Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 28 (Part 1)

Rodin solved one coordinate, leaving two more. The problem was that even calculating two coordinates wasn’t easy for Number 155.

They needed to reduce the coordinates further to make the calculations really simple.

“Now, let’s touch on the third coordinate. I’ll climb onto this chair. How will you derive the third coordinate?”

“Uh, by calculating the height of the chair and inputting the wave value….”

Number 155 spent a long time calculating something.

Calculating just one coordinate wasn’t hard. Number 155 applied the formula correctly.

But it took a long time. Clearly, there was a problem with the calculation speed.

“There’s no need to make it that complicated. I climbed up. So if you slightly tilt your upper body back, the height coordinate will change to zero.”

“What? I don’t understand. The heights are different.”

“The third coordinate doesn’t signify an absolute height. It’s a coordinate perceived by your body as the axis, drawing a line to recognize a plane. So if you slightly tilt your body back, this line will make the coordinate zero.”

“Ah! Is that possible?”

Number 155 understood Rodin’s words but couldn’t shake the thought, “Is that possible?”

“The direction, distance, and height displayed in the coordinates aren’t absolute values. It’s the coordinate your magic understands. The world isn’t the reference, you are. Your front is the direction coordinate zero, and if your body is perpendicular, the height coordinate becomes zero.”

“Are these coordinates that magic understands?”

“Exactly.”

Number 155 was shocked by the new method of coordinate calculation. His eyes were filled with respect as he faced a new world.

“I respect you, senior.”

“Don’t spout nonsense.”

“Do the other instructors know this method?”

“Hmm, Instructor Kruper and Instructor Serion use magic differently. Instructor Kruper, being a mathematician, calculates magic meticulously. If he decides to hit a specific spot on the neck, he calculates the exact direction and height to match it.”

Rodin lightly tapped the center of Number 155’s neck, indicating the exact spot to aim.

“Is Instructor Serion different?”

“It’s similar to what you just learned. He makes the direction and height zero to simplify it as much as possible.”

“So you only need to calculate the distance.”

“That’s right.”

From Rodin’s perspective, it seemed that Instructor Serion didn’t even calculate the distance. Based on experience, he remembered approximately how far the coordinates were and used magic accordingly.

“Which method is better?”

“Both have their pros and cons. Instructor Kruper hits the target precisely, but it takes a long time to cast the spell. You’ve seen that a lot, haven’t you?”

“Yes, it’s different from how easily Instructor Serion casts spells.”

In reality, the time difference in spellcasting between Instructor Kruper and Instructor Serion was significant.

Although Instructor Serion was a higher-ranking magician, the main issue was that Kruper’s calculations took too long.

“It’s because he tries to calculate too precisely.”

“Can’t he just use it more simply?”

“He can’t change it. It’s an obsession. When you study mathematics, you develop a dislike for giving approximate answers like ‘roughly this.'”

Rodin also used magic in the same precise manner as Instructor Kruper. He needed to calculate accurately and hit the desired spot precisely.

The difference was that Rodin’s calculation speed was remarkably fast. Therefore, he never had an issue with casting speed despite meticulous calculations.

“Then isn’t Instructor Serion’s method better?”

“That has its drawbacks too. Instructor Serion’s method relies heavily on experience. Gauging distance by eye is difficult without experience, and instinctively adjusting the body’s tilt to hit the height coordinate is also challenging without experience. Moreover, the accuracy decreases, meaning the spell can miss its mark. If a carefully cast spell misses, it wastes magic and gives the opponent a chance to attack.”

Although Rodin explained that there was no definitive answer, Number 155 couldn’t fully agree. No matter how he thought about it, the method he learned today that Instructor Serion uses seemed better.

“Still, I think using magic like Instructor Serion is better. With experience, calculations will be quick, and I could cast spells two or three times while others cast once.”

“Are you stupid? Did you forget the three elements of casting? Does the spell fly just because the calculations are done? You need to finish the rune incantation and complete the magic visualization for the spell to launch. The calculation speed only matters if it fits within the time of the rune incantation.”

“Oh!”

Talking about coordinates all day made him momentarily forget the rune incantation.

Even if the coordinate calculation was finished, the spell wouldn’t form if the rune incantation wasn’t complete. The same applied in reverse. Ultimately, everything had to be fast for quick casting.

“You excel at rune incantations, right? If your coordinate calculations get faster, you’ll have some time left. Use that time to visualize the magic you’ll cast.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, go on. Practice by yourself. Oh! Even if you see me elsewhere, don’t acknowledge me. Understood?”

“Yes, senior. Oh, by the way, my name is Darren.”

Darren, Number 155 of the fourth class, left, and Rodin was finally alone again.

“Ah, this is nice. This is how the library should be.”

—

Water flowed down from the not-so-high Mountains. The clear water meandered down the winding mountain paths and met on the ground, forming a small lake.

Leia Lake.

It used to be a dirty, foul-smelling place piled with the excrement of the village people. Even wild animals avoided it. At some point, the kingdom started cleaning it.

They hired workers to remove the filth and brought in magicians to cast purification spells. The kingdom gathered renowned gardeners to plant trees and grass according to a detailed plan.

After a few months, the stench disappeared entirely, and it became a clean lake that attracted wild animals.

The Riyaz Kingdom gathered the residents of five small villages near Leia Lake and moved them to another city. Then, they secretly established a training facility near Leia Lake, which became the Riyaz Kingdom’s special forces training center.

“Pale.”

After the snowfall last night, Leia Lake was entirely white. The cold air had frozen the water, and the grass and trees had already shed their clothes, revealing their bare branches.

Rodin sat by Leia Lake, staring blankly at the frozen lake.

“Peaceful.”

Hyung_Otaku2

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