The Book Eating Magician Chapter 99:

Chapter 99 – Great Forest (1)

Nobody could answer . No, it was more accurate to say that they had no spirit left to answer .

Moving from the capital to the border in a single space transfer transcended common sense . The difficulty of the magic rose exponentially according to the distance and number of companions . However, as soon as Orta completed this, he used another magic .

It was a magic which was difficult to even understand, let alone know the principles behind it .

‘I wouldn’t know just by looking at the movement of the magic power . This is the White Tower Master’s magic…!’ Theodore looked at the White Tower Master with admiration .

He recalled the words he had heard from Veronica before leaving on this journey . She had been disappointed that she couldn’t come with him, but she hadn’t been worried about his safety .  Veronica had evaluated the man standing before Theo .

“Well, there is no need to worry if it is Orta . He is a more competent **** than me . ”

“More than Sister?”

“Yes . Of course, I can win in a frontal battle . However, I have no way to catch Orta if he runs away . In a situation where victory isn’t needed, his mobility is frankly frustrating . In the last war, he escaped from the siege of three sword masters . Is this something you could do?”

At that time, Theodore had shaken his head unknowingly .

Sword masters were supermen who had gone beyond the limitations of life . Their flesh was an excellent weapon as well as a vessel for aura . They had the strength of an ogre, and their durability was better than a metal golem . It was only a matter of time before one would be caught by them .

In fact, some sword masters were famous for causing shock waves with their movements . Their range of movement was a few hundred meters in one breath, regardless of the length of the swords in their hands . Once a person was caught in the eyes of a sword master, there was no way for them to escape .

‘But Orta is able to do it . ’ Theo could accept it now .

Orta could escape from a sword master who was faster than an arrow . A few hundred meters in one breath? That wasn’t even half of Orta’s steps . There would be no way to stop Orta from going where he wanted to . The White Tower Master’s space magic had reached the level of transcendence .

Gluttony was the only one who realized the essence of the magic .

–Hoh, is that Shukuchiho? (Wiki)

‘Shukuchiho?’ Theodore asked reflexively .

It was a unique pronunciation . Somehow, Gluttony seemed to know the White Tower Master’s space magic, and Theo’s curiosity was stimulated . Above all, if Gluttony initiated the conversation, then his right to ask a question wasn’t consumed . As always, the greedy grimoire responded to its owner’s expectations .

–Reducing the axis . It means the land . It is an eastern immortal technique allowing the user to jump great distances by narrowing the space .  

‘Immortal technique? A type of magic?’

–It is a little different .  It is sloppy to compare it to magic that has a system .  This relies on the natural qualities and building up of strength over time with mental power .  It is closer to a superpower rather than magic .  Then suddenly, Gluttony changed his tone . –However, a magician recreated Shukuchiho using pure magic .  He distorted space precisely and switched the points around himself .  Humans are really capable of wonderful feats .

It was rare for this guy to praise someone, so it must be really impressed . This was something which wasn’t recorded in it, so the grimoire respected the magic of modern humans . Theo wanted to ask a few more questions, but Gluttony fell back to sleep .

As the sky changed, Theodore continued looking up at it .

‘Space magic…’

A minimum of six circles was needed to use space magic . Theo didn’t know if he had the aptitude for it, but there were many options to choose from .  However, the ‘wall’ was the problem . Theo made fists firmly as he renewed his determination again . He would make as much progress as possible in Elvenheim .

The 10 delegates crossed the northern border, the Red Plateau, at an unprecedented rate .

 

*     *     *

In the end, the White Tower Master’s declaration was right . Just before the sun crossed the horizon in the west, the delegation was gazing at something other than the wilderness . The Great Forest finally stretched out before them .

A sound of amazement popped out from someone’s mouth, “This is the Great Forest in the north…!”

Since ancient times, this was a place which hadn’t allowed human feet to step in it . On the surface, it was just a thick and beautiful forest . However, no one would say the same thing after going inside . Only transcendents who had reached master level could guarantee their safety in that forest . A country without a person of the master level wouldn’t be able to trade with Elvenheim .

Faced with that sight, the White Tower Master finally stopped moving .

“We will enter the Great Forest tomorrow . We will camp here tonight and enter the forest when the sun rises . Please return the rings that you are wearing . ”

He received questioning expressions, but the party pulled the ring off their fingers with awe-filled eyes .

Orta stored the ring in the box and placed it inside his robe . Perhaps the rings were what allowed the party to accompany him when he used Shukuchiho . Theo put his baggage down as he recalled Gluttony’s explanation .

The camp for 10 people was set up quickly . Sleeping bags were placed in tents which would keep out the wind, sand, and cold, while a campfire burned in the center of the camp .  Magicians were usually seen as desk people, but that was a wrong perception in Meltor . Due to the long war and the missions, the delegation could set up something like this blindfolded .

“…Master, how did you do it so quickly?”

“Experience, experience . ”

Vince had set up his tent a few minutes earlier than Theo and was sipping tea from a cup . By the time Theodore and Sylvia finished their setups, the rest of the group had already prepared everything for dinner .

As the two people sat down with blushing expressions, the others chuckled and waved their hands .

“Hey! We were all like that when younger!”

“Don’t mind it and take a bowl . This is the best meal when eating outdoors . ”

“You were still quite fast . … They are much better than you when you were younger . ”

“Hah? Do you want to try it?”

The people comforted Theo and handed him a bowl, and some of them started talking about their youths . Thanks to that, the Red Plateau felt warm despite the cold breeze blowing . Theo ate a spoonful of the beef stew and looked around .

The White Tower Master was looking at the Great Forest while the rest were still busy eating . Vince had on a serious expression as he discussed something with a Yellow Tower magician, while Sylvia was swarmed by two Blue Tower magicians giving her food .

Crunch .

At that moment, Edwin came to his side . “Benefactor . ”

“Ah, Sir Edwin . ”

The beef stew didn’t fit with Edwin’s tastes, so he was eating an apple . Then he threw the apple core toward the distant Great Forest .

Edwin looked around for a while before sitting next to Theo and saying, “I didn’t know we would arrive so soon . Human magic has already surpassed our imagination . My species would doubt that anyone could cross the Red Plateau in just one day . ”

“I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t experienced it directly . ” Theodore smiled and empathized with Edwin .  Theo would’ve had the same reaction if he hadn’t already experienced the White Tower Master’s magic previously .

A land where water and life didn’t exist… A land which killed those who weren’t fully prepared… Even the creatures of the Great Forest gave up crossing the Red Plateau in one day . Magicians truly transcended common sense .

The magician and elementalist formed a consensus, and an easy conversation flowed between them .

“Benefactor, was there no change?” The story of Mitra was quickly brought up .

Theo looked down at the ground and hesitated before saying, “Mitra . ”

[Hoing!] The little girl came out with a cheerful sound .  Except for the bud sprouting from her hair, her size and tone remained the same . It was cute, but that was all .

Edwin was also confused, but he didn’t have an answer . He just thought they would find out naturally once they entered the forest, just like Ellenoa had said . The conversation between the two people ended without a great result .

After their meals finished, the delegation went to bed . Theodore and the White Tower Master were excluded from the guard roster as heads of the delegation, making Theo feel subtly uncomfortable as he entered the sleeping bag .

‘I understand that it is because of my position, but I feel bad sleeping while Master is on guard . ’

Therefore, sleep didn’t come easily . After he tossing and turning around a few times, Mitra approached him from where she had been playing near the entrance .  Her round eyes seemed to be asking, ‘What is the matter?’

Theodore just smiled slightly and shook his head . “It is nothing . ”

[Weally?]

“Yes, really . ”

Mitra repeated her worries about Theo several times before jumping onto his chest and sitting there .  The weight was almost imperceptible, but it was embarrassing . Just as he was about to fall asleep, Mitra raised her head .

Then at that moment…

Wiiing! With a slight oscillation, the bud coming from Mitra’s head started to shine with a green light .  Was it a rotation rather than a vibration…? The bud spun in a clockwise direction, looking like a waterwheel . Mitra was amazed as she spun around with a [Hoi] sound . The bud didn’t stop .

Before Theo could take any action, something happened .

[Hoee!]

Mitra, who was moving around, was unable to overcome the dizziness and fell toward his forehead . The collision wouldn’t hurt either one of them, so Theo didn’t avoid it .  The shining green bud rested on his forehead .

“Ah—” It was an unexplainable sensation, like his body had changed into the soil and trees .  However, Theodore’s flesh was still human, and it was just an illusion .

Then, what was he hearing?

Kwaaaaah! There was a terribly loud roar .

The source of the roar killed a goblin and became more excited by the smell of blood . A heavy paddle was dragged behind it . Its thick belly was full of blood and oil, and its stubborn skin would quickly heal .

The number of creatures couldn’t be counted . The shadows ran through the trees and bushes like rats . They were heading towards 10 tents .

“Heook!” The sensation was cut off, and Theo jumped up . He pulled Mitra away from his forehead and ran out the tent .  It wasn’t a mere illusion . He might’ve thought that it was just a bad dream . However, Theodore was convinced by the sense of realism .

“Master!”

The one on guard shift was Vince .  

Vince was surprised by his disciple’s emergence and even more surprised by the tension in his face . He didn’t bother asking for an explanation from Theo as he fired magic toward the Great Forest .

Flash! As the darkness was peeled back for a moment, the area around the camp brightened .  The shadows lifted, and the light of the campfire was overshadowed . The magical flash spread throughout the darkness .

The intense movement of magic power caused the magicians to wake up reflexively, and…

Kuwoooook!

It struck the nerves of those who were approaching from a few kilometers away .