Chapter 16: Stylish
Translator: Soafp
Several days after Ashera’s birthday:
Mana transformation training was now entering its fifth day.
(To achieve wall running and spatial kicking, I’m going to need mana transformation into magnetic forces… Well, time to give it a try.)
What was it that fueled my passion like this?
It seemed like my intention to transform mana into magnetic forces to learn wall running and spatial kicking.
I began to meditate.
Magnetism…
Electricity…
Electrons…
I should’ve studied chemistry a bit more… Oh well.
Protons and electrons…
Atomic nuclei…
A single thought can penetrate even stone, and a single drop of water can break a rock.
Although my scientific knowledge of magnetism was quite vague, I could feel that mana transformations into attraction and repulsion were starting to happen.
Even if you lack comprehensive knowledge, if you have a solid mental image, it should work just fine. Otherwise, I couldn’t believe that people in this world could control “fire” using mana.
Mana seems to have the ability to read people’s thoughts.
With my vague knowledge, even though it was just vague, mana transformations I desired were slowly starting to manifest.
(A little more…)
I focused my mind and imagined the power I wanted.
(Mana is attracting each other… This might be it…)
Finally, the power I imagined began to manifest.
(Now, for repulsion…)
Attraction and repulsion. The opposite sides of the same coin. Once attraction was achieved, it seemed like I could activate repulsion faster than I expected.
(Ooh, mana is repelling each other… Is this magnetism? Well, whether it’s magnetism or something else, it doesn’t matter as long as I can create attraction and repulsion.)
It might not have been magnetism in the strictest sense, but I didn’t care as long as I got the desired results.
I finished meditating and decided to try creating attraction without meditating. I slowly focused on creating an attraction between my right thumb and index finger.
(Ooh, they’re sticking together. If I make the attraction stronger… Oh, this is getting magnetic.)
Next, I attempted repulsion.
(Ooh, it’s really becoming magnetic. This feels like I’ve finally taken my first step.)
Finally achieving the power I sought, I chuckled with a wicked grin on my face.
Afternoon following the next day’s lunch:
I was determined to master wall running and spatial kicking using my newly acquired attraction and repulsion mana transformations.
“Mother, today’s mana transformation practice will be in the training grounds.”
“Mana transformation and not mana manipulation? And in the training grounds? What are you up to?”
“It’s stylish.”
“Styl… what?”
“It’s stylish.”
“What is stylish?”
“Cool combat.”
“…”
“Alright, I’m off to the training grounds.”
(This guy hasn’t been holding back lately…) (Mother)
I moved to the training grounds and began practicing, using the newly acquired attraction and repulsion mana transformations.
“Alright, let’s start by walking on walls.”
I concentrated my mana on the soles of my feet and created an attraction with the wall.
“I… I can’t walk.”
To make progress, I realized I had to create attraction with the wall only when I put my foot on it. That was obvious.
“Okay, how about trying spatial kicking?”
With a running start, I attempted to jump and generate repulsion in the air.
“I couldn’t jump, but it felt like I was stepping on something soft.”
“Spatial kicking seems to have a good response.”
It had a better feel than I expected, but I had only just started.
For the time being, I decided to halt training with the dagger and mana manipulation and focus on wall running and spatial kicking. However, I needed to request this pause from my two instructors.
First, I went to see Berett, my dagger instructor.
“Berett, I’d like to take a break from dagger training for a while.”
“Is something wrong?”
“I want to practice a special footwork. I’m sorry for being presumptuous.”
“No, I’m sorry for asking your intention.”
“I’d like to continue dagger training once I’m satisfied with this footwork.”
“Understood.”
I appreciated how accommodating Berett always was.
Next was my mother. I couldn’t predict how she’d react to this.
“Mother, I’d like to take a break from mana manipulation training for a while.”
“Tell me why. Then I’ll decide.”
“It’s because I want to practice a special footwork, and I’d like to dedicate myself to it.”
“I see….”
“Is that okay?”
“That’s fine. But I want to see this footwork.”
“I can’t really show it to you yet…”
“That’s okay. Just show me.”
“Understood.”
“Now, shall we head to the training grounds?”
At the command of my mother, I headed to the training grounds, and El and Ashera followed naturally.
We stood in front of a storage room at the edge of the training grounds.
“Now, let’s start with wall running.”
I began running parallel to a wall. As I got closer, I tried to put my foot on it. Then, I generated attraction mana.
At the moment I attempted to take the first and second steps, I realized I couldn’t lift my first foot from the wall.
I tumbled to the ground dramatically.
“Mother, I failed.”
“I think I understand what you’re trying to do.”
“Is that so?”
“But is that all? What about spatial kicking and such?”
“Well that’s…”
“Then show me.”
This time, I am determined.
“Here I go!”
I take a running start, jump, and right when I’m in the air, I create repulsive force under my feet for another jump! It feels like there’s a thin board under my feet. In reality, it reduces the speed of my descent just a bit.
“Mother, did you see that?”
“I saw it.”
“I’d like to focus on this training for a while…”
“Understood. El, sorry, but when you’re done with your training every day, resonate with Al.”
“Got it, Mother.”
“Do you have any advice or suggestions?”
“Well, I understand what you want to do, but honestly, I have no idea how you managed to change your magic. There’s no one to teach you around here.”
“I see…”
“So, you’ll have to train on your own. Even if you wanted someone to teach you, there’s no one here to do it.”
“Understood…”
It seems that no one has ever created gravitational or repulsive forces with magic. And so, I focus entirely on practicing wall-running and spatial kicking.
Late at night, as usual, Rafina was deep in thought.
(Al’s two daytime techniques – they’re incredibly useful. Once he masters wall-running, fortifications and heights won’t matter. It almost negates the advantage of high ground. The spatial kick, too – that’s flight magic, walking on air…)
She let out a big sigh.
(Should I stop him? But it’s a fact that magic is evolving significantly….. Al and El’s power are increasing.)
She let out another sigh.
(In the end, I’m just watching over, as usual… What’s the meaning of my existence…)
Haa…
Rafina’s sighs could be heard forever in the darkness of the night…