It’s Not Magic, It’s Science.

Mana is an energy that exists everywhere in this world, can dwell anywhere, and exerts physical force in response to will.

Usually invisible and without any influence, it causes certain phenomena when led by the will of people around it.

“Energy that is made to dwell in objects like this can be directly controlled by humans. For example, like this.”

I immediately raised my left hand in front of Dale and put strength into it.

The moment the bandage I always wear is controlled by the mana flowing in my body.

-Whirlick!

The tied part automatically unravels, and the moment the rough white cloth begins to dance in the air.

“Ma-Magic!?”

“It’s not magic, it’s sorcery.”

Judging by the reaction, it seems he’s only learned the theory and hasn’t properly seen magic.

Well, there wouldn’t be any magicians in Leninsleve, so it’s not incomprehensible.

But is it okay for someone who got first place to be surprised at every little thing like this?

-Paang!

As the bandage flying from my hand hits the curtain covering the infirmary bed, the wrinkles on that curtain immediately spread out due to the pressure.

Not stopping there, it wraps around the glass bottles on the shelf and delivers them to me.

As I grasp it in my other hand and put strength into it, bubbles start to form in the water inside.

The mana injected into it boiled the water inside in a short time.

To be precise, it’s similar to the principle of a microwave, an electronic appliance from the world I originally lived in…

“Just now… did you boil the water by vibrating the water molecules using the physical force exerted by mana?”

…Hoho.

It’s a bit surprising that he immediately understood this.

“Yes. Using mana, you can cause phenomena like this.”

When used purely, it becomes telekinesis itself, and it’s possible to cause certain phenomena by applying such physical force.

Increasing instantaneous output through compression and release is one of the common uses for knights and martial artists.

And in the case of magic, beyond just grasping and bursting, it goes through more advanced applications like ultra-vibration or rotation, as when boiling water.

Even if you can’t see it clearly with your eyes, if you understand the principle of water boiling…

For example, if you have the knowledge that ‘you can generate thermal energy by inducing friction between electrons in water molecules’, you can immediately know how mana was manipulated just by looking at boiling water.

“Besides that, there are countless things you can do using the characteristics of mana. Not only alchemy that changes the properties of objects, but it’s also possible to cause widespread phenomena by interfering with external kinetic energy. Have you heard stories of great magicians splitting the earth or causing tsunamis alone?”

“Yes. Mainly through crustal movement or solar heat… They amplify power by drawing external energy through mana, right?”

“Yes, if you understand that much, Dale, you probably already realize. That the science that forms the basis of magic is ultimately science.”

“…Science?”

“Yes, it’s not magic, it’s science.”

Of course, mana itself is an unreasonable energy that didn’t exist in the place I originally lived, but originally, science is a discipline that grasps certain laws from certain phenomena and applies them.

Even if it’s called an ability, if you can grasp the laws, it can certainly be an object of exploration and understanding.

In that sense, the magic of this world could be said to belong to the category of science.

‘Mana can dwell in all things, and exerts physical force in response to human will.’

To treat the technique of handling energy based on such an excellent law separately from science.

Wouldn’t modern physicists stand up immediately if they saw this?

“And Dale, it’s my personal opinion, but I think you have an innate talent for the discipline of handling power based on these things.”

“Huh? What do you…”

“Because magic isn’t something you can do just by being naturally good at the orthodox methods. For instance, when lighting a fire at the tip of this finger, there are very, very many things to consider.”

-Click!

A spark occurring at the tip of the index finger with the friction of fingers. It’s very small, but the child in front of me will surely understand.

That the formulas needed to cause this single spark are never few.

“Can you roughly guess… how many conditions are needed to cause this phenomenon?”

“……”

The boy blinked at my words.

Then Dale put his hand on his chin and spoke one by one what he thought.

“First, we need to supply the catalyst needed to light the fire from the air. Like dust, for example…”

“And?”

“Increasing the oxygen concentration in the area to prevent the fire from going out, or being careful not to let the burning catalyst shoot upwards as heat flows from bottom to top. And also…”

The answers that continued after that were each correct.

Despite not being versed in magic, this child succeeded in analyzing all the phenomena that occurred in front of him just by looking with his eyes.

“…Correct.”

Without empty words, he derived results equivalent to a whole blackboard of formulas just by looking with his eyes.

“And the answers like this, students in the elite class would be able to derive through support from their families and teachings from many masters. Do you know what this means?”

“That’s……”

You came up with all possible answers through self-study alone, and analyzed and derived them with your eyes alone without anyone’s help. That in itself is enough to be called talent.”

I’m certain. It’s not a fluke that this child got first place.

He has excellent thinking ability and passion and curiosity for exploration.

If this child becomes a magician, he will surely become an outstanding being. If there’s someone who can properly guide this child.

“But, all I know is just theory at best. I don’t know how to use magic?”

“…The nullification constitution you have seems to apply not only externally but also to yourself.”

Yes. This is the problem.

Because of the constitution I discovered, this child can’t use any kind of technique handling mana, let alone magic.

“Then… will I never be able to use magic?”

Dale made a gloomy expression at the conclusion finally reached.

I could fully understand that feeling.

To be unable to use the application of the discipline you’ve studied hard with admiration due to an innate curse.

“Well, it’s too early to conclude that yet.”

But my education hasn’t ended yet.

If it was going to end at this level, I wouldn’t have offered to bring this child in the first place.

“Dale, as you know, mana is an intangible resource that exerts physical force in response to will. Then, what does ‘physical force’ mean here?”

“Physical force?”

“What is force… that is, what is energy?”

This question is different from the first one.

It’s not abstract, but asking what energy is that is clearly explained ‘scientifically’.

“Energy is a concept that requires the coexistence of mass and velocity.”

Grin.

A smile naturally drawn on my lips.

“Yes, as you said, energy (force) is a concept that requires material (mass) to have movement (velocity). In other words, everything called force has a ‘flow’.”

“Flow… you mean?”

“Yes. What doesn’t flow essentially means there’s no force being generated.”

Then I quietly asked, matching eye level with Dale.

“Now, let me ask you one thing here. Can your ‘nullification constitution’ be defined as a force?”

“…Huh?”

The boy blinked at my words.

“Uh, uhh!?”

Yes. Being a clever child, he must have realized.

If it’s defined as a force, the nullification ability this child has can also ‘flow’.

That means, if we succeed in grasping that flow, we might be able to learn how to control it.

“Really.”

The nullification ability can be controlled.

Doesn’t that mean we can temporarily erase the nullification ability from the body that can’t accept mana, allowing it to accept mana?

“Really, can I use magic?”

Eyes gradually gaining color..

The sight of him placing both hands on his chest seemed as if he couldn’t suppress the pounding of his heart.

“I can’t give you a definite answer, but we can’t give up without trying. If you succeed in the end, you’ll surely be able to use it.”

“Then, can I make friends too?”

“…What?”

An exclamation I unknowingly let out at the unexpected question.

Dale soon brightened up and raised his upper body towards me.

“I want to show it to the kids when I can use magic!”

….Hoho.

This was completely unexpected. To think that the first thing he thought of after hearing this was wanting to show it to the kids.

Could it be that he wants to put down the noses of the kids who drove him away?

“If you can use it, you can do it as much as you want.”

No, he said he wants to be friends, so it’s probably not about revenge.

I still couldn’t know in detail why this child came to this academy, and I was also concerned about him being from a lawless zone, but from the conversations we’ve had so far, I could clearly understand a few things.

This child genuinely enjoys learning.

And he likes people very much.

“Until the regular classes start in a week, I have plenty of time to spare. Until then, stay in the infirmary and learn various things from teacher. I’ll give you free time after light lessons, so don’t feel too burdened.”

“Yes! I’ll work hard!”

Dale smiles brightly.

Seeing that bright smile, a smile naturally formed on my lips as well.

---

And so began the private tutoring with the excellent new student.

But coincidentally, since I also have duties as a health teacher, I couldn’t devote much time to personal education.

At best, we just reviewed what we’ve learned so far, and gradually accumulated knowledge about power manipulation.

The fortunate thing was that Dale was such a clever child that direct guidance was unnecessary.

If he learns one thing, he figures out ten on his own, and the help he asks of me is just a few questions for that enlightenment.

Especially when he concentrates, he doesn’t take his eyes off his notebook unless you grab his shoulder and shake it.

I guess he didn’t get first place for nothing.

“Teacher, I have a question.”

It had been about two days since I watched in admiration like this.

I had roughly gauged this child’s level and built the basics, and was considering starting to test various ways to control the nullification ability, when Dale asked me with a serious face.

“What is a Circle?”

“It’s a measure of the level of mastery for mana users.”

“Hmm… More specifically?”

“Like this.”

As I put strength into my abdomen area, mana concentrated there and a vibration sound occurred.

The moment mana led by will exerts physical force.

The shimmer that spreads due to the distortion of light by that force was clearly shaped as the name just mentioned.

“Ab…”

Soon Dale said with a reddened face.

“Abs…?”

“Not that.”

Why is he imagining under the sweater when I told him to look at the surrounding mana?

Boys in puberty, really.