Chapter 82

Pan-Dalus’s promise to fully support me was no empty boast.

When I told him the location where I’d encountered the lich, he tracked it down and captured it alive within a day. It was the very same lich that had been wounded by Saíl and escaped.

When I mentioned needing a laboratory, one was immediately prepared. The entire top floor of the northern tower of Solas Magic School became my research lab. In the center of the approximately 330 square meter laboratory, the lich and Shado floated in separate transparent capsules, surrounded by neatly arranged desks, experimental equipment, storage shelves, and bookcases.

“This is… my laboratory?”

I felt breathless as I looked around.

Everything was arranged according to my wishes.

All necessary items were replenished without delay.

No one could set foot in this place without my permission.

It felt like a solid, warm stone was resting in my chest.

“A home… perhaps?”

Since the annihilation of Sena School Nomad, we had no place to call our own. No identity.

We called ourselves the Baek Jun-woo Nomad, but… it was just a name we used among ourselves.

But now, here. We had a place and an identity.

‘Baek Jun-woo Research Nomad,’ officially sponsored by Solas Magic School. The entire northern tower that Solas Magic School had transferred to ‘Baek Jun-woo Research Nomad.’ My own laboratory at the top floor.

After days of being relentlessly pursued, we had finally settled down again.

‘Now I’ll defend what’s mine instead of running away.’

I made an internal promise to protect my territory and gradually expand it.

Standing before the large metal experiment table, I could see two capsules directly across from me.

The B+ grade Night Calamity-lich and 3rd Circle mage Shado were floating unconsciously inside them.

Thud. Tap.

I stared at the two test subjects and neatly arranged the items for research on the experiment table.

Screech. Click clack.

I pulled over a mobile blackboard and noted down my research plan on it.

The goal was clear.

Creating a ‘magical exoskeleton.’

I had decided not to raise my level for the time being.

I would maintain my level at 3rd Circle 3-star until I turned 18, four years from now.

This was to manage aggro and magical power addiction. Especially since the probability of magical power addiction is much higher when the body isn’t fully developed, I had no other choice.

‘But that doesn’t mean I can hold back.’

I needed to keep getting stronger. I had to gain more knowledge, take on more challenges, and explore relic sites. The problem was that absorbing magical power would be unavoidable in the process. And once I absorbed magical power, I would inevitably have to raise my level.

‘That’s why… a magical exoskeleton is absolutely necessary.’

A supplement that would make me stronger over the next four years in place of my Circle and Ki-blood that wouldn’t grow.

A storage device that would absorb the magical power rushing toward me.

An iron suit that would allow me to fight gods wielding Mjolnir or green monsters with a merely human body.

First, I wrote down three essential elements for creating a ‘magical exoskeleton’ on the blackboard.

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Hardware

Software

Design

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Based on these, I listed detailed research topics on the blackboard.

These were topics I had identified that seemed likely to help with creating a ‘magical exoskeleton.’

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(Hardware) Magic iron that consumes blood: A palm-sized flat purple metal fragment. It’s a remnant of the ‘Iron Blood Sword’ that was the original source of ‘iron blood magic.’

It is said that Iron Blood Mage Kasha acquired it from an ancient relic site. Currently, most of it has dissolved due to Saíl, leaving only its essence.

Note: One object becoming the source of an entire magical system? I’m curious about its power source and principles. This could serve as a medium or hardware for the ‘magical exoskeleton.’

(Hardware) Stone of Wind: A white stone with fine ripple patterns engraved on it. It fits perfectly in one hand. A magical device that Han Se-hoon possessed, with powerful magic inscribed on it.

Its activation method differs from typical magical devices. It must be fed magical power rather than mana to activate, and its result is also a direct attack using magical power. The specific activation principle of the magic is unknown.

The incantation that begins with “Ah, how sad” seems to hint at an ancient being.

Note: When activating <Wind’s Protection> and <Beast of Wind>, it can summon a magical storm far more powerful than the magical power consumed. The ‘magical exoskeleton’ needs exactly that kind of effect.

(Software) Corpse of an iron-eating beast: A robot the size of a large dog. Made of silver metal and animated by magic. Although it appears to be an artificial creation like a robot, what’s interesting is that it can think and make judgments on its own.

Note: This could provide clues for the software needed for the ‘magical exoskeleton’ – ‘magical intelligence.’

(Hardware, Software) Night Calamity-Lich, B+ grade: A Night Calamity born from a dead mage.

According to the latest theory, ‘lichification’ is predominantly considered another side effect of magical power addiction. Liches possess intelligence and are animated by magical power.

Note: The way magical power animates the corpse could provide hardware insights. The fact that it possesses intelligence may reveal clues about ‘magical intelligence.’

(Software) 3rd Circle mage, Shado: A test subject controlled by powerful mental magic. I would like to call him by his real name, ‘Rithian,’ but his condition is too unstable for that.

Whether it’s because he failed to complete his mission or because he hasn’t received a renewal of the mental magic, his sense of self deteriorates day by day.

One day he’s the cold spy Shado, another day he’s the clueless Rithian. I’ve decided to just call him Shado until he recovers.

Note: The powerful mental magic that can even mold a mage’s sense of self is impressive. If I understand its principles, perhaps I could bring ‘magical intelligences’ like the lich or iron-eating beast under my control?

(Design) Application of Ki-blood magic: By transforming the properties and form of magical power, powerful Ki-blood magic can be created. For instance, <Bolt> mimics the structure of a crossbow using magical power.

Taking this further, could I create a magical power structure independent from myself, a ‘magical machine,’ using magical power?

Note: Ultimately, the blueprint for the ‘magical exoskeleton’ will depend on my ability to apply Ki-blood magic.

(Design) Ancient combat equipment: ‘Magical exoskeleton.’ Actually, what best fits this description is the full-body suit used by ancient warriors.

Monggu, wearing a 10th class combat suit, overwhelms Mana Users without a speck of magical power.

However, existing 10th class combat suits have the property of repelling magical power, so I can’t use them.

I need a ‘magical exoskeleton’ based on magical power.

Note: How does the 10th class combat suit work? What about other equipment? It would be great if I could use these as references to draw up a blueprint for the ‘magical exoskeleton.’

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“Phew… there’s a long way to go.”

Looking at what I’d written, the task seemed even more daunting. Influenced by Earth memories, I’d grandly named it a ‘magical exoskeleton’… but honestly, I still had no idea what would come of it.

Sometimes I envision a full-body armor that makes the wearer stronger, and other times I imagine something like a spirit that floats around helping me.

What kind of result will emerge? What will be possible…? Perhaps the outcome will be completely different from what I imagine.

Even creating a simple storage device that can store residual magical power would be fine. Just having that would save me from being powerless and constrained.

I tried to stay optimistic.

Increase knowledge through research. Find out what’s possible and what’s impossible. Something will eventually come from that.

Nevertheless,

‘Is it even possible?’

Everything seemed dark. It felt precarious, like walking a cliff path with my eyes closed. The destination wasn’t even visible, and the situation around me was far from favorable.

Before the great cataclysm overturns the world, before evil mages targeting me launch a surprise attack, will I be able to achieve the results I need?

Can I live a meaningful life without dying in vain?

A cold drop of sweat trickled down my back.

Did they sense my fear?

All the magical powers around suddenly turned to watch me.

Some gazes were expectant, while others seemed eager to catch me making a mistake.

I felt like I might suffocate, but…

Whoooo…

I kept my breathing steady.

‘This is no time to be afraid.’

A mage is someone who lives a life of constant challenges.

Fear and tension.

Haven’t we been learning to become familiar with these since birth?

“I will create a magical exoskeleton. One step at a time… starting small.”

I spoke the words. Once spoken, I would fulfill them.

Someday, my words too will be imbued with magic, won’t they? Just like Pan-Dalus’s word authority.

Grab!

I seized the dull purple magical iron placed on the experiment table.

+ – + – +

Could he have been even ten years old?

A small boy arrived with a cart in front of the city walls.

The walls towered over 50 meters high. But even more noticeable was the bluish barrier completely encasing the walls. The barrier zone covered the entire city like an upturned bowl. The barrier zone extended for about 100 meters. The cool and somewhat squishy sensation inside it made the boy uncomfortable.

“Halt.”

At the command, the boy stopped his cart in front of the tall gate.

“Travel permit.”

The speaker wasn’t even visible. The voice simply dropped onto the crown of his head from the towering gate above.

The boy lifted his tear-stained, reddened face upward and explained his situation.

“Please, I beg you. My father is sick. He could be saved with treatment in the city.”

An immediate response came back.

“Are you a mage or Mana User?”

“…No.”

“Do you each possess E-grade or higher protective talismans and carry physical goods worth 50 Morning or more?”

The boy’s eyes fixed on the cart. His father lay there, his face covered in cold sweat, his chest soaked in blood, unconscious and only occasionally letting out groans.

An E-grade protective talisman was the standard used by adults. Originally, his father had an E-grade one too. But… it was gone now. The orc had completely destroyed it.

“…Here’s my protective talisman.”

A child’s protective talisman, barely F+ grade at best.

“Rejected.”

The voice fell coldly.

“…I’ll cover the money by leaving this protective talisman, the horse, and the cart as collateral. I’ll repay the rest somehow.”

The protective talisman, horse, and cart. That was all the boy had left.

A peaceful evening. The orc that attacked the nomad. His failure to escape quickly enough. His mother and father staying behind to distract the orc because of him. The nomad scattered in all directions.

And here… his father, barely clinging to life. Just another all-too-common story.

The voice summarized this tiresome tale in a single word.

“Rejected.”

Click. The sound of a bow being drawn.

“Leave. Or I shoot.”

The boy turned his horse around. With a creaking sound, he pulled the cart away from the city.

Not far from there, his father died.

As the boy buried his father in the cold ground, he swore an oath.

“Dad. That orc… I’ll kill it myself. And if I survive after that…”

The boy looked back with coldly lifeless eyes. In the distance, the bluish city walls were visible.

“The mages’ city, their world… I’ll destroy it all.”

.

.

Evan opened his eyes. A young man in his mid-twenties with brown hair.

“What a damned dream…”

He muttered as he reached out and clutched his sword to his chest.

The night sky he gazed up at while lying down was cold and vast. Stars slowly revolving around the Tower of Covenant.

Evan thought about the Tower of Covenant.

The last foothold of the world. Sacred land defiled by blasphemous mages.

The mission to reclaim it was like a life goal for free lords like Evan.

He recalled the proposal he’d heard during the day.

“Gather knights and lords, is it…? There’s a mage who’s separated from the pack…?”

No wonder I can’t sleep. Evan clicked his tongue.

His blood was running too hot to fall back asleep.

“Third floor. Ganda’s Stairs. Pan-Dalus, the Mage of Domestication.”

Evan rolled the name of his target around in his mouth.

“War, is it…”

His heart raced.

The next few years would be anything but boring.