Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 99: Damien’s Magic Mystery: The Source Test"

After testing a full range of magic types, it became evident that Damien’s magical resistance was no different from that of an ordinary person in this world. Theo mentioned that there were rare types of magic none of the four of them could cast, but based on what they’d observed, it was likely the same copying rule would apply.

Now, Lucian was helping with the final experiment to explore the kinds of spells that could be copied.

"Alright, here goes," Lucian said. "■■■■■■!"

The final spell for this experiment, "Aer Aegis," was cast.

A small whirlwind formed about a meter in front of Damien, then quickly expanded to envelop him. This spell, as he understood, created a wall of wind around a fixed area to protect anyone inside from arrows or magic.

Because this magic wasn’t cast directly on Damien, it didn’t copy back to Lucian. Given the earlier experiment results, Theo seemed unsurprised, nodding in understanding.

The real test, however, was yet to come.

This particular spell, among others, had a unique feature: it could be cast not only on a specific location but also centered on a person.

"Now, please activate it with Damien as the focal point," Theo instructed Lucian. "Within the range we discussed."

Following Theo’s instructions, Lucian prepared to cast the spell with Damien as the designated center.

"Understood," Lucian replied. "■■■■■■!"

After dispelling the initial Wind Shield, Lucian cast the spell again, this time centered around Damien.

A wall of wind, swirling like a tornado, expanded outward from Damien, while another wind wall simultaneously began spreading from Lucian.

"Whoa, whoa... whoa! Hah—pfft!"

The two whirlwinds collided in a dramatic scene, their centers crashing together. Right in the middle of this wild storm, with hair whipped into total disarray, stood Sebas, looking completely unbothered. Damien couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

"Pfft... Theo—haha—so with this, we’ve confirmed that—pfft—location-based and person-based spells copy differently—haha! Ahahaha!" Theo, who had tried to keep his composure, finally lost it and began laughing uncontrollably.

So that’s why he had meticulously planned out their positions and ranges—just for this outcome.

Damien tried desperately to stifle his own laughter...but it was impossible. He was almost ready to explode from trying to hold it in.

"Young Master."

Sebas’s voice brought an instant hush over them, as if time itself had frozen. Theo’s laughter stopped in his tracks, and even the whirlwinds had ceased at some point.

There wasn’t a hint of anger in Sebas’s voice, yet Damien felt a cold sweat start to bead. Sebas’s hair was still a disheveled mess, but now no one dared to laugh.

"Did you all enjoy yourselves?"

All four of them—Damien, Theo, Lucian, and even Leonide, who had nothing to do with the whole situation—bowed deeply, very deeply, murmuring in unison, "We’re sorry."

...

"Everyone, please lift your heads," Sebas said.

When they cautiously looked up, they saw the calm, poised Sebas they were used to. It was as if the previous scene had been just an illusion.

Sebas didn’t say anything further, so Damien hoped, desperately, that they were forgiven.

"Alright then, let’s proceed with the final experiment for today and wrap up here."

Damien glanced at the window, noticing that the sunset was casting an orange glow across the room.

"It’s already this late, huh? So, what’s the last experiment?" he asked, hoping it wouldn’t be something painful.

"For the final experiment, I’ll be asking for Leonide’s help," Theo replied.

"With Leonide?" Damien asked, curious.

"Yes," Theo nodded, gesturing for Leonide to come over.

Leonide approached with his usual calm expression. Though he didn’t seem particularly surprised to be called for the last test, Damien couldn’t really tell, as Leonide maintained a near-expressionless demeanor, especially when in work mode.

"There are two parts to the final experiment. First, we want to determine whose magical energy is actually being used to activate the spells Damien copies."

Theo held up his index finger to illustrate the point.

"What do you mean, whose magical energy? Isn’t it mine?" Damien asked, puzzled. After all, he was the one casting the copied magic, so it seemed logical that it would use his own energy.

Theo nodded thoughtfully at Damien’s question.

"Yes, I suspect so as well. I haven’t noticed any significant increase in my own energy expenditure, and I’d imagine the same goes for Sebas and the others."

Sebas and the other two nodded in agreement with Theo’s words.

Did that mean the person casting the spell could sense how much magic they were using and how much was left? Damien didn’t really understand.

"From your expression, I’d guess there’s no need to even ask, but Damien, did you feel any sensation of using magic—any kind of fatigue, unpleasantness, or anything difficult to describe like that?"

"Hmm... no, I don’t think so," Damien replied. From the start of the experiments, Theo had repeatedly reminded him to say immediately if anything felt off, so Damien had been careful. But overall, he didn’t think he’d felt anything unusual.

"If you’re uncertain, then it’s safe to assume you didn’t feel it. For anyone using magic for the first time, there’s always an unmistakable discomfort that comes from ’expending magic power,’" Theo explained.

"Is that so? Hearing that kind of makes me not want to use magic..."

"Well, it’s just a mild discomfort, something you get used to over time. But this raises the question: is Damien actually using his own magic power... or is it something else?"

Indeed, after countless spells and copies today, Damien hadn’t felt a trace of discomfort.

"Well, the intensity of the discomfort can vary depending on the person’s overall magic power. It’s possible that Damien’s reserves are just so vast he’s not feeling a thing. But even with my own magic reserves—said to be among the highest seen in a century—I still felt some discomfort when I first used magic. So, feeling nothing at all is quite unlikely."

Wow, Damien thought, so Theo really was that powerful.

"That fire you conjured back at the crystal cave was unbelievable," Damien added.