Chapter 70
In Bead Tower training, the smaller the difference between the initial diameter and the compressed diameter, the higher the difficulty. This is because it is difficult to maintain a stable form when the density of the compressed beads is low.
First day of Closed Door training.
The 10-year-old Bargan had an initial bead diameter of 1m and a compressed diameter of 5cm. He was able to build the tower up to 10 floors.
It goes without saying that he excelled not only in reducing my mana output and precision with artifacts but also in the tower-building aspect.
Although the initial diameter and compressed diameter I create are the same as his, I can only manage up to 7 floors.
He consistently completed tasks faster than me, and his level of completion was superior.
However, if even a slight distraction occurs due to interfering with his pace or causing a drop in concentration, the tower being built will collapse, and the original shape of the beads will not be maintained.
“….”
Even now, that holds true.
The supplier, resembling the 10-year-old Bargan, is staring intently at me after building a 10-floor bead tower. There was no particular emotion in his gaze, but it can’t be deemed pleasant.
Thus, my tower, which was attempting to reach the 8th floor, collapsed.
“Again.”
It’s not worth being disappointed.
As soon as I gave the command, the supplier swallowed all the magic he had created with the beads. All the magic of the supplier was bestowed by me. When magic is consumed, its power diminishes.
Therefore, most of the beads made from pure magic return to the supplier’s body, generating energy.
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I even handed over the tower I created to him.
Without a word, he accepted it and pushed it into his mouth as well to compensate for the losses incurred in creating magic beads, no matter how high his level is.
As time passed, my magic dwindled further, but the supplier experienced no losses.
…I continued my training.
Once again, the supplier completed a stable tower before me.
***
Third day of Closed Door training.
Still, in front of my eyes, it is not others but the 10-year-old Bargan building the tower. The supplier continues to build the tower without getting tired. No, it’s not that he gets tired; the concept of stamina does not exist.
Alicia comes once a day to check on my condition and bring food, but I haven’t touched a single meal until now. The time was too precious. I hadn’t reached a level where I could eat and build at the same time.
At least until surpassing the 10-year-old Bargan, I plan to forego eating and drinking and focus entirely.
Once again, the supplier’s tower reached the 10th floor.
I have completed the 8th floor and am currently challenging the 9th floor.
The result of three days of immersion without any rest is just adding one more floor to the bead tower… I realize how valuable and brilliant talent is. I’m at the level of an amateur.
The primary goal is to build a 10-floor tower with an initial diameter of 1m and a compressed diameter of 5cm.
10 floors.
The 10th floor must be completed flawlessly to move on to the next stage. I can challenge with a smaller initial diameter.
A strange tension and competitiveness arise in the battle with oneself. At the same time, laughter flows out along with that stream. It is such a joy to see the target right in front of you and be happy about it.
Being able to see results immediately was a small happiness beyond training.
Hm?
Drawing more mana from the mana circuit, I concentrate harder. The emotionless eyes of the 10-year-old Bargan are fixed on me.
Despite the gaze devoid of any thoughts or emotions, it subtly bothers me, and I feel a surge within.
Facing a genius, there is no room to stop even for a moment.
…Fine, I admit it. This childish, bubbling emotion is competitiveness. It won’t be long before I surpass that guy.
***
Seventh day of closed-door training.
Finally, after a long time, I could taste food.
I was the first to hastily gulp down water, not bread or meat.
Forgetting momentarily about noble dignity, I savored the pleasure of life-giving water quenching my throat. Has there ever been water more delicious than this in my life? The taste of the water was so exceptional that I found myself pondering if anything could surpass it.
Having endured for a week without a sip of water, relying solely on mana purification, the thirst and emptiness were beyond bearable.
As I was nearing the limit of sleep deprivation and with a regained vigor after the meal, I started to reestablish the mana flow within my body.
It seems I won’t need to sleep as scheduled until the end of the closed-door training.
Actually, it would have been fine to drink water during the training, but I refrained to further motivate myself.
It could be seen as the minimum achievement condition for daily life.
Blaming and preventing myself from engaging in other activities if I couldn’t achieve this much.
Before being possessed, there were times when I immersed myself in something similar. Compared to back then, the current situation is much better.
Twist, twist.
The form of the 10-year-old Bargan that was silently observing me was transforming into a new form.
The completed supply showed the appearance of an 11-year-old Bargan. The limbs had notably lengthened, and surprisingly, at this young age, the body’s lines, like the jawline, were sleek and alive. Quite an impressive young lad.
“Let’s get started.”
Finishing the meal in less than 2 minutes, I hurriedly resumed the training. I had already perfected the initial diameter of 1m, compressed to 5cm up to the 10th floor.
Now it’s time to move on to the next stage.
Instead of setting the initial diameter at 1m, I set it at 75cm and compressed it to 5cm.
When the compressed size remains the same but the initial volume decreases, maintaining the density of the completed mana bead becomes more challenging.
Glancing to the side, the 11-year-old Bargan effortlessly crafted the beads as if plucking them out of a factory, swiftly building a 10-floor tower.
Without hesitation, I set the initial diameter to 50cm, compressed it, and began stacking the tower.
“…I see. So that’s how you want to play it.”
No need for determination, but I definitely sensed something from him and smashed the mana bead I was creating.
From 1m to 50cm. A sudden doubling.
However, that’s what the past Bargan did.
No matter the restrictions, can’t I do it now?
I began compressing the 50cm diameter mana bead.
Knowing this emotion was somewhat childish, it was even more effective due to my innocence.
***
Thirteenth day of closed-door training.
This 11-year-old Bargan, he’s insane.
Just one year older from 10 to 11. The progress he’s made in just that time is beyond belief. Objectively speaking, he’s not at the level of Alicia, but he’s at least one grade below that.
The competitiveness that used to drive me is now burning up into ashes, and even feelings of shameful defeat are starting to fill that space.
His initial diameter of 50cm, compressed to 5cm tower stands at 10 floors.
Meanwhile, I’m still at 8 floors.
“Tsk.”
In annoyance, I clicked my tongue.
Honestly, just the sudden shrinkage to 50cm made it difficult to control. When facing an 11-year-old Bargan for the first time, I could barely manage to build even 3 floors, let alone 8.
“But still, there was hope.”
An 11-year-old Bargan. This guy was undoubtedly a prodigy.
When a Bargan reaches 13 years old and diligently continues their training, even if their accomplishments skyrocket in just one year, it’s not surprising. Actually, it’s quite remarkable that I’ve kept up this far.
However, the moment I succeeded in building the 8th floor.
I finally grasped the feeling.
No matter how challenging the task may be, by doing the same thing all day without any interruptions, you start to develop a knack, and a way to break through that path becomes visible.
Even if the output or total amount may significantly decrease, the level of precision rises exponentially. Geniuses are not only stepping into areas they didn’t know about, but also flying past them without even realizing.
“Phew….”
I slowly took a deep breath, cooling down the overheated mana circuits to the point of passing by, and breathed vitality into my mind to sharpen it.
Once you grasp it, you must move forward.
Now, I feel like I might be able to realize something new. There’s no concrete evidence, but it feels like time is running out.
Such hope stirs my body.
***
That’s how it was on the 20th day of the closed-door training. The final day.
Alicia walked towards Bargan’s room to undergo an examination after a long time.
Soon, Bargan’s closed-door training will come to an end. That fact excited Alicia.
Arriving at the door, she naturally reached for the doorknob and turned it without knocking. It was one of the actions he prohibited.
She cautiously opened the door to avoid disturbing him with any noise. The room was as dark as it had been recently….
“Huh?”
A surprised sound escaped Alicia’s lips at the unexpected sight.
She looked around. The room was brightly lit as the light inside was on. Everything looked tidy with not a speck of dust in sight.
As she walked, she headed towards the room where her master was presumed to be sitting. As she got closer, an inexplicable excitement resonated in Alicia’s body.
And then.
“Have you come, Alicia.”
Even in his neat and upright posture, his unique quirkiness blended well. The man was in the midst of unlocking the artifact he had placed on himself.
A bracelet on his wrist made a distinct sound as the spell was activated. It was a release spell. It didn’t last long.
Huh?!
The lock was released.
“…!!”
The sensation of a vast amount of water bursting through a dam due to its collapse. The sudden re-establishment and expansion of mana output causing mana vibrations, and the resulting air pressure.
All the items in Bargan’s room were shaken or knocked over by the impact, and the parchment piled on the desk flew around the room like a flock of doves.
Alicia’s white hair also fluttered in the wind. She gazed at the changed form of Bargan with her blue eyes.
There was no change in his appearance. He still looked the same as always.
However, the internal changes were so noticeable that they seemed to be outwardly displayed and flaunted.
Bargan’s magical concentration, output, and total mana had grown rapidly.
It felt like the moment when Bargan first annihilated a priest-grade Altif. The feeling of awe and reverence when observing the existence beyond oneself.
Alicia once again tasted the same emotions as that day.
“Well… not bad.”
Bargan clenched and unclenched his fist a few times, focusing his mana before dispersing it.
Quickly checking the changes in his body, making sure there were no side effects, and how much he had grown.
And then, he saw it.
He cheered so loudly that anyone could share in his joy.
“Yes, that was it. That was it…!”
“My lord…?”
In Barugan’s eyes, he couldn’t see Alicia in front of him or anything around. His eyes were looking inside, not outside.
A vast river, growing as all veins converged.
Barugan stood upon it.
What entered his eyes were the intense light of the sun shining upon the world and the shimmering surface of the river reflecting it. He gazed into the distance, trying to follow its end.
Finally, he saw it.
Barely able to take it all in.
The boundary between the sea and the river.
A vast world beyond the river that could make one’s jaw drop.
He knew the beginning of that vast world was getting closer.
Surely, that vast world.
“The Realm of Transcendence”
Being able to elevate the total amount of mana to the realm of transcendence. Now, this was not a mere expectation but a certainty. If he continued like this, he would achieve it in no time!
The mana realm that the original Barugan ultimately failed to reach.
Though he had not surpassed his prime in curses or warlockry, he had advanced greatly in mana.
Once the mana total entered the realm of transcendence, lifting other fields would become much easier.
Furthermore, preparations for entering the unique spellcraft were complete.
“No… No. The plan must be changed. Now that transcendence is within reach, I understand.
Raising the total mana to the realm of transcendence and researching unique spellcraft is beneficial. Although it may seem to take some time, ultimately, it is the fastest way.” In fact, access to unique spellcraft was possible only after reaching the level of mastery in curse magic.
However, it had been postponed to enter at a state where a certain amount of mana total was further expanded for smoother and more effective results, which extended the period a bit.
He did not feel regret.
He was not a mediocre being who would ignore the opportunity to become stronger with certainty.
Like wine that tastes better with age.
The unique spellcraft he would create was the same.
A long smile spread across Barugan’s lips.
A clear manifestation of his destination and the omnipotence that showered his body like a passing rain.
If it were any other magic, there might be more, but there was only one person who had reached the realm of transcendence in mana, aside from the headmaster of Academia.
Even now, at this level, what could he achieve if he became the sea? How much could he do? To what extent?
He wanted to see.
He wanted to experience.
He wanted to explore.
The research curiosity about the magician hidden within the original Barugan, combined with the inherent traits of the original, produced a huge synergy.
Thirsty for the realm he had not yet set foot in!
“My lord.”
A clear voice.
His mind returned at the sound of that gentle voice.
Alicia showed a clean smile, not even a hint of dirt, as she spoke.
She seemed to be praising Bargan.
“Truly… You’ve been through a lot.”
“……”
Bargan thought.
Through a lot… Me?
If I say I’ve been through a lot, is that an exaggeration? Me?
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Ridiculous.
It was merely following the meticulously planned procedure as originally intended, not going through a lot.
…But.
Right now, he didn’t feel like scolding her. Let’s just savor the taste of achievement honestly.
“…Sure. Thank you.”
He replied to her, containing refined emotions.
On Bargan’s desk stood a single 10-story bead tower. The diameter of the beads was 5cm. This was pure mana, untouched by compression.
At the same time, Bargan, the 14-year-old who was watching this indifferently, disappeared without a trace.