Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Dimensional Magic Debut
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4
“What are you talking about? Useful how?”
There was no one else in the training grounds.
When I asked casually, Deathwise clicked his tongue telepathically.
-This is why the young ones these days… Dimensional magic is akin to the pinnacle of all magical paths. Even if it exists only as a concept rather than in reality, it’s a magic that can interfere with dimensions. At that level, it’s worthy of being called a divine authority.
In the Broken World setting, there was a subtle hierarchy between magic and divine authorities.
No matter how advanced magic became, it could imitate but never catch up to divine authorities.
-Dimensional magic, simply put, is magic that interferes with space. In theory, within a space dominated by dimensional magic, one can exert absolute influence.
“It looks impressive, but it seems ridiculously difficult.”
-Magic is purely theoretical by nature. You meticulously calculate and construct spell formulas, then execute them to interfere with the world and manifest phenomena. Of course it’s difficult. Interfering with dimensions themselves means handling an enormous amount of information, naturally.
More than that, this demon sword seemed to know quite a bit about dimensional magic.
Was it because he’d lived so long?
-Don’t be ridiculous. This one knows only because the previous wielder wielded dimensional magic.
“The previous wielder?”
-Indeed, it brought it to mind after so long. Both the previous wielder and you have talent for dimensional magic—a rather curious connection.
It did feel too coincidental to be mere chance.
There might be some link between the demon sword and dimensional magic.
Or it could just be an absurd coincidence of improbable odds.
“Anyway, you seem to know your stuff, so teach me.”
-What a bother. However, you do need to grow stronger… Very well. I’ll teach you a simple dimensional spell.
I stabbed the demon sword into the training ground floor.
Then, letting my arms hang loose, I relaxed my body.
-First, sense the dimension you exist in. Understand part of it and embrace it as your own. Once you seize control that way, the sensation of inverting the dimension itself will come.
“…How am I supposed to do that with such abstract instructions?”
-Complain to your predecessor if you’re unhappy. This one is merely relaying what he taught me.
Looks like the demon sword’s previous wielder was one of those so-called geniuses.
Clearly no talent for teaching others.
But what could I do?
I had no choice but to follow instructions for now.
I relaxed my body.
I dulled my ego and sharpened only my senses.
Observation precedes understanding.
I precisely grasped the surrounding space with every sense.
Not just visual data, but auditory, olfactory—the damp sweat on my skin, the temperature of the training grounds.
I gathered as much information as possible, wove it together for comprehension, and circulated mana through my circuits.
To cast magic, you must circulate mana through your body to activate the mana circuits.
The sensation of activating them I’d half-forced during rune magic practice.
I’d properly mastered conscious control in elemental magic lectures.
I’d thought learning basic elemental spells was pointless when I couldn’t even cast ignition…
Life really is unpredictable; learning anything proves useful eventually.
The mana circuits activated.
Feeling mana circulate through my body, I tried inverting the dimension as Deathwise instructed.
Or rather, attempted to.
“Ugh…….”
Each try shaved off huge chunks of mana.
The strain on my body was immense too.
The backlash from attempting magic beyond my level.
“This backlash is no joke….”
Even failing basic elemental ignition never caused backlash.
But dimensional magic crushed my entire body with it every attempt.
As I clutched my throbbing head, Deathwise tsked in an oddly irritated tone.
-Tsk tsk, did you think it would be easy? The problem with you young ones is wanting everything quick and simple. If dimensional magic were easy, every mutt and mongrel would use it.
“Even mutts and mongrels could use it….”
Choco might be able to pull off dimensional magic.
Muttering that, I waited for the headache to fade.
-Shall we continue?
“I’m pissed enough to keep trying.”
Once my mana depletes, I won’t be able to anyway.
So, I’d try until it ran dry.
……Don’t overthink it.
Deathwise’s explanation ultimately relied on sensation.
First, make that sensation my own.
No physics, vectors… no high school specialist knowledge I hadn’t touched since senior year.
Simply envision space as a 3D coordinate system.
X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis… familiar territory.
I drew a 3D coordinate grid in my mind, centered on myself.
To use it practically, I needed to record coordinates.
Mana served that purpose.
I converted only the areas touched by my deployed mana into a 3D grid.
Even eyes closed, arm outstretched—I could estimate length roughly, like gauging distance intuitively.
Something… clicked.
I held onto that sensation carefully.
I pulled the demon sword from the floor and sheathed it.
Then hurled it forward.
Invert.
That part remained elusive.
Instead, I twisted more locally and limitedly.
I swapped the mana at two separated coordinates within my spread.
The instant I thought to swap coordinates, the demon sword I’d thrown vanished from in front of me.
I did it.
No time to marvel—a heavy impact slammed my skull.
“Guh…!?”
I clutched my head.
Somehow, the demon sword had dropped right onto my head from above, now sprawled on the ground cackling.
-Foolish fool, what were you thinking teleporting it above your own head?
“I was trying to drop it behind me…!”
-That’s because you’re still green. Learn to teleport to spaces outside your sight only after mastery.
“I know that much.”
Thanks to grasping something just now, perhaps.
I felt like I understood dimensional magic, if only a little.
My mana basically acted as a signal network.
So, deploy mana, use it as signals at two distant coordinates, and swap them for simple teleportation.
You don’t even need to swap both.
Like with Deathwise earlier—for single-object moves, just insert into the target coordinate.
Hmm, I get it, but… it doesn’t organize neatly into words.
Ends up as pure sensation after all.
-At least you’ve taken your first step. So the talent claim holds true. It’s crude, but using mana as signals to swap coordinates worked.
“It came instinctively.”
Ironically, the opposite of what Deathwise described.
Pure instinct succeeded where rigorous calculation and deliberation would’ve failed.
Mana was nearly depleted, cast time absurdly long—useless in real combat……
“But damn, this is no joke.”
Just using my mana as a signal network offered insane versatility.
Fix mana at specific coordinates, maintain constant links to others?
I could make those famous gates to anywhere.
“Finally, the 30-second commute cutoff…!”
-With that talent, your first thought is shortening your commute…?
“Well, not just for that.”
The simplest spell Deathwise taught was teleportation.
Deeper dimensional grasp—who knows what else?
No, even just powering up teleportation would be cheat-level.
Twist a wandering meteor’s coordinates and pull it in?
I could grandly recreate the classic mage spell: Meteor.
Of course, that’d probably destroy the planet.
One thing was certain.
I finally had a useful ability…!
No more being ignored in daytime practicals while powering up only at night, looked down on by villains…!
-You ungrateful wretch, won’t even praise this one’s greatness…
“No, that’s not it. Dimensional magic’s just great for daytime. You’re the best at night.”
I reflexively retorted.
Only Deathwise could teach me dimensional magic now.
Flattering him immediately, he sighed.
-Hah… groveling and bootlicking…
Busted.
This is why mind-reading without permission sucks.
Where’d my privacy go?
Gurgle.
Looks like privacy vanished long ago.
Pushing mana circuits to the limit left me starving.
“Well, I worked hard today.”
Time for a feast.
5
“Finally, time to dig in.”
I swallowed hard in a corner of the student cafeteria.
On my tray loomed a massive crustacean.
Today’s prize: a head-sized roasted lobster.
Not just any lobster, but butter-roasted lobster.
I’d craved it forever, saving it for a rewarding day like today.
“Bon appétit.”
Heart pounding, I gripped my fork.
How chewy yet tender, salty yet nutty would this lobster be?
I scooped a big chunk of butter-infused meat and shoved it in.
Mm, mm….
This is……
“Tasty, but not as amazing as I hoped….”
Did I overhype it?
It’s crab-level… no, crab’s better.
For sure.
Childhood snow crab was tastier.
That tender leg meat popping out clean, roe-filled innards mixed with rice—total rice thief.
Rice thieves mean fermented crab too, of course.
Mom occasionally made it herself.
Pressing roe-packed crab onto rice for a spoonful…
“…I miss home cooking.”
Was that slip my true feelings?
It’d been a while since I couldn’t have it, but the taste lingered unforgettable.
Store-bought or my imitations never matched.
Even same ingredients, I couldn’t replicate.
With otherworldly ingredients now, that home cooking was gone forever.
No wonder I felt wistful.
Appetite gone, I set down my fork.
“There you are, Theo.”
“Professor Bailey?”
He approached and sat empty-handed across from me.
Obvious why Bailey sought me.
“No lecture today?”
“Yes, none.”
“Only elemental magic studies. Plenty of free time?”
“…No, I’m pretty busy with personal schedules. Just finishing lunch, then back to assignments and training.”
“Shame. But it’s fine. Time can always be made.”
Excuse me?
Time doesn’t just get made…
“Want to hit the conference with me this weekend?”
“…Sorry, prior commitment.”
Total lie, obviously.
Can’t waste precious weekends on conferences.
“Then next week?”
“Prepping for finals…”
“How about the week after?”
“Promised fun after finals…”
“The week after that? Or the one after, no problem.”
He can’t take a hint?
No tact, or just ignoring it outright.
Excuses running thin.
Just as I wondered if I’d need a “traffic accident scheduled” level out, Edmund glared coldly at Bailey.
“Seems you can’t grasp refusal.”
“If he hated it, he’d say so. Twisting words isn’t nice, Professor Edmund.”
No, you two…
Professors have their own staff cafeteria.
Why invade the student one?
“No one wants to spend precious weekends there.”
Edmund neatly ignored Bailey.
Surprisingly perceptive.
“There’s a symposium today—let’s go together.”
Correction: no tact, no conscience.
Thinking back, without those, Clara wouldn’t have ended up so broken.
“Who goes to a symposium before tomorrow’s lecture?”
“Busy weekdays are better anyway.”
They began bickering softly.
I wanted out.
I bowed politely and stood.
Aigoo, headache…
This’ll give me chronic migraines….