Chapter 3

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 3

Chapter Title: Magic Isn't Hard^^

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I settled into a corner of the spacious exam waiting room.

There had clearly been a huge line of people, but this waiting room only had around a hundred.

100 was still a lot, but considering I was number 888, it looked like they were splitting us up into groups.

The nobles, who seemed to already know each other, were chatting among themselves.

As a commoner, I didn't know anyone anyway.

It was perfect for practicing magic alone in the corner.

I began practicing just as MagicIsNotHard had described.

The basics were sensing mana.

This was the part I'd worried about the most, but I could sense it.

Just as MagicIsNotHard said, when I closed my eyes and focused my mind a bit, I could feel it.

Mana was just like air.

Like how we know we're surrounded by air, every time it brushed against my body, I felt tiny particles of blue mana.

And once I sensed that, I could feel the mana inside my own body too.

It was a bit different in form, though. It felt tailored to fit my body ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠perfectly?

Mana exists like air.

And the ability to store it inside my body, adjusted to the power I can use, seems to be mana capacity.

Now for the next step. If you can sense mana—

MagicIsNotHard's post was pretty long.

I didn't remember ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it all, so I opened the gallery window. No one else seemed to be able to see it anyway.

The comments had quieted down, and instead, new posts about me were popping up.

I wanted to check them out, but the exam was right around the corner.

I only opened MagicIsNotHard's post and saved the gallery browsing for later.

I already knew the early explanatory parts...

If you can sense mana, now it's time to use magic for real.

Magic is, simply put, like solving complicated equations with your own mana power. But don't worry—I've prepared efficient, simple, yet powerful spells even a muggle can use today :)

Magic formulas in the same category share common rules.

You combine and evolve them to create better magic.

Creating your own spells is for later. For now, since we're in a rush, I'll give you the formula directly. Just solve it with your mana.

(A scribbly diagram of tangled lines and shapes)

This is drawn neatly, but just drawing the picture won't cast the spell.

Think of tracing this diagram in midair with your own 'mana' along its paths.

This formula has five paths total. Draw all five at the same time^^

And distribute the exact right amount of mana to each path precisely for the spell to activate.

All paths meet at one point at the end. Control your drawing speed exactly so they converge there in a single instant. So, understanding each path's length and calculating speed is key, right?

Here, we call speed 'calculation speed,' the paths 'formulas,' and the whole process 'calculation.'

This formula is optimized so you just pour exactly 20 mana into each path. Lengths are matched, so same speed for all :). Not hard so far, right?

......

That was how to use magic.

It was pretty long, but the content was clear.

If you think of the magic formula as a picture made of lines and mana as your pencil, you just trace the lines to draw the picture.

For example, if it's a triangular formula, draw a triangle in midair with mana.

Of course, you have to memorize the formula and draw it in empty space.

And put the precise amount of mana into each path.

Memorizing the picture handles that. Controlling mana amounts isn't hard either.

Sure, more paths might get confusing, but just memorize better.

Plus, this one uses the same mana amount and calculation speed for all.

In other words, divide my mana evenly into five parts and draw each path.

"That's easy?"

It's just like drawing multiple lines at once with several pencils.

Like drawing a triangle with one hand and a square with the other.

Stronger magic just means more complex drawings.

Humans only have two arms, but mana can be split and controlled in multiple streams at once.

Draw each formula at the right calculation speed. That's it.

I diligently memorized the magic formula.

Once I got a feel for it, I read the rest of the post.

......

Congratulations! Now you can use magic.

One question might pop up: "Huh? My mana capacity is 100, so doesn't this spell use it all up? I can only cast it once? Or does mana recover fast?"

Mana recovery can be fast or slow.

Some are born with fast innate recovery. But for humans—even pureblood 100-mana muggles like you, it's near zero. If you had high innate recovery, your capacity would've exceeded 100 already.

So, for pureblood muggle Kim Muggle of the gallery, recovery is probably very slow. Don't worry, that's normal for humans. It'll recover very slowly if you just sit still. Maybe 10 per day at best?

"Man, this guy really talks a lot."

The post dragged on as I read.

I wanted a three-line summary of the key points, but it didn't seem like the type of content for that.

Lots of rambling made it longer.

Still, it was all necessary info.

No time, so I skimmed just the really important parts now.

......

If the exam format is demonstration-style, no worries. You won't need multiple casts anyway. Same method for any other formulas they give.

For combat format, 1v1 duels are fine. This spell packs enough punch in one shot.

Problem is survival format. Hide well, then BAM! at the critical moment :) Survive decently, show your skills once moderately, and you're usually in.

In other words, one spell handles all formats for a pass.

See? Super easy, right?

"Survival would depend on luck, though."

According to MagicIsNotHard, one full-mana blast like this covers every exam type.

It wasn't wrong, from what I heard.

Survival adds self-preservation, sure.

"Ah, Hisenna's in our group. Hope I don't match against her."

"Evan's here too? Group draw sucks."

"Please get a good duel opponent..."

Overhearing other examinees, the academy's entrance exam seemed to be 1v1 duels.

Land one spell, win the duel, enter the academy.

Even a loss didn't mean automatic fail.

It's about how well you perform.

Using the archmage's spell should get me in, right?

"Five paths with mana like this... whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

I focused on memorizing the formula for the remaining time.

Practiced dividing mana evenly to trace the paths.

But no actual casting here—just getting the feel.

"This should be doable."

After some practice, I felt confident.

Hadn't tried it for real, but just draw the five paths at equal speed and mana.

I was always good at drawing a square with one hand and a triangle with the other anyway.

"Next, examinee number 888!"

My turn finally came.

I stood and headed to the exam room.

"Huh, Ian?"

Then a brown-haired female candidate spotted me and looked shocked.

Didn't seem like my opponent. Was she an acquaintance of the original owner's?

Unsure what to say, I mumbled awkwardly and entered the exam room.

But once inside, I immediately forgot about the brown-haired girl.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'Oh right, gotta post on the gallery.'

Id forgotten to post on the Archmage Gallery before the exam started.

I quickly posted that I'd be back after the exam.

Moments later, the duel began.

......

After Kim Muggle left the Archmage Gallery...

The archmages couldn't let go of his last cocky display.

No one really thought he'd succeed.

But his final words sounded ridiculous yet so confident to the archmages.

Just as the gallery was burning hot then fizzling...

Kim Muggle posted.

Comments exploded in seconds.

Kim Muggle's casual declaration shook the archmages even more.

And after he went to the exam...

As time passed, their curiosity made the truth-seekers go wild.

Their thirst for the unknown was intense.

......

And after a while longer...

Kim Muggle's exam results post went up.