Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: It Worked When I Tried
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Once I gave it a shot, the second time was way easier.
No need to focus as hard as the first time—the flames just rose up in my palm on their own.
Every time I cast magic, my head felt like it was burning up, but that was fine in this ice age world.
Opening the window and breathing in the outside air cooled my head right down.
It was so damn cold that I could actually use Phlogiston School magic freely.
"Looks delicious. Slurp."
I shot fire at the meat, and a mouthwatering aroma hit my nose hard.
I had no idea what kind of meat Cosmic Dust had sent me, but the smell alone was top-notch.
For the first time in five years of rolling around in snowdrifts, I felt a hunger this intense today.
As soon as I posted proof of the perfectly cooked meat, Firepower Enthusiast's comment popped up.
I'd just adjusted the flames like tweaking the gas on a stove. Apparently, that was a big deal.
It really wasn't anything special, but getting all this praise felt great.
Nobody hates hearing compliments.
"Ow, hot!"
The roof of my mouth got burned biting into the perfectly cooked meat.
Of course, I didn't care and kept chewing.
Juices dripped down my chin.
The flavor was beyond words.
"Haa. That hit the spot."
I wanted more.
But I had to ration the food.
Couldn't let hunger make me devour it all.
And starting today, I needed to scavenge remnants of civilization to send to Cosmic Dust. I'd eat the rest for dinner.
Shame, but skipping class today.
I had to submit something to Cosmic Dust by tomorrow, so I needed to scout the area ASAP.
Miss the deadline, and she'd cut the connection without mercy, dead or not.
Without her food supplies, I'd starve to death.
"Got my weapon too. Good to go."
I put on the goggles.
Eye protection is key.
Then I wrapped myself in the white coat to blend into the snowfield and gripped a sharply honed steel pipe.
Its length was perfect for thrust-and-retreat in a pinch.
And since it was hollow, it wouldn't be instantly lethal if stabbed.
I replied to the users' greetings and opened the door to my hideout. A blast of frigid air hit me. Goddamn ice age. At least no blizzard this morning. Small mercy. 'Where to today...' Planning to check out the nearby underground mall. Might have something Cosmic Dust wants. But underground malls were pretty dangerous. 'Could be revenants. Or crazy raiders.' One or the other was guaranteed. Both were seriously bad news. But I had to go anyway. Starve to death? Or get eaten by monsters? Had to pick one.
"Huuu."
I pushed through snow up to my calves and pressed on. No signs of life nearby, no tracks of anything moving around. 'It's dark.' At the underground mall entrance, I hesitated to go in. I hadn't set foot in here for two years. Not knowing what lurked below... That slowed my steps and fed my fear. Crazy humans might be gathered down there. Or revenants risen from death. 'Raiders are dangerous, but still...' Revenants were worse. They were powerless in sunlight, but in the dark or at night? No way to beat them. 'Huu...' I descended into the pitch-black underground mall, unable to see a foot ahead. These goggles let me see in the dark. Farmed off a raider corpse a year ago. No clue how they lit up the darkness, and no way to figure it out. I just adapted to what was given and made use of it. If it was useful, that was enough. 'Nothing here?' No signs of presence, so I moved bolder. Hardly any loot left in the underground mall, but worth searching. 'Best to find books to please Cosmic Dust.' Everything burnable had been torched already—no scrap of paper in sight. I posted a video of the dim underground mall to the gallery, feeling deflated.
Slaves? Maybe somewhere.
I was about to thank Human Lover for worrying when a faint noise reached my ears.
I whipped my head toward the sound.
Something staggered there, staring at me.
'A revenant... Shit!'
Twisted joints in unnatural angles.
That wasn't human.
No wonder raiders left the underground mall alone.
Bodies starting to wake one by one with the ice age.
But not like movie zombies.
These had low numbers.
Not everyone who died turned into one.
They had some intelligence too.
Rip humans apart barehanded and drain mental strength up close.
Hard to kill, hard to escape—best to avoid them.
But today, it spotted me first.
Could I shake it off before escaping the mall?
Impossible. Never seen a human outrun a revenant.
Better to fight.
Get grabbed, and it'd tear me in half.
Close range? Certain death.
'Knew this could happen, and I crawled in anyway.'
Couldn't forget that morning meat.
Better to die fighting than starving.
It was do or die anyway.
Die here? Regrettable.
"Huu."
Revenant traits: blinding speed, insane strength, mental attacks.
'Just one. Only one. I've got a shot.'
If two had spotted me, I'd have offed myself quick.
Luckily, just this one.
Kill it, and the mall's mine to loot.
Steel pipe spear wasn't for this thing.
I carefully drew my pistol.
Only one bullet, but a headshot might win it.
'Fuck. Hands shaking. Calm down. Please.'
Forcing courage in my mind.
But facing reality, knowing I'd die—hands trembled.
Gallery sages? One spell, monster dead.
Jealous. Wanted that strength.
"Kieeeek!"
The revenant shrieked and charged.
I held my breath, waiting as it closed in.
Stopped the shaking by force.
When I could hit for sure, pulled the trigger.
Bang-!
The massive gunshot echoed, shoving the charging revenant back.
Hit it... but...
'Fucked up.'
Missed the head.
Bullet in its shoulder.
It bled and flew into a bigger rage.
Two meters tall, arms freakishly long—it charged.
Die like this?
"Fuck off!!! You bastard!!!"
Didn't want to die like this.
Hadn't even finished Cosmic Dust's food.
Some asshole finds my hideout later, eats all my stash.
Too wasteful. Couldn't let that happen.
Whoosh.
Flames erupted from my palm.
Tossed the pistol, thrust my hand out—flames engulfed the revenant's head and upper body as it charged.
"Wha...?"
Nosebleed hit, head throbbed like splitting.
Vision spun; its cries drained my mental strength, flooding me with terror and anxiety.
Mana overload from overcasting, depletion symptoms.
Plus mental drop from the revenant—total chaos.
Hands shook from pain, but stopping meant the half-burned thing would rip me apart.
"Die already..."
Vomiting blood in my mind, I thrust both hands out, pouring flames on the thrashing revenant.
I'd broken Phlogiston School taboo again.
Don't awaken excessive sparks.
'Excessive sparks in an ice age? Bullshit!'
Flames roaring, but I was still cold.
Yeah, the world was that frozen.
This wasn't excessive.
Excessive is flames that wouldn't die after burning me up.
Burn completely.
Leave no bones, just ash.
Like grilling that morning meat, I controlled the heat.
Max power I could muster, wrapping its whole body in fire.
Suddenly, felt like I broke through a wall.
"Kieeeek!"
The flailing revenant finally slammed into the ground.
It stopped moving.
Utter silence, not a twitch.
Dead.
I burned a man-ripping revenant with my own hands.
"Haa..."
Legs gave out; I collapsed too.
Crawled to the burning corpse, stabbed its gut with the steel pipe.
No reaction.
Mercy kill confirmation is vital.
'Definitely dead!'
Warmed my hands by the revenant bonfire like thawing by a campfire.
Survived.
Alive again.
Without magic, I'd be dead already.
Joy of survival, relief, thrill—a small ambition ignited.
Want to get stronger.
Want to wield even stronger magic.
This incident fully set me on the path of the mage.