Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 4 (Part 2): One Day, Magic Grew in My Head (3)

The owner was standing behind me.

“Y-Yes?”

Standing up, his presence was even more overwhelming. Was he 2 meters tall? No, even taller than that.

The owner narrowed his eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“You said I could read, so I’m reading.”

“No, not that. Aren’t you going home? It’s closing time.”

“…Already?”

“What do you mean, ‘already’? Look outside.”

I glanced out the window. The sun had completely set, and the streetlights were surrounded by darkness.

“Ah, right. I should go.”

I hurriedly got up. Then, I deliberately exaggerated my limp. More than usual—*thud-thud-thud*.

Operation: Evoke Sympathy.

As I put the book back on the shelf, I asked:

“…Um, can I come back tomorrow?”

The owner flexed his muscles.

“It’s your call, kid.”

It seemed the operation worked.

—

* * *

Back home, I sat in a half-lotus position. My left leg refused to cooperate, no matter how much I tried.

Anyway, it was time for magic training.

“…Magic.”

I repeated it. Thought about it. Imagined it. Conceptualized it.

Beyond that, I desired it.

And further, I believed in it.

Magic flows within my body. Magic flows through my blood vessels.

No, it *swirls* through them.

I implanted this concept into myself.

I carved out my own magic pathway—a path within my body.

“Urk…”

A sensation gripped my heart, as if something had taken hold.

It was the pain I’d read about in the book.

The resonance between body and magic. The communion between a mage’s wish and magic itself.

It felt like I was on the verge of success, but I couldn’t be too greedy.

I built it slowly, bit by bit. I channeled the magic originating from my heart to the tip of my right hand.

In other words, I focused entirely on my right arm.

Moment by moment, my head felt like it would explode, and my heart rate skyrocketed.

Even though I was just sitting in a half-lotus position, the pain was excruciating, as if my insides were being torn apart. But I could endure this much. After all, I’d survived hellish training before…

*Zzzzt!*

A spark flew. My upper body felt like it was on fire. At the very least, the pain was that intense.

Gasping for breath, I raised my right arm.

“…I… did it.”

To be precise, half of my right arm. Magic pulsed through my veins in a blue glow. My emaciated flesh made it stand out even more visually.

Plus, I found my own trick for efficiency.

Isolation. Concentration. Repetition.

Instead of trying to do everything at once, I focused on one part and repeated until it worked.

“Ah… I’m dying.”

I was about to lie down on the mattress but stopped. My entire body was drenched in sweat. My hair looked like a wet rat.

I should wash up before sleeping.

—

* * *

For the next three days, I visited the magic bookstore daily. Of course, I didn’t buy the book—I just sat and read.

—

[ …Magic formulas do not precede the mage. In other words, the mage’s intent comes first, and the magic formula forms as evidence of that manifestation. The formula does not dictate the mage’s will.

Therefore, a good mage can intuitively grasp the meaning of even unfamiliar magic formulas. ]

—

“Ah, I see.”

It made sense now.

Magic formulas do not precede the mage.

No wonder I could immediately understand PD Kim A-rang’s magic formula.

“…Kid. What do you expect to achieve by reading that?”

I’d grown somewhat friendly with the bookstore owner.

Thanks to my conscience nagging me, I brought him a cup of coffee every day—and it paid off.

“Just looking at the pictures, I guess.”

“That book? Barely any pictures in there.”

“Still, it’s got mage illustrations and stuff.”

“…Hmm.”

His muscles rippled as he slurped the coffee. Each fiber looked alive. His hair’s pure white—how’s he built like this?

“But, uh, sir. About these methods of moving magic… Most people wouldn’t be able to follow what’s written here, right?”

I casually asked.

The owner smirked.

“Of course not. Did you think you could do it just because you tried? It doesn’t work that way.”

It did work for me, but I wasn’t about to boast. It was entirely thanks to the 「MoMo」 system.

All I did was endure some pain.

“Magic requires meticulous and professional training.”

“What does that mean?”

“Hmm. Let’s see. Do you know what this is?”

The owner pulled something out.

An object about the size of a 500-won coin. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but I could see a faint blue aura shimmering around its edges. At the very least, it was an object imbued with magic.

“A mana stone.”

“Half right. It’s a *magic magnet*.”

“Magic magnet?”

“Yup.”

The owner placed the magnet on his body.

“As you’ve read, to draw out magic, you must first implant the concept of magic into your body. But that act of ‘implanting the concept’ is extremely difficult. This magnet helps by allowing you to artificially sense even the smallest thread of magic.”

For me, that process was already complete. The pathway was firmly implanted in my body.

“Ohh. I see.”

People like him really enjoy it when you react as if you’re hearing something for the first time. It’s a subtle, familiar leadership style.

“That’s impressive. Were you in the industry?”

“Hah. ‘Were’? I’m still active, kid.”

“Oh, I see. No wonder. I thought you looked like a movie star.”

“A movie star? Hah, really!”

*Hahaha!* The owner laughed heartily.

*Jingle.*

The bell rang.

“…….”

The owner’s expression stiffened. My eyes widened as I looked toward the entrance.

There was a customer. A rather famous one.

First, he was a tall, lanky man.

Second, he was dressed entirely in black. A black coat, black jeans, black gloves, black boots, and black hair.

His entire body was pitch black, except for his pale face. His nose was sharp like a knife, and his wolf-like eyes and mouth were strikingly sharp.

He resembled an alpha wolf. His name was *Tae-woo*.

A mage.

“Oh. You’re here.”

The owner greeted him like a neighbor’s kid. Tae-woo glanced at the owner and me before trudging over.

*Thud—thud—*

His footsteps were heavy, as if pressing down on the ground. The sound of his boots was deep.

He spoke to the owner.

Dangun

I'm currently Translating the following novel: "Labyrinth Exploration 101" If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

•