BXBX NOVEL Chapter 50 - Magic Tree
Rino did not need to look at the tutorial to know how runes were crafted. While he wasn't an Elementalist, it was still something the magician tower made sure to cover. Rino drew a few runes and circles for some jobs, but mostly, he was familiar with archaic rune languages because of alchemy. Rino invented runes of his own in the previous world, but they were of no use in this new world.
Rino had no idea if this new world followed the same laws as his old world. The runes he invented used the core of the planet's energy to fuel his mana bomb. They were homing target markers for a timed explosion. He plotted the destruction of his world for many years carefully, but this time, there was no need to destroy this world. As long as Rino did not have to put up with crappy human existence getting in his way of greatness, he would let them live. Besides, it wasn't as if the Gods were going to let him get away with it more than once.
Up above, Ark shuddered. They were finally beginning to see how Rino was able to blow up a planet without them knowing. The space rock he found in the field was something that they had no control over. It was literally space debris, but one man's trash turned into a crazy magician's treasure. They could not stop space rocks from falling onto any planet, but he was thankful he told this team to keep a constant eye on this highly dangerous individual.
The rune crafting side quest was related to what they had in mind for this talented magician. After Rino thought about the irrigation system using pipes, Phil suggested introducing the fairy contract as a catalyst for automation. If Rino managed to build the small world's first functioning irrigation system, he could also be the first person to grow magical plants. Potatoes were merely a test crop to see what Rino was capable of.
Increasing his affinity with spirits would make his working relationship with fairies and other mythical creatures easier. As an undead, Rino had it tough. He was not allowed to freely exist during the day, and most people associated the undead with evil, even if it wasn't always the case.
Rino took a look at the side quest again. There were a few things he needed to craft runes, mainly wood and morning dew for low-level runes that the quest requested.
The sun isn't up yet, and Rino left Fronzo in charge of the fields. He hopped onto the teleportation pad to find a suitable wood that could absorb mana. Not every tree was capable of absorbing mana, and it was up to RIno to locate it.
The hike through the forest in the night was refreshing. Rino liked the feeling of having only stars above him as he examined the trees. There were several good trees in the area and several old trees, but none with the ability to absorb mana.
Trees that could absorb mana could become immortals and influence life forms around them. The Yggdrasil was a perfect example of it. Lizards could become dragons, Eagles would turn into phoenixes, and even stags could turn into unicorns just by living near that magic tree and eating the plants around it.
Rino highly doubted that he would find such an ancient magic tree in this world, but he hoped to find something with the potential for it.
He did not know where he was walking, but he could tell that morning was here as the sky became lighter. Thankfully, Rino did not have to worry about the daily chain quest now that the field was weeded and ploughed. Fronzo was already preparing it for the planting stage, and Rino should have enough time to get that done.
The magic tree Rino was looking for appeared after three hours of walking. By now, the sun was in full view, and Rino felt sluggish despite wearing Noir's mantle. The undead really hated the sun. Thankfully, most of his slaves were already unsummoned and waiting for night to fall again to resume their work. On the other hand, the wisps took shelter in his farmhouse and continued weaving clothes that Rino worked on before receiving the side quest.
Before RIno found the tree, he felt the change in the air. It was easier to breathe, and he felt rejuvenated just by being in the area. It had to be close. There was no mistaking this feeling. If Rino had to describe, this was how he felt like whenever he entered the cathedral or the magician's tower in his previous life. Mana was the energy that all life forms required, so walking into an area so fully charged with life was always refreshing.
Rino could not understand why this young tree was the only one capable of absorbing mana, but he quickly took note of the location. It was a shame he did not have his amber, or he would have made a teleportation pad here.
The young tree wasn't too much taller than Rino, and it had fewer leaves than the other older trees around it. Yet, it stood out in the centre of the forest surrounding it with a parted canopy above, resembling a halo when the sun landed on it.
Rino hesitated. If he cut a branch from this young tree to complete his quest, would he be able to grow the unused parts of the branch to grow another magic tree nearer to his base of operations? He must have been too influenced by the concept of multiplying potatoes because there was no way it would happen, right?
Yet, Rino could not let go of the idea. He would try it regardless. If it failed, he would use the rest of its branch to make more runes.
Runes were fairy summoning portals as well as a mana converting tool. Most people only used it to make mana weapons, but not many people understood its true potential. After all, the chances of summoning a fairy using a rune were very low. A rune also had limited uses and would turn into ordinary wood after a while. This was the reason why mana weapons and rune inscribers were highly sought after, not that Rino cared. He used runes for a completely different reason.
As Rino cut the smallest branch he could find on this young magic tree, hundreds of eyes watched him from the forest. They were curious about this lich and what it was doing to their home tree.