chapter 155………………………………………….
The 8-Circle Magician
The 7th Circle is called the realm of limits.
Because in the 6th Circle—known as the realm of time—most never manage to break free before their lifespan runs out.
So to long-lived beings like elves, demons, or dragons, the boundary called the 7th Circle isn’t considered especially significant.
In other words, the 7th Circle represents the limit of humanity.
Upon reaching the 7th Circle, a human can wield nearly all magic that humans are capable of manifesting.
If one uses restrictions or sacrifices to increase efficiency or power, they can even rival beings beyond humanity.
There is no real need to challenge the 8th Circle.
Gathering that much mana is nearly impossible to begin with.
Even among those who bore the title of Archmage while traveling across multiple worlds, almost all stopped at the 7th Circle.
Thus, the 8th Circle is called the realm of transcendence.
And now—
Woooong.
I decided to transcend the limits imposed by being human.
“Fuu…”
The mana filling all seven circles.
And beyond that, even the mana packed throughout my entire body.
It was a vast quantity—far exceeding the limit of what I could normally gather.
Even if I unfolded “Magic” and reviewed great spells, it would be difficult to accumulate this much mana.
The only reason this was possible was the privilege granted to the contractor by “Magic.”
『 The contractor acquires mana as a privilege. 』
…Though whether this could truly be called a privilege was debatable.
I let out a hollow laugh.
When I was “Magic,” I had never granted such a privilege.
The countless mages who had contracted with me in other worlds before had almost all stopped at the 7th Circle.
Some had even stopped at the 5th or 6th.
If one excelled in implementing and operating magic, the number of circles was not terribly important.
More than that, I had never encouraged my contractors to go further.
Those who reached that level already had virtually no rivals in their worlds.
Knowing that full well, I had neither reason nor need to push them toward the 8th Circle.
But if such a privilege had been granted to me…
“That must mean it’s necessary, right?”
It meant that an opponent worthy of it existed in this world.
I recalled the words the god had spoken to me.
“Your world is flawed now, child.”
“That you were able to encounter me was merely the blessing of abundant mana.”
“The magic of that world is already broken beyond repair.”
“Will you seek new possibilities and go to another world?”
“Or will you fulfill your duty in the world where the seed of evil has taken root?”
“As always, the choice is entirely yours, child.”
The seed of evil…
There was no need to think of anyone else.
Zeras Grimm.
Perhaps it was no coincidence that I had possessed the body of Esric Spelder.
From the very beginning, perhaps defeating that demon had been my destiny in this world.
Of course, even aside from destiny, my resolve now overflowed.
Ronan and Hog, and the others of Icerock.
Sirina, who followed earnestly and reached the 5th Circle through her own power.
Leonis, whom I had initially contracted with only to spread magic, but now sincerely supported.
The bonds I had built in this world bound me more tightly than fate itself.
“Fuu.”
In the end, I had no choice.
“Let’s go.”
Kiiiiing—!
I focused my mind and sharply increased the speed of circulating mana.
The temperature of the mana filling my body rose rapidly.
Like water coming to a boil.
It bubbled from within.
Though the surface of the brimming mana showed nothing, small whirlwinds began forming inside.
Like heated iron softening.
I grasped the shape of the heated mana, bending and molding it.
Up to the 7th Circle was merely an extension of the 5th.
But the 8th Circle could not be reached simply by attaching another ring.
If it were that simple, everyone would have reached it.
Beyond the 7th Circle, adding more rings did not significantly improve mana efficiency.
Circulating in the same direction would not yield greater speed.
Thus, beginning with the 8th Circle, a new path must be connected.
A back-and-forth circulation.
For that, on the opposite side of the heart—
On the right side of my chest—
I formed a new ring.
Matching the speed of the mana already circulating through the existing seven circles—
Kiiiiing—!
I wove together seven more rings, identical in number, and connected them anew.
That was the method to reach the 8th Circle.
“…!”
Swallowing the nausea that surged upward, I concentrated.
Pain like my chest was being torn apart.
The sensation of molten metal flowing through my veins.
I endured it all, teeth clenched.
Molding the heated mana, weaving the rings.
One, two, three…
Maintaining focus so they would not break—four, five, six…
I felt the mana draining rapidly.
My stomach hollowed; my head throbbed.
Barely, I completed the seventh ring.
Now, extending a long pathway, I connected the two circles into one.
Thump. Thump.
My heartbeat rang as though echoing beside my ears.
The mana that had filled me moments ago vanished as if it had been a lie.
In the emptied space, the heartbeat echoed louder.
Pain pierced the center of my chest as though a hole were being drilled through it.
“Kh—ugh—!”
A groan escaped between clenched teeth.
『 The contractor’s mana has been depleted. 』
『 The contractor’s mana has been depleted. 』
『 The contractor’s mana has been depleted. 』
At the voice of “Magic” ringing in my mind, I ground my teeth even harder.
Clinging to my fading consciousness—
Flash—!
I succeeded in connecting the circles.
Along the infinity (∞)-shaped ring, I could clearly feel a mere handful of mana flowing.
“I… did it…”
As my consciousness dimmed, the voice of “Magic” rang out.
『 The contractor has transcended their limits. 』
『 A new page of magic is unfolding. 』
…A new page?
Before I could even process the question—
Thud.
I fell backward onto the ground and lost consciousness.
Southern continent, the holy city of Solanis.
In the training grounds of the Holy Knights at the Papal Palace of the Solius Order—
Kwaaang—!
A pitch-black blade light surged upward violently from the center of the arena.
Beneath it stood Ronan, sword in hand.
“Still a long way to go.”
Valen, watching with arms crossed, clicked his tongue.
“You’ve improved a lot, though,” said Lionel, commander of the Sun Knights, wiping sweat as he approached.
“It’s definitely clearer than before.”
“I know that! I do! But I don’t understand why it’s like that!”
Valen spoke in frustration, staring at Ronan standing firm in the arena.
A dark aura rose faintly from Ronan’s body.
No one was more frustrated than Ronan himself.
…Is this not it either?
He frowned and looked down at his sword.
Since Esric left, Ronan had remained in Solanis, focusing on training to control aura.
Though no one there wielded aura, with the help of holy knights adept at controlling divine power, he had gradually made progress.
Until he hit a wall.
“Still not working?”
From behind him, Elnor—the commander of the Radiant Knights and a high-ranking holy knight—spun her spear and stepped into the arena.
“…As you can see.”
“Don’t overthink it.”
She leveled her spear at him with a relaxed smile.
“You just have to manifest yourself in concrete form.”
“…I’m trying.”
He had heard it many times already.
Manifesting aura.
Holy knights manifest their divine power as a single form.
Elnor manifested angel wings to use .
Lionel manifested the sun as a shield to use .
Clear, distinct, concrete forms.
That was how they wielded divine power.
Ronan knew that.
Not just from their advice—but because he had seen aura like that before.
Siruela, the half-elf fairy knight.
Commander of Icerock who guarded the snow mountains for centuries, and his master who made him a knight.
He remembered clearly.
The pale green aura she wielded when cutting down the calamity in the snow mountains—
Growing into a colossal tree.
“It just… won’t work.”
Since then, Ronan had tried to shape his aura into a single form.
But he did not know what form it should take.
“You’re thinking too much. Just make it what represents you best.”
“That’s… the hard part.”
…Who am I?
Whenever he pondered that, his dead mother’s voice echoed in his ears.
“The hide of a lion bears no pattern.”
The bloodline of the royal house of Raimond.
But at the same time—
“The wolf, House Dyark.”
The bloodline of the wolves, known as the shadow of the royal house.
Bearing both lion and wolf blood—two lines that should never mix—Ronan could not clearly define his identity.
Thus, his scattered black aura flickered in the shape of some unidentifiable beast.
Just like the aura that had shot into the sky moments ago.
“You’re thinking too much.”
Elnor smiled and kicked off the ground, thrusting her spear toward him.
Clang!
Ronan blocked with his sword, deflecting its trajectory.
He tried to knock it away, but Elnor pressed forward.
Paaang—!
A circular ring flared behind her back.
The supreme divine art, .
“Kh—!”
Her spear, embodying the angel of the sun, grew heavier.
The black aura rising from Ronan flickered like a candle about to go out.
“You just have to become what you’re trying to manifest.”
“That’s—!”
Ronan gritted his teeth.
“It’s hard!”
Clang—!
With a shout, he burst his aura outward.
Their sword and spear, clashing with sparks, were flung apart.
Whoosh.
Elnor spun and swung her spear widely.
Ronan stepped in to block—
Kwang—!
He was sent flying, rolling across the arena floor.
His aura scattered completely.
He quickly tried to manifest it again and rise—
“—!”
“That’s enough.”
Shing.
Elnor had already closed in, pressing her spear blade against his neck.
“See?”
Behind her, the circular ring still burned intensely.
“Once you manifest it, you can wield it without unnecessary waste.”
…
Ronan once again recalled the towering tree that had grown from Siruela’s sword.
The aura that had stretched endlessly, cutting down calamity.
“So stop overthinking. Just focus on what you want to become.”
After a moment of thought, Ronan stared at Elnor as she withdrew her spear.
“…So do you think you’re an angel—?!”
Before he could finish—
Thud.
The butt of her spear jabbed deeply into his abdomen.
Elnor’s cheeks flushed slightly as she growled,
“Shut up!”
