The act of gathering mana itself is.
I’m not really sure how standardized it is within the magical system.
What my master (from the video channel) taught me was the simplest way to use magic.
The talents of my physical body created through the process of ‘new character’ were exceptional enough that I didn’t need to find other ways.
I can’t speak for others, but for me, it wasn’t that difficult.
To explain it easily.
It felt like consciously breathing.
Just like blinking your eyes at certain intervals and swallowing saliva every now and then.
For me, gathering mana felt just about that.
So, if I stayed focused, I could gather mana all day long.
Of course, there was a downside—if I accidentally forgot or got startled and lost focus, all the gathered mana would fly away.
Plus, there was a slight ‘side effect’ related to this downside.
The more mana I had gathered, the more physical force it had when it flew away, exploding like a bomb, which was a very minor issue.
For more details on this part,
you can refer to the very first beginner lecture video on “The Real Wizard Channel of the Mechanical Era.”
Well, anyway.
The reason I suddenly went on a simple explanation about mana and magic is that.
I almost exploded all the mana I had gathered because I lost my composure upon hearing what Smile John and Pete Mc said.
On the giant monitor.
The mouse character, having finished greeting, rubbed its white-gloved hands and said.
【I lost! I surrender!】
“?”
Then, it brought out a hot iron plate from outside the screen, and the text saying “zawazawa” (ざわざわ) swirled around the character like an onomatopoeia.
That wasn’t the end of it.
【This is the traditional apology method, DO-GE-ZA, coming from Neo Japan─.】
I found it hard to respond.
Nana Catherine and Eve might have felt the same, but.
His eldest daughter, Kojaka Kohaku, and his son-in-law, Kojaka William, had even less reaction.
They looked like they’d fainted with their eyes wide open.
I let out a light sigh.
The possibility of a battle was low, true.
But I never imagined the situation would unfold like this.
Would the chairman of some megacorp openly express surrender as soon as he saw my face?
“……Um.”
I tried to say something but immediately closed my mouth again.
Pete Mc, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings, continued excitedly.
【I won’t just apologize verbally! First of all, I’ll pay a satisfactory amount of credits to everyone’s accounts!】
“……No.”
【It’s not enough with just credits! So, starting now, I’ll directly or indirectly assist whatever support is possible from Kojaka! Sounds good?】
“So─.”
【Of course, if you want, I can also provide you with a social rank for status!】
“Ah, can you just be quiet?”
【…….】
I didn’t know if it was because of the light mood, but the surrender felt incredibly lighthearted.
I couldn’t tell if it was a sincere plea or a lie.
In this cold-hearted cyberpunk world, if you surrender, there should be a clear reason behind it.
I wondered if there was a need to come out in such a submissive manner within the headquarters that was practically their front yard.
I posed the question regarding that doubt.
“Isn’t this a bit out of the blue?”
That was how the situation felt.
It’s true that resolving matters without fighting is best. But the overly convenient nature of the surrender made it impossible for me to trust Pete Mc’s words.
In response to my question, the flustered Pete Mc stopped moving.
The mouse character rolled its eyes cartoonishly.
That gaze turned towards ‘Eve.’
【…Would you believe me if I said my hacking skills were far superior to what I calculated?】
…….
That was undeniably true.
Considering how I had just made the ninjas kneel before me.
“Even if that’s true, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to apologize face to face?”
Then Pete Mc made a comical expression.
【Unfortunately, that’s a bit difficult right now.】
“Can’t you talk properly?”
【…I’m in here through a brain technique as a logic operation machine, so it will take some time to prepare a body.】
Now that was better.
I tried to steady my swirling thoughts by taking a deep breath.
I need to be careful not to let my gathered mana explode.
“……Huu.”
Alright, what should I do now.
He’s handing out rewards and has also surrendered.
I glanced back slightly.
Both Kojaka William and Kojaka Kohaku were still so oblivious to the current situation, staring blankly at the monitor with dazed expressions.
Catherine was yawning widely as if it wasn’t the situation she was expecting.
And Eve─.
【?】
A new character walked out next to Pete Mc on the monitor.
It was a maid character with white hair.
She looked adorably designed with a 2:1 proportion.
I had seen a figure like that on a streaming broadcast often.
“……Huh?”
The tiny character that suddenly appeared on the monitor surprised even me as I looked at ‘Eve.’
【What is this─, ugh!!】
[Shut up, I’m talking now.]
Eve began to hit Pete Mc with her tiny fist right after that.
I don’t know how it worked.
It looked like Pete Mc was in pain from the violence of Eve swinging her fists inside the monitor, if he wasn’t just acting.
A cute character was hitting another mascot character.
It looked just like a scene from a cartoon.
【…What the hell! Ugh, wait a second!】
From his usually confident voice, a groan mixed with pain emerged.
I felt a bit of the stress inside me release.
With an emotionless face, Eve continued to hit the mouse character.
[Now, you confess what you did wrong until now. I’m demanding it.]
From the outside of the monitor, it looked like just a light catfight.
But it seems like it hurt a lot.
As soon as Eve’s words were spoken, Pete Mc began shouting in panic.
【I set up a trap using my son-in-law’s voice data!】
[Again.]
【Ah! And I’m really sorry for blowing up the driverless taxi! Ugh, that really hurts!】
The onslaught of Eve’s fists didn’t stop there.
【I sent terrorists to the café─.】
【I intentionally dropped the stocks─, ugh!】
【I’ve been watching you through surveillance cameras wherever I go─.】
Facts I knew and didn’t come to know were revealed.
…….
So this is the true form of the megacorp’s chairman.
What the heck is the cyberpunk world….
I watched the scene, lamenting that I had no popcorn. It truly was a sight that deserved to be seen by more than just a few people.
【I rented the neighbor’s house to hire people, and ugh! I told them to harass the wizard!!】
“Excuse me?”
A dazed voice escaped my mouth.
I raised my hand slightly as an expression of having a question.
How did Eve see my actions inside the monitor?
She paused her punching for a moment.
“……That means.”
【Everyone on the same floor or above were also people I hired! So please, just stop!】
“…….”
There was something odd about this.
It’s not normal for there to be that many troublemakers in one house.
The noise dominator, the lady next door.
The noise-sensitive freak, the madman.
And last but not least─.
“Are you talking about Bill?”
【That’s right! I’m really sorry!】
I felt the reality of being speechless when something so ridiculous happened.
It was truly unimaginable.
I was so flabbergasted that I even forgot I was gathering ‘mana.’
“Oh.”
Crap.
The mana I had gathered all over my body was trying to escape.
I felt the swirling sensation and instinctively knew that all my mana was about to slip out of my control.
In this situation, I had two choices.
The first was to just let the mana explode.
The second was to quickly cast any spell I could.
My contemplation was short, and my choice was quick.
I didn’t use magic inside the room.
I wasn’t trying to kill anyone.
If I used magic, at the very least, it had to be outside of the room.
Out of the building─.
*
The next day.
I was taking a break while watching the news about a “lightning strike” hitting Kojaka’s headquarters.
The people on the news were discussing the dangers of the city’s barrier and weather anomalies.
Honestly, knowing the truth, I quietly thought about the city taxes that would go into repairing the barrier, leaving an apology in my heart for the citizens.
– Ding dong.
That was when the doorbell rang.
I wondered who it could be.
It was the Japanese young man who used to live next door to Catherine before she moved in.
What was his name again? Nobu… something.
“Uh, I came to apologize in person with my body. I’m really sorry again.”
“…….”
What was his name again?
It turned out to be Nobukuro.
I couldn’t even imagine how ridiculous it was.
I didn’t have the will or energy to respond.
I just weakly nodded my head.
“I hope you contact me comfortably if you need anything next time. You look tired, so I’ll see myself out for today.”
Whether he wanted to or not, I didn’t care.
I briefly saw him off and closed the door.
Anyway, it seemed like my bad relationship with Smile John had come to a certain conclusion.
Who knows what will happen later, though.
…….
“Sigh….”
I’m so worn out.
Seriously.
I swore to myself that I would never step outside for a week.
With that, I flopped onto my bed.
*
Andrea came to visit.
“…Could you join me on the NCB24 broadcast?”
“Yeah.”
I instinctively closed the front door.
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