Chapter 14: Mana (Part 3)
Mol-a (沒我).
It wasn't merely about reaching a state of heightened concentration.
It was about observing one's own self from an objective standpoint.
If one could master mol-a, they could enter the realm of imagination, where even training to transcend spatial constraints was possible.
"And when one reaches complete mastery, they can externalize the imagination through mana."
This was one of the many ways to manifest a deity.
Of course, if it were easy, the world would be overflowing with experts by now.
To be able to control mol-a, even after entering its stage, required long hours of arduous training.
"Of course, there are those who know how to do it but still can't."
But Yuri was different.
He delved into mol-a on his own, without anyone teaching him how.
Even though it might not be deep mol-a, doing it on his own was no easy feat.
"What on earth is this guy?"
At the tender age of seven, he awakened his deity.
A body so perfectly symmetrical it was eerie.
And to top it off, he had even attained the enlightenment of mol-a on his own.
The more Johann got to know Yuri, the more he thought he was born to learn martial arts.
That's why it was even more regrettable.
"Heaven took away his most important talent. Tsk."
If Yuri's talent for sensing mana had been just average, he would have become a second-to-none swordsman.
One disappointment followed another.
Johann continued to release mana, hoping Yuri would soon stand up and succeed in sensing mana.
But contrary to Johann's hopes, Yuri's silence persisted.
Time went by.
One day, two days, three days, four days.
On the 25th day since the passenger ship set sail, the storm that had been raging for a while vanished like a mirage as the scheduled four-week journey came to an end.
Despite the favorable sailing conditions, Yuri still couldn't grasp mana.
"I just don't get it. What is mana?"
Even when he tried to sense mana by erasing his senses, he couldn't feel anything significant.
"What's the problem?"
Contrary to his inability to sense mana, his body was still absorbing mana, even though he didn't intend it.
"Shouldn't I at least feel something?"
But Yuri felt nothing at all.
As Yuri was lost in his thoughts, Johann's voice reached him.
"Let's stop."
"Stop what! I can still do more."
"You brat, who are you trying to impress? Let's take a break. Do you know how exhausted you are right now? One wrong move, and you're done for. Tsk."
Despite the lack of miracles, Yuri persisted in mol-a, steadily and continuously.
Maintaining mol-a for a long time consumed a considerable amount of mental energy, so Yuri looked quite haggard.
"After eating and resting for a while, cool your head. Concentration is good, but excessive focus is no good. Go out for some fresh air and come back."
"...Why are you suddenly being considerate?"
"Hehe, even if I care for you, you're still a pain."
"Got it. I was hungry anyway. I should eat something before I come back."
Muttering to himself, Yuri got up.
As he swayed for a moment due to dizziness, he grabbed the wall.
Thud-
"Ow!"
It was as if Yuri had realized something when he touched the wall.
"Hungry? Empty stomach?"
Yuri's eyes lit up.
"That's right. If I empty myself... if I empty myself!"
If he couldn't sense what was originally there, then he should get rid of it.
If the mana around him was at 0...
If he could perceive the difference between having mana and not having it...
"Then maybe I can grasp what mana is!"
Yuri hurriedly went back to Johann, who looked puzzled by his sudden actions.
"What's up?"
With a puzzled expression on his face, Johann asked Yuri about his unexpected behavior.
Yuri explained what he had realized.
In response, Johann nodded.
"Oh, I see. That actually makes sense."
"Really? Is that it?"
"I'm pretty sure there's a place that trains in that way to increase mana sensitivity. To increase responsiveness to mana."
"...And you're just remembering that now?"
"Do I, someone who doesn't even know what it feels like to sense mana, have to remember all that? Besides, isn't that kind of training for those who lack sensitivity to mana in the first place?"
"...."
"Even without such crude training, my sensitivity was already close to perfection. Hah."
"...Unlucky."
One who had risen to the ranks of a master surely couldn't possess ordinary talent.
So, there had been no deep contemplation on what one who couldn't sense mana should do.
Although it was clear that Johann was skilled enough to be considered a master...
"Hmm... Teaching someone is trickier than I thought."
He excelled in learning and mastering talents himself but was merely a 'novice' when it came to teaching others.
He might excel in instructing about magic, but he lacked finesse in every other aspect.
"Seems like filling in the gaps while teaching... That saying was spot on."
Johann internally chuckled awkwardly as he spoke.
"So, are we starting now?"
"Of course!"
Yuri quickly settled into his seat.
His heart fluttered lightly.
'If this method... might work.'
No, it had to work.
With that determination in mind, Yuri immediately closed his eyes and focused.
Observing this, Johann moved mana right away.
Instead of dispersing mana around Yuri as usual, he absorbed the mana around Yuri himself to lower its density.
'No need to do it gradually.'
Extreme changes were easier to notice.
With that assumption, Johann swiftly absorbed the mana around Yuri.
In an instant, the area around Yuri became devoid of mana.
And that was the moment.
"Huh?!"
Yuri's face paled in surprise.
"Gah!"
Startled, he grabbed his throat and coughed.
Upon seeing Yuri's reaction, Johann was taken aback and quickly restored the mana.
"What's wrong?!"
"Cough!"
Yuri struggled to breathe.
When Johann lightly pressed his chest and back a few times, Yuri hastily gasped for air.
Thirty seconds later, after regaining composure, Yuri shot Johann an angry look.
"Are you insane?"
"...?"
"I told you to get rid of the mana, not suffocate me! Am I supposed to catch my breath? Do I look like I'm out to kill someone?"
"What are you talking about? When did I?"
"Just now!"
"Did I say that...?"
Yuri's face stiffened as he attempted to appeal his unfairness.
But Johann's face froze as if he realized something.
Seemingly understanding something, he spoke with a stern expression.
"Let's try again... one more time."
"Do it right this time, don't just suffocate me for no reason!"
Ignoring Johann's reply, Yuri settled back into his seat.
Observing Yuri's actions quietly, Johann extended his hand once he confirmed Yuri's immersion.
Unlike before, this time he adjusted the mana's flow around Yuri slowly, lowering its density.
And Yuri's face twisted uncomfortably.
'He's already caught on?'
A sense of disbelief flickered in Johann's eyes.
He increased the speed of mana absorption gradually.
Along with it, Yuri's face kept changing rapidly.
As if frustrated, his face contorted with annoyance.
At that moment, Johann could be sure.
'Indeed, this guy... wasn't unaware of mana!'
Simultaneously, astonishment spread across his face.
'Had he been sensing it all along?!'
If so, Yuri must have sensed mana since the moment he became capable of reasoning.
In that case, Yuri's mana sensitivity would be unimaginable.
Despite admiring him, doubt clouded Johann's eyes.
'But if his sensitivity is that high, shouldn't he have noticed when mana density increased?'
Even if Yuri's mana sensitivity wasn't trained, he should have felt the flow of mana around him.
In fact, Yuri had reacted sensitively to the decrease in mana density around him.
But he hadn't responded at all to the increase in density.
At that moment, a thought flashed through Johann's mind.
'Come to think of it, when mana density increased, this guy would absorb mana like a ghost, right?'
As if regulating the mana density around him deliberately.
With this assumption, Johann made a deduction.
'Maybe this guy's inability to sense mana is related to that.'
What Yuri was experiencing was a phenomenon Johann had never seen before.
Therefore, it was better to observe a little longer than to make hasty judgments.
When Johann reached that conclusion, Yuri was lost in thought.
'Why is this happening?'
His chest felt tight, and he struggled to breathe.
It was like the surrounding air slowly disappearing.
'Frustrating.'
Even after taking a deep breath, the frustration didn't subside.
Instead, it grew as time passed.
Eventually, Yuri realized that what was happening to him wasn't just simple shortness of breath.
Yuri's eyes widened.
He looked at Johann, who had a peculiar expression, and asked with a stiff face.
"Master, could this be?"
"What you're thinking is likely correct."
"Is this... mana? This stifling sensation?"
"Rather than just mana causing that sensation..."
"...?"
With Yuri's puzzled gaze, Johann explained what he had discovered.
After hearing everything, Yuri's face went blank.
"So, I've been... sensing mana all along?"
"That's right."
"But I still don't know what mana feels like?"
"Don't worry about that. You weren't incapable of sensing mana in the first place, so with a little effort, you'll soon awaken your sensitivity."
"Really?"
"It will happen. I can guarantee that much."
Johann's certainty brightened Yuri's face.
Although he didn't show it outwardly, Yuri had been tormented by mana for so long.
With Johann's assurance, Yuri returned to his usual self.
"Alright, it's just a matter of effort! Without effort, I might as well be dead!"
"Just being alive isn't enough. Tsk. Stop grumbling and let's start right away."
"Got it!"
Yuri nodded and closed his eyes.
The silence resumed.
Yuri focused on sensing mana, while Johann continued to adjust the mana flow.
Despite no words passing between them, they both worked diligently, giving their best in their respective roles.
As a result, mana within the room fluctuated greatly as it was depleted and replenished repeatedly.
And at the center of the fluctuating mana density was Yuri.
"Ah...!"
Within it, Yuri grasped one revelation.
He had discovered the peculiar sensation of disappearing and reappearing repeatedly.
'Is this... mana?'
It felt oddly familiar yet awkward at the same time.
Like discovering a new side to a long-time friend one thought they knew everything about.
'Ah, right. I have no friends, do I?'
Laughing to himself inwardly, Yuri welcomed an old friend anew.
'Nice to meet you again!'
And in response to Yuri's greeting, mana reacted as if to say, 'Why are you only recognizing me now?'
With a loud whoosh, mana surged more vigorously around Yuri.
Fantasy.
Enjoying the story? Don't forget to rate 5 stars and review in NovelUpdte!