Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: The Principle of Circulation
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-The reason for this meeting is as follows. I am a being that influences a mage’s self-realization. A being that helps them manifest a powerful will founded on understanding. A being that guides a forged intent toward the clear result known as magic.
The Guardian of Implementation continued its mental message. For some reason, the sentiment it conveyed felt more and more like a complaint.
-However, that child seems to have understood this differently. Since the creation of the Magic Tower, no one has ever used me as a tool for magic amplification.
Magda let out a soft chuckle.
At the same time, the atmosphere seemed to ripple with instability, and everyone could guess whose reaction had caused it.
Once the space had settled again.
-Of course, the method he used to forcibly resonate with me and realize his will is also a mystery, but that is not what we are here to discuss. What is important is the magic itself that this child manifested through me. You all know it was no simple protection-type spell.
Werner spoke.
“All of us here experienced it at the manastone shipping yard. It was truly astonishing magic, but I found it difficult to grasp its principles.”
-Indeed. Shamefully, I felt the same. I had to accept an unfamiliar concept to manifest the will that was forcibly pressing down on me. Therefore…
The end of its words slowly blurred, overlapping and echoing. It was like a reverberation.
The mages seated at the table felt a peculiar sensation.
As the mental message continued, they began to understand why.
-What we are about to discuss holds a meaning that transcends a mage simply revealing the principles of their unique magic. None here are ignorant of how momentous my words are.
It was as if the other four Guardians were expressing their will simultaneously through the Guardian of Implementation.
Their intentions resonated, creating a mutual echo, and thanks to that, Loan’s decision carried an even greater weight.
Magda’s gaze shifted slightly toward Loan.
The fact that the junior she cherished was being so thoroughly acknowledged and respected by the Guardians filled her with immense pride.
Loan, blushing slightly, opened his mouth.
“It isn’t anything grandiose, but it is clearly something new. I will not be needlessly humble.”
With that, he naturally took the lead at the round table.
Everyone focused. The air seemed to grow heavier, sinking. This was because the Guardians, too, were concentrating on Loan’s words.
“I have carried with me something I realized in my youth without proper instruction. I lacked conviction until this day, but after experiencing a few days here in Schwerin, the heartland of magic, I’ve concluded that it would be best to share it so we may develop it together.”
Pausing for a moment, Loan looked from Magda to the Tower Masters one by one, his gaze finally resting on Reinholdt, the Tower Master of Ideation.
“What I intend to assert concerns the method of manifesting magical power and its very source. I found it in ‘circulation.’ You could say it corresponds with the infinite hourglass symbolized by the Guardian of Ideation.”
As soon as Loan finished speaking, the Guardian of Implementation immediately replayed the conversation it had shared with him.
Stories about the principles of the world—how circulation is the continuation of creation and destruction through the repetition of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis.
Their dialogue was then recreated in the air as text and images.
Water from the sea rising as vapor to form clouds, falling as rain into valleys, flowing into rivers, and returning to the sea.
And in that process, drenching and feeding all things in the world, allowing life to sprout, that life feeding other life, then dying to become new life.
As they witnessed this simple yet magnificent “circulation” with their own eyes, Loan’s words continued.
“Since all things in the world are made of mana, the world itself is a place where mana circulates. In other words, magical power is the act of making the power of circulating mana one’s own. Naturally, one must contain the circulating world within oneself. I call that a Circle.”
“A Circle…”
-A Circle…
Those with and without physical bodies each murmured the same word.
“To put it another way, a Circle is the materialization of the infinite path of circulation within us into a permanent form.”
Loan borrowed the Guardians’ method, drawing a human body in the air, projecting its internal organs, and magnifying the image of a ring forming in the heart.
Countless particles of ‘mana’ that had been scattered and flowing around the ‘human’ floating in the air were drawn by the rotating ring in the heart and entered the body—they then swirled throughout the body along the paths of circulation before being expelled outward, manifesting as magic—rain fell in the air, flames formed, the ground collapsed and mountains rose from within it, and all sorts of things flew about with psychokinesis in a wondrous moment—and at that moment, they saw the existence of a Circle Mage, standing aloof amidst it all, orchestrating it.
Gasps of awe escaped the onlookers.
“Ooh…”
Loan then drew a perfect, spinning circle in the air, setting it to rotate endlessly.
After staring blankly for a moment, the mages eagerly began to ask questions.
“Can you continuously draw in mana to maintain your magical power?”
“Theoretically, as long as the Circle is spinning, there is no reason to withdraw from the front lines due to a lack of magical power.”
“Infinite…?”
“If you use more than the capacity you’ve drawn in, you’ll have to replenish it. However, I believe it’s possible if you can accelerate the flow.”
“Is such a thing possible?”
“I am overcoming it by increasing the number of Circles. So far, I have created three Circles, and I plan to continue developing more.”
“So you could use higher-level magic depending on the magical power you’ve drawn. It’s similar to Class, yet different.”
“Understanding and intent are used in the same way, so it would be correct to see the Circle as a complement to Class.”
The mages all nodded in agreement at once.
Endless questions were bubbling up, but for now, it was overwhelming enough just to process what they had just heard.
There was a moment of silence.
Loan said,
“This is the secret I hold. And to reach this point, I…”
He began to unravel the methods of mana training he had practiced over the years—how to carve the paths of circulation within his body and materialize them with a powerful will.
All of it was a new world to the mages and the Guardians.
The Guardian of Implementation brought the conversation back to the core of the matter.
-For everything you have said and shown to be possible, the premise you started with must be unequivocally true.
“In my theory of magic, in my concept of magic, it is an axiom. A proposition that will never be broken.”
It was a declaration that it didn't even need to be proven.
-Are you saying that the principle of all creation is circulation, and that using magical power by relying on the power of circulation is the natural order?
“Yes. It is right to believe and follow it.”
-The history of the Magic Tower is the history of magic. We are the guardians of the Magic Tower and the guardians of magic. Your words mean to rewrite the concept of magic, transcending a thousand years of history. You are telling us to turn away from the values we have believed in, supported, and guided, and to change course.
“If that is the way that has created the mages of today, then isn’t it right that it should be changed?”
“…”
-…
“The public perception that mages have diminished in utility is something mages brought upon themselves. It is because they have valued only magical power capacity.”
He wasn’t wrong.
The rebuke from their far-distant junior struck a painful chord in everyone’s heart.
“To understand all of creation, to commune with the world, and to manifest supernatural abilities. I believe that is the path a true mage must walk. And the Circle is the conceptualization of that path into a single image. Everything must start from there.”
It was difficult to object.
This wasn't a case of someone proposing a theory and its concepts and then trying to prove it. He had already performed feats bordering on miracles, astounding them all, enlightening them, and saving Schwerin.
How could they find fault when a child who had done what they could not was now explaining his methods?
Thus, only one question remained.
Magda asked.
“You reached this point through your own enlightenment. You say you are continuing to develop the Circle, so it’s impossible to even imagine what you will achieve at the end of that path. You could stand at the very pinnacle of all mages, so why are you revealing your secret?”
Anyone who has acquired power beyond human limits, anyone who has experienced that feeling, desires to stand at the top.
It was instinct.
This was especially true for mages.
That was why the long-standing ‘etiquette’ and unspoken ‘rules’ regarding unique magic had become so widespread, regardless of whether one was good or evil.
“First, it is because all the seniors present here are mages I deeply respect. And another reason…”
Loan calmly continued his thoughts.
“It is because the power of our enemies grows stronger by the day. I felt that an awakening of mages was necessary to stop the greater threats to come. We must prepare together.”
“Hmm…”
“And even if I spread this concept far and wide, teach it and enlighten others… there is no reason I cannot stand at the pinnacle.”
“…”
Magda smiled once more.
Werner could now fully understand the meaning of her smile, the meaning of her words.
‘She said that ordinary people cannot fathom the thoughts of a true genius…’
Those with a moderate amount of knowledge would be wary of others taking what is theirs.
They would fear that others might surpass them.
But Loan showed no sign of this.
It could be because he knew that even if he taught them, they wouldn't be able to do it properly. It could be because he was certain that no matter what, they would never be his equal.
He could teach them, gain something from observing their process of enlightenment, and pull even further ahead.
A mind that willingly accepts all those possibilities and desires even more, a mind that greedily seeks knowledge and development. Perhaps that powerful spirit, which could be called a fighting spirit, was the true mindset of a genius.
So thought the Tower Masters.
Opinions were immediately exchanged.
“We must first find these ‘paths of circulation.’ I wonder if there’s a way to map them onto anatomical charts.”
-That may be so for those with physical bodies, but we have neither paths of circulation nor hearts.
“That makes sense. It’s not merely symbolic. It seems only those who are actually alive, those with life and not just manifested will, can do this.”
“Isn’t it because the heart plays the role of pulling and pushing? Just as it pumps and pushes blood to circulate throughout the body, it does the same with magical power.”
-Without resonating with someone who has a physical body, it will remain a distant dream for us. Still, sharing based on understanding will be on a different level from having our power forcibly borrowed.
“If a majority of mages could create Circles and share their power…”
“The Magic Tower could become an impregnable fortress.”
Everyone was already quite enthusiastic.
Watching them, Magda sent a quiet mental message to Loan.
-All of Schwerin’s mages have suddenly become your juniors.
Loan smiled faintly and replied with his thoughts.
-The Union has mages too. I hope our seniors, who must become immediate assets in the fight against Grave, will grasp this concept even faster.
-Of course, the Commander of the Honor Division is no exception. Senior.
-Ah…
She couldn’t refute his point, but Magda couldn’t help but blush at his joke.
Fortunately, Werner’s question saved Loan from his predicament.
“Then, what would be the best way to start?”
Loan calmly shared his thoughts with those of a far greater age.
“Hmm… shall we start by learning how to breathe again?”
“…”
For a moment, not a sound could be heard in the meeting room.