Chapter 237
To properly implement a theory into a spell, practical experience is essential.
Practical experience is essentially embodiment.
I actively embraced the research from the genius Schugenharz, who established curse magic and familiar magic as disciplines, and redefined the formulas.
The reorganized formulas showed outputs and efficiencies that were incomparable to before.
This has led to countless possibilities for advancement.
Just ten days ago, the framework of existing spells that seemed obvious was being shattered.
Instead, stability may decrease, but that can be restored through continuous training and research.
After all, innovation usually comes with risks.
‘Moreover, the total amount of mana and the achievement of curse magic are rapidly increasing.’
A prime example of this is that the number of corrupt mana spheres that can be used simultaneously has grown even more.
—Zzzzzz.
I lifted my head and gazed at the mana spheres freely flying in the sky.
All in all, there are 32 of them.
In just ten days, two more mana spheres have increased.
Even when I visualize the total amount of mana, unlike when I was at the entrance of the ocean, now, when I look back, I can barely see the land.
‘Even so, compared to Gulemashia, it’s ridiculously insufficient.’
When imagining the Chancellor’s level, I must still seem endlessly underdeveloped, but I am certainly growing very quickly.
The original potential of Vargan.
Overwhelming talent for the total amount of mana gained through possession.
The innovation of Schugenharz.
An explosive achievement resulting from the overlapping synergy effects.
It feels like just a little while ago I was speeding down the road, and now I’m riding a bus.
‘As long as my stamina holds up, staying like this for a few years wouldn’t be bad.’
Of course, before I could hold out for a few years, my stamina, which hardly recovers, would run out first, so that wouldn’t be possible.
But it’s a satisfactory situation to be thinking like that.
‘I remember Heigel talking about the trials of unique spells.’
According to Heigel, who faced the trials of unique spells before me, the trials are not suppressors to hinder obtaining a powerful unique spell but, on the contrary, are assistants that help in mastering it.
However, the process was so perilous and painful that it felt like a trial. In reality, it would be more accurate to view it as hellish training intended to promote development.
Thanks to that, my existing common sense was shattered.
My unique spell was gradually taking on ‘form.’
“…….”
I inserted 32 mana nodes and refined the modified spell into shape.
With care and precision, as if molding pottery, I created it.
‘The unique spell of Vargan from the original I saw in the Seiman Dungeon… I must ensure that the flaws I encountered there do not occur here.’
For instance, even though it had been my unique spell during a physical contact situation, I still took damage.
Could I afford for my unique spell, which should dominate and toy with the opponent’s five senses, to be so easily countered?
This was a technique born from six long months of trials. I needed to exercise extreme caution.
…And so, time passed.
As the moon floated higher in the sky, sweat streamed out like hot spring water, dampening my clothes.
When I paused to catch my breath and ceased my mana operation, the cold winter air rushed in.
The chill of the cold earth froze the sweat, and by the time I noticed, my clothes had hardened.
‘It’s about time for the sentry change.’
I’d love to either ignore it and continue training or wash up and sleep, but that wasn’t an option.
Thinking about how the chatterbox would blabber on again made it impossible for me to be late.
“Ugh….”
As I got up from the rock, I stumbled momentarily.
My vision darkened. Slowly it began to recover, trying to reveal the world in its entirety.
‘My stamina is indeed running low. I’ll need to get a good sleep tomorrow.’
With that thought in mind, I descended from the rock and started to move.
Standing guard for two hours left me with four hours to spare.
Then, I should indulge in a well-deserved deep sleep.
‘Considering stamina recovery and training efficiency… about two hours of sleep should suffice.’
Two hours of happiness.
Isn’t that a small but certain happiness?
*
The party continued their journey.
Occasionally, swarms of wandering monsters and forces that seemed to belong to Frikkanrisk would ambush them, but the three of them combined easily fended them off.
“Ha ha. Schugenharz. Can you see the leader way up there?”
In the chaotic battlefield, Lafez pointed with his finger at a monster that was barely visible.
“Are you going to fall back and assess the situation on the front line? Seems that guy has quite an intelligence. No wonder the monsters appear to be coordinated.”
“Looks like it would be best to take that guy down first… should I go?”
“Hmm… that sounds good. Organon is protecting the people with a shield, so you should….”
—Zzaaaang!
Before Schugenharz’s orders could even conclude, a beam shot straight towards the target.
It was a high-density magic cannon spouting ominous black flames.
The magic cannon pierced through several monsters along the way without losing speed and struck the head of a monster assessing the front line directly.
I shot right through the head of the monster I was surveying.
“Do we really need to deal with something like that?”
“Organon…!”
The cannon of corruption was Barghan’s magic, and after effortlessly taking out the leader, he swept through the monsters one by one.
“Hehe. Does one who has awakened their own magic also have heightened senses?”
Even amidst the fierce snowfall, Barghan showcased impressive marksmanship, only barely visible due to his magic.
Lafez noted that his vision was beyond that of an ordinary person, but Barghan ignored it.
No one else knew that the trials they had faced had already heightened all of his senses.
“It feels more reassuring than acquiring an army of celestial beings.”
Schugenhartz, while cutting down monsters, glanced at Barghan and smirked.
The group continued to take down monsters while protecting a thousand people.
Before the footprints pressed firmly into the ground could fill his eyes, the battle was over.
“We made it through safely again.”
Schugenhartz remarked, looking at the corpses of the monsters surrounding him.
However, the real problem was something else.
This place was the northern continent in the dead of winter, where even magic could do nothing.
The vicious weather chilled them to the bone, as if they were in an ice age, and thick snowfall halted their steps.
“We’ve run out of food.”
Lafez, checking inside the dimensional pouch, said.
At his words, Schugenhartz dropped the last monster’s head and showed surprise on his face.
“That can’t be… wasn’t there some surplus?”
“When are you talking about?”
“Wasn’t it just a week ago?”
“Right, a week ago. Schugenhartz, keep your eyes peeled. Even if we lost a bit while moving, we still have a thousand people.”
“……”
“When was the last time we replenished our food? It was a full 32 days ago. No matter how exceptional my invention is, it can’t supply food for a thousand people for 33 consecutive days.”
“This is bad. We need to go hunting, but with the weather like this…”
In a forest where the snowfall was so heavy that an ordinary person would have to squint to see a few steps ahead, finding enough food for a thousand in a few days was nearly impossible.
Then Lafez stroked his chin, and Schugenhartz pointed at the monster he had just beheaded.
“Is there any choice but to eat the monster’s meat?”
“Good heavens, that’s a terrible idea.”
‘A terrible idea?’
Barghan, amidst the gruesome scene of sprawled-out monster bodies, overheard their conversation.
In despair, Schugenhartz, covering his face with his hand to avoid being overheard, lowered his voice and said,
“If anyone who heard that was closer, we’ll have people starving to death soon.”
“That’s a truly gluttonous statement. Let such fools die.”
“Even if a village is suffering from a severe famine, monster meat is something no one would touch. With the widespread knowledge that people can turn into monsters, who would dare to eat that?”
“With rumors spreading that people can turn into monsters, who would want to eat them?”
“Isn’t it already proven that there are no issues with eating them? And in this situation, it would be a waste to just burn the monster’s corpse. Is it really easier to find food that’s higher in calories than this?”
“Ugh…”
“You stubborn fool. Think about it. If we stick to this, we all face the fate of starving to death. Is that what you want?”
As Schugenhartz fell into deep contemplation, Vargan, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, stepped forward.
“I agree with Lafez’s opinion.”
“Organon….”
“Hehe. That’s my friend for you. I knew you would understand.”
“…….”
After conversing with Vargan, Lafez stopped using formal language, casually calling him a friend.
Vargan ignored him and continued speaking.
They might have been humans at one point… Furthermore, he felt extreme aversion to the idea of eating the ancestors of his beloved familiars in the future.
However.
“The situation is what it is. If there’s no other way, we must eat.”
At Vargan’s words, Schugenhartz let out a long sigh.
“…There will be serious opposition. What will those who refuse do?”
“We must ensure there’s nothing to refuse.”
“What do you mean?”
“If we cut the meat into small pieces and cook it so that its original form is unrecognizable, they won’t know and will eat it deliciously.”
“Ugh….”
“That’s a good idea. My invention still has spices in it, so if we use that to mask the smell, it’ll be perfect. Let’s pass it off as bear meat.”
The reactions were drastically changing.
However, Schugenhartz knew there were no other options, so he couldn’t simply refuse it.
He touched the corners of his eyes, which had deepened with worry, and asked, “What’s the plan for the task? There are too many eyes here. We need to move the corpses somewhere to carve or cook the meat, but wouldn’t that be too suspicious?”
Even though the conversation couldn’t be heard from a little distance, with a thousand people gathered in the forest clearing at this moment, it was structured in a way that anything they tried to do would surely be noticed.
Murmuring that they could just eat it simply without complicating things, Rajek nonchalantly suggested, “How about putting the corpses in my invention and moving them for the task?”
“That won’t eliminate suspicion. Even if we say we went hunting and brought it back, who would think that was the meat of a wild beast if they see us loading corpses?”
“It’s annoying. We could just eat it as it is…”
“…Haha, Lafez. Not everyone in the world has a strong stomach like us. Moreover, there are plenty who see monsters as symbols of evil, and they’d be reluctant to even touch the corpse, let alone eat it.”
“…….”
While gathering his thoughts, Vargan reluctantly opened his mouth.
“There is a method, but… if something goes wrong, the forest could catch fire. Are you okay with that?”
