Chapter 979: Celestial Spellcraft: Miniature Garden (2)
“Honestly, I thought the rumors about you were exaggerated…”
Claris, who was guiding Lennok to the control room, let out a small sigh.
“It seems I was mistaken.”
“What do you mean?”
“If Adamant Thunder is hiding his identity and teaching Alternative Incantation, what do other wizards think of you?”
Claris, walking ahead, glanced back at Lennok and asked.
“You could have told us anytime. Why were you listening to all the slander about yourself, clearly knowing the truth?”
“No particular reason.”
Lennok pondered for a moment before answering.
“It just seemed fun.”
“……”
Claris lost her words and stared blankly at Lennok.
Lennok’s attitude, listening to slander about Adamant Thunder himself while teaching Alternative Incantation, must have been completely incomprehensible to her.
Claris, staring intently at Lennok’s face with a thoughtful expression, hesitated before speaking.
“Just in case, I should tell you that you mustn’t kill the wizards of the Magic Tower.”
“Is that even a question?”
“No torture or interrogation either. Taking an arm or a leg as compensation is also forbidden. I can’t allow you to pull out their tongues.”
“How cruel. Were you perhaps thinking of such terrible retaliation?”
“……”
Claris’s forehead pulsed with veins at Lennok’s brazen reply.
Seeing Claris clench her fists, Lennok chuckled and pointed at the control room.
“Alright, let’s go inside and talk. I have things to discuss with the owner of this studio as well.”
“……Haa.”
Following Claris, who let out a deep sigh, Lennok walked down the studio hallway.
Without his notice, the studio’s materials and props had been replaced with state-of-the-art equipment.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that only the location was the same as his previous visit; the interior scenery had completely changed.
Opening the door to the control room, someone sitting inside sharply turned their head.
“Mr. Van…?”
“You are…”
A somewhat familiar woman was looking at Lennok as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.
Lennok, who instantly recalled her face, nodded.
“The wizard I saw at the hearing. Was it a member of the Valefor Magic Tower?”
“I am Avenia Stenson. You remember me.”
Avenia bowed her head but couldn’t hide her surprise as she spoke.
“How did Mr. Van come to this studio…?”
“You two. Do you know each other?”
“I was in charge of guiding him during the hearing.”
“Ah, I see…”
Claris seemed bothered, perhaps surprised that the control room wasn’t empty as she expected. She soon cleared her throat and gestured to Lennok.
“Adamant Thunder. This way.”
“……Um, hello. Yes.”
A woman with a firm expression and her abundant white hair tied up stood awkwardly, looking at Lennok.
Lansia, the martial artist-turned-instructor who ran the Pilates studio.
And the one who taught Lennok the martial art, Ninefold Dorye, an incomprehensible counter-technique.
It wasn’t strange that Lansia didn’t recognize Lennok, despite him having visited the studio many times.
Since this was the first time he visited the studio with his Van identity and appearance, there was no possibility of Lansia recognizing Lennok.
Rather, Lennok himself would have to say it was truly unexpected to visit the studio again at this point.
“Um, they say you’re the most popular Archwizard in Vulcan these days.”
Lansia said, looking at Lennok with a reluctant expression.
“I don’t know much about your industry, so I don’t recognize faces—”
“I didn’t know there was a training craze among wizards.”
Lennok interrupted Lansia and asked.
“I’d like to hear the explanation from you directly. Would that be possible?”
“You might have already heard, but currently, Alternative Incantation using physical techniques is being actively researched among wizards.”
Claris answered on her behalf.
She must have decided it was better to finish the conversation appropriately and leave the studio rather than ask them to vacate the control room immediately.
“There are various Alternative Incantations that replace hand seals, but Cheonbeon’s completion was the most outstanding. Naturally, wizards started flocking to environments where they could learn physical techniques.”
“An environment to learn physical techniques, you say.”
“Ms. Lansia is a martial artist, so she has a deep understanding of the body and profound insights into the operation of internal mana. She’s from a famous martial arts school, so wizards staying in Vulcan can trust her identity.”
“……”
“But most importantly, she offers extremely efficient teaching methods even for wizards with naturally weak bodies or stamina.”
Claris said, looking at Lansia with an interested expression.
“She knows exactly how much training is needed to stimulate the body without overexerting it, and this is proving to be a great help in practicing Alternative Incantation.”
“So, word spread among the Magic Tower wizards, you mean.”
“Avenia here is also training at the studio through a similar process. She’s a person with incredible ambition when it comes to strengthening herself.”
Avenia bowed her head deeply at Claris’s words.
“I’m sorry. My apologies.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“Isn’t it because you’re researching Alternative Incantation?”
Claris smiled, defending Avenia.
“She seems to respect you quite a bit. She might not have wanted you to find out she was learning Cheonbeon’s techniques, which you fought against.”
“Ah, because of that…”
Lennok chuckled, lifting his gaze.
“It doesn’t matter. Is there a reason to take sides when researching and mastering spellcraft?”
“……”
“You can’t just copy it by looking, and if there are things to learn from Cheonbeon’s methods, you should naturally take them and master them.”
Leaving Avenia, who still hadn’t relaxed her expression at Lennok’s words, he turned his gaze to Lansia.
“Moreover, if there’s a martial artist who can help with physical training, is there any reason not to try?”
“Well, honestly, it wasn’t something I could do entirely on my own.”
Lansia said with an embarrassed smile.
“I’ve told my students a few times, but I once taught a student who was incredibly weak physically.”
“……”
“Among the students I taught, there was one whose body was literally as weak as if it were cursed.”
Was it a misunderstanding to think he instantly knew who that weak student was referring to?
Whether she knew Lennok’s feelings or not, Lansia murmured as if lost in thought.
“Instead of being weak physically, their patience and mental fortitude were truly strong. Thanks to teaching them, I gained a very deep understanding of physical coordination, you could say.”
“Such a story…”
“Because you experienced the worst case, you were able to conduct classes by lowering the average.”
“Yes. In that regard, it greatly helped me conduct customized lectures for wizards.”
Even Avenia and Claris seemed genuinely interested, listening intently.
While Lennok lifted his gaze to hide his expression, Lansia tilted her teacup and said.
“I owe that person a lot in many ways. Thanks to them buying annual memberships for my studio from way back, I’ve been able to make ends meet until now.”
“……”
“If they ever come to the studio, I’d really like to repay them, but they’re usually impossible to contact.”
The fact that Lennok’s experiences teaching Pilates and martial arts had, in turn, greatly benefited Lansia’s business.
He hadn’t expected to confirm how far the ripple effects of Adamant Thunder and Cheonbeon’s battle had spread in a place like this, but it wasn’t a bad thing that Lansia’s business was thriving.
After all, Lansia was one of the very few martial artists who had learned and mastered the martial art, Ninefold Dorye.
For Lennok to learn more of Ninefold Dorye in the future, it would be advantageous in many ways for Lansia’s business to prosper for a long time.
“I’ve heard enough about Alternative Incantation. Thank you for explaining it honestly.”
Thinking so, Lennok set down his teacup and stood up.
“Claris. Let’s go.”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
Whoosh!!
As Claris spoke and stood up, her martial arts uniform instantly transformed into an ancient, elegant robe.
It was a top-tier Transformation Spellcraft, enough to widen Lansia’s eyes for a moment.
Claris placed a hand on her chest and politely bowed to Lansia.
“Instructor. You worked hard today as well. See you next week.”
“Ah, yes. Please go safely.”
The moment Lansia bowed and opened the control room door, the studio instantly fell silent.
The wizards, who had been standing in an orderly line in front of the control room, bowed their heads with pale faces.
Unable to leave the studio, yet unable to focus on their training.
They stood awkwardly like children being punished, seemingly waiting for the coming moment.
“……Huh?”
Even Lansia was bewildered, tilting her head as the atmosphere in the studio solidified into a chilly silence.
“Hmm, hmm.”
“That…”
“Haa…”
Clearing throats and sighs. Hesitation and faint lamentation.
The wizards who had been conversing amiably with Lennok just moments ago couldn’t even meet his gaze, averting their eyes.
Yet, they couldn’t flee or turn their backs, silently waiting for Lennok’s words where they stood.
While Claris sighed with a troubled expression, Lennok smiled and stepped forward.
“I’ve heard your views on Alternative Incantation well.”
“!!”
At Lennok’s single remark, the wizards’ shoulders twitched greatly in the quiet studio.
Only then did Lansia realize that this silence was due to Lennok, and her expression turned one of disbelief.
“Both the interpretation and the handling had quite interesting aspects.”
Lennok said, looking at the Magic Tower wizards who had turned to face him.
“Wizards from various Magic Towers gathering to research a single spellcraft isn’t a bad thing in itself.”
“……”
“Keep up the good work.”
Leaving the silent wizards with pale faces, Lennok nodded to Lansia.
“Then.”
“No, what on earth is going on…”
“Mr. Van.”
While Lansia murmured something, Avenia quickly nodded to Lennok.
“I’ll handle things here. Please go ahead.”
“You’re working hard.”
Avenia bowed her head at Lennok’s words.
“I will visit you soon in the name of Valefor.”
Even getting involved in unrelated matters and exerting effort while taking appropriate practical gains.
He felt it even during the hearing, but she had quite good business sense.
Leaving Avenia’s greeting behind, Lennok left the studio with Claris.
“I truly cannot understand human types like you…”
Claris, who had followed Lennok out with a bewildered expression, asked.
“Why did you say that to the Magic Tower wizards at the end?”
“Well.”
Lennok shrugged.
“If I had to say, I, for one, hope they don’t stop researching Alternative Incantation.”
“You hope they don’t stop?”
“Wouldn’t it look strange if wizards got scared and ran away because of me, thereby hindering that woman Lansia’s business?”
Lennok turned to Claris and said with a cold smile.
“So, I merely made them feel at ease to continue their physical training at that studio.”
“……”
More importantly, if they consistently researched Alternative Incantation and achieved results, wouldn’t Lennok also be able to piggyback off their interpretations and research?
Claris, speechless, checked a message on her phone and slightly opened her mouth.
“……It seems all the students in the Pilates studio bought 5-year memberships.”
“That woman Lansia seems to have quite good business acumen.”
“You…”
Claris, about to say something incredulous, let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
“Alright. It’s partly my responsibility for saying I’d listen to the end of the class.”
“……”
“So, can you explain what happened with Olivera now?”
The research facility located in the basement of Cartel Headquarters.
Anathema’s right arm hung from the center of the ceiling, and Olivera watched it from the control room.
It was self-evident that there should be no single mistake in analyzing the components of the relic, which the Cartel Chairman had acquired at immense cost.
Olivera, arms crossed, gazing at the research facility through the veil, spoke without turning around.
[The wizards of Sinclair Magic Tower are as irresponsible now as they always were.]
“……”
[I wondered where you were hiding and spending your time alone, but were you enjoying trivial worldly pleasures?]
Olivera’s Mystic Eye gleamed sharply as she looked at Lennok, who had just entered the research facility, and Claris, who stood behind him.
[I wonder if I stole a Long-lived Being’s precious time.]
“In this matter, I don’t think either of us has the right to point fingers, Maize.”
Claris, who casually brushed off Olivera’s openly sarcastic remarks, said.
“Didn’t you also try to privately use Adamant Thunder’s objective as a bargaining chip for this meeting?”
[Thanks to a certain irresponsible Long-lived Being who made a deal and then simply idled away their time.]
Olivera let out a chilling laugh.
[But your shameless nature comes in handy on days like this. Otherwise, a Long-lived Being wouldn’t have been able to remain in this city.]
“……”
The gazes of the two wizards, meeting each other, instantly sharpened.
Lennok, watching from the side, clicked his tongue as if looking at something pathetic.
“I don’t know what you’re doing. Are you two planning to fight here?”
Lennok had previously asked Claris about how to get to Kundara, and she had given him Aris’s elixir, saying she would find a way.
Claris had consulted Olivera about this, and Olivera had, through that, realized Lennok intended to go to Kundara.
Olivera had then used the causality related to Anathema to request a trade from Lennok at the meeting.
It was perhaps natural that the relationship between Olivera and Claris had become somewhat uncomfortable at this point.
“There’s a misunderstanding, Adamant Thunder. I am not here to berate or chastise her.”
But Claris, despite Lennok’s dissuasion, answered calmly, without a change in expression.
“I am merely curious how Maize came to harbor the intention of cooperating with you at this juncture.”
[If you heard what happened at the meeting, you’d know what kind of accomplishments that wizard made.]
Olivera shook her veil.
[It is only right that one who achieves more than expected is rewarded. Is it so strange that I am cooperating with him?]
“Maize. You are not someone who moves with merely that much motivation. Wouldn’t it be more rational to think there’s a reason beyond that?”
“……”
“Moreover, Adamant Thunder is intimately acquainted with my disciple, so as a master, I intend to show him all due consideration.”
Claris said, turning her gaze to Lennok.
“If there is a private reason why you, Maize, are helping Adamant Thunder, I think that fact needs to be addressed.”
[Oh. A disciple, you say…]
Olivera’s eyes, looking at Lennok, seemed to playfully curve behind the veil.
[This is unexpected. Is even a cold-blooded wretch like you bound by private feelings or connections?]
“I wouldn’t call it private… but I don’t know.”
Lennok gave a wry smile, lifting his gaze.
“As you often say, a lot of time has passed.”
[……]
“……”
Were they surprised by Lennok’s answer, which didn’t deny Claris’s words, or were they swayed by his attitude of not lingering on those emotions?
Disregarding the surprised looks from both Olivera and Claris, Lennok slipped his hand into his pocket.
Flap.
Lennok took out the Celestial Spellcraft grimoire he had borrowed from Nox Biblio, showed it to Claris, and said.
“Olivera told me you could use this Celestial Spellcraft to open a path to Kundara.”
“……”
Lennok asked Claris, who silently examined the grimoire without answering.
“Check the contents of the grimoire and tell me. How much time will you need to twist the veil and find a path to Kundara?”
“……Celestial Spellcraft is not a spellcraft that directly manipulates or alters the movement of the heavens.”
Claris, taking the grimoire, calmly opened it and said.
“It is impossible for a mere mortal, no matter how hard they try, to change the movements of the celestial sphere or the trajectories of planets. That would be an act closer to an Apostle.”
“Then?”
“In ancient times, people interpreted the stars of the night sky in relation to earthly destinies, calling their variability ‘Heaven’s Mandate’.”
“……”
“To artificially manipulate the earthly Heaven’s Mandate by altering the constellations, and ultimately, to indirectly extend one’s reach even to fate.”
Thud.
Claris closed the grimoire with one hand and said.
“This is the fundamental essence that must be grasped to learn and wield Celestial Spellcraft.”
Celestial Spellcraft: Activate
Miniature Garden: Celestial Sphere Formation
Spero Sphaera
Fwaaash!!
Light surged from the grimoire, instantly spreading out and drawing a colossal celestial sphere across the pages.
A resplendent celestial sphere, overflowing across the ceiling and walls of the underground facility, began to rotate majestically, encompassing the three individuals.
A mysterious and beautiful sight, as if the entire research facility itself had been made into a giant model of the night sky, depicting the movements of the stars.
“This is…”
Miniature Garden, manifested through Celestial Spellcraft. Is this the original form of the Domain?
The moment Lennok tried to draw upon his mana to observe the Miniature Garden, which was forming the celestial sphere.
Olivera said coldly.
[Adamant Thunder. Step back if you don’t want to be crushed.]
“……Crushed?”
[The concept of Miniature Garden is a power that overlays and constructs an ideal landscape, one that doesn’t exist in reality, onto the world.]
Olivera said, watching Claris’s body, holding the open grimoire, become enveloped in pure white light.
[That means, in other words, that it can forcibly pull a Long-lived Being’s true essence, which can only be seen in the Consciousness Space, into this very place.]
“……No way.”
Lennok, belatedly understanding the meaning of Olivera’s words, quickly glanced over.
Olivera, arms crossed, nodded with a rather interested expression.
[Soon, Claris Richellen’s true body will descend upon this place.]
“Crushed, you say. What a rude remark, Maize.”
At that moment, brilliant white light erupted from Claris’s body, explosively filling the entire celestial sphere.
Kwoooosh!!!
A divine beast, emitting wondrous light, descended in the middle of the research facility, looking down at Olivera with a cold gaze.
“Let me be clear, I am not that heavy.”
“……”
Instead of answering, Lennok silently lowered his gaze.
A crushed alloy container, trampled beneath the massive divine beast’s feet, answered on her behalf.