Chapter 17. Dreamer (2)
Awakened handle mana through two main factors. The first is mana utilization. This measures how finely they can manipulate mana, and the higher the level, the more smoothly they can implement the branches of individual magic systems. In simple terms, an Awakened with precise mana control can wield a wider variety of spells at higher difficulties.
The other factor is mana affinity. This is directly tied to the attributes in the mana they manifest. If a system is like the design of a garment, then the attribute is akin to its color. Awakened assimilate natural mana into their own, manifesting it with attributes like earth, fire, water, and so on. Those with superior affinity can express a broader range of attributes at higher densities.
Mana utilization (systems) and mana affinity (attributes). These two abilities form the core of magic operation, with possession volume, purity, recovery rate, output, and other elements comprehensively evaluated to assess a mage's and their magic's rank, power, and effects.
And if someone were to ask which of these—utilization or affinity—is more innately tied to talent...
It's undoubtedly affinity.
Utilization can be grown through training and theoretical study. It's not easy by any means, but with consistent effort, one can reach high levels. There are even rare cases where people surpass their innate limits.
Affinity, however, is different. You can't boldly claim that enough effort will yield commensurate results. For instance, an Awakened with zero water affinity can't manifest water-attribute mana no matter how brilliant their instructor. They simply can't grasp how formless mana takes on water properties—can't sense it from the start. The same goes for other attributes. Those who don't know it never will, even until death. Even those who do are confined to the specific attributes permitted by their innate limits—and only with exhaustive effort and training.
That was the law etched into a thousand years of magical history...
Until the genius who first shattered it appeared a generation ago.
My mother. The great archmage Jeong Se-bin.
She wielded every mana attribute simultaneously. It was unprecedented, and she wasn't born that way. Innate talent, acquired effort. And a stroke of extraordinary luck.
In the latter half of World Guardian. Against Seyris, one of the demon's fourteen archlords and the unparalleled master of attribute magic across both worlds. Locked in a desperate struggle, Jeong Se-bin unconsciously pondered.
All of Seyris's magic. Every single attribute and every composite one. Somehow, they all seemed... similar.
The key was mana itself. Trace every attribute back to its source, and all that remains is natural mana.
An obvious truth, yet no one had ever concretized it before. Manifesting all attributes from the primal natural mana, the root of them all.
In that moment, Jeong Se-bin wondered if she could do it too. Facing Seyris's overwhelming assault, she strained to move her mana. Before she knew it, the mana flowing from her shimmered with beautiful rainbow hues.
And that day, the demons lost an archlord.
Jeong Se-bin didn't stop at her personal epiphany. Through relentless research, she published a paper. Its thesis was this:
If you possess mana, you already wield all attributes.
The paper's impact was immense. Lee Si-hyeok, the guardian, was the greatest contributor to saving the world. But it was his partner, the great archmage Jeong Se-bin, who would usher in its renewed prosperity.
She earned that evaluation from a single paper.
And now, over twenty years later, Awakened can handle all attributes. It's still no easy feat, and innate affinity differences persist, but it's no longer impossible. Jeong Se-bin's research made it so.
My mother undoubtedly revolutionized the world once.
And right now, in Seo Sang-wook's lab, after hearing the details of my ongoing research...
Arnaud Duré says to me:
"First, congratulations. Jin, you've surpassed your mother—Seb."
'Jin' is the nickname he's recently given me. Just the last syllable of Lee Dojin. It feels a bit cringeworthy, but telling him not to use it wouldn't stick anyway. And it's not important right now.
I firmly denied his words. "No way. I'm grateful for the praise, but... I can't possibly accept that myself."
"Is that so? Then let me correct myself. You'll surpass Seb within the next ten years. You'll bring that kind of revolution to this world. I'd bet my entire fortune on it, and this has nothing to do with your humility. That's my judgment."
"......"
His reaction is even more intense than expected. Probably because it aligns so well with his specialty.
Specific spaces—natural mana. Mana affinity—mana attributes. The two are linked. Natural mana exists in every space, and an Awakened's assimilated mana takes on attributes through affinity.
So what if we connect all four elements at once?
My mother traced from attributes back to natural mana. My research goes in the exact opposite direction.
"Distilling only specific attributes embedded in natural mana, using them as a medium to boost each Awakened's personal affinity... Efficiency can even be enhanced depending on the natural mana's location... Jin, in my view, this research rivals—or exceeds—the paper Seb published. How on earth did you come up with this? Unbelievable. The concept is feasible in theory. I could be a god of magic in my head too. But producing actual results... You're the most genius mage scholar I've ever seen in my life. No room for argument. Above Seb. What support did you have? Nothing. Beyond this lab's equipment, what helped you? As far as I know, zilch. So don't undervalue your own talent. That's advice from a senior mage scholar. You can achieve so much more, and you must never draw lines around your own ideas—"
"Arnaud, you'll pass out at this rate."
His usual cheerful tone gives way to an uncharacteristically grave one as he launches into his speech, only to flash an awkward grin.
"Ah, my apologies. You shouldn't have brought something so groundbreaking. Anyway, that's my take. This research will succeed, and I'm ready to provide every bit of support I can. Tell me what you need, ask anything. I can't guarantee answers every time, but pooling our heads should find breakthroughs, right? Manpower, budget, equipment—whatever I can manage."
"......Thanks."
I replied, gauging when to bring up the real topic.
Of course, the research isn't fake. I could produce clear results solo in the near future. Handing it out recklessly might backfire, so I'd need precautions like with the barrier constructs, but even accounting for that, half a year tops. I could reveal it to the world within that.
So the real reason I sought Arnaud Duré wasn't for advice.
It was to lure him to Silver Demon Mountain.
By claiming I'd found significant clues while exploring the ruins there. He'd probably rush over excitedly. As someone who makes specific terrains the core of his magic, he'd go willingly for his own research. His unexpectedly enthusiastic response suggests he'd do it just to help me, even without that.
And...
Just as I was about to mention Silver Demon Mountain.
Arnaud Duré said, almost offhandedly:
"Helping with your research might give me a lead too."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, well..."
I pressed at the sudden remark, and he muttered softly, looking like he'd slipped up. He hesitated in silence.
I waited patiently, and soon he spoke again.
"It's not something I've told anyone in practice... but I've had a long-held dream."
"A dream?"
The word 'dream' carried profound weight. My heart suddenly raced, a premonition seeping into my mind.
Change the subject now. Don't hear more.
But the other half of me whispered otherwise.
Listen. Judge after.
I chose the latter, and he continued.
"Jin, I want to eradicate rifts from this world."
"Rifts?"
Passages linking to other worlds. Opened by the demon lord, slowly fading through the efforts of the 36 heroes and countless others, but revitalized after the Great Rift.
And the one involved in opening the Great Rift.
The traitor, Arnaud Duré.
Says he wants to wipe them out.
What... is this situation? What gives you the gall to say that to me?
I couldn't voice it, as he confessed like a solemn vow.
"To be precise, not eradicate them completely. Just concentrate them in one place. If rifts only occur at specific points, at specific times... it wouldn't be so different from them vanishing, right? No more unexpected rifts. Everyone could prepare fully before fighting monsters. Non-Awakened wouldn't die, and Awakened... well, I hope so. I wish monsters from rifts harmed no one. That's my wish."
At this point, I had to ask.
"Then wouldn't it be better if the rift phenomenon vanished entirely? Why leave it at all... I'm curious."
"Haha, so that's how it flows. That's why I hesitated to say it."
He laughed hollowly, then fixed me with eyes full of resolve—yet tinged with regret.
"If mana disappeared... wouldn't that harm people too?"
"For example?"
"Many. So many. People with severe injuries who need mana to sustain life. And those who truly can't live without it... I know one."
"Who... would that be?"
He answered, his voice gentle and concerned, as if it still pained him after all these years.
"It's been over ten years now, but... Lottie didn't want to live anymore."
The 'Lottie' Arnaud Duré mentioned. It was the nickname he'd given Charlotte Tate.