The Book Eating Magician Chapter 208:
Chapter 208 – Library (2)
–User, before that, I have a question . In this day and age, how do magicians define the concept of ‘circles?’
“The concept of circles?”
Theodore was silent for a while at the unexpected question . It wasn’t too difficult because this was basic knowledge .
Unlike ordinary people, a magician was said to have two hearts . However, the circles which controlled all circulation of magic power were the protagonist .
Theodore reviewed the contents of the textbooks and opened his mouth, “The origin of magic… Magic is generated in the ventricles near a magician’s heart and can only be created by humans . There is a saying that the origin was derived from the heart of a dragon, but there is no confirmation about this . From the 7th Circle onwards, the circles evolve into a personal form, and this is called Sorcery . ”
–And?
“That’s it . ”
Gluttony naturally grabbed at his head and said, –Hah, I expected it, but this is serious . I don’t know what happened, but more than half of circle theory has been lost .
“Am I wrong?”
-That’s right . As a 7th Circle, shouldn’t you know? Circles aren’t just responsible for the circulation of magic power .
“Um . ” Theodore let out a sound of confusion .
He could see it after reaching the 7th Circle . It was different from the 6th Circle which had only increased the amount of magic power and the scale . This was more than applying formulas and theories .
Without waiting for Theodore’s answer, Gluttony continued explaining while holding the book, –Magicians use circles to coordinate the existences in the world . Since time immemorial, 10 has been a number used to symbolize a divine being . A magician of the 10th Circle represents a person who has ascended to that realm . Do you think this number is a coincidence?
“…It isn’t a coincidence?”
-Of course not . The magic of this world is a science that was born in the process of imitating transcendent beings .
The wise elves didn’t try to follow others, while the dwarves sought a method in vain and gave up . The demons didn’t need to follow others in the first place, and the dragons have been transcendent beings in this material system from the very beginning .
Only humans were born without any power . Their essence is that they are excellent at imitating others . Even so, magic was only completed after a few thousand years .
Gluttony preached about the greatness of magic with utmost respect in his voice .
–The circles theory was built from the heart of a dragon, the songs of the elves, the formulas of knowledge learned from dwarves, and the rituals of the demons . In a sense, it can be called the most comprehensive study in this world .
“It sounds badly patched together . ”
–I think it is brilliant . Man built a body, and this paved the way to enter the realm of the gods . The term, ‘imitation is the mother of creation,’ refers to this case .
Theodore looked at Gluttony with surprise . He couldn’t help noticing that Gluttony admired the wisdom of humanity . Gluttony realized he had drifted from the topic and coughed a few times before talking again, –Then let’s return to the topic .
From this point on, it was theory which Theodore didn’t know at all .
–Up to the 6th Circle, it is no different from what User knows . The application of force is in accordance with the laws of matter, and there is some control over natural phenomena . However, a master, the 7th Circle and Aura Ability, is a step into the ‘frame’ .
“Frame?”
–Don’t interrupt . Magicians of the 7th Circle start to interpret the structure of this material world as their own theory . Onmyōdō’s Tai Chi, the Three Kingdom’s Heaven and Earth, the four elements, the five ways of the East, the Kabbalah’s sephirot… There are many paths that can be chosen .
Thousands of magicians will give rise to many forked paths . At the beginning, the magicians knew the truth and pursued an interpretation of the material world’s structure in their own way .
There was one mentor for ten disciples . The ten disciples taught hundreds of students . A road was made because not everyone could be a pioneer, so people followed the paths made by pioneers . Thus, a magical faction was born .
There aren’t many left in this era now, Gluttony muttered in a bitter tone . –It is important to make your own way, but it is also effective to follow existing viewpoints . However, User has been influenced by the four elements since childhood .
“It is too late to take an independent route . ”
–That’s right . Additionally, User already owns three of the elements, so you don’t have to change your route .
Gluttony’s words were right . Theodore looked down at the Aiolos Pouch in his hand .
Other people might be reluctant to walk along the path who others had laid down first, but Theodore was different . Magic wasn’t accomplished alone . Instead, it was accomplished by inheriting the will of older magicians over generations . Rather, he was proud of the fact that he was continuing their path .
“Okay . ” Theodore didn’t take long to make a decision . “I will absorb the Aiolos Pouch . ”
He could continue with his world view of four elements by accepting the divine artifact that Gluttony recommended .
After all, Theodore lacked the foundation to learn Tai Chi, the five ways, and the other methods . Above all, he was a member of the magic towers . As a magician who had been born and raised in Meltor, this was the magic which Theodore Miller had inherited since the beginning .
Simultaneously, the Aiolos Pouch shone brightly .
[You have absorbed the Aiolos Pouch . ]
[51,700 points will be deducted from your achievement points . Your remaining number of achievement points is 26,513 . ]
[The divinity of the wind (small) has been acquired . The flow of air will move in a direction favorable to the user . You can interfere with the wind direction and wind speed as your proficiency increases . Regardless of elemental affinity, you can contract with wind elementals . ]
[Your understanding of space has greatly increased . You will be able to grasp space that can’t be seen with your senses . The recoil of space magic will reduce . ]
The Aiolos Pouch was literally sucked into the palm of Theodore’s hand .
‘Ack…?’
As achievement points were consumed, there was no extra digestion time . This caused Theodore to feel dizzy and drop to one knee . Otherwise, he would’ve fallen .
An unprecedented power was boiling inside his body . It was the most disparate type of force Theodore had ever encountered . It felt gentler than the wild rampage of ‘fire,’ and its movement was more delicate than that of ‘water . ’
Rather than wind, this was Aiolos’ divinity . It was soft when calm, but it was scarier than a thunderstorm when raging wildly . The divine power flowing from the Aiolos Pouch shook like it was rejecting Theodore .
“Cough!”
Despite Theodore being in a spiritual world, blood flowed from his mouth . It wasn’t physical damage but damage to his soul . The divine power not allowed to mortals was pinching at Theodore’s sides .
Even if it was just a fragment, this force was very powerful . Confronted with the divinity of the **** of wind who surpassed Zephyr, as well as the arrogance of Aiolos, Theodore reached his limit .
However, Aiolos’ rebellion was soon suppressed . It was because the three types of forces inside Theodore took action . The fires of Muspelheim, the blood of a sea dragon, and the divinity of Mother Earth…
No matter how powerful Aiolos’ divinity was, it would be hard to deal with the three of them . It struggled to the end but was eventually trampled down .
“Sigh… Dammit . ”
Theodore calmed his breathing . It took less than five minutes, but the pain was more than he had imagined it would be . It was like a serpent wandering around his blood vessels . His heart, which was at the epicenter of the incident, was still throbbing .
Theodore glared at Gluttony, who should’ve warned him in advance . Then at that moment…
Clink . There was a noise which made a person feel fulfilled, like the right gear was being inserted into an empty spot . In retrospect, it might’ve been a hallucination . However, Theodore clearly heard it with his two ears .
‘…Completed, was it?’
Why? This phrase popped up in Theodore’s head, without any context . It was a sense of fulfillment, like the empty space of a puzzle was finally filled .
Despite having already attained the 7th Circle, this was the moment when Theodore felt a clear conviction . This was the moment when he stepped beyond the walls of the world and became qualified to explore beyond the mortal borders .
He understood it from the perspective of a magician looking at the world . Then he wasn’t satisfied with this achievement and took another step .
‘Earth, wind, fire, and water . It starts from the ground, flows into water, burns in the fire, and returns to wind . Fire flickers, and water fluctuates . Unlike wind, earth doesn’t flow . The world coexists with these conflicting forces . ’
This was the original four elements theory . Each of the four elements made up the world by reacting to each other . From this perspective, Theodore was twice as strong as before . However, magicians were curious animals who couldn’t be satisfied .
The imprint of Umbra on his right arm had led him to a new domain with the great magic, Abraxas .
‘Fire and water don’t mix, while wind and earth can’t invade each other’s territory . Are these absolutely true?’
Theodore was unaware of it, but this was similar to the theory behind ‘Heaven and Earth Enmity . ’ It was absolutely imperative to restore the balance . When things were confusing, reaffirm the path . Yet Theodore rejected the path which countless other people followed .
However, it wasn’t because he had a dispute with it . He just thought it was a method that didn’t fit him . This was because the reason for that was right before him .
“…Eh?”
Gluttony’s eyes widened from amazement . Theodore had just woken up from his enlightened state, so he didn’t know the reason for Gluttony’s amazed expression . However, he soon realized it .
“W-What?”
On the palm of his hand, there was a small flickering flame . However, there was no reason to be surprised by just that . The color of the flame was a little unusual, but it wasn’t difficult for magicians to change the color .
The problem was the attributes tangled in this flame .
“Heat… and cold?”
Half of the flame was red and the other half was blue . Like hellfire, this was a phenomenon which couldn’t exist under the laws of the material world . Theodore couldn’t understand the magic which had unfolded, and he stared at Gluttony blankly .