Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Properties of Magic Power
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The magic power in the world of [Vengeful Goddesses] isn't just ordinary crystallized mana.
There exist five 'properties' within this world's magic power.
These were fundamental elements that dictated the techniques a creature could wield, their growth trajectory, and even their combat style.
"The five properties of magic power—we call them respectively like this."
First, Amplification Type.
A type that directly infuses magic power into the body or equipment to enhance and strengthen abilities.
It amplifies strength, agility, stamina, and reaction speed with magic power, explosively boosting them all.
Simple yet providing an absolute increase in combat power, it's indispensable for knights and soldiers who center their fights on close quarters.
The most 'direct' and 'reliable' magic power in actual combat falls under this category.
Second, Emission Type.
A type that shoots, scatters, or ejects magic power from the body in specific forms.
Most magic from wizards engaging in ranged combat—like bullets, waves, beams, or explosions—branches out from this property.
On the continent, mages of this lineage are commonly grouped together and called 'Circle' mages.
They hold overwhelming strengths in range, suppression power, and area attacks, specialized for shaking the battlefield from afar.
Third, Conversion Type.
A type that modulates the property of magic power into entirely different attributes.
Flames, electricity, poison, gravity, adhesion, chill, and so on.
It can infinitely vary physical and non-physical attributes alike.
With the widest range of applications, the quality of techniques varies extremely based on the user's imagination and proficiency.
The most 'creative' and most 'talent-dependent' magic power property.
Fourth, Creation Type.
A type that materializes magic power to produce tools or structures.
From simple forms like swords, shields, or chains to complex magic structures with specific rules.
Duration, stability, and precision serve as benchmarks of skill, holding immense potential in defense, support, and traps.
The moment magic power takes 'form,' the battlefield's landscape changes completely.
Fifth, Domination Type.
A type that controls a target's actions, emotions, or movements through magic power.
Contracts, contact, line of sight, specific conditions—the deeper the constraint, the more profoundly and powerfully it delves.
It can manipulate humans, beasts, tools, and even created magic structures, boasting the most prominent influence in tactics and psychological warfare.
Though direct firepower is weak, its ability to command the entire battlefield rivals any property.
"...And so, the magic power of this world differentiates around these five properties."
As Evelyn's final explanation settled quietly, the air in the underground hideout grew thick and rigid.
The five properties. The five magic powers.
All combat, all techniques, all bloodlines ultimately branched from that framework.
And right now, in the heart of the Ashen Hand's secret hideout, Piel and I were listening side by side.
It was a lecture from the princess—who had taken charge of Proxy Blood Fate's education—not as herself today, but as the identity-masked 'Leader.'
Piel nodded beside me, her tail standing straight up in tension.
Her small hands gripped the pen and notebook I'd handed her, trembling slightly, while her ears twitched like they might miss even a single line of explanation.
"Alright, I've given you a general rundown of magic power properties... Any questions?"
Piel hesitated, lips twitching shyly, then blurted out,
"Um, th-that... It's a bit hard, so c-can I write it down somewhere separately? P-Princess... ma'am."
Evelyn's eyes curved sweetly.
"Heehee, of course. A student this eager is more than welcome from a teacher's perspective, Piel. And since I'm currently operating a secret society in disguise... if it's not in public, please call me Leader, okay?"
"Ah, yes! Got it, Leader!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Piel slammed her face toward the notebook and began scribbling furiously.
The encouragement I'd given her moments ago must have worked wonders—this little fox was brimming with energy like never before, even knowing the training ahead would be brutally intense.
Her whole body seemed to shout, I can do it! I can do it!
That passion warmed me unwittingly.
Probably like the smile a father wears watching his daughter study hard.
I chuckled quietly at the idle thought—
"...Excuse me, Lucas Argent."
Suddenly, a chill ran down my back.
"Why do you call, Princess?"
"Aren't you going to take notes? On my lecture content."
"Ah..."
Only then did I realize.
Piel was diligently scribbling with both hands, while I sat there arms crossed, not having written a single letter—like the delinquent student next to the star pupil.
Evelyn's gaze sharply scraped across my profile.
A mix of noble princess sternness and leader strictness.
The exact look a teacher gives the troublemaker sitting beside the diligent top student.
But I just shrugged casually.
Because—
Such magic power settings felt like something straight out of a shonen manga I'd seen a hundred times.
To me, who'd binged web novels, webtoons, and Japanese manga after long days as a doctor in my past life, it was just a bundle of familiar clichés.
"I've already memorized it all."
Evelyn's eyes widened slightly.
"M-Memorized... everything? Just from hearing it once?"
"Yes. And to check these five magic powers, there's a magic tool that reads reactions by circulating internal magic power, right?"
"!?"
Her lips quivered ever so subtly.
"Y-You even predicted that?"
Piel, seeing it, hugged my arm tightly and beamed.
"As expected of Master! So smart!"
Her words lifted my spirits for no reason.
Especially seeing Evelyn's startled expression.
She glared at me for a moment, then rose, fetched a glowing crystal orb, and returned.
Silver afterglow flowed smoothly across its surface.
"Oh ho. So you know what magic power you have with this?"
"Yes. This crystal orb is called the 'Orb of Testing.' Place your hand on it, and the person's magic property reveals itself. One property shows one color; more than that, and different colors appear in sequence."
Hearing that, Piel's eyes sparkled as she shouted,
"Different colors...? Does that mean one person can have more than one magic power?! "
Her tail wagged excitedly, body leaning forward eagerly.
Like a little fox spotting a toy, eyes alight with curiosity.
"Then if someone had all five properties, that'd be amazing!"
"...Ah."
"That..."
"...Hm?"
But contrary to Piel's excitement, that last remark visibly darkened Evelyn's expression.
Her gaze slowly shifted from the orb to us both.
And from the atmosphere alone, anyone could tell.
That question wasn't a 'dream'—it bordered on taboo.
"Not necessarily, Piel. Actually... the best combinations at birth are one property, or at most two."
Piel's ears froze mid-twitch.
"Huh? Why?"
Evelyn took a steadying breath, then smiled faintly, a touch bitter.
"Because... all living beings, humans included, have an absolute experience point limit of 10 for their magic power."
That single sentence reverberated heavily through the air.
Indeed.
Separate from the five properties, the 'vessel' holding them in any living being always caps at an absolute 10.
And depending on how that 10 is distributed among properties, the power, growth potential, and path forward change entirely.
If you are born with one? Then all 10 is poured into it.
Simple, overwhelming superiority.
Two? Say 7:3 or balanced 5:5, complementing each other for excellent growth.
The problem starts beyond that.
From three onward, the child becomes a prime example of mediocre talent.
"Usually, for a magic property to be deemed 'useful,' at least one needs 5 or more experience points concentrated in it."
As Evelyn said, born with three means that 10 splits three ways.
Lucky case: 8:1:1.
They can abandon two and max one extremely.
But most cases—3:4:3.
All middling, none surpassing a certain level: 'jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none' magic.
Four or five? Needless to say.
Such children are branded 'useless' from birth and raised as such.
Especially harsher in noble bloodlines.
And Princess Evelyn belonged to that group.
"For reference, I was born with Emission, Conversion, Creation—at a 3:4:3 ratio."
She spoke calmly, but deep in her voice lingered an old wound.
"So... from birth, I was mostly confined to a detached palace. Just because my talent was ambiguous."
Piel's tail drooped cautiously, and I regarded her impassively.
The lightless underground hideout's air quivered faintly for an instant.
This world's magic power was less blessing or talent—more like a 'verdict.'
But that ashen mood didn't linger.
Clap.
Evelyn shattered the heavy air herself.
The clear sound of her palm drew both our gazes to her.
"That's why I hope Piel has two or fewer magic properties!"
Piel's ears perked up vibrantly again.
"Sniff... Leader!"
"Through blood, sweat, and tears, I've reached 5th Circle mage recognition at my age. But... I know my limits end here."
Calm words, heavy with long-submerged weight.
"So for Piel... I don't want you feeling that."
With that, Evelyn gently stroked Piel's hair.
The little fox's fur scattered softly under her fingertips, Piel's eyes trembling on the verge of tears.
"Yes! I'll... I'll work really hard...!"
Her pure innocence warmed even me oddly.
Anyway.
"Alright then, Piel. Place your palm on this crystal orb? I'll check for you!"
"Yes!"
The moment to reveal Piel's magic properties had arrived.
But I lightly grabbed her extending hand, stopping her.
"7 to 3."
"...Pardon?"
"Master?"
Piel and Evelyn looked up simultaneously.
"Piel's magic properties were two, Amplification and Creation. While the ratio for her magic is 7 for Amplification and 3 for Creation."
Piel froze mid-motion, mouth agape in a perfect O, while Evelyn clutched the orb, stiffening.
"H-How... do you know that, Lucas Argent?"
I couldn't exactly say 'I read it in the original story,'
Knowing the tool's judgment took a full day, I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Family."
"...Eh?"
"M-Master...!"
"No secrets between family."
Piel wagged her tail wildly, thrilled.
"Right! Master's my precious family, hehe... He knows every nook and cranny inside me!"
...The phrasing was a bit risky, but it added conviction.
We could skip the time waste.
And truthfully, I'd sought the orb for another reason.
"Alright, Piel's confirmed... Princess. Test my magic properties."
Evelyn's fingers halted.
"Lucas Argent. Your... magic power?"
"Yes."
In the original, 'Lucas Argent' died meaningless.
No combat power, no presence—a decorative side character.
But I'm different from that fool.
I must survive.
And to survive—
I had to know what power I held, the size of my 'vessel' in this world.