Chapter 303: Aris’s Aid (2)

Lennok chuckled at Davi, who was swimming inside the glass tube, using its tail like a propeller.

“[That’s a misconception.]”

“Let’s stop chatting and continue the reaction experiment we were doing just now.”

Aris said that, tapping on her laptop and channeling mana into a nearby pipe.

Whoosh!

The glass tube, energized, began to glow brightly along with Aris’s mana, enveloping Davi’s body as it swam within the crystal.

“The fact that Davi is a new type of spirit, a derivative of the electric-type lineage, is a very important theme in this research.”

She continued, looking at the transparent glow that illuminated the inside of the lab like glass.

“The manifestation of a spirit through a sorcerer, its appearance and abilities, are intrinsically linked to the sorcerer’s essence—that’s the mainstream academic opinion… If so, we might be able to reach a branch of your Mind Imprint through Davi.”

“…”

“It’s hard to grasp the principles and forms of a spirit user’s Domain, but it must undeniably operate around the spirit body. Therefore, recording mana reactions of various properties and Hierarchies and focusing on the spell system with the best resonance will be helpful.”

[…]

At Aris’s words, Lennok quietly met Davi’s gaze.

The statement that Davi’s appearance and abilities are directly related to Lennok’s mind is, upon reflection, not a wildly inaccurate conjecture.

The sentient spirit, which had been with Lennok for a long time, was essentially a being born from Lennok’s needs and desires.

However, it was unknown how well the core principles of general spirit magic would apply to Davi, who was born from the fusion of a strong AI thinking algorithm and necromancy.

To truly understand Davi’s essence and origin, Lennok would have no choice but to research adjacent systems through various attempts, as Aris suggested.

‘The problem is how long it will take.’

Fortunately, Lennok had already reached an agreement with Davi on this matter.

Davi’s calculation and hacking abilities as a sentient spirit, and its spell assistance through algorithm concretization, were specialized skills with high potential in this world, to the extent that even Lennok found it difficult to estimate their limits.

If this spirit magic research could help Lennok understand and unlock Davi’s abilities more deeply, it would be a great help to him.

“While the reaction experiment is ongoing, we’ll also conduct research on summoning magic, which we haven’t finished yet.”

Aris said that, patting a thick stack of books.

“Although spirit magic and summoning magic differ in their principles, they yield the same result: manifesting a different phase of oneself into reality. Since Davi has aspects that are alien to other spirits, it’s necessary to research the principles of summoning magic alongside it.”

“The investigation into summoning magic is almost complete.”

Lennok replied.

“After the reaction experiment is over, it would be good to draw a summoning circle and check the results.”

“Alright.”

Aris clapped her hands and said.

“There’s an empty lot prepared for practice on the other side of the lab. Could you go ahead and draw the summoning circle? I’ll confirm the reaction experiment records are finished and bring Davi over.”

“Understood.”

Lennok said that and headed to the lot, carrying a box of catalysts from the corner of the lab.

Professor. Aris’s private lab, having reached the level of Archmage, boasted a considerable size even within Rebatenon University.

In the middle of the empty lot, where various scrolls and books had been neatly cleared away, Lennok began to draw a summoning circle by combining several catalysts.

Although he had never used summoning magic, Lennok looked quite skilled as he mixed the catalysts and drew the summoning circle.

Lennok’s eyes, reflecting on memories while stooping, calmly settled.

‘Summoning magic… it was one of the magic systems I’d kept an eye on for quite a while.’

Back in the days when he couldn’t even easily grasp the essence of Level 6, let alone Level 7.

There was a time when he realized it was always difficult to find a vanguard who worked well with him, like Dylan, and he sought a solution.

Wasn’t it then that he researched spirit magic and summoning magic, frequenting the city library to try to create a vanguard himself, and met Aris once more?

Ultimately, Lennok gave up on creating a vanguard and instead solidified his style by developing combat abilities comparable to a vanguard himself.

It would be a lie to say he had no lingering regrets about summoning magic, which required extreme amounts of capital, environment, and luck.

‘I wouldn’t say my luck is good, but…’

But now, with Aris’s lab and research funds backing him, and having completed the Hierarchy to reach a higher state, things were different.

In the process of researching spirit magic and summoning magic, Lennok had fully understood in his mind the countless branching points existing within the two spell systems.

Even if it was impossible right now, if he continued to make attempts like this, before long—

“Lennok, I’m done over here.”

While he was thinking that, Aris appeared with Davi perched on her shoulder.

The little fox looked pitiful, slumped on her shoulder, as if the reaction experiment had been quite tiring.

Lennok chuckled and nodded.

“Almost finished.”

“Then I’ll wait here.”

Aris smiled, held Davi, and sat on a nearby pile of books.

Her blue eyes, looking down at Lennok’s back, sparkled brightly.

A corner of the lab, an empty lot piled high with books and scrolls. Through the glass window next to it, a deep sunset shone, painting the lab in an orange hue.

A twilight so beautiful that even Lennok paused his movements for a moment. Aris slowly turned her head, following his gaze.

“…”

A time when unspoken thoughts and worries vanished without finding answers.

But Lennok felt this moment was incredibly comfortable. And he wished someone else felt the same.

How long could this relationship be maintained? How long could this time last?

After all, as long as Lennok was hiding his most important secret from Aris, it might be a relationship with a predetermined ending.

Yet, Lennok still wasn’t sure if he should tell her everything about himself.

Because she was in a completely different position from the people in the shadows who knew half of Sector 49.

Was being honest with Aris now truly for her sake, or was it just Lennok’s own selfishness?

Lennok still wasn’t confident enough in his answer to know.

In this constantly changing world, this endlessly distorted city, he didn’t wish for much.

However, if there was anything he wished would continue, even for a moment…

“Lennok?”

Lennok, brought back to reality by Aris’s call, gave an awkward laugh.

“Ah… I apologize. I need to explain this part to Aris.”

Without waiting for Aris’s reply, Lennok immediately continued.

“Regarding the summoning circle, I’m in the process of improving it through my own interpretation. The order of variables I’m trying to control is lineage, form, size, nature, and background, with financial and luck-based elements pushed to the very end. The analysis of lineage is almost complete, and I’m still experimenting with form and size.”

As he pointed to various parts of the summoning circle he had already drawn and explained, Aris immediately understood and nodded.

“So you’re trying to pre-arrange the elements that are normally determined at the moment the summoning circle is activated. But if you make improvements like this, won’t the circle fail to work properly?”

“I plan to compensate for that part using luck. More precisely, by using bad luck.”

Aris knew that Lennok’s understanding of magic theory surpassed Level 7, so Lennok had no hesitation in sharing his ideas.

Aris, who understood Lennok’s words in an instant, spoke.

“Are you thinking of using cursed artifacts or relics?”

“Exactly. Summoning circles originally fill structural gaps through strong luck or equivalent items… but if you draw the entire spell in reverse, you can reverse even its principles.”

Lennok said.

“It’s about forcibly fitting manufactured bad luck into the parts that require luck.”

A moment of silence. Even Aris needed time to comprehend such an absurd statement.

“That… That’s truly absurd.”

Aris opened her mouth with a hollow laugh.

“It’s a completely contrary interpretation to my common understanding of magic circles.”

Reversing the spell like a mirror, drawing power for the necessary components from the opposite direction.

It sounded easy, but in essence, it was tantamount to rebuilding the spell from scratch.

Because a magic circle isn’t such a convenient power that it can operate in reverse just by drawing it backward in a mirror.

But even after hearing her words, Lennok’s expression didn’t change.

“It’s not impossible if you clearly understand the logical progression of a summoning circle. The important question is whether the desired logic, when reversed, can still function completely as the structure of a summoning circle… That can be solved with Davi’s computational abilities.”

Unlike magic, which is achieved through strong will, intuition, clear intent, and calculation, a magic circle requires a much more systematic order and logic.

Because the subject that manifests the spell is not the caster, but the circle itself, once drawn.

“All that’s left is to construct the necessary components of the circle without error.”

Pwoosh!!

With those words, as Lennok placed his hand on the summoning circle, the entire circle glowed with a brilliant blue mana light, illuminating the area in place of the twilight.

“Impossible…”

Aris, staring blankly at the summoning circle, then leaped off the pile of books.

Unbuttoning her shirt and rolling up her sleeves, she began rummaging through the lab’s catalyst box with a lively expression.

“Let’s experiment with the catalysts we can use right away. Pamura’s eggs, Touwu wood roots, Ten-Thousand-Mile flower seeds, Metrum’s wing blades… I’ll sweep up all the low-grade catalysts from the faculty storage.”

“You don’t have to act so hastily, but…”

“No.”

Aris’s eyes, turned towards Lennok, curved gracefully.

“I might have to go on another business trip soon. Since we’ve finally found some proper time, I want to continue until we have significant results.”

“…”

“I’ll get approval from the administration office, so please wait a moment.”

Lennok watched Aris’s back as she swiftly disappeared from the lab, then let out a chuckle.

Davi, who had been slumped over, grumbled as if waiting for this moment.

“[It seems that woman has forgotten why we’re even doing this.]”

“Well… Aris isn’t someone who lacks such discernment.”

“[So she just wants to spend more time with Master?]”

“…That’s also unknown.”

Even as he gave a moderate reply to Davi’s playful remark, Lennok’s gaze deepened.

Aris had mentioned a possible business trip, but considering the current situation outside, it was unlikely to end as a simple outing.

Perhaps the identity of the calls Aris had been receiving lately was…

“I’ll need to talk to Jenny again.”

Lennok lifted his phone and muttered.

“I need more specific information about the current situation.”

After dealing with the remnants of the Bardiche Brotherhood and capturing their vice-captain, Lennok handed over the aftermath to Meyer.

It wasn’t his place to interrogate the directly involved party when the city councilman’s safety was at stake.

Meyer wouldn’t struggle to properly handle something of this magnitude.

He would probably be able to gather all related information based on the captured vice-captain of the Brotherhood.

In that case, Lennok also needed to gather as much information as possible within his own scope.

Didn’t he already have one of the most successful and well-connected brokers in this business as a partner?

Explaining the current situation and the crisis facing their business to Jenny and asking for her cooperation was not difficult.

“Things are more serious than I thought.”

Tatada-dadak!!

Jenny’s bar. The newly built, neat office above it.

While Jenny sat in front of a thin monitor, ceaselessly typing on her keyboard, Dray, who was standing by the door, spoke.

“There has always been a strong sentiment that the downsizing and downfall of the Defense Force were unavoidable.”

Dray Krimgal was a former member of the Defense Force’s special forces.

Though a retired soldier long out of service, he was an invaluable asset as an advisor in the current situation.

“Twenty years ago, when the city expansion and development plan was in full swing, the presence of the Defense Force was essential to protect the entire undeveloped zone. But after that absurd city expansion project was abandoned, the symbolic significance of the Defense Force greatly diminished.”

After the city government realized it couldn’t control the entire megacity, the area beyond Sector 40 became a lawless, demon-infested land.

Even if the Defense Force performed its duties as before, the biggest beneficiaries of its existence would only be those living in the undeveloped zones and outer districts.

In essence, it had lost significant meaning for most citizens living within Sector 30.

“Most current and former soldiers, like my former colleagues in the company, understand that the need for the Defense Force is decreasing.”

“…”

Jenny interjected.

“The Defense Force Command also continuously protested to the City Council, but it was more of a token gesture. So why do you think the entire Defense Force suddenly united and turned aggressive?”

“General Treppen, who commands the headquarters, is not capable of staging such a large-scale coup alone. His self-preserving attitude is why he remained in the collapsing outer front until now.”

Dray’s answer pointed to only one fact.

“There must be external intervention.”

“Exactly.”

Jenny said that, then typed on her keyboard and displayed several photos on the screen behind the office.

The outermost edge of the megacity. Beyond the irregular zones and undeveloped areas, past the failed satellite cities, lay the mountain range of the defense front.

The mobile fortress, which had solidly held its position between those mountains, was gone without a trace.

“As soon as they briefly notified the City Council, they withdrew the mobile fortress, which is practically the core strength of the Defense Force, to the rear.”

“…”

“It’s an abnormally fast pace for the command I knew. It would be absolutely impossible without someone’s help.”

Dray said.

Lennok rested his chin on Jenny’s table, meeting her gaze.

Their clear eyes met and held for a while without flinching.

Lennok, calmly looking up at her, asked.

“Could it be Pandemonium?”

Although he had been dealing with Guido Cult members for a while, Lennok had never for a moment forgotten the existence of the Pandemonium.

Unlike the cult’s reliance on the Outer Sea Gods, what Pandemonium truly wanted remained largely unclear.

What answer should Lennok give to those with whom he had both fought for his life and had his life saved?

Even while dealing with the immediate problems before him, Lennok couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“…I don’t think it’s impossible.”

Jenny said, subtly averting her gaze.

“But while they might be connected to this incident, the probability of them directly intervening is low.”

“So, intervention by other external forces, huh…”

“My company’s secretarial office gathered information circulating on the deep web and roughly filtered out a few candidates.”

With her words, the screen displayed various strange sentences.

“They’re all major criminal organizations operating within and outside the megacity: Headro Warlords, Thunderwing, Baehae Investigation Unit, and the Ten Counts, who have been rapidly gaining momentum lately…”

“We can exclude the Bardiche Brotherhood and the terrorist organization Falchion.”

Lennok gazed at the list of organizations and murmured.

These are organizations Lennok has already clashed with at least once, and their objectives are relatively clear.

“Among them, there are three most likely candidates.”

Jenny said.

“The Order Alliance Regios, which has recently rapidly expanded its influence on the central front. Deadrise, the last member of The Triad and the most aggressive one. And—”

The mouse pointer indicated a gear pattern splattered with dark red blood.

“The Machine Cult, commonly called Gearsight, a magic-engineering research group.”