Qual now had two research institutes. One was used to store materials and magical implements; it was currently set up within the inner city of Gaderia, and he spent most of his time there.
The other had once been Aura's base of operations, situated some distance from Gaderia, and was now used as an experimental site. It was precisely because of that explosion Aura had caused just before she left ten years ago that Qual had conceived the idea of building an additional institute where things could be stored safely.
Hauling a bundle of metal objects that looked like iron pipes, Qual lowered his tall frame and passed through the woods. His forceful footsteps were accompanied by the rustling clamor of branches and leaves—an ancient member of the Demon Race who could rightly be called a small giant, advancing without pause.
"Hm?"
The barrier he had set up around the exterior of the institute had been broken. It must have been one of those beings once called Great Mages.
"That ferocious appearance—it seems the rumors from back then were true. So you really are still alive, 'Sage of Corruption.'"
Qual's mouth was always drawn wide open, his teeth arranged like a shark's, paired with narrow, fierce eyes and those peculiar mottled markings. He was likely the most ferocious and most hideous of all the members of the Demon Race to have appeared so far, and among the most senior as well.
The Blood-Stained War God, Rivale—likewise an old veteran of the Demon Race—was, by contrast, quite man-like in appearance: tall, and somehow even carrying a touch of dashing charm.
"An Elf... It has been a very long time since any being other than my own kin addressed this old one in such a way."
Qual's mouth drew back even wider; he had already prepared himself for battle.
That long-eared one with her hair pinned up was awfully insolent. Twenty years ago, before he had ever been sealed, he likely would already have flung a spell at this creature who dared trespass upon his territory.
"So you can be reasoned with after all. I bear no ill will—I was merely passing through and felt a bit curious. Ah, you probably don't know what 'ill will' means. What I mean is, I won't do anything, nor will I suddenly attack you, so please don't use your magic either. That would do neither of us any good."
The Elven Great Mage passing through wore a composed expression, as bland as she had been from the start. "My name is Minus. And I know your name, Qual."
Her height fell far short of Qual's, so she always had to tilt her head up a little when speaking. That coldness, unchanging like that of the Demon Race, also made her seem somewhat arrogant.
"This old one has no interest in you. Leave quickly, before this old one uses his magic."
Qual set down the things he had been carrying on his shoulder. To him now, a new experiment was far more important than casually killing some Elf.
"Sage of Corruption, Qual—you, as one of the Demon Race's mighty, will you come with me? In the not-so-distant future, I intend to do something interesting and grand, and at that time I may have need of your Killing Magic."
"That has nothing to do with this old one."
Qual's stance was utterly firm. By now he already knew that the Humans had cracked his Killing Magic and invented a corresponding Defensive Magic.
In the near future, that technology would become widespread, and he would once again have to develop something wholly new, something belonging to him alone.
"What a pity. If you came with me, you would have far more Humans to use in experimenting with your magic."
Minus expressed her regret.
"Do not presume that you understand this old one."
With merely an elegant sweep of his great hand, more than a dozen magic circles of Killing Magic unfolded. Qual opened his fang-filled maw and delivered his final ultimatum.
Seeing this, Minus shook her head rather helplessly, rose into the air off to one side, and simply departed.
An inexplicable bit of fate—to a cold member of the Demon Race, it was of no importance, stirring not the slightest ripple within him.
Picking up the things from the ground once more, Qual activated his Mana Perception and, after confirming that Minus had left, made his way into the interior of the institute and began to look around.
There were no pre-set traps or surveillance, and nothing was missing—there was merely the added scent of an Elf.
Coming to a corner in the northwest, where a hidden compartment lay within the floorboards, Qual once again confirmed the barrier that held a portion of his own Mana.
The reason Qual had not directly attacked Minus just now was also because she had not touched this barrier.
Unlike the one outside, any being that broke this barrier would be tainted with Qual's Mana.
Opening that barrier, Qual took out his masterpiece from within.
"Hehehehehehe..."
Only when looking upon his own achievements in the field of magic would Qual become this excited.
Though it was still far from his original goal, as a genius among the Demon Race, the great Sage of Corruption, Qual had already glimpsed the direction forward.
He placed the object back into the hidden compartment, sealed it with magic, and then began to tinker with the metal pipes he had brought.
Not long afterward, tremendous noises rang out ceaselessly from the institute, and Qual once again immersed himself in the world of magic.
Research Report 1
As expected, at the present stage, magic that relies purely on Mana has its limits. The increase in Mana quantity is no longer as great as before. A medium is needed to strengthen it—or perhaps this old one could fashion some implements.
Research Report 2
Found a material capable of sufficiently containing and sealing Mana: a synthetic metal alloyed with Mana-Sealing Ore. Although its use affects the surrounding Mana, it has an excellent storing effect on the Mana injected into the metal pipes. The blending ratio and effects of the Mana-Sealing Ore still require further study.
Research Report 3
Studied a little of that Human knowledge they call engineering, and devised a method to easily operate the containers. If possible, I should try researching the feasibility of operating them with Mana. Still inseparable from materials experimentation.
Research Report 4
Lacks power—far from sufficient for Killing Magic. If the power is to be raised, then the container size would become too large. Inscribe numerous complex spell formulae in advance? No, that won't do; the burden on the container at the present stage would be too great, and it would not last for many uses. They say the King's magic can produce a high amount of power with a small amount of Mana. It seems I'll need to go and consult the King, or her disciple.
Research Report 5
A strange product emerged. So long as enough Mana is left in it, it emits a multicolored radiance. It might be of use if given to those Humans—still, I'll file it as a failure.
Research Report 6
Next time I absolutely must kill Aura. The latest material was entirely destroyed because of her, and now I must waste a great deal of time making it again. To think that even this old one would seriously contend with a junior.
A notebook compiled from page after page of research reports, it recorded all the plans and experiments, great and small, from ten years ago up to now.
The method recommended by that Human—Aaron. This way, the circumstances of researching magic and implements could be recorded and reviewed later.
Qual felt that, compared to simulating it within his mind, this seemed rather good as well.
Now, gazing at that heap of rubble that had originally been a three-meter-tall boulder, he wrote down his 1,101st research report.
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