NOVEL NEXT Ch. 45
As Bamboo Hat Mister said, it was true that things needed to be sorted out.
But I couldn't explain everything in detail.
Even if it was Bamboo Hat Mister, revealing my Regression at this point was too great a risk.
The variables dependent on 'the existence of my Regression being revealed' were so vast that even I couldn't properly predict them.
It wasn't just about acting as a variable in future events; it had the potential to change the entire board itself.
Of course, it was ridiculous to think of an even worse case when things had already come to this, but I still had to reduce any further turning points.
“…That's what happened.”
So, I explained most of the incident as coincidence and luck.
While trying to retrieve the stolen Mana Stone, I 'coincidentally' fell off a cliff.
'Luckily,' I survived.
I 'coincidentally' met Shuten.
'Luckily,' he held animosity towards the Demon King.
Einstein 'coincidentally' appeared.
And 'luckily,' Bamboo Hat Mister also appeared.
“…A precise explanation, partner.”
Jerry chimed in at my shameless explanation, his expression unchanging.
“…….”
Shuten struggled to remain silent.
Ssk-
…Loxy was still passed out and hadn't gotten up.
Bamboo Hat Mister, who had silently listened to my explanation that was no better than an excuse, let out a hollow laugh.
“Heheh…… Well now.”
“…….”
“…A rather convenient explanation.”
I knew.
That this explanation was ridiculous, anyway.
“…Well, for now, at least.”
However, I also knew that Bamboo Hat Mister wouldn't press for more details.
I knew that well.
“I'll take your word for it then. My coincidental and lucky friend.”
“…….”
“And that talk about a Demon King Hunt and all…… It seems you have your reasons, so I won't ask any further.”
…After all the years I'd spent under this old man's thumb.
It wasn't hard to guess where he would place his priorities.
If there was anyone who knew Bamboo Hat Mister better than the man himself, it was probably me.
From his perspective, with a great undertaking ahead, there was something more important than figuring out the full story.
“…Regardless of the circumstances, what just happened was by no means a small matter.”
Dealing with the aftermath of the current incident.
“Even taking it out of context, a ‘Count-rank’ Titled Demon invaded Murim. This is something that could cause excessive chaos.”
He must have made all sorts of preparations for his sect's great undertaking, so if The Order were to hear rumors that Isaac had appeared in Kunlun's territory…
It would probably be more than just a little troublesome.
Ssk-
“…So, I'd appreciate it if you kept quiet about what happened here.”
The mister lifted his bamboo hat and, pulling a long pipe from his robes, pointed it at Shuten.
“First, I'll take care of this man named Shuten.”
“…….”
“At a glance, it seems too much for you to handle, and my help seems necessar……”
Ssk-
“…Wanna try it, you bamboo-hatted bastard?”
At Bamboo Hat Mister's use of the word 'take care of,' Shuten immediately raised the handle of his mace.
“…There seems to be a misunderstanding. I didn't mean to fight, I meant I'd help clean up your personal mess.”
“…….”
“Weren't you being tailed by Einstein? For a guy with such a big head, your heart's the size of a bean.”
Shrugging, Bamboo Hat Mister chided him, then glanced fleetingly at Jerry's face and muttered.
“…What this side wants is mutual secrecy, anyway.”
Finally, he looked at me and asked.
“And you…… is there anything you want? As long as you promise to keep quiet, I can grant most requests within reason.”
And to Bamboo Hat Mister's question.
I had originally intended to say I didn't need anything.
My head already felt like it was about to split just from having to re-establish my future plans due to Einstein's intervention.
But just as I was about to wave my hand in refusal.
A thought flashed through my mind.
‘…Huh? Wait a minute.’
Smiiirk-
“A technique.”
He retorted to my short answer.
“…A technique?”
“Teach me. The technique you used when you fought that guy earlier.”
Even with the added explanation, Bamboo Hat Mister tilted his head as if he couldn't understand, then his expression suddenly changed to one of realization and he asked again.
“Ah, are you perhaps talking about how I broke this big-headed fellow's Mana Chains earlier? Well, if you want me to teach you the principle of mana disruption, it's not difficult. But it's not something anyone can use just by learning it, and you can learn it pretty much anywhere, not necessarily from me…….”
Dori-dori-
“Not that one.”
“……?”
“You know. All the techniques you use, the mana gets amplified in the middle of them.”
“……!!!”
“Please teach me how to do that.”
At my words pinpointing Mana Amplification, Bamboo Hat Mister's jaw dropped.
The reason was simple.
“How did you……”
“The way the mana amplifies at each superimposed inflection point… was fascinating, wasn't it? Even the first clash, ‘Kwang!’, seemed to be amplified by at least 50% more than the original output.”
“…….”
The technique that could be called Bamboo Hat Mister's specialty, 'Mana Amplification' through the
Furthermore, considering the clash of mana wasn't a simple demonstration but a tense battle for life and death against a Count of the Demon King's Army, seeing through its irregularities and speed to read the unique pattern of Mana Amplification would be difficult even for a Hero highly skilled in mana utilization.
The one who knew this better than anyone was Bamboo Hat Mister, which was why that ever-so-composed man was making such a dumbfounded face.
‘It's a bit early, but.’
…To be honest, learning 'Mana Amplification' from Bamboo Hat Mister was something I had originally planned for later.
If my memory served me right, it was probably around the 50th item on my bucket list, planned for a much later time than now.
But now was not the time to be concerned with the order of things.
The fact that Isaac Einstein had already begun to interfere with me was like carrying a ticking time bomb.
It wasn't just this; it was a situation where I had to secure any possible advantage as far in advance as I could.
It seemed I would have to move things along at a much faster pace, too.
“That's not possible. The principle itself isn't difficult, but this is less about learning and more akin to body modification. No one besides me has ever succeeded. More importantly, if it goes wrong, you could become someone who can never use their Mana Circuit again.”
“…….”
“In a severe case, you could even lose your life. So, ask for something else. If it's something else, I-.”
The expected refusal.
I cut him off as he was shaking his head to refuse, and declared.
“Wanna make a bet?”
“…What did you say?”
“I'm willing to bet all my money and my wrist that I'll succeed.”
…Because I'd already done it once before.
* * *
『Every person in the world has a Mana Circuit. Regardless of whether it's weak or strong, activated or not.』
『…….』
『Let me ask you one question, you punk.』
Bamboo Hat Mister's familiar voice echoed in my ears.
『Most people use a single Mana Circuit. The range of techniques they can learn varies depending on their compatibility with that circuit.』
『…….』
『Then, could it be possible to have two Mana Circuits? To get straight to the point, it's possible…….』
『You wouldn't be saying it if it weren't.』
『Listen seriously, you brat. You could actually die today, you know?』
It was an old memory.
That is to say.
Around the true beginning of my first life.
Back then, I couldn't use my Innate Ability at all, so my level was incomparable, but in terms of timing, it was around the same period as it is now in my second life.
『I get it.』
『…I've never seen anyone born with two circuits innately. Of course, I haven't seen every person, so I can't be sure… but there probably aren't any.』
『…….』
『Therefore, the method I'm about to teach you is to construct a second Mana Circuit artificially. It's high-risk, high-return, of course, and a method that can't even be attempted if one's innate conditions aren't right.』
After a brief pause, he added.
『…Without a pioneer, it's practically a suicide attempt.』
The explanation continued.
『The method is simple. You infuse mana into your body beyond the tolerance limit of your Mana Circuit.』
『…….』
『Of course, normally, when you do this, the Mana Circuit enters a state of overload and either tears or reacts abnormally. However, someone with extremely high mana sensitivity can finely control the mana and use the excess to expand their Mana Circuit.』
At the time, I couldn't accept it and had asked.
The innately born Mana Circuit is fixed, so where on earth would you expand the Mana Circuit to?
And Bamboo Hat Mister's answer to that was simple.
『The blood vessels.』
Forcibly constructing a secondary Mana Circuit in the body's channels where blood flows.
Naturally, it wasn't a method anyone could attempt.
It was a method I could only attempt because my special Mana Circuit, which reached the extreme of 'variability' by being able to change according to the situation, and the bizarre regenerative power of my
If an ordinary person were to try to expand their Mana Circuit through their blood vessels, one hundred out of a hundred times, that day would be the last day they could ever circulate their mana.
…If they were a bit unlucky, it would be the day of their memorial service.
『To a guy whose main Mana Circuit hasn't even properly matured……』
『…….』
It was something I learned only after trying it, but of the people who attempted it following Bamboo Hat Mister's know-how, half died, and the other half were crippled, unable to use their Mana Circuits for the rest of their lives.
Among those countless people, I was the only success.
『Anyway. To continue, the first step is to finely twist the mana from the overloaded Mana Circuit.』
『…….』
『After that, you forcibly flow it into the blood vessels… no, it would be more accurate to say you squeeze and cram it in.』
『…….』
『Then, in this process, the blood vessels will partially tear. Since they weren't originally made for mana to flow through, they have an adverse reaction.』
『…….』
『But after that, the mana that flows in through the torn wounds seeps into the adjacent neuromuscular system during the wound's recovery process. The rest is the same. An endless repetition of tearing and recovering.』
In a slightly hardened voice, he asks me.
『…I told you from the beginning, no one besides me has succeeded. If it were possible, everyone would have tried to learn it. This is something you have to risk your life for.』
『…….』
『…Will you still do it?』
My answer to that question was firm.
『…Just get on with it already. Why would I be sitting here listening to the explanation if I wasn't going to do it?』
It didn't matter.
I was on the edge of a cliff, unable to even get a proper start without risking my life anyway.
…And that.
Was still the same now.