Chapter 79

‘Тhеsе аre cоmрlеtеlу new messagеs.’

Кhan clеarly rеmеmbеrеd thе mеssages thаt apреarеd whеn hе usеd Мanа Pills in <Gеo Arс> in thе раst.

‘Usually, it sаys hоw much Manа inсreased… but this is cоmрletely new.’

From Кhаn’s memory, it was somеthing likе ‘Manа has inсrеаsеd by 3000.’

But now, evеn those wеrе unfаmiliar messаgеs аppеaring onе after anothеr.

[Yоu have соnsumed а Manа Pill.]

[Manа incrеаses by 500.]

[You possеss a bоdу suitаble fоr absorbing thе Маna from thе Mаnа Рill.]

.

.

.

[Аll Мanа frоm thе Mаnа Pill is fully absorbed.]

He slowly read the messages that appeared before his eyes once more.

‘Only 500 Mana increased… but it says all Mana from the pill was absorbed?’

Something was strange.

If all the Mana from the pill was fully absorbed, his Mana should have increased by at least 5000.

As Khan was lost in thought, repeatedly reading the messages, he discovered a message at the bottom of his vision that he had failed to notice earlier.

‘So that’s why.’

Only then did Khan understand why this had happened.

[An innate magical talent lies dormant within the consumer’s heart.]

[Each time the magical talent blooms, the Mana from the Mana Pill is perfectly absorbed.]

After seeing the messages he had missed, only one thing came to mind.

‘It must be thanks to the Sage’s Heart.’

The unique Rank 10 Hidden Skill, ‘Sage’s Heart’.

The magical talent dormant in his heart was probably due to this ‘Sage’s Heart’.

‘It seems there’s still something more about the Sage’s Heart skill that I don’t know yet.’

He couldn’t unravel the secret immediately, but he thought it might reveal itself as he leveled up.

His Mana didn’t increase as much as he had hoped, but in the long run, the current situation might actually be much better.

‘Anyway, if I can absorb all the Mana from the Mana Pill, my Mana should increase by at least over 5000.’

5000 Mana.

Converted to levels right now, that’s the amount of Mana you’d get from raising your Level by 500.

This was just Khan’s estimate, and since he had never fully absorbed all the Mana from a Mana Pill before, it could be even more.

Heh…

Khan unknowingly smiled.

At the same time, two people were secretly watching him from afar.

“Wait, it looks like he’s about to consume the Mana Pill right now… Let’s watch for a bit.”

“Huh…? No, what if we get caught!”

“He’ll let it slide even if he knows. He’s a broad-minded person.”

Belbek believed he had a good eye for people.

From what he had seen so far, this person named Khan was someone with composure and a broad mind.

Even if they were secretly watching him consume the Mana Pill, he wouldn’t say anything about it.

“Sigh… I don’t know anymore. Do as you please.”

Serina sighed as she spoke, but truthfully, she was also a little curious.

When a Mage normally consumes a Mana Pill, their Mana increases according to their talent.

That’s why Mana Pills are only given to talented Mages even within the Magic Tower.

‘If someone like that monster consumes it… how much Mana will increase?’

Belbek and Serina, hiding their presence even more than before, carefully observed Khan’s Mana.

“Belbek, can you roughly tell how much Mana that person has?”

“No. From what I can sense, almost no Mana is felt. He’s probably hiding his Mana. Or maybe it’s impossible for people at our level to gauge it.”

Normally, Mages can gauge each other’s Mana to some extent.

However, it’s impossible between Mages with a significant difference in skill.

Gulp.

Khan finally swallowed the Mana Pill.

Normally, when you consume a Mana Pill, your Mana increases immediately… but something feels off.

“What’s going on…?”

“……”

Both Serina and Belbek were intently sensing the Mana energy emanating from Khan’s body, but it seemed completely unchanged.

“You didn’t feel his Mana increasing at all?”

“Even with a big difference in level… we should feel at least a little bit…”

The two recalled when their Master, Alchemis, had personally consumed a Mana Pill in the past.

‘Clearly… we could feel Master’s Mana increasing, but this person…!’

Serina made a shocked expression and glanced at Belbek.

Judging by his expression, Belbek seemed to be feeling the same as her.

“Truly… an incredible person. Let’s head back now.”

“Y, yeah…”

From what the two could see, the Mana felt from Khan’s body had clearly not changed.

That meant, even if Khan’s Mana increased from consuming the Mana Pill, his original Mana was so vast that the increase wouldn’t be noticeable.

That was the conclusion reached by the two talented Mages.

Serina and Belbek didn’t speak a single word on their way back to the Magic Tower.

They were so shocked after seeing Khan.

Meanwhile, Khan, who had checked all the messages from the Mana Pill, didn’t even know that Belbek and Serina had been watching him.

“Wow…! Master! Your Mana increased tremendously! Congratulations!”

Sharin, with her outstanding talent for Mana, could instantly tell that Khan’s Mana had increased.

For her, who was still at a low level, the sudden increase of 500 in Khan’s Mana was an enormous amount.

Of course, for skilled Mages like Belbek and Serina, that amount is negligible.

That’s why Belbek and Serina didn’t know that Khan’s Mana had increased.

“Thank you.”

“Hahaha! Sir Khan! I don’t really understand, but it seems you had good results! I sincerely congratulate you!!”

“Yeah.”

As the two congratulated him, Khan felt quite good too.

‘Should I check my Status Window first?’

◈ LV.26

◈ Khan (Lee Huseong)

◈ Mana: 1510/1510

◈ Talent: Magic

◈ Skills: (10★)Sage’s Heart, (8★)Growth Acceleration, (1★)Arrow, (1★)Barrier, (2★)Fire Boom, (2★)Fireball, (2★)Mirror Defense, (2★)Mana Enhancement, (1★)Wind Cutter

Checking his Status Window, even Khan discovered something he hadn’t known before.

‘It seems consuming a Mana Pill immediately restores used Mana.’

All the Mana he had consumed earlier to check the power of ‘Wind Cutter’ was fully restored.

“Now, let’s head to Erindel quickly.”

“Yes~!”

“Understood!”

Khan, Sharin, and Byutek boarded the carriage.

Having come this far, it shouldn’t take too long to reach Erindel.

‘I want to proceed with the Quest quickly once I get to Erindel.’

For that, arriving in Erindel was the first priority.

“Let’s depart.”

“Yes! We’ll ensure a comfortable journey!”

They began heading towards Erindel again.

* * *

Belbek and Serina, who had returned to the Blue Magic Tower, immediately went to the top floor to meet Alchemis.

“So, did you deliver the Mana Pill properly?”

“Yes.”

“And the effect of the Mana Contract has completely disappeared?”

“Yes. It’s all thanks to you, Master. Thank you.”

“So, did that person consume the Mana Pill right away?”

Alchemis, one of the Archmages of the Blue Magic Tower.

He was one of the idols of all Mages.

Even he was becoming curious about this Mage named Khan.

Quite a lot, in fact.

“Yes.”

“Did you see and confirm it yourself?”

“Yes.”

Belbek answered impassively, but for some reason, his tone seemed to waver slightly at the last answer.

“I’ll tell you, Master…!”

“Alright, Serina. Tell me what you saw.”

Serina explained to Alchemis everything she had seen of Khan with Belbek, leaving nothing out.

Without exaggeration, Serina only spoke of what she had personally witnessed, but even as she spoke, she wondered if this was really true.

“He consumed the Mana Pill… but you didn’t feel his Mana increasing at all?”

“Yes, that’s right! Both Belbek and I clearly saw it with our own eyes!”

“I see…. Alright, you may leave. You’ve worked hard.”

“Yes…!”

“Yes.”

As Serina and Belbek left the room, Alchemis made a serious expression and pondered deeply.

‘He used Magic dozens of times in a few seconds with Chantless Casting? Moreover… someone whose Mana couldn’t be felt at all by Belbek and Serina?’

In Alchemis’s view, Belbek and Serina were still lacking, but their talent alone was truly exceptional.

Hearing from such Disciples that this person named Khan’s Mana didn’t increase after consuming a Mana Pill was a bit confusing.

“If he’s a Mage of that level… he should gain a considerable amount of Mana when consuming a Mana Pill. If they couldn’t feel his Mana increasing, is he truly a monster? Or perhaps…?!”

The reason Mages usually chant Incantations when using Magic is due to Mana loss.

The difference in Mana Consumption between using Magic without an Incantation and using it with one is over tenfold.

“Is his Mana so vast… that he’s someone so incredible he can use all his Magic with Chantless Casting?”

Frankly, this was an unbelievable story.

“But still… it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”

In Alchemis’s view, this person named Khan seemed proficient at hiding his Mana, making him likely to attract trouble from other Mages.

Just like his Disciple Belbek had done.

“I think I need to make a few more revisions.”

The Magic Tower Information System, the data center of the Magic Tower.

Alchemis used his Mana to open the Magic Tower Information System.

When he searched for Khan’s name, the information about Khan that Alchemis had previously entered appeared.

[Magic Tower Information System]

[Name: Khan]

[Affiliation: X]

[Circle: X]

[Mana Level: ???]

[Remarks: A top-tier Mage whose proper information is unknown. Tall stature with a slender build. Casts all Magic with Chantless Casting. Possesses considerable Mana. Overwhelmed Belbek and Serina of the Blue Magic Tower. Owner of such vast Mana that even after consuming a Mana Pill, the increase is not felt. Seems capable of hiding his own Mana. An extremely dangerous individual; if encountered……]

Alchemis added a few more pieces of information about Khan and then closed the Magic Tower Information System.

“I’m becoming curious to see him in person. Just what kind of person is he…?”

The more he heard about Khan, the more his curiosity about him grew.

* * *

The commercial city of Erindel.

When Khan’s party arrived at the city wall entrance of Erindel, they could see an enormous crowd gathered.

From merchants leading dozens of carriages to adventurers and Mercenaries carrying various weapons.

Countless people were lining up to enter Erindel.

“Wow, there are so many people!”

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen a crowd this big at a city entrance too.”

It seemed like it was the first time Sharin and Byutek had seen such a large crowd at a city entrance.

“Let’s get in line first.”

“Yes!”

After waiting in line for about an hour, it was finally Khan’s party’s turn for inspection.

When they handed over the identification they received from Kail, the mayor of Selenad, they were allowed to enter the city without any suspicion.

Simultaneously, a message appeared before Khan’s eyes.

[You have cleared a Quest.]

[You have acquired a small amount of Experience Points as a reward.]

Along with the Quest clear message, another message appeared before Khan’s eyes five seconds later.

It was a new Quest.