The 31st Piece Turns the Tables
chapter-150

Frannan was definitely an eccentric.

"I can't do it here. This place is where I come to avoid all the annoying nonsense."

“What?”

“You said you were headed to Timbrian, right? I just so happen to have a place there. Let’s go together.”

- ???

- What.

“What are you doing? Let’s go already!” said Frannan before packing lightly.

He then turned around to his servant.

“Take care of the house while I’m gone, punk.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And take care of the cobwebs in the storage!”

“Spiders aren’t harmful, though…”

“But your laziness is, you punk! Anyway… I’ll be back!”

“Have a pleasant trip.”

- My wife’s going to see her parents out of town for a couple days…

- I think I just saw him do a little tapdance LMFAO

- I bet the cobwebs will still be there when he comes back hahaha

After an affectionate conversation with his servant, Frannan joined Seol and the Black Pilgrims.

Seol's party began their journey, soon finding themselves navigating a forest path that even the moonlight struggled to penetrate.

Despite the late hour, they decided to push forward without sleep, due to Frannan's constant prodding.

“Why would we sleep? Do we have time to waste?”

[Frannan’s Night Eye is currently active.]

[Your surroundings become illuminated.]

[You might attract the attention of monsters.]

Frannan’s Night Eye.

At a glance, it appeared like an ordinary lamp that had countless magic formulas drawn on it.

Its effects… were incredible.

“...It’s almost as bright as day.”

“Right? I crafted them a long time ago, but I disposed of the rest after providing some to the royal family. The profit margin for the labor is small, and the side effects are too significant.”

“Are you referring to how they draw the attention of monsters?”

“Yeah. Still, I routinely clean up the nearby area, so there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.”

Seol didn't receive much information about Frannan from Earl Brispin.

However, what he noticed now was that the two had polar opposite personalities.

‘Still, he’s an Aspect Magician, so…’

Aspect Magicians and the 12 Towers of Zodiac.

The Tower Masters of each tower were deemed the pinnacle of their respective towers.

However, if you were to ask Pandeans whom they would choose as the person right behind the Tower Masters, they would all cite the respective tower's 'Aspect Magicians'.

After all, Aspect Magicians were the small group of elite elders boasted by each respected tower.

‘I wonder how strong Aspect Magicians are…’

While Seol’s Grand Duke of Frost was the individual who founded Zodiac, he only established it, he did not contribute to developing it.

Titles like ‘Aspect Magician’ or ‘Small Star Magician’ were all created by themselves.

Seol read the mood for a second before carefully asking Frannan a question.

“Frannan, what did you do before…”

“Ah, did Brispin not tell you about me?”

“The only thing he told me was that you used to be an Aspect Magician.”

“Hm… I was, but that was a long time ago.”

After that, silence settled in once more.

Frannan was unable to shake off his tipsiness and drifted into sleep.

“Haah… Ah…”

After about an hour, Frannan woke up.

"Finally, I feel refreshed. Good morning."

“It is still night, Frannan.”

"Haha... It is incredible how little time passes, even after such a sound sleep. Why can’t we manipulate time with magic? The world is so boring already. Ah, anyway, let's continue our conversation from before I fell asleep. You want information about me, right?”

“...What?”

“Don't you remember what you said? You said the earl didn’t tell you about me properly. He dumped all the annoying stuff on me, that asshole…”

“How did the two of you meet?”

“Hm? His dad and I were friends. His father was quite outstanding. Well, not that it matters now that he’s dead.”

“I see.”

"Yeah, and since it's a bit boring, I'll tell you more about myself. Ahem..."

Frannan cleared his throat and reminisced about his past as he gazed at the cloth ceiling of the wagon.

“I was a part of the Libra Tower. Do you know what Libra's specialty is?”

"I've heard that they primarily focus on researching supportive spells rather than combat spells."

“...You said you were a transferee, right?”

“Yes.”

"Hm... Most transferees shouldn't know that, though, so how did you learn that? Well, regardless, I studied there. And because of that, while others created massive explosions and brought down mountains… I quietly focused on my studies indoors. My specialization was in imbuing spells onto items.”

The practice of imbuing spells onto items, also known as enchantments, was a study that few ventured into, regardless of their understanding of the field.

Not only was the field clearly difficult, but even for those who attained a high level of skill, it was difficult to fully showcase one's capabilities compared to other fields of study.

‘So that’s why Earl Brispin introduced me to Frannan.’

Seol had a suspicion that this would be the case.

To wield Agony for himself, Seol needed a craftsman who was not only skilled in craftsmanship but also proficient in magic.

And if Earl Brispin was introducing Seol to such a person, it implied that Frannan must be affiliated with the Libra Tower.

Frannan continued.

"If there ever comes a time when you need to choose an area of expertise, double, triple think it. If you don't, you might end up like me, wasting away in a lab indoors."

Frannan then proceeded to talk about his accomplishments and the research he had personally been involved in.

As he went along, Chameli butted in to ask a question.

“What is Zodiac like?”

As a vicar, Chameli must have had at least some idea of what Zodiac was like.

However, given that Zodiac was a rather mysterious organization, hearing about it from someone close to the pinnacle would undoubtedly provide a different perspective.

“Haha… Hm? Zodiac? Ahh, so… I guess… it’s not that pretty of an… organization?”

“Huh?”

"Imagine how much influence a group of magic towers would hold, considering even a single tower is packed with it. And the atmosphere, it's just... suffocating. Personally, I reckon my time before Zodiac wasn't too bad either."

“Ah… Okay… Still, it’s one of the Grand Duke of Frost’s great achievements…”

Frannan couldn’t hide his annoyance after hearing ‘Grand Duke of Frost’.

“Yeah, that Grand Duke of Frost or whatever… Did he really think he’d become a legend after taking a massive shit and disappearing?”

He did become a legendary figure, though.

Seol wasn’t sure about the ‘massive shit’ part that Frannan was referring to, but it was clear that the Grand Duke of Frost was a legend amongst magicians.

“Didn’t he… become one, though?”

“Tch… It’s just a figure of speech, alright? Damn it... that's what gets under my skin. Thanks to him, every single magician feels like they’re up against a massive wall. But that bastard's also the reason for Zodiac's existence, and they're all kinds of weird too. By the way, vicar, do you know how magicians are seen in Pandea?"

“The pure magicians are… seen as a bit of a headache.”

“Magicians are inherently imbued with a sense of superiority, like it’s a fundamental trait. They're not just your average Pandeans. They're unmistakably the upper class.”

Chameli carefully responded to Frannan.

“But… aren’t their positions in a bit of danger recently?”

"Haha... You're pretty quick with the news, huh? Yeah, you’re right. And it's all thanks to the transferees too. Hey, you! What are the three basics of magic?"

Frannan had heard earlier that Seol was a transferee, and now he was throwing a tough question Seol's way to help explain his earlier point in simpler terms.

“Mana, Wisdom, and Intelligence.”

“...huh? Didn’t you say that you were a transferee?”

“I am one.”

“But hey, you're not as clueless as I thought you’d be, huh? Well, I guess that's why you asked for something so ridiculous from me. Anyway, transferees pick things up fast, but their knowledge is shallow, really shallow. And since Zodiac's also a society of sorts, they don't really acknowledge these new, mass-produced magicians. I get where they're coming from, though. It'd be pretty annoying to be lumped in with idiots who can shoot fire from their hands but don't have a clue about the hows or whys, right?”

“...You aren’t wrong.”

"So now, they're saying that you not only need to be able to cast the spell but also understand the theory behind it."

Chameli added on, reciting the news that she recently heard.

“Still… it looked like they were able to come up with a win-win plan.”

“Ah, that? Yeah, that’s right.”

It was news that Seol had also heard about.

"They're recruiting capable transferees as apprentice magicians. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. Transferees get a stable environment to refine their skills, while Zodiac can regulate the use of magic and expand their influence. By the way, I apologize for interrupting our conversation, but..."

Frannan looked around for a second before finishing his sentence.

“Let’s rest here for a bit before we go further. I’m starving.”

Snap!

And just as Frannan snapped, the wagon magically stopped.

Seol looked outside the wagon, only to spot a massive magic circle drawn on the ground.

[Frannan’s Enchantment: Resting Place activates.]

[While within the radius, all living beings feel relaxed and take a break.]

[While within the radius, regeneration increases by 20%.]

Bzzz…

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

Some time had passed since the carriage had stopped.

Chameli quickly hurried to Seol's side, wearing a downcast expression.

“I apologize… Because he said he doesn’t like dried foods…”

“It’s alright. I don’t like dried foods either.”

- I see. I’ll be the cook today.

- Why do the Black Pilgrims have NOBODY who can cook? LMFAO

- It’s time to take these bitches to flavor town >:) I hope they like monster meat.

Seol poured a handful of spices into a large wok, then stir-fried them.

Sizzle…

“Sniff… Oh, that smells pretty good?”

Frannan, who had been drinking on his own without anything to chew on, started sniffing the air as the smell of Seol’s cooking filled the air.

“Really… This almost smells like…”

[You have finished cooking.]

[You have made Seasoned Tontrio Ribs.]

[It smells great. The dish was a success.]

[You have been inspired.]

[You feel like you will be able to come up with a recipe the next time you come across a new ingredient.]

[Your cooking skills have slightly improved.]

Seol scooped the ribs into bowls and passed them around to Frannan and the Black Pilgrims.

“Let’s see here…”

“Ah, me too…”

As Seol passed around the first round of food, people stood up to serve themselves, unable to resist the tempting aroma.

And then…

“Huh? This is…”

“What is this flavor?”

“It’s good?”

“It’s not just good. I-It’s fucking amazing!”

Seol calmly began serving himself as the others enjoyed the food.

‘It’s a relief that I had some of the Tontrio ribs left from when I hunted them in the Labyrinth's desert.’

Seol and Frannan met gazes.

"You have incredible skills... I doubt even the royal chef could make something this delicious. Were you originally a cook?"

“It’s just a hobby.”

"Haha! You and I will get along well! By the way, it's my first time eating meat with a texture like this. It's neither like pork nor chicken..."

Of course, it would be new to him.

After all, it was made from monster meat—a meat that tasted somewhere in the middle between them.

“That’s because it’s Tontrio meat.”

Drop… drop…

The Black Pilgrims all immediately dropped their spoons in a panic and hastily spat out their food.

“Ptooo!”

“Bwaaarrgh!”

“Spit it out! You’ll be poisoned!”

“Brother, why would you…”

As the Black Pilgrims questioned and remained on guard against Seol's actions, Frannan intervened to calm the situation.

“Stop. It doesn’t seem like there’s poison in here.”

“R-Really?”

"Yeah. I've dealt with Tontrios before in my research, and if there really was poison left, we would have definitely noticed it from just the smell."

“Huh? Then…?”

"It should be safe to eat, right?"

Seol nodded in confirmation as a response.

Only then, after seeing Seol nod, did the pilgrims feel at ease and thoroughly enjoy the meal.

[You had an excellent meal.]

[Monster Cooking’s Bonus Effect activates.]

[You are able to use 'Tireless Endurance’ for a day.]

Poison was certainly one of the reasons why people were repulsed by monster meat, but in fact, their appearance played a huge role as well.

Tontrio was a monster that looked like a mix between a pig and a chicken.

Needless to say, it was hideous.

- Let’s see what Tontrio looks like… bwrgh… and why is it so big?

- If it’s just a big chicken, I’d be down to eat it.

- It’s a stupidly huge chicken. Even its comb is the size of a roof.

- Ah, got it. It’s a meal from hell… straight from Hell’s Kitchen.

Frannan turned to face Seol before speaking.

"...Quite an interesting talent. Since you've treated me to such a fantastic meal, as an adult, I feel I should reward you too. Have you happened to face a wall recently?"

“What?” said Seol in response.

"Quickly now, I've never taken on a disciple before. It's unprecedented for someone to receive my teachings, so don't squander this opportunity. Has anything been hindering you from reaching the next level?"

“From reaching the next level… ah, there is.”

“What is it?”

Writhe… Stick…

[Passive: Sticky Shadows(Composite) activates.]

This passive ended up becoming a concern for Seol.

So far, this skill, a combination of the powers of the Blood of Origin and Shadow Summoner, had shown ambiguous results.

‘New skills haven’t derived from this either. Am I using it wrong?’

With no noticeable effects thus far, aside from his shadows becoming sticky, Seol worried if he had wasted his skill points.

"Hm... it's absorbing the things around it, quite a transferee-like power… It's quite unique, but its efficiency is dreadful. Have you ever tried using this in combat?"

“I have, but it didn’t perform as well as I thought it would.”

“Obviously. This doesn’t seem like a skill you would use directly in combat.”

“...What?”

“It seems much closer… to a creation ability?”

Frannan's words triggered a sudden realization in Seol's mind, causing his eyes to widen in shock.

‘He’s right! Why didn’t I think of that before? If it’s for that… it’s pretty simple, no?’

Oftentimes, being fixated on the bigger picture causes you to overlook the finer details. This was a mistake Seol made because he thought he had found the solution before he actually had.

The power of creation.

It was an ability with a myriad of applications, such as the creation of golems and chimeras.

Essentially, it gave the user the power to breathe life into inanimate objects and manipulate them at will.

“Yeah, so have you used an ability like this before?”

“Ah, no. I’ll try it out.”

“Oh really? Do you want me to teach you mor—”

“I’m fine.”

“...If you say so. I’ll go sleep now, then.”

Seol's unexpectedly cold refusal shocked everyone around them, particularly Frannan. He inwardly scoffed as he retired to bed.

‘That fool. You’ll have to beg me in the morning if you want me to teach you anything tomorrow. Hah…’

Frannan was upset by Seol's apparent disdain, especially since he, the one offering help, used to be an Aspect Magician. Furthermore, creation and enchantment, Frannan’s specialty, also had especially close ties.

In fact, Frannan was so upset that he promised himself that he would only consider helping Seol in the far, far future.

‘Let’s see how you’ll react later, huh?’

Chameli quickly stopped Seol.

"Urm... This is a rare opportunity. What do you think about asking for his teachings…?" pleaded Chameli.

“I’m alright. Have a good night.”

“Ah… okay…”

As everyone other than those on the night watch drifted off to sleep, Seol sat by the campfire and conjured up viscous shadows.

[Passive: Sticky Shadows(Composite) activates.]

“Creation, huh… First, I should start with something simple.”

Hm…

Seol concentrated as he recalled his old memories.

- Creation is the act of projecting one’s consciousness.

“Creation is the act of projecting one’s consciousness…”

Writhe…

- Close your eyes and form a strong image. Catch it, don’t let it go.

Paint smudged the black paper.

- Creation is easier than brushing your teeth.

“Creation is easier than brushing your teeth.”

Wriggle…

- Knead that image in your mind. Knead it over and over again. Knead it until you start to doubt whether you’re overdoing it.

- Creation is…

“Creation is…”

The voice in Seol's old memories bore a smile.

Seol smiled as he recalled the final teachings, mirroring the expression in his memories.

- fun!

“fun…”

This was the mark left behind on Seol by the Immortal, his piece, who had created countless monsters.

“...or not. Hmm, it’s harder than I thought.”

For now, Seol's first attempt ended in a complete and utter failure.

…For now.

“Let’s try this again.”