Chapter 978: Celestial Spellcraft: Miniature Garden (1)
As he stepped into the bustling studio, it was filled with wizards training in martial arts.
As Lennok approached the desk near the entrance, the attendant asked with a kind smile.
“Are you a new customer looking to enroll?”
“I’m looking for someone.”
“I can only assist with class registrations. Currently, our martial arts classes for wizards are divided into three levels: advanced, intermediate, and beginner. May I continue to explain?”
“Just deliver a message. Claris Richellen. I believe she’s currently in this studio.”
“I apologize. I cannot disclose other members’ information. The morning and afternoon classes are currently full and cannot be registered for, but there are two spots left for the Sunday and Monday late-night classes. Would either of those be acceptable?”
“…”
It was a peculiar way of conversing, faithfully answering Lennok’s questions, yet always leading back to membership registration.
Lennok, a bitter smile on his face, placed his hand on the desk and said,
“I’ll take the Sunday late-night class, then.”
“Here is your martial arts uniform. If you wait in the studio, Ms. Lansia will consult with you and guide you to the appropriate class.”
Instead of changing into the martial arts uniform the attendant handed him, Lennok headed straight for the studio.
He hadn’t come for a martial arts lecture, but to find Claris Richellen.
‘Claris’s presence… is it inside the correction room?’
It seemed she was taking a class in the back room of the studio, where posture correction equipment was set up.
Since he had come all this way, he had no intention of causing a commotion just to call Claris out.
Lennok was also interested in how Lansia taught wizards, so waiting a little while wouldn’t be difficult.
He sat on a chair lined against the studio wall and began observing the wizards training in martial arts.
“If you rotate your shoulder like this…”
“No, that’s not it. Considering the flow of mana, contracting your arm won’t–”
There were students practicing martial arts moves in sync with the instructor’s actions, and wizards who remained after class, diligently engaged in personal training.
Others gathered amongst themselves, reviewing the moves they had learned and discussing the flow of mana.
It was a space brimming with human fervor, feeling unfamiliar compared to when Lennok himself learned pilates.
But even as Lennok thought to observe the studio, he found himself recalling something else entirely.
More precisely, the events that had transpired in the Archive of Darkness, which he had visited just before coming to the studio.
“…”
Nox Biblio, the subspace archive collecting heretical arts from the Old World.
There, Lennok had borrowed advanced spellcraft, including ‘Celestial Spellcraft: Miniature Garden,’ and confronted the Lich Naoise Penn.
He hadn’t thought about it immediately after leaving the archive, having met Olivera right away, but lingering doubts about Naoise Penn remained.
As Lennok recalled the events in the archive, his gaze deepened.
‘Even though we were in the same subspace, I couldn’t sense his presence. Either it was a clone from the start, or his true body’s power was greatly weakened.’
Lennok had realized the Lich’s true identity not because of a formidable power or Will-thought, but from his words and actions.
The shabby skeleton he had encountered in the archive was quite different from the formidable necromancer he remembered.
There had to be a reason why a Transcendent, who had succeeded in etching his existence onto the third world, was in such a shabby state.
Lennok suspected that the reason might be tied to the Archive of Darkness where Naoise Penn resided.
‘Naoise Penn said the very existence of the archive was his ‘price’… but it might be the other way around.’
What if he wasn’t creating the archive to exist in the world, but was still existing in this world to create the archive?
If that was the reason he remained holed up in the archive, engrossed in translating grimoires even after successfully ascending.
Then it must be because there was something he wanted to find while collecting and translating grimoires.
‘He knew that the grimoire of Fate Sealing was recorded from the future. He said it was something that couldn’t be touched, but that meant….’
It meant that the influx of grimoires recorded from the future into Nox Biblio was something he intended.
Perhaps Naoise Penn was waiting for books from a specific ‘time period’ to flow into the Archive of Darkness he created.
If, to achieve that purpose, he was using mortals of the mundane world as librarians to organize and translate the grimoires–
“…”
The only thing he could be sure of was that in the final moments before the archive vanished, the entire subspace had ‘floated up’.
Naoise Penn had said that Nox Biblio required a great ‘weight of souls’ to exist in this world.
If so, perhaps the Archive of Darkness rising and leaving Lennok behind was also related to that.
The encounter with the necromancer had been extremely brief in terms of time.
As Lennok was lost in thought, staring at the Lich whose appearance didn’t match his formidable reputation.
He heard the voices of wizards conversing right beside him.
“Wrong. Just extending your right arm won’t make the mana rotate.”
“Even bending your elbow slightly isn’t enough?”
“You can change the movement, but the mana flow itself gets stuck….”
People repeated the punching motion, shaking their heads with troubled expressions.
Lennok’s gaze met one of the wizards who had been discussing a specific movement for a while.
The wizard seemed flustered the moment their eyes met Lennok’s, then quickly smiled and asked,
“You’ve been looking over here for a while; if you don’t mind, would you like to train with us?”
“…Are you talking about me?”
A clean-cut young man, sweating in his martial arts uniform. Anyone could see his face looked more like a scholar’s than a martial artist’s.
As Lennok stared blankly at the man who had suddenly spoken to him, the man looked at Lennok and said,
“We thought it would be helpful if someone could oversee our training.”
“…”
Only then did Lennok understand what the other person was saying, and he tilted his head.
As if sensing Lennok’s thoughts, the man spoke in a soft voice.
“There are many wizards in the studio, so the mana flow is quite turbulent, but there’s no reaction around you.”
“…”
“If I may be so bold, I have rarely seen such a well-ordered mana field. You must be a member of a renowned wizard organization.”
The man smiled, lifted his arm, and rotated his shoulder.
“If you would oversee our training, we can give you useful tips for when you attend Ms. Lansia’s class. How does that sound?”
“An interesting proposition.”
It wasn’t strange that they hadn’t realized who Lennok was, as he had left his coat and staff behind.
But to think they would not only fail to notice but even directly ask Lennok to help with their training.
Lennok chuckled and nodded.
“If you want to, go ahead. Though I’m not sure if there’s anything I can tell you.”
“Pierce. Is this okay?”
A wizard who looked like his colleague asked with a skeptical expression, but the young man called Pierce paid no mind.
“Omer. Trust me. When it comes to problems we can’t solve on our own, sometimes a new perspective is needed.”
“I wonder if we’re imposing on someone who hasn’t even registered for a class yet….”
Omer said that, but stepped back as if respecting Pierce’s opinion.
As the other wizards watched the two with interest, Pierce stepped forward in front of Lennok and raised his fist.
“You must be aware of the clash between Adamant Thunder and Cheonbeon that shook Vulcan. I’ll omit detailed explanations.”
Whosh!!
The moment he lightly threw a punch, mana rotated along Pierce’s arm, drawing a circular magic circle.
An Alternative Incantation, completing magic by manipulating mana solely through body movements, without hand seals or chanting incantations.
Pierce, who had skillfully completed the magic circle, clasped his hands and said,
“To get straight to the point, we are researching the Alternative Incantation used by Cheonbeon.”
“…”
“Cheonbeon’s idea of replacing hand seals and incantations with physical techniques was the most complete among all Alternative Incantations attempted so far. Furthermore, the fact that Cheonbeon used Alternative Incantations with the Blaiver Magic Tower’s flame magic left room for imitation even for wizards of our tower. However, there’s a problem.”
“A problem?”
“The physical techniques required for Alternative Incantation. To be precise, the inability to change the movements as desired.”
Pierce said that, then slowly adopted a stance and began to move his body.
As he lowered his stance and turned his body, mana surged and glowed, combining in real-time to form a single spell.
An Alternative Incantation, completing magic relying solely on physical movements, without the preparatory steps of hand seals and incantations.
However, even as Pierce demonstrated the Alternative Incantation before Lennok, his expression was slightly stiff.
“Currently, we can only match a specific mana flow to a specific movement. If it stays like this, its practicality in combat will be terribly low.”
“…”
“If one has to dance alone in front of an enemy just to cast a single spell with Alternative Incantation, then using it in combat would be impossible, wouldn’t it?”
Pierce said, adjusting his stance with a thoughtful expression.
“The more we research Alternative Incantation, the more we can’t understand how Cheonbeon managed to replace incantations solely with physical techniques while fighting Adamant Thunder. Was it possible because he was a genius beyond measure, or is there a secret we don’t know….”
Pierce said that, then looked back at Lennok, but Lennok did not answer.
He merely tilted his head, as if contemplating something.
At this reaction, which seemed to suggest no suitable solution, Pierce was about to offer a bitter smile and bow when suddenly,
Lennok said in an indifferent voice.
“You are mistaken about Alternative Incantation.”
“…Pardon?”
“Replacing an incantation doesn’t necessarily mean using only physical techniques. What’s important is the act of artificially adjusting the flow of mana.”
“…”
“What’s intended through physical techniques is the direction of the mana and Will-thought that first extend. From then on–”
The moment Lennok lightly sliced the air, mana extended vertically from his finger.
Instantly, the mana flowed down Pierce’s shoulder, bending low and rotating.
It drew a circular pattern on the spot, creating a small magic circle.
Fwoosh!!
While Pierce was speechless, staring at the magic circle that had appeared before his eyes, Lennok said nonchalantly,
“You adjust the flow by utilizing mana and objects that exist externally.”
“I-I see.”
Pierce’s eyes widened as he understood Lennok’s words.
“So it wasn’t about completing Alternative Incantation solely with physical techniques. If we have to consider and utilize external mana sources…!!”
“Come to think of it, Cheonbeon also had several strange heat sources around his body when he fought Adamant Thunder.”
Omer and the other wizards also muttered, as if realizing something.
“So they weren’t for spellcraft enhancement and mana replenishment, but the heat sources themselves were preparations for Alternative Incantation?”
“Certainly, the difficulty will be much higher than before. But it’s by no means impossible.”
“It’s about actualizing mana’s Property Transformation externally, not internally, and using it for incantation.”
Lennok said that, and then conjured a cluster of pure white light before Pierce’s eyes.
When two light clusters, glowing with different hues, collided, they bounced off each other as if repelling, repeatedly splitting and merging.
Crackle, crackle!!
Vivid mana light intensely pulsating in the air, as if alive.
While the other wizards couldn’t close their mouths at the unrealistic mana manipulation, Lennok continued to explain.
“Amplification and repulsion. Resonance and overload. Diffusion and projection. Preparing the stage to suit various situations, and using physical techniques to replace the incantation.”
“…”
“This is the essence of the act of replacing an incantation.”
“Truly incredible….”
As Lennok lightly brushed his hand and withdrew his mana, Pierce, who had been staring blankly at Lennok, muttered,
“I’ve never seen anyone understand and explain another Great Wizard’s incantation so deeply. If I may ask, what is your affiliation….”
“Why do you ask?”
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Pierce Drickman of the Matterhorn Magic Tower.”
As Lennok responded indifferently, Pierce hastily pulled out a business card from his pocket.
“If you were to visit our Magic Tower in the future, we would certainly like to invite you as a magic consultant instructor….”
“I am Wivias of the Enolas Magic Tower. Please, do visit our tower as well…!!”
“I am Omer Roulard of Garvatia. Your insight has deeply impressed me, so–”
“I am Kendrick of the Clerc Research Institute!”
Simultaneously with Pierce pulling out his business card, the other wizards also began vying with each other to introduce themselves.
They, too, understood that Lennok’s explanation clearly unravelled their doubts about Alternative Incantation while hitting its very core.
Through this conversation, they had realized that he was a wizard with an extremely high level of spellcraft comprehension.
But Lennok shook his head, looking at the wizards vying to hand him their business cards.
“I have no intention. I don’t plan to stay here long, so I don’t wish to hear any unnecessary proposals.”
“Ah… is that so.”
“We apologize. We’ve been rude.”
The wizards, though somewhat disappointed, meekly retreated.
Given the strong individualistic tendencies characteristic of wizards, many of them likely felt an aversion to such solicitations.
But Lennok chuckled, looking at those wizards.
“There’s a misunderstanding. It’s not that I won’t explain Alternative Incantation.”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t I come to this studio precisely because I’m interested in Alternative Incantation?”
Lennok said that, and glanced away.
“I can help out until the person I’m looking for arrives.”
“Wizard…!!”
“You’re truly a kind person. How did such a connection happen today….”
Lennok began offering advice to the wizards practicing Alternative Incantation in front of him.
“Your center of gravity is too high. Refining the flow is more important than mana adjustment.”
“You haven’t decided which mana movement to apply to which action. You’ll need more practice.”
The reason he meticulously explained and advised on the Alternative Incantation he had used under his Evan identity.
It was partly to observe and learn the systematic magic that emerged from the Alternative Incantations practiced by wizards of other Magic Towers, by teaching them.
But more fundamentally, Alternative Incantation itself wasn’t a technique that could be perfectly replicated just by being taught.
Unless one could handle mana by predicting and judging every aspect of combat in real-time like Lennok, most wizards wouldn’t be able to imitate even a tenth of Cheonbeon’s performance.
However, with just Lennok observing and offering advice from the side, the wizards’ Alternative Incantation skills themselves began to visibly improve at a rapid pace.
They quickly reached a level where, instead of matching movements to a desired spell, they could arbitrarily change their movements to replace incantations.
The wizards, realizing this, continuously showered Lennok with praise.
“Your explanations are truly easy to understand. Excuse me, but is teaching your profession?”
“I never imagined I’d meet such a kind spellcaster in a mega-city like this.”
The wizards spoke to him as if they had been training together for days, in a friendly manner.
Perhaps they were deeply impressed by Lennok’s readiness to offer advice on Alternative Incantation.
In an instant, the wizards crowded around Lennok, beginning to comfortably and unhesitantly share their thoughts.
“Someone with such insight surely has many disciples. I envy your disciples.”
“Indeed, the succession and development of magic truly happen through continuous exchange and communication.”
“Adamant Thunder, who has settled down in Vulcan, should know this too.”
“Indeed. He’s just locking himself away and secluding himself, let alone interacting with other Magic Towers….”
“…”
As Lennok merely smiled without a word, the other wizards also began chiming in.
“When a Magic Tower was established in Vulcan, I thought the standing of wizards in this city would rise.”
“While his talent and capacity to reach such a level at a young age are acknowledged, if he just secludes himself without caring about fostering successors, he’ll only gain more enemies.”
“Although the battle with Cheonbeon ended in Adamant Thunder’s victory, strictly speaking, Cheonbeon didn’t have nothing to say for himself, did he?”
“His Alternative Incantation was impressive, and his skill in handling flame-attribute magic was also outstanding.”
“It’s unlikely to happen, but if a fight were to break out again, this time–”
“Adamant Thunder…?”
Suddenly, the other wizards’ expressions froze mid-smile.
From behind Lennok, a disbelieving voice echoed.
Claris, a towel in one hand, stood staring at Lennok with a bewildered expression.
“Why are you here?”
“…”
A chilling silence.
The wizards, belatedly understanding the situation, turned as pale as corpses.
“I have something to discuss regarding the deal with Olivera.”
Lennok said leisurely amidst the wizards, who were frozen in place as if turned to ice.
“First, let’s get rid of all listening ears.”
“…Hmph.”
Claris, letting out a deep sigh, looked at the other trembling wizards, then shook her head.
“The staff room is empty. Let’s talk there for now.”