Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: The Mage in the Forest (1)
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There was no such thing as free time in my daily routine.
Weekdays meant soldering until dawn.
Weekends were spent working at the convenience store.
And just like that, I collapsed from overwork.
In that final moment as I fell in the factory, only one thought flashed through my mind.
'I want to escape this damn everyday grind.'
That wish came true in the strangest way possible.
When I opened my eyes, I was in an entirely different world—as an entirely different person.
It wasn't a completely unfamiliar place.
After all, this was the world of the webnovel Academy's Tenacious Mage, which I'd squeezed in time to read even amid my hectic schedule.
I realized that fact
on the very day I was seeing off the person who'd raised "me."
After the funeral, I returned home.
As I reached for the doorknob, I happened to glance at my reflection in the window.
Ash-gray hair cascading down to my waist, eyes clear as water.
A delicate beauty who could've racked up followers with just a few selfies on social media was furrowing her fine brows.
"This is... me?"
A serious case of cognitive dissonance hit me.
She didn't resemble the me I remembered at all.
Not in appearance, not in build.
Not even in gender.
Lunaris Evermoon.
The unfamiliar, awkward name now attached to me.
It was also a name that never once appeared in Academy's Tenacious Mage, the novel that formed the foundation of this world.
In other words, I'd been reincarnated as Village Girl A in this world with an existing original story—a background extra who had zero impact on the main plot.
"Maybe that's for the best..."
I shook off the complicated thoughts and opened the door.
The empty house was a mess.
Thick magic tomes lay scattered open across the floor, and piles of parchment covered in scribbled formulas cluttered the desk.
Tucked among them was a single sheet of paper stamped with a golden seal that caught my eye.
Imperial Mage Candidate Recommendation
Subject: Lunaris Evermoon
The moment I saw it, a sigh slipped out unbidden.
Now I saw it—I wasn't Village Girl A, but Imperial Mage Candidate A.
Flashes of the girl's memories passed through my mind.
Waking at dawn to cram magic formulas.
Mana meditation right after lunch, no time to even digest.
The whole afternoon assisting with experiments.
Evenings spent copying magic tomes for homework.
...I'd been on a full-on fantasy overwork death route.
"Grandfather."
My voice echoed through the empty room.
Overlaid on it came Grandfather's voice, urging me not to neglect my magic studies even without him.
I could faintly hear his encouragement that I'd surely become an Imperial Mage and follow in his footsteps.
There had been a time when I'd mistaken that for pure support.
But now that I'd awakened to my past life, it was crystal clear.
Grandfather, that wasn't praise.
You were just gaslighting me to take over your role.
"Sorry, but Imperial Mage is too much for me."
A tiny flame flickered to life at my fingertips.
Casting magic felt as natural as breathing.
"I don't want to die from overwork in this life either."
With a casual flick of my fingers, the flame shot toward the desk.
The recommendation letter—worth thousands of gold to someone—burned to ash along with the parchment in an instant.
Gazing at the falling cinders, I set a new goal.
To laze around enough for two lifetimes.
To live without lifting a finger.
Yeah, this time for sure—
"I'll become a pro at bed-rotting."
If I'm Extra A who doesn't even get a name in the original story, I've gotta have that much freedom, right?
Fortunately, this world had a way to live without lifting a finger.
Magic.
That classic from fantasy novels, yeah.
With this power to turn imagination into reality using mana, I could absolutely achieve my dream.
I scanned the study and pulled out the most promising-looking magic tome.
Advanced Null Attribute Magic Book: Basics of Telekinesis and Spatial Magic
Telekinesis Magic.
The magic to freely manipulate distant objects.
With this...
"I can stay in bed all day...!"
Squeak, creak—
The door opened with the groan of rusty hinges.
I didn't need to look to know who it was.
There was only one person who came here at this hour.
"Still one with the bed today, huh, Luna sis?"
A girl with red bobbed hair peeked through the doorway.
Just as I thought—my childhood friend, Lia.
"Knock before you come in."
I muttered indifferently, eyes glued to my book.
"I do every time. But sis, you've never answered even once."
"...Have I not?"
"Not a single time."
Lia laughed and plopped down on the edge of the bed.
It was our usual routine.
"Studying magic?"
"As if."
I'd dropped magic studies long ago.
Got a mouse in my head or something?
"Then what's this book?"
"Classic literature."
"You always read that tough stuff, sis. Is it fun?"
"Just killing time."
Truth be told, it wasn't all that fun.
In this otherworld without smartphones or the internet, reading was the only thing to do from bed.
The silver lining? What they called "classic literature" here were books classified as "fantasy" in my past life.
Of course, I couldn't read forever, so I'd have to think of other hobbies soon.
"Come on, go outside and get some sun."
"Too bothersome..."
"You'll really become one with the bed at this rate."
"Oh. That sounds great. My lifelong dream."
I could feel Lia staring at me intently.
Soon, a cute sigh escaped her—ahh~.
"Sis, at this rate, you won't get married and you'll end up alone?"
"Living alone is the best."
It'd been six years since I'd lived as a girl, but sharing space with a guy was physiologically impossible for me.
"...Yeah, figured you'd say that."
Lia shrugged with an odd expression, then picked up the basket she'd brought in her arms and headed to the kitchen.
"Did you eat breakfast today, at least?"
"...I grabbed something."
"Sis, you probably just scarfed down a few cookies again."
Wait, is this kid spying on my house?
Feeling guilty, I clamped my mouth shut, and Lia let out a sigh.
"Knew it."
Chop, chop, chop. Rhythmic knife sounds filled the room, followed by a savory aroma.
...Honestly, Lia's cooking was worth overcoming the hassle. She was really good.
Especially her egg tarts—the best thing I'd eaten in either life.
I didn't know which bastard would snag my Lia, but I'd never hand her over to anyone who couldn't handle my magic.
"Oh, sis. I'm taking the Elterion Academy entrance exam this year."
...I'd just vowed that, but damn academy was stealing my Lia.
"You know? The biggest academy in the capital. They say just graduating gets you set for life, no money worries."
"Sounds nice."
"Don't you wanna go to the academy, sis? It'd be fun together."
"Nah. Too much hassle. And expensive."
"With your magic skills, you could get in on a scholarship, right?"
"Well... yeah, but..."
I'd never go to the academy.
It was the main stage of the original novel, packed with trials and tribulations.
Part of me wanted to talk Lia out of it too.
"Lia, egg tart—"
"No snacks before meals, sis."
"So mean..."
After lunch, we did some light sparring to help digestion.
It doubled as practical training for Lia's academy entrance exam.
She's a cute little sis; I could help out with this much.
...Definitely not because I fell for the egg tarts.
Of course, only Lia was moving.
I lounged against the bed, manipulating a wooden sword with telekinesis magic.
Thwack—thwack—
The wood clashing rang out rhythmically.
I set my book aside and gazed out the window.
'She's definitely improved.'
At first, Lia just flailed wildly against my moving sword.
Now... we're almost evenly matched?
She should snag that scholarship no problem.
Panting, Lia spoke up.
"Hoo... This isn't much practice anymore."
"Yeah? Wanna call it here for today?"
I was getting sleepy from the food coma anyway—maybe just nap like this.
"But sis."
Lia showed no signs of stopping.
Tch. Outdoor types who run around all day have zero consideration for indoor folks.
"Could you maybe hit me with some attack magic?"
...Huh? What?
"Why attack magic all of a sudden?"
"Well, at the academy, I might fight magic department kids. Wanna get some experience ahead of time."
"Too bothersome..."
I sighed softly and wiggled my fingers.
Lia's body gently floated up.
"Huh? W-wait... Eek?!"
I gave her a spin on a rollercoaster with no rails, and instead of getting scared, she burst out laughing in delight.
"Ahaha! This is fun! A bit faster... No! I mean real attack magic!"
Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.
Telekinesis aside... real attack magic?
"Other magic is kinda... um..."
The words had barely left my mouth when Lia's eyes curved into crescents.
"Hehe~ Sis, don't tell me you can't use other magic?"
...This brat?
"Don't blame me if you get hurt."
I let out a short sigh and gathered mana at my fingertips.
At the same time, I mentally calculated the formula for the simplest attack magic.
Magic Missile.
If it was basic magic below beginner level, I figured I could handle any mishap.
Soon, a small light bloomed at my fingertips.
"...Huh? Sis, wait. Something's... off, right?"
The light grew larger, then began shaking unstably.
...Knew this would happen.
This was why I avoided other magic.
"...Lia? You can dodge it, right?"
"What is it? Wait... Kyaaak?!"
The moment Lia screamed and rolled on the floor,
the light shot out the window.
KABOOOM—!!
A massive explosion rocked the yard, leaving a huge crater in the center.
...Who'd believe this was just basic magic's power?
Lia trembled nearby, curled into a ball right next to the hole.
"...I survived."
"Survived my ass! I really thought I was dead!"
"It came out stronger than expected."
I blinked slowly, brushing it off casually.
"...This is the level you'd face from academy magic department scholarship kids."
"Don't lie! Even I know that's not student-level!"
"Anyway, not on purpose."
For real. It was a total accident.
My magic had one fatal flaw.
Everything except telekinesis magic outputted at overcapacity.
Cast a basic spell, and it'd come out mid-tier.
Nothing good about it.
High-output spells guzzled mana.
Perfect recipe for mana exhaustion if spammed.
Being able to use high-rank magic wasn't the same as being able to use only high-rank magic.
It was all because I'd rushed to become an advanced mage just to learn telekinesis, getting greedy.
I'd pumped up my mana capacity without building basics properly, so ending up a flawed mage was inevitable.
Too late to start over from scratch.
No, too bothersome.
I learned magic to live a clickety-clack life with telekinesis anyway. Mission accomplished.
Accidents like firing a 5-star Magic Missile at Lia were rare flukes.
...Really.