After thinking about so many things that his head felt like it was about to explode, Zeldryn looked at Kera again.
The man was still standing a few steps in front of him.
His back was still facing Zeldryn.
“...”
Zeldryn watched him for a few moments.
‘Looks like I really do have to tell him.’
About the pain he experienced last night.
About how last night had been the first time he had truly tried to absorb mana.
And most importantly...
About how little he actually understood about mana.
Zeldryn really didn't like the idea of being honest with Kera.
Especially when he'd only known the man for a few hours and had already been punched, kicked, insulted, and even had his ear twisted by him multiple times.
But...
‘I don't have any other choice.’
If there was something wrong with the way he absorbed mana, there was no way Kera could figure it out unless Zeldryn himself gave him enough information.
After all...
To diagnose something, Kera had to know what was actually happening.
Zeldryn finally opened his mouth.
“Hey, Kera.”
Kera glanced back slightly.
“I want to ask you something.”
Kera immediately clicked his tongue.
“What now?”
Then he pointed toward the tree in front of them.
“Didn't I already tell you to blow up this tree?”
His tone was beginning to sound irritated.
“How many more times do I have to repeat myself?”
“Tch, damn it.”
“...”
Normally, Zeldryn might have already snapped back at him.
But this time, he didn't.
He let Kera finish complaining.
Then Zeldryn said,
“Look...”
His tone was much more serious this time.
“I actually don't understand mana as deeply as you probably think I do.”
Kera said nothing.
Zeldryn continued,
“Last night was the first time I ever tried absorbing mana.”
“...”
Kera, who still had his back turned to him, suddenly smiled faintly.
A smile Zeldryn couldn't see.
‘I already know that, idiot.’
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The words almost came out of Kera's mouth.
But he held them back.
Instead, Kera said,
“Oh, really?”
He glanced back slightly.
“And?”
That irritating smile returned.
“You think that's enough of an excuse for me to go easier on you?”
“...”
A vein on Zeldryn's forehead nearly twitched.
‘This bastard...’
Little by little, his patience was being tested again.
But Zeldryn forced himself to ignore it.
‘The information is more important...’
Hufft.
He took a short breath.
“That's not what I mean.”
Zeldryn stared at Kera.
“Look.”
“Can you explain to me the proper way to absorb mana?”
This time, Kera actually stopped.
Zeldryn continued,
“I think I've misunderstood something about mana this whole time.”
“...”
Kera finally turned around.
Now he was fully facing Zeldryn.
“You want me to teach you...”
He tilted his head slightly.
“The fundamentals of mana?”
Zeldryn nodded.
“Yes.”
Kera stared at him for several seconds.
Then...
That strange smile returned to his face.
“Hmm...”
Kera raised one hand.
His other hand rested near his face.
“Ah.”
“Too lazy.”
“...”
Zeldryn immediately fell silent.
Kera continued casually,
“You'll just ignore me again.”
“...”
Zeldryn stared at him.
Kera only smiled.
“...”
‘Bastard.’
Zeldryn was genuinely starting to get pissed off.
He had held himself back.
He had tried speaking nicely.
He had even admitted that he didn't understand mana.
And now this man was deliberately screwing with him again.
“Hufft...”
Zeldryn took a long breath.
‘Calm down.’
He slowly exhaled.
Then looked at Kera again.
“Then...”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“What the hell do I have to do to make you teach me?”
Kera's smile immediately widened.
As if he had been waiting for that question from the beginning.
“Easy.”
!!??
Zeldryn immediately got a bad feeling.
Kera pointed at himself.
“Come on.”
“Beg me first.”
“...”
Zeldryn froze.
Then Kera continued without the slightest hint of guilt,
“And admit that you're a loser.”
His smile grew even wider.
“Then I'll teach you.”
“Hehehehe.”
!!??
The muscles in Zeldryn's face immediately tensed.
His hand almost clenched into a fist right then and there.
‘You damn bastard...’
‘If you weren't the only clue I had about mana...’
Zeldryn held his breath.
‘Like hell I'd ever beg someone like you, damn it.’
They had only known each other for a few hours.
Yet somehow, Kera had already managed to drain more of his patience than most people Reka had known for years.
“...”
Zeldryn sighed again.
Then...
With an expression that clearly showed just how irritated he was...
He opened his mouth.
“S-Sir Kera...”
His voice nearly got stuck in his throat.
Kera immediately watched him with great interest.
Zeldryn continued,
“Could you...”
His hand slowly clenched.
“Teach me how to properly absorb mana...”
His jaw tightened even further.
“And how to close my Mana Hole while I'm absorbing mana?”
!!!
Zeldryn's fist clenched even tighter.
It was painfully obvious that he was holding back his anger.
But he still wasn't finished.
He had to say the last part.
Zeldryn stared at Kera, his face feeling hotter and hotter from irritation.
“Because...”
He nearly ground his teeth.
“I'm just someone who can't do anything.”
“...”
Kera stared at him.
His lips immediately began trembling.
He really wanted to laugh.
Watching Zeldryn, who was obviously furious yet still forcing himself to say those words, was simply too entertaining.
But Kera tried to hold it in.
“Pfft...”
“...”
“Hahahaha!”
In the end, it still came out.
Zeldryn glared at him.
Kera immediately raised his hand.
“Alright, alright.”
He was still holding back his laughter.
“That's enough.”
“That's enough.”
Zeldryn kept staring at him with a sour expression.
Kera finally calmed himself down a little.
Then his expression became more serious.
“Alright.”
“Listen.”
Kera pointed at Zeldryn.
“If you ignore me again after this like you did earlier...”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“I'm not teaching you anything ever again, damn it.”
“...”
This time, Zeldryn truly stayed silent.
No comments.
No objections.
He watched Kera carefully.
‘Fine.’
‘Now explain.’
Kera finally began speaking.
“Mana is a natural particle that exists everywhere in this world.”
Zeldryn continued paying attention.
“The air.”
“The ground.”
“This forest.”
“Almost every place you go.”
Kera raised one hand.
“Mana is always there.”
Zeldryn gave a small nod.
Kera continued,
“But every Manholer perceives mana differently.”
Kera pointed toward one of the mana particles floating in the air.
“The mana I see won't necessarily look the same as the mana you see.”
Then he pointed toward his own eyes.
“For example...”
“I see mana as green.”
!!??
Zeldryn continued listening.
Kera went on,
“Other people can be different.”
“Blue.”
“Or some other color.”
“Not everyone sees mana the same way.”
“...”
Zeldryn remained silent.
But inside his head...
‘I already know this part.’
He had read about differences in mana perception in the novel Life Really Is Happy, Right?
Even the protagonist of that novel saw mana as blue.
Zeldryn stared at Kera, who was still explaining.
‘Can we skip to the important part?’