Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: First Magic
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Arin sat demurely on the sofa, cautiously rolling her eyes.
I set down warm coffee and milk, gazing at her with a fatherly smile.
*They're really insane, aren't they?*
Whether it was Eloise or Patrick.
I genuinely couldn't understand it.
How could they bully and torment such a cute kid?
This wasn't just because she was my summon.
Even setting that aside, just looking at her appearance.
She was so noble and adorable that no one would dare touch her lightly.
And look at those eyes.
Worried about what might happen to me if that thug Andrew got hold of me.
*Ugh, so cute.*
Arin was trembling.
Her mouth opened and closed, her throat bobbing.
Then, in a tiny voice, she muttered.
“ No matter how I think about it, challenging the duke's authority is suicide... ”
I knew that.
Nobles were the type who considered defeat worse than death, after all.
Even if I smashed Andrew Patrick.
The other members of his family wouldn't sit still.
But.
That wasn't what mattered right now.
To resolve Arin's 'grievance' in this dungeon.
I had to be on her side, even if it cost me my life.
Even if it put my life in danger.
“Yeah.”
Clink.
I set my coffee cup on the table and smiled.
“Am I that worrying to you?”
“Isn't it obvious?”
Arin reacted indignantly.
“I just can't understand it. Why risk your life for someone like me. What do you want from me. Why keep showing interest in me like when we first met.”
“I told you before.”
Slurp!
I gulped down the coffee I'd picked up.
“I'm your supervising professor, Arin.”
“Don't say such nonsense!”
“Why is it nonsense?”
In a way.
Arin's past was similar to my own.
The hellish time as an E-rank hunter, no matter how hard I tried, without even a shred of growth.
That's when I met Gi So-yul and the old man.
My own stroke of fate.
There was no reason Arin couldn't have one too.
Even if this world was just an illusion preserving her past.
“Nothing in the world is impossible. Or more precisely, the impossible is everywhere. You being alive and breathing, the two of us sitting here in this vast world—it's all an incredible coincidence.”
“......”
“Honestly, I'm a bit worried too.”
“You, Professor...?”
Arin's eyes widened.
I grinned.
“Yeah. Truth is, I'm not that great at magic. Honestly, compared to that Andrew guy? I'm probably worse.”
“......Uh, um?”
* * *
Arin was baffled.
The duel had to be fought with magic only.
And this professor wasn't good at magic?
Then what confidence did he have to accept the duel?
And then he said something even funnier.
“So, teach me some magic.”
“......”
A professor.
Asking his student—worst failing student at that—to teach him magic.
*As expected.*
He was teasing her.
Could he have been bought off by Andrew?
Why did truly cruel people always instill a sliver of hope to inflict even greater pain, as they said?
Of course.
This was ridiculous speculation too.
“What do you mean... How could I teach you, Professor...”
“You don't realize it, but your talent is beyond imagination, Arin.”
“......?”
“It might even be high enough to make everyone in this magic tower look ridiculous.”
“What do you...”
Arin was confused.
She couldn't even grasp what he was saying anymore.
Everything since this morning felt like a dream.
She couldn't fully trust the professor.
But she didn't want to distrust him either.
If even this professor was lying, it would crush her mentally.
*Whew.*
Arin let out a silent sigh, her gaze sweeping the lab.
Come to think of it.
The one reason she'd risked coming to find the professor was just one.
To confirm if he was the “sponsor.”
Scanning around for any clues, her eyes widened then.
*Huh?*
The bag strewn open, various books, basic magic materials...
*Magic materials...?*
Her gaze fixed in one direction.
Familiar magic materials.
*Those.*
They were similar.
No, identical.
Just like the ones left in front of her secret room every day.
*The crude strings binding them, even the quantity—exact copies.*
It was blatantly displayed, like [I'm your sponsor, notice me~].
And.
That cutlery scattered on the corner table, with its spicy aroma?
Arin blankly stared at the dishes.
“......”
100% match.
One of the strangely shaped foods brought to her every day.
Utensils with unfamiliar patterns.
*It's this person.*
The one who'd kept showing interest and caring for her.
The sponsor.
Thump!
Why?
Even without knowing the truth, Arin felt her heart race.
Honestly, she'd suspected it.
Not many people had ever extended a warm hand to her since birth.
How could two such people appear on the same day?
“Okay...”
Arin nodded.
Whatever the case.
If this person wanted it, she wanted to help.
Right away, in a week.
The duel with Andrew would happen.
* * *
New professor Hoon Orchen vs. Andrew Patrick.
The rumor spread far and wide.
To the students.
To the professors.
And to the four great families.
“Tsk tsk, how could he do such a thing. I understand youthful hot-bloodedness... but may he rest in peace.”
“No, Professor Hoon! Are you insane? I warned you about that kid!”
The reactions from the surrounding professors were all like this.
Predicting my defeat...
No, my death.
“Tch, you're basically a dead man walking like me. Everyone's already got funeral faces?”
*Well, yeah.*
I heard the meaning of the duel I'd started from Silvia again.
In conclusion, just.
It felt like I'd drawn a knife on the entire Patrick family by myself.
*The Eloise family head seemed pretty strong last time, so Patrick probably is too. Might even fight that family head later? As a 'duel.'*
Actually, not 'might'—100%.
Silvia said.
History doesn't lie, apparently?
“By the way, kid.”
*Yes?*
“This world. Seems tougher than I thought. Last time we only saw big-time thieves, so I figured it was weak, but there are more strong ones than expected. And no world ranking board either.”
*Oh.*
Right.
At a glance, the heads of the four great families were high-ranker level.
Around the same as Earth's magic tower lord, Sophia, or slightly below?
*But no world ranking board...*
That meant one of three things.
First.
This world's standards hadn't reached the level of power the universe desired.
Possible.
Even if Sophia-level power, their numbers were far fewer than Earth's.
Second.
Treating the magic tower itself as one irregular.
Like the giant dragon in the “Forest and Rock” world.
Honestly, in terms of combat power, one giant dragon could probably wipe out this entire world?
Like the old man's past world.
Third.
Delaila’s hypothesis that boards only appear for worlds reaching a certain combat level might be wrong.
Delaila was just a space traveler.
Not the being orchestrating this mysterious phenomenon.
*Whatever.*
Could be another reason besides these three.
I nodded, looking at the old man.
*I was prepared for it not being easy from the start. This dungeon's S-rank, plus unmeasurable stages.*
“True enough. So, get to it. The kid's waiting.”
*Yes, alright.*
Gulp.
I swallowed, now in the secret room where Arin had been hiding.
After revealing I was the “sponsor,” I'd come directly to her secret room soon after.
Arin had turned her back, closed her eyes, and sat in lotus position as I'd instructed.
The old man said.
“Do as instructed. It's a meditation to burn away accumulated waste in the internal meridians with energy... Not as effective as the Azure Purity Rejuvenation Grand Law, but it'll light the way for that lost kid.”
All techniques ultimately converge to one.
Magic, martial arts—they're the same in using energy.
So the old man figured the meditation would work.
I placed my hand on Arin's back.
Overlapping my body, the old man placed his hand on Arin's back too.
Hummm!
At the same time, we drew up energy.
* * *
“......”
Arin's heart raced with her eyes covered.
Swish!
With her eyes closed, her sensitized back felt the professor's touch.
[Hate the magic tower? Hate the world? Want revenge on your family?]
[Eat this.]
[Then I'll help you.]
The sponsor.
The new professor hadn't forgotten the words in the note.
He'd help.
Help her use magic somehow.
*No way.*
Just sitting like this.
And placing a hand on her back would let her use magic she never could?
It was less trustworthy than any snake oil pitch she'd heard.
“......”
But why.
She stayed still.
She couldn't refuse.
The other person.
Was the only one who'd risked his life for her.
Even if it was a lie.
Even if it didn't work.
It didn't matter.
“Breathe slowly and deeply.”
A heavy voice flowed from behind.
“Hoo, hoo.”
The tense Arin inhaled and exhaled deeply.
“Don't be startled—accept the energy you feel. It's the energy you'll become familiar with from now on.”
Flinch!
Arin's body trembled slightly.
Because an unfamiliar energy flowed in gently from her back.
*What is this?*
Warm energy enveloped her insides.
Yes.
This energy.
It was similar.
To the 'mana' she always tried to draw up.
If 'mana' was pure, this energy was a bit rougher than 'mana.'
Scratchy.
Boom! Thud!
“......Ugh!”
A sharp cry escaped Arin's lips.
Because pain shot through her every time the incoming energy spread and stirred her insides.
“It's clearing the blocked paths. You haven't seen it before, but trust me once.”
“......”
No.
It wasn't a method she'd never seen.
Biting her lip, enduring the pain, Arin thought.
*I've seen it in books.*
She'd read countless miscellaneous books in the library.
Among them, stories of worlds other than this magic world.
*There was definitely a world that used this method...*
Usually used when a master raised a disciple's abilities?
Honestly, surprising.
According to the library, only those at quite a high realm could use it.
*Whatever.*
Do as you like.
Too late to turn back now.
He knew her secret room.
He stood in a position to harm her anytime.
So all she could do.
Was trust.
“......”
One hour passed, then two.
The energy split like spiderwebs inside, slowly swimming through her entire body over a long time.
And after another hour.
“It's done. You can open your eyes now.”
The professor's voice came from behind.
“Phew!”
Arin exhaled deeply.
Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
Her whole body throbbed like it'd been beaten.
“Now... try using some magic.”
“......Use magic?”
Just like that?
“Yeah, anything. Give it a go.”
“......?”
She knew the strange energy had circulated her body once.
But to use magic when she'd never succeeded once.
What did that mean?
“What magic could I...”
Funny thing, she must be a natural mage.
Though she'd never succeeded, she'd attempted it thousands of times.
The incantation for “Fireball” naturally rose in her mind.
Hummm!
Mana boiled up inside her.
Whoosh!
“......Huh?”
Her eyes rounded.
Flames.
On her palm, her very first flames blazed fiercely.
“......M-Magic?”
For real?
Was it the meditation's effect?
Or had the old man's mentioned psychological factor been resolved by the energy's warmth?
That day, a miracle occurred for the girl, Eloise Arin.