Magical Engineering
by Afuhfuihgs
The thought of being able to become a Sword Master right away made me happy, but on the other hand, I coldly calculated the pros and cons. The longer I thought, the colder my heart, which had been full of joy, became.
I use a spear as my main weapon. My space magic is also focused on maximizing the advantages of the spear. Of course, if I become a Sword Master, wielding a sword as my main weapon won’t be a problem.
Nevertheless, I didn’t think becoming a Sword Master would be of great benefit to me. Even if I became a Sword Master, it wouldn’t increase my chances of winning against the overpowered Roel. Fighting Roel head-on is tantamount to suicide. Rather, becoming a Great Wizard had more positive elements for me than becoming a Sword Master.
I would be able to use space magic more freely than now, and using various spells with the knowledge of a Great Wizard to lead the battle in a direction favorable to me would be easier than now. Also, there was a high possibility of becoming a new Sage like Ross of Hope.
However, if I choose to become a Great Wizard, the biggest disadvantage arises. Roel, who can learn everything from me, can also gain magical power. It’s literally high risk, high return.
Jin Shi-an is also considering that point and is trying to help me only once now. Because my growth is connected to Roel’s growth.
Roel has grown faster than the original flow. Considering that Roel used the rapid growth he learned from Rotten more freely than I did, it was right to be wary.
Until I find a way to completely eliminate the terminal connected to Roel, it was right to save the remaining opportunities. So, what talent should I acquire now?
As I was frowning and pondering without realizing it, Jin Shi-an smiled and said.
“You have a face that understands the disadvantages of a quantum jump, I see.”
“So I’m trying to choose carefully.”
If I become a Sword Master, it won’t have much of a growth effect on the current Roel. Roel has already reached the realm of transcendence and become a Sword Master.
But there was regret in choosing Sword Master, which wouldn’t be of great benefit to me, just to keep Roel in check. Such growth opportunities don’t come easily. This might be the last one.
Low risk, low return Sword Master and high risk, high return Great Wizard.
It felt like I was losing no matter what I chose. So I decided to change my perspective altogether.
In the past, Ross, who was always caught up by his brother no matter what he did, forcibly took up hobbies that his brother didn’t particularly like, such as sewing or cleaning.
Of course, I had no intention of wasting precious growth opportunities on talents like sewing or cleaning.
I had no intention of giving up my growth just to keep Roel in check. I have to make a choice that allows me to take even the remaining flesh attached to the bone while giving up some flesh.
As I muttered low risk, high return, I blurted out a word that suddenly flashed through my mind.
“…Magical Engineering.”
Magical Engineering is an ambiguous position that exists between magic and alchemy, but it was a discipline that greatly helped with dungeons and real life.
It was also a popular profession because it dealt with magic circles and formulas and could use useful magic in various fields, so there was even a formal Magical Engineering department in the academy.
Rotten, who was my first teacher-nim, was also a magical engineer who studied the Stone Thorn Disease, and Luna was also studying magical engineering. If I become a Great Magical Engineer, it will be of great help to Luna’s growth as well.
The usefulness of magical engineering, which is helpful in various fields, will also be helpful to Roel, but it was definitely less risky than choosing to become a Great Wizard. Because magical engineering didn’t use magic that was directly helpful in combat.
But that nature of magical engineering will be of great help to my combat direction. Artifacts and auxiliary magic modified with magical engineering will create good synergy with the space magic I mainly use.
The reason I chose magical engineering instead of alchemy was also an objective one. Like the slime magical engineer I met in another world, I had a feeling that the miscellaneous magic and knowledge of magical engineering would be a small plus for me in various ways.
For me now, a broad realm that can respond to sudden variables was more necessary than one high realm.
“Hooh, you’re going to choose magical engineering?”
Jin Shi-an couldn’t hide his interest, as if he thought my choice was unexpected. It seems he expected me to choose between Great Wizard and Sword Master.
“Is it possible?”
“Of course. There were several Rosses among the multi-universe Rosses who chose magical engineering.”
Then I was relieved. Of course, there was alchemy as a second option, but it was true that it had fewer advantages for me compared to magical engineering.
“Most of the Rosses who chose magical engineering did so to help Roel. Is that the same reason for you?”
There’s nothing more comfortable than supporting Roel from the rear while keeping him in the front. But that’s only possible when we have the same goal. I was in a position where I had to stop Roel’s plan now.
“The opposite. I’m going to be a thorough hindrance to Roel.”
Jin Shi-an smiled, as if he liked the answer.
“Good, then shall we start right away? You haven’t changed your mind in the meantime, have you?”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
In response to my answer, Jin Shi-an drew up the magic power in his body. Magic power flowed out from the shoulder parts of his missing arms, temporarily replacing his arms.
“Take a lotus position and close your eyes.”
At Jin Shi-an’s low voice, I immediately closed my eyes in a lotus position.
“Operate your magic power following the guidance of my magic power.”
With those words, my toes suddenly tickled. As soon as I drew up my magic power, Jin Shi-an’s magic power slowly moved from my toes and reached the top of my head at the end.
“Send your breath to the top of your head, and imagine silence.”
It was a difficult request, but Jin Shi-an’s magic power kindly told me how to act. Forgetting even my heartbeat, as I imagined silence, I felt something huge taking its place somewhere in my head.
Very delicately, Jin Shi-an’s magic power moved around in my brain. As time passed, my body temperature rose and I started to sweat. Just before I was about to be eaten by the silence I had imagined, the top of my head became hot and I heard Jin Shi-an’s voice.
“The terminal is engraved. Now I’ll tell you how to call it.”
Jin Shi-an’s magic power stayed in one part of my brain. As I operated my magic power following that guidance, I was able to glimpse a part of countless memories.
“It will be easier to find what you want if you think about magical engineering.”
At those words, I thought about magical engineering in my head. Finally, I was able to find the terminal I was looking for. Instinctively, I pulled the terminal into my silence.
At that moment, I felt a tremendous pressure and a hallucination that heat was pouring out from the top of my head. All sorts of information related to magical engineering poured into my head without a break, and I understood all that information in an instant.
As soon as I digested all the vast knowledge of magical engineering as my own, the heat that had been enveloping my whole body disappeared in an instant like a lie. With a tingling chill, I instantly realized the essence of magical engineering. I succeeded in the quantum jump.
As soon as I opened my eyes slightly with the conviction that I had succeeded, a familiar message appeared before my eyes.
「Synchronization rate 22%.」
The synchronization rate, which was 28%, decreased by 6%. But considering the benefits I gained, I didn’t regret it at all. Considering the improvements in combat methods that come to my mind right now, I could feel with my skin that I had made tremendous progress.
The resolution of my perspective on the world increased, and I had various options for future actions. Some of the potential that was dormant within me reacted to magical engineering and awakened.
I felt my nape sticky from sweating. But what’s important now was the condition of Jin Shi-an, who told me about the quantum jump. He consumed one arm to tell me about Memorize. I didn’t know what he sacrificed for the quantum jump.
I looked at Jin Shi-an urgently, but nothing had changed in his external appearance. Rather, Jin Shi-an asked about my condition.
“How much did the synchronization rate decrease?”
“6%.”
“That’s appropriate. Just in case, don’t overuse it too much. Well, I’m sure you’ll do well enough as you are now.”
“…Are you okay?”
At my question, Jin Shi-an smiled and shook his head.
“No, I don’t think I can keep you here any longer. It’s too much for me to be alone now. If you received a gift, hurry up and get out of here. It’s awkward.”
At Jin Shi-an’s blunt answer, I nodded with a smile. I was sincerely grateful to Jin Shi-an. Apart from the fact that his existence was a speaker who conveyed information, I knew that he had sacrificed himself to increase the possibility of me reaching the ending I wanted.
I already knew the coordinates to return to the original world. It’s because Jin Shi-an had left traces in my head that would allow me to return to the original world in advance.
I released the lotus position and immediately got up from my seat. Without hesitation, I created a passage that would allow me to return to the original world right away, and I looked at Jin Shi-an over my shoulder and said.
“I’ll show you the ending you’ve been looking forward to so much.”
“Yeah, that’s the only thing I want from you. Remember that if you ruin the ending, I’ll tear your soul apart.”
I smiled at Jin Shi-an, who maintained a playful attitude until the end, and turned my head.
“Yeah, eat some popcorn and steal a peek at my daily life.”
“Okay. I’m also looking forward to a hot reunion with Luna.”
I laughed at Jin Shi-an’s joke and took a vigorous step towards the passage.
***
Jin Shi-an, who was left alone in the outskirts of the outer universe after Ross left, looked at the place where Ross had left and drew up his magic power. And he erased the traces of the space where the passage had been with magic power. This will avoid being tracked.
Jin Shi-an, who had lost most of the talents he had for the last gift, smiled as he drew up his last remaining magic power.
Just like all Rosses are liars, Jin Shi-an also lied to Ross, of course.
Fortunately, the last Ross didn’t notice Jin Shi-an’s lie.
“I really wanted to see the ending.”
I felt bitter at the regret of not being able to watch the ending, but on the other hand, I could feel a thrilling chill when I imagined the destruction of all the shackles that Ross would bring. Isn’t this vicarious satisfaction?
At that moment, the wall of the living room was completely torn off, and everything except the floor that Jin Shi-an was standing on disappeared into the other side of the universe. Along with that, a huge presence filled the outskirts of the outer universe.
Jin Shi-an smiled and opened his mouth towards the being looking down at him. Greatly regretting that he couldn’t flip the bird because he didn’t have arms.
“Ni-Emi-“
Ppujik-!
As if crushing a bug with his hand, Jin Shi-an’s body was crushed by something invisible and burst without leaving a single piece of flesh.
That was the death of a person who lived on the outskirts of the outer universe.
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