Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Teaching (2)
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Merin's magic, up to a certain stage, was nothing more than a change in scale—it just grew larger.
But from the moment her mana expanded like a lake, it could no longer be called simple expansion.
The water attribute had become far more refined. To my eyes, it was still an early realm... but how to put it? It felt like it had been imbued with order, a higher-dimensional sensation.
Merin's demonstrated magic stopped there, but strangely, I knew what came next.
In the end, that was just one stage.
The next was a shift from phenomenon to principle.
Going beyond the phenomenon of water, it was the stage where one began grasping and manipulating the essential laws inherent to water.
If personal characteristics combined here, it would branch into magic with countless applications.
The stage where one could handle dozens or hundreds of applications stemming from a single branch.
Principle.
Merin had only shown magic at the 7th hierarchy level, but she could probably handle principles to some extent.
What she intended to convey was clear. The 7th hierarchy wasn't a realm reachable through mere repetitive mastery; it required enlightenment on a whole other dimension.
I understood her intent.
Since I already knew the principle stage to some degree, I could predict the process, but I hadn't personally experienced those detailed changes in my body.
So, if I could learn it, that would be great.
Even if I couldn't reach the 7th hierarchy right now, knowing it would surely help me someday.
Merin must have shown it with that in mind.
"Why? Can't figure it out even after seeing it?"
"...When it swelled from mid-sized to lake-scale, something definitely changed."
"Right, anyone with eyes wide open would notice that much."
"... ."
I wondered if she still harbored dissatisfaction even while teaching, but her expression was remarkably serious.
A strict teaching style, perhaps.
"Repetitive mastery? Good. Persistence, effort? Good. But magic requires talent. Talent overwhelmingly so, in terms of ratios. If you had the talent to break through the 7th hierarchy in one go, you'd have felt that difference instantly. I showed it pretty blatantly, after all."
Well, she wasn't entirely wrong.
I admit I lack talent. At least in the phenomenal realm.
I rarely felt pride in my hierarchy.
The only thing I'd call talent was in traits. Trait Conversion. This overwhelming talent had instantly elevated my trait hierarchy, and thanks to it, my phenomenal hierarchy had been dragged up to the 6th.
And feeling the boundless potential of Trait Conversion, I'd had similar thoughts to hers. Without Trait Conversion, I wouldn't even have dreamed of handling all attributes and traits.
After numerous trials and errors, my established view was that "talent" in magic encompassed too broad a scope.
Someone might excel in a specific area, but from the perspective of magic as a whole, it was an exceedingly minor part.
So, casually judging talent was reckless for anyone short of a god—that was my take.
"Everyone hits a wall at some point. Even you must have had a similar phase, Senior."
"I've never felt a lack of talent."
...Really?
Well, probably not as a regular person.
"Don't Transcendents hit another massive wall?"
"That was easy for me too."
She seemed to have at least reached Dragon Rank.
"What about the next wall, then?"
"Well... I haven't been up there long, so it's natural."
As she said that, Merin's expression finally turned a bit sullen.
Her trait was Amplification. The moment she couldn't find more applications, her limits would inevitably show.
Of course, she might be hiding something.
An application I hadn't thought of... In that case, I'd concede.
I casually asked.
"I'm curious how you utilize your trait, then."
"Trait?"
"Don't you have the Amplification trait?"
"How did you know?"
"Like when you drenched my lab with rain last time, or the magic you just showed. Amplification is naturally fused in."
"Ahem, true. But so what? A trait is just a trait. If you can naturally integrate it, that's enough. And I can. In every spell I cast."
Right, that was the typical mage mindset.
No matter how proficient in water-stream magic, without conscious utilization of the attribute, advancing deeper into principles was difficult.
Of course, understanding principles didn't directly equate to the Transcendent realm.
My way might lead to the 'System of Creation,' or perhaps another path entirely. It could be on a completely different level from reaching Transcendent.
I couldn't know yet, since I hadn't trodden it.
If I could verify that this time...
"... ."
"What's got you dissatisfied now, you picky brat? Can't find anything to nitpick?"
I didn't want to hear that from her.
I'd snapped back roughly because I'd grown fed up with her personality.
What flashed through my mind now was another application for Amplification.
...Should I say it?
No, I couldn't just give it away one-sidedly. I needed something in return.
"Then, what fundamentally changes when shifting to the 7th hierarchy?"
At my question, her lips nearly reached her ears.
"Aha... Got your interest now? Dying of curiosity? Be honest. No need for pride."
A smile as deeply etched as her intent to tease.
"If I'm giving, you should give too. Promise that."
"Huh? Give what?"
I'd pondered Merin's Amplification trait applications once before.
I hadn't delved deep then, quickly concluding there weren't many and moving on.
But rethinking it now, another possibility emerged. Probably thanks to helping Oz and handling various traits directly this time, broadening my thinking.
Amplification. Its supportive potential stood out.
Not just her own magic... but amplifying others' magic or boosting artifact performance.
"Think about trait applications. Not just infusing it into your own magic, but ways to apply it broadly. Ever thought of tampering with someone else's magic?"
"Out of nowhere? Is that how you take my teaching—"
"Just answer."
"...When my hierarchy was much lower, I had similar thoughts. But it had nothing to do with raising hierarchy, so I dropped it."
"If you've tried it, you'll understand quickly."
A picture formed in my mind.
What if such a mage existed in a major battle?
A being who elevated every surrounding spell with their own mana alone. A strategic weapon that could reshape the entire battlefield.
"If Amplification can affect those around you, it's as good as handling other attribute magic without learning it. And not just magic—you could apply amplification to your own senses too."
However, these were broad applications of the trait.
Taking it deep... yeah, maybe even touch conceptual things.
"What do you think is the principle of the water attribute?"
"... ."
"To me, it's flow."
As if she had no idea why I was bringing this up, a flicker of change crossed Merin's displeased face.
Had she thought the same?
"Expanding further, change and circulation."
"You... ."
"Simply put, amplifying the conceptual principle of circulation... ."
She'd started half-doubting but listened naturally, then froze wide-eyed at my last words.
"From here on, it's paid content."
"...What?"
Merin's eyes, sinking into deep contemplation, snapped back to normal.
And what filled them next was exasperation.
...Well, I'd given plenty of hints with what I'd said so far.
I could forge mana myself and demonstrate, but... no need to be that kind to her. I hadn't even done it for Oz.
"Be honest. You're intrigued now, right? Drop the pride."
I threw her own words back at her, and her lips twisted.
"Got a vindictive streak?"
"Basic mage quality."
"...Tch, can't argue there. Yeah, I'm intrigued. I get what you're saying. So... simply put, you want to exchange teachings."
"Exactly."
"...But does this make sense? You're only 6th hierarchy... ."
"If hierarchy was everything in magic, wouldn't a talented senior like you already be commanding Transcendents?"
"You sure know how to say ambiguous things that could be praise or sarcasm... Wait, why are you so calm? Doesn't this feel normal to you?"
"No."
She rambled on long-windedly, as if justifying her flustered behavior in front of a 6th hierarchy mage.
"Fine, a 6th hierarchy mage worrying about a Transcendent's realm. It's abnormal! Never happened before! Not just me—any Transcendent dropped into this would panic!"
"First time for me too."
"No! You'd have been too arrogant to panic and worrying about your life instead."
"Ah, your magnanimity... I appreciate it."
"And while I'm intrigued, calling it an equal exchange of teachings is... ."
"What if I'm more helpful?"
"Take that back."
"Good choice. So, when will you tell me?"
"Ah, then... ."
Just as Merin was about to speak.
Tick.
An artifact on one side of the training ground reacted.
Like the one at Vieirn Castle's main gate, it was a device to pre-check visitors.
So, we could see who it was on the training ground's screen.
"...Oz?"
"Huh?"
Well, only a few knew about this place. Transcendents slyly digging into my background... or Oz.
"Hold on a sec. Someone's here."
"Oz? Sounds familiar... ."