Infinite Mage [Remake]-Chapter 149: Dangerous Deal (Part 3)

Tess: "This is called schema stacking. It's a diagram for explanation, but in reality, the user feels all of this simultaneously while performing a single action. Of course, there's a priority. That's what becomes the base build. For warriors, it's strength; for archers, it's nerves or senses."

Shirone: "Then what you mentioned earlier, 'reversal,' is..."

Tess: "Right. For example, let's say you're lifting a rock. At first, you'd base it on strength. You need to lift something heavy. But when you actually lift it over your head, you realize you can't handle the weight. If you keep going, your body might break. In that case, most humans would release their physical strength and quickly move away. In other words, agility, which was the lowest priority when strength was the base, suddenly becomes the base. That's reversal."

Shirone: "It's a response technique for specific situations. Like the Four Directions Technique in the Spirit Zone."

Tess: "Exactly. Even people who haven't opened their schemas have basic strength and agility, so they can attempt reversal, but in actual combat, it's not at that level. To suddenly maximize agility while exerting much greater strength than an average person requires advanced training. If you try it without proper training, your body could break."

Shirone: "It's a schema balance issue."

Shirone had heard about it in passing.

Tess: "Yes. Unlike ordinary people, schema users artificially enhance specific physical abilities, which can lead to balance asymmetry. If you boost the nervous system too much, your reaction speed outpaces your strength, and your body suffers. Conversely, if you focus too much on strength, your fists could break when you strike. That's why the base schema is important. You establish the base first and then stack schemas accordingly."

It was similar to how different athletes train different muscles.

Tess: "As I said earlier, the most efficient schema is the base one. There are individual differences, but if the efficiency of the first schema is 100, the second is 50, the third is 25, and so on. You can change the order of schemas, but unless you're a master of the technique tree, it's hard to apply in real combat."

Shirone: "Because the balance would be ruined."

Tess: "Right. If someone could freely change the order of all schemas, they'd be a genius in physical abilities. But there are a few techniques anyone can learn with training. The 'reversal' I mentioned earlier is one of them. Like the Four Directions Technique, it's about creating a pattern and repeating the training."

Tess pointed at the table.

Tess: "Let's say you stack three transparent sheets of paper here. That would be the schema diagram. If you look down at it, our gaze would pass through the papers in order. This gaze is how we perceive our body. If we call this 1, 2, 3, reversal is reversing the perspective to look from the bottom up. 3, 2, 1. Then the schema that was on top becomes the base. Besides this, there are many techniques related to the technique tree, like detachment, penetration, folding, and crossing. And building up schemas by applying all of this is called a build."

Like mages, swordsmen also seemed to have highly specialized theories.

Shirone: "I understand. So, Tess, you've placed the mitochondrial schema in your second technique tree. Its efficiency is about half of the base."

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Tess nodded her head.

Tess: "Yeah. Actually, a build based on mitochondria is the most popular, but placing a universal schema in a position with 100% efficiency is a bit... you know? You can't maximize your specialty. So, in my case, I'm using a nervous system schema as my base. Precision is the most important thing when handling a rapier."

Tess flicked her thumb backward.

Tess: "Even the mercenaries we met in the Hall of Achievement and Sacrifice were pretty impressive, but none of them had a mitochondrial build. The warrior seemed to have a strength-enhancing build, and the archer probably chose a sensory system build."

Shirone: "Huh? Are the nervous system and sensory system different?"

Tess: "They're similar, but the areas they enhance are different. Simply put, you can think of it as the difference between internal and external senses. The nervous system I chose enhances internal senses. So, I can perform physical movements with more precision than anyone else. On the other hand, the sensory system build focuses on external senses. Things like sight, smell, and hearing, as well as taste and touch. Naturally, archers need to train their sensory system. Their vision, smell, and hearing are much sharper than others. Of course, I'm also training my third schema in the sensory system."

Shirone: "So that's why you said it's hard to tail someone."

Tess: "Exactly. As a nervous system build, I can suppress my presence, while someone with a sensory system build can detect me. However, in a tailing situation, the latter has a higher chance of winning. But that's not everything. It's basic to hone each schema. Efficiency is just efficiency; the absolute value increases depending on how much you train. In fact, the mitochondrial builds of third-rate thieves are worse than the mitochondria in my second schema. To summarize, battles between schema users are the product of all these complex factors combined. It's hard to predict."

Shirone: "I thought it was just about strengthening the body, but it's an incredibly difficult theory. If you add countless sword techniques to this, it'll really become endless."

Tess: "Haha, it sounds impressive because I'm spouting theory, but I'm not at a high level either. Just think of it simply. A schema is the entirety of the body you feel. For example, there's a phenomenon called phantom pain. Even if someone's arm is amputated, they feel pain unconsciously when an object is placed in the space where their arm used to be. That's the essence of a schema."

Amy also had a lot to think about.

Even though she had opened her own schema, hearing Tess's theory reminded her of several incidents she hadn't paid attention to before.

Amy: "Then, Tess, how many schemas do you think my dad has stacked? If you keep training, the abilities of the second and third schemas will also improve, but there's a limit to efficiency, right? From the fourth schema onward, isn't building up kind of pointless?"

Tess shook her index finger with a smile.

Tess: "Not at all. I've heard of your father's reputation, but the level of such people is completely different from what we think. Swordsmen call this 'embodiment.' It's about engraving it into your body without even needing to be conscious of it. To explain it schematically, think of a schema as a shadow cast by your own body. Opening a schema is the process of gradually making the dark parts of the shadow transparent. But honestly, how many people can perfectly understand their own body? I'm talking about someone who has completely cleared the dark parts of a single schema."

Amy: "Hmm, that definitely sounds tough."

Tess: "But there are people who have done it. Becoming completely transparent and merging with yourself—that's embodiment. Someone who has embodied a specific schema eventually becomes as if they don't have that schema, so the efficiency of the second schema becomes 100. It's a matter of time and effort. Talent will shorten that time."

Having learned the general aspects of schemas, Shirone let out a deep breath.

'It's incredible.'

Though becoming a mage was her dream, she had also felt the infinite potential of the sword when she had a real sword fight with Rian.

'Mind and body.'

The Spirit Zone and schemas.

There was a reason why they were called the two great forces that divided this world.

Shirone: "It's really amazing, Tess."

At Shirone's praise, Tess scratched her head.

Tess: "Ah, it's nothing. I've heard this stuff since I was a kid, so I'm sick of it. I just explained it in detail because I thought it might help you mages."

Shirone: "Yeah. It really helped a lot. I think I'll be able to handle situations like today much better now."

Tess was genuinely pleased.

Tess: "Great! Then, since I've already recovered, tomorrow I'll take Rian and Jis with me to get recovery magic..."

She stopped speaking.

She had just realized that Rian hadn't said a single word the entire time.

'What an idiot.'

The potential of schemas, which she had boasted about with the pride of a swordsman, and the sword techniques developed based on them—none of that mattered to him.

'I got too carried away. What should I do?'

When Tess turned her head with an apologetic expression, Rian was sitting there as usual.

But she didn't think for a second that he was fine on the inside.

Tess: "Hey, Rian..."

Rian raised the corner of his mouth and spoke.

Rian: "It's fine. Even without a schema, I'm strong."

Then he thumped his injured chest.

It was probably an action to reassure his friends, but everyone who saw it was at a loss for words.

'That must hurt a lot.'

Since it wasn't something he could endure just by acting tough, Tess felt sincerity in Rian's actions.

'That's right, Rian. That's who you are.'

His unshakable mental strength, without even a change in expression, was what set Rian apart from the other cadets at the swordsmanship school.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

'Falcoa was strong.'

Tess, who had crossed swords with him, knew that better than anyone.

How on earth had Rian managed to completely restrain Falcoa's body at the last moment?

'He's an enigma.'

If Rian couldn't open a schema, he would eventually fall behind in the swordsmanship world, but Tess didn't dwell on it.

He was the kind of person who made you want to trust your heart, not your head.

Tess: "Yeah, you can't lose to such a minor injury."

Rian: "Haha! That's right."

Perhaps because it might be Rian's last remaining weapon, she couldn't outright suggest that he receive recovery magic.

But Shirone thought differently.

Shirone: "Rian, stop being stubborn and let's get you treated tomorrow."

Rian: "It's fine. It's not a fatal wound. Of course, the part Tess stabbed hurts a bit strangely, hahaha!"

Shirone: "I want to know about the Kergo Ruins."

Rian's laughter stopped.

Rian: "There might be dangerous moments. At that time, even a small variable could mean the difference between life and death. If you fall, all the blades aimed at you will come at me."

Tess interjected, flustered.

Tess: "Shirone, that's a bit..."

Rian: "Sorry."

Rian cut her off.

Rian: "I'm sorry, Shirone. I guess my pride got the better of me without me realizing it. I'll get treated tomorrow."

He felt ashamed.

In front of the topic of schemas, he had tried to act indifferent but ended up forgetting what was truly important.

'What an idiot. A guy who wants to become a knight...'

Boasting about his injuries in front of the person he had promised to protect for life.

Rian clenched his fist. He vowed never to disappoint Shirone again.

In front of that gaze, Tess realized something.

Even if she might love Rian the most, she wasn't the one who understood him the best.

She turned to Shirone and mouthed.

Tess: 'Thank you.'

Shirone smiled silently.