Chapter 79

Slow Client (2)

Outside the south gate, a widespread disturbance occurred.  The new tower lord, ‘Ian Page’, presented a brilliant debut. There wasn’t a single person who conducted a large-scale investigation about the monsters under King Terry Greenriver.

(Why the hell did this frustrating thing come here?)

(From the beginning…… was looking………. for the thing……..)

(Ah! Irritating. Irritating!)

Alongside Ian was a soul with a blue body. The dragon “Sparto’s” soul was unexpectedly as the fairy queen said it would be.

No, rather than the premonition, he was more excited about the fight. It didn’t seem like either of them were pleased to meet the other.

“So.”

Ian interrupted the argument and asked Sparto, “Is there a problem?”

Now that it was his time to talk, Ian was frustrated with the way it was talking, but he endured it.

(From the moment….. their traces were……… sensed…….I was in a deep sleep. It wasn’t long……..before I …….woke up.)

(Speak quickly, please! Quickly!)

“Queen, be quiet.”

The poor queen, destined to not be quiet even when she needed to. She was blowing on both sides of the communications orb and placed it back on top of the table while listening to the story of the dragon.

(In your expression…….. the empty shell……..  the body……… I made……the empty shell…… on my…… own will. Even if you……… people try….. to make…….. the shell body……it will be impossible….. to do. But)

The dragon spoke slowly, frequently stopping between phrases.  It seemed like it was having a hard time speaking.

(From the moment…….. I woke up…… I have been able to detect its presence.)

“What presence were you able to detect?”

(The one I don’t remember………. making …….. the body)

This was what the dragon said.

The body that he never made.

The story of the presence of the shell that it was able to detect.

That it could feel as soon as it woke up from its hundred-years nap.

(I read and remembered the……… memory fragments…….. of the body…….. that were carved……. underground. What kind of existence……. made my body…….. and I don’t understand……… why it’s there……. But……. I see you and…… fairy queen.)

The fragmented body in the basement of the old Ivory tower was the skeleton warrior that was shattered by Ian’s magic.

(I don’t know……….the whereabouts……… of the other people……. but I followed the……… fairy dust and………. that’s how I got here.)

“Why didn’t you come in your soul form?”

(To sense…….. the energy of the dust. Can only……… detect things……. in the physical being……. and I apologize for…….. making a fuss. But I didn’t…….. hurt humans.)

“That I know. I’m thankful for that.”

The way the fairy queen respects humans differs a lot from Sparto.

Not respect, but it could be a different emotion. I’m glad that it didn’t hurt anyone.

“To sum it up, you felt the presence of the skeletal warrior and in its’ memories, you saw the queen and myself. And you came all the way here, by following the fairy dust, to discuss the problem, right?”

(That is…. correct.)

Ian grasped the entire situation of the dragon. But there wasn’t anything that he could do. Other than the fact that the dragon’s name was Sparto, he didn’t know much else.

“Does the queen have a guess?”

(Hmm, I’m not sure. Wasn’t it a mistake? Who here would have made that body? And it is impossible for them. As his skull is empty, his memories seemed to have followed him.)

The queen was indeed no help at this moment.

“Although, you have come a long way, I don’t think I can tell you anything that will help you.”

(It is alright…….. It is natural for you……. to not know…… And it is……… natural for the…… fairy queen to be……… ignorant about it too.)

(What did you say?! This guy!)

“Queen. Be quiet.”

(Why are you only asking me……!)

The fairy queen went silent again.

And Ian’s voice continued.

“I don’t know if this helps, but what I can tell you is that I received magic from the place where the body was.”

(Magic……?)

“Would you like me to show you?”

Ian asked the dragon.

He was unsure about whether there would be any after effects of this magic. While Ian prepared the spell, the fairy queen’s shoulders shook slightly.

(Show……….. me.)

“Magic like this”

Ian cast the spell ‘Order of household’.

At the same time, golden mana started to spew.

(No way……?)

“It is said to be the ‘Power of the Household’.”

(Power of………. the household………)

The dragon was at a loss for words. It was a soul made of light but, Ian felt like it was trying to weigh something.

(Indeed, I can………. feel power……. from you. It is the same……… as their power…….. This is………. the power of……… the household.)

Like the fairy queen, Sparto too, could feel the power that was radiating from Ian. That is, Ian had possibly become a member of the household.

(If it is like……… this, even the fairy………. queen couldn’t………… resist your words?)

The dragon was speaking continuously, in a voice that had achieved enlightenment.

Yet it was still as slow as a tortoise.

(The fact that………. the power……….. has been given means………. something great. I think I………. got it right.)

“Do you know anything about it?”

(No. Their will……… is incalculable……….. But just……… follow. The shield……… the head………….. and the household………)

But unlike the Fairy Queen, the dragon quickly acknowledged the present situation.

‘Although I still wonder why humans are able to possess the power of dragons, this dragon has figured out a clue as to the identity of the makers of its shell.’

‘I want a sequel.’

Words with a slow tone that matched well with a relaxed attitude. Dragon and Fairy Queen, although they were from the same household, can there be such a large difference between them?

(It is a spectacular……… sight to see the…….. Queen of Fairies……….. live with limbs like the………. human beings.)

(Aren’t you the same?)

(I have no……….. dissatisfaction as……….. I respect……. their will. However you……… seem to have a………… lot than before. Dissatisfaction……….)

(Human! Command this creature to speak its thoughts quickly! Wouldn’t that be good for you too? If you have ears! Ugh!)

Ian stared as the two members of the same household fought and thought that there was nothing much he could do.

‘Okay, let’s try to raise the level of expression a little higher. The level is low. Don’t you feel it when you look at me?’

‘The power that you possess is the real problem here.’

Although the level of their quarrel is low, the power that they possess isn’t that demeaning.

I have already witnessed the power of the soul-bearing dragon at the northern gate.

It was surely able to absorb a combined attack from the mages unit. That was power so brilliant, you could brag about it. If they were constantly fighting, Ian suspected that he wouldn’t be able to win against it.

‘The dragonian seems a little similar to me. It could be much stronger too.’

The power of the households was similar.

The manifestation of the lightning magic by the fairy queen was the level of a 6th class. It was stronger even if it was all by itself. But her true strength lies in her ‘clan’.

Couldn’t she lead the fairy clans, which number in the hundreds? But there were not enough people to support her.

‘It was different from the past life. Quite a lot of things were.’

In the past life, Ian had not encountered such strong beings.

He directly researched about dragons through the fairy queen. This was the first time he either saw or heard about another dragon’s household.

‘In this life, I’m always in a knot.’

Is it because I already researched the dragon chant?

Is it because he already used dragon chant?

‘The side effects of turning back time.’

The Dragon chants, turning back time.

A boxed case that will never open.

Yet I feel like I have opened that box.

‘From now on, a lot of things might change.’

A gap between the previous life and the present life.

The differences are becoming larger.

‘I will get involved in a lot more things.’

I could assure you if this was a flow.

Relationship with the people of the household that was not present in the previous life.

Understanding the broadness of the dragon chants.

The strength of the household that I need to possess.

Revival up to the level of that person.

‘……. that’s why I was in a hurry.’

Ian came to realize it just now.

The dissatisfaction that he felt recently.

Rushing due to slow growth.

Causes for emotional relief.

Until now, I was feeling impatient, but I could not understand why I was impatient.

With the death of the previous Ivory Tower lord, Herbert, Ragnar also got his wings clipped. There was no reason to be impatient. If I wait for 2 to 3 years, my mana heart will end up growing in a relaxed manner.

‘Stronger beings exist. The dragons that are members of this household will be involved in my life until the revival of humankind.

And that was the cause.

The intervention of those beings in Ian’s life.

Ian was very strong, but there were even stronger beings.

And such beings exist in Heaven and Earth.

‘From here, the process of growth cannot be stopped.’

There was one thing that was certain.

‘I couldn’t even guess it at the current speed.

I need to be stronger than my current state.

No, I need to get much stronger than my previous life.

I was very relaxed.

I should just get the dragonian’s information.

I should just wait for the elixir to be produced.

I just want to see the effects of the elixir.

Is that all?

What more am I supposed to do at the moment?’

The benefits of regression. Yourself.

High-level magical knowledge.

Your own technique for mana breathing.

Help from elixir and artifacts.

By depending on the memories of his past life, Ian could grow at a fast pace. As a result, though the growth of his body was stagnant, he could only use the elixir to grow his magic.

‘I’m not a mage that has accomplished the 8th class level.’

Ian forgot the fundamental problem.

He came back with the use of Dragon chants.

The past life of Ian as his present life?

No, it is a lot more difficult to express it.

He wasn’t a 42-year-old 8th class mage.

He was an 18-year-old 6th class mage.

His body was not the same as his past life.

‘I have not yet reached that level.’

This was a different world than his previous life.

Maybe it was an illusion.

Ian was the one who was living in the present.

That was an important thing.

‘The present is the problem, and the present as the memories.’

The growth of the mana heart is an unknown area.

There was no use of the old life.

He had dramatically achieved 6th class.

It was Ian who was looking back at the time.

In Pieric, he almost died.

Escaping the head of an enormous monster, Ian poured it all out.

Mana, fundamental stamina, and mental stability. Three days in a dying state, just enough to miss death.

‘The more one uses the body, the more it grows.’

Is the mana heart the same way?

‘I’ve been thinking about it, and judged it as an inefficient and unsustainable method.

But looking at this once again, it didn’t seem to be an impossible task to perform.’

‘Training and training.’

A training that pushes oneself to the limit.

How long has it been since I remembered that word?

It was Ian who was feeling a little awe.

‘It is worth a try.’

Until recently he considered it as impossible.

The enemies were staring at him from every direction.

But now it was possible.

‘It is rather now.’

This may be an opportunity presented to Ian.

A little blurry but a friendly, distinct situation.

‘Not sure how long it will last.’

At least some time to relax was given to him.

“Mr. Sparto.”

His decisions were firmly set.

Hearing the low voice that called out to him the dragon asked.

(Did you……… call me?)

At the call of Ian, the dragon stopped squabbling with the queen and immediately answered. Since he did not have the right to deny having a conversation, Ian spoke with more force than compared with the household.

“This time, the body in which the soul is born has a mighty power. Aggressive magic cannot be used against it, almost as if it could absorb the shock, am I right?”

(Of course….. I am a shield of theirs…….. a gatekeeper for their……… territory and I’m fortunate…….. to be their flesh…….. and spirit.)

(What! Indomitable flesh! In a room of full of lighting, the bone will also split.)

Both Ian and the dragon ignored the fairy queen’s remarks.

“Perhaps can you endure my attack spells?”

(At your level……… it won’t be much……….. of a major feat to accomplish.)

Ian’s attack spell wasn’t tough.

It indeed was a matter of pride.

Even though he couldn’t accept it.

He was already stuck at the moment.

“There’s one thing. Does the dragon also feel pain?”

(I don’t…….. know what…….. that means.)

There was a slight bluff that could be felt in the voice of the dragon.

He was sure that it knew what it meant.

“Please look forward to it.”

Both eyes of Ian were shining.

***

Breaking through your limits by training.

It was simple, but it was a difficult idea for Ian.

With that goal, he proceeded quickly to the Ivory Tower.

Why hurry to the Ivory Tower?

“On vacation.”

“Sorry? What was that…..?”

“For half a year, from now until the inception of the Pieric Alliance, on the authority from the state, Sir Ronan and Sir Deckard are temporarily on vacation. The two senior mages in Ivory Tower wouldn’t be much of a problem. However.”

Ian was on vacation.

And the reason for it was spectacular.

It was ‘closed-door training’.

Just like when the previous Tower Lord took a vacation to focus on black magic, in the same manner, Ian also took a vacation to focus on his mana heart.

Ronan and Deckard, who were working in the Ivory Tower, were also given leave.

“Then.”

For the first time, in the long time that he had been at the Ivory Tower, Ian was on an off-season vacation, and his next stop was the Imperial Palace.

If it’s not good for the Ivory Tower, the emperor has the right to refuse any requests if there’s a valid reason.

“So, what did you wish to discuss, Tower Lord?”

Ian has used the authority that he possessed to summon the king for a meeting.

This was a place where one would be nervous because the opponent was wise and shrewd, even though this was different from the past. Ian brought exactly what was needed and spoke without a hitch.

“Your Highness, I have something to ask you.”

“Please, it has been 6 years already. Do speak.”

“I need land.”

“Land, you say?”

“To be precise, I want an abandoned land.”

The first thing that Ian searched for was a ‘suitable place’. He needed a good place in which a 6th class mage could pour out his magic like crazy. It would be better if the land was wide and abandoned.

“Being a mage who unfolds magic around yourself, I don’t think there will be any abandoned land that is present.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. There is a method to absorb the direct hits from the magic. Only, I need a location where the aftermath of spells would not be a problem.”

Of course, he didn’t talk about Sparto’s ability to absorb blows.

“Hmmm.”

After listening to the request of Ian, the emperor had a concern.

“A land that can be used for such a purpose, there is a place that matches your desires. It is not too far away. It was originally a village. Its’ name is……… was it Cross Village?”

Cross Village was southwest of the Capital, which was not far from here. It was flourishing until a few decades ago when pests took over, halting the growth of the village. It was then abandoned.

Ian received the barren land from the emperor.

***

‘Much easier than I thought.’

From the beginning of his vacation, Ian received the land and was using it for the purpose of practice. It was a full-fledged ambition from his heart to take action. He was motivated and he was flaring with passion.

‘I should have done this before.’

‘Since I came back to the past, was there a moment where I was purely ambitious? I don’t think there was. By using my past memories, the way becomes faster and easier. I have been calculating these situations.’

Except for a few things, his focus on life was very well-aligned.

‘This kind of thing is not bad.’

Ian didn’t know how to stop himself from walking.

The soul of the dragon Sparto that was in the southwest land went straight to the old village of Cross.

I’m getting started on training from today onwards. Training to develop the mana heart.

(It’s a dead………land.)

They arrived at Cross Village, but it was completely barren.

‘Do you think that a dragon will help you? Not too long ago, all the agricultural plans were prohibited. This was the land that received the worst damage.’

(What should………… I do to help?)

“Just a moment, first things first.”

Ian looked around.

Thoroughly, very thoroughly. Of course, it was a rare land lacking humans.

So being thorough wasn’t such a bad thing.

‘We should cover it properly.’

Ian put his right palm on the earth that was covered with black soil. And at the same moment, he started to memorize one chant.

“Earth Wall.”

And at that time, a barrier of sand started to rise.

The scale of this was only slightly higher than the ice wall that Ian placed in the past; the length was much longer, but it wasn’t straight.

“Hmm…..”

The barrier of the earth that appeared was in a square shape.

Ian was stuck inside the barrier.

“This seems fine.”

It was a square training room.

It was completely perfect.

No one can peer inside this.

“Now this….. empty, can you show me the body?”

(Have my bones been brought?)

“Of course. Here.”

Sparto needed its bones as a definite condition to form its body.

It would have been nice to be informed earlier because since I was given the information a moment too late, I had to sneak into the investigation site of the southern gate.

‘There was no way it would be fine in lava.’

The dragon’s bones were fine. As the lava hardened, its original form was preserved. It was very formidable.

(Now let me…….. implant my bone.)

“Just implanting it is enough?”

Upon the request of Sparto, Ian planted one bone into the ground. The blue soul-containing light was also seeping into the ground.

Khukukuku………!

‘How long am I supposed to wait for this?’

Ian could sense a huge vibration under his feet.

Jwak!!

The first thing that popped out was the spear and holding the spear came the hand.

Sparto was carrying the spear in the same way I carried it, and the tip of the spear pierced the ground.

Jwak! Jwak! Psh……………..

The other hand appeared and grabbed the ground, and a lizard-shaped skull also popped out.

The bone structure was similar to that of a human. But, if there was a problem………….

‘The color is not as expressive as I thought.’

Slowly, it formed the shape of a tough guy.

It was the indomitable body and mind.

(My body that……… you wanted.)

Of course, the body that was rising up from the soil and the exorcism of the dragon Sparto was a little while ago. Even lava was useless against the body.

‘No, isn’t it a bone?’

“Finally, I have another question to ask.”

(What is……it.)

“You really don’t feel pain?”

(I told you…….. that I don’t know…….. what pain means.)

“A regular feeling of hurt.”

(My will is…… unbreakable.)

“That’s nice.”

‘Does it really not feel pain?’

A question that was lingering on the mind for quite a while.

‘If it can’t feel, then I will have to find another way.’

“From now on.”

Ian was far away from the Dragon.

And carefully continued to speak.

“Mr. Sparto, the thing that you have to do is simple.”

Ian continued to speak.

“The indomitable body and spirit. The power and the sense of pride.”

A massive wave of mana swirled around Ian’s entire body.

“Endure various types of magic.”

(Various magic……… are different?)

“If I’m exhausted.”

From Ian’s mouth was a satisfactory voice.

“You can keep your side from then on.”

It was only a few days ago.

Ian was ignorant of this method.

But he discovered an efficient method.

This was based on the memories from his past life.

An elixir with a tremendous effect.

An artifact with a fantastic power and strength.

And it’s going to be different this time.

There was no previous life and the difficulty of this life.

The problem with the growth of the mana heart.

I will proceed through it a little differently.

“Till I find the family.”

The first training session in this life.

And the starting point of it was magic.