Let me be a mob! - Zetro Translation

“Before I begin, tell me what you know about Mana marks?”

I was asked by the student council president as we moved toward the indoor gymnasium, accessible to everyone at any time of the day. Since this sword art was to be kept secret, it was natural for Amanda to take precautions.

However, little does she know that whatever happens in this academy would not go unseen by a certain pair of eyes. In the Academy, the headmaster was practically omniscient.

Setting those unsettling facts aside, I pondered for a second before answering her in a certain tone.

“Mana marks are the suction points spread in one’s body and help us absorb and channel mana. Our body subconsciously takes natural mana, bends it conditionally, and provides us with the efficient energy to perform different skills and enhancements as required.”

“That would be the textbook answer so undoubtedly you are correct. And what do you know about Mark Clogging?”

I tilted my head slightly. Remembering the term was easy but coming up with an answer was complicated. Nevertheless, the time I have spent in this world was enough to gain elementary-level knowledge.

“Forcibly blocking mana points through precise technique. Once all the major points are blocked, a person becomes a regular human, and if all the points are clogged, then a dead end.”

Mana is the life essence without which one could not survive just like how the loss of blood could cease one’s existence. Mana works as both, an addition of life support and also energy to deploy the skill one possesses.

Mana marks work not mainly as absorbing nodes but also help to regulate the absorbed energy throughout our body. Overdose of mana was never a phenomenon noted since our subconsciousness never allows excessive load-up. Depletion was surely a scenario where people tended to act like drunkards or worse case they might fall into eternal slumber.

“Yep, but there is something you have seen until now and that is, everyone uses Mana Clogging for their foes to weaken them, right?”

I was skeptical about where she was going with this, nevertheless, I responded with a nod.

In response, Amanda didn’t say anything and just walked forward with a small smile. I also followed the suite before we entered the gymnasium.

“Woah…”

That was the exclamation that left my mouth as I saw the main arena currently occupied by two familiar faces. The astonishing blows between the two were spectatoring worthy.

“Aren’t they your classmates? You want to meet them first?”

Unlike me, Amanda didn’t seem much interested in Rena and Aiden’s spar which I found strange. The way they were using their whole body without an ounce of mana deployed in this battle, made it more so praiseworthy.

Both of them have learned under different tutelage. Rena was taught by a battlefield veteran and what Aiden knows derives from his life experience. Nevertheless, both if counted in physical combat, had equal footing and they seemed so immense in their spar that I highly doubt they could have sensed us.

Since it would become a hassle to explain what I was doing here with Amanda at this hour, I shook my head and began walking away with Amanda in tow as we moved toward the first floor of the building which was empty.

“Haven’t you heard about Aiden before?”

I asked since in the story Amanda made her first appearance when she heard the tremendous achievements of a freshman and the rumors regulating about him.

“Well, yeah. An all-attribute user is surely not something that could be kept under wraps for long but for me, he is still far from becoming a challenge…unlike you.”

Oi, are you unsure or something? Why does that stutter in the end?

I did know that I had stolen the limelight which originally belonged to Aiden, the protagonist, but by now I have already screwed up the plot, and the chance of repairing it to flow how it should’ve is close to zero.

We silently thereafter moved inside the indoor arena before the mana stone did the work and the inbuilt artifacts illuminated the place.

“Okay, for the first step of Shadow Walker Sword Style, I need you to teach me how to completely erase your presence so that even the highest-ranking observer fails to notice you.”

I knew the first stage yet hearing that I could now learn such a technique made my heart skip a beat. To be able to walk to your enemy without giving them your presence and using the surprise element as a lethal final blow…indeed this sword art was perfect for me.

Standing in the middle of the arena we both faced each other, with my head slightly tilted to look into her eyes as I heard her continuing.

“Jin, tell me. If this room blacks out and no source of illumination is available whatsoever, how would you sense someone’s presence?”

The answer came out naturally, “Through Mana detection.”

Hearing my answer Amanda grinned before she inched toward me and brought her hand toward my right shoulder.

***SCREECH***

“Oi, what the heck are you doing to my new uniform?” I hissed as the girl easily tore my sleeve away from my brand-new martial art uniform.

Hearing my complaint she flaunted her pearly white teeth before assuring me.

“I would get you a new one. Now crouch.”

I already somehow understood what she was doing so with a grumble I turned and kneeled on the floor.

Soon darkness enveloped my vision, rendering me blind as she tied my torn sleeve around my head. Seriously, leaving my vulnerable back to a near stranger was unnerving but considering the newfound powers I have obtained, I knew I would not get down easily as well.

“Now that your vision is obstructed, can you raise your finger and locate me?”

It didn’t take me long to spread my mana around and gain her specific position in my mind. The green and blue hue was radiating brightly, astonishing me for a bit at how dense her presence was.

I raised my index finger straight, she was about two meters away from me.

“Good. Now follow me. Ah, and don’t worry, I won’t be using Teleportation. ”

I didn’t lower my finger. As she began walking I traced my finger along the way she moved. Since she was just walking normally it was not difficult keeping a record of her movements.

Amanda moved three to four times to and fro at a certain distance, which didn’t make me tilt my body. By now I was confused about what she was up to when suddenly something changed.

Or most precisely…

…she just disappeared from my line of sight…like her existence just vanished.

Leaning toward the option that she must have enhanced herself to move that quickly, I turned myself to look all around the place.

A frown appeared over my head since she was nowhere to be found, elevating my anxiety but just when I was about to remove the blindfold, I felt a small tap on my shoulder.

I instantly uncovered my eyes and looked in that direction only to find a smiling Amanda standing there. The shocking factor arises from the realization that she appeared just from the same side where I have been previously pointing her out.

“Blocking mana marks doesn’t just a practice to weaken your enemies but also to fool them.”

Upon hearing her words, sweat dripped down my forehead as I realized something which my precious life while reading the novel didn’t teach me.

Amanda is…dangerous.

*****

(On the ground floor)

“You wanna check on them?”

After their spar, Rena asked in a curious tone since naturally she and Aiden had sensed the two individuals walking toward the first floor.

Aiden remained silent for a bit, pondering about a certain matter before he drew his conclusion.

“Nah. It’s their business in which we shouldn’t interfere. Let’s go back now, I will drop you off near the dorm.”

“Awww…how manly~”

*****

A/N: – Drop a comment ~