Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: An Impossible Count
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Loan observed how Ingrid manipulated her mana in greater detail.
She drew up mana from her very core, steadily pulling it to the final destination: her eyes.
The concentration of mana grew particularly dense around her eyeballs. With it, she fortified her vision.
It certainly seemed effective for enhancing one's ocular arts.
But the effects wouldn't stop there.
To Loan, the thick channel of mana extending down to her lower body was more intriguing.
‘There's truly no end to learning.’
In truth, the ultimate form of mana manipulation would be to generously and sufficiently circulate mana to every organ, muscle, joint, bone, and blood vessel throughout the entire body, even while standing still.
Finding the channels to facilitate this would make the process significantly easier. The effects would undoubtedly be outstanding.
However, while such mana manipulation might be useful for swordsmen or fighters, it was far removed from the ways of mages.
For mages, who manifest magic by releasing mana externally, improving physical abilities through mana manipulation was unnecessary.
Thus.
The way the Tower Master of Sensation manipulated her mana was unconventional for a mage.
This was further proof that this tower was different from the others.
‘It's so well-organized, I could try applying it right away.’
He briefly mulled over the two circles in front of him.
It was natural that the first circle, established with his breathing, began at the body's centerline. The process of searching for a horizontal line to correspond with it was also smooth.
From now on, he had to approach it with the mindset of developing what was necessary.
Ingrid's mana manipulation was quite beautiful.
The flow of mana was consistent, and the line passing through the start and end points was fairly straight.
It was even better for feeling well-refined, focusing on areas where the flow was easiest.
He composed his breath and, standing straight, immediately put it into practice.
He did not rush.
The priority was to create a path, even if the flow was faint.
Once the path was connected, he would have to slowly widen the channel through steady circulation and patiently wait for an opportunity to unleash his will.
Furthermore, he set two goals for this attempt.
First, to erect a pillar of mana to firmly anchor the inner part of his lower body, which would support his center.
Second, to establish a single cycle of circulation where mana would start from the soles of both feet, circulate up to his head as the turning point, and return to the opposite sole.
This was a far longer and more complex mana flow than the one operating his current two circles.
Even with a guide, it wouldn't be easy.
‘Accomplishing something difficult is all the more fun.’
The thought brought a smile to his face.
The Tower Master of Sensation noticed it.
“Are you smiling? You're full of confidence, Runner of the Union.”
A misunderstanding caused by Loan's gaze.
He wasn't consciously staring, but his line of sight had been fixed on the apparatus for the duel.
A large box draped in a blackout curtain.
The curtain didn't seem to be simple dark fabric, but something closer to a magical tool.
He couldn't see inside, neither with his eyes nor with his mind's eye.
All he could see were the mages of Sensation securing chains that extended from the box to the floor, but he couldn't ignore the Tower Master's misunderstanding.
Loan bowed his head slightly and replied.
“Since coming to the tower here in Schwerin, I have been constantly inspired. I’ve also been presented with one new challenge after another. The Tower of Sensation is no different. I must have gotten excited without realizing it, in anticipation of what kind of device this is.”
From Loan's perspective, he wasn't lying.
Fortunately, Ingrid accepted his respectful answer. She had a refreshing personality.
“Inside the box is the Sphere of Division.”
“I've never heard of it.”
“It’s mana given concrete form, what you could call an amorphous concentration of mana. It is my unique magic. It’s special in that it materializes and gives form to mana.”
She spoke as if it were a remarkable feat of magic, but to Loan, it was a familiar concept.
The lump of mana Aul stored in its stomach was like that, as was drawing upon the mana gathered around his necklace.
He had been doing it without ever thinking of it as magic.
Of course, to those who couldn't see or directly handle mana, it was a 'supernatural ability' that could only be achieved through formulaic spells.
“Then why is it named ‘Division’?”
“When a specific condition is met, the sphere splits in two. As they divide, they repel each other, and the process is infinite. The speed generated by the repulsion continuously increases.”
“Ah…”
Imagining it as he listened, he couldn't help but be amazed.
Spheres multiplying infinitely through action and reaction.
A structure where the speed also increased with each division.
He couldn't fathom how many divisions would occur inside that box, how small the spheres would become, or how complex their movements would be.
“It’s a good device for testing how sharp one’s eyes are.”
“Indeed. The method of this contest is to determine the number of spheres after a certain amount of time has passed.”
“When does it divide?”
“I've embedded a condition in the spell: the sphere divides when it absorbs heat. The heat generated when the divided spheres randomly collide during their movement also has an effect.”
The force of the continuous collisions inside would also be considerable.
“It seems simple, but it’s anything but. The box and the curtain also seem to be magical tools.”
“They are. To control this, the box itself has been enchanted, making it from reinforced glass with a strength comparable to meteoric iron.”
“I understand. It’s truly random, erratic, and infinite.”
“Even I cannot predict it, nor can I set the number in advance. This should be fair enough, I would say.”
Loan was purely impressed.
“Tower Master, you surprise me in so many ways. …It wasn't just pleasing to the eye.”
“Hm?”
At the unexpectedly blunt compliment, Ingrid's eyes widened.
In truth, he meant her 'mana manipulation' was pleasing to the eye, but he couldn't bring himself to say he had seen it, which created the misunderstanding.
Noticing this from Ingrid's strange expression, Loan steered the conversation in another direction to prevent her from getting the wrong idea.
“If one were to observe the Sphere of Division persistently, wouldn't it lead to seeing its smallest unit, mana itself? In that case, have you reached a level where you can see mana itself?
Ah, if so, was the purpose of training the five senses for that goal? Even if you haven't reached that stage, you would need to develop your ocular arts to an extreme level to make it possible. The magic you devised to achieve both simultaneously is truly amazing and beautiful.”
“Beautiful?”
Unable to comprehend much of the torrent of questions and explanations, the word 'beautiful' was etched particularly deep in Ingrid's mind.
Seeing the Tower Master's reaction, Loan realized his intentions had once again been misunderstood.
He asked again to clear the air.
“Have you not yet been able to see mana? Or if you have, what properties have you identified?”
“Mana? Are you asking if I’ve seen mana?”
This time, it worked as intended.
Ingrid immediately faced reality and frowned at the same time.
“Hmm… I will refrain from speaking on that for now. It seems more like a matter to be discussed after the duel.”
That was all she could say.
She had never thought about mana itself. What good would knowing about it do?
And even if she trained her ocular arts to their absolute limit, she didn't think it would be possible to see it.
To Ingrid, it was an unnecessary field of research and a baseless hypothesis.
“I understand.”
As Loan acquiesced, Ingrid finished explaining the rules of the contest.
First, Loan, the Tower Master, and all the mages of Sensation would begin together.
Second, when one could no longer count the spheres, they were to forfeit on their own and leave the vicinity of the device.
Third, the Guardian of the Tower would verify the final count of the last person remaining.
“Understood.”
Loan and all the other mages finished their preparations.
The Tower Master turned and looked at the painting.
The Guardian of the Tower, the 'Manifestation of Sensation,' looked completely different from the painting he had first seen.
It was difficult to say it was a reproduction of something, or a creative transformation, yet it would also be a stretch to call it a meaningless abstraction.
A deliberate dynamism that radiated energy, power, and mana.
The Guardian of the Tower spoke, filled with an emotion that could be called anticipation. In a telepathic voice heard by all members.
-I shall begin.
The blackout curtain slid down.
Inside a translucent, frosted glass box, a transparent sphere was floating.
The cause of the frost was clear.
A cooling magic was cast on the glass box itself, likely by the Guardian of the Tower.
As the painting was tinged with a color close to a sunset glow, the frost on the glass box began to disappear.
The color of the sphere began to reflect the color of the painting, and it vibrated.
As they watched.
The two circles enveloping Loan's heart began to spin furiously.
Ingrid's mana, which had been concentrated around her eyeballs, grew even denser.
Though there were differences, a good number of the mages of Sensation also focused mana on their vision.
*Ssk-*
Simultaneously, the sphere divided into two and repelled each other.
*Thud-thud-* The spheres bounced off the inner walls of the glass box.
They split as they absorbed heat, split as they hit the inner walls, and split again as they collided with each other.
The faster the division, the faster they flew, and the size of the spheres decreased exponentially.
Only a few seconds had passed, but an ordinary person would no longer be able to count the spheres.
Countless mages had already left the area around the device.
*Thud-thud? Th-thud?*
The chaos inside the box grew more intense.
Even for mages who had trained their five senses, it was no longer possible to see inside clearly.
Those who remained could be counted on one's fingers.
And another few seconds passed.
*Th-thud-th-th-thud?*
Even the senior mages, their faces pale, gave up.
Now, only Loan and the Tower Master remained.
Inside the device, only a hazy afterimage seemed to be left. Too many sounds were mixed together, leaving not even a residual echo.
Amidst the deafening sound that shook the tower—
Veins bulged around Ingrid's eyes, bursting one by one, until her eyeballs were stained crimson.
The Tower Master could bear it no longer.
She whipped her head away, taking a step back in forfeiture.
And a few more seconds.
“…”
But Loan had not yet given up.
He showed no signs of strain.
If anything, he looked strangely at ease.
It seemed impossible—
But since a renowned mage wouldn't cling to a lie that would be so easily exposed, everyone could only watch.
The problem was that the Guardian of the Tower could no longer handle the device. It could no longer control the internal heat.
Now, it was the Guardian of the Tower who was struggling to hold on.
The painting, too, changed into a complex and passionate array of colors and shapes, as if depicting boiling lava itself.
Finally.
*C-crack-*
With the sound of the reinforced glass cracking, a groan from the painting seemed to be heard as well.
The limit.
He, or she, having endured and endured, finally cried out.
-Stop!
Simultaneously.
The Guardian of the Tower and all the mages of Sensation unleashed freezing magic at the box.
The movement of the mana spheres began to slow, and frost rapidly accumulated on the glass box.
A few more seconds passed like that.
The moment the movement inside completely stopped, a thick layer of ice had formed on the glass, making it impossible to see inside.
An unprecedented event had occurred, where the presenters of the test had to abandon it midway.
After a silence where no one could speak.
Loan, who had taken a deep breath, met the gazes of the astonished onlookers and asked.
“Should I state the final number of spheres?”
His voice trembled slightly.
His expression was also unique, holding that particular feeling mages get when they encounter a marvel or attain an epiphany.
Had there been some internal emotional turmoil?
But that wasn't what was important right now.
“Are you saying you actually counted them?”
the Tower Master asked in disbelief, and Loan's reply came immediately.
“Eighty-seven billion, seven hundred ninety-nine million, seven…”
The eyes of the mages who heard him were filled with disbelief.
The tower was still deathly silent.
It was a number impossible to count by sight.