Chapter 9: Being Alone

Although it is impossible to cast a second spell while in the process of casting one,

once a spell’s proficiency levels up, it is possible to trigger effects like double-casting, triple-casting, or even five-fold casting.

Unfortunately, these consecutive casts only count as a single instance of spellcasting.

If they counted as five, that would be five times the proficiency gain.

“Level 80…”

Lu Cang whispered to himself.

“Time to switch to Fireball.”

After level 80, the number of casts required for further leveling becomes too high.

Lu Cang still intended to learn the basics of all three spells Izz had left behind.

The second one was Fireball.

“Scorching, burning flames.”

“Condense and take form within my palm.”

“Fireball, burst forth.”

Boom!

A mass of flame condensed into a rolling, burning fireball, completely different from the fire he had previously conjured using raw elements.

This fireball had a higher temperature, and…

It could be thrown.

Boom!

Lu Cang shot the fireball toward the sky!

The fireball exploded in mid-air, and a faint sound of the blast echoed from far away.

“It seems a bit… not so quiet.”

Compared to the silent Ice Spike, the explosion of a fireball certainly made some noise.

However, it felt alright.

“Fireball, burst forth.”

Whoosh!

The fireball, with its incantation shortened, was thrown again!

…

Inside Izz’s room.

Chi Cheng, Kumironi, and Obadus were gathered around the dining table in the suite’s living room.

Izz and Kumironi each had a plate of small pastries in front of them, while Chi Cheng had a plate of steak.

There was nothing in front of Obadus.

Kumironi held a cup of hot tea and asked, “Izz… what do you think of little Lu Cang’s talent?”

Izz cut a piece of cake, popped it into his mouth, and replied, “His magical talent is truly remarkable. First-class elemental affinity, first-class mana affinity, and first-class comprehension.”

“Even compared to me, he doesn’t fall far behind.”

Kumironi: “That’s a very high evaluation.”

Izz nodded. “I’ve taught many students. To achieve non-incantation casting, it usually requires tens of thousands of repetitions of that specific spell.”

“Even those with the talent for proficiency mastery only manage to shorten those tens of thousands of repetitions to ten thousand or so.”

“Yet he was able to master non-incantation casting in just three attempts.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen such talent for spellcasting.”

Kumironi smiled while holding her tea. “But compared to a certain mage who was born without the need for incantations, he’s still a little lacking, isn’t he?”

Izz Palut laughed confidently. “Not everyone can be me.”

Kumironi asked again, “What are your plans now?”

Izz pondered for a moment and replied, “My original plan was to train him into a mage with enough self-preservation skills, then recommend him to the Loren Kingdom in my name to enroll in the Loins Magic Academy.”

“That way, after graduating, he could establish himself in the Loren Kingdom as a Level 2 or Level 3 mage.”

“Loren is a relatively peaceful kingdom; he should be able to live a decent life.”

Kumironi chuckled. “That was just your original idea, though. What about now?”

Izz smiled. “Kumironi, you really do know me well.”

“Now that I’ve seen his magical talent, I’ve decided to personally train him to become the most outstanding mage.”

Kumironi: “Second only to you?”

Izz: “Second only to me.”

Chi Cheng, lounging in his chair and digging for boogers, interrupted their conversation. “Izz, is there no chance he could surpass you?”

Izz stroked his chin, looking pleased. “Hmm, I suppose I have to consider that possibility, too.”

“A mage who could surpass me? Haha, that’s truly something to look forward to!”

“If that day comes, it will surely be wonderful!”

Izz looked up at the ceiling.

The elemental fluctuations above had not stopped; Lu Cang was tirelessly casting magic.

Through mana perception and magic detection, one could clearly feel that every time Lu Cang cast a spell, he improved slightly over the last.

Chi Cheng: “So, you’re not coming with us to hunt the Earth Sub-Dragon Monarch tomorrow?”

Izz: “The three of you should be enough, right? I plan to accompany him to a dungeon.”

Chi Cheng: “Which one? The Level 6 Cave of Despairing Wails?”

Izz: “That’s too difficult for him. I don’t intend to intervene this time; I plan to take him to the Level 2 Dark Jungle.”

…

Casting until late at night, he felt sleepiness creeping up again.

Ice Spike, Fireball, and Wind Blade had all been leveled up to LV: 80.

The level of Mana Tide had also increased to LV: 99.

After the novelty of magic wore off,

Lu Cang finally lay back on the bed, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling.

A wave of sadness suddenly washed over him.

Lu Cang thought of his hometown again.

Since crossing over, he had been preoccupied with the affairs of this world.

Only now, as things finally settled down,

did he think of home.

“Are my parents… doing okay?”

“Did the explosion at the airport actually happen?”

“Do they know about my death?”

“After I crossed over, did their time stop, or did it continue to flow…”

“Is there any chance for me to go back?”

Sadness welled up, and tears slid uncontrollably from his eyes.

The novelty of another world could never wash away the pain of parting from his home.

In fact, Izz Palut’s guess was correct.

He had been randomly transported to this world…

And he could never return to that home.

Grief surged like a tide. Lu Cang wrapped himself in the quilt, curling into a ball on the bed.

…

When he opened his eyes again, the sun was already shining through the window onto the bed.

An unfamiliar environment, a groggy brain.

Lu Cang was dazed for a long time before he remembered where he was.

The events of the past two days still felt as unreal as a dream.

He couldn’t remember how he had fallen asleep last night.

He only remembered that he had been crying the whole time.

But now that he was awake, he felt much better.

When he thought of home again, the overwhelming sadness was no longer there.

Perhaps that was why Izz Palut hadn’t lingered too long last night.

He was giving him time to be alone.

“He really is a kind person.”

Kumironi and Izz Palut had left a very good impression on Lu Cang.

Although he hadn’t interacted much with Chi Cheng and Obadus, they seemed like good people too.

Chi Cheng was beloved by the townspeople, no less than Izz Palut.

And it seemed he was especially popular with the elderly.

He got up and washed, remembering that Kumironi had given him a new set of clothes last night.

Compared to the linen clothes he had been wearing, this outfit was much more refined.

It was made of smooth, soft silk.

Once put on, it was a mage’s robe.

「Thousand-Silk Robe」

「Quality: Excellent」

「Defense Effect: Weak」

「Special: Slightly increases spellcasting efficiency (Activates at Level 1 Mage)」

“So this is how equipment works.”

There were no level requirements to wear it, but if the equipment had special effects, one needed to reach the required level to activate them.

Otherwise, wearing it was just an empty shell.

Dressed and ready, Lu Cang glanced at the wall clock.

10:00 AM.

It seemed he had slept for quite a while. He patted his face and walked out the door.

(End of chapter)