The First Sprout of Mana Land

There are three fundamental stages to inscribing mana into any object.

The stage of absorption, where the mana to be inscribed is gathered.

The stage of filtering, where that mana is refined so it can be etched in properly.

And finally, the stage of inscription, where the mana is carved directly into the target.

The methods and techniques used at each of these stages are what separate craftsmen into their various ranks. Those who can cast magic as well as craft—people like me—fall in the upper-tier down to upper-intermediate range, while those who can't land somewhere between intermediate and the very bottom.

Of course, without a mana circle at my disposal right now, the best I could manage was the lowest tier of inscription. Just the most basic, fundamental engravings—that was all.

...Actually, this works in my favor. This method carries the lowest risk of a catastrophic explosion, just in case.

I could layer higher-grade inscriptions on top once I'd built my circles later. It would be a bit of a headache, but for now, the priority was inscribing mana into the land without blowing anything up, following the theory I'd already worked out in my past life.

First, I gathered up four branches from the surrounding area. Since soil isn't a single unified object, the inscription had to target a defined territory—which meant these branches would serve as the boundary markers establishing that territory's limits.

I drove each branch deep into the ground at the far corners of the field, marking the center of each boundary line.

Thud, thud—

"That should do it."

Once they were planted firmly, I began gathering the mana drifting through the surrounding air and pushing it into the branches in a set pattern. Since I was using my own body as the conduit, it wasn't difficult at all—anyone aware of mana's existence ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could manage this much.

With each mana-laden branch planted at a corner of the field, a perfect rectangle took shape.

"If this works, I can define the real territory later using the stakes Grandfather buys."

I stepped back as I drove the last branch into the earth. Just from that little bit of mana manipulation, sweat was already running down my forehead.

"Whew— running out of stamina from just this? This body clearly needs exercise."

As a rule, an artifact maker is no different from a blacksmith. To withstand powerful magic, you need powerful tools and powerful strength! If I wanted to inscribe mana across a wider stretch of land and maintain it for long stretches, building up my endurance had to come first.

I wiped the sweat off roughly with the hem of my shirt and walked back to the first branch I'd planted. It was time to execute the final stage of the inscription.

You can't carve mana directly into a territory. Instead, you inscribe the mana outward from the markers planted as conduits—much like spreading a magic circle. It took concentration on the level of sculpting a statue out of thin air.

Though for an area this size, I could sketch it out quickly enough even with lazy strokes. My body would tire, sure, but so what if it did? I had a young body—let it work.

Starting from the great outer circle as the baseline: a hexagon within it, then two triangles inside that, and finally a pattern of tree roots nested in the central square. Each layer had to be carved in sequence, working from the outside in. No matter how close to collapse I felt mid-process, I could not stop. The moment I did—explosion.

The instant I began channeling my mana into the pattern, a yellow light started to glow from within the four branches. The sweat I'd wiped away earlier began trickling down again.

Drops of sweat stung my eyes, but I couldn't afford to close them. It felt like wringing out every last drop of energy my body possessed, driving myself forward on will alone.

Then, the moment I completed the final root pattern at the very center, the land that had been blazing with yellow light gradually dimmed and settled.

The mana inscription had succeeded.

The familiar blue window I'd grown so sick of seeing in my past life. Only after it appeared did I collapse to the ground, utterly spent.

More effects than I'd anticipated when I'd sketched out the theory. A faster growth rate meant I could raise more crops, more quickly.

There was an unexpected side effect, too: my mana was draining away, continuously and at a ferocious pace.

Still, this was a tremendous achievement in its own right. The only Mana Land I could sustain right now was a tiny patch, but I could widen my mana circuits first and gradually expand the area later.

Which meant, one way or another, I simply had to grow stronger, faster. And then every problem would solve itself, wouldn't it?

"Khh—khahak... ugh."

Only then did laughter burst out of me, my heart finally at ease. No—if anything, I wanted to laugh harder, but my lungs felt like they were crumpling in on themselves, so I couldn't quite manage it.

"...Seriously, hee—starting tomorrow, I'm... going running."

I made the vow right there, slumped on the ground, catching my breath. Cardio first. Strength training after.

When I announced I'd be taking up exercise, Grandfather and Mother were delighted.

"That's right. Stamina is essential for studying."

"Good for you. Farming is all about strength—strength, I tell you!"

"Farming as a change of pace is fine and all, but... once school starts next month, you'll need to devote yourself to your studies, understand?"

Mother, who believed a student's proper duty was study, and Grandfather, who saw no harm in seriously considering a future as a farmer, found themselves at odds. But the two of them were both perfectly happy to accept that I'd be running for my health.

Then run I would.

Before dawn the next day, I left the house following Grandfather. The plan was to plant the sweet potato vines he'd brought back yesterday, then go for a run around the neighborhood. After the run, I'd plant the wooden fence stakes Grandfather had bought, and then eat.

The amount of Mana Land I could sustain through basic Mana Breathing alone was smaller than I'd expected. At most, it could hold two rows of sweet potato vines—that was the limit.

And I'd heard somewhere that if you widened the spacing between seedlings and kept them well fertilized, the sweet potatoes would grow larger.

Thock, thock.

I carefully pressed the hoe into the soil, planning to dig out the earth at even intervals and set the seedlings in.

About a month left until school started. Until then, I could just relax and watch the plants grow out of the earth.

What mattered more to me right now was building my mana control and stamina so I could widen this field even further.

After planting the sweet potato vines, I patted the soil down and firmed up the ground. As if to testify that the planting was complete, a system window popped up.

Two measly rows, and the Mana Land was already full. If I wanted to increase my crop yield, I'd have to grow my mana circuits, and fast.

Before I knew it, the horizon far off was beginning to lighten with the first hints of dawn. I had to head out for my run before it got any later.

"Ji-on, if you're going running, it's about time you got up and going."

Grandfather must have been thinking the same thing, because he called out to me. I straightened my hunched back, stood, and stretched.

I'd been crouched over for a good long while, so my back and knees had every right to ache—and yet, young bodies really are something, because I felt fresh as a daisy.

...Grandfather, standing over there, did not appear to be so lucky.

I could just barely make out the sound of joints popping and low groans. Knowing exactly how that felt, I gave him a sympathetic ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠look.

Farming may be precious work, but it can't be easy on the body... isn't there some way I could help him?

The moment that thought crossed my mind—

As if it had read my mind, a new guide window appeared. Muscle Strengthening Sweet Potato? Wasn't this the perfect feature for farmers who suffered from a lack of strength—for Grandfather, in other words?

"Yes, obviously yes!"

At my word, a faint glow shimmered briefly beneath my feet before fading away.

They were already growing twice as fast—and now they'd grow even faster than that? The moment I saw the system window that had popped up out of nowhere, the words slipped out of me before I could stop them.

This was truly...

"What luck."

"...Ji-on! Aren't you going for your run?"

Jolted back to my senses by Grandfather's voice, I left the field behind and set off running. If I kept a steady rhythm—inhaling every two strides, exhaling every two—I could run long distances without burning out.

"In, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in, out, out."

And with each inhale, I drew mana in along with the air; with each exhale, I gathered and stored it away. It was a little confusing at first, but once I got the hang of it, I'd be able to run for ten hours straight without breaking a sweat.

...Though for now, thirty minutes was my limit.

My stamina might be absolute garbage, but this body had one advantage: the speed at which it absorbed mana was dramatically faster than an ordinary person's. It seemed I'd been reborn with a physique blessed with exceptional mana sensitivity.

If I kept repeating this cycle of feeling the mana and gathering it in, I figured reaching the 1st Circle would take no more than a few months. And since it was a realm I'd already attained once, an even faster breakthrough ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠should be possible.

Provided, of course, that I survived this current ordeal.

"Hah, hah..."

I was out of breath, but I couldn't quit halfway through. Soon enough, the house came into view in the distance.

"Khh—hoo, almost... there, hah..."

Home, where a warm meal was waiting. A table laden with side dishes awaited me! At the thought, strength flooded back into my trembling legs, and I picked up speed.

That's right. It was almost lunchtime.

After a lunch that was blissful no matter how many times I ate it, I finished up with a shower. Being able to bathe whenever I pleased was a blessing in itself. This world—this country—truly was prosperous.

Afterward, I studied the material the original Seo Ji-on had been learning at school. Mother seemed happiest of all when Seo Ji-on was studying, after all.

Learning wasn't such a bad way to pass the time. Most of the math was stuff I already knew, and with Korean and English, there was a genuine pleasure in puzzling out the rules from memory and working through problems. But the most fascinating subject, without question, was science.

Having spent an entire lifetime as a researcher and craftsman, a subject dedicated to explaining the truths of this world's reality was endlessly engrossing to me.

I'd been studying at a leisurely pace, and before I knew it, the sunset was glowing red through the window. It was just about time to go plant the stakes.

Remembering the light that had risen from the earth when I'd carved the inscription yesterday, the corners of my mouth curled up on their own. Land where mana influenced living things and gave birth to special crops.

It was a result I myself had brought into being, yet actually seeing with my own eyes what I'd only ever glimpsed through theory stirred up a storm of feelings I couldn't quite name.

Grabbing the stakes, I headed for the field. The plan was simple: plant the stakes quickly and head back.

But the moment I arrived, something strange caught my eye.

"...?"

The leaves on the sweet potato vines I'd planted this morning... were big.

They'd grown. Far bigger than they'd been this morning.

Flap, flap—

The enormous leaves swayed in the gentle breeze as if they were dancing.

"...They grow this fast, seriously?"