Volume 1 — Chapter 3: Combat Magic and Level 1 Magic

The world continued to move forward.

For Mumei Amane, life had become peaceful.

She had grown accustomed to her new home, her new parents, and the strange world in which magic and swordsmanship were real.

She had learned that this world was far larger than she had originally imagined.

There were kingdoms, empires, enormous forests, dangerous monsters, ancient ruins, adventurers, magicians, swordsmen, and beings whose strength exceeded the limits of ordinary people.

There were also gods.

That fact had always fascinated her.

But there was something Mumei didn't know.

The moment she had been born into this world, something had changed.

Something that even the gods could feel.

The Gods Notice

Far above the world, beyond the clouds and beyond the places where ordinary humans could travel, an ancient presence awakened.

A vast amount of mana had appeared.

It wasn't merely large.

It was something that shouldn't have existed.

For centuries, the gods had sensed countless powerful beings.

They had felt the birth of talented magicians.

They had noticed powerful dragons.

They had watched the rise of Sword Saints and Imperial-class warriors.

But this was different.

A new presence had appeared.

A small life.

A newborn girl.

Yet the mana surrounding her existence was so enormous that even beings with divine power could sense it.

The Dragon God opened his eyes.

The Forest God became silent.

The Sword God felt something unusual in the flow of mana.

Even the God-King of Life and Death turned his attention toward the mortal world.

None of them knew exactly what had happened.

None of them knew the girl's name.

Not yet.

But they could feel that something had been born.

Something that could eventually change the balance of the world.

And among the gods, there was another presence that remained completely silent.

The Nameless God.

No one knew where that god was.

No one had ever seen him.

No one knew whether the ancient deity was watching.

But somewhere beyond human understanding, something seemed to have noticed the birth of Mumei Amane.

The Parents' Worry

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Elaria, 

Yuna and Haruto Amane were becoming increasingly worried about their daughter.

They loved Mumei more than anything.She was their precious child.

But they had already discovered something that frightened them.

Her mana.

The crystal they had used to measure her magical capacity had shattered.

At first, Haruto had believed that the crystal itself might have been defective.So he secretly obtained another one.

The result was the same.

The crystal couldn't properly measure 

Mumei's mana.

It became brighter and brighter before 

cracks appeared across its surface.

Haruto had immediately stopped the test.

He didn't want to risk hurting his daughter.

Yuna had been even more frightened.

"What are we going to do?"

She sat beside Haruto that evening.

Mumei was sleeping peacefully in the next room.

Haruto remained silent for several seconds.

"I don't know."

Yuna looked at him.

"You don't know?"

"I have fought monsters. I've fought bandits. I've fought trained warriors."

Haruto lowered his eyes.

"But none of that prepared me for this."

Yuna understood.

Their daughter was different.

Far too different.

Haruto was already a Level 5 Master 

Mage and a Level 5 Master Swordsman.

Yuna had reached Level 4 in both magic and swordsmanship.

Among ordinary people, their strength was impressive.

They could protect themselves.

They could defeat dangerous monsters.

They could even survive battles that would kill ordinary soldiers.

But Mumei's potential was something else entirely.

They didn't know how powerful she could become.

They didn't know who might try to use her.

And they didn't know whether someone would eventually try to hurt her because of her power.

"We can't let other people discover her mana."

Yuna nodded.

"Then we will protect her."

Haruto looked toward the door.

"I'll teach her everything I know."

"And I'll teach her healing and defensive magic."

"She also needs to learn swordsmanship."

Yuna looked surprised.

"You think she should learn the sword too?"

"Yes."

Haruto's expression became serious.

"If something happens and she can't use magic, she needs another way to protect herself."

Yuna agreed.

They didn't know that their daughter would eventually surpass everything they could teach her.

For now, however, they simply wanted her to be safe.

The Mysterious Elder

Far from the Amane household, an old man sat alone in a dark room.

The room was filled with ancient weapons, old books, and magical artifacts.

At the center stood a large crystal ball.

The old man had been waiting for many years.

He had waited through countless seasons.

He had watched generations pass.

He had almost begun to believe that the person he was waiting for would never be born.

Then the crystal ball suddenly began to shine.

The old man's eyes opened.

"Finally..."

A faint image appeared inside the crystal.

A little girl.

Mumei.

The old man stared at her.

He felt her mana.

For the first time in many years, his expression changed.

"So it is true."

He stood slowly.

His body looked old.

His hair was white.

His face was covered with wrinkles.

Yet there was something terrifying about him.

The air around his body seemed to become heavier.

A faint aura surrounded him.

It wasn't magic.

It was something different.

The old man had spent his entire life mastering the sword.

His swordsmanship had reached a level that ordinary swordsmen could not even comprehend.

He was one of the few people in the world capable of wielding an aura through his sword.

Even powerful magicians recognized the danger of his presence.

The old man looked at the image of Mumei.

"I have waited for you, little one."

He placed his hand against the crystal ball.

"I wondered if I would live long enough to see your birth."

His expression became serious.

"The time has finally come."

He had been searching for an heir.

Someone who could inherit everything he had learned.

His sword.

His techniques.

His knowledge.

His legacy.

And now he had found her.

The old man looked at Mumei one more time.

"Perhaps you are the one."

A Quiet Afternoon

While all of this was happening elsewhere, Mumei knew nothing about it.

She was simply enjoying another peaceful afternoon.

She had been reading one of her father's books.

The book explained the basics of Level 1 Magic.

Mumei carefully read each page.

Level 1 Magic was considered the foundation of magical education.

It was the first step for every magician.

Simple fire.

Simple earth.

Simple wind.

Simple water.

Nothing complicated.

At least, that's what the book claimed.

Mumei closed the book.

"So this is Level 1 Magic."

She looked outside.

She suddenly wanted to try it herself.

Mumei left the house and walked into the garden.

The area was quiet.

There was nobody nearby.

She raised her hand.

"I wonder..."

She concentrated.

Mana gathered around her.

A tiny flame appeared.

Mumei smiled.

She had already created simple magic before.

But she wanted to try something different.

She remembered something from her father's lessons.

Most magicians in Elaria specialized in one or two common elements.

Fire and earth were especially popular.

Fire was useful for attack.

Earth was useful for defense.

Wind was useful for movement and ranged attacks.

Water magic existed, but it was much less common.

Mumei closed her eyes.

She tried to imagine water.

She imagined a river.

A lake.

Rain falling from the sky.

The feeling of cool water running through her fingers.

Then she moved her mana.

Something happened.

A small sphere of water appeared above her palm.

Mumei opened her eyes.

"Water..."

The sphere floated quietly.

She smiled.

It worked.

But she didn't stop.

Haruto's Unique Style

Mumei suddenly remembered something her father had once told her.

Haruto had not always fought the way he did now.

His style had been created because of something that happened many years ago.

He had once been traveling with Yuna when they were attacked by powerful monsters.

Yuna had been injured.

Haruto had been unable to protect her with ordinary swordsmanship.

At that moment, he had combined his 

Wind Magic with his sword.

Instead of casting a spell separately, he allowed wind to flow around his blade.

The result had been a completely different fighting style.

His sword had become faster.

His movements had become lighter.

The wind had extended the range of his attacks.

Eventually, he had perfected the technique.

Mumei remembered his words.

"Magic doesn't always have to be used the way the books describe it."

"If you understand your own mana, you can create something that belongs only to you."

Mumei looked at the water floating above her hand.

Something inside her stirred.

Something that belongs only to me...

She smiled.

"Then I'll try."

Water Fortress

Mumei gathered more mana.

The small sphere became larger.

Then larger.

Water began flowing around her.

She guided it with her hands.

The water rose from the ground.

It surrounded her.

Then it formed a large wall.

Mumei stared.

The wall continued growing.

She shaped it carefully.

A second wall appeared.

Then a third.

Soon, a small fortress made entirely of water stood around her.

Mumei's eyes sparkled.

"This is amazing."

She hadn't expected it to work.

She didn't realize how much mana she had used.

She simply continued experimenting.

The water fortress remained stable.

Mumei moved her hand.

The walls changed shape.

She could control them.

She could move them.

She could strengthen them.

It was unlike anything she had seen in her books.

It was her own magic.

Her own style.

She called it:

Water Fortress.

Rain

Mumei looked toward the sky.

She wondered whether she could make water fall from above.

She raised both hands.

Mana flowed outward.

Clouds slowly began forming above the garden.

Mumei stared upward.

A drop of water fell onto her cheek.

Then another.

Then dozens.

Rain began falling.

Mumei laughed.

She stood beneath the rain.

"This is fun."

The rain became heavier.

Soon the entire garden was covered by a gentle shower.

Mumei didn't realize that someone was watching.

Behind the window of the house, Yuna had frozen.

Haruto stood beside her.

Neither of them spoke.

They had seen everything.

Their daughter had just created an entirely new form of water magic.

And she was only five years old.

Water Blades

Mumei wasn't finished.

She looked at the water droplets floating around her.

An idea appeared in her mind.

Can I make them sharp?

She gathered several droplets.

She compressed them.

The water became thinner.

Sharper.

A small blade formed.

Mumei stared at it.

"Water can become a blade..."

She made another.

Then another.

Soon several tiny water blades floated around her.

She moved her hand.

The blades followed.

They moved through the air with incredible speed.

Mumei carefully stopped them before they struck anything.

She was excited.

She had created another spell.

Water Blades.

Three spells.

Water Fortress.

Rain.

Water Blades.

All created during her first serious attempt at developing her own magic.

Mumei smiled proudly.

"I did it."

She didn't notice the expressions of her parents.

The Tears of a Child

Yuna and Haruto continued watching.

They were speechless.

Haruto had spent years perfecting his own fighting style.

Yuna had spent years learning healing and defensive magic.

But their daughter had created three unique spells in a single afternoon.

Their shock slowly turned into worry.

"What are we going to do?" Yuna whispered.

Haruto didn't answer.

He couldn't.

Then Mumei turned around.

She finally noticed them.

Her smile disappeared.

Her eyes widened.

"Mom... Dad..."

She looked at the water surrounding her.

Then at their faces.

She misunderstood their silence.

They're angry.

Her eyes became wet.

"I'm sorry..."

Yuna's expression changed immediately.

"Mumei?"

"I didn't mean to..."

Her voice trembled.

"I didn't mean to do something bad."

Tears began running down her cheeks.

"I thought... you would be angry..."

Yuna immediately ran toward her.

"No!"

She knelt and hugged Mumei tightly.

"We aren't angry."

Haruto joined them.

He wrapped his arms around his daughter.

"Mumei, you did nothing wrong."

"But..."

"You didn't do anything wrong."

Mumei cried against her mother's shoulder.

Yuna began crying too.

Haruto tried to remain calm, but tears appeared in his eyes.

They were proud of their daughter.

But they were also terrified.

They finally understood just how difficult protecting her would be.

Yuna held Mumei even tighter.

"We'll protect you."

Haruto nodded.

"No matter what happens."

Mumei slowly calmed down.

She didn't understand the true reason behind their tears.

She simply felt safe in their arms.

A Decision

That evening, Yuna and Haruto sat together.

Mumei was sleeping.

"What do we do now?"

Yuna asked.

Haruto thought for a long time.

"She needs a teacher."

Yuna nodded.

"But she's still too young."

"That's why we don't need to rush."

Haruto looked toward Mumei's room.

"Until she's old enough, we'll teach her ourselves."

"Magic?"

"Magic."

"Defense?"

"Defense."

"Also swordsmanship?"

"Yes."

Yuna smiled faintly.

"And other skills."

Haruto nodded.

"She needs to know how to survive even if we're not there."

They knew they couldn't protect her forever.

One day she would leave home.

One day she would travel.

One day she would encounter people stronger than either of them.

And one day, her enormous power would become impossible to hide.

Until then, they would prepare her.

Learning From Her Parents

The following years became a mixture of ordinary childhood and intense training.

Mumei learned basic swordsmanship from Haruto.

At first, she could barely lift the wooden sword.

Haruto smiled.

"Don't worry about strength."

He corrected her stance.

"First, learn how to stand."

Mumei practiced.

Again.

And again.

And again.

She learned how to hold the sword.

How to move her feet.

How to defend.

How to avoid attacks.

How to maintain balance.

Yuna taught her healing magic.

She also taught her how to create defensive barriers.

Mumei learned how to recognize herbs.

How to treat small wounds.

How to identify dangerous plants.

How to survive in a forest.

How to read maps.

How to prepare food.

How to understand basic monsters.

Her parents taught her everything they knew.

Mumei studied eagerly.

She enjoyed every lesson.

But she also remained a child.

She played.

She laughed.

She ran through the garden.

And she spent time with her friends.

Kaede and Ren

Kaede Mizuhara became one of Mumei's closest friends.

Kaede was kind and thoughtful.

She often worried about others before herself.

Ren Akiyama was completely different.

He was energetic.

He was curious.

And he was always trying to prove that he was stronger than everyone else.

One afternoon, Ren challenged Mumei to a wooden sword duel.

"I'll win this time!"

Mumei laughed.

"You said that last time."

"I've gotten stronger!"

Kaede sighed.

"You two are always competing."

Mumei picked up her wooden sword.

"All right."

Ren charged.

Mumei stepped aside.

Ren nearly fell.

"Wait!"

Mumei laughed.

Ren turned around.

"Don't laugh!"

Kaede covered her mouth.

She couldn't stop herself from laughing too.

These ordinary moments were precious to Mumei.

She had once lived a normal life in another world.

She had lost it.

Now she had been given another chance.

And she didn't want to waste it.

Five Years Later

Time passed.

One year.

Then another.

Mumei continued training.

She continued studying.

She continued practicing magic.Her parents remained careful about her true power.

Whenever she used magic outside the family, they made sure she kept it at an ordinary level.

Her unique water magic remained a secret.

The world continued moving.

Kingdoms changed.

Adventurers traveled.

Monsters appeared.

And somewhere beyond human understanding, powerful beings continued to watch.

Five years passed.

Mumei was now ten years old.

She stood in front of the mirror one morning.

She had grown considerably.

She smiled at her reflection.

"Ten years old..."

It felt strange.

She remembered being twelve in her previous life.

She remembered dying.

She remembered the pain.

She remembered the voices.

Then she remembered waking up as a newborn.

So much had happened since then.

Mumei looked toward the window.

Her childhood had been peaceful.

But she knew that something was waiting for her.

Her parents had told her that a teacher would finally come.

Someone who could teach her things they couldn't.

Someone who could guide her further.

Mumei didn't know who the teacher would be.

She didn't know how strong they were.

She didn't know why her parents had been so serious about the meeting.

She simply waited.

Then—

A carriage stopped outside the house.

Mumei heard the sound of footsteps.

Haruto walked toward the door.

Yuna followed him.

Mumei stood behind them.

The door opened.

A figure stood outside.

The teacher had arrived.

At the same moment, somewhere far away, an ancient man opened his eyes.

His crystal ball began to shine once again.

He smiled.

"So..."

His voice was quiet.

"She is ten years old now."

He looked at the image of Mumei.

"The time has come."

And in another distant place, the gods once again felt the immense mana of the girl named Mumei Amane.

Her true journey was only beginning.

To be continued...

End of Chapter 3