Mage? Magic Engineer!

Chapter 439: Chapter 436: Limited Edition Qi Creation Skill

Revisiting the Boundary Land, the space seemed to have grown larger. The Golden Tree, in particular, was much more lush and verdant:

For one, as the number of Users increased, the pathways for their corresponding Magic grew thicker and more solid.

Second, Rorschach had been persistently uploading his own Magic, such as the "Miniature Black Hole" he had cast in the Air Elemental Plane. Uploading it didn’t just mean uploading a single spell model; it also meant that the entire cluster of spells supporting it had to be uploaded, generating multiple new nodes. In the end, this spell was classified as Eighth Ring by Ring Tier. The increase in the ring ceiling was also proof of the Golden Tree’s "vigorous growth."

Third, a very subtle factor was at play. The interception of faith meant for the Lord of Order and the primitive faith of the Devourer tribe, natives of the Air Elemental Plane—these mystical surges were not a primary requirement for the "Tree’s" development, but they acted as a stimulant. Strictly speaking, they were like trace elements.

Correspondingly, the Guardian, the "Pidan Spirit," had also grown a size larger. Its featureless head nuzzled against its master. Rorschach and Caroline were both in their Spirit Body forms, and when they came into contact with the "Pidan’s" surface, they felt a cold, smooth, and slippery texture.

In the Boundary Land, granules of condensed Transmutation Dust Powder rose from the ground and formed the shape of a gas cloud—the Tower Spirit simulating a corner of the Air Elemental Plane. The perspective Rorschach and Caroline could see was, of course, centered on the tribe. In the miniature scene, a few grains of sand flickered with a golden glow, likely indicating that some tribe members were praying.

Caroline began to unfurl the Original Scripture of the Secret Contract. The Transmuting Dust sand obediently transformed, constructing a perfect model of it. At the same time, in the simulated scene, a blue radiance lit up the sky above the tribe, representing potential points from which gas could be extracted. These coordinates were randomly distributed, with the highest concentration of points located in the space directly above the tribe, meaning that was the area with the highest probability of extraction.

The Magic was not yet finalized; there was still room for fine-tuning. For instance, there were many engineering-related problems—an instantaneous extraction would naturally activate a single point in the simulation, but what about continuous extraction?

Should it use a fixed exchange point, or should the point refresh after a certain period? However, these were all minor details, nothing to get hung up on. It was merely a matter of re-editing the "Feature Symbol."

"We can experiment once we return to the Material Plane." Caroline sighed. It was a sigh of relief after completing the task, but it held other meanings as well. She fell silent for a moment before speaking. "If this Magic is completed, you’ll be able to extract a new gas, right?"

"Yes."

"And it will be used on the Empire’s Airships."

"It will."

"And the Empire’s Airships will drop bombs on Valois, causing death and injury."

"...Even without this, the two nations are currently at war. Casualties are inevitable. Back at the Tower of Stars, I proposed the idea of transmitting information using electricity. Later, telegraph and radio technology were utilized by the National Guard, helping them achieve victory in the battle in northern Valuva."

He had learned the specific details from Prime Minister Otto.

"Our accomplishments, the Magic of Mages, everything we produce will be used for killing at this moment in history, but it will absolutely not be used only on the battlefield forever. I won’t hesitate just because technology can bring death. On the contrary, this is an opportunity to promote progress and popularization. It’s the foundation for its spread and for benefiting the public.

"When two sides fight, technology and Magic will be moved from laboratories and Mage Towers onto the battlefield. They aren’t gifts from Divine Spirits; they are the products of human wisdom. Therefore, they won’t vanish or be taken back when the war ends. Instead, they will be passed down to more people."

Rorschach said all this without fanaticism or sorrow, just a straightforward assertion. A phenomenon like this would have been difficult to imagine in the age when Divine Spirits walked the earth, and the process was very slow before the rise of various trading companies and the merchant class. However, Rorschach knew it would happen, and he firmly believed the great war would accelerate it.

Caroline scrutinized Rorschach. The person before her was neither a Saint nor a Demon. "Perhaps you’re right. May you cherish life—your own, that of your friends and family, and that of your countrymen. No matter how great the cause, the innocent should never be forced to become stepping stones."

"I didn’t start the war. What I’ve done, in this regard, is merely to give more value to the deaths of those who might have died anyway. At the same time, I’m doing other things, trying to save some people."

"I know. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’m sorry. I don’t completely agree with your actions, but I shouldn’t criticize you for them, Rorschach."

"Thank you."

In any case, Teacher Caroline had helped him a great deal. Even with their differing philosophies, the new Magic had been completed smoothly. The most significant thing about completing the [Qi Creation Skill] was that it was Magic translated from a Secret Contract into the "Spell Cloud" system—an "Exclusive Spell" that had never appeared in the traditional Casting System.

And currently, Rorschach’s "Spell Cloud" could determine who had access, meaning it was exclusive. He planned to use this as an opportunity. When supplying the new gas to the Empire, he would dispatch his own people to establish supply stations, which would also serve as outposts for expansion into other regions of the Empire.

If more "Exclusive Spells" appeared in the future, the value of the Spell Cloud would gradually increase, until one day the "Golden Tree" grew into a towering giant, and the new system was no longer a mere substitute for the old one.

"Let’s go back." Seeing that Caroline was in low spirits, Rorschach thought of a good suggestion. "How about we sneak back to the Tower of Stars for a look?"

Caroline’s strong reaction was probably because she was worried about the situation in her homeland. Seeing it with her own eyes, no matter what the circumstances, would at least dispel any pointless speculation. As for what she would choose to do next... Rorschach couldn’t force the hand of a free, adult Mage, especially not his own teacher.

"But... the Magic Guild’s teleportation won’t be open to us."

"Aren’t there cross-border routes? I can discuss it with Master Kano and have him figure something out. If he’s overwhelmed by the situation, then forget it. But if he agrees, I refuse to believe that a Great Mage who studies Space Magic can’t open a Teleportation Gate!"

"That makes sense." Caroline’s eyes lit up again.

...

At that very moment, Kano was indeed overwhelmed, but he was also filled with joy, because his years of research were finally making progress.

The Republic’s situation was improving, but things in Valuva were getting worse. Gallows were sprouting up like mushrooms after a spring rain, and they operated day after day without rest.

Before, an Executioner would wipe the blade clean after executing someone, but now there was no time for such leisure. The executions were carried out in batches, one after another in quick succession. With a series of CHUNKS, the blade became caked with the mixed blood of different people.

The smell of terror and rust permeated the heart of the Republic. Fortunately, the few students Kano was most worried about had joined the army, temporarily distancing themselves from this crazy vortex of public opinion and gallows. Compared to dying on the battlefield, Kano was more worried they would end up attacking each other just like the delegates of the National Assembly, even to the point of killing one another.

He saw no honor in such a situation.

Meanwhile, the Magic Guild had fractured into organizations defined by national borders. Each operated independently, and the various Chapters maintained only limited communication, which, conversely, left Kano in peace.

So now he shut his doors and continued his research. The widespread construction of Transmutation Dust Extractors had brought an unexpected boon. The machines extracted Transmutation Dust day and night, forcibly creating a weak area in the laminar flow.

The appearance of this weak area allowed Kano’s research team to see a glimmer of hope for entering the Star Realm.