Chapter 237 - Magic is Art!
After a morning of receiving reports and consultations from members at headquarters, I decided to go out for a change of pace in the afternoon.
I started by finishing some errands and had a quick lunch before heading to the new headquarters site.
I considered bringing someone along, but no one was available. I wish Valeria were here, but it couldn’t be helped.
I drove a small armored vehicle to the site. With this taken care of, I had no urgent plans for the day, allowing for a more relaxed schedule.
On the way, I saw an unusual sight.
The area was wide and easy to navigate, with large houses and spacious lots, reminiscent of an upscale residential district. There were also large parks nearby with lakes and forests.
The houses had a charming and modern feel, a blend of the old and new. It was the kind of place where a well-dressed lady might be walking her dog.
Amid this serene, high-end atmosphere, a massive, pitch-black wall suddenly appeared.
The wall completely clashed with the surroundings, looking like a fortress built to announce the presence of a notorious organization.
I drove along the imposing wall, entered through the unfinished gate, and headed inside.
The first thing I saw upon entering the grounds was a mountain of earth.
Priene and her team had been digging holes to create a large underground facility. The earth they excavated had formed this mountain. The team was likely working on the other side of the mound.
I parked the vehicle and got to work.
I planned to enhance and further improve the outer wall.
Approaching the smooth, black outer wall, I entered a focused state.
The wall, over a hundred meters in both length and height, was fully grasped and controlled by my magic.
The construction quality was impressive, and I first admired the craftsmanship.
"...You’ve really improved."
The wall’s structure was flawless, with uniform density and no distortion. This level of magic skill was evident.
Standing about fifteen meters tall and three meters thick, the wall was a massive structure.
While the entire construction team had worked on it, the final adjustments were made by Priene, a testament to her skill.
Magic is classified into levels from seventh to first. Seventh to sixth are considered lower-level, fifth and fourth are intermediate, and third and second are advanced. First-level magic is legendary and no longer used in modern times.
Most can use lower-level magic if they have the aptitude. However, the difficulty increases significantly with intermediate magic, and many find it challenging to reach fourth-level.
Advanced second-level magic users are rare in the entire continent. Anyone who reaches this level is considered rare and valuable.
General-purpose magic, while complex, can only be used by those with the aptitude. Seventh-level healing magic, for example, cannot be used without the right aptitude.
The complexity of the magic determines its rank, regardless of its output or precision. This is a key aspect of magic.
For instance, I can’t use fire magic beyond the sixth level due to my lack of aptitude.
The complexity of fire magic involves spreading flames without igniting unintended areas, maintaining control over a wide area, and precisely setting the intensity and temperature. More advanced techniques include wrapping oneself in flames for combat, which is impossible without the aptitude.
However, with abundant magical power, one can achieve intermediate-level output even without the aptitude. With skillful manipulation, minor shape and temperature changes, light effects, and color adjustments are possible. Even intricate spells can be cast.
While the ideal is to reach advanced levels with the aptitude, talent plays a significant role. Many Kikyo Society members, despite having abundant magical power and skill, can only reach intermediate levels.
However, shortcomings can often be compensated with output and precision, which can be improved through training.
Priene’s earth magic is at the intermediate level, but the quality of the black wall is exceptionally high. This level of mastery is beyond the capabilities of someone who can only use advanced magic.
It’s a testament to the skill of our Kikyo Society executives.
Pleased with the work of my capable members, I knew the current wall was nothing more than a sturdy block of stone. It was time to transform it.
The uniform structure made my task easier, a significant advantage.
I planned to change the wall’s composition to a material with superior physical and magical resistance.
Instead of a simple transformation, I would layer multiple layers of composite armor, extending to the underground sections. This would create a specialized physical and magical resistance structure, ensuring robust defense.
With this, the wall would achieve a level of protection comparable to a magical barrier.
Achieving this without my help would require extensive materials and multiple high-level magic users, making it practically impossible. Even obtaining a small-scale magical barrier artifact would be more feasible and cost-effective.
"Phew, that’s a bit tiring."
The entire process took about ten minutes. The wall was now fully enhanced. While I aim to improve my speed for such simple tasks, this was a significant step forward.
The perfect uniform structure, thanks to the Construction Bureau’s efforts, made the transformation much easier.
Next, I planned to add some design elements. Priene and her team had intentionally left the wall plain to make it easier for me to add designs later.
I intended to have Charlotte add engraving magic later for added strength and, if possible, self-repair capabilities. For now, I would add patterns to the plain wall. The Kikyo Society, being a predominantly female organization, deserved some flair.
I visualized the patterns and began to etch them into the wall. If adjustments were needed later, I could make them.
I chose a traditional Japanese pattern called 'yagasuri,' a design often seen on kimonos, featuring vertically aligned arrow feathers in black.
The base would be a deep black, with alternating shades of black for the arrow feathers.
To add some variety, I raised the lower part of the wall by five millimeters and changed it to a checkerboard pattern. The top part of the wall was also raised and changed to a diamond pattern.
I then added the Kikyo emblem, encircled in circles, at intervals along the middle section of the wall.
For accents, I added subtle designs of peonies, cherry blossoms, and plum blossoms. Near the gate, I added a profusion of bellflowers.
I lost myself in the artistic and enjoyable process, and I noticed members gathering to watch. However, interrupting the process halfway might affect the overall balance, so I continued without looking back.
After spending more time on the designs than on the structural transformation and enhancement, I finally finished and relaxed.
Turning around, I saw the Construction Bureau members admiring the wall, both the outer and inner sides.
"There was a lot of powerful magic being used, so I came to check it out!"
"Thanks to Priene and her team, the enhancement was easy. The rest was just a bit of fun. How’s the excavation going?"
"We’re about halfway through, but the piled earth is getting in the way!"
"In that case, I’ll take care of this as well. What would you like me to do with it?"
Instead of moving the earth elsewhere, magic allows for its effective utilization.
Creating something with magic alone is possible, but using existing materials requires less magical energy.
So, I planned to transform the excess earth into construction materials.
While Priene and her team could do this, the sheer volume would be too much. I wanted them to focus on constructing the new headquarters, so I took on this task.
"We’ll handle the details, so just give it a quick transformation!"
"Alright, I’ll make it into panels."
Panels would be versatile, usable for walls, floors, and ceilings. They would be lightweight and sturdy, suitable for various applications. If needed, they could be further enhanced and reinforced like the outer wall.
The columns and framework would be handled by the team, so creating a versatile material seemed practical.
I focused my magic on the pile of earth, visualizing two-meter square panels of lightweight steel. The earth transformed into numerous black panels within seconds.
Mass-producing identical items is effortless for me, thanks to my experience making potion bottles. At this size, even our strongest members could easily carry and transport them.
"What do you think?"
I checked with Priene, who picked up one of the panels and tapped it.
"President, these are excellent, even for temporary use!"
"Wow, these are strong. They’d be perfect for permanent use. We’ll start using them right away!"
"Alright, let’s start transporting and laying them down where we can!"
"By the way, where are the interior decorators? If we build everything solidly, it’ll be a hassle later."
"The design accounts for air circulation and drainage. Follow the master’s instructions carefully! And remember, we need to leave space for magic tools!"
The Construction Bureau members, influenced by Priene, are always energetic.
After checking on their progress and bidding them farewell, I returned to headquarters to park the armored vehicle. Then, I headed to Sixth Avenue on foot.
This was personal time, not work. My destination was the back of Sixth Avenue, the Dominic Cruel Workshop. My heart raced with anticipation.
I arrived quickly and found the garage bustling with activity. The workshop, once a one-man operation, now hummed with the work of many skilled craftsmen.
In the back, the venerable Dominic Cruel, the workshop’s owner, was scrutinizing a design.
"Doc, I’m here!"
Doc and I have become good friends through our shared interest in motorcycles.
"Ah, you’re here! I’ve been waiting for you!"
"It’s been a while. How are you doing?"
"That’s not important. Try out this monster. Only you can handle it."
The young craftsmen watched our friendly exchange with interest. They were likely motorcycle enthusiasts, which spoke well of their taste and potential.
But first things first.
"You mean it’s ready? I have time today, so let’s do it!"
"Alright, take it out and give it a test run. But be careful!"
"I understand."
The modifications I had requested were complete. They were just as I had hoped.
The bike looked even more rugged around the wheels, giving it a heavier, more imposing presence. Despite this, it still looked cool.
After Doc explained the new features, I climbed onto my beloved Bloomstar Galaxy with excitement. It had been a while.
"Here we go!"
The deep engine roar of the Bloomstar Galaxy was incredibly satisfying.
I started slowly, riding the ultra-cool and eye-catching bike through the streets.
I took Sixth Avenue to Central Avenue, then continued on the main road until I reached the East Gate and headed out of the city. The experiment I was about to start required open space outside the city.
During my expedition to the western continent, I had asked Doc to overhaul and further modify the Bloomstar Galaxy.
The primary goal was to enhance its speed, making it capable of reaching extreme velocities.
With my enhanced physical abilities, ordinary vehicle speeds were no longer necessary.
In this world, various influential people have imposed severe speed limits on magical vehicles. While these can be bypassed with illegal modifications, the design constraints still limit the speed to about 150 kilometers per hour.
While I understand the reasons, considering the average magical power and endurance, for someone with my abilities, these limits are unnecessary.
The speed limit, even after removing the governor, is for safety. With the right modifications, even higher speeds are possible.
Given my physical and magical capabilities, the only limit is the strength of the vehicle. With sufficient magical reinforcement, the vehicle can withstand any speed.
I aimed to push the Bloomstar Galaxy to its limits, transforming it into a machine that could bridge distances. This would be fitting for someone like me.
Outside the city, I chose a deserted path and used my magical senses to ensure the area was clear. Everything was set.
I put on my protective goggles and prepared to unleash the Bloomstar Galaxy’s true potential.
"It’s time to show its true power."
I started the bike and unlocked the new features with a magical authentication. Injecting absurd amounts of energy into the added magical circuits, the engine roared louder than ever.
This was a machine unlike anything in my ordinary experience, a magical device powered by magic rather than gasoline.
My power directly fueled the Bloomstar Galaxy.
Pouring an overwhelming amount of magical energy into the bike, the transformed vehicle unleashed its full potential, accelerating rapidly.
The rough, unpaved grassland became a smooth ride. With heightened senses, I could flatten the uneven ground, making even rough terrain manageable. With my physical abilities, I knew I could handle any obstacle.
I increased the speed, then increased it again, and I knew I could go even faster.
The Bloomstar Galaxy, drinking in the continuous magical energy, seemed to roar with joy.
The thrill of reaching unknown speeds was exhilarating. My heart raced with excitement.
I had long surpassed the realm of the known, yet the bike showed no signs of strain. My magical control and driving skills were flawless.
I could still go faster!
The world around me accelerated, and my consciousness raced with it. The blur of the scenery, the intense wind pressure, the constant engine roar and vibrations, all were overwhelming.
"Yaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
On that day, the Bloomstar Galaxy and I became one with the wind.
The brief test ride had somehow taken me all the way to the outskirts of the Royal Capital.
Under normal circumstances, this would be a journey that required an overnight stay at a roadside inn, reaching the capital the next day. The distance between Exembra and the Royal Capital is about 600 kilometers.
Without removing the speed governor, most vehicles can only reach about 30 kilometers per hour. While it’s possible to travel without stopping, it’s usually only done in emergencies.
Even before the modifications, the Bloomstar Galaxy could have made the trip without a stop, but the newly transformed bike was a different beast entirely.
Hehe, I had truly pushed it to its limits.
This chapter involved both work and play. In the future, travel might become much easier.
Next, I’ll have some fun while meeting the baron again. The next chapter is 'A New Partner and Profitable Deals!'