Chapter : 06
“You’re going to teach me magic? Why? There’s no reason for it!”
I poured out a flood of questions. I couldn’t help it. Goodwill always has a clear reason. Besides, in this day and age, talking about magic just didn’t seem believable.
“Is a reason absolutely necessary?” “There is no kindness in the world without a reason or a price. What are you scheming?” “My, you’re quite the skeptic. Sometimes, there are uninvited windfalls in life.” “I’ve survived this long precisely because I’m skeptical. And why should I learn magic?” “Learning magic will be of great help to you in your life.”
The old man seemed angry at my countless questions, but he held it in and spoke softly.
“In what way? Tell me one by one.” “If you store mana in your body, your physical senses will develop. Your vision and hearing will be several times sharper than usual, and your body will become as light as a feather.” “As light as a feather? The only time a person becomes as light as a bird is right before they die.” “Will you believe me if I do this?”
In an instant, the old man’s body floated up into the air.
“Controlling mana makes floating a light body in the air like child’s play.” “……I believe you. But what if I use magic for evil?”
The old man remained calm even at my sudden question.
“That’s none of my concern; that’s a problem for your side of the neighborhood. So, will you learn magic or not?” “Yes, I will learn.” “Good. Since you’ve agreed to be my disciple, I’ll give you a gift. Pick one from the display case.”
I looked at the display stand, and strangely, my eyes were drawn to a bracelet. Without even realizing it, I picked it up.
“You want that one? From now on, call me Master.” “Yes, Master. What is this?” “You’ll know once you put it on.”
I immediately put it on my arm. At that moment, the Master’s eyes gleamed.
“Your heart was screaming at you to pick that one, wasn’t it?” “How did you know?” “That is a mental-type temptation magic. You asked earlier, didn’t you? What would happen if I did something bad with what I learned from you?” “I did, didn’t I?” “Once you wear that bracelet, you won’t be able to do that. It has the ability to prevent you from killing people.” “What happens if I do kill someone?” “The bracelet will go ‘pop’ and explode. Don’t worry, it will send you a warning if you succumb to unbearable bloodlust and your reason becomes paralyzed.” “Explode? My arm?”
I frowned and tried to take off the bracelet. But it wouldn’t come off.
“Do you think I would have called it a masterpiece if it came off easily?” “How is this for me!” “Instead, that bracelet has the ability to amplify mana. It is an incredible thing called a Rune Imprint. That one bracelet is worth enough to buy a large castle.” “How can I take this bracelet off?” “Perhaps if your strength surpasses mine, or if your rage filled with bloodlust overcomes the bracelet’s power, it might be destroyed.” “Surpass you, Master? Is that even possible?” “I am a 9th Circle. I am likely the only survivor left on this continent.” “9th Circle?” “The highest level a mage can reach.”
The Master nodded as he said that.
“Is there no 10th Circle?” “I can see the clues, but it’s a thread I cannot grasp. It is a realm unreachable by humans.” “Well, it is a realm humans haven’t reached yet. If you are the only surviving 9th Circle mage, that means there were 9th Circle mages before, which means you aren’t the absolute best.” “Haha! Is this brat a revelation from the Supreme God to break through my wall? Fine, now it is time for you to learn the training course I have prepared.”
The Master shuddered for a moment, then became calm. Suddenly, a strong will to get something done radiated from his eyes.
‘Anyway, it just means I have to become at least a 9th Circle, right?’
That was the moment I gave up on one of the ways to destroy the bracelet. When the Master snapped his fingers, a book flew out of the bookshelf by itself and floated over to me.
“Is that magic too? That looks quite useful.” “It’s possible once you reach about the 5th Circle. That’s about an intermediate mage.” “Are we starting right away?” “You’d better be firmly prepared.” “I’m already prepared. It’s better than being a quadriplegic lying in bed for the rest of my life.” “What we lack most is time. And this will be our first and last meeting!” “We won’t be able to meet again?” “You will know later.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“What are you doing now? Why are you tying me up so tightly?” “Stay still.” “What do you mean stay still! What is this!”
I was sitting there, tied to the chair as if I were a prisoner.
“You’ll see blood if you doze off. We don’t have time, so there’s no choice but to go with a crash course.” “Excuse me?” “You should say ‘I understand,’ not ‘excuse me.’ I’ve made it so you’ll snap wide awake if you doze off. I’m doing this because we’re short on time, so don’t hold a grudge.” “It’s a dream, why am I getting sleepy again?” “Don’t you know about a dream within a dream?” “Is there such a thing?” “Shall I tell you again? The world I live in might be someone else’s dream.” “Yes, yes, someone else’s dream is my world.” “Exactly. So a dream within a dream also exists.” “Then is there a dream within a dream within a dream?” “That could also exist.” “My head hurts.”
All I did while sitting in that chair was look at the pages of the book as they flickered by. But at that moment, it was memorized in my head as if a computer were saving a scanned file. As my eyes grew heavy and started to close, I felt something prick my thigh.
“Ugh!” “I told you not to doze off. There is no time to sleep!” “What are you doing?” “Theory class!” “I’m sleepy because you keep flipping pages.” “Is that so? Then shall we learn the theory through conversation for a while?” “Conversation?” “Yes, conversation!” “Yes, that’s better than this.” “Shall we start by talking about the basics of all magic?” “You mean mana.”
The Master muttered to himself, looking at me with a satisfied expression.
“As expected, now that the brain is stimulated, it’s fully activated.” “You stimulated my brain?” “Yes. According to my research, humans cannot even use 1% of their own brains. If you’re a mage like me, a 1st Circle user uses 5%, and a 2nd Circle probably uses about 7%.” “What about you, Master?”
At my question, the Master straightened his shoulders and explained proudly.
“A 9th Circle uses about 60%. The brain is the very microcosm and mana.” “The brain is mana?” “Yes, that is what the hypothesis I established says.” “A hypothesis? You’re not sure?” “If a hypothesis is proven, it becomes an established theory.” “Aha!” “Mana is in trees, fire, water, earth, iron, and also in the wind, electricity, and the sky. In short, it exists naturally. And at the center of it is man. In other words, man is mana, and the place where the most mana gathers is the brain. Therefore, the brain is mana.” “In the end, you’re just talking about nature, right? Why do you make it sound so difficult?” “Is that so?” “It’s the same as the Five Elements (Wu Xing) where I’m from.” “Five Elements?” “Yes, wood, fire, water, earth, and metal.” “I see, what exists here also exists there.” “I suppose so.” “Then shall we continue?” “I’m dying of sleepiness, why should we continue? It’s my dream, why am I so sleepy?” “What we lack most is time. I clearly said that this meeting would be the first and last meeting between you and me.” “Is that why you’re being so intense?” “Obviously.” “Then hurry up. Let’s hurry.” “You seem to be in a rush. Magic is broadly divided into two types.” “What are they?” “It is divided into physical enhancement magic, used by lowly things, and mental-type magic, which true archmages pursue.” “What’s the difference?” “In short, physical enhancement magic strengthens the human body through mana. And mental-type magic is the pursuit of the true truth of mana.” “But isn’t it good to strengthen your body? What happens?” “If you strengthen your pupils with mana, you can do things like clairvoyance.” “Clairvoyance? Does that mean I can see what kind of underwear a well-endowed woman is wearing?”
The Master was stunned for a moment at my words.
“What?” “No, I was just giving an example.” “So there was such a method too.” “Yes. There are things like that. Hehehe.” “You truly are a guy with a strange way of thinking.” “Thank you.” “But that is still magic used by lowly things. In mental-type magic, there is mana scanning, which is far more powerful than that.” “In the end, it’s the same as seeing a well-endowed woman’s underwear, isn’t it?” “Well, you could use it that way.” “You agree, don’t you?” “What a weirdo. Yes, if you are capable enough, it is possible to use it that way.” “As expected, you’re a man too, Master.” “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” “Just because. By the way, is there something like memory transfer magic?”
At my question, the Master looked slightly flustered.
“What?” “Instead of studying to death like this, wouldn’t it be simpler to transfer what’s in my head into your head, and what’s in your head into mine? You said time is what we lack. Isn’t memory transfer magic the very pinnacle of true mental-type magic?” “T-that’s true.” “Exactly.” “Hahaha! As expected, you are qualified to be my disciple. My choice was not wrong! Indeed, if you are a disciple of this body, you should be this clever. Hahaha!” “I thought you said you had no luck?” “No, I am the luckiest mage on this continent. The fact that I reached the great realm of the 9th Circle is proof of that. However!” “However what?” “What is obtained without effort does not become one’s own.” “Then is there effort in memorizing things in my head by flipping through pages like this?” “That is only possible because your brain has been activated. When we part, you will have to put in that much effort.” “I understand.” “Still, your idea isn’t entirely bad.” “What idea?” “Memory transfer magic!” “Exactly. It’s easy and fast. Originally, Koreans are all about ‘palli-palli’ (hurry-hurry).” “What? Koreans are all about ‘palli-palli’?” “Yes, it’s a national characteristic. That ‘palli-palli’ created the Miracle on the Han River.” “Miracle on the Han River?” “Ah, it’s just a story from my country.” “I’m not interested.” “Yes. Well, there’s something like that.” “Well, I suppose we can figure it out with memory transfer magic. Anyway, let’s master 3rd Circle magic with memory transfer magic. If you learn that much, you should be able to make your stiff body move.” “3rd Circle?” “Yes, 3rd Circle.” “Will my body move with that much?” “I can make it move.”
The Master’s hand began to shine. And he placed his glowing hand on my head. Zzzzzzzzz!
“Uaaaaagh!” “Oops, I didn’t mention that memory transfer magic entails considerable pain.” “Aaaaaaagh!” “Endure it. It will be over soon.” “It’s not ‘soon’ at all!” “Shut your mouth and hold on!”
The extreme pain continued for over an hour. 3rd Circle magic was infused. And when I came to my senses, my body was already in a free state.
“Now you have become a 3rd Circle mage.” “Really?” “It is real.” “It really feels that way.” “How does your body feel?” “Something…… feels different. But why are you looking at me like that?” “Now it is time to say goodbye.” “Already?” “Yes, already.” “Have I already become a mage?” “Yes, you are a mage now.” “I can’t believe it.” “Believe it or not, it is the truth.” “Now that you return to reality, live without regrets. And live without committing sins. I won’t be able to watch over you, but I will pray to the Supreme God for you.” “Yes, I understand, Master!” “Our meeting was as short as a fleeting moment, but that connection will be eternal.” “Thank you. I will live diligently. I will never forget your grace, which is as vast as the sky.” “Go.” “Yes, Master.” “Do not kill people ever again.” “Yes, I promise you.” “And…….” “Yes?” “Live well.” “……Yes.”
Thus, the short meeting that took place in my dream ended. I woke up from the dream as a 3rd Circle mage.
End Of Chapter : 06
