Chapter 191: Test (3)
Chapter 191: Test (3)
“Alright, shall we give this a go?”
I had used intermediate magic while fighting Melonia, and my Mage trait rank had increased on the status window, promoting me to an Intermediate Mage.
But was I truly at that level? I wasn't entirely sure yet.
So, I had to test it.
While I was bedridden, I’d been told to refrain from using magic as much as possible because my mana circuits were unstable—and if I absolutely had to, I was told to stick to the basics.
Because of that, I’d been itching to try something the whole time I was lounging around.
As I cracked my neck from side to side to loosen up, Fay, who had followed me, pulled a long staff out from her chest.
“Junior, here you go.”
“…Wait, what’s with the boob pocket, Senior Fay?”
“W-What?! It’s not like that! Look! It’s not my cleavage! It’s right here! I put a subspace pocket inside my breast pocket!”
Fay jumped back, frantically denying it. From my angle, it really did look like she was pulling it out from between her breasts.
“That’s weird in its own way… Why would you put a subspace pocket there of all places? Don’t tell me you actually want people to get the wrong idea…”
“What do you take me for?! It’s just that if I put it in my skirt pocket, my chest gets in the way when I try to take things out!”
“Your… what?”
They’re so big they get in the way if you reach down…?
The other women, who were gradually getting used to Fay’s size, also looked shocked, their mouths hanging open.
Even Iona, who boasted a considerable size herself, tilted her head as she mimicked the motion of pulling something from her pocket.
Yeah. I’m glad Iris isn't here for this.
I let out a small chuckle and took the staff Fay handed me.
“Anyway, thanks. Did you… make this yourself, Senior Fay?”
It had a metal body engraved with strange patterns. At the tip, something resembling a pure white crystal was firmly fixed in place.
Usually, staves are made of wood for better mana conductivity and convenience. But this felt like it was built with nothing but durability in mind.
In fact, despite having only the most basic amplification and guidance capabilities, it was heavier than most one-handed swords.
It felt more like an experimental prototype than something meant for sale.
Noticing my gaze, Fay puffed out her chest proudly and nodded.
“That’s right! I did some thinking, and you’re far from a traditional mage who just fires spells from a distance, right? You’re more like a Battle Mage who dives right into the thick of the enemy.”
“Well… to be more precise, I just don't limit myself. I fight at a distance if there is one, and I fight up close if there isn't.”
Carla and Iona clapped with deeply moved expressions, as if they found something incredibly profound in my answer.
I caught a glimpse of them eventually shaking hands, but I turned my attention back to Fay as she continued with a smug look.
“Every staff I make is for you anyway. So, instead of focusing on amplification, I prioritized durability so you could use it in close quarters. And… you’re strong, right? I thought something heavy might actually suit you better.”
“Definitely. I could use this just like a club. And the weight is something I can easily handle with one hand.”
Getting hit in the head with a metal rod like this would send anyone to the afterlife. Even if it didn't, it would be much easier to parry weapons with this than with a dagger.
I have my shields, but they can be quite vulnerable in a chaotic melee.
“The performance is a bit lacking right now, but I’m learning enchanting from Lady Iris, so I’ll be able to compensate for that soon. If all else fails, I could try embedding mana wood in the core and wrapping it in iron.”
“Sounds good.”
While I was swinging the staff through the air, pondering how to maximize the impact of my strikes, Fay grabbed my arm with a serious expression.
“I heard everything. They said your staff burned up because it couldn't handle your mana. And that you had to burn your fingers one by one every time you cast a spell after that.”
“Huh? Well… I was sort of losing control then, and I was cramming in as much mana as I could…”
“Even so. I won't tolerate equipment like that.”
Fay’s eyes looked straight into mine.
“To have your gear fail at a critical moment, forcing the user to shoulder the entire burden… having equipment like that is worse than having none at all.”
“……”
Her voice was filled with sincerity. Perhaps it was because I knew about Fay’s past, but her words felt particularly heavy.
I nodded slowly and replied.
“Thanks, Senior Fay. I’ll put it to good use.”
“Hehe… It’s still just a prototype, so I’ll make you something even better soon!”
Despite her happy expression, Fay’s smile looked somewhat dark as I turned away and aimed the staff toward the far side of the training room.
I closed my eyes and recalled the sensation from when I fought Melonia.
Thump—
My heart gave a powerful beat, pumping out a massive amount of mana. Perhaps because my Magic stat had increased, the sensation was far more intense than before.
Only after I felt certain that I had seized control of the mana—not just within my body, but in the surrounding area as well—did I open my eyes.
I visualized starlight raining down from the heavens.
I poured my will into the mana that awaited my command.
“『Paradise is in the heavens, and origin is upon the earth. The path to eternity is far and distant.』”
Vroom—
Responding to my will, the mana moved busily, shifting its form.
A massive white magic circle drew itself at the tip of the staff, and a glowing sphere coalesced at its center.
I recited the activation key for the prepared spell.
“『Shine. Starlight Rain.』”
At the signal, the sphere shot high into the air. Once it reached a certain height, it split apart and accelerated.
A bombardment of light fell across a wide area.
Watching the brilliant magic fill more than half of the training room, my heart swelled with emotion.
My god. I really…
“Kyaaaa!! Master really used intermediate magic!”
“Hmph! He is the man who will become my partner, so this is only natural.”
“???”
Carla was hopping up and down on the spot, and Elisha was grinning with a look of pure satisfaction.
What the? Why are you two happier than I am?
I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh as I watched the two of them start spinning around in circles, holding hands.
When I eventually made eye contact with Carla, who had been squealing with joy for quite a while, she came scurrying over and threw herself into my arms.
As I reflexively patted her back, she burrowed deeper and looked up at me.
“Congratulations on breaking through the wall and getting a feel for Resonance! But you know this was only a good result by chance, right? You mustn't put yourself in danger on purpose just to trigger an awakening, okay?”
“I think I was lucky too. Don't worry about that… Wait. Resonance? I succeeded at that?”
“Huh? You didn't know?”
Carla tilted her head while still in my arms. I tilted mine as well. Then, Carla suddenly started giggling.
“Hehe… Oops!”
She seemed to snap out of her private amusement, her eyes widening as she slowly pulled away.
“Master. Did you really not know you used Resonance just now?”
“Uh… didn't I just use intermediate magic? I didn't consciously do anything else.”
“That can't be. Do you know that the power of Starlight Rain is actually on the lower end among intermediate spells?”
“Well, yeah. It’s light-attribute magic, and it’s focused on area of effect.”
Light-attribute magic often has an elemental advantage, but its pure destructive power is generally lacking.
On top of that, Starlight Rain is a spell that splits into multiple projectiles to hit a wide area. Its individual power is bound to be even lower.
In fact, in the last battle, I used it specifically to wipe out crowds of weak undead.
“You know this training room is built for professors, so it’s incredibly sturdy, right? But look at where the magic landed, Master.”
“Hmm?”
I followed Carla’s finger. The tiles, which had been slightly cracked, were slowly repairing themselves.
“Unless you used a Charge Chant, a normal Starlight Rain wouldn't have been able to cause even a scratch.”
“Really…?”
“Really, really. I use it too, so I know.”
“I guess… that makes sense.”
It was only natural that Carla knew more about Resonance than I did.
…Even so, it didn't quite feel real yet.
Seeing my skeptical expression, Elisha and Iona approached.
“Yandel. For a moment just now, you gave off a feeling that was faint, but definitely similar to Carla.”
“Yeah, yeah. Resonance is that thing, right? The Lindelheit family secret. I taught Carla myself until last year, so I know it well. It was definitely similar!”
Since everyone else was saying it, it started to feel like it might actually be true…
Come to think of it, the rank of the Lintblum Core on my status window had jumped from C+ to B+.
A plus sign after a rank for a fixed trait means there’s an additional effect, but for a growth-type trait, it means a promotion isn't far off.
It was natural for the Core’s rank to go up since I’d become an Intermediate Mage… but it shouldn't have been enough to hit a plus rank in one go.
That meant there was another factor involved besides just my growth as an Intermediate Mage.
If that factor was Resonance, everything clicked into place. The only problem was…
“I honestly have no idea…”
Really. Truly. It didn't feel real at all. It had happened so naturally that all the effort I’d put into trying to learn Resonance felt almost futile.
As I stared blankly at my staff, Carla asked with a bright smile.
“There’s no need to compare yourself to me too much, Master. Even if you can trigger Resonance, there’s still a huge gap in proficiency between us. However…”
“However?”
“When you used the magic… did you feel anything? Like your whole body becoming a heart and thumping, or like you were grabbing the surrounding mana and shaking it?”
“…I do recall something like that. But wasn't that just the sensation of using intermediate magic?”
From intermediate magic onwards, the amount of mana consumed increases drastically.
I’d been taught that when casting such spells, the mana that usually only circulated inside the body would naturally leak out.
That was why they said the stronger the magic, the easier it was to sense the omen of its casting.
“That’s true. But what you’re describing is just a completed spell within yourself affecting the outside. What you did was manipulate the surrounding mana to complete your magic.”
“Mmm.”
The example of Resonance Carla had shown me before. Back then, it definitely felt like the surrounding mana was immolating itself for her sake.
Did that same phenomenon happen with the magic I just used?
As I slowly retraced my steps, I began to understand what she meant.
Using it unconsciously wasn't bad… but being able to control it consciously would be much better.
Not only could I turn it on and off, but I could also apply it to low-grade magic, and by concentrating, I’d be able to further increase the power of the Resonance.
This was a difference I had felt personally between using magic by relying on system corrections and using it after properly learning about it at the Academy.
“Well, if I keep practicing, I’ll figure it out somehow before the break.”
I’d been feeling this lately… but maybe I actually have quite a talent for magic, even without the system corrections?
Perhaps because I’d heard nothing but praise all day, my shoulders felt a little lighter with pride.