The World I Was Supporting Was Real - Chapter 93



93. Air, Mana, and…

* * *

Following Stella, I arrived at the reception room—

“You’ve arrived, Miss Reina.”

Ian Granfelio, head of the Fire Magic Tower, who at this point could be considered the pinnacle of mages, greeted me.

However, something else drew Reina’s gaze far more than his greeting—

‘… A woman?’

A woman, her form hidden beneath a robe, was seated at the head of the table.

Even though she was completely covered, it was obvious she was a woman.

For a simple reason. She had big boobs.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

After Stella left her seat—

Rayna, across from Ian, finally spoke.

“What’s up, old man? Research talks and all that, it’s all just a joke in a world that’s lost all its fun…”

Ian straightened his back, clicking his tongue as he watched Rayna’s unnecessarily slumped posture.

“Even after all this time, you’re still as morbidly gloomy as ever, despite your age.”

Rayna wasn’t the type to cater to anyone’s mood, unless it was a fellow mage from her tower or some bigwig.

She naturally let Ian’s words wash over her, muttering under her breath.

“Whatever… who cares if I’m gloomy… Hmph.”

“Of course, I didn’t come here just to see you. I simply accompanied this person here, to introduce them to you.”

‘This person… ‘

So they’re a VVIP, so much so that even that arrogant fire-element tower lord is using honorifics?

“You may reveal yourself now.”

“……”

Then.

A woman slowly removed the hood of her robe.

Rayna’s eyes went wide and almost rolled back into her head at the sight.

Of course… It was someone she knew well.

“S-Saintess?!”

“Hello, Rayna. I am Erin, the Saintess. I’ve heard great things about your esteemed name, so it is a true honor to finally meet you.”

“No, no, it’s… the honor is mine.”

Rayna, without even realizing it, straightened from her slouch and bowed low.

Even for someone as socially inept as herself, holed up in the magic tower day in and day out, wasting away, she knew better than to act out in front of the Saintess, currently the most supported figure in the continent after the Emperor.

No way.

‘The person who came to see me was the Saintess?’

Of course, from her perspective, she couldn’t help but be surprised.

The noble presence before her, the Saintess, was the very person who’d sent the Wood-Attribute Magic Tower spiraling towards ruin.

Not by intention, but if you looked at the results, that was the reality.

The main task of the Wood-Attribute Magic Tower, the one Rayna belonging to—

Was the creation of various “magical war tools” using mana.

This also included the production of diverse potions that were safe for human consumption.

Combining elements floating in the air with the power of mana to create something new was the core of the Wood-Attribute Magic Tower’s research activities.

When you think of a ‘Mage,’ you typically imagine someone who directly uses mana in their body, gathering air and expanding it to create explosions, or generating impressive fireballs or ice blocks from their hands and launching them with the power of mana—that was the kind of thing you’d see from mages in the Fire or Water-Attribute Magic Towers.

The mages here at the Wood-Attribute Magic Tower, unlike those of other attributes, were closer to “mana researchers” than actual mages.

It was by no means a less important place, but the cold truth was that, for those who’d awakened to mana and chosen to walk the path of a mage, the support rates here were naturally lower compared to the Fire or Water-Attribute Towers.

But, after the sudden death of Aisha von Einsberg, and the Imperial Family’s descent into chaos—

With Eirene von Einsberg taking the throne and her strong belief that ‘we cannot forever rely solely on the White Magic of the Order when it comes to healing people,’ the importance of the Wood-Attribute Magic Tower, which researched potions, skyrocketed, and naturally, the support for research increased.

Rayna becoming the Tower Master was also around that time.

With the offer of unprecedented honor and full authority as the Tower Master at such a young age, the promising genius Rayna turned away from the Fire-Attribute Tower and set foot here.

It was true that she had received that level of support.

Then, one day—Saintess Erin descended to Earth, having been chosen by God.

The Order, so stingy with its white magic that it was almost despicable, suddenly upped its free service, dispatching priests to hospitals everywhere to freely dispense the essence of their secret white magic the moment a Saintess appeared.

And that wasn’t all. Emperor Irene, as if having her eyes opened by meeting Saintess Erin, became a devout follower.

Originally, the whole point of supporting the Wood Magic Tower was to check the Order and somehow replace the advantage of their ‘healing magic’ with a mage’s power. But now, instead of being checked, the Emperor had gone straight under the Order’s wing. It was inevitable that support would dry up.

Still, with the Saintess’s advent, it was expected that the various magical tools of the Wood Magic Tower would shine in the war with the demon race that was bound to come –

But there was no war; they’d actually struck a peace treaty with the demons, unprecedented in history.

Naturally, in a situation where mages themselves became less useful, unlike other Towers that could still play a role in other areas, the Wood Magic Tower, whose purpose was to prepare war materials, had no choice but to plummet in importance –

And the current reality was that it had quite literally become a ‘superfluous Tower.’

It wasn’t that she resented Erin. After all, Erin was making the world a better place.

It was just, she wondered why she needed to come here.

“I’d like to apologize for this sudden visit today.”

“Oh, no… You, you can come whenever you want. You could even, even storm in with all your priests… ”

Realizing she might have overdone it, just as if reading Reina’s thoughts –

Erin spoke with a most benevolent smile.

“I am so grateful for your hospitality, Lady Reina.”

“Ah, yes…”

Ah…

I’m being healed.

Beneath platinum-blonde hair, two pools of sky-blue formed a magnificent arc.

The voice from her moist lips was a heavenly melody, so beautiful.

The huge breasts that the robe couldn’t hide were the biggest proof as to why she could become the Saintess of the Guoden Order, which worshiped the female bosom.

A pretty lady’s smile is sure to be nice.

Trapped inside studying like I am, I could never become a woman like that…

‘… Hup!’

Raina, completely mesmerized by Erin, was abruptly jolted awake by her ‘socially aware’ self.

Get it together. Messing up in front of the Holy Maiden is a disaster. Not just research funding, but the entire Wood Attribute Magic Tower could get blown away…!

“Hey, Raina. The Holy Maiden sought you out, not me. Do you understand what that means?”

“…Huh?”

“It means that you’ve been given the opportunity to serve God.”

“Oh… really? Okay.”

“Damn it, that lazy woman gets the chance to help God… I’m green with envy, seriously…!”

Ian said that and then trembled for a moment.

Come to think of it, Ian had also suddenly changed one day and done something insane—opening the Magic Tower’s knowledge for freedom to anyone who wished to learn.

Rumor had it that he’d also become a fervent follower of the Guerdon religion… Seeing him like this, it was clear it wasn’t just a rumor.

After openly expressing his jealousy for a while, Ian finally rose from his seat, bowed 90 degrees to Erin, and said,

From noble mtl dot com

“Then, Holy Maiden. I’ll be waiting outside with the nuns, so please, take your time with your conversation.”

And with that, Ian left.

Finally, they were alone in the audience chamber.

… Gulp.

So nervous she couldn’t help but pull her legs together politely, Raina, sweating coldly and glancing at Erin—

‘I, I need to say something… ! If the Holy Maiden thinks of me as a creepy girl, I, I could really be in big trouble… !’

Reyna quickly plastered a clumsy smile onto her face and began to mumble any old thing.

“I, the weather is really nice… Your Holiness…!”

“Yes, it is.”

“Aha… oh, was it not uncomfortable coming here? It must have been hard to find in the forest.”

“Mr. Ian guided me, so it was easy to find my way.”

“That’s a relief! N-next time, if you could send… a letter beforehand, I could send someone… no, I would go out myself.”

“A letter, you say?”

“Uh, I mean, it’s not like I’m saying you absolutely *have* to send a letter, that you shouldn’t come without telling me! I mean…”

After flailing and uttering even “I mean,” Reyna finally became aware of her situation.

‘I’m screwed…!!!’

Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes felt ready to burst into tears.

She’d always been bad with people, so she became a mage who was treated well as long as she delivered results.

But, unlike Reyna who was at a complete loss—

Erin, as if it was nothing, smiled brightly again.

“Lady Reyna. You don’t have to try so hard to match my mood! I’m really alright. I felt your sincerity, so I’m already thankful enough.”

“Your Holiness…!”

What is this?

Is this person… an angel?

Right. Since she was chosen by the gods, she might as well be no different than an angel, she thought.

“And today, shouldn’t I be the one matching *your* mood, Lady Reyna?”

“Huh? My feelings?”

“Yes. I came to ask for a favor of you, Reina-nim.”

“A favor, you say…?”

Eryn, with a voice devoid of any playfulness, looked at me, her eyes sparkling, and spoke confidently.

“Reina-nim. Won’t you join me in feeding the people until their bellies are full?”

“…Huh?”

* * *

“Using mana and air… you’re saying we should make a fertilizer that drastically increases the earth’s fertility?”

“Yes!”

“And all you need is mana and air?”

*Nod nod.*

“That’s right! Of course, the knowledge of Reina-nim, the master of the Wood Attribute Magic Tower, would be needed!”

“…Uh…”

No matter how highly the Saintess regarded me, this was simply too absurd.

It was like saying you’d make bread out of air, wasn’t it?

“I’m sorry, but what you’ve described is an idea that far exceeds the capabilities of our Wood Attribute Magic Tower…”

“But doesn’t the Wood Attribute Magic Tower already create war magic tools using a similar principle?”

“That’s true… It’s also true that we various mix things with mana to make all sorts of items, but even if something that increases ‘earth fertility’ really existed in the air, as you say, I have absolutely no idea how to “fix it in place and turn it into fertilizer.”

Reina bowed her head, a sincere look of apology on her face.

It was far better to admit that she couldn’t do it outright than to insist on being able to do something that was impossible.

“If you could create such a miracle fertilizer, I think it would be far more meaningful than making magical war tools… though, I’m so sorry I can’t be of any help. You came all the way here, and everything…”

He’d probably just say something like ‘I see’ and leave.

Or, in this moment, should I boldly propose ‘I’ll give it a try, could you increase the research funding?’ I was agonizing over it when…

“Lady Reina, I’m sorry.”

“Yes?”

“I missed something.”

“……?”

Then.

Erin, with both hands, clasped Reina’s small, pale hand tightly.

“SSSS-Saintess Niim…?!”

Stunned by the sudden skinship, Reina’s eyes spun—watching her,

Erin spoke with an earnestness like never before.

“……A plain fact.”

“……Huh?”

A plain fact?

Why is that coming up all of a sudden… ?

“Air and mana… and, if there’s a plain fact, creating something like that isn’t just a dream. And… I, can give you the one thing the knowledgeable Lady Reina lacks—the ‘plain fact’…”

“How about it? Not war-time consumables, but a ‘miracle magical tool’ capable of saving lives… wouldn’t you like to create it with your own hands?”

“Augh, uuuh, awawawawaaa…!!”

On the surface, it could only be seen as utter bewilderment—

Reina knew it, too, to some extent.

The fact that people who had a one-on-one with the Saint had, not long after, been reborn as ardent believers of the Gweodon Church!

As for which side she was on, Reina didn’t want to gain enlightenment in that way.

Whether she believed in the Gweodon Church itself was irrelevant. It was just that playing the role of a devout believer… was annoying!

‘I need to stay calm… !’

Clearly, they said that ‘light’ had leaked out when they pressed the scripture to their foreheads.

Reina quickly surveyed Erin. She was prepared to shake her off and run if need be.

The scripture… was hanging at her waist.

No light or anything was leaking out. She was just holding my hand.

At that moment.

“Lady Reina.”

“Yes, huh?”

“How is it? Do you feel it?”

“What… what do I feel?”

“The air, and the man floating in the air!”

Why she was asking this was unclear, but Reina, for now, obediently followed the Saint’s words, gripping her hand tightly and lightly sensing her surroundings.

Air. It was there. Mana. It was mixed in.

Any mage could feel mana. It wasn’t anything special.

“I feel it. But why….”

“Is that all?”

“……?”

“Try sensing it again. The air and mana…is that truly all there is?”

Erin’s gaze, so utterly earnest as she spoke, compelled Reina to simply obey and re-sense her surroundings.

And—

‘… … Huh?’

—she realized.

Existing between the air and man… a vast energy, seemingly not of this world.

And at that very moment—something.

Something incomprehensible to a construct’s mind… began to stir.