Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Faith Division
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"That's true, but magical artifacts are born from magic circles and formulas. Once they're created and completed, they can't be altered. There's no way to dismantle them; they can only be destroyed."
The Union's number one craftsman, the dwarf Alric, a name synonymous with admiration and respect, was for some reason busy explaining, sweat beading on his brow.
He himself didn't know why he was trying so hard.
"So, to prevent it from being destroyed..."
"Right. A 4th-Class or higher mage would need to spend a considerable amount of time..."
"I understand perfectly what you mean. Then, I'll give it a try."
"..."
Alric was half in doubt.
He knew that this year's top graduate from the Union Academy was a mage, and that he had passed the Union's entrance exam with flying colors.
But what he had just described was a feat bordering on a special ability, something only a 4th-Class or higher mage could accomplish.
"Hmm..."
A sense of resignation washed over him, mixed with a curiosity to see just what the boy would do.
The boy wanted to handle the artifact he'd brought himself. If he messed it up, it would be his own responsibility. What was the point in stopping him?
Alric made the matter of responsibility clear, just in case.
"If you insist on doing it that way."
With that, he put some distance between himself and Loan.
Loan was naturally left alone in the center of the hall.
He levitated the sword fragment in the air, closed his eyes as if in prayer for a moment, and his lips moved slightly.
It looked as though he were chanting an incantation, but he was actually reflecting on the memories of that day. It was a kind of ritual to commemorate the sacrificed Pauline.
Soon after, Loan opened his eyes and began to meticulously adjust the convection of mana surrounding the sword fragment.
It was like touching the sword fragment, which had been wrapped in a wide cloth, piece by piece with thousands, tens of thousands of threads.
‘If I apply the formation at the main building's entrance that reacts to mana and Director Lazarus's unique magic here...’
As if two palms were meeting to inspect mana, Loan's convection gently tapped the sword fragment, directly corresponding with the magical power within.
‘Hmm...’
Applying it without direct contact required a great deal of concentration.
If his sight for observing mana hadn't deepened after drinking the elixir, it might have been an impossible task.
But it was still overwhelming.
His head instantly grew as hot as the roaring furnace in the distance.
‘Not yet.’
This is just the beginning.
The most important part is to evenly divide and fix the mana concentrated in the sword fragment into twelve smaller pieces.
Thought becomes will.
Whoooosh—
His heart raced.
Dust particles of all kinds began to swirl violently in concentric circles around Loan.
Then, the convection surrounding Loan met the dust and began to create strange sparks.
"A mana field? What is this...!"
"Is that boy really using 4th-Class magic?"
It was neither a mana field nor 4th-Class magic that directly affects the essence of an object.
He had merely used a series of 1st-Class spells: [Speed Control] to regulate the flow of mana within the sword fragment, [Increased Friction Coefficient] to create a boundary by causing repulsion between mana, and [Pattern Manipulation] to set direct boundaries on the individual pieces.
It was a direct interference with mana through the control of convection—
—a method akin to reverse-engineering the way he had dismantled the Human Tree's formula and the Stone of Goetia.
The energy reaction between the mana that occurred in the process was just a source of misunderstanding.
‘Alright. If I disassemble it like this.’
It's not difficult. I just need to apply force along the cracks.
Applying the same principle he used to separate layers of mana, he applied equal force from above and below simultaneously.
Crack—!
With a clear sound, the sword fragment split simultaneously along the hairline cracks.
In that moment, Loan finally felt a release from a certain shackle.
From Pauline's scream and Blake's impression.
"Did he really do it? Didn't he just break it?"
"With all your experience, is that all you can see in that divine artifact?"
It was an extremely precise and clean result, without even a speck of metal dust flying off.
"Will this do?"
The twelve small fragments, which had been floating beautifully while diffusely reflecting the light, gently flew toward Alric at Loan's gesture.
Alric reached out and touched each of the floating fragments.
"Ha, haha."
The amount of mana contained in each fragment was also identical.
In other words, the materials for twelve sword blades, all possessing the same magical power, had been prepared in such a short time.
By a mere fifteen-year-old boy who had just joined the Union.
"I can't believe it."
Alric muttered to himself, cupping his hands again. The fragments landed one by one in his palms with extreme delicacy.
Alric said in a respectful voice.
"I will do my best."
His face somewhat pale, Loan bowed deeply to the dwarf.
* * *
As the three new members who had commissioned their weapons came outside, an attendant approached them just in time.
The place they were led to was a rather large assembly hall.
The chairs seemed to have been arranged considering the number of main building staff. A few new members who had arrived earlier were already seated there.
Loan and his friends took their seats side-by-side in the empty spots.
Soon, Director Lazarus himself appeared.
Loan stood up and bowed with a happy expression, but no one else did the same.
The adult new members sitting in the back even tilted their heads, looking rather puzzled.
Director Lazarus said.
"You may be new members, but you are now rightfully the sword and oath of the kingdom. If anything, it is Lord Loan who should be respected."
Loan understood his meaning but couldn't shake off the awkwardness.
He had joked with Lucas about public and private matters, so it was a bit funny that he was the one acting this way now.
As Loan sat down, Lazarus said.
"You must have already commissioned your uniforms and weapons. We will now begin the official orientation."
The new members' eyes sharpened, all focused in one direction.
Lazarus gave a satisfied smile before continuing.
"As you know, the Union is composed of the Seven Divisions, representing the 1 Kingdom and 6 Autonomous Duchies: Grafton of Faith, Barcino of Harmony, Schwerin of Honor, Sion of Stability, Rhodes of Practicality, Ferrara of Responsibility, and Versa of Freedom."
It was very quiet.
It was a story everyone knew, but it was no longer someone else's story.
Now that they were the ones who would be joining those Seven Divisions, they couldn't help but feel their hearts swell with emotion.
Loan, feeling the same, waited for the next words.
"You will be assigned to one of the combat units of these Seven Divisions and carry out missions. Your starting rank will be Oz, and you can only be promoted to Runner, Seeker, Expert, and Master based solely on your merits, achievements, and skills."
Even though they had passed a rigorous exam to get in, compared to the seniors above them, they were little more than novices.
‘There’s a long way to go.’
Loan thought.
Sienna, who still felt so strong, was a Runner. Oscar, the vice-commander of the Faith Division, and Diego, the swordsmanship instructor, were Seekers. To surpass the commander-level Experts and reach his goal of Master, the rank with the white suit, how many missions would he have to complete?
And he had to do it within five years.
The Governor-General's words suddenly came to mind.
‘You must achieve it.’
Vowing to do so, he listened even more intently to Lazarus's explanation.
"However, the world will not be easy on you. The name 'Union' alone will make you a target for countless groups. Even those you try to help might thank you to your face and curse you as the kingdom's dogs behind your back."
"Surely there aren't such shameless people?"
A question suddenly arose. It was from a woman behind Loan, dressed in the robes of a Sion priestess.
Lucas's eyes widened as he turned to look.
Lazarus replied.
"Of course. It's not just villains like Grave. The same goes for families and groups that claim to act in the name of good and justice. The Union is an obstacle to them using force for their own interests. The Union has been like that since its inception—a group that is both welcomed and ostracized."
Listening to this, a sense of anger welled up for no reason. Even Loan felt it, so it was needless to say how the other new members felt.
Lucas, who prided himself on being more hot-blooded than anyone, spoke up abruptly, conscious of the person behind him.
"We should just teach a lesson to anyone and everyone who acts like that. Shouldn't the Union only care about peace and the will of the people?"
Loan found himself nodding, looking at Lucas with pride once again.
He, who thought just like him, was also a proper member of the Union.
Lazarus replied.
"Yes. That is correct. A single standard that never wavers and never breaks: the peace of the kingdom and the safety of its people. You need only remember that."
The stories that followed—
—were about the state of the world facing the threat of Grave, the missions new members of the Oz rank would receive, the facilities where they would live and how to use them, their salary, and how other necessary items would be provided, and so on.
The information was so vast that it was overwhelming to try and absorb it all.
So, Lazarus's final announcement was a most welcome one.
"Well, then. I will now announce the units the new members will be assigned to."
* * *
After the orientation, Loan and his friends stayed at the lodgings within the Union's administrative district.
It was a place where Oz-ranked members who had yet to be assigned to a unit, or outside personnel, would stay.
The single-room facilities were impeccable, and the food was excellent. There was a training ground in the back garden, which was great for personal training.
‘Still, a week was too long.’
The long-awaited day of induction.
Before heading to his assigned unit, Loan put on his tailored uniform, stroking the fabric with great pleasure.
The perfectly fitting black suit would add elasticity to his movements, greatly aiding in his mana manipulation.
It was dustproof, waterproof, and flame-retardant, and was said to be resistant to scratches or cuts from most swords, making it a magical artifact in its own right.
But what pleased Loan the most was.
"Take it. You'll like it."
Words filled with a confidence that lacked any trace of caution or humility.
Taking the twelve handle-less blades from Alric, Loan was indeed very satisfied.
The slender, diamond-shaped blades were sharp on all four sides.
"Thank you. I really mean it."
"They can combine, too."
"Oh!"
"With magic."
"Ah..."
Loan was eager to test his new swords.
He was curious if he could fly all twelve swords at once.
And what new attacks he could unleash with them.
In addition, he wondered how he could launch a preemptive strike without holding back.
"Lucas. Let's go."
Loan dragged the long-faced Lucas along.
At last.
Stroking the yellowish Oz badge with his hand, he stood before the Faith Division's building where he would be serving, his heart swelling with emotion.
"The new recruits."
Following a senior Runner, Loan and Lucas arrived at the Faith Division's training ground.
Several people were training individually. Several others were watching them.
One person among them caught Loan's eye.
A crest on his chest, shining with a strange color amidst dozens of seniors.
It was the first time he had seen an Expert-rank.
‘Then that person must be...’
A man with a neat appearance.
Was he in his early to mid-twenties?
If not for the sharp eyes behind his small glasses, one might mistake him for a scholar, so refined did he look.
The man, who had been sitting in a chair with a languid expression, suddenly saw Loan and stood up.
"Ah, the new members are here."
The longsword with an ornate hilt at his waist swayed gently.
A clear voice followed.
"I'm Adrian. I'm the commander of the Faith Division."
The first time he'd met the commander of the Faith Division.
One cannot gauge an opponent's skill simply by the amount of mana they've accumulated. Paradoxically, he himself had proven that.
But he couldn't help but marvel at the commander's dazzling radiance.
"Oz of the Faith Division, Loan."
"Oz of the Faith Division... Lucas."
"Welcome. I was just getting bored, so this is perfect."
"Huh?"
Loan looked at the playfully smiling Adrian with suspicious eyes.
"Anyway, you're Loan, right? Let me see your skills. I felt quite wronged that I seemed to be the only one who hadn't seen them."
"..."
He was flustered by the sudden request to see his skills, but at the same time, he was also pleased.
Looking at his opponent, his competitive spirit flared up even more.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Oscar, vice-commander of the Faith Division."
Oscar stepped forward, a massive claymore slung over his shoulder.