Learning Magic
After the first day of work at the Orchard wrapped up, the laborers were buzzing with excitement at the thought of spilling their stories on the gallery. Their shoulders squared up unnecessarily, like office workers bragging about landing a gig at a massive corporation.
Once off the clock, they started posting their experiences one by one on the Isekai Survival Gallery.
Their orchard tales were more than enough to throw fresh fuel on the gallery fire.
But what the hell was this "fruit slime" they kept mentioning...?
The gallery folks couldn't quite wrap their heads around it. Hard to comprehend, you know?
Fruit and slime. The people of this world just didn't connect those two easily. And why would they? It was two wildly random elements slapped together.
Plant fruit and dungeon monsters. Could you picture a "fruit slime" blending those on the spot?
From a modern perspective, it's like hearing that "dog-cabbage" suddenly popped up one day. A living mashup of cabbage and a puppy called "dog-cabbage."
Yeah. To these isekai folks, it was like hearing out-of-nowhere bullshit about dog-cabbage showing up on a farm with zero context.
Isekai Survival Gallery
I got to the Management Office, filled out some paperwork, grabbed a ticket from the staff with my heart pounding, and headed in.
First impression on entry: forest scent mixed with a sweet aroma. Bright sky, woods everywhere, and the sound of a gentle stream nearby.
The work environment gave off good vibes right away.
Asked about the water sound—turns out there's a river. Perfect timing for a break, so gonna check it out lol.
Anyway, the staff led us to the fruit trees.
Expectations exploded here.
Why? You could see fruit trees in the distance with massive fruits. First day on the job, so figured they'd let us sample a bit?
But as we got closer, something felt off.
Turns out what I thought were fruits from afar... weren't fruits at all.
Sounds like bullshit, I know...
The trees in this orchard dungeon weren't bearing fruit—they were bearing slimes.
Lest you misunderstand, saying it twice: slimes were hanging from the trees instead of fruit.
Yeah... hit me like "oh right, this is a dungeon."
But slimes on trees aside, where the hell were the fruits?
Other workers looked just as baffled.
Long story short: what I was seeing was the fruit... fml ;;;
Our job? Catch those slimes hanging from the trees and extract the fruit inside lololol
Yeah, exactly what you're thinking ㅇㅇ Slimes with fruit inner cores, basically a variant ㅇㅇ fml lol
Get it now?
While the gallery was burning hot with orchard and fruit slime hype,
I sat cross-legged, absorbing the lecture.
Standing before me was Elise, explaining magic.
That's right.
I was finally learning magic.
'I'm... gonna become a Sun Caller.'
Of course, the Sun Caller bit was secondary. The real goal? Expanding my vessel.
By growing my vessel, I'd reclaim the separated power from Kkomangi, boosting control over my Living Dungeon Master ability.
That'd let me handle way more stuff than now.
'Gonna do it... mass tickets and season passes...'
And one more thing.
The fusion of "magic" and "Dimensional Transferee ability" that Yeomje mentioned.
My upper dantian was already overflowing, filling the middle and lower ones nonstop.
'...Magic might trigger changes in my ability right away.'
Conditions were set—chemical reaction could spark anytime.
'...Should I announce it on the gallery first? Sudden dungeon changes could cause issues.'
As I drifted into thought, Elise hit me with a question.
"Okay, magic has three main elements. What are they?"
"How the hell should I know..."
Whack!
"Ow!!"
"Don't know? Spit out something—is your head just decor? Mages must question themselves constantly. Self-exploration is key to magic mastery!"
Agh, my poor noggin...
"Sigh... fine, whatever... elements of magic, uh..."
I recalled mage battles from dungeon observations.
What they did to cast: hand seals or chants...
'Hmm... no clue on the third.'
"Hand seals, incantations, uh... third one's a mystery..."
Elise's eyes widened in surprise at my answer.
"...Huh, you know more about mages than I thought? Hng... got a mage friend? Makes sense how you knew the risks of that procedure I did. They told you?"
"...Maybe?"
Too vague to explain, so roll with it.
"Magic's three elements: hand seals, incantations, and the last one's imagery."
Ah, imagery... right, mages split into schools based on their imagery?
It influences mana, so picking a fitting school is crucial.
If my imagery suited fire, Sun Caller path would suck, but I'd skyrocket as a Flame Mage.
'My imagery... imagery, huh...'
Truth is, I had a rough idea of my school already.
'Sucks, but no Sun Caller for me...'
Not just lightning or ice.
My school wasn't elemental to begin with—that much was clear.
Obvious from my Dimensional Transferee ability.
Abilities get shaped by imagery too.
So the outline was visible.
What school did my dungeon creation fall under?
"Alright, let's redo the constitution check you skipped. Hand out."
Elise started taking my pulse.
Previously, no mana in the circuits, so no school readout.
Her mana stimulated the flow in my wrist.
This felt... weird.
"...Feels strange."
Like poking a new organ that wasn't there before.
"Cool, right? Mana circuits are like another set of veins in a mage's body. Focus and feel it deeper."
...Kinda comfy.
Last time with Yeomje, it felt foreign in the circuits.
No foreign vibe from Elise's mana at all.
"Hmm... because I opened them? Compatibility's weirdly perfect...? Like a hole custom-made for me."
'...That phrasing sounds off.'
But I get it.
My blocked heart passages meant no mana flow before. First mana in? Elise's.
Not once, but two hours daily—her mana filled me up.
Maybe my circuits adapted more to her mana's nature than mine?
As I pondered, Elise tweaked the mana she'd injected, testing properties.
Shifting qualities to find my best fit.
"Hmm? That's odd..."
She closed her eyes, focusing.
"...This is."
"Elise... I'm getting anxious. Something wrong again? PTSD incoming..."
If it's more drilling or construction talk, I might actually bolt this time.
"No... nothing..."
"So my school is...?"
"Table that for now. I'll teach basics—wanna try right away?"
Hmm... curious about my school, but magic? Can't resist...!
But learn and cast instantly?
Elise dove in.
"Listen up. Modern magic evolved from primitive shamanism."
"Simplifying rituals like fire-starting or rain-summoning—that's today's magic."
"Shamanism's three: sacrifice, dance, song. Our magic optimizes those."
"Sacrifice gathers thoughts as a medium; intense thoughts make it a catalyst twisting reality."
"Imagery replaces sacrifice: build unshakeable personal imagery to warp reality. That's magic."
"Dance → hand seals. Song → incantations."
"Modern mages? Just ancient shamans dancing and singing for rain. Got it?"
Shamanism: sacrifice, dance, song.
Magic: imagery, hand seals, incantations.
"...Kinda get it. So how do I cast?"
"I'll show simple seals and chants. Even newbies like you can pull it off with practice."
"Ooh..."
"With genius me helping, 1-2 weeks tops."
"......"
I learned a few from Elise and started practicing.
Form seals, chant.
"Fireball."
Nothing happens.
"Do your best~ Key is projecting the phenomenon perfectly into reality."
Elise watched my practice with a pleased smile.
Like a vet eyeing a noob.
'...She this happy I'm learning magic?'
I peppered her with questions, grinding away.
When she guided mana via my back, tiny sparks flickered in the air.
"Hmm... got talent? Easier if you know the phenomenon inside-out. Some psycho mage jumped into fire for enlightenment? Woulda died without a priest."
She'd drop mage anecdotes like that.
Probably to spark new insights in me.
......
An hour later, enlightenment hit.
'Hmm... so seals and chants vary per person. What she taught? Universal ones someone made.'
Seals and chants amplify imagery.
High-level chants? Long to refine consciousness.
Mages with perfect imagery skip 'em...
So any form works if it amps my imagery.
'Got the gist... of magic levels...'
I uncrossed my legs, jumped up, and yelled.
"I get it now—how to build my unshakeable imagery...!"
"No bluffing—stick to what I taught."
She eyed me like I was spouting nonsense, but I ignored it, recalling.
One man's tragic life: turned his buddy into a donut, overcame it all to become Econ President...!
And... his ultimate technique that even cleaved lightning.
Refine consciousness with it all.
Project into my imagery.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
I threw together ninja-manga seals, gripped my right wrist with my left.
Chanted my reality-warping spell.
"Brain Cleave."
Bzzzztcrackle—
My right hand roared like a thousand birds screeching.
Elise gaped, pointing at the intense lightning projection, slack-jawed in disbelief.
Aah... lightning... cleaved...