Chapter 25: Is This Magic? Or Not?
Fire Control (Active) Level 1 skill created.
Si-yeon got water, and I got fire. But this felt so random. I'd just been burning firewood and staring into the flames—why on earth did I get the Fire Control skill?
"No way?"
There had to be a clue in what I'd done while burning the firewood. So, what was it? I'd been adjusting the flames this way and that to cook the island giant crab perfectly. And I'd been observing them deeply. The answer was probably in one of those two things. Of course, no way to check right now.
"The important part is that I got magic like Si-yeon did. Heh heh heh."
Magic. I had magic.
I focused my mana and tried moving the fire. I spread it out wide to cook the crab evenly, then intensified it in one spot. Hoya watched me with wide eyes.
"Hah, now you get how awesome your dad is, huh?"
I was bragging to Hoya when I suddenly blacked out.
Lick, lick.
Something was licking my face. It didn't feel like Hoya. The tongue was too big, for one.
That woke me up. When I came to, Kkamangi was the one licking me.
"That's not food."
Hiiing!
Humans aren't for eating. That seemed to be the message. But everything else was fair game? Carnivore, then? Nah, it devoured carrots too, so omnivore?
Nyaa!
Hoya snapped me out of my pointless thoughts.
"What the—!"
Only then did I remember I'd passed out. Must've been mana exhaustion from using Fire Control.
"What? This thing guzzles mana? Si-yeon didn't pass out, did she?"
I'd have to message her when I got out. Messing with water and fainting wouldn't be good.
Should text her before heading to work.
"Anyway, is it done?"
I cracked open the island giant crab's shell. Inside was plump, juicy meat and guts thickened like sauce. The guts must've melted during cooking.
"Alright, everyone, dinner time."
Eating this would boost Intelligence and Spirit—exactly what I needed. But first, feed the kids. That's what a guardian does.
"Hoya, Baekya."
Hoya and Baekya sat politely, waiting for their shares. Hoya first, then Baekya. No complaints about the order from Baekya. Hoya was king to him, after all.
And Kkamangi.
"You too, right?"
Kkamangi drooled. If I didn't hurry, it might eat me. I dipped meat in the guts and handed it over. It went nuts.
Up close, those canines looked serious. Definitely carnivore vibes.
Once the kids were fed, I finally tasted the island giant crab meat.
"This is insane."
Hands down, the best thing I'd eaten since entering the gate. +5 Intelligence and Spirit? Top-tier. And the flavor? King crab and snow crab mashed up with lobster, but chewy enough to blow your mind. Not complicated—pure perfection, like they'd extracted only the best traits.
Nyaa! Nyaaang!
Hoya finished its share and begged for more. Even with that tiny mouth, the taste had broken it.
The massive crab vanished into our mouths in no time. Meal over, Hoya tugged my pants with its teeth.
"What?"
Nyaang!
"Wanna catch more?"
Nyaa!
Hoya's eyes were wild.
"You haven't tried this?"
Nyaang.
Hoya showed me its paw. Meaning: How am I supposed to shell that with these?
Humans' edge over animals: tools. I took strange comfort in being superior to Hoya for once.
"Not full yet? Can't fridge the rest, and we're stuffed. We'll grab more when we're hungry. Deal?"
Nyaang.
Hoya pondered, then agreed. It hopped to its hammock, groomed twice, and conked out. Cat life is the best.
Baekya dozed in its hammock; Kkamangi sat and slept.
"Don't horses sleep standing?"
I'd heard collapsing horses were bad, but maybe not? Or Kkamangi wasn't a normal horse? Didn't matter. Wasn't raising Earth horses.
"Kkamangi, mind if bro checks your back size?"
Hiiing.
Seemed fine. I felt around, planning the saddle. Rested a bit, then started crafting.
That's when the crab shell caught my eye.
"Huh? Could make something with that."
Super tough, naturally curved. Perfect for a saddle base? I checked if I could bend it more—and remembered Fire Control.
"Heh, I'm a wizard now. Let's go! Fire Control!"
No need to say it aloud, but that's the fun, right?
Felt mana flow to my fingertips.
And... nothing.
"Fire Control! Fire Control!"
Still nothing.
"What? Why no fire?"
I used Observation on the skill. Description: Control fire.
"No way... It doesn't create fire?"
Makes sense. It said control fire, not create it. So, manipulate existing flames only—no conjuring.
"Is this magic? Or not?"
Feels half-assed. Real magic shoots fireballs from your hands. This? Barely a quarter-magic.
Not what I imagined.
"Eh."
Relit the firewood. Tested from a small flame: mana amount vs. control level, limits, etc.
Results: Can grow flames somewhat. But without fuel, mana drains fast. With logs nearby, burn them to amplify. Fuel-less? Mana burns out quick. Explains the blackout.
"Ambiguous is ambiguous. Let's reshape this shell."
Piled firewood, heated the crab shell to bend it. Dexterity up, so I got the feel. Bent easily.
Cooled it off Mel's flame? Wait, checked if it held shape.
Meanwhile, crafted leather lining for the saddle. Key: cushion shocks, reduce friction for Kkamangi's back.
Hour of leatherwork later, checked shell.
"Yes!"
Held shape. Placed on Kkamangi's back, fine-tuned.
Nearly ten hours adjusting shell, five more on leather: saddle complete.
"Let's see."
Checked work time. Two days left here.
"Nap time. Baekya!"
Grrrowl.
Baekya rushed over, flopping belly-up for my bed. Not shapeshifting—just comfy tummy. No misunderstandings.
Slept like a baby on Baekya's belly.
"Slept great."
Refreshing. Gate sleep hits different. Baekya's warm belly? God-tier. Wanted to ditch my home bed for it. Would cause chaos, though.
"Kkamangi."
Hiiing.
"Bro's gonna ride you now. Cool?"
Hiiing.
Tamed enough to accept easily.
"Putting this on. Then me on top. Okay?"
Prurr.
Seemed good. Sideloaded saddle carefully, strapped tight. Mounted gingerly.
"Whoa, scarier than I thought."
Just sitting up there? Terrifying. But Calmness kicked in—no panic.
"Kkamangi, slow walk?"
Hiiing.
It strolled with me aboard.
"Fun."
Mounting scared me, but motion? Thrilling.
"That's why people ride horses."
Horses as transport: ancient history. Makes sense.
"Good thing you're huge, Kkamangi."
I'm 187cm, ~90kg. Muscly, big frame. Normal horse? Burdened. Kkamangi? Massive, sturdy—no issue.
Stroked its mane happily.
Prurr.
It snorted contentedly.
"Kkamangi, bit faster?"
Heard me, picked up pace. Beach riding: ideal. Sand softened impacts; falls wouldn't hurt much.
Trotted faster, then cantered. I synced rhythm to its gait.
Then the alert.
Riding (Active) Level 1 skill acquired.
Finally, Riding skill. And from this height, I spotted something new I'd never seen before.