NOTICE: Many of the novels have been removed because they might cause violations, which we were not aware of earlier.
23. Competent Lung
‘That’s amazing.’
The security of the old Black Magic Society was poor. It goes without saying that information from each branch was shared with each other.
But now, security has become so thorough that it has multiple levels of security.
The last door was somewhat difficult even for Galahad.
There were three magic stones in the door. Its level was at least intermediate. There was no such door in the Magic Tower Master’s room. It was a luxury that was possible because it was in the north where the magic stone workshop was located.
The design of the magic circle connecting the magic stones looked somewhat familiar.
‘It belongs to an old man.’
He kept bragging about retiring, but it seems he hasn’t broken his habit.
‘Is the old man in the north?’
I couldn’t figure it out. If Galahad had come alone, things would have become quite complicated.
If it was a door designed by an old man, even Galahad wouldn’t be able to easily break through it.
How much is the old man’s ransom, and three intermediate magic stones? I didn’t even realize how much money went into security.
‘Did I hit you that hard?’
Galahad clicked his tongue slightly.
However, there was something they overlooked.
Even with perfect security, problems always arise from people.
No one could be perfect. Not even a guy who took four years to graduate from the academy.
“Oh, first of all, let’s keep your name a secret.”
Even the name is kept a secret.
Looking at the greed gleaming in Corton’s eyes, it seemed like he had another ulterior motive.
Galahad nodded, as there was no need to refuse.
“Come in.”
Corton opened the door confidently.
Despite the extravagant security, the interior was surprisingly ordinary.
The interior was all gray, as if they didn’t care about it. The only difference from the dungeon was that there were no iron bars. The aesthetic sense of the wizards was beyond words.
Books were everywhere, and there were gloomy guys walking around in hoods. Contrary to the name of the warlock, it was surprisingly an ordinary magic tower.
In between, the magic stones rolling around like stones and the obviously expensive magic tools caught my eye.
“The facilities are amazing.”
“Didn’t I tell you? It was the heyday in the North. I don’t even know how many magic stones have been excavated. The stupid northerners even treat magic stones as unlucky stones, so there’s no need to say anything more.”
I nudged him a little and my dear classmate Corton immediately explained it to me. He was such a kind man.
‘Rather, it’s a boom time-.’
I was so shocked that, despite all the hard work I put into it, it was doing well in the North.
‘I guess I’ll have to do it differently this time.’
Originally, I was planning to find some suitable evidence and persuade them one by one to get information from other branches. That was neat.
But the situation was different from what was expected.
‘Security is too strong.’
Even Corton, who seemed to have a fairly high position, didn’t know the locations of the other branches. Even if you crack open all the heads of these guys, there was a chance that you wouldn’t get much information.
Palho would bring information, but he couldn’t just wait for that.
Agents always had to dig two holes.
“We need a lot of magicians to mine magic stones. We give magicians the best treatment. It’s an amount that you can’t get even in the capital.”
“Does the wizard mine the magic stone himself?”
“Ah, I don’t know. Ahem-.”
Galahad was well aware of the uses and applications of magic stones, but he did not know how to mine them.
No, I wasn’t interested in the first place.
To Galahad, the magic stone was just a toy. Or a supporting tool.
“It’s more efficient for magicians to mine magic stones. When ordinary people mine them, the quality often deteriorates. That’s why Mark can’t let go of my hand.”
Galahad nodded at the kind explanation.
‘So that’s why Mark was neutral.’
Since a wizard is needed to utilize the magic stone, Mark could not have missed Corton even if he showed suspicious behavior.
‘You’re brave.’
In the North, where wizards are not well-recognized, the captain accepted a wizard and even did business with him. It wasn’t just about being bold.
Three magic stones were worth that much.
Enhanced security, relations with the 5th Battalion Mark, the operation of the magic stone quarry – Galahad calculated him one by one.
There were too many side effects to just get rid of it. In addition, the benefits of maintaining it were enormous.
Security was so tight that they didn’t even know the locations of other branches.
That meant that the branches were soon cut off from each other. Even if someone were to gulp it down and roll it over, it would be difficult for the higher-ups to notice.
‘I think it would be better to keep this branch.’
Galahad nodded.
By maintaining this branch here, I could receive information from other branches and gain a grip on the relationship with the 5th Battalion Mark.
In addition, a considerable amount of money will be generated through the operation of the magic stone mill.
Damien’s meal expenses were considerable.
‘Perfect.’
Galahad’s eyes sank.
There was no such thing as a bad knife.
There are only bad owners.
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‘You can use it for good purposes.’
The corners of Galahad’s mouth went up.
At that moment, a sharp voice was heard.
“Where are you going, Mr. Cotton?”
He was a man covered in freckles. His eyes were full of wariness.
The staff the man was holding had a large magic stone embedded in it.
In the capital, a staff inlaid with magic stones was a symbol of a successful wizard. But here, it felt like some kind of hiking stick.
“Oh, Bart. I’m busy. Get out of the way.”
“I haven’t heard of any visitors today. The society strictly prohibits outsiders from entering. If this fact were to be reported to the higher-ups, it would certainly be detrimental to the branch itself.”
A freckled man named Bartra looked Galahad up and down and said.
The man’s words were extremely orthodox. That’s why it was difficult.
Galahad waited to see how Corton would unravel it.
“Shut up! Bart! You go dig for magic stones! How dare you! Raise your voice at me, the deputy chief!”
Cornelius immediately raised his voice.
It was truly a groundbreaking breakthrough.
“······No, that’s not it. Isn’t the entry of outsiders a sensitive matter?”
“Doesn’t what I’m saying sound like nonsense? What do you know about talking like that, you lowly person!”
“Have you spoken to the person above?”
“Since there is no branch manager, I am the one above him! Then should I report to you? What are you?”
“That’s not it-.”
“Okay, then you become the deputy manager! I will report to you-.”
“······no.”
The freckled man’s face turned red at Corton’s abusive power.
‘That’s amazing.’
Galahad was truly amazed.
But the man did not back down easily.
“No matter what, outsiders are dangerous. Be prepared for any possible threats-.”
“This one doesn’t even have a cane, so what if there’s a threat?”
Galahad rolled up his coat. There was no sword or staff. Just a neat shirt and trousers.
‘You must have seen it easily because you didn’t have a cane.’
Only then did Galahad realize why Corton had taken him for granted.
Certainly, the presence or absence of a magic stone staff made a big difference among wizards.
It wasn’t for nothing that wizards spent all their fortunes on wands.
When it was confirmed that Galahad did not have a staff, the suspicion in the eyes of the others was lifted. It seemed that the dependence on the staff was even more severe than in the capital.
However, the man did not back down this time either.
“Mana might be high. We need to measure it.”
“Ha, you really are annoying. That’s why you can’t escape from the bottom.”
“You never know, right?”
“Ah, okay. Just wait and see. Can I examine the magic tools? It’s the same as what they used to do at the academy.”
Galahad nodded.
The principle of the mana measuring tool was the same as when Galahad shook hands and checked by putting mana in it.
It was a method to roughly estimate the total mana by putting in a high concentration of mana and the amount absorbed at once.
“Bart, if I bothered you for nothing, you’d better brace yourself.”
Corton glared at the freckled man and grumbled.
The freckled man tried to look away and held out a mana measuring tool to Galahad.
“How to use it···.”
“I know.”
Galahad took him and put him on his arm.
Galahad recalled the amount of Mana he had received during his time at the Academy.
‘I think it would be better if it were slightly smaller than that.’
To begin with, the mana measuring tool was not a highly reliable magical tool.
Even in the information agency, the mana measurement tool was only for reference.
But these guys seemed to blindly trust him. From the fact that they each held a staff to the fact that they had a mana measuring tool – their dependence on magical tools seemed to be worse than expected.
It was an inevitable phenomenon because there was an overabundance of magic stones.
Even if you train for a year, magic is less efficient than adding one more magic stone.
As humans, we have no choice but to take shortcuts.
Unfortunately, however, the right path is always the hardest one.
‘It’s like a wizard relies on tools.’
Galahad suppressed his rising disgust and adjusted his mana concentration.
Checking mana was a habit for Galahad. It was not a problem to manipulate him in reverse to adjust his mana amount.
The mana measuring tool emitted a crimson glow.
The mana measuring tool was black when the mana was low and red when the mana was high. It meant that he was a common wizard.
It seemed as if the common wizard, without even a wand, posed no danger to them.
A sneer appeared on Corton’s face. His laughter was second to none.
The freckled man had a slightly relieved look on his face. He was truly loyal.
However, our trustworthy Corton had no eyes to see loyalty.
“Didn’t I tell you clearly! It was necessary! But you dare doubt me when you’re such a low-level person?!”
“No, that’s-.”
“What! You little punk! Go dig some magic stones! You’re getting double your quota today!”
The freckled man’s face crumpled at Corton’s shout.
The freckled man disappeared behind him as if he was running away.
It was a typical saying of a loyal subject.
‘Batra.’
Galahad muttered the name softly.
“A worthless guy is making a fuss! Ha, since the branch manager is out anyway, let’s take a look at the research first. Didn’t you like your research?”
Corton laughed and muttered.
After passing the mana test, I felt completely relieved.
It was also clear that there was an intention to keep Galahad in check.
No matter what, I will show you my research.
‘You’re capable.’
He was a truly capable sergeant.
“Thank you.”
Galahad again expressed his heartfelt thanks.
“What does it mean to be good at school?”
Corton chuckled.
He was a truly trustworthy fellow student.
****
“I heard the deputy manager brought an outsider.”
“Oh my god, really-?”
Sherne doubted her ears.
The deputy manager’s abilities were poor, but his desire for results was enormous. It was common for him to report the results below as his own.
However, it was difficult to see him as a completely useless person.
Corton, who had an enormous desire to rise, often achieved ridiculous results.
The deal with the 5th Battalion Commander was also made by Corton. Thanks to that, he was promoted to the position of deputy chief.
But to bring in an outsider was an act that was out of the ordinary and crazy.
“Even if he was the deputy chief, would he have brought in an outsider without thinking? It’s not like he’s just protecting himself. He’s an important person to the point where security has to be ignored.”
Everyone nodded at Shern’s words.
The topic shifted to the subject brought by the deputy director.
What kind of person is he that the deputy director made such a drastic move?
“What are you all doing all gathered here!”
A familiar shout was heard from behind. It was the deputy manager, his shoulders raised.
Naturally, he turned to the person next to him.
He was a handsome man with his hair neatly slicked back. He looked like a young man, but his sunken eyes were filled with fatigue.
He was a man with long, thin legs and arms, but he seemed somehow sturdy.
In a word, he was a neat and handsome nobleman of the capital.
However, those eyes were strange. They were extremely sunken. As if-.
Sherne, whose eyes met the man’s, quickly averted them.
“Sharn, show this guy some of your research results.”
“······Yes? Research?”
It was an absurd order. The task Shern was in charge of was research on the demon race. To show that to an outsider-.
“We’re going to work together anyway.”
“······yes.”
Since the branch manager was out, there was no one to stop Corton. Even if he tried to make excuses, he would only get yelled at.
“Just take a look around. I’ll report back later.”
Sherne was slightly astonished at Corton’s remark that the study of the Demon Race was a spectacle.
Sherne and the unidentified man headed to the laboratory together.
“It’s a little dirty, isn’t it? I didn’t know you’d have guests.”
“That’s okay. The wizard’s lab is over there.”
The man’s old-fashioned speech convinced Shern that he was a nobleman.
“What… what is it? Shern?”
Parnthal, who was in the lab, spoke nervously, his eyes crinkled. His sharp gaze was fixed on the man.
If it was something related to research, it was a partisan thing that even the branch manager would hit. Shern hurriedly explained the situation.
“The deputy director asked me to show him the results of my research.”
“To whom? No way-.”
“Nice to meet you, who am I?”
As the man waved his hand sarcastically, Parnthal furrowed his eyebrows.
“Are you crazy? Do you know what research is-”
“You do what you were doing. I’ll show you.”
Despite Shern’s words, Parnthal’s furrowed eyebrows did not open.
Only after Sherne whispered, “You won’t know it anyway,” did Parnthal back off.
Anyway, Shern’s research wasn’t the kind of thing you could understand just by looking at it once.
“What I’m in charge of is research on the blood of monsters.”
“Demon’s blood?”
The corners of Shern’s mouth went up at the man’s question.
When I heard that I was studying monsters, that was the common reaction.
In the empire, research on demons was absolutely forbidden.
Studying the Demon Race was no different from rebellion. Of course, I couldn’t help but be afraid.
‘Smile?’
Sherne’s eyes widened at the slightly raised corners of the man’s lips.
When I looked closely, it was exactly the same.
It was clear that I had seen things wrong.
“Are you being airlifted from the 5th Battalion?”
“······Ah, yes. They use the skin of monsters, but not their blood.”
“How did you research it? You wouldn’t be able to detect the blood of the demon tribe with a mana measuring tool.”
“Yes, so we need to create a separate mana measuring tool for monsters···.”
The man knew that the blood of the demons contained mana and that its concentration was high. It was clear that he had studied the demons.
“A mana measuring tool for monsters? It would use magic stones, but the concentration is so low that it wouldn’t be possible, right? Oh, it’s for testing the speed at which mana drains. Is it a one-time use?”
Sherne nodded sheepishly at the man’s question.
I only said a word, but the man was asking about the principle of the mana measuring tool for monsters. It felt like I was revealing a secret, so I felt uneasy.
“Then wouldn’t the magic stone consumption be too much?”
“Ha! You’re making an obvious point. The magic stone consumption is high. Then suggest another solution!”
Parnthal spoke sharply. It was a sensitive subject, as he was always criticized for using too many magic stones.
However, there was no other way besides using magic stones. The concentration of the demon tribe’s mana was too high.
The man squinted at Parnthal’s question.
As if you don’t understand-.
When Sherne was about to say something, the man asked back.
“Can’t you just drink it?”
The voice was calm, so the content seemed insignificant.
Sherne, who was thinking back on the man’s words, was startled.
“You want me to drink the blood of the demons?!”
“Why are you surprised? Isn’t that efficient? It will reduce magic stone consumption and have a positive effect on your mana as well?”
Certainly, the man’s words were terribly theoretical.
but-.
“Drinking the blood of the demon tribe, what kind of barbarism is that···.”
Drinking the blood of the demons directly was an extremely ignorant and barbaric method.
“Well, if you want to study the blood of a monster, you’ll need at least an intermediate-level magic stone. Does that cost a few pennies? And wouldn’t drinking it be more accurate and efficient?”
The man explained in a calm voice why he had to drink the demon’s blood.
“Ha! Drinking the blood of the demons! You can only say that if you don’t know how high the concentration of demon mana is! How many wizards have died or gone mad after drinking the blood of the demons!”
Parnthal retorted sharply. Sherne nodded as well.
How many people died from drinking the blood of the demons?
At that, the man shook his head.
As if it were the wrong answer-.
“They didn’t die by drinking the blood of the demons.”
The man spoke in his characteristically calm voice.
‘He died from drinking the blood of the demon tribe, but he didn’t die from drinking the blood of the demon tribe?’
Sherne’s eyes were crumpled.
What the hell does that mean?
“They died because they couldn’t overcome the blood of the demons.”
The man spoke firmly.
A heavy silence fell for a moment.
Sherne seriously considered whether what he had heard was true.
‘So, the reason he died after drinking the blood of the demon tribe is because he couldn’t overcome it?’
It was a fallacy that a person who drowned died because he could not get out of the water.
However, the man’s calm voice was reassuring.
“The blood of a demon is less concentrated than that of a demon, so it’s drinkable. Here, drink it. Just be alert. Ah, try it.”
The man held out a bowl filled with the demon’s blood as if offering a drink.
Sherne’s eyes widened at the man’s serious voice.
The blood of a demon is less concentrated than that of a demon, so it is drinkable.
‘You’re saying you’ve tried both!!’
Shern and Parnthal’s complexions turned pale.
‘Corton! You crazy bastard! Did you really bring a warlock?!’
Sherne desperately held back a scream that was about to burst out.
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