TL/Editor: raei

    Status: 5/week mon-fri

    Illustrations: none

    Join the discord! Here

    [Still thank you.]

    Maronius''s soul spoke.

    [All my life, I was trapped in my flawed past, suffering.]

    [That wasn''t your fault.]

    [Yes. I know. If we''re assigning blame, it should go to my foolish past self. But what''s the point in that?]

    Young Maronius stepped forward.

    [Thank you for saving Liria.]

    Then his soul shattered.

    As his lingering attachment to life vanished, he achieved enlightenment.

    [When you met Lupus. I liked your confident demeanor!]

    Another soul vanished.

    [Your burning passion for magic despite everything was impressive, young wizard.]

    [When you betrayed the emperor, it felt uncomfortable but... also satisfying.]

    Maronius''s souls disappeared one by one.

    After all souls vanished, only one remained.

    [If I had lived an ordinary life like you showed me. I would have been much happier.]

    The final soul said with a smile.

    [It feels like I''ve had a sweet dream, if only briefly. Thank you, Wizard Ian.]

    [I should be thanking you.]

    That wasn''t just empty words.

    While exploring Maronius''s memory world, Ian had gained a passive skill that increased his growth rate.

    Since he''d started this work hoping to gain something, he''d at least profited that much.

    [Before you leave, may I ask one question?]

    [What is it?]

    [About the ultimate goal of magic research.]

    The soul wore a puzzled expression.

    Something felt off.

    But Ian continued speaking.

    [Later wizards speculated that when your research was complete... all languages would be unified into one form. The so-called ''universal language''.]

    [Universal language?]

    The soul burst out laughing.

    [I can''t answer that part. I''m just a fragment of memories.]

    Ian slightly furrowed his brows.

    Though his necromancy was very powerful, perfectly reconstructing memories from hundreds of years ago seemed impossible.

    Actually, reconstructing memories to this extent was already incredible.

    He''d reached a realm other necromancers couldn''t even dream of.

    [However...]

    [?]

    [I''ll let you meet ''me'' directly.]

    [???]

    Ian was shocked.

    The person this soul said it would let him meet...

    Seemed to mean the real soul, not just memory fragments?!

    [Is that possible?]

    It was impossible by Ian''s common sense.

    In this medieval fantasy world, human souls belonged to the Sky God.

    Maronius''s real soul would have gone to heaven hundreds of years ago when he died.

    Wasn''t that why only memory fragments remained on earth?

    [This is your reward for all your hard work.]

    Though it defied common sense, he implied it was possible.

    From Ian''s perspective, there was nothing to lose.

    [If you''ll let me meet him... I''d be glad to.]

    [Good. Have your friends leave first. ''I'' want to talk with you alone.]

    Ian had Maria and Kira leave first.

    [Thank you for everything until now, Ian.]

    The final soul vanished.

    Soon brilliant rays of light fell from the sky.

    The light was so bright and pure that Ian unconsciously felt reverent.

    ''Is an angel falling or something?''

    The atmosphere suggested that.

    But soon the ground beneath turned white and soft like clouds, and Ian could hardly hide his bewilderment.

    It really felt like he''d ascended to heaven.

    [Your thought is correct, Ian.]

    [?!]

    [I imitated the appearance of heaven]

    A thunderous voice rang out.

    Ian looked up at the sky in shock.

    [However, I realized the completion of universal language isn''t something that can be achieved in one step.]

    [That''s...]

    [I created magic. I discovered how to communicate with mysteries that couldn''t be communicated with, and defined how to express magic through language and letters.]

    Universal language was the final stage.

    But Maronius''s magic had barely buttoned the first button.

    Because he''d found a way to share will with beings that couldn''t be talked to.

    [The next step is your turn, Ian.]

    Magic can develop further.

    So it must advance to the next stage.

    The person Maronius designated as capable of opening magic''s second door was...

    Ian himself.

    [Me...?]

    [You seem unsure.]

    Ian''s expression was complex.

    Well, it''s not like he''d sworn to dedicate his whole life to magic.

    How could he open the door to magic''s next stage?!

    [But you''ve already transcended the limits of existing magic.]

    [What?!]

    Maroniel pointed to himself with a meaningful smile.

    [Did you not complete one coherent memory by gathering my memory fragments?]

    [But that''s...]

    Ian stopped mid-sentence.

    This isn''t my magic?!

    Well, it is my magic... but it''s magic the Ice God of the North gave me as a gift for catching her drawing porn...

    [The magic to restore your memories was given by the goddess of the North.]

    Ian answered almost defensively, but Maroniel kept smiling.

    [You''re mistaken about something. Ordinary humans can''t freely handle divine gifts like you do.]

    [...?]

    [Haven''t you found it strange? Though called a gift, you use divine power you''ve never handled before however you want.]

    Ian closed his mouth.

    Of course he hadn''t found it strange!

    Because...

    Ian''s magic just had all its usage instructions written in his status window!

    [Well, I have this status window...]

    [Status window?]

    [There are these strange letters I can see...]

    Ah.

    Ian stared blankly at Maroniel.

    ...He thought he understood what Maroniel was saying.

    He belatedly remembered.

    When he met the Ice God Hrundal, they''d already had this conversation once...!

    [Hrundal said my ''status window'' isn''t something transcendent... but just magic I created.]

    [Hahaha. Yes. You already know the answer, don''t you?]

    Maroniel said.

    [Ian. You''ve already surpassed the magic I created.]

    [...]

    [You''re the first wizard to open magic''s next chapter.]

    Maroniel summoned something.

    A gem burning brilliantly with heavenly light.

    [Everything is ready, Ian.]

    Ian took the gem Maroniel held out.

    As if it had been waiting, a message appeared in his status window.

    [Dazzling celestial power! You''ve obtained the power of stars!]

    [Take it to Arno and Isil, they will absorb the power of stars themselves.]

    Maroniel fluttered his wings.

    The angel was disappearing into the heights of heaven.

    Ian silently looked up at the sky.

    [Go forth, Ian. Go forth and open a new golden age of magic.]

    The angel''s echo rang like church bells.

    [The Great One has prepared all plans for you. Meet Him. He will brightly light your path.]

    Ian slowly closed his eyes.

    "...Ian? Ian!"

    He heard Kira''s voice.

    When he came to, Ian was on the floor of his research room.

    In his hand was an unnaturally beautiful gem.

    ---

    Enjoy the chappy!

    Please give the book a rating and a review on NovelUpdates.

    It helps the website and helps people find this novel!

    If you''d like to make a one-time donation to support our translations or subscribe to read up to 15 chapters or more (depending on the novel) ahead, you can do so via Ko-fi.

    Click here!