Chapter 59: The Grand Regent

Daina didn’t dare to try it easily last night. Early this morning, after dressing neatly, she quietly ran to the quiet, hilly forest west of the estate.

She wore the nail tip that the Grimoire had transformed into. The imperfect transformation preserved the object’s inner essence, allowing her to activate the Grimoire with her mental command in this state.

Following her mental power, a translucent image of the Lesser Magic Missile Spell Model gradually appeared above the nail tip. She used her mental power on the three runes in the image, carefully studying the path of the rune construction for the Lesser Magic Missile.

Daina earnestly looked at the auxiliary light points showing the path. After studying it several times, she couldn’t immediately think of another solution. She first used the auxiliary light point method to analyze the Spell Model.

The replication of the Lesser Magic Missile Spell Model was successful. A planar rune structure, composed of mental power, appeared above Daina’s nail tip. The Mana surrounding her was guided by Mana #1, processed through Mana-Crystal #1, and condensed into a sphere of Mana Crystals.

Daina, following the instructions on the Spell Page, guided the Mana Crystals to form a bright white spherical missile, about the size of a fingernail. The Projection Rune was lit up, and the fingernail-sized spherical missile immediately launched outward.

In a very short time, the missile pierced several shrubs before disappearing.

It’s a parabola! Daina suddenly realized. She had just learned about quadratic functions, and it was applicable here.

Just as she thought this, she suddenly felt dizzy. She scanned herself with the Grimoire’s second page and found that her mental power was only 0.3, and her Mana was only 0.9.

“My mental power is still too low. I should have continued meditating first,” Daina muttered, somewhat discouraged. “There’s nothing I can do now but go back to sleep and slowly recover.”

Daina returned to the residence. While eating with Ace, Marina, and Romon, Ace said, “Daina, I plan to return to the city-state tomorrow and bring you back as well. Then I will set off for the Northern Marches to continue practicing medicine and spreading the New Medicine methods.”

“I can’t believe I’ve stayed at your estate for several months. I will return to the city-state with you tomorrow, Mr. Ace. Thank you for your careful instruction during this time. I have gained a lot!”

“There is no need to be so polite.” Ace replied with a smile.

That night, Ace packed all the things he needed to take with him, transforming them into small buttons.

The next morning, the two left for the city-state in a carriage. Romon and Marina did not follow, as they needed to guard the foundation of their son’s estate.

Upon arriving at the city-state, Ace and Daina parted ways first. Daina had been away from home for several months and needed to reunite with her parents and siblings.

Ace carried the two sets of transcribed books. He sent one set to Teacher Peter’s house, but without entering, he immediately headed to the Royal Palace. Since he was friends with the Crown Prince, he needed to maintain the relationship. Sending a set of new books was always the right move.

The guard was already very familiar with Ace. He looked at his bracelet and let him inside.

Arnold stood on the pointed top of the palace, looking down at Ace slowly walking into the palace. The corner of his mouth was slightly turned up.

“Ace! Didn’t you say you would return to the estate to sort things out and then head straight for the Northern Border? Why are you back?”

Athena looked at the visiting Ace in surprise. Her ruby-red eyes sparkled like stars, like a dragon encountering a delightful toy.

“Although I didn’t get any definite results from researching the Wonder at your place a while ago, that research greatly inspired my mathematical thinking. These are the Elementary Mathematics series I wrote, and also the agronomy book summarizing the estate’s agricultural development, Intensive Farming. They are all gifts for you.”

Ace said with a sincere expression.

Athena flipped through Elementary Mathematics, consulting Ace about questions in the book. After half an hour, she exclaimed, “Ace, I increasingly feel that you really might be the ‘Favorite of the Goddess of Wisdom.’ Why else would you be so clever?”

“I believe I am favored by Your Highness the Crown Prince, which is why I have achieved what I have.”

Ace replied with a slight bow.

“Don’t use such terms haphazardly. At most, I’ve just looked after you.”

Athena patted her flat chest somewhat proudly, then beckoned to Ace.

“I recently got something good from Inspector Dikens. Let me show you.”

Ace paused slightly at the name. He remembered the aquiline-nosed young Noble, who was serious, efficient, and even somewhat distant.

I wonder what happened to the barbarian girl he took away.

“Ace, Ace! What are you thinking? Why are you ignoring me?”

Athena puffed out her cheeks, saying with some displeasure.

“My apologies, apologies. The name sounded familiar, and my mind wandered.”

Ace apologized and soothed Athena with a smile.

“Do you know Dikens? The Rona family and the Medea family are close relatives. He is one of the few people I played with, but he is no match for you, Ace. You are my only friend!”

Athena said to Ace with a serious expression.

Is this a case of a childhood sweetheart losing to a newcomer from the outside? Ace felt as if he had been struck by the Thought Activation Rune and his mind was racing with absurd thoughts.

He shook his head, driving the thought away, and said, “You forgot. You were the one who invited me to the Royal Banquet. I met him there.”

“So that’s it. Let’s ignore the annoying Dikens. He was cute when he was little, but he’s a grouch now. He had several rolls of a barbarian Shaman’s mysterious hide. I thought Ace would definitely be interested, so I snatched them all for you.”

Athena’s delicate face lifted, and she told Ace proudly, handing him the hides. Her expression seemed to say, Hurry up and praise me, hurry up and praise me.

Ace, of course, would not spoil the moment. He took the hides with a look of surprise and delight. “Your Highness, you are simply too thoughtful. You truly are my best friend! I love researching mysterious things.”

Listening to Ace’s words, Athena’s small face lifted even higher, her triumphant expression almost overflowing.

“It was just a guess. Don’t pay too much attention to it, don’t pay too much attention to it.”

As she spoke, her eyes darted to the side, watching Ace’s reaction.

“That is too miraculous! It proves that I am indeed favored by Your Highness!”

Ace said to Athena, flipping through the hides excitedly.

These hides were inscribed with Lesser Rune structures. They were quite crude, but the fact that they had been passed down for so long meant they must have a strong practical use.

Just as Ace was thinking, Athena’s face was slightly flushed, seemingly embarrassed by the praise. She forced a cough and said as if nonchalantly, “You can take these hides with you. They are not valuable items. They are a gift for you.”

Ace looked at the proud Athena and simply nodded heavily, saying no more.

Subsequently, he and Athena discussed mathematics and the funny happenings at the estate for a while. As night approached, Ace bid Athena farewell.

When Ace arrived at Teacher Peter’s residence, he saw Peter eagerly awaiting him from afar.

He quickly ran over. Peter saw Ace, grabbed his arm, and pulled him into the house.

“Where have you been all day? You dropped off the books and ran off. I couldn’t find you at your house either. I read your Intensive Farming this morning and immediately entrusted Morton to deliver it to His Excellency the Grand Regent. He read it and then came here to wait for you himself.”