In a calm atmosphere, Merlin spoke with a composed demeanor.
“Magic has faded because the role of the ‘Master’ is essential.”
It was an unexpected timing for an explanation, but I listened intently.
As Merlin spoke, perhaps feeling parched, they kept gulping down rainbow-flavored cola.
Hoo…
The sound of carbonation fizzled away.
With a rough thud, Merlin set down the empty glass and wiped the foam from their beard, continuing the explanation.
“Even if you want to learn, if you lack talent, you can’t. But even if you have talent, without a ‘Master,’ you can’t learn. That’s the reality of magic.”
I already got the gist from just watching videos.
But that video lecture was dismissed as ‘garbage’ by none other than Merlin themselves. I chose not to point that out to Merlin.
“In short, it’s a discipline you can only learn if fate allows it. That’s magic.”
I gazed at Merlin with the intent to encourage more explanation.
Does Merlin get what I’m thinking?
Merlin lightly tapped the empty glass with their finger and continued,
“Just knowing about mana isn’t the end. You need to learn how to move it, how to use magic, and everything in between.”
Clearing their throat briefly, Merlin added,
“Um, right. It’s more appropriate to say you must relearn the sensation of moving a ‘third arm’ that never existed before. It’s a difficult task.”
The introduction was a bit long.
Feeling bored, I continued listening.
“If you could use magic just by thinking, anyone could become a wizard. But the reality isn’t like that. Even hackers who can use magic say that magic ‘has many similarities to programming coding,’ which is difficult and complex.”
Merlin lifted the empty cola glass, realized it was empty, and set it down again.
With a resounding smack of their lips, they carried on.
“In other words, even if you have extraordinary talent, usually, you need corresponding effort.”
Hmm.
What on earth are they trying to say?
I briefly interrupted Merlin, who seemed eager to speak.
“…Um.”
“So─, um. Speak,”
Merlin paused and waited for me to talk.
It had already been several hours since we entered the cafe.
I decided to communicate what I had wanted to say politely to Merlin.
“Then what about me…?”
I spread my palm and manipulated the external mana.
The process felt as natural as breathing.
Soon, ‘flame,’ ‘electricity,’ ‘water,’ ‘wind,’ etc., appeared at the tips of my fingers.
With coding and effort, I honestly didn’t understand what Merlin was trying to say.
While it was a given that one couldn’t use magic just by thinking, I could indeed use magic just by thinking.
Is it a player perk?
“I just do it.”
“…….”
Merlin, who had been silent, eventually responded with a blank stare.
“…I don’t know.”
Merlin looked at me with an expression that seemed to imply, ‘What is that? Scary.’
Side EP. Easy Peasy! (2)
That was incredibly simple.
I should have just said I wanted to learn when we first met.
So little knowledge was gained from Merlin that I almost thought it was nothing.
Gathering mana within my body.
Honestly, I had thought of this idea long ago.
Ordinary wizards collect mana in their bodies.
It’s common knowledge appearing in many RPG games, after all.
However, there’s a huge gap between thinking about it and actually trying it.
First of all, it wasn’t information that was disclosed in the ‘Real Wizards of the Machine Age’ channel.
The memory of using magic for the first time also significantly influenced my willingness to try it.
Let’s recall that day in the sewage.
I only used a spell to create a small ‘light.’
But what was the outcome?
Of course, even though I didn’t know how to dismiss the spell, my tiny magic resulted in a big sorrow for Four Eyes.
I expressed my condolences to Four Eyes, who had to clean the room again due to my magic exploding like a bomb.
In any case, I witnessed the process of my mana bursting with my own two eyes.
I couldn’t just gather mana in my body without reasoning.
Thinking back, it felt like, ‘Do I really need to?’
Even now, if given a bit of time, I could drop fireballs from the sky or call down lightning bolts.
“…….”
At least I learned it in the end.
I circulated mana within my body as I thought.
“……Heh.”
The look on Merlin’s face while watching the series of events made them appear a few years older.
Merlin said it could take ‘a few years,’ but honestly, it felt like it didn’t even take a few minutes.
Merlin, with a look of disbelief, cautiously asked me.
“…May I hold your wrist for a moment?”
Grabbing the meridians (Twelve Main Channels) was dangerous for a martial artist, but given the target was a figure like a king and parents, it could be accepted under the principle of Military and Teacher are one body.
I extended my wrist to Merlin, thinking nonsensical thoughts inwardly.
Merlin slowly closed their eyes, concentrating as if sensing something.
“…No way, how is this possible?”
Seconds passed.
During that time, a myriad of emotions flew across Merlin’s face, almost as if I were watching a bad comedy.
“What on earth is this possible?”
“Is there a problem?”
Since Merlin was shocked by something related to my body, I questioned them.
If I had improperly stored mana, Merlin’s response would probably be.
– ‘It’s about to blow up, roughly in 3─.’
– ‘3 days?’
– ‘2, 1….’
Then my name would be instantly registered in the NCPD’s bomb terrorist database.
Thankfully, that turn of events didn’t happen.
Merlin continued speaking incredulously.
“…For a wizard, constitution is incredibly important.”
I asked if there was a problem, and they suddenly began an oracle-like dialogue.
I could understand Merlin, being an elderly person. Respecting the old, I listened closely to what Merlin said.
Constitution.
Like ‘Heavenly Martial Body’ or ‘Single Pulse Constitution.’
Something that sounds like it belongs in a martial arts story?
“Collecting mana is like that too. There are huge differences depending on the person’s constitution. Mana can gather in the heart, belly button, head, or even the tips of the body. This area can also be considered ‘talent’.”
“?”
I tilted my head at his words.
Because the mana that entered my body didn’t feel like it was stored in any corner. It simply maintained itself from the moment it entered.
“So what about me?”
“I believe your whole body is like that.”
Haha, Merlin chuckled.
“…I thought when they said ‘Unique Wizard,’ it was just a rumor.”
Now with an enlightened expression, Merlin stroked their beard gently.
“Honestly, I never thought I’d say this, but for you, it might just be better to gather mana and use it.”
“……What?”
When I was clutching my ankle, desperately begging for magic lessons, where had that enthusiasm gone?
Seeing my incredulous expression, Merlin calmly continued speaking.
That expression was very cautious, like seeing a child holding a gun.
“…I don’t know how long you’ve been storing mana in your body for, but the amount of mana I checked from you was astonishingly high.”
Merlin cautiously pushed their chair back a little.
“Can you create ‘a very small flame’ using the mana in your body? Oh, and direct it upward.”
“Of course.”
It’s not a difficult task.
Excluding the process of gathering mana from outside, I would simply use the mana within my body.
……
Wait.
Something feels off.
The sensation was different than usual.
The quality of mana felt thicker and more solid─.
Finally.
A spray of flame poured out from the tip of my index finger, as if I were using a ‘flame thrower.’
“?”
Merlin seemed to have set up a shield made of mana around themselves, avoiding the heat with a look like, ‘I knew that would happen.’
Fire alarm, fire alarm.
Since we were still in the café, the sprinklers activated above us.
“Ahhh!!”
“What, what’s going on? A terrorist?”
Although I extinguished the flames quickly, getting soaked in a shower of white foam was unavoidable.
Merlin took out a hidden umbrella using Invisibility Magic and naturally opened it above their head.
“See?”
“…….”
“You may not need to learn magic anymore, but you’ll have to learn how to control it.”
I stared at Merlin, all drenched.
“…….”
If I had known it would turn out like this, I would’ve preferred just to be told. Why did they suggest using magic?
Understanding my gaze, Merlin offered an excuse.
“…I didn’t know it would be this level.”
“…….”
Maybe it was because they immediately took out an umbrella.
I had absolutely no trust left.
*
Ugh, this feels gross.
I had to show my corporate ID to the arriving NCPD, give statements, and ask Eve to delete the surveillance footage—all while soaking wet.
It was all incredibly uncomfortable.
Merlin quietly left afterward.
They said they would return with a new magic system to teach me.
Honestly, I would have been satisfied with just this much, but there’s no stopping the elderly eager to teach.
Still, it felt a bit different.
To be completely honest, it felt quite nice.
Getting stronger is always a joyful thing, especially in this cyberpunk world where bullets are closer than laws.
So, I headed home with lighter steps than usual.
As I opened the door, I was about to tell my roommates what I had learned.
But strangely, I saw all my housemates gathered in one corner of the room.
Upon closer inspection, they were surrounding Maya.
Has Maya been treated?
I walked toward where they were.
Just then, Maya’s voice caught my ear, causing me to instinctively silence myself and stop.
“That’s what I said. It feels a bit fishy, but there’s this sensation of lightning striking my head.”
What in the world are they talking about?
I leaned in to listen closely to their conversation.
“…Really?”
“I didn’t know my tongue could move like that. It’s my first kiss too….”
““……””
Hmm.
What in the world could that ‘what’ or ‘how’ be referring to.
The unease that brushed my mind triggered a nervous sweat down my spine.
I moved as carefully as if standing before a pack of fierce beasts.
Silently, slowly─.
“Hey? Siwoon, you’re here too.”
Oops.
All eyes turned towards me, sharper than daggers.
It felt like a scene straight out of a horror movie.
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