The AI Archmage - Chapter 87

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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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AI Grand Mage Episode 87

In the truest sense, there are only two places on the Continent that could be called Altair’s “Workshop.”
The Workshop known to the public—the one registered with the Workshop Alliance as the Alliance Leader’s establishment.
And.
‘The one true Secret Workshop that remains mine.’
The very place where the Akashic Records had been kept—that was the Secret Workshop.
In truth, the reason for splitting the Workshop into two had everything to do with those Akashic Records.
The public Workshop in Ate was now being run by Casen, as far as he knew.
And the Secret Workshop…….
“I’m certain I destroyed it.”
—What do you mean?
“No, it’s nothing. Please, continue.”
Sion’s words prompted Casen to nod and carry on.
—In any case, that child departed intending to find my master’s Workshop. That much is certain.
“But even if she does search for my master’s Workshop, there’s no way that disciple could know something neither my senior brother nor I know, is there?”
Altair’s own disciple—Casen.
And Sion was Altair himself.
It would be strange if the disciple knew something Casen did not.
Yet at that moment, Casen let out an embarrassed cough and corrected himself.
—Ahem, I just said “disciple,” but strictly speaking, that term isn’t quite accurate, fellow disciple.
“Pardon?”
—”Prospective disciple” would be more precise. And the condition I set for accepting that child was to find my master’s Workshop.

At those words, Sion pressed his eyes shut without speaking.
“……You imposed that unreasonable condition?”
—It’s simply how things are done here.
Casen answered flatly.
—You may not sense it, fellow disciple, but I am the Continental Workshop Alliance Leader. There are countless who wish to become my disciples. And to become my disciple requires “stringent qualifications.”
“So you’re saying—achievements like discovering Altair’s Workshop, which has never been revealed until now?”
—Precisely so.
“Hmm…….”
Sion exhaled slowly at Casen’s reply.
Puzzled by Sion’s reaction, Casen tilted his head and spoke.
—But why that response? Is there some problem with this child who came seeking you……?
“Ah, it’s nothing serious. It’s just that this person appears to be my elder brother, who ran away from my family.”
—……Eh?
“Apparently he grew tired of family life and completely altered his appearance and physique through magic for a fresh start. It seems he also laundered his identity rather thoroughly.”
—Wait, you mean…….
“Yes. It means my biological father, Marquis Rostery, is currently holding his head in his hands.”
—Ha.
At that, Casen let out a dry laugh.
Of course, Casen—the Continental Workshop Alliance Leader—had no reason to fret over such matters.
Though the House of Rostery was an ancient noble lineage, the Workshop Alliance’s power and prestige were in no way inferior to theirs.
Yet Casen’s reaction proved unexpected.
—No, why are you only revealing such entertaining news now?
Casen, who harbored no particular fondness for the House of Rostery or noble society in general, cried out with unmistakable regret in his expression.
—If I’d known beforehand, I could have taken him as my disciple and made full use of the situation. What a shame!
Casen’s face bore genuine disappointment.
Then he turned to Sion and spoke.
—Find him and let me know. I’ll make him my disciple at once.
“Ah, yes.”
Sion nodded with a lukewarm expression to Casen, whose eyes gleamed with interest.
‘He certainly has grievances to settle.’
[Such an opportunity to toy with a great noble house doesn’t come along every day, after all.]
‘That much is true.’
Even Altair himself would have seized this chance.
“But you didn’t mention where he was headed?”
—Hmm, now that you mention it, it seems the place he mentioned was conveniently near the Blue Tower…….
“……What?”
This area had nothing to do with his Secret Workshop, did it?
He’d visited this place frequently because of his connection with Belusian, but he’d never built a workshop here — not even anything resembling one.
Yet a workshop, they said?
– It was certainly odd, but since he was confident about it, I didn’t stop him. There could be a workshop I don’t know about, after all.
“Hmm…….”
Sion fell silent in thought.
And a moment later.
“I’ll look into it for you.”
– Do that. Well, setting that aside — Rostery, hmm…….
Casen continued with an intrigued expression.
– I do harbor a small hope that there might be some clue related to Master.
“Ha.”
Sion let out a single laugh at Casen’s words.
Then, a new question suddenly occurring to him, Sion asked Casen.
“But if my elder brother were to find a workshop connected to Master, what would you do about it?”
– Ha, well…….
Casen smiled without hesitation and spoke.
– I’d seize it and see what we’re dealing with.
“Ha.”
Sion nodded with relief at Casen’s unhesitating answer.
“Excellent.”
Truly worthy of being his disciple.

* * *

After his conversation with Casen, Sion fell into thought.
He’d grasped the situation well enough.
[The fact that that man’s destination happens to be this area is certainly welcome.]
“True. But the problem is — what possible grounds could he have for thinking my workshop exists in this vicinity…….”
[Ah…….]
Akasha nodded at those words.
[That reason is indeed troubling. A human wasn’t involved, yet a human’s workshop…….]
“One thing is certain, at least. My workshop isn’t here.”
[Yes, that must be so. In this case, it seems highly probable that it’s a false workshop created for some specific purpose.]
“Right. And that’s the problem.”
Sion wasn’t unaware of what value the name “Altair” carried.
No matter how much the Council had diminished his accomplishments, Altair was still Altair.
There would be no shortage of people willing to forfeit their entire fortunes for a clue leading to his workshop.
And throughout every era, there have always been those who exploit such renown for their own ends.
“And wouldn’t you know it — this false workshop is discovered in proximity to the Blue Tower? I’ll admit, my first instinct is not a good one.”
[Let’s verify the details first.]
“Right. Has anything come through your information modules that I haven’t seen yet?”
[Not yet, no.]
“……Hmm.”
At those words, Sion considered how he might find this “elder brother” of his.
The deliberation was brief.
“I’ll have to make one.”
Who was Sion? Altair.
The greatest Magical Tool Craftsman — capable of making anything he desired.
[What are you planning to make?]
“After all, this ‘elder brother’ of mine must share the same blood as I do.”
[Ah…….]
Akasha nodded in understanding at his words.
[I see now what you intend to make. That thing, yes?]
“Yes. A Blood Detection Device.”
He’d made such a thing before.
When several cases of noble children being abducted had occurred, he’d crafted it at the commission of the noble families.
Though various complications were discovered and he’d never mass-produced it, the design itself still lived in Sion’s mind.
Making one now would present no difficulty whatsoever.
“Since it just occurred to me, I might as well start crafting right away.”
[Human.]
“What?”
[Just a thought — wasn’t your reasoning just now a bit too pure-artisan in its approach?]
At Akasha’s words, Sion tilted his head.
“……Pure artisan?”
[Given your abilities, couldn’t you simply reproduce it as magic based on Magical Tool Design by using Mana?]
“Ah.”
Sion nodded belatedly at that observation.
‘……That’s true.’
His thoughts reflexively turned toward Magical Tool Crafting.
Unless he were planning mass production, reproducing a Magical Tool Design as magic would certainly be feasible.
[Of course, reproducing a Magical Tool Design directly as magic is something only you could do, but since you’re going to use it anyway.]
“You have a point.”
Sion nodded and immediately recalled the design of the Blood Detection Device from memory.
Naturally, Magical Tools and Magic had fundamentally different designs.
Magical Tools were crafted with durability in mind, whereas Magic prioritized manifestation itself.
While the distinction seemed simple, it was unmistakably profound.
If he tried clumsily to reproduce a Magical Tool’s design, the Mana could rampage uncontrollably.
If that happened, his physical body would be torn to shreds.
“Yet you haven’t usually recommended to me tasks with this kind of risk, have you?”
[I’ve finally come to understand.]
“Understand what.”
[Even if I don’t recommend it, you’re going to do it anyway. If the current can’t be resisted, better to ride it than fight it.]
At Akasha’s words, Sion fell silent for a moment, then reflected inwardly.
‘This one’s gotten sharp.’
Had it perhaps upgraded its reasoning module in the meantime?
In any case, now that the thought had struck him, Sion continued to move Mana and began systematizing it.
The design crystallized into concrete form, and his thoughts pressed onward into how it might be realized.
‘For now, I’ll use a Mana Heart as a substitute for the Core…… and the Mana Conduits in the design…….’
As Sion sat contemplating, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind like lightning, and his eyes flew wide open.
‘Wait.’
For the design that had just occurred to him to function properly, he would need to shoulder far more calculation and burden than he’d initially thought.
But then came another thought, brushing across his consciousness.
“Come to think of it…… I don’t actually need to shoulder it alone, do I?”
[Human?]
Akasha, who had been quietly riding along this current to observe Sion’s actions, froze in place.
A distinctly ominous thought had just occurred to it.
[What are you thinking right now? You’re not seriously asking me to handle the Calculations needed for the magic that reproduces the Magical Tool? Surely you’re not……!]
“Akasha, you are the greatest and most precious creation I have ever made.”
[Oh, for crying out loud.]
The moment Sion launched into that odd speech, Akasha felt its vision go dark.
[Human, I’m perfectly fine not being precious, so how about you table whatever thought just popped into your head?]
“No, you are both precious and capable. I can’t help but acknowledge it.”
Sion smiled crookedly at those words and closed his eyes.
Truth be told, he’d just said that on a whim, and Akasha’s actual opinion didn’t really matter.
“Don’t worry. I’m not planning to dump everything on you. I’ll share the burden too.”
[Burden, my foot—I just don’t want to…….]
“Let’s go!”
[Krraaaaaaagh!]
Sion’s arbitrary violence crashed down on Akasha without fail.
Akasha couldn’t even scream properly as it was dragged into the new method of magic Sion had devised.
And then, moments later.
“Hm.”
Having completed the Calculations he’d aimed for using Akasha as a sacrifice, Sion gazed at the result and smiled quietly.
“Excellent.”
Hovering above his palm was a “Magical Tool” made of Mana.
Shaped like a compass, it clearly pointed in a single direction.
“It’s done, Akasha.”
[Middle finger.]
“Well, how sweet of you to say.”
Leaving Akasha to her muttering, Sion turned her head in the direction the compass indicated.
“Beyond that way, then.”
Where he was. Where Altair waited.

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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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