Ch.14Chapter 14: Physical Magic

[Main Quest Complete!]

Amazing! You arrived earlier than required, so I’ll give you an additional reward!

<Reward>

Trait Acquisition, Bonus Points 5P, Additional Bonus Points 5P.

‘Oh… this is good?’

It seems the rewards increase when you exceed quest objectives.

And traits are starting to be granted.

[Analyzing user’s play pattern for trait distribution!

Analysis complete!

Trait acquired!

‘It’s Magic Anyway!’

Description: Magic is a supernatural power. The essence of magic is creating mysterious phenomena using magical energy! You achieved this using a bit of magical energy and your powerful physique! Physical force becomes imbued with magical energy.

Additional skill acquired due to trait acquisition!

‘Physical Magic’]

‘What the hell? Why is this actually real?’

The physical magic I jokingly mentioned is actually being registered as a skill.

It imbues physical force with magical energy? If this is correct, then all the physical force Valt exerts is essentially magic.

Plus, I just recently obtained an item that converts physical force into magical energy.

Does this stack?

If not for the “Do No Harm” trait, even a simple punch would become a mana fist.

But the question is how far I can imitate magic with physical force.

Earth magic is mostly doable.

For example, Valt’s main attack “Stone Bullet” would no longer be just throwing stones but would become similar to the magical Stone Bullet spell.

And if used with boulders, it becomes Rock Cannon; if hundreds of pebbles are scattered in the air, it becomes Stone Rain.

But that’s about it… what else is there?

Fire? Should I create fire with flint?

Water? Should I scoop up seawater?

Wind? Create wind by spinning around? Hmm, this might actually work…

Lightning? This is impossible.

I need to think about this more.

In reality, elemental magic tends to specialize in one area, which is why there aren’t many mages with dual elements.

It’s not that they can’t use other elements, but they’re more supplementary.

Unlike non-elemental magic that anyone can use, elemental magic has affinities.

I want to experiment quickly, but I have things to do now.

Arriving at the Academy, I find it surprisingly empty.

It must be because everyone has gone home for the break.

Still, security guards were vigilantly guarding the Academy entrance, and occasionally people who looked like students could be seen.

After checking Valt’s admission permit, the guard recognized him as Kwan’s son and told him to go to the Chancellor’s office.

Lisa, not being subject to the same circumstances, would go to the general student affairs office to complete her enrollment and get assigned to a dormitory.

Instead, they agreed to meet at the main gate later to explore the city together.

While some students commuted from homes in the capital, Valt and Lisa would need to use the dormitories.

‘This must be it…’

Standing in front of a rather elegant door labeled “Chancellor’s Office,” Valt gently knocks.

Thump thump!

He tried to be gentle, but the sound came out louder than intended.

“Come in.”

A friendly elderly voice comes from inside, and Valt opens the door without hesitation.

Chancellor Baldur’s eyes widen upon seeing the massive figure.

“Valt Gerung?”

“Yes, sir.”

Though Valt often speaks casually to others, he uses formal speech with the Chancellor.

“You arrived early… Did you come straight to the Academy?”

“Yes, sir.”

“…”

After an awkward silence, the Chancellor begins to speak.

“Well, this must be your first time in the Imperial Capital. It would be good to look around before enrollment begins. Since this is a school, I’ll drop the formalities if that’s alright with you?”

“That’s fine.”

A surprisingly well-mannered and dignified barbarian. If not for the outfit exposing his bulging muscles, he could pass for a respectable knight.

“If you quietly learn what you need to learn and then leave, you’ll have a pleasant Academy experience. Do you understand what I mean?”

“I understand.”

The barbarian was what worried him most.

He had heard they were hot-tempered and quick to anger, but perhaps those concerns were unfounded.

Relieved, the Chancellor pats Valt’s thick arm and says:

“Good… Then go to the student affairs office to get assigned to a dormitory and make yourself comfortable. You’re free to come and go until the break ends, so feel free to explore the Imperial Capital as much as you like.”

But something is strange.

Why is he suddenly sensing this magical energy from a barbarian?

Finding it odd, the Chancellor silently casts a spell in his mind.

‘View Mana Force.’

The size of the crimson magical energy emanating from Valt is shocking.

‘How can this be?’

The barbarian’s body, which had shown only a trace of magical energy until now, is suddenly filled with it.

He had intended to ask about the small amount of magic he sensed earlier, but what is this enormous magical power?

Before being Chancellor, he is a mage.

And mages cannot resist their curiosity.

The Chancellor urgently asks Valt:

“W-what exactly are you? How can a barbarian…? Can you use magic?”

In fact, Valt was curiously testing how physical force converts to magical energy.

He discovered that magical energy increases in proportion to his strength.

His strength wasn’t diminishing; rather, the more he flexed his muscles, the more magical energy increased—a bizarre phenomenon.

So he tensed his entire body intensely, resulting in this situation.

And the Chancellor noticed it.

Relaxing his muscles, Valt answers the Chancellor’s question.

As he relaxes, the increased magical energy quickly dissipates.

“I know how to use enchantment magic. I’ll need to learn the rest.”

Seeing Valt’s magical energy rapidly decrease, the Chancellor is astonished again.

‘What is this?’

Unable to understand, he asks Valt again:

“Just now! How did you do that? How did so much magical energy gather and then disappear so quickly?”

Valt extends his massive hand in response to the Chancellor’s question.

“I think it’s because of this item.”

The item Valt shows is immediately recognizable to the Chancellor.

“This is… a physical force to magical energy conversion item…”

It’s a garbage item that mages don’t even bother with.

Mages have no physical force to begin with, so they have no use for such an item.

But…

“Ah!! I see, that tremendous strength was converted into magical energy. How fascinating. Just how strong are you…?”

With his question answered, there’s no need to keep Valt any longer.

As expected of a barbarian.

To emit such magical energy using that useless item…

His strength must be truly extraordinary.

But converting to magical energy isn’t all there is to magic.

Magic certainly involves many other complex processes.

“Since you asked me a question, may I ask you something as well?”

What an audacious barbarian.

To ask a question of himself, a 7th Circle High Wizard.

But it would be unfair if only he asked questions.

“Of course, ask away.”

After thinking briefly, Valt speaks.

“If I imbue a stone with magical energy and throw it, is that magic?”

The question is quite profound.

The Chancellor takes time to consider this unexpected question.

But soon he provides an answer.

“Hmm… Normally that wouldn’t be considered magic… but in a broader sense, once magical energy is used, one can’t say it isn’t magic either.”

Valt grins and says:

“That’s all I needed to know. I’ll be going now.”

With that, Valt left the Chancellor’s office.

The Chancellor was presented with a new topic from Valt’s question.

If one creates a fireball with magical energy, that’s clearly magic.

But the act of launching it—Fire Ball—involves “throwing” using magical energy.

This action is essential in projectile attack spells.

Since this action uses magical energy, it wouldn’t be wrong to call it “throwing” as a separate term.

Especially for magic that includes physical force.

What if it’s ice instead of fire? Or as Valt said, a stone?

Is the act of throwing, which produces the same effect as magic, actually magic or not?

If no magical energy is involved, it’s obviously not magic, but what if magical energy is included?

“Ho ho… I’ve gained an interesting topic from a barbarian.”

***

The dormitory, which he found with guidance from the student affairs office.

The bed is incredibly spacious, as if they knew about Valt’s size.

‘Wow! How long has it been since I’ve had a bed?’

Worried it might not support his weight, he sits down carefully, but the bed easily bears his weight.

‘Oh? It’s been magically reinforced.’

It seems to have the Indue Firmness enchantment spell—the only one Valt can currently use.

Finally reassured, Valt flops down on the bed.

“Nice!”

Though the 30-day journey wasn’t much for Valt, rest is always sweet.

There’s still time before his appointment with Lisa, so he could take a short nap.

Valt closes his eyes and makes plans for the future.

‘Physical Magic! This is truly magic for barbarians.’

There’s a method too.

The physical force to magical energy conversion item.

Though he’s not sure how easily it can be obtained, it was an item that even he, a hardcore mage player, considered trash.

But for barbarians?

There’s no easier way to use magic.

Though the magic he can use is still limited, imagine thousands of barbarians throwing stones filled with magical energy like his!

The destructive power would be incomparable to mere arrows!

He’s achieved one goal for now.

But there are still shortcomings.

He’ll expand what he can do by experiencing various types of magic.

After taking a short rest, it seems it’s about time for his appointment with Lisa.

“Let’s go.”

Valt rises his massive body and heads to the Academy’s main gate where he agreed to meet Lisa.