Chapter 11
The idea of practicing Magic is a difficult concept to grasp.
For example, let's say you want to run fast and for a long time.
Then you just run. Human muscles are structured to tear, repair, and grow stronger.
However, Magic isn't used with muscles.
Considering only output, if you want to use stronger Magic, you need to pour in more magical power, and that amount of magical power is determined by the number of magic circles.
So, how do you increase those crucial magic circles?
This is the most absurd part.
What am I supposed to do...?
Even after spreading out dozens of books borrowed from the Library in the Warehouse and searching through all their contents, we found nothing relevant.
And even when I combine it with what I heard in class, it's the same.
Do you want to increase your magic circles and walk the path of magic?
Then expand your enlightenment.
Shouldn't I first know what this 'enlightenment' is?
But then, this 'thing' is also the Law of Construction of the Deep Realm, and apparently a very secret and hidden weakness of Mages.
They say you absolutely, *absolutely* must not go around telling people what you've realized. Not even your family.
So there are no examples at all. I don't know what I've enlightened.
Since magic circles exist beneath enlightenment, I must know something. I cupped my chin and pondered.
*Are all Nobles freaks?*
Hmm, the Law of Composition of my Deep Sea couldn't possibly be something like that.
*That I'm destined to die soon?*
It's unlikely that a Deep Realm called the Deep Sea would be formed from such an enlightenment.
Only one thing remains.
This world is *under the sea*...
Is this really all there is?
When I suffered from the fever, the first thought I had and the biggest problem I needed to solve were.
If it were the Law of Construction of the Deep Realm, I couldn't think of anything else.
Then two new problems arise.
What exactly does 'expand' mean here?
Did Dersia secretly listen in, taking advantage of the fact that I don't know much about enlightenment?
Even if I let the latter slide since I received help, the former is the problem.
The enlightenment of “being under the sea” is literally just an awareness of the situation. It's less an enlightenment and more something you'd be an *idiot* not to know.
If you tie concrete to someone's legs and throw them into the sea, a hundred out of a hundred will gain a similar enlightenment to mine: that they are under the sea and dying.
How am I supposed to expand *this*?
...Of course, it's not like I have no idea at all.
I consciously ignored the lanterns hanging around the Warehouse.
For now, it's dangerous.
Someday, I'll have to float two stars, but—
If I did that now, I'd be crushed to death. Even if I survived, without Dersia, I'd get the bends.
I need to create a means to withstand at least the water pressure before I can expand.
Well, even if I don't expand it, it'll come on its own eventually.
Ha...
The current situation was utterly hopeless, so a hollow laugh escaped me. At least it was fortunate that I knew exactly what was coming.
For now, I have to do what I can without touching the magic circles.
Splash! I tidied up the books and poured water onto the dirt floor.
I wouldn't use the Current. I took a breath, slowly looked down at the floor, and stepped back.
Float up.
A breeze stirred in the stuffy Warehouse.
The wet earth squirmed. Then, like something boiling in a pot, it bubbled and became viscous mud.
And then—it began to move.
Like a living creature, it slowly rose into the air and coalesced into a spherical shape.
I tried to leave it be, but my fingers twitched. It was a ticklish sensation. Creating something with Magic, not my hands, felt unfamiliar.
The wind slowly crushed, split, and began to sculpt the mud.
Since it's my first time, maybe I'll aim for something easy, like a dog?
Cut a little off the top, no, not there, but below... Ah.
I found myself muttering like a madman.
I couldn't help it. Magic Proficiency is a battle of how well you can overlay what's in your mind onto the world.
They say you use all five senses in that process... but I'm not going to taste the mud, and touching it directly is meaningless.
It means I rely almost entirely on sight. The only thing that can assist is hearing.
If you murmur what you want, you slowly get the hang of it. It's not for nothing that Incantations like 'Split!' or 'Rise!' are spoken.
The ultimate goal is to realize the desired action relying solely on sight, without such auxiliary tools, but...
Ah, for *real*—
It's difficult.
Sweat streamed down, and parts kept falling off the floating mud mass.
It was hard enough just to maintain it, let alone cut it properly. The dog I was trying to create was turning into something resembling a twisted Cerberus of the Underworld.
"Ugh..."
Thud, midway my magical power ran out, and the mud fell into the puddle.
I'd used it well for about three days.
I sighed, steeled myself, and drank the seawater.
...Gah.
I forcibly suppressed the urge to gag.
I thought no matter how adaptable humans are, they wouldn't get used to drowning...
And indeed, they can't get used to it.
However, I could suffer in silence, preparing for the coming pain.
...Guh, choke...
When I recharge my magical power, I sometimes think.
*Should I just let it all go?*
If I threw myself into a nearby lake, I'd only have to endure this pain once and it would be over, but to survive, I have to go through it several times a week.
Even by doing this, survival is uncertain. No, beyond uncertain, only a definite hell awaits.
...*Screw that*.
I grabbed my wobbly legs and stood up.
I glared at the puddle again. The mud rose and was sculpted much faster than before.
To borrow Dersia's words, the world wants me dead... or so she says, but honestly, it doesn't matter what fills that blank instead of 'world'.
Whether it's a thug with a club, a Knight who could turn me into mincemeat in an instant, or a king of a nation who could command hundreds of such Knights—
You want me to meekly offer my neck to someone trying to kill me?
I'd rather die than do that, literally.
Even if a fate worse than death awaits me as a consequence, I refuse.
If my enlightenment is that this world is the Deep Sea, then the Deep Sea's enlightenment will be that it chose the wrong enemy.
I'll make it so.
-Splosh!
Hoo...
I swept back my sweat-soaked hair.
This time, at least, I managed to create something with four legs and a head that was somewhat recognizable.
Honestly, no one would mistake it for a dog, though.
I felt an ambiguous emotion, somewhere between dissatisfaction and satisfaction.
Right now, precision is crucial. I need to circulate air inside my body. Even a slight mistake could kill me.
*Is there no way to increase precision?*
As I pondered, the Current subtly stirred.
...?
It was very faint, but I definitely felt it.
Of course, I usually felt the flow of the Current. In fact, it often interfered with me, making me stumble.
But—this was the first time I'd felt such a subtle movement.
Feeling that subtle movement, I closed my eyes and analyzed it.
Is this... someone coming?
I scratched my head. I felt a faint ripple heading this way. I had definitely called Linmel, but...
-Bang!
Jereun!! You called, so I came!
...Oh, oh right.
It's really she. I tried to hide my surprise.
No, is this possible? The Warehouse is an enclosed space. How can someone from outside interfere?
...Well, if seawater got into an enclosed space, I'd just have to hole up in some narrow steel box and figure out how to drain the seawater.
Just as the Water Pressure ignored my clothes and only crushed my body last time, it seems the objects around me have no meaning until I enlighten them.
The strange thing is how Linmel could have touched the Current in the Deep Sea.
Why did you call? Why? Why?
There's something I need to teach you.
I looked at Linmel's bright, eager eyes and realized.
She didn't just start touching it; she was already touching it.
When Dersia showed me Magic, the surrounding Current swirled. If only I had interfered with the Current, that wouldn't have been possible.
Now that I'm accustomed to the Current, I can detect even the slightest movements.
My mind is getting used to the world I'm in.
That's a good thing. If only the time limit for being crushed by Water Pressure weren't running out.
Teach me? What is it?
Linmel, oblivious to my worries, asked with a cheerful face.
I held up the book containing the Body Strengthening Technique.
I roughly learned this to teach you. The Knight gave it to you, right? It's good to accept it.
...Ah.
At that, Linmel's usually bright expression crumpled slightly.
I don't want to study...
It's not studying. You just have to do exactly as I say. I've memorized everything.
Really? Then it's fine!
It might hurt a bit, though. Is that okay?
How much will it hurt?
...A little.
It was a white lie. It would hurt quite a lot. I thought I was going to die myself.
But I couldn't help it. Thanks to this, I got my hands on the Body Strengthening Technique, so it's my job to help Linmel's talent blossom.
Hmm~ Okay, then! But, after we're done, let's go together to the forest in the west!
It's night now.
It's fine! I can beat anything on the mountain behind us!
Even the bears there...
That bear stew we ate last time? I caught the bear for it!
...Alright.
I nodded readily.
I'll have to work her a bit hard. She won't be able to move after this anyway. She won't even think about the forest.
Alright, first, raise your hands above your head, interlace your fingers, and then bend 90 degrees to the right without bending your elbows.
Yep! Done!
...Doesn't it hurt?
"Huh?"
Linmel tilted her head in that bizarre pose, as if asking what I was talking about.
Why would this hurt? Jereun, are you hurt?
Oh, really now.
She's provoking me just because she's a little flexible?
I flashed an evil grin and immediately moved on to the Basic Course.
Oh really? All right. Next, from that position...
Done!
...Good, well done.
Intermediate Course.
Now, turn like that until your arm touches your waist—
Yep! Done!
V-very good. You're doing well.
Advanced Course.
Now, put your head between your legs like that, and hold it for 10 minutes.
Hold what?
This isn't hard.
It's not hard?
*Is this for real?*
Unable to believe my eyes, I had her try the Advanced Course several more times, which I hadn't even learned myself.
This kid followed everything, saying things like, “When does training start?”
So, Linmel—
She has already awakened all the fine muscles in her body.
In other words, she's already learning the Body Strengthening Technique.
Where did you learn this?
Well, if it were something you naturally pick up while exercising, I wouldn't be this surprised.
However, the Body Strengthening Technique cannot be learned without a manual. You have to follow a specific training method.
Linmel blinked and replied.
Hmm, I haven't learned it.
Then why are you so good at it?
Uh...
Linmel pondered for a moment before answering.
I think I learned it while playing during Gymnastics Class.
...
Learning the Body Strengthening Technique, which can't be learned without special training, is not possible just by playing.
*Can this even be called talent?*
More importantly, when will this be over?
It's over now. Let's go to the forest right away.
Oh, really??
Really. Let's go.
I smiled warmly at the delighted Linmel.
*Earning points with a future Knight Commander would be a great help for my survival.*