Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 310
Chapter 310
“No, how many times have I reminded you that this was an exceedingly risky experiment! If you continue to intrude in such a manner…”
Despite his intimidating demeanor, Clayton, who rarely displayed anger, was now shouting vehemently at the monarch.
Logan remained silent, simply lowering his head, while the attendants and guards struggled to contain their amusement at the spectacle.
Clayton’s visage, with his thick brown hair and beard completely burned off, now revealed a bald and reddened scalp. The surprising sight of the kingdom’s solitary magician—a usually imposing and reserved figure—elicited amusement from all those present.
It was only after Clayton had vented his frustrations that he grasped the gravity of the situation.
Seeing the attendants blush and avert their eyes under his gaze, coupled with the unfamiliar sensation of a breeze on his bare scalp, reignited Clayton’s fury.
“This could have been a catastrophe! Even if the king and I had been spared, young Victoria could have perished! Your Majesty must deeply contemplate this incident as well!”
“…I have no excuse. This will not be repeated.”
Logan couldn’t bring himself to smile, even as Clayton’s furious bald appearance bordered on the comical.
Victoria, who could have faced death if not for Clayton’s desperate actions, and the knights accompanying Logan who had suffered serious injuries and were now receiving healing aid.
Logan realized it was inappropriate to offer any excuses when a significant event had nearly unfolded due to his misjudgment during the experiment.
“Victoria is a prodigy destined to leave her mark on the kingdom’s, no, the world’s magical history! We narrowly avoided losing such a talent!”
While Clayton may have exaggerated, no one could dispute his point.
“Ria, how is the child?”
“She seems unharmed, but she was quite shaken. Her magic circle must have been disrupted, so I plan to ensure she gets adequate rest.”
“…That is understandable. I will personally apologize to Ria.”
Logan’s decision was not swayed by Clayton’s angry expression or Victor’s piercing gaze.
‘The kingdom almost squandered its potential.’
Logan intended to offer sincere apologies and compensations to both the injured knight and Victoria.
Observing Logan continuously adopting a submissive stance, Clayton found it hard to sustain his anger.
Only the tingling sensation on his scalp reminded him of the bitter conclusion of the episode.
“…I will publicly declare my experiment a failure. However, Your Majesty must be prepared for any delays in your plans due to this incident. We were on the brink of success before this setback…”
“No, that’s…!”
Upon hearing Clayton’s words, Logan’s head, previously bowed, suddenly lifted.
“All the experimental equipment has been destroyed as well. It will take at least two weeks to prepare anew.”
Shortly after, Logan had to bow his head once more in acceptance of the unavoidable truth.
Additionally,
“The mastermind behind this plan was not me. It was Ria. Without her return, we cannot proceed with any further trials.”
“Was her role truly that crucial?”
“Yes. Beyond even Your Majesty’s imagination.”
Intrigued despite his apologies, Logan listened attentively to Clayton’s words.
***
“I definitely witnessed it…”
The blue-haired girl lying silently in bed, Victoria, reached upwards.
Closing her hand in the air, her mismatched red and blue eyes were not focused on her hand but on the memory of yesterday’s explosion.
‘It was not a proper spell.’
The explosion, a result of unrefined mana blending with ingredients in an unpredictable pattern, was a disaster unrelated to her intended study. However, in the chaos, Victoria found unexpected inspiration, to the extent that she neglected to cast a protective spell.
Her mentor sustained severe injuries, and her own magical circles were disturbed.
But the vivid display had ingrained itself deeply in her mind.
‘A small quantity. The mana was insufficient to breach the master’s Mana force.’
To surpass a higher level with a lower one, even momentarily, demanded an immense amount of energy.
This commonly accepted belief was shattered before her eyes.
‘The mana condensed endlessly as it mixed with the ingredients. It differed from typical magical energy.’
At 19, Victoria, a talent on the verge of the 5th circle, peeking into transcendent status, discerned her path forward in that peculiar sight.
‘Perhaps mastering multiple attributes is not strictly necessary.’
When a magician progresses to a mage, practitioners of single-circle magic often master another element.
Like her mentor Clayton, who added the wind attribute to his innate earth attribute, enabling him to control various combat constructs from a significant distance.
This realization is more common than an aura user gaining a new ability and an overall power boost. Although not officially explored, it could be termed ‘universal.’
And mages argue that manipulating the laws of nature requires more than a single attribute.
Yet, while studying her mentor’s notes on magic circles, another possibility occurred to her.
‘Magic circles function irrespective of the mana’s attributes. There is no need to possess multi-attributed mana to manipulate the laws of nature.’
Moreover, tales of grand mages in history, individuals existing over three centuries after the emergence of grand mages on the continent, persuaded Victoria.
Most renowned figures belonged to the wizard faction, mastering class magic rather than being single-circle mages. This implied that multiple attributes were necessary to attain grand mage status.
However, delving a thousand years back reveals stories like the “Fire of Catastrophe” that transformed nations into wastelands or “The Master of Earth” who raised mountain ranges, suggesting otherwise.
While these may be embellished folk tales, records exist of these mages surpassing the grand mages of their era.
Victoria’s vague conjecture was that these mages in stories maximized a single attribute’s potential rather than awakening multiple attributes.
Yesterday’s explosion indicated to her that this notion might not remain a mere idea but become reality.
“It is entirely feasible.”
With determination, earthy mana began to swirl around her fingertips.
Despite her mentor’s warning to refrain from using magic and rest due to her disrupted magical circles, Victoria disregarded the advice for the moment.
‘A small amount of mana should serve as proof.’
Wooom.
The earthy mana responded to her will, vibrating in resonance.
Guiding the mana as she desired, following the pattern of the explosion she had witnessed the day before, Victoria began condensing it on a smaller scale, testing her theory of enhancing a single attribute.
Should she fail and trigger another explosion, it could be life-threatening, but she dismissed the risk in that moment.
– If a good idea strikes, one should put it into practice.
The principle upheld by the kingdom’s savior and ruler kept any inconvenient realities at bay.
She only considered the kingdom’s past achievements, following her inspiration.
‘Let’s give it a try!’
Her anticipation was soon rewarded.
Woowooom.
As the earthy mana darkened to a deep brown hue, Victoria felt her heart swell.
‘Finally!’
She realized her mana was pushing past her mentor’s magical prowess, feeling distinct and boundary-breaking.
Like gears aligning perfectly, her disrupted magical circles settled back in place upon this revelation.
Her mentor’s concerns about needing weeks of rest dissipated as the circles realigned.
Victoria’s face lit up with triumph as another circle seemed to manifest.
“Ria!”
The door burst open, and a familiar face rushed in.
“You have a visitor…? Oh?”
“Thi-this…”
Victoria’s expression contorted.
The earthy mana, in the midst of its transformation into magical energy, lost equilibrium and became unstable once again.
“Ha.. Ha…”
Realizing something was amiss, Victor awkwardly chuckled.
“Shut up, you fool!!”
Victoria didn’t even realize it was her first time cursing at her own brother.
From her pointed finger,
Urrurruung.
Kwaaang!
A loamy light exploded, demolishing a section of the mansion’s second-floor wall.
***
“…I understand. It’s a relief that all the injuries have healed.”
Logan avoided Victoria’s uneasy gaze, glancing towards a corner.
Victor, missing a gauntlet, knelt as if being reprimanded, showing no strain for an aura user, yet his expression displayed genuine discomfort.
Beside him, Clayton, sporting an unnecessarily broad-brimmed hat, continued to nag incessantly.
“Do you comprehend the gravity of your actions? We were on the brink of witnessing the birth of the youngest mage in continental history… You ruined it. History…”
‘Bloody nuisance.’
Logan smirked inwardly and redirected his attention to Victoria.
“To achieve the level of a mage at your age is remarkable, Ria.”
“Oh, Your Majesty, I… Thanks to that reckless brother of mine, who knows when such an opportunity will present itself again…”
“Once you’ve experienced it, the opportunity will surely arise again. Don’t rush it.”
While the siblings remained distressed, Logan’s face conveyed amusement.
Having heard of Victoria’s magical aptitude from Clayton countless times, Logan had not anticipated her swift journey towards transcendence, especially amidst impending conflict.
Yet, she appeared halfway there already.
Despite their fluctuating emotions, Logan’s keen perception detected vibrations approaching the sixth circle emanating from Victoria’s heart.
Why wouldn’t he be delighted if his research on a grand magic array and preparations to confront the empire had yielded such a force?
“And that time may arrive sooner than you think. So forgive your brother.”
At his words, Victoria’s initially softened expression swiftly hardened upon recollection.
“I cannot forgive him!”
“Eh?”
“Concealing his aura, what kind of family is this… Tch…”
Logan chuckled at Victoria’s pout—rare since the mansion incident; Victor likely inadvertently revealed his aura.
Though the once tiny child had blossomed into a graceful lady, these remnants of her past self brought a smile to the king.
“I instructed him to do so. If you must be angry, direct your ire towards me.”
“How could I possibly be upset with… Your Majesty.”
“If you cannot blame me, then release your anger towards your brother.”
“…Yes.”
Although Victoria’s face still held a hint of resentment, that was something Victor could work on.
Logan, relishing his unexpected discovery during the visit, wore a contented smile.
A few days later, following Logan’s pleasant visit,
– The research on manifesting and utilizing the grand magic array has entered its final phase.
Upon hearing Clayton’s report, Logan’s face once again radiated with a bright smile.
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