Free Web NovelChapter 414: Chapter 411: Caroline’s Worry
"Yes, it has a very modern design, but it was made using traditional techniques."
Caroline wasn’t fooled. "So you used Necromancy?"
It seemed Master Caroline had also heard of the principles behind the Sixth Ring Enlightenment Skill.
"Don’t worry, it’s not a human or an Elf inside. It came from a monkey that was on the verge of death after an experiment."
Looking at it now, the "Gardener’s" every move did resemble a monkey’s. In fact, compared to the creatures of Rorschach’s past life, its form was similar to a gibbon. Apes and monkeys weren’t native to the Ferolun Continent; they were originally brought back by ocean-faring sailors for performances and shows.
Later, the Tower of Forest bred a batch of them as test subjects, and Rorschach spent a great deal of money to buy a "monkey family." The "Gardener’s" birth was the result of Rorschach’s first attempt at the Necromancy’s Enlightenment Skill, done for the dual purpose of practicing his Magic and not letting anything go to waste.
He hadn’t expected it to succeed on the first try. Rorschach even began to wonder about himself. ’Do I really have the makings of a villain?’
Caroline sighed. "I shouldn’t interfere with you too much, Rorschach Mage, but please be more cautious in the future with certain types of Magic and Magical Creatures. Some things should not be allowed to leave the Mage Tower and your laboratory so easily."
The Sixth Ring Enlightenment Skill was considered a spell in Necromancy that wasn’t too anti-human or anti-social. In ancient times, it was even widely used to create servants. Mages with a shred of principle would avoid using it on their own kind.
Some within the Thirteen Magic Towers had also mastered it. For instance, a pop quiz: where did the Tower of Secret Techniques get all its Gargoyle servants?
Answer: Petrify and transform an unwelcome intruder, bind their Soul to the stone statue, and use the Enlightenment Skill. The result is a host of flapping little darlings.
It is said that studying Magic, much like law, gradually strips one of their humanity. Caroline didn’t want to see Rorschach delve too deeply into the domain of Necromancy Magic.
Rorschach crouched down to the "Gardener’s" level. He fiddled with its flexible hose-like arm, feeling the bundles of hydraulic tubes and connectors inside. "Keep the Magic in-house? Teacher, on the contrary, I want to promote it. The Tower Spirit has too many Mechanical Bodies to manage right now. I’m worried its Spirit might Split. Mechanical Bodies created with the Enlightenment Skill would be an excellent supplement.
"If there was a version of the Enlightenment Skill that didn’t dominate the one it created, could it also be used on people? For example, someone dying on the battlefield could be given a better vessel, preserving their combat experience and extending their life."
For those too heavily injured—for instance, someone whose body was half-blown away by a cannonball—even a Healing Scroll or standard Healing Magic couldn’t save them. During the Silent Generation, the legendary Divine Arts that could resurrect the dead were lost along with the gods who disappeared.
Therefore, the Enlightenment Skill, which only requires an intact brain, has value in extending the existence of a Soul, provided the Caster doesn’t brainwash or control the subject.
No Necromancer or any other Mage has ever bothered to develop a version that forgoes the Caster’s "domination" effect. To most, such an Enlightenment Skill would just be a weaker version.
But Rorschach didn’t think so. He believed that abandoning the domination effect would be an improvement, one that would lessen the constraints of worldly morals when it came to promoting it. Furthermore, if combined with the Elves’ mycelial life and the symbiotic organisms of a Living Water Body, it might even be possible to create intelligent beings with Casting Ability.
Even without considering such a distant possibility, those two technologies could still be used in a new generation of Mechanical Bodies that wouldn’t rely on the Tower Spirit and could have a much larger operational range.
Only then could these Mechanical Bodies leave the Mage Towers and factories to be of practical use in combat.
Rorschach laid out his ideas to Caroline, who remained silent for a long while before asking, "Who else knows about these ideas?"
"I’ve exchanged letters with Master Kou Bo and Master Humboldt and proposed the concept. They’ve provided support in terms of theory and biological materials.
"Within the Mage Tower, Andre is involved in the execution, and so is Martin, the one with no Magic Power."
Caroline shook her head. "Regarding these experiments, I’m not skilled in the relevant Magic, nor do I have the specialized knowledge. Furthermore, I don’t entirely agree with you on this matter. So, Rorschach, I’m sorry, but I can’t help you with anything related to this."
"Even if you don’t agree, you’ve still shown me complete respect. Thank you." As long as Teacher Caroline didn’t leave the Mage Tower, Rorschach wouldn’t be racked with anxiety. Her area of expertise wasn’t in this field anyway; it was enough that she didn’t argue, oppose, or obstruct him.
"I have one last question. You want to take part in this war, don’t you? What do you hope to gain from it? At first, I thought your ideals were similar to mine—hoping more people would have the chance to learn Magic. But after observing you firsthand, I see it’s clearly more than that."
’How did we get to such a serious topic...?’ Rorschach organized his thoughts, a slight headache forming. His intuition told him that his answer would determine whether Caroline stayed or left.
"Teacher Caroline, what do you think of the commoners’ lives in the Special Zone?"
"Not too good, but not bad either." ’But that’s only in comparison to the past. It’s incredible that during a war, the standard of living for old farmers in Kempson and Lansite has actually risen.’
"Then I want to make all of Bayern like the Special Zone. Is that possible?" Rorschach answered his own question. "It’s not. I can’t break out of the circle drawn by the Royal Family. They won’t allow cities like Munich and Wertz to follow my lead. That’s their territory, their ’fields.’
"If it can’t be done in Bayern, it’s even more impossible in the Empire. Fortunately, the current situation in Valois offers hope. But this hope won’t just fall from the sky. It must be actively fought for.
"Finally, you’re mistaken about one thing. It’s not that I *want* to join the war. Judging from the food factory’s orders, the Empire is about to launch a large-scale campaign. And incidents of the Valois Rebel Army ambushing and intercepting their logistical supply lines are on the rise.
"The war is about to enter its next, more intense phase. There isn’t much time left for the Bayern Kingdom to remain aloof."
...
「Northern Valuva Region, Empire Army temporary camp.」
"How are your injuries healing?" General Carl walked into the young officer’s tent, patted Richard on the shoulder, and nodded to the other young officer sharing the tent with Richard.
"I used a Scroll and Potions for Healing right after I got back. It’s not a problem anymore." In theory, the wounds from the last battle should have been completely healed, but Richard always felt that his shoulder and arm were a bit stiff. He suspected it was an accumulation of old injuries, like misaligned fascia or muscles, that even a Scroll couldn’t fully restore.
In any case, compared to the ordinary wounded soldiers who were short on even basic medicine, Richard had already received the luxury treatment of a Military Mage.
Carl chatted for a bit, explaining that the order of battle needed to be reorganized. His legion and other severely depleted legions would be combined and thrown into the next campaign, meaning he might not be Richard’s superior officer anymore.
"If you want, you can still lead your old regiment." With his unit being broken up, Carl seemed completely relaxed. He had even applied to the military command to return home to recuperate—with the First Legion having conquered the regional capital, General Carl’s list of merits was long enough for him to rest comfortably and freely.
After General Carl left, Richard took out a small booklet from his Storage Ring again.
"What book is so important you have to hide it from the general?" The young officer sharing his tent had grown familiar with Richard over the past few days and snatched it directly from his hand. He hadn’t read two pages before his eyes widened. "You... you’re reading..."
Seeing his temporary roommate getting more and more engrossed, unable to stop turning the pages, Richard became calm. "Since we suffered a defeat, we should understand our enemy better, especially an enemy that has suddenly grown so strong.
"We should all figure out what makes a ragtag mob fight so fearlessly to the death."
Richard wasn’t like most people, who believed the fundamental reason for their recent defeat was that the Valois side had Mages. He wanted to understand why those Mages would rather quit the Guild to join the National Guard.
The artillery position, the faces of the two Casters—they were still vivid in his mind. The tricolor flower on their hats was deeply etched into Richard’s memory.
