror.

"Ptooey!"

"Urk!"

"Spit it out! Poison!"

"Brother, why..."

Pilgrims eyed Kang Seol warily, but Prannen eased them.

"Enough. No poison."

"R-Really?"

"Yeah, handled Totrio for research. Poison would've stung your nose."

"Uh... so?"

"Safe to eat, right?"

Kang Seol nodded.

Finally, they dug in heartily.

Monster aversion stemmed from poison, sure—but their grotesque looks didn't help.

Totrio: pig-chicken hybrid.

Ugly as sin.

Prannen eyed Kang Seol.

"...Fun talent. After this feast, I owe you as an elder. Recent bottleneck?"

Kang Seol blinked.

"Pardon?"

"Quick—never taken an apprentice. Rare chance. Any recent roadblock?"

"Roadblock... Ah, yes."

"What?"

Gloop... Gloop...

This power troubled Kang Seol.

Primordial blood and shadow fused—underwhelming performance.

'No derivatives either. Wrong usage?'

Just sticky, no oomph—waste of points?

"Hmm... Eclectic mix, transmigrator style. Unique, but inefficient. Used in combat?"

"Once. Disappointing."

"Makes sense. Not direct combat power."

"...Pardon?"

"Creation authority, probably?"

Kang Seol's eyes widened—a bell rang in his head.

'Right! Why didn't I think of that? So simple...'

Sometimes distant views hide the near. Mistake from assuming his way was right.

Creation authority.

Golems, chimeras, myriad forms.

Simply: instill will into inanimate objects, bend to caster's intent.

"Tried that way?"

"Ah, I'll test now."

"Sure? I could teach more..."

"No need."

"...Fine. Bedtime."

Kang Seol's blunt refusal stunned everyone. Prannen sulked inwardly, mocking him as he bedded down.

'Idiot. Beg for scraps by morning. Hmph...'

Daring spurn a Holy Seat's wisdom—especially when creation tied deep to his enchantment specialty.

Prannen decided to make him wait.

'We'll see.'

Carmeli grabbed Kang Seol.

"Uh... Rare chance. Ask for more guidance?"

"It's fine. Sleep well."

"Ah... Okay..."

All but the watch slept. Kang Seol sat by the fire, summoning the gooey shadow.

"Creation... Start simple."

Huuuuh...

Recalling ancient memory, he focused.

- Creation is projection of will.

"Creation is projection of will..."

Gloop...

Close eyes. Visualize intensely.

Don't lose it.

Ink bleeds on black paper.

- Creation is easier than brushing teeth.

"Creation is easier than brushing teeth."

Gloop...

Mold with thought freely.

Keep molding. Doubly so.

- Creation is...

"Creation is..."

In faded memory, the voice grinned.

Kang Seol grinned back, recalling the final lesson.

- Fun!

"Fun..."

Trace of the Immortal who'd mass-produced monsters.

"...Nah. Tougher than expected?"

First try: miserable failure.

...For now.

"Again."