Chapter 23

Chapter 23

◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (23)

Learning mana circuits wasn't the end of the tutorial.

After becoming somewhat familiar with circulating mana while sitting still, KiJun had to endure the arduous task of simultaneously dueling with the Demon Lord. It was incredibly difficult to move, use skills, and employ spirit magic while allowing mana to flow freely. Despite recently showing decent prowess against the Demon Lord, KiJun found himself rolling on the ground once again.

‘Ah...’

During one such roll, he had an epiphany.

It was about utilizing spirit power more actively. Originally, he used spirit power to amplify Lucy's strength, combining her spirit force with his light magic for manipulation. Essentially, it served as fuel for the spirit and a medium for handling spirit force. But now, with his mana being uncontrollable, why not use spirit power directly?

‘Why didn’t I think of this before?’

Spirit power is the power of the soul. Unlike mana that physically flows through the body, spirit power emanates from somewhere within, directly flowing outside according to his will. Though he hadn’t used it directly before – if Lucy could use it as energy, why couldn’t he?

―Contractor?

“Let’s try this... Kuhak!”

However, he soon realized why he hadn’t thought of this before. Spirit power isn’t as intuitive as mana. It works in tandem with the soul and strong will, a far cry from simply strengthening his weapon or fists.

‘Wait a minute... Will?’

Then, he pursued a completely different train of thought. The rampaging light magic inside him, according to the Demon Lord, moves based on its inherent will towards the most truthful path. Yes, mana possesses will.

Could he then envelop and harmonize this rampant light magic with his spirit power?

“Hero?”

The Demon Lord looked worriedly at KiJun, who lay motionless on the ground. Was he unconscious due to the mana circuit, or had his regeneration skills failed to activate?

Needless to worry, protecting its master is a matter of mana's will, so such a situation would unlikely arise. But there was a reason the Demon Lord had been simultaneously training and beating him.

“Wait, are you okay?”

“Yes, I think so.”

After organizing his thoughts, KiJun stood up and replied to the Demon Lord. Of course, the wounds in his abdomen, inflicted by the Demon Lord, had already healed.

His body, radiating faint golden light due to the rampant light magic, now seemed to settle with a ghostly, pale smoke. While the Demon Lord couldn’t precisely discern it as spirit power, she noticed a slight change in his aura.

―The contractor seems to have realized how to use spirit power himself!

Lucy exclaimed in an incredibly joyful tone.

“Ahh, there was another use for spirit power besides spells and spirit magic?”

―Exactly! Let’s show them, Contractor!

“Phew... Hup!”

Despite this, KiJun still had to endure further beatings and rolls on the ground. While the idea of harmonizing spirit power with light magic was novel, fully integrating it and even amplifying the magic’s will was still a long way off.

However, his movements had certainly improved compared to before, and the internal magic rampage was significantly reduced as evidence of his efforts to understand mana.

“Ughh...!”

“Not so fast, but you’re progressing too quickly!”

Despite the Demon Lord’s slight complaint about his rapid progress, she helped KiJun, who had collapsed on the ground, exhausted from expending all his energy and strength.

“Let's rest a bit and try again. Can you do it?”

“Huff, of course... heh, yes.”

Time passed.

It wasn’t a matter of days or weeks.

Two weeks, three weeks. The rampages decreased, but mastering the mana circuit was still far off. When a month was fully spent, KiJun finally managed to achieve what could be called mana circulation during intense battle.

―Kwang!

Though accidental, the strike of Moonlight Fangs, empowered by the newly circulated mana, astonished even the Demon Lord.

“Today we celebrate the completion of your mana circuit. Let’s enjoy without worries.”

―Party――!

“Enjoy without worries?”

KiJun couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I’m the one preparing the food, after all.”

“Of course, with a full set of sparkly dishes!”

―I’ve been looking forward to this moment for months!

Well then, no choice.

KiJun rolled up his sleeves, preparing to make a full set of party dishes.

A cake was essential, and thankfully, he had stored some cake batter in his inventory, ready to be poured into a pan and baked. The reason for not storing a fully baked cake was to savor the excitement of a freshly baked one.

As he whipped up the cream for decoration and prepped strawberries, the Demon Lord whispered in his ear.

“The last time was good, with strawberries.”

Lucy, not to be outdone, flitted around excitedly, advocating her choice.

―Chocolate! Sweet and bitter chocolate is the best!

KiJun, caught in the classic strawberry versus chocolate debate, recalled the age-old question, ‘Which do you prefer, strawberry or chocolate milk?’ and spoke up.

“Let’s have chocolate another time. I’ll make a proper chocolate sheet for it. Today, let’s go with strawberries.”

―If the contractor says so...

Lucy, though convinced, still looked a bit sullen. To cheer her up, KiJun decided to make pasta.

After stowing the whipped cream and strawberries in his inventory, he boiled wide fettuccine noodles for Lucy's favorite and prepared a spicy arrabbiata sauce with tomatoes and peppers. While doing so, he felt the Demon Lord’s gaze piercing his profile.

Unable to resist the unspoken request, KiJun finally spoke.

“Chicken... shall I make some?”

“Chicken!”

―Oh, chicken!

Both the Demon Lord and Lucy, who were arguing over strawberries and chocolate, united in their enthusiasm for chicken.

Dedicatedly, KiJun prepared the chicken, coating it in batter. Normally, when using Light Cooking, he manipulates light magic, but now, with his completed circuit, a trace of spirit power naturally blended in.

Realizing this as he was about to drop the battered chicken into the hot oil, KiJun hesitated but then proceeded, knowing that spirit power could only benefit the body.

And then.

―Your Rare-grade [Light Cooking] skill, influenced by [Salutaris], has evolved into a Unique-grade skill [Soul Cooking]! A dish that comforts the soul and invigorates the spirit, containing both light and spirit power! A dish imbued with spirit power will heal the eater’s soul, replenish life force and mana, and repel malevolent beings!

―A great soul knows how to care for others. You’ve realized how to soothe other souls with your spirit power. Spirit Power (U) increases by 1 to 87.

How? Why?

“Hmm?! Today’s flavor is particularly intense...!”

―Contractor, more, please...!

That day.

The Demon Lord and Lucy joined forces to devour three whole chickens, two servings of pasta each, and topped it off by demolishing a strawberry cream cake.

―Drawn to destruction yet unable to resist its charm, you have become an homme fatale. Charisma (U) increases by 1 to 83.

Ah, okay, got it.

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