Chapter 24: I Won't Do It!
I have MP points. These are probably mana points. You know, the kind you see all the time in games. With them, I can fire powerful arrows or use mana during crafting to make better items. In other words, I'm already using mana.
The problem is that I don't really know how I'm doing it. I consciously think about how much mana to use when I act, but if you asked me to explain exactly how the mana actually works, I'd struggle. It's like if someone says, "Walk forward," and I have to describe which muscles and bones to move, how to shift my center of gravity—it's impossible. I just walk.
Honestly, I can't remember when I took my first steps. Anyone who can is probably a genius with memory. Ask around: Do you remember your first steps? I'd bet 99% of people don't. By the time I became aware and started making memories, I was already walking.
Don't think I'm ignoring people with disabilities here—I'm just using my own case as an example.
"Yeah, I'm already using mana. But that's not magic."
That's the point. Anyone without physical issues can walk. Running? Probably doable too if you're healthy. But what about sprinting at full speed? Surprisingly few people know the details or train for it. How often do you really need to sprint all-out in life? During a fitness test? Even then, it's just running as hard as you can—not true full sprinting.
Figuring out your stride length based on height, the proper starting form, breathing mid-run—only trained athletes nail that.
If using mana is like walking, then magic is like full-speed sprinting.
"The issue is I don't know the method."
Lucky Si-yeon learned Water Manipulation as a skill and could control water right away. It got imprinted on her directly through the skill form.
"Let's give it a shot."
I decided to learn magic the hard way, like face-planting into bare dirt. Everything I do in this gate rewards me anyway, so why not experiment?
"Magic starts with fire, right?"
I lit a bonfire, touched the flames with grand ambitions of mastering fire magic—and got punched. No, I tried to touch them. Hoya's paw shot out first.
Hoya stared at me like I was insane. Fair enough—from her view, it was nuts. Hell, any sane person would think so. Trying to grab fire with bare hands? I must've lost my mind for a second there in my magic frenzy.
"Okay, fire's too risky. Let's try water."
Pivot. Fire has destructive power, but water's a classic magic element in novels, right? Especially since I've seen Si-yeon manipulate it. Should be easier than fire.
So, how?
"Lucky this is an island. Tons of ocean around."
I bolted to the sea and dove right in.
Splash!
And here comes Hoya flying at me. Since when can she fly? How's she—wait, she flew past me.
And right where she landed...
Thwack-thwack-thwack!
A sea monster I'd never seen while fishing. A massive crab-like beast. Don't let "crab" fool you into thinking cute—imagine a king crab two meters tall. Get pinched by those claws? Game over.
Hoya snagged it effortlessly. Then Baekya brought me my bow. Time to help the king.
I focused my mana, drew the string, and loosed an arrow straight at its eye.
Boom!
The arrow pierced the eye, hit the brain. The thing fighting Hoya dropped dead.
Hoya approached with a sharp glare. I'm her owner! I won't back down from—okay, I flinched.
"Sorry."
Meow!Meow meow meow!Meow meow!
Long lecture. But I had to keep a straight face. Hoya's gone full violent cat mode—she could hit me too. She already did once. My stamina's up, but it hurt. No lingering effects, but pain's the point.
For the next ten minutes, Hoya's scolding continued. Makes me think I'm not raising her—she's raising me. I just tribute premium food and treats in exchange for her care.
'Ah, so that's why they call it tribute?'
Cat owners are "butlers," and treats are "tribute." Tribute means offering to say, "Please take good care of me," right?
"Hey, Hoya."
Meow?
"Think that thing's tasty?"
While getting chewed out, I'd eyed the crab monster. And a notification popped up.
Observation skill used.
Name: Island Giant Crab (Lv. 31, Dead)
A massive crab living around the island shores. Tender meat, extremely delicious. Its guts are heavenly. First consumption: +5 Intelligence, +5 Spirit. Subsequent regular intake: +1 Intelligence per serving.
Slurp. The "extremely delicious" part had me drooling already.
Nyaaang.
Hoya sighed. She acts just like Mom sometimes. Top cat and all.
"Got it. No more dumb stunts."
Meow!
"Yeah, my bad."
Finally satisfied, Hoya hopped back to the hammock. I snuck glances at her while approaching the carcass. Kkamangi trailed behind, peeking at Hoya too. Owner's nervous, so she's nervous. Baekya cozied up to Hoya, licking her with a tongue the size of her head.
"Kkamangi, it's not that I lost to Hoya. She's my pet, that's all."
Whinny!
"Huh? Did you just laugh?"
Hiiing.
"No? Doesn't feel like no."
Kkamangi rubbed her head against me—skillfully avoiding the horns. Animals mark you with their scent to show familiarity or claim you as pack. Cats rubbing legs after you come home? Same deal—covering up "foreign smells" with theirs. Saw a vet explain it on YouTube.
So this is Kkamangi's version.
"But you eat meat?"
Horses are herbivores, grazing grass. Though picky ones skip some. Kkamangi's not a normal horse—loves carrots, but...
Hiiing.
She smacked her lips. Hundred percent wants to eat.
"Alright, let's stuff ourselves silly!"
Who knows when the next one's coming? Dig in.
I eyed the giant crab, pondering prep. Boiling? No pot big enough. Sashimi? Nah. Only option left:
"Grill it."
Grilling fixes anything. "What about frying?" Frying's great too, but grilling's no slouch.
"Heh, time to unleash my woodworking mastery."
I hitched the crab to the plow—er, mana plow?—via Kkamangi and dragged it to base camp. Crafted a sturdy rack with legs under each side, propped it up, and lit a roaring fire below. Perfect for even cooking. Legs separate later. Chest meat looks prime, guts too.
Prep done, fire lit. The crew gathered. Hoya claimed my lap, Baekya leaned her head on me. Kkamangi, Hoya-scared, lounged afar... uprooting my stat-boosting crops.
"Whoa, those raise stats. She picked only the good ones."
Impressive. But I let it slide—she didn't take all, just her share. And her stats could use a boost. Chased out of the forest? Needs strength.
I watched the fire. Hoya's gaze shifted.
"Not sticking my hand in. I'm not that dumb."
Maybe a little. But no, really. Staring at burning logs empties the mind—classic "fire-gazing."
The roasting crab smelled divine. Heavenly, even. Drooling already. But patience: low and slow for max flavor.
Me devouring the thing that wanted to devour me. Hoya helped big-time, but I landed the killing shot. Leveled up once—dumped it all into Intelligence. Now at 28. Nearly triple a normal person's. Smart yet?
Fire-gazing resumed. Then—the fire moved.
"Fire moves, sure, but not like this. It's moving with purpose."
"If it were a novel, fire spirit. But my gut says no..."
Could be. But instinct screams otherwise. Simple reason: it's following my gaze.
Miss this moment, regret forever. I eased my mana into motion, syncing with the flames. Ten minutes of stare-down later...
An alarm rang.