The AI Archmage - Chapter 33

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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 33

 

“It’s time to depart, Miss.”

 

“Right.”

 

At those words, Cornelia quietly opened her closed eyes and raised her body.

 

Around her as she stood up, mana stronger than just a few days ago was rippling.

 

It meant she had gained enlightenment in that short time.

 

However, her brow remained furrowed.

 

‘As expected, the wall of the 7th Circle is thick.’

 

The wall of the 7th Circle is far too high.

 

A high realm where one could become the Tower Master of a Small Magic Tower, or hold an important position even in the Four Great Magic Towers.

 

“Huu.”

 

As she was catching her breath like that and trying to stabilize her mana.

 

Throb!

 

At the pain she felt once again, she clutched her head.

 

This time the pain was somewhat strong.

 

She remained like that for a while, clutching her head and letting out painful groans.

 

“Why is the pain getting worse…?”

 

The White Tower she belonged to was one of the Four Great Magic Towers, a place that ranked first when it came to Healing Magic.

 

Even the White Tower had diagnosed her symptoms as nothing to worry about.

 

So there should be no need for great concern, but…

 

“Miss?”

 

“…I’m fine.”

 

Cornelia waved her hand and stood up.

 

It would be nothing serious.

 

There couldn’t be a problem that the high-ranking mages of the White Tower failed to discover.

 

There were just occasional severe pains like this, but it wasn’t like there were problems with using magic.

 

“So you’re leaving now.”

 

“Yes, Father.”

 

Arriving in front of the carriage, Cornelia formally greeted the Marquis with respectful courtesy.

 

“I will faithfully carry out the mission you have entrusted to me.”

 

“Good. And remember this. The core of Rostery is ‘value’. And those with value should become the master of Rostery.”

 

“…”

 

“It means there’s no law that the Eldest Son must necessarily inherit the family. Remember that you too could become the master of Rostery.”

 

“…!”

 

At those words, Cornelia’s eyes wavered for a moment.

 

The master of Rostery.

 

That meaning was very significant.

 

It wasn’t a word light enough for a Family Head to say to his Eldest Daughter without any reason.

 

Nevertheless, if he had brought up that word to her, the meaning was clear.

 

“…I will keep that in mind.”

 

This meant the Marquis’s heart had tilted considerably toward Cornelia.

 

Or perhaps it could be seen as a reprimand for his sluggish Eldest Son.

 

Either way, there was nothing bad about it from Cornelia’s perspective.

 

“Then, Father.”

 

“Speak.”

 

“Does that standard also apply to Sion, that child?”

 

Sion Rostery.

 

A direct descendant abandoned even by the Family, a dullard scorned by all.

 

Could even such a dullard become the master of Rostery if he proved his ‘worth’?

 

“That’s right.”

 

There wasn’t a trace of hesitation in the Marquis’s words.

 

“Understood.”

 

Cornelia nodded at the Marquis’s words and boarded the carriage.

 

‘Teacher, he says.’

 

She recalled the news about Sion she had heard before and let out a hollow laugh.

 

“What ridiculous nonsense.”

 

* * *

 

“…Time is running out, Sion. It means the day of destiny is approaching.”

 

Lumia spoke with a dark expression.

 

“What? Rostery?”

 

“Yes, that.”

 

“Why are you so worried about it?”

 

Sion responded with an indifferent expression.

 

“The Main Tower has resolved most of its problems, and it’s not like we need to cling to Rostery and beg desperately like before.”

 

“Is that… so?”

 

“Well, of course if they want to find fault, they could somehow manage it. Though the possibility is low.”

 

“F-find fault?”

 

“If they’re determined to devour the Main Tower and don’t care about means and methods, what couldn’t they do? It’s not like they’re a clean Family to begin with.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

At those words, Lumia’s face turned ashen.

 

In that brief moment, all sorts of worst-case scenarios flashed through her mind.

 

“Calm down. I’m just saying there’s a possibility of that happening.”

 

“R-right?”

 

“Besides, even if they do that, it doesn’t matter. If they do that, it means we don’t need to be particular about our methods either.”

 

In other words, it meant Sion would also use every available means at his disposal.

 

Not as Sion Rostery, but as ‘Altair.’

 

“But Tower Master.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you really think my family will faithfully come as they planned?”

 

“Well… it’s something they announced in advance, right? Won’t they keep their word?”

 

Sion let out a small sigh and spoke in teacher mode.

 

“Now, let’s think from Rostery’s perspective. There’s a Tower that isn’t producing results despite all the support they’ve given.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Do you think they’d honestly give such a Tower the scheduled time? If it were me, I’d probably just raid them earlier than planned and expose their true face.”

 

At those words, Lumia’s face hardened.

 

Thinking about it carefully, she would probably do the same.

 

“C-Certainly…”

 

“Well, I think it’s good to keep that in mind. I’m not saying it’ll definitely happen.”

 

Sion finished speaking and turned his head elsewhere.

 

“Haha, it works! It works!”

 

Barean was firing magic wildly at the sky while laughing maniacally.

 

Lumia, who had been quietly watching him, sneakily asked a question.

 

“Why is senior acting like that?”

 

“He got his magic back. He’s using it to his heart’s content.”

 

“His eyes look a bit crazy though.”

 

“Well, let’s just let him enjoy the moment. He’ll calm down and be fine once he settles down a bit.”

 

Even though Barean could use magic again, his level was only at most 3rd Circle.

 

A pitiful level compared to Barean’s peak prowess.

 

But for Barean, that wasn’t important.

 

What mattered was that he could use magic.

 

And once you’ve reached a summit, you can always reach it again.

 

The knowledge and experience in Barean’s head weren’t going anywhere.

 

After firing magic wildly for a while, Barean seemed to come to his senses and turned his head toward Sion.

 

“Ah, isn’t it young Sion!”

 

“Have you gotten used to using the Magic Tool?”

 

“Yes, the more I use it, the more I understand how it can be utilized. However… unlike a Mana Heart, this Magic Tool seems to need its physical performance enhanced.”

 

“Yes, that’s correct.”

 

Barean had hit the key point.

 

As he said, the performance of the Magic Tool Barean was currently using wasn’t good.

 

It was unavoidable given the limited materials available.

 

“I already have the blueprints to improve its performance in my head. However…”

 

“It would require correspondingly expensive materials. I understand.”

 

Barean nodded calmly.

 

The mana that the Magic Tool he was currently using could handle was about 3rd Circle level.

 

It was by no means a high level.

 

“B-But Sion?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“This magic tool that you’re using right now, senior… no matter how I look at it, it seems somewhat familiar?”

 

“Well, of course it would be.”

 

Sion continued with a matter-of-fact expression.

 

“It’s that ‘Grimoire’ that the Tower Master designed and created.”

 

“…Eh?”

 

As if she hadn’t thought that far, Lumia’s eyes widened.

 

“Th-the unfinished product?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“When on earth did that Grimoire become so perfectly intact…”

 

“Well, it’s because I completed that unfinished product that the Tower Master made and abandoned. I also improved its stability while I was at it.”

 

The magic tool that Barean is currently using is precisely the ‘Grimoire.’

 

Originally a magic tool that Sion had created to enable those without talent to use magic.

 

It had once again revealed itself in reality.

 

Lumia stared blankly at the Grimoire floating beside Barean before opening her mouth.

 

“To think it was completed… I never expected to see the finished product so simply like this.”

 

“Of course, there are many problems to consider it a complete Grimoire. The capacity is small, so it can’t be used beyond the 3rd Circle.”

 

“I-I see.”

 

Lumia looked somewhat bitter.

 

She couldn’t help but have complicated feelings. The Grimoire that she had been prepared to dedicate her entire life to had been created so simply.

 

“Are you disappointed?”

 

“Well… honestly, a little.”

 

Lumia nodded and continued speaking.

 

“Honestly, a situation where the Grimoire would be completed by Sion’s hands was something I wouldn’t have dared to imagine even just six months ago.”

 

“That would have been the case.”

 

Sion agreed with that statement.

 

After all, back then he really would have been a proper scoundrel.

 

Sion understood Lumia’s complicated feelings and quietly watched over her.

 

She looked at Barean’s Grimoire with eyes mixed with regret before opening her mouth.

 

“So that’s… a low-performance Grimoire, right?”

 

“That would be the case.”

 

“But even with just that, a mage whose Mana Heart was destroyed can use magic. That means if we utilize it a bit better…”

 

“Yes, an era where ordinary people can also utilize magic could come.”

 

However, Sion didn’t forget to add a condition.

 

“Of course, the existence of the Grimoire and making it universal are different stories.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

“Various materials would also need to be compromised. Though we haven’t even reached that stage yet. Also, a system capable of mass production would need to be established.”

 

At those words, Lumia cautiously asked Sion a question.

 

“Was accepting and educating people from Other Regions recently for the purpose of creating the foundation for that mass production?”

 

“I won’t say it wasn’t.”

 

Sion nodded at Lumia’s words.

 

Although there are still many shortcomings, the process of establishing the foundation for his purpose can be considered to be progressing steadily.

 

The training of mages, who are the foundation of the Magic Tower, and the recruitment of high-ranking mages are in progress, and there are plans to gather the insufficient manpower through various methods.

 

“Tower Master, the pressure from the Council starts now.”

 

“…I know.”

 

“And what will be required of you from now on is not the responsibility of an engineer, but of a manager.”

 

That’s how the situation turns out.

 

In fact, it should have been done that way long ago.

 

Lumia also nodded with sparkling eyes.

 

“I’m prepared.”

 

“And naturally, as a magic engineer, you should have enough understanding to create grimoires like that with your eyes closed.”

 

“…What?”

 

The standards suddenly rose to an absurd level.

 

“That’s not the end of it. As the Tower Master of the Magic Craft Tower, you naturally need to reach a high level in ‘Magic Engineering’. What’s the 6th Circle, the 6th Circle.”

 

“…?”

 

“Let’s start with Low Circle Chantless Casting as a basic foundation through Magic Tool Utilization. The grimoire was reproduced too easily and whatnot – there’s absolutely no reason to be discouraged by such trivial things, Tower Master.”

 

Sion’s words poured out like Magic Missiles.

 

Lumia’s eyes, who had been feeling a slight sense of loss just moments ago, spun around.

 

“Uh, th-that, aren’t you demanding too much?! Besides, the 7th Circle isn’t just some dog’s name, and even Chantless Casting…!”

 

“Tower Master.”

 

Sion chuckled and said to Lumia.

 

“I’m not making a suggestion right now.”

 

“…What?”

 

“I’m saying I’ll make it happen. Be happy. Right now, Tower Master, you’ve obtained a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you might not even get once in your entire life.”

 

“I don’t think so. If I can’t endure it and die, then it’s not an opportunity, is it?”

 

“Just don’t die.”

 

“That doesn’t seem easy.”

 

Magic engineering knowledge, magical mastery, and Magic Tower management…

 

No matter how she thought about it, it was dizzying.

 

“Well, I’m planning to make that work out somehow, so don’t worry about it. Now, what I have to say next is important.”

 

“Wh-what is it?”

 

“Let’s say my family comes for an emergency inspection within the next few days.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

“Then do you think they’ll just stop at ‘Oh, it’s fine’?”

 

“Th-that would be the best case scenario, wouldn’t it?”

 

“No.”

 

Sion said firmly.

 

“Rather, we need to make them beg and plead.”

 

“H-how?”

 

No matter how much they’ve been on an upward trend recently, the Blue Tower’s situation is hardly good compared to other upper Magic Towers…

 

To her worries, Sion gave a simple and easy answer.

 

“Well, it’s nothing major. Just….”

 

Sion is, after all, a ‘Rostery.’

 

A direct descendant, at that.

 

And what does that mean?

 

“I just need to find a weakness or two.”

 

It means he knows what the Rostery desperately desires.

 

“…For example, something about my sister who will be coming to This Place soon.”

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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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