[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 34

    "Compensation?"

    "Yes. This is an experiment conducted by the Fairy Tower. We can provide anything you desire."

    "Ha! Since when is that allowed? Trying to bribe someone with money?"

    "Myorn, didn’t you do the same thing before?"

    At Irene''s offer of compensation, Kaylen fell into thought.

    ‘Raising the rank of the Civil Squad is the current priority.’

    To do so, the mana suit was essential. After all, the ultimate goal of taking the Meister exam was also to obtain a mana suit.

    ‘The Florence family promised to lend me one if I became a Meister. But using a borrowed suit for registration with the Civil Squad won’t work. Hmm... a loan?’

    Participating in the experiment wouldn’t grant him a mana suit outright.

    But borrowing one?

    That might be possible.

    "Then, could I borrow a mana suit?"

    "...Borrow a mana suit?"

    "I just need it for registration with the Civil Squad. I won’t actually use it."

    "Wait, hold on. What kind of student is registering with the Civil Squad...?"

    "It’s only for a day. You can even accompany me during the process."

    Irene tilted her head. Something about his wording felt off.

    It wasn’t as if he was joining an existing squad—it felt like he was creating one.

    ‘Who exactly is this person?’

    A one-day loan wasn’t impossible. Irene wielded considerable authority within the Fairy Tower.

    However, the process would be complicated.

    "Borrowing a mana suit is possible. But... for that, I would need to present sufficient justification to the tower."

    "Kaylen, I’ll lend you one. I’ve made plenty myself."

    "Are you referring to a suit handmade by you, Myorn?"

    "Yes."

    "Apologies, but it won’t be recognized."

    "What? Why?"

    "Because they don’t consider it to have enough destructive power to qualify as a mana suit."

    "Ugh."

    At Kaylen’s firm response, Myorn’s fur drooped dejectedly.

    Seeing this, Irene chuckled softly and continued,

    "If you participate in the experiment and produce significant results, I will make a formal request to the tower on your behalf."

    "Hmm..."

    "A mana suit that Myorn cannot provide, of course."

    If he needed a mana suit, there was no way Kaylen could refuse this offer.

    The thought of it being used for Civil Squad registration was slightly concerning, but the Fairy Tower had spare mana suits available.

    If Kaylen could deliver meaningful results, a one-day loan would be a reasonable trade.

    ‘Both are tempting.’

    The elf''s experiment didn’t pique his interest much, but the chance to borrow a mana suit was appealing.

    Meanwhile, Myorn’s experiment genuinely intrigued him.

    Kaylen spoke directly to Irene.

    "Would it be alright if I showed you meaningful results right now?"

    "Right now?"

    "Yes, there''s no need to drag this out."

    At Kaylen''s words, Irene hesitated briefly before nodding.

    "Alright. It’s difficult to demonstrate here. Let’s move outside."

    "I’m coming too," Myorn chimed in.

    "Fine. You’re also part of our Fairy Tower, so come along."

    The group moved to a magical training ground prepared within the Fairy Tower''s branch.

    Irene summoned a mid-tier water spirit.

    "Undine."

    Droplets of water shimmered in midair, coalescing gradually into a form.

    The spirit took the shape of a young girl whose face closely resembled Irene''s.

    ‘She’s skilled.’

    To achieve this, she had concluded that someone of high caliber had to provide subtle yet precise stimuli.

    Breaking past the inherent limits of the elven race was no easy task.

    Using a faintly raised Sword Aura, Kaylen tapped the water barrier with his charged hand.

    Tap. Tap.

    "Ah... ah...?" Irene murmured in surprise.

    "How does it feel?" Kaylen asked.

    "This... this feels just like..." Irene trailed off, her expression shifting.

    The sensation was unusual—unpleasant but refreshing, heavy but light at the same time. It was a combination of conflicting feelings that rarely occurred together.

    She exclaimed, "This is just like..."

    Kaylen nodded knowingly.

    It was the method described in Deluna’s records, a stimulus designed to enhance the understanding of attributes.

    The sensation Irene experienced was exactly as Deluna had written about.

    Even when the elves had enlisted human mages and Meisters, they had never felt anything like this.

    As Irene''s amazement glimmered,

    Whoosh.

    Kaylen withdrew his hand.

    "Does this suffice as proof?" he asked.

    "A-ah..." Irene let out a sigh of regret. She had just begun to feel the sensation described in the records, and now it was over?

    "Irene, what we need to do here isn''t research," Kaylen stated firmly.

    "Th-then what is it?" she asked.

    "A transaction."

    "A transaction...?"

    "Research is about exploring the unknown. But I already know. I can stimulate you as described in the records."

    Kaylen’s words were undeniable. He had demonstrated that he could evoke the precise stimuli described in the High Elf''s writings. In this situation, it was Irene who would need to learn from him.

    "Then, how about a mana suit rental—"

    "No, I don’t think this is something that can be settled with a one-day rental."

    "Then... what do you want?"

    "A mana suit. Permanently."

    "What?!" Irene exclaimed.

    "In exchange, I’ll make you an advanced spirit summoner," Kaylen offered.

    Irene’s eyes wavered. A mana suit... others would have dismissed such a request as ridiculous, rejecting it outright. But...

    ''An advanced spirit summoner...''

    Since the dungeon catastrophe, there had been no advanced spirit summoners. If that lost art could be restored... its value would be immeasurable, worth far more than the cost of a mana suit.

    ''If this works, I’ll become the first in this kingdom.''

    As one of the leaders of the Fairy Tower, Irene had the authority to allocate a mana suit, even if it stretched her resources.

    She swallowed hard, then nodded.

    "Alright. But becoming an advanced spirit summoner comes first. I can’t give you the mana suit in advance—the tower wouldn’t approve."

    "Agreed. But until then, a temporary rental is possible, isn’t it?"

    "...Yes, that’s fine."

    Originally, the mana suit was supposed to be offered as compensation for participating in the experiment. However, as the situation shifted from research to negotiation, the rental became more of a down payment.

    "Great. Then it’s settled—I’ll make a deal with you, Irene, and conduct research with Myorn."

    "Yay!" Myorn cheered.

    "Understood..." Irene replied, still hesitant.

    Kaylen had maneuvered so that he didn’t need to choose between the two opportunities. Instead, he positioned himself to reap the benefits from both. Seizing any opportunity had been a hallmark of his character since his days as emperor.

    "Once the tournament is over, I’ll need the rental prepared," Kaylen requested.

    "Of course. The tournament is nearly finished, so I’ll get everything ready," Irene replied.

    The Superior Mage Selection Tournament had already reached the quarterfinals. Only the semifinals and finals remained, a mere two days. Irene knew she needed to act swiftly.

    "Good luck with the rest of the tournament, Kaylen."

    "Thank you."

    "And Kaylen, let’s start the research right after the tournament. I’ll be ready!" Myorn added excitedly.

    "Of course."

    After parting ways with the two professors, Kaylen walked away.

    At that time, he had little interest in the semifinals.

    ‘Becoming a Superior Mage is enough. Advancing further has no real meaning.’

    Having already faced mages equipped with mana suits, he wasn’t particularly motivated to climb higher in the tournament and had even considered forfeiting.

    But when the semifinals came the next day, his perspective began to change.

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]