My summon to another world was even weirder than I expected

Due to having studied constantly for a period of time: Int +1

In the end, Austin and the others did not return to the library, probably too overwhelmed by everything that had happened and trying to process what would happen in the future.

Zack didn’t have that luxury; every second was crucial, and anything that didn't increase his chances of survival was something he couldn’t afford right now.

When Zack closed the book he was reading, the day had ended.

The sun had set, and there was no one left in the library except for him and a solitary candle beside him.

Despite this, Zack had to admit that he had benefited greatly from this reading. Zack hadn't read one or two books—he had read almost two-thirds of the books on the list. That was something he never would have believed possible in his world.

If it had happened to his companions, he could understand, but Zack had seen the study pace of Austin and the others, and it was nowhere near as exaggerated.

Noticing this, Zack couldn’t help but remember the one thing that made him different from the others.

Bookworm

Title obtained by those who value knowledge and enjoy acquiring it

It will be easier for you to read books

It will be easier for you to understand the essence of the books you’ve read

You won’t forget the books you’ve read easily

Seeing the title again, Zack was beginning to understand its true effect.

If someone is accustomed to reading and is willing to challenge themselves, it is possible to read an entire book in a day, but not fifteen. And Zack hadn’t just read nine books; their contents were engraved in his mind. At this moment, Zack felt as though he had learned the content of these books a long time ago. Zack hadn’t just read those books—he had internalized their information.

Zack smiled.

For the first time since arriving in this world, he wanted to laugh, laugh with all his might.

Zack suppressed his desire, left the book he had finished reading in its place, and headed to his room.

The night was still young, and there was much to do.

When he arrived at the room that had been assigned to him, Zack sat on the bed and crossed his legs.

The books Albert had ordered them to read covered the basics of everything a mage needs to know before casting their first spell.

Magic users are those who can use mana and manipulate it to alter the reality around them. The first step for this is for a mage to acquire the mana from their surroundings and make it their own.

One of the books Albert included in the list is solely about how to acquire mana. This is thanks to one of the most basic abilities of magic users: meditation.

Through meditation, mages absorb mana from the outside and draw it toward themselves, assimilating it and making it their own.

The last book Zack read before leaving the library included a meditation technique through which someone with the Mage class could acquire mana. Of course, Zack was sure that the meditation technique described in the book was one of the simplest and most basic.

The technique described all the steps very simply, and there was no technical difficulty. Even if you failed to acquire or control the external mana, there would be no negative repercussions. After all, this technique was aimed at children as young as ten, so it wouldn't make sense to teach them a technique too complicated or dangerous.

The only important feature of this technique was that once you successfully acquired a thread of mana, this technique could substitute sleep.

Zack followed the steps described in the book and closed his eyes, trying to feel the mana.

Unlike yesterday, the night was clear, with no signs of rain, not even a gust of wind.

Little by little, Zack sank deeper into his own world, when suddenly something appeared there.

Zack opened his eyes momentarily, startled, and the sensation vanished.

When he opened his eyes, Zack had no joy in them; his eyes were filled with incredible seriousness.

Zack closed his eyes again and tried to feel the mana once more. This time, it was easier. There it was—it was as if it hadn’t moved all this time, as if it had always been there, waiting for Zack to notice it.

Unconsciously, his back was sweating. Zack took a deep breath and tried to calm down. With full concentration, his awareness focused on that sensation and invited it to come toward him.

At first, the mana seemed indifferent to his efforts, but little by little, the mana seemed more interested in Zack, as if he were an unrelenting suitor seeking the hand of his lady.

Zack didn’t know exactly how much time passed while he tried to get the mana to move.

It was a wonderful sensation; all his problems seemed to have disappeared. Zack had never felt so calm.

Minutes, hours, days—time seemed to lose meaning, as if in the universe there was only him and the mana. Suddenly, the mana moved.

It was only for a moment, but Zack definitely felt the mana move. Zack refocused on the mana, trying to get it to come closer.

Slowly, very slowly, the mana came toward Zack.

After an agonizing amount of time, the mana was near, very near. If mana could be seen with the naked eye, Zack would have it right in front of him. With one last effort, Zack pulled the mana toward him.

Suddenly, Zack felt something in his body. Without rushing, Zack guided the mana as described in the book throughout his body, molding it, adapting it to himself.

After an unknown amount of time, the mana flowed through Zack’s body steadily.

Zack slowly guided the thread of mana toward his head. Once the mana settled there, it was as if something had been awakened within his body. He felt better, could think more clearly and quickly, and even the fatigue seemed to have disappeared.

Zack opened his eyes and looked at himself. Everything seemed sharper, as if he had been seeing things on an old TV until now.

Status

Name: Zack Mayima

Age: 18

Race: Human

Title: Bookworm

Class: Mage

Level: 2

Stats:

Strength: 9

Endurance: 8

Wisdom: 12

Luck: 10

Agility: 10

Intelligence: 15

Charm: 11

Mana: 1/1

Skills:

Fast Reading Level 4

Memorization Level 2

Universal Translation

A new column had appeared in his status showing the mana he possessed. He had also leveled up, which was an unexpected surprise.

Yet, Zack’s face showed no joy, only concern.

(What’s happening? How did I get mana?) Zack wondered.

In the book he had read, the meditation technique said that one could acquire mana through this exercise, but not in a single night. One of the pages mentioned that, on average, it took about three months of using the technique to feel the mana.

Zack didn’t think his situation was normal. Something was definitely wrong somewhere.

As for Zack being a genius born once in a thousand years? Ha. Zack would want to laugh in the face of anyone who thought such nonsense was possible. Feeling the mana around you is the most crucial part of the technique. The minimum time to feel the mana using this technique is about a month. What had just happened made no sense.

No. Something was wrong. Even with ten titles, Zack couldn’t have acquired mana at this speed.

Still, Zack didn’t plan to tell anyone. He hadn’t forgotten that he was in hostile territory.

Knock knock

Zack jumped when he heard the door. He turned his gaze and said as calmly as he could,

“Who is it?”

“Mr. Hero, please get up. I’ve been ordered to guide you to the dining hall.”

Unknowingly, Zack had been awake all night.

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