Chapter 295 – Heavenly Demon Casts Magic (4)

– Quaang!

A massive magical storm engulfs the entire training ground.
Clusters of black mist shimmer around, as if exploding.

This has been attempted several times already.

“……”

Is it even plausible that someone who has just begun their journey in magic can create original spells?
Something doesn’t add up.
Could it be true that the nature of Magi’s magic power is entirely different from others?

Relying more on intuition and talent than meticulous magical formulas, the path ahead is uncertain.

– Thud!

Leaning back in the chair, the center of gravity shifts, causing a fall backward.
The back of the head isn’t in pain. Instead, the right arm feels numb, as if paralyzed due to the continuous extraction of Magi’s power.

“Heugh, heugh… Damn it.”

There’s no point in arguing about it.

At first, it seemed worth trying, but now, it’s undoubtedly impossible.

The awe-inspiring and exceptional power of the Heavenly Demon, wielded through martial arts.
Worried that its origin is not within the realm of Murim, it experiences a sort of seizure when confronted with magic, as if possessed by an ego.

-This wretch, it’s sorcery!!! He’s using sorcery!!!

Whenever there was an opportunity, Do-won’s Murim people, who were so agitated, came to mind.

‘It’s not that the Murim people don’t use magic, it’s that they can’t.’

The nature of magic varies from one era to another and from person to person.
‘Inner energy’ is also incompatible with modern magic.
Instead, they utilize artifacts, illusions, and mystic arts.

‘I need to investigate that further.’

In the past, when Murim was thriving in the East, its practitioners utilized inner energy to perform magical feats.

Eden holds a myriad of tomes.
Naturally, there were writings about Murim and even about Do-won.

– Creak.

As I laid down to rest, the attic door opened.

The hem of the white dress came immediately into view.
With a composed demeanor, the wise man descended the stairs, his smiling face gazing down at me from above.

“Siheon, it seems things aren’t going well?”

It’s a gentle and pleasant voice.
As time passed, my name was now firmly established as Siheon.

“Yes.”
“Hehe, you’re honest.”
“It’s quite a difficult power to handle… It puts a lot of strain on my body.”
“I was surprised… I thought it would be a force that would diminish soon.”

The diminishing of the force?
Had Heaven not considered that?

If it’s Heaven, the Heavenly Demon of this era, she would be able to use magic.
I furrowed my brow at the reaction that I didn’t know how to use magic.

“Tsk.”

I tend to avoid unnecessary exposure of power.
Since I don’t know how much the sage knows about me, I feel my guard has been slightly lowered.

Of course, I plan to extract knowledge from the sage.

“Do you have any advice?”

Being in a position to receive teachings, I often get answers to questions like this.
Especially when it comes to magic, she points out even the aspects I wasn’t curious about.

At my inquiry, the sage hesitated for a moment before gracing me with a knowing smile.

“Lord Marronnier must be well aware. Why not ask one more time?”

Marronniera… Indeed, he was just as obsessed with magic as I was.

I averted my gaze from the sage’s robe and casually rose from my seat. When advice is given, it’s best to act immediately.

Brushing his hands off, he stretched out the upturned magical incantations he had written.

“Understood.”
“Stay strong. I don’t despise those who study magic.”
“…Yes, yes.”

I responded dryly and turned my back.

Oh, right. I paused midway and spoke to the sage.

“By the way, wise one.”
“Yes?”
“…It seems you have quite a fondness for teddy bears?”

Perhaps it’s because he lacks any sense of shame. From the sidelines, he appears untroubled by exposure.

Just a moment ago, while I was lying down, he didn’t hesitate to approach me. An embroidered teddy bear adorned the white background of his robe. I also noticed that it was rather small in size.

“……”

A speechless sage.

“…Is there a problem?”

His voice is as sharp as a sashimi knife that has passed through the hands of a craftsman for decades.

“Well, I’ll go and study.”

“Laughing at other people’s tastes—”

Ignoring the stammering sage, I quickly got up from my seat.

“Lee Si-heon!”

I heard informal speech for the first time. It felt like I had struck the rational sage’s head, even experiencing a sense of joy.

It was a small victory within a week.

* * * * * * * *

Neither Bam nor Marronnier could fall asleep for a while. It meant that creating magic was no easy task.

“Bam-cat!”

-Kiik!

As soon as I opened the door, the smell of sweat wafted in. Marronnier, sitting in a chair wearing round glasses, looked at me in surprise.

“…Ah, Lee Si-heon? Wh-why did you come all of a sudden?”

The oversized magnifying glasses ill-suited her small face, but they only served to enhance her cuteness.

The white researcher’s outfit seemed several sizes too large, sweeping the floor as she sat in the chair.

“J-just a moment… I haven’t even washed my hair today…”

As I approached, Marronnier hastily pushed her wheeled chair back to escape. But I closed the distance even faster and embraced her from above. Her face turned beet red, too adorable for words.

“Sniff sniff. Everything seems to be in order.”
“…Ah, ugh…ugh…”

She placed her fingers on her forehead and bowed her head deeply.

Ever since that day, we had grown much closer. She would seize every opportunity to be near me, asking to be held and sleep together. Somehow, I found myself going along with it.

Intellectually, I knew it was best to keep a strong resolve and maintain our distance. But seeing Marronnier in such pain made my heart waver.

“Let go… Please…”

He taps his chest and speaks in a timid voice.

Reluctantly, I released the restraints and pulled over the remaining chair to sit down. Scanning the cramped laboratory, I could frequently spot traces of Marronnier’s diligent work.

Over a hundred A4 sheets.
A magical engineering computer and hand-drawn graphs. Formulas.
Even the Tree Rune, a symbol far more intricate than the ones I use.

The scale is entirely different from mine. The distinction in caliber is evident.
It wasn’t in vain that the sage suggested seeking Marronnier’s counsel.

“…What’s the matter?”

Finally, the genuine Marronnier cautiously glanced up at me.
Due to the height difference, her seated position naturally offered the most adorable angle.

Her hair is elegant as well. French women pursue a natural style and take care of it.

“Your hair looks lovely.”
“It’s just… something I do. Just that.”

A chignon.

In Korea, it would be considered a bun. The appearance varies depending on the direction and tying method.

Feeling bashful from the untimely compliment, Marronnier covered her cheeks with both hands.

“Hee.”

Just look at that smile.

Regardless, the reason I sought out Marronnier was not to praise her hairstyle.

“I have a bit of a dilemma.”
“What’s bothering you? Tell me anything.”
“It’s about magic. I’m trying to create it, but it just doesn’t seem right.”

As if inquiring which part was the issue, Marronnier immediately assumed a serious expression. Thanks to her, I was able to comfortably share my concerns.

I didn’t describe it as ‘Magi.’ Can a power that is entirely different from magical energy be incorporated into magic?

Marronnier devoted her full attention to the problem as if it were her own.

“…Could it be related to witchcraft?”

Marronnier, having set aside her magnifying glasses, opened one of the books piled up like a mountain.

“In that field, the best sources can be found in the Murim region, which includes Korea and China. The characteristics of magical power there are quite diverse.”

She had a remarkable ability to get straight to the point.

“It’s not my area of expertise, but isn’t it the specialty of some spirits to bind this type of magic together?”
“Elemental magic?”
“Yes… Elemental magic.”

Another rare concept emerged this time: spirits. If magic can only be used by those who are chosen, then elemental magic is akin to winning the lottery. Among the people around me, Marronnier and Azalea had contracts with spirits. Although not very close, Saku, a representative figure of Japan, was also a renowned elemental magic practitioner.

“Do you know much about it?”

I shook my head in response to Marronnier’s question.

Spirits. I knew that magical power was the source of the world and that demons had evolved from Ents. There was a close connection between the World Tree, demons, and dungeons. However, spirits alone had no involvement in this world.

As a result, I had not learned much about spirits during my studies.

“The spirit realm is truly an enigmatic domain, where only theories have been established without any actual realization. It’s not easily learned.”
“Do you know about it?”
“Who do you think I am?”
“A night cat.”
“…….”

Her face reddens once more.
Since it’s a horse chestnut tree, it’s a chestnut cat. The nickname effortlessly sticks.

“Ah, anyway!”

The point is that she doesn’t deny it.
She chuckles and lightly taps my shoulder.

“…Elemental magic lies within the realm of talent. If you forge a contract with a spirit, it will become a valuable assistant in your magical pursuits.”
“Really?”

It’s a tantalizing offer.
I have a tendency to wield magic with abandon; a spirit that enhances precision or firepower could certainly prove beneficial.

In the past, I underestimated the power of combining martial arts and magic, believing my abilities were more than enough.
However, if the spirit serves as a support for my magic, it might just be a suitable arrangement.

This wouldn’t be about delving into the world of spiritual arts.
Rather, it would function as a complementary aspect to my existing magical prowess.

“Oh, but… It’s better not to get your hopes up. When it comes to contracting with a spirit. Their numbers are even fewer than those who awaken.”

Awakening.
The term refers to the sudden emergence of unique abilities or traits in individuals who have no prior connection to magical power or a hunter’s strength.
A miracle akin to a sprout emerging from parched land.

It’s said that their numbers are even scarcer than that.

“It’s fine.”
“Huh?”

I smiled, as if to assuage any worries.

That spirit magic.
Talent.

I had acquired it long ago when I added Azalea to the compendium.

“How can a contract be formed?”
“…If you have a magic stone, it’s possible right away.”

A magic stone.

“Just a moment—”
“Uh, what!?”

I immediately opened the door and went to meet the sage in the library upstairs.
If it’s in Eden, there must be at least one stored magic stone, I thought, half in jest.

Magic stone, hand it over.

Lately, there have been too many things I don’t understand, and it’s driving me mad.

In the midst of it all, I felt a twinge of resentment towards the sage, whose presence left me feeling disoriented.

It would be fine without it.
Purchasing a mana stone wouldn’t be too difficult.

“A mana stone?”
“Yes.”
“…You’ve just done that, and now you’re asking for a favor?”

Perhaps teasing them about their undergarments had been an issue.
I gave an awkward smile as the sage immediately glared at me.

I was at a loss for quite some time.
Around five minutes must have passed.
She set down the book she had been reading, sighed, and then her warm, maternal smile returned.

“Sigh. I knew this would happen, so I prepared in advance.”

As if anticipating this, the sage handed me the mana stone that was on the table right in front of her.
I instantly expressed my gratitude towards the black, semi-transparent gemstone.

I truly hadn’t expected her to give it to me.

Upon returning to Marronnier’s lab, Naomi blinked with a somewhat flustered expression.

“…You actually begged the sage?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s insane… Seriously insane… Why didn’t you just ask me…?”

Marronnier’s startled reaction.
Then the sage entered the room.

“Oh, right, Siheon.”
“Wha- Sage?!”

Marronnier, taken aback. She wore the expression of a condemned criminal.
Leaving her be, I conversed with the sage.

“What’s the matter?”
“If it’s a spirit ritual, it can’t be done here. The connection is severed. Let’s move outside for a moment.”
“Uh, Sage, is that alright? It’s quite an imposition…”
“It’s not difficult.”

The rest of the process was swift.

A meadow we reached with the sage’s assistance.
I’m not sure where it is, but it seems to be quite a distant place.
It’s said that spirits often react only in places such as forests and fields.

Before I knew it, Marronnier had followed me to the center of the meadow in her researcher attire.

“…”

Marronnier, dazed by the rapid turn of events.
Wearing a face that seemed unsure of what she was doing, she drew a large magic circle in the center, imbued with her magical power.

“In front of the sage… a summoning ceremony. A summoning ceremony before the sage…”

Could it be that they see it as no different than a village chief baring his chest before the king? Marronnier painstakingly completed the magic circle, perhaps believing it was a situation in which he would be evaluated.

“Is”Is it alright?”
“Yes, Marronnier is an excellent mage.”
“Oh, what a relief.”

A spell filled with patterns that I cannot comprehend at all.

“Once you place your hand on that magic stone, the rest will come to you naturally.”

At the sage’s words, I approached the center and reached out. As soon as my fingertips touched the gemstone wrapped in pure white paper, an immense amount of information surged into my head.

Light floods the magic circle.
A brilliant cluster of lights rising, even in daylight.

The incantation must be completed with magical power. Suddenly, the sage’s words made sense. I channeled black magic from the tips of my fingers. As the luminous cluster began to darken and the entire ritual was engulfed in black, a sudden, deafening roar erupted around us.

– Thud!

Once.

– Thud!

Twice.

There is a high probability of failure. No matter how talented one is, there are seldom many responses to a summon. After repeating the process several times, Azalea had told me that she gradually increased the number of spirits she could control.

As a result of watching with a relaxed mind, one cannot expect immediate success. Fortunately, a small brown lump pierced through the luminous haze and approached.

“…Oh.”

The sage’s nasal sound that sprang up as soon as they saw the creature. 7 cm – a tiny being the size of a finger joint. Marronie, who had been observing, unknowingly blinked and raised the corners of her mouth.

[Chirp?]

The sound of a bird. Little by little, the information entered my head. I instantly knew the species of the bird.

[Is it you? Were you the one who called me?]

A tree spaniel.

The adorable first friend approached and tilted their head.