Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Regarding How Magic Was Too Easy
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Humans advanced their civilization by mastering fire.
It's no exaggeration to say that fire was the foundation allowing humanity to thrive and the bedrock of civilizational development.
After all, by wielding fire, humans could protect themselves from the cold and wild beasts.
By cooking their food, they dramatically reduced diseases and mortality rates caused by parasites.
Fire also extended activity hours, letting humans conquer the night and darkness.
And it even enabled metal smelting, leading to the development of farming tools and sparking the agricultural revolution.
For all these reasons, I decided my first magic would be fire magic.
She could take that as agreement, right?
I don't know about their world's lore, but here the baseline was college graduation.
I hadn't completely skipped studying.
I'd put in some real effort.
The results weren't great, though.
Since the baseline was a four-year college, of course it was a four-year major.
Why's she so shocked?
Is college super hard to get into in other worlds?
Some misunderstanding was snowballing.
I'd only picked philosophy because I sucked at math.
But everyone was impressed, showing even more interest.
In their world, philosophy must be a prerequisite for mages.
Me, an unemployed bum on Earth, a genius philosopher here?! Nothing like that.
Once my school was decided, the admin quickly calmed the heated sages.
The Sage Time Gallery regained its peace.
I wanted to try other magics too, but no choice.
Fire magic—igniting flames with just mana, no fuel—is perfect right now.
Firepower Enthusiast explained the Phlogiston School enthusiastically.
Phlogiston, huh.
I've definitely heard that name before.
What's this déjà vu?
Suddenly, I recalled a science philosophy class from long ago.
'Ah, phlogiston. Got it.'
Phlogiston hypothesis.
A modification of Aristotle's four elements theory.
Phlogiston was said to be particles in all combustible materials.
Released when they burned? Or something? Not sure.
Particles, elements.
Just basic common sense, right?
Introductory science.
Firepower Enthusiast asked about this world's education system.
I explained that humans here go through elementary, middle, and high school—12 years total—before university.
Their world uses private tutors.
If entering the magic path, they attend the Imperial Academy.
Education was a symbol of wealth and power.
Firepower Enthusiast was from a pretty prominent noble family there.
By my standards, the phlogiston hypothesis was the delusion.
What was science like in their world?
The whole gallery reacted the same.
Science as inferior, worthless knowledge was the norm?
Maybe all medieval fantasy settings?
Yep, fantasy world confirmed.
Now I got why education levels varied so wildly by class there.
With magic, how could democracy develop?
Nobles blasting spells—commoners just die.
Solid power structures mean education follows class.
From a universal view, equal mandatory schooling for all kids is pretty amazing.
Firepower Enthusiast finished the Phlogiston School intro and dove into fire magic basics.
I understood all the formulas and magi-language she taught.
Even the core principle: 'combustion and byproducts'—totally got it.
Nothing really hard.
All junior high curriculum.
Wonder if it's really that praiseworthy.
But different cultures, different common sense—makes sense she'd see me as amazing.
Finally, time to cast magic!
Already over five hours of basics with Fang—or whatever.
Now for real magic!
Dusk was falling, temperature dropping further.
Layers of clothes, but still shivering uncontrollably.
Ice age nights are hell.
Want a fire ASAP.
Escape this cold.
Cast real magic now.
Fang taught mana breathing.
Deep inhale, slow exhale, chant the incantation inwardly.
Should feel little pops in the breath.
'...This it?'
Like pop rocks fizzing in my mouth.
I could feel it.
With each inhale, mana popped and absorbed into me.
But the amount was huge—like chugging fresh soda.
Good. Fang's breathing worked.
First time sensing and experiencing mana.
Fun sensation.
'Recall the earlier incantation. Imagine a spark forming in front of me... No, not a small spark. Bigger flame. More heat.'
Something gathered in my palm.
Fang said just feel mana, but I wanted fire.
Closed eyes to focus.
Slowly awakened phlogiston particles in the mana.
Here, phlogiston—mere hypothesis there—danced on my palm.
Head hurt, sudden heat.
Then Fang's warning flashed.
Top cause of death for Phlogiston mages: spontaneous combustion.
Burning alive.
Brain melts first.
That's handling phlogiston.
But this heat felt welcome.
World too cold.
I craved flames to melt this extreme chill.
Raging inferno.
That's the heat I want.
Whoosh.
"...Whoa."
Flames erupted on my palm.
Brighter red than the sun above.
'Success!!!!'
Want to brag about this beautiful flame.
First successful spell.
Mana running low—fading fast—so I snapped proof quick.
Short but intense.
Too overwhelming to even think of grilling meat.
Watched the fading embers after posting proof.
If there was any fuel nearby, I'd have kept it going.
Regretful.
But I saw Phlogiston School's potential.
Study more fire magic—maybe eternal flames later?
'Huh? Why so many notifications?'
Comments exploding on my proof post.
Congrats? Checked excitedly.
Huh?
It just worked when I tried.
My incantation too desperate?
Speculation about my world too.
Not sure what pure mana is, but sounds good.
Sages' consensus on my magic:
Not fully sunk in, but they say I've got talent.
Some even called me genius.
Genius from the sages.
Live long and prosper.