Chapter 19 Part2 (1/2)
<chapter 19.=”” clean=”” up=”” -=”” 2=””>
All beings possess a magic inherent to them, and the properties of this magic gradually change as one acc.u.mulates karma and grows. For example, if one were to train in ice magic, their magic would become colder, and if one used magic to reinforce their sword and body, their magic would become heavier.
However, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's magic was a bit different. Since he had such a variety of abilities, and had used these abilities so diligently, his magic didn't have a chance to go in a specific direction. No, that's what he had thought in the beginning, but that wasn't actually the case. His magic was...
”That means the innate quality of my magic can change case-by-case!?”
”Yeah sure, why not?”
Kratia couldn't understand how Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's magic could so freely change, and made her hair even messier than before, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo just shrugged his shoulders.
In the process of creating a golem's mana, he had a small realization: his mana had become a part of him, and was something he could fabricate like his speech, his expression, or his clothes. He could say that even his mana had become an extension of the Acting and Disguise skills.
”If I attempted to do it consciously, the magic loss would be too severe. But you... can control it freely. Yeah, that's the characteristic of your mana. The quality of having an indeterminate form that can change into anything!”
”In other words, my magic is like Xitto… [1]”
Considering the fact that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo could control three of the elements themselves, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's magic already possessed limitless potential.
Kratia recognized that she couldn't do what Lee s.h.i.+n Woo could do before, yet even so, she couldn't stop her research. What she said next was something that would be helpful to Lee s.h.i.+n Woo as well.
”My Catalyst Magic was an attempt to replicate your ability to change mana. Since it's hard for me to change my own mana, I decided to change the naturally existing mana instead.”
”That sounds even harder!”
”No, it's not hard. Because a lot of techniques already exist that induce the naturally occurring mana to change. But in the process of a.n.a.lyzing your mana, I was able to create a new mana pattern that has better mana cohesion and efficiency.”
”Mm, I understand it all, so keep going.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo decided to memorize everything Kratia was saying and insisted that she continue. She sighed and continued.
”If the focus of your ability is to change your own mana, then mine is to change external mana. And my way of barely doing so is through a 'catalyst'. So what I'm saying is...”
She paused and raised a small orb. It was the growing artifact she got from G.o.d, the Orb of Eternal Ice. As expected, that everlasting ice crystal was the catalyst of her magic.
”I was narrowly able to induce the magic to change. It hasn't been long since this child was born, so its course hasn't completely been set yet, so... in a lot of ways, I was lucky. Since it's now easy to impart a will upon an item.”
”So are you trying to brag about your artifact to me or what?”
”More importantly, don't you feel something from looking at this...o...b....?”
”It's big and beautiful.”
”Liar.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo gazed at the orb piercingly, the orb being daintier than Kratia's white hand. Kratia pushed the orb forward, as if she were ok with him holding it and gazing at it, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo shook his head.
”If I touch it, it might change into bone.”
”What a terrifying ability.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo examined the orb more carefully than before. He felt a vortex of ice cold mana within that was expanding even now.
He'd used ice mana a bit before through the elemental reversal ability. He expected that he'd be able to completely master that element as well, if he practiced just a bit more with the Bifurcated Snake Spine.
'But that's not the issue right now.'
The pattern that caused the mana to remain inside the orb was extremely unique. That was probably why Kratia had told him to take a look.
Looking at it once wouldn't be enough for him to memorize the pattern; it wasn't that easy. This whole thing was a magic circle! If the difficulty of creating a golem's seal was increased by 100x, then this is what it would look like.
”Ultimately, this technique just allows me, who's proficient in ice magic, to use the ice artifact, Eternal Ice, to change the surrounding mana into ice, but... you should be able to learn something from this.”
”Yeah... Alright. I completely understand it.”
Like always, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo maintained his poker face and spoke calmly, but Kratia knew that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had no idea how it worked.
”...Should we increase the duration of the contract?”
”No. If all I need to do is memorize it, I can do it within a day.”
”Tch.”
The moment her plan to continue accompanying Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and acquire some magic inspiration from him failed... That's right. This was the last day of their contract. Starting tomorrow, hey had to go their own separate ways.
Kratia inwardly spewed out curses at Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, as he failed to acknowledge her pa.s.sion for magic, but outwardly, she endured with a slight pout. Being angry would be a waste of precious time.
”In any case, I'll continue explaining. I was barely able to manifest the magic through a catalyst, but you're capable to transforming your mana into anything. Right?”
”I can't transform it into anything. Just what I know.”
”In other words, if you figure out how this 'catalyst' works, you should be able to turn your body itself into a huge catalyst. At least, that's what I've been thinking.”
Time froze at that very moment. As expected of a woman who handles ice magic; her skills were peerless.
”You know, you're saying something really frightening right now.”
”It's not that frightening compared to your latent potential.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo dwelled over what Kratia had said so nonchalantly, and his body slightly quivered. 'I can become a catalyst, huh...' If that happened, he'd be able to control the mana in the entire area however he pleased.
Especially because Lee s.h.i.+n Woo could freely change his mana. If he could actually change his mana into a catalyst, the products that came about from it would be limitless.
”I can't even imagine it.”
”It'll be possible for you someday. As long as I help you.”
”Why are you going so far to help me?”
”Since I want to see it happen.”
Kratia replied unhesitatingly, her eyes surging with a delicate enthusiasm. It might've been unbecoming for an Ice Magician, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo thought that this pure pa.s.sion of hers may have been the driving force behind her growth to level 6.
”Even so, I'm not extending the duration of the contract.”
”Why not!?”