Chapter 79

"Hmm. This is interesting.

If we consider magic as a field of study, seeing Mana would be the most basic of basics, but to me, it feels very fresh.

It even makes me feel as if I'm glimpsing the physical laws of this world.

Well, as for the subject of observation—

The thunder beast is lying down with its head touching the ground, completely still.

Upon close observation, I can see its back rising and falling with its breathing.

The electric charge on its back glows blue-white and moves with its breathing.

I can't tell if it's because its ankles are relaxed or because it's lying down, but they aren't charged.

It seems that the movement of Mana isn't concentrated on the charged back.

Hmm.

I need to be able to track the movement of Mana better; otherwise, I won't understand what's happening, even if I can just see the Mana.

After all, the thunder beast's entire body is filled with dense Mana, making it hard to track its movement.

If you drop a drop of blue ink into clear water, the movement is easy to see, but if you put blue ink into water that's already blue, the movement is hard to see.

"How is it?"

"Hmm. I can't tell anything other than the fact that the thunder beast is using Mana."

"Uh-huh," Elly, who is sitting next to me, asks, leaning in from below.

I shake my head and sigh.

On my lap, Sequoia is in a state of extreme concentration, not moving a muscle. Penguin, who is also extremely focused, hasn't said a word since a while ago.

"Can you see Joshua's breathing?"

"Yeah, I can see the movement of the thunder beast's breathing."

"I mean, the breathing of Mana."

"Hmm. Right, the air is also filled with Mana. Am I also taking in a little Mana from the air?"

"Just a little. Since Joshua doesn't use much Mana for anything other than life-sustaining activities, most of it is covered by his diet."

I was taken aback, but even I, who haven't been aware of Mana, use it for life-sustaining activities.

All living beings in this world contain Mana. It's best to think of Mana as a necessary element for life, like carbon.

I take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

Maybe I should close my eyes.

I close my eyes and take another deep breath.

I slowly open my eyes and look up, not at the thunder beast but above where it is sitting.

Not focusing intently but naturally, as if it's just there.

Oh, oh.

I think I can see particles much finer than dust.

They are so sparse and naturally blend in, not reflecting sunlight.

If you didn't know they were there, you wouldn't be able to see or even recognize them.

These unique particles. Should I call them fluctuations? Something subtle in the air.

"I might have seen them."

"Then try to follow how the Mana is moving."

Guided by Elly's words, I focus on the particles near the thunder beast.

Oh, oh.

Indeed, they are being absorbed into the thunder beast's body. Mana is being absorbed through its body and mouth.

Especially a lot is being absorbed through its mouth.

By following the Mana being sucked in through its mouth, I can clearly see the movements that I couldn't grasp before.

"Ooh, I see! Got it!"

'This is fascinating!'

My words and Penguin's words overlap.

Did we both realize it at the same time?

If I could see the movement of Mana, it would have been no big deal.

'Penguin, it looked like the thunder beast's fur acted as a catalyst to convert Mana into electricity.'

'I have the same view. The closest mechanism I know is bioluminescence.'

'Bioluminescence, right?'

'Yes. Bioluminescence is the luciferin-luciferase reaction, but I suspect the thunder beast's charging is a type of Mana reaction.'

I have a similar view to Penguin.

Sequoia explained that magic isn't just about willing it to happen.

There is a mechanism similar to a chemical formula, and it's about how to convert Mana, whether it's etched in the brain or the body, which varies from person to person.

Humans and similar intelligent beings construct and activate spells like circuits in a computer.

Mana can become fire or ice depending on the construction formula. A skilled magic researcher like Sequoia can study construction formulas and master various spells.

However, it's not true that only intelligent beings can use magic.

As I heard from Sequoia before, the creatures in this world can instinctively use various types of magic.

For the thunder beast, it's lightning.

The thunder beast converts Mana collected in its body into electricity through its fur.

'So... Is it safe to assume that the spell formula is in the fur?'

'Probably. If we can decipher the spell formula in the fur and reverse it, we can convert electricity back into Mana.'

'I don't understand spell formulas at all.'

'Me neither. Can it be represented in a diagram? If it can be diagrammed, it can be analyzed.'

'I don't even know if a battery is needed... '

'A battery might be worth testing in the environmental setup, depending on Sequoia's conclusion.'

Penguin's talk is getting too complicated for me to follow.

Ah, that's what it means.

The air is filled with Mana. The thunder beast takes in Mana and converts it into electricity.

If we think in reverse, it would be converting electricity from the air into Mana.

So, I came to the conclusion that a battery might be needed.

I can't really understand things unless I translate them into my own words.

In that sense, a common language is great. Everyone can systematically study the same field, and the understanding of specific terms aligns.

There's nothing more convenient than that.

Still, this is about as far as I and Penguin can go.

Sequoia is still in a state of concentration.

All we can do is wait. Before that,

"Elly, thank you."

"No, I believe Joshua would have realized it soon."

I thanked Elly for the big hint, but she smiled modestly and humbly.

Ignoring our conversation, Penguin raised its left flipper and opened its beak.

'Well, it's a waste to just wait for Sequoia.'

'Where to?'

'Just to get a snack. If we eat now, we won't need to eat later, right?'

'Going to squish some snails?'

'Yeah.'

Penguin, do you know how slow you walk?

You might cross the Rubicon River quickly, but if the snails are on the riverbank, it's fine.

But if we have to go into the forest, how long do you think it will take?

"Elly, can you catch some fish for us?"

"Of course."

Elly stood up silently and headed to the riverbank.

Just as I thought she raised her arm, a fish was flopping on the rock.

As always, I can't tell when she raises her arm...