Liquid Magic

After activating the high-level magic essence concentration-boosting magic circle, magic essence continuously surged toward the small cabin in the woods from all directions.

The distinct change in magic essence concentration was easily noticed, inevitably drawing people’s gazes to the barren mountains and wilderness outside Blackstone City.

“Lord Bishop, what brings you to see the Lord Mayor at such a late hour?”

The butler, Sant, stood respectfully at the castle gate, blocking the Bishop who had come to see Hayden.

The Bishop of Blackstone City had set out for the Lord’s castle immediately upon sensing the change in magic essence concentration, hoping Hayden would cooperate with him to investigate the cause of the fluctuation.

However, after he stated his purpose, Sant did not move aside even half a step, continuing to block the Bishop’s path.

“The Lord Mayor is already resting, and it is also after curfew. When the Lord Mayor awakens tomorrow, we will invite the Lord Bishops to discuss this matter together.”

After all, Hayden, the Lord of Blackstone City, had his own private army and possessed considerable superhuman strength himself.

The Bishop could not force him to obey his commands.

Faced with the impassive Sant, the Bishop could only leave in a huff.

After seeing the Bishop off, Sant went to Hayden’s study.

At this moment, Hayden was sitting in his chair, having just left his magic essence imprint on a scroll.

“Tonight’s commotion must have been caused by them. They have such power, so I can rest assured with Canlisa following them. I thought I could spend a few more days with Canlisa, but now I can only have them set off tomorrow.”

Seeing Sant’s arrival, he didn’t look up but tied the scroll and gave it to Sant, issuing his orders directly.

“Tomorrow, you will leave Blackstone City with them and go to the Eastern Border. There you will receive my assistance.”

“…an old friend of mine. When he sees my scroll, he will help them leave the Theocracy.”

The change in magic essence concentration could not be hidden from Hayden.

With a little thought, it was obvious who was most likely responsible for this disturbance.

Although Hayden was not afraid of the Bishop of Blackstone City, he had to be wary of the Church standing behind the Bishop.

Delaying them for a little while was the most he could do.

On the other side, the Bishop of Blackstone City, having returned empty-handed from his attempt to invite Hayden, was dejectedly heading back to his church’s garrison.

“Bishop Mori, are we departing now?”

The church knights, fully prepared at the garrison, immediately swarmed up to ask upon seeing Bishop Mori return.

As church knights stationed in Blackstone City, their lives were rather stifling.

Since the strongest superhuman in Blackstone City was the Lord Mayor, Hayden, there were not many matters the Blackstone City church could interfere in.

Now that there was a change in the magic essence concentration, perhaps they could find some treasure to turn in and apply for a transfer away from this godforsaken place of Blackstone City.

“I did not see Lord Hayden. Sant blocked the gate, saying the Lord Mayor had already retired for the night.”

Now that the knights brought it up, Mori felt that he had not been given the respect he deserved as the Bishop of Blackstone City.
However, circumstances were stronger than men.

With insufficient strength, he could only tuck his tail between his legs and behave.

“Lord Mori, I heard that Cardinal Finnesa is in Laita City, just over the mountain range. If a Sequence Six like Lord Finnesa were to step in, I believe Lord Hayden would have no choice but to obey the Church’s command.”

A knight suddenly stepped forward and said this, which greatly tempted Mori, as he had heard this news as well.

‘That makes sense. I’ll go and contact him.’

Inside the Lord’s castle in Laita City, Finnesa received the message from Blackstone City, his expression fluctuating indeterminately.

Remembering the gunshot that had cost him an eye, Finnesa’s current state was somewhat like a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring.

Faced with the report from Blackstone City about the change in magic essence concentration, the first thing that came to Finnesa’s mind was that mysterious witch.

If the power attached to that bullet had been just a little stronger, he would never have had the chance to escape by sacrificing an eye.

If the bullet had hit him right between the eyebrows… Finnesa thought of his current eye, and a chill ran down his back.

“Reply to Bishop Mori of Blackstone City for me! The order I received is to restore faith in Laita City. I don’t have time to go investigate with them. If they want to go, they can go themselves!”

After driving Yuffie away, Finnesa now just wanted to peacefully complete the work assigned by the Curia and then hurry back to the Holy City to find a way to restore his eye.

As for the changes in Blackstone City, Finnesa couldn’t care less who went; he absolutely would not.

The magic essence gathered by the magic circle continuously poured into Isa’s body.

When the magic essence fluctuations around her finally stabilized, Isa’s sequence level had settled at Sequence Three.

Isa’s eyes opened, unable to hide the joy that sprang forth.

Although she was in the middle of advancing just now, her perception of the outside world had remained.

Sensing the increase in magic essence concentration around her, she knew that Her Highness Su Ran was watching over her.

In addition to that, she had faintly grasped the method Her Witch Highness had mentioned before—of integrating one’s spirit into the magic essence.

After confirming that Isa’s condition had stabilized, Philly and Maimai had already left the room in peace.

They believed that with Su Ran present, Isa would absolutely be safe.

Now, Isa and Su Ran were alone in the room.

“Your Highness, look! Isa has already advanced to Sequence Three. I no longer need the help of the ring to craft the tracking potion.”

Speaking of her advancement to Sequence Three, Isa’s eyebrows curved slightly, and her pink lips curled up.

“As long as I continue to advance quickly, I can help Your Highness Su Ran even more.”

After the matter of the tracking potion, Isa knew that she absolutely could not become complacent just because of her current strength.

Her advancement speed was still not fast enough.

If Philly knew what was on her mind, she would definitely have to complain.

She had been by Isa’s side throughout the process from Sequence Two to Sequence Three.

In just about ten days, Isa had advanced from Sequence Two to Sequence Three.

Looking across the Witch’s Society, or even the entire continent, one probably couldn’t find someone with such a terrifying advancement speed as Isa.

She herself had cultivated diligently and was only at Sequence Four.

Now, there was only one sequence level separating her and Isa.

Before long, Isa might even be on par with her.

“So this is liquefied magic essence.”

After re-acclimating to the magic essence within her body, Isa was like a child who had discovered something new.

The first thing she thought of was to share it with Su Ran, displaying the liquefied magic essence she had just obtained in front of her.

A single drop of the crystal-clear, water-like magic essence was equivalent to most of the magic essence Isa once had in her entire body.

No wonder the gap between superhuman sequences was so difficult to cross.