From atop his horse, Ethan gazed at the outer walls of Poerte.
I’ve arrived.
It had taken roughly three weeks to return here from Greston.
Nearly a month and a half had passed since he last set foot in the Kargas Barony.
The atmosphere of the Inner Castle was noticeably livelier than before.
Not only had the number of people increased, but it had been some time since Baron Helmut, the tyrant, met his end.
“Welcome back, Archduke,” said Silvia, the Strategist, as she greeted him.
“Any incidents?”
“No. Thanks to your prolonged absence, the Nine Branch Families seem to have brushed off the matter as inconsequential.”
Fair enough.
They must have been tense only to feel deflated, so it made sense.
“Anything else?”
“Hans has settled in more smoothly than expected. The information we leaked about the Kargas Barony seems to have worked well. Recently, he’s been mingling with Count Cheimon’s inner circle.”
That was good news.
If Hans followed through with his deception, targeting the Romenton Baron’s Family, one of Count Irdan’s faction, as planned—
Then Count Cheimon will trust him even more.
Ethan entered the office with her.
“I have a report. It’s the result of the investigation you ordered,” Lawrence said, handing him a document.
The paper was filled with details about what Ethan had instructed to investigate.
A mage.
They’d learned the one giving orders to the Baron was a mage. The lower part of the document listed how many mages in the Ducal Territory could perform magic at the level the head butler described.
“Fifty?”
Seeing the number, Ethan tilted his head.
According to Silvia’s report, the mage had appeared “suddenly” in the office.
The door didn’t open, so it’s not invisibility magic.
Nor did they rise from shadows, ruling out dark mana magic.
It wasn’t related to blood magic either, which required blood as a medium.
The magic used was likely spatial, transcending physical laws.
Though he wasn’t an expert in magic, he understood its basic principles.
Only a handful—less than five—mages could perform spatial magic.
Spatial magic was rarely used due to its immense mana cost, which few could sustain.
Even considering the entire Ducal Territory, fifty was far too many.
“Where did you commission this investigation?”
“The Felcon Intelligence Guild.”
Ethan had heard of it—a guild known for accurate information, albeit at a steep price. Its reliability was high.
What’s going on?
Ethan tilted his head again.
“Is something wrong?” Silvia asked.
…No. Good work.
“Yes.”
Silvia didn’t press further.
Ethan sank into thought.
There are two possibilities.
First: the overall level of mages had risen.
Second: it only appeared that their level had risen.
The second hypothesis stemmed from a simple observation. He’d encountered someone with impressive power but poor substance.
The dark mage in the Abandoned Mine of the Metal Serpent.
His power rivaled a fifth-tier mage.
A fifth-tier mage was respectable, in the top 20% of mages.
But his skill in wielding dark mana was pitiful.
Barely late third-tier?
Comparable to a 3-star Knight—all raw power, lacking finesse in mana distribution and control.
A new mana breathing technique, blending Dragonkin methods with human techniques.
Its strength is rapid mana accumulation, though unstable… If other mages are using this, it explains the inflated numbers.
Spatial magic required vast mana, and the dark mage’s mana breathing technique could provide that.
Ethan formed a hypothesis.
If this mana breathing technique was more widespread than he thought—
It would make mages appear stronger overall.
Mages and knights were judged primarily by the mana they held.
Of course—
The quality of hastily gathered mana isn’t high.
But low-quality mana, if amassed in quantity, could still cast spells—like that dark mage.
In that sense, the Felcon Intelligence Guild’s analysis held some merit.
I’ll need to confirm this later.
Ethan reached his conclusion.
With the scale of the matter growing, there was no need to rush.
Catching a lead tied to the Dragonkin was enough for now.
After receiving Lawrence’s report on recent events, Ethan sought out Elena.
She was taking lessons from Praxian.
Her face lit up when she saw him.
“Ethan? You’re back?”
“More or less.”
Though, thanks to the Romenton Baron’s Family, he’d likely need to leave again soon.
Ethan looked at Praxian.
“How’s her progress?”
“Remarkable. She’s catching on incredibly well. Recently, she’s started handling the Ducal Territory’s administrative tasks. Her work is impressively precise.”
His broad smile suggested it wasn’t mere flattery.
Did Elena have such talent?
As far as Ethan knew, no.
In his past life, Elena was renowned as a fashion icon among noble ladies, but her skills in governance were nonexistent.
Curious.
He hadn’t expected much when entrusting her education, but she might exceed expectations.
After chatting briefly with Elena, he summoned Polton, his escort knight.
“About that matter we discussed. Has it arrived?”
“Yes. Grand Duchess, may I step away briefly?”
“Go ahead,” Elena replied.
Polton bowed respectfully and led Ethan to his room.
He handed over a box. Inside was a round pill, radiating vibrant mana—a potent elixir.
“The Marquis must have pulled some strings.”
“Haha, seems so. I heard it’s a mid-grade elixir. Since your mana control is exceptional, they chose one with high mana content over one with additional effects.”
Ethan nodded, satisfied.
Elixirs varied widely.
The most expensive weren’t those packed with mana.
Items that permanently boost mana control.
Those with such effects fetched the highest prices—up to five times more, just for that perk.
If Marquis Bloten had sent such an elixir, Ethan would’ve been disappointed.
His mana control was already at its peak.
Even a top-grade elixir wouldn’t improve it further.
The money spent on such effects would be better used crafting and selling goods.
Fortunately, Marquis Bloten remained as wise as in his past life.
“Tell the Marquis I’m grateful.”
“Yes.”
Polton bowed and left.
Ethan, elixir in hand, returned to his room.
He examined his body.
While traveling to craft the greatsword, he hadn’t been idle on horseback. He’d been practicing the Breath of Black Flame, planting the Essence of Fire.
His initial goal upon arriving—planting the Essence of Fire in the eleven key points governing his body’s pathways—had long been achieved.
Time to enter the Circulation phase.
A mid-grade elixir.
It was an item that provided a large amount of high-quality mana.
After absorbing the elixir.
He planned to plant the Essence of Fire in the intermediate mana holes as well.
He swallowed the elixir in one gulp. A massive surge of mana coursed through his veins.
Ethan employed the Breath of Black Flame.
The raging mana, like crashing waves, calmed instantly.
Become fire.
A single thought.
But it carried the experience of a Transcendent who’d slain countless Dragonkin.
Crackle…
Crackle…
Like dry wood catching fire, the mana began to simmer.
Mere mana, a lump of energy, couldn’t defy a Transcendent’s will.
Its nature began to shift.
Whoosh!
The simmering mana ignited instantly. Like sparks bursting, it erupted in all directions.
A fleeting ignition.
But Ethan didn’t miss that moment.
It’s done.
Fire consumes fuel to burn.
And now, there was plenty of fuel.
The mana flooding his body was that fuel.
All Ethan needed was this brief burst of heat.
Burn.
Boom!
The mana within exploded. The flames devoured the other energies. Smoke rose from Ethan’s body.
The fire burning within began to manifest outwardly.
In the searing heat, he swiftly planted more Essences of Fire.
Three.
Five.
Seven.
Ten.
Fifteen.
Each wave of heat created new Essences of Fire as it passed through his pathways.
Though smaller than the existing ones, planting these seeds was what mattered most.
When the fire mana completed a full cycle through his body, over thirty Essences of Fire had formed.
It’s done.
He smiled, satisfied.
The original Essences of Fire had grown significantly, and smaller ones, acting as lubricants, were now abundant.
It was time to enter the next phase: Circulation.
I never thought I’d go through this again.
Ethan gave a bitter smile.
The Circulation phase was the most painful stage of training.
Crushing the Essences of Fire released a liquid—called flame essence in the Ardan Ducal House.
Circulation involved this flame essence endlessly coursing through the veins.
The pain was unimaginable.
Mana, a formless energy, flowing through veins felt different from a tangible liquid.
The former’s like basking in warm steam.
The latter was like shoving a red-hot iron plate inside, scorching everything.
Excruciating burning pain.
Combined with the relentless recitation of the Breath of Black Flame’s mantra.
These two transformed the mana’s nature, turning it—
Black.
As if rotting in agony.
This blackened mana was the Black Flame, wielded by generations of Ardan family heads.
Hoo.
In his past life, during his first Circulation phase, he couldn’t eat properly for a week, writhing in pain.
In the Ardan Ducal House, this was a common sight. Ethan’s suffering was considered trivial, laughed off.
Those who couldn’t endure Circulation had their veins scorched, some never wielding a sword again.
But it must be done.
How else could he ascend?
Ethan recited the mantra.
Eternal pain.
Let the fire rotate endlessly.
Endure.
In that pain, a black flame will bloom.
Feel the eternal, eon-long blaze.
At that moment—
Crunch!
All the Essences of Fire in his body collapsed, and the flame essence began coursing through him.
Ugh!
So hot…
Hot…
Wait?
It’s not that hot?
In an unprecedented turn, Ethan’s eyes widened.