Book Eater

Chapter 166: The Road Home (1)

“Sir Adolf, please look after Brother.”

“I’ll continue doing my best.”

As usual, Baek Dongil left Theo’s room grimly, while Randolph sighed morosely. Randolph was fond of Baek Dongil’s sincere learning attitude and polite character, but the repeated visits were annoying. However, he couldn’t stop Baek Dongil from coming, so he just endured the visits.

That reminds me. Today makes it a full week.?

Randolph glanced at Theo, who was lying on a nearby bed. He had been the one to first find Theo, and the first to realize what was going on. Theo didn’t have a fever or cold sweats, so it might seem like he was sleeping. However, reality disagreed. Randolph had instinctively recognized the symptoms.

Theo was breaking through the master’s wall! A mortal body and spirit couldn’t handle the power of a transcendent. Therefore, mortals who reached the realm of a master had to evolve their body and mind to match the level of transcendent power.

The term ‘Physical Change’ referred to the phenomenon where a bodily imbalance was rectified and polished beyond its innate limits. It was also fortuitous that this process also removed all hidden toxins in one’s body. Randolph shuddered as he remembered his own experience. This coma-like situation seemed rather mild in comparison.

“Seems like I misjudged things,” Randolph’s face turned serious as he placed a finger on Theo’s wrist.

He could feel the slowly swirling vortex of magic power. It hadn’t changed a whit since the first day. The magic power was so dense and powerful that Randolph didn’t have any confidence in intervening, despite being a sword master. It was impossible to calm it down from the outside.

Randolph had to wait until its owner, Theodore Miller, could control it himself. However, what if Theo didn’t break through? What if the terrible power Randolph sensed burst out of Theo’s body? The mansion would be obliterated, and the fallout might reach the faraway town. It was a different type of waste material.

Randolph smiled as he glanced at Theo’s still sleeping face.

Is Theo special, or magicians are always like this?

Of course, Theo’s case was special, but Randolph had no way of knowing this. However, despite knowing the risks, Randolph didn’t leave Theo’s side. He believed that he could stop the crisis or that Theo would overcome this trial. It was a myth, but in the Andras Empire, the greater the crisis during one’s transition, the greater the potential.

If that was the case, Theo would be reborn as an unprecedented master.

“... Well, I just might be dreaming.” Randolph laughed as he rose to his feet.

He had stayed at Theo’s side from daybreak to sunset, often skipping meals. Randolph headed to a nearby kitchen to grab a glass of water. He only spent a few minutes gulping down the cool water before returning to Theo’s room.

But the moment he touched the doorknob, he felt an unknown thrill run over his body. A sword master’s keen senses had taken note of the change. The unstable magic power that almost seemed like a natural disaster in the making had returned to serenity. Which meant…

The transition is complete.

Randolph gulped before turning the doorknob. Theo had either successfully crossed the wall to become a master, or he had been blown apart. Randolph would only know after he opened the door.

When the door swung open, Randolph started to laugh. “-Ha, hahahahah!”

His worries fled like darkness before the sun, as the room’s occupant stood before him. His eyes seemed to contain more depth than before. After passing through the boundaries of a mortal, Theodore Miller had finally returned.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting,” Theo said as Randolph regained control of himself. There was a faint smile on Theo’s face. “It took longer than I thought it would.”

Seven roaring Circles proclaimed the birth of a new master in the world.

***

Unlike aura users, his body hadn’t changed dramatically. However, he’d slept for a week, so he was starving. Randolph brought him some bread and soup first. If he told people that Theo had woken up, things would quickly become extremely noisy. As Theo had just completed the transition, he needed to rest.

Theo greatly appreciated the consideration. He thanked Randolph and quickly started eating. Theo’s body, which had starved for a week, absorbed the nutrients like the desert receiving rain. Meanwhile, Randolph was carefully examining him.

He’s certainly different.?

Theo didn’t seem to have changed, but the storm raging inside him had completely subsided. The pressure of his magic power had somehow vanished. Yet, Randolph’s sword master instincts were warning him. Even if Randolph unleashed everything he had, he still couldn’t guarantee victory. After all, a 7th Circle magician could more than match a sword master.

In the end, Randolph couldn’t repress his curiosity and asked, “The 7th Circle, is it completed?”

“... I’m not sure. It’s a little… inappropriate to call it completed.”

“What? Inappropriate?” Randolph’s eyebrows rose at Theo’s vague answer.

Theo took another sip of soup and continued, “I have seven Circles, but a master level magician needs more than just seven Circles.”

“Then what else do you need?”

“Just like master aura users need to awaken their Aura Ability, magicians have to develop their own unique Sorcery.”

Theo said it was similar to Aura Ability, but it wasn’t that big. Just like how sword masters had unique characteristics of aura, magicians focused on their specific attributes. The White Tower Master’s unbelievable space magic and Blundell’s water control were based on Sorcery. Theo had only realized it after reaching the 7th Circle. His ability to analyze magic itself had improved.

Somehow, I couldn’t do it even if I ate the original book.

Theo had thought he would be able to do space magic or water control magic, but he now knew it would’ve failed. When he thought about it, he realized it was natural. It was no wonder that Theo couldn’t understand the essential principles of the spells considering he didn’t know what Blundell’s Sorcery was.

Moreover, that wasn’t the only part that was different from aura.

Theo looked at Randolph and continued to explain with a smile, “Sorcery is different from Aura Ability in that it can’t be used straight away. The 7th Circle is the minimum condition, and I need to study Sorcery from now on.”

“Ah, I see,” Randolph said as he took in the explanation.

From the perspective of Eastern philosophy, it was the difference between an epiphany and gradual study. Sorcery was something which could only be learned by accumulating knowledge and effort. Theo, who had only just arrived at the 7th Circle, was still unable to use his own unique attributes.

However, Randolph smiled cheerfully and jostled his shoulder. “Well, either way, you’ve gone beyond the wall! It is late, but welcome to the realm of a master.”

“If I’m late, then what is Randolph?”

Randolph mock frowned, “Ah, are you already acting like this? This young guy is really behaving badly.”

It was a joke but Theo’s expression brightened. As Randolph said, the wall to the 7th Circle was an extremely difficult endeavor. But it had a different meaning to Theo.

Theo had escaped the deadline of three years! He had escaped the confines of a mortal in half the time limit Myrdal had given him. The future of being crushed by his own power had disappeared.

It’s sooner than I expected, but it should be okay to return to the north.

In any case, Sorcery couldn’t be completed in a day or two, and the research and observations accumulated in the Magic Society would be more efficient for his own research. He had overcome the deadline, which had been his original purpose, so wasn’t it better to return to the safety of Meltor to finish the rest of his research?

Theo was slowly chewing the last of his bread when Randolph spoke, “Ah, there was a letter for you.”

“Letter?” Theo turned his attention back to Randolph.

What letter? Who would know about them to send a letter here?

Randolph handed him the envelope. “It has the name of the guy from Sipoto, Gibra, on it. I guess their title as the best information guild isn’t for nothing.”

“Gibra... Indeed, there would be no one else.”

In retrospect, everyone who knew about him were enemies, except for Gibra. Well, he couldn’t conclude that Gibra was an ally. However, Gibra was the only one who could send him a letter. The best information guild in the central continent would definitely be able to follow his tracks.

Now, Theo was curious and wary about the contents of this letter.

Tear.?

Theo tore open the envelope and pulled out the sheet of paper inside. He read through its contents, and burned the letter and envelope. Randolph guessed that Theo intended to conceal the existence of the letter.

He asked, “Is it something that shouldn’t be known by others?”

“There is nothing wrong with being careful.”

Theo cast Silence around them. It was rare for eavesdropping to escape the notice of a sword master, but this spell was to block that rare possibility from happening.

“It’s news about the Orcus Company. Meltor received my message and dispatched investigators to search for clues in the central continent. In response, the Orcus Company has shifted its base from the south-west to the east.”

“Uhh, the timing isn’t good.”

“That’s right. I think we should keep in mind the possibility of seeing them near the Kargas border.”

They were now much stronger since the battle in Sipoto, but it still wasn’t very wise to fight against unknown opponents. They were enemies who had chased Theo all the way to the Pirate Archipelago. It was fortunate that the enemies had angered Aquilo. Otherwise, it would’ve been a struggle on the sea.

If they had a death knight and ghost ship, they might be hiding a master among their ranks next time.

... I have to return home.

Was it fortunate that the Orcus Company was moving to the east now? Theo calmly calculated his speed, position, and the path to Meltor before sighing. Gibra’s letter wasn’t entirely trustworthy, but it was difficult since he had already seen the contents.

In any case, he had to act carefully to avoid any traps, so he made a decision. He stacked the empty dishes and rose to his feet. “We’ll leave in a week. I have to finish off the work I have left here and ask Master Baek for one last favor.”

As Theo headed for his room, he had a hunch about something. It seemed the story of the young suspicious magician, Ted, would have to end here. From now on, it was the turn of Theodore Miller, the young hero of the Meltor Kingdom.

Theo’s heart grew anxious at the thought of seeing some faces, and his feet unconsciously moved quicker. It was time to return to Theo’s homeland, Meltor.