Chapter 115

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 115

Chapter Title: Granting a Wish

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"Ugh..."

After checking my mana capacity, I let out a sound like someone who'd lost the ability to speak properly.

91070? I couldn't believe my eyes.

It had definitely been around 45,000 just this morning.

I checked again, but the number was the same.

My mana capacity had more than doubled.

I'd definitely succeeded in compressing my mana.

But the compression had been so intense that it felt like the space inside me had been completely emptied for a moment.

In a panic, I'd desperately sucked in ambient mana to fill that void.

Could that be why my mana had exploded like this?

I trembled as I logged into the gallery, wondering if something like this was even possible.

Before posting, I checked the threads that had gone up while I was in secluded training for those 10 hours.

As expected, my 10-hour disappearance had caused quite a stir.

From "Did this bastard really go compress?" to "No way."

Since I'd announced I was going into seclusion and vanished, everyone was hunting for signs of me.

This was amusing. Should I watch a bit longer?

But first, my whole body felt drained of strength.

I needed to grab some food and recharge before posting.

I bought some quick eats and headed back to the dorm.

As my energy returned with a bite here and there, I finally wrote my post on the gallery.

Of course, no one in the gallery believed it.

The vibe was nobody would buy it until I proved it.

I could verify it like last time, sure.

But right now, my body was wrecked.

I just wanted to crash. But no, they want me to cast that mana-draining proof spell.

These guys. Why not just go "wow!" like before?

What's with all the suspicion lately?

Well, guess that's how unbelievable it was.

No helping it. Time to pour out mana again until I'm on the brink of collapse with that spell.

I verified my mana capacity the same way as last time, when I'd eaten dirt for regen.

A flood of comments poured in.

These guys really thought it was impossible.

Hell, even I thought it was nuts.

Mana capacity doubling? Yeah.

Of course, this won't happen forever.

I've heard some gallery users have millions, tens of millions, or more.

At that level, doubling via training? No way.

My capacity's still low, so doubling was feasible.

"Heh."

Exploding comment section.

Feels good to drop a real bombshell after so long.

Honestly, even I'm stunned, but what can you do? I did it.

But the real takeaway was that sensation.

The feel of handling the circuits.

Not just mana pathways, but another way of existing as 'mana power'—my own.

Circuits were more fundamental than mere spells.

Mastering them would hugely boost my realm.

For now, just compression. Long road ahead, I felt.

Too wiped for more training today.

I messed around on the gallery a bit, then crashed.

Ugos Perryhill.

The one recruited as a professor during the academy's major overhaul after the taboo mage incident.

He'd become a professor on family orders, and he figured the others had too.

A cadet drawing the Silent Dragon's interest.

Had to be intriguing.

But was that enough for the Archmage Dukes to intervene directly? Debatable.

Going this far meant the cadet was useful to them.

But Ugos couldn't guess how they'd use him.

Didn't matter.

As heir to the great family blood, he just obeyed.

Until now, he'd been scouting prime candidates.

And among them, one had risen in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the subjugation festival.

"God, you're trash! Do it right!"

"Why bitch at me for your screw-up?"

"Ian’s good, so cut him some slack."

Ian Isaac. Odd commoner cadet.

Unusual from first meeting, and his festival feats shocked everyone.

Sure, the Grade 2 beast kill was student council president's doing,

but he showed plenty else: flight, surviving Rimgoft.

For pure intrigue, Ian topped the list.

Current strength? Council prez or Rimgoft more likely.

But potential, talent, and...

"Yup~ I win~ Three aerial flips then twist Grand Prostration~"

...that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moronic personality.

Commoner lack of refinement.

Or rather, polite enough, but personality was weird.

'If Ian Isaac is the one the family head seeks.'

What then?

He'd only been ordered to find the Silent Dragon's interest, not what to do after.

For now, Ugos bumped Ian up the candidate list.

Noted as oddly chummy with girls,

and one close female cadet was Perryhill direct lineage.

Ugos sent the report to the family.

Pre-festival reports were thin,

but this one felt different.

Likely same for other families.

Professors from rival houses eyed Ian differently now.

Something was brewing.

Ugos waited patiently.

Monday classes finally wrapped, utterly exhausting.

I ditched the annoyingly clingy Elrim and bolted from class first.

"You suggested the bet yourself."

Elrim had lost it after doing three aerial flips plus twist Grand Prostration.

She lost fair, but kept whining, so I fled.

"Ian?"

Heading solo, someone called me.

"Ah... Hena."

Hena, self-proclaimed childhood friend.

She spotted me and bounded over happily.

"Saw the festival! Amazing, winning like that!"

"Just luck. You were impressive too—top freshman score."

Awkward playing pretend with a "friend" I don't remember,

but C-Class Hena snagging top freshman prize? Curious.

"That was luck too. Teammates carried."

"Still. Two people ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can't claim 1st without skill. Impressive."

"Hehe. Maybe next semester, B-Class promotion."

"Ooh."

She'd worked hard since enrolling, boosting her skills.

Commoner effort? Admirable.

"Anyway, Ian. You free now...?"

"-There! Trash! Loser!"

"Ian, come on!"

"How dare you go alone!"

Then three spotted me and charged.

Damn, planned quiet training room magic practice alone.

Elrim whined about earlier, Hisenna and Chayuri scolded for ditching.

Three girls overwhelming. No contest.

"...Ah!"

Hisenna belatedly noticed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hena, glanced awkwardly.

The other two spotted her, quit griping.

"Who's this?"

Chayuri, never seen Hena, blinked curiously.

"Ian's childhood friend. Name was...?"

"Hena Emma. Grew up with Ian in the village."

"Ah. Chayuri Floridel."

Sudden awkward silence among us five.

Elrim, glaring most at Hena, broke it.

"Anyway, trash! Rematch, training room now!"

"You lost earlier."

"I'll win this time, hurry!"

Push push.

Elrim penguin-shoved me,

and I helplessly headed to training room.

"Uh..."

"Ah, Hena! Catch you later!"

Hena, confused by abrupt exit.

Quick wave to her was all.

"Take care, Lady Hena!"

"Farewell."

Hisenna and Chayuri greeted her, followed.

Hena, awkward to chase, waved blankly from afar.

She stood there with an inscrutable look till out of sight.

"Seriously, you always lose anyway. I need to train."

"I'll win this time, trash!"

"Chayuri, shall we spar after ages? Practice 4th realm too."

"Gladly, Hisenna. Thought the same—4th realm at similar levels would be ideal."

We four hit the training room.

Naturally paired for practice spars.

Hisenna and Chayuri both dipping toes in early 4th realm,

perfect opponents for each other.

Them helping each other aside...

"Redhead's too trash honestly..."

"What'd you say, trash?!"

Elrim no longer a threat.

Wanted solo 5th realm practice,

but someone approached.

"President! Greetings!"

Elrim snapping to salute gave it away.

Student council president Harisha approached.

"Nice to see you, Junior Elrim. Junior Ian, Junior Hisenna, Junior Chayuri too. Training after class? Exemplary."

"Too kind!"

"Training too, President?"

"Yep. Post-festival, pre-finals breather for council. Perfect timing meeting juniors. Ian Junior, spar with me?"

"...Spar?"

Out of nowhere, Harisha challenges me.

Her level? Nothing to gain sparring her.

Guidance maybe?

"Not underestimating to 'guide' you~. I'll match realms, real swordfight?"

"Same realm duel?"

"Yes. Bet? Loser grants winner's wish. Deal?"

"...Bet?"

Bet on top.

Practice duels limit to same realm magic.

Ensures pure magic skill decides.

But huge skill gap? Pointless even same realm.

Calculation speed crushes regardless.

"Isn't that too unfair for me?"

"Really? I rate your skill high. Could raise realm quick if you wanted, right?"

"...!"

Harisha grinned.

Chills. Eyes like she saw through me.

"Short period realm raise" was oxymoronic.

Realms don't jump quick. One maybe.

Saying it boldly meant

she gauged my true strength.

True, I could hit 5th faster than most.

"...How 'bout it?"

Wish granting.

Low win odds, but not 0%.

Why propose this? What wish?

Harisha hummed her signature relaxed smile at me.

Moments later, I spoke.