Chapter 192
Alicia’s rosy lips move.
However, no sound can be heard at all.
Erica seems to be fervently saying something as well, but it’s the same situation.
The world has become eerily quiet.
It’s only the loss of sound, yet it feels as though I’m left alone in this universe.
I summon my mana to create a thin layer of aura.
Thanks to recent training with Leon, my Protector has reached a decent level of completion.
Even while influenced by transcendent mana, there’s no color visible when activated; only the power of mana can be felt.
“—…——?”
As Erica’s lips pucker, a new form of language akin to Morse code is relayed throughout my body.
The current words mean, “Is everything alright?”
Before reaching this situation, I had trained with the Protector to quickly translate the sounds of the world, yet I’m still not accustomed to it.
Intuitively understanding will require a bit more time.
I moved my lips to convey that everything was fine.
It’s a strange feeling to know I’m speaking through my vocal cords, yet I can’t hear it with my ears.
Soon after, I looked at Alicia, and she understood the signal.
—…-!
Alicia clapped her hands.
Compared to just moments ago when Erica asked if everything was alright, a much sharper high-frequency sound erupted.
This also confirmed something clearly.
‘The speed of transmission is faster than when heard with ears.’
For now, I’ll show a somewhat slower reaction due to the intermediate translation process, but once I get used to it, I should be able to respond faster than through hearing.
Even reaching a stage where all five senses are extremely sensitive, I still had to rely mainly on hearing, given that ‘sound’ is still perceived.
No, rather, since I’ve become more accurate and faster at hearing, I’ve focused even more on my auditory senses.
However, since I’m currently deaf, I’m structured to rely solely on the Protector.
‘If utilized well, this could be useful even after the trials are over.’
Through hearing, the time taken for the signals to pass from the semicircular canals to the brain for analysis could be shortened by using the auras of the whole body as a medium.
In fact, while my words may seem verbose, it’s merely a tiny difference in reality, but considering the level of my future combat opponents, that small difference cannot be overlooked.
One tiny difference could decide life or death.
“……—…?”
This time, Alicia moved as far back as possible while clapping and moving her lips.
I clapped my hands and moved my lips.
From the slight opening of my mouth and the minimal tremor in my throat, it was apparent that I was whispering softly.
Maybe that’s why the frequency I transmitted was lower, causing some distortion.
If I were to express her dialogue as I felt it:
— Young Master, …what do you think?
The sensations I felt through the Protector were similarly affected by distance, intensity, and congestion.
Depending on that degree, distortion could occur, making it impossible to grasp the exact meaning.
Well… it’s the same characteristic as hearing it with the ears, but it’s problematic due to my lack of skill and understanding.
I looked over at Erica standing beside me. As she had informed me earlier, she flowed mana to convey the entire sentence to me.
Thus, the proper response was completed.
— Young Master, how do you feel about this place?
‘It looks like I’ll need Erica’s help for a while.’
Even though I wanted to avoid relying on help as much as possible just in case I couldn’t hear, it seemed necessary.
Until I fully adapted to the current sensations and could instinctively understand sounds while minimizing distortion.
Unintelligible sounds would require me to hassle Erica for confirmation.
I nodded and continued with a few more tests.
To prepare for combat, I needed to physically experience and experiment with as many sounds as possible.
…….
As I conducted various experiments, I recalled my conversation with Chancellor Heigel of Rikeion.
— I’ll assist you with the trial of the Unique Spell. In return, please help me move.
After hearing that, I straightforwardly asked if he knew how the trials were being conducted.
Heigel mentioned that by observing the mana of numerous students and heroes, he could discern who had mastered Unique Spells, who hadn’t, or in rare cases, who was undergoing a trial.
Gulemashia probably knew this too.
In other words, it meant that once you reached a certain level, you could not only see the achievements of others at a glance but also easily perceive what processes they were going through.
Certainly… when the total amount of mana reaches transcendence, there had been instances where Gulemashia appeared.
Being able to interfere with that world at will, being aware of things wouldn’t be a big deal.
I agreed and continued the rest of the conversation.
— I too have experienced the trial of the Unique Spell, alongside student Vargan.
Heigel explained that he underwent trials when researching his second Unique Spell.
Experiences like that were so rare that he didn’t receive much help from professors, acquaintances, or past books before undergoing it.
Considering a magician’s tendency not to share their achievements with others, it made sense that little of this was documented.
Can you imagine why new personal achievements are termed “Unique Spells” and given special treatment?
Still, reflecting on his past, Heigel began to speak.
— The intensity and duration of the Unique Spell’s trial are proportional to what you wish to achieve or gain. My trial lasted for about five months, which is long compared to the few examples out there.
He wasn’t trying to be boastful.
He was flaunting his experience as a bargaining chip.
Heigel mentioned the last month of the trial to pique my interest.
— Especially, the last month of the trial was truly agonizing. I don’t know how much the student Vargan can gauge, but it will definitely be even tougher and more painful than that.
The moon was truly suffering. I don’t know how much the student Vargan is anticipating, but it’s definitely going to be worse than that, full of struggles and pain.
I have the final month ahead of me, where all my senses will be limited.
Of course, I can’t call it certain. In the original work, Vargan stopped the trial of the Unique Spell at the first stage of hearing.
It’s just an estimate of what the original Vargan experienced during the trials.
Right now, I can roughly see the form myself.
It’s expected that it would be tough when my senses fade… but painful, huh?
Does that mean it might not just end with the limitation of senses?
While I wasn’t thrilled about the conversation flowing the way Heigel wanted, I was definitely curious.
I quietly watched as he continued to speak, and he smiled again.
—Even though the form of the trial for student Vargan may be different, I think my experience could be quite helpful, what do you think?
He proposed a deal to me, laying out several points to be cautious about regarding the Unique Spell trials.
I decided to hear him out.
If it wasn’t some uninteresting topic, anything related to the Unique Spell would have enough value.
—Helping me is really simple. If it’s student Vargan, he can do it.
The help he requested was something I could easily accept, or rather, something I was already planning to do without saying.
There was really no reason to refuse, and the deal was successfully sealed.
All that was left was to wait for the right moment.
“……”
After conducting all the experiments I had pre-planned, I finally noticed that both Erica and Alicia didn’t look good.
I was well aware that losing hearing would be tough for them, but seeing them react awkwardly, unlike usual and somewhat clumsily, seemed to have dampened their spirits.
Erica was choked with tears as if I had lost my hearing for life.
Alicia bit her lips tightly, holding something back.
‘What a troublesome situation. This is exactly why I didn’t want to reveal it.’
But what can I do? Once it comes to hearing, it’s something the surrounding characters can’t possibly be unaware of.
“-, …—…-.”
I focused my scattered attention.
As a result, Erica wiped her teary eyes, and Alicia nodded, as if understanding, calming her breath.
For reference, what I said was, ‘Alright, we don’t have time to waste. Let’s try a few more things that popped into my mind and wrap it up for today.’
For the assignment season, it’s hearing.
For the final exam, it’s sight.
There’s no time to catch my breath, even if I searched with wide-open eyes.
Just that preparation feels tight enough for a day.
‘…There’s not much left until the end of the first year.’
Once the final exam is over, my first-year life will also come to an end. Winter break will begin. During winter break, another episode will unfold alongside the trial….
Speaking of which, I wonder how Finn is doing.
Has he started to arrive by now?
Or has he fallen and perished without overcoming adversity?
Even if it doesn’t align with the final exam, I want to know the answer at least by winter break.
I brushed off the fleeting thoughts and immersed myself in what was ahead.
The top priority right now is to completely replace hearing with the Protector.
That comes first.
*
An old man with messy white hair. It seemed there was no clear boundary between his hair and beard, and it was impossible to gauge his age.
He must have seen the world change at least ten times, but beyond that, I couldn’t tell accurately.
“It’s hard to say for sure.”
“It’s been a while since we had a visitor. Hehe.”
The old man leaned on his staff and made his way to the entrance. The surrounding area was engulfed in thick fog, shrouding the mountain range. Somewhere within, the old man went out to meet a guest who hadn’t even arrived yet.
Then, after a few minutes, just as he had said, signs of life could be heard.
A raspy breath that sounded like it could give out at any moment and the crunch of branches snapping against rocks.
A youth, looking like he was on the verge of death, stumbled forward with the help of a long branch.
His arms and legs trembled uncontrollably. His eyes were vacant, as if he had lost his mind.
His entire body was wrapped in bruises, and what once was a neat outfit was now tattered rags.
Looking as if he hadn’t had food or water for a long time, he almost fell several times as he made this short ascent.
If he had continued on this path for just another day or two, he surely would have perished.
“…I made it.”
Finally reaching the entrance, he let out a voice that sounded like it could extinguish at any moment. His unfocused eyes stared blankly at the pillar that marked the entrance.
A faint smile soon appeared, accompanied by a tear streaming down his face. He had overcome adversity and finally arrived. That sense of relief allowed emotions to leak out, even if just faintly.
“Ah, my dear. What sins have you committed in your past life?”
The old man knew his words wouldn’t reach the youth, but he continued. He chuckled while pointing out the horrendous talent displayed before him.
“I’ve seen countless fools, but you, my friend, are at the pinnacle. If I had to say, there’s no one more pathetic than you on the road you’re trying to take.”
“…”
“And yet, you still wish to pursue that path?”
At the old man’s words, the youth turned his head.
His eyes reflected the hardships and trials he had faced.
In a daze, the youth moved his parched lips.
“So… I came…”
“Oh ho.”
“I want to keep walking… I can’t give up…”
He wanted to repay the kindness shown to him by proving himself.
The nearly dying youth, the bottom-ranked student of Academia, Toylen Troa Finn, had arrived here.
“…Please help me.”
Finn stumbled, leaning heavily on his staff.
His two legs, injured from the grueling mountain hike, struggled to hold him up, quaking with every step.
However, Finn did not fall.
“I… want to become strong.”
Not until he spat out that last phrase would he give in.
—Thud.
Finn collapsed immediately. The old man burst into a loud laugh, his voice raspy.
He turned Finn over with his staff, examining him from head to toe.
Even at a second look, it was truly abysmal. Abysmally lacking in talent.
“Ah, yes. You’ve come well, my dear. You’ve found the right place.”
The old man couldn’t help but laugh at the creation of the gods before him.
As he stroked his long beard, he spoke to the unconscious Finn.
“This place, ‘Soul Forge Hall,’ is the only place for a wretch like you. The hardships of the Misty Mountains couldn’t have been easy, but you made it here in that state.”
Thick fog enveloped everything, making it impossible to see even a step ahead in the Misty Mountains.
And somewhere within it stood the Soul Forge Hall.
“Who else would take in a loser like you but me, Kanilisk? Hehe.”
One of the Twelve Divine Beasts, Kanilisk.
And thus the divine being met Finn.
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