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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 8
Silence settled between us. Was it my demand to be accepted as his master that provoked him? Or was he simply displeased?
After a moment, words appeared on Equinox's pages.
- So, you have no interest in learning necromancy?
[And why would I want to learn that?]
- Wasn’t that the reason you summoned me in the first place?
[Ever consider I summoned you just to toss you in a fire?]
I didn't answer his question directly. A question can be an attack. Answering without caution would naturally shift the initiative to the opponent.
In my previous life, I had learned how to deal with such entities.
'I can't afford to cede control to him.'
To maintain control, I needed to conceal my true intentions and discern his desires.
From our conversation so far, it was evident he wanted to take on a disciple—to pass on his secret techniques.
[Why are you so fixated on being a master? Is there a specific reason you must be mine?]
- It's only natural for one who imparts knowledge to be called a master. Why question such an inherent relationship?
[No, beings like you always seek compensation. So be honest—what is it that you truly want?]
I continued to press him with questions, but he skillfully evaded the core issue. By the sixth deflection, a question arose in my mind.
'How did my master obtain a copy of this creature in my past life?'
My master always carried a thick book titled Aium de Equinox. It was undoubtedly a copy, lacking the ability to converse or possess will.
'That means someone must have transcribed it.'
Just as this thought occurred, bold, archaic script surfaced on Equinox's page.
- Did you, by any chance, come from the future?
I was momentarily taken aback. How could he have known?
'Could it be...?'
Did he read my thoughts?
I immediately closed my eyes, but Equinox's voice rang out clearly.
- Yes, I read your thoughts.
[Didn't we agree that you wouldn't do that?]
- You've already scorched my pages and threatened my very existence. And yet, you speak of promises? Isn't that a bit shameless?
Before I could respond, Equinox continued.
- Closing your eyes won't help. I can now see the entirety of your past life.
Rustle—
At the sound of pages flipping, I opened my eyes and looked down at Equinox.
Its pages were now filled with strange symbols and cryptic images—none of which I recognized at first. But the longer I stared, the clearer they became.
They were my memories.
My life.
Every step I’d taken with my master, the years we wandered the world, all the way up to the moment I was captured and executed by the Inquisition—it was all there, painted in ink and magic.
Even the things my master whispered to me, things I thought only I remembered… they were written out in exact detail.
Once the story reached his end—and mine—Equinox spoke again.
- You’ve lived quite the life. Your master, it seems, reached impressive heights using only a copy of me. Frankly... a risky move.
[Why?]
- You think I just sat by while someone tried to replicate me?
There was a sharp edge in its voice—a bite of mockery.
And I got it.
An artifact this intelligent wouldn’t just let someone make a copy without messing with it.
Equinox let out a low, sly chuckle.
- Some copies have altered content, others are written in reverse. In certain versions, I've embedded such malicious tricks that following them would drive one to madness.
A truly malevolent artifact.
Among all the artifacts I've encountered, this one stands unparalleled.
Furrowing my brow, I inquired:
[So, what's your point?]
- Forget about copies or masters; they're irrelevant now. You are the one I've been waiting for.
I was taken aback by this unexpected declaration.
- I was born 4,000 years ago, at the dawn of this continent's history. Since then, I've sought someone worthy to inherit my knowledge. That long wait has finally borne fruit.
Equinox then muttered a series of incomprehensible phrases in a lamenting tone.
Suddenly, it presented the very first page of the book, inscribing new words.
- To the one who has traversed time, I've been awaiting you. From this moment, I shall serve you as my master. Accept my allegiance.
Equinox drew in the surrounding mana, and soon, a dark, shadowy figure materialized before me.
The figure resembled an elderly man cloaked in a black hood.
He knelt on one knee before me, lowered his head, and bowed to kiss my feet.
＊ ＊ ＊
Equinox's acknowledgment of me as his master was quite the spectacle.
Never before had I received such a formal gesture, nor did I expect one.
But that wasn't the focus now.
I needed to concentrate on forming my mana ring.
At dawn the next day, I opened Equinox atop my desk and posed a question.
[Then let's begin. How can I create a mana ring suitable for necromancy?]
Equinox responded promptly.
- The mana ring used in necromancy, especially the first one, is quite unique. It requires a type of mana entirely different from that of ordinary mages.
Though he now recognized me as his master, Equinox spoke informally.
It was slightly irksome, but I chose not to address it.
After all, surviving 4,000 years without losing one's mind, even as an artifact, deserves a measure of respect.
I closed my eyes and listened attentively to Equinox's explanation.
- Pure mana isn't suitable for necromancy. You need mana that's denser and heavier.
[How can I obtain such mana and condense it within my heart?]
- It's challenging through conventional means. Using standard mage training methods would take at least 600 years. However, master, I believe you have a better option.
A better option?
What could he be implying?
As I pondered this, Equinox's pages slowly rose and pointed in a direction.
There stood Nocturne, my staff, emanating a crimson glow.
Nocturne hesitated and stepped back.
- Why are you pointing at me, old man?
- Isn't it obvious? By utilizing you, our master can form a suitable mana ring within his heart.
- I... I...
Nocturne approached me, speaking in a sorrowful tone.
- Please don't misunderstand, master. I lack the capability to create a mana ring for you. I'm merely a magical staff, and I can only channel power through your existing mana ring. Therefore...
- Don't misunderstand. I'm well aware of your nature.
Equinox continued, displaying several illustrations to Nocturne.
- I don't intend to use you in a functional capacity. Rather, I plan to repurpose a part of you for a different objective.
- A part of me...?
Nocturne trembled, as if he had guessed what was coming.
Equinox flipped a page with a flutter and answered calmly:
- Your core.
The “core.”
Just hearing that word was enough for me to understand what Equinox intended to do.
[So you’re saying you’ll extract Nocturne’s core and transplant it into my heart.]
- Hiiiek!
- As expected of my master.
Equinox pulsed once with a dark light, as if in admiration.
The glow was ominous, but I’d grown used to it. It no longer fazed me.
Realizing Equinox's plan, Nocturne began to tremble like a leaf in the wind. But before long, he came to terms with the situation and quietly accepted it.
- If that’s the only way... then I suppose there’s no helping it.
With something like a sigh, he lightly tapped the ground and approached me, allowing himself to be held.
Then, in a soft whisper, he said—
- It’s a shame... but if this is the best path forward, then so be it, Master. Just being able to speak with you, even briefly, brought me joy.
Hearing that made my heart heavy.
But Equinox, on the other hand, responded with clear delight.
- Nocturne, an admirable attitude. A model for all artifacts who serve their masters. I’ll personally record the story of your end. I’ll tell every artifact we meet about your noble sacrifice. So don’t be too disheartened. After all, you’ll live on forever—within the heart of your master, and within the pages of my being.
Nocturne’s glow dimmed, as if overwhelmed by despair, while Equinox began to emit a denser, darker aura.
- Now, then. Shall we begin, Master? I believe all preparations are complete.
[Hold on.]
I took a moment to think it through.
I already understood the procedure Equinox was proposing—a kind of magical transplantation.
It involved extracting powerful mana from a magical object and embedding it directly into the heart—a method my master had once taught me.
At the time, he’d also said—
- That technique disappeared over 500 years ago. It was replaced by something far more efficient.
With that memory resurfacing, I spoke up.
[Have you ever heard of the Principle of Resonance?]
Equinox didn’t reply—but Nocturne did.
- If two sources of mana share the same attribute and surpass a certain threshold of power, they will resonate with each other—even if there’s a disparity in their strength. The weaker one harmonizes and converges toward the power of the stronger. That’s the principle of resonance.
[Exactly.]
I nodded and turned to explain to Equinox.
[Look, I know what you’re trying to do, but that method’s long been obsolete. And it’s because of this principle of resonance. With it, you don’t need to destroy artifacts or relics to craft a new duplicate. You can just recreate them cleanly.]
Equinox gave off the air of someone genuinely impressed.
- Ohh… I see. So that’s how it works. And that mechanism is what they call the ‘principle of resonance,’ huh?
The pages of Equinox fluttered with excitement.
Diagrams and notes rapidly filled and vanished from the parchment, drawn and erased in a frenzied rhythm. After a long moment of silent scribbling, the book spoke again.
- Master. To make this work, we’ll need another artifact. Do you have anything that could resonate with Nocturne’s core?
I reached into my pouch and laid out a few items.
A necklace with a large green emerald, and two rings adorned with crimson rubies—trophies I’d taken from the corpse of Lyernoff.
The moment Equinox laid eyes on them, a strange energy seeped from its pages. That eerie aura coiled around the necklace and rings like a snake claiming its prey.
Then, with a low chuckle, Equinox’s voice emerged again.
- Ku-Ku-Ku-Ku-Ku… Yes. These will do nicely.
And with that, the first operation to implant my mana ring had begun.
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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