Chapter 51: Scolding an Expert in His Own Field (1/2)
The runes necessary for Runecrafting weren't just random symbols. All of them had values and meanings behind the symbol that they represent. Calvin came to know the ancient lost art of Runecrafting when he stumbled upon a ruin.
After conquering that ruin, he found a book that contained a Runic Table, a character encoding standard for Runecrafinng with runic symbols representing a certain type of instruction.
Carefully compiling those symbols together into a cohesive instruction was called threading.
The cohesive instruction formed after threading was called a logical thread.
The grand formation that Calvin and Kevin needed to escape from this place undetected required 512 logical threads.
It was indeed quite difficult to squeeze 512 logical threads in a small piece of paper such as the page of a small notebook.
Such a feat could be considered as impossible.
Technically, it could be achieved.
But carving that many symbols in such a small piece of paper required, not only accuracy but also utmost precision.
Runic symbols were delicate, a single mistake would destroy everything.
Yet, Calvin planned on squeezing several thousands of runic symbols in just a small piece of paper while making sure that every instruction was accurate while keeping everything cohesive? That was too ambitious even for him!
Kevin clicked his tongue.
”Even if you can carve all of those runic symbols in that piece of paper, how can you make sure that the formation will work? It will collapse! Even if we'll say that you did everything right. If the vessel or the foundation itself, which is that piece of paper can't endure the influx of mana from activating the grand formation...”
”Everything would be for naught!”
Kevin was right.
Calvin was basically trying to fit an entire ocean in a cup.
It was such a ridiculous and absurd idea that Kevin couldn't help but take a mocking tone.
Calvin merely smiled towards Kevin's accusations.
”Yes, it will collapse.”
”But what is the reason for its collapse?”
”The influx of mana that's too much to handle for the foundation, right?”
”Then, imagine this...”
Calvin revealed a mysterious smile.
”What if we create a logical thread whose function is regulating the influx of mana within the safety limits?”
”What...?”
”What did you say?”
Kevin revealed an astonished look.
This was the first time that he heard such a proposal.
Indeed, what would happen if another logical thread was added whose function was dedicated to keeping the influx of mana within safety limits? In other words, that logical thread would be akin to an automatic mana regulator!
But...
”Is something like that really possible? Can you even combine that additional logical threads with the other threads to form a cohesive whole?”
”Of course! I've always remembered this phrase. Nothing is impossible in this world. If you think that something seems to be impossible. It's only caused by your lack of imagination.” Calvin lightly chuckled, ”In this case, to make sure that our foundation won't collapse. I will be adding an additional logical thread. Does that make sense?”
Kevin pondered.
Calvin's words sounded like bullshit but it seemed to make sense.
However...
”Can I ask something?”
”What is it?”
Kevin stared right at Calvin and asked, ”Have you ever tried this method with other formations before?”
Calvin lightly shook his head, ”Of course not! This is the first time that I will be inscribing an additional logical thread that's more than the recommended number of threads. But rest assured. Runecrafting is an art that follows logic. So long as the flow of our runes are cohesive and actually makes sense, nothing bad will happen.”
”What? This is your first time? How reckless! What if everything collapses?”
”Then, I guess I failed. I won't be able to take you out of this place and I'll probably become a slave to Fivecent. Or maybe I would be executed and die without a tomb since I know too much about their company already.” Calvin casually said in a matter-of-factly voice.
Hearing him, Kevin was now angry.
”How can you be so reckless! This is my one and only chance of escaping! Since you already know about your fate if you got captured by them, why are you acting like this? Be more prudent, will you?!” Kevin scolded.
Calvin chuckled, ”Don't be so worried, all right? And also, you said something wrong. I know of my fate if I was to be captured by them, but can you really guarantee that I will be captured? Remember to not put your cart before the horse!”
”You...”