Chapter 81

Ricardo is currently researching the effects of the Water Magic Color Gun and the concentration of玄子 using black lustrous dragon stones, as well as studying lightning magic.

For the first two topics, he had no intention of publishing papers, so at the presentation requested by Isarco, he would present on lightning magic.

Lightning magic exists in several forms as Fire Magic. The lower-level Discharge converts magical power into electricity and releases it from the tip of a wand, while the upper-level Thunder Soaring Strike sends a bolt of lightning-like electricity forward.

These existing spells are not widely used among mages. Discharge requires the wand to touch the enemy to release the spell, making it difficult to use. Thunder Soaring Strike has a poor accuracy rate; it can veer off course if there is a slightly more conductive material in its path.

This is a natural result of the properties of electricity, but as a spell, it is considered defective. Ricardo is researching a way to improve the accuracy of lightning spells.

The Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet is also a method to hit the enemy with electrical energy. However, in the case of the Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet, most of the magical power is used to create and launch the steel bullet, with the electrical energy being a minor component. Ricardo thought that if there was something in the air that could guide electrical energy, it might work.

He considered creating a tube of ionized air between himself and the enemy and channeling electricity through it, but it didn't work. When high-voltage electricity was passed through ionized air, the air heated up and expanded explosively, making the spell dangerous to the user. Additionally, it was difficult to maintain the tube of ionized air in strong winds.

Therefore, he decided to create a magical conductor and embed it into the enemy, then channel high-voltage electricity through it. Initially, he tried to incorporate the launch of the magical conductor into the spell itself, but realized it couldn't be achieved with the combination of magical words, so he gave up on that idea. Instead, he entrusted the launch of the magical conductor to a magical tool.

The function of the magical tool was simple: it enhanced the electrical conductivity of magical power and extended it like a thread, launching it forward.

When the magical conductor thread attached to the enemy and Thunder Soaring Strike was activated, it always hit the target. The magical tool Ricardo actually created to launch the magical conductor thread was shaped like an ice pick, with a magical circuit and a magical power battery embedded in the handle, and a small switch. At the tip of the handle was a thin magical rod. Ricardo named the magical tool the Thunder Conductor Pick.

The problem was solved, but Thunder Soaring Strike is an upper-level spell with a small amount of magical power and limited power. It can only paralyze a human for a short time. To test its power, he went outside the capital and tried it in a forest along the Krem River. He activated magical detection to find prey and discovered a headbutting rabbit.

He aimed the Thunder Conductor Pick at the headbutting rabbit, activated the switch, and cast Thunder Soaring Strike.

"Fana Boligem Sparazeru"

When Thunder Soaring Strike hit the headbutting rabbit, small sparks scattered, and the rabbit fell and stopped moving. Ricardo approached to check if it was dead. It wasn't, so he finished it off with a knife.

"Thunder Soaring Strike's accuracy has improved, but its power is still weak."

This spell can only be used to capture magical beasts or humans.

"It's not very practical for ordinary mages, but it might be useful for the guard."

However, there are hardly any mages in the guard, so even with improved accuracy, there are few users of Thunder Soaring Strike.

While researching lightning magic, Ricardo had an idea. If magical power can be converted into electrical energy, perhaps the reverse is possible. Maybe electrical energy can be converted into magical power. If that's possible, thermal energy might also be convertible into magical power. When he realized this possibility, Ricardo was so excited that his body trembled.

If thermal energy can be converted into magical power, it would be possible to create magical power by burning coal or wood. If the conversion efficiency is good, magical power could become as ubiquitous as electricity on Earth.

"Interesting."

Ricardo forgot about the presentation and became engrossed in the research on thermal-magical conversion. By the time he realized it, the presentation was only two days away.

"Trouble, I forgot about the presentation."

He hurriedly started preparing for the presentation. Since he didn't have enough help, he asked Patrick and Greta for assistance.

"It's unusual for Ricardo to ask for help with such tasks."

"Yes, Lord Ricardo is cautious and well-planned, so I thought he would prepare with plenty of time to spare."

Hearing this from Patrick and Greta, Ricardo felt a bit embarrassed.

He drew diagrams on large sheets of paper and prepared a list of key points to highlight.

On the day of the presentation, Ricardo and Patrick headed to the lecture hall. In front of the lecture hall, several luxurious carriages were parked, belonging to the nobles who had come to listen to the presentations.

Inside the lecture hall, about a hundred people were gathered, chatting noisily. About half were mages, and the other half were nobles and their guards, as inferred from their attire.

Five people were scheduled to present that day, and Ricardo was the fourth.

While waiting in the green room with Patrick, the first presentation began.

The first presenter was the elder faction's Gianpiero. His presentation was about a new spell using the composite magic word 'Fasnal,' an improvement on Ricardo's Melt Flame Bullet spell, which could launch multiple Melt Flame Bullets simultaneously.

Listening to the presentation, Patrick whispered,

"It's just a slight modification of Ricardo's Melt Flame Bullet. I could have thought of that."

"It's a race to be the first."

"Ricardo could have presented it earlier."

"I don't like such meticulous research."

Hearing this, Patrick chuckled.

Ricardo was disappointed with Gianpiero's presentation. Gianpiero had no diagrams or bullet points, just reading from a paper.

When Gianpiero's presentation ended, there was a polite round of applause.

The second presenter was the royal faction's Raimondo. His presentation was about integrating the Wind Magic spell Storm Fang Array into a magic cannon wand.

Ricardo found this presentation interesting.

"He's putting a lot of effort into this research."

When Raimondo's presentation ended, there was a loud round of applause.

The third presentation was not very impressive.

Duke Melvis, who was listening, turned to the mage Alberto sitting next to him.

"This year's presentations are not very exciting."

"The research on integrating the Storm Fang Array into a magic cannon wand is useful, I think."

"We're doing similar research in our territory."

"But it's not exactly the same."

Integrating intermediate-level or higher spells into a magic cannon wand requires more complex magical power control. Emilia solved this by incorporating the Unavolta magic rod.

When Duke Melvis learned this, he started collecting Unavolta magic rods, but couldn't gather many.

Duke Melvis launched a plan to train craftsmen who could create Unavolta magic rods. He gathered promising young magic craftsmen and assigned them training to increase their magical power.

The training involved hunting magical beasts. They were given the 'Benefit Selection' to choose an increase in magical power, and they increased their magical power by slaying magical beasts.

Of course, this training couldn't be done by magic craftsmen alone. Several soldiers and mages supported them, weakening the magical beasts before the magic craftsmen finished them off.

Duke Melvis received reports that the magic craftsmen being trained were steadily increasing their magical power.

After Duke Melvis and Alberto finished their conversation, they turned their attention to the front.

It was Ricardo's turn, and he ascended the stage with Patrick. He spotted Greta and her father, Duke Boniperti, in the audience and felt nervous.

After preparing the materials he had brought, Ricardo began his presentation.

"This time, I will present on lightning magic."

Some in the audience chuckled, knowing the flaws in lightning magic.

Ricardo explained why Thunder Soaring Strike has poor accuracy.

"Thunder Soaring Strike, like lightning, is attracted to metals and trees, causing it to veer off course."

While Ricardo was presenting, Patrick prepared a small experiment. He brought a sandbag filled with a mixture of salt water and sand and a metal stand.

Patrick placed the sandbag a short distance away.

"Let's conduct an experiment. First, I'll cast Thunder Soaring Strike at the target."

He cast Thunder Soaring Strike at the sandbag target, which was about four meters away. At this distance, it would hit the target unless there was something to attract it.

Thunder Soaring Strike hit the sandbag with a crack, leaving a black burn mark in the center. Salt water leaked from the sandbag.

Patrick quickly patched the hole in the sandbag.

Next, he placed the metal stand next to the target and cast Thunder Soaring Strike again. This time, it was attracted to the metal stand and hit it with a crack.

"As you can see, Thunder Soaring Strike is attracted to metals."

Ricardo continued his presentation, using the experiment to validate his paper.

"Here's what I came up with."

Ricardo showed the audience the Thunder Conductor Pick.

After explaining the function of the Thunder Conductor Pick, Ricardo used it to cast Thunder Soaring Strike again. The magical conductor thread emitted from the tip of the Thunder Conductor Pick was invisible, but the point of impact glowed red.

Ricardo confirmed the red glow on the sandbag and cast Thunder Soaring Strike. This time, it hit the red glowing part of the sandbag, not the metal stand.

The audience cheered. They found Ricardo's presentation method fresh and enjoyable, as the previous presentations were just readings of papers.

After Ricardo concluded his presentation, there was a rare question.

"Your research is interesting, but it doesn't seem practical. Even if you improve the weak Thunder Soaring Strike a little, it won't be useful, will it?"

The question was from the mage Alberto.

"Thunder Soaring Strike can be used to capture without killing. The poor accuracy has led to a lack of research on lightning magic. However, with improved accuracy, it's possible to increase its power through further research."

Hearing this, the mages in the audience murmured, finding the research topic appealing.

Duke Melvis, who had listened to Ricardo's presentation, smiled.

"That's the royal prince's mage. Fascinating."

Alberto frowned.

"He thinks differently from ordinary mages. He's a troublesome one."

The fifth presentation ended, and Isarco concluded the event with a speech.

Greta and Duke Boniperti approached Ricardo.

"An interesting presentation."

"Lord Ricardo, it was excellent."

Greta looked at Ricardo with sparkling eyes.

Isarco came over.

"Excellent."

"Thank you."

Isarco, who had been smiling, became serious.

"I rushed you to present your research. Was it a good idea to present it?"

"It's fine."

"Ricardo, didn't you have ideas to increase the power of Thunder Soaring Strike? If you had presented those ideas together, it would have been a more impressive paper."

Isarco was worried that other mages might be inspired by Ricardo's presentation to research lightning magic and achieve results, potentially robbing Ricardo of the credit he deserved.

"I had a much better idea."

Isarco's eyes widened. Since Ricardo rarely exaggerates, he believed it must be a truly great idea.

"I look forward to it. Will you publish it as a paper?"

Ricardo hesitated and declined.

"No, I won't publish it for a while."

"It must be something special."

"Yes, I'll let you know when it's complete."

After the presentation, Ricardo became engrossed in developing a magical furnace to convert thermal energy into magical power. He didn't think it was possible with just an idea. The knowledge he gained from the Black Plate in the Magic Realm's laboratory provided a clue.

The clue was written in the Black Plate in a form similar to a creation myth. The race that created the world was called the Celestial Race. They intended to give magic to the world.

First, they tried to saturate the atmosphere with magical power and set up devices to generate magical power near volcanoes.

However, these devices were destroyed by large-scale natural disasters. The fragments left behind were the lustrous dragon stones.

The device was a large lump of lustrous dragon stone, and Ricardo speculated that the Celestial Race had carved magical circuits into the interior of the large lustrous dragon stone to create a magical power generation device.

He also thought they used geothermal energy by placing the devices near volcanoes.

Ricardo tried to create a thermal-magical conversion circuit using the knowledge of factor letters he learned from the Black Plate.

He used the technology he learned at the Emilia workshop to carve a magical circuit into the lustrous dragon stone he had and tested it.

However, it didn't work immediately, and he eventually ran out of lustrous dragon stones and had to obtain more.