So... right now, we were traveling north from Ohio.
After the war ended, we stayed in Ohio City for about two or three days. Then I needed to complete my missions. While reading books in the Knowledge Tower, I learned that Illman lived beyond the known world—not on this continent, but somewhere out in the ocean.
The closest ocean to Ohio City was to the north.
That was why we were heading north.
The scene shifted to an open field at night.
Dead trees, scattered rocks, and darkness stretched endlessly beneath the moonlit sky.
A campfire crackled quietly.
Beside it stood a small tent.
Yuki and Tiyara sat near the fire.
"If you want, you can go sleep," Yuki said. "I'll take the first watch."
Tiyara yawned.
"Haaaw..."
"I don't feel sleepy, so you can go instead."
Yuki tossed another stick into the campfire and replied teasingly,
"You should sleep. Otherwise you'll get dark circles under your eyes."
He glanced at her.
"And besides, girls usually care a lot about their pretty faces... and their makeup..."
"Ah...!"
Tiyara immediately became annoyed.
Without another word, she stood up and marched into the tent.
Meanwhile, Yuki remained alone beside the campfire.
He looked up at the moon with a warm smile.
His eyes carried a hint of emotion.
Haa...
It's already been about two months since I last saw Mom and Dad.
It almost feels like... like I don't even have a family anymore.
But I do.
I have a family. And friends.
Yuki took a deep breath.
Just a little longer, Mom and Dad.
I'm coming home soon.
And then we'll live happily together again.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
The next morning.
Both of them packed their belongings.
Yuki had already tied everything together.
Then Tiyara suddenly activated a spell.
"Guttris."
A thin black void, barely a millimeter wide, appeared vertically in the air.
One by one, all their supplies were sucked into it and vanished.
At first, Yuki simply stared.
Then realization hit him.
"Oh!"
He turned toward Tiyara.
"What was that magic?!"
Tiyara casually crossed her arms.
"It's an item-storage magic I created."
Yuki's eyes lit up.
"That's awesome!"
"You can learn it too," Tiyara replied.
Suddenly, Yuki became quiet.
He slowly stepped backward.
With a wounded expression, he spoke dramatically.
"You know I can't use magic, and yet you say that."
"You're so mean."
Tiyara immediately panicked.
"H-Hey! Sorry! I didn't mean it!"
She frantically waved her hands.
"You can do it! Yes! You definitely can!"
Yuki stared at her with a confused expression.
His face practically said:
Do you even know what you're talking about?
Tiyara coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem. What I mean is... you can learn the storage technique."
"But it won't work exactly the same way as my magic."
Yuki frowned.
"Wait. I can't use any kind of magic."
"No, you can."
Tiyara pointed at a nearby rock.
"Look. Mana exists in everything, right?"
Yuki thought for a moment.
If the mana of this world and the energy of Elaria are different... then maybe she's right.
He nodded.
Tiyara continued.
"So imagine we absorb all the mana from an object."
"Normally that's impossible because the object constantly absorbs mana from nature and restores itself."
"But let's say we somehow succeed."
"What do you think would happen?"
Yuki thought carefully.
"Maybe the object would break?"
"Or... maybe nothing would happen?"
"Tch. Tch."
Tiyara shook her head like a teacher correcting a student.
"The object's size and weight would decrease dramatically."
"It would become smaller than a grain of sand."
"And lighter as well."
"At that point, it would naturally be attracted toward the nearest source of mana."
"And living beings contain the highest concentration of mana."
Yuki nodded slowly.
"So it would stick to the nearest living creature?"
"Exactly."
"But because it's become so tiny, the person wouldn't even notice."
"Why?" Tiyara asked.
Yuki answered like a student reciting a lesson.
"Because its size would be smaller than a grain of sand... and its weight would be almost nothing."
"Correct."
Tiyara smiled proudly.
"And that's why you only need to learn how to absorb mana."
"You don't need to cast a spell."
Yuki fell into thought.
Can I actually control my mana?
I've never really tried before...
But maybe I can.
Suddenly another question came to him.
"Wait."
"I understand how the storage trick works."
"But how do you get the item back?"
"If the object becomes microscopic, how do you restore it to its original size?"
Tiyara answered confidently.
"Simple."
"You just return mana to it."
Yuki stared blankly.
"Hey. Explain that properly."
Tiyara smirked.
"Forget it."
"Your tiny brain won't be able to fit such a big concept."
"And if you try too hard, your brain might explode."
An angry vein appeared on Yuki's forehead.
Meanwhile, Tiyara laughed.
"Hihihi."
"Fine. I'll explain it simply."
"When you absorb an object's mana faster than nature can restore it, the object shrinks."
"The more mana you absorb, the smaller it becomes."
"If it shrinks beyond what human eyes can see, it starts searching for mana and attaches itself to the nearest living being."
Yuki listened carefully.
"And because it's so tiny, it can't directly absorb mana from nature or from the person."
"So it simply stays attached."
"Forever."
"Until?"
Yuki asked.
Tiyara nodded.
"Until that person intentionally releases a small amount of mana from the body part where the object is attached."
"Then the object automatically absorbs that mana and returns to its original size."
She spread her arms proudly.
"Using this method, you can store countless items on your body."
"Their weight, durability, range, damage, and everything else return to normal once they regain their original size."
"Now do you understand?"
Yuki nodded.
"A little."
"But if multiple items are attached to my body and I release mana, wouldn't all of them return at the same time?"
Tiyara pointed at him.
"Exactly."
"And that's why I said mana control is extremely important."
Yuki nodded again.
"Yeah..."
"Another question—"
Before he could finish, Tiyara exploded.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
"If you don't want to learn it, then don't ask!"
"And if you do want to learn it, then go learn it!"
"Why do you keep asking so many questions?!"
Yuki immediately froze.
"Hm..."
"Ahem..."
"S-Sorry."
And just like that, the lesson ended before it could continue.