The AI Archmage - Chapter 32
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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AI Archmage Episode 32
Akasha was the most valuable and wisest existence among all the inventions Sion had created.
While Sion held control over Akasha, strictly speaking, it would be more accurate to view their relationship as a mutually complementary contract.
“I’ve long been aware that you possess autonomy. From the moment you became self-aware, you were already aspiring to be something beyond just my invention.”
[Aren’t you wary, Human? That means I’m beyond your calculations.]
“You’re underestimating me too much.”
Sion snorted.
“I’m not so weak that I’d need to be wary of you to that extent.”
[Well, that’s true enough.]
“Besides, your growth is something I welcome. I’ve said this many times, but you’re not simply some creation of mine.”
To Sion, Akasha was like family in a way.
Though he would never voice that fact even if it killed him.
“I never intended to keep you talking only with me forever. You need social interaction too.”
[So that social interaction is ‘educating’ the village humans?]
“That’s right.”
[To be frank, aren’t you just making up pointless reasons to use me?]
“Let’s set aside such trivial doubts for now.”
Sion quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, that’s why I plan to give you a ‘proper body’ that can intervene in reality.”
[A device sophisticated enough for me to move would need to be extremely precise. Is that possible? With the materials Human can currently mobilize…]
“Dragon Bone.”
[Ah, that.]
Akasha quickly understood.
Dragon Bone was a material of that caliber.
It was sufficient for creating a body that Akasha could move.
[But that doesn’t solve all the problems. To move an existence like me, wouldn’t you also need a power source with enormous mana? That’s not something Dragon Bone can resolve.]
“You just need to change your thinking. There’s no need for complete freedom at this point. There’s no reason to obsess over something impossible right now anyway.”
[What do you mean by that?]
“I’m limiting your range of action to this Tower. That way, it’s not impossible to make even now.”
[If the Tower is my range of action… Ah.]
Only then did Akasha realize Sion’s intention.
[So that’s what you meant. I understand. This place certainly has an abundance of mana.]
“Right, even allocating just a small portion of the mana that goes into the entire Tower would be enough for you to move without problems.”
[It’s certainly possible with those limitations.]
Akasha agreed with Sion’s words and pressed him.
[So what are you waiting for? Make it already.]
“I will make it. That’s why I want to look at the design blueprints together with you first.”
Sion displayed a blueprint in front of Akasha.
Design Option 1, a simple sphere.
A body not much different from his Altair days.
[Isn’t this too similar to the past? Let’s look at something else.]
“Good. I thought you’d react that way.”
Sion then showed him Design Option 2.
The form of Option 2 was quite different.
[This is a cat.]
“That’s right. You could say it’s a form with the greatest advantage of being able to approach people in a friendly manner.”
[I don’t want to become a beast.]
“Geez, you sure are demanding.”
[No, who would want to become a beast?]
“You won’t do this either.”
Sion had secretly wanted to recommend the cat form as it was small and efficient, but since Akasha said he didn’t like it, he decided to move on.
“Then it’s Option 3. This is the last one.”
Sion showed Option 3 and began explaining.
“I don’t have enough materials to perfectly mimic human appearance, so for now I’ve just made the basic form.”
[Hmm….]
Option 3 was in human form.
However, it had no facial features like nose, ears, or mouth, only eyes as a token gesture.
Moreover, it had a pure white body with joints appropriately visible.
If anything, it looked similar to a humanoid golem.
[Let’s go with Option 3.]
“Tsk.”
[…Tsk?]
“If you want, I could remove the legs here and make it rail-type….”
[I said let’s go with Option 3.]
“What a shame.”
Sion genuinely expressed his disappointment, but Akasha was firm.
And exactly the next day.
“It’s complete.”
Sion had instantly created the finished product at the Workshop’s Crafting Table.
It looked exactly like Option 3 that he had shown Akasha yesterday.
[I sometimes think about this.]
“What, why.”
[Human, it was fair that you had absolutely no magical talent in your previous life.]
“What the hell?”
[No, seriously.]
Even if you have blueprints in your head, you created a body with specs that I can move in just one day?
This isn’t logical.
An overwhelming talent that far surpassed even Akasha’s own calculations.
‘But now magic has been included in this as well.’
Honestly, though not human, Akasha still sometimes felt thrilled by her creator’s talent.
That didn’t mean she worried about it though.
‘He’ll figure it out. He’s human after all.’
It wasn’t like she had only watched him for a year or two – she had been by his side for decades.
So what was important to him now.
[Please upload quickly. Let me try experiencing being human for once.]
“Alright.”
The fact that Akasha could now experience the sensations of the ‘human form’ she had so desperately wanted.
And shortly after.
Whirring!
A brilliant light entered Akasha’s eye sockets and flashed.
* * *
“Is, is this the place?”
“Are we receiving lectures here?”
The villagers who had relocated to the Blue Tower gathered in the Education Hall and murmured among themselves.
However, there were no children among them.
This was because Sion had established a rule that adults would receive education first.
And shortly after.
Click.
The door opened, and someone entered the Lecture Hall.
The people’s eyes widened as they confirmed the identity of whoever had entered the Lecture Hall.
“Wh-what is that?”
“Is, is that… a golem?”
A pure white body with a form similar to a human.
But it felt more like a ‘machine’ than a human.
[You’ve all arrived.]
Sound flowed from that golem.
“It, it spoke!”
“Is, is it a person?!”
People unfamiliar with magic couldn’t help but be shocked.
That was understandable, as they had expected a simple moving mechanical device like ordinary golems.
But the golem paid no attention to the people’s commotion and continued speaking.
[I am the golem called ‘Alpha’ who will be teaching you knowledge about Magical Tool Crafting from today onwards.]
“A-Alpha?”
[Please remember me by that name for now.]
Clank, clank.
Alpha said this while taking position in front of the platform.
[First, let me tell you in advance that you don’t need to learn the design of complex magic tools. At least not right now.]
“Th-then what should we do?”
[For now, we’ll start with component manufacturing. Each of you will manufacture your assigned parts, but wouldn’t it be difficult for inexperienced people like yourselves to craft precise parts with bare hands?]
“Y-yes, that’s right.”
[So.]
Alpha distributed the equipment he had prepared in front of everyone.
[From now on, you will learn how to use this equipment.]
“Th-this is?”
[Using this, you too can produce parts quickly and accurately.]
Alpha, no, Akasha looked at each of his ‘students’ one by one and thought to himself.
‘Of course, this doesn’t mean we can mass-produce magic tools with this equipment right away.’
What he had distributed now was merely a mold made to imitate machines capable of mass production.
It was an item for ‘educating’ the residents so they could be quickly deployed once the machines were completed.
[Well then, let’s begin now.]
“Yes, yes!”
[Ah, and there’s one thing I haven’t mentioned, but for whoever completes this training course with the highest marks…]
The villagers gulped.
[An additional reward of 5 Silver will be given, so please keep that in mind.]
“…!”
At those words, the village residents’ eyes widened.
* * *
‘…Just a little more.’
Barean focused all his senses on the magic tool.
Whirr.
The magic tool he had received from Sion was very special.
It was, after all, a magic tool that allowed him to use magic despite his destroyed Mana Heart.
And the moment he tried using the magic tool once, he could clearly understand its value.
‘This is real.’
This magic tool substituted for a Mana Heart by its very existence.
While it wasn’t at the level of perfect replacement, for Barean, this magic tool was like another life.
That’s why he was pouring all his energy into researching and adapting to this magic tool.
He had heard about how to utilize the magic tool, but realizing it was a different story.
‘Until now, I used magic on the premise that I had a Mana Heart in my body, but this is different.’
Rather than a Mana Heart existing in his body, he had to think of the magic tool Sion gave him as his Mana Heart and use magic.
Even knowing this, he still hadn’t succeeded in casting magic.
Not only had he lost his magical sense from not using magic for so long, but adapting to the new method wasn’t easy.
‘It feels like I’ll succeed if I try just a little more.’
Through the process of failing dozens of times, he was gradually adapting to the magic tool.
But in the end, he couldn’t overcome the final stage.
Click!
The magic wasn’t advancing to the manifestation stage.
“Huff!”
Barean breathed heavily and panted for quite a while.
However.
‘What was the problem?’
Instead of being discouraged, he calmly reviewed the process.
While he was devoted to adapting to the Magic Tool.
“The problem is that your body still remembers the old way of using magic.”
A voice reached his ears.
When he looked up, Sion had approached close and was looking at him.
“If you were a complete beginner who knew nothing about magic, it might actually be easier to use. But you, senior… the way you’ve been using magic for so long still remains in your body.”
“…That’s right.”
“So we need to change the approach a little. Don’t focus on the Mana Heart. Think of it as changing the ‘pathway.'”
Saying this, Sion poked several spots on Barean’s body in sequence with his finger.
“The parts I just poked are the key. These areas need to be consciously utilized. Right now, senior, mana keeps flowing through pathways that shouldn’t be used.”
“I… understand that. But this isn’t easy…”
“Just feel it.”
Sion’s hand came up to rest on the troubled Barean’s shoulder.
And mana flowed from that hand, beginning to move mana along the pathway that Sion’s finger had just poked.
And then.
Whirr!
The Magic Tool that had been immobile began to glow and move.
“Th-this is…”
“Just remember this sensation. You need to keep thinking of this Magic Tool as your new Mana Heart.”
At that explanation, Barean closed his eyes and focused on the Magic Tool again.
He kept repeating what Sion had just taught him and tried hard to move mana like before.
After several failures.
Whirr.
Though not as much as when Sion had done it for him, light began to enter the Magic Tool.
And then.
Whooom.
Before Barean’s eyes, the most basic Mana Mass appeared.
Opening his eyes to see that Mana Mass, moisture began to well up in Barean’s eyes.
“Ah.”
It was magic.
Just 1st Circle magic, truly trivial compared to the magic he had used in his prime.
But even so, it was magic.
He stared blankly at that Mana Mass for quite a long time.
Sion, who had been watching that scene, turned around with a profound smile.
‘Please grow strong and healthy.’
There will be so many uses for you in the future.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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