Chapter 319

Chapter 319

The moment the words left my mouth, Lucifer fell into a deep silence, seemingly lost in thought.

I waited quietly for him to gather his ideas, and it wasn’t long before he finally broke the silence.

“Even so… I don’t believe ‘disciple’ is the correct term to use.”

“The word disciple doesn’t fit?”

At my question, Lucifer gave a nod.

“I am not saying I cannot guide the troubleshooter. It is simply that…”

He trailed off, clearly struggling to find the right words.

I could read between the lines. In short, the sheer weight of being called a “master” was a burden too heavy for him to bear right now.

Instead of pushing the matter, I simply nodded as if conceding the point.

Because in the grand scheme of things, the title itself didn’t matter; the actual act of teaching did.

“Call it whatever you prefer. Either way, are you saying you will guide the troubleshooter?”

“Yes, if that is what must be done.”

“Good. Give it a shot. I have no idea how much potential that guy has, but I’m certain you will gain some insights from this as well.”

To be completely honest, there was a specific reason I introduced the Troubleshooter to Lucifer. There was immense value in forcing him to instruct another person.

‘It will grant him the opportunity to identify and refine the gaps in his own fundamentals.’

At any rate.

“Troubleshooter?”

“Y-YES?”

“Offer your greetings and step back. Lucifer will summon you later.”

“So… from this moment on, I will be learning under Lucifer-sensei?”

“Yes. And do not dare forget your earlier words.”

“My words…”

What else could it be?

“You stated you would pledge your loyalty until your very bones turned to dust and your body to ash, so long as he taught you magic.”

“Oh…”

Looking like a beggar who had just lost his tin cup, the dazed Troubleshooter let out a faint sigh and nodded in resignation.

It was then that Lucifer stepped forward.

“Before he departs, may I speak with him for a moment?”

“Should I give you two some space?”

“No, it won’t take long at all.”

“Alright then.”

With my nod of approval, Lucifer bowed his head slightly and guided the Troubleshooter to the far corner of the training grounds.

The contrast was stark: Lucifer, a giant standing nearly two meters tall, alongside the slender Troubleshooter. Their pairing looked less like a teacher-student chat and more like a shady alleyway confrontation, but Lucifer concluded the talk swiftly.

“Apologies for the delay.”

“Don’t worry about it. So…”

When asked about the nature of their brief conversation, Lucifer’s reply was straight to the point.

“I assigned him some basic training.”

“…Training?”

Is that supposed to be light?

The second black-and-white slums were incredibly vast. It certainly wasn’t a distance anyone would ever consider “short.”

…And why on earth is a mage ordering laps?

Perhaps misinterpreting the look on my face, Lucifer scratched his head awkwardly.

“Is that too light? At least four laps around…”

“…No, that actually sounds about right.”

“Then I will increase the intensity gradually.”

No, I meant it’s fine as it is.

My brief skepticism toward Lucifer’s common-sense-defying training methods didn’t last long. I quickly remembered that Lucifer’s definition of “magic” was entirely different from that of standard mages.

Well, it made sense. Troubleshooters had always been that way from the very beginning.

‘Even if it’s just wrapping mana around a fist to smash someone’s skull in, he considers it magic.’

Regardless, that wasn’t the main focus right now. The Troubleshooter’s conditioning was now Lucifer’s responsibility.

So, what mattered right now?

“How is your own training progressing?”

“Yes, I have been diligently practicing the breathing technique and the mana circulation method you instructed me on every single day.”

“Let me take a look…”

I sharpened my senses and closely inspected Lucifer’s state.

The verdict?

“…Not bad at all.”

“Really? That is a massive relief.”

I wasn’t just giving empty praise.

‘The mana has settled in beautifully.’

Thanks to his unceasing breathing exercises, the pathways I had cleared out using the Mana Shower showed absolutely no signs of blockage. Of course, the stored mana was still raw.

‘But that’s exactly what elixirs are meant to fix.’

At this stage, his foundation had become rock solid.

“Have you hit any walls in your training?”

“Well…”

As if he had been waiting for the prompt, Lucifer continued.

His inquiries were mostly centered around uncertainties regarding the practice of the ancient Heavenly Origin Art, queries I was fully equipped to answer. Though not every single one was simple.

“And regarding the collision formula.”

“What seems to be the issue with it?”

“It is incredibly complex. And it lacks efficiency. Observe…”

Despite his complaints, it was obvious he had been practicing relentlessly, as he somewhat awkwardly demonstrated the Collision Formula. Faint sparks of mana flickered above his palm, and sweat began to pour down his face from the sheer concentration required.

Even so, he could only maintain the form for about a minute.

Crackle, fizzle.

The collision formula destabilized and dissolved.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Lucifer spoke up.

“With that level of focus, it would be far more practical to cast alternative spells. The mana expenditure is also a problem. Naturally, most of the energy from the Collision Formula can be channeled back into the core, but…”

“The drawbacks outweigh the advantages?”

“Yes, precisely.”

Lucifer was entirely correct.

And it wasn’t just the Collision Formula that suffered from these structural flaws. The barrier-breaking Interference Formula and various unrefined mana circulation methods shared similar issues. So, it was only natural for him to feel bewildered.

Why spend so much effort perfecting mana circulation when one could easily acquire standard spells?

Yet, there were vital reasons to master mana circulation.

“Then tell me, how do you plan on acquiring new spells?”

“…Pardon?”

“Let’s think about it. How many distinct spells do you think active combat mages utilize?”

“Well…”

He left the thought hanging, having clearly never contemplated the metrics before. In a way, it seemed obvious, but to me, it was quite fascinating.

Because in my previous life, Lucifer himself had provided the answer to this exact question.

Setting nostalgia aside, I calmly recalled what he had told me back then, weaving in my own insights.

The spells used by combat mages generally fell into three distinct categories.

“First is defense. Second is offense. Third is mobility. But do you honestly think combat mages rely on just those three?”

“Obviously… they do not.”

“Correct. Take barriers, for instance; they have at least three sub-types. They shift based on the opponent’s elemental attribute and whether the attack is piercing or explosive. Of course, at an elite level, you don’t strictly need to make that distinction…”

Shhh.

I manifested a barrier and lightly tapped its translucent surface with a finger.

“But when facing opponents of equal caliber, adjusting the framework to fit the scenario is far more efficient. And the essential barrier frameworks total eight in all.”

“Eight… frameworks?”

“Yes, eight. You learn the counters for the four primary attributes of the era, along with the ‘penetrating’ and ‘detonating’ variations for each. And those eight are merely the bare minimum.”

Naturally, magical offenses weren’t limited to just “piercing” or “explosive” forms. Some were complex hybrids, and bizarre barrier-breaking spells were being engineered on a daily basis.

Therefore, in actual combat, one ends up mastering dozens of distinct barrier structures.

“Can you truly memorize and learn every single one of those spells?”

“It isn’t about memorizing them by heart. In the heat of battle, you adapt the structure on the fly.”

“Is that… even achievable?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? And that’s just defensive barriers. Consider how many offensive spells you would need to master.”

“…Quite a large number, indeed.”

“Exactly. Mobility spells are fewer in comparison—usually just speed enhancements or flight on demand. Perhaps three or four variations. Regardless, a skilled combat mage juggles dozens of elements spanning barriers, attacks, and mobility.”

“Dozens…”

“Yes, dozens.”

Granted, managing dozens wasn’t as impossible as it sounded. Most were merely offshoots of core spells, condensed into practical applications. Even so, the sheer volume was undeniable.

How was it possible? Simple.

“It’s no different from learning how to hold a pen. You get accustomed to it from a young age, experiment with variations, and it becomes second nature. But that’s beside the point right now. You asked why you need to learn the collision formula.”

“Yes.”

“Because for us, there aren’t that many spells available.”

“Our circumstances are vastly different from the noble houses. We don’t inherit countless secret arts, and even if we managed to obtain them, catching up to centuries of aristocratic refinement is an impossibility.”

That was precisely why we engineered mana circulation techniques. Unlike rigid, fixed spells, they offered boundless versatility.

To draw a comparison… Spells were intricate machines comprised of dozens or hundreds of interlocking gears. Mana circulation, on the other hand, was akin to utilizing primitive tools. It was completely free to adapt, unbound by rigid incantation forms.

“The collision formula is merely the gateway. Master it, grasp the underlying mana structures, and you will find yourself adapting to any situation.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“If these techniques can truly substitute for a hundred distinct spells, why do traditional mages bother learning so many in the first place?”

“Do you eat meals with your bare hands?”

“…Pardon me?”

“Do you slurp down soup with your fingers? Do you grab and tear cooked meat apart using only your hands?”

“No, but…”

“Why not? Your hands are capable of doing all of those things.”

“…Ah.”

Lucifer finally had an epiphany, letting out a soft gasp of realization.

“I would gladly use a knife and fork if they were provided to me. But if they aren’t? Do I just choose to starve? Absolutely not!”

“…Now I understand.”

That was the exact philosophy behind the creation of mana circulation techniques: to bridge the gap left by a lack of formal spellcasting resources. Now it felt entirely natural, but I digress.

“Any other questions?”

“Regarding the collision formula. You mentioned causing mana particles to collide, but I am having trouble fully perceiving them…”

Following that, Lucifer continued to seek guidance for the hurdles he encountered during his solitary training. I was fully occupied with instructing the Heavenly Origin Art and configuring circles, but I addressed every single question with utmost sincerity.

…And like that, the initial day of mentorship drew to a close. A precious span of time that might never come around again.