Aftermath and Growth
I never would have thought a harmless shopping trip could be such an ordeal. Our three attackers were quickly rounded up after I provided them with only minimal medical treatment, emphasis on minimal. There was no way I was going to treat all their medical issues after they had attacked us. The guards escorted them to a holding cell and asked Joel, Rika, and me to wait. After taking our testimonies, we were released. Two days later, the investigation was completed.
The Halfling Tolly and Hugo, the one with severe acne, were sentenced to death by hanging after multiple other victims came forward to testify against them. Donal Breesby was forced to join a monastery and become a monk. Usually, he would have received the same punishment as his two friends, but his father, Donal Breesby the First, intervened to save his son’s life. He claimed it was all the fault of his son’s friends and that his pure-hearted son would never stoop so low on his own. He spun a tear-jerking tale of a naive boy led astray by the wicked. If I weren’t there, even I might have believed it.
Am I angry that his punishment was so lenient? Honestly, a bit, but I also don’t support the death penalty. I detest the dishonesty and nepotism that muddy the truth to save face.
Almost everyone from the Fortress and the entire population of Roots attended the execution. I chose not to go because I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to watch such a thing. Everyone else seemed to treat it like a spectacle; many even brought their children.
But aside from these gruesome topics, I have some good news. The DNA samples I collected last month have finally all been analyzed. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get samples from everyone I encountered. I was only able to get a few from my patients, the maids who changed my bedding, and the occasional hair in my soup.
I know this sounds gross, but the results are impressive. When I arrived in this world, I thought I had already created the best body, but I was wrong. Even though the samples were limited, I discovered DNA that could enhance my internal organs for better blood flow, digestion, and air intake. I also found DNA for stronger bones, muscles, and tendons. After applying these enhancements, I became at least twice as strong as before.
Though the changes aren’t visible, making such rapid enhancements would raise too many eyebrows, and I am fond of my current appearance.
One sample stood out.
Janus possessed a unique gene that allowed him to channel Mana more efficiently through his muscles, enabling sudden bursts of inhuman speed. He also had another dormant gene, the effects of which I couldn’t determine. Even after applying it to myself, I didn’t notice any differences.
Overall, it has been a decent yield for a month.
As for my magic development, I’m still far from achieving another attribute. I quickly realized that relying solely on healing and death magic would leave me vulnerable; I would simply become a punching bag. That’s why I decided to experiment with no-attribute magic. Instead of using Mana infused with a specific attribute, no-attribute magic uses natural Mana without any defined essence. It is essentially the manipulation of raw Mana.
With reasonable Mana control, I can solidify it into various forms. The solid form appears pale blue, almost invisible. Thanks to my exceptional Mana control, it can be shaped into a sword, a spear, a butterfly, or even a mug. The only limitations are my Mana capacity and the complexity of the Mana construct.
My magic classes, however, have not been as successful. Eleven students, one specializing in healing, two in water, five in earth, and three in fire magic have made little progress. None of them have advanced as quickly as Benjamin, but I’m hopeful that at least half will be able to form a core this year.
This is still way faster than me, and my only explanation for this is that they must be some of the best mages in the Kingdom, right…
Despite my waning confidence, they are doing well, all things considered. I don’t have any experience with their specific attributes, except for Benjamin. Still, I have pointed out some flaws in their understanding of magic. Initially, they held defensive beliefs about how it worked. However, after seeing their improvements, they quickly changed their mindset and began questioning me about almost everything, not just magic.
Sigh.
But I prefer their current curiosity to how they were before.
Unfortunately, Benjamin still struggles to grasp what I am trying to teach him. I should consider getting a microscope...
As for teaching them about no-attribute magic? I will tackle that next month. If I ever opened a school for newcomers to magic, I would prioritize teaching them how to form a shield. However, with this group aged between fifteen and sixty-three, I need to focus on getting everyone on the same page first.