Magic Is Learned For Nothing [EN]: Chapter 2

Magic is Learned for Nothing – Episode 2

# 2

I Evolve 1

-Ah, damn it. I’m screwed.

What?

-If you had chosen Captain Korea, your combat power would be at least over 100.

Combat power?

-Simply put, it’s overall combat power. Right now, Legion, you chose the mage, so your combat power is 9.

Is 9 good or bad?

-Simply put, your original combat power was 4. The average combat power of ordinary people is about 11, so you can say you are very weak. You gave up an amplification of more than 20 times your combat power and only increased it by about 2 times. Even then, you are weaker than ordinary people. You can’t even beat one assassin trying to stab you in the back.

So what? Are you telling me I’m going to die?

-Even after job advancement, you’ll be 100 percent dead. Oops, let me purify my language. You’ll be digging into the ground and lying down with a 100 percent probability. Your body will rot and be infested with maggots, and your soul will be completely… well, let’s just say you’re in big trouble. This is a first for me.

Listening to you gives me the creeps. Just what the hell are you?

So what do you want me to do?

-It’s not like there’s no chance.

You said I’m weak?

-That’s why I’m here. I’m going to take good care of you so you don’t die.

So what do you want me to do?

-Cash in.

What?

-I said, cash in.

What is that?

-Don’t you have anything valuable?

I was running away just now. I almost died. How could I have run away with something valuable in that situation?

-Ah, look around carefully. If you die, my functions will stop too. I just woke up. I don’t want to die as soon as I wake up.

Just who the hell are you?

-Simply put, I’m an AI.

AI?

-Oh, you know about AI?

Of course, the avian influenza [bird flu] that swept the kingdom last year. Thanks to that, more than thousands of chickens and ducks died.

-…….

Why?

-I guess that’s why they say ignorance is bliss.

Legion’s expression crumpled. Did this bastard just call me ignorant?

-Hoo. I, with my high intelligence, have to be patient. Anyway, hurry up and look around. Jewels, gold coins, rare metals, etc.

Jewels?

-Yes, jewels. Even better if it’s something more valuable.

Legion thought of the jewel he had. He only had one. A keepsake left by his mother, a jewel called ‘Jao’s Light.’ He didn’t know what it was made of. According to his mother, it was a keepsake passed down from his maternal grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and further back.

It was like a symbol.

As she passed away, his mother held ‘Jao’s Light’ tightly in Legion’s hand.

Never be discouraged. My son.

Those were his mother’s last words.

And ‘Jao’s Light’ was the last keepsake his mother left him.

I do have it, but… I can’t.

-Even if you die?

…….

Legion was momentarily speechless.

What good is a keepsake if you die? He took out ‘Jao’s Light’ that was hanging around his neck.

What are you going to do with this?

-Put it in your mouth. Because you chose the mage, your data isn’t properly activated. So you have to put something high-end in your mouth to break it down.

Legion couldn’t understand what the AI was saying at all. But he only felt that it was on his side.

If I die, you die too.

He put the fingernail-sized ‘Jao’s Light’ in his mouth. Surprisingly, his mother’s keepsake in his mouth melted away as if it was being ground by something. At the same time, a strange vitality surged through his entire body.

-Ooh! Awesome. Top-quality Ertel [a rare and potent magical substance]. Thanks to that, you might live. Alexander de Legion, combat power 9. Due to lack of mana, even 1st circle magic is impossible. If you work hard for 199 years, you will reach the 3rd circle mage. In a word, hopeless.

Argh, this AI or whatever is provoking my murderous intent.

-You can upgrade your body thanks to me. If you work hard for 99 years, you will reach the 5th circle mage. Still hopeless. But thanks to Ertel, your dantian [energy center in the body] is activated.

Then can I use magic now?

-…….

The AI didn’t answer.

What’s wrong?

-There’s no data on magic.

What does that mean?

-That’s, well…….

The AI said that it naturally thought he would choose Captain Korea. Thanks to that, it only had a lot of data on upgrading physical abilities.

I’m speechless.

No, then you should have told me to choose number 1 from the beginning. Why did you list numbers 2 through 9 for no reason?

-It looks cooler.

Yeah, that’s a good thing to do. That’s why things are getting so twisted.

Then what should I do now? I became a mage, but I can’t use magic? Are you just telling me to die?

-First of all… AUTO. That seems to be the only way to live.

What the hell are you talking about? What’s this again?

“Huh?”

A hollow breath escaped from Legion’s mouth. At the same time, his small body moved against his will. His hands and feet were moving separately. The same was true for his fingers and toes. The only thing he could control was his eyes.

His gaze was fixed straight ahead.

The night sky was bright with countless stars, but the scenery in front of him was different. It was desolate, as if he was looking at an empty field.

And right in front of him was the assassin.

He was staring at Legion with strange eyes. Why is he muttering to himself? Is he crazy? That’s the look he had.

“He seems crazy. Well, it’s amazing he’s lasted this long.”

The assassin said.

“…….”

Legion didn’t answer. He couldn’t open his mouth even if he wanted to answer. It was as if someone had anesthetized his body.

“Why don’t you say something? I can listen to your last words.”

“…….”

He still didn’t answer.

He could feel the masked assassin’s face distorting.

“Okay, if you have nothing to say, just go. It must be a life full of regrets, but just think that’s your fate.”

The assassin took out a dagger. The blade had lost its shine, not reflecting the moonlight. He thrust the dagger at Legion. Unlike when he said he would kill him quickly because he felt sorry for him, he was aiming for his side.

You bastard, you’re going to play with me again.

-Auto activated.

The AI’s voice was heard.

At the same time, Legion’s body moved without its owner’s command. His body rushed into the arms of the assassins, who were wearing cruel smiles, at a very fast speed.

* * *

Legion’s eyes were watching the tragedy unfolding before him.

Five assassins.

Me, with a fragile body just over 150 centimeters [approximately 4’11”].

If they risked their lives to fight, what would be the result? Anyone would bet on the assassins.

That’s normal.

But now, an abnormal thing was happening.

Legion’s body smashed the head of the assassin standing in front of him with his forehead. His movements were clumsy. Jumping like a frog. It was something that even an ordinary person could avoid with a smile.

But the assassin, who was wielding his dagger like a toy, couldn’t avoid it. He was definitely off guard, probably.

But that was the form of his life being fiercely gnawed away.

His face was crushed as if he had been hit by a large rock, and he fell backward, unable to overcome the shock. The focus of his eyes was not properly focused because he couldn’t escape the shock.

Legion didn’t seem to wait for the assassin to come to his senses. He picked up the dagger that the assassin had dropped and stabbed it into his neck in an instant.

“Krrr.”

The assassin, who had confidently mocked Legion, died without even screaming.

Legion pulled the dagger from his neck.

Hideous, bright red blood soaked Legion’s face.

Legion felt like he was going crazy. His stomach was churning. It wasn’t the first time he had seen someone die, but it was the first time he had actually seen blood this close. Above all, to kill someone with his own hands…….

He wanted to stop immediately, lean against the wall, and take a deep breath. He wanted to vomit everything inside.

A strange number floated in his retina again.

-Experience increased. Combat power has increased to 11. Mana can now be converted into magic power.

What the hell is this? What’s happening to me!

The AI seems to be busy.

It did not answer Legion’s fierce question. Instead, his body moved a little faster than before. There were still four assassins left.

Legion moves quickly.

The AI accurately understood this moment of desperation. This host called Legion can never escape this situation. If left alone, he would probably stick out his neck and say, ‘Please kill me,’ like before.

Didn’t the master of the distant future implore him?

‘You fly to the past. There will be no more reinforcements. So, if you log out, everything about you will disappear. To live, you must protect your new master.’

In order to keep that promise, he had no choice but to proceed in forced auto mode. Even if he didn’t know, after the auto mode ended, the new owner would experience muscle pain he had never tasted before.

Anyway, speed was needed now.

Everything had to be decided within 20 seconds. That was the limit of the new owner’s muscles. If that time was exceeded, the muscles would rupture and the bones would be twisted.

And the AI was confident that it could handle the remaining assassins within that time. More than 20,000 simulations were completed in that short time. His combat power was lower than the assassins, but there was a variable called magic power.

The assassins looked at Legion rushing towards them.

He was brave, but he was just a kid who couldn’t do anything. He had been running away well so far, but he was clearly terrified…….

He acts like he’s suddenly become a different person.

The kid, who seemed to have trouble killing even an ant, killed their leader. It was a skill that had killed many people without any hesitation.

He had been hiding such skills until now?

The boy fearlessly invaded their territory. The assassins still couldn’t understand the situation.

What happened to the boy?

They couldn’t resolve their questions.

The boy’s shocking and fatal attack swept over them.

Legion spread out his hands. The magic power, the driving force behind magic, shot out through his palms.

Bang!

The heads of the assassins hit by the magic power disappeared. It wasn’t that they exploded from being hit. Their heads were cut off and disappeared as if they had teleported on the spot.

It was as if the head of a doll had fallen off.

They were wearing quite practical ambush-style Jamadhar [a type of Indian dagger], but they fell without even swinging it once.

“What? What? What kind of trick is that?”

The remaining assassins asked in embarrassment.

Of course, Legion wasn’t going to be kind enough to answer just because they asked. He had no intention of answering, ‘I’m fighting by converting magic power for magic into combat power.’

The last magic power wraps around his fist.

It was magic power created by squeezing and squeezing. If this attack didn’t work, he could be in a pretty dangerous situation.

There are 5 seconds left.

It’s a gamble.

The assassins awkwardly swung their Jamadhars. Both from left to right. They should have used Hapgeuksul [a Korean martial art] as usual, but they couldn’t think that far now. Their Jamadhars collided, sparks flying in the air.

“Ah… Sseubal [a Korean curse word]….”

The faces of the assassins hidden behind their masks turned yellow. They now guessed what was going to happen. They felt like their dead colleagues were calling them from across the street.

Legion looked at them.

Exchange of glances.

Legion’s eyes were indifferent, in themselves. No human emotion was felt at all.

How on earth? It was a level that even the assassins, who prided themselves on having trained for quite a long time, had not reached. It was impossible for them to eliminate human emotions.

But this boy had already reached that level?

Then what? Does that mean he has been hiding his abilities until now? This is a big deal. The higher-ups don’t know about this situation. They haven’t noticed it at all. Not only the higher-ups, but also the client, Baron Julian, will not know the true nature of his nephew.

Legion’s magic-filled fist struck the assassins’ abdomens in succession.

Pow!

It was a small fist like a child’s.

But the power contained within was very strong. Their internal organs twisted and were torn to shreds.

“Keueup.”

The assassins dropped their Jamadhars to the floor and stepped back. It was only one blow, but they couldn’t stand it. They had taken the mission too lightly. They didn’t even wear proper protective gear. Thanks to that, the magic-filled fist penetrated their intestines.

It was more painful than being stabbed with a knife.

Legion followed those assassins. The boy’s fist struck the assassins’ abdomens in succession.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The assassins’ backs bent at a 90-degree angle.

Unable to withstand the shock, they knelt down. Their heads were buried in the cold, frozen dirt floor. Blood poured out of their mouths. Bloody tears flowed from their eyes. Blood poured out of their noses as well. The assassins no longer moved.

And-

-Auto mode deactivated.

The AI’s mechanical voice echoed in Legion’s head.