For a moment, silence descended upon the stone chamber.
I was contemplating the senior's core, and the senior was waiting for me.
Naturally, I was the one to break the silence first.
"Senior."
"Speak."
"By any chance, a lich?"
"……?"
I opened my eyes wide and stared intently at the senior.
A gaunt appearance, sunken eyes. Despite trying to tidy up, his hair was dry and had lost its luster.
So, just by looking, one might think he was a fresh lich who had died not long ago...
"He's not a lich."
He is breathing.
Undead, by definition, should not breathe, but his breath, though faint, continues.
"Then, what is it?"
I couldn't understand at all.
A core split into two.
Yes, a core breaking doesn't necessarily mean death.
A core is like a heart to a mage, but it's not a real heart. It just means the end of a mage's life.
Right.
'The end of a mage's life.'
But, how?
"Applied a barrier. I could explain the principle if you want, but..."
Perhaps the senior found my gaze burdensome, and he spoke casually.
I stared at him for a moment and then shook my head slightly.
"It's fine."
"...You seem very curious, though."
"It's not something I can understand just by hearing. You must have done well, right?"
"That's true, but..."
Perhaps he really wanted to explain the principle. His trailing off seemed somewhat regretful.
But my mind was unchanged.
'Barrier magic... it's a headache.'
Barrier magic differs from ordinary magic. The principles themselves are different.
Just as a turtle and a rabbit are both categorized as animals but cannot be considered the same, the principles are fundamentally different.
Especially...
A mage who has transcended sees the same things from a completely different perspective.
"But, it doesn't seem perfect."
"That's true. For basic magic, it might be fine, but for advanced magic, it's quite difficult. So..."
"You're using a magic circle for assistance."
"That's right."
I looked around the stone chamber and nodded.
'The mana is strangely concentrated because of that.'
It compensates for the mana required to maintain the barrier and replaces the function of the split core.
'Hmm, that's right.'
Originally, I am a troubleshooter. I have no greed. I am someone who can embrace everything without owning anything.
But, it smells.
'A magic circle to assist the core...'
This is quite rare. No, it's not just quite rare.
Even beyond practicality, it's a research topic that would make mages rush in with fire in their eyes.
While my greed, or rather, my curiosity was burning,
"Do you want it?"
"......No?"
A reflexive answer to Senior Reheim's question that hit the mark.
However, Senior Reheim looked at me with a broad smile, as if he knew everything.
He just looked.
"......"
"......Hmm, hmm."
In the awkward silence, a subtle voice echoed in the stone chamber.
"It's a magic circle I made myself."
It's premium.
While there might be a few Archmages in an era, there is only one Muspelrun in history.
"If I were to use it myself, it would require a lot of effort, but if we assume that those with intact cores use it, it could be simplified."
Research topic? No, it's also highly practical.
"Of course, I haven't researched it to that extent yet, but if you wish, I can do it."
"......"
"By any chance? It could be grafted onto an artifact. Also, it can not only store mana like a core but also grant attributes. Well, this part needs more research, but I think it's possible."
Swallow.
A natural swallow.
'......Damn.'
At first, it was a simple thought.
Just, what if there was such a magic circle in the library someday.
The curriculum of Hengji or Falun, or books to be taken from Chenbi in the future, would all be valuable, but in any case, a good book is always good to have in the library.
But, it smelled.
'This... can make money.'
Think about it.
An artifact made by Muspelrun
Of course, it's not really made by the real Muspelrun. It's just borrowing his knowledge.
But, this is a brand. A trademark.
'No, it doesn't have to be the Muspelrun brand.'
An artifact to assist the core.
It stores mana and even grants attributes. In other words, another core? So... a charger.
But.
"......Ugh."
Senior Reheim, who is looking at me and smiling.
It smells as much as money... It feels like he's going to entrust me with something troublesome.
As my contemplation dragged on, Senior Reheim interrupted my thoughts.
"Are you interested?"
"Can I use it however I want?"
"For example?"
"Riches and glory."
"You mean to make money. I understand. What mage doesn't like money?"
That's right. Mages all like money.
I might use magic only for shortcuts and beating people up, but other mages spend a lot of money on research and such.
So, I threw it out again.
"I'll indulge in luxury."
"Luxury?"
"Yes, wine and gambling. I'll prepare a feast for every meal and eat only a little, then throw it away."
"Modest, indeed."
"......"
...Modest?
It's the ultimate luxury by my standards. Indeed, royalty must be modest. Even this is considered modest.
'Then...'
I tried to think of a luxury that would surpass this. I thought about it, but...
'Nothing comes to mind.'
You can only use money well if you've used it before. That's why it is what it is.
Suddenly, thinking about it made me feel quite sad.
Originally, I am not a modest person, but I have been forced to be modest because I had no opportunity to be extravagant. Probably, even if I became a Great Sage with a fortune, it would be the same. Habits don't just disappear.
Anyway.
"Phew, it's fine."
I sighed deeply.
"What do you want to ask for?"
"Ask? I don't quite understand what you're saying. I just want to give a gift to my junior as a senior."
"......"
Swallow.
I barely swallowed the 'k' in 'bullshit' that was about to come out of my throat.
If the person in front of me was the principal, I would have asked if he had dementia, but given who he is...
'Gift? What gift?'
No matter what, a magic circle of this level is not something that can be given as a 'gift' with a light word.
Think about it.
'Assisting the core. No, it's more like having an external core.'
An external core.
How many attempts have been made in the history of magic to create one?
But, all of them failed.
The 'core of a golem' is also just a failed attempt to create an external core.
However, the impact of golems on the history of the continent was significant.
Or, to be precise...
War
It changed the tide of war.
And now, he's offering this knowledge? To a guy who wants to indulge in luxury and debauchery?
"Phew, it's fine."
"Is it okay? If you wish, I can give it to you."
"I'll pass on the magic circle. If you have something to ask, just say it. I'll listen."
"You are truly... a person of good character."
With a deep gaze, I looked up at the ceiling awkwardly.
'......Nothing comes to mind.'
Senior Reheim called it a 'gift to a junior,' but in fact, it was a trade. He wanted to ask me for something in exchange for the magic circle.
However, what Senior Reheim offered was not strictly a 'magic circle.'
To put it simply... yes.
What Senior Reheim put forward was, literally, a belief.
A person who would risk their life for a stranger... who would even abandon their own beliefs to achieve something.
No matter how immoral I am, I still consider the other person.
In the short time I've known him, Senior Reheim was a mage worthy of respect, regardless of his past.
But, how...
'...Can I buy a belief? Tsk.'
"Are you really okay with not taking the magic circle?"
Of course, I'm not okay.
But.
"Think of it as a gift from a junior to a senior."
Is this not the bond between seniors and juniors? Of course, it's not a bond of school or hometown, but the titles are senior and junior.
"Then, I'll give a gift too."
"I'll pass on the magic circle."
"It's not a magic circle. Perhaps... it's something more necessary for you than a magic circle."
"......?"
Originally, what I need most is books.
It's not easy to find books to fill the tower. Next, I would need land and money.
But, Senior Reheim probably doesn't know these circumstances.
"It's nothing much. Just advice from someone who has walked the path before."
Senior Reheim looked at me with deep eyes.
Unlike before, his eyes sparkled brightly.
The teacher of Obern. A mage who is unexpectedly kind. A completely new aspect that cannot be explained by any definition.
This is... yes.
'Someone who has walked the path before.'
Literally, a senior.
The distant path of magic. The eyes of someone who has walked the vast world before. In other words...
Archmage
Advice from an Archmage at the pinnacle to a junior mage following behind.
"The wall of transcendence."
The moment I met Senior Reheim's eyes, I knew he saw through me.
"I'll tell you how to overcome that wall. Would you like to hear it?"
Well, indeed.
* * *
"First, let me ask. If my judgment is correct, you are currently blocked by the wall of transcendence. Is that right?"
"Yes."
I readily agreed.
I don't know how Senior Reheim figured out my condition, but his diagnosis was accurate.
'The wall of transcendence... no, the wall of tears.'
A solid iron fortress that cannot be breached no matter what. Just one step to transcend, but that one step is blocked.
"You must have thought a lot about it. What do you think is the reason?"
"The reason...?"
"The reason why you cannot transcend the wall of transcendence."
"......"
I crossed my arms and thought for a moment.
'Why can't I transcend it?'
Finding the answer was not difficult. And it was quite simple.
In a way, it was similar to the reason why I learned the Heavenly Circle in this life and sought the vision of Deculan like Red Fire.
The essence is Phalern von Deculan. To catch him, but also because I believed there was something I lacked in Deculan's vision.
That is...
"Fundamentals."
"Fundamentals?"
"I can't explain in detail... but the way I learned magic was quite unconventional."
In other words, a shortcut?
Not like the descendants of noble families who hone their basics, but just picking up and learning whatever I needed.
Moreover, I didn't just study magic.
If necessary, I referred to the visions of knights and other visions.
But, why?
"That's not the answer."
"......?"
Senior Reheim looked at me with deep eyes.
"Before you reached the wall of transcendence... your basics might have been the problem. But not now. What do you think transcendence is?"
"Transcendence is..."
"Exactly, transcending a certain limit. Then, how can you transcend that limit?"
"Well..."
I thought deeply.
What do you need to do to transcend a limit?
"Be honest. Your answer will determine the advice I give you."
"......Hmm."
Be honest... Let's think.
Not about transcending the wall of transcendence, but if I were to simply try to overcome a limit, what method would I choose?
Actually, the answer is simple.
"Smash into it."
"Smash into it?"
"Yes, I think I would use all my strength to smash into it. Until I die."
"What if you still can't overcome it?"
Still can't? Then what can I do?
"Still smash into it. I would continue to smash into it until I can't even think of smashing into it again. Well."
"Hmm, is that so?"
Senior Reheim looked at me silently and then raised an eyebrow.
"Have you ever done that?"
"Of course..."
'...I have.'
Just as I was about to say it, my words were cut off.
Have I really ever emptied myself completely?
Of course, I have. As a vagrant in the black and white zone, as a troubleshooter trainee, until I was given a number in NoNumber, and until I became a single-digit number.
I always emptied myself completely.
'...Because I had to survive.'
But, after that?
After that...
"It might not be, but..."
"......It's rare."
"I understand. For a mage like you to empty yourself completely... there might not be many opponents."
At this point, I understood what the senior meant.
In the end, it's about emptying, emptying, and emptying until you reach your limit. Using all your strength, pushing yourself to the brink.
Of course...
'One time won't be enough.'
But, that's the method.
"From your expression, it seems you understand."
"......Yes, well."
I might not have understood correctly, but this was a conversation without a right answer. Only my feelings were the right answer.
"My advice is not necessarily correct. I just shared a story that might be helpful based on my experience."
The considerate voice of the senior.
It was a concern that his well-intentioned advice might become another form of pressure.
I rarely smiled.
"It's enough."
"Good, then..."
The senior smiled back at my smile and continued.
"Now, it's your turn to receive a gift from your junior? Or, to ask for a favor?"
"Does it matter which?"
What matters is the sincerity in our hearts. The packaging doesn't matter.