Chapter 258 60.4 - Phantom’s Land

Chapter 258 Chapter 60.4 - Phantom's Land

"Hmm....Certainly interesting....."

I was walking, looking around. The mist that had been covering everything slowly started to cease from my eyes.

'It even blocks [Mana Observation] from time to time.'

Certainly, it was an interesting concept. If possible, I wanted to be able to store some of this mist to analyze its property. If I could create something similar....

'I am sure the other professors here are working on this as well.'

Right now, I was here all by myself. After the hectic night in the bungalow with all windows closed, I decided to check something.

And just as I had expected, right at 06.06 A.M., the mist turned brighter once again. It seemed, here, the concept of day and night was determined by the exact time.

Of course, calling this 'day' wouldn't be exactly true since, even now, there aren't many lights around. However, compared to the mist before, it is a lot better.

'Should I start my training.'

Entering the Phantom's Land won't be possible this easily in the future, and the atmosphere is certainly a lot better for training both my body and my mana circuits.

Now that the mist had become more translucent, I could also observe my surroundings with increased clarity.

'This should be enough.'

Finding a suitable spot, I commenced my training routine, seamlessly blending physical exercises with mana-enhancing techniques.

Moving with purpose, I integrated martial arts forms with bursts of mana manipulation. Phantom's Land provided a distinct atmosphere for training, and I seized the opportunity to enhance both my physical and magical capabilities.

*******

-CHATTER!

Inside the city hall of the Phantom's Land town, people had gathered, waiting for Professor Eldorium to arrive.

Most of them were the students of Arcadia Hunter Academy who were here for a short trip of four days. After the notice that was given to them by their instructor, those who were interested in academic hearings immediately filled the seats.

Though seemingly small from the outside, the unique space magic employed by Professor Eldorium expanded the interior, creating an expansive hall with high ceilings adorned with mystical symbols that seemed to shimmer in the ethereal lighting.

As the students settled into their seats, the air in the expanded city hall hummed with subtle energy, a manifestation of the unique mana density that permeated Phantom's Land.

And considering the events of yesterday, some of them even had dark circles under their eyes.

"Just what the hell was those noises?"

"Right? I almost even pissed myself. Why didn't they tell us about those bastards? I pushed myself to my home at the last second."

"Well, you are lucky. One of my team members thought he could fight them, but then he was knocked down when we found him. Following that, teachers came and got him out."

"I see, so they know our progress, right?"

"Most likely."

While the students were talking amongst themselves, suddenly, the sounds of walking echoed. Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

TAK! TAK! TAK!

Professor Eldorium entered the hall, his imposing presence magnified by the magical ambiance.

"Good day, esteemed scholars," Professor Eldorium greeted a glint of amusement in his sharp, intelligent eyes. His gaze shifted to some students who displayed signs of fatigue from the previous night's unsettling events.

Just as he had explained, while most of the students looked at the equations with a mix of confusion and awe, a student with purple eyes had a different thing in his mind.

********

While Professor Eldorium discussed Integrated Magical Circuits, my mind focused on the dynamic nature of Mana Junctions, illuminated by the holographic display's diagrams and equations.

Those terms were all familiar to me from college. After all, once I had learned something, it was almost impossible to forget.

As I was going through equations and theoretical discussions, an idea came to my mind.

It was something that had been discussed on Earth as well.

What if I could theoretically reverse the process of Integrated Magical Circuits? Instead of adapting to the environment, what if I could tailor the magical circuits to harness specific characteristics of Phantom's Land itself?

During the lecture, my mind wandered ahead, and I started thinking of an innovative way to apply the reverse-engineering concept.

If I could possibly create a series of magical circuits that would improve specific qualities of Phantom's Land, such as manipulating the mist, utilizing the distinct mana density, or adapting to its temporal fluctuations.....

That would be....Insanely good.

'This....'

However, I also knew that I lacked the necessary general magical knowledge and adaptation for it.

At least for the time being. No matter how much of a fast learner I am myself, there was no way I could apply such a complex theory right away.

However, for this purpose, I had the exact individual right beside me.

The girl with her fiery hair and amber eyes.

Irina was already immersed in the lecture, listening to everything attentively, but right now, she was needed for something else.

Feeling a surge of excitement about my idea, I nudged Irina subtly from the side.

"Hiiick-!"

Caught off-guard, she let out an involuntary moan, drawing the attention of nearby students.

"You! What was that for?" Irina hissed, her face flushing with a mix of embarrassment and irritation.

I leaned in and whispered, "Irina, I have an idea. Listen to this."

She shot me an annoyed glance but couldn't hide the curiosity in her eyes as I explained the concept of reverse-engineering Integrated Magical Circuits for the specific environment of Phantom's Land.

As I spoke, her expression shifted from annoyance to a thoughtful frown. It seemed the idea resonated with her, and she began to see the potential applications.

After sharing the idea, I leaned back, waiting for her response. Irina, now intrigued, whispered back, "Well, it's not a bad idea. But why did you have to nudge me like that?"

"Just getting your attention. You seemed too engrossed in the lecture."

"Of course. It is not your usual day to listen to such a lecture from a high-ranking professor."

"..."

Irina huffed, a glare in her eyes. "Next time, just say something. No need to resort to such tactics."

"My bad."

"Let's talk about this after the lecture ends. I think I can do what you want from me."

It seemed the idea sounded plausible to her...