Chapter 13. Mana (2)

Johann's eyes widened as the speed at which mana flowed into Yurie was anything but ordinary.

'Already sensing mana? And what about this mana absorption rate?'

Is she really sensing mana?

Or is something else happening?

It was too early to jump to any conclusions, so Johann released mana once again.

The same phenomenon occurred as before.

Sssss-.

Mana being sucked into Yurie at an incredible speed.

'It's definitely it! This kid is sensing mana!'

With this level of talent, even if she wasn't a genius, she could certainly be called a prodigy.

A short while later.

Huuu-.

As Yurie opened her eyes after a deep breath, Johann asked with a slightly excited tone.

"How is it? What do you feel about sensing mana for the first time?"

Yurie didn't answer Johann's question easily.

His silence made Johann smile contentedly.

"Ah, how can you describe that feeling? That first, intoxicating sensation... How can you express it in human language? Kid, I understand exactly how you feel."

Yurie, who had been staring at Johann as he rubbed his nose with his index finger, blinked and asked in a slightly dazed voice.

"So, sir... What does it feel like to sense mana?"

"What it feels like? It's the sensation you're feeling right now."

"So, what exactly should I be feeling?"

"Mana!"

"What does it feel like to sense mana?"

"......"

The strangely repetitive conversation made Johann's expression stiffen.

He said in a slightly angry tone.

"Are you joking with me?"

"Joking? What are you talking about?"

"Then why are you lying about not sensing it after you greedily sucked in my mana!"

"Wait, when did I lie! I said I didn't feel it because I didn't, so what else could I say!"

"You little brat, sucking in my mana and then saying you can't feel it!"

"What are you talking about? When did I?"

"Just now! You little brat, you sucked in my mana!"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Are you going to keep pretending you don't know and spout nonsense!"

"Damn it! If I could feel mana, I wouldn't be complaining!"

Yurie huffed.

Johann noticed the confusion, embarrassment, anger, and strong sense of self-doubt in her eyes and stiffened.

"You...?"

He was silent for a long time before looking at Yurie intently and asking.

"Really... you can't feel it?"

"Uh-huh."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh."

"Really? You're not lying?"

"Mm-hm."

What else could I say if I didn't feel it?

Yurie was resolute.

Johann, on the other hand, now had a dazed look on his face as he muttered.

"This can't be... This can't be happening..."

The amount of mana he had released should have made even someone with poor sensitivity feel a faint sense of foreignness.

Moreover, Yurie had greedily sucked in his mana.

It was strange that she couldn't feel it.

But there was no hint of deceit on Yurie's brazen face, only a strong sense of self-doubt.

The flustered Johann stammered.

"Let's try again. I'll increase the density of the mana a bit."

Saying this, Johann released mana once more.

Yurie sat in seiza and closed her eyes.

Sssss-.

More mana was released than before, and once again, it was sucked into Yurie's surroundings.

Johann asked, filled with hope and anticipation.

"Do you feel something now? Right?"

"Hmm..."

"How is it?"

"Ah!"

Yurie's eyes widened as if she had realized something.

Seeing this, Johann nodded with a 'I knew it!' expression.

"You feel it now? You do? Right?! Of course! If you couldn't feel it after all this, you wouldn't be human..."

"...I'm hungry."

"......"

"I fainted and couldn't eat, remember?"

Yurie, now with a blank look, opened her eyes and gently rubbed her stomach.

Johann, who watched this with a sense of defeat, muttered.

"...You're not human."

He soon began to tear his hair out like a madman.

"This can't be... This can't be happening..."

If she can't sense mana?

Then everything is ruined.

No matter how great her physical abilities are, what good are they?

Martial arts without mana are nothing more than forms.

What good is a great technique if her body and soul, and energy, will collapse before she can even use it?

"Ruined... ruined..."

Johann, who had been muttering non-stop, glanced at Yurie and muttered.

"Can we just pretend our deal never happened?"

Forget about the new martial arts experiment.

What could he teach someone who can't even sense mana?

"Seems like you're a lost cause..."

Johann, who was trying to step back subtly.

Before he could finish his sentence, Yurie's hand landed on his shoulder.

Click.

"Sir."

Yurie's bright smile made Johann feel a sense of foreboding.

"Why, why are you doing this?"

"Train me."

"......?"

"Train me."

"Train you for what?"

"To make even a halfwit like me feel mana. To make me capable of contributing my share."

Was the kid's words strangely familiar, or was it just his imagination?

But it wasn't just his imagination.

"Can you even beat the Sword Master with just this? I was so excited to learn a martial art that could defeat the Sword Master, and now..."

"......"

"Are you giving up just because I'm a little late in sensing mana? Sir, are you really that weak?"

"......"

"Damn, tsk. If you're going to give up, just say it. I don't want to waste my time either."

Johann, who had received the same taunt he had given Yurie, had a face like he had bitten into something foul.

"What are you going to do?"

Yurie, with a bright smile, asked.

"Are you giving up?"

The more Yurie's face glowed, the more Johann's face darkened.

"Are you giving up?"

"Grk!"

Yurie's continuous provocation, whether intentional or not, finally made Johann mutter.

"Damn brat..."

Yurie, with a benevolent smile, gently showed her palm.

At the same time, a fresh remark escaped her lips.

"Reflex."

"......"

Johann's already twisted face crumpled even more.

* * *

Two weeks into the voyage.

A storm cloud appeared in front of the passenger ship heading to Niger, which had been sailing smoothly for the past ten days.

The ship was soon caught in a violent storm, rocking violently.

The ship's movement was so intense that it was hard to keep one's balance.

But Yurie was so focused on sensing mana that she didn't even notice the turbulence.

'Why... why can't I feel it?'

Every time Johann asked, she pretended it was no big deal, but Yurie was more curious than anyone about the reason.

Her inner turmoil was immense.

'Am I... unable to sense mana?'

If that's the case, what should she do now?

Would her resolve to surpass Johann be nothing but a dream?

Could she surpass Johann without mastering mana?

If she couldn't master mana, her body would eventually collapse, and she wouldn't live long.

Yurie felt a tightness in her chest at the gap between her ideals and reality.

But she forced herself to clear that tightness.

Instead, she focused even more on her senses.

'I can do this. Don't give up.'

According to Johann, the sensation of sensing mana is not within the realm of the five senses.

People often say they feel mana through their skin, but that's just the delusional talk of those who know nothing!

...he had said.

'The perception of mana transcends the physical five senses.'

That's why Johann called the sensation of sensing mana the sixth sense.

'If I can suppress the five senses, I might be able to grasp the sixth sense more easily.'

The easiest way to suppress the five senses was to directly block them.

Covering the eyes or plugging the ears.

But this had clear limits.

Even with closed eyes, one would still see the darkness created by the eyelids.

Even with plugged ears, one couldn't block out the sounds within one's body, like swallowing or the heartbeat.

So Yurie chose a different method.

She forgot about sound, smell, sight, touch, and taste.

She intensely focused on the question, 'What is the sixth sense?' and thoroughly erased all thoughts about the other five senses.

Johann, who had been watching this from the side, had his eyes widen.

'Huh?'

Blink, blink.

No matter how many times he looked, it was clear.

'What is this crazy kid doing...?'

Johann, who knew what Yurie was doing, could only laugh in disbelief.

'Has she entered a state of selflessness?'

* * *

Fifteen days into the voyage.

A storm cloud appeared in front of the passenger ship that had been sailing smoothly for the past ten days.

The ship was soon caught in a violent storm, rocking violently.

The movement was so intense that it was hard to keep one's balance.

But Yurie was so focused on sensing mana that she didn't even notice the turbulence.

'Why... why can't I feel it?'

Every time Johann asked, she pretended it was no big deal, but Yurie was more curious than anyone about the reason.

Her inner turmoil was immense.

'Am I... unable to sense mana?'

If that's the case, what should she do now?

Would her resolve to surpass Johann be nothing but a dream?

Could she surpass Johann without mastering mana?

If she couldn't master mana, her body would eventually collapse, and she wouldn't live long.

Yurie felt a tightness in her chest at the gap between her ideals and reality.

But she forced herself to clear that tightness.

Instead, she focused even more on her senses.

'I can do this. Don't give up.'

According to Johann, the sensation of sensing mana is not within the realm of the five senses.

People often say they feel mana through their skin, but that's just the delusional talk of those who know nothing!

...he had said.

'The perception of mana transcends the physical five senses.'

That's why Johann called the sensation of sensing mana the sixth sense.

'If I can suppress the five senses, I might be able to grasp the sixth sense more easily.'

The easiest way to suppress the five senses was to directly block them.

Covering the eyes or plugging the ears.

But this had clear limits.

Even with closed eyes, one would still see the darkness created by the eyelids.

Even with plugged ears, one couldn't block out the sounds within one's body, like swallowing or the heartbeat.

So Yurie chose a different method.

She forgot about sound, smell, sight, touch, and taste.

She intensely focused on the question, 'What is the sixth sense?' and thoroughly erased all thoughts about the other five senses.

Johann, who had been watching this from the side, had his eyes widen.

'Huh?'

Blink, blink.

No matter how many times he looked, it was clear.

'What is this crazy kid doing...?'

Johann, who knew what Yurie was doing, could only laugh in disbelief.

'Has she entered a state of selflessness?'