Wizard of the Deep Sea

TL/ED – Miso

I alternated my gaze between the golden pipe and Dersia.

“…What kind of expression are you making?”

“I’m not sure how I should interpret this.”

“It would be easier to show you directly.”

Dersia suddenly began searching through a pile of miscellaneous junk nearby.

Yes, a pile of miscellaneous junk. Taking a look around, the library no longer resembled the clean space I saw at first, it was now crammed full of various research tools and reagents.

It was a public library, but she used it alone.

They said the law couldn’t restrain her. That seemed to be true.

-Snap! Screeech!

“…?”

Among it all, Dersia took out a cage containing a white rat. It wasn’t dead. It was alive.

What’s with the rat? As I stood there confused, Dersia poured water from a kettle into the cage.

The rat struggled to survive. But as the cage gradually filled with water, it eventually had no space to breathe.

I watched as the struggling rat’s movements slowed.

“Well, what do you think?”

“So… is this like a warning that if I don’t listen, this is what will happen to me?”

“…Keep watching until the end.”

“Huh?”

Looking again, I saw that the rat was now swimming, completely fine. Unlike before, it didn’t appear to be in pain.

Slightly surprised, I blinked and asked.

“Ah, is that perhaps liquid one can breathe in?”

“No. It’s something I made so one can breathe.”

Dersia gestured with her eyes toward the golden pipe I was holding.

“It’s a Respiratory Support Device I crafted myself. Once implanted into the body, it allows breathing in any environment. More precisely, it enables survival even without breathing.”

“Ooh…!”

I covered my mouth and laughed.

I had vaguely been thinking I would somehow manage to breathe using wind magic.

I never expected such a clear solution to come out of nowhere. Smiling broadly, I kept bowing my head.

“Thank you. This is more valuable than gold or jewels!”

“…Hmm, I’m glad you seem to recognize its worth. An artifact created by a 9-Star wizard is a treasure in and of itself.”

“It really is!”

Dersia looked slightly smug.

Well, I was willing to let her be a bit conceited. I just got handed this incredible magical tool, after all…

…Huh?

“Excuse me, Master.”

“Hmm. Are we suddenly clarifying titles now? I see. That may be necessary. Disciple… huh? Hmm… that doesn’t quite fit…”

“No, it’s not that.”

I pointed to the rat in the cage.

It was floating.

Because it had died.

“Why did it suddenly die?”

“…Ah.”

Dersia shrugged like it was nothing.

“Rats can’t use mana. They can’t last long.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Artifacts naturally consume mana. That’s common knowledge. Once you implant this Respiratory Support Device, you’ll have to continuously channel mana into it 24 hours a day.”

“That’s impossible. I can’t just stay awake all the time.”

“You’ll have to train your consciousness to do it instinctively, even while asleep. There’s no other way.”

“……….Any other side effects?”

“From the moment of implantation, you will no longer be able to breathe through normal means. That means, if you don’t channel mana, you’ll die.”

“Hmm.”

I looked at the pipe with a reluctant expression.

So it wasn’t a perfect solution.

Dersia looked at me and gave a meaningful smile.

“Well, we can postpone it for now. Once you’ve become more accustomed to magic, ask me then and I’ll implant it for you.”

“That time is now.”

I handed the pipe to Dersia.

Feigning surprise, Dersia asked again.

“Are you sure?”

“You knew I’d say this, didn’t you? It’s better to get things like this over with quickly.”

“There’s not a thing I can hide from you. But I didn’t say to delay it just for show. As one who has come closest to becoming an Archmage, a 9-Star wizard, I speak as a teacher who cherishes her student, I’d strongly advise against it.”

“And as Dersia?”

“For someone like you, survival is excessive desire. If you’re going to be stubborn, be prepared for the consequences.”

That must be how she truly feels.

I never dreamed of such a sweet relationship as that between master and disciple. If my struggle could satisfy her curiosity, then it was a cheap price to pay.

I placed the pipe into Dersia’s hand.

“How will the procedure be carried out?”

“I have no experience in surgical operations, so I made it this way. It shouldn’t hurt much, so don’t worry.”

“What?”

The tip of the pipe turned sharp.

There was no time to run. It spun and floated upward, then pierced straight through my heart.

“Kuh…huk?”

“It doesn’t hurt, does it?”

“…You’re right.”

It stung just a little. Not even blood flowed, and as I watched in wonder, the pipe slowly pushed itself deeper into my body and began to spread.

I didn’t quite understand, but it seemed to latch onto my organs.

If I had to rate it, definitely a no. Pain aside, it felt extremely unpleasant.

“Thank you for the gift, Master.”

Still, I didn’t forget to express my gratitude.

Even hypocrisy is a virtue. No matter what she hoped to gain from me, if it helped me, I could gladly accept it.

“I heard it earlier too, but it doesn’t sound so bad.”

With a faint smile, Dersia brought over some old Magic Tomes that had been nearby.

“These are the courses you’ll be learning from now on. You mainly use wind magic among the elemental spells, don’t you?”

“Yes. I thought it was the closest method to solve the drowning issue. Though I probably don’t need it anymore.”

“You made a good choice. When learning intermediate magic, it’s better to focus intensively on one element rather than dabbling in many.”

“Intermediate magic… I’ve heard of it. It’s about combining elemental magic, right?”

“Yes. Elemental magic creates simple phenomena. Only when you begin to combine those phenomena and venture into areas beyond understanding does it become true magic.”

“Mm, just hearing that doesn’t help me understand it very well.”

“It’s the difference between creating a fireball and creating a living fireball. Ah, and starting from now, under my instruction, I’m completely banning the use of Abyss realm magic.”

“…Wait, hold on. Why?”

I had planned to follow along with most of her lessons, but I instinctively pushed back at that.

I had just found a way to even slightly solve the water pressure?

“If I combined my magic with elemental magic, wouldn’t I get better results?”

“Yes. That could happen.”

“Then why…”

Instead of replying, Dersia came over and.

Pushed me hard in the chest.

Naturally, I fell backward.

Much more slowly.

“…”

I wasn’t hurt. When the back of my head hit the floor, it made only a soft tap.

I knew the burden had increased, but to this extent?

I let out a sigh and got up from the floor.

“I didn’t think it was this bad. Did you predict this?”

“I saw from your walk that you were pushing through something.”

“…Mm, it became so convenient that I kept using it. At some point, I stopped feeling resistance.”

“I’m not blaming you. Telling you not to use that power would be like telling a bird not to use its wings. That would be foolish. However, we must set a limit.”

“A limit?”

“Yes. If you gain any deeper understanding of your magic beyond this, an even greater burden will be placed on you. At the very least, wait until you’ve completed enough training to withstand that burden.”

“Thank you. Currents, current sense, water pressure… I guess I’ll have to seal all of them.”

“…?”

Dersia tilted her head, then asked again.

“I understand the first and third, but what’s the second one?”

“It’ll be quicker to show you. Try holding your fingers behind your back. You switched to 3. Now 4… no, stop changing them. 9.”

“…”

Dersia furrowed her brow and looked at me in disbelief.

“Your progress… is too fast.”

“It’s not strange for a bird to fly, is it?”

“It is strange for one to fly before its feathers have even dried. This isn’t something to speak lightly of. Absolutely do not use it without my permission.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll seal it and focus on refining my magic.”

“When did I ever say I’d teach you magic?”

“?”

“Open it.”

Of course, I assumed it was a Magic Tome, but the book contained something I was familiar with.

Body Reinforcement Art.

“Haha.”

“It can’t be helped. Jern, for now, you need to be mindful of the burden. Even if you can’t withstand pressure, you should first forge a steel-like body that won’t be swept away by the burden…”

“No, I think I can skip the first stage.”

This time, Dersia tilted her head in confusion.

I handed over a copy of the Knight’s Body Reinforcement Art I had been carrying inside my coat.

“…Where did you get this?”

“I have my ways.”

“Haha.”

“Haha.”

We laughed as we looked at each other.

“Breathing, and Body Reinforcement Art. You arrived at the same conclusions as I did.”

“Though your methods are on a whole different level.”

“That’s just a difference in the tools we have access to. Let’s see, it should take about a month.”

“…For what, exactly?”

No sooner had she said that, the pipe fully embedded itself inside my body.

At the same time, I began to suffocate.

“Hreup…”

Dersia calmly advised me as she looked on.

“Circulate your mana. Just imagine pouring it directly into the respirator. Only then will you be able to breathe.”

Still, I couldn’t actually breathe.

But strangely, the sensation of suffocation disappeared.

I looked down at my arms and legs, impressed.

“…Pwah. This is amazing. Will I be able to do this even while I sleep?”

“You must. But that alone isn’t enough. You must be able to do it unconsciously during intense combat or even while unconscious. Otherwise, the smallest mistake will kill you.”

“You have a training method, right?”

“Yes. Learning with your body is the fastest way.”

Dersia showed me a poster that had been tucked between the books.

On it was written: [End-of-Term Combat Exam / Children’s Division]

Naturally, I was confused.

“Um… what is this?”

“It’s a combat match that noble children participate in for the first time. I want you to join it.”

“?

“You must internalize it. The act of channeling mana must happen before thought. Go and get hit as much as possible. If you pass out, ask them to pour water on you.”

In a situation where I would pass out if I didn’t consciously channel mana?

I thought about it for a long time, then made up my mind.

“Please take the pipe out.”

“I can’t.”

Apparently, that wasn’t an option.

*

Dersia had taken on a disciple.

It didn’t take long for that rumor to spread.

“…What? Wait, didn’t that Elf even turn down the Princess?”

“She did. Just how brilliant a talent did she see to choose them? Which noble house is the child from?”

A nine stars Wizard.

Such people do not take on disciples easily.

So, while people were surprised when she rejected the Princess, they understood.

A wizard of that level would only move for talent that could astonish even herself. That was the evaluation.

“A c-c-commoner with a natural-born body…?”

“??”

So this part became a problem.

“Also, wasn’t he the private tutor of that inferior student Alletus found in the Orphanage…”

“No, what on earth-”

With a rumor that shattered common sense, the noble tea parties heated up over and over again.

However, the conclusion always converged to a single point.

It had no other choice.

“…Just how exceptional is he?”

The disciple chosen by the woman who had rejected the Princess.

A commoner. An orphan. A mixed-blood who wasn’t even worth acknowledging.

No matter what achievement he had, like saving other children, no sane person would choose someone like that.

It wasn’t as if Dersia gave bonus points for benevolence like saving others.

Then just how, brilliant and dazzling must his talent be…

The rumors continued to grow like a mountain.

“…Gulp.”

And.

Elysia, who had come closest to uncovering that mystery, swallowed dryly in front of the library.

She knew. That contrary to public opinion, Jern wasn’t particularly superior compared to others.

That he was an ordinary boy, not so different from herself…

That was why she believed all the suspicions that had arisen in just two weeks might be tormenting Jern. That’s what she thought.

‘…I need to comfort him.’

Elysia gripped the letter in her hand tightly.

She had been summoned under the pretense of a first lesson.

…To this library.

Her hand trembled. The thought of having to face Dersia’s piercing gaze again sent shivers down her spine.

Even so, for the sake of Jern, who had saved her, she opened the door.

-Clack!

“E-excuse me m-kyaaaaaaaaa!!!”

Elysia screamed the moment she opened the door.

“Not bad? Let’s go again.”

Jern, with his legs bound, was submerged headfirst in a water-filled cylinder.

“…Jern, you’re really out of your mind.”

She let out a sigh as she watched Dersia shove his head back into the water.