I Became the Descendant of My Favorite Character Chapter 58 : Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Magical Research Departnt (2)

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The Empire’s plan for war.

Not only the independent nations around the Empire but also the local powers within its borders that defied the Emperor’s authority would be targeted for conquest.

“A war to unite humanity?”

“Yes, the Empire has resolved to gather humanity’s strength.”

“Are you saying the Empire is uniting humanity to prepare for when the Do breaks, Labella-nim?”

“Exactly. There isn’t much ti left. The Empire chose the most efficient thod to unite humanity.”

“Efficiency…”

I didn’t think the Empire’s intentions were bad.

But their thods were far more extre than I’d imagined.

To wage war, subjugate other forces, and gather humanity under the Empire’s feet.

My goal of conquering Myeolji aligned with the Empire’s, but I wanted to take a longer path, winning people’s hearts to inspire voluntary participation in the expedition.

Only by uniting for a shared goal could we wield true strength.

But Labella, as if anticipating my reaction, added,

“Three years from now, the Do around Myeolji will break.”

Tello knew the Do would eventually break, but specifying a tiline was another matter.

Yet Labella stated it with certainty.

“How do you know the Do will break in three years?”

“Our magical research departnt calculated it. Look here…”

Even now, the cracks in Myeolji were slowly widening, with demons occasionally slipping out.

The Adjak family had assud the Do would break but hadn’t pinpointed when.

Labella, however, had calculated the exact timing by studying the decreasing density of demonic energy around Myeolji’s periter.

Though the theory was complex, her clear explanation made it easy to understand.

“The Empire estimates it won’t take more than five months to conquer all opposing forces.”

“Indeed. Even if the war drags on, it’ll likely happen within two years.”

“Correct.”

I stared at Labella.

In about three years, the Do would collapse, and a war would erupt within two years.

What should I do here?

As I pondered, watching Labella continue her explanation, her large eyes narrowed slightly.

“Why are you staring like that?”

“Am I?”

“I’m just a researcher. My research isn’t what’s causing the war.”

“Of course. I understand.”

Labella still eyed suspiciously, adding as if making an excuse,“Research is just research. It’s the powerful who decide how to use the results.”

She was right.

Labella had conducted the research; the choice was the Empire’s.

Yet she seed to carry so guilt about the Empire’s actions.

“You said the flas of war will reach the Adjak family too?”

“Yes.”

“Is there no way to prevent the war?”

Labella paused, then spoke.

“The only way would be to et the Emperor and persuade him directly.”

The Emperor.

With that brief title, Labella drew a clear line between herself and her father.

She had repeatedly emphasized her departure from the imperial palace while explaining the war.

I didn’t want to press or burden soone who wished to distance herself from the imperial family.

“I understand. I’ll have to find a way.”

* * *

Luphtel’s theories on mana density were incredibly complex.

They seed comprehensible yet elusive, incomprehensible yet suddenly clear.

Not all of Luphtel’s works were restricted, but his research on demonic energy wasn’t freely accessible.

The original texts were only in Labella’s office, with no copies.

Another puzzle was that Luphtel wrote his demonic energy research as if it were re hypotheses.

But the deeper I delved, the more I realized they weren’t hypotheses but fully substantiated studies.

How had Luphtel researched demonic energy?

How did he know how to counter the Demon King’s demonic energy?

It was perplexing, but I couldn’t ask Luphtel, who was long dead.

I could, however, ask Labella. I visited her office daily, questioning her about Luphtel’s research.

My reason for studying his work was simple.

To conquer Myeolji and see the end of this ga.

Of course, Labella didn’t just teach unconditionally.

One day, as I took notes to organize her theories, she, watching quietly, spoke up.

“Won’t you share your secret today either?”

“You an the thod for controlling external mana?”

“Yes. I’m teaching you tirelessly, but I’m getting nothing from you, Polarin-nim. It’s a bit disappointing.”

Her face was too calm for that claim.

She hadn’t exactly taught tirelessly.

Her soft, even tone carried her words clearly, without much inflection.

Despite her claim of disappointnt, she continued her lecture.

“Everyone can absorb natural mana through breathing. That mana transforms within the body to match one’s traits.”

“Yes, thanks to your teachings, I understand that.”

“That transford mana can be released outside the body. That’s the mystery of this world, like magic or aura.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“But until now, it was believed impossible to reabsorb mana released outside. Your control of mana shattered what we held as truth.”

Labella asked with fervent eyes,“If you share your thod, Polarin-nim, I’m certain it would greatly aid our research.”

I wanted to et her expectations.

She’d given so much.

“I’d love to teach you, Labella-nim, but the problem is I don’t know the thod myself. I just think about controlling mana outside my body, and it happens.”

“Polarin-nim, nothing just ‘happens.’”

Labella didn’t seem to understand.

As a magic researcher, she believed everything had a reason.

“I’ll show you again.”

To demonstrate, I released mana onto the floor.

A massive amount surged out.

I saw Labella’s eyes widen.

I wanted to see more of her rare expression changes, but I had to focus on the mana I’d released.

I decided to shape it into a donut, like before.

Focusing entirely on the center of the spilled mana, I willed it to move.

The mana stirred, the center absorbed, and a white donut-shaped mana ford on the floor.

“It’s astonishing every ti I see it.”

Labella spoke, her cheeks slightly flushed.

But I was too focused on containing the mana that returned to to reply.

The problem is I can show the thod but can’t explain it precisely.

I hadn’t even known others couldn’t control external mana until I ca to Ostrum.

“It’s hard to explain, but you need to feel the mana first. If you focus, you can sense its fine texture. Find the part to control. Then, imbue the released mana with intent…”

Despite my attempt to explain, Labella only tilted her head.

“So, you’re a mana genius, Polarin-nim. You find it natural to sense the texture, imbue intent, and control it, so it’s hard to explain.”

In truth, this level of mana control was likely thanks to my Dragon Heart.

I nodded slightly.

“Hmm, what rank are you now, Polarin-nim?”

“Fourth-Rank.”

“Fifth-Rank is where you can imbue mana with attributes or forms. But imbuing mana with intent is new to . It seems versatile and worth researching.”

“…I'll be glad if it helps.”

Labella, with fervent eyes, asked about the intent I imbued in mana.

“The mana you didn’t reabsorb—can I study it?”

She was already excitedly collecting it in a magical flask.

She wasn’t even looking at , but I nodded subtly.

* * *

To stop the war, I needed to et the Emperor.

As the Emperor, he wouldn’t et just anyone.

I’d need to reach soone who could influence him.

Labella suggested targeting the Marquis, his closest confidant.

The Marquis was obsessed with recruiting talent, so catching his eye could open a path to him.

She added it wouldn’t be easy.

“You’re leaving already? It’s not even lunchti.”

“I have sowhere to go this afternoon.”

“Where?”

“The imperial guild office.”

“Oh, becoming a true servant of the Empire?”

“Not quite.”

I’d pondered for days but found no clear solution.

So I chose the most basic approach.

Going to the guild office, completing quests, and accumulating rit points.

rit points would accrue slowly. It might be foolish. But most of what I’d done in this world was like that.

Besides, I felt restless.

I bid Labella farewell and left the research departnt.

Unlike rural areas with one guild office per city, the capital had one in every district, including Ostrum.

The guild office was a bit far from the magic towers.

I pushed through the bustling streets again.

“Oh, aren’t you the guy from the entrance exam? How’s life at the research departnt?”

“It’s going well. I’m learning a lot.”

“No matter how I look at it, you don’t seem like soone to be cooped up in a research departnt… Co visit Thunderstrike Tower soti.”

Perhaps because I’d made waves at the entrance exam, so recognized and spoke to .

I also sensed suspicious presences.

Following from a distance. Other tower mages? Or imperial trackers?

I stayed wary but moved forward.

They only trailed without acting, so I let them be for now.

It was my first ti visiting the imperial guild office.

In the ga, I’d been there countless tis on the imperial route, but since arriving in this world, I hadn’t had the chance.

I felt a strange anticipation.

How busy would it be?

What if no good quests were left?

Lost in thought, I reached the guild office.

Opening the door, I was t with an unexpected sight.

The interior was empty.

A lone clerk sat at a large desk, dozing off.

They didn’t stir until I approached and knocked on the desk.

Startled awake, the man wiped drool from his beard and asked,“No way? You’re here for a quest?”

The clerk, roused from sleep, threw an incredulous question.