The Book Eating Magician Chapter 92:
Chapter 92 – Leap in Sensitivity (2)
Theodore swallowed a breath .
In fact, he had guessed it before the Magic Society’s president replied, but the feeling after it was confirmed was different . The only possible existence was the Yellow Tower Master . He was the mysterious tower master whose age and gender was unknown .
According to rumors, he had the right to refuse any summons, and no one other than the tower masters and the king could meet him . The top floor of the Yellow Tower was literally a forbidden area .
According to the president of the Magic Society, even he had only seen the Yellow Tower Master once or twice in 100 years .
“Wait, did you say 100 years?”
“That’s right . I understand your surprise, but it doesn’t end here . ”
Theo was amazed by the large number .
“According to the central office, the magic towers were built according to his designs, and he contributed to the prosperity of this country more than any other tower master . Norden’s position in pharmacy, alchemy, metallurgy and architecture is already equal to a god’s . He is the reason why the northern continent boasts of more superior artifacts than other regions . ”
“The design of the magic towers…?! But President, according to your explanation, the Yellow Tower Master should be-”
“At least 600 years old . ”
It was an answer beyond imagination, so Theodore finally became speechless .
From what he remembered, the magic towers had been built around 500 years ago and had completed their structure over several generations . The prosperity of the Meltor Kingdom was said to have taken a few steps as soon as the magic towers had started functioning .
The Yellow Tower Master was the foremost pioneer of the Meltor Kingdom! It was no wonder as to why the royal family had kept the secret of his identity . His extraordinary lifespan and transcendental capabilities would be burdensome if exposed .
‘More than 600 years old… he is definitely not human . ’
A sword master or magician couldn’t live that long . Elves boasted a long lifespan of 200 years, but even the high elves who inherited the ancient linage only lived up to approximately 300 to 400 years old .
If he had to choose a candidate as beings that lived forever, it would be the demons or gods, or the dragons that were praised as the strongest creature . However, it was too much to accept them as the correct answer .
More than anything else, their species couldn’t become magicians . Magic was a skill tailored to the human species, and they learned it from other species . For those innately born with magic, they had no desire to learn such an inefficient system . It was absolutely impossible to have the magic ability to lead civilization into new types of fields while living as a tower master .
The magic society’s president picked up on Theo’s thoughts and laughed . “It is useless . ”
“Huh?”
“The things you are thinking about right now have already been covered by numerous magicians . As long as he doesn’t reveal his identity, it will be pointless to make any assumptions . So, don’t worry too much about unnecessary things . ”
As if to confirm those words, the fighting between the two tower masters finished . The banging sound from a corner of the office stopped, and something appeared . Veronica had completely crushed the arms, legs, and body of the Yellow Tower Master, so only the head of the bald troll remained . The head which shone yellow rolled to Theodore’s feet .
As it rolled, the troll head mumbled, [Huge, recovery function, not working . That’s why, from the beginning, make it again . ]
“Will you stop whining?” Veronica walked behind the head and placed it on her palm . “The Red Tower will pay for the costs of the repairs, so quickly give it to the kid . ”
[Hmm, just a thing, it’s not . This . ]
“Explain it to the kid, not me . ”
[Cough . ] The troll head turned toward Theodore at Veronica’s words .
Suddenly, the face melted down as the eyes, nose, and ears disappeared before appearing again . It was a magic phenomenon of which Theo couldn’t guess the principles . The previous cut off voice changed completely as it said, [The reward given to you is ‘Sensitivity Amplifier – No . 37 . ’]
“Sensitivity Amplifier…”
[That’s right . You should know how large of an existence sensitivity is to magicians . No training or items can increase your sensitivity . ] However, the voice then declared triumphantly, [But with this amplifier, you can go beyond your limits!]
Then he poured out a jewel box from his mouth .
“Ah . ” Theodore was amazed by the action and took the box .
This caused the Yellow Tower Master to speak in a surprised voice, [Ah right, sorry . I forgot that my limbs were broken . ]
“No, it’s okay,” Theo responded as he naturally placed the box in his left hand . It was made by magic, so could Gluttony eat this?
The thin tongue crawled through a gap in the box, and the phenomenon he wanted occurred soon afterwards .
[Sensitivity Amplifier – No . 37 (Remedy)]
[This is an elixir born as a result of combining eastern alchemy, western alchemy and pharmacology . It has gone through 36 failed attempts, so the number 37 was included in its name . It was completed with rare ingredients, ancient alchemy, and the workmanship of a high-level magician . It is a remedy which greatly increases the sensitivity to mana .
* The rating of this remedy is ‘Treasure . ’
* When consumed, sensitivity is dramatically increased .
* When consumed, there is no digestion time .
* When consumed, understanding of alchemy will increase by two steps .
* It is more efficient to consume this through the mouth than by using Gluttony’s eating function . Once taken, immunity to this remedy will build . It will become invalid after two doses . ]
‘This is real . ’
It wasn’t that he didn’t believe the Yellow Tower Master’s explanation, but Theo was able to truly realize the value after seeing the information window .
In the past, he had a lack of self-confidence due to his poor sensitivity . It was said that sensitivity couldn’t be increased at all . So, a remedy capable of doing that would be truly expensive . Not just dunces but ordinary students would be able to make a few steps of progress . If it could be supplied in large quantities, the national power of Meltor would increase by several times .
[By the way . From the idea to its completion, the amount of ingredients consumed is worth 350,000 gold . Yet I can’t even sell the finished product . It is ridiculous . ]
“…?!” Theodore stiffened at the words that the Yellow Tower Master grumbled .
64 years of research and ingredients worth 350,000 gold had been placed in his hand . The light jewel box was now like a heavy gold coin box . Indeed, there was no need to keep it a secret if they could mass produce it .
Veronica didn’t know his feelings and said, “Now, Kid . Take it right here . It is cleaner in many ways . ”
“Here? Now?”
“Yes . ”
“…Ah, I see . It shouldn’t be kept or sold . Right?”
“Truly amazing, Kid . ” She laughed and patted Theo on the head .
As she said, the upper echelons gave him this medicine for the purpose of ‘taking,’ so they wouldn’t tolerate the act of selling or keeping it . This was a national secret, so the amplifier had to be consumed while the president of the Magic Society and two tower masters were present .
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason why the tower masters gathered .
“Besides, isn’t it better to have masters watching you? We can’t help, but we can ensure your safety . It is why I called you here . ”
It was definitely like she said . Veronica was a master magician of the 8th Circle, and the president had reached the 7th Circle . There were no humans who could touch Theo with the two of them guarding him .
Theodore was finally convinced and opened the lid of the box .
Huuk!
A sweet and sour scent flowed out . Just smelling the fragrance made him feel like his lungs had cooled . The smell was coming from a blue bead lying in the center of the box . Theo picked up the remedy carefully, and…
Gulp .
He swallowed it .
[‘Sensitivity Amplifier – No . 37’ has been consumed . The power is stimulating your potential . ]
[The user’s mana sensitivity will be adjusted to the maximum value . ]
[You can experience a temporary sensation of the sensitivity running wild . Maintain a strong spirit against it . ]
The remedy was amazing in many ways . It melted as soon as it reached his tongue, and the texture was like licking fog . The water vapour flowed down Theodore’s throat . A refreshing aroma hit his nose, and he could feel it go down his esophagus .
After he finished consuming it, a mysterious expression crossed Theo’s face .
‘I wonder… is this all?’
However, the full-scale reaction happened after this .
“………………… . . !?” Theodore fell off the chair and rolled about on the ground .
He didn’t feel the pain from hitting the floor or hear Veronica’s and the president’s voices calling out to him .
Theo was familiar with pain, but this sensation was something which couldn’t be described as pain .
It was difficult to explain, but let’s look at a simple example . If a person’s nose suddenly became as sensitive as a wolf’s, would they be able to smell like a wolf? If a person’s ears suddenly became as sensitive as a bat’s, could they move freely in the dark? The answer would be ‘no . ’
Sometimes, sensory information going beyond the limits was like violence . Just like how eyes adjusted to darkness were pained by light, the five senses were based on a person’s everyday self . Mana sensitivity was the same . They were some who felt a crisp sensation like they caught it in their hands, while others struggled to pursue a feeling which was fainter than dust .
The usual Theodore perceived sensitivity as a light water vapour around him, but it was now a big iceberg . The forcibly extended sensitivity blocked his breathing .
‘I-I can’t breath… this situation…!’ He felt like he was dying under the non-existent pressure which pushed down on him .
Then at that moment, the hand of salvation grabbed his neck .
“Kid, wake up!”
The fingers wrapped around his neck were hot . Veronica’s heat momentarily allowed him to regain his senses .
His five senses came back, and he could breathe despite the mana still pressing on his body . However, he couldn’t escape despite knowing it was an illusion . As Theo struggled to overcome it somehow, he heard Veronica’s sharp voice .
–Don’t refuse the mana! The mana crushing you has always been around you! You just didn’t feel it until now . There is no reason to refuse it just because you didn’t know it until now . Use some magic!
The unconscious acceptance of the advice was probably the result of living for years as a magician .
“…Light…ning… Bolt . ” It was the beginner magic which hadn’t succeeded even once until Gluttony had awoken the first time . Theo’s disturbed mind pierced through the faint memory . It was a 2nd Circle magic which could, at best, produce dozens of lightning arrows .
However, the result was far beyond his expectations .
Pajijijijijik―!
100 or 200… Several hundred streaks of lightning appeared inside the society’s office . The papers which were grazed by them ended up burning, and soot appeared on the floor . The havoc proved that his power was several times larger than what it had been before .
The phenomenon of sensitivity running wild was close to a disaster .
“Good! You’re doing well!”
Nobody present would get hurt by something like this . Veronica had been hit by several dozen lightning bolts at close range, but there wasn’t a single burn mark . The basic 4th Circle defense magic around her body bounced it off .
Rather, she placed a hand on Theo’s shoulder and encouraged him to use more magic . In the end, the statue was the only thing which shattered in the office . Was it because of that…?
Theo gradually regained his sanity . ‘…Ah . ’
The fog-like mana was now like mud, and it weighed down on his skin .
‘So, this is the feeling of mana . ’
Unlike before, his breathing wasn’t blocked . Mana didn’t exist, so it wasn’t a real weight . It was just proof of his increased sensitivity . Theo got up slowly and waved his hands in the empty space . There was something in the air where there should only be air resistance .
“…Mana . ”
Some said water . Some said earth . Some said fire .
Theo had never felt it until now . He’d thought it was just an exaggeration or the senses of a genius . For Theodore Miller, mana had always been a mirage mocking him in the distance or a cloud in the sky he couldn’t reach with his magic .
However, that wasn’t the case from now on . The overwhelming talent which Sylvia had showed previously… the level of sensitivity which didn’t even require a chant…
Finally, Theo got his hands on what he hadn’t been able to obtain .