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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 9
Three days had passed since Lina began teaching Kaylen magic, and she was now certain of something.
'This guy... he really just wanted to stay close to me.'
The questions he asked were so absurd, they seemed almost deliberate.
“How do you activate the Mana Heart?”
“Does the circle have to rotate to use magic?”
“Does it always have to move clockwise? It can’t go counterclockwise, right?”
These were the basic things a mage should know—like asking someone how to breathe, how to crawl, how to lie down, or how to walk. Yet, Kaylen was asking with such a serious face, it was almost laughable.
“...Are you really asking about this? It’s basic stuff.”
“Yeah, I’m curious. I need to start from the fundamentals.”
Sighing, Lina could only roll her eyes. Every break, Kaylen would come to her, asking only the most elementary questions, yet his enthusiasm never seemed to wane.
This passion was particularly noticeable during lunch breaks.
He was the first to finish eating, having barely touched his food, and now he was waiting for her.
“...Already done? Isn’t that a bit too little food for you?”
It was surprising to Lina because Kaylen, who usually stuffed his face at every meal, was now finishing in a flash and waiting eagerly for their lesson.
'Is this guy really that into me? At this point, it’s borderline obsessive.'
How much could he possibly like her, to give up his beloved food and shed some pounds just for their sessions? Lina knew too well how fanatical he was about food.
She could still vividly recall the sight of him devouring his meals with wild, desperate energy, enough to make her stomach turn.
'If I’m better than food... this is seriously creeping me out.'
Once the Mana Stone was fully charged, she had resolved to stay as far away from him as possible.
“Time’s wasting. Let’s start the lesson.”
“...Fine, fine.”
Lina sighed, her expression darkening. Another day, another round of useless questions from Kaylen. She was already dreading what he might ask next.
“From today, I’ll teach you 1st-circle magic.”
“Really? You’re curious about that?”
“Yeah. Everything. I’m so curious about how others use magic.”
'...Alright. He’s definitely up to something.'
“...Fine. Let’s start with Light.”
Light was the most basic of all 1st-circle spells.
“For this spell, you have to rotate the circle and chant the incantation.”
“What’s the incantation for Light?”
'Seriously?'
To ask about Light? The most fundamental spell?
Lina took a few deep breaths to calm herself before deciding to demonstrate the spell for him.
“...Light.”
As soon as Lina uttered the incantation, a small, bright sphere of light appeared before her.
"Ah, so that’s how it works… Light," Kaylen muttered, mimicking her actions and casting the spell immediately.
WOOOSH!
A massive light sphere, far larger than Lina's, manifested from Kaylen’s hands. It was so large that it completely engulfed the small light ball Lina had created.
Kaylen grinned.
"So, this is how it’s done."
"Ah, seriously! Be gentle with Light! My eyes are hurting!"
Kaylen’s light was much bigger and more intense than Lina’s, but she didn't take it seriously.
'Looks like he used up all his mana at once. No wonder it’s so blinding.'
As Kaylen learned more 1st-circle spells, Lina’s expression became more and more tense.
"Wind."
Kaylen’s wind spell created a powerful gust of wind that filled the room.
"Ice Arrow." The ice arrow he summoned was much larger and sharper than Lina’s.
"So, I just need to make it fly the way I want?"
"Y-yeah. But usually, apprentice mages can only make spells move in a straight line. Being able to control them freely like that takes at least 3rd-circle magic..."
WOOOSH! WHOOSH!
Ignoring her words, Kaylen’s ice arrows spun in circles in the air as if mocking her.
"You need to be 3rd-circle to do this…"
"Ah, so this is how it works."
"Y-you... wait. Are you actually a 3rd-circle mage?"
"What are you talking about? If I were, I would’ve told the academy right away. Think of all the benefits."
As Kaylen said, a 3rd-circle mage received a 50% discount on tuition and had access to personal research labs in the underground experiment area.
There would be no reason to pretend to be a 2nd-circle mage if he had access to such benefits.
But Lina was suspicious of Kaylen.
'I don’t think I could do that...'
The ice arrows were spinning furiously, each one as large as a person’s arm. The speed and movement were beyond impressive.
Even Lina, a 3rd-circle mage, found it difficult to imagine being able to control them like that.
WHAM!
After playing around with the ice arrows for a while, Kaylen thrust one into the floor of the lab.
The arrow pierced the ground, but instead of shattering, it melted and was absorbed into the floor.
"Still weak."
Kaylen muttered as he watched the ice arrow disappear.
But as Lina watched this, a chill ran down her spine.
'It almost pierced the floor...'
The floor of the lab was specially treated to absorb up to 2nd-circle magic without issue. But for it to nearly break through...
'What’s going on? Is he really just showing off for me?'
Knowing Kaylen’s original performance, Lina couldn’t help but wonder.
"Alright, teach me the next spell."
"Are you really going to learn all of the 1st-circle spells from me?"
"Should I not charge mana?"
"...Fine. But control your power a bit. Why are you pouring all your mana into 1st-circle spells?"
For a moment, Kaylen blinked in response to her words, then he nodded with a knowing smile.
"Alright. I'll try to make it weaker."
Two weeks of lessons had passed.
Throughout that time, Lina had complained, wondering why Kaylen insisted on learning even the most basic things, but for Kaylen, it had been an invaluable period. He had learned how to use magic.
'It's fun.'
In his previous life, magic was something he had only considered learning after retirement, but experiencing it firsthand was a different kind of joy, something far removed from his sword.
'And on top of that... I've found a clue for progress.'
Mana Heart, Mana Circle.
The infinity of the Mana Heart.
Six swords and the Mana Heart.
Kaylen smiled softly to himself.
Lina, seeing his smile, screamed in frustration.
"Kaylen! Asking about 3rd-circle magic is too much! I just recently reached 3rd-circle myself, and even I don’t know it all! This is a level of enlightenment, so it would be rude to ask about it!"
After two weeks of training, Kaylen had learned up to 2nd-circle magic, but now he was asking about 3rd-circle magic, which Lina refused to teach.
'What’s so special about 3rd-circle magic...'
In his previous life, 3rd-circle magic had been so common, it was almost trampled underfoot. To Kaylen, Lina's attitude toward it was ridiculous. Yet, Kaylen insisted on learning, trying to convince her.
"Mana Stone charging is almost done. Just give me a hint. I'll even cut a bit from the Mana Stone sales price."
Lina flinched at the mention of money, a topic she hadn't planned to discuss. Then, she had an idea.
'Well... yeah. It’s better to teach him something about 3rd-circle magic and make it look like I’ve done something than sell him the stone without giving anything.'
Later, if he asks for money, she could just remind him of the value of what he learned. She would accept payment but make it seem like a special favor, showing how much he benefited from it.
'And the Mana Stone will be fully charged soon anyway.'
At first, Kaylen had only been able to charge it to 80% or 82%, but now, his progress had reached 90%. At this rate, it would only take 2 or 3 more sessions before it was fully charged, so she figured she could endure a little longer.
"Alright. While the charging continues, I’ll teach you about 3rd-circle magic, but only to the extent that I know."
"Got it."
"3rd-circle magic... at that level, you inscribe a Mana Circle into the Mana Heart's wall."
The boundary that separates beginner magicians from regular ones.
A magician who has created two Mana Circles within their Mana Heart finally reaches the stage where they can inscribe a circle on the outer wall of the heart.
Many magicians falter here, giving up.
"Realization of magic and mana. Perfect understanding of the incantations. The advancement of the Mana Heart... All of these must come together as a foundation."
As Lina began to explain how difficult it is to reach 3rd-circle magic, and how many realizations one must have to get there, she continued on about the challenges of achieving it.
"For our age, it's honestly difficult. Even reaching 3rd-circle by your thirties is considered fast. Heh heh."
"Outer wall of the Mana Heart, huh?"
"Yes. It's that hard."
As Lina started to boast about her own accomplishments again, Kaylen simply listened with half an ear while turning inward, reflecting.
The third Mana Circle that once drained the infinite mana.
At the time, it had been destroyed out of necessity...
But now, the situation was different.
'I just need to inscribe the Mana Circle on the outer wall.'
Creating a Mana Circle.
Although Lina said it required various realizations about magic, Kaylen didn't care. He began to casually repair the broken Mana Circle.
'...It's easy.'
Realizations about magic?
Advancing the Mana Heart?
None of that mattered.
No one knew how to handle mana better than him.
Following the traces of the broken Mana Circle along the outer wall, he simply drew another circle...
And just like that, another Mana Circle appeared. It was effortless, just as it had been before.
Kaylen opened his eyes and asked Lina.
"How do you know it's the 3rd-circle?"
"Huh? Well, you can just use 3rd-circle magic."
"3rd-circle magic? What’s the easiest spell? Show me."
"Do you think 3rd-circle magic is as easy to cast as 1st or 2nd-circle magic? Seriously..."
Despite her words, Lina started preparing to cast the spell. Deep down, she also had a desire to show off, having only recently reached 3rd-circle herself.
'Let's see...'
She took a deep breath and began chanting the incantation.
Until now, she had only been memorizing simple words, but from the 3rd-circle onward, it was different.
A long incantation had to be recited while focusing on conjuring the mental image.
After concentrating for nearly a minute, sweating and focusing, Lina finally opened her eyes.
"Fireball!"
At the end of the long chant, a fireball the size of a human head appeared, radiating intense flames.
"Ha, did you see that?"
"Wow. Impressive."
Clap, clap, clap.
Kaylen clapped, but there was no soul in the applause.
Lina, either unaware or unconcerned, continued to gaze with satisfaction at the fireball she had created.
“Magic users chant their spells so slowly... But this guy’s worse.”
“Why do you chant the incantations?”
“Ha. Seriously... Stop asking things you already know. It's 3rd-circle magic. It's on a whole different level from lower circles! If you don’t chant and mentally visualize, you'll just get a 1st-circle fireball instead!”
“Ah, I see.”
“Ugh, anyway, that’s enough for today’s training. I’m exhausted from trying to implement 3rd-circle magic. I can’t keep going much longer.”
“Got it. Go ahead.”
“...You’re about to join the next class, aren’t you?”
“Ah, I’ll wait for a bit before I go.”
Kaylen easily let Lina leave.
Once he confirmed she was gone, he immediately extended his hand.
“So from the 3rd circle onward, you need to chant the incantations, huh?”
The wizards of a thousand years ago didn’t do that.
Chanting spells was only for casting grand magic.
For regular spells, they simply uttered the incantation’s trigger words and used their magic without needing to recite lengthy phrases.
“If chanting is just for mental visualization...”
Visualization was something Kaylen was particularly skilled at.
Compared to creating a sword by manipulating mana, conjuring a fireball was incredibly simple.
"Fireball."
He spoke the trigger words he had just learned from Lina, but without chanting the incantation.
“As expected, this is easy.”
Soon, a massive fireball appeared in his hand.
It was three times larger than the one Lina had created.
“Looks like I’ve learned everything I needed to.”
Kaylen extinguished the fireball and slowly walked out of the training room, smiling to himself.
“Now, it’s time to recover the mana.”
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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