“I need maps of every kingdom in this continent.”
Maps? Is that all this kid wants or is he just screwing with me? The sharp look he has in his eyes says he’s serious.
“I can provide you with all the maps you need. Will that be all?”
“I will also be buying information of every high-ranking person of this kingdom.”
Now we’re talking. So, that’s what he was really after all this time.
“That information won’t be cheap, you know that?”
I take out a bag of gold coins from my storage space.
“Will this be enough?” I ask.
Sweat drips from her forehead as the sound of coins striking each other resonate as they thud the table.
Where the hell did he take that out from? He is not equipped with a storage bag nor a ring. Don’t tell me. He can use space magic.
It seems I surprised her with my space magic. I should be careful next time. It’s already a habit of mine to just take out things from my storage space.
She quickly pulls herself together.
“That’s quite a lot of money you have there. Who exactly are you?”
I don’t respond.
“Is there anything else you would like?”
“Oh, yeah. I need information on any merchants who deal with trading metal ores and steel.”
“Hmm, there are a lot of those out there. I would recommend the Metal Wolves merchant guild. It’s a huge guild that has even branched itself throughout the entire continent. It is the number one weapons guild that has a lot of high ranked blacksmiths but…”
“But what?”
“It is owned by the Wixx ducal family of this kingdom. It’ll be impossible for you to meet up with them.”
“Do you know where I can find them?”
“At their dukedom perhaps, but since the duke is a merchant by blood, he usually travels a lot. It will take a few weeks to find his exact location.”
I take out another bag of gold coins.
“Make it three days.”
Naomi is speechless.
“I’ll be taking the maps and the information then.”
Naomi let out a deep sigh before going to take out the maps and books. I store them in my storage space.
“Hey, wonder boy. Can you tell me your last name at the very least?”
I smile at her.
“I assume the money for the room is covered from the two bags of gold, right?”
“Sigh, yeah.”
“Very well, then. I’ll be going to my room. I would like not to be disturbed.”
I leave the basement room.
The room they give me is… fine, I guess. It seems like it is one of the best rooms they have. It is quite spacious with a king-sized bed, a table and some sofas and a bathroom. In the bathroom, there is a bathtub made of wood and a toilet.
I can just use my rest dimensional space to take a bath and other stuff. I created it especially for this reason. In my rest dimensional space, there is a giant bathing area. The toilet is also the same as my old world with the ability to flush and a king-sized bed. Of course, I can’t use them today because of the Alignment happening tonight.
I then sit in the bed in a meditation posture. It is time to continue my training in comprehending the World’s Mana Network.
Mana network. It is a network that every living being possess. Mana particles are connected with each other in our bodies. Because of that connection, we can manifest magic and mana techniques with just a single thought. Controlling your own mana network isn’t a big deal but controlling the world’s mana network is difficult. Some might say it’s impossible.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
I’ve realised that the secrets to magic, energy, life, and power can be found in the world’s mana network. Usually, people are only able to use 0.00001% of the world’s mana network and that percent is used as the twenty percent in every spell casted.
When someone casts a spell, that spell is made up of forty percent of the caster’s mana, forty percent of the magic particles and twenty percent of the world’s mana.
Comprehending just ten percent of the world’s mana network will allow the caster to cast an intermediate-level spell without even using a drop of their own mana. The more you comprehend the world’s mana network, the more you’ll be able to use stronger magic spells without using your own mana and peek through the secrets of the world.
Now, what would happen if someone were to comprehend hundred percent of the world’s mana network? Then that person would be like a god. He would be able to feel all the living things in the entire world. That person would gain knowledge to all the secrets of the world including things that happened in the past.
With a simple wave of his hand, he could blow up an entire kingdom. With a snap of his fingers, giant waves could form destroying everything in the way. That person would be unstoppable. Even changing the landscape of the entire world would be child’s play.
Right now, I have comprehended fifty percent of the world’s mana network. Thanks to that, my magic spells are on another level. I have also managed to peek through the secrets of magic and the laws but no matter how much I try to comprehend further; I can’t perceive anything. It’s like there’s a wall that prevents me from comprehending even further.
Maybe the world isn’t allowing me? Yeah, right.
I open my eyes and the sun has already set. I clench my hands in frustration.
Even now, I couldn’t cross the fifty percent mark.
I enter my mindscape.
I appear in my soul avatar form as control panels appear in front of me.
“Ariel, did you manage to record the data in the scrolls given by Naomi?”
Already done, master.
“Good.”
Everything that is in my storage space can be recorded in my mindscape. It’s kinda like an inventory function. Thanks to that I don’t need to read books directly. Just having them in my storage space, Ariel can copy all the contents on them in a matter of seconds.
“Okay, display the map of this region.”
One of the maps Naomi had given me appears in front of me. It is in a form of a simulation.
“Show the one from the Draconic book too.”
Another map also appears next to the first one.
“Okay. Now make the first map translucent and align it above the map from the Draconic book.”
The maps align over each other. These two maps are maps of the same region just at different time periods. Using this method, I can predict where the ruins are using the two maps.
After a few minutes, I am able to pinpoint where the location is.
I guess I should sleep for now. I’ll check it out tomorrow.
***
In another room of the inn. Naomi is on her desk pondering something. The room is illuminated by luminous stones all over. A knock is heard from the door.
“Come in.” says Naomi.
A man walks inside the room. He has a bulky build with giant muscles sticking out of his short-sleeved shirt. The white shirt he is wearing further reveal his thick chest and six packs. His face is around 30-35 years of age with a thick beard. It is Jasper, Naomi’s number two, and her brother (not blood related).
“Hey, big sis.”
“Jasper. What are you doing here this late?”
“I was wondering what was up with that kid? Why did you stop us back at the bar?” asks Jasper with a confused look.
“You all would’ve died.” She nonchalantly answers.
“What?!” shouts Jasper as his mouth hangs open.
“Even though, he’s still a kid, he’s strong. His words showed no fear. And his eyes, they were eyes that knew death. They were eyes of a person that wouldn’t hesitate to kill.”
“That’s all. Just because of his eyes?”
Naomi let out a small chuckle.
“It’s not just his eyes idiot. Take a look over here.” She says as she calls Jasper over to her table.
In the table lies a measurement crystal ball.
“You know that we have a lot of magic circles engraved in the basement, right. First, the barrier outside of the door detects hostility and any magic items. This is put in place to detect people who aren’t here for a transaction or are here to plant a listening device.” She pauses before continuing.
“There are also attack and defence magic circles that will activate the moment someone attacks during the transaction.”
“Yes, I already know that. There is also a magic circle that measures someone’s strength based on the amount of magical energy they emit. And?”
“Look at this crystal ball. Look at the results of his strength.”
The measurement crystal ball that is on the table is connected to the magic circle that can measure a person’s strength. Jasper looks over but he is surprised by the results.
“It’s zero.”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t get it. Isn’t he weak then?”
“That’s what I thought too. But then I remembered the fact that the magic circle can record anyone’s strength even if that person isn’t even a magician or a fighter. Regular people would usually get five or less on the recording.”
“Then, what does this mean?”
“Since he was even able to use space magic to take out the payment means that he does have magical energy in him. I spent the entire evening pondering over this and there is only one reason I came up with.”
Sweat drips down Jasper’s face.
“The magic circle couldn’t measure his power.”
“Couldn’t he have just supressed his power?” asks Jasper.
“That’s possible but not to the point where the reading would be zero. Magical energy would have leaked off of him even if it was a little bit.”
“What are you saying, sis? Are you trying to say that his power can’t be measured by the magic circle?”
“Yeah, I know. It sounds crazy. After all, that magic circle can even measure the power of the Five Slayers of the kingdom.”
Jasper is speechless. Reason being that the Five Slayers are the most powerful knights in the Slavia kingdom, under the direct order of the king. To have someone who is as strong as them or even stronger stunned him.
“Of course, this is still just a guess. So, dear little brother. Make sure you don’t offend him, okay. If you want to keep your head that is.”