Chapter 186: The Tin Knight and The World Inside The Library (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 186: The Tin Knight and The World Inside The Library (6)
"Welcome, my knight. My page. Welcome to this world."
Silver tools, black-and-white documents, and magical characters floating in the air.
At the center of it all, the image of his master, smiling and reaching out a hand to him.
That was the first scene the White Knight perceived upon his birth into this world.
The White Knight was exceptional.
His body was strong, his physical abilities were outstanding, and his mana capacity, judgment, and calculation skills far surpassed those of any other magic doll around.
The White Knight’s artificial soul determined that no magic doll with better performance than him existed.
But this was no cause for pride. In fact, it was closer to an object of ridicule.
The reason was clear.
The power he possessed had by no means been given without a price.
Belying her vigorous activity during the early days of the magic towers' construction, the Witch of the North rarely made public appearances as time went on.
The same was true for raising disciples. While just a century ago, the Witch of the North's top protégés had been on the front lines leading the tower's innovation and prosperity, most of them were now either dead or retired.
So when rumors spread that the Witch of the North had produced a new top disciple after several decades, and had even added that this child was the most brilliant she had ever taught, the reaction from the four magic towers was nothing short of ecstatic.
The Tower of ‘Protection’ marveled at her dexterity and ingenuity in creating and developing various magic tools.
The Tower of ‘Foresight’ coveted her brilliance, having mastered numerous ancient languages and magical scripts at such a young age.
The Tower of ‘Annihilation’ admired her knack for skillfully utilizing enchantment magic, which was not inherently suited for combat.
Even the Tower of ‘Control’ was so impressed that they were willing to go against their principle of bloodline supremacy and grant the girl a new surname. The girl's talent was truly like a jewel.
To the invitations from the four magic towers to join them, the girl chose the Tower of Protection.
And when the head of the Tower of Protection asked her why, she replied:
"Because it seems like the best place to build magic dolls."
The head of the Tower of Protection was taken aback.
It was true that the Magic State used magic dolls more frequently than other nations, but that was only because they were easy to handle and had decent, reliable performance.
They were fine for inexperienced novices or mid-level mages who had reached their growth limit, but they were hardly suitable as familiars for a genius with such outstanding talent as the girl.
Of course, the head of the Tower of Protection didn't dare burst her bubble by voicing this.
The Tower of Protection itself was where the first artificial soul was created, so it held a certain symbolic significance. Besides, if he said something negative and the girl decided to go to another tower, that would be a problem in its own right.
However, the girl's actions far exceeded everyone's expectations.
Not content with collecting all the materials in the Tower of Protection, she reached out to other magic towers and even other countries when necessary.
In the process, she didn't even hesitate to act as a mercenary, taking on requests, or selling the rights to magic she herself had developed.
The eccentricities of a mad genius, people whispered.
Some sneered, calling it the game of a child obsessed with her dolls.
Quite a few were indignant, questioning if she had any pride as a mage, while others clicked their tongues, saying she was tarnishing the Witch of the North's name.
Suspicion, ridicule, contempt, and the rare goodwill and support.
It was amidst this complex vortex that the White Knight was granted life.
And with his superior performance, he recognized the things the girl had given up to create him.
A newly born artificial soul is practically the embodiment of rationality and logic.
The White Knight judged his master's actions to be irrational.
His performance was certainly excellent, but he didn't think he was worth the tremendous effort his master was pouring into him.
"Don't mind what other people say, Sigurd. No, Sig. You are most certainly worth it."
"You're going to be a hero who goes down in history. I'll make you one. When that happens, they'll all change their tune, you'll see."
Seeing his master smile so confidently as she said this, something stirred within the White Knight's chest.
But his immature soul could not comprehend the nature of that ripple.
Unable to even offer a clumsy vow, all he could do was calmly fulfill his purpose.
As one blessed with performance superior to any other magic doll, he would perform feats befitting that gift.
The White Knight did not think that would be a difficult task.
The Tower of Protection was near the pinnacle in the field of magic dolls.
He was the result of not only gathering all its latest technology but also lavishly pouring in the knowledge of the other magic towers.
His calculation abilities determined that he possessed performance that would not falter even against the highest-ranking spirits, let alone other magic dolls.
Therefore.
The competition and defeat that had occurred in Tik-Tok was, for the White Knight, something that 'should not have happened.'
Even if it wasn't a life-or-death struggle with real swords but merely a contest of skill, that was no excuse.
His opponent was an old, outdated doll.
Power, speed, toughness, mana capacity, output—there was nothing in which the White Knight fell short of the Tin Knight.
The only thing that fell short was one thing.
The skill of the soul that controlled the body.
The White Knight became aware of the emotion of frustration for the first time.
The fact that he hadn't been beaten by sheer performance, but by the skill that wielded it, instilled an even greater sense of defeat.
He had received power greater than anyone from his master, yet he had lost because he couldn't use it properly.
The White Knight dreamed of a rematch, and that dream came true.
I will not lose this time.
It won't be like last time, the White Knight thought, his fighting spirit blazing.
To offer victory to his master not just by following orders, but by his own will.
*
Clang! Kaaang! Clang-clang-clang-clang!
A gale raged, slashing at the surroundings like a blade.
The ground roared, letting out a violent tremor as if to withstand the impact.
This wasn't caused by any special magic or grand natural phenomenon, but simply by two knights clashing their weapons.
Even when they were just testing each other at the beginning, the two knights had already reached a realm beyond human limits. But once they began to draw on their mana in earnest, they were nothing short of disasters in human form.
Booooom!
When the White Knight thrust his spear with all his might, a long hole was bored through the stone spectator seats along its trajectory.
K-crack!
When the Tin Knight took a step, a small crater formed around his foot.
In the time it took an ordinary person to take a single breath, dozens of feints, attacks, and defenses were exchanged. The sparks from their clashing weapons and the remnants of overflowing sword energy mingled to create a complex palette of colors.
Even this was the result of the Tin Knight deflecting the White Knight's linear, forceful attacks with fluid movements to minimize the aftershocks. On the rare occasions when strength clashed directly with strength, a deafening roar, as if a cannon had been fired right next to them, echoed through the arena.
The faint of heart cowered and trembled, while even those who weren't couldn't properly perceive what was happening because the level of the duel was too high.
Among the audience, the only one who had reached a level where she could properly perceive the two knights' duel was Adelaide.
'It goes without saying the Knight is strong, but his opponent is incredible, too.'
Having fought various types of magic dolls in Tik-Tok, Adelaide had a rough idea of the level of an ordinary magic doll.
They were strong enough to fight on par with a knight who could wield sword energy, but it was a level that the elites of Lennart could suppress without much difficulty.
In that sense, the White Knight's strength was so abnormal it was hard to believe he was the same kind of being.
He held a clear advantage even when compared to the representative instructors of the Lennart dojos she had met so far, and even against the Kalidahs, she couldn't definitively say the Kalidahs were stronger.
At a glance, his attacks seemed to be swung with just power and momentum, but they struck at weak points along the shortest path like a precise formula, which was even frightening.
But, even so, the Tin Knight was the Tin Knight.
Slice!
Though the fight seemed evenly matched, as the fierce exchange continued, the number of wounds on the White Knight's body increased.
The metal that made up the White Knight's body was no ordinary material, so the marks were shallow compared to the power of the attacks, but it was a stark contrast to the Tin Knight, who had not suffered a single proper wound.
If the fight continued like this, the Tin Knight would seize victory without much trouble.
That's right.
If the fight continued as it was.
Kaaaaang!
Struck by a wide swing of the spear, the Tin Knight was sent flying backward.
He had blocked the attack itself with his shield, so he wasn't seriously injured, but the problem was that the distance he had worked so hard to close had widened again.
As if not to miss the opening, the White Knight's spear, radiating immense mana, swung in succession.
Boom! Booom! Boooooom!
With each blow, like a cannonball, the Tin Knight's body was pushed back again and again.
Adelaide immediately noticed something.
'The Knight... he's gradually using less mana.'
It wasn't that the Tin Knight had used more mana than the White Knight and was running out of fuel.
The Tin Knight's mana management was on a transcendent level. Even while trading blows and gaining the upper hand by landing successful attacks, he had consumed far less mana than the White Knight.
Nevertheless, the reason the White Knight continued to use mana explosively while the Tin Knight began pacing himself was simple.
Remote mana supply.
The Tin Knight, being an old-generation magic doll, needed his master to be in direct contact with him to replenish his mana. But the White Knight, who was packed with all the latest technology, could be supplied with mana from his master at any distance.
Since both knights were immune to physical fatigue and stamina depletion, their remaining mana could be considered a substitute for stamina.
It was a situation in a sports match where one side had to worry about pacing, while the other could ignore it and always go all out.
Normally, a chicken race should have unfolded to see which would reach its limit first—the Tin Knight's remaining mana or the White Knight's injuries—but there was a girl here who didn't want such a conclusion.
The white-haired girl, Gale Elilaz, positioned herself behind the White Knight and shouted.
"A mage and their familiar are meant to be a pair! Let's see whose coordination is better this time!"
『Superhuman Strength』 『Acceleration』 『Solidity』
The moment the magical characters left Gale's hand and seeped into the White Knight's body, he shot forward at a speed incomparable to before.
K-crack!
The Tin Knight's defense, which had been unshakable until now, was breached for the first time, and his side was gouged out as if bitten by a beast.
But far from being flustered, the Tin Knight's will-o'-the-wisp-like eyes burned as if he found it amusing.
[The 'Tin Knight' cheers, asking if this is the enhancement phase!]
"Is this really the time to be happy about that!?" Dorothea shrieked.
If she could, she would have rushed to the Tin Knight and poured mana into him, but it was all too clear that if she did such a thing in front of the White Knight, she would be skewered by that long spear.
No matter how skilled the Tin Knight was at defense, fighting with Dorothea right behind him would be a massive penalty.
She could trust in her defensive magic and charge in, but withstanding attacks that could send even the Tin Knight flying was too uncertain a gamble.
Of course, that didn't mean she was out of options.
As a Necromancer, Dorothea had few ways to directly enhance the Tin Knight like an Enchantress could, but if she didn't have to worry about Gale's interference, there were plenty of other things she could do.
Her blue eyes took on a ghastly light.
Taking out a dagger, she sliced her own palm without hesitation.
The overflowing blood trickled to the floor, and the remains of the corpses shattered by Gale gathered around Dorothea.
Blood, mana, corpses, and curses gathered in one place. The resulting form was grotesque, as if various beasts had been stitched together like a ragdoll, but the ominous mana it radiated was on a completely different level.
It was only natural.
Dorothea usually used her necromancy by glossing over most of the necessary procedures with her immense mana, prioritizing convenience and speed, but this time was different.
"O spirits who have lost your will, lost your way home, and even lost your names. I will give you a new purpose. I will give you new flesh and blood. I will give you a new name. So follow me. So obey me."
As if soothing them gently, yet with an arrogance that made it clear who was superior.
The Necromancer, the Witch, Dorothea, declared.
"Arise, Jabberwock."