116. A really fucking big accident

Anyway, I get that I've obtained an incredibly rare attribute.

You're reacting like this, so there must be something to it.

It wasn't painful or anything, just cool and ticklish, so I stayed still...

-Swish...

"Haa... In my old age, tremendous fortune has come my way..."

Grandma stared at me intently, like someone who'd just stuffed themselves full of the most amazing food.

-Whirring~

"Oh dear... Look at my manners..."

Grandma thoroughly dried my damp clothes and pointed to the spot in front of the sofa.

"Heh heh, I've shown you an unsightly side. Go sit down, will you? I'll explain everything."

Somehow... her tone's gotten all gentle and sweet, like she's looking at her real grandson...

"Hehe, my disciple?"

"??? Ah, yes. Understood."

Once we sat facing each other, Grandma took a trembling sip of tea and nodded with her head.

-Clink... Slurp... Slurrrp!

"Hoo... Alright. Do you know what you just obtained?"

"Hmm... Water and an incredibly good Lightning Attribute talent?"

-Whoosh!

"It's not just 'incredibly good'! It's the Energy of Exorcism that only four chosen ones in the entire history of magic have ever obtained...!!!"

I pressed down on Grandma's shoulders as she shot up and calmed her.

-Thud!

"Yes. So, please explain..."

Grandma crossed her arms with a look of utter disbelief.

"Heh heh... Any other mage would be running around town spreading the word..."

Would I want to catch the eye of those pink-haired brats?

I had to go meet Hilda today, and I didn't want to waste any more time.

"Got it... Come on! Now explain for real! It's something insanely amazing!"

-Squish...

"That's right, you brat! What does it mean to be born with the Lightning Attribute? First off, you know it lets you use magic regardless of affinity, right?"

-Nod

"But those born with the Lightning Attribute have the Energy of Exorcism infused into their lightning magic. At its peak, it gains the power to purify wicked souls."

In simple terms, extra damage to the undead.

"Then what's the difference from Divine Power?"

Grandma thumped her chest in frustration.

-Thump thump!

"That! Ugh, extreme! The output is different—the output! Being born with an attribute means excellent fusion with other attributes. And since lightning is a tricky one to handle, the fusion effects are super high. Historical records say it's 'as if recreating divine punishment itself'—that powerful and ever-changing."

"Ooh..."

"...Go learn history from somewhere else. Basically, mix it with anything and it gets stronger."

I got it, but she's giving me that 'I'm reciting sutras to a cow' face.

I'm thrilled right now—doesn't it show?

Just as I wondered if I should act it out more...

"Heh..."

Grandma suddenly started laughing like she had bipolar disorder.

"Heh heh heh heh... Uhahaha!! Me teaching a kid like that? Thanks to you, I'll carve my name deep into history. Alright, let's start class! First, rotate your Circle!!"

Her energy's hard to keep up with.

I just nodded and began rotating my Circle.

-Whirring...!

"Close your eyes and imagine a clear puddle of water."

Looks like she's starting with water magic.

She'll teach me lightning magic properly later, I bet.

I closed my eyes and pictured a calm puddle.

"..."

"Whether it's swordsmanship or magic, it all comes down to the same thing. Great focus. Now, in your imagination, dip your hand into the water."

An image of my body formed in my mind.

After eating and doing only this, it's a piece of cake.

In my imagination, I dipped my hand into the water.

A faint ripple spread through the still water, and a cool sensation spread.

"Impressions?"

"It's cool."

"More."

She wants more detail?

I lightly swished my hand.

"I feel resistance."

"More."

"It feels so free."

Grandma spoke in an excited voice.

"Free? In water? Didn't you just say you felt resistance?"

"The shape. It takes whatever shape I want, right?"

"Shape? Water just flows away when you grab it, always sinking down—where's the shape in that? Can you shape water into a spear with your hand? You can't even make a round ball yet."

Her barrage of questions made me think harder.

Shape it... Is shaping the right word...?

To do that, I need to scoop this water up first.

I cupped my hand to scoop the water.

-Dribble...

But it doesn't hold completely.

Water leaking through my fingers.

Even if I try to lift it high, it doesn't go all ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the way.

So I need a tool... Maybe imagine a ladle?

"Try using just your body this time."

Grandma's advice nearly broke my concentration.

How'd she read my mind? Is the Magic Tower Lord just on another level...

Just my body, just my body... Let's scoop with both hands first.

Water scooped with both hands was definitely more in quantity and stable.

Still, it flowed through my fingers the same way.

Wish my hands were a bit bigger.

As I imagined enlarging my hands in my mind, Grandma chuckled.

"Hard to shape it, huh? Water leaking everywhere—what're you gonna do?"

I dipped my hand back in and thought.

As I thought of my hand growing, my palm started to tingle.

In my imagination, instead of growing, my hand was rooting into the water.

Slowly, like tree roots tangling in soil.

Is this right...? Why's it like this?

"What's wrong? Tough?"

"...I feel like I can hold the water."

-Gulp...

"Yeah? With what? A cup? A ladle? You can't even scoop with what you've got—how?"

"No, like uprooting it whole."

"?!?! Yes! Pull it up then!"

I lifted my hand and pulled up the puddle.

-Squelch~

"!!!! That's it! Now, what do you feel?"

In my imagination, both hands were enveloped in water.

Like wearing massive water gloves.

"It's trying to fall down."

"More."

"It tickles every time it touches the hairs on my wrist."

"More!!!"

"If I relax, it'll be a disaster."

"...Why?"

Why...

"Because water's more vicious than it seems."

"!!!!!!"

I'd only dipped my hand in water, but chills ran through my body.

If I got trapped in it... it'd be hopeless?

It'd sweep me away with its movement. Can't breathe, go cold...

Layering imagination on imagination, goosebumps rose along my spine.

Then...

-Snap!

"Stop! That's enough for today!"

I felt Grandma's power pulling me out of the water.

Huh? When...

"You ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠brat. What happens when you remove the ground to hold the puddle? Still, unbelievably good for the first day."

Grandma patted my back, but I was out of it.

‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

-Pat pat!

-Dazed...

"What was that?"

Grandma smirked, lips curling up.

"What else? Understanding water."

"Understanding water..."

"Yeah. Nine out of ten passersby couldn't answer if you asked about water. They'd say, 'Water's just water.'"

"..."

"But can you not understand the power you're gonna use? You gotta know this guy inside out. That's what you're doing now."

I see... Getting friendly with water...

"Tsk tsk, you look spaced out. Too much focus is a curse too. Alright, that's it for today! Come by often! You're doing great!"

"I haven't even grasped the basics yet, right?"

"Right. You feel and understand first, then it manifests. I'll teach you the circuits and methods then..."

Grandma flicked my forehead.

-Flick!

"Don't rush. I'm holding back from teaching more. Wanna make it solid!"

As expected, no true powerhouse neglects the basics.

Best to listen to Master in times like these.

"Thank you, Grandma!!!"

"Yeah! Be grateful! Don't forget me later! Uhahaha!!!"

That day's magic lesson ended like that.

Time had flown to just before lunchtime.

I headed to Hilda's mansion.

Alman, the head butler of the Duchy villa.

She recalled her master's written instructions and let out a groan.

"Urgh..."

Clear out all the servants from one side of the building.

And without any welcome...

As a subordinate, prying into intentions would be a grave breach of etiquette.

Just follow the master's will—that should suffice.

But she couldn't help the unease.

Alman nodded, thinking it must be for some cozy alone time with her future husband...

She waited standing like that for quite a while.

In the distance, a food supply cart began heading toward the secluded annex.

Alman, quick to notice her master was aboard, straightened her tie and her posture.

'Is Ryu-o-nim riding with her?'

Enough ingredients prepared to serve the two.

As she racked her brain for any shortages, the cart stopped before her.

The purple-haired merchant hopped down from the driver's seat and bowed his head before the door.

Alman knocked, and upon permission...

-Knock knock... Open

-Creeak...

".............................................?"

Alman, the 29-year ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠veteran head butler, made a dumbstruck face before her master for the first time in 28 years.