Chapter 22

Suddenly, I got curious.

Can Belva, who healed me, use her abilities without any limits?

If that’s possible, I could move more boldly.

It would mean that as long as I’m alive, I can survive.

“That’s not the case.”

Unfortunately, while there’s no limit to using her abilities, the threshold for what can be accepted gradually increases.

It’s like how overusing antibiotics makes them less effective.

It’s better than potions, but it has its drawbacks.

A new curiosity arose.

“Since you came in person, do I really have to pay?”

“Are you asking for a freebie?”

When I asked if I could now get the items in the shop for free, Belva let out a sigh.

She looked incredulous.

No discount?

“Zero percent.”

“No.”

“Just give me a little discount. We’re, like, friends, right?”

“Just buy it, please…”

*

Belva knew how to use magic.

It wasn’t the Watcher’s power, but something she learned and mastered through hard work.

That’s great.

I decided to gather the demon kids and Miho to take magic lessons from Belva.

“…I might be a bit awkward since I’ve never taught anyone before.”

“Just talk to yourself.”

Belva, hesitating a bit, cleared her throat and brought her hands together in front of her.

It looked like she was praying.

In that position, she whispered some kind of spell.

Then, white lights like fireflies floated around her.

Wow. So that’s magic.

Indeed, I could feel the systematic and structured movement of magic power.

The magic power of the fireflies and the surrounding magic resonated, keeping them from scattering.

They seemed to float freely, but in reality, each movement was calculated.

It looks tricky to learn.

I closed my eyes and let my magic power flow outward.

What needed to be given was light.

And attraction.

I had to adjust the pull between them appropriately to maintain a steady orbit.

Belva controlled dozens of flames.

How many could I do?

Whoosh-

When I opened my eyes, I saw three lights rotating in geometric patterns, almost colliding.

Hmm…

It’s harder than I thought.

Even with accelerated thinking and full concentration, I only managed three.

I guess I’m not talented in magic.

“Wait a minute.”

Just as I was about to try again, disappointed, Belva’s eyes widened.

She looked shocked, as if she had seen something strange.

“How did you do that without a magic book?”

“What magic book?”

“……”

*

Belva explained the basic principles of magic to me.

It was about how most mages generally learn and grow in their craft.

First, it’s common to enter a magic tower.

The best age is between 7 and 10.

Before that, the body is too weak, and after that, the inside becomes clouded.

It takes about half a year to start sensing magic power.

Of course, that’s if you have talent.

If not, it could take years just to begin.

It was a bit hard to believe.

Is it really that difficult?

Anyway, once you can sense magic power, you become aware of the circuits in your body and learn the unique circuit usage of each magic tower.

At this point, schools and lineages diverge, and you can start drawing magic power outward.

That takes at least five years.

Occasionally, a genius who can do all this in under a year appears.

But most people reach adolescence by this stage.

After that, you’re an apprentice mage.

Your job is to endlessly read and reread the magic books in the tower.

Magic books are a kind of guide.

They play a crucial role in learning magic.

There are many mages who mastered magic without a teacher, but none who learned without a magic book.

It’s fascinating.

These magic books are divided into two types.

Basic magic books and advanced magic books.

Basic magic books teach the fundamentals.

Literally, the basics.

To put it simply, it’s like arithmetic.

Simple but essential, containing the manifestation of elemental roots and the application of magic power.

Advanced magic books align with the role of the magic books I’m familiar with.

Fireball. Wind Arrow. Chain Lightning.

Books that explain how to use proper magic that’s hard to manifest with just arithmetic.

For example, take a magic book called [Fireball].

It meticulously details how to operate and control magic power to cast a fireball.

First, you need to fully understand the basic magic book, then master the advanced magic book that matches your lineage, which takes another five years.

Once you show this to the tower’s examiner,

Only then do you become a full-fledged mage.

“So?”

I couldn’t understand why Belva was rambling on like this.

What’s the point?

“It doesn’t make sense.”

“Huh?”

“Lux Eltua. It’s one of the most difficult light magic spells to learn. And you did it without a magic book, in one go…”

It didn’t take long to understand what she meant.

Ah, I see.

Right.

“So, I’m amazing?”

She should’ve just said that instead of beating around the bush.

Belva’s expression soured.

Feeling reassured, I went back to practicing magic.

He did.

After a few more attempts, he managed to summon five flames.

Half a year passed.

I spent my days repeating magic, swordsmanship, and hunting.

At the academy, a decent-looking wooden house was built, not just a simple container.

In front of it, there was a flowerpot.

Though what was planted was a poisonous herb.

The children’s growth was also impressive.

Miho had already learned several fire-based spells, and the demon kids had improved their swordsmanship enough to hunt raptors.

They had grown so tall that their heads, which used to reach my waist, now reached my chest.

In another year, they might even surpass me in height.

Hmm…

Imagining the kids as adults gave me a strange feeling.

Not a particularly good one.

I waved at Miho, who happened to be passing by.

“Miho.”

“Yes!”

“Do you remember we agreed to talk only once a month?”

“Nope!”

Well, if she doesn’t remember, there’s nothing I can do.

I was just teasing her, but her response left me speechless.

Watching Miho giggle at my reaction, I turned my gaze to Belva.

Belva was focused on something.

Upon closer inspection, she was carving a small piece of wood.

It was a hobby she had picked up, perhaps out of boredom in this world.

I thought practicing magic would be more useful, but it’s her personal freedom, so I couldn’t say much.

After all, I’m the only one in a hurry here.

Since that day, my obsession with strength has been growing.

I felt utterly powerless against an opponent I couldn’t harm.

No matter the situation, the conclusion was always the same: I needed to get stronger.

Simple and clear.

Belva warned me.

If I continued to grow like this, my own power might kill me one day.

Is that really possible?

I want to test it.

To see how far I can fight.

Every day, as I check my increasing stats and skills, I feel frustrated.

I want to run towards the massive dinosaur visible even from the trees.

How much longer do I have to wait?

Isn’t now enough?

To calm the surging magic power, I closed my eyes and sat on the stump.

My back felt hot and prickly.

The suppressed desire didn’t disappear; it just kept piling up.

It felt dangerously swollen, as if it might burst at any moment.

The excessive desire for life, twisted towards strength, grew uncontrollably.

Then, I felt Belva rushing towards me in a panic.

I opened my eyes and asked what was wrong.

“The knights have arrived. A swordmaster and 25 regular knights! What kind of reward did you offer to bring such a heavy knight order…!”

Before Belva could finish, I was already up and moving.

I didn’t quite catch the details.

What mattered was that new invaders had arrived in my dimension.

And that they were strong.

That was all.

I took out the dusty armor I hadn’t worn in a long time and put it on.

In one hand, I held a black iron spear.

In the other, a dagger.

My weapons and armor were high-tier equipment.

No matter what weapons the knights had, I wouldn’t be easily pushed back.

“Belva, how strong is the swordmaster?”

“Compared to what?”

“Compared to that large species.”

Belva thought for a moment, then held up three fingers.

“Individual differences aside, three of them could probably kill one large species.”

A clean answer.

Just three to take down that thing.

Just hearing it sent a thrill through me.

I might have to risk my life.

But at this moment, I had no hesitation.

Only joy and anticipation filled me.

I tied my hair tightly and lightly stomped the ground.

In an instant, my body soared high into the sky, and I spotted them not too far away, fully armed.

Thank goodness.

I’ve waited too long.

It took too long for such opponents to appear.

If I had waited any longer, I might have exploded.

“Lux. Flea.”

With gratitude, I extended a hand towards them.

A crackling current sparked, then turned into a massive beam that swept across the area.

Kwaaaang!!

<Yuyeona Lv.47>

Strength: 344 [Gender│Female]

Agility: 379 [Height│177cm]

Stamina: 361 [Weight│56kg]

Magic Power: 930 [Alignment│Chaos]

Skills: [Devour Ω] [Attribute Unity] [Thought Acceleration] [Body Adaptation] [Domination X] [Weapon Mastery X] [Toxicity VIII] [Poison Resistance VIII] [Magic Control VII] [Magic Amplification VII] ······ [Cooking I] [Sculpting I]