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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 185: Distortion (2)
When I didn't respond, Mahon slowly scanned me from head to toe.
His gaze carried a clear intent—not to miss a single reaction.
I suddenly let out a dry chuckle.
“An interesting question.”
Mahon, looking puzzled, asked back,
“Interesting? If you don't know, you don't know. If you do, you wouldn't say something like that. Do you even understand what I'm talking about?”
“I know. I know that the expedition actually existed. I also know that our Samael took part in it.”
Mahon’s brows furrowed as he fixed his gaze on me.
As our eyes locked, I realized that Mahon’s reaction wasn’t fabricated.
I couldn’t tell how much he actually knew or why he was bringing this up in front of me. Whatever his intentions were, I had no intention of playing along.
“Are you saying you truly know?”
“Of course. I even know that the White Magic Tower didn’t participate in the final expedition.”
At that moment, as I saw Mahon’s eyes widen, I knew my guess was correct.
‘Just as I thought.’
The White Magic Tower—still standing today and the only magic tower that existed 300 years ago.
If this man was truly one of the current head of the White Magic Tower, it wouldn’t be strange for him to be aware of records from the past.
Mahon muttered to himself,
“So, it’s true. I thought you might know something. The final expedition—the turning point when Samael’s incantation magic disappeared. That was then.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“I was curious. Samael’s lost magic has resurfaced, and the demons have returned—after 300 years. It’s too coincidental to dismiss as chance.”
I looked at Mahon and said,
“For someone who knows about the demons, you seem rather calm.”
Mahon shook his head.
“I’m fully aware of the gravity of the situation. There are already forces moving in the shadows. Preparations are being made.”
“How much do you know about the demons?”
“I know the records of the expedition. They weren’t easy opponents.”
A dry laugh escaped me again.
“‘They weren’t easy opponents’? Is that all?”
“There aren’t many records left. It’s been too long.”
“300 years isn’t exactly ancient history.”
“If you know something, share it. It could be useful.”
“Shallow.”
“Shallow?”
Mahon threw a single remark back at me.
“Sorcerer, I know that Samael once had mages who could wield high-circle incantation magic.”
“So, you’ve heard scraps of information, it seems.”
“What?”
It must have been a comment he thought would hit its mark, but I could see the limits of his knowledge.
He only had fragments.
This man doesn’t understand the demons.
If he did, he wouldn’t be making such remarks.
Even in the past, the White Magic Tower existed, but they only observed Samael from a distance and merely recorded the expedition from afar.
He doesn’t know what really happened during the expedition.
And because he doesn’t know, he can afford to take it lightly.
Or maybe… he’s one of those Myriad Demons Assembly members.
A brief silence fell.
Mahon took a sip from his teacup, stared at me for a long moment, and then said,
"It's been a while since I've had a conversation like this. I highly respect Samael's will. However, as you know better than anyone, there are limits. Much has been lost. Naturally, it won't be the same as in the past."
"..."
"The White Magic Tower has been researching incantation magic for a long time. The power of incantations is immense, but it's also an undeniable fact that there are limitations to individuals utilizing them in battle. That's why we became interested in Samael's combat methods."
Mahon looked at me intently.
"I'd like to make a proposal. We'll teach you about incantation magic. Since there must be limitations to the types of incantations Samael knows, it wouldn't be a bad offer. In return, I'd like you to tell us about Samael's combat methods."
"How many types of incantations do you know?"
"There are over twenty 6th-circle or higher incantations that our mages can cast together. In addition, there are ancient incantations that the mages of the upper tower have been researching for a long time. Of course, they're not yet perfect."
"Interesting."
"You say that again... Interesting?"
I stood up from my seat and said,
"It was an uninteresting conversation."
"I won't force you. If you change your mind, let me know anytime. You'll gain a lot just by exchanging information. The knowledge of incantations accumulated by the White Magic Tower will be far beyond your imagination."
"Worry about the demon tribe. That will be far beyond your imagination."
As I left the reception room, I said,
"The demon tribe... It's not something you can just defend against. You have to take it more seriously than any threat you can imagine. Properly manage the Restricted Demon Realm, 13th Floor Head."
Suddenly, I had a strange feeling and looked back to see Mahon glaring at me.
"Have you, by any chance, met the leader of the Myriad Demons Assembly?"
"It seems the Elders aren't close. Ask him yourself."
Mahon didn't say anything more.
***
Having finished the useless conversation, I headed back to the library.
Mahon was deeply mistaken. No, all the mages were under the same misconception.
Exchange incantation magic with the White Magic Tower?
What a joke.
In the first place, the White Magic Tower knows incantation magic because of Samael.
Samael, the origin of incantation magic.
When the magic clans of the past gathered their national will to establish the White Magic Tower for the development of the magical path,
I'm aware that Samael donated several useful magic books to the White Magic Tower.
'That was the beginning.'
I could now understand how the White Magic Tower used incantation magic.
They probably researched and developed Samael's magic books on their own.
However, that's not the orthodox way either.
And to think they're so proud of having a mere twenty or so high-circle incantations.
Creak—
Arriving at the library, I gathered my thoughts again and slowly began to look around.
The sheer size was overwhelming.
Here and there, I could see people who had visited the library before me examining magic books.
The interior was even more complex than it had appeared from the entrance.
Even just the first floor had a considerable height, with bookshelves taller than a person intertwined like a maze.
After a moment of contemplation, I approached a man who appeared to be a librarian.
"I'd like to go to the next floor. Where should I go?"
"If you look towards the pillar over there and go straight, you'll find the stairs."
Following the path the librarian had indicated, I arrived at the central staircase of the library, which led to the upper floors.
I immediately went upstairs.
Knowing Kazen's personality, he wouldn't have looked through the library haphazardly.
If he had truly checked every book from the 1st to the 3rd floor, there would be no need for me to double-check.
As I continued to ascend, at some point, I felt a massive flow of mana blocking the way to the next floor.
Another librarian, who was working at a desk in front of a magic circle, looked at me.
"Sir Ruin Samael, right?"
"No one seems to be unaware of my arrival. I want to go to the next floor."
"That's possible. There's no time limit on your stay. However, there are two things to keep in mind."
The man held up two fingers and looked at me.
"You cannot take the books inside out. Also, once you leave, there is a one-month restriction on re-entry."
"I can't re-enter for a month? Why is that?"
"We have such a regulation for the stable management of the unopened area. You may enter if you agree."
"Well, alright."
As soon as I nodded, the man got up from his seat and manipulated the magic circle.
"Please enter."
As soon as I stepped into the magic circle, I felt a flow of mana scanning me from head to toe.
Then, the magic circle deactivated, revealing another staircase.
As I continued to climb the stairs, a new space appeared, accompanied by the scent of wood.
"So this is the 4th floor."
It was quiet.
A silent space devoid of people, filled with tall bookshelves.
There were many books, but the number was significantly less than on the lower floors.
On one side, there were desks for perusing books and a lounge area for relaxation.
I immediately started scanning the books from the left end.
[The State of Affairs in the Western Continent and the Decline of the Eastern Continent]
[The History of the Baltahar clan]
[The Six Directions, Classification of the Vassal Clans]
[History of the Magic Towers: Centered on the White Magic Tower]
History books that were not easily accessible occupied one side of the bookshelf first, followed by books related to cultivation techniques.
[The Knight System and Classification of Swordsmanship]
[Erenhart Clan Swordsmanship]
[Advanced Cultivation Techniques of the Rhine Mercenary Corps]
[Blue Magic Tower Specialized Magic Book: Hand Sign Magic Manifestation]
[Yellow Magic Tower Specialized Magic Book: and Sign Magic Manifestation]
They said all the books on the continent were gathered here.
Indeed.
There were swordsmanship techniques and cultivation methods of past prestigious clans that were now extinct, and even books related to specialized magic considered secrets within each Magic Tower.
As I continued to scan the titles, my gaze suddenly stopped at one spot.
"This is here too?"
[Atark Clan Mana Cultivation Technique]
A cultivation technique placed amongst those of prestigious clans.
It contained the same content as the cultivation technique I had retrieved for the FullKhao Brotherhood.
I remembered being surprised by the high level of the technique for a clan I had never heard of, but seeing it here, it seems they were indeed one of the renowned clans of the past.
I put the cultivation technique back on the shelf and continued to examine the titles.
[Manifestation of Incantation Imagery: Part 1]
[Utilization of Mana Circles: Simplified Magic Barrier Formation with 5 People]
I came across some books related to incantations and skimmed through them, only to let out a hollow laugh.
The high-circle incantations they boasted about casting together were, at best, at the 5th-circle level.
Moreover, there was no mention of powerful incantations like 'Explosion,' the pinnacle of 5th-circle magic, or multi-casting.
It was inevitable, considering that Samael hadn't handed over any core magic books to the White Magic Tower in the first place.
[Classification of Demi-humans]
[Classification System of Demon Realms: Focused on Mutated Monsters]
[Conflict and Extinction of the Spirit Tribe and the Black Clan]
[TL/N: I am still not sure if Black Clad Tribe and Black Clan are the same. So unless confirmed otherwise I will consider them the same, i.e, will call them as Black Clan]
[Records of the Land of Death: Focused on the Twilight of the Giants]
"Hmm."
After scanning through to the last bookshelf, I sat down on a small chair placed to one side and pondered.
"There's nothing strange about the titles..."
Actually looking around the library myself, I found a contradiction.
No matter the entry restrictions on the 4th floor, surely quite a few people must have entered by now.
Even the lower floors where Kazen had found the records about the expedition had no entry restrictions.
That meant someone else could have seen the records related to the expedition.
"And yet, they didn't notice anything strange?"
For example, what if a record about the expedition was randomly inserted into a mana cultivation technique book?
What if a record about the expedition was randomly inserted into a book about demi-humans?
Surely the person reading the book would have noticed something strange.
Even if one or two people missed it, it couldn't have been left unattended.
Eventually, it would have been reported to the librarian with high probability.
A book where a record about the expedition could be inserted without arousing suspicion.
A record where only those who knew about the expedition would notice something strange.
I suddenly moved towards the bookshelf containing novels, legends, and journals.
I started reading each book from the leftmost shelf.
[Record of the Discovery of the First Level 1 Demon Realm - Hexen Signwall]
[Record of Participation in the War between Bellusia and Ardehain - Cain, Mercenary Captain]
[Exploration of the Hwarin Mountain Range]
I continued to read through the books, from when sunlight streamed through the window to when moonlight filled it, and then back to sunlight and moonlight again.
Some records were written like novels, others like essays.
There were accurate records, but also fictional ones embellished with imagination.
The record about the war between the vassal clans written by that guy called Cain, the mercenary captain, was completely different from what I knew.
It was purely an exaggerated record of his own achievements.
Again, a long time passed, and I was forcing myself to read a meaningless book.
[Extinction of the Black Clan: Record of the Expedition - Author Unknown]
A record written as if proofreading one's own experience.
I don't know who wrote it, but it's full of falsehoods.
A record about the 'Black Clan' that Samael exterminated, fabricated as if the writer had witnessed it firsthand.
I was about to skim through it and pick up the next book when my eyes suddenly stopped at one spot.
[Day 1,527.
The Ion Mercenary Corps was annihilated by a cunning attack from the Black Clan. But we had the great Sky Sword. It was Aiolli Baltahar who finally beheaded Iosa, the leader of the Black Clan.]
I read the sentence intently.
Once, twice, three times, four times, five times.
'...I'm certain.'
This isn't about the Black Clan.
It's a record of the final expedition.
And this record has clearly been fabricated.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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