Chapter 205 - 200: Claudio’s Considerations, Bombshell News
Chapter 205: Chapter 200: Claudio’s Considerations, Bombshell News
"Have you started on the path to advancement?"
Claudio said this the moment he saw Jon during their morning lesson the next day.
This made the outlander, who was feeling a little proud of himself for secretly succeeding in creating his own magic, pause for a moment.
"You can tell just by looking?"
"Of course. Your Magic Power is much more active than before. It must be time for you to choose a Magic Mark. It’s quite obvious."
Mr. Elf spoke with the casual confidence of the powerful, something Jon couldn’t quite grasp, as if seeing through the fluctuations of Magic Power hidden in his body was a trivial matter. Then, like a professor checking on a student’s project, he added nonchalantly.
"Let me see your self-created magic."
"Alright—"
Jon shrugged helplessly and reached out to cast the magic.
Listening to their conversation, Esra, who was standing to the side, discreetly pushed up her glasses and looked at Jon with admiration.
’Mr. Jon can already create his own magic? That’s amazing!’
As Claudio’s new apprentice, she had gradually learned some knowledge about Mages over the past few days. Because of this, she could feel the gap between herself and Jon even more keenly.
Jon only needed to see the magic taught in class once to learn it, while she had to practice repeatedly just to learn the simplest Elemental Arrow.
It had gotten to the point where Claudio’s teaching method was often to first explain the theory, letting her take notes and leave class early to digest the information, and only then would he begin his one-on-one instruction with Jon.
But Esra, who was usually prone to low self-esteem, felt no discouragement or frustration about this.
In her eyes, it was only natural for Jon to be so incredible!
If he wasn’t, how could he have seen through her problems at a glance and guided her onto the right path?
If he wasn’t, how could he have founded the Giant God Workshop and saved the lives of so many townspeople?
To her, Jon was both a guide and a great benefactor who had enabled her to continue learning the craft of an Artisan and even walk the path of a Professional!
Seen through the lens of her deep admiration, any world-shaking achievement he made was simply a matter of course!
So, when the girl saw the magic Jon cast make the usually calm and elegant Teacher Claudio show a surprised expression, she didn’t find it strange at all.
"This method of operation is interesting... Integrating Rules into an energy field not only improves its resistance to interference but also ensures it remains continuously effective..."
Claudio asked as he tested the performance of Jon’s [Anti-Magic Seal] with a needle-fine thread of Magic Power.
"Have you thought about how to improve them in the final step of your trial?"
"Of course. In my plan, I’ll adjust the structure of the Rules and the Magic Runes to fully integrate them, allowing a single Dharma Seal to have multiple effects that can activate individually or all at once, according to my will."
"Good. As long as you have a plan."
Seeing that Jon already had a clear idea, Claudio didn’t waste any more words.
For this young man, a proven Enlightener, creating and improving his own magic wasn’t a particularly shocking feat. What truly surprised him was that Jon, even at the apprentice stage, had already come into contact with "Rules" and begun applying them. This was something usually only considered by Professionals of his own level.
Although his current application was still rudimentary and far from true "mastery of the Rules," he was undoubtedly on the right path. As his mentor, Claudio didn’t need to offer any unnecessary advice; he just needed to provide enough knowledge as nourishment.
And at Jon’s current learning speed, it probably wouldn’t be many years before his own centuries of accumulated knowledge would be completely drained.
This also gave Claudio a sense of urgency.
The faster Jon grew, the closer the [Spiritual Famine]—or a threat of a similar magnitude—might be to this world.
In that case...
"Perhaps... it’s time to inform Her Majesty, the Empress, of Jon’s existence..."
Resisting these unknown, terrifying threats was not a matter for a single family or clan, but for all the civilizations of the Yino Continent. The Elves, naturally, could not remain uninvolved.
But how to inform her required careful consideration.
Compared to the relatively simple and unified political landscape of the Dwarves, where the various clans lived in peace, the situation within the Elf Empire was far more complex. With Jon’s current level of Power, it would not be a good thing for him to be exposed to the restless Ancient Noble Families.
Pushing these considerations to the back of his mind, Claudio began today’s lesson.
"Since you’ve reached this step, Jon, I’ll tell you about the general characteristics of the different types of ’Magic Marks’."
"Esra, you should listen carefully as well. This is knowledge that every Mage must master..."
Learning is a never-ending process.
「Meanwhile, those truly occupied with the war had no time for rest.」
Inside the council chamber of the Lord’s Mansion, the fireplace burned brightly, but it couldn’t dispel the heavy atmosphere that filled the air.
Viscount Paris Manola sat at the head of the table, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the hardwood surface, creating a dull, rhythmic sound.
Seated below him were several influential nobles involved in commanding the front lines or providing support with their private soldiers. They stared at the sand table model of Heta County, centered on Birch Town, their faces showing varying degrees of exhaustion and worry.
"My Lord Viscount."
A stout noble dressed in a fur-trimmed brocade robe was the first to speak, breaking the silence.
"I have to admit, the Mechanical Bodies produced by Mr. Jon’s [Giant God Workshop] are truly different from ordinary ones."
"Those [Guards] at the very front have an astonishing ability to withstand firepower, and the [Gun Cavalry]... tsk tsk, they’re practically fully-armored Knights. Just two or three of them can tear open the rebel lines with a single charge!"
"If it weren’t for them, our casualties in taking Blue Leaves Village would have at least doubled."
As soon as he finished speaking, another man—an old man with a gaunt face and sharp eyes—gave a light cough and took over the conversation.
He stroked his neatly trimmed goatee, his gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally landing on Paris.
"Baron Morton speaks the truth. The power of those Mechanical Bodies is indeed impressive; they are deadly weapons on the battlefield. However... their limitations cannot be ignored either."
His tone shifted, his voice dropping slightly.
"During yesterday’s half-day battle of attrition, the first batch of [Guards] deployed began to shut down one after another after about three hours of intense fighting. According to reports from the front, their core energy was depleted. The subsequent rotation of [Gun Cavalry], though they lasted slightly longer, also failed to exceed four hours."
"They are more like a decisive, powerful fist that cannot be swung for long."
He paused, leaning forward slightly and looking at Paris pointedly.
"A prolonged war of attrition will ultimately have to be fought by our soldiers, filling the lines with their own flesh and blood. Every well-trained Warrior who falls is an irreplaceable loss for us."
"I believe we should still order a batch of more versatile equipment from the Giant God Workshop, things that can be used by Ordinary Soldiers or even those Penitent Soldiers. For example, better Armor, or more powerful long-range projectile weapons?"
When he finished, a few low murmurs of agreement sounded in the council chamber.
The nobles exchanged glances, clearly all deeply concerned about reducing the casualties among their own private soldiers.
Although there were large numbers of thugs serving as cannon fodder, war was war. The continuous days of fighting had already caused varying degrees of losses among their elite guards, which directly related to their influence in post-war Birch Town and even the future political landscape.
Paris’s fingers stopped tapping on the table.
His expression was calm and unflappable, as if he had anticipated this discussion all along.
"Sir Clove’s concerns are the same ones I am considering."
"We are far outnumbered by the rebels, so reducing Soldier casualties and preserving our effective strength is especially important. This is the foundation for maintaining the front line and for the subsequent counterattack."
He lifted his eyes, his profound gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on the dancing flames in the fireplace.
"Last night, I sent an Envoy to Grent Manor to formally invite Mr. Jon to a meeting at the Lord’s Mansion before noon today."
"At that time, a solution to the endurance problem of the Mechanical Bodies, as well as providing our Soldiers with better and more versatile weapons and equipment, will be one of the core topics of discussion."
As soon as he said this, many of the nobles felt a sense of relief.
Many had heard about the distance that had appeared between Jon and Paris, but now it seemed it might have just been a misunderstanding.
Just as everyone thought the agenda would revolve around the upcoming negotiations, Paris’s tone took a sharp turn.
"However, compared to the gains and losses on the river valley front, there is a piece of news that just arrived from the Imperial Capital via the Sun Church’s channels. Its importance far surpasses that of the current battle."
"I believe I must inform you all immediately."
He paused deliberately, and that pause made the hearts of the nobles present leap into their throats—The Sun Church’s channels? News from the Imperial Capital?
For Paris to be this solemn... could it be?
Paris glanced around the room, taking in everyone’s expressions—some shocked, some tense, some with a hint of secret anticipation—before he pronounced, word by word, the subject of this intelligence.
"The Rite of King Selection... has officially begun."
Those few words struck the council chamber like a clap of thunder!