No words came out.
The only thing she uttered was one.
“Magic Arrow.”
She just used magic again.
The created arrows of light fly towards the angry man’s face.
But perhaps because he was prepared?
His sword easily deflected the Magic Arrow.
She had heard from Lee Hyun before.
That magic isn’t almighty.
When mana is materialized and interferes with reality, it can be blocked by strong physical force.
Skilled adventurers should be able to do that much without difficulty.
Recalling what he had said, Lena opened her mouth again, terrified.
“Magic Arrow.”
The shot arrow of light hits the sword and disappears again.
What should I do?
The adventurers were approaching, baring their teeth.
“Magic…”
One isn’t enough.
Then what if I use multiple?
She hasn’t learned it from Lee Hyun yet, but couldn’t she combine what she’s learned so far?
Lena quickly accepted nature’s mana.
After combining it with her own mana, she recited the spell in her head.
In magic, spells are like the self-suggested framework for mana.
Then there’s no need to say the trigger word with the mouth.
So, minimize the spells.
To the point it can be activated with a single thought.
-Woong…!!
Two Magic Arrows formed in an instant appeared in the air.
Startled by that, the adventurers hurriedly ran towards Lena.
“You wench!!”
“Die… Kuk!”
One of the shot arrows of light hit his face.
Suffering from the pain and trying to regain their stance, they were at a loss for words at the sight created before their eyes.
-Woooooong!!
The air trembles.
Because immense mana started concentrating.
That’s when the startled ones picked up their weapons and tensed up.
“Oh… my god.”
One becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight, and eight becomes sixteen.
But it doesn’t stop there.
The number of arrows of light created in the air was increasing exponentially.
As it increased to an uncountable amount instantly and aimed at them, the adventurers broke out in a cold sweat.
“Wait! Let’s ta-talk…”
‘Ah, uh. If, if we talk, I’ll lose!’
Lena, who created numerous Magic Arrows by drawing out mana to the limit, reached out to the terrified adventurers.
“Magic… Arrow.”
“What Magic Arro… Kuk! Uaaaaargh!!”
Countless arrows of light are fired.
As the two adventurers who tried to charge were beaten up and blown away without even resisting, the adventurer holding Luceia stepped back, startled.
“Oh, oh no… Sp-spare me!!”
In the end, he ran away in fear.
But hundreds of Magic Arrows flew after him, and the fleeing man collapsed and fainted on the spot.
The market, which was noisy until just before, became quiet.
Lena, who slowly stabilized her mana, was flustered by this awkward atmosphere.
‘Di-did I overdo it?!’
Everyone was looking at her. As Lena froze at those gazes, at a loss…
“Unni!! That was cool!!”
It started with Lorian’s shout.
“Wow!! This is amazing?!”
“That’s incredible magic, right?! Lena!”
“Being Lee Hyun’s disciple, she was properly learning!”
“She’s a hero! A hero!!”
Pouring acclaim and praise. And cheers.
Everyone in the market was clapping and praising her.
“Ah. Uh. That. Um. Uh. Uhm. Ah uh.”
Flustered by that fervor she was experiencing for the first time, Lena couldn’t endure the thrill rising up her back.
The corners of her mouth loosened, and her face seemed to melt.
Unknowingly scratching the back of her head, Lena started laughing sheepishly, and Lorian hugged her tightly and gave a radiant smile.
“Unnie! You were really cool!!”
“Eh, ehehehe! Re-really? Eheheheh!”
Lena returned home after receiving everyone’s cheers and praises.
Lee Hyun, who greeted her while cleaning, asked, puzzled by Lena’s relaxed expression.
“Did something happen?”
“Ehe. Th-that’s… Ehehehehe~!”
Laughing sheepishly, Lena told him about what happened at the village earlier.
Chasing away the adventurers harassing Luceia and restoring peace to the market.
To put it briefly, that’s it, but Lena, who exaggerated her exploits, sparkled her eyes in anticipation of Lee Hyun’s praise.
“You did well.”
“Ah, aah. Right?! Properly using what I learned from tea-teacher…”
“I didn’t know you could already use Silent Casting and Multi-Magic.”
“Ye-yes? Wh-what’s that?”
“What you said you did. Completing the spell in your head without uttering it. And activating multiple magic at once. It must not have been easy. Try doing it one more time.”
“Ye-yes!!”
Lena hurriedly tried to use magic like earlier.
“Uh uh uh… Huh?”
But it doesn’t work. She tried to list the spells in her head and reduce them, but it wasn’t as easy as she thought.
How did I do it earlier? I’m sure I did it like this?
“…It, it definitely worked earlier…?”
“Seems like you exhibited power you didn’t know you had in a moment of crisis. Well. It’s fine. Being able to do it once means you can do it again.”
“Ah. I-is that so?”
“Yeah. But above all, what’s praiseworthy is…”
Lee Hyun raised his hand and patted Lena’s head.
At that soft touch, Lena blinked and looked at him.
“That you used your power for others. They say with great power comes great responsibility, but in reality, it’s not like that. Those with power can be seen as having the right to use their power as they please.”
“O-okay.”
“Using that for others means you will walk the path of good. From a teacher’s perspective, it’s a joyful thing.”
“Eh, ehehehehe…”
“I’m proud of you. Keep doing this from now on.”
“Ye-yes!!”
“Now! With that settled…”
Lee Hyun held out his hand.
Lena, who stared blankly at that hand, gently placed her hand on his.
To her, who was grinning like a puppy, Lee Hyun smiled kindly and said.
“Did you buy the vegetables?”
“Ah.”
“….”
“I-I’ll be right back!!”
.
.
.
The next day.
Lena, as always, headed to the clearing behind the hut for class and approached Lee Hyun, who was sitting cross-legged.
He opened his eyes at the light footsteps and stood up from his spot, seeing Lena sitting down modestly.
“Normally, we would have magic class, but since there may be battles like yesterday, I want to give you a gift.”
“A, a gift?! Hehe. Th-thank! Ah, overwhelming thanks!”
‘What could it be? What could it be? Cake? Cookies? Or pretty earrings? If not that…’
“Here. This is it.”
What Lee Hyun took out was a small ring.
Lena tilted her head at the crude ring that didn’t have any special decorations.
“Wh-what’s this?”
“It’s called a spirit ring. If you have this, you can summon spirits.”
“What are… spirits?”
“You could say they are nature’s power given will and form. It gets more complicated if you dig deeper but just know this much. It’s not important content anyway.”
“Okaaay…”
“Now. Wear this and let mana flow.”
“Ye-yes!!”
Lena, who tried to put on the ring as Lee Hyun instructed, hesitated momentarily.
Seeing her like that, Lee Hyun sighed and grabbed the ring, putting it on her right index finger.
“There. Done, right?”
“Yes! I-I will let mana flow!”
She hurriedly sent mana to the ring. But there’s no particular change.
Unlike the puzzled Lena, Lee Hyun took something out of his bosom as if he knew this would happen and placed it in her hand.
“If you keep pushing mana in, a spirit will be drawn. Try to become friends with that spirit.”
“Whaaat?!”
Become friends with someone, no, a spirit you’re meeting for the first time.
What kind of evil story is this?
“It’s im-im-im-im-impossible!!”
“I believe you can do well. If you really can’t, give that.”
“What… is this?”
“It’s candy.”
“….”
As he said, what was wrapped in paper were two pieces of candy.
Lena, who stared blankly at it, looked at Lee Hyun with wet eyes like an abandoned puppy, but he just left.
“Wh-where are you going!”
“To do laundry.”
Unable to stop Lee Hyun, who left like that, Lena looked at the ring.
What do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do?
Should I stop putting in mana and keep doing it when Lee Hyun returns later?
While she was agonizing seriously like that.
-………..
A beautiful green girl with a windy energy appeared where there was nothing until just before.
As the girl stared blankly at her, Lena freaked out.
“Hic… heek…”
‘Ah… Is, is this… a, a spirit? Uh. I, I hope she says something…’
But the spirit was silent.
She was just standing there awkwardly.
As they maintained silence, Lena tightly grasped the candy bag in her hand and opened her mouth.
“Um, um.”
– Um, um.
“…….”
-…..
Awkwardness rises.
As the silence continued again, Lena was at a loss.
‘Uwaah… What do I do?’
– Y-you. Um. Sp-speak first.
The green girl, the spirit, carefully opened her mouth.
An opening appeared.
Then it’s time to get teacher’s help here.
“Wo-wou. Wo-would you like so-some candy…?”
– Uh. Uh, uhm. Th-thank you…
As she rustled and took out the candy, the spirit carefully received it.
And after putting it in her mouth, silence again.
‘Uwaaah! Te-teacher! Please do something!’
I don’t know what to do with this awkward atmosphere.
Lena inwardly screamed as she sat awkwardly, maintaining an awkward distance, looking at the girl peeking at her awkwardly.