Chapter 770
Episode 189: Blessings Rolling In (4)
Knights and warriors pursued strength above all else, but wizards often sought something different at their core.
For warriors, the ultimate goal was simply to become stronger. But most wizards were more fascinated by unraveling the mysteries of the world than by raw power.
That’s why so many mages were requesting to join just upon hearing the legendary name “Hister.”
To those who understood what “record magic” truly was, the Hister family represented the key to unlocking the very heart of arcane mysteries.
Even though the Hister clan’s active period was relatively short compared to other noble houses, and much of their history had been lost, their reputation remained unshaken.
Jin suddenly thought of the promotional billboards Valeria’s troupe had put up all over the world.
He chuckled softly at the image of Valeria flashing an uncharacteristically bright smile and even winking.
“Why are you laughing like that?”
“I just remembered your ad. Looking at the list, it seems like there are well over a hundred applicants.”
“That’s only from the engineering scholars among the mages—professors and doctors, no less. The total number of applications exceeded two thousand.”
“Two thousand? That’s way beyond what I expected.”
“And they keep coming in like a rising tide.”
If Valeria had been affiliated with Ziphl, and if the world weren’t in such chaos, the number of applications would have been several times higher.
“It’s not just me. The fact that Lord Ruet’s existence is known helps too. He’s also started using the Hister name.”
Since bringing Ruet along, Jin hadn’t bothered to hide her presence. In fact, he publicly announced that the new surviving member of the Hister family was under Rune Kandel’s protection.
There was no need to worry about Ziphl’s reaction, and strictly speaking, it wasn’t a lie.
The public didn’t see Valeria as lying about being the last survivor; instead, they welcomed the appearance of a new record mage.
Of course, Ziphl and Kinzel knew or at least suspected Ruet’s true identity.
But Ziphl dared not provoke Jin recklessly, and Kinzel actually welcomed it.
Orgal, in particular, hoped that once Ruet’s memories returned, it would be easier to find clues about Lokia.
“Among those listed here, is there anyone we should pay special attention to?”
“There is one. A man named Sayer Lutber.”
“That’s a new name to me.”
“He’s a minor noble from the Kingdom of Pailin. A junior engineer at Pailin’s Third University, and he’s 33 years old.”
Pailin’s Third University wasn’t highly regarded among magical engineers.
“If a junior engineer is on the list of top-tier engineers, does that mean he has some special talent?”
“That’s what we’re about to find out. I’ve seen mentions of the Lutber family in the Hister family’s legacy sites I’ve opened.”
Valeria recalled that the Lutber family had once formed a brief alliance with the Histers.
But only records of the alliance’s collapse remained; the details were lost.
Now that a Lutber had applied, Valeria’s curiosity was naturally piqued.
After hearing this, Jin nodded.
“A family that once allied with the Histers, even briefly. If they have no influence now, it might be because of Ziphl.”
“I think so too. My ancestors didn’t leave any records suggesting hostility toward the Lutbers. Before coming here, I often tried to find someone from the Lutber family. And now, here we are. Let’s go meet him.”
The two mounted a crimson owl and headed toward the outskirts of the city where Pailin’s Third University was located.
After a quick disguise using goldfin cosmetics prepared on board, they found Sayer without much trouble.
“Who are you two…? You came looking for me?”
“I’m Jin Rune Kandel. This is Valeria Hister.”
“Huh?”
When Sayer removed his wig and hastily wiped off his makeup, he looked stunned, mouth agape.
“Wha—! It’s really you!”
Without being told, Sayer locked the lounge door and bowed deeply in submission.
“I’m Sayer Lutber, the one who submitted the alliance application! You came all this way—are you here to investigate my family’s past?”
“You tell us first. How did the Lutber and Hister families form an alliance, and why did it break?”
Sayer glanced nervously between Jin and Valeria.
“Speak freely. Whatever you say won’t harm you.”
Valeria nodded in agreement. Even if the Lutbers had betrayed the Histers in the past, it likely didn’t affect the current balance of power. Otherwise, Ziphl wouldn’t have left the Lutbers alone for so long.
“Understood, Lord Jin. But what you said about our families being allies in the past… I know it a little differently.”
“How so?”
“My late grandfather and parents always said this: Our Lutber family survived thanks to the Histers, so one day we must repay that debt.”
“Survived thanks to your family…?”
Valeria repeated the phrase, and Sayer nodded.
“Yes. We’re an ordinary family. But one ancestor from the 1400s had a special talent for magical engineering. His name was Zen Lutber.”
Zen Lutber was another figure unknown to the public.
But Valeria remembered seeing his name in the legacy sites. He was the one who had formed the alliance with the Histers.
“At that time, Zen was asked by the Histers to create something. I heard they worked together on development for a while.”
“Do you know what it was?”
“Well… it’s more of a family legend. I’ve heard it was a device that enabled long-distance communication.”
The moment they heard that, Jin and Valeria’s minds sparked.
A long-distance communication device.
It was closely related to the “wavelength tracking summoning” that Valeria and Quaul were currently developing.
Any device involving “wavelength tracking” was connected.
Right now, Quaul and Valeria were working on all sorts of devices to summon the Pluto race Insero from Lafrarosa.
One result was the red orb that enabled limited spirit-body fusion, and another was the long-distance communication device still in development.
If direct summoning was impossible, they wanted at least a way to communicate with Lafrarosa in real time.
“I always thought that was just an exaggerated legend. But seeing how the world is changing, I’m starting to think it might be true. Since chaos descended, technology has advanced rapidly. And seeing record magic firsthand only strengthens that belief.”
“A long-distance communication device… So the Histers asked your ancestor to make it.”
“Yes.”
“Is there any more information? Whether it was completed, or any surviving technical documents?”
“My grandfather and parents believed it was completed but hidden somewhere.”
“Then there’s no physical proof?”
Valeria asked, and Sayer smiled sheepishly.
“…Well, there is this.” He unclasped a pendant around his neck.
Inside was a heavily worn, folded piece of paper that looked almost like trash.
Sayer unfolded it, revealing lines of coded text.
Jin immediately recognized the cipher—it was identical to the one in the magical tome of Suziel Hister, which he had acquired at the Tesing underground auction.
Valeria’s eyes widened as she examined the code.
“May I take a closer look?”
“Please, go ahead.”
Valeria decoded the message, which read:
<May 12, 1457. With the help of the great magical engineer Zen Lutber, we have finally succeeded in developing a communication device.
However, enemies covet this device and its blueprints, so we have hidden it in Marliet Hister’s legacy site. There is no other way to prevent the destruction of the Lutber family.
Though we never properly used the completed device, it pains me that Zen’s achievement will be forgotten for so long.
Zen Lutber graciously agreed with my decision, even though it meant parting from his family. Oh, Zen, I thank you again for your great judgment and sacrifice.
All of Zen Lutber’s knowledge, achievements, soul, and my own body and soul will remain in Marliet’s legacy site—if the enemies do not find them.
Therefore, my descendants who read this letter, seek out Marliet’s legacy site.
It is a notoriously dangerous legacy site among record mages, so only challenge it when you are truly prepared.>
According to the letter, the communication device Zen Lutber and the Histers created was completed back in the 1400s.
Moreover, Zen never betrayed the Histers; if anything, the Histers owed him a great debt.
Valeria calmed her racing heart and reread the letter several times.
She shared the contents with Jin and Sayer.
“So the family legend was true after all.”
“On the contrary, if this letter proves true, then I—the rightful heir of the Histers—am the one who owes gratitude and repayment.”
“Oh, there’s no need to think of it that way. It wasn’t me—it was my ancestors. I just want to work for the Balmere Union. Even if I didn’t have the papers left behind by my forebears, I would’ve applied as a magical engineer regardless.”
Jin and Valeria nodded, smiling.
Between the sudden appearance of the Architect God’s contractor, the arrival of top-tier magical engineers, and now the legacy of the Hister and Zen families, luck seemed to be on their side one after another.
“We’ll head to the Maliet heritage site and, once everything is verified, we’ll make sure you’re properly rewarded, Sayer. For now, let’s go to Tikan.”
At Valeria’s words, Sayer leapt up, his face lighting up with joy.