Chapter 10
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Mastering Magic Theory
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“Ruyan, have you really grasped all this already?”
“Yes. It's easier than I expected.”
“My goodness! You do know that what you just learned is second-circle magic theory, right?”
“Guess I'm a genius like my dad.”
Ruyan shrugged nonchalantly, but Blanc continued blinking in utter disbelief.
It had already been three weeks since Ruyan began learning magic from Blanc.
Now, Ruyan was showing astonishing progress that left Blanc stunned, but in truth, things hadn't been so smooth at the start.
'I have to be able to understand what they're even saying first.'
No one was more confident in handling energy flows than him, but the terminology itself was so foreign that progress had been slow.
For someone whose memories consisted of a lifetime bedridden, comprehending complex magical terms had been impossible from the outset.
That was why he'd sought Blanc's guidance. Self-study had been utterly out of the question.
It had taken a full week for Ruyan to memorize and understand the basic magical terminology.
Watching that, Blanc had sighed, lamenting that Ruyan had no talent for it.
But that had only been the beginning.
The moment he grasped the terms, Ruyan began devouring magic theory at an incredible pace.
And in just two weeks, he accomplished the miracle of mastering all second-circle theory.
'Impressive, but it's still just theory.'
Understanding the principles didn't mean he could immediately unleash second-circle spells left and right.
Magic required mana, of course, along with mana circles capable of supporting it.
So in the end, it was only half a success—but even that had Blanc on the verge of fainting in shock.
'I haven't even fully comprehended it myself, and yet he understands it all perfectly?'
Blanc's astonishment was hardly unwarranted.
What he had taught wasn't standard magic theory. It was a brand-new system he'd developed through his own research.
'Since he has no mana circles and can never become a mage anyway, I figured I'd at least teach him the theory...'
He'd even tried it with a secret hope that teaching Ruyan might spark new insights for himself.
Yet Ruyan was piecing together his incomplete research as if it were a flawless framework, understanding it effortlessly.
'Is he just pretending to get it? Or is he really a genius?'
Blanc had often been called a 'genius mage' in his youth, but this defied even his comprehension.
His eyes filled with complex emotions, Blanc gazed awkwardly at Ruyan.
But Blanc didn't know.
That at that very moment, Ruyan was thinking something very similar.
Ruyan was just as amazed.
'It's rough around the edges, but it touches on the essence of the Return Heart Method. Did he develop this concept on his own?'
Blanc truly was a genius.
There was no other way to put it.
'I'd always thought magic was just a workaround for containing and using mana...'
Far from it.
There was something profoundly ingenious about Blanc's magic theory.
All rivers lead to the sea, as they say. Magic and martial arts ultimately converged on the same path.
“Alright, let's move on to third-circle theory then.”
Ruyan extended his hand calmly, masking his inner surprise.
It was a gesture urging Blanc to hand over the third-circle theory notes.
“Ahem. I didn't expect you'd progress this fast, so I haven't prepared them yet.”
“What preparation do you need? Just show me your research notes.”
“W-Well... Argh! Truth is, I don't have third-circle theory notes yet!”
“What do you mean? Aren't you a fourth-circle mage?”
“I'm fourth-circle by conventional standards. You think building an entirely new magic system is that easy?”
Blanc averted his gaze and barked gruffly to cover his embarrassment at revealing his limitations to his son.
“How far along are you?”
“Halfway... No, honestly, I haven't even properly started. There's an issue with third-circle theory that needs solving.”
Blanc sighed deeply and shook his head, but his achievements so far were accomplishment enough.
While other mages trod the same old paths, he had created something from nothing.
“Can I take a look?”
“At what? My research journal?”
“Yes. I'll just read it. I'm curious.”
It was the lifelong work of a genius mage, yet Ruyan demanded it with casual indifference.
“Hah! Look at this kid.”
Blanc stared at Ruyan in bewilderment, but his son just gazed back with innocently sparkling eyes.
“Sigh. How can I say no to you? Here.”
Blanc chuckled helplessly and pulled out the precious research journal he'd kept tucked safely in his robes.
Ruyan snatched it like a squirrel grabbing an acorn and scampered to a corner of the yard.
'Let's see. How brilliant is the third-circle theory?'
Ruyan flung open the worn journal without a care and flipped through the pages rapidly.
Terms that had once seemed like ants and earthworms to him were now crystal clear.
'This is where he's stuck.'
Having devoured the massive journal in moments, Ruyan instantly pinpointed Blanc's roadblock.
'He hasn't fully shattered conventional wisdom yet.'
Mana circles are interconnected.
They store mana in independent spaces but share it through tiny gaps.
That's why even high-level spells draw mana from the first circle onward.
Blanc's approach was different.
He'd created an additional gap linking the circles to the outside world.
'That's the beginning of true return.'
That was why Ruyan saw parallels to the Return Heart Method.
Through this external link, the mana circles connected to nature itself.
Mana no longer stagnated, becoming purer and recovering faster.
The boosted spell power was just a bonus.
'The problem is mana consumption.'
Every spell cast caused massive mana drain through that external gap.
The same spell cost twice as much mana as for other mages.
That was Blanc's stumbling block at third-circle theory. His mana reserves couldn't handle the expenditure.
And as spells grew more advanced, consumption skyrocketed exponentially—demanding a fundamental solution.
'Tch. The theory is correct, so why is his method wrong?'
Blanc had deliberately minimized the external gap.
He'd assumed a larger opening would worsen mana loss.
'Energy flows. Why think only of it being stolen away?'
To Ruyan, enlightened in the Return Heart Method, the flaw was obvious.
'Just fling the door wide open instead.'
Ruyan fetched a pencil from the house and began revising the journal.
He even added methods for receiving mana according to the Return Heart Method's principles.
'This should be clear enough for Dad.'
It was a bit curtly summarized, but a genius like Blanc would grasp it easily.
Finishing his edits in a flash, Ruyan returned the journal to Blanc and turned away without lingering.
“Dad, I'm off to work.”
“Huh? Heading out today too? I thought you'd take the day off since you wanted the journal.”
“Bread alone isn't cutting it. Gotta earn some money and buy meat.”
With that, Ruyan fled the house as if escaping.
Left alone, Blanc felt oddly uneasy and opened the journal.
“He scribbled something in there. Hope he didn't doodle on it.”
Fearful of damaging his precious work, Blanc handled it with utmost care.
Yet not ten minutes later, the journal slipped from his hands and thudded to the ground.
“W-What is this...?”
Blanc couldn't believe his eyes. A chill raced up his spine.
“How is this possible? It's perfect! This makes it work!”
The riddle that had tormented him for over a decade crumbled before a single scribbled note.
A moment of enlightenment!
Vast ambient mana swirled into a vortex, all surging into Blanc's body.
'A genius, as expected.'
As Ruyan descended the mountain at a leisurely pace, he sensed a mana storm raging behind him.
Blanc had achieved enlightenment.
Ruyan had solved the issue casually, but his solution embodied profound martial wisdom.
For Blanc to grasp it instantly proved he was no ordinary man.
As Ruyan entered the village, the villagers swarmed him with warm waves and greetings.
“Ruyan, our hen's been laying like crazy. Swing by on your way home and grab some eggs.”
“How's your dad doing? I've got some medicinal herbs here—take them to him.”
They used to just pile on the work requests, but now many showed genuine care for Ruyan's family.
Ruyan was fully accepted as one of Hatchling Village's own.
Then, a unfamiliar face caught his eye.
'Don't recognize him. Who is that?'
A middle-aged man with sunken, narrow eyes that gave off a sinister vibe.
Even stranger was his attire.
In the poor Hatchling Village, only this man wore lavish silk robes.
As Ruyan stared piercingly, the villagers tilted their heads before clapping in realization and fussing excitedly.
“Oh, you've never seen him before, have you, Ruyan?”
“Who's that?”
“He's a merchant from Mason Village delivering goods we need. He's been coming by lately.”
The villagers gazed at the stranger with fondness.
For such a remote village, a merchant bringing city goods was always welcome.
But Ruyan inwardly clicked his tongue and shook his head.
The man's appearance hadn't drawn his attention in the first place.
'Tch. Even fourth-circle mages moonlight as peddlers in this world?'
He'd tried to conceal his mana, but Ruyan's senses pierced right through.
The so-called merchant harbored mana reserves rivaling Blanc's own.
'Whatever business brings you here, better not cause trouble.'
Ruyan swallowed a sharp blade of warning in his mind and looked away.
Everyone had their reasons.
Even a mage in hiding was no enemy if he caused no problems.
“So that's Ruyan, the boy everyone's been raving about?”
The merchant from Mason Village, Boldkan, tossed out the question casually, and the village chief nodded with a beaming smile.
“That's right. Quite the strapping young man, isn't he? I still can't believe we have someone like him here—amazes me every time.”
“Haha, yes, he is. And Ruyan's Blanc's son, correct?”
“Eh? How do you know Blanc? He hardly ever comes down to the village.”
“Ah... I go way back with Blanc.”
Realizing his slip, Boldkan hurriedly averted his eyes from the chief.
“That's everything you need, right? I'll be on my way then.”
Without waiting for a reply, Boldkan turned and left. Only after distancing himself from the village did he pull a parchment from his pocket and check it.
It was a wanted poster sketch of Ruyan's face.
'Confirmed perfectly. Ruyan, son of Blanc!'