Chapter 34

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 34

Chapter Title: To-Do List (3)

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I headed straight to the library as soon as class ended. It was because of Rae's commission for a two-person play in Latynel.

There wasn't anything particularly difficult about it, and I finished it in thirty minutes, tailored to Rae's level of Latynel.

I'd quoted her 3,000 Ren. Of course, even if I'd asked for double that, she probably would've handed it over with a smile.

But I'd learned a few things while rolling around in the underworld.

If you swat a baby bear cub, the mama bear comes charging out. And if you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eat too much, you get a stomachache.

The Hilton family is dangerous. They're one of the wealthiest houses on the continent, but even in the underworld where all sorts of information swirled around, I'd never heard a whisper about the Hiltons.

A family with zero opinions—good or bad. Even the underworld's denizens instinctively avoided and shunned them.

Taking just the right amount for the work done is the best policy.

"......Should've charged 5,000 Ren."

Anyway, the ghostwriting for Rae was done, so I turned to my own studies.

Mana Studies to Mana Formulas

A second-tier Mana Studies book. It said it was for 'second-year mana high school level,' but on Endex's scale, it was probably first-year material.

I opened the cover.

[Introduction]

[Mana Studies leads to mana formulas. Of course, mana formulas aren't an advanced form of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Mana Studies. Mana Studies is pure academia, while mana formulas are empirical. Mana Studies merely helps you understand mana formulas more easily......]

To put it in perspective, a mana formula is like a machine. A fairly simple one. A mana spell is a complex machine.

Mana Studies, on the other hand, is the tool that interprets those machines and explains how to use them.

Some geniuses possess the 'intuition' to handle machines without tools, but us ordinary folks need this tool.

[Chapter 1: Circuit Basics]

The reason Mana Studies is a tool lies in these 'circuits.'

[Mana Studies' most significant utility is discerning the 'circuit' of a mana formula. You analyze the mana formula with the tool of Mana Studies to derive the circuit diagram......]

A lone mana formula is just a geometric pattern. A jumble of shapes and lines.

But analyze it with Mana Studies, and the 'circuit' emerges. The diagram representing that is called the 'circuit diagram.'

The circuit diagram reveals the sequence in which mana flows to activate the mana formula. Like an electrical circuit diagram, why.

A caster must manipulate mana without deviating from this circuit diagram to manifest the mana formula.

[Example 1: The mana formula Generation: Fire, and the Mana Studies equation describing it. Complete the circuit diagram.]

[TIP: Finding the starting point is key.]

"......"

The example.

I stared at it blankly.

There was a mana formula. One large circle, a large triangle inscribed in it, three small circles attached to the triangle, and various lines connecting the gaps between them.

Beneath it was some equation expressed in Mana Studies notation. Solve that, and you get the circuit diagram, apparently.

"What the hell is this."

I had no clue about Mana Studies equations, so of course I couldn't figure out the mana formula's circuit diagram either?

Wait, but I could?

"What."

My eyes widened.

I could see it.

The circuit diagram for Generation: Fire suddenly appeared before my eyes.

On the textbook's example mana formula, with no symbols at all, a 'starting point' suddenly flashed blue. From there, a blue line branched out, properly tracing the mana formula in the correct sequence.

I was just sitting there doing nothing, yet the mana formula's circuit diagram naturally 'revealed' itself to me.

"......Why?"

I blinked vacantly. I had no idea what was happening, but Notebook was the prime suspect, naturally.

It was the same as always.

Capacity unchanged, memory list unchanged.

Then what the hell caused this...... wait.

"Paper Titmouse?"

Paper Titmouse.

The mana spell from handler Asilen that I'd left memorized on the off chance—honestly, I'd just forgotten to delete it.

No way, because of this?

"......Hold on."

It made perfect sense.

I'd memorized the 'mana spell' Paper Titmouse. Not just its form, but the entire flow of mana circulating through the spell.

And mana spells are superior to mana formulas. A mana spell encompasses mana formulas—it's a broader, more complex concept.

Think about it.

If someone could understand a mana spell's circuit diagram, couldn't they naturally understand the much simpler one for a mana formula? Wouldn't they have to?

Mana spells or mana formulas—they both operate on the same mana principles.

"Like branches extending out......"

In simple terms.

Like the proverb "see one, know ten," the Paper Titmouse in Notebook was intuitively applied to interpret the mana formula.

In other words, Notebook's Paper Titmouse had become the foundation of my intuition.

A 'database,' you might say.

"But why not the group project one? Ah, right."

The group project's mana spell was far larger and more complex than Paper Titmouse. This one consisted of four mana formulas, while the group one had six? Or who knows how many—it was massive.

Anyway.

I understood circuit diagrams now.

In a way I never expected: the genius method—through 'intuition.'

"......Wonder if it'll work."

Even so, a problem remained. Understanding was just step one; implementation was next.

And sure enough, I'd never successfully manifested a mana formula before. I'd bounced between hospital and school without even knowing what a circuit diagram was, too broke for tutoring or even textbooks.

I'd just scraped by aiming to finish third year somehow, cheating with Notebook all the way. Self-consoling as a physical type with a knight for a dad.

A sick body, a sick mind.

"Hoo......"

I raised a finger. On it, I summoned the mana formula Generation: Fire exactly as its circuit diagram dictated.

A small flame flickered to life. Mana was consumed appropriately.

"......It worked."

A hollow laugh escaped me.

Something I'd never managed in my whole life, done this easily.

I silently lit a flame on my finger.

Extinguished it.

Lit it.

Extinguished it.

I repeated it dozens of times.

"......What if?"

Sudden curiosity struck.

If this worked, maybe I could manifest Paper Titmouse too—the one directly memorized in Asilen's Notebook?

Anticipating, I placed my hand on a sheet of paper.

"Ah, no, no way."

I gave up immediately.

Not enough mana. And by a ridiculous margin.

Of course—memorizing and manifesting are entirely different beasts.

'Manifesting' being the harder one was only natural.

"Urgh......"

I stretched.

"The rest tomorrow."

This was enough. My head was killing me.

I stood to leave, but spotted someone across the way.

A man whose very posture—book propped at an angle, deeply engrossed—resembled a work of art or sculpture: Gerkken Kal Dun.

When did he get here?

I glanced at his book.

Explorer's Dictionary

It was the Explorer's Dictionary. Prepping for Friday's team project, huh.

I sidled over stealthily.

"Hey."

"......"

Flip. Gerkken turned to look up at me as he turned the page.

"What's your team's exploration zone?"

Mist Mountains would be a pain.

"C."

Lucky—different from mine.

"No overlap. Where'd you get that book? Lend it to me after."

"Everything's checked out except this."

"......Oh yeah? Can you read it fast and pass it to me?"

I practically begged. Gerkken exhaled calmly, face impassive.

Was that a yes or no?

No helping it.

"Here, trade."

I offered the chocolate I'd saved for a sugar crash.

Foreign chocolate from the butcher shop owner. Something about bringing it back from the Valia Kingdom last winter.

"Deal?"

"......"

Gerkken eyed the chocolate.

For reference, the guy loves sweets. Chocolate, hotteok, ice cream, slushies—anything ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sweet. I knew his habits and diet pretty well, thanks to the same master.

He'd hogged all the caramel popcorn during movie night, that one time.

"It's foreign chocolate. See? The wrapper's not in Edsil Common—"

"Fine."

"Cool. When'll you finish? As soon as possible—"

"Thursday. Swordsmanship Studies class."

"Got it."

I handed over the chocolate as payment. Gerkken took it without a word.

"Later."

Crumple. I heard the wrapper as he started opening it, crinkle crinkle. I left the library.

Crumple crumple CRUMPLE!

Damn, he's tearing into it loud.

Already devoured and picking at crumbs?

I returned to the old building. Even just studying had left me wiped out.

This is why brainwork's real labor.

"......Huh?"

But on the path to the old building, there was Beltos Elder.

His presence was normal enough, but why was he up on a ladder trimming trees?

"Elder, whatcha doing?"

"......Can't you see? Tree maintenance."

"It's the old building anyway."

The old building used to be a classroom annex. So the trees lining the entrance were neatly arranged. The problem was they'd grown wild like ghosts from years of neglect.

"Too dense, and mana can settle in the woods."

True enough. Trees breathe like humans, absorbing mana.

That's why mountains see the most mana phenomena.

"Fair. Got more tools? I'll help."

"You staying out of the way helps enough."

"Psh. You don't know me. In the basement, right? Wait up."

I searched YouTube for [Gardener] on my way to the old building's basement. Found [Master Search: Gardener Edition].

Watched the video while grabbing a ladder and pruning shears, then headed back out.

"......"

I dropped the tools on the ground and plopped down. Eyes glued to my smartphone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠screen.

—When pruning branches, the starting point is crucial. Cut from the main branches first, considering growth direction and balance.

"What're you doing, kid?"

Beltos Elder called from below.

"Hold on. Finishing this, then I'll start."

Gotta pick up some know-how. Hour-long video, so plenty there.

—Prune at a 45-degree angle. It aids regrowth and creates a more natural shape......

Hm.

I nodded, convinced myself unnecessarily, admired the gardener's masterpieces—for a full hour.

"Done."

I pocketed my phone and set up the ladder. Climbed up and started snip snip.

I've said it before, but Look-See-Do doesn't make you an instant master. It just gives you a much higher starting floor than average—skipping beginner straight to intermediate.

So in any field, I can pick up movements and sensations below intermediate level almost instantly. But to reach that YouTube master's level, I still need proper practice.

Sure, I could pump mana for a momentary boost, but it's fleeting—so hands-on effort like this is easier.

Plus, I need way less effort than others to begin with, reach higher realms easier. See it once, never forget, absorb it naturally into my body.

Some might call it cheating, but this much is fine, right?

Terminal illness and all.

Snip snip.

I wiped sweat while pruning.

This is surprisingly fun. Could be a hobby.

"Done. Elder, how's it look? One tree finished."

I called down after fifteen minutes. The tree was neatly trimmed into a mushroom shape.

"Quit yapping—huh?!"

The elder turned, eyes bulging. Nearly fell off his ladder.

"Whoa, careful."

"......What the hell?"

Beltos Elder compared my tree to the one he'd just done.

Honestly, mine was a bit better.

"What are you? Where'd you learn that?"

The flustered elder even slipped into dialect. Grinning, I pulled out my phone from my pocket.

"YouTube. You should check it out sometime, Elder."