Chapter 30: The Mana Belt—Say Goodbye to Manual Replenishment Forever

I staggered into Old Mage’s lab, Monaluna’s cooking still wreaking havoc on my stomach. Rubbing my belly, I pushed the door open.

“…Did I just unlock the MC’s signature perk—*open door, find fortune*?” I muttered, my lips twitching. My eyes landed on Cindira in the center of the room, stripped down to her underwear. “When’s she gonna master the rest—*pants-dropping pratfalls* and *wardrobe malfunction punches*? Can’t wait.”

“Klath! You’re here! I’ve been waiting ages!” Cindira bounced toward me, her movements making my head bob like a buoy.

I steadied my swaying skull, trying to sound rational. “Sis, winter’s almost here. Aren’t you cold?”

“Nah! I’ve trained my body since childhood—braving the coldest winters and hottest summers. This little breeze?”

“No, I meant… fine, I’ll say it straight! Why aren’t you wearing clothes?”

“Clothes? But I *am* wearing some!” She tugged at her skimpy top.

I snatched my robe’s shoulder cape and tossed it over her. Tilting my head back at a 45-degree angle, I pinched my nose as blood trickled out. My nutrition levels were clearly tanking.

“Where’s your actual clothing?”

“Off. We’re doing a body check, right?”

“Who said body checks require stripping naked?”

“You did!”

“When?!”

“During my first checkup!” Cindira pouted.

*Me?!* That time was for a full diagnostic of her Battle Aura Vortex and physical stats! This was just a routine scan! Did any hospital redo CTs, X-rays, and MRIs at every follow-up? …Okay, maybe some did.

“Just put your clothes back on! This is a simple check—we don’t need nudity!”

“Aww…”

“No ‘aww’! Now!”

Grumbling, Cindira fetched her clothes from behind the desk and dressed slowly. They say *nothing’s more beautiful than a woman putting on clothes*—the ancients weren’t wrong. Peeking through my fingers, I marveled: *Whoa! So this is how girls put on stockings? Totally different from what I imagined!*

When the last button clicked shut, a pang of disappointment hit me. But I’m a scholar! I wiped my nosebleed clean and met Cindira’s eyes as she handed back my cape.

“Enjoy the show?” she grinned.

“…No idea what you mean.” I looked away.

“Tch. Missed it? What a shame~ I took *extra* care dressing slowly just for you~”

“Ahem! Let’s begin.” I pulled a chair from the desk. “Sit here. I’ll test your vortex’s rotation speed. Lift your shirt—just enough to expose the vortex spot.”

“You *said* no undressing!” she grumbled, hiking up her top to reveal a smooth, pale stomach.

Arguing would derail everything. I slipped on the Star Absorption Gloves, tuned the Magic Array to lightning affinity, and gathered a controlled charge. Placing my palm on her abdomen, I focused on sensing the vortex’s spin.

“Mmm~ Ahh~ Oooh~~”

“What now?!” I snapped, veins throbbing on my forehead.

“Hehe~ Old habit.”

This was impossible. My eyes darted around the room—then locked onto my discarded cape on the desk. In three strides, I snatched it, shook it into a long strip, and looped behind Cindira.

“Open wide~” I cooed gently. “Ahhh~”

“Ahhh~”

*Whoosh!* I gagged her mouth with the fabric, knotting it tight behind her head. Binding spells later, her limbs were immobilized. Blissful silence. Back to work. *Heh. Heh heh heh.*

Ignoring Cindira’s puppy-dog eyes, I crouched beside her chair, channeling lightning again. Battle Aura was faint under magical detection, but after minutes of focus—*there*. The vortex’s rotation was steadily slowing. At this rate, it’d fully stop in two months.

“Done.” I straightened up—only to slip on numb feet and *plop* right onto Cindira.

“Mashang? I have an academic matter to discuss.” Old Mage pushed the door open.

“Master, it’s not what it looks like!” I yelped, scrambling up. *What’s this soft thing in my hand?!*

“Hmph. Youthful antics are understandable… but *in my lab*? Have some decency!”

“I said it’s a misunderstanding!” I clutched my head. *Why does history keep repeating itself?!*

Half an hour later, I’d explained everything: why we were in the lab, why I’d fallen on Cindira, and her vortex condition.

“I see…” Old Mage’s anger cooled, but suspicion lingered. “One question remains: why gag her?”

“Crap! I forgot her!” The binding spells! Two pairs of burning, betrayed eyes pinned me from behind.

I frantically undid the restraints and untied the gag—*why’s the middle damp?! How do I wear this cape now?!*

“……” Cindira stared, silent and wounded.

“I’m sorry! Truly!” I bowed deeply.

“……” Her glare didn’t waver.

No head-pats or sweet buns could fix this. I owed her.

“How about this: I’ll replenish your mana nightly. Keep your vortex spinning until your clan sends someone to fully restore your power. Deal?”

“……Fine.”

Relief washed over me. I turned to Old Mage, forcing cheer. “Master! Remember those leftover Thunder Roarer fangs from building the ‘Zaku’? Could I have them?”

“You mean the *Multi-Attribute Elemental Magic Rune Multi-Functional Composite Power Armor*?” He stressed every syllable. *Seriously, this name again?*

“Yes! The *Multi-Attribute Elemental Magic Rune Multi-Functional Composite Power Armor*!” *Swallow pride. Swallow pride.*

“Hah! I have them. But why should I give them to you?”

“You’re old friends with the War God Clan! Can’t you spare some kindness for little Purple Judas here?”

“*Acquaintances*, perhaps. But this old hermit doesn’t ‘befriend’ clans.”

“So you refuse?”

“You’re making a Rune Engraving Tool, aren’t you? I’m intrigued by your design… but not by aiding the War God Clan. Not even their exiles.”

“Master Joseph,” Cindira cut in, chin high. “Whatever grudge you hold against my family, Purple Judas won’t trouble you again. Thank you for sheltering me. I’ll return to the mountain stronghold now.”

“Quiet! Adults are talking!” I snapped, blocking her exit. *Send her back? Are you mad?! My research! The villagers’ safety!*

“Master,” I pressed, “must you be so harsh on a poor girl? Let’s negotiate. Next time Nana cooks… I’ll… *devour* your portion!”

*Sacrifice the child to catch the wolf!* I held my breath.

“Deal! Ruthless lad!” He tossed a cloth pouch from his Spatial Ring before I could rethink it. *Bless Monaluna’s cooking!*

“Klath… I… I never knew you’d sacrifice so much for me!” Cindira wiped tears, gazing at me like I was a tombstone.

I clutched the pouch and retreated to the rune-forging bench. *A man prioritizes his career!* For science, this pain was nothing. Helle’s kitchen would save me. *Heh.*

***

*Ding-ding-ding-ding!* I presented the freshly forged “Mana Belt” to Old Mage and Cindira, laying it proudly on the table.

Four Thunder Roarer fangs circled the belt—paired front and back. Rune arrays harnessed electromagnetic resonance to generate low-pressure energy vortices. Unlike external replenishment, this directly stabilized Cindira’s internal Battle Aura Vortex, slashing precision demands. A monitoring rune on the buckle logged rotation speed every ten seconds. If the drop exceeded thresholds, the fang arrays would kick in to accelerate the vortex—then shut off once stabilized.

“Try it on.” I handed it to Cindira. “The ‘Mana Belt’ keeps your vortex spinning above baseline 24/7! Oh—the power source?” I tapped the detachable lightning crystal on the back. “Lasts nearly a month. Swap it when drained. Easy, right?”

She fastened it. The monitoring rune flared, activating the vortex accelerators. Her Battle Aura Vortex surged back to normal speed, then the runes dimmed. Perfect. *I’m a genius.*

“So this is your ‘replenish my mana every night… forever’?”

“I *said* I’d replenish your mana—but I never said *how*!” Why were they both giving me pitying looks? I’d pioneered *monitoring runes*! This was revolutionary! Adaptive magic arrays!

“Mashang…” Old Mage dabbed his eyes. “I misjudged you. Thought you were after my granddaughters… caused you trouble. My apologies. Never again. I swear it.”

“You big… *idiot*!” Cindira stomped out, slamming the door with the belt.

*Are you two insane?!* This smart, affordable tool freed manpower *and* offered real-time monitoring! Was it… the ugly design?

*Yes. Definitely the ugly design.*

Forcing a young maiden to wear such an ugly belt every day? She’d definitely be unhappy about it!

Boss is right—user experience matters just as much!