Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: My Name is Kaiyer!
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"Huu!"
"You're amazing!"
"Hoho! Thanks to you, Kaiyer, we finished up easily."
*Hek hek! Mana backlash... Ugh!*
Buoyed by everyone's astonishment, I plowed the field like a mad colt.
And then came the mana depletion.
Light magic, by its nature, continuously drained mana as long as it was maintained. As a result, an hour later, my mana was exhausted, leaving me with just enough strength to lift chopsticks.
'Mana capacity is insufficient. I need to expand the circle as much as possible to increase my mana reserves.'
According to the laws of mana multiplication, the difference starts out minute but becomes as vast as heaven and earth once you ascend to higher circles.
Thanks to the superior mana cultivation method my master taught me, I could fill my circle's mana far more easily than others, but even so, I hadn't fully filled the 4th circle yet.
"By the way, Yans, why haven't you cleared that land over there? It's a pretty wide field."
About a kilometer from the village lay a fairly spacious plain, left barren.
The gentle slope and thick grass clearly indicated fertile soil.
"We couldn't clear it because last year's harvest was poor."
"What? What does the harvest have to do with clearing land?"
*What the hell is he talking about?*
"Where are you from? Are you not from this continent? Or did you live on an island with no monsters?"
"Haha! I don't remember, so I don't know where I lived."
Memory loss was the easiest lie when words failed.
"I see. That explains it."
Even as he spoke, Yans gazed longingly at the expansive land.
*I'm no fortune teller; how am I supposed to know unless you say it?*
Once I plowed the field with the plow, the women carefully gathered the potatoes, and Yans and I sat in the grassy patch for a break.
"Last year was a drought, so the potato crop and others fared poorly. We couldn't catch fish, so we were counting on the fields..."
*Why couldn't they catch fish? The sea looks fine.*
I still couldn't grasp what Yans meant.
"You see that Zar mountain range?"
"Yes."
The Zar mountains, dozens of peaks standing shoulder to shoulder.
They boasted a rugged, masculine grandeur.
"That range connects to the mountain behind our village. And the monsters and magical beasts there can easily reach us."
*No, what does that have to do with beasts, monsters, and the harvest?*
Yans sighed regretfully before continuing, though a simple, clear explanation would have sufficed.
"After paying taxes to the territory, we have to buy potions from the temple."
"Potions?"
"Yes. The potions blessed by the holy god not only heal wounds but are precious holy water that monsters, especially magical beasts, greatly fear."
'Oh, I see.'
"But most potions can't be used after a year. So every year, after paying taxes, we buy potions with what's left. Independent villages like ours, without the lord's protection, need even more. Without potions on cleared land or fishing boats, a magical beast could appear anytime and slaughter us."
'Unbelievable!'
To borrow Yans's words, they could only farm or fish after paying taxes and buying potions.
If the harvest was poor like last year, they'd have less money for potions, meaning less land they could safely cultivate.
"But don't you have villagers standing guard? Couldn't they handle the beasts?"
"You... you really lost your memory. How could we farmers handle magical beasts that even knights with aura blades struggle against? Those guards are just there to block monsters like orcs."
'Aura blade!'
I had no clear knowledge of magical beasts surfacing in my mind.
"Yans, this is the Kaliyan continent, right?"
"...You forgot even that?"
Bearded Yans looked beyond exasperation to pity.
*Ugh. I'm a total newbie now.*
Kang Hyuk, the swaggering overlord of heaven and earth, had become an amnesiac ignoramus who barely knew his own name.
"Then the potion I drank..."
"Th-that was from two years ago. The chief kept it because it was a shame to throw away..."
"Gah!"
*What?! You fed me expired potion! Aaaah!*
"Thanks to you, we've decided not to throw out expired potions anymore. We're grateful."
In an instant, Yans had turned me into a guinea pig for pharmaceuticals.
I bowed my head.
*If... it hadn't worked...*
The thought was horrifying.
"Daddy! Lunchtime~!"
"Let's go. Thanks to you, we finished the morning work easily."
"Yes..."
"Please take care of the afternoon too. Ahem."
"..."
As he stood, brushing off his ample rear, Yans trailed off.
My rising body froze mid-motion.
"Maybe it'll rain tomorrow..."
Yans walked slowly toward Cecil and the villagers without looking back.
*I'm not a bird, but today I'm totally done for.*
The potato field stretched even wider than morning.
"Huu!"
I let out a long sigh.
I'd eaten expired potion but survived without dying, so I should be grateful.
I'd eaten it all the same.
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'I can't live like this! I want meat!'
I'd been pegged as the village handyman and spent three days plowing.
It was fine.
I was using magic and repaying the debt of my life to these people.
The problem was food.
I didn't know the territory tax quota, but the villagers' appearances filled me with dread that they might not even get by on potatoes and grains.
And so, my ambitious plan.
The grand scheme to 'eat meat.'
One wrong move, and I'd starve from malnutrition before ever leaving this world.
'So, before the massive monster invasion, they hunted in the forests, foraged herbs, and fished the seas year-round.'
After three days of diligent plowing, the villagers warmed to me, and I heard many stories.
This place, called Luna Village, had once been prosperous in the territory, with a population exceeding a thousand.
Then, ten years ago, during the monster-ferocious Ruenna moon, orcs and ogres attacked.
The village militia, always well-prepared, drove them off, but sly magical beasts followed like foxes and massacred them.
The dumb orcs had smashed the potion vials, letting the beasts invade.
The village nearly became ruins, and the survivors now struggled to keep it alive.
'Can't hunt without potions, huh? Heh heh heh.'
The people didn't know, but I was a kind mage from another world.
How could such a mage ignore the village's plight?
Splash splash!
*Gasp! Th-that's!*
A seaside cliff overlooking the village.
This spot I'd found today was perfect.
An endless blue horizon stretched out, and my jaw dropped at a massive shape leaping from it.
"Tu-tuna! Oh my god! Tuna!"
The sashimi I rarely tasted when my parents were in a good mood.
Frozen Pacific tuna at that, but I still remembered.
The fatty belly with white stripes, called "large belly."
The unforgettable melt-in-your-mouth flavor.
And now, those huge fish leaping far on the horizon were definitely tuna.
I confirmed it clearly with the Magic Eye spell that activated unconsciously.
"One! Two! Oooh! This is a sea of tuna!"
The luxury fish from that neighboring island country Japan, where prime ones fetched over 100 million won each.
It drove meat-starved me insane.
"One fish... enough for a village party."
I finally understood the villagers' eyes, lifeless despite the tuna before them.
Not just land monsters, but aquatic ones too.
They said you needed several potions because the beasts were so huge.
"Umuhahaha! You're all dead!"
Never in my life had I craved meat this badly.
Even strict parents oiled me up every three days for proper upbringing.
"This isn't the time to stand around!"
The tuna shimmered like a mirage.
I couldn't let it escape.
"The freedom of mana is the freedom of wind! Fly!"
Today, with potato harvest done and wheat sowing, everyone was in the fields.
Without worrying about their eyes, I cast Fly from the cliff.
Swoosh!
My body floated lightly.
Flap flap!
I became a single bird, flying toward the sea.
Holding the small spear Yans gave me for self-defense.
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"Found him?"
"No! No matter how much we search, he's not in the village..."
"Sigh, where did that guy go? Ruenna's moon rises tomorrow."
Thanks to the sudden arrival of black-haired youth Kaiyer, the villagers finished potatoes early and even sowed wheat.
Heading home exhausted to rest, they mobilized at Yans's shout that Kaiyer was missing, scouring the village.
But the youth called Kaiyer was nowhere.
"M-maybe he went to the forest?"
"No way. We warned him how dangerous it is."
"He didn't run away, did he?"
"Run away? Why would he... he owes us nothing..."
The two hundred villagers gathered in the square by the chief's house, murmuring.
The sun had set, dusk creeping in.
The militia couldn't search outside now.
"Kaiyer..."
As the villagers debated, Cecil clasped her hands, praying to the goddess of mercy for Kaiyer.
The rare black-haired Kaiyer.
Though only days, his refreshing smile warmed her heart, and she'd grown attached.
Especially as he pulled the plow in her father's stead, sweating profusely—he was a grateful man to Cecil.
With her father weakening from poor meals lately, she was deeply thankful for Kaiyer's help.
*Please be safe... Dear gods.*
Cecil closed her eyes, praying to Neran.
"Whoa, he's back! Kaiyer's here!"
"He's walking from the seaside!"
Then, from atop the palisade, militia called Kaiyer's name.
"Seaside? Not that dangerous place!"
Villagers rushed to the seaward gate.
Luna Village always treated others' troubles as their own, so all worried inwardly for Kaiyer.
Tadak!
Cecil's eyes snapped open from fervent prayer. Grabbing Deron's hand beside her, she ran to the seaside gate with the crowd.
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"Ugh, ugh...!"
*Oof! This is killing me.*
Driven by gluttony, I'd flown recklessly over the sea.
To catch tuna, I waged a deathmatch like the old man in The Old Man and the Sea.
So many tuna swarmed that the sea a kilometer offshore was half water, half fish.
But my only weapon was a slender spear with a sturdy wooden tip.
Not from a safe boat either—catching leaping tuna mid-Fly was like a blind monk hitting pheasants with stones.
Hundreds of misses waiting in the air.
When mana ran low, I'd land on the beach, catch my breath, then fly back.
I absolutely refused another dinner of watery potato soup and brittle barley bread.
Then, at last, I speared a blind tuna's head.
*Why a monster fish of all things!*
The problem kept coming.
The tuna snagged by my clumsy thrust was over 100 kilos easy.
I nearly got dragged into the sea following it.
Grown on pure natural diet, its strength was like a raging bull, no exaggeration.
As it dove spear-stuck, I clenched my butt, maxing mana.
One slip, and I'd be tuna bait.
Gritting teeth, I poured all 4th circle mana, battling to keep it from sinking.
For a solid 30 minutes.
As my faithful 4th circle mana nearly depleted, it exhausted its gills and gave up on life.
I'd been about to release the spear too, so hot manly tears flowed at the sight.
My second magic hunt after wild boar.
Joy at becoming a mage who could earn his keep was indescribable.
"Huu! Almost there."
Dragging it by spear to the beach.
No sea monsters as warned; I proudly hauled my catch to the village.
After recovering mana, I cast perfectly trained Light on it.
"Ma-madir!"
"Oooh! A madir! After so long!"
"H-how did you catch a madir alone...?"
*Gasp! Why are they all here?*
Even with Light, half a day of excessive Fly had my muscles screaming.
Pain dulled my notice of the crowd as I shouldered the tuna on sheer meat-will.
"Waaah! Youth Kaiyer caught a madir!"
"Chief! Call the chief quick!"
Chaos erupted.
Villagers cheered the tuna, ignoring pleas, demanding the chief first.
"H-ha! Hey, this thing's heavy!"
Crowd blocked my path.
Thud.
*Screw it.*
Sand washes off; I gently set the tuna down.
Its bulk shook the sand.
"Oooh! Madir caught? Madir?!"
Through speechless villagers eyeing the giant tuna and me emerged gap-toothed old chief Abes.
"It's madir! T-ten years since we last saw one!"
Chief, fixated on tuna, ignored me in excitement.
In the 21st century, they'd faint knowing these were farmed.
'Too bad. If this were Korea, sushi joints would boom.'
Tuna still leaping distantly.
Fresh catches would drive island Japanese wild.
"Y-you, who are you?"
Chief Abes regained senses from tuna, asking my identity.
Not just him.
All gathered villagers eyed me questioningly.
"Kaiyer. Haha! My name is Kaiyer!"
I scratched my head with a bright grin.
*The mage from the 21st century, Kaiyer. That's me. Umhihihihi!*
Hiding the truth I couldn't voice aloud...
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"Kyaa, delicious!"
Tuna stew by Cecil, perfect wife material with killer cooking.
I earned huge village gratitude for one tuna.
Portioned into over a hundred for households, fist-sized chunks brought tears and thanks.
Even ten years ago, rare hard-caught meat wasn't casual.
My catch became solace for hope-fading folk.
"Big bro! So cool! I only respected Dad, but now you too!"
The head with stripped flesh was mine; Cecil made divine fish stew from its meaty skull.
To the brat, a few chunks made me hero.
'Mages get less respect than fishermen. Damn.'
Tuna broth delight let Deron's childish words slide pleasantly.
"Huu, ate well, but selling the madir could've helped taxes..."
*No, how much is the tax? Everyone's tax-obsessed.*
"Yans, how much is the tax? Why's everyone so worried about it?"
"Sorry. Making an outsider like you worry about village troubles..."
Yans scratched his head.
"Hurts my feelings, Yans. I've never seen you, Cecil, Deron, or villagers as outsiders..."
Days in debt here, but 21st-century me moved by simple folk's kindness.
Sharing scarce food and bed to save foreigner me.
Felt wrong calling them 'others.'
"N-no, not that—we don't want to burden you with village weight. Especially a young dreamer."
*Sigh, spit it out already.*
I got Yans's intent, but repaying deep favors tenfold eased my mind.
Free was free; grace was grace.
"50 gold in kingdom currency. That's our village's tax quota."
Cecil spoke softly for her father.
"50 gold?"
*Gold coins? What's that worth?*
No currency benchmark, I blankly stared at Cecil.
"A sturdy horse is 5 gold. But as you see, we produce only potatoes, wheat, and a few animal hides on Ruenna moon. Today's madir could've earned a few gold..."
Sated Yans sighed deeply, eyeing the gone tuna.
He knew eaten tuna didn't return, yet poked remnants wistfully.
*Ah, miss my unlimited card.*
The platinum card making me love Gandalf-master instantly.
Craved it now.
ATM? I'd withdraw billions gladly.
"Yans, how much for a magical beast?"
"Ma-magical beast? Why suddenly?"
Yans lip-trembled at 'magical beast.'
"Heard only aura blade knights catch them—must be valuable, right?"
"Beast hides fetch any price, but dream on. Dunno how you lucked into madir, but beasts are otherworldly. Evolved from demon-realm summons in ancient god-demon war. Knights need groups to fell them."
'Any price? Heh heh. That's it.'
Yans's rest fell on deaf ears.
"Yans, why doesn't the lord exterminate beasts? We pay taxes—shouldn't he send soldiers?"
"Bro, you're an idiot, right?"
Deron, stripping tuna, looked up pitifully.
"Why, why?"
"You'd send knights and soldiers to die for a puny village like ours?"
*Ice...*
Kids scared me, but Deron was next level.
Cunning enough to scam honest villagers.
"Deron's right. Ten years ago, we paid 1,000 gold yearly. Mercs hunted monsters, merchants came—dozens of soldiers garrisoned. But beast raids killed them, village ruined; lord lost interest. Territory has over a hundred spots needing aid."
"Then why pay taxes? With that, live easy."
"That'd be treason, worth death."
"Tr-treason?"
*Total mobsters?*
Heard medieval lords ruled domains like kings, but didn't know it happened here.
"Anyone here hunted beasts?"
"One... village's top warrior in youth."
"Who?"
"You know him. The chief."
"Y-yeah! Ch-chief?!"
Gap-toothed, baby-talking Abes.
Hard to believe this near-death geezer was once top warrior.
"Enough talk. Ruenna moon tomorrow—repair palisades. Cecil, thanks for meal."
"No, thank you. Long time since we ate well, thanks to Kaiyer."
"N-no, what'd I do."
Cecil a year younger, but hard to casual with her.
She looked plenty alluring—no ID check for nightclub.
*Heh heh, good it's Yans's house, not chief's.*
They say even granny-poured booze tastes best.
I liked Yans's home with fragrant woman's scent lingering.
Even if mornings ached on hard floor.
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"Huu!"
I finished mana breathing, inhaling deeply.
The cliff overlooking village and sea, found days ago.
Perfect for training unobserved.
'Circle still not maximized. Truly massive mana.'
4th circle dwarfed 3rd like house to apartment.
Kaliyan continent's high-density mana, yet waist-circling giant circle unfilled.
'At least half-month more to fill.'
3rd circle filled perfectly in three days post-formation; 4th was leagues apart.
'Not mana amount—spell proficiency. Posing like other mages too risky.'
Not orc-shit scared as master warned, but ogre-shit growth; 4th circle felt lacking.
Even one tuna days ago strained me—fighting monsters, beasts, aura knights impossible.
'Must get stronger.'
Bit molars, resolved to marine boot camp life.
Like Luna folk, this continent protected no weaklings.
No ROK military uncles or cop bros here.
'Like that guy—seamlessly blend magic and combat arts.'
The Chinese thug who prettily stabbed my belly.
His attack moves replayed in mind.
'Good thing I learned sword. Master's mana breathing lets me wield magic, sword, spirits. Only effort left mine.'
Asked chief about beasts: types, traits, hide processing.
Ruenna moon month, villagers stayed in even days; chief gleefully spat half-day 99% BS epic tales and beast lore.
Rivaling Teacher Wang Snow White's new hero.
Gap-toothed garble demanded focus beyond master's magic-circle torture.
'Beasts resist magic somewhat; need blade knight+ aura knights in groups. They're strong. I'm weak.'
Faced reality coldly.
Disciple of 8th-circle archmage, not archmage myself.
Clang!
'Sword, huh...'
Post-half-day psy-op, chief gifted his youth sword, saying it'd let him taste madir before death.
Long sword named.
2nd dan sword recall stirred; master's true-sword weight felt anew.
'Sword is heart, they said.'
My Sunmudo dojo.
Unlike common, pure Goguryeo heritage sword art.
There, sword was heart.
"Strength!"
Shing!
Drew, slashed down one-two with full power.
"Heaviness!"
Swoosh!
Slowly drew power-filled blade low to high.
"Speed!"
Pop!
Max-force side-swing from drawn position.
'These three conditions first and last sword tech. Flashy without them mere feint. I'll master all!'
Quit taekwondo and sword after 2nd year middle school.
Studied for Daehan High entry.
Now, in alien Kaliyan, gripped sword to survive.
Till return, survival utmost task.
'Tuna, you're all dead!'
Oblivious tuna mocked me leaping sea-ward.
No doubt their end when I dual-cast 4th circles.
'Beasts, wait. Heh heh.'
Turned, glared at Zar mountains opposite sea.
Must eat till return.
But no pauper potato life.
For thick, long, cool life—jackpot needed.
"Umuhahaha!"
Chest filled with Kaliyan mana.
Born human Kang Hyuk, elite survival-trained!
No fear of other worlds.
Heaven-earth overlord baby-balls swagger!
Sole under-heaven ballsy human.
21st-century Earth archmage disciple.
That was Kang Hyuk—no, Kaiyer: me.