Episode 56: The Logic of the World
Magic on the surface? Ha, no way. Absolutely not.
After a while, Maika went out for errands, and Tanaka-san went downstairs to prepare for going to the “Blue Dungeon.”
In the office, it was just Kanzaki and Yuma.
Kanzaki took out a box of junk from the desk drawer. It was something he used for some parts a long time ago, but he didn’t remember what it was.
“Yuma.”
“Yes.”
“Since we have the chance, shall we try using magic?”
“Eh? But magic can only be used in Dungeons, right? I was thinking of trying it out in the ‘Blue Dungeon’ we’re going to now…”
Yuma looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Well, that’s usually the case.”
Kanzaki placed the junk box on Yuma’s desk with a soft thud.
“This is a special machine, and you can use magic around this box even if you’re not in a Dungeon. Want to give it a try?”
“Really!? There’s such a machine? I didn’t know.”
Yuma stared intently at the shabby box. Of course, it was a big lie. There was no way that could happen.
But it would be a good way to deny Aisha’s ridiculous story.
“So professional Seekers really have amazing things, don’t they?”
“You could say that. I think you can use a small Water Magic, so give it a try.”
“Yes!”
Yuma, without any suspicion, focused his power on his palm, groaning, “Ugh, ugh, ugh…”
“First, concentrate your Magical Power on your fingertips. If you do it right, a small sphere should form.”
“Fingertips, got it!”
This time, he raised his right index finger and focused his power while trembling.
“Uuu… it won’t come out…”
“Hahaha, well, it’s your first time. You’ll be able to do it better in the Dungeon, so don’t worry!”
As expected, no magic came out. Kanzaki felt relieved and tried to return to his desk.
Magic shouldn’t be usable on the surface. Kanzaki himself had tried with his companions many times before to see if magic could be used outside the Dungeon.
Of course, no one succeeded.
It was impossible even near the entrance of the Dungeon. Magic could only be used after fully entering the Dungeon.
Later, it was proven that magic could be used due to the Mana filling the Dungeon, and it was scientifically clarified that magic could not be used on the surface.
‘Magic cannot be used outside the Dungeon.’
That was an unwritten rule, a logic, in the world where Dungeons appeared.
A common sense that could never be overturned.
He felt a sense of disappointment towards Aisha, wondering if she had forgotten such a thing.
“Ah!”
Kanzaki turned around at the loud voice, and Yuma’s eyes were wide open.
What is it? As he wondered, something flickered at Yuma’s fingertip.
“President! I did it! A water sphere came out!!”
On the fingertip that Yuma held out, there was indeed a small water sphere. A very small water sphere, but there was no doubt that magic was being used.
A phenomenon he had never seen or heard of before.
The logic of the world, the common sense up until now, everything was collapsing.
◇◇◇
That afternoon, Kanzaki drove to Aisha’s laboratory.
“Hey! Aisha!!”
He slammed the door open forcefully and strode into the room. Aisha leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples with her fingers.
“He really used magic!! What’s going on!?”
“…I told you, that man is abnormal.”
“W-What should we do? If he has such a huge Mana Index, there will be a scramble between companies!”
Many large companies were focusing on developing humans with large amounts of “colorless Mana” in order to use the “White Magic Gem.”
However, raising the Mana Index of those without combat abilities was not easy, and every company was struggling.
“Are you an idiot? It’s not just between companies. It will be a battle between nations. It’s a level that could become an international issue.”
“An international issue? That’s an exaggeration…”
Aisha snorted.
“Think about it. A Mana Index of 460,000? With that much, he can use the world’s best Magic Gems, the ‘Diamonds’ of each color. And as much as he wants.”
“Diamonds…”
“Besides… this is just a rumor, but there’s talk that Mana is leaking from some Dungeons. If that’s the case, eventually the surface will be covered in Mana.”
“What!? I’m hearing that for the first time!”
“It’s a story circulating among scholars. I don’t know if it’s true, but if it is, the country will naturally consider the military use of magic. If that happens, Mitaka Yuma will be someone they want so badly they’d reach for him.”
Kanzaki scratched his head roughly. He didn’t expect to be caught up in such a big deal, so he didn’t know what to do.
“I already have a headache. I just want to earn money as an ordinary Seeker…”
“Sorry to bother you while you’re holding your head.”
“What is it!?”
“There’s an even bigger problem.”
“Eeeeh!?”