### Chapter 20. I Got a Magic Teacher (4)
“Could you explain in more detail? What exactly does it mean to have a body optimized for magic?”
“Hmm, how do I explain this… Ah, yes! Think of this cookie!”
Teacher Cecilia picked up a cookie she had brought and began explaining enthusiastically.
“…”
Somewhere in the background, an animal-like growl could be heard, but we’ll ignore that for now.
“Imagine this cookie’s main ingredient is flour. Think of this flour as the mana of nature. We add milk, butter, and depending on preference, chocolate or almonds, to create various types of cookies. Magic works the same way. We take in the natural mana with our bodies, interpret and manipulate it in our own way, and by adding personal touches like magic circles or incantations, we create our own magic.”
“I see.”
For instance, depending on one’s understanding of phenomena and how one manipulates mana, the results can vary widely even with the same mana.
Depending on methods like magic circles, incantations, or magical tools, the branches of magic become as numerous as can be, much like how the same flour can transform into a variety of dishes based on the ingredients and cooking method.
“So, what you were saying to me earlier…?”
“Don’t you need a bowl to knead flour? Your body has a container for mana that’s exceptionally large from birth. When I tried to fill your body with mana, I had to use 80% of the mana I could handle at once. Even without any training to increase your mana capacity later, having a container of this size could be considered a talent in itself.”
“The size of the container…”
Imagine in a water gun fight, while others have pistol-sized magazines, I alone have a machine gun-sized magazine.
In battle, it’s only natural that someone who can fire 30 fireballs at once would have an advantage over someone who can only shoot 3.
In this world, magic is now regarded more as a useful tool for daily life rather than a weapon of war.
Of course, long ago, many used magic predominantly as weaponry, but as the Empire came to dominate the continent, the frequency of wars greatly diminished.
With the immense prestige of the Imperial Royal Family and their influence, it’s unlikely that any surrounding countries dare challenge the Empire.
Without war, peace has continued, and with peace, the perception of magic broadened: Instead of focusing on how to use magic as a weapon, people began to ask, “How can we use magic to help people?” This has shaped the current understanding I’ve heard.
Though magic is still essential in creating various weapons even today, to the common people, it feels closer to being a familiar science that aids their daily lives.
“Of course, it’s not all good news. The greater the amount of mana you can control, the more burden it places on your body. If you recklessly overuse magic, you’ll be exhausted, and recovery could take twice as long as others. If your body can’t endure the strain of casting large-scale spells, it could break.”
“There are drawbacks as well, I see.”
“Exactly. So, I think it would be good for you, my disciple, to train your body as well while learning magic. Only then can your body withstand your magical power.”
“So, I need to worry about both my magical and physical capacity?”
“Exactly.”
Suddenly, I’ve been handed two tasks.
Already, learning magic was making my head hurt, and now I also have to train my body.
Although Rab has a decent base physique, compared to the power of magic, it’s still negligible.
From now on, I’ll have to consider a daily regimen of jogging and strength training to improve my physical abilities.
“Ah, but disciple.”
“Yes?”
“Who’s that girl over there? She’s been glaring at us since a while ago.”
“Wow, you noticed that fast. Except it seems like she’s glaring mainly at you.”
Based on the reaction, it seems Teacher noticed a while ago after waking up but only decided to ask now.
I can’t tell if that’s a good reading of the situation or just plain slowness.
“My fiancée, Lady Cecilia Boich. You’ll be seeing her often at this mansion, so it’d be good to at least greet her.”
“A-A Lady!?”
“Yes. But our engagement between our families hasn’t been made public yet, so please don’t disclose it.”
“A-Alright! Don’t worry, my lips are sealed!”
Teacher confidently extended a friendly handshake to Cecilia.
Since Cecilia had her back turned to me, I couldn’t see her face clearly, but after shaking hands and exchanging a few words with Teacher, Teacher approached me with a pale face.
“Disciple? Your fiancée is kind of terrifying, isn’t she?!”
“What are you talking about? Cecilia is as kind and gentle as they come.”
“…Is she?”
Perplexed, I looked at Cecilia, only to see her sitting on the sofa and waving at me with a bright smile of encouragement.
“Crazy woman… I saw her change her expression in an instant.”
“?”
“…Never mind. Let’s continue the lesson. …You’ve got it hard being married too.”
“?”
*
“Hmm… Now, let’s make your mana core.”
“My… mana core?”
“Yes. All mages create their own mana core. Simply put, it’s the power source for using magic. Would it not be tiring to absorb natural mana every time you cast magic? So, we create a mana core—a kind of storage space—to use when needed.”
A mana core is like a battery. Conversely, aura users apparently utilize an ‘aura core’ battery.
“Most mages create their mana core in the lower abdomen, since it’s the largest open space in the body, making it the most efficient. They also sometimes call it the ‘Dan Jeon’ in the East… though that much I’m unsure of. Oh, by the way, aura users make their cores near the heart since they primarily use their body to quickly circulate their energy.”
Following Teacher’s instruction to create a mana core, I closed my eyes and began focusing inward.
…My lower abdomen was still empty. The mana Teacher had injected into my body earlier was spreading throughout me. However, since it wasn’t yet organized, the mana kept trying to escape my body.
‘That won’t do.’
As if crumpling a spread-out piece of aluminum foil into a small ball, I gathered the mana scattered throughout my body and forcibly brought it to my lower abdomen. Then, squeezing it tightly as if kneading it in my hands, I pressed it firmly into place.
The more I compacted it, the more I felt a strong resistance, causing pain and sweat, but a stubborn determination overcame me. Biting my teeth and applying even more force, the mana gradually stabilized into a perfect sphere in my lower abdomen.
“Uh, what? …Already? So easily?”
Teacher, clearly sensing the change happening within me, asked in a trembling voice, unable to believe it.
“Teacher, is this the sensation of a mana core?”
“U-Um… yes. Ah, do you feel dizzy or nauseous?”
“No? On the contrary, I feel refreshed.”
“T-That’s good. How did you do it? It took me a whole week to make my mana core…”
I was amazed myself.
Could this body have a talent for magic?
Given that the Game-Making Gods didn’t account for this setting, it seems even they didn’t know.
After all, how could anyone expect someone foolish to possess this kind of talent?
“Since we’ve created the mana core, try to create fire now. Imagine the image of fire. Even if you ignite a small spark in your hand, it’ll count as a success.”
Fire…
In this world, fire generally brings to mind campfires or matches.
But I know a way to intensify the temperature of fire.
‘Using my mana core as fuel to ignite fire and manipulating the mana to add oxygen from the air to the fire—!’
Whoosh!
The flame rising in my hand.
It was roughly the size of my head, burning fiercely, with a color between yellow and white.
If my recollection is correct, red indicates the lowest temperature, and as it gets hotter, it transitions from orange to yellow, white, and blue, so this shade suggests the temperature is probably close to 1200 degrees?
“White flames?! I’ve heard of orange, but white flames? What in the world—”
With the stunned Teacher gaping behind me, I manipulated the mana in my other hand.
Since I’ve created fire, let’s create ice with the other hand.
Ice is a solid formed as water molecules decrease in movement with decreasing temperature.
So, if I use mana to gather water molecules from the air and slow their movement…
Crackle!
Then, if I refine the solidified lump of ice into the shape of a blade with mana…
Ice blade, completed.
For some reason, this reminds me of playing with clay in elementary school, and I feel a sense of childlike nostalgia.
Is this what it’s like when my third hand moves according to my will, crafting pieces like this mana ‘clay’?
Holding the ice blade in my left hand and a fiery chunk in my right hand makes me feel a surge of the villainous emotions I’ve seen in animations.
“Without any explanation, he’s already creating ice…? How could he possibly—!”
Ah, thanks to the knowledge from my previous life, creating magic seems easier than I thought, but from Teacher’s perspective, who has spent a lifetime studying magic, this talentless fool may mistakenly appear to have exceptional talent.
Ordinarily, people who excel like this can evoke jealousy. What if Teacher falls into that trap?
“My disciple is a genius! Haha! Those crusty old elites who looked down on me because I’m a commoner! Once they realize I personally trained a historical-level mage, they’ll surely regret ignoring me! It’s perfect!”
Hmm, this Teacher is really happy.
Apparently, in the Mage Tower, Teacher was often bullied or mistreated by the elders because of their commoner background. It seems discovering me, this genius student, has given Teacher the satisfaction of proving them wrong.
It’s fortunate this person has such a positive mindset.
“Indeed, Young Master! You also possess a talent for magic. That’s amazing!”
Cecilia, quietly observing my practice, approached with a moved expression, praising me.
It’s embarrassing, but I’m glad.
Because of this, my chances of replacing Cecilia’s position have greatly increased.
Of course, I have cheated using my modern knowledge, so if I delve deeper and learn advanced magic, my true identity may be exposed.
But I can’t give up now, no, I won’t give up.
For Cecilia’s future, for her happiness.
I must continue to grow stronger.
