(Rudeus POV)
With things now set to go, Cliff and I stood in one of the Magic Circles carved on the ground.
After I had suggested to better go outside to show this, Jinas assured me that the walls of this building are made of Magic resistant material, a special material of the three Magic Nations, that even the Asura Kingdom buys from.
I wasn't sure if these walls will handle what about to come, but I would have to apologize later.
Clapping my hands together, I began the first clarifications I have made for Magicians at Rosenburg before.
"So, to start off, I will have to ask you a few questions and then clarify a few things about it."
"Hmph. Whatever."
His attitude was less than accommodating, but I shouldn't give up so soon.
Most of the adventurers in Rosenburg were doubtful like him, but didn't voice out too many complaints since I started with Anastasia first, who acted as an example to lessen their skepticism.
"First off, may I know in what element of Attack Magic you feel most comfortable using with?"
"As I'm a genius, I'm advanced in all the six basics and was about to start Barrier and Holy Magic at the beginner class."
Despite my annoyance of him repeating calling himself a genius, I kept my smile. Thought, I was most likely looking a bit strained.
"While that is impressive to hear, I was asking what type of Magic you think you feel most comfortable with to use, disregarding any rank."
A few of the students started to laugh over his inability to understand my question from the get-go. And so, he felt momentary a bit embarrassed.
"I guess... Fire Magic?"
"Alright, next question. How large would you estimate your manapool to be?"
After hearing that, he pulled up his chin and crossed his arms before speaking.
"As a genius, I have more than the average person."
"I understand that, but again, I need you to be specific as it will determine how much mana I need to use for this to work."
Again, some more laughter from around the room resonated as the teachers tried to silence them. Cliff looked like he was embarrassed again but started to think about my question more intently.
"I would say, probably about more than a Saint class spell."
Finally, he started to stop this nonsense. Was I also this cocky in my first time at Rosenburg?
"Well now, now that we settled that, let me list a few things before we begin.
For starters, once you get the ability of chantless spellcasting done, you will struggle to get to the same level as normal chantless Magic users. So far, the people I have unlocked this ability for have struggled to go beyond the intermediate class or use multicasting. You will be able to modify your spells, but not to a great extent.
But once you get the first spell done without the incantation, using other spells like that will turn out easier to feel."
"Whatever. Just start it already so that I can prove to you that all stuff won't on to me." He said, his impatience showing off.
I gave Jinas a side glance for not warning me properly about this unbearable attitude, to which he couldn't help but give me a meek smile.
"Once you give me that ability, I'll surpass you anyway." Oh great, another Verdinant. Only he is being just overconfident. Just what I needed.
Seeing this is a pointless approach, I decided to put an end to this.
"Anyone here want to replace him?" I exclaimed out to the students inside this building. "It would be preferable if you are advanced or higher at any Attack Magic and more cooperative than this guy, as I will only give one person in this school this procedure."
"Hey wait a minute, what are you doing?!" The boy seemed to be in disbelieve about my announcement.
"That's what you get for not acting appropriately. Now someone else gets this opportunity instead of you. So go to the sidelines and watch for yourself what happens."
Fuming with anger, he stomped off to stand close to the wall to cross his arms and glare at me.
His stares were nothing compared to the ones I used to get. His one was more childish than down looking.
"Any volunteers?"
While I waited for anyone to come forward, they all talked in hush voices with each other until finally, one of them decided to step forward.
It was a girl who looked to be the same age as Zenith when I first got reincarnated into this world. She had long hazelnut brown hair that curled a bit on the lower half.
Nervously, she bowed her head before me.
"I-It's an honor to meet you. M-My name is Gearid. I'm a sixth year at this school."
Thank goodness, someone in this school who isn't over his head.
"Well then, Gearid, I'm sure you just listened to what I asked before. So, please do tell."
"Y-Yes. I'm advanced at Wind Magic, but feel more comfortable using Water Magic, which I worked up to intermediate. As for manapool size, I can cast about a dozen advanced spells."
I felt a sense of relief when she stated everything I needed to know so quickly. Cliff was currently having his ego grow irritated by my smile at him.
'Next time, you should probably watch what you're saying.'
Bringing my attention back to Gearid, I continued.
"Now, to explain the process I'm about to do.
What I'm essentially doing is forcing your body to put in more mana into your spell so that your awareness of your mana gets increased for a change for you notice and later on to manipulate.
Just speak out the incantation for [Waterball], and I will insert what is hopefully be the appropriate amount of mana.
Don't worry if it won't work after the first try. It usually takes 4 or 5 times to show signs, as I need to determine how much mana is necessary."
"If you need to determine if you should insert more mana, why not use a large amount at the beginning?"
"That could end fatal, perhaps even deadly. Especially if you are from the Human race. Too much mana than your body can handle can lead to internal damage."
Gearid looked a bit shocked. She seems to show some doubt if this will end without any complications.
I could hear in the background some people banter about how I was exaggerating. Cliff was one of them.
I started to take off my right glove and began showing them all the visibly veins on my arm.
As expected, everyone was shocked to the point that an absolute silence erupted.
"What you are all seeing is my internal scarring after executing a spell that went beyond my physical limit. That was only possible because of my abnormally large manapool. Magic doesn't just come with benefits, there are also consequences if you are ever going too far."
While this action may seem a bit excessive, I also did this kind of warning to the people in Rosenburg before unlocking their abilities should they back out from the fear of getting something like this.
Signals of fear and shock were just flooding this room with barely any exceptions as I put my bandages and glove back on. Even Gearid was looking at me frightened from this.
"I can assure you that this procedure will unlikely end like the damage I have succumbed. There are already more than a dozen people in Rosenburg who got no complications at all. You can back out if you like. I'm not forcing you into this."
After I gave her the moment, she had a bit of an internal debate whether she should do it or not, until she put her efforts to look less nervous and answer me clearly.
"I-I'll do it anyway."
I dropped the uptight act I had put on and began explaining the next step.
"Now, to help you get a better awareness of your mana, I will hold my index finger and middle finger on the spot of your neck that promises the best mana flow insertion."
By showing where exactly, I put my index and middle finger on the area where you can feel your heartbeat.
"While you are saying out your incantation, I will insert my mana, and you will have to pay attention to what's happening inside you. Once you think you have a vague sense of what you should imagine, you can try and cast your spell before your manapool depleted."
"Wait, I thought you will insert your mana into me? Won't that add into mine?"
"That is unfortunately not how it works. Pure untransformed mana from a different person will not be excepted by your body and will simply be excelled later on. So, your limit will be the main factor in terms of time for this."
After she understood that, we went on to finally begin the process.
As I explained, I put my fingers on the spot where the artery lies, and she began chanting her spell.
Carefully, I inserted some of my mana inside her while processing it to balance her flow.
Just like I said, it didn't work the first few times. It took up to the fourth try that she said to have felt something. And on the fifth try, I inserted just a little more mana and the result came out... worse than ever before.
Usually, the spell ends up slightly bigger than it should normally be, but this time it was big enough to have surpassed the beginner rank.
'[Waterball] evolved into [Watercannon]?'
Her spell shot out, luckily against the free wall. Let's see just how sturdy this Magic resistance really is.
But to the wall's demise, this [Watercannon] was particularly stronger than an ordinary one and ended up shooting a hole anyway.
With the air having gotten damp and some rubble dust floating above the ground, all eyes were side opened at this scene.
"Wow. That never happened before. You must have quite a good mana flow."
"..."
She wasn't responding, so I thought that she must've been in too much shock to hear me.
Meanwhile, Jinas and another teacher ran over to me.
"Sir Rudeus, was this supposed to happen?" Jinas asked nervously.
"Actually... no. The spell stepping up to a higher rank didn't happen before. This is the first time."
"I'm sorry! I didn't do it on purpose. I swear." Gearid apologized for the debacle that she had done and bowed her head again.
"Don't apologize. This shows me that you have better mana flow than anyone I used this method on."
She peeked at me while still having her head lowered with surprise written all over her face.
"Go ahead and try to recreate that feeling if you can. But try to imagine only a small ball of water formed from hundreds of droplets gathering."
While I ignored the teacher to explain the next step to her, she stood straight again and put her hand out and concentrated. Of course, at another wall.
After just a few seconds, she managed to form the spell without speaking out the incantation.
"I... I... I did it!" She exclaimed in success, only for mana depletion to set in and make her falter on her feet.
I activated my Touki for just a brief moment to catch her at her shoulders.
"Congratulations. You are now what I like to call, an Awoken one."
She was already on the brink of fainting before I caught some signals of accomplishment from her. Another enthusiastic one, I think.
At this moment, a few guards were already showing up, as well as some students and teachers.
"Vice principal Jinas, what is going on here?" One of the armored men asked.
Jinas needed a bit more time to process what he had seen just now.
It was the same reaction I usually saw from the rest of the party after their team Magician. It honestly never gets old.
After finally snapping out of the trance they were at, the teachers that saw everything began telling the guards what had happened.
"Excuse me, but, is there any place where Gearid could rest?"
Noticing that they had forgotten something important, they paid their attention to the unconscious student I was still supporting.
"Does she need some healing?" One of the guards asked.
"No. She simply fainted from mana depletion after having casted a spell larger than other Awoken ones. She will be just fine after a few hours of rest."
Jinas heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this. Even if she did get hurt, I could've healed her myself if Saint class Healing Magic hadn't worked.
One of the female students who claimed to be a friend of hers, took her off from me and took her to the infirmary of this school.
And there goes another satisfied Magician.
"Sir Rudeus, I got to say, this is a discovery that could change everything. Your method may just bring out the best from every Magician in the world."
Jinas praises may be of good heart, but now I have to tell him my next attentions.
"I'm sorry to say this, but this will be the only student of this school I'm giving this ability for."
He looked momentarily surprised but waited for me to explain.
"Surely, you have heard about the onslaught of monsters that the adventurer guild is struggling with. Some of those monsters actually migrated from Rosenburg to here after the strong presence of the mutated dragons scared them away. I'm planning on only giving this ability to those that are actively contributing to the extermination of those."
He looked flabbergasted, but seemed to understand my intention on the matter. Next came a Zanoba, whom I got the same things, but he was more dejected than Jinas.
'You already got my Hiryū figure, isn't that enough? It took me a lot of mana to make that.'
This kind of enthusiasm could only be shown on the internet or conventions back in my world. It wouldn't be surprising if he were one of those people that also got reincarnated into this world like I did.
A bit of a crowd had formed at the entrance of both the doors and the hole Gearid had made.
Within that crowd, I saw that rumored white haired Magician among them.
She... he... they? They had long ears like an Elf and sunglasses that covered a bit too much of their face.
The person must've seen me look them and turned their head to me. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I feel like there is something... missing.
That stray of thought got pushed away as a different person, someone who I immediately recognized, came through the doorway and looked straight at me.
A girl in her high school years with long black hair and a white blank porcelain mask with two eye slits on her face.
It is the same person I had met at the Red Dragon's Lower Jaw, and presumably before I got hit by that truck.
"I didn't think you would come." The girl, Nanahoshi Shizuka said.
"Just give me that present you wrote about in your letter so that I can go back. I told my party about what I've been actually coming here for."
My tone of voice was threatening, showing her that I had no intention of taking anything as a peace offering.
"It will be of benefit for you to take this since you took a threat under your wing."
"Well, look who's talking? The person you have befriended could very well defeat me again, which makes you more dangerous than me."
She clicked her tongue, but I was not sure if it was out of irritation or natural impulse.
Our mockery between each other was heard by everyone. All of them curious to what this hostility between us could have caused.
I turned my attention back to Jinas, who looked like he could soak in his sweat at any moment. It must've been my comment that Nanahoshi has someone stronger than the number five at her side.
"I'm really sorry, but can I leave the rest to you, Sir Jinas? I really need to speak with this person in private for a bit."
"Uhm, yes."
Jinas and the other teachers looked like they wanted to allow us all the time to discuss this matter between us without me getting into a battle with said person.
Upon receiving their approval, I followed her to what I think might be her room at this school.
On our way, a lot of people gave me or us both stares of mixed feelings.
One that caught my attention the most was from that white haired person. It was of... jealousy?!
I couldn't determine which one of us he was looking at, as Nanahoshi doesn't have any mana for me to detect.
There was only one theory I could think of at that moment. That guy has a crush on her and is getting jealous of me for being acquainted with her.
Presuming he is the rumored chantless Magician, I might run into trouble messing with him.
His hair is also an indication that he might have experienced something similar to me.
As long as he didn't any unexpected super upgrades in his Magic, I can surprise him with Disturb Magic and knock him out.
I had a bit of practice against Anastasia, so he would have to be a tricky Magician to have a chance against me. But let's hope he doesn't take his defeat too hard.
But let's focus on the Japanese girl problem for now.
///