Sigh...
You know, when I followed the kid, I just wanted to take my wallet back
I didn't expect that kind of drug.
Behind me are three collapsed men and the boy who stole my wallet.
And, in front of me, is one of the men who took the drug.
***
"Pause."
"For the readers, let's go back a few minutes."
"How am I talking to you guys?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe the author is a huge Deadpool fan."
"Anyway, rewind the mental tape. VHS-style. Or whatever format you prefer—this ain't a fancy production."
***
I followed the boy's mana trace.
So, I know where he went even if I lost him.
But that kid has a lot of mana for a commoner.
After tracking his trace for a few minutes, I arrived at the slum.
As soon as I arrived, a foul scent attacked my nose.
It's horrible, so horrible that I almost vomit.
"For God's sake, this is worse than an alchemist's workshop."
I frowned at the scent that came from the slum.
"Let's get my wallet and get out of here."
As I continued to advance further into the slum, the scent got worse.
"Those crap nobles. If they are disgusted by the slum, why keep it the same way?"
I can no longer stand the scent, and I have coated my nose with mana.
"How far does that kid go in?"
At that moment,
"Ah!"
A scream of pain came from not far.
The scream caught my attention.
Maybe I could get some direction.
"Come on, kid."A man's voice—rough, low."You're gonna need more than that."Another man answers."What do you mean I need more?"This time, a child. His voice cracks under fear.
'Sounds like trouble."
Not wanting to get into unnecessary trouble, I decided to ignore it.
"There were like 20 gold coins in that wallet."
'Wallet?'
It could be someone else's wallet.
However, I can't help but feel suspicious.
"I don't think it's very mature for four adult men to rob a kid."
In the end, I decided to meddle in.
"Go your way, bit*h."
One of them cursed at me.
"Check his clothes, I bet he's rich as hell."
Another checks my clothing.
"Y-you are.."
The kid seems to recognise me.
Wait! The kid recognises me.
The kid looks like he committed a crime and got caught.
I see, so he is the one who stole my wallet.
"Well, if he is wealthy, we make him pay instead."
He said, and rushed at me.
Typical amature. They never think before they move.
I wave my hand in annoyance, making him crash into a wall beside us.
"Wh-what? H-how?"
The disbelief showered the thugs.
"Is he a mage? B-but how.. I didn't see any magic circle or incarnation."
One of them questioned. One of many questions that I got tired of hearing.
"It's called Raw Magic."
I said its name, maybe that will make them leave. After all, humans fear the unknown.
"What??!!"
Of course, these idiots are the exception.
Fine. Storytime it is.
"Sigh... Allow me to elaborate."
Raw Magic.
It's a base form of all magic.
Water magic is created by materialising atomic-level liquid.
Earth magic is created by materialising atomic-level dust.
Wind magic is created by manipulating the blowing wind with precise control.
Fire magic is created by accelerating the dust at a very high speed.
As for lighting, light and dark... well, I haven't gotten that far in my research.
Those are refined stages of magic.
Every magic in this world is based on the manipulation of raw magic power.
Mages, who use refined magic, store their energy inside their heart in the form of circles.
I, as a Raw Magic user, store my energy in my brain.
In other words, it's teleknisis.
[Host's power system has been explained. Converting Magic power into Mental power.]
[The process may be painful. Would you like to process it?]
Ohh! that's.... unexpected.
Since it's painful, let's hold it off for now.
"Do you understand?"
All three of them, four if we include the kid, wear the most dumbfounded faces.
"How about you shut your mouth, give us your money like a good boy?"
Another one rushed me.
Are these guys so dumb that they lack common human instinct?
I push him back. I am getting pretty annoyed at this point.
He flew back really far, and he slammed into a wall hard.
I think I heard his bones break.
Both of the remaining two clench their jaw and take out some sort of drug.
"Remember, you make us do this."
Why are they glorifying their idiotic actions?
Even so, I have a bad feeling about it.
Before they took the drug, I managed to stop one of them.
One who was successful in taking the drug, his body changed at a rapid pace.
His spine grew larger and larger. His muscles grew bigger, his hair longer, and his fingernails sharper.
He is—
"You are one ugly motherfucker."
***
"And that's how we got here."
"Wow, that was a really long flashback."
"Okay, enjoy the next plot."
"I know you are going to type this in, but why do I have to do like a Deadpooll?"
***
I look at the monster, a former human.
It has lost all reason and fallen into madness.
I can win against him, but...
'In this narrow space, I can't fight on a full scale while protecting the kid.'
I look at the kid who is behind me.
He is shivering and frozen in fear.
"Hey.. kid."
I speak, trying to get him out of here.
"Go out to the main street, and find a maid with crimson hair and violent eyes."
I need to send him somewhere.
Times like this, only Alice comes to mind.
"Tell her that Daniel sent you."
As soon as my words end, he runs off.
That kid, not even a single word of worry.
Swoosh.
While I was looking at the back of the kid who just ran off.
A gust of wind hits me.
The monster launches himself at me.
He—no, it rushes fast.
But not so fast that I can't dodge.
After I dodge its surprise attack, I take a good look at its face.
Its eyes are bloodshot, no sense of self—not anymore.
What's in front of me is just a mindless beast.
'Whatever that drug is, it's dangerous.'
It swings its arm.
It's fast, heavy and powerful.
But it's an attack that comes from a mindless beast; there is no need to worry about it.
What worries me is the rumbles from the wall.
The more I dodge, the more destruction it causes.
I guess he gets powerful if he misses more.
Let's end this quickly.
I put my hands together, forming a circle.
Inside the circle, the void appears.
Followed by the elements of fire, earth and water.
Fire and earth fuse, creating dry magma.
Water coats the dry magma, enhancing the power magma, turning it into active magma.
I extend my left arm forward and my right arm backwards.
Making a figure of a man pulling a bowstring.
The magma that I created now takes the shape of an arrow.
Flame, dust, and droplets swirl into a molten bolt pulsing in my hand
'I should aim the head.'
With that thought in mind, I release the arrow.
[Profound Alchemy: Piercing Magma Arrow.]
***
Pause
"I will explain what pro alchemy is, in probably next chapter."
***
The arrow pierces through the head of the beast.
Just as I attended.
As I let out a relieved sigh, an explosion happened.
"I forgot it's do that."
I chuckle a little, mocking my very own forgetfulness.
My eyes lit up in question.
'Am I forgetting something?'
After a while, I slam my forehead with my hand.
"My wallet!!"
I look around the rumbles.
"Well, there is no way to get it now."
"Young Master!!"
I hear Alice's voice, so I turn in the direction from which the voice comes.
"Young Master, are you alright?"
There is Alice, who expresses worries for my safety.
And there is the kid... Well, let's just say that I'm glad he doesn't pass out.