On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 294

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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First Day of Infiltration, The Organization Was Destroyed Episode 294
A Special Mana Inscription (2)
Everything in this world demands a price.
This research that temporarily granted strength could spark interest in some, but not in Ziel.
I wore Sandbags and conducted classes with my Mana restricted precisely because I was wary of excessive dependence on Magic Power.
Above all, the Students were young.
If I were to carve an Inscription that made them temporarily stronger the moment it activated, they could become dependent on it.
“This research seems best suited for an Inscription that enhances homeostasis.”
“Homeostasis, you say….”
“It means making the body maintain its original state by resisting external Mana and toxins that try to penetrate it.”
This wasn’t the approach of utilizing a Mana alignment formula that temporarily amplified Magic Power.
“However, Boss, that requires far more precise control than simply enhancing Mana. The body itself must repel or neutralize the Mana, rather than having Mana protect it.”
Zephyros’s words held considerable merit.
Amplifying the body’s Mana was no difficult feat.
The reason Zephyros’s research was remarkable was precisely because it operated not through internal bodily processes but through external means—through Inscriptions.
It required no Magical Tool, no special Mana injection system, merely the simple act of carving an Inscription.
Yet Ziel not only called this revolutionary method inefficient but proposed an even more difficult approach!
“There’s no need to use it exclusively for the Students, is there? I’m not particularly inclined toward it myself, but since the rights have passed to you, Boss, you could sell it and earn Money.”
“I have Money now.”
“Ah.”
“While more is always welcome, if I must weigh the two, the Students’ Growth is more important than Money.”
Zephyros was moved.
Could such a True Teacher truly exist?
“Page seven—can you apply the Mana alignment reversal phenomenon?”
At that moment, Ziel’s words shook Zephyros’s mind.
“The Mana alignment reversal phenomenon….”
“The moment external Mana touches it, the Inscription reverses that wave and cancels it out. That way, you can immediately escape from abnormal conditions like Poisoning or reduced Resistance.”
The 6th Circle Mage’s mind spun rapidly.
In a flash, countless formulas surfaced in his thoughts, and he performed dozens of calculations for each.
Zephyros was a genius.
Compared to any Mage in the world, no one had heard the word “genius” more frequently from childhood to now.
And so his conclusion was this.
“It seems possible. No, it is possible. Just a moment, Boss!”
Zephyros began pulling out various items from the room and laying them out. Then he immediately injected Mana, cast Magic, and muttered to himself.
“If I substitute this formula this way….”
It didn’t take long.
Zephyros nodded with euphoria on his face.
“Yes, it works! If we carve the Inscription the way you described, Boss, we can shift it toward enhancing homeostasis.”
“I see.”
“How on earth did you ever come up with such an idea…?”
I was honestly bewildered.
I understood magic to some degree, but not nearly as deeply as he did.
I couldn’t fathom how someone like that could have seen this.
“It just appeared to me.”
….
Ziel’s answer was always the same.
I reviewed research materials, understood the formulas within them, and simply constructed hypotheses based on those formulas.
It wasn’t difficult for Ziel.
The verification was Zephyros’s responsibility anyway.
But for Zephyros, it was utterly shocking!
‘The most important thing in magic is the concept.’
From that concept, research that would be remembered in history could be born.
Most of what is called great discoveries in magical history began from such trivial concepts.
Yet the person who came up with that concept was none other than an Academy teacher—and specifically an official teacher of the Sword School!
“So I’ve entered the service of someone truly extraordinary.”
“I am indeed extraordinary.”
Zephyros suddenly grasped one fact.
‘Is this the kind of thinking that’s possible precisely because he’s not a Mage?’
Thinking in reverse was one thing.
That was something Mages always did.
If it were merely that level, Zephyros would have already conceived of it.
‘Is he also… a genius?’
Zephyros reached that tentative conclusion and asked.
“Boss, have you ever received a proposal to become a Mage before?”
“No.”
“Ah.”
Zephyros felt genuine regret.
Depending on circumstances, even those with talent may never recognize their own abilities.
The Boss seemed to be exactly such a person.
“Since you’ve already reached the pinnacle of the Sword, you can’t learn Magic now… what a shame.”
But an unexpected answer came back.
“I can learn Magic.”
“What? How?”
It was nonsense.
Knights who had trained their Mana through Breathing Techniques for long periods underwent internal structural changes that made learning Magic impossible.
“It’s just possible.”
“Come on, Boss. You’re just saying that, right?”
“It’s possible.”
….
It seemed like bluster, but Zephyros decided to let it slide.
Besides, I had something I wanted to do urgently anyway.
“Then I’ll revise these research materials right away. Mana Inscription. I’ll work as quickly as possible.”
“The Students’ Final Evaluation is about 45 days away. Can you finish by then?”
“Of course, Boss. Just give me two weeks.”
Ziel nodded.
“Kitchen assistance in the morning, Training in the afternoon, research at night—that should work.”
“…Pardon?”
I’d naturally assumed I’d be devoting myself entirely to research…
“If you need any Materials for the research, just say so. I’ll be going now.”
Ziel left before I could even respond.
Left alone, Zephyros stood dumbfounded.
“I’m finished…”
The elderly 6th Circle Mage was experiencing a limit he’d rarely felt in his lifetime.

* * *
Two weeks passed.
Zephyros appeared with the new research materials, looking haggard.
“It’s… complete.”
Ziel took the research materials and examined them, then nodded.
“Now we can try inscribing it.”
Just then, someone caught my eye.
“Boss, what are you doing?”
“Looking over Zephyros’s research.”
“Oh, what is it?”
“Mana Inscription research.”
“Really?”
“I’m going to inscribe it on the Students’ bodies.”
“That’s fascinating.”
“You should be the first to try it.”
Subordinate number one.
Gilbert.
“Wait, I was in the middle of a walk!”
“What does that matter?”
“Kelvin is here too!”
“You’re the one who caught my eye right now.”
“Why me! Surely Zephyros is available!”
Zephyros nodded as if it were obvious.
“I’ve already undergone it. I’m the researcher, after all.”
“Ah…”
Fate, sometimes, cannot be escaped.
“As you wish….”
Gilbert surrendered himself to the process without resistance.
Soon, the Inscription began.
“But what kind of research is this?”
“We’re raising resistance through Mana Inscription.”
“Oh. That sounds good?”
“Yes. If it works well.”
“…Are there side effects by any chance?”
“The Mana affects the body, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. In severe cases, the Mana system itself can be damaged.”
“W-w-well, only if it goes wrong, right?”
“That last one, yes.”
“Phew.”
“But the vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy in the first part occur as standard side effects in over 50% of cases.”
That was fortunate.
Today was a day without classes….
“Um, um, don’t I have Training today? With the Boss?”
“Just do it.”
Zephyros led the Mana Inscription procedure. I observed the method from the side.
The method of Inscription was simple.
The shape and depth of the Inscription became a kind of formula. It was difficult work, but Zephyros, befitting a 6th Circle Mage, executed it with great skill.
Inscription was used in various ways throughout Magic in general.
The Inscription site was the shoulder.
“It doesn’t hurt…?”
“Because we’re infusing Mana.”
It was entirely different from the tattoos the Robson Family dangled about.
“I’ve captured the Inscription pattern. Now if I imbue it with Mana and concentrate Mana here, the Inscription will become visible.”
Until Mana was concentrated, it wouldn’t be seen, and since this Inscription was somewhat special, there was no need to deliberately activate it.
“Since it’s raising resistance, it will work naturally without needing to activate it deliberately. As long as it isn’t damaged, it will continue to operate, making it semi-permanent.”
Zephyros acknowledged it.
“Boss, this is far more efficient than the method I first proposed in my research. That required enduring side effects every time it was activated, but this just needs to be left alone and will activate automatically whenever danger strikes.”
My conception was so brilliant that even Zephyros admired it.
“Yes. I did well.”
“That’s right!”
“And you did well too. What I can do is conceive ideas and make proposals. You’re the one who perfected it.”
“Boss…!”
Gilbert wiped the bridge of his nose.
Seeing his moved expression, Malacas—no, Zephyros—seemed like he would soon devote his loyalty to the Boss as well.
What a heartwarming sight!
But the warmth in my chest didn’t last long.
“Now I’ll inject the Poison.”
“Pardon?”
“Since I’ve inscribed it, we need to see if it works.”
“W-what kind of poison is it?”
“Poison extracted from Zolome flowers.”
“That’s Deadly Poison!”
“A minimal dosage won’t be fatal. If the Inscription is properly applied, you’ll experience moderate pain at worst. If not, the pain will be somewhat severe.”
Gilbert protested urgently.
“B-but Boss, why aren’t you doing it!”
“I don’t need to. It won’t affect me anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“Poison extracted from Zolome flowers cannot harm me in any way.”
That was true.
During my Assassin days, I had already built up considerable Resistance to Poison.
It wasn’t that no poison worked on me, but after the Polar Night Breathing Technique advanced once more, most poisons became ineffective.
The Poison Smoke I drank when Quantus drew the Sword from the Ruins was proof—it had no effect on me whatsoever.
Therefore, Gilbert was the only suitable test subject.
“But what about Zephyros…”
“He’s an old man. He could die.”
“You put him through Hell Training without hesitation, so why is he suddenly an old man now!”
“You’re being quite rebellious today.”
“Ah.”
Gilbert had no choice but to resist his fate briefly before accepting it.
And shortly after.
“Ugh, ugh… th-this hurts a bit.”
“You’re not screaming in agony, so that’s sufficient.”
The Inscription experiment was quite successful.
Only then could Gilbert finally relax.
“I cannot precisely measure the degree of pain, but based on the standard reaction when using this dosage of poison extracted from Zolome flowers, the reduction appears to be approximately 30%, Boss.”
“It’s around 35%. Excellent results.”
Poison.
Mana fluctuations.
And other negative effects acting on Mana and the body—to reduce them so dramatically was remarkable.
The problem was that only Zephyros could apply this Inscription.
Or perhaps another 6th Circle Mage.
“By the way Boss, this Inscription is impressive. Normally it’s invisible, but when it activates, it becomes visible like this. Oh, and now that I think about it, if something strange enters the body, we could distinguish it with this Inscription too.”
“That would be a useful distinction.”
If I had to name one additional drawback, it would be that activating the Inscription this way consumes considerable Mana.
But it was manageable compared to the effect.
“Would there be any problem applying this to the Students, Zephyros?”
“None whatsoever. This is a discovery of the ages, Boss.”
If the mages of the entire Empire learned that this unprecedented discovery was being used merely for Academy students, they would throw a fit.
But for me, it was the most important matter in the world.
“The students will be able to progress further.”
I lifted the corners of my mouth slightly.
Zephyros was delighted too.
Not because the students could improve, but because he thought he could skip Training using this as an excuse!
‘You said there were 100 students, right? If I spend an hour on each one, that’s three per day, so at least a month….’
“Zephyros.”
“Yes, Boss.”
But with a single word from me, Zephyros’s hopes crumbled mercilessly.
“I’ll inscribe the Mana Inscriptions myself.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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