Chapter 29
Chapter 29
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Ten Gifts, One Taken Away
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ironically—
The more his friends' understanding of magic and their skill with the sword improved with his help, the more convinced Loan became of his own shortcomings.
That his constitution prevented him from wielding powerful magic.
Around the same time, his master, Artuhr, also came to fully understand Loan's constitution.
"I can't say it's entirely unfortunate. It's more like you were given ten gifts and had one taken away."
Still, Loan felt a lingering sense of disappointment and asked his master.
"Isn't there perhaps a way to improve my constitution?"
"Hmm... Typically, magical tools and elixirs can help with using mana."
"I've seen magical tools in shops before."
He had even bought one called the Stone of Goetia when he first enrolled.
"Yes. There are indeed many different types with various properties. With special magical tools, you can amplify your mana or use the mana stored within them to cast powerful spells."
"Both options sound good."
"But if it were that simple, wouldn't everyone become a mage? The magical tools you can buy with money are either single-use or crude in their abilities. They won't be of much use for the kind of magic you perform."
For ordinary people, they might be useful as a last resort to replenish spent mana or as an auxiliary tool, but for Loan, who could circulate mana endlessly, most magical tools were just a nuisance.
Even magical tools that amplified mana were useless to Loan, as they responded to the concentration of the caster's own mana.
They didn't create mana out of nothing, but rather helped the user draw upon their existing reserves all at once.
"It would be nice to have something like a container that could store mana for me."
"An item with such an ability would have to be considered a divine artifact. The world is vast, so perhaps one exists somewhere..."
Hearing his experienced teacher speak like that, Loan figured it meant there wasn't one.
Loan asked again, this time about elixirs.
Artuhr began to speak, his voice somewhat faint.
"Well, as for elixirs, there are many different kinds..."
According to Artuhr's explanation, elixirs could restore mana, alleviate illnesses, or provide a temporary boost to deficient mana.
Even those effects were significant, making them extremely expensive and difficult to obtain.
Let alone one that could permanently increase mana or improve one's constitution—its value would be beyond measure.
There was a reason Le Tell went to such great lengths to obtain fruit by sacrificing humans, and a reason why the fruit created in such a way was so popular.
"But even among such precious elixirs... I honestly can't guarantee there would be one that would work for you. Even Elixirs have random effects."
"..."
It was a rare sight to see Loan with such a gloomy expression.
Feeling that he had disappointed his student twice now, Artuhr unconsciously unfastened his own necklace.
He opened the small, circular locket to reveal a transparent orb that emitted a brilliant light.
"This is one of the elixirs I possess. I received it from the Governor-General long ago for a great service, and I was saving it to give to a son, should I ever have one."
"But Teacher Artuhr, you're not married. Oh, or are you?"
"I'm unmarried. Unfortunately, I have yet to meet the right person. A son... is probably out of the question now."
"..."
Loan didn't know what to say to comfort him.
Artuhr put on an unconcerned expression and spoke.
"Perhaps it was destiny for me to give this elixir to you."
"Isn't it precious?"
"It's not that precious. I intended to give it to a child, so it isn't very powerful. It was meant to be used to give a slight boost to their abilities around the time they learned mana cultivation."
"Ah, then I'll accept it without feeling burdened."
"Yes. It has no side effects and works on almost everyone, so we can at least see if an elixir can improve your constitution."
Loan placed the quail-egg-sized elixir, which held a truly radiant aura, into his mouth.
The elixir dissolved in an instant, turning into high-density mana that permeated Loan's body. Loan quietly observed the process.
Power flowed into his circulating mana, and the rotation of mana in his heart grew more intense.
"Uh..."
However, the mana that swirled through his body gently flowed out as usual, and he soon returned to his normal state.
"It had no effect."
"No."
Artuhr seemed more disappointed than Loan.
***
Since he hadn't held high expectations, Loan wasn't heartbroken.
He steeled his resolve once more.
Accepting his constitution, he began to think of new methods he could use.
'Relying solely on intuition to directly influence mana put a heavy strain on me. The first Fireball formula I reconstructed was also inefficient.'
The priority was to understand the formulas, break them down into their incantations, and adjust them in a way he excelled at.
Above all, it had to be painless and not strain his body.
After that.
One by one, Loan's unique magic system, which used Convection to directly transmit his will to mana, began to take shape.
[Increase Mana Friction Coefficient], [Adjust Gravitational Acceleration], [Mana Frame Construction], [Pressure Adjustment], [Promote Chain Reaction]—spells that influenced mana itself.
'This is fun...'
The idea of controlling the endlessly supplied mana of Convection with his own weak source of mana seemed incredibly bold, even to him.
In a way, they were trivial spells; in terms of mana consumption and formula complexity, they barely qualified as 1st Circle.
However, since others couldn't see or manipulate mana itself, they were, in a sense, unique 1st Circle spells that only Loan could cast.
'Just manipulating the movement of mana doesn't immediately cause any phenomena.'
While the individual spells had little effect on their own, when they were linked and made to react with one another, they could be realized as conventional forms of magic.
In the end, their characteristics could be summarized as—
'The process is different, but the result is the same.'
'The mana consumption is significantly lower than when using a conventional formula. Compared to the Fireball I cast in the classroom, it's probably less than a tenth.'
'Of course, the size and destructive power are probably only a few dozen percent of the original spell's.'
'Still, the fact that there's almost no limit to how they can be combined and that their duration is nearly infinite is a huge plus.'
And one more thing. What could be called Loan's greatest strength was dispelling.
By observing the movement and function of mana with his own eyes and watching the process of a spell's creation, he could see how to neutralize it.
And if he wished to intervene, he just had to manipulate the mana directly.
'If I can see various magic formulas beforehand, I think I'll be able to predict them to some extent.'
Perhaps discovering these small principles and laws in time and responding with his unique magic was the method of spellcasting best suited for him.
'This has to be the right direction. I need to study.'
With that thought, Loan devoted himself to his work.
His only regret was that his unique spells were so minor that he couldn't give them impressive names.
***
A year had passed since Loan first began poring over library books and ancient language dictionaries, dedicating himself daily to deciphering and understanding magical formulas.
It also meant that it had been nearly a year since he met his friends.
Loan still spent his time with Lucas and Sophie.
He liked Lucas's innocence and Sophie's intensity. When they were together, it felt like they filled in each other's shortcomings.
All three of them had goals that were too grand and resolute for any romantic undercurrents to develop or for their relationship to progress in that direction.
For Loan, he simply felt most at ease when he was with the two of them.
Who knew it could feel this good to have people he could open his heart to and talk with?
Seeing his friends tense before the upcoming exams, Loan said.
"For the final exams, just... test easy."
"..."
"..."
Sophie and Lucas stared blankly at Loan.
A small smile and a hint of anticipation touched Loan's face.
Lucas spoke.
"Loan. Did you just make a joke?"
Could it be they didn't laugh because they didn't get it?
Loan replied kindly and clearly.
"Yeah. Test easy. Take it easy."
Lucas furrowed his brow and asked again.
"Who taught you that?"
"Teacher Diego..."
Sophie shook her head.
"Loan. I'm being serious. Don't ever make jokes anywhere. And stop learning weird things from old men."
"Why? I thought it was pretty funny. Was it bad?"
"Yeah. It's so bad my face is turning red."
Lucas chimed in.
"I think I've finally found what Loan is missing. A sense of humor."
"Still, let's just appreciate the fact that Loan made a joke."
"Yeah. Making jokes and all. It feels like we're finally proper friends now. Thanks, Loan. Good job."
Seeing his friends finally laugh, Loan felt somewhat bewildered.
***
First-Year Magic Studies Final Exam.
Loan demonstrated the magic he had learned before Artuhr and a special observer, Lazaros.
Fwoosh-
Small flames flickered to life on his ten fingertips.
As Loan wiggled his fingers, the flames shifted from one to another, merging and separating repeatedly.
It was as if he were playing with the flames on his fingertips. At times, the flames gathered to form a sphere or took the shape of a flowing wave in mid-air.
The process was incredibly beautiful and elegant.
Artuhr and Lazaros, who had been watching silently, exchanged glances.
The magic Loan had shown was difficult to explain in many ways.
"It seems that being able to directly manipulate mana itself makes such things possible."
"An incredible talent. At this rate, he might even be able to fuse magic of different elements."
Loan spoke, his voice somewhat weak.
"It may look nice... but will such weak magic have any use in the Union?"
A body that could not condense mana.
The lack of mana he could draw upon at a moment's notice was Loan's one and only true worry.
Lazaros, who had discerned this when they first met and held hands, and Artuhr, who had felt more pained than Loan after the incident with the elixir, both wore bittersweet smiles.
Artuhr spoke.
"Loan. Just by showing us this magic, you have proven that your ability is on par with the 4th Circle."
"That's right. You've cast complex and difficult manipulation and harmony-type spells without an incantation. No matter what magic you display, your opponent will see you as a high-level mage."
"You don't need to worry about destructive power right now. Above all, you are young. This is the time to focus on your strengths and develop them further, rather than worrying about your weaknesses."
Loan's turquoise eyes shone as he asked Artuhr.
"Teacher Artuhr, then how should I go about my studies?"
"Continue as you are. For now, let's make it your goal to deconstruct and implement magic formulas up to the 4th Circle according to your own interpretation."
"According to my own interpretation..."
"Yes. Just as you've shown us now, by mixing the properties of fire, water, wind, and earth."
"The combination, harmony, and manipulation of the elements would be compatible with Loan's unique magic, 'Convection'."
"Indeed. It would be even better if you could help, Director."
"If Loan requests it, I will grant him free access to the ancient books stored in the Management Bureau's archives."
Artuhr smiled in satisfaction before turning to Loan with a solemn expression.
"And Loan. It would be best if not only you, but we as well, keep silent about your constitution."
"Is that so?"
"Yes..."
Artuhr looked at Lazaros.
"Director, in that sense, how about we make a contract? It's perfect, with the only two who know present right here."
"That sounds like a good idea."
The two mages looked at each other and recited the same incantation.
A magical oath was engraved upon their mouths, hands, feet, and bodies. One that meant instant death if broken.
A vow to never divulge Loan's secret to anyone.
'What are they doing in the middle of my exam...?'
Loan didn't understand why the two adults were going to such lengths.