I Got Tricked!!
"I got tricked!!"
"So, what do you plan to teach?"
At my master's words, I tilted my head.
"Wellll, I dunno. I can't think of anything I'm qualified to teach."
Honestly, I had no idea what I could even teach. Sure, thanks to my future sight, I knew a ton of advanced techniques that hadn't been discovered yet. But I wasn't sure if I should reveal them now. Plus, most of them were just game-specific tricks, so I had no clue if they'd even work in real life...
"Actually, the best thing would be to teach what you're best at."
What I'm best at... Sleeping, eating, and rolling around. I pondered it quietly.
Sleep and its correlation to mana? Automata crafting for the ultimate rolling-around life? How to deliciously devour wild magical beasts?
Oooh... Not bad at all?
As if reading my mind, a glint sparked in my master's eyes.
"Keep that hand raised properly."
"Tch..."
I'd been slyly lowering it, but I shot it back up high. Operation "pretend to think while dropping hand" was a total failure. Ugh! No way, no how!
"Then let's think about it step by step..."
"Yes, Master. But how long do I have to keep my hand up? My arm's starting to hurt..."
"You're being punished right now, so of course it hurts."
Master's too harsh!Sniffle—
"Pretending to cry won't work. You're the type who wouldn't shed a tear even if I dropped dead..."
Uh... I imagined it for a second. A future without Master...
Hmm... No more nagging? That'd be sweet.
Thwack—
"Ow!!"
"Focus."
"Yes, Master... Hic."
He's heartless, utterly ruthless... As expected, Master doesn't care about his disciple's well-being. He opened his mouth again.
"What is the essence of magic in this world?"
"According to what you taught me, Master, it's manifesting mana refined through attribute affinities."
Master smiled in satisfaction at my answer.
"You know it well... Then, what is the essence of your magic?"
The essence of my magic... That was a profound question. My magic was definitely a bit different.
Normally, attribute affinities—fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, light, darkness—the seven attributes. You infuse your mana into one of those affinities to manifest it as magic. Without control, it runs wild, so you bind it with a magic circle and assist the calculations with a staff. That's what we call magic.
But what about me? I have a ton of mana. Surprisingly, though, I was born without any attribute affinities. None at all. So manifesting magic the normal way was impossible for me.
So what is my magic?
"I'm attribute-less, right? Hehe—you know that better than anyone, Master..."
People like me, without attribute affinities, are called "attribute-less." In crude terms, "talentless." Attribute-less magic manifests pure mana without any attribute boosts, so it's relatively weak.
But here's the thing. In fields like artifacts or scrolls, this "attribute-less" mana is crucial. The principle is connecting a magic circle that infuses an attribute into attribute-less mana to manifest it... Though the power drops dramatically, like a downgrade.
For example, turning an advanced spell like Flame Lance into a scroll reduces its power to intermediate Fire Bolt level. Useful in emergencies, but avoided when max power is needed.
That's why "attribute-less" wasn't highly valued.
And that's me. Attribute-less.
"Then what are the strengths of your magic?"
The strengths of my magic... Honestly, mine isn't super powerful either. But... I drew inspiration from scrolls, overlaying attributes onto it. The power is low, but control is easier than attribute magic. Casting time is faster, and while same-mana output is weaker, efficiency is high.
It always puts me at a disadvantage in matchups, but the attributes still apply—fire burns, water wets. Not bad when you think about it.
So the biggest strength would be...
"No attributes, but easy to switch or fuse them?"
"Power might be weak, but efficiency isn't bad."
"Exactly. You know it well. So just teach that."
Uh... Easier said than done. I've never taught anyone.
Sensing my hesitation, Master continued.
"Next, how do you manifest your magic?"
Mine is simple. I pull out a lump of attribute-less mana. Then overlay an attribute like a scroll. The difference? Scrolls get attribute boosts but weakened power. Mine doesn't weaken but treats attributes purely as weaknesses—no advantages like water beating fire or lightning beating water.
Conversely, attribute-less fire is weak to water. Unfair, right? But... I can switch attributes.
Overlay fire for a fake Fireball, opponent counters with Fireball or water matchup. Then I switch my uncast Fireball to lightning Bolt against their Waterball.
No advantage, but blocks their edge. In short, attribute-less uses pure mana itself. Satellite Beam is just dropping mana lumps; Apocalypse Flames is burning them.
"Using pure mana directly or overlaying attributes."
Master nodded in satisfaction.
"Yes, yes... So, what is the conclusion of your magic?"
"The conclusion...?"
"Yes. What do you find at its end?"
Hmm... I knew this one. From the game—not Master, but Sikoras Winbayzer, a promising mage tower rookie.
"The ultimate magic—what lies at its end? What do you think?"
One choice was...
"Creation."
"Haha. You know it well. Yes..."
Master burst into satisfied laughter. Then he asked again.
"So, what will you name your course?"
The name of the class I'd teach... Now I knew.
"Understanding Attribute-less Magic."
******
"Aaaah!!!!!"
I'm doomed. No... Master tricked me!
I'd planned to coast, but discussing the syllabus deadline with him got me caught in his pace, creating a course far from my lazy dreams.
"Ugh... This isn't future-sight stuff... My free ride..."
It was just me, attribute-less, tinkering for efficiency via scroll methods.
Which means!! I have to create everything from scratch!!
"Ah!! Master tricked me!!!!!"
Farewell... my deep sleep.
Farewell... my rolling-around life.
Farewell... my bed.
Hmm... Not the bed. I planned self-study in the classroom while napping.
I could still coast, but the real problem was...
"Master? Did I hear wrong...?"
"What do you mean?"
At my jab, Master looked puzzled. At his feet lay the shredded original syllabus. He was hastily writing a new one to replace it.
"Uh... I thought you said you'd revise the syllabus?"
"You heard right. As you see, I tore the old one to shreds."
Scratch scratch— Only the sound of his pen filled the office.
"Why?"
"That's the second time you've asked."
Master stared steadily at me. Yet the pen never stopped.
"To adjust my lectures to fit yours."
Th-that!! Shouldn't the assistant prof adjust to the full prof?! Why adjust to me?! Why this trial now?!
Words I couldn't shout echoed in my chest. Ugh... My coasting life...
I'd planned to follow Master's pace, add attribute explanations, then self-study. Now my class becomes central?!
Master!!
"My original course... the seven attributes overlap with advanced ones anyway..."
Master smirked victoriously. Doomed.
"Pioneering new magic with Miriel—backing you isn't bad..."
That's the bad part!! It's like adding a whole new system to magic!! Even mage tower lifelong research with disciples isn't enough!!
"The Empire's past repeats..."
"Huh?"
Master muttered something cryptic. His eyes filled with worry, silencing me.
Wait... Is the original scenario starting? About a month and half to the first event?
Master...? A prophetic dream of the game's events?
"No. Anyway, Miriel."
"Yes, Master."
"Promise me this. Don't use your full 'power' here."
Huh... Didn't you restrict that since the mountains?
"Your 'power' is too strong. Misuse it, and catastrophe follows."
Eh? Compared to the game's main battle mages, I'm not that strong... My mana rivals an Archmage, but no attribute boosts means advanced level. Even Perdita hits 4-attribute Archmage before graduation.
I countered inwardly, but his face said no release without agreement.
Sigh... Fine.
"I know I'm strong for a mage. I won't use my 'power' freely."
"Good... Miriel, my disciple... I trust you."
"Yes, Master."
I prepared to leave. Then his low voice:
"Miriel. Where are you going?"
"To sle—"
Thwack—
"Ow!!!"
"You fool! Don't you have work left?!"
"Work?"
I tilted my head; he shook his, as if expecting it.
"You need to write and submit the syllabus..."
"Oh, right."
Forgot in my bed-rush. Haa... My fluffy bed... See you soon. Sob sob.