/
Radis continued to read his letter.
[ There are various training methods to purify and enrich one’s yang¹ though I think it’s too early for you to know about them.
But my cute disciple, to satiate your curiosity that which shines like the brightest star in the evening sky, I will tell you that the foundation of mana training is to deal with it delicately.
The fact that I can’t express all of these in writing also gives me a sweet sense of defeat. ]
Oooong, oooong.
At the tip of Radis’ right index finger, a red, flame-like dollop of mana fluttered, making an undulating sound. And at this, Radis inwardly replied to the letter, ‘It’s more than enough, Teacher.’
[ And about what you asked—about the relationship between a magic stone obtained from monsters and purified mana.
I didn’t know you had such a weird side to you.
You cute fellow. ]
“So Teacher doesn’t know.”
The letter fluttered in Radis’ hand, and she turned the paper over.
[ I wanted to leave for the south so that I can meet you one more time, however there’s something urgent I need to do first because it’s been a long time since the deadline I promised to my boss had passed.
But my cutest, loveliest, most adorable disciple, I am ready to help you any time, whenever you need me.
If you need my help, do send me a letter any time.
Don’t be too impatient for the day we see each other again. ]
Radis folded Armano’s letter carefully.
“Hmm…”
Then, she picked up a teaspoon that was on the table.
Whoosh. A flame that was conjured wrapped over the teaspoon.
She directed her focus towards her fingertips.
She already knew how to wield mana.
In her previous life, she had already created a mana core and learned how to use mana through practicing by herself.
Mana had no form or shape, but depending on how you handled it, it became a weapon more threatening than any other.
Her mana back then was a razor-sharp sword.
It was a weapon she used to fight against everything that came at her.
She wielded her mana endlessly and honed it well enough for it to become sharper than anything else.
“Mmh.”
Radis lowered her chin as the flame-like mana wrapped the entire teaspoon, looking as if the two substances were fusing.
She wasn’t satisfied with it, but even with just this teaspoon alone, she’d be able to reach the middle of Monsterwood.
“First, I think the amount of mana I have is sizeable enough. It wasn’t that my mana was lacking that night, just that my body couldn’t keep up.”
Radis gathered her mana.
Then the teaspoon, which could not endure the mana’s pressure, crack! split in half vertically.
“Aack!”
Raising the teaspoon that was split into two vertically, Radis was taken aback as she felt sweat trickling down.
She just wielded what she had conjured, but she didn’t think this would actually happen.
“This could be expensive… No, it shouldn’t be, right?”
Radis had no choice but to shove it under the carpet.
“I’ll throw it away later when I leave.”
Radis lifted the teacup and drank her remaining tea, glancing at the clock.
Her meeting time with Marquis Russell was approaching.
Her expression grew a little darker.
* * *
“Radis…!”
Yves Russell’s neck was flushed red and his breath was rough.
“Why are you being stubborn? Don’t you know how important this is?”
At Yves’ words, Radis blushed and avoided his gaze.
“Yes, I don’t know. I have no idea why Your Excellency is so fixated on this. Is it really that important?”
No one saw it, but Yves Russell’s forehead crumpled, but smoothed out again.
“Just endure it this once.”
“…You said that last time, but this is already the second time.”
Yves Russell’s body shuddered at the sound of Radis’ whining.
Eventually, because he’d become so impatient, he took it upon himself to undo the first button of her shirt.
In a domineering tone which was disguised with politeness, he whispered softly.
“Radis, don’t you have to pay for your meals?”
¹ Yang is generally translated as positive, light or masculine energy compared to yin, which is negative, dark or feminine energy. These are only loose translations, and I don’t feel like any of these words truly encapsulate what yang means in the context that Armano has brought it up, so I left it as is in my translation.
I know this novel has a western setting, but the source material is still, after all, Asian, and ‘yang’ is such a concept that I don’t think one single English word can encapsulate. I hope you don’t mind.