Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Word Spirit: Endowment 『C』
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Word Spirit: Endowment] 『C』
A word spirit specialized in imbuing objects with mana.
The effect varies depending on the mental image used in the word spirit, the amount of mana, and the object's material.
* Maintenance time increases based on compatibility between the object and word spirit.
Lee Se-hun, who had been examining the new skill, wore a peculiar expression.
"No way I'd acquire this already..."
Before his regression, it had taken endless repetition of word spirits until his mouth blistered to finally master this skill. Yet now, after using it just once as a demonstration, he'd picked it up.
Rather than joy, Lee Se-hun felt suspicion at the fact.
"Why is everything going so smoothly?"
It was the same with the protective arts he'd learned from Ma Gwang-su earlier, and the word spirit magic he'd used today. Things that hadn't worked well before his regression were now unfolding with ease.
The protective arts could be chalked up to his body returning to its prime state from its previous wrecked condition. But word spirit magic was different.
"This is purely a matter of talent."
Even Louise, afflicted with mana crystallization, could use it, so word spirit magic had nothing to do with age or youth.
It required only raw talent for word spirit magic. And Lee Se-hun had been a dullard who took five years to master it, even after direct instruction from its creator, the Violent Dog.
"Yet suddenly my skill jumps like this..."
Normally, he'd chalk it up to his own brilliance. But this time was different. Staring intently at his skill window, Lee Se-hun glanced down at his body.
"Has something changed in my body?"
It might not just be youth; the regression itself could have triggered some change. As Lee Se-hun peered at his body with a strange look,
"...Teach me."
Louise, who had been lost in a daze, snapped back to reality and approached him.
"How do I do it? No, what should we start with? I'll do anything you teach me now. Just tell me. Quick!"
Her eyes sparkled as she thrust her face close. It was a complete turnaround from moments ago, when she'd been sighing deeply in existential despair. But in a way, it was only natural.
She'd discovered that those grueling, seemingly pointless trainings actually worked. How could she not feel motivated?
"Calm down and sit. I'll teach you."
"Got it."
She plopped down at the desk with eager speed.
Lee Se-hun gave a wry smile at her briskness and wrote the incantation for the "Sphere" he'd just used on the whiteboard.
"Word spirit magic hinges on how perfectly you fuse mana with your mental image. To that end, you can somewhat ignore incantation structure, completion, or efficiency."
What mattered was the conviction to call fire water even when seeing flames.
Even if it defied conventional magic systems as inefficient, word spirit magic could wield it effectively.
Just as magic defied physical laws, word spirit magic defied the laws of magic itself.
"That's insanely tricky. Impulsive, even."
"Exactly. But that doesn't mean theory doesn't matter. You need a solid foundation to harbor diverse mental images."
Avoid preconceptions, yet hold ironclad self-confidence. Broader knowledge than other mages, freer thinking.
In short, if you lacked talent, quit.
"The key is a firm belief that your mental image will manifest in reality. Self-confidence and will are paramount."
"...Got it."
"You'll understand better by trying it. Let's start with Sphere."
"Alright."
Having heard the basics, Louise immediately began refining her mana as Lee Se-hun had taught her.
Woooong—
Mana faintly rippled in her mouth, and her brow furrowed slightly. Even if she'd grown accustomed lately, snapping her tongue to form an incantation was no easy feat.
But rather than dwell on her clumsiness, Louise focused on the "will" Lee Se-hun had emphasized.
'The incantation might be a bit sloppy...!'
As long as it manifested as magic, pain-free, she didn't care if it guzzled mana or took longer computations.
Her eyes blazing, she slammed her will—and the mental image in her mind—into the incantation forming in her mouth.
"<Sphere>"
Thung—
The uttered word spirit coalesced into a sphere.
A tiny orb the size of an eyeball. It held form but failed to gather enough mana for proper size.
Lee Se-hun looked amazed at the failed word spirit.
"She was a rookie once too, huh."
Before regression, he'd only seen her berating him for failing this. Seeing her falter like this brought a strange thrill.
As he smiled fondly at her small sphere and opened his mouth for advice—
""
A follow-up word spirit seeped into the sphere's core.
Wung—
The sphere pulsed faintly, drawing in surrounding mana. It compressed to fingernail size in an instant.
Bang!
A sphere twice his face's width exploded into being with a shockwave.
Mana leaked and the shape was slightly distorted, but it was magic-worthy. Lee Se-hun's eyes went wide.
"What the...?"
He'd figured it'd take days to even form a basic sphere, yet she'd layered word spirits to complete it?
Some might say using it twice showed inferior skill, but in word spirit magic, layering was harder.
"Even a slight mismatch in contained mental images causes clashes."
A technique he'd practiced for half a year before regression. Louise had pulled it off instinctively in one go.
"She really has talent..."
Bragging with word spirit magic wouldn't last long.
Gazing at the completed sphere, Lee Se-hun noticed Louise's silence and turned.
"..."
She stared blankly at her creation.
After watching her for a while, she slowly raised a hand and gently touched her bandaged neck.
"...It doesn't hurt."
She'd clearly cast magic, yet no pain.
Instead, slight dizziness and heavy limbs—the mental drain from incantation and mana loss.
'Yeah... this is what it felt like.'
This was true spellcasting.
The sensation felt so alien despite mere half-year absence. Her hand trembled faintly; she bit her lip hard.
"Ngh..."
Tears welled, threatening to spill. But instead of bawling, she tilted her head back, clenched her jaw, and held them in.
Lee Se-hun chuckled at her desperate struggle.
"Why hold back? Just let it pour."
"Not yet..."
Casting magic was just a midpoint.
"Until I rip the throats of those bastards who did this to my neck... I won't cry."
Her blue eyes blazed through tears. Lee Se-hun nodded approvingly at her burning resolve.
'Yes. That's the spirit.'
He'd worried her venom might fade with joy at regaining magic, but her nature ran deep.
As she fought back tears, Lee Se-hun eyed the perfected sphere.
"A day's work for this polish..."
He'd planned basics this week, building skill in the ward. But at this rate, discharging her early seemed best.
"Perfect timing with Word Endowment too..."
Having roughed out a plan, he watched her sniffle with head thrown back.
"This is enough for the next step."
"Sniff... Next step?"
"Yeah."
Pulling out his phone, Lee Se-hun smirked.
"Overcoming your trauma."
The mock training ground in the Ivory Tower.
Numerous shadows tangled above it, scrambling frantically.
"Argh!"
"Get out of the way!"
"Damn it...!"
Chaeng! Kaang!
Seven cadets swung weapons with desperate faces. Their arms varied, but they shared traits.
First, all freshmen this year. Second, from modest or poor families.
And last—
Thud!
Their foes were black-boned skeletons.
'Why are skeletons this strong...!?'
Skeletons, the most basic undead in necromancy.
Lacking muscle or organs, they had clear limits and poor reputation.
Whoosh!
Yet these black skeletons overwhelmed them with raw strength and skill alone.
Self-loathing twisted the freshmen faces at being pushed by mere skeletons. Outside the arena, a brown-haired youth looked bored.
"Not a decent one among them..."
Called for combat data, yet none worth noting. Amid the rabble, Gerwin Krueger snapped his fingers.
Bang—!
Black mana swept the skeletons; black flames ignited in empty sockets.
Kwang! Thud! Crack!
"Gah!"
"Khek!"
The now-vastly stronger skeletons sent the seven cadets flying out in seconds.
Gerwin frowned and clicked his tongue at their pathetic ejection.
"Tch. This is why we should screen freshmen..."
Taking any with minor talent let in trash like this.
Retrieving the skeletons into subspace, Gerwin eyed the sprawled cadets.
"Useless. All of you, out."
"Y-yes!"
Groaning, they helped each other and fled at his dismissal.
All tied to UD Group, they knew better than to irk the heir.
"Wasted time..."
The Ivory Tower's special cadet selection loomed. He'd claimed it easily last year, but couldn't slack now.
"The biggest annoyance... Lea Clodel, maybe."
Her grades had plummeted post-enrollment, losing top spot. Lately, rumors said she holed up in a workshop, skipping classes.
In genius haven Babel, such seclusion screamed threat.
"I'd like to handle her early... but she's tricky."
Unlike the Element Department reject he'd crushed half a year ago from a nobody family.
"Maybe ask Pierre again like last time."
Just exclude her from selection somehow. As Gerwin pondered seriously—
Woooong—
His phone buzzed. Seeing "Pierre," he answered.
"What is it?"
-Gerwin. A challenge letter went up on the Tower board.
"...Challenge letter?"
-Things got messy. Check it quick.
At Pierre's urgent tone, Gerwin opened the Tower board.
1st. Challenge Letter [485]
[Challenge Letter]
After long rehabilitation, I've overcome mana crystallization and can use magic again, however imperfectly.
Thus, before resuming studies, I challenge Gerwin Krueger, third-year Necromancy Department top cadet, to whom I owe a debt from half a year ago.
Time: One week from now, 1 PM. Venue: Martial Hall.
If injury concerns prevent participation, I'll humbly accept—reply without burden.
-Leave student Louise Valente
The curt challenge letter.
But its intent was crystal clear to all cadets.
-If you're scared to fight a former critical patient like me, refuse.
Blunt, childish, irrefusable. Gerwin Krueger's eyes twisted in fury.
"You... fucking..."
Kudang—
His innocent phone shattered. The comeback match was set.