The World Has Become Kinder to Her

**Chapter 3: On Sorcery and Curses**  

*…Unlike magic, which can only be performed by those with exceptional mana sensitivity and the ability to control mana, sorcery can be performed by anyone with strong mental strength, as long as certain materials or conditions are met.*  

*This further confirms that belief or will can partially substitute for ‘mana,’ one of nature’s forces. How remarkable is that?*  

*However, the power of mental strength seems to be less stable than mana, as it shows several issues.*  

*In the case of sorcery, without intense will and desire, casting the spell is impossible.*  

*Moreover, many sorcery users report side effects such as headaches and fatigue after casting.*  

*As for curses, if the target possesses stronger mental strength than the caster, it is possible for the curse to be nullified or even reflected back.*  

‘Emotions, belief, will… These are just different expressions of mental strength, right?  

If I apply this to Theodore, then mental strength could be a type of intellectual power, which explains why he’s so adept at sorcery?’  

If it weren’t for Jane, Lotus might have continued reading without even stopping for a meal.  

While she replaced lunch with a few mini sandwiches and juice Jane brought, Lotus’s hands were constantly flipping through the book. She found the content of the last chapter particularly meaningful.  

**Chapter 6: On Gods and Belief**  

*The belief of people determines the ‘position’ of a god on this continent. In other words, it measures their influence.*  

*The more people believe in a god, the more temples and priests that god gains.*  

*The increase in temples and priests leads to more proselytizing, bringing even more people to believe in that god. (Details omitted)…*  

*Thus, belief holds power. The more it gathers, the greater the power it wields.*  

It seemed likely that Theodore had recommended this book because of the content in Chapter 6.  

Lotus checked the author’s name again—**Kashar Anetus**.  

The name brought back memories. He was the former Tower Master from long ago.  

A man known for his insatiable intellectual curiosity and talent for uncovering hidden truths, which probably allowed him to write such a book.  

‘He was famous for mastering fire magic, right? And as the Tower Master, he probably had less concern about the temples and could publish a book like this.’  

With a serious expression, Lotus picked up a second book. One that had been difficult to find and required borrowing from the imperial library—*The Emergence of Gods.*  

*People say that the great gods created this prosperous and beautiful continent of Armenia.*  

*The gem-like sun and moon that rise and set each day, the majestic mountains and cliffs, the waves that create white foam, the vast oceans, and the flowers so beautiful, delicate, and poignant that they seem sculpted…*  

*But I cannot help but question this. If the gods are noble, powerful, and omnipotent, shouldn’t there be only one sun in the sky, just as there is only one emperor in the empire?*  

*One. A singular number—lonely, but perfect.*  

*Yet today, people worship not one god, but many.*  

*Do people, for their own convenience, see one god as many? Or do multiple gods together form a singular, complete entity?*  

*Or is it possible that all these assumptions are wrong?*  

“Gasp…”  

Lotus let out an involuntary breath as she read the preface.  

Now she understood why this book had been immediately banned by the temples and why its distribution in the market had been forbidden.  

From the perspective of the priests, the content would have been seen as nearly sacrilegious.  

Unlike *The Power of Belief,* which was written for easy reading by the general public, *The Emergence of Gods* was filled with abstract sentences and unnecessary embellishments.  

Moreover, the book recklessly explored revolutionary—and even shocking—ideas.  

‘There are quite a few typos as well.’  

It felt as though the author, Harnell, had simply poured out all his thoughts onto the page without much structure.

The book was filled with content that was hard to accept, difficult sentences, and typos—three conditions that would typically make reading unbearable. Yet somehow, Lotus felt more determined to finish it.

“It’s not a person’s heart I’m trying to understand; it’s just reading a book. I can do this.”

Jane, noticing Lotus’s deep concentration, did everything she could to make her comfortable. She brought drinks whenever Lotus seemed thirsty and even served meals in her bedroom, prepared as finger foods for easy consumption. Thanks to Jane’s care, Lotus spent most of her time reading, except for the few moments when she checked on Frederick’s condition.

*“If the gods do not consistently pursue ideals such as harmony, peace, and justice but instead act according to their emotions and desires, how are they any different from humans? Are they not simply beings of far greater power and ability?”*

*“What if gods did not precede the creation of the continent and care for humans, but rather, what if gods were born from the needs and desires of humans and other living beings? If so, then gods are beings who have grown by feeding on the emotions, desires, and beliefs of living creatures. Could it be that they serve as proxies for those creatures?”*

The writing style resembled that of a personal journal. However, the vocabulary was unexpectedly sophisticated, leading Lotus to think that Harnell, the author, must have been a well-educated noble or magician.

‘If he was a magician, perhaps Manores has heard of him?’

Lotus glanced at the clock. It was 8:30 in the evening—not too late.

Her destination was Frederick’s bedroom.

Despite Frederick’s constant grumbling and frustration, Manores spent most of his time in Frederick’s room, except for meal times. Lotus was grateful that he was there to watch over Frederick.

When Lotus knocked on the door to Frederick’s room, it opened on its own. Manores, still seated beside Frederick’s bed, was reading a book.

Lotus knew this was telekinetic magic at work.

“You came by three hours ago. Is something the matter?”

“Lord Manores, if you’re not too busy, may we speak for a moment?”

“Actually, I was getting bored.”

They sat at a small table inside the room. Lotus watched with fascination as Manores gestured to summon a teapot and cups. He nearly dropped a cup at one point but managed to catch it.

“Ah, my apologies. Despite practicing this type of magic consistently, I’m afraid I haven’t improved much.”

The reason magicians like Manores used magic for mundane tasks was simple: it was their equivalent of knights practicing swordsmanship. It was a way to train in handling mana.

“As long as the cup lands on the table without breaking, that’s all that matters.”

The chamomile tea, not too hot, was perfect to drink right away. Knowing how much Manores disliked unnecessary formalities, Lotus took a sip and jumped straight to her question.

“Do you know anything about someone named Harnell?”

“Harnell? You mean the author of *The Emergence of Gods*?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“He was a sage from about a hundred years ago, born as a commoner. He was the fourth sage of the continent, but near the end of his life, he suffered from mental illness, and the title of sage was revoked.”

In the continent of Armenia, a sage held a status equivalent to a master swordsman or magician. Many scholars aspired to the prestigious title of sage. However, Theodore, who had earned the title of sage at the youngest age, saw it only as a tool to give his words more weight.

“Mental illness?” 

A sage was expected to possess unmatched intelligence and cold, rational judgment. The idea that such a person had succumbed to mental illness left Lotus with a sense of unease.

“I heard it happened after he explored an unknown ancient dungeon,” Manores explained.

“…I see. Regardless, to have earned the title of sage as a commoner—he must have been extraordinary.”

“Have you read his book?” Manores asked, his eyes reflecting a genuine curiosity.

Lotus recited the passage that had left the strongest impression on her:  

*”If gods, or a god, do not consistently pursue harmony, peace, and justice but instead act according to their emotions and desires, how are they any different from humans? Would they not just be beings with far superior power and ability?”*

At this, Manores chuckled softly. He couldn’t help but be impressed by her intellect. Lotus was born in the wrong era and society—her intelligence was too sharp. Reciting a passage without a single mistake was no simple task.

“That’s why I choose not to believe in gods.”

Manores casually dropped a statement that could have been shocking.

“I’ve heard that magic is a power bestowed by gods to show compassion to mankind,” Lotus said, cleverly hiding her disbelief. After all, how could a magician, who wielded that very power, not believe in the gods?

“If the gods were truly merciful, they would’ve given that power to everyone,” Manores replied nonchalantly, but there was weight to his words.

Magic was indeed an ability that only a select few could wield, a power that required one to be chosen.

“Then, in that sense, sorcery seems more fair and just,” Lotus mused.

“You could say that. But dealing with mental strength, or what we call the ‘power of will,’ is not easy. The notion that anyone with a strong enough will can wield power is appealing, but it’s also incredibly difficult. Unlike mana, willpower is intangible and immeasurable. That makes it an unstable factor, prone to countless variables.”

Not all magicians were as knowledgeable as Manores, but he was clearly well-versed in subjects beyond magic.  

Through this conversation, Lotus found herself better able to process the knowledge she’d gained from reading *The Emergence of Gods* and the book Theodore had recommended.

“Lord Manores, I’ve heard there are two things that even the most powerful magic cannot achieve: resurrection and time reversal. But what about with the power of will? Would even that be impossible?”

Manores quickly understood. All the conversations they’d had thus far had been leading up to this one question.

At the same time, a question formed in his own mind. Why was Lotus pondering something so similar to what had been on his mind?  

Lotus had vaguely alluded to Frederick acting strangely, but Manores had sensed a strong sense of discord between the Frederick of a few days ago and the Frederick of now.  

He’d been observing him closely and had formed an absurd hypothesis.  

Frederick, one of the most powerful magicians Manores had ever met, might just have the strength to break through the limits and transcend time itself. Could the future Frederick have crossed over into the past?

It was a ridiculous idea, but miracles did exist in this world. Still, reason and logic held Manores back from fully embracing such an outlandish theory. Furrowing his brow slightly, he responded, “I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s more likely than with magic, but… the side effects of even minor sorcery can be severe. I wouldn’t even want to imagine the consequences of attempting a miracle like resurrection or time reversal. If I were a devout believer in the gods, I might say that such feats are within the realm of divine power.”