[H.B] Ch 5: The Possibility of Wielding Divine Power?

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According to Renji's explanation, while the Speedrun Edition wasn't useful to Erica, to everyone else it was basically a god-tier skill.

A shortcut that compressed years of training into days, and it only cost 999 points? Practically a steal.

If they weren't so broke, the others would've already snatched up both of Renji's listings without hesitation.

Once the shock wore off, though, all eyes—including Erica's—shifted to the final item Renji had put up for sale.

『Erica Blandelli』: "Then what about the last one? The Magic Source · Transcendent Edition. What does it do?"

『Erica Blandelli』: "It must be incredible."

『Rin Tohsaka』: "Yeah, exactly. I'm not great with magecraft, but if it's something involving Source, it can't be simple."

『Kanae Kocho』: "I don't understand it, but it sounds amazing."

『Madoka Kaname』: "+1."

After echoing the others, Madoka casually opened the store and checked the price.

A second later, her startled cry rang out.

『Madoka Kaname』: "Wait—no way! Did I read that right?!"

『Madoka Kaname』: "Big brother's final insight… costs ten thousand points?!"

『Rin Tohsaka』: "WHAT?! Ten thousand? Even if I sold my dad, that wouldn't be enough!"

After double-checking to make sure Madoka hadn't misread a zero, little Rin could only gape in disbelief.

If 999 points was something they could eventually scrape together by signing in every day, ten thousand was completely out of reach.

Even Erica, the wealthiest and strongest among them, might not be able to afford it.

『Erica Blandelli』: "Ten thousand points… that's not even a first-tier price anymore."

『Erica Blandelli』: "Renji-Sama! What on earth did you discover to create something of this level?!"

After the earlier experience, they were all convinced: the group's pricing system was dead-accurate. Every point reflected real value.

Which meant the Transcendent Edition truly was worth ten thousand.

But how could her magic method possibly be upgraded to such a level?

That price rivaled the divine-grade spells she had once listed—like her Sacred Privilege of Extermination.

Faced with their barrage of questions, Renji answered plainly.

『Renji Amatsuki』: "Rin, my Magic Source works like the Lesser Source (Od), but it's harder and way higher in quality. It also makes up for it with bigger reserves and far more power. And the best part? You can use both at the same time."

『Renji Amatsuki』: "As a magus, you should know this — when it comes to boosting magical power, True Ether completely outclasses ordinary Ether. That quality advantage speaks for itself."

For him, it was such an obvious fact that he didn't even consider it worth asking. What he didn't expect was the strange silence that followed in the chat.

After several seconds, Madoka timidly raised her hand.

『Madoka Kaname』: "So, um… big brother, what are Lesser Source, Od, Ether, and True Ether supposed to be?"

『Kanae Kocho』: "Yeah, I was wondering too. Guess I'm not the only one lost here."

『Kanae Kocho』: "Could you explain it, Renji?"

『Erica Blandelli』: "Same question."

Renji wasn't surprised at Madoka and Kanae's confusion. They were both total beginners, with hardly any theoretical foundation. Not understanding was natural.

But Erica? Her asking the same question threw him off.

『Renji Amatsuki』: "???"

『Renji Amatsuki』: "Forget the others—aren't you supposed to be a genius? This is basic stuff about magic. How do you not know it?"

Erica shrank back at his astonishment. For a moment, she felt like a schoolgirl again, being scolded by her tutor.

Normally proud and unyielding, she found herself at a rare loss for words.

After thinking back on her own education, she replied with a touch of wounded pride.

『Erica Blandelli』: "But… we really never learned this!"

That was when Rin cut in.

『Rin Tohsaka』: "I've heard my dad explain the difference."

『Rin Tohsaka』: "The Lesser Source, called Od, is the energy inside a magus's own body."

『Rin Tohsaka』: "The Greater Source, or mana, is the energy supplied by the planet itself. Though in our world, it's been steadily declining ever since the Age of the Gods ended."

『Rin Tohsaka』: "As for True Ether… I don't know much."

To everyone's surprise, Rin's theoretical grounding was more solid than Erica's.

『Madoka Kaname』: "Rin-nee, you're amazing!"

『Kanae Kocho』: "I don't really get it, but I learned something new!"

『Erica Blandelli』: "So that's what it means…"

Watching their reactions, Renji paused for two seconds, then the pieces clicked together in his head.

"Ah, I see. Magi from the Nasuverse are basically academics, like scientists. They care more about researching the principles behind power than about actual combat."

"In contrast, magi from the Campione world are like church warriors—practical, action-focused, not bothered with theory."

One side was scholastic, the other martial. No wonder their approaches were so different.

For Erica, theory wasn't necessary. She just had to keep climbing step by step, and she'd advance.

No wonder her Copper-Black Cross method was so crude. To them, as long as it worked, it was good enough.

With that in mind, Renji rephrased things in simpler terms.

『Renji Amatsuki』: "Rin's explanation is correct. To put it simply: Lesser Source magic comes from your own life force, while Greater Source magic comes from the world's natural energy."

『Renji Amatsuki』: "Any power produced from one's energy—magic, ki, cursed energy—falls under the category of Ether."

『Renji Amatsuki』: "Any power drawn from nature, the planet, or even the cosmos itself falls under True Ether."

『Renji Amatsuki』: "With your current knowledge, it's hard to grasp the full difference. But to put it in familiar terms… one manifestation of True Ether is what you'd call—divine power."

The group exploded.

Kanae and Madoka were floored. They never imagined Renji's explanation would link to something as untouchable as the power of gods.

The way he mentioned it so casually left them completely at a loss.

Even Rin, with her training as a magus, struggled.

In her world, the most important principle was "Mystery." Since the end of the Age of the Gods, divinity had vanished. 

And Renji was saying he could recreate divine power?

Wasn't that insane?

Even Erica—who grew up in a world where gods still descended, and where knowledge of them was commonplace—stared blankly for over ten seconds before her breathing grew quick and uneven.

『Erica Blandelli』: "Renji-Sama… are you saying that this Source method could let us wield divine power?"

She couldn't stop the excitement in her voice.

The Master Edition alone had multiplied her strength several times, nearly pushing her to the peak.

If she could also learn to wield divine power? Hisss~.

Maybe even fight gods. Maybe even slay one.

The thought made her blood boil. She hadn't yet faced the overwhelming might of a Heretic God, and so her heart still burned with the fantasy of godslaying.

As for Renji's earlier jab about her poor theoretical foundation? She brushed it aside completely.

If her knowledge couldn't keep up with a master of this caliber… that wasn't shameful at all.

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