Chapter 22
Artifacts that could enable communication when infused with mana.
These crystal balls were divided into two main types.
One was the public kind, and the other was the direct line.
Public crystal balls were those possessed by most territories.
As long as a communication mage maintained the connection, anyone could use these crystal balls. You can think of them as the equivalent of a public payphone.
Public ones were cheaper, but they had a significant drawback.
In order to contact someone, the communication mage had to inject mana into the crystal ball, meaning that the mage would know who was communicating with whom.
This was an uncomfortable method, to say the least.
I’d need to contact Abel once I arrived in Enfelum, but if I did that through a public crystal ball?
The communication mage could run straight to Adolf after seeing it.
To address this flaw, the direct crystal ball was created, allowing one-on-one communication.
Direct crystal balls registered the biometric information of the individuals on each paired crystal. Only the person whose biometric data was registered could operate the crystal ball, ensuring a high level of security.
Moreover, there was no need for a communication mage to activate it.
This was because various magical functionalities were embedded into the crystal ball to enable use without a mage.
Naturally, the direct ones were far more expensive.
30 platinum coins.
That was the cost of a single pair of direct crystal balls.
Setting up a secure direct line with one person for a single-use cost 30 billion won in Korean terms.
This was a price only a fantasy world could justify.
Buying one of these with my own money? Absolutely insane.
If I had that kind of money, I’d definitely buy more grain.
Luckily, I knew how to make a direct crystal ball.
While it would still require some platinum coins to craft, I planned to make a cheap, disposable version instead.
“I guess I’ll need to visit the magic tower.”
And with that, I set off toward the magic tower with Leonhardt.
***
A disposable direct crystal ball.
This was another type of magical artifact that could be crafted.
Fortunately, the materials required weren’t too hard to obtain.
If I were making a semi-permanent one, I’d need expensive materials, but since this would be a one-time use, the components were relatively easy to acquire.
On the surface, it might seem like anyone could make a disposable crystal ball, but that wasn’t the case.
The crafting method was only revealed to the game’s players.
That’s why I simply gathered the materials at the magic tower.
Even if people knew what I had bought, they’d have no idea how I could make a disposable crystal ball from it.
Convenient, right?
The cost of the materials was around 5 gold, a very reasonable price compared to the absurd cost of a full direct crystal ball.
Thirty minutes.
That’s how long it took to make a pair of disposable direct crystal balls. Now, I just needed to infuse it with any kind of energy, and it would work.
Once I handed this over to Abel, my task would be complete.
I didn’t want to deliver it personally, so I’d likely leave it to Leonhardt.
After calling over the escort knight standing outside my door, I handed him the crystal ball.
“Can you deliver this to my eldest brother?”
The knight glanced at it.
“…Is this a crystal ball?”
“Yeah.”
“Is it a public one?”
“No, it’s direct. But it can only be used once.”
His face grew more confused at my explanation.
“…There’s such a thing?”
Of course, there is.
Strictly speaking, until a moment ago, it only existed in my head.
“I made it once. The common version needs the wizard to activate it, and the direct version is way too expensive, right? So I compromised with something in between. If you just infuse it with some energy, it can activate on its own without needing to register any biological information. The production cost is cheap, but I guess you could call it a subpar version.”
Leonhardt’s face showed surprise at my words.
“…Your magical talent is certainly impressive, my lord. It’s easy to say, but… no one has actually managed to implement it, right?”
“I think so too. Anyway, please take this to my older brother and make sure to explain that it’s a one-time use. Also, tell him not to contact me first since I’ll reach out first.”
Since it could only be used once, it would be troublesome if Abel contacted me before I did.
Thus, the modified artifact was safely delivered to Abel.
The next morning, news came that the marquis’s permission had been granted.
After all, in Korea, twelve years old is just a kid, but in this place, a fifteen-year-old is considered an adult.
At this age, it was natural to allow some freedom to go out.
Fortunately, no soldiers were assigned to me.
It seemed that Leonhardt passionately advocated for my argument.
As I stepped out of the annex, a grand carriage came into view.
Interestingly, there were no horses.
‘It’s a mana carriage?’
The mana carriage.
It automatically travels to its destination after being charged at mana charging stations, boasting a much faster speed than regular carriages. Horses need to rest, but mana doesn’t.
It was one of the artifacts implemented in the game, akin to a car in modern terms.
This was quite an expensive piece of equipment.
Considering that it couldn’t be mass-produced even in the Alton Empire, that wasn’t surprising.
This was similar to a supercar, like a Lamborghini in modern parlance.
Thus, it was an artifact only owned by noble families of at least count rank within the empire.
‘I didn’t expect they would let me use a mana carriage.’
It seemed the marquis looked favorably upon the reckless young master.
Given that the youngest son was struggling to survive with a limited lifespan, he might have wanted to help in any way he could.
Otherwise, the family wouldn’t have lent out one of their few mana carriages.
With that, my companions and I boarded the carriage.
Sitting on the plush sofa inside, I felt my tension ease.
‘It’s comfortable.’
Perhaps due to the drowsiness, memories of my past as a successful game streamer began to resurface.
I had no one I could truly call family, nor any friends.
I had plunged too deeply into this reality-like game world.
At thirty-six, Lee Hyun-woo was somewhat like that.
I had earned an overwhelming amount of money, and in turn, spent countless funds on myself.
I thought that would bring happiness.
‘But… it wasn’t the case.’
The emptiness within my heart remained unshaken.
That was when I realized that reality held little significance for me.
I still couldn’t distinguish whether this was a game world or reality.
However, one thing was certain.
This place was gradually becoming more meaningful to me.
‘Living on in this reckless young master’s body might not be so bad…’
Thriving here as a wizard could be a decent life, couldn’t it?
This was the world I had always dreamed of.
Thus, there was no reason for me to go back.
At least, not for me.
As I momentarily pondered my past.
“…My lord?”
I heard Erciel’s voice.
I tilted my head at her inquiring tone, which made me smile softly.
That was as far as my reverie went.
“Oh, we should get going. Let’s go.”
I immediately pressed the activation button for the mana carriage, and a holographic-like screen began to emerge.
[Please select your destination.]
Naturally, my destination was Enfelrum.
The moment I selected Enfelrum from the large map of the empire, the message appeared.
[The destination is Enfelrum. Departing now.]
The mana engine ignited, and soon the carriage began to dash forward.
The journey toward Enfelrum had begun.
—
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