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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 90
"Aldeon is too caught up in a magical perspective."
"Indeed. Light is not something to be viewed so simply. To properly handle Light, you need to understand 'Light' itself, not just the magic of Light."
Unlike before, there was no laughter in his voice.
He spoke in a very serious tone.
"That's why the Light magic learned in Aldeon is so poor."
"I understand what you mean."
"Good. You're a disciple with basic comprehension skills. Huhuhu."
Ani Persson quickly returned to a lighthearted mood.
Listening to his laughter, I fell into thought.
'He certainly seems to have excellent knowledge.'
Although we've only exchanged a few words, I can tell that the knowledge he possesses is remarkable.
After all, Ani Persson pointed out the flaws in Dercion's magic.
It was as if he had proven himself to be superior to Dercion.
His claim that his knowledge had reached the 9th Circle didn't seem to be entirely bluster.
In that case...
'Should I bring this out now?'
I drew up my mana to show him what I hadn't yet revealed to Ani Persson.
As always, mana was instantly sucked out.
And at the same time...
Whoosh!
A brilliant sphere of Light was created, incomparable to the one before.
A sphere of Light infused with [Essence of Light].
"What... What is this?"
Ani Persson looked back and forth between me and the sphere of Light with an incredulous expression.
His pupils shook violently.
As Ani Persson had been researching Light for 20 years, he couldn't help but be surprised by the sphere of Light I had manifested.
Feeling the need to explain something, I said briefly,
"I was told this is the Light that Aldeon pursued."
However, was that too brief?
"...Is that all? Don't you have anything more to say?"
Ani Persson said in disbelief.
However...
"Yes, I don't really have anything more to say. That's all it is."
Even if I wanted to explain more, I really had nothing to say.
Even I don't know anything about this Light right now.
In the first place, wasn't I here to find a Light magic researcher to figure that out?
There was no way I could answer if he asked me what was going on.
"To have manifested such Light and have nothing more to say... Huh, Huhihihi!"
Suddenly, Ani Persson started laughing strangely.
As I listened to it silently, Ani Persson finally shifted his gaze from the sphere to me.
"Hehehe, it seems I've taken on a very interesting disciple."
"Can I take that as a compliment?"
"Ah, of course. Even though I've researched Light so much, I've never seen such Light before."
"Is that so? How does this Light look to you?"
It was time to hear Ani Persson's objective evaluation.
I'm curious how he will perceive this Light.
Before long, he opened his mouth.
"It's still terrible Light. The flow of mana that makes up the Light, the formula, the understanding, everything. It's a different Light than before, but it's even more disappointing because of the contrast."
"...Is that so?"
I was disappointed to receive such an evaluation even for the Light manifested with [Essence of Light].
Even if it looks like this, it contains the power of a Mythic tier trait, so it's understandable.
But Ani Persson wasn't finished.
"That's why it's even more surprising. How can something made so poorly emit such brilliant Light? I can say with certainty that this is a Light only you can wield."
In the end, it was Ani Persson's rave review.
Of course, it was praise for the Light, not for me... but I was satisfied with that.
In the end, it meant that everything could be solved if I just put in the effort.
And at this point, I brought up the question that had not yet been resolved.
"If I were to properly understand Light, how would this Light change?"
This was a question out of pure curiosity.
A question of how this Light would change when it reached the point where it could no longer develop further.
Ani Persson's answer to that question was this:
"I'll explain it from your perspective. You said the reason you want to learn about Light is to erase the existence of all demons, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"You will be able to achieve that goal. Hehehe."
To be able to achieve the goal.
Frankly, I didn't think there could be a better evaluation than this.
It meant that my Light magic could become strong enough to wipe out the demons.
I finally felt relieved.
If it weren't for what he said next.
"And... I will be able to achieve my goal as well."
Ani Persson's casual remark struck me.
"Excuse me? What do you mean by that?"
"It's nothing. Uhihihi!"
"No, it's not nothing..."
"Uhihihi! Uhihihi!"
No matter how many times I asked, Ani Persson just laughed like a screw was loose.
In the end, I had no choice but to think about it myself.
The conclusion I could reach now was...
'The growth of my Light is connected to Ani Persson's goal.'
That there is a point of contact between his unknown goal and my goal.
I couldn't figure out anything else.
What in the world is he planning?
Is his plan something that can only be achieved if I disappear like Rodveny?
I wanted to resolve this uneasiness as soon as possible.
***
Ani Persson's teaching started immediately.
-This darkroom is a space created to fully focus on Light. Try focusing on your own Light. Until you feel something. Uhihi!
With these words, he left me in the darkroom and locked the door.
I felt a bit of PTSD, like I was being imprisoned somewhere, but I quickly calmed down.
From our previous conversation, I felt that Ani Persson had no ill intentions towards me.
At least for now.
'He could change at any moment.'
Since I came to Ani Persson with risks involved, I couldn't let my guard down.
Otherwise, I would end up like Rodveny.
However, I still had to diligently follow Ani Persson's teachings.
That's the only way I could achieve results from seeking him out.
In that sense...
"Concentrate on the Light..."
I closed my eyes and thought.
What did he mean by focusing on my Light?
I recalled the shortcomings of my magic that he had mentioned.
The formula of mana, the flow, the understanding of attributes, and so on.
The endless list of things to improve.
First, I had to see this with my own eyes.
Whoosh!
The sphere of Light emerged with a tremendous consumption of mana.
With a calm mind, I looked at the sphere.
With a different perspective than the admiration I had always held.
I focused all my senses to find the shortcomings that Ani Persson had mentioned.
After what felt like two hours...
"...This is harder than I thought?"
I realized that this seemingly trivial task was quite difficult.
Apart from the fatigue of maintaining a still posture, my concentration was being consumed tremendously.
In fact, I was drenched in cold sweat right now.
Fortunately, there were results.
Turning my gaze back to the sphere of Light, I thought.
'I found everything Ani Persson mentioned.'
At first, I couldn't grasp it at all, but after an hour had passed, I started to see the problems he had mentioned one by one.
Just by staring intently at my sphere, my insight into magic had opened up.
Of course, this was possible because I already knew what problems to look for and because of the 'magic learning ability' provided by my trait.
Anyway...
'Is this enough?'
There was still one problem left.
Did Ani Persson's words "until you feel something" mean to grasp these problems?
After contemplating on my own, I came to a conclusion.
"No, that's not it."
No matter how much I thought about it, he wouldn't have locked me in the darkroom for this.
There must be another reason.
However, I still couldn't grasp what it was.
In the end, there was only one thing to do.
"Let's try again... Again."
Whoosh!
Manifesting the brilliant Light, I entered a state of concentration once more.
How much time had passed?
Finally, I felt what he had been talking about.
"This is it!"
A unique training that I had never done before.
And as I gained enlightenment from it, an indescribable sense of accomplishment filled me.
Ani Persson wanted one thing.
It was another problem created by the collision of the very problems he had mentioned.
'The twisted path of mana and the irregular formulas are preventing the sphere from growing larger. The structure and understanding are suppressing the Light's attempt to radiate.'
That's what he wanted me to realize.
While I was thinking about that...
Creak
The thick iron door opened with a metallic sound.
Ani Persson entered at the perfect timing.
As I was adjusting to the suddenly bright surroundings, he spoke.
"Disciple, have you gained enlightenment from your own Light?"
I nodded confidently and replied,
"Yes, I think I have."
And I eagerly explained what I had realized...
But for some reason...
"Eh? What are you talking about?"
His expression didn't look good.
***
"At first, I tried to find the problems you mentioned earlier. It took some time, but I found them. But it didn't seem like that's what you meant. So..."
Ani Persson was lost in thought as he looked at the man talking in front of him.
No, it would be more accurate to say that the man made him think.
Because Ani Persson didn't understand this situation at all.
'What in the world is he talking about?'
He had simply told the man to observe his own Light magic in the darkroom.
Because the beginning of all learning is to realize the state of your own magic.
He just wanted the man to realize the unstable elements in his Light magic.
He had no other intentions.
But...
"Indeed, the mixture of those two caused many problems. Not only does the magic fail to maintain a complete state, but it also..."
Not only did he realize the unstable elements, but he also grasped the complex problems caused by them.
Of course, it wasn't impossible.
Mages often realize many problems by observing their own magic.
However...
'That's something you can only do when you're at the 7th Circle...'
That means it's only possible for high-ranking mages.
It was absolutely impossible for this man, who was said to be only at the 4th Circle level.
No, it was amazing that he even realized the unstable elements in the first place.
Not many mages had that kind of talent.
Then...
What about the man in front of him?
‘This... things are about to get very interesting.’
Ani Persson thought.
He thought he could try again what he had ultimately failed to do last time.
No.
Perhaps this time, he could finally succeed.
It was the moment when Ani Persson, who had intended to teach with a light heart, became serious.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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