Chapter 1030: Side Story – Multi-Attribute Mage (2)

‘What are you talking about all of a sudden, Cha Yuri-ssi? That was your flame just now.’

‘…It was?’

‘Besides, when the magic first appeared, you would have felt the flow of mana the best, wouldn’t you? I just put my hand on top of your hand, that’s all I did.’

‘…I don’t know. I’ve never properly used fire magic before, how would I know what the mana flow feels like?’

‘…….’

‘Anyway, don’t hold my hand from now on. I’m not doubting you, but I want to show you myself.’

‘…Honestly, you’re something else. Is it because you’re pregnant?’

‘Or maybe it’s because fire magic is something you’ve just awakened, so you really want to show off your abilities properly.’

Either way, to avoid causing unnecessary suspicion, I quietly waited for Cha Yuri to create fire magic with her own hands. Based on how she briefly manifested it earlier, I figured she’d be able to do it soon.

-Fwoosh….

‘Haa, why isn’t this working….’

‘…….’

‘I, I think I’m almost there? Do you have to keep watching?’

‘You don’t have to say it like that, I’m not looking away.’

‘Ugh, ughhh…, UGGGGGHHHH…!’

-Fweeeing, Fweeeeeeeng!!

‘Argh, seriously! It worked just fine earlier, why isn’t it working now?!’

She kept showing reactions like she was about to realize something, but all that came out of her hands was the wind magic she usually used.

Seeing her frustrated expression, which anyone could tell, made me feel a strange sense of empathy, reminding me of myself back in school. I also wondered if I had made a mistake by opening the training ground, only adding to her stress.

‘You shouldn’t rush it, Cha Yuri-ssi. Stress isn’t good for pregnant women.’

‘…I’m sorry.’

‘Never mind that, let’s take it slow. It’s not like we have to do it today; I can watch you every day for the foreseeable future, so there’s no need to show me today.’

‘Okay….’

‘Let’s pause making the fireball for now and calm your mind first. Come on, Cha Yuri-ssi. Relax your body and take it easy.’

-Pat, pat.

‘Ugh, ughhh….’

She felt strangely embarrassed by me stroking her head, but she didn’t really refuse.

Just as the now-calmer Cha Yuri was about to dismiss the magic she was using, a small flame suddenly flared up in her hand once more.

-Fwoosh!

‘…Huh?!’

‘Oh, that one worked properly.’

‘D-Did you see that?! Did you properly see the flame come out of my hand?!’

‘I saw it, so you don’t have to ask so excitedly. I’ve been watching the whole time.’

‘Now you believe me, right?! I wasn’t lying! You can see I can really use fire magic now, can’t you?’

‘I never thought you were lying in the first place. There’s no way Cha Yuri-ssi would lie to me.’

‘…O-Of course.’

Perhaps due to the excitement, Cha Yuri lowered her head, her face flushed red again.

Seeing her like that was so cute that I continued to stroke the crown and back of her head. Suddenly, Cha Yuri’s expression turned serious, as if she was thinking about something.

-Pat, pat.

‘…Sungchul-ah, wait a sec.’

‘Yes?’

‘…Keep stroking my head. I’ll show you again.’

‘…Yes? Okay.’

Normally, she’d get shy and wonder what was going on, but she didn’t question it. I figured Cha Yuri must have days when she just wanted some affection for no reason.

-Pat, pat.

‘…….’

Cha Yuri rubbed her head against my palm, and once again created a fireball in her hand. Perhaps having gotten the hang of it, she managed to create a small flame in her palm as soon as she tried.

-Fwoosh.

‘Oh… you’re doing much better now.’

‘…As expected, you were the cause.’

‘Huh? …Well, I guess so. Since the baby in your belly is my child, after all.’

‘I-I didn’t mean it like that!’

‘…Then what did you mean?’

Wondering what she was trying to say, I tilted my head. She began to explain about the moment she manifested magic earlier.

‘Remember when you touched my hand earlier and fire magic came out?’

‘Ah, yes. And like I said before, that wasn’t my flame.’

‘…I know. And just now, too, the flame appeared from my hand while you were stroking my head.’

‘……Ah.’

‘It seems like it’s a bit easier to manifest fire magic when your body is touching mine. I don’t know the exact principle, though.’

It was a plausible guess. Just like Cha Yuri, I didn’t know the exact reason either.

‘It definitely seems like there’s a correlation… but you don’t know exactly why that happens, right?’

‘…Maybe it’s because it’s mana related to you? If the baby in my belly inherited your genes, then it would react if it touched you and your mana flowed into me.’

‘That’s also a plausible guess.’

‘Or maybe, do you think there’s another reason?’

‘Hmm, I don’t know. Isn’t it just because Cha Yuri-ssi likes me so much that just touching my body has a positive effect? It’s the power of love, you know.’

‘…That’s a silly guess. It’s better not to hear it.’

‘Then, do you perhaps not like me?’

‘…I-That’s not what I meant! It’s not like some kids’ cartoon where you talk about the power of love like that!’

Still, she didn’t deny liking me. Cha Yuri’s flustered, angry reaction was also cute.

‘Now that I think about it, something similar happened when you and I first met in the dungeon.’

‘When we first met? …Ah!’

‘Back then, I saved you when you were about to die from that Woodrello, and we made physical contact, which allowed you to use magic again, right?’

‘…It’s true that something like that happened between us then, but that was just because the pent-up sexual desire I had was temporarily relieved. It wasn’t the power of love or anything.’

‘Then it’s not the power of love, but the power of lust. No, since the lust was resolved, maybe it’s more accurate to call it the power of climax.’

‘…Haa, just say whatever you want.’

Realizing that arguing with me was pointless, Cha Yuri muttered in resignation.

‘Anyway, it’s good. At least now we know how to use fire magic. It’s much better than struggling and getting stressed because you don’t know why it’s not working.’

‘…Yeah, that’s right.’

‘So, shall we try making a fireball again? If I keep stroking your head like this, it should work, right?’

‘…Yeah, please do.’

And so, as I stroked Cha Yuri’s head while facing her, she channeled mana to create a fireball in her hand once more.

While stroking her head, I quietly observed the flame forming in her palm.

-Fwoosh.

‘…Ugh, ughhh.’

-Sizzle, pop.

‘Aaaah….’

It seemed like the flame was briefly igniting, but soon after, it disappeared from her hand.

Even with physical contact, it seemed a bit tricky to manipulate mana as freely as she did with her usual wind magic.

‘It can’t be helped. Still, I think this is enough for the first day.’

‘…I can still do more.’

‘Magic isn’t something that’s created overnight. We can work on making fireballs over the next few days while observing the situation.’

‘…With wind magic, I made it on the first day. And back then, I didn’t even have someone like you helping me.’

‘Well, that’s because wind magic is your specialty. Most mages can’t create a sphere of wind on the first day they gain their abilities like you did. It usually takes at least a month, even for the less talented.’

‘A month….’

A month to create a complete fireball from this state. Hearing that it would take that long just to build the foundation for a mere 1st Circle magic, a hint of disappointment escaped Cha Yuri’s lips.

‘A month is too long….’

‘Why? Are you worried you won’t be able to use fire magic during your pregnancy?’

‘……Yeah.’

‘If you really feel like you don’t have enough training time, I’ll just get you pregnant again. Is that okay?’

‘Again, again pregnant? …W-What number of children are you planning to have….’

‘As many as Cha Yuri wants.’

Of course, this applies not only to Cha Yuri but to anyone else as well.

‘A-Anyway, even if I get pregnant again, there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to learn fire magic next time. Your specialty isn’t fire magic anyway, and you can handle ice magic or plant magic besides fire….’

…Honestly, she’s so stubborn.

Well, this stubbornness, which sometimes showed, was also one of Cha Yuri’s charms.

For her sake, who was already anxious on the first day, I continued the fire magic lesson tailored just for Cha Yuri for a little while longer.

‘Alright. Then, please keep stroking my head, so I’ll try a little longer. If I keep trying repeatedly, I’ll still achieve something, right?’

‘…Okay.’

-Pat, pat.

‘Ughm…. Ughhh….’

-Fwoosh.

While I stroked her head, Cha Yuri focused her mind on the magic in her hand, creating a small flame.

As she concentrated all her nerves on the magic, I subtly moved my other hand, the one not stroking her head, down towards the lower part of her head.

-Squeeze!

‘Hiyak?!’

-WHOOSH!!

As soon as I squeezed her right breast with my left hand, the flame in her palm flared intensely.