"Oh, you're awake, are you, Reo?"
"Master Logan¹... Urgh... what is this...?"
"Yes. Your body is different now; it is overflowing with Mana². Try directing your senses inward noja."
"Inward..."
I closed my eyes again.
Thump-thump, thump-thump. I could hear the steady rhythm of my heart. And from that center, I felt a warm radiance.
Was this-could this actually be Mana...!?
"It seems you've found it noja. Yes, that is Mana. Now, concentrate. Try to gather that feeling at your fingertips noja."
To my fingertips... let this warmth flow...
"Good, just like that noja. You can feel the Mana shifting, can't you? Alright, try chanting a spell-any magic you know noja."
"'Meteor Rain³!'"
"Wha-!?"
A torrential downpour of meteors suddenly tore through the clear blue sky, thundering into the earth in a violent cascade.
"..."
Not just me, but even Master Logan was struck utterly speechless.
"Are you... perhaps an idiot noja? Why would you just fire off a Grand-class spell like it was nothing noja?"
"I-I'm sorry! I just didn't think I'd actually be able to use it..."
No, seriously. I felt like a massive chunk of my Mana had just been hollowed out. It felt like something was being rapidly drained from deep within my core. But then, in less than a few seconds, it refilled.
"Fofofo... mysterious, isn't it noja? Right now, you've managed to toggle the 'Evil Eye⁴' off. That is why your depleted Mana was replenished so quickly noja."
"!?"
"To put it simply: you possess a natural recovery rate so absurd that you can recover the cost of a Grand-class spell almost instantly noja. Do you have any idea how incredible that is noja?"
"..."
"I'll go so far as to say this: if you don't use the 'Evil Eye,' you could become the greatest mage alive. Even greater than myself noja."
"That doesn't matter to me. If my power can support my comrades... my friends... then that's all I need. So please, Master Logan. Teach me how to handle the 'Evil Eye' and my magic. I need the strength to protect myself in a pinch... and the strength to keep my friends safe."
"...Umu, I am truly proud to call you my disciple noja. To possess such power and not be consumed by it, but instead wish to use it for others... that is easier said than done. Reo, I shall teach you everything I know noja."
"Please! I'm in your care, Master Logan!"
And so, my training under Master Logan began.
Since I'd already experienced my Mana bottoming out once and had learned to sense it, controlling the 'Evil Eye' became relatively easy. As for the magic itself, I already knew the spells by name-likely from seeing the game's effects-which made it easy to visualize and cast them almost immediately.
The real problem, however, was the 'buff' spells that boosted allies and the 'debuff' spells that weakened enemies.
In the game, the effects for these were honestly pretty lazy. Buffs just made you glow yellow with an 'up' arrow, and debuffs made you glow black with a 'down' arrow. Because of that, visualization alone wasn't cutting it. We decided that Master Logan would demonstrate by casting them on someone else.
"So, this is why you called me here, Sakaki-kun? Well, I suppose it's fine..."
"S-Sorry, Liesha-san. I didn't know where Rekka and the others were training... but since you're with Todo-sensei, I knew exactly where to find you. Plus, you were actually right nearby this time..."
"...Muu. I'd be much happier if you said you called me because I'm your best friend."
"!?"
"Bwahahaha!! Spoken like a true friend, Liesha!"
Liesha-san puffed out her cheeks as she spoke, looking so adorable that I thought my heart was going to literally burst. I managed to laugh it off thanks to Todo-sensei, but man, she is bad for my blood pressure.
"Well, I could have used Seiya, but it would be harder to see the results on a brute like him noja," Logan said.
"Just test the strength buffs on me and the speed on Liesha, Logan ssu," Seiya replied.
"True enough noja. With buffs, the higher the base stat, the more dramatic the final increase becomes noja," Logan said.
He was right.
In the game, a buff's potency depends on the caster's level, but it scales by a percentage. A buff from a mage of Master Logan's caliber was likely at the level cap-probably around a 600% increase. Considering a normal mage usually hits about 150% to 200%, his was absolutely broken. While you can extend the duration of buffs and debuffs, you can't stack them to double the effect. Plus, if the casters aren't the same, they often don't even take effect, making them tricky to use.
That's because of the potency override.
If you have a 600% buff active, a weaker 200% buff will just be repelled. However, if a stronger buff is cast, it will override the old one and refresh the timer. Skilled players would time it down to the second to keep the buffs rolling perfectly. For the record, I was one of those experts. I didn't spend hundreds of hours on this game for nothing.
"Now, Reo, watch closely noja. 'Power Enhance⁵!'"
"Whoa! As expected, Logan's buffs are insane. I can feel the power surging through me ssu!" Seiya shouted.
I toggled my 'Evil Eye' on to track the flow of energy. The mass of yellow Mana released by Master Logan was sucked into Todo-sensei's body, coating him in a protective film of light. I could see the sheer density of the Mana being absorbed into his core.
"Impressive, Reo. You can see the entire flow, can't you noja?" Logan asked.
"...Yes. But if I tried to cast the same spell right now, it would probably be repelled. I don't think my output is anywhere near yours, Master Logan," I replied.
"You figured that out just by looking once noja? My word... you are a terrifyingly gifted disciple noja," Logan muttered.
"In that case, why don't you try casting it on Liesha? You okay with that, Liesha?" Seiya asked.
"Yes, Todo-sensei. I'm ready when you are, Sakaki-kun," Liesha said.
They both nodded at me. I held out my hand toward Liesha-san.
"Here goes... 'Power Enhance!'"
"!! T-This... this is incredible...!" Liesha gasped.
"Whoa... hey, wait a minute... is this for real ssu...?" Seiya asked, eyes wide.
"...Reo. I think I've taught you all I can noja. You've mastered it noja," Logan said quietly.
"Eh?"
"The proof is in the pudding noja. Seiya, Liesha-care to spar for a moment noja?" Logan asked.
"Heh, fine by me ssu. Consider it part of your training. Try and keep up, Liesha ssu!" Seiya shouted.
"Yes, Todo-sensei!" Liesha replied.
The two of them drew their swords and began to clash. It didn't look like a master and student spar-it looked more like an older brother and younger sister playing around. They moved with joy, their blades dancing in rhythm... until Todo-sensei was suddenly sent flying backward.
"Whoa!? Are you serious ssu? Liesha actually overpowered me ssu!?"
"Well, Todo-sensei isn't using his dominant arm... but even so, it should have been impossible for me to push him back with raw strength. Sakaki-kun, your buff is... it's unreal!"
Wait, seriously? My buff... actually surpassed Master Logan's!?
"Next, let's try a debuff also noja. Why don't you try casting it on Seiya this time noja?"
"Hey, Logan. You're just trying to make me lose to your disciple, aren't you ssu?" Seiya grumbled.
"Fofofofofofofo, I have no idea what you're talking about noja."
"Say that to my face, you old fox ssu...!"
"Fufu!"
The banter between these people was so wholesome. Wait, focus. Debuffs are just as vital as buffs. They're the inverse-magic that drops an opponent's stats. There's actually a wider variety of debuffs, covering status ailments like paralysis and poison.
However, debuffs have a high failure rate against enemies with high magic resistance. Todo-sensei and Liesha-san are heroes with off-the-charts resistance. I wasn't even sure it would stick.
"Now then, Liesha, relax your guard, alright noja?" Logan asked.
"Understood, Master Logan," Liesha replied.
"Umu noja! 'Power Lowdown⁶!'"
"...I feel a bit weaker, but I still feel like I have more strength than usual," Liesha noted.
"I thought so noja. The boost from the buff is still higher than the reduction from the debuff noja," Logan said.
I see... I saw the flow of Mana that time. I think I can do this.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it ssu. Don't look at me with those eyes, Reo. I'm a man, I can take it ssu. Give me everything you've got ssu!" Seiya barked.
"Then I won't hold back. 'Power Lowdown!'"
"Gah...!? Okay, this is rough ssu... Your debuff isn't even a debuff anymore, kid ssu. This feels like a straight-up curse ssu..." Seiya groaned.
"Alright, Todo-sensei! Shall we dance ssu!?" Liesha laughed.
"Whoa, why are you suddenly so fired up, Liesha ssu?"
"Oh, no reason ssu! I'm definitely not thinking about how I can finally get revenge for all the times you teased me about Sakaki-kun ssu!"
"Your mouth is smiling but your eyes are terrifying ssu!"
Pfft. Just how much had Todo-sensei been teasing her? The fight kicked off, and even with Seiya-san using his non-dominant arm, Liesha-san was absolutely dominating him. I'd never seen anything like it. Normally, debuffs wouldn't work on these two at all. It only stuck because he'd lowered his guard to let me test it, but still.
"Fofofo. Reo, let's sit down and have some bread while we watch noja. This is better than dinner theater noja," Logan said.
"Master Logan, we're still in the middle of a lesson!"
"Oh? Didn't you notice noja? It's already 20:00 noja."
"Eh?"
But it was so bright out.
"The weather and light here stay the same regardless of the time outside noja. We moved locations specifically because of your 'Evil Eye,' remember noja?"
Now that he mentioned it, he was right. After I passed out, we'd changed spots. There was no way we were going to spar in the middle of the Award Room. I'd been so focused on the training that I hadn't even noticed until now.
Oh crap! Saki and Taku must be worried sick...!
"Ah, be at ease noja. Just in case, I sent word to your house noja. Your sister was very polite-she asked me to take good care of her big brother noja."
"!!"
Oh, thank God. I can breathe easy for now.
Summary:
Reo awakens to his true Mana potential under Master Logan's tutelage, discovering his 'Evil Eye' was previously suppressing his natural recovery. He accidentally casts a high-level Meteor Rain spell and later demonstrates buffs and debuffs that surpass those of his Master. The chapter concludes with a friendly but intense sparring match between Liesha and Todo-sensei, fueled by Reo's overpowered buffs.
Trivia:
- Reo's Mana recovery is so high it replenishes Grand-class costs in seconds.
- The 'Evil Eye' acts as a toggleable limiter for his Mana.
- Buffs in this world scale by percentage and cannot be stacked, only overridden by stronger ones.
- Reo's sister, Saki, is already aware and supportive of his training with Logan.
- The training ground has static lighting, making time difficult to track
Character Insight:
Reo shows growth by mastering the toggle of his 'Evil Eye' and choosing to use his immense power for support rather than personal glory. Liesha displays a more competitive and playful side when buffed, using the opportunity to settle scores with her teacher.
Behind the Scenes:
The 'Award Room' mentioned is likely a key location in the original game 'Project Web Novel' from which this setting is derived.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ Shishou (師匠): A master or mentor, often in martial arts or crafts.
2 ↩ Mana: The energy used to cast magic.
3 ↩ Meteor Rain (メテオレイン): A high-tier area-of-effect offensive spell.
4 ↩ Evil Eye (魔眼): A specialized ocular ability that, in Reo's case, drained his Mana.
5 ↩ Power Enhance (パワーエンハンス): A classic buff spell to increase physical strength.
6 ↩ Power Lowdown (パワーロウダウン): A debuff spell that reduces the target's physical strength.
Notes:
• Reo - Reincarnated HS dude who grinded 'Brave Fantasy' 100+ times, now a bland mob in the game world—black hair, Class E #6 by the back door, F-rank stats but plot meta-knowledge + magic flow reading to sideline-support heroes. Lil' bro to Saki & Taku, survives as background bro.
• Logan - An Archmage and Reo's master. An elderly man with a grandfatherly demeanor who possesses immense magical knowledge and power.
• Saki - Reo's younger sister, two years his junior. Handles housework and cooking. Has a kind but slightly blunt personality toward her brother. Highly concerned for her brother's safety. A middle schooler with Sage-level magic power who has been scouted by Valhalla.
• Taku - Reo's younger brother. Protective and prone to outbursts of anger against those who hurt his family. A middle schooler. Over 180cm (6 feet) tall with a massive, intimidating build. Skilled in sewing and housework.