Prologue: A Mage Appears
A mage appeared. More precisely, a mage appeared in a cyberpunk world. The rumor floated among the scavengers who roamed the wasteland, scraping together a living.
In a world where everything began with science and ended with science, the idea of a mage showing up was utterly laughable. That's why the whispers among the scavengers stayed just that—whispers. To begin with, tales from folks beyond the megacity, drifting through the wasteland, scavenging junk to sell and choking down garbage to survive... those weren't worth the breath. Even their fellow scavengers dismissed it—no need for further explanation.
The reason for the rumor? Nothing much. Obviously not some corporation. At best, propaganda to keep rival scavenger families in check. Just that level. It should have been. It had to be.
"Ma... magic..."
"Louder."
"Magic...!"
"Louder."
"MAAAAAAGIC!!!"
"Yeah. This is magic. Want the name too?"
The scavenger pinned beneath the bright-eyed girl's foot finally understood why the rumor had spread. They had no choice but to accept that magic existed. Refuse, and it was death. So they had to believe a mage walked this world...
"Y-yes, please tell me!"
"Watch close. This one's magic that turns a pebble into a missile."
With a languid whisper, the girl scooped up a stone and swung her arm.
Whoosh—BOOM!
A towering rock in the distance exploded into rubble.
"And this? Wind magic."
She swung her leg next. The shattered remnants splintered finer still, scattering in every direction.
"Pretty cool magic, huh?"
"Ooooh! Mage-sama!!"
The scavenger screamed, spraying spit everywhere, but the girl just nodded, utterly unfazed.
"Yep. I'm a mage."
A sleepy, sunny smile. The mad bitch—no, the mage who called herself Soo murmured,
"A mage in a cyberpunk world."