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Return of The 8th Class Mage (Web Novel) - Chapter 147: Need for Chance (1)
Chapter 147: Need for Chance (1)
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Ian’s head was whirling with thoughts. No matter how many divisions were made, it would not be infinite, and someday the last soul would disintegrate.
‘Wait, then they…’
The immortal troops disturbed Ian. Did Fran turn back the many natives and the monsters’ times as he turned back Ian’s during the Ragnar incident?
“Let me ask something.”
“It is true that kids are said to be as curious as they are smart.”
“Stop fooling around.”
Ian growled softly to satisfy his curiosity about those immortal troops.
“How did you make them?”
[You’re talking about our friends who listen to what I say? They are different as I told you, the power of immortality has two different categories. The first is those whose egos and bodies are all right like the artisans and me. The second is those with nothing left for them as everything crumbled down. It is evident that the troops belong in the latter category.]
Fran’s overbearing behavior made Ian’s insides lurch. However, since he could not continue to cause friction, Ian repressed his urges and continued with his question.
“I mean that I’m curious about how the latter gains immortality. If the question is tough to answer…”
[There’s nothing to it. It’s an…imitation of sorts.]
Ian focused as he thought that the imitation referred to that of the power of immortality.
[The artisans are eight splendid people I nurtured directly by making them study as much as they could by repeating the power of time. However, I erased their memories regarding time.]
Fran explained that the artisans went through numerous returns and became artisans who could easily handle artifacts.
[So they could also stock up on souls, and I gave them the power of immortality since it became the case. It would be troublesome for me if they died after I went through all those processes. I was going to make them research artifacts for the rest of their lives next to me, but since I became like this…Whew!]
Fran spoke in half jest, half self-deprecation. He seemed to be sorrier that he could not utilize them as much as Ian could after nurturing them.
[On the other hand, how should I call them? Since they are the army of the immortals, I will call them the immortal troops. Those immortal troops are literally the undead. They became idiots in exchange for acquiring immortal bodies. They are above me in terms of the perfection of their immortality, and I would have chosen to become one of them if I could keep my ego and taste buds. Never mind the ego issue; what would life be if you could not taste food?]
Fran’s explanation held more idle talk rather than the main subject, but Ian just heard what he needed and asked back only what was necessary.
“Are they really immortal beings?”
[Why? Are you going to attack them until they die if there is a limit? You are blunt, which is unlike you.]
Ian startled a bit because he felt like Fran read his thoughts. Of course, Ian responded as impassively as possible.
“I could do that.”
[Haha! That might seem like a worthwhile method, and I won’t stop you.]
Fran laughed at Ian’s intentions and returned to the main subject.
[If you want the power of immortality with your ego intact, start overusing the power of time from now on. I’m telling you to stock your extra souls in the imaginary world before the lizards decide to do something about it. I’ll let you know how to use them then.]
Fran was a meticulous person and drew the lines firmly even when it seemed that he was giving away everything. Ian had to ponder over the matter.
‘No matter what the cost, should I learn how to use the souls?’
Would it be an advantage to learn it despite overusing the power of time, as Fran said? It would be advantageous, but the problem was the ‘side effects.’ Ian was troubled by the ‘reckless divisions of the dimensions’ the dragons were also worried about.
‘It’s not even a simple return. Overusing it…’
Ian now knew the truth about the time return. It was not a simple return to the past, dimensions were divided by the moment of change.
‘Then this world would become another dimension, and that’s unacceptable.’
That means that those Ian had formed a connection with, such as his mother, Ledio, Douglas, the crown prince, princess, Oliver, the Fairy Queen, the Dragonian family, the artisans, and the people of Mogrian and Pieric would become different people. Ian could not accept that his mother in his first life would be a different person from his current mother.
‘This life is my last world.’
Ian cemented his decision, but this chance to find a weakness was difficult to give up.
“No.”
Ian’s mouth opened.
“I don’t want to turn back time.”
[That’s unfortunate.]
“However.”
[However?]
“You should at least tell me how to use the two souls I now have because of you. I now have a chance to revive twice and want to use it.”
Ian’s choice was not to stock additional souls by turning back time but utilize the already existing souls. It was a plausible argument.
[That’s impossible. I’m not stupid enough to reveal everything to someone who would betray me. You understand, right? Of course, I cherish you more than anyone else. We are connected by fate that should not be severed by a trivial problem. I will not go into specifics because you would be angry again…]
Fran hurriedly finished his statement as if he was concerned about Ian’s response, but the content was more rigid than ever. It was a declaration to hide whatever needed to be hidden unless they formed a solid trust between them.
[Ian, I know what you’re thinking about. You don’t need to work hard to secure time because I’m giving it to you, but not for long. The success rate of my plan falls as dragons get more time. So, I’ll give you exactly ten days.]
Fran seemed to be reading Ian’s thoughts as he spoke in an indifferent voice.
[This is the last deadline, and you have to decide whether to agree to my plan, betray me, remain a spectator, or something do else.]
Fran was saying Ian had to form a conclusion in ten days.
“You’re saying that I can choose anything I want?”
[I don’t care. However, if you decide to stand on the other side, you will be my enemy. I’ll gain my most formidable enemy who is an expert in the power of language and is not entangled in seals. I’m still confident that I can end you and your surroundings instantly. So…]
Fran let the end of his sentence fade and spoke in a more patient voice.
[So, I’m hoping that you will make a decision that will satisfy both of us.]
***
Ian spent the night awake in the library after Fran disappeared. The ten days seemed too short because there was so much to consider. Ian needed to paint a ‘big picture’ of how to start and fix things when he had the time.
‘I first need to find a way to act outside of his surveillance.’
Fran was still monitoring every moment of Ian’s actions despite Ian using puppet play using the power of language and teleport. Not only that, Fran instantly appeared when Ian called him anywhere. Ian did not know how the power worked, but it was evident that Fran Page existed nearby, whether it be physical or psychological.
‘I need to escape him to meet a dragon or form another plan.’
How should Ian deceive such a devious person? Ian worried over the issue, and it took an entire day to find a path.
‘I need a substitute.’
He needed someone to be a ‘substitute’ who would work as Ian’s hand and feet, eyes and ears, and mouth away from the surveillance.
‘But who?’
The problem was to use who as a substitute?
“Hmm.”
Ian pressed his brow to think of someone absolutely trustworthy and competent enough to act as Ian’s substitute. Was someone like that near Ian?
“Let’s look around.”
Ian stretched and came out of the library. His home was now many times larger than before.
‘Ian’s Villa’ was built as a large extension surrounding the manor. His home was now like a self-governed state in the city as there were workshops and homes for each artisan, Vanessa and Princess Haileyy’s relief foundation, and warehouse and small-scale cultivation plots.
“Thank you. Thank you so much!”
Vanessa and Princess Haileyy’s foundation office looked the busiest. The city had been quickly restored after the skeleton warrior incident, but there were still so many impoverished. There had been many before the incident, so how would it be now?
“Please come here if you need anything else. You need to drink the potion to get well so we can connect you with a job. Do you have any questions?”
Ian’s mother Vanessa was holding one of the poor people’s hands who came to the foundation as she spoke. The ‘Page Foundation’ ran by her, and Princess Haileyy provided the poor with relief goods, temporary homes, health management, and job connections.
While they needed huge amounts of capital, it was not a problem. Ian’s own property, the support from the Imperial Household and aristocrats, and numerous merchants were acting as sponsors in order to gain favor with the ‘best master of the marble tower.’
With a sigh, Ian’s breath spread to the air. The capital of the Greenriver Empire, Green Riverdium, was now facing winter. Come to think of it, the thick coats the foundation was distributing to the poor had to be the work of ‘Bertholdo,’ one of Fran’s eight artisans and the master of sewing. It was a world where artifacts cast with heating spells were distributed as relief goods for the poor.
‘The world is still peaceful.’
Ian unconsciously thought of the word ‘peace’ at the sight. It was not a word to think of watching the poor who struggled to eat and the foundation that assisted them, but Ian was serious. All flow of human history seemed peaceful to him right now.
‘I feel estranged.’
A lot of things happened recently. He was entangled with a deity that transcended human history and now faced the true nature of the person who had intervened in his life much too often. One was a dragon, and the other was his own father.
Not only that, but Ian was now on a tightrope between the two. While Ian was a magician above and beyond the normal level, it was near impossible for him not to feel psychologically tired.
‘One day.’
Ian wanted nothing else but to rest for a day without a thought despite those problems that would demolish the world surrounding him.
‘I want to rest.’
A tired-out Ian was slowly walking down the villa road that was decorated like a trail.
—
Proofread by Rondo
And also by FlawFinder
Ivory Tower, Marble Tower, whatev
