Reincarnation of the Magicless pinoy!
From Zero to Hero " No Magic?, No Problem!"
Side story 3 : The Boy who conquer the Sun!
By the time Rolien trudged back through the gates of the Grand Duke's estate, the sun was already sinking, painting the sky orange and gold. His boots were caked in mud, his clothes torn at the edge, and his hair stuck out in every direction. He was grinning, though — a pouch of faintly glowing ore slung proudly over his shoulder.
That grin vanished the moment he stepped into the courtyard.
Waiting for him by the entrance were Lyra, arms crossed and foot tapping; Elara, looking unimpressed; Elian, leaning against the wall with his arms folded; and at the center of them all, Lady Lirein, her expression the kind of calm that made even grown knights tremble.
Rolien froze mid-step. "...Oh no."
Lyra's voice cracked like a whip. "ROLIEN GRAND DUCAL KID! Where have you been?! Do you have any idea how worried we were?!"
He flinched. "Uh… researching?"
Elian pushed off the wall, pinching his nose dramatically. "Researching, huh? You smell like a swamp and a forge had a baby."
Elara folded her arms beside him, sighing. "Mother's been waiting for hours, you know."
Rolien laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "You all didn't have to wait up…"
Lirein's gaze sharpened. "Rolien. Step forward."
He obeyed instantly, shoulders stiff.
"Would you care to explain," she said softly, "why my ten-year-old son left the estate unannounced, entered a mana-infested ravine, and made his nanny cry?"
Lyra huffed. "Nearly had a heart attack, I did!"
Rolien's mouth opened, then closed. "...For science?"
"Science," Lirein repeated, deadpan.
"Yeah." He quickly fished the glowing Star Ore from his pouch and held it up proudly. "I found this! It's called Star Ore! It reacts to electricity — well, not exactly electricity, but energy flow! When charged, it glows! With this, I can make light without magic!"
Everyone blinked.
Elian coughed into his fist. "So… you risked your life to bring home a shiny rock?"
"It's not just a shiny rock!" Rolien protested. "It's a conductor with luminous properties—look, I'll show you!"
Before anyone could stop him, he pulled a small battery crystal from his pocket, touched the wires to the ore, and the gem lit up with a gentle blue glow. The light reflected in everyone's eyes, soft and steady.
Elara leaned in, surprised. "It's… beautiful."
Even Lirein's stern expression wavered slightly. "You actually made it glow…"
Rolien smiled wide, all pride and excitement. "See? No magic required. Just pure logic and curiosity."
Lyra sighed but smiled despite herself. "You could've told someone first, you know."
Rolien looked down sheepishly. "...Yeah. Sorry, Lyra."
Elian clapped a hand on his shoulder, smirking. "At least next time, tell us before you decide to fight mana beasts alone. And seriously, take a bath. You stink."
"Hey!" Rolien protested, swatting his hand away.
Lirein finally exhaled and rubbed her temple. "Rolien, you have your father's stubbornness and your grandfather's recklessness. But at least you came home safe."
Rolien perked up a little. "So… I'm not grounded?"
"Not yet," she said, her voice calm again. "But if you ever disappear without telling anyone again—"
Lyra and Elara finished in unison, "—we'll tie you to the bedpost next time!"
Everyone laughed, even Lirein, who shook her head and smiled faintly.
Rolien grinned sheepishly. "Okay, okay. I get it. I'll tell someone next time."
As they walked back inside, Elian draped an arm over his little brother's shoulders. "So what's next, genius? Turning rocks into lamps?"
Rolien smirked. "Actually… yeah."
Elian groaned. "Why do I even ask?"
Later that night, Rolien sat by his desk, freshly bathed and wrapped in a loose shirt, scribbling notes beside the softly glowing ore. He smiled faintly as he wrote under the quiet hum of his solar prototype.
Light without magic. Just wait—I'll make it happen.
The soft blue glow of the Star Ore reflected in his eyes, steady and full of promise.
The next morning, the workshop smelled of oil, warm metal, and burnt copper. Rolien stood on a stool beside Mr. Yohan's workbench, sleeves rolled up, face smudged with soot but eyes gleaming with excitement. Scattered across the table were bits of glass, coiled wires, and the faintly glowing ore he'd risked his life to find yesterday.
"Alright," Mr. Yohan said, scratching his beard as he eyed the parts. "So this is the ore that glows when you push energy through it?"
Rolien nodded eagerly. "Yup! I tested a small piece last night. When a bit of current passes through it, it heats up and glows like fire—but without burning the glass."
The old inventor let out a long whistle. "Hah, incredible… and you say this is not magic?"
"It's science!" Rolien grinned, setting a small metal base onto the table. "When we send electricity through this wire and into the ore, the resistance inside it causes it to heat up. The heat makes it glow—that's what gives off the light!"
Mr. Yohan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Electricity, huh? Still sounds like magic to me."
Rolien chuckled, connecting two thin copper wires. "Think of it like... tiny lightning running through metal. We control it so it doesn't explode. Instead, we make it work for us."
The old man laughed. "Lightning in a bottle, eh? You've got quite the imagination, boy."
Rolien frowned playfully. "Not imagination, Mr. Yohan—innovation."
He reached into his satchel and pulled out a small box made from polished wood, with a flat metal plate on top and a few crude wires sticking out. "This is the solar battery I built. It stores sunlight as energy. Once it's full, it can power the light bulb for hours."
Mr. Yohan leaned closer. "So that's what all the fuss with the glass panels was about yesterday?"
"Exactly!" Rolien grinned. "It's like the sun lending us its strength. The panels absorb sunlight, then this battery stores it. When night falls, we use that stored energy to make light!"
The old craftsman crossed his arms and let out a deep chuckle. "You really are something else, kid. No wonder the Grand Duke's hair's turning gray faster."
Rolien laughed nervously. "He'll forgive me when he sees this, I promise."
They worked in silence for a while—Mr. Yohan carefully melting the end of a thin glass tube while Rolien coiled the glowing ore filament inside with tweezers. The faint crackle of heated metal echoed through the shop. Rolien's hands trembled slightly as he attached the wires and sealed the bulb.
"Alright…" he whispered. "Moment of truth."
Mr. Yohan handed him the wire from the solar battery. "Go ahead, genius."
Rolien took a deep breath, then connected the wire to the base of the bulb. For a moment, nothing happened. Then—flick!
A soft, warm light bloomed inside the glass. Golden, steady, beautiful.
Mr. Yohan's eyes widened. "By the gods…"
Rolien grinned so wide his cheeks hurt. "It works! It actually works!" He jumped down from the stool and whooped, spinning in circles. "Light without fire! No mana! Just pure science!"
The old man threw back his head and laughed. "Well, I'll be damned! Rolien, my boy, you've just made history!"
Rolien stood there, staring at the glowing bulb in awe. "This... this is just the start," he murmured. "If I can light a room without magic… then maybe one day, I can power a whole city."
Mr. Yohan patted his shoulder. "One step at a time, lad. Let's just make sure this one doesn't blow up first."
That made Rolien laugh again. "Fair enough."
The two stayed there late into the evening, tinkering and adjusting, the warm light of the first-ever bulb in their world glowing between them—a silent promise of a new era that had just begun.
A week after the night the "sunlight in glass" first shone in the Grand Duke's courtyard, letters began to flood in.
One from the Merchant Guild.
Two from the Royal Academy of Science and Magic.
Three—three!—from noble houses, each offering absurd amounts of gold to "secure production rights" for the new invention.
Edric sat behind his desk, the letters piled high before him. The Duke's expression was somewhere between pride and exhaustion. "I swear, this boy's going to bury me in paperwork before gold ever does."
Lady Lirien, standing beside him, smiled despite herself. "You should be proud, Edric. His ideas could change lives."
"Oh, I am proud," Edric muttered, massaging his temples. "But if one more noble tries to 'invite' my ten-year-old son for tea, I'll—"
Before he could finish, the door opened. Elian and Elara stepped in, each carrying a sealed envelope. The wax bore the crest of the imperial dragon, shimmering gold under the lamplight.
Edric froze mid-sentence. "That seal…"
Elian nodded solemnly. "It's from the Emperor."
Lirien's hand flew to her mouth. "The Emperor himself?"
Elara handed the letter over carefully. "He's heard about Rolien's invention—the 'sunlight without flame,' as they're calling it. And he's requesting an audience. Personally."
For a long moment, the room was silent except for the soft crackle of the fireplace.
Edric finally exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "Of course he is."
Lirien's voice trembled between pride and worry. "Edric, this could mean… everything. The Empire's scholars, the nobles, the courts—if they see what Rolien can do—"
"Then every faction from here to the capital will want him," Edric finished grimly. He glanced toward the door, where faint laughter from the garden could be heard—Rolien's laughter. "And not all for good reasons."
Later that evening, Rolien was back in the workshop, testing a copper wire that connected two light bulbs. He carefully adjusted the voltage from his solar battery and grinned when both bulbs glowed evenly.
"Ha! It works! Parallel connection complete!" he shouted.
Lyra poked her head in, holding a cloth. "Young master, your father's waiting in the study. It sounds… serious."
Rolien blinked. "Serious? Did the garden burn again?"
"No. But you might wish it had," she said with a sympathetic smile.
When Rolien entered the study, his father stood by the window, staring at the open imperial letter. Lirien and his siblings were there too—Elara looked anxious, Elian curious.
Edric turned. "Rolien. Do you have any idea what your latest invention has done?"
Rolien hesitated. "Uh… made people happy?"
"Made the Empire curious," Edric corrected, holding up the letter. "This came from His Majesty, Emperor Albrecht himself. He's requesting to see you."
Rolien blinked. "The… the Emperor?"
Lirien placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Yes, dear. Word of your 'light without mana' has reached the imperial capital. They're calling it the Miracle of the North. The Emperor wishes to witness it personally."
Rolien's jaw dropped. "Why me? I'm just… experimenting."
Edric stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Because, son, what you've done breaks the rules of our world. No magic, no mana, yet light, energy, power. The Empire thrives on magic. You've shown them something that threatens to outshine it."
That thought made Rolien pause. His usual grin faded, replaced by a flicker of unease.
Lirien squeezed his hand. "Don't be afraid, Rolien. You've brought light to us—now the world is finally seeing it. Just remember… light also draws shadows."
He nodded slowly. "Then I'll just have to shine brighter."
Elian chuckled, trying to ease the tension. "Just don't blow up the palace, alright?"
Rolien shot him a smirk. "No promises."
Two days later, the Grand Duke's convoy departed the estate. Carriages adorned with the family crest rolled down the cobblestone road toward the capital, sunlight glinting off the glass bulbs fixed on each lantern post—each one powered not by magic, but by Rolien's invention.
Inside the carriage, Rolien sat by the window, notebook open, sketching new designs.
"If I can make wires carry light," he murmured to himself, "then maybe… one day, whole cities will never sleep again."
Outside, the first golden rays of dawn spilled across the horizon—
light meeting light, the world changing quietly before it even knew.
The Grand Duke's convoy rolled through the towering gates of the Imperial Capital, greeted by the roar of bustling carriages, banners, and the gleam of marble towers that stretched toward the sky.
Rolien pressed his face slightly to the window, eyes wide. The capital was massive — streets lined with enchanted lamps glowing faintly with mana, vendors shouting, knights in golden armor patrolling the avenues.
Lyra whispered from her seat, "Impressive, isn't it, young master?"
Rolien nodded slowly. "Yeah… but still too dim."
Lyra blinked. "Dim?"
He smiled faintly. "The light doesn't reach everyone. Only the rich side of town glows at night."
She chuckled softly. "And I'm guessing you'll want to fix that."
"Eventually."
By noon, the Grand Duke's family had arrived at the Imperial Palace. Massive golden doors swung open to reveal the throne hall, bathed in sunlight streaming through enchanted glass. Courtiers and scholars filled the chamber, their gazes locking on the small boy walking beside the Grand Duke.
Whispers rippled through the room.
"That's him? The Duke's youngest?"
"They say he created light without magic."
"A child without a core who defied the natural laws…"
Grand Duke Edric Grey walked tall beside his son, his presence alone silencing most of the murmurs. When they reached the dais, a man dressed in imperial robes rose from the throne — Emperor Albrecht, ruler of the North Empire. His sharp golden eyes glinted with both authority and curiosity.
"So," the Emperor said in a deep voice, "this is the young inventor who made the sun his servant."
Rolien bowed politely. "Rolien Edric Grey, Your Majesty."
The Emperor chuckled. "You've got manners, at least. Come, child. Show us this 'light' of yours."
Inside the Imperial Chamber of Scholars, tables were filled with ancient books, magical diagrams, and nobles eager to witness the demonstration. Rolien stood in the center, his small hands connecting wires and solar cells, while Mr. Yohan and two assistants unpacked the device.
When Rolien flipped the switch, a row of glass bulbs along the wall flickered to life — glowing bright as day.
The room gasped. Some scholars even stood from their chairs.
"No mana fluctuation detected!" one cried, tapping a mana gauge in disbelief.
"Impossible! How does it generate power without a core?"
Rolien didn't answer immediately. He just smiled slightly. "By using sunlight. Energy's everywhere — you just have to know where to look."
After the demonstration, the Emperor leaned forward on his throne. "Incredible. Truly." He gestured toward the scholars, who were already whispering and scribbling notes. "But my advisors say you've yet to hand over your designs. The Empire would like to see your blueprints… officially."
Rolien blinked. "Sure."
The entire room froze.
"Wait—you'll just give it?" stammered the head scholar, a thin man with a trimmed beard. "Just like that? Without any compensation? No patents? No negotiations?"
Rolien shrugged. "Why not? It's just a lamp."
The scholars glanced at one another, visibly relieved, greedy smiles spreading fast. One of them hurriedly produced a contract, sliding it toward him. "Then, if you'd simply sign over the rights—"
Rolien interrupted calmly. "Oh, I didn't say you could own it. You can use it."
The smiles faltered. "Use it?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I'll register the blueprint under my name — sole inventor. You can mass-produce it, sell it, or improve it, whatever. But every gold coin you earn from it, I get a percentage. Let's say... ten percent royalty on every sale."
Gasps rippled across the room. The scholars turned red with irritation. "You—You're demanding profit from an imperial patent?"
Rolien tilted his head. "I'm not demanding. I'm offering. You can earn thousands of gold for every one I make. Seems fair."
The Emperor's lips curved into a smile as the scholars stammered.
After a long pause, the Emperor raised a hand. "Accepted."
The hall went silent.
"Y-Your Majesty!" one scholar protested. "We can't—!"
"You can," the Emperor cut him off, his voice quiet but sharp. "And you will."
He turned his gaze back to Rolien, who was calmly packing away his notes as though the entire room hadn't just exploded with tension. "Tell me, boy," the Emperor said finally, "you handed over your creation so easily. Do you not care for fame? Status? Money? Surely you know what this invention means for the Empire."
Rolien blinked, then shrugged casually. "Meh… not really. I'm just doing this out of hobby. This was just a side project, anyway — a byproduct of what I'm really working on."
The air changed.
For a heartbeat, the entire chamber went still. Even Edric felt the faint pressure shift — a subtle flare of mana from the Emperor himself. He was watching the boy like a predator studying prey.
Edric's hand twitched, ready to intervene—
—but then the Emperor laughed.
"Pfft—Hahahahaha! A hobby!" His laughter echoed through the golden hall. "Hah! This boy—this child—talks about bending the laws of nature like it's a pastime!"
He wiped a tear from his eye, grinning. "You're something else, Rolien Edric Grey. Truly your father's son."
Edric exhaled quietly, tension leaving his shoulders.
Rolien tilted his head. "So… is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
The Emperor chuckled. "For now? Both." He stood, descending the dais and placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "The Empire will honor your contract. You'll receive royalties as the sole inventor. But…" His golden eyes gleamed. "I hope one day you'll show me what your real project is."
Rolien smiled faintly. "When it's ready."
That night, back in the guest chamber of the palace, Rolien sat at his desk sketching again. Lyra peeked in quietly.
"You handled yourself well today, young master."
Rolien grinned. "Those old men were easy. They just think too much about money."
Lyra laughed softly. "And you?"
He looked at his glowing bulb on the table. "I'm thinking about what comes next."
On the paper before him were three words, underlined twice:
" Now then off to my real project! Mu reff!"
To be continue.