Chapter 45
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Stepping Stones (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"You can roam around freely while working on the assignment. It's an exam where cheating is impossible anyway. A walk to clear your mind is fine too. During lunch, feel free to order whatever food you like~"
What to pick? I stared at the bookshelves, deep in thought. Each shelf—advanced, intermediate, beginner—seemed to hold about a hundred books, totaling around three hundred.
Let's start with the beginner ones.
I pulled a book from the beginner shelf.
[Enchant: Alarm]
Flip, flip— I turned the pages. It was thirty pages total: eight for the mana formula, twenty-two for the infusion formula.
Truth be told, the infusion formula is more important than the mana formula itself. It's what keeps the mana formula—or mana spell—stable on an object. Without it or if it's botched, the enchant fades in ten minutes.
The basic process goes like this: Implant the mana formula into the object, then overlay the infusion formula using a mana stone as the medium. Beginner enchant complete.
That's how I know a bit about enchanting. The underworld thrives on illegal enchants, after all.
Clack.
Suddenly, a small shoe stepped up beside me. Someone stood next to me, peering up at the same shelf.
"Sion. Do you know how to enchant?"
It was Rae.
"As if that loser knows? He can't even get the circuits right—he'll fail."
Kain sneered from nearby.
"Hey, hey, hey. Don't steal the books just 'cause they're pricey. You'll get caught. Even working part-time all month, you couldn't afford one."
Esher chimed in.
"Ah, shut it, you guys! So noisy!"
Rae shoved the two away. They were playing their own drum and gong show.
"Anyway, Sion. Want me to teach you~?"
"......"
I checked the intermediate and advanced shelves too. Intermediate books ran thirty to forty pages, advanced forty to fifty.
If you're wondering why books are so thick when it's just one mana formula, blame the pages of mana studies equations explaining it.
Of course, with my intuition, I don't need mana studies equations.
"Want me to teach you!!!!"
"Whoa, you scared me."
"Teach me or not."
Rae made her mouth into a bulldog pout.
"Well...... who knows."
This level of mana formula? Paper bird handles it.
"Hah! You look like you don't trust me!"
"How'd you guess."
"Sand! Look at this!"
Then Rae showed off a bracelet.
"Sapphire-level artifact. Romelroad line, intermediate enchant. I only bring this grade to school to avoid attention? Got better stuff at home—with two mana spells embedded."
Sudden bragging. Rae cleared her throat and patted her chest.
"Ahem. Means I know enchanting inside out."
......What kind of logic is that?
"Owning a bunch of cars make you good at building them?"
"Sand. Why cars outta nowhere?"
"What else? That's your logic—"
"Sigh~ That's why guys are like that~ Only know cars, watches, stuff like that?"
"......"
"Anyway. Fine. How 'bout this?"
Rae pulled a beginner book: [Enchant: Purification].
"Enchant a cup with this, you could drink sewage."
"Not really craving that."
"Then this?"
She swapped: [Enchant: Deodorize].
"Artifact version sucks up all smells. Great for hiding your identity while......"
She suddenly shut up. Glanced over—eyes rolling like she'd slipped up.
"Neither. How 'bout this?"
"Wha, what?"
I grabbed an advanced one: [Enchant: Heater].
Obviously practical. Perfect for underwear. Rae snapped her fingers.
"Ah~ heater~ Tricky one. Slight mistake and it goes weird. Performance isn't even that great~"
"Is that so?"
She sounds like a real expert.
"Yeah. Even top mana stones only warm it 4-5 degrees max. Useless in hot places. Temperature control? Mana Body covers that anyway."
One Belt Four Lines Mana Body handles harsh conditions—blizzards, heatwaves—like a champ.
I can't use it.
"Well...... heater it is."
"Suit yourself~ I warned you~ No, I totally helped you~"
Rae strutted off smugly, and I grabbed [Enchant: Heater].
Next: mana stone selection.
Most seniors grab one without thinking. All C-grade, right?
But differences exist. Same grade, different 'seniority.'
Proof? Elites like Elise, Gerkken, Kain—been picking forever.
"Let's see."
I spotted it instantly with the SZX-9500 Mana Optics Microscope. Among hundreds in the bin, clearest core, most solid. Grabbed the little fist-axe-shaped one and turned—
"Hey, hey. Stop right there."
A voice called. I turned. Esher grinned slyly, beckoning.
"Lemme see that. Swap with mine."
"Fuck off."
"......Huh?"
Esher froze. Kain burst out laughing.
"Pfft! This psycho's fucking hilarious."
"Piece of shit's acting tough?"
I ignored the idiots and returned to my seat. Opened [Enchant: Heater] on the desk. First page packed with mana studies equations—no need to calculate. Circuits intuitive.
Next, the infusion formula. Stared intently.
Same as mana formula, should be easy.
......Should be.
I furrowed my brow, glaring. Ziiing—eyes straining, faint blue glow at the start point.
Circuits unfolded from there, but twisted wildly before reaching bends or ends. Fizzled out.
Failure.
No way this infusion formula's harder than paper bird?
Impossible. Must be another reason—
"......"
Suddenly, the mana stone in my hand.
"Medium."
Infusion needs a medium. Basically a 'medium formula.'
Paper bird? Pure sorcerer's mana, no medium.
Different types, different circuit logic. Intuition incompatible.
"......Fucked."
Can't grasp infusion then. Skip the assignment? Useless system. Nothing worth data-stacking right now......
—Sapphire-level artifact. Romelroad line, intermediate enchant.
Why Rae's drawly voice echoed in my head? I knew.
I looked up at Rae's wrist. Bracelet jingled with her movements.
Sapphire Romelroad intermediate artifact.
Sapphire: artistic value beyond jewels. Romelroad: famous workshop. Intermediate: enchant level.
"......"
I stood silently. Walked to Rae.
"Hey."
"Eung?"
Rae looked up from molding clay. Elise scowled at me.
"Scram."
"Not you. Hey, can I see that bracelet?"
"......"
Rae's forehead creased. Suspicion.
"It's pretty. Help me out and maybe."
Emphasized 'help me out.'
She's my Secret Santa, after all.
"......Well~ whatever."
She offered her wrist. I scanned the artifact with SZX-9500.
Tiny mana pattern etched on the surface. Far more complex than [Enchant: Heater]'s—higher-level infusion.
Copied the formula's shape, mana flow—circuits—all into Notebook.
"!"
Pain stabbed my eyes. Burst capillary?
"Wha, what's wrong?"
"......Nothing."
Elise spoke.
"Now scram."
I checked Notebook, one eye half-shut.
[100 / 103 (-1)]
24-hour revisions: +2
Capacity tight, but memorized.
"Later."
Back at my seat, eyed the heater infusion.
"......Got it."
Understood, but mana depleted.
"......"
I glanced around, then face-planted on the desk.
Best mana recovery? Sleep. Mine's double normal efficiency.
Not bragging—dantian cancer perk. Infinite cancer cells boost it or whatever.
"Yaaawn......"
I passed out.
12:40 PM.
Twenty minutes to lunch.
"......Hmm."
Elise pondered. Stared at the object in her hand—what to choose? What won't she regret? What'll let her reminisce 'that day was perfect' for the next month?
Prepping her ultimate pick.
"Elise. Decided?"
Rae asked. Elise shook her head.
"Give me a bit more time, please."
"Noo~ It's just lunch—what's with the agony?"
Rae tapped her smartphone. Esher, Kain, and she picked thirty minutes ago. Elise? Still agonizing.
"Regular meal day. Just five minutes."
Elise's diet is eternal. For looks, fortified body, Mana Body, intellect, focus, insight, health.
But her monthly cheat? Today—Thursday.
Can't waste 30 days, 720 hours, 43,200 minutes.
"......Five minutes. Fine, but decide in five. Gotta order. Late delivery means scarfing it down."
"Ah!"
Defeat in Elise's eyes.
"Right, rushed eating...... Another variable...... My mistake......"
"No, don't look enlightened. Pick quick—no rush-eating."
"......"
Elise buried her nose in the phone. Rae sighed, tilting her chair back.
"......Yaaawn."
A yawn echoed. Back row guy stirring awake.
"Oh, Sion, good sleep?"
Rae beamed.
Grrrrumble—!
Stomach growled instead. Rae narrowed then widened her eyes. Idea.
"Sion, hungry?!"
"......Lunch soon."
"I'll buy!"
Sion halted at the door. Intrigued, he asked:
"I eat a lot."
"Fine! I'm loaded! Order anything!"
"Jealous. Rich girl."
Yawn— Passed her the phone.
"Doing Seven Guys Burgers? Tap whatever."
"Then me......"
Sion poked the delivery app, ordering.
"Seven Burger, Spicy Bacon Burger, Spicy Chicken Burger, Hot Dog Burger, chicken......"
Finger tapped fifteen times. Rae's lips curled happier each time.
More she buys, more Secret Santa help!
"Done. Thanks."
Took the phone back, pointed at Elise.
"Wait~ Elise is agonizing."
"Agonizing?"
Sion eyed Elise. Still swiping menus.
"Just eat anything—why fuss?"
"......"
Elise's temple twitched—vein popped. She dropped the phone.
"Buying for that monkey too? I'll order elsewhere."
"Aww~ Why? You wanted Seven Guys first."
Rae mouthed SecretSantaSecretSanta.
Help your Secret Santa.
"......Sigh."
Elise checked the phone again.
Took ages, but close.
Hypotheses, intense thought, reviews dozens of times, imagining futures—no regrets today, tomorrow, next month.
Decision here, now.
"Bulgogi Burger large set."
"Okey! No take-backs! Ordering now!"
Rae checked and submitted.
"Phew...... tough."
Elise wiped sweat, satisfied. Then Sion said:
"Basic set—why agonize?"
"......Shut your mouth already?"