Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Guy Who Became a Mage While Drunk
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Tae-jin widened his eyes and replied.
"That's right. Can you understand my words too?"
"Of course. That's why I cast the spell."
Understanding an unknown language—it was an astonishing experience.
"So you really are a mage?"
"You know that, so why ask?"
The mage chuckled wryly. Tae-jin stared at him blankly. A mage. He'd heard they existed, but this was the first time he'd ever met one and talked to him.
As if sensing Tae-jin's thoughts right away, the mage murmured a short incantation.
A spark of light flickered above his fingertip, and a tiny flame bloomed to life. He shook his finger to flick the flame away, then levitated his beer mug into the air.
Tae-jin watched, dumbfounded. The sight, like CG overlaid on reality, combined with his buzz, left him unable to think straight.
One thing was certain: he wanted to see more. Tae-jin ordered another round and sipped slowly as they talked.
"To stumble into such a rare show right after arriving on vacation. Talk about good luck."
As he spoke, Tae-jin lightly waved his hand between the mage's fingertips and the beer mug. Nothing caught on his fingers, but some strange shimmer caught his eye.
Tae-jin stared intently at the shimmer connecting the mage's fingertips and the beer mug.
The mage looked surprised and addressed him.
"Can you see something?"
"Ah, yeah. It's like steam or heat haze shimmering there, but it doesn't snag on my hand."
"You can see that? Trace its path with your hand."
The position of the haze linking the mug and the mage's hand shifted subtly. Tae-jin moved his hand to follow it.
This happened three or four times before the mage spoke in an admiring tone.
"You've got sharp senses. Astonishingly so."
"My senses?"
"Yes. To see mana so clearly. Incredible. Or do all otherworlders have this gift? Hold on a moment."
The mage picked up his mug and approached a table with other tourists, performing tricks by levitating the mug in the air.
Tae-jin sipped his drink and watched. The mage did a few feats at one table, then moved to another. And another.
By the time Tae-jin's second mug was nearly half empty, the mage returned.
"No reactions from the others. Seems you're the only special one."
"Really? Does that mean I could become a mage too?"
Tae-jin blurted out the first thought that came to mind and burst into drunken laughter. As if!
He laughed so hard that people at nearby tables turned to look.
It was a simple joke, but one person didn't laugh: the mage.
"You know it, don't you?"
Tae-jin was the one startled by the response.
"For real?"
"Yes. To be precise, anyone can become a mage. It's just a matter of how long it takes."
The conversation was getting even more interesting.
"Tell me more. What do you want? I'll order it."
The mage's eyes crinkled softly again, fine lines gathering at the corners.
"Very well. I'll tell you the most fascinating story in the world, so order some snacks. Where should I start?"
Tae-jin picked the funniest-looking snack, and the mage pondered quietly.
The mage took a small bowl from the innkeeper and tossed in some popcorn-like treats.
"Initiating into magic is like filling a plate with snacks. But no one's bowl is completely empty."
"Makes sense. Intuitive analogy."
"There are countless ways to become a mage. You stack snacks on the plate until they overflow. Fill the empty spaces in your body with mana until you can release it outward."
"But aren't spells and incantations the key to magic? You seemed to chant something earlier."
"Not really. If they were, scholars and bureaucrats with great memories would be the first mages. Incantations just provide rhythm and sharpen the image. That's enough. Even the same spell uses different chants for different people."
It was fascinating. Tae-jin fought to keep his heavy, drunken eyelids open as the story continued.
"More sensory than I thought. But what's that got to do with the haze?"
The mage grinned.
"Listen closely. Everyone's bowl holds a different amount of snacks. With steady effort, adding one at a time, eventually you feel it fill up. No words needed; you just know. That's when you become a novice mage."
Too intriguing to sleep through, even drunk. Tae-jin stretched and asked,
"And?"
"That's the precursor. When magic manifests, you get a vague sense of something there. Not seeing it, just a faint hunch. Like a single raindrop on your hand as drizzle starts. A tentative feeling. Of course, precursors aren't just that."
"What's that got to do with the haze?"
"Think about it. Those about to become mages feel that single raindrop hunch. But you saw a clear form."
Tae-jin quickly denied it.
"No, it wasn't that clear."
"Form aside, didn't you definitely sense its presence?"
"Well, yeah. I saw it rippling."
"The gap between a budding mage's raindrop hunch and your clear sense? How vast do you think?"
The story hit its core, the analogy crystal clear. Tae-jin chuckled.
"Am I some genius? Man, what a world. First time seeing magic today!"
But the mage's face was utterly serious. Tae-jin sobered up too.
"This is too big to laugh off. Do you know how many mages would sell their souls for such talent?"
"That rare?"
"Your gift is like a bowl piled so high it's about to collapse. Extremely rare. More than any mage I've seen."
"If I'm that talented, why can't I use magic?"
He couldn't picture himself casting spells. The flying mug was all he could imagine. If he could fly like that, commuting to Yeouido would be epic! Tae-jin burst out laughing.
He couldn't tell how the mage took the laughter. The mage said,
"Someone has to peel off the packaging to eat the snacks, but no one's done it for you. That's the situation."
"So if the packaging's removed, I can use magic?"
"Close enough. A little effort, and you'd cast spells in no time."
"Awesome. Who do I ask?"
"Any half-baked mage could do it."
"Even you?"
"Of course. I'm too skilled to call half-baked."
Tae-jin laughed again at the boastful tone.
Whether from the booze or the unexpected fun, the giggles kept coming.
The mage coaxed him in a sly voice.
"Don't you want to try magic? With your talent, simple spells would come quick with practice."
"Like what?"
"Stirring wind or moving objects. Three days tops."
Buzzed to the max, his mind flashed to drinking party memories. Like talent shows.
How awkward those always were. Others sang karaoke. But Tae-jin was tone-deaf and hated singing.
Now the tables turned. While others strained for high notes in lame shows, he'd conjure fire mid-air and levitate a buddy.
Epic talent show material. Fuck yeah. He'd be the party superstar. Might even score a girlfriend.
"Love it. Can you help?"
"Of course!"
The mage set down his half-full mug and kneaded Tae-jin's shoulders lightly.
"Relax now. Nice and easy."
Perfectly buzzed, resistance was impossible.
The wizened mage placed his left hand on Tae-jin's chest and right on his head.
That was the last of his memory. Tae-jin passed out drunk.
The next morning, Tae-jin woke in his inn. No clue how he'd gotten back.
He retraced the night slowly. He remembered meeting the mage and chatting, but after that? Dream or reality? He'd had wild, vivid dreams all night.
Tae-jin pondered. Where did the dream start? The sparkling light? The tiny flame? The floating mug?
To him, up to there was real.
So after? He recalled seeing the haze, the snack-stacking talk, all the explanations. Then what?
A jumble of hazy memories. After that, dreams like a buck thrashing blood across a throne room or five green-haired half-elf kids storming parliament. Somewhere in there, it turned to dreams. The last two definitely were.
Still, his body felt unusually great, with a strange new sensation. The gate city's clean air?
Tae-jin stopped thinking and washed up quick. Real tourism started today—he had a packed schedule.