Chapter 10: First Step Toward a Dream (3)
npFFShirone, with a history book in hand, returned to Rian.ynlH
H4IrGet up, and bring a book to study.iPDd
YhSMOUcUgh, the training these days is too harsh.HhhSWh
5RDcmOdAfter shoving Rian from the study, Shirone sat down and opened a history book.DmVT5bW
AOI35bAs the fieldwork finished faster than the paperwork recently, plenty of time was used leisurely.6hBtdu
tuTny9Once he was able to focus on the book, the pages were flipped over in a flash.GQTYR
oirBHe already knew most of the contents, and even the rest of the book was predictable to him.PsG
W48LKThis meant that the level of knowledge contained in his head exceeded the level of books.ouStoAl
hZIIoPASince he understood the 650 historical books, the remaining two hundred books would probably be easy to take in.Dt21iDI
wc0Hey, Shirone. I found an interesting book.5mc
yqZCaAfter finding a book to read, Rian was amazed at the speed Shirone was turning the pages.DaSU
JyW2Once upon a time, Rian had taken over 10 hours to turn a page.D8V
IaxLHe was definitely reading a book, but by the time he blinked, it was morning.Y6t
3j1R7eJRian sat quietly beside Shurone to avoid disturbing him and opened his own book.zoJL4n
w4OhSwordsman vs. Mage was the title of the book.ymvy
Tmi3gGIntroduction. You may have asked this question at least once before, but if a swordsman and a mage were to face off, one-on-one, who would win?u35TqNC
VimwzShirones hand paused as Rian read aloud.tfS
spsGCIt was also an interesting topic for aspiring mages.5MRi
jISI have traveled all over the world to find an answer. Even now, when I close my eyes, those thoughts flicker in my head. On the Artusna Mountain, 6,000 meters above sea level, there are carnivorous trees that eat wild birdsAZDXSHv
uXc8cfRian closed the book.Hroxm5j
HoeijyHow terribly boring.hn3UeC
Cr5zChWhat? I was having fun!ErZbDLu
kPNWnRian jumped at the sudden shouting.lji8dL
ZXbHe pretended not to be interested, but he must have kept his ears perked up.xJPF
oEGWhat do you mean fun? There are no pictures, and theres no mention of swordsmanship.qi5
6nhYou didnt even finish a single page! What are you even talking about?CH83
a8pZXA writer should be considerate of his readers. He should start with a fun beginning and a touching conclusion.8BvIW
c2QtqThis is not a novel. Give me the book. So, whos going to win?fbR
Yd0nwsWhats the point of knowing who wins or who loses? For what absurd reason would a mage and a swordsman need to face off? If it’s favorable to one side, they would want to fight and if its disadvantageous to the other, they would flee.c4bxWyh
pNnShirone opened the middle part of The Swordsman vs. The Mage and searched through the pages.jPbNdy7
lAVpCBFThere may be times when they have no choice but to fight. If that happens, who will win?EJsNQ9
0Eco7D4May I make a rough prediction?6Yko5y
41qeAbruptly, a sharp voice was heard over the bookshelf.Gds1yMU
86YcCPOf course, the swordsman would win.KmxY9J
zEXZA man with a cold impression appeared.Qgu
4uQHe wasnt as bulky as Rian, but he was much taller, and his limbs were slim and long.aTm4N9r
pWNbHe was the second son of the Ogent Family, Rai Ogent.mKm
7kgpvBAlthough they were brothers, his atmosphere and appearance was quite different from Rians. First, his hair was pitch black.nDArv6
X0wjIw2There were two undiluted characteristics that descended from the Ogent family. Bischoff, the head of the family, the eldest son, and the second son inherited black hair. The light blue hair was passed on to the eldest daughter and the youngest son, Rian.7Dk
gGrmIn addition, Rians grandfather, a nationally recognized Grade 3 swordsman, also had blue hair.nWSh
ZpeThe family had a strong bond, but it was interesting how they would sometimes be divided according to mere hair color.93AHs5a
uxEq20JWhich heritage stands out depends on the generation, but this time, black hair was leading as Bischoff and Rai had black hair.Pw6HqR
iBCCXAh! Hello.ZGj
KABZ3LShirone quickly bowed his head.UL1
lMxNo one knew that he was friends with Rian, so if Rai had heard the conversation a while ago, he would be in trouble.5z0mV
ohsThe swordsman wins? How can you say that with such conviction? Because youre one?Sipux26
tyQQh6Rian knew that, so he tried to get on Rais nerves with a sarcastic tone.Lt0DB
3pcfConviction? Is it necessary to use such a dramatic word? Its a fact that can be acknowledged just by knowing where mages and swordsmen lie on each continent.S2X
tIqXRai didnt seem to care about his brothers relationship with the male servant, but Shirone could not relax.wWhG7L
7bYHe felt this every time Rai came to the library. He was a difficult man to read.zRj
vXQduWhatever the position, its a face-off. Youre not going to talk like that on the battlefield, are you? Imagine saying things like Its over, I have the high ground!9xg
A5uVYhRRian laughed, satisfied.1NO
bCZL0fGBut Rai didnt even respond and looked at Shirone with indifferent eyes.NC8dZ
VxpddtWhat do you think, kid?HGhmnA
9FVdzWell assuming were talking about the highest level, magic is definitely powerful enough to inflict fatal wounds on a swordsman. But swordsmen have excellent physical abilities, so if they attack before magic is castedHEw
5fz6WNo, youre wrong. A mage cannot beat a swordsman.6sIdnf
9QT6fnSShirone choked up. Although he was only an aspiring mage, he was still undoubtedly working towards becoming a mage.YHPf
2Ct2aRian was pissed that his friend was ignored.23UL
ZOiBTWho are you to say something like that, huh? You think youre some kind of swordsman representative?ibbki
Fr6n9The corner of Rais lips went up. It was the infamous smirk that Rian detested.stE63Oy
QkTiFNot just anyone can gain the dignity of a swordsman. However, money can buy just about everything you need to become a mage.RCT
JUOThere was a hidden criticism behind Rais words.XDL
TDjIn fact, swordsmen had a way to defend against magic. It was an artifact called Anti-Magic.rOwJ
QR3f1GA special mental wavelength contained within Anti-Magic can disturb a mages Spirit Zone.QPEeEe2
ma2Z0V4In other words, the artifact reduces concentration.qKOtPKT
kbuqArtifacts were usually processed in the form of crystal balls and could be installed on armor, shields, and even swords.hnAy
q9IrYThe price was also quite high, considering one key material was a dragons heart as it emitted the waves required.qRx
8RtVHowever, wearing up to ten artifacts, with each having 10% efficiency, did not equal to 100% efficiency.iisjg8
7aFThis was due to the nature of the waves.1AtWUT
5EQaJzIf a new additional wave was to be added to the already existing wave of Anti-Magic, an overlap would occur.qD0DTrG
9kFTherefore, the more artifacts one had on, the lower the efficiency.9WaQ
ceTThe best artifact by far to exist was the Armor Set of the Five Gods created by the Archmage Yakra.TgqG
dP2oLArtifacts were embedded in helmets, chest plates, gauntlets, boots, and shields. Each with a maximum of 20% efficiency.VVjSJ
W8UNSThe Armor Set of the Five Gods reached an overwhelming 65% efficiency worn all together, which was fatal to a mage.QADpTW3
9LGBivrThe percentage was a result of bypassing the overlap of the waves as much as possible.uGK8c
pCMZrAnother problem was the Essence of the Spirit.KxQg8BH
oSV32tFour types of essence could be found in nature: fire, water, wind, and earth. And when Anti-Magic is put into the equation, magic activation, along with the elements listed above, could be completely blocked.aTr
mpGkThe total number of essences known to exist so far was 17. 2 for fire, 3 for water, 5 for wind, and 7 for earth. The value of just a single one exceeded the budget of a small kingdom.1oc5m
ezZnShirone tried imagining it.YcZL
CTsROhQWhat kind of wizard would be able to win against a master of Schema, equipped with each kind of essence in the Armor Set of the Five Gods?6xvEv
TzYcWOf course, it was still all theoretical.i4qb
CIeaThe armor set was scattered all over the world, and the locations were all unclear. Adding to that, it was nearly impossible to obtain an Essence of the Spirit unless you were given explicit permission from a nation that had one.Rl4iiBn
EoJMDH6There was also a problem with installing several Anti-Magic artifacts.hyknaB
ak7OEven Yakra, an expert on wave equations, spent 10 years trying to coordinate the waves of the Armor Set of the Five Gods.Aqt
vVKvEIn short, if the waves of Anti-Magic were clumsily coordinated, the ingredients, along with the produced item, would become worthless.cEzrf
Fs5* * *LgQtiZf
3pwbn* * *C5y6oeo
5mcWKoTEfficiency did not increase unless the interaction between the waves, the resonance frequency, and the mana relationship was fine-tuned.DMcZgCE
jSX8lIt wouldnt be a joke to say that half of an aristocrat’s wealth could be blown away trying to raise Anti-Magic efficiency by 1%.BPvz
I3M2PJGBut thats where the dilemma begins.4tjDkw
2Yl5pRather than investing a huge amount of money to raise the efficiency of Anti-Magic, it was much cheaper to carry around a mage who knew anti-magic spells.dRtJ
sX8wThat was what Rais words implied.6uK
V8DKThat a mage was just a subordinate of a swordsman, and that his knowledge could be bought with money.YvCG
T8JIn fact it was mages, not swordsmen, who developed Anti-Magic.QTCd
NYsNK0cEven now, numerous mages were studying the effect of dragon mana on the Spirit Zone.yBvbZAG
ZWNC2iqThis was because if one ended up with good results, one could gain tremendous wealth and honor.h69QM
X6kIt was ironic. Mages were creating a weapon that could only do harm to them.cTHSA
74GRai pointed out that dishonorable situation.rxZ
dmwMages would do just about anything for money. This also meant that they could not win a swordsman in terms of pride and honor.xk0gP
EYiPktWhat do you think? You seem to like history books. You know the position mages in this world. Magic can be sealed off with money, but money cannot stop a sword.212AAm3
cm44OIThis was a biased, swordsman point of view, but Shirone understood what he was trying to say.Kgtuk
wecuThat is what a mage is.4pmc7v
xFNHCWhat?5QxGU
Pe5WO14Rai raised an eyebrow.ZqQgd
vEgpSRai thought of the boy as someone who liked magic. So he should have lost his temper, however, contrary to what Rai thought would happen, Shirone admitted it was true Sort of.QAshGSJ
xJGWdWRA mage is a person who persistently digs into the balance of all things. So its not strange to study how to suppress magic. What they find important is not whether they win or lose, but whether they know it or not. Artifacts are a result of that never-ending search. For that reason, I think claiming that mages are at a disadvantage is wrong.EY0Oc4Q
yUvrVJUnlike Rian, Rai had a personality that wished to beat his opponent using his brain.okmH
S9hATONevertheless, the reason why he kept his mouth shut was because he couldnt refute.5mnC
xtj8Rian struggled to hold back his laughter.pjF
flvtCgEhehehe! Serve you right! My friend has a way with words! Im telling you, he has the sharpest tongue. If his tongue were a sword, it would be the sharpest sword in the world!dw5
cDHcCRais face gradually began to distort as he could not find a way to refute.ijUT
tiUSHe couldnt just make up ideas that were never there.hVoPjC
HoYtnHNWell, that is in an ideal world, but the reality is different. It doesnt change the fact that a mage cant win against a swordsman.pt5C7
XNc3Rai coldly turned around and left the library. Rian had a hard time suppressing his laughter.woV
uhYHf7vReality is different? Thats it? Ugh, he reeks of stupidity. Get away from here. Quickly, get lost!ikw8z99
8A4Then, when the door finally closed, he grabbed Shirone and bursted out laughing.JfHqmmm
QvSph3ZPUHAHAHA! Shirone, that was awesome! Ive never seen my older brother make that kind of face before!OR6wy7Q
xShHIRBWhile being dragged around by Rian, Shirones eyes were staring at the place Rai left through.uiVO
zCvSwordsman vs. Mage!XPF9zJr
LJ40Maybe the reality was different, as Rai had said, but Shirone believed he was right.nqxR
k9nxlHe believed that the mindset of a mage who explored the boundaries of knowledge without hesitation, despite the fact his weaknesses may show, would overcome a swordsman.a8bae8
U2ZThat cold will was the reason for the existence of intelligence in this world.F4eS
s4MwY* * *P8Bls
ntU7piZThe Great Library was cold enough to make one feel chilly.m1W09
cgTZYThe bookshelf, which used to be filled with knowledge, was now empty. The luminous lamp that had once brightened up the inside was now also turned off.AhPgw
4j5Only a single ray of sunshine from the 4th floor window shone on Shirone.l1jpg
HfoUnder the sunlight, Shirone turned the pages.3DOoF8
GIDOne page after another Until finally he finished the last page and closed the book.msThP
EY0N4Shirone stroked the cover gently.LDE1
VauyIt was easy work to flip a book.k3jG1
EcEK105However, to finally turn the last page after swimming through a sea of books? Now that wasnt something anyone could do.Z2p5kz
TNAWA850 books of history.tnFdG
GLPdqShirone read all the history books in the Great Library.irJ98o
X78ZcOIm done This is my Core of Knowledge.LPHIaXQ
SDezIt was warm.buu
ZPoUtHe felt the light filling up his heart.U82
DyDAlthough he was a hunter’s child, he could now confidently say he knew nearly everything about the whole world!4Md2sH
AncHRuKA year and six months!GhwCdJJ
G5X3Although it was a slow start, after reading and reading, Shirone started to accelerate, and once he did that, he never slowed down again. He sped up so much that he finished his work six months ahead of schedule!4mHYh
gdRACNow, he could go back home any time and there would be no reason for his familys life to be in danger.Nq4
i6HIts like a dream!9rcmoh
jn56PtcHis mind was filled with the numerous experiences he went through the past year and a half.mbl
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