The AI Archmage - Chapter 38

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

AI Archmage Episode 38

 

Everything needs a catalyst for growth.

 

And the same was true for Sion.

 

He was born with overwhelming knowledge and talent, but he couldn’t yet be considered skilled as a mage.

 

However, Sion was pleased with this fact.

 

‘Actually, this is good.’

 

The reason was simple.

 

It meant there was that much more to explore and discover.

 

Even right now, for instance.

 

‘So this is how it works.’

 

He was able to learn various things in the process of restoring Belusian’s magic.

 

How to control mana more effectively, how to perform calculations more efficiently, and understanding the structure of the Magic Tower, among other things.

 

There’s a difference between theory and real combat.

 

Sion could almost eliminate the gap between the two with his innate talent, but even so, there were things to learn through real combat.

 

Especially among them.

 

Whirring.

 

This was even more true regarding this Mobius Circle that Sion had created through his own theory.

 

Circulation.

 

Mana circulated endlessly, and the circle somehow increased its capacity to withstand this circulation.

 

“Ugh…”

 

[Are you alright, Human?]

 

“…I’m fine.”

 

Sion forcibly swallowed his groan and focused on his work again.

 

It would be a lie to say there was no pain.

 

To begin with, Sion wasn’t proceeding with this work leisurely.

 

Rather, he had no leisure.

 

He was filling in the lacking parts through various preparations and talent, so pain and danger were inevitably accompanied in the process.

 

Sion continued to concentrate without being swept away by the pain.

 

‘Rather, this pain is proof that I’m growing.’

 

This pain was ultimately growing pains that arose in the process of the Mobius Circle expanding to somehow increase its capacity.

 

After enduring the pain and concentrating, he was able to identify the cause of the damage.

 

‘…There’s a fine crack.’

 

He could feel a faint crack that had formed within Belusian’s magic.

 

In such extremely precise magic, even a very small crack becomes a critical flaw.

 

[Did you find it, Human?]

 

‘Yes, I’ve identified the cause, so I’ll immediately begin the repair work.’

 

With those words, Sion immediately began concentrating mana for the magic restoration.

 

Since he had identified the cause, there was no reason to unnecessarily spread mana around.

 

And just because he found the cause didn’t mean it was over.

 

In a way, what comes now is even more important.

 

From now on, truly precise mana manipulation is required.

 

First, he fills the cracks that are generally present in the magic with appropriate magic formulas.

 

[Human, as you know, magic formulas aren’t just about functioning. Since this is an Archmage’s magic, for semi-permanent use, you need precise formulas that won’t collapse under any circumstances…]

 

‘I know, damn it.’

 

Naturally, such precise formulas would place an enormous burden on the brain.

 

But what choice did he have.

 

If he lacked ability, he’d have to make up for it with his body.

 

This much would heal with just a little rest.

 

With that single-minded determination, he circulated mana even faster.

 

Kwaaaaah!

 

“Kuk…?!”

 

But the earth mana began to rampage beyond his expectations.

 

As if it wouldn’t allow a mere human to use its power.

 

[Human!]

 

‘Damn…!’

 

Sion desperately held back the blood trying to rise up his throat as his insides were being torn apart, and continued with his work.

 

It was certain.

 

Whatever great mage built the Blue Tower had truly erected it on perplexing land.

 

How should he describe this land?

 

The mana was excessively abundant.

 

So much so that it could assert itself this strongly.

 

[Human, I’ll increase my computational ability a bit more. I still have some capacity left…]

 

‘Wait.’

 

Even in this desperate situation, Sion thought calmly.

 

The proper judgment here would be to do as Akasha suggested, using all computational ability to control the rampaging mana.

 

But one thought flashed through his mind.

 

‘Is there a need for that?’

 

[Human?]

 

‘Right, right, there’s no reason for that. Such simple methods are sometimes the wrong answer.’

 

[Human, stop talking nonsense and let’s just go with the orthodox method. I’m saying this because I think I know what you’re trying to do right now.]

 

‘Good.’

 

Sion made his decision with a mind on the verge of losing it from the continuous strain.

 

‘Let’s take this opportunity to definitively expand the limits of the Mobius Circle.’

 

Previously, about 6th Circle was the limit.

 

Even that was only possible when pushing himself to use 6th Circle.

 

Honestly, it was inconvenient.

 

But thinking in reverse, couldn’t this massive mana serve as a foundation for reversal, as long as he didn’t die from being swept away?

 

Moreover, if he could definitively surpass the limits of the Mobius Circle as planned, repairing this magic would become much easier too.

 

‘Let’s go!’

 

[Kraaaaaaak!]

 

Akasha, who had suddenly become a calculation device again and was about to be ground down, began to scream in agony.

 

And Sion conversely opened the Mobius Circle completely.

 

He intended to absorb mana to his heart’s content.

 

And feeding off Akasha’s screams, the Mobius Circle diligently gathered mana within its relatively safe environment.

 

Sion concentrated his mind and attempted to expand the Mobius Circle while bleeding from his mouth and eyes.

 

Covered in blood and giggling, anyone who saw him would think he was completely insane.

 

Kiiing!

 

The Mobius Circle, having absorbed mana beyond its limits, continued to circulate endlessly.

 

And the absolute amount of the Mobius Circle increased, with this process repeating endlessly.

 

[Kraaaak! The AI is dying!]

 

‘Endure it!’

 

[Hey, you bastard…!]

 

The great artificial spirit with self-awareness, Akasha, screamed while spitting out curses.

 

And the circle that continued endless circulation and growth soon…

 

Kwaaaaang!

 

Was recombined into a new form with a single explosion.

 

“Kuhek!”

 

Spitting out a mouthful of black blood, Sion grinned wickedly.

 

His entire body was giving him terrible pain as if it would burst at any moment, but an even greater pleasure filled his mind.

 

‘It worked!’

 

The capacity of the Mobius Circle, which had been blocked for a while, had increased.

 

That meant he could use a greater amount of power than before.

 

‘6th Circle… no, 7th Circle?’

 

Yes, 7th Circle.

 

He had reached a level where he could use magic up to the 7th Circle.

 

Then now there was only one thing left.

 

He began repairing the magic with a much more relaxed expression.

 

He filled in the magic formula and finished the surface using mana.

 

And at that moment.

 

Thung.

 

A vibration swept through the Blue Tower, and the Archmage’s magic, which hadn’t operated for a long time, began to activate.

 

Kugoong!

 

The Blue Tower’s core, which hadn’t moved for a long time, began to emit light.

 

The magic of Archmage Belusian, who had disappeared 20 years ago, was once again revealing its brilliant form.

 

* * *

 

“Cra, crazy, what is that?”

 

“Is, is that the Archmage’s magic?”

 

The students looked at the massive barrier of light that began to surround the entire Tower area with expressions of shock.

 

Among the students present here, none had ever seen Belusian’s magic working properly.

 

But the moment the magic worked properly, all the students could tell.

 

That this was the core of the Blue Tower.

 

But feeling bewildered was unavoidable.

 

‘What did we… do?’

 

They had done something.

 

As instructed by Sion beforehand, they had simply used magic utilizing magic tools.

 

Though mana was continuously draining, it wasn’t at a level that posed a major problem.

 

Just some dizziness or a slight headache.

 

But seeing such an incredible event unfold, it seemed what they had done was meaningful.

 

Briella muttered.

 

“I wonder if we’re witnessing a scene that will go down in the Tower’s history.”

 

“Y-yeah, you’re right.”

 

Eira also agreed in a daze.

 

Indeed, it wasn’t just ordinary magic, and having contributed to the restoration of an Archmage’s magic was something to be proud of.

 

That aside.

 

“Hey, Tult.”

 

“What.”

 

“You always rush to help with anything related to the teacher, so I’m asking, but… is he really human?”

 

“…Don’t ask me. If I knew that, I wouldn’t have defied him that day either.”

 

“Ah, right.”

 

Briella quickly understood.

 

And Tult, thinking she was mocking him, scrunched up his face.

 

“Hey, you…”

 

“Anyway, we helped with something incredible. That’s enough.”

 

Briella was simple-minded.

 

What mattered most to her was that this work had meaning.

 

Above all.

 

‘The past few weeks seem much more rewarding and enriching than the three years I spent in this Tower.’

 

The sensation of having accomplished something.

 

The real feeling of growing as a mage.

 

And it wasn’t just her, but the other students felt the same way.

 

And meanwhile.

 

“Did it really… succeed?”

 

Cornelia emerged from the Tower with a dumbfounded expression and discovered the Archmage’s magic.

 

Once the work was finished, Lumia allowed her to leave the room as if she had been waiting for this moment.

 

As soon as she left the room, what met her eyes was the Archmage’s magic clearly flaunting its presence.

 

9th Circle, 【Belusian’s Iron Wall】.

 

And its meaning was…

 

“So everything I did that day… was all a misunderstanding? And you…”

 

Was he saying that he was a genius with brilliant talent incomparable to her own?

 

But she couldn’t understand it.

 

Couldn’t he have shown his special abilities even once?

 

But why on earth…

 

Throb.

 

“…Ugh!”

 

Cornelia staggered while clutching her head.

 

She barely endured the pain and raised her head.

 

The magic the Archmage had left in this Tower was nothing short of a perfect iron wall.

 

Naturally, it was magic that someone of her current level couldn’t even dare to touch.

 

But Sion had accomplished that.

 

– A guy like you had your choice decided from the beginning.

 

– What a disgrace to the family!

 

She lowered her head, recalling the insults she had hurled at Sion in her childhood.

 

“…Ha, haha.”

 

With her head lowered like that, she could only let out hollow laughter for a long while.

 

* * *

 

“Ugh, it hurts like hell.”

 

After successfully completing all the work, Sion forcibly wiped away the blood covering his face.

 

Having bled quite a lot, red kept coming off no matter how much he wiped.

 

“I bled this much and still didn’t die. Impressive.”

 

[Huu… human…]

 

Akasha spoke roughly in a dying voice.

 

[I’ll curse… you… guh… uuugh…]

 

Akasha, who had been thoroughly drained during Sion’s entire work process, was making dying sounds.

 

Sion clicked his tongue at the sight and said.

 

“Your stamina is weak.”

 

[Hey, you…]

 

Swallowing the harsh words that were about to come out, Akasha sighed and said.

 

[…What should I expect? Human, I’ll be sleeping like the dead for a while, so don’t wake me up, seriously.]

 

“Alright.”

 

Sion cheerfully accepted Akasha’s grumbling words.

 

“And you did well.”

 

[What?]

 

“I’m saying your help was significant. When you wake up later, you can look forward to it.”

 

Sion was not stingy with rewards.

 

Especially when it came to this artificial spirit who had been with him like one body and soul until now.

 

“I’ll prepare a reward that you’ll want more than anything else.”

 

[…It’s a promise.]

 

With those words, the connection with Akasha was abruptly cut off.

 

She probably turned off the power herself and entered a rest state.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Sion moved his body this way and that.

 

Honestly, it still hurt tremendously, but even so, one thing was clearly felt.

 

‘Magic Usage has become somewhat easier. Now it’ll be less frustrating.’

 

Until now, there had been a somewhat blocked feeling.

 

But at this level, it seemed he could get by without such frustration for a while.

 

Even when it came to executing future ‘plans’.

 

“Well, then now…”

 

Sion chuckled and took a step forward.

 

“Shall I go finish the remaining tasks.”

 

The business with Rostery wasn’t over yet.

 

As a younger brother, shouldn’t he put an end to matters with his sister.

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