Chapter 23

Returning from the Yubert territory to the capital and taking a day off, several days had passed, and it had been a very peaceful time.

When I informed the head of the Technical Department that I had been given some time to hand over to my successor, he cried with joy. Then, when I told him, "Although there is Luka's wish, I still want to return to the territory early for the new business of the family," the head of the department cried and sank into a deep depression, making it quite difficult to console him.

Eventually, I was able to retire at the same time as Luch. Usually, if I suddenly took a day off, Clement would come to the Technical Department to ask for the reason, but this time, it seemed he was on an emergency expedition, and Viela had returned from her leave just as he left. It was very quiet, and the unusual calm made her uneasy.

"Still, it's rare for the Barrier Department to go on an emergency expedition. And with camping... Is it the fifth or sixth day since they left?"

Viela, while relaxing her stiff shoulders, spoke to Drescher, the head of the department, who was unusually doing magic imbuing work next to her. A large-scale expedition to the provinces was coming up soon. They needed to predict orders and add to the inventory in advance, as well as remove the magic from the accumulated failed items.

The fact that the head of the department was doing the work himself, despite having time, suggested that the expedition Clement was on was not going well. Drescher, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes, answered Viela's question.

"Apparently, the magic imbued in the barrier stones at the expedition site is not working properly, and they need to remove it and rewrite the barrier magic formula."

"The barrier isn't working properly? Has the usage limit of the stone monument been reached early?"

The barrier magic formula has been used for many years and is known as the "perfect formula." Once activated, it should automatically function for about two years.

"The barrier stone in question was only half a year old since the last rewrite. This time, they are going to remove and rewrite the magic formula, but perhaps the stone itself was defective. If the same thing happens again, they might have to replace the monument. We have spare stones... Viela, if that happens, I'll be counting on you."

"Ugh, if the stone needs to be replaced, it will be an emergency expedition with many people from the Barrier Department... and the expedition site is in a remote area... which means a lot of magical equipment will be consumed, and orders will increase... The Technical Department will be on a sleepless night course. Head, let's pray it doesn't come to that."

Viela and Drescher clasped their hands in front of their chests and prayed together. Colleagues at other desks, who had heard the conversation, also took the same pose. Just then, news of Clement's team's return from the Barrier Department reached the Technical Department. A liaison from the Barrier Department handed a simple report to the head of the department.

"Two barrier stones with activation abnormalities were found, but both have been successfully rewritten and are functioning normally. There seems to be no problem with the stones themselves. It might have been a misimbuing."

Relieved that they wouldn't have to replace the stones, everyone in the Technical Department sighed in relief. However, Viela was not allowed to relax. Drescher showed her a piece of paper.

"Viela, you've been requested by Clement's team leader for assistance. Please go to the Barrier Department now."

"---Eh? What's the matter?"

"They have some questions about the magic formula, and since the actual item is in the Barrier Department, they want you to come over."

"Understood."

The knowledge of magic formulas is the domain of the Development Department, and the imbuing technique is the specialty of the Barrier Department. Viela, unsure why she, from the Technical Department, was called, headed to the Barrier Department with a question in her mind. When she entered the Barrier Department's room, she found people from the Development Department as well, which only added to her confusion.

"Viela Yubert, I have arrived. What is the matter?"

The crowd parted, and in the center sat a middle-aged man with a prosthetic leg from the thigh down. Clement was examining the prosthetic leg. When he saw Viela, his face brightened.

"Senior Viela, I'm glad you're here. We need to remove the magic formula from this gentleman's prosthetic leg, but neither the person from the Development Department nor I can do it. Can you help us?"

Hearing this, Viela moved to the center of the circle. The middle-aged man, with soft brown hair and green eyes, smiled apologetically and bowed slightly.

"Nice to meet you. I am Levan Sargred."

"Senior Viela, this gentleman is a former team leader of the second team of the Barrier Department from two generations ago. He was the manager overseeing the barrier stones at the expedition site, but he got caught up in the incident when the team members tried to remove the barrier stone... We brought him here to help."

"I'm really sorry."

A young team member behind Clement bowed hurriedly. Levan shook his head with a gentle smile, as if to stop him.

"No, no, I got too close because I wanted to see the young people of the Barrier Department in action. And I tried to fix the magic formula myself, even though I can't use magic well, and failed."

Magic uses the mana that flows through the body. If there is a deficiency, it often causes disruption and makes it difficult to use. The fact that Levan had a prosthetic leg suggested that this was the case.

However, given that he had been a team leader in the Barrier Department, he must have been quite skilled at handling magic. He was also of an age where it would not be surprising if he were still active.

While Viela was wondering why he had a prosthetic leg, Levan smiled wryly.

"Five years ago, during the aftermath of the war, that's when it happened."

"---I see."

"Well, I no longer have the ability to continue working in the Barrier Department, but I can still use enough mana to move my prosthetic leg, so my daily life is not a problem. However, the magic formula that moves my prosthetic leg is fading, and my failed magic formula is overlaid on top. Can you take a look?"

"Understood. Excuse me."

Viela knelt next to Clement and examined the prosthetic leg. Most of it was made of wood, with magic-imbued metal and magic stones used in the joint parts.

"Mr. Clement, do you know the original magic formula?"

"Here it is. The prosthetic leg should be the same model as one recorded in the Development Department, but the formula is a mess... It would be easy to imbue it once it's removed."

"I see."

Looking at the document with the magic formula, she saw that multiple formulas were combined to make the knee and ankle work together. To remove it, she needed to understand the magic formula and break down the mana. The more complex the original formula, the harder it was to understand and remove.

Viela took out a direct imbuing pen from her pocket.

"Mr. Levan, can I channel mana and read the magic formula?"

"Yes, please."

"Excuse me."

She channeled mana, making the magic formula glow and examining it. As described, the same formulas were overlapped, and the order was mixed up. It was like a tangled chain necklace.

It would be impossible to leave only the correct magic formula for the prosthetic leg. However---

"If a complete removal is acceptable, I can do it here and now."

Everyone except Clement was surprised by Viela's words.

"Of course, Senior Viela. A complete removal is fine. We can imbue it again. Can you do it? Everyone, step back."

To avoid involving team members who were wearing many magic-imbued items, they stepped back. After confirming that Clement had also moved away, Viela closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I'm starting."

She increased the mana flowing through her head, opened her eyes, and began tracing the floating magic formula with her pen.