Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 70 (Part 2)

The box recorded time and attacked with lightning magic when forcefully opened. It also had a fortification spell and a mana absorption magic circle.

These four magic circles were ones Rodin understood well, and their effects were beyond doubt.

The uncertain ones were two: a shock absorption magic circle and a preservation spell.

Rodin knew that shock absorption magic circles existed. They were primarily used in high-end carriage construction, but this was his first time seeing one in person.

Therefore, the runes used were largely unfamiliar. More than half of the runes in the magic circle were ones he had never seen before.

‘It’s the specialty product of the Trasia Tower.’

Carriages engraved with shock absorption magic absorbed external vibrations and impacts, keeping the interior comfortable. They were incredibly expensive and were usually ridden by high-ranking nobles or wealthy merchants.

The Trasia Tower had a monopoly on the production and sale of these carriages, making enormous profits from their sales alone.

‘And the preservation spell. If this is true, it’s shocking.’

Preserving a state means that the item inside would bypass the passage of time.

A spell that manipulates time? It was a doubtful possibility.

‘Could a Grand Mage manage that?’

Based on the runes he knew, Rodin could make a rough guess about the effect, but it was hard to believe. No book he had ever read mentioned a spell that dealt with time.

“Whoo.”

After confirming the six spells once again, Rodin stepped away from the box. He couldn’t help but sigh.

Aside from the fortification spell, all five spells were high-level magic. It was hard to believe that such a powerful box was right in front of him.

What material was the box made of?

How much mana stone was used in its creation?

What kind of incredible mage could have made this?

There were too many questions. Rodin wanted to learn everything related to this box.

‘Should I open it?’

He hadn’t opened the box yet. The magic it contained was so formidable that he was afraid to act rashly.

‘I have to open it eventually.’

He had figured out how to open it the night before. And he had spent the entire day pondering it.

His conclusion was to open it anyway. He was still terrified of what might happen, but avoiding it wasn’t the answer.

“Whew, I guess I should make some preparations.”

Rodin cast a shield and barrier on the walls of the inn room to block any potential impact. He surrounded the area so that any explosion that might occur inside would not affect the outside.

He also cast a Silent Magic along the shield and barrier. This was a spell that prevented the sound of any explosion or loud noise from escaping.

“Now, on myself too.”

He cast multiple layers of barriers and shields on his body as well. He set up four layers of magic, just in case, and then sat down again.

“Do I really need to go this far just to open it?”

He felt a bit ridiculous putting in so much effort just to open a small box. If nothing happened when he opened it, it would feel embarrassing.

“Whew, well, I’m a coward after all.”

Rodin carefully held the box with both hands and slowly infused it with mana. He then drew out a thin strand of mana and moved it according to what he had figured out.

There were many magic circles inscribed inside the box, and they were incredibly complex. The spaces between the magic circles were so close that not even a thread could fit through.

Rodin moved his mana, thinner than a thread, through the gaps between the magic circles. He then sent his mana towards the locking mechanism he had identified earlier.

‘I’ve come this far.’

After discovering the method last night and making it this far, he had mentally rehearsed the process countless times. In his mind, he had opened the box dozens of times and failed even more.

‘Let’s do it.’

He drew a complex pattern with his mana. To activate the ‘open’ spell in the box, he carefully drew the runes, small and delicate.

‘Got it.’

After several minutes of sweating bullets, he managed to open the box.

There was no ‘click’ sound, but Rodin could tell the box had opened.

“Whew. At least it didn’t explode.”

Originally, there had been a specific activation phrase to open the box. The magic circles inside were designed to respond to a certain bloodline or mana pattern when the phrase was spoken.

However, Rodin didn’t know what that activation phrase was, nor was he of the specific bloodline. Also, the chances that his mana pattern matched what the box was designed to respond to were low.

So, he had infused the box with mana directly, tricking the magic circles into activating the ‘open’ spell.

He had essentially simulated the correct activation phrase and pretended to be the person the box was waiting for.

“Not bad at all.”

He bragged a little to himself. If he had to do it again, he would break out in a sweat again, but he just wanted to enjoy the moment.

“Alright, let’s see what’s inside.”

He cautiously opened the box. At that moment, a young man who looked to be about 20 years old suddenly popped out of the box.

“Hmm? Huh.”

Rodin was startled by the sudden change but soon calmed himself.

The figure wasn’t a real person. It was an illusion created by magic.

―Prahan Saffrao, Kreiro Chichelel Paos.

The illusion spoke with a kind smile, saying something in a clear and articulate voice, with broad gestures.

But Rodin couldn’t understand a word.

The language coming from the illusion’s mouth wasn’t the common tongue of the continent. It was unlike any language Rodin had ever encountered.

“It doesn’t seem to be a language in use today.”

Rodin stared blankly at the illusion, which was speaking earnestly, and shook his head. Since he couldn’t understand, there was no point in continuing to listen.

“I was curious about what it was saying, but that’s disappointing… Oh?”

Without thinking, Rodin looked at the illusion again and suddenly jumped up.

The illusion was making gestures that showed a picture. The picture was of a fruit, and the illusion kept repeating the same phrase.

“It’s teaching. I’m sure of it.”

The illusion was currently conducting a lesson.

Rodin didn’t know who the lesson was intended for or what era the language belonged to.

But it was clear that a tremendously skilled mage had painstakingly created this illusion for the purpose of teaching.

“Oh! Could I possibly learn this?”

It was possible to learn. However, it would require Rodin to deduce the meaning of each gesture every time.

It would certainly take several times longer than for someone who understood the language.

Teaching someone who knew the language and teaching someone who didn’t speak it at all was a completely different challenge.

Moreover, the teaching illusion wasn’t a friendly tutor. It wouldn’t prepare more materials or explain in more detail just because the student didn’t understand.

It would simply repeat the programmed teaching method.

It was entirely up to the student to comprehend it.

“Hmm.”

Rodin turned his gaze away from the illusion and began to examine the interior of the box.

Hyung_Otaku2

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