Chapter 2 : The Power of Terra

Words floated before Ethan’s eyes.

[Item acquired!]
[Item: Handgun (C)]

But these words alone didn’t explain their meaning.

“Glock 45? Handgun?”

[Downloading archive and skill.]

Another message appeared.

[Archive acquired!]
[Archive: Handgun (D)]

[Skill acquired!]
[Skill: Marksmanship (D)]

Before Ethan could ask what archives, skills, or downloads were, he instinctively grasped their meaning.

‘The handgun is a weapon from Terra. Like an alchemical cannon, it uses gunpowder to fire lead projectiles. But it’s small enough to hold in one hand and easy to carry. …I never learned this.’

Ethan looked at the handgun in his grip, then disassembled the slide on a nearby table and reassembled it.
He pulled the slide to chamber a round and aligned the front and rear sights.

‘I never learned this technique either.’

Demi spoke.

[Archives represent knowledge from another world, and skills represent techniques from another world. By downloading them, you can acquire this knowledge and these techniques.]

Ethan pulled the slide again, and the chambered bullet popped out.
He caught it with ease.

“Is this the black magic of another world?”

[It’s science.]

“I see. So that’s what they call magic in your world.”

[That’s not what I…]

Ethan reflected on his archive and skill.

“I understand this magic can kill. It’s hard to grasp, but it feels powerful. But this alone doesn’t make me a great mage.”

[You can gain greater power through ‘leveling up.’]

“Leveling up?”

Demi explained.

[To level up, you must gather ‘experience points.’ Experience points are earned by completing ‘quests,’ defeating strong enemies, overcoming difficult tasks, or having unique experiences.]

“What’s a quest?”

[Quests are arbitrarily selected missions tailored to your current situation and goals. Now that the explanation is complete, your first quest will be generated.]

Words appeared before Ethan’s eyes again.

[Quest generated!]
[Quest: Pass Basic Magic Practice (D)]

Ethan read the message, glanced at the object in his hand, then back at the words.

“This should be simple.”

[The contract?]

Ethan replied.

“I’m in.”

“Still attending class until the end. Is that courage? Or some noble family honor?”

“Maybe. But if it’s clear he can’t cast magic, isn’t that just disgrace?”

Hours later, Ethan ignored the giggles and walked toward the lecture platform.
He’d always thought the tiered lecture hall for Professor Riverton’s Basic Magic Practice was cruel.
For someone who couldn’t cast magic, it was a deeply humiliating stage.

Professor Riverton addressed Ethan from the platform.

“Ethan, this is your final practice.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Everything is prepared as you requested. Is it satisfactory?”

“Yes, sir.”

Ethan had asked Riverton to set up a thin curtain to shield him from the students, with a light shining from behind to show only his silhouette.
Hiding magic from direct view was common, especially when using family magic rather than basic spells, to protect its secrets.
Since anyone could make such a request, Ethan’s wasn’t unreasonable, yet some students still mocked him.

But Ethan paid them no mind.

‘This stage wasn’t meant for humiliation.’

From the platform, Ethan looked at the students.
For those who could wield magic, this tiered hall was a stage to showcase their spells.
It was meant for demonstrating minor spells like creating a glowing orb or a palm-sized illusion, designed so even small successes could shine and be celebrated.

“Begin when you’re ready.”

Ethan stepped behind the curtain and faced an armored scarecrow, his target for this practice.

He drew the loaded Glock 45, aimed at the scarecrow, and pulled the trigger.

–Bang!

Even a 9mm bullet’s explosive energy could damage eardrums.
In an enclosed space, the echo amplified the sound.
Unlike Ethan and Riverton, who anticipated the noise, the other students froze, startled by the gunshot.

Riverton spoke to Ethan.

“Is that all?”

“Yes, sir.”

Ethan hid the gun before Riverton removed the curtain.
Riverton approached the fallen scarecrow.

“Impressive.”

Crouching, Riverton examined the scarecrow’s armor and began removing it.

“The sound alone would’ve earned you a pass, but let’s show the others something educational.”

Lifting the front plate of the iron armor, Riverton held it before a candle.

The candlelight shone through a hole in the armor.

“Complete penetration. An excellent combat spell, Ethan.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I can guess the school of magic… but this power is unprecedented. Is it a unique spell?”

A unique spell was one created independently, not learned from others.
Since Ethan intended to conceal its black magic nature, he let the assumption stand.
Fortunately, Riverton seemed to mistake it for a form of alchemy rather than black magic.
It did resemble alchemy, both in appearance and magical theory.

“Yes, sir.”

“Remarkable. I can’t know its secrets, but it’s strong enough to fell a knight. You could serve as a combat mage—not that I recommend that path. I thought you were lost at the semester’s start, but you’ve been working hard behind the scenes. Well done.”

Riverton patted Ethan’s shoulder.

Ethan couldn’t recall any other student receiving such praise in this class.

“Thank you, Professor. So, my exam…”

“Why ask? You’ve passed, of course.”

As Ethan returned to his seat, words appeared before his eyes.

[‘Quest: Pass Basic Magic Practice (D)’ completed!]
[Reward: 12 Experience Points]
[Reward: D-Rank Lottery Coupon]

Sitting down, Ethan asked Demi.

[D-Rank Lottery Coupon?]

[It allows you to obtain an item, archive, or skill of D-Rank. D-Rank is the lowest tier.]

Ethan recalled that the handgun archive was D-Rank.
While the handgun and its usage were valuable, knowing about it alone seemed less so.

[Can I use it now?]

[No. The lottery requires you to be unconscious. In other words…]

[I need to sleep?]

Demi was about to elaborate when Riverton announced the end of class.
Ethan told Demi they’d continue in his room.

“Ethan.”

After Basic Magic Practice, Ethan turned at the sound of his name.
It was Arka, his sister, leaning against the stone railing of the second-floor corridor connecting the lecture hall to the dormitory, arms crossed, watching him.

“What’s the matter, Sister?”

“You passed Basic Magic Practice, I hear?”

“Yes.”

“For most magic academy students, me saying this might be rude. Passing Basic Magic Practice is expected for some. But I know you, and I trust you’ll understand what I mean.”

“Go ahead.”

“…Congratulations.”

Ethan smiled.

“Thank you, Sister. I guess I can’t accept your earlier offer now.”

“That’s unavoidable.”

Arka looked away, then back at Ethan.

“But I’d like to know how you managed to cast magic.”

Ethan had anticipated this question, especially from Arka, who knew his limitations well.

He replied casually.

“Through research and practice.”

“I hate to say it, but your lack of talent isn’t something effort can overcome. As Father said, people as magically inept as you are rare. You’re a magical dunce.”

Demi spoke.

[You don’t get along with Miss Arka?]

[Pretty normal for siblings, isn’t it?]

[Understood.]

Ethan addressed Arka.

“What matters is that, despite everything, I cast magic.”

Arka raised an eyebrow.

“A secret, huh? Fine.”

She walked away.

Ethan regretted it, but he couldn’t reveal he’d turned to black magic.
He thought Arka might understand and keep his secret, but knowingly concealing a black mage’s existence was a crime.
Telling the truth would endanger not just him but Arka too.

Demi asked.

[Will this be okay?]

[She might be a nuisance, but it’ll be fine for now.]

As Ethan headed to his room, someone called him from close behind.

“Ethan.”

It was an unfamiliar voice.
Ethan started to turn but couldn’t.

–Stab.

A horrific sensation surged from his side, crawling up his spine.
He tried to scream, but only blood frothed from his mouth.
His strength drained, and he collapsed, eyes wide, desperate to see who stabbed him.
But his vision darkened and blurred at the edges.
He vaguely noticed the attacker wore a school uniform, but for the ‘unconscious’ Ethan, it meant nothing.

Ethan died.

Ethan opened his eyes in a dark space.
The black brick walls felt oddly familiar, yet it was a place he didn’t know.
He sensed another presence.

“Who are you?”

[You called me the Machine God Demi. But…]

Clad in sleek armor, with gears turning, pistons moving, and wires taut at its joints, the figure had a single glowing red dot inside a translucent helm.

[In Terra, I was called Deus Ex Machina, or ‘God from the Machine.’]

Ethan studied Demi closely.

“A puppet… or something?”

[Your world has machines moved by magic. You can think of me as similar.]

Ethan looked around.

“Where am I?”

[This is Limbo. The boundary between life and death.]

Ethan reacted to the word ‘death.’

“Wait, am I dead?”

[Yes. Which means…]

Demi held out a black box.

[We can proceed with the lottery.]