Getting the library

Stones.....I DEMAND IT!

Also.....

Samina mina e e

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Tick-!

The heel of a wooden cane clicked against the marble floors as I walked beside former king of Elenoir.

Virion Eralith.

The old elf was a stoic man who put me to test when I first entered the palace grounds. He had marked me as a valuable asset of his kingdom when words of my oddities reached his ears.

At least that is what he said at first.

I knew it was not enough to be given such privileges. So I pressed him a bit more until we came to an agreement on not disclosing the info later.

"Do you like it here?" He asked while looking at the painting on the wall. The previous elf kings with their queens, neatly drawn by artists.

The question was so vague that backtracked a little.

"By here you mean?"

"… Are you getting along with my granddaughter."

"I don't recall that being my goal. Was it not to tutor her?"

"… You want to jump to the hard questions then?" He asked me in a hushed voice, which echoed through the loud hall.

"I'm more comfortable with those instead of ones filled with pleasantries."

The silent stare went on a few more seconds before he sighed and exclaimed loudly, his once dignified voice no longer present.

"Who are you, brat?"

"Human, 14 year old, reincarnated as elf, here to get stronger."

I was tired of repeating the same words again and again so I summed it up to four points.

"Then explain your strength. You're not even an awakened but you have more strength than mages. Not to mentioned, your knowledge is scary. How does a 14 year old know so much?"

"Talent"

"…"

That one words was enough to convey my intentions.

'You won't get anything out of this. Knowing more does not always equate to fortune'

"…Scary brat."

The grumbling went on as we walked past the treasury and into the basement.

Trrrrrrrrrrrrk—!!

The giant gates opened up revealing the chain monsters underneath the castles.

"It amazes me how little people know about the mana beasts…" I said before trotting toward he Deerhound.

The E-class mana beast growled in fear as I came closer.

The brown mane was a little charred from fireball spells used to take him down, but his overall condition was 'okay'.

"It's not that we are incapable of doing it, we see no need to do so. Other than materials like beast cores we have no need for them."

"Have you tried to see if they can be used elsewhere?"

"You think it's easy to bring these beasts all the way from beats glades? I'm only funding your little project because you promised me results."

"I know Virion"

"Respect your elders, brat!" He comically blew his top and approached me with a notebook in his hand.

It was a wonder to me how they all managed to retain their normal appearance even after the emergence of their cores.

The singular organ specific to mana did not form during the developmental stage of the fetus but after birth. Moreover, it was a solid object.

Extremely fragile yet strangely durable.

Shooting a pebble through your abdomen won't put a scratch on it, but mana poisoning will break it like glass.

Not to mention the absurd case where the organs remained in their original position despite the core occupying that space.

So are they incorporeal or not?

The answer is yes and no.

They remain incorporeal when their hosts are alive and become tangible when not.

Why?

I have no idea and I do not want to know why.

It could be an evolutionary trait developed by the brain to keep it intangible, so as to not hinder the functions of other organs or it is just some wacky shit from fate.

The point is, mana beasts are born with cores unlike us.

They overall blueprint of mana flow is same for both beasts and mages, but the difference is purification.

While beasts are stuck in their level, humans elves and dwarves are able to get stronger.

I was tempted to from my mana core, but held it back.

I felt the presence of mana when a small cluster of it formed inside me. It made me excited but also cautious.

Instead of rushing things, I took it slow.

Why is this the best?

Rudeus had a much higher purity as well as density of mana when compared to the white core stage. So this is not the peak. There is more.

Folklore suggested directing all the mana to my heart, the same way as dragons formed the mana heart. Novels suggested the nervous system to form the mana circuits similar to the ones Rudeus had and logic suggested using my most crucial organ.

"The brain"

"What are you grumbling about?" Virion interrupted my musings as he sat down on the chair and took a sip of his tea.

"I'm going to awaken now."

Pffffffft—!

The tea was spilled, deliberately aimed at my face, but I dodged it effortlessly before setting my butt on the chair.

"Tsk. You can control mana even through you're not awakened? How is that fair."

"Heh, stop grumbling."

I returned his words right back at him.

"Yes, yes now tell me o esteemed one, what do you want."

"I'm glad you're quick on the uptake, geezer."

He caught on to my flow and went straight to the point.

"It's not been tested yet, but if it works I'll let Tessia awaken. In return I want access to all the spells you have stored in this palace."

"Hmm…..that's a tall order, and a pricey one. You sure it's worth it?"

"You'll have to take my word for it."

"Not enough."

"I know."

"I want monopoly!"

Aren't you ashamed of asking that from a kid like me?

I wanted to say it but realized that I had nothing to lose.

"How do you want to monopolize me?"

"Well, a magic bound contract could work, but that'll put our relationship to a business level. I want more, so a verbal agreement will do."

…Huh? That's it?

Well it's a win for me so sure.

"Su-

"Ah. But I want much closer relationship!" The swindler looking former king smiled from ear to ear as he crossed his arms.

"….. I don't think she will agree with that and nor will your son. Plus, I'm 14 remember?"

"If she refuses it, I'll back down. But rest assured, even if it doesn't go through, you'll still have access to the library."

Tsk. Tsk. If only you knew the script like I did, virion.