"You're out already?"
A short while later, Roland appeared outside.
Seeing him, Atali thought something had happened and hurriedly asked, "Is there anything else you haven't prepared?"
"No, I've already completed my advancement.
For me, this sort of thing simply follows naturally once the conditions are right."
Roland smiled.
"Hm?" Atali exclaimed in surprise. "That really was quick."
She had thought it would take at least a day and a night.
Roland laughed. "As I am now, even advancing to the Ninth Rank probably wouldn't take that much trouble."
Even so, he took Atali back to the residence at Shansher No. 10, intending to consolidate his new rank before making further plans.
He was in no hurry to advance. For now, his priority was to explore the various properties of the Book of Wisdom.
Before long, the staff of a bookstore on a nearby street received instructions and packed up the relevant materials he wanted, then delivered them.
Several large boxes were filled to the brim with books, including specialized textbooks, travelogues, diaries, and the private notes of many famous and obscure mages throughout history.
They were just what he needed for his research.
Roland spent the next few days resting and consolidating his new rank, while thoroughly studying these materials and drawing his conclusions.
The Book of Wisdom...
More precisely, its essential nature, "The Way Is Carried by Words," truly lived up to its reputation as the foremost supernatural trait for spellcasters-though that claim remained debatable.
This supernatural trait could be developed into many wondrous applications.
Roland discovered that he had long since met the necessary conditions, so he simply began experimenting at once.
That morning, he manifested one of its pages and made a few slight alterations to it with his mental power.
Then... he tore it straight