Chapter 74
Kain, who had until now ascended to the second and third floors of the Educational Building without examination by the Clan Head's authority, was this time scheduled to participate in the test.
-Kain. While it's true you've achieved astonishing results, as you are now advancing to the fourth floor, you shall personally undertake the examination.
No matter how powerful the Clan Head, immediately promoting someone to the fourth floor would be an unreasonable act.
The disciples, as well as the instructors, would undoubtedly object this time.
‘It's actually for the best.’
Even if Blake Siers had first asked if Kain would prefer to just go up to the fourth floor, Kain would have politely refused.
‘Previously, it wasn't a period when examinations were typically held, and I wanted to gain even a little more information from the Archives, so I accepted and ascended.’
At that time, Kain had almost no information about this era.
He hadn't been able to take a single step outside the remote snowy mountains, nor had he had the opportunity.
Even the information he would have naturally acquired living as a direct descendant of the Siers clan for 15 years, as his past life's memories had overwritten his own, was unavailable to him.
That's why he needed the information in the Archives.
‘But now, I've grasped enough.’
While living his daily life, some memories that had been suppressed due to his past life's memories were partially restored.
He had also traveled to various regions outside the snowy mountains, met many people, and listened to their stories of living in the present.
‘And now, I also have other channels to obtain information.’
Even without grand information like that about Vin Eldros, Eisel was fundamentally knowledgeable in various fields and possessed the ability to research new information if he set his mind to it.
If Kain had any questions in the future, he could simply ask Eisel.
He had also given him a very generous advance payment.
‘Of course, if I gain access to the Archives on the fourth floor, I'll still take a look.’
This simply meant he no longer had a reason to enter as quickly as before.
And most importantly.
‘It's only natural for a disciple of the clan to diligently participate in the examination.’
Unless it wasn't examination season, there was no reason not to take the upcoming test.
By taking the examination with the other disciples, Kain could observe them and, by demonstrating his own abilities, help broaden their perspectives.
‘Anyway, it's finally tomorrow.’
It hadn't been a long time, but since returning from the escort mission, there had been a few changes.
First, the way people looked at Kain had distinctly changed.
‘It can't be helped. After all, he appeared having achieved 3rd-circle only a month before reaching 4th-circle.’
The clan members still believed that Kain had secluded himself in the training room for three years to achieve 2nd-circle proficiency, and then gained enlightenment in the snowy mountains, finally reaching 3rd-circle.
Therefore, whether Kain had truly perfected the 2nd-circle in a month, or whether he had created the 3rd-circle soon after with the power of the Snow Blossom Ice Crystal, the perception hadn't changed significantly.
‘Though it did change a bit when he defeated Hayden.’
At that time, there was also the tangible result of his support funds being restored, and more importantly, because he had publicly suppressed the arrogant Hayden, many said they had a new appreciation for Kain.
However, if their gaze then was more like,
‘He secluded himself and self-taught magic, and it turns out he really does have talent!’, now it had shifted to, ‘What is this? Has a true genius appeared in our clan?’
‘For an ordinary person, this process takes at least several years.’
The reason people here were only surprised to this extent was probably because, due to their isolated lives in the snowy mountain region, they lacked precise information on how incredibly fast this truly was.
If the Siers clan manor had been in the capital and there had been active communication, rumors would have spread quickly, leading to heated debates, with comparisons like,
"So-and-so from another clan did this, and even that was considered incredibly fast..."
Such talk would have been common.
‘If that were the case, rumors like,
"He was already at 3rd-circle before he even entered the snowy mountains," or "No, he actually had some magic knowledge even before secluding himself in the training room, but the Siers Clan Head made him act to create a buzz about his son," or "He secretly acquired and consumed precious potions," would have circulated.’
Whether a rumor is true or not doesn't matter for its spread.
Only how interesting people find it matters.
‘Since I actually bought an potion at the Magic Tower this time, rumors about potions would certainly have spread. No, they might start spreading soon.’
Everyone knew that the Magic Tower sold potions, after all.
‘Although that potion didn't actually help me much...’
The potion Kain purchased, as explained by the alchemist, belonged to the category of inexpensive potions regularly produced at the Magic Tower.
Of course, even if it was inexpensive, boasting a high price of 50 gold per dose, it wasn't without effect.
‘Especially for Edward and Fohn, Bolio, and Anias, even that level of potion would have quite good efficacy.’
Indeed, on their way back, after installing a magic stone in the inn and fully absorbing the potion's energy without disturbance, they experienced an overall increase in their strength.
-Kain...! Tell me how to absorb this properly!
-You just need to sit still immediately after drinking it and fully feel its energy.
-Explain it a little more clearly! This is my first time taking an potion. It's expensive, so I want to absorb it well so it's not wasted!
-...Alright. Then call me when you drink it. The effects vary slightly for each person, so I'll observe and give simple advice.
-Oh, Kain! If you're going to do something like that, you should say so! Do it for me too!
-Me, can you do it for me too?
-...I'm fine.
Kain eventually visited each of the disciples' rooms, excluding Anias, and gently placed his hand on the back of the potion-consuming disciple's heart, feeling the flow together, and quietly offered advice just enough not to interfere with the absorption.
‘In the long term, even if one can't absorb it completely like Anias, it might be better to feel it fully on their own, but there are pros and cons to this.’
Because anxiety or pressure about potentially not properly absorbing a precious potion could have negative effects, he assisted those who wished for it.
Of course, he made it clear that from next time, they would have to do it alone.
Meanwhile, Kain absorbed the potion alone without wasting a single drop, but he did not experience the same level of effect as they did.
‘That's only natural. His circle was already impeccably refined and solidly built.’
The potion he took this time had the effect of increasing mana storage efficiency and solidifying fire-attribute circles.
Disciples who had never refined their mana before fully enjoyed the solidifying effect, but Kain, whose circles were already solid, couldn't see a significant effect.
‘It's the same for other things, not just circles.’
In any field, building from 0 to 90 is many times harder than building from 90 to 99, and making 99 into 100 is even harder.
‘Still, it helped a little with mana storage efficiency. So it wasn't a wasted expense.’
Fortunately, Kain had a constitution that responded well to potions, so it provided that much help.
‘In my current state, there are almost no potions that would have a significant effect on me anyway.’
Before absorbing the Snow Blossom Ice Crystal, he had the drawback of limited mana.
However, since achieving 5th-circle in ice-attribute magic and now 4th-circle in fire-attribute magic, he felt almost no problem with mana capacity.
‘Because the circle room's own mana storage capacity has increased dramatically.’
One of the good things about solidifying a circle is that the circle itself can hold more mana.
A circle that's just bone, and a circle with solid flesh and muscle. It's obvious which one can hold mana better.
‘However, simply increasing mana storage efficiency and speeding up mana circulation is far more efficient overall than solidifying a circle.’
There was a reason why mana refinement was treated as an obsolete training method.
But Kain had instantly created a 'complete' 5th-circle of ice-attribute magic with the Snow Blossom Ice Crystal.
As the circle level increased, the rings grew larger, doubling his mana storage, so at least for ice-attribute magic, he could rest assured about mana concerns.
‘If that weren't the case, his mana would have run out long ago in the fight against the 6-star mercenary.’
What's more, Kain possesses not only a 5th-circle in ice-attribute magic but also a 4th-circle in fire-attribute magic.
Since mana can be stored separately in both circle rooms, it meant that even if he exhausted the mana in his dantian and his fire-attribute circle, he wouldn't be unable to use ice-attribute magic.
This implied Kain could always handle emergencies.
At any rate, for these reasons, Kain currently had virtually no potions that could greatly benefit him.
‘That’s why I'm looking for Vin Eldros.’
It was uncertain when he would find him.
Nevertheless, after Kain achieved the 4th-circle in just a month, the gazes of not only the servants but especially the disciples had changed significantly.
This marked the second change.
"Kain! Am I doing this right?"
"Look at mine too, please!"
Some of the disciples who had previously only watched Kain, Edward, Fohn, and Bolio train together from a distance, now began seeking out Kain, asking to join them and to be taught.
Naturally, Kain readily taught any disciple who showed earnestness, regardless of whether they were a direct descendant or an initiate.
However,
"K-Kain... I really can't do this anymore... If it has to be this hard, can't I just not do it...?"
"I have never forced training upon anyone. If you don't wish to continue, you're free to leave at any time."
"I'm sorry for wasting your effort in teaching me..."
Due to the nature of the training methods, quite a few disciples dropped out midway.
"There's no need to apologize. The training I teach is based on optimal efficiency, so if you wish to proceed alone at a suitable intensity, even if it's less efficient, you may do so. If you feel ready to endure it later, you can always return."
"I can do that...? Thank you!"
Kain neither stopped those who came nor those who left.
‘No matter how good a training method is, there's a world of difference between showing it to those who are desperate and those who are not.’
The water drunk by the thirsty was different from the water drunk by those who lacked nothing.
The third and final change concerned Anias.
"Wait, isn't that Anias?"
"Anias is here even before the lessons begin?"
"Could it be that we're so late everyone else left and only Anias remains?"
"Check the time."
"It's just starting, right...?"
"She was granted attendance for the entire mission period, so she wouldn't even need to show up until the exam, what's gotten into her?"
After her conversation with Kain, Anias diligently participated in her education.
She neither skipped lessons nor slept during them.
And during the free training time after lessons, like the other disciples who sought out Kain, she underwent rigorous training, pushing herself to her limits.
"Haah, haah..."
"Milady! Here's some cool water. Please drink it."
"Thank you for your consideration, Nancy."
"Milady...! No, it's nothing. I should have paid more attention to you all this time..."
Anias also seemed to have grown a little closer to her dedicated maid, with whom she had previously kept a distance.
‘A good thing to see.’
Kain nodded.
"Young Masterrrrr!"
"..."
This one, on the other hand, seemed a little too close.
***
The next day.
The Siers clan's 'Test' began.
And, in the written examination that started first, Kain spent only the physical time it took to write down the answers before rising from his seat.
