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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 6
Equinox's request was clear.
Acknowledge it as a master and show respect.
But I had no intention of doing that.
This thing was just a book.
It was nothing more than a tool.
I couldn’t show respect to an object like that.
More importantly, this thing had a completely distorted view of the master-servant relationship.
Occasionally, even among magical tools with transferred consciousness, there are some like this. The method for dealing with them is simple.
‘Show them who the real master is.’
In my past life, even the sword I owned had a very twisted personality.
So, after beating it senseless with a hammer, it started obeying.
I firmly placed the book into my leather bag. Then, I began to proceed with the next task.
＊ ＊ ＊
The moon was setting.
I couldn’t afford to waste any more time here if I wanted to carry out my "work" without being noticed by others.
From now on, I need to clean up the orphanage entirely.
I had to gather useful materials and erase all traces of the ritual.
If I drew the attention of unnecessary inquisitors or priests, it would only cause trouble.
‘Should I start by moving the bones?’
The bones were an important tool for me to master necromancy.
To move them, I needed to return to the place I had been living for the past six months.
There, I could gather the tools I needed and prepare everything.
I slung the leather bag containing Equinox over my shoulder and took the staff, Nocturne, in my hand as I headed toward the mountains.
The moon was still low near the horizon.
Thankfully, the sun hadn’t risen yet, but dawn would break soon.
I hurried toward the natural cave in the forest where I had set up my hideout.
This was the place I had discovered recently. Using the memories from my past life, I chose this cave, knowing it was one of the locations the orphanage children feared the most.
The atmosphere here was truly eerie.
Trees were scattered across the ground, and broken rocks lay in sharp, menacing shapes.
Moreover, from a distance, the dark cave entrance looked like a monstrous mouth wide open, ready to swallow whatever came near.
However, to me, this place was home.
Seeing the jagged rocks reassured me.
I walked calmly into the cave, which seemed to open its mouth toward me.
＊ ＊ ＊
The main reason I returned to my hideout was to clean up the "byproducts" scattered around the orphanage.
The bones of humans tainted with the energy of the demon realm.
Among them, the bones of the high priest and Andre would be particularly useful.
Bones of such priests or mages inevitably contain mana.
These mana-infused bones would become valuable materials for me to use in the future as I master necromancy.
‘The problem is, how do I transport these bones…’
21 children's bones, 5 adults', and one high priest's bones.
That’s a total of twenty-seven sets of bones.
I could carry them myself, but it would take too much time and there’s a risk of being spotted by others.
I thought for a moment about how to move them and entered deeper into the cave.
Then, I snapped my fingers and cast a minor spell.
‘Ignition.’
A small spark flew from my finger into the dead firewood, and soon flames began to rise.
Whoosh—
I was surprised at how quickly the fire ignited.
This was because the effect and range were different from when I used basic magic with a child's body.
‘It’s much stronger now.’
Soma magic is a minor spell that concentrates the ambient mana in the air through the caster’s strong focus.
It’s a simple magic that doesn’t require runes, relying only on concentration and a "trigger word."
Until yesterday, using basic magic as a child’s body, I could only cast small spells such as a simple ignition spell, lighting up a cave, or moving objects with telekinesis.
As long as I had focus and knowledge of magic, I could perform that level of basic magic even in a child’s body, despite not having a significant mana ring.
But now, things are different.
With a healthy and perfect body in my twenties, my concentration and mana cohesion had become much stronger.
I watched the fire burning brightly, and while I chewed on some dried jerky I had set aside, I fell back into thought.
Up until just yesterday, the ignition magic I could use was extremely weak. The fire kept going out, and I'd always have to blow on it hard to keep it going.
'With this level of power…'
I went over the different types of basic magic I’d learned and picked out one that fit the situation perfectly.
Rising from my seat, I walked to the desk and snapped my fingers again.
Whoosh—
The blaze was stronger than I expected, enough to scorch a nearby botanical specimen hanging too close. I plucked it off the wall and set it on the desk.
'Silver Bellflower Leaf.'
It was a dried leaf from the plant that blooms into the Silver Bellflower—a species known for its unusual affinity with mana that takes form.
When used as a conduit, even shape-forming spells that would normally be too complex for basic basic magic could be cast with ease.
I shoved the leather bag containing Equinox under the desk and grabbed the mortar nearby. Then I placed the leaf inside and ground it finely.
Equinox began to vibrate with a low hum from under the desk, but I ignored it.
'And what exactly do you plan to do about it?'
As long as I didn’t open the book, Equinox couldn’t say a word.
Let it stew in silence for a while—it’d learn soon enough. Who’s in charge. Who gives the orders, and who follows them.
A little time, a little patience. That’s how you break a stubborn tool.
Before long, I had a good amount of fine powder glowing faint blue. The drying process had done its job—grinding it down was easy.
I packed it into a small pouch, then stepped into the wide clearing at the back of the cave.
Snapping my fingers, I cast a basic spell.
'Hand of Mana.'
Suddenly, a soft glow lit up the dark cave floor.
From the ground, a luminous hand bloomed like a flower, glowing with a soft blue light, as if bathed in moonlight.
'Just as I thought.'
The hand of mana I conjured was decently sized, and the quality was excellent.
It was solid enough to be touched—and even strong enough to sit on.
Even considering the fact that today is the midpoint of the full moon, this was impressive.
Normally, shaping a mana hand to this level is difficult.
Back when I reached the 3rd Circle, the ones I made were far smaller and blurrier. They could hold up a child, but forget about supporting an adult.
'To think the body I’ve gained is this powerful…'
I found myself surprised again by the capabilities of this new body.
I hadn’t expected it to be this good.
Most of all, I loved how naturally I could walk.
Every step I took made my left foot feel newly alive.
And with that came a sense of excitement.
'Just how far can I go, learning magic in this body?'
Even with just basic magic, I could now generate power comparable to a 3rd Circle spell.
If I gained a mana ring and began properly learning magic, it wouldn’t be long before I reached the level of a Grand Mage.
That future was clear in my mind—and it made my heart race.
'But still, I better hurry. The sun will rise soon.'
I reached into the pouch, grabbed another pinch of powder, and scattered it on the floor to summon another hand of mana.
As the second hand formed, Nocturne, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up.
- Master, may I ask what you intend to do?
[Why? Planning to help?]
Nocturne responded cautiously.
- Even if I wished to assist, your heart lacks a mana ring. I can only channel mana through that conduit.
[Then just observe.[
- ...Understood.
I began walking slowly, conjuring hands of mana as I moved.
By the time I left the cave, a trail of these magical hands followed me.
When I reached the orphanage, dozens—if not hundreds—of them had appeared.
I created one more hand of mana at the entrance as I stepped inside.
That’s when Nocturne’s voice echoed once again.
- Now I understand your intention, Master.
[Do you?[
A smile crept onto my face, perhaps because I had someone to converse with or someone witnessing my actions.
Whatever the reason, it felt good—a sensation I hadn't experienced in a long time.
I proceeded to collect the scattered bones within the orphanage, placing them onto the hands of mana.
Each hand passed the bones to the next, transporting them to my dwelling within the forest cave.
Along with various bones, I also retrieved the orphanage director's hidden safe and ledger, as well as usable food supplies and tools from the kitchen.
Lastly, I transported the remains of High Priest Lyernoff from the orphanage courtyard.
After gathering all necessary bones and items, Nocturne remarked.
- It's a magnificent sight.
Hundreds of faintly glowing blue hands of mana moved in sync, resembling a procession of blue ants.
I stood there, mesmerized, as Nocturne continued.
- In the past 168 years, I've never witnessed such a scene.
I nodded in agreement.
[Nor have I.]
Had I possessed a mana ring, I could have utilized teleportation or telekinesis spells for this task.
Lacking that, I had to devise an alternative solution—and this method proved quite effective.
Once I confirmed that Lyernoff's bones had reached halfway up the mountain, I turned back to survey the orphanage grounds.
‘Time to finish this.’
Next, I needed to disperse the remnants of the dark magic ritual surrounding the orphanage.
Once used in a ritual, the powder transforms into black ash—in some cases, it oxidizes into a blood-red hue.
If this oxidized powder were to be discovered, an Inquisitor would be dispatched.
‘I can’t afford to be noticed yet. Not until I’ve gained enough power.’
Although I had acquired a strong body, I was still weak.
I could use stronger basic magic, but without a mana ring, I couldn’t perform proper spells.
In my current state, even though Nocturne was a tool, I couldn't use it properly.
If I were to be caught by an Inquisitor or a priest now, I would meet an unfortunate end.
‘I need to clean up thoroughly.’
I closed my eyes for a moment, concentrating.
I then reached down, plucking the crushed grass under my feet, and muttered an incantation.
‘Wind.’
A small breeze began to stir in the previously still air.
The wind grew stronger, and in its wake, the ash powder was swept into the air.
I opened my eyes, stepping back slowly as I watched the scene unfold.
The wind wasn’t very strong.
It was powerful for a basic spell, but it was still just a light breeze.
Still, it was enough to scatter the powder into the air.
The wind that rose from the ground carried the powder up into the air, swirling around the orphanage a few times.
For me, it was a space like hell. The cursed moments of my past dispersed like that.
The ash powder was blown away by the wind, vanishing into the distance, and the sun rose behind it.
It was the first morning after the equinox.
At the same time, it was the first day I greeted since I had obtained my new body.
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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