[Please make sure lighting is adequate and flip through each page while stopping at each new page for a minimum of at least 4.5 seconds.]
Having no clue what to expect, Raz followed Athena's instructions perfectly and started to flip through the pages with more text on a single page than six normal pages back on Earth.
One page.
Two pages.
Three pages.
Twelve pages and a minute had passed. A small prick could be felt in the recess of his head, but it couldn't really be classified as anything to note.
36 pages. The small prickling sensation was now an incredibly annoying itch he couldn't scratch.
100 pages. It felt like a small fire had been lit inside his head. A searing pain radiated from within his brain, but he could easily tolerate such pain.
355 pages in and roughly half an hour had passed since he had started. The pain had started to sap his willpower as he clenched one hand so hard the whites on the knuckles showed.
Soon enough, Raz could barely think straight as he felt lost and disoriented as the inside of his brain felt like it was being bitten by hundreds of bullet ants.
The amount of stimuli would've easily caused the average person to faint and foam from the mouth, but he continued to hold on.
1284 pages in, and by now, the pain had become something he could no longer endure.
Starting to writhe in pure agony as an explosion completely tore his mind apart, unable to see through the blinding white that occupied his vision.
He could only count on Athena to continue to analyze the page.
Just as his mind was about to reach a point where even he would have to voluntarily ask for a break or otherwise faint, Raz could barely comprehend Athena despite the message being sent straight to his brain.
[Scan of Common List of Magic Materials Found in the Iron Wolf Kingdom and Neighboring Kingdoms complete.
[Assimilation and integration of knowledge with host have been completed.]
[Athena will have to make appropriate calculations.]
Finally, with the indescribable pain gone, Raz fell backward onto his bed with a brow full of sweat like he had just completed the most arduous and tiring workout imaginable.
"Let's never scan that much ever again, Athena!" Raz lampooned.
[Athena holds no influence over the host's actions besides wanted advice or calculations]
As Raz stared at the ceiling wanting to take a nap, he groggily yawned, "Athena, tell me a bedtime story."
[Athena has not unlocked that function yet.]
"Oh, c'mon! What about a joke?" Raz asked.
[Athena has not unlocked that function yet.]
Sighing, Raz slowly fell asleep.
A week passed by in a flash to Raz, who spent the majority of the time continuing his normal routine as well as spending a majority of his previous free time scanning more and more books from the library with Athena.
Of course, he slowed down his scanning rate for his sanity as well as to not make Reginald or his father too suspicious, as it was already shocking enough for them to see him finish books at the rate he was going at.
His father considered him a rare, almost unbelievable genius, but reading thousands of pages on magic theory, history, magic materials, etc., was too much even for an unparalleled genius who wasn't even seven.
During that time, he also found out from Athena about some of the necessary materials needed for the next upgrade to restore Athena back to her base state.
Most of them were not too complicated, like Tochite and Bachese, which were rather common magic ore that had different unique applications when interacting with mana.
Thus when Raz asked his father for some Tochite and Bachese, it wasn't too suspicious or weird that he was asking for these things considering he had been asking a lot about magic materials and such.
However, the main issue Raz learned about was the final material Athena needed for her upgrade: Thasium
While the material itself wasn't too expensive as there were not a lot of uses for the material, the issue was its rarity and where it was found.
The Iron Wolf Kingdom was located on the eastern edge of the continent, while Thasium originated closer inland near the center of the continent in a country called the Cridor Kingdom.
There wasn't much said about the kingdom due to the distance between the Iron Wolf Kingdom and the Cridor Kingdom, except for three things.
One, the Cridor Kingdom was considered one of the top-notch powers on the continent compared to the rather average power of the Iron Wolf Kingdom.
Two, the Cridor Kingdom's population was a majority dwarven, which was a relatively rare sight on the continent as humans were the predominant species here as not many other species thrived on this continent.
Three, the kingdom was famed for its dwarven artisans and blacksmiths, who were considered some of the best on the continent, if not the best.
On average, the blacksmiths and artisans in the Iron Wolf Kingdom couldn't hold a candle to the average blacksmith or artisan from the Cridor Kingdom.
However, there were the occasional anomalies and geniuses that could upset such norms.
Raz inwardly sighed but didn't give up hope as he had a general idea of how to acquire some Thasium as he stared at the bronze medallion with three eyes etched onto it.
Although even using that medallion had issues in itself, the Treye trading guild, while very influential, can't just have a branch in every single small city like Levir or even Leshe.
If he had to guess, Raz would assume only big and reputable cities like the one his grandfather oversaw, like Tessar could potentially have a branch.
Meaning he would have to hold off on his plans until he could figure out some way to seek out the trading guild.
After doing his daily cultivation of the Immotus technique, Raz stretched his body before hopping down his large bed onto the rather cold stone floor and stepping into a pair of comfortable fur and leather-wrapped slippers.
As he went to go walk towards the door, a couple of light knocks echoed as Marisa's voice rang out softly, "Pardon the abrupt noise Young Master, but are you awake? Lord Alden is requesting your presence in his study as soon as possible."
Responding as he reached up with his small, chubby arms to reach the door handle, Raz replied as he opened the door, "I'm awake, Marisa. Did Father tell you why he needs me so early in the morning?"
Smiling with kindness as she saw Raz awake and energetic in the morning, Marisa shook her head as she informed him, "He did not though I did bring over some snacks and tea so he could potentially have a guest over at this very moment.
"Anyways, let us not keep Lord Alden waiting for too long, Young Master," she continued as she quickly led Raz towards his father's study.
Marisa announced through the door of the study, "My Lord, the Young Master has arrived," before bowing and walking down the hall.
The door slowly creaked open despite no one standing near the doorway as the well-lit room of William's rather grand study.
Raz stepped through and saw his father sitting in his usual study chair but was surprised to see another figure sitting in one of the various chairs in the room, chatting with his father.
Turning around, the figure with his long, well-groomed white beard turned out to be the Dean of the Seven Star Academy, Apollyon!