I Became an Evolving Deep-Sea Creature

Chapter 10. Magic

“Magic is something you use with your soul. Within the layers of the soul, there exist the

「Magic Core」,the「Magic Engine」,and finally, the「Magic Circuit.」These three are the key to using magic."

-Hooh.

"Each core, engine, and circuit is something you are born with. To become a mage, you must first find them."

-Huh? What do you mean, 'born with'?

"Yes. I don't know about other species, but humans are. That's why the core, engine, and circuit never change after birth. A mage is someone who finds and applies them."

-They never change? How's that possible?

So that means the amount of magic you have is determined from birth.

"You can change it, but it's extremely dangerous. Because that would mean modifying your soul."

-Hmm.

Even modifying the body through surgery is risky—modifying the soul would be far worse.

Anyway, Yul listened carefully to the explanation about magic.

To summarize roughly:

The magic core is the part that generates magic. You could think of it as a massive magic tank. The amount of magic a human can have is limited from birth.

The magic engine functions as an engine. It's there from the beginning, but what kind of magic you can manifest depends on what you install into that engine.

"I, for example, have installed the Great Balance instead of the common universal magic into my magic engine."

-Hmm.

The magic circuit takes the magic produced by the magic engine and manifests it into reality.

"It's often connected to the nervous system. Especially to the hands. That's why people usually cast magic with their hands."

-Hmm. So that's how it works.

Yul roughly understood.

But since this was a human-style magic manifestation, he couldn't help but wonder whether it could apply to him as well. Still, it was worth trying.

"In ancient times, magic was called Mantra. Though all records of it have been completely lost."

-Mantra? The guys living down below use that all the time.

Even that baby sand shark used a kind of magic called Mantra, and the alien Arktar used it too.

"W-what kind of things are living in the deep sea? Mantra is described as a transcendent power that surpasses even the system of magic."

-Some really terrifying stuff lives down there, that's for sure.

Yul told him about his most recent memory.

-Right before I escaped, I saw a gigantic eel called Kaedron, the Sea God, and a colossal jellyfish-like thing called Abysarion, Lord of the Abyss. Because of the war they were waging, the surface cracked open and magma spouted out.

"There are no such records in human history. Couldn't they be mythological beings?"

Ian stared blankly into empty space with a dazed expression, as if he were dreaming.

Who knows what kind of imagination he was lost in.

"I wish I could descend into the deep sea myself."

-It's dangerous.

"It must be, yes. I have no intention of going there. Anyway, let's return to magic training, shall we? First, you must contemplate your inner self and recognize your soul. Finding your dormant Magic Core and Circuit is the first step."

-Got it.

Yul closed his eyes and observed his inner self.

"Exhale, then inhale again. Hmm... I suppose an octopus doesn't do that, huh?"

He sank deep, as if meditating.

"Yul?"

Deeper still—until he could hear absolutely nothing, sinking into the very depths of himself......

There stood an enormous statue.

Yul looked up above his head. Ah.

There was a transcendent being there.

Its head resembled that of an octopus. It looked like a Ktazar race, but it must not be compared to such a lowly, insignificant creature.

That thing existed on a far higher and more omnipotent plane, an existence more evil than anything, more eternal than anything—an existence that destroys and creates the universe.

Yul snapped back to his senses.

'What was that just now?'

Turning his head, Yul could soon see the layers of his own soul.

There was a core of immense size. It was hundreds of times larger than Yul himself.

Beneath that core was a gigantic "factory!"

A factory? No, a semiconductor? He couldn't tell at all.

It was a place where metaphysical things whose forms were hard to even imagine seemed to have taken on tangible shape.

Below that engine, circuits spread out in every visible direction.

"Yul! Yul!"

At that moment, Yul opened his eyes at the touch tapping his head.

"Are you conscious? Are you alive?"

-Ah. Of course. I saw my magic core, engine, and circuits in the layer of my soul.

"That's a relief. You have the talent of a mage. Considering most mages inherit their powers through bloodline, your offspring might also become mages. A magical octopus—how exciting."

-I don't really have any desire to reproduce. I'll soon ascend into another creature anyway.

"Excuse me? As...cend?"

-Yeah. I'm going to evolve into a completely different species. Next time, maybe I'll try becoming a dolphin. Or any creature with vocal cords would be nice, so I can talk with you.

Ian asked back with a blank, dumbfounded expression.

"Wait, weren't you an octopus?"

-I am. But when I ascend, I can evolve into an entirely different species.

"That's... normally impossible. You may be far more extraordinary than I thought."

Yul considered consulting Ian about the massive statue he had seen deep within his soul, but stopped himself.

He felt that even speaking of it might cause Ian significant "harm."

The more he thought about it, the more he felt himself being dragged into a vast madness, so he buried the memory deep within his mind.

-Anyway, does that mean I can use magic now?

"Of course—you still need to learn a bit more first!"

* * *

Living on the island, Yul definitely felt that things were different.

For one, eating land animals didn't give him any experience points at all.

"This is rabbit meat."

-Hmm. I see.

"This one's venison."

-Hm.

He tore off a bit and tasted it—he could tell it was protein, but that was about it.

There was absolutely no experience gain. Zero. Still, it did satisfy his hunger.

'So I really am built in a way that I don't gain any experience unless I eat seafood.'

That said, life on land wasn't all bad.

At least he could see the humans of this world.

"I've brought the goods again today, sir."

"Welcome, Norman."

A small ship had docked at the pier beside the lighthouse. From it emerged a merchant named Norman.

He was wearing a comfortable doublet, the kind you'd see in a Renaissance drama; the fashion felt like something from the 17th century.

At his waist hung a flintlock pistol, a bit more advanced than an early matchlock gun.

"Where do you get all these pearls and corals?"

"Merchants from the southern seas sometimes stop by the lighthouse. A friend I traded with once keeps bringing them."

That was a lie Yul had helped make up. No such southern sea merchants ever came.

Whatever the excuse, the merchant's face was all smiles.

"Well, I'm just glad I can keep selling magic stones. They're expensive, but there are so few buyers, you know."

Magic stones, despite their rarity, had a limited market.

Unless a noble bought them out of curiosity, most of the buyers were mages and magic scholars.

"But what's with this octopus?"

"Oh, the southern merchants gave it to me. Cute, isn't it?"

"It really is. Looks like the kind of curious octopus nobles would love."

Yul, in the fish tank, blew a few bubbles. While staying here, he decided to live as a pet jelly octopus for now.

"Won't you sell it? I bet the nobles would pay well."

"No."

"Shame. If you ever find another one like it, please let me know, sir."

"I'll do that."

He looked like a pirate, but Norman was apparently a merchant affiliated with the Beltaine family.

Aside from their current magic stone deal, he'd been tasked by the Beltaine family to make sure Ian's daily needs were fully met.

Fine leather, candles, paper, books, writing tools—everything Ian needed was brought either from the Beltaine estate or from the Kingdom of Britain.

After unloading the supplies, Norman said,

"The next ship will come in three months. If I can't make it, someone else will, so don't worry."

"Thank you, Norman. May the sea god's blessing be with this voyage."

Once the busy merchant had finished unloading and sailed away on his flute ship, Yul wrote down a word.

-You got it?

"Yes, I have it. The continental map."

What Yul wanted to see most was the map. He couldn't resist asking Ian to unfold it quickly.

His heart pounded as he looked—there it was, a massive continental map.

"This here is our continent, Randa."

"Hm?"

To Yul, it felt similar to Europe. He glanced up at Ian. The western edge, huh? Pale skin, long nose. Then, in terms of position, this guy was basically British?

Not exactly the same, of course, but close enough.

"They say the world ends with Randa. Everything beyond it is surrounded by the great sea, Phantaratsa."

Is that so? Yul tried recalling. Phantaratsa was indeed enormous—but only one continent?

-I doubt that's all humans have discovered. There's bound to be another continent somewhere.

"That would be exciting. My heart's pounding just thinking about it. Adventure... When I was young, I wanted to sail the seas and become an adventurer. Sadly, I was too frail for that."

-Why go looking for trouble when you never know when you'll die anyway?

"Life is fleeting either way. A mere passing shadow. If one devotes that fleeting life to discovering what humanity doesn't yet know, could there be anything more worthwhile?"

''This guy is subtly cynical.'

It was a kind of pessimism mixed with a hymn to humanity—a will to overcome it.

He seemed to value something beyond life or wealth itself.

Yul didn't really understand that kind of thinking, but he found himself learning something from it.

-Let's train magic again today.

"I doubt there's much left for you to learn, honestly."

That was true. Yul had mastered all of the incomplete Great Balance magic Ian had created.

"I was confident that the Great Balance magic, even incomplete, was a decent, unique magic. That is, until I saw the enormous magic engine etched within your soul."

He sighed. After receiving Yul's permission to glimpse his inner structure, Ian realized that Yul possessed potential far beyond even the greatest human mages.

"I don't know if it's unique to you, or if your whole species is like that."

-It's probably just me.

He hadn't seen another jelly octopus before, but it was certain only Yul could ascend.

"My magic is still in restoration, so there are missing sections. I've been filling them with fragments of knowledge and inspiration, but it's still far from complete. A lifelong task."

-Hm.

"Finally, I will teach you the most recent magic technique I've discovered, the Transmission of Thoughts."

Through the Great Balance magic comes the Transmission of Thoughts.

To resolve the imbalance between oneself and another, it was necessary to convey one's state to the other.

Forcing that awareness upon them was the purpose of this magic.

"Do you understand the formula?"

-Of course.

Yul comprehended the magic engine arrangement Ian described and engraved the formula into a small corner of the great factory that existed within his soul.

Once he'd learned it all, a new status window appeared before him.

[Congratulations. You have unlocked the category of “Awakening”. From now on, you will be able to fill your vacant soul with many things.]

【Awakening】

【Great Balance – Magic (Magna–Libra): The unique magic created by Arthur Beltaine and restored by Ian Beltaine. A magic that corrects the world's imbalance and harmonizes chaos and order. Currently incomplete.】

(T/N): Latinized words: (大) magna = great ;  (天秤) libra = balance scales

-Oh. It worked.

"Yul? Did you just speak to me?"

-Of course.

Now, he could send his thoughts directly into Ian's mind without writing.

"It feels... like language, but not quite. Something's echoing inside my head. Congratulations."

Ian smiled faintly.

“Now, you have become my fellow disciple. We are people of the same school, walking the same path.”

-People?

"Haha, let's say 'creatures.' Anyway, there are now two followers of the Great Balance School."

It was still incomplete, but it wouldn't be for long.