LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 19 - You Would’ve Died if I Hadn’t Stopped
Chapter 19: You Would’ve Died if I Hadn’t Stopped
After spending quite some time in the Magic Department’s library, I finally visited the training room. It was already dawn by then.
With this current body, I could only use basic magic about ten times.
I could manage intermediate magic twice, and as for advanced magic, I couldn’t even attempt it.
But I scoffed at this. I had a very good plan, and it would be resolved soon enough.
As I entered the training room, the well-maintained space greeted me.
This clean, spacious area was a cutting-edge facility that Merhen Academy prided itself on. If I trained here consistently, I could achieve significant progress in terms of mana flow and total capacity.
…Or at least that’s what was written at the entrance, but I’d have to check it myself.
In my previous world, I trained by increasing my total mana through meditation. I could only hope that the training in this space would be more efficient than meditation.
‘Let’s start by following my instincts.’
I was the only student who visited the training room at dawn. Thanks to that, I could fully utilize this space.
The moment I placed my hand on the pillar standing in the center of the room, it responded to my mana.
[Flan. First Year.]
[Please select a training program.]
[Please select the difficulty level.]
Without a second thought, I chose purification.
Increasing the total amount of mana without refining it would only start a vicious cycle. Prioritizing the concentration of pure mana was the first step and the proper method.
Time was on my side, so I could afford to take it easy. However, I wouldn’t be lazy about it.
“!”
The white space went completely dark as the training began.
I started to feel the currents of air fluttering around like the wind. Soon, they surged like a torrent, scattering my mana.
“…So that’s how it works.”
It wasn’t difficult to understand the method. Each time I overcame this, my mana would become more refined.
Closing my eyes, I struggled to maintain control over my mana amidst the torrent. I defended against the surging currents and created my own flow.
It was like sharpening a sword on a serrated blade, refining my mana through the currents.
‘I don’t like this at all.’
Although I was somewhat satisfied with the training method in this space, I was far from pleased with my still-immature flow.
Every time the intense currents disrupted my mana, my pride took a hit. Just a mere piece of equipment…
‘Still… it’s more efficient than meditation.’
Though the progress was minimal, I could feel the refinement of my mana. Compared to the endless meditation in my previous world, the speed was much faster.
‘Let’s see if I can ride the current now.’
While unwavering persistence is often seen as a strength, it can be a hindrance when it comes to mana purification.
The goal was a clarity so pure it could withstand any external conditions—an unyielding purity, the pinnacle of a magician’s skill.
I began to gradually infuse the current with my mana.
Slowly but surely, I reversed the initial situation where the current overwhelmed my mana. Now, I was embedding my mana into the current.
The pain was enough to make me frown, but I endured it.
I had experienced this kind of pain countless times before. Moreover, pain was a clear sign that the training was progressing smoothly.
And when I was certain that my mana had sufficiently permeated the current…
‘Right here.’
In one swift motion, I seized control of the flow and swallowed the current whole.
The miraculous achievement of making everything in this space part of my flow and purifying it was now within reach.
From this point on, it was purely a battle of willpower and strength. I steadied my breathing and pushed my body to its limits.
I gritted my teeth and endured the pain. The next moment was painful, and the moment after that was still painful, but I never got used to it.
Veins that felt like they were about to burst. A body overheating. The faint scent of burning flesh beginning to tickle my nose.
Every part of my body screamed for me to give up, but my mind didn’t comprehend the word ‘give up.’
No, I refused to understand it.
‘Just a little more.’
Every painful moment was tempering me, making me stronger. My mana was becoming more refined.
I couldn’t enjoy this process, but it wasn’t something I could avoid.
Proof.
Every moment I endured was proof. Even now, my mana was continually becoming more refined.
Just as I was about to witness that small proof before my eyes…
“…?”
Suddenly, the equipment stopped.
The pain that had been suffocating me disappeared. But so did the proof that had been within my grasp.
Why? I hadn’t felt anger like this in a long time.
Wiping the sweat-soaked face with my hand, I searched for the cause.
And the cause was right in front of me.
“…”
Hair as blue as the sea and eyes that shone like the sun—Trixie. Our gazes met in the air.
She might have seemed graceful and captivating, if not for the fact that she had interrupted my training.
“I didn’t know you were here.”
That was all Trixie said. There wasn’t even a hint of an apology, not even a trace of regret.
I briefly recalled how I had dealt with people like her in my previous life. I wanted to make her disappear.
At the very least, I wanted to hang her upside down in midair.
As I checked if I had enough mana left to do that, Trixie added a few more words.
“…I was too tired.”
It was only then that I noticed her condition. The girl looked exhausted. The dark circles under her eyes had grown even darker.
A crumpled ballet dress was sticking out of the bag slung over her shoulder, and it was stuffed with crumpled papers.
One of those papers fluttered to the ground.
A quick glance told me that they were notes for approaching the problems on the Agora Board. The other papers were probably the same.
My anger subsided a little.
It was somewhat commendable that she had been so focused on solving my problems.
With a sigh, I brushed it off. I was about to leave the training room when—
“You.”
She called out to me.
I considered ignoring her, but I was curious about what she would say after struggling all day with the problems I had set. So I stopped.
“You asked if I had sobered up. What did you mean by that?”
“Did I say that?”
“What you said about the scroll. Were you serious?”
Her tone was just as cold as ever. Even while asking questions, there was no fluctuation in her voice.
She hadn’t been like this when she was drunk. It was difficult to get used to.
I nodded in response.
“Of course.”
“Well done. You’re useful.”
I tilted my head slightly. It was such an out-of-the-blue compliment. In fact, it was debatable whether it was even a compliment.
Trixie continued in her usual icy tone.
“Thanks to you, I have a chance to skip the written exam. Don’t do anything during the exploration. I’ll handle everything.”
I finally understood Trixie’s thinking.
She wasn’t agreeing with me or anything like that. She was simply satisfied that she had gained an opportunity to skip the written exam.
What followed was her confidence that she could lead the exploration task to victory all on her own.
That arrogant attitude didn’t annoy me as much as it should have. Perhaps because I saw a glimpse of my past self in her.
“Do as you wish.”
With those words, I passed by her.
“You.”
But then, she called out to me once more.
“…You were doing this on the highest difficulty level.”
She lightly tapped the pillar with her fingertip. It seemed that my information was still displayed on the pillar.
“You would’ve died if I hadn’t stopped you. The highest level isn’t meant for students.”
I considered whether to hang her up in midair right now.
“You.”
Trixie continued with another question.
“You enrolled as an F-rank. How did you get an A-rank?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Tell me.”
I was about to ignore her, but then a thought occurred to me. It was a rather clever idea.
I pulled out a worn-out Trivia book from my pocket and held it out to Trixie, who was staring at me with an expressionless face.
“There’s a teaching auction on the auction board. I use it often.”
“…?”
Trixie tilted her head to the side in confusion.
“You.”
She called out to me again, but I ignored her and left. I would spend the rest of the dawn training through meditation.
◈
The next morning.
For the first time since coming to this world, I was genuinely impressed. It was in the bookstore section of the Magic Department’s shop.
“This is unbelievable.”
『How Healing Magic Became the Center of Controversy』
A single book caught my eye.
It was placed at the top, illuminated by the most brilliant light, and it was enough to captivate my interest.
Healing magic had always been a hot topic in my previous world, causing countless controversies and incidents.
However, it eventually overcame those transitional stages and established itself successfully.
I wondered what kind of controversies and incidents were happening in this world. Would it bear similarities to my previous world? How far had it developed…?
Just imagining it made my heart race. Before I knew it, I was reaching out for the book.
“Are you interested in the healing field?”
A now-familiar voice hit my ears. The green fairy appeared, flying right in front of me.
“It’s a hot topic these days
, isn’t it? Everyone’s talking about it.”
Only now, as she flew right in front of me, did I notice that the little fairy had a name tag on her chest.
The name written on it was Sylph. I opened my mouth to speak.
“Is there a reason it’s such a hot topic?”
“Since nothing’s been properly established yet, people are misusing it left and right. Like forcing people whose minds are already shattered to work by healing their bodies.”
It seemed that the issues causing controversy in this world were similar.
However, the fact that these things were only now becoming controversial meant that this world had yet to reach a breakthrough that could overcome this transitional stage.
‘If that’s the case.’
If I quickly researched healing magic in this world based on the knowledge from my previous world, I might be able to trigger that breakthrough and leave a significant mark.
That would be quite a notable achievement. My desire to read the book grew even stronger.
“I want to read it right away, but…”
“But I’ve told you before to stop speaking informally to me! And F-rank students can’t read this. It’s really expensive.”
“I’m A-rank now.”
“Does that even make sense~?”
I simply stared at Sylph. She looked flustered as she rummaged through a Trivia book that was about her size.
“Why are you like this~? The Magic Department’s shop Trivia book can check student ranks, you know~? If you’re lying, it’ll be obvious… Huh?”
Sylph looked genuinely startled as she alternated between looking at the Trivia book and me. Then she coughed awkwardly and closed the Trivia book.
“This is really surprising. I’ve never seen a student rank up this quickly and significantly. Anyway, alright~ Based on the A-rank criteria, with a discount, this would be…”
Sylph suddenly jumped in surprise.
“Oh, wait. It’s already reserved~”
Muttering to herself, she flew over to another fairy, exchanged a few words, and then returned.
“Sorry~ There’s only one copy of this book, and it’s reserved. You know the Fritz family, right?”
Fritz. After repeating those three syllables a couple of times, Trixie von Fritz naturally came to mind.
Sylph tilted her head.
“You don’t know the Fritz family? There’s a saying—‘Judith for swords, Fritz for magic.’ Haven’t you heard of it?”
“In any case, I can’t read it right now, correct?”
“That’s right~”
“I’ll come back later.”
I nodded to Sylph and turned around.
“Seriously, stop speaking informally to me!”
Sylph shouted from behind.
◈
After lunch, it was time for Violet’s lecture. Today, there was a mock battle that had been announced in advance.
Professors Violet and Leonard gathered the students in a training ground that was different from usual.
In the center was a wide, circular arena, surrounded by a massive spectator stand.
I sat in a corner seat and placed the Trivia book next to me. The seating area was quite spacious, so it was a clear signal not to sit next to me.
“Hey, Flan!”
But someone confidently sat right on top of my Trivia book. A strong scent of perfume. It was, of course, Becky.
“Ugh… I’m so nervous about the mock battle today. Aren’t you?”
“Get up.”
“Huh? Oh.”
Realizing that she had sat on something, Becky quickly jumped up.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know. I really didn’t.”
I thought I’d have to buy a new one later, and took the Trivia book from her.
But then Becky tilted her head in confusion.
“Huh… Hey, Flan. You write in Trivia too?”
“What do you mean?”
“Look at this.”
Becky pointed at the cover with her index finger. The broom emblem was glowing blue.
“When it lights up like this, it means there’s an alarm. I didn’t think you were interested in this stuff.”
I decided I’d have to modify it so that the light wouldn’t turn on when I got back to the dorm today. I snatched the Trivia book from her and checked the contents.
Sure enough, there was a response to the teaching auction.
[▶ What level do you teach to? 8ㅅ8]
…The phrasing was rather bizarre.