Chapter 81: Return to Reality and the Impact of the Divine Body
"The Triple Greatness, the inverted shadow of God—this foundational scripture of the secret branch of the Church known as the Mystery Cult, was established during the Hundred Years' War six centuries ago in France."
"Its exact author remains unknown. However, it was publicly released by the renowned alchemist François Prelati, who was once considered on par with the Grand Alchemist Nicolas Flamel. After much speculation among the magi and Church members of that era, the most likely author was determined to be Victoire, the victor of that time."
"Yet by that point, Victoire had already been confirmed dead through multiple sources."
"What truly happened can only remain a matter of speculation."
1993, in the outskirts of London, England—the El-Melloi estate.
The overhead lights in the study of the estate's master glowed with an unwavering brilliance, illuminating a room suffused with quiet mystique. Faint, threadlike magical auras shimmered from the bookshelves—books that clearly weren't ordinary. These were Mystic Tomes, inscribed with arcane knowledge and imbued with inherent magical properties.
Before this relatively small yet highly refined bookshelf, Kayneth reclined in his armchair, dressed in a dark long robe. As he slowly closed the book in his hand, a pensive glint flickered in his eyes.
He had finished the book—and reached the final note.
His thoughts drifted to the historical figure known as Victoire. Whether on the surface of the world or within the hidden world of mystery, that name carried the same mythical weight as ancient legends.
Though most today remembered Luviceste more vividly, that did not mean Victoire was inferior.
On the contrary—
In this age where mystery was thinning with the flow of time, and the older something was, the more powerful it became—Victoire could only have surpassed Luviceste!
"What a shame... that Victoire later joined the Church and became the leader of the Mystery Cult. If I want to understand more about him, I'd have to search the Church's records…"
Right now, however—
Even though the Magic Association and the Church were no longer in the state of all-out war they had once endured for a millennium, the so-called peace between them was merely surface-level. At best, it was non-interference—mutual isolation, with no true reconciliation possible.
The idea of digging deeper had barely formed in Kayneth's mind before it quickly vanished.
The ideals within The Triple Greatness were undoubtedly of the highest order.
But that era was simply too far removed from the present. Even if the techniques recorded in the tome were superior to those of 600 years before, they were too far beyond Kayneth's current reach—so far, in fact, that they lacked even reference value for him.
By comparison, The Book of Law authored by Luviceste still offered more inspiration.
Closing the book, Kayneth casually placed it on the nearby long table and rose from his seat with composed grace. His tall, lean figure cast a slender shadow under the light, his golden hair meticulously combed, his sharp aristocratic features bearing the timeless elegance of an old English nobleman.
He glanced at the precisely calibrated clock on the wall.
His attention shifted.
He thought of his fiancée—Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, Director of the Department of Spiritual Evocation and daughter of another Lord—currently out visiting a haunted house for entertainment.
Surely, by now, she would've encountered the "evil spirit" he had carefully arranged for her… and realized just how considerate he'd been.
He was just about to summon a servant and inquire—
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion suddenly echoed through the estate.
Immediately afterward, the entire El-Melloi mansion began to shake violently—Kayneth, who had just stood up, staggered and fell back onto the now-rocking recliner.
Mystic light flared instantaneously.
The complex layers of magical wards etched throughout the estate—covering every wall and corner like a fortress of mystic defense—activated in response to the perceived threat.
And in the very next second, amidst a deep hum—
They shattered into fragments.
Kayneth's expression shifted drastically.
In the midst of the violent tremors, he sat bolt upright and turned his gaze toward the source of the disturbance.
An attack?
Who would dare launch an assault on a Lord of the Clock Tower?
That impudent future Bathomeloi?
Or—had his secret protection of Luviceste been exposed?
"How... brazen."
Kayneth muttered under his breath.
He was just about to rise and confront the intruder—
But the moment he sensed the origin of the mysterious surge that had engulfed the estate, he suddenly froze.
His sharp features twisted into rare disbelief.
Because what he had sensed—
"…The third floor. The library?"
That was where the student he personally oversaw in the Spiritual Evocation Department—the one now under his protection as a Lord—resided.
The boy who had awakened the Luviceste bloodline:
Lucan.
"He's undergone a second bloodline awakening!?"
…
⟦Simulation Ended⟧
⟦Settlement Complete⟧
Summary: In this lifetime, you were born in France in 1405, during a brief truce in the Hundred Years' War. Your lineage was neither noble nor common—your maternal blood bore faint traces of aristocracy, though not enough to be recognized. Still, with your ancestral genius, you became a magus, earning the respect of countless legendary figures. Your life laid the foundation for achievements beyond the reach of most mortals—you were a master of mystery, a religious leader, a political engine, a ruthless butcher… and a brilliant inventor.
You were a mortal—and a saint. A sinner—and the embodiment of God.
You not only perfected your era—you nearly surpassed it.
Evaluation: SS
Inherited Crest: Divine Core
Inherited Circuits: 138 (46 + 46 + 46)
⟦Default Activation Confirmed⟧
At that moment, Lucan had indeed achieved his third bloodline awakening in this lifetime.
However, the mystic energy that had spread throughout the El-Melloi estate, tearing apart the defensive formations, did not originate from the awakening itself.
In his mind, as clearly as last time, the simulated life's information reappeared. Dense lines of text flashed through his thoughts—absorbed and understood in an instant.
Compared to before, Lucan was clearly more composed and well-prepared.
His accomplishments were greater, his gains more abundant—even without bringing back any physical artifacts, his personal growth alone was monumental.
The ninety-four-year life he lived from 1405 to 1499 had once again crystallized into a book within his mind—fully integrated into his being. With the tri-layered construction of his body, mind, and soul, the memories were eternal, untarnished, and ever-relevant—forming the foundation of his divine authority.
What followed was an explosive surge of magical energy from his tripled count of magic circuits. Even so, he instantly contained it.
With his divine body now complete, even a single main circuit could refine enough true Ether from the Age of Gods to cast grand magics. So the increased quantity of circuits had little practical necessity—but even the smallest gain was still a gain.
Thanks to his preparation, he avoided repeating past mistakes.
However—
Though he suppressed his magic circuits, he failed to contain his Lesser Origin.
Though he restrained his magical energy, he forgot one thing:
From the moment his divine body was forged, even the naturally radiating vitality from it was enough to wreak havoc on the outside world!
Not only did the mystic defenses of the estate collapse under the higher mystery—
Even nearby—the third-floor study—was in total disarray: walls split, windows shattered, debris falling like rain.
Luckily, this wasn't his turf…
Otherwise, how embarrassing would that have been?
Lucan scratched his head, then scratched again.
He turned—
Just in time to see the study's door pushed open.
A lemon-haired man walked in.
His face darkened.
A smile without warmth stretched across his lips.