Chapter 51: Back to Basics

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After thinking through so many possibilities that his head felt ready to burst, Zeldryn looked at Kera again. The man was still standing several steps ahead with his back turned.

Zeldryn watched him for a few moments.

'Looks like I really do have to tell him.'

He would have to explain the pain he had experienced the previous night, how that had been the first time he had ever truly tried absorbing mana, and most importantly, just how little he actually understood about any of it.

Zeldryn hated the idea of being honest with Kera. They had known each other for only a few hours, and during that short time, Kera had already punched him, kicked him, insulted him repeatedly, and twisted his ear more than once.

Still, there was no real alternative.

'I don't have any other choice.'

If something was wrong with the way Zeldryn absorbed mana, Kera would never be able to figure it out unless Zeldryn gave him enough information. Diagnosing a problem required knowing what was actually happening.

Zeldryn finally opened his mouth.

“Hey, Kera.”

Kera glanced back slightly.

“I want to ask you something.”

Kera clicked his tongue almost immediately. “What now?”

He pointed toward the tree in front of them. “Didn't I already tell you to blow up this tree? How many more times do I have to repeat myself?”

“Tch, damn it.”

Normally, Zeldryn might already have snapped back, but this time he let Kera finish complaining before answering.

“Look...” His tone became more serious. “I actually don't understand mana as deeply as you probably think I do.”

Kera said nothing.

“Last night was the first time I ever tried absorbing mana.”

With his back still turned, Kera's lips curved into a faint smile that Zeldryn could not see.

'I already know that, idiot.'

The words nearly escaped his mouth, but Kera held them back.

Instead, he glanced over his shoulder. “Oh, really?”

“And?” That irritating smile returned. “You think that's enough of an excuse for me to go easier on you?”

This text was taken from NovelPhoenix. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Zeldryn felt a vein nearly twitch in his forehead.

'This bastard...'

His patience was already beginning to wear thin again, but he forced himself to ignore it.

'The information is more important.'

Zeldryn took a short breath before continuing.

“That's not what I mean. Look, can you explain the proper way to absorb mana?”

This time, Kera actually stopped.

Zeldryn continued before the man could interrupt him.

“I think I've misunderstood something about mana this whole time.”

Kera finally turned around and faced him completely.

“You want me to teach you...” He tilted his head slightly. “The fundamentals of mana?”

Zeldryn nodded. “Yes.”

Kera studied him for several seconds before that strange smile returned.

“Hmm...” He raised one hand while the other rested near his face. “Ah. Too lazy.”

Zeldryn immediately fell silent.

Kera continued as casually as ever.

“You'll just ignore me again.”

Zeldryn stared at him, while Kera only smiled back.

'Bastard.'

Zeldryn was genuinely starting to get pissed off. He had held himself back, tried speaking properly, and even admitted that he did not understand mana, yet Kera was still deliberately screwing with him.

He took a long breath.

'Calm down.'

Zeldryn slowly exhaled before looking at Kera again.

“Then...” His jaw tightened slightly. “What the hell do I have to do to make you teach me?”

Kera's smile widened immediately, almost as though he had been waiting for that exact question.

“Easy.”

Zeldryn instantly got a bad feeling.

Kera pointed at himself.

“Come on. Beg me first.”

Zeldryn froze.

Kera continued without the slightest hint of guilt.

“And admit that you're a loser. Then I'll teach you.”

“Hehehehe.”

The muscles in Zeldryn's face tightened.

'You damn bastard. If you weren't the only clue I had about mana...'

He held his breath.

'Like hell I'd ever beg someone like you, damn it.'

They had only known each other for a few hours, yet Kera had already drained more of his patience than most people Reka had known for years.

Zeldryn sighed again.

Then, with an expression that made his irritation painfully obvious, he forced himself to speak.

“S-Sir Kera...”

The words nearly caught in his throat.

Kera immediately watched him with obvious interest.

“Could you...” Zeldryn's hand slowly clenched. “Teach me how to properly absorb mana and how to close my Mana Hole while I'm absorbing mana?”

His fist tightened even further. It was painfully obvious that he was holding back his anger, but he still had one last part to say.

Zeldryn stared at Kera, his face growing hotter from irritation.

“Because...” He nearly ground his teeth. “I'm just someone who can't do anything.”

Kera stared at him.

For several seconds, his lips trembled as he tried to hold back his laughter. Watching Zeldryn, clearly furious yet still forcing himself to say those words, was simply too entertaining.

“Pfft...”

Zeldryn's glare sharpened.

“Hahahaha!”

In the end, Kera could not hold it in.

Zeldryn continued glaring at him until Kera finally raised one hand.

“Alright, alright. That's enough.”

He was still fighting back laughter.

“That's enough.”

Zeldryn kept staring at him with a sour expression until Kera eventually calmed down.

Then his expression became more serious.

“Alright. Listen.”

Kera pointed at Zeldryn.

“If you ignore me again after this like you did earlier...” His eyes narrowed slightly. “I'm not teaching you anything ever again, damn it.”

This time, Zeldryn stayed completely silent. No comments, no objections. He simply watched Kera carefully.

'Fine. Now explain.'

Kera finally began.

“Mana is a natural particle that exists everywhere in this world. In the air, the ground, this forest, almost every place you go.”

He raised one hand.

“Mana is always there.”

Zeldryn gave a small nod.

“But every Manholer perceives mana differently,” Kera continued. “The mana I see won't necessarily look the same as the mana you see.”

He pointed toward one of the particles floating in the air, then toward his own eyes.

“For example, I see mana as green.”

Zeldryn continued listening.

“Other people can be different. Blue, or some other color. Not everyone sees mana the same way.”

Zeldryn remained silent, but inwardly, he already recognized this part.

'I already know this.'

He had read about differences in mana perception in Life Really Is Happy, Right? Even the protagonist of that novel had seen mana as blue.

Zeldryn watched Kera continue explaining.

'Can we skip to the important part?'