I Can Hear the Saint’s Inner Thoughts

Episode 21 – The Continent’s Strongest Mage (1)

The morning after Victoria woke up from her sleep.

In a small open area not far from the inn, the hero and I were huddled together, quickly deliberating how to get to the Holy Kingdom and back.

“…So, do you have a plan? This is the Demon Realm where it’s hard to know spatial coordinates.”

The hero, Kyle, scratched his chin, showing his concern. Unlike the continent where we generally lived, this was the Demon Realm ruled by the Demon King.

There was no way they would release the coordinates needed for magic to outsiders. If they did, they could be raided via spatial teleportation.

That was why we spent a year adventuring to kill just one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

“Even if moving to the Holy Kingdom is possible, I think returning is impossible….”

Kyle’s words, his face darkening, made sense. There were three requirements to using spatial teleportation magic.

1. The spatial coordinates of the departure point.

2. The spatial coordinates of the destination.

Lastly, it was generally accepted that a strong force capable of twisting the walls of space was necessary.

“Yeah, that’s normally how it is.”

I brushed off the dirt on my hands, setting up magic circles in a row. They all held speed enhancement magic and lightning magic.

“Generally, spatial teleportation magic appears as a vortex in the form of a gate. That’s the standard method of warping space by pouring in vast amounts of mana.”

I gazed at Kyle, who looked worried, and spoke about basic common sense. The method I was about to use was not typical.

“…But that’s the existing method, and it requires you to open gates at both the departure and destination points, right?”

I shrugged, as if it wasn’t a problem, continuing to speak. After all, I’d spent the whole night working out a solution.

Dozens of magic circles were sparking and emitting light, crackling with blue lightning.

The magic circles, lined up in a row, looked almost like finish lines a runner had to pass through.

“…If you adjust the speed and angle just right and move in a perfectly straight line, wouldn’t you only need one spatial coordinate?”

I was going to use these to move through space by thinking outside the box. Moving in a perfectly straight line, in a way that didn’t need one of the coordinates.

Of course, similar to the existing method, others could use it while the gate remained open, so Kyle still had to keep a good watch.

“Huh? I don’t really get it…”

Kyle wore a sulky expression, as if asking me to explain it more simply. There were clearly parts that were difficult for the average person to grasp.

“Um, you know that old story about a hero who used a sword strike that tore through space when facing the Demon King?”

I brought up the old tale that inspired me, to help him understand.

If the bards’ songs weren’t lies, then this, along with the stories of the saintesses, gained some credibility.

“I’ve heard of that too. I think they said it was a hero from a previous generation.”

Kyle readily nodded in agreement. After all, it was an achievement of a hero chosen by the same Holy Sword.

“But they say the Demon King Ergosum wasn’t completely destroyed by that attack, and that’s why he was revived in this era.”

I continued speaking, unwinding the bandages on my hand. I had them on for using magic and fists together, but now they could be more of an obstacle.

“The lesson I learned from this old tale is, that if an individual’s power is strong enough to wound space, that’s enough.”

That was the method I’d come up with, after spending the whole night thinking.

A large-scale space-shifting magic that would normally require dozens of Dragon-ranked mages, lower than my level, to use.

For an individual to use it, it required technique and meticulous calculations.

“I’m going to combine skill and brute force just like that hero… and momentarily shatter space itself.”

I glanced at the magic circles before me, a smile playing on my lips.

By arranging the magic circles in order, I would minimize the mana consumption, and create explosive mass and power as I passed through them.

“It’s like driving an incredibly fast battering ram to smash down a strong wall.”

This was the best way to save Victoria and minimize the risk of monsters or demons from crossing over from the demon realm.

If I tried to ask my master or the other tower masters for help through a messenger bird now, it would be too late.

“Is that even possible? It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I think this method is too dangerous. Maybe we should just open a gate the proper way…”

I chuckled at Kyle’s worried expression. This guy, I had thought this from before, but he was way too good of a person.

He was truly a man befitting the name ‘Hero’ by the book. Not just because he was chosen by the Holy Sword, but because of the way he acted.

If I were to pick a hero who would be praised by many, be an example to others, and whose story would be passed down through the generations, I would unhesitatingly pick the man, Kyle Dragonica.

“Have you forgotten who the mage standing before you is? It’s Astal Kaisaros, the one known as the strongest in the continent.”

I puffed out my chest and declared my ambition, to ease Kyle’s worries.

Frankly speaking, I had no doubt that I would succeed.

I already knew it was theoretically possible, and I’d do anything to save Victoria.

I never wanted to see someone die in front of me again.

“…A human body has mana circuits, so you can think of it as another magic circle, Kyle.”

With those words, a magic circle gleaming with blue light and another, kicking up dirt, rose on my hands.

I combined the dragon-level magic Scar of Lightning, which drops lightning on the ground, with Earth Fortitude, a dragon-level magic that makes the body as solid as the earth, and created a new magic.

It was a suicidal combination that could kill me if it failed, but I couldn’t afford to be picky about methods now.

*Clack!*

I took the created three-dimensional magic circles and shattered them by clapping my hands together. The bizarre act momentarily drew Kyle’s attention.

“Hey, what are you doing?! Your body can’t withstand that…!”

Normally, the magic circle would explode, causing death or serious injury. Because I physically broke an active magic circle.

“Just watch. I’ll be right back.”

*Fizz, fzzzt!*

A jolt of electricity pierced through my body, releasing immense heat and shock.

But,

‘I need to ground myself using Earth Fortitude to reduce the strain on my body as much as possible, and control Scar of Lightning to channel the electricity only into my mana core…!’

I had to endure it. Even as the overload from the lightning caused blood to flow from my eyes, nose, and mouth, I clenched my teeth and suppressed the pain.

Victoria had always sacrificed herself like this to save others.

She used her miracles with a serene face, as if she felt no pain or suffering.

I won’t let her do something so foolish again.

If there was one person who had to die on this adventure, it should be me.

‘…This can’t even compare to the pain Victoria must have endured.’

I let out a ragged breath, my heart heavy. How much suffering had she borne with a smile?

Knowing that she didn’t have much time left, the contradictory image of her being cold while trying to engage in a contract relationship came to mind.

‘What I need now is speed and mass to pierce through space. So, electricity is better than other elements.’

I ground my teeth, enduring the pain. The sensation of my entire body being engulfed in flames and the pain were obliterating my reason.

“Elemental Transmutation….”

Commonly known as Elemental Conversion magic.

It was a technique that could even alter the elements that made up the body, originally an application of the intermediate-level Elemental Conversion magic.

Normally, it would be used to turn steel into flames, or air into lightning.

Even if the concept itself was simple enough for any mid-level mage to come up with,

this was a spell that required such precise control that only someone with my experience and talent could even attempt it.

A single mistake could turn my entire body into a puddle of melted goo, or boil it, or evaporate it completely – practically a suicide mission.

“You crazy b*stard… You’re the only psycho I know who’d risk his life for a girlfriend you’ve only been with for a few days.”

The hero, Kyle, swore, unusually, as he watched the scene. He must have thought my relationship with Victoria wasn’t deep enough for such a sacrifice.

“…I’m just trying to avoid future headaches.”

I scoffed at the hero. Even if it were another comrade, not Victoria, I would’ve made the same choice.

And so, lightning began to gather in my mana core, whirling furiously, flowing through my entire body and maintaining its form.

“…Thunder Lord.”

Finally, the moment the final incantation was complete.

*KWARERRR–!*

A blue bolt of lightning struck, transforming me into a living mass of pure electricity.

I had achieved a new understanding: that I could consider my own body a magic circle, allowing me to transmute my entire being into an element itself.

Now all that was left was to pierce through the wall that was space.

*TADADADADAK–!*

I shifted into a lightning form, and surged towards the magical array before me. Magic circles imbued with speed-enhancement and lightning properties.

*PAKANG, PAKANG, PAZIZIZIK—!*

With each one I passed, my acceleration grew, and the surrounding scenery blurred into thin lines.

“So, he’s slamming his lightning body at full speed to create a temporary gate…”

The hero, Kyle, exclaimed, amazed by my actions. No normal mage would ever conceive of such a method.

Kyle then drew his Flame Holy Sword, preparing to defend the perimeter.

I cleared the final magic circle, using my right foot to powerfully kick the air, successfully distorting space.

“Astrape…!!!”

In that instant, I tore through the wall of space, arriving in the Holy Kingdom of Aurelium.

* * *

And,

“N-No way…? Why on earth would Lord Astal do something like that?!”

Victoria, who had been watching the entire scene from afar, gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.