Chapter 33: Determinism of Mana
w1kJ3JValdrova’s routine was extremely simple.OdBLM1I
QDEpAn enemy appears.Dk0kHy
14brWfShe crushes it.vJpH
4zbaV8She roars.Y5df
3vJFQShe returns home.Zj4pKpj
xeEEAMore than a Duchess, she seemed like a barbarian warrior.ktwzVy
OTaShe had always protected the people, and had never felt any rejection toward it.1gED
bRABut lately, she had started to doubt one thing.1ylgF
RmzJ— Krrraa—nfLk
miNTo roar.WOTkaa8
zY1IThat roar, perfect for the frenzy of battle and declaring victory, had recently begun to feel embarrassing to her.K0Skvc
yXk5ha— Ah…wzq
crsey26Her voice faded like a whisper.kpPynA
Fe9AI1OValdrova let out that incomplete feeling and cleared her throat.MjQt
mN2CMiRHer eyes drifted toward the place that had made her change.lIY
QMLv5LXHer gaze turned to the top of a solitary mountain.NIEl
5n5MOEvery time she went out to the battlefield, Perda was always there.lwNPUW
kEHvGZ‘He didn’t come today either.’5ByF
5TdamBut at the top there was only flattened ground.eOHP2
yevAs always, he had not come to watch her.yfk4JQV
3d0KczValdrova felt uncomfortable under his gaze.Swu
C01When he watched her, she became nervous and clumsy.8a5
NABIupAnd that made her look ridiculous.gfiebY
Xahp34fShe had even thought it was better if he did not look at her.hWTib
xGlj1ee‘Yes maybe it’s better this way.’zbOgi5e
wTNHValdrova spread her wings and returned to her lair.1kBeG
K1I7iLThe solitary mountain of the Far East.ejgffvC
ld6sqNShe chose that place because it was difficult for humans to find.s1h28M
2XyV0When she entered the cave, Ruri received her.pCPR
MVUYbde“Good work, my lady.”0jYtJ8k
iVWSLValdrova passed by without responding.8Ht6K8
IIbiZSeeing her ignore even a greeting, Ruri followed her inside.poU3Lr
DHCdQ“Is something wrong?”rQG
ZIIw9I— It’s nothing.3kmQ
DB4XfValdrova coiled up as if nothing had happened.6iGVU
4zOrt“Please, tell me. I want to help you.”ESpr2
eDYXW— Mm…egv39G
zknCIpC—Has Perda… grown tired of me?rah437
jOy“…Huh?”MAybLG
d3gRuri looked at her in disbelief.d2Qa
EOWQK4i— He didn’t come today either.fG2nQ
8dFsFValdrova thought it was better this way.IRDHJmf
uXIKBut a greater sense of emptiness came over her.ayAu
u9jYdIt was a normal day.89oO
rPoAAnd yet, she felt that something important was missing.wQ5R
Nv6Y“It has only been two times. One week. It is very little compared to the time you have lived.”XPrRwUi
8lc— I know.mv3LQW
7qZOnly one week. Only two times.baY7JDF
PeDPiRxAnd yet, those words weighed too much.xBaJwpz
fUsiLo0“Perda has been very busy lately.”zE1
o5b1uHe had been collaborating with merchants and resolving matters of the local lords.ZJjUjlf
rC7O13When he entered his office, he would not come out until late at night.y0h
Ybgxv— Even so… he used to come before, didn’t he?lHN
PZZThat was true.qLX4
JJcGVR1No matter how busy he was, he always came when he knew Valdrova was fighting.d53
z527yaAnd when their gazes met, he always smiled at her.h4P
8aS3oU— Surely… since I don’t even pay attention to him, he has grown tired of me.OBX4
lM2gqRDShe lowered her head, dejected.nVHoJ
ZoGTcBut Ruri did not think the same.3spKku
7Jfvzpz‘If he had really grown tired, he would not be so busy.’PXnm
enMPerda acted for the well-being of everything under Valdrova.MUV81
VEKUQAnd that came from his affection for her.8gc
Dol31— Ruri.XP6Ivif
MBJtw5h“Yes, my lady.”lBvN5p
Xs1XvValdrova spoke with difficulty.z8tE
HDIeLz— That thing ladies do…Zu2PL
wqJM“Do you mean a tea party?”86n
B89— Yes. That.4U0p
cmiIuRRuri was surprised.3hLT2X
fHMASince the prince incident, Valdrova had avoided humans.SNf4
3jaxj— Could you… propose a tea party to Perda?0pTI
9Td7CShe had taken a big step to meet her fiancé.9kvQS
YomCEz***2nRrFq
kf7ePerda became a third-circle mage.pUet
i1yhGThe first circle is a point.JtKPNw
yRMSfKMThe second, a line.1gyfYv
c5OThe third, a surface.UjJvU
vfmThat plane is the magic circle.IMlxkUH
0yu6The true beginning of magic.ZMy
qbY3uO‘Also, the Magic Library disappeared.’FibIIP
ffRAXG4It was a memory method that stored magic in the mind.qf7eKN
mqWXIt was only obtained at the fifth circle.FiI
T27JBut by going back in time, he lost it.n4AP8y
gbu3Uky‘Even so, the magic is still in my body.’y7UA7B
L1Z8Magic in the subconscious.bsPN
ZraLike exploring a ruined library.gnb5
MsDldUUHe concentrated mana in his right arm.SBUT1Z
XG3MThe flow was natural.QzSrkW
qyucC‘Draw a magic circle.’8D4DqO
IksCFirst step concretion.edLY3
WJFuHe recalled a magic circle.ru253
BVHyxNormally it is done with books.SHK
B6H1a4But he did it differently. He drew without knowing the purpose.tKV7kM
Ttjb6Like casting a fishing rod.Le4
czOcImAnd waiting.Em3AK
ZwgoaZ‘I’m sorry.’jQkM
DcNH6Second step: structuring.tSG
gR7Ae5He imagined a quill moving.PZbiAQb
bM7kXYThe circle appeared in his hand.TFCz
29xyoXThird step: materialization.Twwi
MgtHe injected mana.gVm
8rw6cxhThe circle glowed.biO
DrHnI3‘This spell…’dBw8In
Yt135Without thinking, he acted.RMoac
ty1THe pointed with two fingers.AVZW
rgEhW“Elemental Bolt.”1s1t
LUyBzzzz!R6b
gzPZeA bolt shot out.csN
ztl‘Dangerous.’rwyQB
vxm68sHe almost injured himself.8hjd
jqRVEL8But he did not stop.cI2yJ
A4yWXkHe searched for another spell.Iqv
ZC8Aja4‘I’m sorry.’TqCIDG
WSJHe drew another circle.qqrn
n0mAnd then.kVV5sA
WIP0r9RIt turned black.6BZ
MTHfhODarkness.SPQkLO
aSoXPure black magic. Before thinking.fz4KAn
N8bOcJ2“Shadow Hand.”DLD7E
JOzlFPThe shadow of the candle stirred.b7BoafV
Wf2And separated.jUx
AwuDc8A new arm.pkUM
o2EP‘There are side effects.’LvS
Qa8A3Unlike Magic Hand.ecx
KBNThis creates a new arm.O8caHn
X309It does not cover it.d2Rxgg0
Rp8v‘The cost is mental.’IR03v
m0HzConfusion.uzXsaq
WfomFDQIs it my arm?t1h
aV4Or not?hwdTJP
OfWBRNwIf you fail. Extreme pain.peO1JIG
lXdhNWBut Perda already mastered this.haj8q
v0x8i‘Even so… it doesn’t feel like mine.’aJRagK
m4pJVHe looked at his black hand.qLWd
c3zAnd began to test its movements.1oG
hMIogAIt was as natural as a real hand. It was as natural as if it were his original hand.FFil
LdiwPerda averted his gaze and looked up at the shelf.BuuPK
I7gRrwpNormally, it was a distance that required standing up and taking about ten steps.MDMmhF
cl9vPerda extended his hand toward it.3WxzCx
b6MmmS‘Arms can stretch.’QXwMzP
xrRU2rJFollowing that idea that broke common sense, the shadow hand extended beyond its limit.h4q
KHxudIt stretched far enough to cover the distance of those ten steps, took the book on the shelf, and returned.NnoyeOp
TF6TCPD‘It is a third-level spell, but too demanding for someone at the third level.’gRDnJN
jgqUhC2The more detailed the control, the greater the imagination and mental strength required.g9OT4YP
S7nLAtCThat is precisely the essence of black magic.Y7Xi
9nNR7It has high performance, but demands an equally high level.9pKRKX
MJ9If that level is not reached, it is easy to lose one’s sanity with these spells.F3tn
tit‘When I reach the fourth circle, it will be more stable.’6YEc50
FRcg13rThinking that, Perda murmured.rOT
X6znpJ“The next stage…”bh0Msjh
EVmrHHis mind became complex.3ANrFnW
X2RavIt was a moment when he should seek improvement, but he did not feel the usual drive.org6
zyQr4‘To stabilize it completely, I need an amount of mana equivalent to the fourth circle.’ShnnQ
TawBErIt was the amount needed to fully suppress Valdrova’s ferocity.ax2XR
7PokThat was why he wanted to advance no matter what.1sjI2g6
KctHowever, now something was blocking him.OFr
6mWucgNIt might be because he had reached the third circle without difficulty, but the biggest reason was, without a doubt, the recent affinity test.A8ouJV
gywxC‘Determinism of mana…’bUz
rGtFPerda had learned many things from his master, who had great greed for money, and among them was the theory of magical determinism.xAy
TVLrIt was a theory that resonated more with holders of the Red Circle than with those of the Blue Circle.1H6uL2B
W58pIt stated that, even if one awakened in another timeline with different purposes and events, one’s attributes remained unchanged, an idea derived from determinism.z8m
4XBFkxK‘It was a useless discussion.’jwLCdE
Df5QiAs useless as proving a utopia.yurFh
UCpPu6cNot for nothing was it called a theory that broke human relationships.DwB2p
3pTBut Perda, who had gone back in time, could not ignore it.eUw
7LxKhV‘I no longer feel hostility toward my family nor hatred toward the world.’GW6n
RkFHe had decided to live only for her, so he thought his attributes would have changed as well.cMrR
1b8aHowever, what was granted to him was darkness and electricity.vDIve
YbRsQlrExactly the same magic he used in the past.W0x7LPA
zuy3‘What did I feel when I knew I had these attributes?’a64uEs
fYpnpfxNo matter what, he was happy.XP9
eKCqThere are two attributes that the Blue Circle cannot handle properly.eva
muJ8WFKLight and darkness.sbANw7
9s1Light manifests in clerics through a righteous heart.TBy
VwfsYHDarkness arises from negative emotions, as in Perda’s case.a66C
WIQZHaving affinity with darkness implies the disadvantage of not being able to use light magic or healing magic.fURCs
gJ6qBBut in exchange, unlike other users of the Red Circle, he does not suffer a great reduction in other elemental magics.UOE
J8s9Because of that, Perda could handle almost all elements, except light, at the level of elemental masters.sUa8SU
CltKx‘But now…’gw1z
OTmIt was not something good.iNcA8
aVIexIHThe current situation with Valdrova was different.9Ut
gGQgEWhat was once a blessing that allowed him to stand out now felt like a curse.VIdA5
l7b‘Valdrova suffers because of the nature of darkness and I possess darkness.’BknKJ
upQGIt had already been proven that by injecting mana he could influence her.LrD
aPtTrz0But if instead of stabilizing her, what he did was plant another seed of darkness inside someone who already suffered from it, what would happen?ngdIzX
TQOKKVYIf what he gave ended up leading to destruction, could it really be called helping her?Kc6X
4Rov‘If the mana that killed her kills her again…’H7J
LlZSxSJust as mana does not change, if fate does not change either,NQvReO
Gba‘Should someone like me be by her side?’Tzjh
YTXBEven for Perda, who was once an archmage and dominated the world, that was unknown territory.CbaSrGR
vfSAnd whenever he faced the unknown, he challenged it.eUXGiOv
r1BacHjBut now, it only plunged him into deep doubt.HKIRBSj
tLQKLA mage’s research connects directly with magic.XYd6G
GVXThat deep thought of Perda gave rise to another spell from his subconscious.oNWzUa
odQaHgFollowing his intuition, he structured a magic circle again.Yk63SzQ
bQTIt was only when the structure was complete that he realized.ktE
5OP‘What is this spell?’qoBptnq
OS7SI9It was not something forgotten.m3G
mg6rgIt was a form he had truly never seen.BLUfez
NIWgAn extremely complex formula, filled with runes.zi8LQb
sj0oUDue to its complexity, it was comparable to sixth-level spells.0Lih0k4
ZiB0JBut if it were truly sixth-level, it would have collapsed at the structuring stage and would not look like this.ivmGOpQ
eC0eyAnd above all, he would remember it.5Ke
0sysm9Without a doubt, it was a spell drawn from his subconscious.0gVc
wflmShadow Hand and Elemental Bolt were also like that, but even so he was able to recall their names afterward.5Xr02zB
OrSs8But this.541nBH
p9MHAlthough it floated above his palm, he could not remember its name.Ox0
oGxwo4‘As if it never had one.’0X00rXT
fZOdHe did not understand it.pGTvP
sIBFYPerda used the Shadow Hand he had manifested to take magical copy paper from the cabinet.H5R
RPhHe placed it over the magic circle he maintained and copied its shape and symbols.n6y8
ZF2IlHe observed the circle.3mYfCG
GnxANq1He tried to understand it, but even with his knowledge he could not analyze it.dOSqnxS
P4WdKnock, knock.122
hsS0jCSomeone knocked on the door.TR44hm
oYfCD5— It’s Ruri.nziC
3oCe64Perda rolled up the parchment and set it aside.M7U
kTzvK“Come in.”aepJ
zUTIxzThe door opened and the young maid entered.o9Gr
AuXKu05As always, she had an expressionless face.oZL2s
xseeBF“You seem to have many concerns.”3HCi
tosA“I’ve been thinking about several things.”ntu
zDicHe concealed both the magic circle and his thoughts.u9P
0qos1He did not think Ruri needed to know.0NIrB
2rPB“What do you think about a tea party?”M7cHgNh
rP2qWhile they were eating, Ruri asked that question.SIx8g
5yRF“A tea party? With whom?”mh2
s4iiEJS“Who else could it be but my lady?”5Hp
PsyST1Ruri spoke more firmly than usual.rKQR
RBFqX4L“My lady personally asked me to arrange this. If you wish, it can be this very afternoon.”exRyvLz
1Qca“A tea party with my fiancée…?”NyN0
zI0UXPerda imagined it.kKGF2
vR8CShe, dressed in an elegant dress, drinking tea gracefully.xHgm
ZaMBFAnd Valdrova in that refined environment.Clp
30sFIet‘I want to go without a doubt.’7GhoB
FKWjXbUnder normal circumstances, he would have accepted immediately.vgc
sjs8“It is a good idea, but I do not think it is the right time.”3y4
lV3Oq“…Excuse me?”29j
8webSRuri asked as if she had misheard.jgFDN
3Bi4vdePerda answered once again.Xs5cx
DjUVad“There is no need to rush. I need some time to think, so let’s postpone it.”2OCkx6
4NH9Wdx“……”H3bK
VQK4Perda spoke calmly, as always.Hys45yg
rTylUEgRuri stared at him before speaking.2sOaA
radyD9“Are you playing with my lady?”I0ZWUy
DHIegRF“Playing?”uzmGDG2
Ow5“A struggle between lovers for control. Are you trying to make Perda fall more in love with you…?”q6XvP4
LDIbe“It’s not that.”XTQLJJ
5zZIt was not easy for him to have that kind of complex thoughts about relationships.UDm
UjyD8“Then what is it?”PBoLrUZ
FXEE“It’s nothing.”wPtkGHE
YPE“You always said you wanted to see her. If you say that now, it seems like you are about to die.”tCgmR
DB45“It’s not that, don’t worry.”7IzW
tO2n8UA“I will not leave until you answer.”HnS
rCSwhSince Perda was acting differently, Ruri also became insistent.9y6fND
C13n7wHIt seemed she would follow him even to the bath.ckc
E1r7rOHe thought about ignoring her, but.tb1sQ
LX8“Have you grown tired of my lady?”gine7
8bQFzVKHe could not ignore that.1GPFa
l0x6The moment he heard those words, Perda’s heart sank.e5U
BVG“Why do you say that?”xPU0i
1QIK“My lady said it. She said that lately you do not go to see her fight. That since you do not even show up, it seems you have grown tired.”LUE
iXRowNFGrown tired?xEI6
nN6rThat was impossible.4sTyyVy
ZqMPPerda only wanted to see her.T9mQO
0J5Only now he could no longer observe her as before.V5eAl7G
UAmR“If that is not it, then you should give an appropriate answer.”agSYArx
ZPBK4Ruri’s loyal eyes shone silver.lwZQAt
IPPscPerda finally spoke.Xyiqhc
HiP6ZgL“…Lately I have been worried.”Z5O
fgJe“Anyone could notice that. What are you worried about?”QWp
3ezBB“My mana contains darkness. I am worried that that darkness might harm her.”P2g
FO4X“Is that all?”vUw
lTPRuri removed her glove and extended her hand.btIfHO5
4tjvObA“Then, try it.”7s6
Qw48MGI“With you?”zfoUe
fLz13jRuri nodded.zMIXF
vLgHm8L“I am also a spawn with dragon blood. Even if it is little, I can detect if something harms my lady.”osrR
2MkPerda decided to try without further hesitation.KkKYq
fwwNzSVA small hand, like a girl’s.QiesaPg
o9guBut it was not completely soft.mFl6
eez6OLPerda injected his mana into her.NfQfuXK
6S4ND“What do you feel?”hNgO
oKDHsS2Ruri tilted her head.DzJ
nTB“…I am not sure what I should feel. I only feel that the mana flows into me.”WrYqT
DwJWql“Do you not feel anything else?”hZoemNd
Olm5“No.”jzHC
L61The amount of mana was equivalent to a Mana Shot.pXY2H6
iWfI4With Valdrova, that amount already caused a reaction.hJjL6V
KM0ze“I will try with more.”KZMZjBt
mcoyFzLNow it was five units.NQpC
Giw3pAn amount enough to affect magical circuits.wRzoxs
bGUaRZRuri’s expression changed slightly.bNP
2aev“And now?”F3Ns
8ij“I feel something, like you said… but it is not harmful. It is just mana.”oLFm
jUoJJhRuri frowned and looked at Perda in disbelief.hb9ZFB
QQhWJm“You worried about something so insignificant and ended up frightening my lady?”M0QrQ
vnL9gN“…Yes.”9AcaoVl
y2h4D“You turn people into dogs and break their fingers, but when it comes to my lady, you are extremely cowardly.”jIu6c0
s8FNEcValdrova, the Red Dragon, an existence impossible to stop.xlYI
UoEtxBut before Perda, she was nothing more than a fragile woman like a flower.FN8lDmq
bjR7L1And the possibility of hurting her was too much for him.kfeU1q2
8MGq6st“As the one who will be her husband, you should not cause her worries over something so trivial.”okOM
DJUA“You’re right.”xu2MOJ
yPMfSmf“Fuu…”qzc7
wVDD0QoPerda nodded, and Ruri let out a deep sigh.aaZ2xm0
fVoACShe could clearly feel how much she had suffered being between both of them.kBo
o2GFe2“Then, what will you do?”DvK
d3oUHWhat else?OQ2vs2V
ZGP4Ynm“I will accept the invitation. If my fiancée personally requested it, I cannot ignore it.”Ej9
S73IVOCThere was no other option but to face it.xZnGuZ2
hBp“Understood.”O5lH4c
m1chRuri bowed and left the dining room.pJk
kutmolkOnce she left, Perda looked at the parchment he had set aside.JtKc
XwjY2‘Investigating this now will only bring me more concerns.’MFu1W
AfQHe could ask Morida to identify the spell.GXR
VyyOr ask Echidna to interpret it.r2Yt
yleZEBut he felt that he had to understand it himself.zhuUuka
X9UsSo, he carefully folded the parchment and placed it between the pages of a book.Vx7kx1
awF0If one day he found it by chance, he would think about it then.5elW
2O85He decided to forget it for now.yZwag
3yF***sjgL
NoM4p‘He always gets involved in unnecessary things…’vFz
5EKS1ysRuri walked down the hallway murmuring to herself.I5PrS
OYzPdHe had rejected the invitation arrogantly, and the reason was trivial.RI9
XgyzM‘Normally he is straightforward, but with my lady…’cylZ
lE6TSm8He could be ruthless with others, but with Valdrova he was a coward.KI0
Ybz‘That his mana might harm her…?’GeBN928
kPdRuri looked at her right hand.oq1804
6A64oRHe said she felt nothing, but in reality she had felt something strange.SDTcW
n4DAnd that sensation still remained in the hand Perda had touched.Xyfx8
nu2I8H‘I don’t know what this is.’1mwE02
0ChIt was a strange sensation, but it was certainly not dangerous.RLUDA
bO1keZr‘I can’t say it and frighten him more…’BVQ
4X975sRuri put her glove back on and kept walking.4ypTGuT
rRXA loyal servant had no rest.CmAtzB
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationOho tea party huh looks interesting.