《Arafoo Kenja no Isekai Seikatsu Nikki》 Prologue Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax Prologue: Ossan, Dies Authors Note: This is the series Ive worked on. So whats next? This time its a polite ossan protagonist. He may look young, but hes in his 40s. What will you become, ossan?! Youre not gonna strangle me, right? Lets start with such a feeling. * * * * VR-RPG Sword And Sorcery] It was the popular full immersion game released for the Dream Works]gaming system. The game itself was currently on its seventh expansion and the number of enthusiastic users was on a constant rise. The sensory synchronization system created through synaptic and electronic inputs simply outdid any other companys gaming system. All five senses could be experienced in the virtual world, which grabbed the attention of thrill-seeking gamers and insured that people would constantly return to the game world. Osako Satoshi is one such gamer, who went by Zeros Merlin]while enjoying his time in the virtual world. His avatar had bangs that covered one of his eyes, a stubble and a figure that wasnt anything special. While he wore first-class equipment, it was all unified by a design scheme that favored inconspicuousness. Many people didnt suspect that the medium-sized man in the dirty grey cloak was actually one of the games top five players. Moreover, he was one of the best destroyers in the world. In this game, combat damage was determined by skill level and player level. The elements that attracted the most attention, however, were the equipment and item creation, and the ability to craft your own spells. Magic functioned in this virtual world by stacking 56 basic symbols and 10 numbers in a unique order. The Spell Circuits ]system allowed the player to remodel the initial spells power and effects by hand, resulting in situations where the power and magic power consumption of a spell could be lowered (for some reason magic power decreased with a spells strength). Even in cases where the damage calculation should have resulted in zero damage, it was common for a unique effect to be attached to the spell, leading multiple players in investigating the modifiers available for each spell. The system was so confusing at first that the game was labeled kusoge (a shitty game) early on. After countless hours in the field, it was eventually discovered that if you primed your avatars magic beforehand it was possible to create optimal spell conditions. However, since most magic didnt have any numerical values it was necessary to guess how much magical power was required to prime a spell The ;Spell Circuits ] caused quite the commotion at launch because there were no hints that spells could be modified, and it was only discovered purely by chance. The setting behind this was that players were able to find clues by exploring dungeons and the game world, but it was up to them to inspect or ignore those hints. Although the game offered a tremendous amount of freedom, only those who truly immersed themselves in its mechanics took advantage of the system, while other players used the standard magic. The time-consuming trial of creating magic was viewed as too restrictive for those who enjoyed exploration. However, depending on the skill of the player it was possible to create spells with no cast- or cooldown-time. As a committed hobbyist, Satoshi spent his free time crafting high-powered spells that conserved energy and was renowned as a famous magician for his efforts. Well, infamous magician Hed set up a party with friends of a similar level and they would constantly tackle difficult high-level quests. Currently, he and his companions were fighting an evil god from the story mode. He didnt know how long theyd been fighting. He just knew that theyve come this far to defeat the last boss. The five of them had managed to force the ominous evil god into its third form. They were equipped with various magical weapons and had been overwhelming the evil god with their firepower since the start. Several years had passed since the games release, but they have always monopolized the highest player rankings. A major contributor to that was Satoshis magic, which was classified as some of the strongest and most effective magic in the world. Satoshi threw his everything into this world as it was the only place where he could relax. Once upon a time, hed been a programming technician for a top corporation, but he was laid off for some reason and now lived a lonely rural life. Hed spend every day playing the game. In other words, he was socially withdrawn. In this fictitious world, he was an influential Sage] and the envy that his status generated only pulled him deeper into it. He was a bachelor over 40 and he had no family besides an older sister, so it could be said that the virtual world is the only place where he could be himself. Incidentally, he was a wizard in real life as well. He would have had decent looks if he fixed his appearance, but hed become too ingrained in his surrounding to do so. Well It shouldnt be much longer, right? Hey! Kill him quickly. Ill follow after you. Appreciate it, will you? Im looking forward to the rare drops Then, well end it with that formation? Successive waves of magic attacks immediately reduced the evil gods HP to 0. Because they were so strong a number of cheating allegations had been raised against them. However, it was nothing but eccentric enthusiasm, which overturned common sense, that lead them to develop magic without paying other people any mind. The magic was also unusually complicated and other players struggled to unravel their incomprehensible system. It was a clever way to produced powerful magic at a glance, but it bordered on obsessive at its worst. Because they refused to share their magic with anyone, the allegations of cheating only increased. Its over What now? ;Do it again? Im heading to bed after this I have work after this, Ill pass. Im bowing out Me too. Sorry, Ill make up for it some other time. Well, today was a long one. Night, everyone?? Night?? His companions logged out and vanished one after another. Only Satoshi remained in the evil gods castle, checking the loot theyd received. However, him being there alone was the start of everything. The evil gods body suddenly began to move. Its glared at its hated enemy as its body began to release miasma. I will not permit A creature such as you to destroy me??? I shall not permit it!! What?! Impossible, its HP should be 0 Accursed Goddess those who sealed me, as well as those who know nothing, yet oppose me!! The event isnt over?! This is The evil god directed it anger towards him as it threw all of its power into a curse. The surroundings were drowned in a strange light. On that, the power all across Japan went out. The corpses of several unidentified people were discovered a few days later, but the cause of death was never discovered. On that day, Osako Satoshi quietly passed away in a rural japanese village. Chapter 01 Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax Ossan, Reborn in Another World Before I realized it, I was in a lush and green forest. Looking around, I had no idea why or, for that matter, how I got here. No matter where I looked, I was surrounded by trees and plants Id never seen before. Where am I? Im sure I was playing a game in Gagyat, Gaguaya! ?????????? As I noticed the psychedelic colored birds flying overhead, my words trailed off. My confusion only grew, as they were clearly not creatures from earth. The possibility of this not being earth was high. There werent any signs of the building youd find on earth, a majestic jungle sprawled in every direction, and the two moons hanging in the sky made my hypothesis all the more probable. Where is this place? This doesnt seem to be Japan and there are those weird plants growing everywhere. Ive never seen such things before The plant, which looked like a combination between a pitcher plant and a rafflesia, let out a crunching sound as its vines dragged a wolf-like creature closer to its central flower. Even if such a plant existed on earth, I doubt they stood well over two meters tall. The small fangs growing in the center of the flower where biologically impossible, at the very least. Suddenly, I felt that something was out of place on my waist. Laying my eyes upon it, I was at a loss for words. While there were a few decorations on my belt, it was the two weapons that interested me more. They were items from a game I was quite familiar with. They were swords. They were small, one-handed swords that were categorized as aShort Sword]. These two player-forged swords, crafted from an abundance of rare materials, were strapped to my waist. At first I wanted to think that this was the game world, but common sense dictated that that was impossible. Even as I was thinking that it was impossible, I noticed something else. I was wearing the slightly dirtied, gray robe that my avatar had been equipped with. Hah, hahaha thats not supposed to be there, right? Was I teleported into the game? Thats just a common Light Novel premise I couldnt help but laugh. Because no matter how much I refused to believe it, I already knew the answer. Status open When the words left my lips, I just wanted it to be nothing but a joke. However, a familiar status screen appeared before my eyes. My consciousness abandoned me for a brief moment. This this isnt a joke, huh? This is too elaborate to be someones prank. ;What happened to me? Zeros Merlin, Level 1879 HP: 87,964,503/87,964,503 MP: 179,324,580/179,324,580 Class: Sage Class-Skills: Magical Knowledge: God (Max) Alchemical Knowledge: God (Max) Blacksmith: God (Max) Medicine: God (Max) Magical Equipment: God (Max) Sword: God (Max) Spear: God (Max) Brawling: God (Max) Hunting: God (Max) Assassination: God (Max) Cooking (85/100) Farming (56/100) Dairy Farming: (24/100) Physical Skills: Abnormal Status Resistance (All) (Max) Magic Affinity (All) (Max) Elemental Resistance (Max) Physical Enhancement (Max) Defensive Enhancement (Max) Mana Enhancement (Max) Mana Manipulation (Max) Magic Proficiency (Max) Martial Arts Proficiency (Max) Crafting Proficiency (Max) Appraisal (Max) Spirit (Max) Intuition (Max) Night Vision (Max) Stealth (Max) Detection (Max) Vigilance (Max) Mineral Prospecting (Max) Awareness (Max) Evasion (Max) Mana Perception (Max) Crafting Boost (Max) Dismantling Boost (Max) Enchanting (Max) Automatic Translation (1/100) Automatic Deciphering (1/100) Spirit (Max) Automatic Writing Translation: 1/100 Encyclopedia of Monsters (Max) Encyclopedia of Materials (Max) Limit Break (Max) Extreme Limit Break (Max) Critical Hit-Chance (Max) Interpersonal Skills: Merlins Spellbook (Max) Crafting Recipes (Max) I have transcended the realm of man. These are the dangerous abilities of a superhuman. Seriously I was obvious inhuman. Even without knowing the standards of this world, I was certain I had to be an abnormality. In fact, my magic already rivaled that of the games Evil God. Rather, considering that just the five of us had managed to beat it, we were already beyond normal. I continued to stare at the screen with a blank expression. Is, Is that a message? Hmm, sender unknown A red envelope was flashing at the bottom of the status screen. I slowly moved my index finger towards the message Lets see Huh? God?! The message was titled About Your Current Situation?. I had a bad feeling about this. When I saw the heart, I was already beginning to doubt the god of this world. Yahoo? Goddess Freya-chan here, how are you? Dont worry and keep your head high? I should just delete this, shouldnt I? A terrible stench has begun to blanket the area No I was only getting really annoyed for some reason. This tension is starting to give me a headache. Since theres not much time, Ill be quick. 2487 years ago, the hero managed to defeat the evil god and seal him away. However, they ended up being sealed within your game world. In this world, sealing that evil god away came at a great cost, as it was impossible to completely defeat it, you see?? Ahahah? How annoying why would you do such a thing?!! Dont they toss away non-recyclables in your society? ;It was the same, back then I didnt have a better hand to play? And thats it? In the game that guy was beatable, and sure enough, you did a splendid job of doing that. That thing was so annoying? I cant believe such an ugly goddess existed! ?????That was a Goddess? I only saw a lump of entrails. It had reminded me of an esoteric UMA with pieces of other creatures attached to it. It had looked like an unidentified creature had wrapped the internal organs of a hundred creatures around itself in a horrifying manner. Even as I tried to remember, I could only recall a discomforting feeling that was unfitting for a goddess. Of course, I didnt count on her self-destructing. It was a bit hasty, yeah?? And because of that?, I decided to bring those who died at that time here? I reconstructed you based on the game data? No way does that mean that, apart from me, others were also dragged into this? Because you defeated the evil god?, you were reborn based on the game data, ya know? This worlds settings arent too different from the games, so the reincarnation was easy. It was the least I could do, ya know? I want to hit you you callously had us dispose of your hazardous waste, I want to beat you up until you cry No one with an ounce of common sense would have given their lives for such a one-sided plot. Even I had a future I wanted to strive for. Though I didnt knew it at the time, I was tricked into taking part in another persons scams. There hadnt been a way to consent to anything. From the items you owned to the equipment you had, I recreated everything with stuff from this world, good luck? Youre wondering how to make your own consumable items? Well, I placed all the recipes in your brain, take your time to check them out?? Youre the same age you were in your real world, and if you want to rejuvenate yourself you have to make some items? Sorry, Sorry?. Waaa, the complaints from the gods managing your old world were rushing in, rushing in. Because of that I had no other choice but to reincarnate you, ya see?? Resurrection goes against the natural order after all? ;For all of those reasons, ?please enjoy the remainder of your life in this world? Well then? bye-bye? I understood the why, but that still didnt improve my situation. Even so, I have no idea where I actually am, just standing around in an unknown forest. That goddess attitude pissed me off more than anything. Each ? only annoyed me more and more. I understand the current situation, but I wonder if are there any people living around this place It was dangerous to move without knowing where you were. The fact that this world resembled the game meant that it was possible that monsters roamed this world. I began to look for the high ground after that thought crossed my mind. This should work Wings of the Dark Crow Wings of the Dark Crow was a flight magic I had created. After numerous experiments, I managed to create a spell that decreased the magic consumption of the inefficient basic flight spell. According to the game settings, residents of the world were supposed to have a magic database in their brains. By improving basic magic and storing the alterations away, it was possible to invoke various spells. In addition, it was possible to take the spell from storage and alter it as you pleased. As a result, I was able to craft as many spells as I could imagine. The magic manifested in this world. I was freed from the bounds of gravity and began to rise into the sky. O-Oh!? Amazing, Im flying! Im flying!! Despite being in my forties, I was as giddy as a child until I remembered my purpose and began scanning the area. However Theres nothing but forest Where can I find a town? I could see the lush forest and a mountain, yet I didnt find a place where people lived. I searched for a basic town or village, but found nothing. No matter how you look at it, this is a punishment game, right? That Despite my griping, I continued to anxious fly about. I was like a migrating bird without a flock When I noticed that my magic power was running low, I descended to the ground to rest for a few hours before resuming my search. Even after all this time, I still hadnt seen a town or a village. At this point, it may be necessary to camp out tonight. If I wanted to survive, I needed food because otherwise I would starve and die. Even if I say that? The message had said that all my possessions had been recreated, but I didnt see a speck of food in my inventory. When I played the game, I would properly gather the food we needed for our adventures, but now it was a matter of survival. Fortunately, the seasonings were there, but I didnt have any cooking implements. I have no choice but to hunt What animals are even eatable in this world? Though I complained, I still pulled the bow out of my inventory and strapped a quiver to my back. I was aiming for small animals, but I had a big problem. Now that I think about it, Ive never hunted before. Yamada-san offered to take me but Since I lived in the country, neighborly relations had been deeply ingrained in me. I remembered the time we brought down a wild boar that had been damaging crops, but that was only possible because a hunter had been nearby to give instructions. This was my first time hunting alone, and if I failed to secure food I would die. Since I couldnt exchange my stomach for a full one, I erased my presence and began searching for pray. Would you look at that Forest Rabbit, Level 5 HP: 50/50 MP: 10/10 It was a common rabbit. Rabbits were cautious creatures that would flee at the slightest sound. They also had the habit of eating their own droppings, but what I needed was the meat, not the organs. I drew an arrow and aimed it from above the trees. The arrow was fired the instant the rabbit turned its back to me. DDDDoogoooooooooooooooooooooooon!! The power was too high. Did I use the bow wrong? The rabbit had regrettably been reduced to a horribly looking piece of meat. The weapons performance was too great. I glared at the bow I held. Magically Enhanced Bow #321 +30.000 Attack power Enhanced Physical Strength Double Damage Increased Offensive Ability Increased Accuracy One-Hit-Kill Exploding Target Ive killed needlessly This wasnt a weapon for hunting. My friends and I had made it for fun, but I didnt think it had all that much practical use. Dismantling the prey wasnt an issue if they all exploded. It was impossible to procure food with this. Calm down If I remember currently, I should have the Discretion]skill. I can use that, somehow The prey was killed in a single blow before exploding. If I lower the power using Discretion, I could deliver the killing blow with a knife. I resumed my search for prey with that thought. This time The next time I shot the arrow properly and critically wounded the prey. Switching to a knife, I delivered the decisive blow to the rabbit. I breathed a relieved sigh when another explosion didnt go off. No, the only problem was dismantling it. Doing it by a stream would be good. As I was wandering around, I killed three more rabbits. I was hungry, but not that much. Other carnivores might smell the blood, but that doesnt necessarily mean they will come to attack me. DDDGya, Gigya, Gigyagya! And just like that Go-Goblins!? A constant fixture within fantasy worlds. The king of small fries. If you saw one, there were hundreds of them. The promised monster to which G was attached. I whistled like a detective out of a period drama when I saw the goblin. The forest began to rustle as the number of goblins increased. This isnt funny!! I ran away as fast as my legs could take me. While I could hunt rabbits, I couldnt bring myself do the same to humanoids. It wasnt because I couldnt win the fight, I ran because I had an aversion to murder, like anyone raised in modern society. I was never prepared to live in a harsh environment prior to this. It was a while before I noticed something. Even though I fled with all my might, the goblins continued their pursuit. Though I was fast, they had an overwhelming numerical advantage. Whenever a goblin blocked my path I would pivot in another direction, but there was always another goblin waiting for me. Their numbers gradually increased to well over a hundred. Whats with this damn foreeeeeessssssttttttttttt!!? I was at a loss. Unbeknownst to me back then, this vast and unpopulated forest was known as the Dark Forest of Fafuran] It was a wild kingdom inhabited by a number of demons, some of which hadnt even been discovered yet. There were many monster hordes that numbered in the thousands, and goblins were just a staple race. I wanted to escape using my flight magic, but the myriad arrows flying around kept my feet on the ground. This was the strength of numbers. While I desperately ran, I noticed something like a light up ahead. I approached it like a moth attracted to a flame. A village suddenly appeared before his eyes. No, given its size, it was more accurate to call it a town. Am, am I saved ugah?! Even as I had that thought, I realized my mistake. A large horde of goblins was waiting there for me. I was heading straight for a goblin village. I couldnt stop laughing at myself for jumping headfirst into enemy territory. AhaAhahahahha My mind was heading in a dangerous direction. DDDGigiya! Gyogyagyagya!! Goblins surrounded me with weapons in hand, ready to kill and devour their prey. However, the goblins also failed to notice something. The being reflected in their eyes had already reached its breaking point All of you Just disappeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!! A magical storm suddenly began to rage. The monsters trembled with fear. But it was already too late the forbidden magic had been unleashed. Dark Judgement] An enormous, jet-black sphere of magic suddenly appeared, creating smaller spheres of the same color that mercilessly swallowed the goblins. Thunder and whirlwinds blanked the sky as the spheres obliterated the goblins and the ground they stood on. Itd turned into a one-sided massacre. It was a spell I had created in the game after repeatedly fighting the Evil God and scientifically analyzing its attacks. The goblin village was utterly devastated, and a large crater had been left in its place. However, that wasnt the end, because a giant explosion was created around the caster. The super gravity magic Dark Judgment]basically created a black hole that was moments away from going critical and randomly releasing its energy. The goblins were reduced to quantum units and used as fuel for this incredibly destructive attack. The more enemies there were, the greater the spells power, and it didnt end until all of the enemies were wiped out. It was an utterly terrifying spell. By the time my brain began to function again, it looked as if an enormous meteor had struck the area. It was as if a small lunar crater had been born. Ive committed an irreparable mistake That was an understatement. Although I survived, the strength of my magic was far beyond my imagination. The fact that it only consumed a hundred mana was a cruel joke. Id just unleashed a natural disaster. The goblins had left a massive amount of magic stones in their wake. When a monster was slain, it left behind a magic stone that was harder than diamonds. For that reason, the stones were left behind even after that spell of annihilation. Of course, there were items capable of breaking the stones but they were few and far between. Still, Id come across an excess of magic stones. ????Lets look for a water source. Though I said that, my mind was far from being calm. Id realized just how insanely far outside the norm I was. I moved on with heavy steps, like a wandering ghost. Hours later, I finally came across a spring. The water was so transparent that I could even see the fish swimming through it. I endured my hunger as I tried to dismantle the forest rabbit. In the game, there was a knife you could make that guaranteed a successful dismantling. Dismantling how do you do that? Despite hunger threatening to overwhelm me, my lack of experience doing this caused me to hesitate. On top of that, I was in the middle of a monster-filled, unknown wilderness. As I struggled to figure out what to do, something amazing happened in front of my eyes. Im dismantling it? My hands where cleanly separating the meat from one of the forest rabbits. Not even a drop of blood landed on the fur. This was yet another abnormal situation. Theres no helping it. On to the next one Huh? The moment the forest rabbit was relieved of its appetizing meat, my arms unconsciously reached for another one. Such frightening speed. I was amazed by what I was seeing. Perhaps this is the synergy of my class-skills? I had the Hunting]andDismantling]skills after all. The skill corrections must have greatly enhanced my hunting capabilities. Skills were divided into five ranks: , < Master>, , and , with the proficiency gap between each level being incredibly large. Well, those basic names were subject to change depending on ones class. Combined with my physical skills, the processing speed must have been increased exponentially. In order to advance an occupational skill fencing, for example, youd need to max out the Fencing]skill before ascending to the next level. Most of my occupational skills were at the rank of , leaps and bounds above mastery. The precise high-speed-dismantling was something observers wouldnt be able to follow. This is no longer within the realm of humans Wouldnt it be better if I live in seclusion? I need to gain experiences with an abundant number of skills While I had been deeply invested in the game, things changed when everything was brought into reality. If it came to it, Id cause nothing trouble for any country I stepped foot in. I wanted to avoid that if possible. Besides, Id like to get married at some point that would be impossible if Im considered a monster? It was a serious problem for a DT like me. I had enough materials to make rejuvenation potions, but that was also out of the question. Furthermore, I didnt even have money in this world. Hmm, it helps that this worlds standard currency mirrored the Japanese Yen, but The conversation should be 1 Gol to 1 Yen. From there it went to five Gol, ten Gol, fifty Gol, a hundred Gol and five hundred Gol. Everything was in gold coins, but their value was determined by size. It was common sense in this world that alchemists were constantly crafting Gol, and that ten million Gol was a gold brick rather than a piece of currency. Unlike on earth, gold was relatively cheap and easy to come by. Sitting by myself as I roasted the rabbit meat was pretty lonely. Still, there was something to distract myself from that loneliness. Now that I think about it the price of a life should be low in this world. A thief might try to kill me if they show upHaa? According to the in-game settings, there shouldve been multiple nations throughout the world. A persons status depended on whatever country they belonged to. In some countries, magicians were given the cold shoulder, some nations discriminated against a certain group of people and others had mandatory military service. Those were the settings at least, but it was impossible to know if they still applied to this world. Even if I was reluctant to participate in criminal activates, in the future I might end up in a situation where I needed to act decisively. In order to survive, it was better to attract as little attention as possible. Well, theres no point in thinking about it now the food is done. I brought the skewed meat to my lips. Delicious In a nook of the Dark Forest of Fafuran, an ossan ate his meal alone. I silently devoured the rabbit meat as if Id returned to a primitive age. But I continued to eat. I was just so hungry. After that, I tied myself to a tree branch and went to sleep. I slept like that because it was safer than sleeping on the ground, but my sore backside the next morning stopped me from ever doing it again. To be honest, that was the worst night of my life. Aa my butt hurts The way that came out was a bit misleading. Lets get a better grasp of my skills as I hunt. How about swordsmanship? The weapons I had now were perfect in terms of power. Or rather, they were the definition of excessive force. The plain looking swords attached to my waist were forged with the best methods I had had available, but their appearance was a bit of a joke. Although all of my equipment was plain, that had been done to mislead others. The same could be said for my stubble, unkempt hair and the simple bangs that hide my eyes. The slightly rounded back completed the look of slightly messy ossan. However, this ossan had been abnormally strong in the game. If people actually possessed levels of insane power, it was obvious that other people would be frightened and avoided those people. I wanted to deflect envy and jealousy, but I also wanted to avoid loneliness. A lonely life must be prevented at all cost. So I needed to overcome my opponents with as little strength as possible. The safest option was to restrain myself to the common standard. However, I didnt know what that standard was. For now, I just have to get used to my body so troublesome Id spent 10 years living a slow life in the countryside, so it was a bit difficult to motivate myself now. Yet Im not old enough to sayOre, TUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!. I would like to achieve my small dream to have a family. With that said, I had no other choice but to keep my power under control. Are there any good opponents When I said that, I detected some kind of biological reaction in the area. These automatic skills were really useful. *rustle* I placed my hands on my swords as I listened to the plants and trees rustling. The monster that appeared had a pigs head and an obese body. It was a common orc. Orc Meat] I can eat this. If I can kill it It was a commonly eaten monster. Monster meat was really tasty if you could get a hold of it. At the same time, it was famous as the erotic monster of fantasy worlds, and that doesnt seem to have been changed in this world. They were extremely fertile, had strong sex drives and there werent that many female orcs. Mass breeding often resulted in major battle events in the game. Their militant and omnivorous nature meant that orcs were a monster that constantly had to be subjugated. I instinctively drew my swords and slew the orc. It was an instant kill. What can you call a situation like this one? How much of a monster am I?? The Orc had noticed me. However, Id been moving so fast that it hadnt even had time to defend itself. Id been like a phantom. After quickly dismantling the Orc, I moved on to my next target. This pattern continued for a while. In conclusion, the sayingso powerful its no longer funnywas appropriate. Acquiring food is guaranteed but its only meat, as expected Only meat for three meals a day would grow tiring. I did search for edible plants, but I could only find medicinal herbs for some reason. The Bloody Belladonna]had no other use besides making poison. While the toxins had medicinal properties, it was a useless without the proper equipment. Though I could practice making magical medicines, with no vessels to store them, it would just be a waste of time. The number of wasteful things had increased at that moment. Breadwith a bowl of white rice. On the second day of my wilderness survival, I was ready to give up. Although I was originally a farmer used to inconveniences, survival in solitary exile was difficult. When I came across other beings, they werent native people, they were monsters that took me for food. I came across them at a rather high frequency. My on-hand materials increased but my meal circumstances hadnt changed. I was disgusted by such a brutal situation. It was impossible for a person from modern society to immediately adapt to such a primitive lifestyle. The fact of the matter was that if I didnt remain focused I could easily die. Why isnt there any wild grass in this mountain of greenery. ;I cant get enough nutrients from meat alone Only complaints left my mouth. I dont believe in god The gods are my enemies! ǣ٣գϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣϣ The punishment for insulating the gods swooped down from the sky. A slim monster with a long neck and green scales was flying towards me. Its two legs were tipped with sharp claws, and its mouth was full of sharp teeth. Wy-Wyvern!? The wyvern relentlessly pursued me, knocking me to the ground repeatedly over the course of its pursuit. It was unreasonable to challenge a flying monster in a body I was unfamiliar with, so I could do nothing but avoid its attacks and flee. That deadly game of tag continued well into the night. Chapter 02 Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax Ossan, encounters a trope It had been a week since Id been brought to this world. After so many days of my survivalist lifestyle, I finally came across an artificially created road. The Fafuran forest was a harsh environment to live in. I didnt have a single moment of relaxation because of the goblins, orcs, trolls, man-eaters, wyverns and chimeras. When I tried to sleep in a cave, it turned out to be a killer ant nest, I was attacked by lizardmen when I took a break by a riverside and when I went to sleep in a rocky area a crazy ape took a swipe at my backside. My heart had been strained over the last week. A-At last Ill be able to find a human city hahugh hugh Id became awfully emaciated over the last few days. However, my vigor and physical strength remained and I had used only a little mana. I was relieved at finally escaping that hell, and just remembering how harsh my life so far had been made me feel depressed. Well, which way is the town? With two directions, I have a fifty percent chance Im still lost. I picked up a fallen branch, raised it into the air and tried to decide my path based on which way it fell when I dropped it. Since it landed to the left twenty-three times, I decided to go right. Apparently, I have quite a contrary nature. The road was a simple one, constructed by cutting down the trees and leveling the ground. There wasnt any cobblestone and the weeds were starting to retake the road in a few areas. Although it seemed like this place would resemble a river when it rained, I kept a leisurely stride. In any case, there might be people in the direction I was heading in. If there are, then this would be a chance to interact with someone, or maybe even to make some friends. After living in the wild for the last week, I was missing human interactions. Id be happy even if a bandit appeared. Anyone would be fine as long as I could talk to someone. However, if I came across a bandit with the intention to kill, it would dissolve into a one-sided slaughter. Ive been fighting for survival for a week after all. At some point, Id developed a knee-jerk reaction to mercilessly kill anything that posed a danger to my well-being. Speaking of things I noticed That said its been a while since my last bath? I dont stink, do I? Since there hadnt been a moment to bathe, I was worried about my body odor. It was a strange worry to have for someone who normally didnt care about his appearance. Simply noticing that was a large achievement for me. I should clean myself first a river should be good enough. I walked down the road as I said that Whether it was because I was lucky, or because it was a commandment of God, I came across a river. However, it was the artificial bridge that caught my eyes. It was a small river about 7 meters across, but I was thankful for the water nonetheless. I picked a place that would be invisible from the bridge and made my way towards it. After removing my equipment, I jumped into the river. After not having bathed for such a long time even this kind of bath became unexpectedly comforting. Under these circumstances, I thoroughly washed the dirt off my body. Furthermore, I washed my clothes and began preparing a meal while they dried on a nearby boulder. However it was only meat, just as always I dully watched the river while I waited for my clothes to dry. Since itd been days since my last calm moment, I spent it leisurely. Occasionally, I heard a creepy laughter. They should be dry soon? When the sun reached the apex of the sky, I donned my clothes and equipment again. Id grown accustomed to wearing my equipment over the week, and it just felt natural to wear it. Though the equipment would be considered useless in modern society, my familiarization with it was a case example of human adaptability. Occasionally, I caught sight of a merchant carriage crossing the bridge, which proved that there must have been human settlements nearby. When I crossed the bridge myself, I began heading in the direction the carriage had been going to. A luxurious, all-white carriage passed me by, but since I had no interest in the rich I paid it no mind. I venture forward with light steps. On the road through Fafuran, a lone carriage was running along. The luxurious, pure white carriage had gold wiring along its frame. Two knights were sitting on the drivers seat, while two well-dressed people sat inside the carriage. One of the passengers was an elderly, but muscular man. This person was the former Archduke of this region, and related by blood to the royal family of the Magical Kingdom Solisthea]. However, he was currently enjoying his retirement and simply doting on his cute granddaughter. His name was Creston van Solisthea]. Shortly after he had handed the family estates over to his son, the dispute between his two grandsons had started to intensify, with his granddaughter Selestina] becoming the only thing to ease his worries. Selestina was sitting opposite of her grandfather with a slightly depressed look on her face and a book in hand. In a country where magicians ruled the land, she was neglected by her father, the duke. That was because she had no talent for magic whatsoever. To be accurate, she, like all creatures in this world possessed magical power, but her ability to use it was remarkably low. In addition to that, she wasnt even the child of the duchesses, so her familys persecution of her had been severe. Selestina was born from an affair between the current duke and one of the mansions servants. Coupled with her inability to use magic, her torment only continued. Creston, who was protective of his only granddaughter, had her move into his retirement villa in an attempt to make her talents flourish under his watch. Hed hired famous magicians from across the country to be her tutor, but all it resulted in her being branded as a failure. Creston just wanted to see his granddaughters smiling face again, but all he had done was hurt her. Glimpses of pity could be seen in Crestons gentle expression before it vanished. For her part, Selestina continued with this because of her grandfathers kindness. Even she was the daughter of a mistress, he loved loved her unconditionally and she respected and cherished him as well. However, no matter how much affection they had, it meant nothing if her efforts didnt bear fruit. As a result of her failures, her smile had become a sorrowful one. It was painful for Creston to see it. When the carriage approached the bridge, Selestina let out a Ah. What is it, Tina? Did you see something? Yes, grandfather. There was a magician who was carrying twin swords. Twin swords? Are you sure it was a magician? Was there really a person like that? Yes, he wore a grey robe really Did he have a shabby appearance? If that person was wearing a grey robe, they mustve been a low-ranking magician. Or maybe theyre a traveler from a foreign country. It was a custom for magicians of this country to express their rank through the color of their robe. Gray was the lowest, black was intermediate, crimson was advanced and white belonged to the elites in direct service to the country. If you were walking around in a gray robe, it meant that you were either a minor magician, or a magician from a foreign country. Research regarding magic was on the cutting edge in this magic kingdom, but there were many factions within the state. It was a system set up to prevent internal struggles. However, to carry a sword They are probably making up for their shortcomings as a magician, thats a rather difficult choice to make. Why is that? Well, while magicians master magic, swordsmen master the blade. Generally, trying to do both only results in a half-baked magic swordsman. Both magic and swordsmanship had their advantages and disadvantages. Magic was superior at long-distance combat and support, but was weak in close combat. While swordsmen where deadly at close range, they lacked long-distance attacks and were immediately defeated by long-distance magic. Depending on the strategy, neither could be considered outright better than the other. Furthermore, the harsh training required to master both was something that could not be completed in one lifetime. Either way, in order to become the most powerful, one needed to have talent and to spend a lot of effort. However, its possible theyre carrying the swords for self-defense. Magicians are weak when caught off guard after all. Despite my best efforts I havent advanced a single step yet Despite her depression, Selestina returned her eyes to the magic textbook shed been reading. She had memorized the magic formations, but had difficulties to activate them. She had already studied them multiple times, but still havent found the answers she needed. While their attention had been elsewhere until now, Creston noticed that the carriage was moving slower than before, so he called out to the two knights in the driver seat. Is something wrong? My lord. Some merchants seem to be stuck and can not go on. Theyre stuck? Was there an accident? It seems a fallen tree is blocking the road and the merchants and guards are trying to move it. Hmm a fallen tree Watch our surroundings. I have a bad feeling about this. I understan huh?! When the knight raised a shout, Creston realized that his concerns had been justified. The thieves that had been lurking in the nearby forest attacked all at once. B-Bandits!! Guards protect me!! Aagh! Damn, its an ambush!! Form a perimeter around the carriage! Archers, intercept them!! While the merchants were panicking, the battle between the guards and bandits began. One of the merchants awkwardly screamed as he fell after being hit by an arrow. Fortunately, it wasnt a life-threatening injury, but his guards began to scream and scatter. G-Grandpa! Hush dear. I will take part as well!! Creston exited the carriage and drew his silver swords from its sheath. It was a magical sword that created a defensive barrier around its user. The two knights brandished their shields to defend against the arrows. Well this wont do. Their numbers are too great. Although it was a magic sword, there was a limit to how long he could channel magic through it, and without magic, the barrier would dissipate. In battle, there were a number of variables that determined victory, the weak could overcome the strong with sheer numbers for example. The bandits had most likely blocked the road and intended to steal the money and goods after killing the merchants and their guards. However, because his granddaughters life was at risk, Creston had no choice but to intervene. He would have liked to attack with magic, but by the time he wouldve finished casting it, theyd be surrounded. In addition, he wouldve had to drop the barrier to attack, providing an opening for him to be killed. Because of him losing the initiative, his hands had been tied. The area around the carriage has been secured! How long will the old man with the magic sword hold out? Well, his magic is flowing into the sword after all Id say until the effect shuts off. Theyre not gonna ignore us. Tch they intend to kill us since we saw their faces. Without a doubt Since the magic of the sword was limited, a long fight was disadvantageous. However, if he shut down the barrier hed be killed by the arrows before he had a chance to counterattack. It was a well thought out plan. Huhahahaha! You prepared to die bastards? Start collecting the valuables, women, and children. We can sell the children to the slavers and the woman too, once weve had our fun with them. Take care we have to get in the swing of things. It wont be that easy to kill me!! Quite dandy, arent cha? But?, what can you do in that state? Youre gonna die anyway, might as well go peacefully. The man who seemed to be the bandits boss had arrived. He was aware that magic swords had a time limit, and he was minimizing his losses by coping with it. He must have been an experienced criminal who had encountered something similar before. How vexing my magic is running out. Sink or swim, attack or surrender? Theres no other choose. It would be easy to deal with them with magic Ooh, the sword is already waning? Please go to hell?, and leave the rest to us. Hahahahaha! The boss and the bandits were in a good mood. They had no doubt that their strategy would not fail. However, there was an unexpected intrusion. Without warning, a beast suddenly bared its fangs. An obstruction? Ice Flower The forest around the merchants was suddenly dyed white, with every bandit still within it being frozen before they shattered. The volley of arrows came to an end, as only the bandits blocking the road remained. If there are bandits it means I should be getting close to a town, right? Thats so boring and clich. Whos there!? Show yourself!! When the boss shouted that, a person casually descended onto the white carriage as if he were answering the call. He wore a gray robe and his disheveled hair covered his eyes. He was of medium stature and had a stubble. Satoshi had been traversing the road when he noticed some suspicious looking people hiding in the forest, so hed decided to observe the situation from the treetops. To be frank, when he realized that they had been bandits he initially didnt want to intervene, but hed done so anyway. Bastard you killed our companions. Companions? Werent they disposable tools? They should have only amounted to that much for you Even if they were disposable, you had no right to kill them!! They were my tools. Such a terrible manner of speaking. Its a trifling matter to me, but Black Thunderbolt The bandits who saw the countless small, black, grains gather around Satoshi burst into laughter. However, their laughter immediately turned into screams of terror. Jet-black bullets penetrated their bodies and struck them with the force of a thunderbolt from within. The bandits panicked as they watched their comrades die and disintegrate around them. It was magic theyd never seen before and had no means to cope with. Sorry. Since I am a capable Annihilator, you guys are nothing but sitting ducks. M-Monster what kind of magic was that Ive never heard of it I just killed a person for the first time but no feelings are springing up. Am I finally broken? Shut up!! Enough of this cowardly crap, fight fairly!! What did you just say? Oh, thats rich!! When he heard the bandits incoherent rambling, Satoshi closed the distance between them and cut his arm off. It happened in an instant, the boss couldnt understand what was going on as he stared at his own, severed arm. There, I fought fairly as you wished is that enough? Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! My arm, My aarrrrmmmmmm!! Looks like thats it. Ill just have to find another opponent. Nobody saw Satoshis movements. By the time they registered him, the bosss arm was already falling to the ground. Despair had dyed the bandits minds as a powerful person outside the realm of humanity had appeared. Satoshi disposed of those bandits immediately. He, who had been starved for food and had to survive against monsters, had already abandoned any attachment to his enemies. The law of the jungle had turned a man to brutality. FaFast. Whats with that speed Furthermore, he used magic as well. That dexterity is impressive too A magic sword there are no gaps. The guards were both amazed and frightened by their reinforcements strength. If you encountered such a person on the battlefield, youd be annihilated before you even had a chance to flee. Fortunately, the magician was their salvation on this occasion. Though if they were ambushed by this magic, at least they wouldnt know what hit them. This isnt a joke!! R-Run away, or well all be killed!! I dont want to be a bandit anymore, Ill plow a field in the countrysideeee!! Devil a devil has apeareeeeeeeeed!! After all, if an amateur encountered a strong opponent in battle, they would be crushed ;at once Calling someone a monster How rude are these guys? Satoshi muttered sullenly. Though he was monstrous. None of you will escape, die!! Ill do anything so long as I can make it back home!! Feel my resentment, assholes!! The subjugation of the bandits was completed. Those who had fought evenly against the guards, could do nothing against this opponent. Their ambush had been going well for them until an unexpected intruder arrived. The bandits who managed to flee were mercilessly exterminated by the furious guards. Impermanence of life empty. Nono, you have certainly helped us on this occasion. Allow me to express my gratitude. A voice suddenly called out to him. I turned to around to find an old man who was probably a nobleman. Therefore, I hid my unrest with a false calmness and casually began speaking. Dont worry about it. We just happened to be heading in the same direction. However, my granddaughter wasnt placed in any danger thanks to you. ;Even if you decline, I must express my gratitude in some manner. Ill respectfully accept, but oh, is there a village or town ahead? To tell you the truth, Im a bit lost. There is a town ahead how did you lose your way? Although Im ashamed to admit it, I lost my way and my life. I dont quite understand, but it seems youve faced your own hardships Creston was left scratching his head as the man in front of him and the magician who blew way common sense a while ago seemed like completely different people. However, upon closer inspection, it was clear that his robe had been made out of monsters he had never seen before, and he was obviously a high ranking magician. When a magician traveled to another country, there was a high possibility that they were collecting information on their countrys enemies. Creston was on alert as he kept an eye on the man in front of him. May I ask your name? My name? Sa no, it Zeros Marin. This was the day Satoshi officially became Zeros Marin. Hmm, Ive never heard that name before. What brings you to this country? ;With your skills, youd be welcomed in any country of your choosing. Im already old. Im looking for a town to spend the remainder of my life in. Serving a country would be rather troublesome. Where you an explorer I explored so much, my marriageable age passed me by. Youre still young enough, arent you being too pessimistic? Ill be fifty in ten years I want to build a family and live out the remainder of my life plowing a field. It was such a small wish that one couldnt consider it a real desire. In addition, Creston could tell that the magician named Zeros wasnt lying. While many magician were happy brandishing their power, there were also those who grew disillusioned with their positions. Those who researched magic were often bribed by nobles to work for them i exchange for research funds. The insurmountable power was wrenched away and want remained could barely be considered a magician. Zeros had no need for any additional power, what he was after were personal connections. (Hmm hes an excellent magician. Maybe I can get him to be Tinas tutor. Since hed been an explorer he must have researched a lot of things, and he may have a different understanding of magic than this countrys magicians.) His head was completely occupied by thoughts of his grandchild. (Maybe he knows a way to solve Tinas problem. Ah to see Tinas smile once more. For the sake of that, I would hehehe) You alright, old timer? ;Youre sending out some dangerous signals Huh?! No, Im fine! Theres no problem. Sa Zeros thoughThis Granpa maybe a bit dangerous?to himself. The old mans love for his grandchild was heading in a strange direction. In any case what would you like as a reward. Huh?! I dont really need anything, I just intervened on my own. This is an obligation of a nobleman. If I allow my benefactor to leave without being rewarded, my name will be slandered. It seems that being a noble carries its own difficulties Indeed, even though Im retired, Im still under certain obligations I must express my gratitude somehow. Though hed accidentally rescued a noble, Zeros was being rewarded for his troubles. However, since he did not wish to insult the other person, he spoke his current desire. The, please give me a piece of land. Some place close to town, with its own field. Hmm Ill personally look into it, I appreciate it. ;This is going to be quite an energetic trip Zeros suddenly remembered the Crazy Ape. Hed been sleeping in a rocky area when the monster crept up on him, removed his pants, and tried to hive its way with him. Terror overwhelmed Zeros expression as he was reminded of the dangers his gingin had been placed in. A hundred he was a thousand paces away from there. But, he still felt the need to prevent another ape attack. Zeros expression had turned pale. Are you alright? your complexion doesnt look too good Im alright I just remembered something unpleasant ;Hihihi Sorrow clung to his back. Ahead of them, the guards had gathered up the bandits corpses and doused them in a flammable oil before setting the pile ablaze. Some people were getting their injuries treated while others several people worked to move the fallen tree out of the way. The bandits unexpected assault had created a lot of trouble for those charged with clean up. A short while later, the highway became passable and the merchants began moving their carriages. Would you like to join us? Otherwise it will take quite some time to reach the town, wont it? Huh? How long will it take? Three days or so. No way Zeros couldnt eat only meat for another three days. The choice was made. Id be delighted to join you. I dont want to see another piece of meat for a while I dont really understand, but we should get going. Even with your skill, this is a rather dangerous location. Zeros decided to ride in the former dukes carriage. As it was a three-day trip, they definitely had other food besides meat. They had brought additional food, in case of an emergency, that could be used as Zeros share. His decision to join them had been out of self-interest. When he entered the carriage, a young girl calmly sitting inside caught his attention. Grandfather, who is this? This is our benefactor who rescued us, Zeros-dono. Nice to meet you, Im the magician, Zeros Marin. For the time being, I will be accompanying you. Excuse my previous impoliteness. I-Im Selestina thats all She was in her early teens. She had pure blond hair, and her innocent face was rather lovely. The girl was wearing a uniform of some kind and a robe which reached her knees. Are you a magician? Im still a beginner, but Im having a bit of a problem? A problem? What is it? Uhmm I cant invoke magic. Trouble with the invocation? Thats strange. This world resembled the game world, so being incapable of using magic was odd. Magic was an energy that flew through all living things, allowing individuals to grow and live, and without it life was impossible. You do have magic power, right? Yes however, I cant even use basic magic. Ive tried various methods, but I still cant find the explanation for it. Then is the problem with the magic technique itself? The two passengers simultaneously glanced at Zeros. W-What do you mean? The formulas Ive been using have been adjusted to prevent burdening the user. I cant say anything unless I see it for myself, but there could be a defect in the invocation cost, or maybe the magical spell itself was defective? Thats something you can tell at a glance?! Well Ive crafted my own spells so Th-This is my book of spells, is there something wrong with it?! Selestina forcefully approached Zeros. Though he flinched for a moment, he seriously examined the contents of the book. The magic formulas written in the book were rather basic, but Zeros couldnt help feeling that ;something was off about them. There were a lot of unnecessary characters in them, and they were wasteful more often than not. You would have to brute force your way through it just to invoke this magic. In a sense, it wasnt very artistic. ;It was on the same level of vulgar graffiti. This is full of defects? What!? Really! The two other passengers simultaneously shouted. There are a bunch of unnecessary magic characters mixed into the formation, and it would require an absurd amount of power to get it to work. It has no elegance whatsoever. What, what does that that mean? It would be impossible for a person without a considerable amount of magic to get this to work. The amount of magical power this book says it takes to invoke these spells would be enough to level a country. Creston and Selestina were both amazed by the magicians ability. This Who was the person that wrote this? Its obvious that this is wasteful magic Umm What a magic researcher! To spread such defective magic Is there a way for you to make this magic usable?! Its possible. It wont be too difficult to remove the wasteful parts. Please do so !! (Please!!) Ohh!? So Zeros immediately began to optimize the magic formations within the book. Since there wasnt enough time to rewrite the book, he focused on correcting the simple magic mistakes. Later, the magicians responsible for making the textbook were ousted from the country. This would be the first legend of the ossen that would be revered as a great Sage. Chapter 03 Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax Ossan, Removes A Girls Troubles Zeros removed the unnecessary characters from the magical formations in the book while also adding his own corrections. His work created quite a spectacle, as the symbols floated off the pages and vanished into thin air. Selestinas eyes brightened as she watched a process she had never seen before. Her grandfather Creston thanked the goddess for this unexpected encounter when he saw his granddaughters joyous expression. However, if Zeros had known about this praise for the goddess, he probably wouldve stopped working on the task at hand at once. After all, he fell victim to the goddess hazardous waste removal. As a result of her machinations, hed fought and defeated the evil god in a virtual world and was killed for his efforts. Hmm Ive finished correcting this one, lets test it. This spell is Torch? Yes, I optimized the spell so anyone can use it. I decreased the magic power consumption and raised the spells output as much as possible. Raised the spells output? In normal situations, the natural mana in this world remains inert. If one uses their own magical power to call upon this mana, it becomes possible to create a magical phenomenon all the spells in here were limited by ones individual mana. Please wait a moment. Isnt the magical formation and a persons mana what causes a physical phenomenon to appear? Its different. Without utilising the natural mana of this world, a persons individual mana would be drained immediately if they tried to invoke a spell, wouldnt it? It appeared that this worlds knowledge about magic was lagging behind that of the games world, or at least that was what it felt like to Zeros. The amount of mana in the world was always constant. Even if it had been altered in some manner, it would eventually return to its original state. Even if its properties were altered in order to produce a phenomenon, the mana would eventually return to normal. Thats why it was possible to use magic to attack, and to use magic to defend from attacks. Even though magic that manipulates ones mind does exist, once the bodys mana is depleted it will be canceled. Since there are phenomena that revert back to normal conditions once theyve passed, the one universal rule within magic was that it returned to its original state. However, it takes time for the bodys mana to return to normal, and in the meantime the body would act as a modulator. That way, magic formations that reduced the consumption of internal mana and increased the use of natural mana improved a spells efficiency. There mustve been magicians studying magical formations in this world, but they were being taught such imperfect materials. Whether it was by chance or intentionally, these formations were wrong. Thats amazing that you could notice that. To not serve a country despite being so skilled such a waste of talent. Though it may be troublesome, I hate being used only for my power. I dont want my employer to grow conceited just because Im protecting them. Magicians that served the country were more obedient to their retainer than the crown. No matter how effective the magic you develop is, it meant nothing if the master withheld research funding. Even through Zeros died once, he had to live in this world now and wanted to avoid conflict as much as he could. Because I studied magic as a bit of a hobby and am very self-conscious of my work, I dont wish to hand over my results to others just yet. I would like to finalize my research before that. Certainly that is another aspect of it. A magicians research belongs to whichever faction they are apart of, and punishment for any mistake would be swiftly doled out. Therefore, there is a custom to only pass on magic techniques to successors. Youre well-informed. My research has resulted in some rather dangerous findings, and its not something I can reveal carelessly. Its possible that few people would understand the type of magic it is. Zeros magic could be seen as superior to Solistheas magic. Based on what hed described, it was possible to produce blue flames, which were said to be the pinnacle of fire magic, simply by changing the temperature of the air itself. It wasnt that surprising, considering that it was such an extremely simple phenomenon. Take Zeros Black Thunder Bullet]for example. The magic distorted gravitational fields strong enough to bend light and caused the gravity around ones body to tear the enemy apart. With an instantaneous transformation, nature itself produces extremely powerful effects. It was a malicious and brutal attack that utilized magics ability alter the natural world. However, the formula was of such complexity, that it would seem impossible to even decode it. What do you suppose would happen if others learned your magic? The power-hungry I can only imagine a hellish outcome. If handled poorly, a country might fall to ruin. Therefore, I wont pass on my magic. I will only teach the very basics of what is needed. A wise decision. The last thing anyone needs is a fool trying to emulate you. In any case, the second optimized spell is complete. Lets test them out now. Huh?! Although it been in a textbook, itd been possible rewrite the magic inside it. Though the spells had been written on magic paper, in order to retain the formation (or was it an idea in this case?) in the brain you needed to use it at least once. You need to make the formation manifest. Thanks to that, it was simple enough for magicians to rewrite magic formations. Even if Selestina cast the magic formula that Zeros had redone in her mind, the carriage was too small a place to use it in. Since the magic she could use was limited, they choose a simple spell for her. Even though its just a torch spell, you can learn to control the mana output and extend the longevity of the flames. Mana output? What exactly do you mean?. Simply put its possible to maintain a fireball produced with magic for a certain period of time? Hmm Interesting. With enough control of your magic, you can even redirect your shot if you miss your enemy the first time. So I will be able to freely manipulate the spell with my will. Am I understanding this correctly? Thats correct in the general sense, but magic cant last forever, right? For now, you should only focus on invoking it. Thats amazing! Selestina sparkling eyes were entirely focused on Zeros. Her grandfather glared jealously at Zeros for receiving her lovely smile. He was a very restless grandfather. Well, lets give torch a try, shall we? As you grow as a magician, youll eventually be able to cast it without chanting. Yes! Ill do my best. Selestina nodded and began attempting to ingrain the magic within her subconscious. She placed her hand over the magic spell book and began to feel the knowledge of magic formation flow into her. Although magic dispersed when it left the body, it would remain within a person as long as they were alive, even if they collapsed from magic exhaustion. All living creatures constantly generated mana, with the magic sustaining them at a cellular level, so even if one exhausted their magic, there was always enough left to sustain life. In a sense, internal mana was comparable to vitality. While there were occasions of mages dying after overextending their magic, that was the result of damaging themselves by recklessly using incomplete magic formations. If one draws upon magic beyond their limits, they would shorten their lives as a result. Sometimes the body of unlucky victims would vanish after they died. Currently, magic development was done by human experimentation. In fact, criminals in this world were usually subjected to multiple experiments before they died. Its done Ignite and light my path Torch. A small flame ignited on Selestinas fingertip. The so-called torch was weak, but it was magic nevertheless. Grandfather, I did it! I can use magic? Oh Certainly Its like a candle, but its also the first time youve used the spell. You should be able to memorize the formation if you keep the flame constant. I did it! Oh?! Ah! The fire went out. Its difficult to maintain the flow of magical power. Even a small gust will extinguish it, so be careful. Can I try for a larger fire this time??! Why is this so difficult?! Thats because you need training. Continue until your magical power is depleted. It will recover with rest and you can continue your training afterword without issue. Because game statuses could be seen, it meant that residents of this world had the means of checking them too. One could raise their level by fighting monsters, but that wasnt an option for a young girl of a tender age. Thats why it was important to learn of ones skills and raise them. While skills consumed magic power, using them killed two birds with one stone by gaining the skill itself and increasing ones magic. The skills would naturally rise through continued use. Huh does that mean I have to do this type of training every day? Well. Since results are dependent on constant training, it necessary to maintain a daily routine. Ill do it! Ill overcome this if it means I can use magic. Tina is shining Such a motivated expression(haahaa). The grandfather was in a state of moe. The grandchild seems to be burdened with her own problems. If you constantly cast body strengthening magic on yourself, you should be able to raise your magic resistance as well. Ill try doing that! I thought so, that why the second spell is for body reinforcement with this, you should gradually increase your magical power. Judging it to be necessary, Zeros peeped at her status. A screen appeared as a result. Selestina van Solisthea, Level 5 HP: 125/125 MP: 121/140 Noble Daughter Skills: Fire magic (1/100) Physical Skills: Perseverance (50/1000) Interpersonal Skills: Patience ; (50/100) Magical power gradually drew closer to zero with every use of magic. However, since this was a trial run, she seemed pleased with her training. Up till now, shed been incapable of using magic. She was willing to take on the training after being freed from that situation. Her excitement was to be expected. (Though it didnt matter, her patience and perseverance skills are relatively high what kind of hardships has she endured?) Such thoughts crossed Zeros mind as he continued to work on the textbook. Since shed been born to a concubine, her brothers didnt have a high opinion of her. Rather, she was seen as a nuisance and bullied by them. Beyond being a pitiful child, she wasnt even recognized as nobility. Of course, Zeros didnt know any of this, but her status left him with a few suspicions. Well, page twenty seven Ice Lance? Fast?! Quick! Since the spells were based on basic magic formations, he only had to delete the unnecessary characters and add some simple casting instructions. Since hed been a programmer in his past life, it was work he could do in his sleep. Hmm, lets see if I can complete my corrections in this book before your magical power runs out. Hmph, wont you lose? Zeros-dono seems to be at a disadvantage, but this seems interesting. Frankly speaking, the old man didnt care about the outcome of the game. All that mattered was the bright and cheerful smile on his granddaughters face. While Zeros did finish his task first, he allowed himself to lose the game. The Ossan was kind to children. While Selestina was rejoicing at her victory, her grandfather simply chuckled to himself. There was no need for him to interrupt. Bread its really bread Zeros began to cry when he saw bread being prepared at the camp. After surviving in the woods on nothing but meat for a week, he couldnt stop the tears from following. While he had a variety of spices at his disposal, the lack of any food meant that meat was the only thing he could survive on. That led to a cycle of killing monsters for the meat, only for the smell of blood to attract more monsters that attacked him. In order to sate his hunger, higher functions had been replaced by the primal instinct to hunt. And now, after such a long time, a human meal was being prepared in front of him. How could he not cry over this? What kind of life did you live to make you cry like this? I spent a week in the forest being chased around by monsters. I could eat nothing but meat sniff Im so happy to be alive. That sound too severe for the forest around here. Well, I dont know the name of the forest, and I got a bit turned around when the wyvern attacked? so hungry Wyvern!? Including the two knights, four people let out a surprised shout. How did you escape a wyvern?! C-Could you have killed it?! Are you a Dragon Slayer? Please tell us what kind of adventure it was. Dragon Slayer is a bit of an exaggeration. Its just a flying lizard after all. Thats wrong!! Another name for wyverns was Sky Demon]. Once they spot you from above, they relentlessly hunted you down. On top of their fast flying speed, they also had high intelligence. Not only that, wyverns were flock animals and their numbers often times foiled any attempts to subjugate them. Their meat was also considered an expensive delicacy. High-grade ingredients I have several of them, but how much will they sell for? Im troubled because I cant eat much of it. Y-You defeated it. That monster the Sky Devil? Hes a high ranking magician Only someone truly powerful could accomplish that Youre just gonna sell the meat, just how strong ar Huh? Its not a tasty as behemoth meat though. You can easily defeat it so long as you fight properly. Behemoth, the disaster spreading monster!! Their interest in me had peaked so I decided to tell them my story. Of course, I omitted my battle with the evil god in the game and the fact that Id been reincarnated in this world by a goddess. Zeros Merlin had no idea what county hed been born in, because hed been traveling with his parents for as long as he could remember and hed spent to majority of his life studying the secrets of magic. He became a mercenary specializing in monster-subjugation during his teens and fought on many battlefields ever since. Along the way, he gained four companions with similar circumstances and together they pushed the limits of what their magic could do. Throwing themselves into dangerous battles to test their handcrafted spells for the sole purpose of making adjustments before repeating the process. However, those days didnt last, and gradually the companions drifted away from each other and he was alone once more. Beginning to long for a place where he could peacefully live out the rest of his life, he wound up getting lost in the forest and eventually found himself here. That was my brief explanation of how I got here. As a result Such an abundance of combat experience I never heard of such an explorer I lack training. I even lag behind common bandits. Such a frightening story, how crazy would you have to be to fight a behemoth? With only five people no less Zeros-san strength was forged through actual combat. I am still inexperienced. Dont be ridiculous. it was just the story of a fool who wasted his life. Its but one mans Dark History after all. It can be considered foolish to seek out the limits of magic. However, even this countrys magicians want to show their mettle. Apparently, Id gone above what was necessary to be considered a hero. Well, since my body had been recreated based on game data, it wasnt necessarily untrue. Since I decimated the bandits from before with overwhelming strength, I was looked upon with envy. By the way, whats your current level? ..Its probably better that you dont know. My level is insane So its that high Is it true? Umm we may need to reconsider the Orders training regime. It should be 500 at most, , right? No. (Its about three times that) W-What did you say!!! Level 1896 wasnt a date. Apparently, growth rates began to stagnate the higher level you became, so 500 was said to be the limit. A person that exceeded Level 1000 turned common sense on its head. My level had also risen after we defeated the evil god. Because of that massive bonus, my level shot up exponentially. Just what happened when you created a body based on such a ridiculous avatar Your skills must be frightening as well. I would hate to have you as an enemy. I see. Well, my power isnt something that could be suppressed by you. A magician who could destroy a country because hes having a bad day: Im not a mage, just a great sage. Stop breaking common sense already!! Is it that easy to break common sense? Why dont we just enjoy our meal then? That nights dinner was abnormally quiet. When they looked at me, they saw a man crying as he ate bread. Umm, to have bread after such a long absence its so good to be alive. The great sage savored his meal. The former duke had witnessed a new form of insanity this night. The next morning, Selestina began her training to learn Mana Manipulation. Now that her shackles had been removed, she was serious about studying magic. To tell the truth, she studied all the spells Zeros had edited last night and saw what magic she was capable of using. Despite them being basics spells, the cost of combat-spells was a heavy one for her. If she obtained the skill Mana Manipulation], she could reduce the mana consumption and she planned to acquireMagic Resistance] as well. However, it is said that if you chase two hares youd catch neither, which was meant to say that a considerable amount of magical power was needed to obtain both skills. As a result, most magicians focused on raising their levels to increase their magic power before they began training. Still, raising ones level was a difficult task for a noble like Selestina and with her current magical power she was only capable of using 2-3 combat-spells Her level would rise exponentially if she could defeat a high-leveled monster, but that was a reckless endeavor. Thanks to yesterdays training my magical power increased by one. So, it should rise by 300 in one year if I practice every day. While it was certainly true, as magical power rose youd have to use stronger spells for training. Increasing the quantity of magical power meant using spells with greater cost and required you to learn those stronger spells. The most efficient method was to cast combat magic, but that wasnt something that could be fired indefinitely. It was certain that this brand of training would reach a deadlock. Already starting your training, Selestina-san? Ah? Sensei! S-Sensei? Yes? Because you were able to teach me magic, youre my tutor. Is that no good? Well I dont mind, but have I really done enough to be considered a teacher? Yes! Youve done more than enough. Its because of you that I can move forward. Without even knowing it, Zeros became someone who had influenced her life greatly. Even though he was a bit confused, he scratched his unkempt hair and smiled wryly. Its hard to memorize magical power operations. Eventually, it will become difficult to consume enough magic power. Its still better than doing nothing, right? I want to become a magician like you, sensei! N-No, that would be a bit brutal. Well, its good to have a goal but does it have to be me? Not even Zeros realized just how far beyond the norm he was. At best, Youre a Cheat! You cant boast about it that much?was the extent to which he thought of it. From Selestina point of view however, he was a sage and explorer far superior to any magician in this country. He was a great magician who inspired the envy and respect of others. Above all, the way in which he solved her problems by rewriting the defective spells to manage their efficiency issue for fun was to be respected. In Selestinas eyes This is what a magician should be, was the idea that had taken root. Zeros had yet to notice that such a thing had happened. I will instruct you if there is anything you dont understand, but you have to be careful when crafting magic, right? With enough levels and skills, your surroundings will be placed at risk. I cannot do that yet, but I will reach those heights someday. Please instruct me from now on! Huh! Please wait, from now on?! What are you Did you not hear from grandfather? I was talking with grandfather and he mentioned asking you about becoming my tutor I havent heard anything Well, its better than being unemployed. It was bad form for a 40-year-old ossan to be jobless. Since this ossan desired a happy married life above all, he would need to have a job. However, he still needed to do something about his appearance. From the onset, he just looked like any other ossen How long would this tutor position last? Normally lets see. Until my summer holiday ended, maybe? I have to return to school in two months School? So theres a school for magicians? Yes, its called the Istal Magic Institute, the children of nobles learn the advanced ways of the magicians there. however, there are a variety of factions involved Quite the troublesome academy. Are they properly teaching magic there? Based on that textbook, the level of skill is far too low. I started to think the same after meeting you, sensei. Do I even need to study there anymore? Maybe that place has been built to facilitate social interactions between the nobility? Training as a magician might just be something secondary Zeros became slightly dizzy at the thought of this country forcing kids into factions. The idea of imposing a manipulative system like factions on children at an impressionable age left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was inevitable that vicious bullying would occur and the childrens mind might be warped. Mylady, please run away! Its a Blood Bear! The two knights suddenly shouted as they ran towards the pair. Behind them, a jet black bear let out a mighty roar as it pursued them. Blood Bear, Level 15 HP: 600/600 MP: 103/103 Run away! Manacles of Steel DDDGuoorrrr?! The blood bear was captured immediately. Zeros was truly outrageous. Selestina, have you learned any combat orientated magic? Huh? Ive learned some why do you ask? Try shooting that. If youre lucky it should raise your level, shouldnt it? Impossible! I can only cast it three times with my current magical power That should be enough. Devils Blessing Devils Blessing]was one of Zeros self-made spells that gave a massive boost to magic attack. In tandem with other magicians, the spell guaranteed certain annihilation. Since the power jumped by a factor of ten, a spells destructive capability becomes incomprehensible. Crim-Crimson flames burn my enemies Fireball! DDDDogoooooooooooooon!! A deafening roar rang out as a dust storm was kicked up. One wouldnt believe that the vicious flames that engulfed the blood bear were the result of a basic spell. Ehhhhhhhhhhh! It was only natural that Selestina and the two knights were amazed by the enhanced spell. Please deal the decisive blow. With a different spell this time. Y-Yes! Wind, cut as my blade Air Cutter!! Wind magic was inherently weak in power. However, the enhanced air cutter bisected the blood bear. A feat that was impossible with the spells original power. It wouldve been impossible for Selestina, who was level five, to defeat a level fifteen blood bear. However, common sense had long since been disposed of. Hiya!? Zeros caught Selestina when a dizzy spell made her collapse. She didnt have any tolerance for sudden level spikes, so it resulted in her dizziness. Selestina van Solisthea, Level 11 HP: 205/205 MP: 151/211 Skills: Fire Magic (10/100) Water Magic (1/100) Wind Magic (5/100) Earth Magic (1/100) Light Magic (1/100) Dark Magic (1/100) Physical Skills: Mana Manipulation (3/100) Patience (50/1000) Interpersonal Skills: Perseverance (50/100) (Thats a surprising level growth. Maybe a bonus effect?) Congratulations. Youre now level eleven. Huh? Did my level increase by six?! I cant believe it. Thats to be expected, given that the experience came from actual combat. It was a higher-level opponent after all. O-Oh? Selestina couldnt believe this was real. That was to be expected given the level of power she achieved with the two spells shed just used. However, the fact remained that shed killed a Blood Bear and raised her level. Are there any more of them? Please stop! Creston joined the conversation this time Congratulations, Tina Youve managed to slay a monster with your own hands He shed tears of joy at his grandchilds growth as he sat in the carriages shadow. The old man was pleased with everything his granddaughter did. After that, they dismantled the blood bear, ate breakfast and resumed their trek towards the city. The largest town in the region Santol] Chapter 04 Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax Ossan, Becoming a Freeloader After three days of traveling along the highway. Zeros heart started to soar when he caught sight of the town through the carriages window. Surviving in a forest for one week. Bumping into the bandits. Then he came into contact with Creston and Selestina and their pair of knights. The first signs of human society Zeros had come across in this world laid at the foot of the mountain. This is Santol? Its larger than I expected. Well, its the largest city within our territory, and an important trading hub. In terms of scale, it matches the capital. Is that a river? It seems that ship distribution is prosperous as well. Youll reach the capital in two weeks if you sail on the Auras River. Thanks to the wind currents, its faster than the overland trip. Santol prospered as a trading hub because it rested in a valley between the mountains and was situated next to a thriving river. In addition to its natural fortifications, the city could be said to be an impregnable fortress. Even though many battles had been fought over the city, it had never been captured. On the contrary: so much enemy blood had been spilled here that another name for the city was Blood Stained City]. Of course, as the city was invaluable to the countrys merchants, allowing it to fall was too much of a risk. In addition, all the kings who decided to attack Santol were labeled incompetent for failing to capture the city despite their losses, as the saying goes Only foolish kings attacked Santol. However, the inhabitants of the city emphasized security and order, and the city itself was famous for being the safest place in the world. Such was the dual fame and infamy of the city Santol]. The city gate is at the foot of this mountain, then we will head to my villa. Youre retired? Wont I have to meet the current duke? What? Such a wondrous magician as yourself wishes to bow before a duke? Honestly, I dont really want to meet him. Id like to avoid catching too much attention. You really dont seem to like those in power. Rather, it seems that you detest them. Its only natural for people to fulfill their duties, but those who force others to act while being far away are the ones I detest. Wouldnt you be resentful if the one forcing you to act didnt even reveal themselves? My son is like that. I see it is for the best that you dont meet him. This city may be destroyed if things are handled poorly. He didnt want to make a careless move when he couldnt even grasp Zeros full capabilities. Above all else, he needed this magician to be his granddaughters tutor. It wasnt a good idea to make him run away by applying unnecessary shackles. As long as Zeros was with them, Selestina would smile. The old man couldnt ask for anything more in his retirement. Everything was for the sake of his grandchild. Okay reduce the fire a little more Selestina was seriously training her mana operation with the Torchspell. For the sake of controlling large fireballs, she was weakening the flame while simultaneously sustaining it. It was as if her shackles had been cast off, and she was now absorbed by the magic that had once been impossible for her. She seemed determined to catch up on all the things she missed out on, but there was an earnest feeling of happiness in her expression. Speaking of which, there is the land I promised you. Its quite the lovely place Since I will be doing magic research, the basics necessary for self-sufficiency should be fine. A commutable distance from the town is desirable, but I understand if that is a bit selfish on my part What? Even though I am retired, you did save an archduke, you know? I dont mind if it is merely that much. Although it was a reward, Zeros still felt like he was pushing it. On the other hand, he needed that land. Though he was an uprooted person, he wanted enough land to support a decent-sized family. By the way, where can I sell a large number of magic stones? I inadvertently wandered into a goblin village and had to annihilate it Sensei did the place you got lost in happen to be ;the Dark Forest of Fafuran]? The forest was also filled with orcs. No matter how many I slew, more just kept popping up. Hahaha. To survive in such a miasma ridden place and come back alive Obviously, youre on a completely different level than those of this country Im speechless. The dark forest sprawled along the Fafuran highway. The number of monsters inhabiting the forest and the potent miasma diminished ones chance of survival. It was a dangerous area people were said to never return from. It would be best to sell the magic stones to a specialty shop Im acquainted with, how many do you have? Hmm? There are far too many to count? Lets say more than a hundred of them. A hundred? You cant get that many from the goblins around here. Magic stones could be acquired from monsters living in areas of high mana concentrations. Or, by defeating a considerably powerful monster. Monsters with magic stones were strong. Even amongst goblins, there was a difference of strength between them. The goblins of the Fafuran were equivalent in strength to the hobgoblins of the surrounding area. Zeros ability to single-handedly destroy an entire village of them was utterly terrifying. This specialty shop is it the kind of place to produce magical tools? Yes. Magic stones are indispensable in creating magic items, so they are in constant demand. Then the magic stone of a wyvern You could play around with that kind of money for quite some time. Theres an unprecedented amount of magic in them. The royal family would desire such an object. In that case it would be better to keep it for myself. Its versatile. Do you also create magic tools? Sometimes. I dont have a facility at the moment, but I intend to make a few in between tending the field. A great sage shouldnt be doing dirty work. The problem was whether or not it was possible to produce the items, whose recipes had been stored in his head, in this new world. The metal could be manipulated on a magic square so burning things down wasnt an issue. The method of magic enhancement was engraved in his mind, so it was probably possible to create the items. That way of thinking would annoy a true craftsman. Probably shouldnt sell the stuff I make to others anyway. The other craftsmen might hang themselves Sensei you seem to inconvenience others. A great sage was a nuisance to a regular craftsman. Zeros had always thought of things in terms of hobbies and interest, but most on the Net would consider what he has done insane. The influence his knowledge had on this world would be unfathomable if he could replicate his work in reality. He desired a peaceful life, so he had no desire to create a powerful magic tool. The carriage finally entered Santol. There was a brief check at the gate, but since the Lords crest was engraved on the carriage, they were allowed to pass without issues. Amazing its common to surround cities with walls, but this on another scale. This is a key location with many people coming and going, why wouldnt we protect it? Nobles such as myself must protect the people. Just how many nobles share that opinion Some incorporate a night tax or sleep with other peoples wives There are cases like that in our country. The leader of the court mages and our countrys most influential magician such deplorable acts. Scumbags. Why doesnt the country do anything? Can the people not live without the royal family or the nobility? It is because they are extraordinary. Or at least, thats what I thought before I met you, sensei. They are just selfish and simple-minded people. When Creston had been looking for an excellent magic tutor for Selestina, the first magician who appeared asked for a considerable amount of money only to declare that she was incapable of using magic. Itd been a nondescript, nameless magician who had managed to save Selestina when all others had failed. Moreover, said magician was extremely talented and hadnt demanded any power in return. It may have been wrong to make the observation, but snobs that cling to the powerful while trumpeting their own importance could only be laughed at when compared to the nobility of a mage who had reached heights they could only dream of. I wonder if Tina can reach such heights as well It will take a considerable amount of effort and talent. Can one hold on to that passion, until they die? I see. However, her efforts wont be in vain, will they? Naturally. At least, she will become better than the incompetent magician who wrote that textbook. Zeros and Creston continued to think about Selestinas future as the carriage travelled through the town. All the streets were made of brick and plaster and the citizen went about their daily routine. Occasionally, a merchants carriage accompanied by mercenaries would pass by. It was a large city, but the was carriage heading towards a forested area for some reason. Theres a forest in this city? Ahead is a steep, rocky cliff. The forest surrounds this area with my villa being in the center of it. A natural fortress Protected by two barriers, the rear is protected by a steep cliff and the distance from the river makes a frontal attack is too risky. What about the merchandise that comes by ship? The ships are lifted with a pulley and then led along a designated passage afterwards. The merchants are making the important gold flow through this land after all. It seems that the poor would rebel if you raised their taxes. Its fine so long as I dont succumb to greed. I wouldnt dream of it. Many among the nobility considered the tax money their own. There were also a few savvy merchants who managed to obtain power and a life of luxury. In any case, it appeared that Solistheas Archduke was operating a healthy province. The problem is that my son is drowning in his power. It has allowed his more tasteless traits to flourish such as laying his hands on his servants daughters. I have no right to judge the worth of another man but high-ranking people seem to have strong desires. Honestly, I have no idea how many grandchildren I actually have. Even with just the fifty cases I know of, it is getting out of hand. I see bloodshed in that inheritance dispute ;Shouldnt his will declare a successor? Things will become rather messy otherwise. I dont know who they are, but occasionally people come asking for money. Its been a blessing that Ive managed to take care of things without leaving any evidence behind. The current duke was a player in another sense. Alarms were going off in Zeros head about getting involved in that domestic conflict. The villa is coming into view. Oh a medieval-style building. I never thought the day would come when Id be staying in a nobles mansion. Crestons villa resembled a small castle. You could make out a balcony or two, but there were no decorative sculptures or golden pieces to be seen. Crossing the drawbridge over the moat was like stepping into another world. The calm atmosphere appropriate for a castle in a forest blanketed the area. Is that a gard no, its a field? Most of the vegetable are grown self-sufficiently. We purchase most of the meat from outside, but chickens are raised in another location. Impressive. Luxurious meals are a waste of money, and this must certainly improve the commoners opinion of you. The avaricious should emulate these practices. The lifestyle of an aristocrat is rather expensive. ;You need a lot of money to maintain a territory and even more to keep up appearances. Id really like to show this place to the people who keep saying hand over your gold immediately. The castle wasnt very large despite what the duke said, and most of the garden was taken up by the field. Zeros found this place desirable. There was a certain virtue in not being tied up in power plays until you die. Tina, weve arrived. Huh? Already? But I still have some mana left Can you carry your luggage yourself? The servants seem rather busy. I understand, grandfather. His discipline was surprisingly harsh. However, it was rather funny to watch, considering he was a former archduke. We shall prepare a room for you. We need to discuss your future. As a tutor? Ill teach her as much as I can, but its up to her whether or not she follows my instructions. It will be fine. You dont appear to be hostile, and I have no intentions to bind you. That is a situation I would like to avoid. A magician capable of single-handedly killing a wyvern was unheard of and would be a valuable military asset. A magician of such power only sought to live freely. Pressuring him needed to be avoided at all cost, lest he was pushed to join an enemy country. Creston himself desired a peaceful friendship, so speaking of their power balance was taboo. Speaking of which, you dont seem to carry a wand, do you? I do not, this ring acts as a medium so I have no need for one. I can also use a sword if necessary. With a ring Is that ring made of mythril? No, fromMetalgrads]. Its stronger than mythril and its metallic properties make it easier to process. It magic conductivity is the highest among all materials. Well, since it is just mythril that has been altered in the belly of a monster, referring to it as such should be alright. Metalgrads. It was a metal-eating monster that lived in volcanic areas, and it was famous for the various metals within its body. Although the ore it ate strengthened its scales and increased its resistance to weapons, the true danger it represented lied in the fact that it was a type of dragon. In addition, it was a territorial type of monster that would kill any intruders without mercy. It was a monster more terrifying than any wyvern. Honestly, its frightening to think about what must have spurred you on. On the contrary, the dangers of your past make your desire for peace all the more understandable. Is that what you think? To be honest, my thoughts had been too focused on combat. It could be said that my desire to live peacefully matches the ambitions of those seeking to conquer the continent. I can understand being in a sad situation. I myself have grown tired of living a hectic life They had a strange understanding of one another. Though Zeros had ran rampant, in order to converse with the inhabitants of this world, his actions in the digital world were the only natural starting point. However, the stories of battles he remembered where overwhelmingly excessive. In fact, Zeros had already been acknowledged as a magician wary of the battlefield. He had no idea what would happen if he mentioned having killed an evil god. Shisho, what happened to your luggage? It seems that youre traveling far too lightly. I can use spatial-temporal magic, so I just throw my luggage in a pocket space. Thats convenient. ;I heard spatial-temporal magic was just a myth though Well, I can only store my personal luggage. Its convenient for travel, but its also a little inefficient. Is there no way to fix that? Since its an ancient spell, its impossible to completely decode it. I thought Id spend the rest of my life researching this spell. Ancient magic to find such a thing in ones lifetime. Of course, he had no idea how the inventory actually worked. Thats why Zeros referred to it as ancient magic. Can you replicate the spell? Unfortunately, its an extremely dense magic formation and I am incapable of deciphering it beyond the stage that I have. There seems to be some kind of defense mechanism that prevents me from duplicating the symbols. Seriously, where did you even find something like that? While I was fighting on a certain battlefield, the ground fell out from underneath us and I found it in a small room after wandering around for a bit. Following that, I undertook a life-threatening escape from inside the mountain. After that, I was bedridden for a week and I was jolted awake in my friends carriage, already heading towards another battlefield. I shouldnt have asked. How cruel of a world did you live in An unattended remark left his mouth. It was better not to dwell on what was spoken for too long. On the contrary, Selestinas eye brightened with respect. Innocent gazes pierced deep. If a sensible person were listening, it would be a good example of differing perspectives. After that, the conversation moved towards the magic symbols that were the basis for spells. When they entered the castle, there was a large chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. The pictures hanging on the wall and the flowers displayed in the decorated vase were befitting of a lords manor. Excess furniture was unnecessary. The furniture that was present aesthetically matched the restrained atmosphere of the forest castle. We need to take care of our luggage so Ill have a servant show you to your room. Thank you. What else is to be expected for our savior? Please relax without worry. Ill take you up on that. It has been quite a while since I slept with a roof over my head, and your offer is too tempting to pass up. Having suffered such hardship For some reason, Zeros was being pitied. I will prepare a change of clothes for you. Would you like to be led to your room first? Im grateful so long as there is a solid roof. After such a long time, I can finally sleep without any worries. Sensei, ;you lived quite an eventful life, didnt you? Just what is it that drives you Huh? Ive been surrounded by monsters quite often, so Ive never really considered it. Truly, a life filled with hardship Even as a trial by the Goddess, this is too cruel. Maybe I incurred someones ire and this is some sort of divine punishment? In fact, since I killed a God I was definitely their enemy. Will you excuse my impoliteness for a moment? Youre still working despite being retired. Yes, there is much to be taken care of. Shishoui. May I thank you in advance? Well I shall teach you the basics of what I know. Its up to you whether or you will improve. I will surely thrive! I shall not allow the blessing of meeting you go to waste, shishou! Your enthusiasm is good, but lets take things slowly. Nothing good will come from being impatient. Yes! Selestina cheerfully pumped her fist before running off. Zeros was at a loss about what he should do. (Well what should I do after this?) The Ossan had no choice but to look around. Zeros insecurities about being in an unknown place began to crop up. He was a timid person at heart. Zeros-sama, Ive come to pick you up. This way, please. Ah? Yes sorry for causing you trouble. A middle-aged butler appeared and motioned for him to move. He was led up the stairway and towards the leftern-most room. The room was a bit small, but filled with the necessary amenities to house a guest. Was there such always such delight in having a bed? Camping out couldnt compare to the softness of a bed. This room seemed to be special, given the impressive view it had. This is a good room. The view is idyllic and quite beautiful Thank you for the compliment. This is the best viewing room in the entire manor and it is reserved for only the most important of guests. Important? Me? Yes, in addition to saving the masters life, you were able to solve the young ladys problem. This much is to be expected. Such exceptional treatment?! All I did was handle a few bandits! Zeros became slightly flustered by the unexpected treatment. What are you saying? How can we not treat you to this degree, honorable magician? Rather, it would be a disgrace to the archdukes family if we didnt offer you our hospitality. I feel like that is something important, but To consider what youve done trivial Youve done so much more than that. As far as Zeros was concerned, all he did was to correct a textbook and repel some bandits. He didnt think these actions merited any special treatment. However, things looked different when seen from another viewpoint. Selestina was finally able to use magic. He had managed to solve the problem that had plagued Crestons lovely granddaughter. Moreover, his granddaughter had managed to raise her level and said she wanted to accept a tutor. Furthermore, that tutor had reached the summit of a magicians power. For the servants, treating him this way was natural. These were values derived from a different upbringing This is still too outrageous for me. Arent I just a mere tutor? I For a great sage who has fought all over the continent, something of this degree should be suitable. Im just a fool that was consumed by a hobby! I consider receiving such adoration shameful. Zeros had been acting under a large misconception. Most of the magic symbols for spells had yet to be decoded. Understanding the technique, let alone optimizing existing spells was something impossible for current magicians. The majority of magic research consisted of adding symbols to the existing spell and examining their effects. A magician capable of understanding the meaning of the magical symbols and incorporating physical laws into spells in order to strengthen them, wasnt someone who could be overlooked. Since they were trying to avoid any conflict with such a powerful being, they tried to be as hospitable as possible. There was a gap in the hospitality that a noble and a commoner could show Zeros freedom was assured, but he was not used to commanding such authority from others. Here is your change of clothes. Unfortunately, theyre the clothes of a servant since they were all we had on such short notice. No thank you very much for your kindness. Dinner will be soon, but may I suggest having a bath first?. A bath? Theres a bath here? Of course. Your clothes appear rather worn out, so I assumed you would like to have a bath and clean up. Thats right. Its been three days since I bathed in the river, it is only natural that dirt would start clinging to me. May I use it immediately? Do you know proper bathing etiquette? Do I know it? Washing before entering the bath is common sense. A bathroom was considered a luxury common for nobles, while the commoners were limited to using public bathhouses. Knowing proper bathing etiquette was considered the mark of the rich. At this point, Zeros was now considered born wealthy since he knew how to bathe. Then, I shall guide you. The Butler lead me to a secluded place on the first floor. Because the master of the manor frequented this area, it was carpeted with soft rugs. Even with the occasional glance at the displayed paintings, Zeros quickly arrived at the bathroom. This is the bathroom. Please enjoy washing off your weariness from traveling. Thank you. Zeros happily went to the clothing station, stripped away his equipment and entered the bathing area with a towel in hand. The sculptures and plants that dotted the room made it feel like a hot spring. However, another occupant was already there. Oh Huh?! The naked ossan had bumped into Selestina just as she was about to leave. The was an empty silent moment I-IYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! Wh-Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!! Naturally, both of them screamed out. . . . Dandy-san? What are you doing here? The butler who was called out to Dandy, looked back and saw Selestina slightly confused maid staring at him. Me? I escorted our esteemed guest to the bathroom why? EeDDDDDDDDDDDDD?! An uneasiness began to rise within Dandy. D-Did I say something wrong? I-I was, just about to retrieve Lady Selestina from the bath What?! No way It was then that they heard the screams of the young girl and the ossan. Theyd unintentionally created an awkward moment. Two naked people ran hurriedly out of the bathroom. After that, Dandy and the maid tried to soothe Selestinas crying. Eventually, her grandfather managed to calm her down, but Later on, Zeros would sigh and lament how tasteless that nights dinner had been. Namorax: Hi everyone, I wanted to leave a small note here about one of the terms that came up in this chapter: ᥿륰`ɥ (Metarugurdosu) As far as we can tell Metalgrad (or Metalglados ;)) seems to be a term invented by the author, unless someone has an idea what this could mean? Normally I try to google unknown terms just to see what comes up, but since most of the results were redirecting me to a certain, well-known series about Gears of Metal, it might be possible that we are missing something. What do our dear readers think? Can you come up with a better term for this? Or do you know something we dont? The last one is probably true anyway, but please feel free to share your opinions about this with us, it is always cool to learn new thing! Just look at Selestina! Chapter 05 Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax Ossan, Tutors The next mornings breakfast was quiet. Breakfast was brought to the room on a fixed schedule and I was forcefully dragged out of bed. The meal was rather bland overall, you couldnt call it delicious but it wasnt disgusting either. While he was a bit depressed by the half-hearted meal, his head ached at the thought of what would happen moving forward. Yesterday, Zeros has seen Selestina completely naked. Her grandfather had been so upset that his blood pressure rose, and Dandy had just barely managed to get things under control. The problem was interacting with the victim from now on. After all, Zeros had been hired to tutor her in magic over the next two months. To be frank, things would be extremely awkward. A sigh escaped his lips every time he thought about it. However, I have no choice but to stay here. Lets go to Selestina-sans room. After examining the texts and materials from her, Zeros realized that the magical knowledge of this worlds magicians was considerably low. How much should I teach her? At least Ill keep my word and not teach her any of my personal spells Zeros magic was both powerful and efficient. Moreover, it was something too heinous to unleash upon the world, many lives would be indiscriminately wiped out if it was used in war. However, powerful magic required a high level. In the case of Zeros magic, unless they were level 200 or above, it would be difficult for anyone to use it for more than a minute, so there was no reason to worry about anyone here using it. As far as he could see, magic could not be invoked by simply engraving the spell into the consciousness, and misfires would occasionally happen. The physical level and skill level were also related, and magics usability depended on the synergy between them. There was a spell that made it easier to understand the magic you were trying to invoke and increased mental concentration when gathering mana, but that wasnt enough to half-heartedly invoke magic. In other words. Zeros magic couldnt be used simply by engraving it into ones mind, many lives would be lost if its secrets were revealed, so it was for the best if its secrets werent carelessly spread. Also, it wasnt impossible for a magician capable of using the magic to appear, so one needed to remain vigilant as they taught magic. There was another problem though Zeros had never been a teacher before, so he was anxious about teaching Selestina. Furthermore, yesterdays incident was the worst possible start to all of this. Apart from being the inexcusable act against the girl, how the other party thought of you was important. That was why he was depressed. Zeros arrived in front Selestinas door while everything swirled through his mind, but eventually, he worked up the courage to knock. After finishing her breakfast, Selestina was restlessly pacing through her room. The embarrassment of having Zeros see her naked made her want to wither away in shame. She was an impressionable girl of marriageable age and yesterday had been the first time shed seen an unrelated adult male naked. (It was different from grandfather) She was not bold enough to say Whatwas different. In short, she was frustrated. Zeros naked body was stuck in her head and it wouldnt leave. Ojsama if you dont calm down, wont you give Zeros-sama a strange impression of yourself? But, Miska? Im ashamed. Ojo-ama, perhaps Zero-sama didnt see you like that? Maybe to him, Ojsama is but a child. I-Is that so? Selestina was shocked by Miskas words. Her current appearance was quite adorable, but if Zeros preferred women with big breasts over those with small growths, then she was truly just a small child. If she were in her late teens, things would have been different, but right now she had a childish figure. While, its good that Ojou-sama is interested in gentlemen, a person such as Zeros-sama is no good, right? W-Why is that? Hes a magician competent enough to develop his own magic spells, right? And I think his personality is perfect. From the story I heard, Zeros-sama seems like a gentle person at first glance, but is terribly cold-blood from a different point of view. Cold-blooded? Once again, Miskas words shocked Selestina. In Selestinas eyes, Zeros was stronger and more brilliant than anyone else, on top of being attentive to others instead of being a cold-blooded person, Please consider it. Hes fought on battlefield after battlefield, and repeatedly experimented with magic, right? That is, he paid no mind to the sacrifices and danger to verify the results of his own magic. Only a dangerous person would gleefully jump into dangerous places. Werent the soldiers and monsters he faced on the battlefield just experimental materials he slew so he could verify his results? Rather than cold-blooded, ruthless would be more accurate Only another dangerous person could possibly care for such a dangerous man. There was truth in what she said. Selestina had only been looking at the superficial facts, but from another point of view, Zeros had repeatedly done insane acts. Shed been so blinded that shed been incapable of seeing other points of view. There was also the matter of her being overjoyed due to gaining the ability to use magic, which had prevented her from noticing certain things until they were pointed out to her. But, he said he wanted to live peacefully I guess he began thinking that way as he grew older. No one remains the same forever. What but, it carried so much weight to it Its a difference in experience. Ojou-sama. Dark shadows appeared in Miskas expression. Miska exactly how old are you? Ive been thinking about it for a while now Dont you know its rude to ask a woman her age? Even if youre of the same sex The dangerous aura Miska released made it clear that it was a topic that should be avoided. DDDKnock, Knock. Excuse me. Its Zeros, may I enter? C-come in! Milady, please calm down, dont make any suspicious movements. I-Ill try Ill bite The impressionable girl remembered what shed gone through. She remembered seeing Zeros nude. Her first day of lessons would be an agonizing one. After Zeros entered the room, he returned the textbook he borrowed to Selestina. Since today is the first lesson, we will start with magical symbols. Magical symbols? They are said to be indecipherable sacred scripture, but you can read them already, sensei? Yes. They are both a language and a medium for interacting with and gathering mana. I know that, but can I really learn it? Its easy once you understand what youre doing. Though it will be difficult to reach that point. There were 56 magic symbols and 10 magical numbers. 56 was also one of the numbers that could be found if you compared them side by side. In other words, though the were slight differences between them, the language could be decoded into Japanese if you knew what you were doing. Well, in English, French, Spanish, German and Swahili it must have been more difficult. Many people in the game had noticed how similar they had been to an esoteric crossword, and the entirety of the decoded text lingered on the fringes of Zeros mind. However, things were different within this new world, and not even mages understood the symbols. They believed that the symbols had meaning and that it was simply impossible to decipher them. While they werent mistaken in believing that the letters had meaning, they were incapable of laying sequences atop one another to create more powerful magic. Simply put, they had stumbled at the start and couldnt advance. In short, a magic formation used the symbols to cause a physical phenomenon, but it was impossible to create magic formations without knowing physical phenomenon. I-I didnt know that. That these could be used to make words It seems that people recognize the numbers and symbols as such, but their meaning had been lost to history. Well, youll still capable of using a bit of mana even without knowing it. Sensei, did you make your magic with these symbols? No, I exclusively used the number symbols. Things become too complex when you use the base 56 symbols. Zeros had been a programmer in his past life and he had created all of his magic using binary code. Since it was a program above all else, as long as the meaning matched, the magic would be invoked. He stretched the limits of his mind to record all of the magic. Rather, it was his familiarity with the code that had allowed Zeros to create such powerful magic. Well, it was correct to say that that was his game avatars story. As an aside, the binary code that he built was so massive, that Zeros Osako Satoshi]had to borrow a case server from an acquaintance of an acquaintance in order to independently code everything. Because the online game Sword and Sorcery]was linked to the hard drive of your computer it allowed for a great degree of freedom when crafting spells and equipment, and he grew tired of the 56 symbols and decided to craft magic formulas with a different method. While it could have been considered cheating, the game itself accepted the code without issue. Among the five Annihilators]he came the closest to being an actual cheater. The Defense Cyber Management system, dubbed ££ţ], was a motherboard that had enormous processing power, and it was used to compress the games magic formations. Although it had been capable of calculations that normal PCs were unable to handle, such a powerful computer cost a large sum of money. They were intended to be sold to private corporations, after all. In those days, Osako Satoshi]s PC had processing power well above that of regular households. Naturally, hed built his own PC and it had been superior to those found on the commercial market. It was dubious for such an excellent programmer and technician to have been laid off in the digital age. Only the number symbols? Such such a thing is possible? It takes a considerable amount of time and effort, but its possible. Could I do it? Once you find the key, its easy to decode. Well lets break down Torchfor a trial. The basic fire spell Torchwas only meant to be used as a light source. The magic formula used the casters own mana as the fuel source, the external mana as the medium to create the power and regulated the airflow around the flame. Without fuel or oxygen, it was impossible for the chemical reaction to occur, yet it didnt produce heat. Naturally, magic followed the rules of thermodynamics. Even asphalt would melt if the temperature reached its boiling point, so the majority of the magic formulation prioritized temperature control. However, Selestina looked as if a new world had been opened to her when they finished decoding the spell. So you see, this spell places priority on the safety of the caster above all else. After all, whats the point of using attack magic if youre hurt by it? The ones who created spells only reached this point after gradually overcoming hardships. It takes that much time and effort to create a magic light? Thats right. If you can decipher the formula to a certain degree, its possible to decode the unknown sections, so its a good idea to try using words from other languages. The elven or dwarven language? There are language dictionaries this is so interesting, isnt it? You should think of it as a puzzle. It makes decoding these fun. Selestina could understand the magic formula. However, something was distracting her. But, if you can make the phenomenon occur with words, whats the point of making the magic formation? Arent the magic symbols enough to cause the phenomenon? The formation is like an eggshell, it allows the necessary mana to be built up safely. You collect the necessary power for the spell, convert it into the desired phenomenon and release it once the process is complete. After all, its meaningless if the gathered mana dispersed. A spell that focused on efficient fire could be considered an act without waste. She was extremely curious after seeing a spell broken down. What are senseis magic formulas like? Im really interested in them. However, that curiosity was applied to Zeros magic as well. It was simultaneously exciting and frightening. My magic? Well it may be good for you to learn about the dangers of magic right now. The dangers of magic? Yes magic is certainly a form of art. However, its a heinous thing that can take away many lives as well. My magic is the highest form of that. While he was in the middle of his explanation, Zeros gathered his mana and manifested a formation in his palm. It was excessively large and contained awe-inspiring elements. The magic symbols were packed into a massive, extremely dense, circulating sphere that was incomparable to the basic magic from before. Although it was artistically appealing, it was holding back immense power. The magic power was emitting an unpleasant pressure. ..Th-This.. This is my most powerful spell, Dark Judgment]. If this were to be invoked, the surrounding area would vanish instantly. This is a magicians danger. Just wielding this power is a sufficient enough threat to ravage other countries for their valuables. The unimaginable damage this could unleash upon the world W-What kind of magic is that?! For the surrounding to be erased Wide-range annihilation magic. It is the most destructive spell I crafted by studying documents detailing the evil gods power. The girl was left horrified at observing such terrifying magic. The words were coherent, but they were wrong at some level. Do you understand? Practicing magic can be fun, but excessive curiosity can bring about dangerous things. And many people will want to get their hands on this. And they will not think of the magnitude of damage it will bring. In this world of tightly packed nations, annihilation magic was one of the things many counties were researching. Obtaining such powerful magic would simultaneously protect you from invasion and allow you to freely engage in acts of aggression. As a result, many lives would be stolen and the world would be reduced to a miserable state. Its not wrong to be curious and craft new spells. Just stop short of annihilation magic. Pursuing it will only result in tragedy and the hatred of the relatives of those youve killed. That hatred will lead them to create similar spells and start an endless quagmire of war. This is the risk of magic, the taboo that you must never give to others. The magicians were originally supposed to be the stop-gap that prevented the use of such destructive magic. However, as factions started to form and they began to fight amongst themselves, they began to seek out more power. At the same time, there were those who tied themselves to countries in order to gain merit in war. Magicians should always remain neutral with their power. That is what I believe. Warfare is not the only use of magic, there are plenty of other applications for it. Other than destruction? Mhm, a spell that could bring happiness to others, I believe there is such a thing. Something that can enrich our lives. For Selestina, magic had always been a tool to fight on behalf of ones country. Her inability to fight had resulted in her cold treatment. However, after gaining that power Selestina realized the heavy burden that now rested upon her shoulders. Being deployed on the battlefield to fight and kill your enemies at a moments notice. It was highly possible that the enemy would be human, which means that an aversion to murder would spring up. The shabby-looking magician in front of her was suddenly looking even more powerful than the spell he was showing to her. Selestina-san what type of magician do you want to become? Huh? If a battle magician fights, people are bound to die. However, they arent the only type of magician. What type of magician would you like to become, and how far would you go to achieve that goal? I-I I dont want to become a magician who only fights. But If you cant decide, just look within yourself. Likewise, I will look within myself and reflect upon my path. I can teach you magic, but I cannot show you your own path. Its not my place to make such a huffy decision. His power was borrowed from a gam from a god, after all. He was not so arrogant to get drunk off said power. Above all else, Zeros felt that his dangerous power was way more than he could handle. It wasnt a power that could be used selfishly. However, as far as Selestina was concerned, Zeros was the ideal magician. He lived a neutral lifestyle without drowning in his own power or getting mixed up in others schemes. He was willing to teach magic, but refused to divulge his dangerous research to others. Furthermore, he was willing to face his past and accepted the responsibility of wielding such dangerous power. Another misunderstanding had been born here and now, leading to Selestina only becoming even more fascinated with Zeros. Zeros had just thought itd be a good idea to scare her away from annihilation magic Well, lets bring this lesson to an end. Thats right. I have lessons with other instructors after this. Well work on mana manipulation tomorrow. Ill create a simple golem so it can help you level up. Go-Golem? Mhm, youll gain experience even if you defeat a magicians golem. ;Its something like an artificial monster. Thank you in advance. Sensei! Selestina had begun to walk the path of a magician. She still didnt know how it would turn out, but she aimed to reach the pinnacle of magic. She was chasing the back of the great sage Zeros Selestinas schedule was densely packed. She spent more and more time deciphering the complex magic formations. The desire to become a magician was driving her forward. Her inability to use magic before now had left her with a vague desire to possess the ability to use it. Hers was not a useless endeavor, and she wound up holding the top scores in the Istal Magic Institute]. However, her inability to use magic earned her the scorn and ridicule of her peers, and the label of a failure. Even so, she never gave up. Instead, she started to look if there was a problem with the magic formations themselves. And then she met Zeros. Her role model simultaneously exposed her to a world shed never known and the dangers that accompanied it. The academy never taught such things, since powerful magic was given priority above everything else, and none of the teachers had his view of magic. There wasnt time to think of about what kind of magician you wanted to be or worry over the future. Only amassing power and firing magic was important. The monotonous lessons were repeated every day, without the opportunity for students grow or advance in unique ways. If youre talented, you earn the right to use imperfect magic formulas, otherwise youd be cut off. If you continued to use magic consistently, you could increase your mana pool, but there was no other advantage. It was a complete failure of educators, and the system led to factional conflicts within the school. Students of different factions gave favorable treatment to their own and treated others coldly. The only reason Selestina hadnt been driven out yet was because all of the students factions coveted the power and influence having the archdukes backing would provide. In fact, her two brothers were the figureheads of their own factions. If the right of succession wasnt handled properly, it could lead to a war within the territory. Although they were a branch of the royal family, light measures couldnt afford to be taken, as her family had a valid claim to the throne, so a mistake in this conflict ran the risk of starting a civil war. There was no way the neighboring countries would overlook such an opening. Her presence was dwarfed in an academy where such grabs for power were played out. I wish the other teachers were like Sensei, but Given the constant ugliness she was exposed to there, she didnt think that the institute was all that important. Many of the teachers recommended defective magic formations without even realizing that they were flawed. Those of the vying factions were far below Zeros in terms of ability, and the thought of joining them was unappealing. She became depressed at the thought of returning to that place in two months. Hey, Tina! How did the lesson go? Grandfather! The class was easy to understand and enjoyable. Is that so. May I ask, what kind of things did he teach you? Yes, theres still a bit of time before my dance lesson, so I can spare a moment. Hmm. This is the only joy of my retirement. Speaking with his granddaughter was Crestons favorite pastime. However, he was a bit doting As the conversation continued Crestons cheerful expression gradually darkened as he listened to what his granddaughter said. The reason was the annihilation magic Dark Judgement]he heard about. Selestina happily recanted her lesson without realizing its ramifications. Hmm deciphering magic symbols. Tina dont speak of this with anyone. Especially with members of any factions. I understand. I know that it wouldnt be a good thing if others knew about it. Hah, but widespread annihilation magic mimicking the power of the evil god, thats tremendous. Yes it was a little scary, to be honest. Sensei carries such a dangerous burden. As long as youre aware of the risk, lets not speak of it again. Creson had balanced the frenzy of Zeros crazy magic research against his obvious abilities as a teacher. While it was dangerous to allow such a powerful man to roam freely throughout the country, it was equally as dangerous to try and chain down such a being. On the other hand, not only was he an excellent teacher who taught her the dangers of magic, he also made his grandchild think of her future as a magician. Most of the counties magician were civil servants at the beck and call of their factions. Fighting was a prerequisite, all non-combatant roads had been cut off for them. However, Zeros advocated for Magic that could enrich peoples lives, and spoke of exploring magic to help others. If you took this into account, forcing civilians to become warriors would be considered an act of aggression and the perpetrators would be exposed immediately if things went wrong. The current mindset had led to the loss of many excellent magicians. At the same time, it would be seen as a triumph for cooperation if the focus was anything but warfare. Even though Solisthea was called the Magic Kingdom, it was a military government and lives were at stake when reckless behavior started to get involved. That is why successors of excellent magicians were a valuable commodity. It felt as if they had been awakened to the truth they had never thought of magicians benefiting the common people. A magician for the people is power unnecessary then? The idea is just too vague at the moment. However, I think that the people will be more accepting of magicians if such a magician existed. Well, the reality of the situation is that there are a lot of arrogant people among them. Magicians are disliked almost as much as arrogant nobles. Although they sometimes received stern warnings from the country, the aristocrats on their side would usually crush the problem. It was an act that could be considered traitorous in some sense, but it was the bureaucracy of the nobles who moved the country, not the king. A few bribes could easily sweep away any injustices. Its definitely a headache-inducing situation. You know, I think it would be better if Sensei supervised the magicians Zeros-dono wouldnt do such a thing. I dont know what would happen if others antagonize him. It would be disrespectful to burden their savior with such a heavy responsibility. Furthermore, since he said, I want to live a peaceful life they couldnt force that on him. However, Zeros stock was quickly rising. The former duke couldnt help but worry about his countrys future when he thought about the splintered magicians. Somehow, a conversation with his granddaughter led to in-depth political talks. It seems that the retired grandfather couldnt rid himself of his former occupations rhetoric. Incidentally, Zeros finished his day by working in the field of a separate residence provided to him. He was hobby-farmer at heart. Chapter 06 Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax Ossan, The Training Begins The second day of Selestinas magic training began early in the morning. A few golems had been prepared in the garden for her training. The Mud Golems], as Zeros called them, had stats equal to those of a level three monster. As for the content of this training session Theres no point in being a magician if you dont know your way around melee combat. Youll be easy pickings if youre cut from your mana otherwise. That was the lesson. That opinion wasnt wrong, it was common knowledge that a magician without mana was nothing but a burden. In fact, it was even common sense for a magician to be inferior in close-quarter combat. On the battlefield, magicians normally acted as artillery, bombarding the enemy with long-distance spells again and again until their mana ran out, and otherwise behaved like a cowardly chicken. In the Solisthea Kingdom, the magicians status had led to a dangerous amount of friction between them and the knights. When the knight commander and the leader of the magicians passed each other in the royal palace shouts of, Your mere presence obstructs my movements! and You couldnt beat a scarecrow without you magic, could be heard throughout the halls. Rumors of an impending civil war ran rampant in certain circles. The royal family didnt take sides, and the grand duke has remained neutral so far. Under these circumstances, the other nobles split into factions and quarreled with each other. Its reached the point where any action taken would only add oil to the fire. Nevertheless, the royal family had no choice but paying attention to the conflict, and both sides were acting in the shadows to get them to join their camp. The fact the magician factions were dragged along with their masters only complicated matters further. Fighting is a fundamental element of war. If you neglect it, youll not only die, but youll expose your allies to danger. Being mindful of your mana is a must, but only spoiled fools believe that they can always cast spells from a safe distance. In the first place, magicians are seekers of wisdom, not those that drown in their own power. Treating knights and soldiers as human shields is an outrageous notion in it of itself. Instead, those knights and soldiers are risking their lives to protect their allies and magicians should support them and create advantageous situations. Factional struggles over a difference in position is utter nonsense. Depending on the battlefield, enemy, or other circumstances magicians may be forced to fight on the frontlines. As expected of you, Sensei. Youre well versed in actual warfare. Um Its impossible for the knight order and magic forces cant be sustained if there are hostilities between them. Because this lesson involved actual combat, Creston had decided to monitor his granddaughters training. Since these golems arent that strong, its perfect for you to hone your magic and fighting skills at the same time. As the ancient saying goes A magician is just a regular person without magic, this training is to prevent you from being caught and killed without being able to do anything, you understand? Even if the enemy is weak, they can outnumber you, thats why you need to be aware of distance as you cast your spells. This is the first time Ive been given such a comprehensive lesson. I never thought of using golems. Fighting against a group can be troublesome, but your skill in close-quarter combat will rise if you manage to overcome this challenge. Moreover, even though golems are artificial creations they still behave like real monster, so you can still learn how to deal with them. You gained experience points from battle by absorbing the stored mana from defeated monsters. When you amass enough of that mana, you experienced a level up, which vastly raised personal and physical skills. Furthermore, one could increase their mana pool by repeatedly expending their mana, but the results of doing so were minimum. In any case, there needed to be a significant level difference between the creator and the golems to produce them in large quantities. In that respect, Zeros had significant enough magic and a high enough level to produce any number and level of golems with ease. Of course, because this was a real fight, Selestina was dress in an academy issued robe with designated armor on top. Her weapon was a short single-handed mace magicians typically carried. Then, well begin the lesson. Even though its weak, you can still be injured, so please keep your guard up. Also, since warfare is a drawn-out affair, please ration your mana accordingly. Keeping track of ones mana pool was essential because neglecting to do so would result in prematurely expending your mana and your defeat. Though this was merely training, it would condition her for when she was in actual life or death situations. Selestina remained highly motivated, despite the harsh training she was about to endure. Since she couldnt use magic until now, she was forced to seat on the sidelines during these types of lessons. This training was a testimony to Selestinas desire to become a magician. Of course, she would be enthusiastic about this. The mud golems began to move at once. Since the golems werent living organisms, they would shatter the moment their nuclei were destroyed. However, unless she destroyed the nucleus Zeros would continue restoring them, ensuring that the fight never ended. Simultaneously learning how to use weapons, wield magic, and raise magical and physical skills was a strenuous task. EEEEEEAAAAAAAAA! Selestina smashed one of the golems with her mace. Contrary to her cute cries, she brutally swung her weapons and reduced the golem to lumps of clay. She moved towards the left, intent on cutting down the golems by boldly jumping into the fray. Huh it seems that shes already familiar with melee combat. Shes spent a lot of time watching others training for actual combat, perhaps shes replicating what she saw? Her footwork is a bit off, but she seems to have memorized the proper movements. Is this even a workout? To think shed have this hidden talent. Should we aim for a magical swordsman? Hmm that doesnt sound bad. However, isnt she set on becoming a magician? Is she good with her fist as well? Even Id lose to a swordsman of equal skill. Then, no one can defeat you in this country. You are as skilled a warrior as you are a magician. Selestina easily struck down the golems for a while. But, it didnt last for long. After ten minutes of fighting her movements gradually began to slow down. For her, who hadnt received proper training in swordsmanship, she didnt have the mindset to pace herself. Eventually, her fatigue allowed a golem to get a hit in. Heres the crucial moment. How she overcomes this predicament is the true measure of a magician and will determine their position on the battlefield. Such things can only be learned through actual combat. Shes gonna have a hard time. However, if we keep this up her skills will gradually raise. Wont she be immobilized by muscle pain beforehand? Muscle pain was the cost of acquiring a stronger body. Now was the time to develop the situational awareness and quick reaction time required of magicians. No matter how strong a person was, they would eventually be overwhelmed by numbers. A man drowning in his own power creates his own downfall. Even the most powerful monsters are slain by those with numbers on their side. Depending on the circumstances, a crucial decision at the right moment can overturn a bleak situation. This training would teach her to find and act upon that moment. This is rather difficult Selestina had recognized the flaw of her overly optimistic outlook. There was no simple solution when youre surrounded by a never-ending stream of golems. Even if you used enough magic to retreat, the golems would pursue you without end. Blindly attacking the golems just because you assumed they were lesser that you had been a mistake. Since the golems revived unless you destroyed the nucleus, she was at a massive disadvantage. This was a dangerous place to be in, as the physically weaker opposites would endlessly attack you. Honestly, it was also a disheartening form of training. I have to overcome this. I have to create an opening to retreat While avoiding the golems attacks and occasionally landing a blow with her mace, Selestina began searching for a way to escape the encirclement. She began incorporating magic into her offense as she gradually grew impatient. Because shed heard the meaning behind this training beforehand, shed gone in with some expectations, but this far exceeded any those. The golems were slow, so randomly casting spells was an excellent way to eat through your own mana reserves rapidly. She attempted to raise her mace, but her arms felt heavier after her earlier onslaught. She had buckler attached to her hand, a small shield used during sword combat, to prevent fatal injury. Moving without much effort is easy. A golem suddenly threw a punch at her. Gyan?! She managed to block the punch with her buckler, but it wouldve been a fatal blow had it been from a stone golem. Dread washed over her when that thought crossed her mind. She pushed the golem back and smashed it with her mace. Mud splatted over Selestina and her clothes. Since the golems were made of mud, their hits didnt have much impact. However, the golems had managed to tighten their encirclement due to the opening the attack created. She raised her mace and destroyed another couple of golems. Calm down I need an opening magic is the best option Because their movements were slow, Selestina decided to force her way through the right side. The mud golems were somewhat fragile, so she just needed to survive long enough to find and destroy their cores. Acting on that line of reasoning, she performed a technique she saw performed multiple time in the academy. Although she hated those days of being a simple observer, thanks to them she was able to move better than anyone had anticipated. Sometimes reality created unexpected benefits. Flow mana, and become my strength Power Boost. She used her magic to raise her physical strength and boost her combat abilities temporarily. Selestina forced her way through the golems and created a small buffer zone. Afterward, she began attacking the encirclements thinnest side. Flowing water become my spear Aqua Jet. The power was weak, but at point-blank range, the water spell pierced thought the low-level golems, Selestina immediately capitalized on the opening and began running. Ordinarily, the spell only targeted a single opponent, but with a bit of alteration, it could hit multiple targets. With the encirclement partially collapsed, Selestina ran towards the open space. Yes!! I escaped! Isnt that a bit naive? Huh?! Something suddenly latched onto her leg when Zeros spoke up. She was stuck, her forward momentum causing her to fall over. Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?! DDDPashaDDDDDDDDn! Selestina fell into the very mud puddle she created. Tsu what When she looked down, she saw the arm of a mud golem attached to her leg. It was strangely elongated. Indeed So, it didnt matter. One of them managed to survive the aqua jet. Th-That is so???. Dont be too disappointed. She did well for her first combat session, didnt she? Your level will, and youll be a more well-rounded person. Umm Its still frustrating Her pride had taken a severe hit. Overexerting yourself in the early stages was a fatal mistake. If you fought while managing your stamina, you couldve lasted longer. I realized that too late I was too excited. Why were you so excited? Because you were taking part in the training? Yes! I was always mocked by my classmates because I could only sit on the sidelines Well, it was a good effort. Though you barely received passing marks. Barely The road is long. It seemed as if she couldnt see beyond her frustration. However, Zeros thought Selestina didnt have as long to go as she thought she did. Given the way she broke through the mud golems encirclement and her potential, shell make impressive strides within a month or so. Shell be able to endure the real training by then. Would you like to attempt this lesson tomorrow? We have a lecture on magic systems this afternoon. Really! Please, by all means. Understood. Reflect upon what you experienced today for tomorrows lesson. I wont say anything, because no one can truly teach others how to fight in an actual battle, only you can form your battle style. Um Sensei is rather stern. This is combat Is that so? Its a good thing you dont risk dying during training. After all, you can prepare before having to fight. At the Istal Magic Academy, all students were taught the same basic combat style. However, there were always differences in individual training, and the style didnt fit every student. Some fought with swords, while others favored axes or spears. Therefore, it seemed premature to utilize a fixed mold style. This training will help you find your unique combat style. Why is the occasional failure acceptable when trying different methods? Because the experience each failure passes on accumulates. Simply put, if youre forced to use one strict method, the best you can become is a lackluster person. Failure isnt just tolerable it can be a good thing. Yes Ive failed at various things throughout my life, I take no shame in that. Zeros had failed in his previous life. While it was a story from his original world, his words had weight to them. By the way, what kind of combat drills does the academy have you perform? I dont know much about the facilities, so Id like to hear your input? They collect goblins and have the students fight them on the training grounds. I usually watched from the sideline ????? Thats rather luxurious isnt it? Zeros unintentionally replied in a youthful manner. Wasnt using magic to create and maintain golems the more luxurious than using goblins? Given all the trouble of catching the goblins, caging them, and transporting them back to campus, using golems was the far better option. The golems only needed an ample supply of magic to function. However, there werent many magicians that could produce endless regenerating golems, high ranking magicians might be able to create 1-6 of them. Moreover, the golems would stop moving once the teachers ran out of mana. Perhaps if several magicians collaborated, they could create a small army of golems, but the factions werent exactly on speaking terms at the moment. Taking this factors into consideration, it was more cost efficient to capture live monsters. When you included labor cost, request commissions, transportation cost, remuneration the academy would go into the red if they tried to incorporate golems. Istal ;Magic Academy Is something wrong with your budget? Perhaps they collect donations from various sources, but if they still run the risk of falling into the red A large amount of gold comes in every year. I see Having the magicians taking part in a group combat exercise against golems is a good idea, but the factions would interfere. Is the conflict that terrible? Even without funds, you can do a great deal of research. Magicians who couldnt decipher magic symbols could improve by fumbling along. Naturally, since they didnt know the things Zeros did, itd take a bit of time to translate the symbols. That may have worked for you shisho, but other people have lives of their own. Research requires money, but most of it is pocketed. Your faction considers you a failure if you dont produce results. Things would be simpler if those standards were lowered, right? Hmm thats something to consider. Your improvement to the textbook may serve as a good foundation Please dont use my name. Id like to avoid troublesome situations. Ill do my best, but you know its possible for the information to leak, right? Youre too conspicuous. I only wish for a simple life Even if his appearance was plain his actions were over the top. In a world whose magic was based off the games basic spells, Zeros original magic was bound to attract attention. Even combat spells have a degree of utility to them with proper mana control. Transportation would be faster if you speed up ships with wind magic, process sewage with water magic, or mitigate the weight with earth magic. Hmm, so magic can be unitalicized in that manner? When I hear combat spells, I can only think of their battle applications, but even novice magicians can make a substantial income using those methods. That would be helpful. How you use magic is important. Other viewpoints become obscured if we only focus one thing. Thats probably the only thing all magicians can agree on. Certainly. Theres a flood of criticism against those in power, a travel reform might prevent a riot. Isnt it already to late? the thought didnt make it past Zeros lips. The conversation was heading in the direction of politics, and he wasnt sure if he would ever come back if he stepped into that area. This single tutoring job carried a heavy burden. It would be nice to create a magician mediation organization, but there as so few magicians. The problem is that it takes so long to training them, and most magician are trained for combat. But, isnt a more well-rounded magician better? They can find employment as mercenaries and focus on their research. Mercenary mages they must be of poor quality. Magicians are considered essential assists during warfare, and mercenary mages were considered weaker by default. After all, mercenary mages had to continuously place their lives on the line to make up for the experience and knowledge gap. It was only after such power-hungry magicians amassed enough battle experience could they be considered useful to their allies. While mercenary mages lack formal training, they have keen tactical senses. Who better to change the course of the country? So you can negligent the research aspect without losing the war potential? Its better than using uncooperative magicians. Cooperation between the knights and mages is important in the long run. Here This is a magical nation, right? I feel that our magicians are too useless. What do you do in search of power? Though called a magical kingdom, this country was a militant nation. Magic research is mostly related to strengthening the military and rarely benefited the people. The focus is entirely focused on increasing the destructive power of spells through a trial and error approach. An easier to control, safer, and lucrative option would be to create beneficial magics for farmers and merchants. However, the widespread use of such magic would only decrease the value of magicians and make it difficult for them to maintain their power. As the number of capable people increases, the number of dependent people falls. A system that contributes to the general public is useful, but it would also interfere with the desires of power-hungry magicians. In fact, the incompetently put together textbook may have been intentionally released so people with small mana reserves, like Selestina, were dropped immediately. Moreover, most educators were biased parties that acted in the best interest of their factions. Such a system could only mass-produce incompetence while potentially capable magicians slip through the cracks. Well, theres no point in contemplating this any further. Im just a tutor, after all. Isnt that irresponsible? Wont thing improve if you take charge? Being irresponsible allows me to speak objectively. If you serve a country, you have to be careful with your words. Death awaits the reckless speakers. I gracefully decline. Something clicked in his employer mind. Zeros reluctance resulted in him living as an irresponsible vagabond. He wasnt suited for the hardships an organization leader faced. By the way, Selestina-san has been rather quiet, hasnt she? What Zeros looked back to see his student seriously analyzing the previous battle. She muttered to herself as she reflected on her shortcomings and thought of ways to revise her strategy for next time. Thought she was born to an archdukes house, she had a sharp mind and seemed to have the qualities of an adventurer. She isnt concerned about being dirty? As a noble girl, being a researcher would be good enough. Does my Tina have talent? A sufficient amount of it. Depending on her efforts, she might bloom into a tremendous talent. Thats good to hear. I cherish my grandchilds growth more than anything. Then, you wont mind a carrot and rod method? What do you plan to do? While Creston was thankful that he managed to hire Zeros, he felt that the training was rather severe. Something about the way Zeros smiled made the retired duke feel uneasy. Selestina-san. Ye-Yes!? What is it, Sensei? If you reach level 50 in two months and raise three of your skills to level 30, Ill teach you one of my original spells. Seriously?! Yes, its a safe, but explanatory useful spell. What kind of spell is it?! Just a summary Save those questions until you achieve your goal. Its more fun that way isnt it? Zeros magic was beyond the bounds of this world. If Selestina could obtain even the weakest of his spells, it would mean Zeros acknowledged her as his disciple. Many noble children with magic capabilities were disciples of famous magicians, and they received special treatment in high society. ;Those among the disciples who received an original spell were considered their masters successors and found themselves in high ranking positions after graduating the academy. However, the status and acclaim paled in comparison to having the pinnacle of all magicians, Zeros, gift her with a spell and recognize her as his disciple. The opportunity greatly motivated her. Ill do my best! I will absolutely accomplish this task!! Please do your best. Though, you should change your clothes, unless you want them permanently stained in mud? Ah? Thats right. Ecf-Excuse me!! Did you bite your She immediately ran off to change clothes. What kind of spell is it? I can only think of your destructive attack magic, Shisho. Is that so. Would you like to see it? What? Youll demonstrate it here? Yes, please attack me with a spell. Make it something so powerful that I cant run away. He was asking to be hit with his most potent spell. Creston judged it was useless to worry given Zeros skill and abilities. The old magician put up a fearless smile. Hmm dont pull any punches. Arbitrary Their expressions turned serious. Flames of purgatory, become the dragon that annihilates my enemies. Ancient overlord of the netherworld he who reduces all to ash!! Drago Inferno Destruction]!! In his youth, Creston had been the renowned Purgatory Magician]. Zeros remained perfectly still. The ferocious flame dragons attacked Zeros from all directions. Gods Silver Shell. At that moment, each of the flame dragons was penetrated by some invisible force before they were dispersed. The flame dragons had reached the tips of Zeros fingers before they were snuffed suddenly snuffed out. Huh?! What I see, its a shield spell! Thats correct. Gods Silver Shell is a barrier that can change its shape at the casters discretion. Thats its not a shield then, its a sword!? It a mage killing weapon.: The silver shell was an incredibly versatile weapon in the right hands. The mana consumption was relatively small, and it was a fantastic counter to energy-based magic. Initially, energy-based magic required a lot of mana, but spells in that category made up for it with their destructive force and range. Zeros dispersed the flame dragons by forming the barrier into multiple spines and attacked them with fencer-like thrust. Even with a lousy sword arm, the barrier could be used as an invisible slashing weapon. Thats an excellent spell. Regular magicians cant compete with you. It useless if youre targeted by an area-of-effect spell. Against regular magic its a decent trump card to have. The mana efficiency is good, and it shouldnt be too much of a hassle to use. Hassle? What kind of hassle? You can shape the barrier into a weapon to attack the enemy. Your safety is assured once the enemy is defeated. However, its borderline useless without proper mana control. Umm can you shape it into an extendable invisible blade? The strength will change depending on the amount of mana used you can almost certainly defeat an enemy thats never seen the spell before. A talented magician or a merely strong enough attack can deal with the spell. It was a complicated spell, but the retired duke couldnt help but smile at the thought of his cute granddaughter obtaining it. If Selestina had that spell, certain mages will never be able to defeat her. It was defense and offense in one. Im looking forward to seeing Tinas future. What moniker will she obtain? Having two names is awkward. If you get a bad one, youd be too embarrassed to get out of bed. I still want to see it. These next two months are gonna be entertaining. Is that a good thing? Creston ran on the love he had for his granddaughter. At this rate, the old man might never get sick again. After Zeros sighed at the old mans behavior, the two of them returned to the mansion. Only massive mud puddle remained in the garden Chapter 07 Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax Ossan, Goes To Town Its been two weeks since he began his life in this other world. As he became accustomed to his new environment, Zeros noticed a particular problem. He had yet to explore the town that was his new home, and he still had to acquire any of this worlds currency. Up till now, hed spent his days working as Selestinas tutor, tending to the on-site garden, reading books in the library to amass knowledge, and occasionally cross blades with the knights. How could he live in this world without knowing how its people lived? As if hed obtained some form of enlightenment, Zeros decided to visit the town immediately. He strapped his twin swords to his waist and put on his gray robe. While the hood easily hid his unkempt hair, it only emphasized his unshaven stubble. Honestly, he appeared to be a suspicious person, and it would do him a lot of good to clean up but decades as a bachelor had left him indifferent to his appearance. As a matter of fact, a part of him liked his shady atmosphere, so he didnt bother with trivial things such as dressing up? Something like that was received for special occasions, right? Such thoughts occupied his mind as he opened the mansions door and left. Well then, lets go. By the way, Creston was currently visiting the feudal lords mansion, and Selestina had gone off on her own after their lesson. After exchanging a few niceties with the servants, Zeros left through the main gate. It took him half an hour to reach the city from the archdukes mansion. In addition to the city wall, the steep cliff face behind the city and the dense forest surrounding it had turned the city into an impenetrable fortress. The area closest to the forest led into the market district, from there you could go to the heart of the residential area and business district where the ordinary people converged. Since the city was built at the base of a mountain, it used the cliff face as a natural defensive wall, while the man-made canal ensured the town prospered as a trading hub. The masses of people coming and going allowed the mercenary guilds stationed in the city to thrive and there was no shortage of escort contracts. After all, the journey outside the city could be dangerous with highwaymen and bandits frequenting the roads and pirates infesting the river. Beyond the limits of the knight orders manpower, there was a system in place for issuing bounties so that mercenaries could hunt down criminals, but, as in every world, the criminal element persisted. While public order was maintained in the cities, you were on your own once you set foot in a danger zone. Thats why peace felt like a fragile illusion. First is the magic item shop. Selling a few magic stones get me some money. Although he had a map, it was a rough one, and the stores location wasnt listed. Fortunately, efficiency was at the forefront of urban development since the citys founding, so its streets were well maintained and easy to navigate. The problem was that there were no clear paths in-between the buildings and criminals used that fact to drag citizens and merchants into dark alleyways. There are thugs everywjhere The mansions servants had told him about the places to avoid to beforehand so Zeros followed their advice. He wanted to avoid troublesome people in general. With light steps, he finally approached the magic item shop. Zeros was filled with a childlike sense of excitement. ? ? ? ? Isthis the place? This is unexpected?????? The shop was located at the edge of the market district and just outside of the industrial district. It wasnt hard to pick out the shop against its less conspicuous neighbors. Well, it certainly stands out The shops murky black color was in stark contrast with the rest of the neighborhood. It wouldnt be out of place for a witch to open the dubious shops door. Indeed, being left speechless was the appropriate outcome. The shop owner do they intend to attract customers with those dolls? The windows were filled with crucified, female dolls and various skulls. The eyeless goat head nailed to the shops door was excessive and creepy. It didnt seem like a shop that saw a lot of business. DDDGyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! The doorbell screamed as he walked through the door and entered the shop. This was a mistake. Welcome? A bespectacled young woman in stereotypical witch clothing offered a clumsy salesmans welcome. The inside of the shop was unexpectedly mundane, with magic items arranged in average display cases. What was the meaning of the stores exterior? Can I sell magic stones here? Magic stones? How many do you have to sell? 200 goblins, 50 hobgoblins, 15 goblin mages and 1 goblin king. Are you sane?! Whats with those numbers?! Am I sane? I think so. The witch clerk began appraising the magic stones the moment I took them out of their leather sack. Since they examined each stone individually, Zeros passed some time by browsing the shops wares, but nothing seemed to be of high quality. To be honest, making them himself wouldve been better than buying them. Although he was considered one of the strongest annihilators in the game, he initially spent his time crafting new magic items. He also used his appraisal skill on the shops items, but they didnt do much beyond restoring health or housing small enchantments. They were commonplace consumables and creating them wouldnt immediately drain the magic stones of their power. Although the enchantments werent everlasting, the semi-permanent magic formations carved into the items were a good substitute, and they slowed natural mana depletion. Zeros was confident he could make items better than anything the store had to offer. Dea customer. Where did you steal these magic stones from? Its rather rude to accuse someone of theft!! I obtained those stones myself! False accusations were terrible things. Although unintentional, Zeros became emotional in the face of the womans accusation. Even his tone was different from usual. Youre lying!! Theres no way a grey-robed magician such as yourself could make it out of Fafuran alive. Now, out with it!! Where did you steal them from? Treating me like a thief I heard this was a decent shop, but this place is nothing but a swindlers den. This was a legitimate offer. I refuse to do business with this place from now on. Huh? Are you a magician from another country? Ive been an honored guest at the lords villa for a week. Perhaps I should leave a report about the unreasonable treatment Ive received. The female clerks face paled in the blink of an eye. Eh? Are you employed by Creston-sama? Yes, we met by chance while traveling, and Im now relying on his kindness, what of it? Really? You can check it out for yourself How will you take responsibility for your actions once you learn the truth? T-That a lie! Theres no way he would offer his patronage to such a shady magician like you Her stubbornness in harassing me was admirable. However, that didnt mean her actions would bear fruit. Why dont you see for yourself? Whatever you do once you learn the truth of this folly is irrelevant to me. Ive already associated this shop with an unpleasant experience. ;You treated someone at thief based on appearances alone, so you have no one but yourself to blame for the fate that befalls you. Its not my problem. The clerk began to tremble in response to Zeros indifferent threats. While Zeros suspicious appearance was evident, she had no way of directly verifying a connection between him and the former archduke. However, if there was any truth to his word, it meant that she had just insulted one of the archdukes guest. If this was handled poorly, she could look forward to life imprisonment or execution. Shed been cornered. Shut up Stop making such a racket while people are working! Manager?! Kuutie, you are you treating customers like criminals? Stop mixing up your adventure novels with reality. A prosti-, no the female manager came out the back of the shop. The woman wearing a vermilion, cleavage-exposing dress didnt look much like a magician She was rather voluptuous, and Zeros unintentionally looked away. But, hes a gray robe? How could someone like him venture into Fafuran and return with so many magic stones? Huh? Kuutie, that story is probably true. Huh?! Although it is a little bit dirty, that robe is an outrageous item. ;Its not made from ordinary monster hide Its better not to ask about the materials. Your common sense might not hold. I see. Perhaps this is the first time Ive seen an item crafted from a legendary behemoth. There was a noticeable pause. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh?! What wrong with it? Its just a dirty robe. Yes, a course it is. I dont want to die just yet A wise decision. ;Theres nothing more uncomfortable than prying eyes. I couldnt agree more. Kuutie was still confused by all of this. Those who wielded equipment made from behemoths were all heroes whose stories were told in legends. If the managers intuition was correct, then the mage in front of her was wearing such an item. Ill purchase these magic stones and even include a bonus for my assistants rudeness. ; ;So, do we have a deal? Shouldnt the assistants rudeness be dealt with first? Having such a rude worker cant be doing the shops reputation any good. Ill admit shes a constant source of headaches. I cant fix things no matter what I do Why arent you firing her? How many people do you think would work in a store like this? Even she is a valuable resource. So youre aware of it The stores exterior seemed to be the result of the managers hobby, and Zeros was somewhat pleased that his impression of it had been accurate. The clerk, Kuutie muttered things likeThis kind of this kind ofunder her breath. They were a strange pair manager and assistant. I suppose it fine. Since Creston-san introduced me to this stop, theres no reason to boycott it because of a misunderstanding. Were truly sorry for her impoliteness. Please wait here while we prepare your money Kuutie, how long are you gonna stand there? Hurry up!! Y-YESDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!! Shortly after Kuutie disappeared more into the depths of the building, the sound of someone counting could be heard in the shop. She mustve been putting the payment together. Still, some of his worries about the shops credibility lingered. These are high-quality stones. Seeing them has sparked my creativity, Thats for the best. Although coincidental, thats a good outcome. Youre a magician arent you? Why dont you have your guild make your items? I can make them myself, but Im currently freeloading at the moment. If I get a house with a nice yard, I might just devote the rest of my life to creative activities. I want to explore a range of hobbies. In that case, it seems like Ive been spared a formidable business rival. The manager seemed genuinely relieved, and even her sigh oozed sex appeal. She seemed to have a more sensual type of magic than other magicians. I have the final sum. Here is the payment for your magic stones. What did it come out to? Oh 28.7 million gol. Somehow, he just became incredibly rich. Thats a bit excessive Didnt I tell you? Theres a bonus for my clerks rudeness Most of the reward comes from the goblin kings stone. I never thought Id come across such a large magic stone.? The managers cheeks turned crimson as she seemed mesmerized by the stone. Zeros felt that he was witnessing something dangerous. Well, in that case Ill excuse myself. If I acquire another stone of similar quality, do you want me to come by again? I begging you. My name is Belladonna, the owner of this establishment. How shall I address a magician such as yourself? You can call me Zeros. Ill come by if I feel like it. Thank you very much After Zeros had left the shop, Belladonna heaved a sigh of relief and then glared daggers at Kuutie. W-What? Manager Kuutiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieee!!! What were you thinking, picking a fight with that monster!! Th-that???????!! My spine froze over when I laid eyes on him! Thats the kind of person you should never make an enemy out of. Such overwhelming talent But, hes only wearing a grey robe. Isnt that the lowest class of magician? Thats only true for this country! As for the rest of the world I thought it was impossible to dye behemoth leather gray. Moreover, he purposely devalued it with dirt to make his deception more believable. While Belladonna didnt grasp the full extent of Zeros power, the difference in strength ; was evident in their enhancement abilities. Mages didnt necessarily have to be sensitive to magic, but those who were received favorable treatment. Perhaps it was the Magic Perception]skill at work. It took everything she had to keep a straight face after seeing the enormous amount of mana placed into Zeros enchantments. She had the impression she could never win against him. W-Was it that terrible? He couldve killed you with a wave of his hand I dont want to meet him again if possible Hi-Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii?! Its too late to get scared now. If this were a battlefield, youd be a corpse by now. Belladonna could practically taste the fear coming off of Kuutie. Still where did that old bastard of a duke come across such a monster? My life has been shortened. A curse was hurled at her old acquaintance Creston. After exploring the marketplace for a bit, Zeros came to the conclusion that prices in this world were low. You could live off a hundred gold pieces for a month. The price of food in this world was equivalent to what it was in pre-world war 2 Japan. Instead, the cost of metal was high, with only iron seeming to be sold at a reasonable price. Locations with large deposits of rare metal ore tended to be inhabited by monsters, and most people didnt consider it worth the risk to mine those areas. In order to even break ground at those sites, you needed to hire mercenaries to slay the monsters and serve as constant escorts. Because of the initial investment and labor costs, metal usually sat on the high end of the price index. In addition to the limited number of mines and their inflated costs, transport prices seemed to be on the rise. Of course, clay is still needed to make pottery and, while they werent metallic, the cost of tableware was also going up. ;Thus, wooden tableware was common among regular citizens. Every country struggled with acquiring raw materials, and the merchant guild seemed to dictate the prices across the board. While there were countries who possessed their own mines, they complied with the merchants guild pricing because they lacked other resources like food or seasonings. The merchants guild was so crucial to the distribution of goods that efforts were taken to ensure that war and theft didnt affect its business. War was a lucrative venture, but only for a few. Most nobles and merchants were thoroughly opposed to the damage a war caused to cities and trade routes. Even so, it took time to plan a war, gather the necessary food and weaponry, and reinforce the essential infrastructure. Of course, since it wasnt possible to win every battle, neighboring nations were locked in a cycle of short wars and periods of fragile peace. While there werent any signs of a war flaring up, internal disturbances rocked the continent, and several skirmishes had broken out in multiple nations. Its quite the recession, isnt it? Is this country safe? Weellll? Theres trouble with the royal familys succession What about the schism between the knights and magicians? I heard the relationship between their higher-ups is terrible. So it seems. Whats to stop a military coup dtat? Exactly. I just wanna live peacefully. Zeros listened in on the conversations around him as he conversed with a stall merchant. One needed information to decide their own fate, a lack of knowledge led to life and death endeavors. Being careless got you involved in outrageous situations. So are you gonna buy a skewer or not? What type of meat is it? It smells incredible, but Wild Holstein I splurged a little the other day hunting it down. Oh I heard it produced high-quality milk, but hows the meat? If you can eat murder buffalo, you should have no problem with Holstein, Zeros bought a skewer and popped a piece in his mouth. The second he bit down, the savory juices, a perfect blend of seasonings, and tender meat overwhelmed his senses. Th-This is the perfect harmony of flavooorrr!! He unintentionally praised the delicious meal like he was an entertainer. Are you alright? Mister No, this is simply delicious Ill take fifty of them. Thats too much!!! One person buying fifty was a bit much. After that Zeros took a stroll through the city, buying ingredients and spices along the way. Before he realized it, Zeros had gotten himself lost. Old housed lined the streets, thugs lingered in every shadow, and people looked up at him with dark expressions. A slum? No, I guess youd call it the old town. Even though it was a part of the city, public order in the slums wasnt all that good. A worrying stench lingered on the people who went past Zeros to speak with people sitting on the ground before those people vanished around a street corner. While he had a hunch about what was going on, Zeros wasnt in a position to intervene without causing a commotion. Besides, his map only covered a third of the city, and he had next to no idea where he currently was. Why dont I look into the situation? Eventually, he came across an open square with a water fountain at its center. The water had long since stopped flowing, and only shadows filled the once pristine fountain. This place as a dark reflection of the rest of the city with dilapidated buildings in every direction. (Eh?? Two? No, three people?) His high perception skill suddenly picked up a few people who were following him. The tail was rather amateurish, but not outright terrible. If the tails were adults, I probably wouldve picked up on them before now. (But still children?) Given the part of the city he was in, the children were obviously vagrants, but he was at a loss on how to deal with them. Zeros reached into his sack and casually brought it to his mouth. Geezer! Geezer at least call me uncle Same difference, geezer. Well, yeah but I dont agree with that So, what do you want? Give us the meat! The brash redhead made that demand without a hint of shame. While the child couldve been a girl, the layer of dirt and lack of visible indicators meant it being a boy wasnt out of the question. The visible skin had a healthy tan to it, and it was easy to see that the child was underweight. This meat? Why? Etch, stingy bastard! No, I dont mind giving it to a strange child, but I cant help feel sorry for your parents when they learn about you and your friends are extorting people. I dont have any parents. ;Im Atai the orphan! An orphan? Theres an orphanage in this place? There is. The lord funds it with his money. So Creston had a hand in managing the orphanage. In any case, this wasnt the best environment to raise a child in. As this area continued to deteriorate, it would bring forth the worst kind of criminals. Uh How many children are there? Including Atai, there are four of us too old to be taken, and the rest are small kids. Arent you small too Im thirteen years old! Im already an adult. Youre kidding?! They were young by every standard. Perhaps their insufficient nutrition had stunted their growth. Zeros was almost brought to tears when he pictured the lives they mustve lived here. Nonetheless, wont they be angry if you eat here? Arent there any adults at your orphanage? I didnt mind helping, but that wouldnt solve the main problem. Do I have to take you to the sister? Even I can get angry. Hm can you lead me to the orphanage? Eh Why? The thirteen-year-old seemed dissatisfied with the request. However, Zeros had his reasons. Assuming he gave the skewer to the children it was doubtful that the sister would merely say Alright. and accept their story. Falsely being branded as thieves would leave a scar on the childrens hearts. Sleeping with that on his mind would be hard. I can explain things properly if you take me there. Besides, wont the skewers become useless if you drop the bag? Fallen food is still good after three seconds! Thats right! You worry too much, geezer. Do you think our stomachs are that soft? The three-second rule?! It exists in this world?! The children remained steadfast. Zeros was beginning to worry about their regular eating habits. Its possible that you could get into a fight before you can eat, its better than I come along with you. This part of town seems dangerous. Guys, isnt everyone a good person? Yeah, theyre just a little cold to outsiders. They sometimes share vegetables. Are you misanthropic, Geezer? The children were too energetic. Perhaps these slums were overflowing with humanity. The strange looks and glares directed at Zeros were the result of him being an outsider. Please lead me to the orphanage. I have to explain that Im willingly providing your meal, right? Yes Sir!! Where did you learn to speak like that Children remembered strange words with realizing it. Zeros started to become worried about having to choose his words carefully when he got married and had his own child. Well, it wouldnt stop them from picking up strange things In any case, the children began guiding Zeros to the orphanage. He was unaware of the long relationship hed come to form with these children It turned out that the Solisthea estate was in the same direction as the orphanage. The castle-like villa and the near-royal status of the manors occupants had quite the psychological impact, especially to those lost souls who realized the ease of finding their way out of the old town. The orphanage itself was located on the edge of the old and new part of town, a slightly inconvenient place to raise children. To reach the orphanage we had to take a detour through around both areas and pass by a truly dangerous neighborhood. Slave merchants caught his eyes as he was exploring the city earlier, so it wouldnt be surprising if kidnappers helped proliferate the current system. It was possible that some people might try selling off orphans who didnt know what was happening. A prerequisite for falling into slavery was that you where an adult criminal or someone incapable of fitting into the social structure. However, there were exceptions for prostitution and those with specific sexual preferences. For those exceptions , prices were determined by age and gender, with those trades happening behind closed doors. After all, orphans were regarded as being useless and were likely to become criminals without proper education. Educating orphans was a costly venture when you could sell them off as slaves and make an easy profit. Its a tough world Zeros let out a sign in response to those dark thoughts. He wasnt all that enthusiastic about the slave trade. On the contrary, he was firmly against it as a matter of principal. Geezer, over there! The redhead child pointed to a rundown church. In front of the church was a group of young men and knights. Those guys they came again The childs face reflected evident discomfort. Who are they? They seem to be nobility Hes the lords son, a very unpleasant fellow (Serious? Is this another trope? Or did this goddess pull some strings in the background??) This entire affair reeked of trouble. Zeros wanted to avoid this situation if possible, but he didnt want to leave the kids alone with these people. (I just want to live quietly) He sighed once more and prepared to give up on his peaceful life. It seemed that Zeros was destined to run into trouble on this day. Chapter 08 Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax Ossan, Meddling In Others Love Life The young nobleman hanging around the orphanage was the current archdukes son, Schweith Van Solisthea. He and his accompanying knights were arguing with a nun in front of the orphanage. While his grades at the Istal Magic Institutes advanced department were excellent, he was known a problem child among the teachers. This was because the academy was wroth with strife and he belonged to one of the two major factions. The main culprits were the Weisler Faction]and Saint-Germain Faction]. Both factions had made significant contributions to the country, with the Weisler factions producing a plethora of combat mages and the Saint-Germain faction many acclaimed magic researchers. However, that was in the past, and the now well-established factions only shared a mutual hatred of one another. Although they shared a common enemy in the Knight Order, the cold war continued on the verge of open conflict. Schweith was apart of the Weisler faction and received favorable treatment because he was the eldest son of Archduke Solisthea. Of course, his top-class abilities fed into and helped inflate his ego. Since Creston had been also a part of the Weisler faction, he thought himself the successor to the Purgatory Magician]s legacy and held his grandfather in high regards. As a result of his upbringing and the praise he received from those around him, Schweith was one step away from becoming an irredeemable human. He was now of marriageable age, too. Last summer he happened upon, and fell in love with, the nun who ran the orphanage, and ever since then he half-courted, half-harassed her. He visited her every day during his summer and winter holidays. No, it might already be too late. He was starting to taking on a stalkers mentality. Therefore, why dont you become my woman. How long have you withered away in this orphanage? I am where I decided to be. My life will not be dictated by you! How long are you going to maintain that rubbish attitude? I always get what I want in the end. That includes you, Luseris. Luseris had grown up in this orphanage. At the time, only a monk and a priest had been here to take care of the children, but things have been different ever since Luseris returned after completing her training. Four priests now ran the orphanage, and the country financed its operations. For that reason, Luseris decided to stay and practiced her healing on citizens at a reduced cost. Schweith came across her during such a session. In his heroic delusions, such people were undeserving of her treatment and so he sought to make her his own. His sanity was called into question when Oi, you! Become my woman, was the first thing he said to her. Luseris response, Hahah?? to that pick-up was to be expected. She politely declined his advances after that, but using the exercise Getting familiar with a lords duty., he visited the orphanage at every opportunity. Comments like, The existence of the orphanage can devalue the citys landscape. were clearly meant to entrap Luseris. However, his repeated attempts to court her, lead to Luseris to despise the stubborn Schweith . unbeknownst to Luseris, her hard-line rejection only intrigued him further. They were sinking into a quagmire. First of all, I hate you with a passion. Who could love a vile person that tries to exploit others weaknesses? Youre the lowest of the low. Ack, but you can only say that for so long. All itll take is a new business license being issued to wear out your welcome here. You have to think about the children?. You character is truly vile. Its a pity to think of you as the next lord. Your brother Croisas is the better option. You bitch! You like that two-faced bastard more than me?! Hes far better than an idiot who mindlessly abuses their power!! While you couldnt call their exchange a lovers quarrel, it was undoubtedly an emotional exchange. Injured pride would be the least of everyones worries if things were handled poorly. If Schweith were to kill Luseris, he would turn all four the major temples against him. Such an act would turn this squabble into an international and religious incident. The resulting backlash could result in the total destruction of the Solisthea dukedom. Schweith seemed unaware that the royal family couldnt and wouldnt protect him in a crisis of that scale. In addition to his bullying behavior, his pride was out of control. She flat-out rejected him, yet he still pursues her? I guess he doesnt know when to quit? That right. Hes such a child. A child calling someone else a child hes not even that far along. Its hopeless, isnt it? He tries to seduce her every day, but its impossible, right? Using such cowardly methods it wont attract anyone no matter how hard he tries. Its his first love, but he managed to shoot himself in the foot at every turn. Its impossible to recover from this. The two people in question turned their attention to the scruffy mage and the orphans. Moreover, the analysis of their current situation continued as the pair dumbfoundedly looked on. Saying Become my woman the first time you meet?, Im struggling to determine if thats overconfidence, stupidity, or both. In the first place he shouldve coincidently bumbled into her and started up a conversation. Something like Im sorry the failings of the city fall upon you, Sister. wouldve worked. Oh, thats cool! Arent first impressions important? Going about it that way wouldve given him the impression of being a kindhearted nobleman. He failed at the start? Come on! Unsightly. You dont want to be like that do you? The pairs initial encounter was being analyzed objectively. Thats not the end of it. You want to spend more time with her, so youre trying to scatter the orphans throughout the old city? Your true motives are so blatant that you cant even call them ulterior. Didnt Sister also said something like that? I suppose. Even if youre the next lord, appearances are important. Its a shame that a mere rumor is enough to tank a leaders credibility. Who would want some random and ignorant failure as their next lord? His credibility will plummet ?. He can kiss his love and lordship goodbye?. Its over, its over-? Although it seemed outlandish, it looked like the logical outcome. Schweith seemed to writhe with anger at the mockery. Whether he realized it or not, he wanted to lash out because he was forced to recognize his failings. That was the source of his anger At this point, your goodwill has fallen to rock bottom, yet you still persist? Its already over. Failure, failure, giant failure!! I commend him for having the guts to still come here. Still, its nothing but wasted effort on his part. The brave thing to do is give up on his childish behavior. Brokenhearted, unemployed, say goodbye to life! No, Im not saying he should commit suicide. Hell have to carry this shame for the rest of his life The children were unforgiving in their taunting. Ah, if he regrets what hes done he should lower his head, apologize, and try to be a better person from now on. If its not a situation you can make amends for, its better to give up. You can still become a lord at this point. Can you live with a broken heart? Rather, its a good thing?. Hes in bad shape! Healer, hes in critical condition. Does he want to be an adult? Or remain a child? Does he even know? Although it was small talk, it was a matter of life and death for the person in question. The commotion had gathered the attention of the bystanders. For the image-obsessed nobility having ones shameless intimidation tactics revealed was a critical blow. Hed been so preoccupied with his butch seduction, Schweith had been oblivious to the scene he had made. Now he was fully aware that an unbecoming rumor could see his brother taking the lordship away from him. Were responsible for our actions. Now his love and the lordship are at risk because he acted impulsively. Rather unsightly isnt it? Can we eat the skewers now. Geezer, lets eat already. Is it alright if the lords son dies of shame? The two knights were at a loss for words. Since Luseris was the unfortunate object of Schweith s affection, it was alright if she embarrassed him, but the same couldnt be said for some random stranger. Furthermore, the high number of witnesses ensured that rumors would spread. T-That What is it? Young sister. You Who are you? Hmm, just an ordinary citizen who accidentally got entwined with these kids? A geezer with food maybe? Luseris glared at the children using Zeros like a shield. The shameless kids seemed to have a strong survival instinct. I am really sorry. I appreciate you donating your time Ah you dont have to go that far. Whats done is done. It was a cowardly ploy. I question that persons logic. Schweith had completely exposed his worst qualities. His behavior brought his academic achievements into question. Does he try to brute force his way through everything? Some say power can win someones heart but thats just idiotic. He doesnt seem to understand that. Its such a trifling thing.Anyway, I have these skewers Im so sorry Mr. Stranger! Well reimburse you for your trouble Luseris bowed her head repeatedly. For some reason it made Zeros want to apologize to her instead. It should be fine, right? Call it a donation if youd like Itll be a problem if children dont get enough to eat. Im really sorry!! But, are you really fine with this? Yeah, I bought 50 of them without thinking, and I cant eat them all. Hehehe. Well, that surprising It was a impulse purchase. A recent payout was larger than I expected its seemed the prince of magic stones dont fall Luseris felt a strange sense of incongruity coming off the mage. He was sloppily dressed and had a seedy appearance, but she couldnt detect a magical aura around him. Everyone emitted a mana field that was perceivable by a select few. It was an ability that magic practitioners possessed and it could even appear as a skill with training. Luseris possessed the Magic Perception]skill, but this skill didnt show a reaction when used on someone with weak magic abilities. However, the feeling she got was different than normal, so she wondered if this was something else. Magic perception? That should probably be around level 20? You can detect my mana though. Its just too big to be perceived properly. Huh?! Youre not the only one with magic perception. Well, it basically activates automatically, so youll get used to it as you grow up. It wasnt that she couldnt detect his mana field because he was weaker than her, it was because Zeros field engulfed everything around him. For the first time, Luseris was feeling the same sensation one feels when coming across a monster that was leaps and bounds beyond their capabilities. The lower the skills level, the more likely youd needed to sever your own magic connection before entering an enemys field. It wasnt something you could understand without experiencing it yourself. S-Sorry Its a common occurrence amongst mages. Dont worry about it. But, I didnt mean to be rude I guess I failed in that regard. For a while now Luseris was at the marriageable age of eighteen. The ample bulge in her chest region indeed emphasized that fact. Zeros eyes had noticed them a while ago and had been trying to look elsewhere ever since. Breast freak would be an apt description of him. Hey!? You have a beautiful figure Faced with such a beauty, my eyes unintentionally wandered.Sorry. Pervy geezer??! She attempted to cover up her chest, but the pressure on her white robes emphasized them even more. What was meant to be neat and clean had become erotic. Well, Im drawn to larger ones ahem! Sorry Though, breasts that exceed the Guinness record were a bit much. Thats what he felt. I-I thought you were a true gentleman Im an ossan. Isnt a little perversion fine? Im still a good person at heart. Zeros shameless perversion brought tears to her eyes. However, his calm demeanor remained. Its obscene. Its shameless! Its naughty!! All men think erotic thoughts. Of course the same applies to them. Three people, including Schweith , looked away. He seemed to be on the mark. Do you look upon me with such eyes?! Disgusting!! Mmm Men will always look upon a beauty like you, right? Well, part of them Part? Other women or homosexuals might glare at you. Perhaps some of the people youve treated gave you similar looks. That that kind of thing Can you deny it? For men, a beautiful woman is synonymous with an unknown world. Theres no end to the adventurers trying to dive in. You need to be aware of that. Being far above an ordinary woman At that moment, Luseris cheeks were redder than a tomato. Her platinum blonde hair reached her back, and she had a figure that most models would be envious of. With her cute babyface and steadfast attitude, if you called her a saint, it wouldnt take much to convince people. However, her upbringing in the orphanage seems to have left her oblivious to her own attractiveness. Beautiful me? You lie! But Luseris was left muttering to herself. By the way, about the skewers where can I put them? Oh?! T-That! Eh the kitchen Still embarrassed by the compliments, Luseris struggled to string an answer together. As an aside, she was unaware that her fellow male priests struggled against their desires during their training because of her persistence. Her attractiveness was an undeniable fact. However, she lacked self-awareness Now then the children are starving. Meat???????!! They were energetic children. So the priestess and the child began leading Zeros inside, but Wait, do you think you can get away with insulting a noble?! Schweith called him out. Oh, youre still here? Werent you already dealt with? That resilience is frightening. Shut up! I dont know which faction you belong to, but I wont be humiliated by a mere gray robe Gray robe? Are magicians ranked by the color of their robes? What So youre a magician from another country. It goes gray, black, red, and white, with gray robes belong to the lowest class magicians. Im not the same as a fledgling mage, Ive already obtained a red robe. Schweith was so proud of himself that he failed to notice the gap in his reasoning. Well, does that mean anything? What? Im a foreign magician, remember? Just because this country has a color ranking system doesnt mean I follow it. The color ranking system for magicians was unique to this country, so the difference in their abilities remained unknown. Without a high-level appraisal skill, it was impossible to gauge an enemies strength by sight alone. Hmph, so what. Im still a high ranking mage. Do you think Id lose to some magician of dubious origins? Whats the source of your confidence? If you cant grasp your opponents abilities, youre as good as dead Isnt it your own fault that rumors are already starting to spread? Why not stop while youre ahead? Shut up, arent you a magician? How could such a weak person defeat me?! Fireball!! He was probably upset that Zeros was invited into the orphanage. All of a sudden, Schweith shot a chant-less spell at Zeros. But Ha! DDDWuuesh Zeros causally swatted the fireball aside, Huh?! A-Arent you a magician!? Yes, I am. However, Im also a skilled combatant. Why? Youre carrying two swords possibly Im better with swords, but I dont need them or magic to deal with you. My fists are more than enough. Zeros god level combat skills werent something an ordinary mage could handle. After all, magicians were at an overwhelming disadvantage in close range combat. Hmph mages need to fight in close quarters. Why are you so surprised? Hey, you guys by me some time. Ill reduce this fool to ashes!! Eh!! Understood. Leave it to me, Schweith -sama! The Knights put their hands on their swords and sized up Zeros. Knights with sheathed swords were at a disadvantage when facing a brawler. Also, the opponent could use magic and had swordsmanship. Grabbing the hilts? Are you sure you want to do this? W-What? Are you prepared to die when you draw those swords? !? A cold sweat ran down their backs. At first glance, nothing had happened, but the air had clearly changed. The knight where frozen in place an enormous monster appeared to have manifested before their eyes. Whats wrong? Go!! B-But Schweith -sama This man is too strong there are no openings. Schweith level 53; Tokusa, level 60; Santos, level 64. Youre so weak, I want to cry. !? The two knights hadnt revealed their names or levels. Even Schweith hadnt mentioned his level. It was impossible to see other peoples stats without the appraisal skill, and even then, you couldnt see much until you reached higher levels. Without appraisal skills or magic items, ones stats screen remained invisible to other people. Zeros wasnt holding a magic item. The answer was obvious then. A-Appraisal?! Eh, I can see all of your stats. Do you know what that means? Youre much stronger than us Fool if he were such a high-level person wh-why would he look so suspicious I can take down wyvern on my own. Eh, it wasnt that difficult. The man in front of them had unimaginable power. For the first time in his life, the prideful red-robed Schweith had met a warrior far superior to himself. And hed picked a fight with that person. Fuck! Flames of purgatory, become the dragon that annihilates my enemies. Ancient overlord of the netherworld Huh?! Schweith -sama, that chant!! Do you plan to burn down the entire city?! Hahahahaha!! He who reduces all to ash!! Dragon Inferno Destruction]!! Once more, flame dragons attacked Zeros from all sides. However, Zeros simply sighed. Ive already seen this. Phantom Rush Zeros left afterimages in his wake, as he dispelled each of the dragons with a flurry of kicks and punches. You could minimize the effect of area of effect magic my crushing the spell before the physical phenomenon was entirely triggered. Everyone was left dumbfounded by the insane display. This is the last one. With that lackadaisical comment and a scratch of his head, Zeros stomped out the last flame dragon. His aloof attitude showed just how trivial this was to him. Hed just undone a spell capable of destroying a city with his bare hands. The one Creston-san used was far stronger. Well, its to be expected from a level 50 magician. I-Impossible that was my strongest spell. It was swatted away so easily Oy now That the previous dukes name Oh, didnt I already say it? Im currently a guest at Creston-sans mansion. What did you say!! In other words, he was the former dukes acquaintance. This had become the worst situation for Schweith . N-No way, grandfather Ill tell him everything that happened. You have to pay the price for your actions, right? Please dont! Ill be killed if you do that!! I refuse. Remember what you tried to do to the Sister? That was something pretty bad, right? My principles wont allow me to forgive scummy magicians. Especially the scum that grows drunk off their power Please, Ill do anything!! Rejected, magicians are seekers of knowledge. I wont acknowledge those who leave that path in favor of corrupt political power. Schweith was cut down without mercy. (This should be a nice bit of medicine. Only tragedy follows the rise of a selfish leader?) Honestly, Zeros had no interest in other peoples affairs. He only wanted to show off a little and look like a cool magician. As far as Zeros was concerned, the best outcome is that other magicians and nobles left him alone. Ha???. By the way, Sister? The skewers Y-Yes!! Oh this! Whats wrong? Did you have something else in mind? Thats not it! Come in!! Im not gonna bite. A nervous Luseris lead Zeros into the orphanage. The children followed after them, shouting Yeah?. Meat, Yeah?. Schweith fell to his knees. He was left basking in his sins. After that, Zeros enjoyed a meal at the orphanage before returning to the mansion. Chapter 09 Translator: Silver Ossan, Making A Field For The Orphanage Three people faced one another at Archduke Solistheas primary residence. The oldest person in the room was the retired Creston. The youngest participant was the dukes eldest son, Schweith. The final attendee was the stern-looking white-robe adorned Delsasis, the current archduke. So? Not only did you challenge father guest to a fight, but you also used our familys heirloom and were still utterly defeated? Heirloom spells were secret techniques passed down through the generations. In general, they were original spells that families pulled together their resources and research to create. Not only had that magic been revealed to the public, but it had also been dismantled with ease. B-But that man his strength was abnormal What a good excuse. Not only did you used the spell in public, but you also did so while fighting over a woman? Shame will befall our house if such rumors spread!! Well, his opponent was Zeros-dono. The hidden technique also failed when I used it against him. What?! That mage even surpassed you, grandfather?! I cant believe it. Just who is he? This man I would like to tell you more, but he is my savior and Tinas tutor. Its tempting, right? !? Creston informed the others of his encounter with Zeros. The faces of the two listeners began to change as the story went on. Delsasis worried about the political ramifications of such a mans existence, and Schweith was racked by fear upon learning his place. The pair were of two minds. Id really like to employ such a powerful man. Thats impossible, he said he finds politics troublesome. I dont even want to think about what a falling out between us would look like. However, isnt the current situation dangerous? Having such talent, yet refusing to serve a country Do you think him to be a normal mage? Most countries would go to war over his research. Quite the terrifying enemy I cant imagine how secret spells he possesses. From what Ive seen, he has the power to level the entire nation. But, after seeing the results of his research, he seems to have no interest in using his magic. His existence is a threat in it of itself We need to collar him somehow From a political standpoint, Zeros was a roaming nuclear warhead. Delsasis wasnt the type of man that would allow such a magician to do as he pleased. Stop it. Delsasis do you want to bring ruin upon this country? Just appreciate the good hes doing. Like Tina. How can such a mage contribute to the magic of this country? Why didnt you do something, father? You want to try throwing a battle-weary sage into a power struggle? Hed vanish from the remains of the county left in his wake. I dont intend to make unnecessary sacrifices. But youre his benefactor now Um, hes quite open about topics beside his original magics. Tina wishes to become his official disciple and learn the ways of magic from him. Wasnt that child incapable of using magic? She can use it now, thanks to Zeros-dono. As expected of a Great Sage What!! While Selestina gaining the ability to use magic was surprising, it was the title Great Sage that alarmed the father-son pair. It was said that during the Evil God Wars, several Great Sages led humanity to victory over the monster army. However, each of them was said to have died sealing the evil god away, taking their arcane secrets with them into the abyss. Since then, no one has ever managed to achieve the class of Great Sage, and it was considered a phantom occupation. F-Father Is that true? Hmm, hes already exceeded lv 1000. Isnt he stronger than that incompetent hero? Seriously Where did you co across such a man? We` Its useless. Not even his majesty Theres no reason to say that Any magician worthy of the title would do any and everything to receive tutelage from a Great Sage. A Great Sage was considered closer to a god than a regular sage. However, there was an idiot here who wanted to try and bribe such a fearful existence. If handled poorly, our family will be wiped out. I-I didnt know Even though I didnt know, Ive made a terrible mistake He just wants to live quietly, so Ill give him some land. That was the promise I made. It has to be suitable Yes, I plan to give him a portion of the villas forest land and the orphanage. G-Grandfather?! Why the orphanage Schweith waited with bated breath before his question was answered. Have you heard of magic meant to better the general public? Its called agricultural magic, and Id like the children to learn it. Whats that? Isnt magic an offensive tool or used for combat assistance. Hes introduced new possibilities of magic to Tina. Truly a great teacher. Ill inform the magician faction about it. So, are her abilities improving? Yes, shes shown outstanding growth over the last couple of days. Its impossible for the academy to nurture her abilities so effectively. Thats because the talented are given priority. When her magic didnt manifest, all interest in her plummeted. Thats why the textbook Zeros-dono modified is so important. Using it will be convenient for our purposes, yes? Is that so? We need to expand the education of our countrys magicians. Has he approved of us taking it? I already have it. We should be able to purge a few incompetent people After all, its leaps and bounds above the previous textbook. The old man and current duke were graduates if the Istal Magic Institute. Despite this, they had their doubts about the way the academy was ran these days. That aside arent you rather cold to your daughter? I cant care for the girl in front of my wives. Her mother was far more attractive than them A womans jealousy its quite the frightening thing, isnt it? Just stop fooling around. Ive been stabbed many times but I cant stop myself. Haah, just as usual Selestina was treated coldly at the dukes house. Her father did care for his daughter. However, the jealousy of his wives prevented him from openly expressing his love. Well, the academys reform is about to start the problem is Schweith. Eeh!?! Id hope youd forgotten I cant forget it!! I want to experience as the feudal lord and sharpen my own skills. You talked a big game, but you really just wanted to use your influence to win over a single lady! Shame on you!! F-Father, you have a mistress in every city!! I have a decent work life and fire playing balance!! And I never had to abuse my power to win someone over!! Delsasis was an unabashed womanizer. However, he completely separated his work and private life, going so far as to hide his identity when he counted a woman. He also went out of his way to provide aftercare to the women he had extended relationships with, ensuring that they lived comfortably. Instead of using the tax he collected as a lord, he used the revenue from his trade business to support his various lovers. In short, Delsasis was a capable seducer. Its because I have a father like you that I have to act this way!! Its not fun being laughed at when I try to court someone!! Its not my fault!! Recognize your own shortcomings and improve upon them, thats the only way to get a woman to love you!! A good woman can see through cheap tricks and power plays!! You foolish son!! I havent been here for a while!! However, Ill still keep track of your bad behavior, Father!! Then, whats the extent of your fascination? If you were truly in love, you wouldnt have seen the other man as a threat. If it were more than a temporary thing, you wouldnt be afraid of her leaving? Youre talking shit, old man!! What did you say? You had to abuse your power because she despises you!! Lazily giving up, isnt the mark of a true man!! In Schweith eyes, his veteran playboy father was the worst type of person. In the first place, there was no need for Delsasis to sleep with other women. Even if he were a widower, it wouldnt legitimize the share number of women he has relationships with. The differences between father and son were distinct. You have a wife already, what is driving you to be the way you are? Schweith sought the pure love that his grandfather had, Creston not having relations with a woman after his wife passed away. Thered been the occasional visit to a whore house, but those were the follies of youth he hadnt indulged in since his marriage. Creston himself, couldnt help but sigh as the two exchanged insults with one another. The parent and child argument continued in the living room without interruption. Before long, thing devolved into a fistfight. Zeros and Selestina, along with two escorts, were revisiting the orphanage. Ugh Zeros-san? What brings you here today A magic experiment? The backyard of the orphanage is rather large for such a small church. I thought itd be a good idea if we turn it into a field and let the children take care of it. A Field? I thought about making one, but the hard and rock-filled soil makes it impossible for the children to work on. Thats what the magic is for. It has more uses than its applications in fights. If properly practiced, it can turn easily create a viable field. Luseris was confused. For priests, magic was a destructive force that could only hurt people. They believed the healing power they wielded was Gods miracle and had no love for magicians. However, Zeros dropped a bomb on them. Did you know that your healing and magic spells originate from the same source? In short, youre a victim of misinformation. What?! Our power is a miracle from God. Wrong. You learned your magic from scrolls, didnt you? It follows the same principle as old spell books. In other words, your sacred healing can be classified as magic. Then, are priests also magicians? Thats right. If general mages specialize in combat, then priests are support specialist. A priests power was supposed to be granted by God. After reaching a certain rank within the priesthood, new priests were presented with the sacred scrolls. However, Zeros ascension that magic and scared healing were derived from the same source couldnt be overlooked. S-Such a thing its unbelievable I can use all kinds of healing magic, too. With a single spell, I can heal wounds, cure poisonings, and purify undead. All of that is classified under light attribute magic. Vast even the Grand Cleric can only Specifically, the spell boost mana consumption efficiency and raises somatic cell activity. Its easier to change a spell later if you improve upon the basics. A magicians light magic and the sacred arts of the priest were one and the same. The problem was the arbitrary divides, between attacking and healing, between the human miracle and the Godly one. Usually, such a situation wouldnt be possible, but in the aftermath of the holy war, various documents disappeared, and the pillar of magical knowledge was smashed and scattered across the land. Though the magic symbols that the spells were composed of differed, it was the same magic, it would take some time to overthrow the common cultural sense. Half of light attribute magic was merged with the religion, while the other half hit a roadblock as specialized offensive magic. Well, I dont mean to create unnecessary waves in the era. An inquisition would be a messy affair. Teacherwill the world become unhinged if this is handled poorly? While Im satisfied with my current situation, and it would be nice if I didnt know certain things, magicians are the curious sort. Truth is found through research. Priests are magicians there are no godly miracles To what degree is that truth? That does not mean that reality has changed. The degree of change was dependent on the situation. It was a matter of life and death, especially in Theocracies, were some truths that threatened the stability of the nation. Whether or not the information got out now or later, it was only a matter of time before the scales on power and influence shifted. In any case, those principles allows us to quickly make a field. Doesnt it go those who dont work, dont eat? Isnt the previous statement more important? Teacher, the church could lose its significance Youre mistaken if you think God will do anything about it. Isnt your God is basically a bystander that doesnt want to do anything? No matter how miraculous a phenomenon may appear, so long as the possibility for it to happen exist, it will occur eventually. It becomes bothersome when people label those phenomenon miracles. Zeros-san, do you hate god? I hate it. I was made to suffer because of that irresponsible and fickle God. Furthermore, that Evil God The pair were at a loss for words. Jo-Joke thats a joke, right? Oh, how so? Whether you believe it or not is your choice? No lie was spoken. On the contrary, Zeros actually dead at the hands of the Evil God. The gods of this world used another worlds game as a toxic waste storage unit. Even if he was reincarnated in this world, it doesnt change the fact that he was unnecessarily killed. The gods were definitely his enemies. When they reached the back of the church, they were greeted with a field full of weeds. It was initially going to be turned into a cemetery, but concerns about lowering the property value halted those plans. Thered been repeated discussions about repurposing the land nothing came of those talks. Additionally, as newer sections of the city appeared and the church became an orphanage, the field was gradually forgotten. Geezer, what are you doing here? Did you bring any presents? Is that girl, your kid? Fresh meat?. The children were too energetic. Today, Im going to make this place into a proper field. Please step back, so you dont get dragged into it. Yes, understood. So, you didnt bring any gifts? Meat Oh, youre just after the sister, arent you? They were also rude. Well, children were the same in every world. Ǥϡ?ȥ`롻 Now Gaia Control. When Zeros struck the ground and cast his spell, the soil ebbed and flowed like it was alive, weeds and stone removed themselves from field en masse. Also, ridge appeared in equal intervals, and the soil was primed for seeding. I-Incredible such a thing is possible Magic for the benefit of the people This is a lie, theres no way the land could be developed so quickly Even the two with knowledge of magic could only describe what they saw as magical. This was something completely different from combat and healing magic. Might as well wall off the area Stone Wall. A low wall meant to detour intruders sprung up around the field. However, the field was still vulnerable to skyward attacks. Geezer, amazing!! You did it, Ossan. This is all to impress, the sister? Thats crazy. Meat Meat???!! Some of the children were amazed by the field while others were focused on other things. With this, you can self-sufficiently produced vegetables and supplement your income by selling medical herds. Hows is it? I dont know what to say. Although youve done so much for us, I can only say thank you Dont worry about it. This was an experiment, remember? Hey, ??. Zeros-san, the words of a saint shouldnt be taken lightly?. Luseris turned bright red as she spoke. However, Zeros didnt notice. It was her clumsy attempt at showing him favor His long stint as a bachelor had desensitized him to such things. Its really amazing. How long before I can use magic like this? Around level 50 or so. The spell mostly uses natural mana, so there isnt much of a burden. If the output is great, the required mana should be high its quite the burden. Its more efficient to only use enough of your own mana to direct the flow of energy. Youd just deplete your mana otherwise. Can this magic be used by regular people? It could revolutionize farming. Or it could be used to instantly build a field base on the battlefield. It also has a few applications in construction The spells versatility was its greatest advantage and drawback. While it could be used for wide-scale agricultural work, another viable use for the spell would base camp construction and trap making. Placing limiters into the spell would be a good solution, but doing so would increase the mana requirement and limit the number of magicians that can use it. Altering the spell so that it only serves one purpose increases the complexity of the magic formation and limit potential users to those vast mana reserves. Its a difficult problem. Id like to avoid this spell finding its way to a battlefield, but even if ones mana control is high, it doesnt make sense to overly specialize the spell thats the issue. Indeed. However, isnt it up to the magic user to decided how to use their spells? Its as you say. I dont want my legacy to be used for warfare. Whether or not a versatile spell became a dangerous one depended on the magician. On its own, magic that manipulated the ground wasnt suitable for combat, but with enough creativity, it could still be used to hinder an enemy. As Selestina said, it depended on the magician. Are you not satisfied with this? It seems to be a beneficial spell Its convenience is its fault. Its a threat even when its number of uses is limited. Ǥ Its number, huh? Think about it. What do you think would happen if you used this magic in front of a cavalry charge? The enemy would fall into a sinkhole that suddenly appeared. Furthermore, the higher degree of control makes stifling enemy movements easy. Cant you seal their movements without killing them? Peasants are used to supplement armies. Theres no shortage of idiots among them willing to kill to further their ambitions. The spell was meant to cultivate fields. However, its ease of use would drive people to the battlefield. Because it was convenient, those in power would exploit it. While it seemed so simple, Luseris couldnt hide her surprised at the number of thought Zeros had put into one spell. At the same time, her heart ached for Zeros. She couldnt help but ask Zeros, What would you do if war broke out? Well, Id discuss things with Creston. Nothing good would come from me, acting on my own. You have to prevent the people from becoming sacrifices. Again, the foolish will drown in their own greed Are all people foolish? The perfect being isnt human anymore. Its the same as a doll. If there were such a thing as an almighty God, itd need to be simultaneously indifferent and merciless to overlook the great injustices of life. They are too competent to act, yet know the ramifications of their actions. Theyd know every possible outcome of every event but still allows everything to play out without moving. Theyve little will to do more than observing the world. It seemed like a hopeless existence, but at the same time, it seemed incredibly egotistical to withdraw yourself like that. Thats what Zeros thought. In his forty years of life, hed had no shortage of encounters that could fuel a grudge against God. it mightve come off as a bit paranoid, but S-Such Such a being isnt God! Is that so? Isnt knowing all and doing nothing for the lives of the people the very definition of indifference? Even when I say its better to live freely, that statement is the result of my apathy and mercy. Thats the truth of the matter. But The Goddesses of this world Yes, it has feelings. Thats not an almighty God, but a spirit close to to it. Or a caretaker God forced its duties onto. Thats what I see. Teacher, should you be saying that in front of a priest? Isnt that, blasphemy? Often, people need to hear such things to transcend their limitations. Is it all that strange to call Gods servant a Goddess or Spirit King? No one really knows for sure. Zeros didnt believe in an almighty God. Not even four deities that brought him to this world reached those heights. The four of them struggled against the evil god. That fact alone proved they werent omnipotent. In fact, the evil god had probably been the closest being to a true god. Thats a mages profane way of thinking. Its a sin not to fear God. I think all of humanity is profane. How many have been killed in the name of God? God didnt demand it, so those killings were the work of men. But, what of the oracles that receive divine prophecy? Even if the oracle is the medium for the four deities, whos to say that she or the people she passes the message to didnt misinterpret the message? If a tragedy occurs because of that, who carries the sin? History was stained by the blood spilled at the behest of Four Deities oracles. No one knew if the oracle was correct or if they acted per the gods intentions. Only the number of victims had been recorded. By the way, what are we planting? Its quite wide, and we can probably grow a variety of vegetables and herbs. Huh? Th-Thats right vegetables are a must, but medicinal herbs will be the main source of revenue. The problem is fertilizer, but we can collect leaves from the forest and make mulch. Leftover food can become fertilizer, and why not add an aviary to secure some eggs? I cant do this alone. Have the children take care of the field. If you dont teach them the importance of hard work now, theyll become a burden on society when they grow up. Are you promoting education and self-sufficiency? Thats a great idea, Teacher?. Its not that big a deal, is it? Its just shameful when people take food for granted. The conversation had shifted the children. A tangent sense of dread drifted through the air. Why are you so stingy, Geezer? Are you poor? Im poor, Geezer. Its alright. Although a bit stingy, Im a good adult. Meat, I want to eat meat,???! , this is. Acting in such a spoiled manner is the be expected. People always want to avoid hardships. Everyone!! Im really sorry!! I just cant Luseris rushed to apologize. Children unburdened by an adults hardship only cared about felling their bellies. Do you need any seeds? I heard wed be working in a field, so I brought some from home Selestina,-sama!? Im sorry!! I am truly sorry, please forgive me!! What kind of seeds? Despite my appearance, I have a knack for farming. Lets see, Massari onion], Babylon Tomatoes], Tobigeri Radishes], and Muscle poppies]. What kind of vegetables are those? ; Away, I ; have some Mandragora]and Healing Grass]from Fafuran. Ma-Mandragora!? We cant accept such an expensive gift!! No, I got them for free, and Ill save a few for myself. Mandragora was a high-grade medicinal herb used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this world, it was the man ingredient in various magical medicines, the demand for it was high, but the supply was always low. A large number of seeds could be propagated in one seeding, but harvesting the herb was difficult because it grew in monster-infested regions. Rumors say that if you pull a mandragora out, it released a devilish screech that killed you immediately, but that was far from the truth. Doing so just left you with a massive sense of guilt. Moreover, the plants rapid breeding in Fafuran. Basically, it was a weed that couldve overran the entire forest if monsters didnt eat them. It was a fortune-bringing plant. Now, you can plant your seeds and grow your herbs and vegetables. Your life is depending on this, so youll do your best to raise them, wont you? Heee? What a pain??. Cant we get by on begging? Is it an easy-going lifestyle? Meat???!! What disreputable children. Zeros plastered a smile on his face as he picked up a large rock and shattered it with his bare hands. Hahaha, no matter how kind the uncle, they can still get angry, you know? Put your life on the line. ٣󣬣̣ͣ䣡You are King!!! *(T/N: in English in the Raw) The childrens tone changed in an instant. They instinctively knew that Zeros wasnt a man you wanted to anger. It didnt really matter, but where did they learn those words? I did I make a mistake in the childrens education? No I think these children are pretty difficult to work with. Selestina did her best to comfort the disheveled Luseris. Despite the difference in age, a friendship sprouted between the two of them. Zeros proceeded to spearhead the seed planting. Unbeknownst to him, the reformations he would install would eventually lead to him running the orphanage. After all, this orphanage was already being influenced by Zeros presence. The herb cultivation was the first step Chapter 12 Ossan, harvests a Mandrake *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. *As promised here are the 2 chapters missing. There were some parts in where I basically copy&pasted the manga translation, so big thanks to Sheriff Scans for translating it so I didn''t have to, although there were indeed some parts of the WN that were different from the manga. We''ll see if it matters as I continue to translate future chapters. *Also, a reminder that this would actually be chapter 11 if you don''t count the prologue, so there aren''t any chapters missing. *I''ll try to post chapter 20 during this weekend, although I might finish it earlier. After deciding to have Celestina undergo combat training, the content of the practical lessons gradually made her more frustrated. Occasionally, there were Mud Golems that were more quick-witted than the rest, although their bodies were more slender, and thus, more fragile-looking, but to compensate for that, they were incredibly more nimbler than its peers. It carried such agility that they didn''t seem to be made of mud, and they attacked in between the normal Mud Golems'' pattern of attacks. It was quite the devious fellow, but since you don''t know what might happen in a real battle, this kind of training was very important. In the first place, not only goblins and slimes inhabit the vast Far-flung forest, there were many different types of raptor-like monsters, as well as large carnivores and plant monsters. It''s even more important to be able to make quick decisions and self-diagnosis, judging one''s ability, being able to retrace one''s steps as the battle progresses, as well as the knowledge to see through traps when you''re out in the wild. For that reason, Celestina and Zweit were tasked with sparring with Golems to experience how was it like to fight real monsters. This knowledge gets carved in your flesh and blood when it''s revised and verified by oneself, instead of when it''s taught by others. Of course, they still have magic control practice aside from this. "This!! Training!!" Zweit slashed at the slender Mud Golem with his longsword, splitting it vertically in half. Celestina, on the other hand, was cautiously defending with her shield in a sideways position, repeatedly retreating and attacking, a technique that lets her be in the position of giving a solid blow when needed. "Nii-sama, you''re too far ahead! We''ll get surrounded!" "I know, I know! But these guys are so annoying!" Zeros and Creston, who were watching from a distance, calmly observe how they fight and proceed to note down their evaluation of them on a board. "Well, Zweit looks like he''s pretty straightforward. A power type that pushes through by brute force." "Tina is a technique type. Taking into account her own small physique and lack of muscle strength, she repeatedly gets a hit in before retreating." "They should have good chemistry with each other but" "Zweit has the tendency to act based on his emotions, it''ll be harder for them on the latter half of the training when they can''t use magic to land a decisive blow on the Golems." "Lack of experience will make you do that. Right now, he should be focused on practicing the sword." "Tina, on the other hand, is pretty solid but she''s having a hard time getting a substantial hit on the Golems." The problem in these kinds of situations is that you could get your comrades caught into the range of your attacks. Zweit started to lose his composure. Even though he knows it''s just practice, he doesn''t have composure to remain calm. That''s because, as soon as he started to get hit by the Golems, he let his emotions take the best of him. Celestina, contrary to him, has been training in this way for a while now, so she''s remaining calm and focused on the enemies in front of her. Despite her composure, she still can''t manage to deal fatal blows by herself. The reason they have managed to do well up until this point is because the Mud Golems are relatively fragile creations. "They''re probably good enough to beat a Stone or Rock Golem, but they could still get fatally injured the way they are right now. It would be pointless if they can''t defeat them in a single hit either way." "I don''t think anyone can do that" "Anyone can if they master the sword, though? Well, I don''t know how long it would take." "You''d have to put yourself through deadly fights one after the other, every day demon no, you''re The Devil" Zeros has finally started to realize that you''d have to spend an insane amount of time to master martial arts skills. Unlike in the game world, it takes time and constant effort to master. At last, he has started to notice the discrepancies between the two realities. "Nii-sama, left!!" "What!? Whoa!?" One of the slender Mud Golems broke through the lower half of one of their fellow creations, and slashed at Zweit from below, swinging its arm like a whip. Zweit, who directly received the attack from that unexpected place, gets blown off. "Its movements are too unpredictable this is bad" "s.h.i.t Fireball" While still laying on the ground, Zweit fires a magic that goes flying straight at the Golem, but because that one boasted a higher mobility than the normal Mud Golems, it easily managed to dodge the attack. "Y-You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!!" "Sensei''s training is to help you keep your composure in battle. Your attacks are too monotonous, that''s why they''re targeting you, we''re done for if we don''t work together." "What!? Are you Are you saying I''m holding you back?" "Yes, you are! Sensei won''t miss any opportunity if you let your guard down!" "Madman such a merciless training" He stared at Zeros in disgust. However, it''s impossible to just start over in a real battle, it''s natural for him to be strict with his training. "It goes without saying, you aren''t allowed to take it easy during training, this is necessary for you to survive, after all." "I see in actual combat, it''s all over once you stop moving. Still, there''s no reason to increase the number of Golems, right?" "Continue for at least three more hours. Being alone in that forest is, essentially, a death sentence. Raw strength and a primeval instinct are necessary to survive there. Know that a poor insight and high pride will kill yourselves and your companions." "Kuh that''s insane, but you''re right. You must''ve been through a worse h.e.l.l than this." "This is only the beginning, it won''t be a game. You can''t just outrun a dragon after all." "Now that you mention it, it certainly seems that I was conceited, and that there are worse monsters out there" It looks like his desire to change himself for the better was true, as he takes Zeros'' words to heart. It''s the law of nature, a little carelessness could lead to death, and even the safety in the human world is not guaranteed. "You have to get better little by little, by yourself. Do better than you did yesterday and the day before it. There are no shortcuts." Zeros said something like that, but in his mind (What am I even saying? If these two die, it would definitely be because of my poor teaching. If that happens, How the h.e.l.l would I even face this old man here!!??) Because he was losing his nerves, his young self''s way of speaking got mixed in. No one wants to be responsible for other people''s lives, but depending on Zeros'' ability as a teacher, his students might lose theirs. That''s why the Golems were giving them so many nasty and devious attacks. "This is good I feel like I can get better. They didn''t teach me this at the Academy." "I''m being very forgiving here, like in the academy, you can make as many mistakes as you like. You have to figure out your ideal way of fighting on your own. Fight to your heart''s content, carve it in your flesh and blood!" (The h.e.l.l am I talking about!? I''m in no position to say that, I just couldn''t think of anything more for the lesson. I have to prepare myself, I can''t continue doing this half-a.s.sed) Things in his mind were very different from what he was saying to them. But, because he was in the position of being their tutor, he couldn''t just come up to them with a weak att.i.tude. It was like the military training method from that one kung-fu movie. (*T.N: I think it was supposed to be a reference to a specific movie but I didn''t get it;ɤӳ܊꠷ʽȡɤΥթ`ӳΥѥǤä) His inner voice completely reverted back to his younger self''s. "Sensei is strict after all. But, I''m happy that I can figure out the way of fighting that suits me the most." "This is better than practicing with Goblins that can run loose at any moment. They are a pain to fight." "If you get hurt I''ll heal you, alright? I''m good at healing magic." Depending of how you think about it, this was one h.e.l.l of a training method. However, there''s no such thing as an enemy that moves as one wants, and there''s always the possibility of ending up in an overwhelming disadvantageous situation. It''s a well thought-out method, after all, this was the original method to power-level one''s companions. In the game, it was employed by every guild to train new players. (*T.N: RAWs say VRRPG.) You would raise their skills and levels up to a certain point, and then party together and go questing. Zeros'' current training method is basically the imitation of the game''s. "Yoshi! Now the next one!" "It''s okay to be hot-headed here, but you should always remain calm or you''ll die sooner rather than later, you know?" "Combat training that''s as close as a real battle alright, let''s do it!!" "I can''t give you the answers, your lives are your own after all So I will recreate the situations I remember from the real battles I''ve been in." "Wait a minute so this" "Yes, the h.e.l.l I experienced when I was younger. At that time, many of my companions died" "Seriously and I thought it''d be a good idea to fight this guy on the street back then" Of course, the situation Zeros was talking about was a quest to annihilate the ma.s.s-bred Orcs in one of the game''s raid events. At some point, the guildmaster, who was in charge of the whole operation, made a mistake that led to the death of most of his guild members. After the incident, he started working solo without getting involved with the guild itself. "Even monsters with low intelligence can be a threat when they have the numbers. In a melee, where wide-range attack magic can''t be used, your own personal skills are more important than anything else." "I see if we can''t do melee combat, we''ll die so this is the best training for actual combat." "This is really hard, but I agree. I feel like I get sensei''s intentions. You''re giving us a way to survive." "You don''t need a magician who can''t use magic when you actually need them to. If you''re going to get in the way of your allies, then I''d say it''s better to fight and die for them." Zeros is aware that he''s going on a nonsensical rant, but, internally, he was already very confused. He thought it would be better to give off a strong impression in the beginning. "That''s right I was told to withdraw as quickly as possible to avoid getting dragged into a melee battle, but I don''t think it''d be that easy in a real battlefield, you could be surrounded and without a way to retreat" "In the first place, can you really retreat that easily? It''s not only our side that''s using battle tactics, the enemy also has their own." "That''s ludicrous, ''always a.s.sume the worst'', that''s common sense" "I don''t know if I want to return to the Academy anymore surely the training would be more dull" Zeros took out his pocket watch, briefly looked at the time and wholeheartedly smiled. "Two hours you''ll continue with this melee battle for two more hours. Try your best to survive." "Sensei!? I''m almost out of mana!" "Will the enemy wait for you to recover your mana? Don''t you see how important is to survive in such situations?" "So, in other words, the real battle starts when you run out of mana. That''s good, this is a worthy challenge." "I understand. I will definitely survive!" "Now then, I''m going to start controlling the golems again, please prepare yourselves accordingly." The Mud Golems begin to get into a formation. It''s often the case that, amongst monsters, the highly intelligent individuals will command the rest. The two students had a sense of tension and exhilaration while fighting. (This is it! This is what I was looking for! as expected of a great sage, no mercy.) Zweit felt that the training in the Academy was inadequate. For him, this training, which has exponentially grown in difficulty over the past few days, was immensely more rewarding. (Sensei is having us go through this strict training so we don''t die in a real battle, we have to respond to that as his students!) On the other hand, Celestina knows she has no combat experience, and she''s serious enough to give her all in this training no matter what. On top of that, Zeros'' valuation was on the rise. The two students were in such a state, but inside his mind (Ah, it failed, right? The raid, at that time, it was a h.e.l.l, with hordes of Orcs coming out endlessly Uhh, I wonder if they still hold a grudge against me) He remembered what happened back then in the time of the game, and compared to how calmly he looks at this instant, he was actually quite anxious about it. The game world and this reality might be similar, but there are still completely different things. So, Zeros was worried where to draw the line between them. Thus, the two hours of nightmares began. "But Isn''t Tina''s equipment a bit too mediocre?" "Creston-san, You''re not thinking of anything outrageous, right?" Celestina''s equipment consists of a cheap leather vest, a small buckler and a short mace that allows her to quickly strike her opponents and withdraw just as fast. But they all can be considered cheap equipment, and on top of that, it''s all covered in the Golems'' mud. "It''s doesn''t matter if she gets dirty while wearing those, they can be thrown away. They''re fighting Mud Golems, you know?" "That''s right, but that''s a shame. At the very least a pure white dress and armor" "Blood would stain it red and it wouldn''t come off even after washing" "A pure white garment is like saying ''please aim for me!''" It seemed like like his granddaughter was the top priority for Creston. "What about your other grandchild?" "He''s a man, isn''t he?" "??????????" Zweit was using his training outfit given by the Academy, and he gave off the feeling of a complete beginner. However, the difference in treatment between the two was extreme. He, who respects his grandfather, doesn''t even register in his mind. Only G.o.d knows when the day Zweit is rewarded will come. Two hours later, they were practically only standing out of pure fighting spirit. This was the first time they had trained for such an extended period of time, and so, they experienced in the flesh how hard the training for actual battle was. "How was it? A real battle could last 6 days, or a month, at the longest." (*T.N: Yeah, I''m pretty sure he said 6 days and one month) "Awful it hurts Can it really last for so long?" "This is at the level of a small skirmish, a real war isn''t like this it''s more of a h.e.l.l." "Seriously, haha this is the best. I''m so lucky to be able to receive such training!" Although their mana was on the verge of exhaustion, the two were enveloped in a sense of fulfillment for what they''ve accomplished. Zeros hands a small wine bottle to them. "Sensei this is?" "Mana Potion], I''m growing Mandrakes at the orphanage, and so I made this small potion. Their fertility is amazingly high, the fields were completely covered by them in just a few days" "Why are you cultivating such things in the orphanage!!?" "I''m also growing other medicinal herbs, though? It will be a good source of income from now on." Mandrakes, which were planted at the orphanage, didn''t have a regular plant''s growth rate. They sprouted in just a day, and were ready to harvest three days later. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** The problem was that they were growing so quickly, that the field was running out of s.p.a.ce for the other crops, and so, they were hastily decimated. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 13 Ossan, meets the lord *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. Zweit von Solisthea, 17 years old. He was the eldest son of the Archduke of Solisthea and was said to be the next Duke. He was talented in magic from a young age, while also being a hard worker who devoted himself to being worthy of being the heir to the t.i.tle of Archduke. His personality was rough around the edges, but he took good care of the people he liked, and gave the opposite treatment to the ones he disliked, naturally garnering a good amount of allies and an equal amount of enemies. And amongst them, was someone very close to him. His brother Kreuz, born at the same time as him, and one of his rivals in the inheritance dispute. Always composed and with a calm demeanor, his personality rubs Zweit the wrong way, specially the moment he opens his mouth. It felt to him, that his brother was always trying to belittle him. Another of those people was, her sister, Celestina, who is currently zealously working on magic deconstruction. She was the child of a concubine, born when their father, DelSasis, ''accidentally found himself'' in the bed of one of the maids working in the Duke''s state at that time. When the d.u.c.h.esses, the mothers of Zweit and the Duke''s other children, found out about it, they were quick to kick out Celestina''s mother from the mansion. That was to prevent the appearance of further rivals in the inheritance dispute, and at the same time, to keep the eyes of DelSasis, their husband, away from her as much as possible. And as a result, she was taken under the care of Creston, DelSasis'' father, delighted of having been blessed with a cute granddaughter and being able to dote on her to his heart''s content. However, soon after that, Celestina''s mother pa.s.sed away from illness still at a young age, leaving her daughter to be raised by one of Creston''s servants. Nonetheless, her existence was still an eyesore to the d.u.c.h.esses, and they acted as she didn''t exist in the first place. They negatively influenced their own children from an early age, and an insidious hara.s.sment towards her ensued. As a result of it, she soon started becoming withdrawn and insecure. It also didn''t help the fact that she was unable to use magic, and thus, branded useless. From Zweit''s point of view, he couldn''t accept the fact that such an incompetent person was her own sister, and above all, he was influenced by his mother''s antipathy towards her, so he treated her coldly without questioning it. However, Celestina wasn''t a useless person when it came to magic. It turned out that the magic formulas themselves were flawed. According to what he had heard, she indeed had trouble managing to activate a spell, but she excell when it came to theoretical cla.s.ses. As a magician, she definitely was incompetent considering her practical skills, but she was good at everything else besides that, so it was clear as day that she wasn''t useless. And now, all her problems regarding magic activation were solved by a certain Great Sage, who happened to be the person in front of Zweit, his tutor "So if you decipher this magic formula you''ll find that ''to make the magic flow converge, you will need between 10 and 50 MP''. That indicates the range of the mana required to successfully activate a spell and the upper limit it can hold. A magic formula requires a predetermined amount of mana, but the power of the spell does not necessarily rise the more you keep pouring it into the formula. Rather, the mana will flow back and leak out from the formula. That is a phenomenon known as overflow" In all honesty, he didn''t like this Great Sage at all. Furthermore, he thought he was just a capable magician that, Creston, his grandfather and strongest man in the world to him, had recognized and was planning to use him as a subordinate. That was just a few days ago "In other words, even if you increase or decrease the required amount of mana of the magic formula, its power will not change?" "To put it bluntly, doing that is not as easy as it sounds. In reality, if you increase too much the amount of mana, it will affect the stability of the magic formula and its capacity to efficiently store and convert the mana into the desired phenomenon. (*T.N: I''m not sure about this, I might change it, if it''s mentioned in a different way in the following chapters, or if you guys interpret it in a different way: ֤ä㤱ԤäƤޤФǤۤɺgǤϤޤ裿ħ󤭤ʤȤ¤ϡͬrˤAFؤȉQħʽ;Ӱ푤뤨ޤ) It doesn''t matter how much mana you pour in, if the magic formula isn''t strong enough to withstand it, the mana will end up dissipating, so there''s no meaning in doing that. What''s more, the magic circle could collapse, causing the mana to run amok and resulting in a great amount of damage to the surroundings." "Hmm, how complicated. Is there a way to increase the power output of a spell in proportion to the amount of mana employed?" "There''s the multi-layered formula technique, in which, you circulate magic through two different formulas, one is the spell you want to activate which is divided into multiple different parts, and the other is, Spell Line], the magic formula that will bind and keep them all together. For example, wide-range magic. If you used a regular magic circle, it would have to take quite the large area to be activated." He exceeded all of Zweit''s expectations. For the first time in his life, he has met a person who he can truly respect from the bottom of his heart, due to the incredible amount of ability Zeros possess. After all, Zeros doesn''t suck up to the powerful. On the contrary, he respects his way of life to the extent of being able to relentlessly challenge anyone and everyone who will stand in his way and tarnish his pride as a magician (slightly exaggerated). (*T.N: the text between parentheses is the narrator commenting between lines, in case you confuse them with my notes.) Additionally, he''s excellent enough that, the grandfather he respects so much, recognizes him. Creston always advocated against the idea of magicians holding onto political power, causing ripples in every faction. It was taken as a betrayal, specially by the Weissler faction he belonged to. But, aside from threatening him, there was too much of a difference in ability between their magicians and Creston, for an a.s.sa.s.sination to be done successfully. Moreover, he was a blood relative of the royal family, so they couldn''t caressly antagonize him. He always said, ''He, who clings to power like ivy, is not a magician, a true magician is one who cultivates himself as his true purpose''." The person in front of Zweit now is the true embodiment of those ideals(only in his mind). He is a wise man who has reached the peak of his art, mastering both theory and practice, without wasting a single moment of his life. He is a savvy wisdom seeker, who even knows how to survive in a real battlefield, due to possessing a wealth of experience in actual combat. One could easily see how insignificant other magicians, in the present time, look compared to Zeros. "Well then, Do you have any other questions?" How can anyone even say that a magician, who can even decipher magic characters, is not excellent? In his eyes, this magician, who surpases even his respected grandfather, appears to be in the clouds, above him. Zweit, during the lessons in these past few days, has learned that he''s only a chick in comparison. It goes without saying that he''s superior to the teachers at the Istor Magic Academy and their foolish arrogance by virtue of being part of a faction. He seemed more of a true magician than them(from his point of view). He''s someone completely used to the battlefield, and continues to do his own research while fighting many battles. For Zweit, someone like that clearly had to have some screws loose. Most people with his talent would prefer to join a n.o.ble magicians'' faction or a national inst.i.tution, but he was the exception. "I knew that you could decipher the meaning of magic characters. But, the number and types of magic an individual can learn varies from person to person, right? How do choose the magic that suits you the best? According to your theory, there''s no barrier between all types of magic, everyone can learn magic regardless of the attribute, but in reality, the magic a person can use depends on their individual qualities and apt.i.tudes, right? And, in fact, at the moment, the factions are divided according to what attribute their magicians specialize in." (*T.N: not sure about the last part;󥿤Ǥȫħεֲ֤ԫϴڤl⤬ȫƤħҙ¤ˤʤ뤬gHςˤˤäʹħY|ˤäƷ֤졢FrǤyʤBФƤ) "It''s a matter of personal preference. I can use magic of all attributes, but I usually just use wind and lighting magic In short, it''s not like you have to study all kinds of magic until your brain bleeds out to be a capable magician, it''s enough with just putting constant effort." "So you can remember but not master every kind of magic? But, Isn''t there a limit to engraving magic formulas directly into the brain?" "If you reduce the number of unnecessary parts, and make it more compact, the magic circle in itself will be smaller and, as a result, you''d be able to remember a larger number of spells. The important thing is, how well you understand and use a magic formula. That''s the best indicator of a magician''s skill." (*T.N: this part in specific about the limit of engraving formulas into the brain is almost completely different from the manga, so I don''t know if they''re following the LN version or is a mistranslation from my part or the peeps working on translating the manga. imo, it doesn''t matter right now, but it might end up conflicting with the manga eventually.) "That''s true, the magic formula we''re studying in the Academy right now is big enough to fit in colosseum, so it''s certainly useless for practical use." "Well, if you had an even surface you could manage to activate it. It would require an enormous amount of magic though" "Don''t say it as if you''ve done it before" "If you are a magician, it could be your trump card to break through a dangerous situation." At that point, it became clear to Zweit that all the teachers in the Academy were inferior to Zeros. The latest research on magic is, as Zweit previous said, that formulas can''t be three-dimensional, going up, down, left and right; and it is a sort of esoteric puzzle formed by magic characters jumbled together. Zeros'' magic might be at least 500 years more advanced, is what he seriously thought. "As a trump card you say Isn''t that the peak of magic?" "Let''s see, I don''t want to compare my own research with others''. I''m not interested. and I don''t have the intention of sharing it with other people either." "So, you are saying that they have to get there by their own efforts, right?" "Naturally, why would we have to freely share the results of the researches we''ve spilled our very own blood and tears to get? I don''t know what it could be used for, it''s too dangerous." "But, aren''t you teaching us the fundations of your magic? Don''t you think we could reach that point eventually?" "Is that so? n.o.body could use my original magics either way, even after having the research. So, there''s no point in giving it." A thrilling sensation runs through Zweit''s spine. Not due to fear, but something closer to elation. What Zero is saying is, in short, create your own spells instead of just using the ones everyone can use. As long as no one can use your original spells, their existence would be meaningless to the rest of the magicians. This Great Sage was already at such heights, and Zweit felt an indescribable feeling of joy, due to the fact that said person was teaching him the essence of magic. "You two are still young, so you have the time to master magic by your own hands, don''t you think? Remember that being ecstatic after learning something new is no longer synonymous with stagnation." "Can you really create your own magic? That''s not what the teachers in the Academy say." "It''s easy once you know the basics, don''t you think so? After that, is the amount of effort you pour into it, the fight against yourself. Theory and practice magicians are such lonely creatures." In the past few days, Zeros has learned about the level of the magicians in the Solistair Magic Kingdom. Now he''s starting to understand how powerful is the existence of a Great Sage. The meaning of the magic characters, the deciphering method, the construction of magic circles, the usage of internal and external mana. They practically didn''t know anything about those topics. Moreover, considering their approach to actual battle, or lack thereof, and their ability in close combat, one could clearly see the overwhelming difference in skill. "Easy you say Does that mean that I could do it too?" "If you can do it? Hmm, that would depend on your own efforts and how well you manage to understand how magic works." "How great This is the first time I''ve been so excited about anything. The teachers at the Academy were clearly useless." He might have a bad temperament, but he''s serious when it comes to magic. He wants to know the unknown, to see what lies beyond what he currently knows. For that reason, he takes the lessons seriously, revises them and takes them to heart, trying to put them into practice on his own after each session. In front of him is a magician that has reached the peak of his profession but he''s far from being satisfied, and continues to research and train. In Zweit''s eyes, he''s the embodiment of the spirit of a true magician. "Let''s see, it looks like it''s time to wrap this up. Let''s continue with the lesson tomorrow." "Eh!? Already!? I didn''t even notice" "It''s been already three hours, if you don''t rest, you won''t be able to learn much, even if you cram a lot of information at once." "It''s a shame, but I''m looking forward to tomorrow''s lesson then." "In the near future, I''ll have you two practice the multi-layered formula technique. It''s a trivial thing, so please don''t be anxious about not being able to do it." That was the end of today''s lecture. Even after Zeros had left the room already, Celestina doesn''t forget to prepare for the next session. Zweit, on the other hand, can''t hide his surprise at the sight of that younger sister, which he never tried to get close to before "Hey, Celestina" "What is it, nii-sama?" "You''ve changed a lot, you used to run away from me before, remember?" "That''s right. But now I can use magic too. I''m not as good as sensei, but currently, I can at least roughly decipher the magic formula we studied today." "He''s an absurd magician I''m sure you''ll change to be like that in the future too." In his mind, all magicians are inferior to Zeros. It''s a great honor, for a person who aims to be a great magician, to receive the guidance of such a high-ranking magician. Moreover, today''s lesson was about the basics on the construction of a magic formula. A teaching method which clearly differs from the Academy''s, but that has already yielded more results. "I''m but a small fish compared to him. But, it''d be the greatest honor for a magician to be able to say that they''re the disciples of such a wise man." "Isn''t nii-sama a disciple as well?" "Nah, I''m already in a faction ah ahhh, d.a.m.n it! Why did I have to join that s.h.i.t faction!? The current Weissler faction is more power-oriented, and considers magic research a secondary thing. He was mentally polluted due to being there for too long. Receiving extravagant praises from his surroundings, he grew arrogant, and the consequence of that was an awful broken heart. (*T.N: Luceris.) It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say that he was brainwashed, in a sense. "They''re rotten. This is my advice, be careful when you return to the Academy. They''ll try to recruit you into one of those factions." "How strange. It''s the first time you''ve given me a genuine advice, nii-sama." "I''m not that much of an idiot! I''ve changed too, I at least know that factions will start pestering you." "They sound troublesome. I''m not interested in them." "That''s right. Receiving lessons from such a monster of a Great Sage, they''re a bunch of amateurs in comparison." The last few days of the two of them have been nothing but rich and fulfilling. Their ability to learn has grown exponentially, as if the thing that has been stopping them from doing so had disappeared, and their true skill had flowed out all at once. The more they know, the more interesting magic becomes, and even though they''re just learning the basics, new discoveries are derived from their lessons every time. Specifically, it was fun to them being able to see new possibilities every time things they''ve been wondering about had been explained. "I don''t wanna go back to the Academy.! I''ll be able to learn more if I stay here!" "Right, a month from now we''ll have to go back" The contract with Zeros was for the duration of two months. In a month, they''ll have to go back to the Academy and go through endless boring lectures, which seemed like a ma.s.sive waste of time to the both of them. "Now that you mention it, is Kreuz-niisama going to return as well?" "Kreuz? He''s a candidate for a faction, he''s going to be busy studying on his own what a waste." "Indeed, precious time wasted" "That b.a.s.t.a.r.d, ''Are you going back home? Please send my best regards to father. That would be all, my dear brother'', that''s the d.a.m.ned message he sent me, can you believe that!?" "He''s the same as always focused on research." The second son, Kreuz. Hated by his brother. Rather, he thought it was a waste of time to get involved with him. It can be said that he''s the type of magician to prioritize efficiency above all, devoting his time to research. However, his words and actions annoy Zweit greatly. "The same as always! That d.a.m.ned troublesome b.a.s.t.a.r.d but he''s run out of luck this time kukuku" "Ahh, he certainly has a terrible luck. Missing lessons from a Great Sage." "Right? I''m looking forward to seeing the face he makes when he finds out." They are polar opposites if you compare the two. Because of their opposite personalities, they''ve always thought they were incompatible with each other. "But his att.i.tude as a magician lately, it''s making me think" "He''s similar to sensei in a sense, right? Well, that''s not quite right he clearly lacks the knowledge." "That''s unfortunate. But well, as far as I''m concerned, that''s good to me. Yeah, I don''t like him because he''s similar to that Kreuz b.a.s.t.a.r.d" "Do you hate Kreuz-niisama that much?" "I do! I swear I''ll beat him up one day." He doesn''t know that the cause of the inheritance dispute in the Duke''s family is due to his abrasive and impulsive personality. Although, he''s also happens to be a magician that doesn''t care about what other people are gossiping about. Thinking about her troublesome elder brothers, Celestina heaves a sigh, praying that it won''t turn into a sort of civil war within the family. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 14 Ossan, takes disciples to a no man''s land *Disclaimer: I don''t really know j.a.panese, these are machine translations that I try to put into proper english. Read at your own discretion. The Archduke''s villa in Solistea It was lively early in the morning. Actually, there were knights walking around donned in full armor sets and carrying weapons, giving a more tough and dignified impression rather than lively. There were about 15 knights tasked with the mission of protecting the Duke''s children. The escorts were arranged by the former Duke, Creston to act as monster bait instead of his beloved granddaughter. "15 knights hey, isn''t this a whole squad?" "Mu DelSasis, there''s no way I''m sending over more than this." "No, that''s plenty enough! How many more sacrifices are you willing to make!?" Many of them have been on escort missions before, but there were many young knights this time around, in order for them to gain practical experience. There aren''t any magicians amongst the escorts, and that alone should let you understand how bad the relationship between knights and magicians is. No magicians'' faction would send over one of their own to escort some lowly knights. "I''ll complain about it in great lengths afterwards, but what use is a magician with no combat experience either way?" "Well that''s true, but they have other roles" Of course, Celestina is replacing them this time around. Recently, the Duke has been on friendly terms with the knights and has created his own magicians'' faction, garnering the disinterest of other factions. "You have a faction as well right, Creston-san? Couldn''t you call some magicians over?" "Umu. Unfortunately, they don''t have enough combat experience to be in a real battle so I had to turn them down." "I see" Zeros thought "You know about your grandson''s absurd behavior so you instinctively sensed danger and ran away, didn''t you?" but didn''t dare to say it out loud. He already knows there''s no point in saying it now. While this conversation was happening, the knights loaded the luggage into the carriage and were almost ready to leave. The amount of food, as well as other necessities such as tents and cooking utensils was, naturally, enormous. They''ve prepared as much as they could for this week of combat training. "Duke, your excellency, we''re ready to go." "Good work, I ask of you to protect my grandchildren this time." "I will protect them with my life if necessary." "Umu, I hope so." The knight who bowed to Creston immediately glanced at Zeros, and suddenly felt uncomfortable. The magicians he knew were like batteries that could only shoot magic from the rear, and were arrogant people even though they wouldn''t fight on the frontlines. However, the magician in front of him, clearly gives the impression of being closer to them. The reason being when he glances at Zeros'' waist. "Swords? And two of them? Weren''t you a magician?" "I''m a magician and I also possess close-quarters combat skills. Otherwise, I''d die on the battlefield." He understood with Zeros'' answer. The magician in front of him is a fierce man who''s been across many different battlefields and understands the importance of close combat. A magician of a different tradition from this country''s. "The world sure is big", is what the knight thought. "In a battlefield you seem to understand the importance of close-quarters combat skills." "Precisely, if you think about it, How useful can a magician that has ran out of mana be? If you can''t protect yourself, you''ll die. Simple as that." Now, the knight understands that the magician in front of him is not a fool. A heretic who tries to master both magic and swordsmanship can only be said to die on the battlefield. Although, tt can also be taken as the proof of a person possessing a significant amount of ability. "That''s right, I''d like to tell that to the magicians in this country that don''t do any close-quarters combat training." "That''s a nasty mentality to have. I feel sorry for the serious magicians out there that are ridiculed because of it." "Is that so? It looks like there will be no problem between us though." "Of course, the knights are the swords and shields, and it''s their role to knock down and destroy the enemies. Magicians must a.s.sist them, and at the same time, move in order to make the battle more advantageous." "The current situation is that this country is divided, sadly it''s quite embarra.s.sing." "What can magicians do with political power? We must be seekers of wisdom." A strange sense of camaraderie was born between Zeros and the knight. "I''m late, but I''m the captain of this squad, my name is Alev Gilbert." "How polite, I''m Zeros Merlin, just a researcher." They exchange a handshake. "Zeros-dono is an excellent magician who''s teaching the essence of magic to my two grandchildren, you might learn a lot from him." "Hoh That''s wonderful. He definitely felt different from the magicians of this country, but I see both swords and magic" "Umu, and both of them practice magic and the sword." "That''s great, So both of them have the ability to protect themselves." "I''m still unskillful, but I''m trying my best to hammer that into them." That means, the importance of close-quarters combat has been struck. The vast majority of magicians are quite inept at such way of fighting and will withdraw as soon as they run out of mana. However, there''s no such convenient situation in an actual war. In the worst case scenario, the battle might turn into a quagmire of total annihilation. "After all, someone who''s been in an actual battle, knows things are different in reality." "You can''t be overconfident. I almost died many times because of my lack of experience. I think it''s the senior''s duty to teach the younger generation." "That''s plenty. The commander of the knights often says ''this recent generation''s magicians are rotten. They won''t survive on the battlefield.'' And I agree with him." "You don''t know what might happen on the battlefield, so you need as much experience as you can, right? Is the country so lacking in manpower?" (*T.N: As in, there''s a lack of magicians and magic education I guess?) "That''s There are those who only use magic and they all die on the battlefield" In short, it turns out the magicians are quite the delicate fellows. Because they''ve never experienced an actual battle, they don''t understand how foolish they actually are. As they are in peaceful times, they have forgotten the gruesomeness of war. Knights understand that up to a certain extent, they might have killed people on skirmishes and whatnot, but it''s too impersonal for magicians who only shoot magic from the back and, thus, can''t understand the meaning of taking a life. "Does a long period of peace spoils a person? ''Don''t forget about war in times of peace''". "Let me tell you something. That''s right, they don''t know much about fighting." "There''s either l.u.s.t for power or for research. They are" The magicians of this country seem to be fairly extreme. But peace and such things are closer to an illusion than to reality, there''s no end to conflict no matter wherever you go. From small fist-fights to conflicts between villages wars between countries are just an extension of that. Customs and cultures are different depending on the country, even if the people living there are the same, and if you mix in religion, there''ll be no shortage of seeds of conflicts, and like that, they explode and spread like wildfire until they become full-scaled wars. After all, it''s just conflict between humans, there are no ideals like justice in it. It''s, at the same time, extremely vague, and everyone involved end up losing either way. The magicians are neutral in a sense, but as soon as they get power, that neutrality evaporates, and eventually, they begin to act based on their personal desires. It''s like a dangerous explosive, no one wants to have one in their own homes. "We''ll be ready soon How are the preparations for the Archduke''s grandkids?" "I think it should be about time but they''re late" "I don''t have to worry about putting on armor because I''m not wearing any, but does it take that much time?" The mansion''s entrance door opens behind the three people, and the two aforementioned grandchildren appeared with an incredible amount of luggage. Celestina packed her belongings in a huge bag, and Zweit had a ma.s.sive backpack as well. The two were dragging their luggage with shaky legs due to their weight. "Hah I''m ready" "Almost there I think I packed too much so heavy." ""Why so much luggage!?"" Apparently, most of Celestina''s luggage were clothes, and when it comes to Zweit, it seems he was carrying various tools for performing experiments. It seems like, in his case, he wanted to challenge Zeros, who could perform alchemy. (Why do you look like some shady peddler Is it my imagination?) "Can you reduce your luggage a bit?" "Women need changes of clothes! Are you saying I should wear the same underwear for a week!?" "There are some medicinal herbs there, right? I wanna get some." Both were serious They had quite the exceptional level of enthusiasm, and Zeros, who couldn''t win against that, was inevitably made to store their luggage in his inventory. "What an useful magic What kind of principle does it use? "It''s an ancient and complicated magic, I wouldn''t know how to explain it." "Is there any magic you don''t know?" "Of course. I''m not G.o.d. From the point of view of an omniscient and omnipotent being, we''re all nothing but trash anyway." In the first place, there''s no point in trying to understand the principle behind the magic the G.o.ddess gave him. It''s theoretically possible to construct the magic formula in itself but the amount of mana and the dimensions of the formula are not something humans could manipulate. In actuality, Zeros had already created a simplified version of storage magic but it resulted in being unusable and it was an obscure and troublesome subst.i.tute that couldn''t be used with theory alone. "Alright, I''m ready, let''s get along during this week." "It''ll be rea.s.suring to have such a powerful magician with us." While Alev and Zeros were greeting each other "Tina, be careful, alright? If one of those idiot knights lay a hand on you, please tell me. I''ll do something about it." "W-What are you going to do, Oji-sama!?" "No no, you don''t have to worry about that. There are things you are better off not knowing" "Oji-sama!?" Creston was saying farewell to his beloved granddaughter. (TCThis f.u.c.king old man when his granddaughter is involved he sure acts like a different person I can only say it''s disgusting.) He''s usually a competent person who thinks about the people, but when Celestina is involved, his personality does a complete 180 degrees turn. (It''s not even the same person anymore) It was a bit of a dangerous sign, though, he sure loved his granddaughter. Zweit was talking with the knights and asking what did they have planned for this excursion. That is because, the knights also go to Far-flung forest for training so their know-how may be useful to him. The group soon boarded the carriage and proceeded east towards Far-flung forest. ? In the swaying carriage, Zweit asked Zeros the question he''s been wondering for a long time. "Hey" "What is it, Zweit-kun?" "Why are you Celestina''s tutor, you don''t like being used in power struggles, right?" "Naturally, What about it?" "Aren''t you getting a piece of land from the old man as a reward? Isn''t that contradictory?" Zeros looks away at the bright blue sky. "Zweit-kun, what do you think about a middle-aged man that hasn''t settled down yet?" "It''s not like you''re some sort of vagrant" "Yeah, but don''t you think it''s the worse for a person to be wandering around without a place to live? It''s natural for people to work hard and earn just enough money to live by. So if you tell me you''re going to give me land, I''ll gladly take it." "You have an unexpectedly thick personality." "I don''t want to give more power to the already powerful, but I do think it''s fair, to point the young people, the right direction." "Alright I just thought there might be another shady reason behind it" "Don''t worry, it''s nothing fishy." Such a conversation happened, but his inner thoughts were (I want a G.o.dd.a.m.n house! What can a grubby middle-aged man, with no connections or trust in this country do! I can''t possibly find a job that easily! Magic is dangerous, and the market is likely to crash if I introduce things made with alchemy, and if I screw up, the country''s annoying guys will come after me. I don''t want to be a mercenary either!) like that. Zeros Merlin, 40 years old. Wants to get married and have a comfortable home He''s around the age when you''d worry about things like that. It wasn''t an age where you could carelessly go play around the world. His dream was to cultivate a field, have a family and a warm and cozy house. Two days later, the shaking carriage arrived at the edge of the Saffron plains at the boundary with Far-flung forest, where the group prepared to set up camp. While the knights were setting up the tents, Zeros surrounds the area with an earth wall with his magic, and, at the same time, the two disciples dig up trenches around it and set up pitfalls. Goblins are the only carnivorous monster that wander around this area, the rest of them are herbivorous. Exceptionally, other dangerous predators might appear from time to time but it''s not a problem with their current battle potential. Although, it can be said to be an excessively large group for a monster extermination, it could also be considered to be small for the escorts of the Duke''s children. The role of the knights is to allow the two to gain real combat experience, and at the same time, to raise their own levels. The problem is whether there is a suitable opponent for them. "Hey Shi-Shishou, What are you doing?" "Shishou? Me?" "Ah well, you''re also teaching me magic, I figured I should address you in a more appropriate manner." "I see, I don''t mind. So, what''s wrong?" "I''m curious about what you''re doing. Magic Paper] What''s that?" Zeros cut the blank Magic Paper] into vertical pieces, and started writing magic characters with a pen on them. It''s Magic Note Arcana] but the characters written were terribly precise, and current magicians couldn''t even hope to decipher them. "What''s this? It''s obviously to summon a familiar, right? "A familiar? Isn''t it a curse? Or perhaps, it summons a horde of monsters around here?" "No, you wouldn''t need that kind of thing. Just look, it''s going to be interesting." Zweit continues to watch over the scene unfolding before his eyes. The pen, which runs across the paper without any hesitation, continues to draw an unknown magic formula, and it gradually takes the form of a magic note. The magic note made of countless characters is incredibly dense and beautiful, causing a sigh of admiration to leak from Zweit''s lips. Moreover, Zeros understood the meaning of each magic character written on it and manipulated them to construct a magic unfamiliar to him. Since Zweit is a magician, he''s, naturally, curious about what this magic note is for. "Well it''s something like this." *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** "Is it done? What kind of effect does it have, that magic note? *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 15 Ossan, Leads *Disclaimer: I don''t really know j.a.panese, these are machine translations that I try to put into proper english. Read at your own discretion. *This is the first chapter I started translating. There are a lot of sentences that don''t really make sense because I was purely relying on online translators, which for some sentences, work surprisingly well; but now, when I get something that makes zero sense, I put the sentence through jisho.org and work trying to construct an appropriate translation from the individual words. *Well I skipped some chapters, since I was reading the manga so I figured I''d start from where the last chapter left off.C The next morning, Zeros left the tent, basking in the sun shining on the gra.s.slands while feeling refreshed. He''s, originally, up early in the morning because he''s used to farming. That''s why he goes to bed earlier than the others, but it''s proof that he has a healthy lifestyle. The problem is that there are no fields to cultivate here. It was good until he got up, but he was infinitely free. "I''m free so, What should I do?" There was nothing to do. In his former world, this is the time when eggs were collected from the henhouse and the fields were weeded out. Breakfast was the leftovers from the previous day and he would spent his time leisurely watching TV and playing online games in the afternoon. Even though he was unemployed, he wasn''t troubled with his living expenses because of the rent from the house his parents left him. In a sense, he was in a privileged environment. He''s now a vagrant without a place to stay. Even if somehow he managed to get a home and a plot of land, he was still unemployed. He''s a tutor, but in a month he''ll just return to being out of work. He can sell the materials from the monsters he defeats but he''d rather refrain because it seems to be a dangerous way of living. He doesn''t want to work for the country either, he just wants to freely live a normal life. "That''s not going to happen isn''t it?" In all honesty, he didn''t want to get a job with many responsibilities attached. That is even more true if someone else''s life is involved. It should be a refreshing morning but his mood gets progressively worse. "Ohh he''s out!! Oooooooooohhh!!!" "It''s a white devil! The one that took my pants off!" "Calm down! Is everyone alright?" "I don''t believe it! It ran away!!" The watchman after the night shift seems to have encountered the Crazy Ape. The knights no, the men have no choice but to think the Crazy Ape is a demon. Even though she had a spear, Celestina attacked the knights without looking. Seven knights got their pants removed, and two of them got not only their pants removed but their manly parts between their legs caressed. The dread is unimaginable. In a way, it might be better to come across a dragon, the Crazy Ape was dangerous in another way, leaving enormous mental trauma on the knights. "I can hear his voice ?!" Well they don''t seem to be suffering anymore It seems they had a traumatic enough experience to start hearing voices. A sorrowful cry reverberates through the morning plains. Zeros feels heavier in a different sense and for some reason his tears don''t stop flowing "Why is the breakfast''s mood so gloomy?" "You''re okay because you''re a woman, only men know true fear" In response to Celestina, who gave her honest impressions, Zweit grumbles at her. Breakfast is on a day-to-night condition(*T.N: no idea what''s supposed to mean). Honestly, n.o.body can savor the taste of the meal. They silently give up, just quietly chewing their breakfast. It wasn''t just gloomy, it was a despair equal to everything in this world, and it was wrapped in such an atmosphere as if all dreams and hopes were lost. There are two female knights in this squad, but the Crazy Apes spared them not even a glance so only the male knights became their prey. Zeros'' spirit was already driven to a corner before so there wasn''t any more fear in him. "This is just a question, but if the males attack other males then what about the females?" That was a question that should never be considered because it can lead to further misfortune. But once you start wondering about it It''s something difficult to omit. "After all wouldn''t it just attack a female?" "Wait, so would it attack a female if it pretends to be a male?" "Maybe it does both" "I don''t want to think about it!!" "Wait, hypothetically as to aim only for the females Do you want to see such things?" "I don''t want to see it not pretty to imagine." "" You guys are perverts!!"" If you think about it, they''re killing monsters because they are harmful beasts but they don''t know anything about their ecology. There is certainly a breeding season as with animals but no one has confirmed the authenticity of that. It is likely that some of the people that have investigated in the past have died because there''s not much knowledge about it in the present. Ecological investigation of monsters is difficult due to being full of dangers. It is, therefore, obscure and full of mysteries, but whether anyone wants to investigate the Crazy Ape''s ecology is a great question. In another sense, the risk is too high. "So what about today''s schedule? We''re your escorts, so it''ll depend on your actions." "Well it''s not like I have to do it. Let''s hunt the monsters after collecting their magic stones? They''ll be extra revenue" """Don''t want to!!!""" The Crazy Ape had too much of an impact. The wounds carved by it are quite deep. In the end, they all get along well an go to the depths of the forest. That''s the knights'' job and role. If you accept any job, you have to take responsibility until the end. It''s the same in every world. Far-flung''s large, deep woodlands is a forest that boasts a vast an area as its name suggests. More than half of the continent is covered by this forest, and only about a third of the area is where people can live. (*T.N: Yes, Far-flung is the name of the forest. There were much cooler options but the reference wouldn''t make sense if it didn''t have the word far in it.) The countries are scattered in a narrow territory, and at the time of the Evil G.o.d War, it was enough for a unified state to be formed for a while. The great nation eventually declined and, once again, returned to a situation where small countries were trying to conquer each other. It may be difficult to make the ideal a reality, because the rise and fall of great empires is the norm of the world, and the downfall of the Unified State was in less than a hundred years. This vast forest is a place that will never change as we continue to watch the situation of this world. The environment in which many monsters live, in the providence of carnage and rejection of civilization, is pretty much h.e.l.l, and it''d take being an elf to live in such a harsh forest. Such elves try to not get too involved with humans, and don''t show themselves in front of anyone except certain people. The reason lies in the Unified State after the Evil G.o.d War, at that time it flourished as a country with a philanthropic spirit beyond tribes but it ended up corrupting and splitting up before human desires. The ideal is expensive and difficult to materialize. The elves were so taken aback by the foolishness of the people that they went into this harsh forest to create their own country, and then secluded themselves. Because they lived for a long time, they looked too far ahead and despaired. It''s now unclear where the country is located, and many are trying to find it an obtain it. Because of their excellence in magic, greedy individuals are trying to enslave them and incorporate them into their own armies. You can only say there''s no salvation. There are times you can see elves, but most of them are the descendants of those who have lived with humans without hiding themselves. Nonetheless, the large and deep greenbelt of Far-flung is a harsh environment, although at the same time, is a rich forest. There are many medicinal herbs and minerals in this vast forest, so there are many people who set foot in it in search for them. The profits are higher than what you can make by farming alone, double the value of medicinal herbs, and ten times the value of special herbs such as mandrakes. If you can make an elixir or secret medicine, its value will continue to rise. "This forest has an unusual concentration of magic, that''s why the monsters are so strong." "The trees are ma.s.sive, too. They seem healthful and growing quite fast." "I don''t care, It is not here, is it? I don''t wanna see it in a place like this." The knights all nodded. "I''m interested in females" """Please don''t say horrible things!!!!""" The cry of the soul of every knight. No one wants to encounter a monster with a metamorphic habit. Celestina, who knows that there''s no harm to herself is calm in her heart. It''s nothing other than fear for the men in this place and they''re getting more vigilant than usual because of it. Whether it is happiness or misfortune, they have sensed the presence of monsters immediately. DDD Gruooorruurururur The monster has the body of a lion, the head of a goat, the tail of a scorpion and bat wings on its back. It''s a chimera, famous for being a high-ranked monster. Chimeras don''t have an identical appearance with one another. Their appearances range from things that might be similar to completely different figures. Furthermore, they have special abilities that differ from individual to individual, and even if they are defeated there''s the added difficulty of having to change your strategy for every single Chimera to be able to defeat them. Thus, it was one of the monsters you didn''t want to encounter in this vast forest. Chimera ̣ ȣС/ "It''s a Chimera, level 124. It''s a bit weaker than the previous one I defeated." """ Level 124??!!! Impossible!! We can''t possibly win!!""" The level is about four times the average of the knights, but much higher in terms of strength. If they are attacked, they would be overwhelmed enough to be killed instantly except for one person. "It''s alright! Chain of Darkness" A jet-black chain entangles from the shadow of the Chimera, sealing its movement in an instant. """What are you doing!?""" "Are you going to kill it? Please attack quickly, this magic consumes magic power so it''ll drain mine eventually." It sounded like a joke, but Zeros was completely serious. "Isn''t it an attack? You have two swords, right? Didn''t you use magic too?!" "It''s a little bit of magic, but it''s the other characteristic of this magic that makes it tenable, if you do your best you can defeat it." "By the way, the power is great but the restraining time is short, It''ll attack if you don''t do it right now?" """What''s wrong with youuu!!!""" They cry and cry No, they''re pulling out their swords while actually weeping and charge towards the Chimera. There was nothing but fear, and the knights wielded their swords to live. They don''t know when the Chimera will be free of its restrains so the knights wield their swords in fear because they want to live, and they''ll surely do some damage. It''s no longer a controlled, precise technique, it just looks like they''re slamming their swords blindly. If you look from the side, it looks like a group lynching, but the Chimera is a formidable enemy and if you don''t defeat it they will soon pursuit you. If you do poorly, they could come after you in your country. There exist the bad example where, in the past, some n.o.bles entered the forest and unsuccessfully tried to kill a Chimera. Later, the monster appeared in the territory of the foolish n.o.bles and many people were sacrificed. The level of that chimera was around 200. The average level of the world''s strongest humans is around 250. Even Creston is level 243 so it''s no wonder they can''t manage Wyverns who are around level 300. They have the potential to be strong, but in reality, they''ve stopped growing. The people of this world should be able to go up to level 500 at the highest. After a while, the Chimera stops moving. Is it about forty minutes now? They continue to wield their swords, but they''re mentally fatigued. Even if each of them are weak, if they attack in group they''ll eventually manage to acc.u.mulate damage to the chimera. Moreover, a Chimera that has been deprived of movement and magic is just a target, and they should be able to defeat it without much difficulty. "Hahaha I''m level 43. It was 24 until a while ago" "Me too I''m not happy at all." "My body hurts is it the side effect of rising your levels?" "The skill level has gone up hahaha" "My level is 68?" "I will be 50 soon" But none of them were happy with the victory. More than that, fear has bound them. Zeros who had been watching on the sidelines, examined the HP reduction of the Chimera and estimated that the damage points the knights dealt was about . Apparently, this Chimera is likely a defense-specific type, it seems to have had more defense than what its level implied. Though the defensive power was reduced by the magic''s effect, even if its magic power is further deprived, it seems to have some kind of resistance skill so there was a strong tendency for the effect to be resisted. In addition, it seemed to have HP resilience as a special ability, but it was meaningless before the sheer number of the group attacking it. It would be difficult to break through Zeros'' magic, but the probability isn''t nil so you can''t judge whether you have good or bad luck. "Let''s dismantle it, Can someone help me?" ""Wait, koorrraaaaahhh!!!"" The knights'' angry voices contrasts Zeros who tries to start dismantling as if nothing even happened. Fear turns into anger and that anger has already reached its limits. If there''s no good reason, the brunt of that anger will be directed at Zeros "How do you fight it, What would have happened if we died?!!" ""It almost killed us!!"" "Who died?" "That''s not it! That''s what would''ve happened if the restraining magic ran out!" "Did it run out? The restraining magic?" """ Ohh?""" Zeros said the restraining magic would break sooner rather than later. However, the magic actually lasted until the chimera died so there was a sense of incongruity there. "Z-Zeros-dono? No way, did you lie to us?" *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** "I thought it was bad, but you''re too weak and there''s no way of escaping when there''s a powerful monster in front of you. However, if you raise your level, your chances of survival will increase." *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 16 Ossan, studies the ecology. *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. The Crazy Ape, the white-haired natural enemy of all men. This monster attacks human males and performs the so-called **** (-T.N: censored in the raws). It''s uncertain why it has such habits, but at the moment, the men, including the knights, were at risk of losing their chast.i.ty. "I can''t help it Let me kill it, I hate it." "Well, at least you have your sanity Zeros-dono he is" "A hero here is a hero." "Oh G.o.d." "You guys, just fight" "Are you even a man?" The female knights are looking coldly at their co-workers. However, they weren''t brave enough to accept their opinions. If their opponents are bandits, they at least can stick with their own pride as knights. But, the Crazy Apes are dangerous creatures in a different sense. It''s not wonder why they''re so terrified. Their captain, Alev, is also amongst the frightened knights. "What the h.e.l.l?! It''s discrimination to be a man!" "Even we have things we''re scared of!" "It''s It''s the worse! You guys fight it, I don''t want to!" ""These guys"" The knights were useless in a different way. In reality, Zeros didn''t want to be the only one fighting this monster, but if they don''t defeat it here, the damage will expand in various way, because the level of the Crazy Ape was the problem. Crazy Ape ̣ "Its level is higher than the Chimera but its HP is lower What does it mean?" "Maybe it''s a pre-evolutionary sub-species? From there, they''ll probably evolve into a different creature." In other words, if they become a higher species their level will be reset to 1, and in exchange, their strength will be leagues above what it was before evolving. Since the Chimera was stronger than the Crazy Ape, it probably had evolved at least once. After all, despite the fact that it was being attacked by a large number of people, the decrease in HP was insignificant. (Monster evolution exists? I thought it was quite a game-like world, but it looks like it was because of the G.o.ddess.) Zeros did not fully believe what was written in the G.o.ddess'' email from when he arrived to this world. That is, because there''s a condition for living beings to suddenly evolve, and a world that immediately makes you evolve once you reach a certain level cap, is far from the natural providence. In most game worlds, evolution is a phenomenon in which creatures who have acc.u.mulated experience points and met certain conditions turn into more powerful monsters. In this world, evolution is likely to depend on the environmental conditions in place, Zeros considers based on this world''s reality. If the levels are the condition, it''d be strange if there are not many high-ranked monsters around here. After all, Far-flung''s deep greenbelt is home to many powerful monsters waging a fierce compet.i.tion for survival amongst themselves. Weak creatures can''t possibly survive here. "In other words, the average level of monsters here is between 100 and 300" (Then if I don''t raise my students'' and the knights'' levels they won''t survive. Well, in the next four days that won''t be a problem.) Further problems arises. Zeros'' disciples and the knights who leveled up had a severe fatigue. That is a side-effect of a fast level-up, and it occurs because of the rapid increase in power, which, the body can''t catch up with. Levelling-up is a phenomenon in which, part of the soul of the defeated monster is taken in by the individual who defeated it. The body grows stronger accordingly, but rapid changes would affect it in that way. They are now exhausted to the extent of not being able to protect themselves if they were attacked, and at the same time, because of the continuous forced level-up, their bodies are not responding freely to their will. "Even so" Zeros looks at the Crazy Ape(female) "Ahaan ?" (I wanna cry right now) It was a lost hope. The Crazy Ape wipes out the drool coming out of its mouth and crosses its arms with a *pakon* *pakon* sound. It seems that everything is ready, the Crazy Ape is like a maiden in love. "Huh I don''t like where this is going." As he said that, he puts his hand on the handle of the sword hanging on his waist gradually increasing his speed and rushing towards the Crazy Ape. The Crazy Apes jumps backwards, with the jumping strength characteristic of its race, trying to widen the distance between the two in a panic. However, Zeros didn''t miss the opening. "Flying Slash!" Flying in the air can be advantageous depending of the situation but it can''t be said it''s very effective in a 1v1 combat. That''s why, an attack that could''ve been avoided with a simple back-step, it''s unavoidable while in mid-air without any sort of scaffolding. Before touching the ground, the Crazy Ape is. .h.i.t with Zeros'' Flying Slash, a flying blade made of magic causing it to die instantly spilling its internal organs and scattering blood everywhere. Luckily for Zeros, he stayed still avoiding getting showered by the gruesome body fluids. "I''d like to dismantle it and sell it at a slightly higher price" """Ohhhh!!! Hero banzai!!""" Without realizing the feelings of the person himself, Zeros was applauded by the knights. They were so terrified of the Crazy Ape that feelings of deep admiration flowed towards him as he started to dismantle the monster while feeling depressed. White ape fur] The Crazy Ape''s fur is of the highest quality and sold at a high price. Primarily used for making coats for the n.o.bility, it is especially popular amongst the n.o.blewomen. Its main characteristic is its beautiful, glossy hair and pristine white color. To merchants, the price of this fur is always fluctuating because of the unstable supply of it, being out of stock more often than not. Hunters that aim for it to get rich quick are famous for disappearing all of a sudden and never coming back. "Its main feature is its pure white hair without impurities?" (I''d like to add a tsukkomi to the appraisal) The fur, the main commodity of the Ape, seems to have a different value from the creature itself. It''s a product that merchants continue to look for while shedding blood, but it seems they don''t know that this White ape fur] comes from the Crazy Ape. On the contrary, they often live in places with few monsters so their knowledge of them should be quite scarce. In addition, the Crazy Ape doesn''t come out from the deep greenbelt of Far-flung, so there''s no way they would know. And, as a result, merchants commission mercenaries to get this fur but they don''t come back. Sporadically, there are people who sell this fur to merchants, but most of it is what people manage to scavenge in the forest. So, merchants have no choice but to bundle up the fur they''ve managed to obtain and process it to make a new commodity. Because of this, mercenary delivery quests of White ape fur] are famous for being the devil''s quest. "That White ape fur], no way it was from such a monster." "I was envious of that person who wore a white fur coat at the academy but I don''t think it''s that enviable anymore." "The reason mercenaries don''t come back they''re all eaten by them in a different sense." "That''s awful I''m glad I became a knight." "Indeed, at least my salary is stable, I don''t have to worry about my income like mercenaries do." They heave a sigh of relief for the fact that they were knights. Some of the knights climbed up from being mercenaries with a certain amount of skill, and are elites who have pa.s.sed a rigorous examination and a.s.sessment of academic abilities. If they were to take this job as mercenaries, there was a good possibility of seeing h.e.l.l They''ve never been more delighted to have pa.s.sed the knights'' selection test. But the knights have forgotten This is the demonic forest where the Crazy Ape lives. "But we''re in trouble. There''s almost no food left." "I don''t think that Ape lived alone. Where did it come from?" While suppressing his hunger, Zeros began to examine the surroundings of the base. And, after a while, he found that a hole was dug from the outside of the wall. They carefully filled up the holes to destroy the evidence and fled with the food. They were smart monkeys despite its outward r.e.t.a.r.ded appearance. "These guys they filled up the holes." "Did they come in a troop imagine coming across them scary." (*T.N: apparently, a group of monkeys is called a troop.) "Rather than that, What about the food!?" "We''re getting picked up in four days, right?" "With nothing to eat and drink until then!!?" "Ouch can you not hit me?" They were starving on the second day already. Looking at the knights, Zeros had a cheerful smile on his face that was also coming from the bottom of his heart "Hey, Sensei? Why do you look so happy? "Huh? Did I have that expression? "Shishou you, are you really enjoying this situation?" "That''s well no, it''s just that I''ve never really had anyone whom I''d consider a comrade in bad luck before" Remember, a month ago Zeros was wandering in this vast forest. Although there was water, the only thing to eat was meat, and you''ll end up starving if you don''t keep hunting. (It''s good that I was lucky enough to find a highway, but if I didn''t, there''s a high possibility that I would still be trying to survive in this forestIncidentally, I was one step from becoming a cave man.) Zeros was genuinely happy to have been able to make friends. And so, it was decided that the knights, including the two disciples, would live from meat for the remaining four days Though, they still didn''t know that. "You are rotten" "Sensei that''s terrible." Their cold gazes sting but Zeros keeps smiling. "So let''s all share our misfortune, shall we?" No way, You have to be kidding me!!!""" "unchaining, conjuring, awaken thee." (T.N: No clue what this is, I guess it''s like gibberish or just mumbling random words: ʥ˥⡢Υե辰ƥ I just made up some words. ) """Dangerous!! his eyes are serious!!""" Because of his week of survival in the forest, he became emotionally unstable like this. This transformation, which is a psychological state of him, will end up being called Zeros of that time he was wandering around in the forest for a week'' in a couple of days. And the knights were already determined to follow the same path as Zeros. From now on, everyone will get along and live a life of survival in the forest. On this day, Zeros had the best smile he could make It was already too dazzling. 󡡡󡡡󡡡󡡡󡡡󡡡 Two days after that, the knights are living in h.e.l.l. Go find prey, kill it and then eat it A primitive, more barbaric life ensued. They''ll awaken to their wild natures by the fourth day on this harsh forest. They beat Wild Wolves that tried to take their preys, slaughtered the Goblins that tried to attack the women, and turned the tables against the Orcs that considered them their prey. Their eyes have no sanity in them anymore. A dangerous glint dwells in the back of their eyes, fighting only to secure food. When they catch prey they raise their cries, share a small amount of food with each other, and dance around the flames. The monsters that attacked the base exposed them to their primitive instincts to such an extent, that they started an excessive counter-attack on them with not even a sliver of mercy. Far-flung''s endless and dense woodlands were so dangerous that, they could not survive otherwise. In the two days they''ve been surviving in this forest overrun with dangerous predators, they have realized that they are lucky to have survived thus far. There''s no room in the knights'' hearts to be upset now. DDDD Zash! ! A single arrow pierces the body of the Slasher Rabbit. It convulses and leaks a single shallow breath. "Ufufufu I got meat." "Tch Where''s the next prey?" "There''s meat over here!" "Yossha!" This is the edge of a relatively safe area in this boundless forest. They should now know how harsh was the environment in which Zeros had to survive. The knights, who fell into these extreme conditions, realized that they could not survive without exposing their bare instincts. No, they had to realize. A carnivorous monster attacks roughly every hour, and most of them are not really edible, making them to be frustrated because of the waste of time and energy. There''s no time to rest and take it easy either, the monsters keep attacking in waves. This situation is repeated constantly in a short amount of time. And their anger exploded all at once. They''ve become crazed warriors. "S-scary what happened to you guys? "I''ve adapted to this vast forest. I realized I can''t survive without being ruthless kukuku" " You too that''s unexpected" "Ufufu after all, in this world the strong devour the weak. Ordinary people used to the conveniences of civilization won''t be able to survive in this harsh forest." "That''s not it! No matter how you look, there''s something wrong with your head!" "Search and destroy if you don''t kill, you''ll die ufufu" As if looking at nostalgic things, Zeros laughs heartily. He was reminded of how vulnerable he once was when he was living in a civilized society. In the day after his reincarnation, his survival skills had created a beast in him. And, that beast has awoken once again. "Captain! There are Crazy Apes over here!!" "What!? Yoshi, I''m going to settle the scores with them!!" Alev also became a beast. There was no part of him that was afraid of the Apes. He was a beast who would kill its enemies. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** The knights begin to move towards them without hiding their killing intent. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 17 Ossan, dreams about that time *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. The Arienne Kong understood the danger it was in. Its body was bound by what it seemed to be a chain made of light that extended from magic circles floating in all directions, and thus, it could not move. Because it was being suspended in the air, it only had one means of attacking It immediately noticed the knights about to start fiercely attacking it, and started gathering its mana. Though, it''s quite the stupid monster, it isn''t so weak as to let itself be attacked by a combined a.s.sault from the knights. Mana was concentrated in its throat, fused with its body own fluids in order to retaliate against the knights. DDDKaah ~ Petsu!~ Something flew out of its mouth. "Uuohh!?" "Disgusting!!" It spitted a cloudy fluid from its mouth, and makes the ground where it landed, immediately turn hot red and melt into lava. (*T.N:RAWs say it''s Tang soup for some reason. It''s such a weird a.n.a.logy that I don''t know if it''s correct.) Everyone was at a loss for words. No matter how much you''re strengthened with magic, you won''t come out unscathed after receiving an attack like that head on. Moreover, the enemy is above them. Ignoring the knights'' thoughts, the Arienne Kong continues to spit at them. "Prepare the bows!" "f.u.c.king monkey! That''s such a disgusting attack!" Although it looks like cloudy soup, it''s actually a dissolvent synthetic substance. The venom acc.u.mulated in its throat was modified with magic and turned into a strong corrosive liquid. It also possesses a considerable adhesive power. Once it gets stuck to the body, it''ll completely dissolve everything, even if it''s metal. While the knights were quickly preparing their bows to shoot it down, the boss desperately tried to break the glowing chains binding it. "Let''s gooo!!" Warrior-type long range attack techniques depend on the distance from the target. And the knights'' distance from the ape was about 5 times the lengths of their swords, and since they were still within the range of the Arienne Kong''s attacks, they were pointless, and the same could be said about their spears. Therefore, their only choice was to shoot arrows at it. The problem was that a bow wouldn''t be able to inflict a fatal wound to such a strong monster. Even after reaching level 100, no matter how much they''re buffed with magic, they won''t be able to deal considerable damage to an opponent double their level. "Captain, they have no effect." "If its skin is too hard, Do you want to wait until the restraining magic breaks?" "I don''t wanna go near it while it''s still spitting acid" "I don''t want to melt, either." The knights don''t have any effective means of attacking it. Only a magic attack would be effective at this point "Piece of s.h.i.t! This thing is hard! Even magic is practically bouncing off of its body." "Our level is too low, if we had a bit more time we''d be able to deal more damage" They still don''t have a high enough level. It''s not like they can''t beat it due to the lack of skill and combat experience. In the past two days the level of the knights have exceeded 100. However, the high-ranked Arienne Kong at level 15, is stronger than the low-ranked level 200 Crazy Apes. In the first place, since they don''t know at which level it evolves, they don''t have the time or information to verify it. Moreover, the information from the Appraisal] skill was unreliable. A person''s status is clearly visible, but when it comes to monsters, only the level and a small amount of information on them appears. That''s a noticeable difference from when it was a game. Zeros'' game knowledge can''t be reliably used as a reference for this world. "Should I use the chains of darkness? I was careless because you guys had leveled up." "Really? There''s something else going on, right? "Nah, there''s no way" The knights were able to fight on equal terms against the Crazy Apes when they reached level 100. Zeros had a.s.sumed that even if their opponent was a high-ranked species, they wouldn''t lag behind. (This is a group of level 100 monsters, a couple of level 200 ones, and the boss they''re, at least, weaker than the ones that inhabit the depths of this forest. How much have the monsters in this area evolved? Rather than that, it''s not good if the knights that were sent as our escorts die. Would it be my fault if they do? Well, there''s a higher chance the Chivalric Order will keep a watch on me if I let them die well if it''s only one or two no, no, no! They also have families, and it wouldn''t be good if they held a grudge against me. Trust is paramount in this world. ) There was one troubled uncle (*T.N: Ossan). In Far-flung forest, the deeper you go, the higher the concentration of mana is. Mana concentration is the determining factor that produces the differences in strength between monsters. But, even in the same forest, the strength of the monsters inhabiting the deepest parts of it is leagues apart from the strength of the monsters living on the boundaries. Even a Goblin would be stronger than the Queen Arienne Kong we''re fighting this time around. (Hmmm, if mana concentration determines the upper limit of the monsters'' strength in this forest, then there must be something in there that''s producing these changes. I''m interested but at this age, I just want sake.) He loved sake more than the romance of adventures. (Watching hockey with a gla.s.s of a prized Kagurazaka Daiginj this worthless G.o.ddess, Do you want me to hold another grudge!?) *T.N: A Daiginj is a high-end type of sake and Kagurazaka is the brand I guess? This uncle, deprived of the pleasures of his previous world, holds a grudge against the G.o.ds. Anyways "Let''s wrap this up, Spear of the Lighting Emperor" Zeros produced a lighting spear from the palms of his hands, and readily hurls it towards the Arienne Kong. DDDGyaaaa!!! The monster''s scream echoes through the forest. (Ah I guess this is animal cruelty. In j.a.pan this would be a crime, and I''d likely be sued by an NGO from somewhere. For example, most organizations stage incidents to affect the public''s opinion on whaling companies and damage their reputation, but those people should really learn about our history of whaling. First of all, j.a.panese whalers ate everything except the bones, and some of them were even used as tools, whereas, overseas whalers only used the oil. Such a waste. That''s a blasphemy against whaling and it''s too late to protect them now! First of all, they overhunt whales. Their ancestors'' actions caused the whale population to plummet. It''s the peak of people who denounce other countries'' cultures! Reflect on that, will you! After all, they don''t really understand j.a.panese culture. If they say something is bad, then it''s cancelled immediately, and exaggerated to their heart''s content. If you''re ashamed of your own history then that''s fair enough, but after all, they don''t realize they''re just being instigated by others, and that there are many other endangered species that need protection, but these people just focus on that one thing. Gorillas also suffer casualties in human wars! They''re still here so we need to protect them! ) *T.N: This whole paragraph was a nightmare to try translating and I''m sure I got it completely wrong, but I guess the main points were that j.a.panese whalers aren''t as bad as foreigners; cancel culture bad; j.a.pan good no hate; Gorillas are aight. Is Zeros fond of gorillas? Does he hold a grudge against anti-whaling groups? Moreover, his information was completely biased. It''s a fact that, in some countries, gorillas are endangered species. Although, Zeros, who had a gorilla hanging in the air by its limbs seems to be an awfully guilty person himself. His aura is that of a poacher. DDDPakyiiinnnn!!! A high-pitched metallic sound, different from the Arienne Kong''s cries, echoes. The glowing light chain, that had been restraining the monster''s movements, broke. "Woah!? Its bindings broke apart!" Bind Break], a skill that wards off the effects of binding and restraining magics. Zeros'' magic can''t be resisted by normal monsters, but this Queen Arienne Kong managed to break his spell. "What is this? Which is it, ''hidden power'' or ''berserk'' ?" (*T.N: terms from the game I suppose) "The h.e.l.l you on about!! This is dangerous!" The hairs on the Arienne Kong''s back stood and started dying red. Its body also grew one size bigger and its muscles started pulsating abnormally. "It''s going berserk, I should''ve killed it instantly though? I guess I still need to get the hang of it" """Get it properly!!!""" This uncle liked Roland The Gorilla. He cherished the gorilla plushie he bought on a company trip abroad when he was younger. He even named it ''Uhho-kun'' "Sayonara, Uhho-kun Shadow Javelin]" Countless jet-black spears emerged from the shadows and pierced the Arienne Kong. This uncle was overlaying the image of Uhho-kun with the Arienne Kong and said his eternal farewell. The gorillas of this world weren''t cute though But the berserk gorilla didn''t stop moving. It pulled out a nearby tree from its roots and swung it towards Zeros. "It''s getting more violent!" "It''s out of control! Please do something!" Involving the remaining surviving Crazy Apes, the berserk Arienne Kong goes on a rampage. It continues to fight even after trees are knocked down and rocks are smashed. Monsters go berserk when their rage reaches a certain threshold, but at the same time, they put their lives at risk, without minding collateral damage or even injuring their own bodies. They are blinded with rage until they manage to kill their enemies. "Now let''s make it a bit easier,Roaring Lightning of the Thunder G.o.d]"(*T.N: Z) This uncle also like animal animatronics (At the very least, I''ll grant it mercy.) As he thought that, Zeros brings forth a palm-sized ball of lightning and shoots it at the Arienne Kong. It looks like the magic Lighting Ball] but the power and the amount of mana packed-in are in a different league. The ball of lighting hits the Arienne Kong, and releasing its destructive power, burns its body from the inside out. In addition, the excess electric discharge overruns the surroundings, smashing nearby trees and rocks. The body of the Arienne Kong was completely burned to a cinder, and its ashes scatters about when a gust of wind blows through. Zeros took a cigarette out of the small pouch at his waist and lighted it up with magic. He lets out the white smoke of the ignited tobacco quietly with an expressionless face. "Fuu Empty. What is this empty feeling?" In his mind was Uhho-kun, who he had left behind in his former world. Zeros had abandoned something important. The knights and his two disciples sent him cold gazes, but that didn''t matter to him. The cigarette smoke is washed away by the wind, like incenses in memoriam of the Arienne Kong. By the end of the day, the remaining Apes were completely wiped out. Zeros had a dream. It was the third night after he arrived to this world. That day, he was attacked by monsters since morning. Even if he managed to hunt a prey, it was soon stolen by flying monsters. And when he hunted another prey, the smell of blood attracted carnivorous monsters in tropes. If you defeat those monsters, another horde appears before you could finish dismantling them. In this endless vicious cycle, Zeros became exhausted both mentally and physically. And, before he noticed, the forest was already enclosed in darkness, and because he didn''t eat since morning, he was a.s.saulted by a terrible hunger. His food was taken away from him. It was a very dismal day. The day after, he was sleeping by the river, but he was attacked by a group of lizardmen, so he decided to spend the night in the shadow of a rock. Not being winter was the only good thing. He soon stops thinking about those things. He immediately fell asleep due to fatigue. But then it showed up. He wakes up with a faint shaking sensation, and he squints his sleepy eyes to check what was happening. And then, he realizes A b.u.t.t was showing from some slightly lowered trousers. In other words, half of his a.s.s was exposed. Moreover, it was a white-haired monkey with long arms and a slovenly expression on its red face, trying to lower down his pants. The uncle''s and the Crazy Ape''s eyes meet. "" "" A long silence elapses. And then he confirms it. A fiendish and violent sky tree that stands up high as if penetrating the heavens, so ferocious and brutal that mosaics would be made of it "Fuuhi?" "Nooooooooo!?" The uncle''s scream echoes far and wide in the gigantic forest of Far-flung. His voices reverberates endlessly, though he was so exhausted that he couldn''t form any words. From that day on, he sold his soul to a demon. Well, it probably wasn''t The Devil, because selling your actual soul would mean certain death. (*T.N: no clue about this: ħǤʤΤϡ餯Ӥϴ_g) All monsters that come to attack him are annihilated, monsters wandering around on guard are indiscriminately killed, and even monsters that run away get merrily slaughtered. He became an Oni in order to protect his chast.i.ty. After all, this is a world where might makes right, and the weak have no right to complain. Naturally, no rights to take one''s chast.i.ty. It''s really quiet when he wakes up DDDKyin! Kankan! "f.u.c.k, Where did they come in from!?" "No clue! But this is good, you can mince a lot of them with these numbers!" "Kyaahh!!!" "Ness got caught!! Captain!" "Kuh, Zweit-sama, Celestinsama, support" " Fireball" DDDDogooonnn! Well, actually, there was a big commotion outside. When Zeros exits the tent, rubbing his eyes, a knight in front of him gets blown away. "." Were the timing a bit off, that could''ve been Zeros. It was actually quite dangerous. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** In the morning of the final day of Far-flung forest''s training excursion, they were attacked by plant-type monsters. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 18 Ossan, * *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. *The t.i.tle is kind of a minor spoiler. I''ll put it at the end of the chapter. The girl was an ordinary student who attended a nearby junior high-school. However, there wasn''t anyone she could call a friend, and so, her days went by. It took little time for her to start feeling like a bird in a cage in such a monotone and ordinary world, where all her days were exactly the same. The new state-of-the-art game console she bought with her New Year''s money, DreamWorks]. It''s clear as a bell, how she would get hooked up with the online game Sword and Sorcery], released at the same time. This virtual world was full of excitement unlike the real one, and thus, the monotone daily life she dreaded became full of vibrant colors, and eventually becoming the only place she belonged to. She made a lot of friends; trustworthy companions. Though, they''re not there anymore the moment she turns off the game. Although loneliness was the main reason she felt suffocated in the real world, that didn''t really matter to her anymore. And then when she was doing quests along with her companions like usual, suddenly, her vision faded to black She was standing in the center of a plain before she realized. There was no one else there, and at the same time, she had a hunch that her everyday life was going to change from that moment onward. A hunch that was reaffirmed when she read the email that appeared when her status screen expanded. According to it, the G.o.ddess of this world had sealed the Evil G.o.d in her former world (more specifically in Sword and Sorcery''s virtual world), and many people died due to a curse the Evil G.o.d released just before it was defeated. It seems she had been recreated based on the aspect of her former world''s body and her status in the game world. Whatever the process was, she had died and was reincarnated into another world. To begin with, she didn''t care much about her former world. Moreover, she didn''t interact much with her family in the first place, so she didn''t have any lingering attachments. In truth, Being in another world less boring than her original one will only arouse her adventurous spirit. Taking out a map from her inventory, she finds a town nearby and starts walking towards it. C Her name is Irie Sumika *(T.N: Irie is the surname, Sumika her first name). The name she used to register at the Mercenary Guild was Iris. In order to enjoy this world, she became a mercenary using the same name as her character''s when it was a game. The Mercenary Guild is similar to the game''s Adventurer Guild in both, organization and structure, so it was quite convenient to her for her goal of enjoying this otherworld She is now currently being held captive by a band of bandits. "What are we going to do now, Iris?" "Right now we have to wait for our chance to escape. Don''t worry, it''ll definitely come." "Really?" "Probably" Due to her status(*T.N: I guess Status as in her character''s overall strength or ability) from the time when it was a game, her ability as a mercenary sits around the intermediate levels. Specifically, she''s rank C, but a mere merchant escort request is nothing but easy work to her. The problem was that there were a lot more bandits than she had antic.i.p.ated, and in addition, the merchants who they were supposed to be protecting were taken as hostages. After all, she is a girl used to living in a modern society, and doesn''t see this world from a weird angle like a certain sage from somewhere. (*T.N: talking about the MC) That lack of awareness is what has put her in this perilous situation. The bandits abducted not only women but also children. While holding one of these children hostage in front of a woman, who seemed to be related to the kid, a bandit is making her take off her clothes in order to rape her. Perhaps it was this child''s mother, but the woman is frightened and trembling in shame whilst undressing quietly. The men who were looking at her with such filthy eyes didn''t even count as humans to Iris. (I''ll be sure to kill you all) A primeval killing instinct dawned on her for the first time in her life. She glares at her surroundings while making sure to keep as close as possibly to the bandits that are about to rape a fellow woman. (*T.N: no clue about that sentence, I practically made it all up) Suddenly, while using her detection skills, she notices a magical reaction above in the sky. (Is that a familiar? There''s a magician looking here?) Hawks and falcons were circling around in the sky without even trying to hide themselves. But they weren''t actual living beings. "Rensan, maybe there''s help on the way" "Really? But how?" "It looks like a magician has found this place. They might come to help." "But you don''t know when they might come to rescue us, right?" "Un" The familiars have certainly seen their situation. However, it wasn''t clear when the help would arrive, if any. "This is the worst, I want it to end soon" "I don''t care about being saved but I''ll get back at them." Her first companions in this world were glaring at the bandits as if to kill them with their gaze. There were three other fellow mercenaries accompanying Iris on this escort mission, but they left a bad impression on her after they met for the first time, and thus, they didn''t get along with each other. They really wanted help to come soon. (If you''re coming to help, come quickly! no more) Eyes full of l.u.s.t gathered on the two young women. They could only regret that they might be raped next, before they would get here. Thirty minutes after they started to follow after the bandits'' traces upstream. The knight squad, including Zero and his disciples, have finally arrived at their hideout. There''s a boat laying by the river, with which, they seemed to have carried their loot. "So they were river bandits" "Are these guys the Mobus bandits?" "I don''t know, but the rumor is that they were some ill-bred lot that separated from the main group of bandits." "So they were marked as traitors by the leader and escaped here?" "Well, who cares. Let''s destroy everything!" "Now, let me hear a good scream hehehehe" It was hard to tell who were the bandits in this situation. The waves of the knights'' killing intent aura were already at the levels of a violent storm. "What do we do about the hostages? Women, children and some men are gathered around the center of their lair." "They''re threatening the hostages with those children and are about to rape them." "Nii-sama You aren''t peeping, right?" Celestina''s freezing gaze was stabbing deep into Zweit. After all, this is an emergency situation. As time pa.s.ses, the hostages lives get progressively endangered. "How insensitive Do you think I''m a monster?" "It''s not like that, and well, somehow we need to attract their attention" "We''ll surround them and beat them to a pulp we''ll make them regret being born kukuku." "Do we have poison?" "I think we do, right? You guys have a terrible personality" Their plan was quite horrifying, but for them, these bandits were nothing more than trash, so there was no reason to make it easy for them. Subjugating bandits was also the knights'' job, but most of the times they just charge head on into their hideouts, instead of encircling them or using more sly methods, so more often than not, the bosses end up escaping through back doors. After all, The knights are mobilized in large numbers, so bandits would know when they were going to be raided by them just by keeping a watch for the moment they start making their preparations to sortie. Ultimately, that''s because when knights move, so does gold. Such as by purchasing supplies, as well as when weapons and food are transported into forts and other garrisons. In addition, when knight scouts are frequently spotted, the bandits are, naturally, on high alert. That''s the biggest factor responsible for the failures in the subjugation of large bandit bands, be that is it may, at least small bandit groups were more predictable, to a certain extent. Countries are not the only ones to have information networks. It''s natural for merchants and even bandits to have them as well. There were information management organizations by the name of guilds, with each profession having its own information network. Ironically enough, it''s only on wartime where all of these different organizations would cooperate with each other. Mercenaries, merchants, and even bandits are sensitive to the flow of cash, and information is a highly prized commodity. Mercenaries do all sort of jobs for money, merchants sell goods, and bandits even sell behind-the-scene information from other countries. It''s normal in this world, for information networks to be used for their own benefit. Needless to say, these bandit rebels who attacked the merchants also possess an information network on the defense of the country. They carefully chose their hideout based on that, but the bandits made a mistake. Collecting and a.n.a.lyzing multiple different pieces of information can give you a more in-depth understanding on a situation. However, they only collected and relied on a single piece of information, failing to notice that their natural enemy was approaching. There was a certain group of knights that went on a escort mission to the far-reaching woods of Far-flung. And they have become ridiculously strong in the past week, continuously fighting monsters They were gleefully observing the bandits, with eyes like those of bloodthirsty beasts, and working out a plan to annihilate them all. And, in that moment, the plan had already been decided. "Zeros-dono. Please get their attention until we manage to surround them all." "Is it okay to be flexible depending on the situation? If it gets dangerous I''ll just kill them all." "What about the hostages? I''d like to help as many as I can." "It''ll depend on the way the opponents come out. I''ll try to play the villain as much as I can." "I''ll leave that to you. Now let''s go, we don''t have much time." The lead role was to be undertaken by the strongest, Zero. Well, that was the only reasonable option. "Alright, let''s get going, shall we? If you don''t hurry, I will hunt all the prey?" "Please leave our share, I want to clear out my grudge" The grudge over their peaceful time being interrupted runs deep. "We''re talking about humans though." "They may no longer distinguish between humans and monsters. Both of them seem to have become hunted." "How pitiful Don''t die everyone." "I am destruction, no one can stop me now" In just a week, the knights have become absurdly strong. At first, it was supposed to be real combat training for Celestina and Zweit, but it turned into a life and death situation. Their levels have gone up almost three times, and their skill levels have almost gone halfway through. It''s not an exaggeration to say that these knights were at the level of the few elite troops, if not the country''s strongest. It''s a problem that they''re starting to abandon their humanity though In any case, the bandit annihilation operation was, thus, carried out. There were several paths to becoming a bandit. First of all, those who were born to farmers but were driven out of their homes due to conflicts of inheritance. Next off, thugs who were fired because of their problematic personalities and can''t get a job in the city. Lastly, criminals who just switch their line of work to a more ruthless one. These people organize themselves by flocking around those with similar situations, and earn their livelihood by committing crimes. Annoyingly enough, they don''t want to do honest work, they want to earn money by taking from others. For them, it seems ridiculous to earn a living off of their own sweat. In order to think that it''s okay to have fun and money, they mistake thievery as an efficient and safe business. There are rules in most criminal organizations, but education is not a thing for the thugs at the bottom of society, and so, they are judged according to how well they can steal, sell, and perpetrate crimes in general. Beasts were still better, they could only feel pleasure besides living. (*T.N: yeah, no clue about that one sentence) Especially when they could have fun playing around with women. A lover, wife, mother, sibling Anger and humiliation, despair and lamentation, sorrow and pleading, raping such women in front of their victims, soaking in pleasure, an incredible feeling. And then, the women are sold to slave traders, who in turn, sell them to unscrupulous merchants they are adquantenced with, for them to finally sell these slaves under the table. When money goes in, these thugs would go to taverns and brothels to play around until they ran out of cash and then, committing another crime to repeat the cycle. However, whether it''s in the shadows or in broad daylight, the jobs might not go well. They were lucky today, but tomorrow could be the worse day of their lives. Now, in front of them, there are women who exposed their bare skin in order to save their family members and lovers. f.u.c.king such women the bandits can''t hide the joyous smiles creeping on their faces. Up until now, that is "Excuse me, I''m a bit lost, What is this place?" "Eh?" Turning around, the bandit sees a shabby-looking magician standing in front of him. "Well, I strayed off the highway and wandered through the forest for about a month, so I''d like you to tell me where the nearest town is." "Oi, Who do you think we are? Do you understand the situation you''re in?" "Ehh, I''m the man in charge, Do you understand now? We''re not helping you out, buddy." It wasn''t a problem in itself that the person in front of the bandit was a magician, but this magician was just too shabby. A middle-aged man with a discoloured, dirty-looking robe. Unshaved, messy stubble, unkempt hair grown too long almost completely covering his eyes. And yet, he exuded the presence of a respectable and powerful magician. (A grey robe? His ability seems the real deal though.) The leader judged Zeros to be dangerous and sent a signal to his subordinates. "Oi, can you look at these guys and say that again?" "Ehhh, well there are some fine women around here. If possible, I''d like to keep one for myself, as an experiment material, of course." Given that they''re bandits, they rape and abuse women until they''re broken, but they don''t kill them because they can still be sold as slaves. However, the magician in front of them looked at the naked women and said ''experiment material''. They concluded that he was more dangerous than they thought. "I see so you want to take one with you? You see we''re having fun with these beauties right now." "Is that so, It doesn''t matter as long as they''re alive. I have a lot of things I want to try, after all." They knew dark magicians sometimes experimented on human beings, but they never thought they would ever meet the real thing. These magicians didn''t care about anything except for their research and the results of their magic experiments. Conversely, the bandits thought it was likely that he was going to sell information about them, given that he knew of their location. Magic research is expensive, but even with a small amount of research funds, they can kill many. It''s safer to deal with this here. "Well, you''d be free while we are having fun, right? Come, have a drink." "Oh, that would be great. I haven''t had anything decent, recently. Do you have some good sake?" "Ahh, I got one from some old sly merchant, but I don''t know if it''ll be to your taste." "Kukuku, great. I''m eager to savor some fine sake." There was an outburst of suspicion between the bandits. However, there''s no change in the way they handle the situation. One of the bandits approaches the magician. "Hey, are you busy right now?" "Ah, I''m terribly sorry, I was just in the middle of the fun par." "So you don''t mind right? Were you enjoying yourself? To h.e.l.l with that, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!!" As previously instructed, the bandit slashes Zeros from behind. Except, it was the bandit who died. With a knife piercing deeply into the chest of the thug, a cold smile creeps on the face of the magician. The bandit never even realized what happened. "Oya oya, going to sleep so early? Oops, I guess this would be eternal sleep, right?" *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** "Wha? f.u.c.ker, what did you do!?" *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 19 Ossan, tells the story of his life *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. *This chapter was around 35% longer than the previous ones so far and it gave me more headaches as well, so when i translate the next chapters, if i realize that something in this one totally doesn''t make sense in relation to the future ones, I might retroactively correct some of the translations. *small announcement: First of all, I made a mistake in the way I started counting the chapters. For me, the prologue was chapter 1, for the previous translators it wasn''t, so in actuality, I''m only missing 2 chapters(12 and 13), which I decided to start translating after I read some comments here and on nu saying that the wn is slightly different from the manga. so those are going to be next week''s chapters(I''ll try posting them as soon as I finish them but i can''t promise a specific date). my apologies if you just wanted to read what happens next, but this is for the sake of not having missing chapters. at least, with this one, we conclude the forest excursion arc probably. Zeros and the others, who subjugated the bandits, finally arrived at the riverside where they would have to spend the night at. Celestina and Zweit went to sleep first whilst, Zeros and several knights were keeping watch. Even in a safe area monsters can appear and attack people. Since they returned from the vast forest of Far-flung, their senses have been sharpened enough to be like those of wild beasts, and they would wake up at the slightest sign of danger. The problem was, when the beast that appeared this time was just a wild bear, Why did they look so joyous to be able to hunt prey? Their feral behaviour was quite problematic. Despite being already besides a bonfire, a girl approaches Zero, who was sorting the seeds of the medicinal herbs he had picked up in the forest. It was Iris, who had the same circ.u.mstances as him. She was reincarnated into this otherworld due to the selfishness of the G.o.ddess. "Mister, Do you have a minute?" "I''m sorry, but I''m not a lolicon so I won''t be able to reciprocate your feelings." "That''s not it! What''s with that?" "Ah well, you see, in the past, there was this girl the same age as you that tried to seduce me into dating with compensation* in the city I was living in. When I politely refused, she went ''tch, so this one is no good, huh? Piece of s.h.i.t old man'', and then proceeded to curse at me for a while, so it kinda became a trauma for me. I apologize." (*T.N: Ԯ. Thank you for having a specific word for ''schoolgirl prost.i.tution'', j.a.pan. It took me a while to get it.) "Don''t lump me together with those kinds of people! I wouldn''t do such a thing That happened in our previous world, right?" Iris was treated as a schoolgirl prost.i.tute. As one would expect, she was, naturally, quite indignant about it. "First of all, why did you think I was that kind of girl!? What the h.e.l.l, I can''t believe it!" "If you are dressed in such an attire I believe many would misunderstand, Don''t you reckon?" Iris was wearing a black shirt that dangerously exposed her chest area, a long skirt of the same color, with a deep slit, and a bracelet on one of her arms, that seemed to be a support magic tool with a luxurious design. It''s an outfit that''s perfectly fine for magicians, but it didn''t seem to match with her pet.i.te body. It was clearly supposed to be a s.e.xy outfit, so it was quite vexing for Zeros to see a little girl trying to look older by using such a risqu attire. "Ugh my avatar was supposed to be a tall beauty with a nice body. Then what about you, uncle? You look like a complete beginner so isn''t that suspicious as well?" "That''s the importance of it, it works as camouflage to avoid being recognized, in all manner of ways." "That sounds so shady What do you want me to say, Doesn''t it look like what a mob character, walking around in the city, would wear? Also, the way you''re gradually using more of that stupid overly polite tone is so suspicious Honestly, it''s really weird!" "That''s why it works perfectly, and well, the tone is something like an habit. I got it since the time I was working, and now I only say ''ore''* when I get emotional." (*T.N: ''ore'' as in the manly j.a.panese p.r.o.noun.) Zeros'' tone was corrected when he first started working for the company, and soon after, it became how it is now. However, when a scruffy-looking middle-aged man is talking with that kind of tone, it can''t look like anything but strange. Although it sounded awkward coming from him, Zeros quite liked that manner of speaking. "Heee What kind of job did you have?" "Well, it was mainly related to security systems on the internet. Like building firewalls and tracking crackers with a counter-program for example" "Woah you''re really smart, uncle." " I don''t do dating with compensation, though?" "I already said that''s not it! Don''t say it with such a serious tone!" In his previous world, he worked for a certain company for about seven years. During that time, his life the life of Osako Satoshi was smooth sailing. (*T.N: Osako is his family name, Satoshi, his first name.) He spearheaded several projects, and was one of the major contributors to the company''s profits. Furthermore, in collaboration with well-known overseas companies, he was involved in several nation-wide projects Until a certain incident forced him to leave the company "Still, isn''t that amazing? But, Why did you get fired? That sounds really odd." "Well, hear this. I actually have an older sister and she''s quite the troublesome person. I was living at the company''s dormitory at the time, and. she came to live with me, saying that because we were siblings I should help her out, that sort of reasoning but she stayed for 3 years and wouldn''t leave the place." "Eh? Wasn''t she your older sister? She was an adult, right? Didn''t she work?" "She worked. And then, she quit immediately after getting married, but she divorced him after she used all of his savings" "Haaaa!?" Satoshi''s sister was quite the selfish person. She spent her half of the money from her parents'' inheritance in just two years, and she spent all of her marriage partner''s deposits without permission. Far from just getting a divorced, it was the kind of story that would get the police involved if it would''ve gotten reported, but it didn''t become a big deal because she had previously investigated the fact that her husband was cheating on her, so she used that as leverage against him. Rather than letting herself be unhappy, she''s a sly schemer that drives her opponents to a corner. (*T.N: Not sure about that:षԷ֤ҤҊ¤ǡ֤׷ԑۤɤβʿǤ롣) That elder sister barged, uninvited, into Satoshi''s company dormitory. She lived there for three years without working, only eating rice and watching TV. Since all of the bankbooks were managed by Satoshi, they could be used without fear of her sister using all of their money. Because he didn''t trust his sister from the beginning, his room was tightly guarded, and the bankbooks were put in a safe in the bank. "Woah! What a sister! She''s a complete parasite." "She would randomly order food, and to pay the bill she would barge into my room, under the excuse of ''cleaning it a bit'', in order to take whatever money she could find while completely messing it up." "Did you not try to kick her out? You could''ve called the police or consult with a lawyer" "I would''ve done it, but she''s good at keeping up with appearances. If anything happens, I''d look like the bad guy, so it was useless." A good sister on the outside, a tyrant at home. In any case, she got along with the neighborhood wives, never giving off a bad impression of herself to them. After 3 years living in such a h.e.l.lish place, Satoshi succeeded in forcibly driving her out when he got rea.s.signed to another district for his work. And fortunately, the new dormitory he was designated to, was a men only 2LDK apartment. In addition, his bedroom was also quite narrow, barely enough for one to live alone. He gazes at the distance with an annoyed expression as he remembers the moment he finally got away from his sister "I have no intention of working, and yet, I''m the kind of woman that needs to constantly spend money so remember, in this world, I always win." (*T.N: That was a really confusing sentence to translate, specially the last part, but I think that''s the main idea behind it;ˤ顢Ȥ˚Ƥޤ ) "I don''t think this will be the end of it" And, indeed. It was not the end of it. When he went abroad on a business trip, and, naturally didn''t return to the dormitory for a while, she showed up there and deceived the manager into letting her inside the apartment. She hacked his computer and stole the program that he was developing. (*T.N: I wonder how such a useless woman would be able to hack into a literal cyber security expert''s work computer) And then, she met and even got married to another man. "That man he was one of the top executives of a rival company, and soon after, they announced the stolen software as one of their new products under development!" "Your tone is changing, uncle" Naturally, a patent application had already been filled, and so, both companies went to court. Although Satoshi''s company won because of that single, irrefutable, piece of evidence, he was still fired from his job. All due to his troublesome elder sister. The rival company''s executive, who was also her sister''s husband at the time, was made to take responsibility for the incident, and was fired as well. It was a nightmare-like event, in which, no one ended up profiting from. Satoshi then bought some land on the countryside, and started a secluded farming lifestyle. He had always enjoyed playing videogames, and adding that to his new slow life, made him surprisingly comfortable. His older sister, who knew he retired to the countryside, wouldn''t even come close to him. Probably because she thought it would be impossible to adapt to a farmer''s lifestyle. "Well, why am I even talking about this, right? By the way, are you going to change your equipment now?" "I don''t have anything else I can wear right now, I do have some materials but" "Ahh, are you the kind of person that sells their old equipment first? If you leave it to me, I can strengthen it." "In any case, it''s supposed to be a s.e.xy outfit so you can''t. It doesn''t suit me now." "So you were trying to make some money as a mercenary to buy new equipment first?" After mixing in some silly talk, Zeros had a rough understanding of Iris'' situation. She was a player who enjoyed the game quite a lot, and probably had the type of personality that makes her draw into her own sh.e.l.l. Very curious, but lacking awareness of potentially dangerous situations. The relationship with her family couldn''t be said to be the best, but it also wasn''t bad. It was a very ordinary family. She had a considerably small social circle, even after reincarnating. That was how Zeros evaluated Iris, and he seemed to be almost entirely correct. "What do you do for a living, uncle?" "I''m teaching magic to a n.o.bleman''s children, but I''ll most likely be unemployed soon." "N-n.o.bles How did you managed to get acquainted with such powerful people!? And in less than a month!" "I just helped them when they were attacked by bandits, though?" "But you can''t normally talk to n.o.bles, right? That''s how it is in Ran.o.be, at least." Even in this world, there''s a large gap between the n.o.bility and the commoners. n.o.bles are the ones with status and power, and also the ones who run the country. Normally, it would be an honor to be able to talk to one. Iris couldn''t believe he wasn''t just arrogantly looked down upon. "In your first time meeting with someone, half of your words have to be your true intentions, 20% lies, and the remaining 30%, to probe the other person''s intentions and feelings. With that, you can manage to extract information from the nuances in their words, and the other party''s feelings are explored by saying the things, you believe, they''re more likely to respond, at the right times, and then, finally connecting the full story by differentiating truths from lies. Those are the basics of the art of negotiation, right? After that, I just need to be able to get through with my skills." "Shady!! That''s so shady, uncle!" "It''s hard to win the trust of the other party during your first time meeting, but you still have to do your best by talking, and if you do get their trust, the most important thing is to not betray it." "Isn''t that what con-artists do? Sounds pretty shady to me" "Conversation is important to gain other people''s trust. The key to winning it, is how much of a great first impression you can make onto the other party. A n.o.ble is like a company executive or a politician in the first place, right? I''ve done it so many times that I''m used to it." When having business negotiations abroad, it was very important to make a good first impression while talking with the other party, and be able to win their trust. That would lead to new business opportunities, and if you succeed, the rewards will be great. Zeros, who has experienced that many times, is currently working within the framework of a private tutor. Though, he will be unemployed after a couple of weeks "Wouldn''t it be possible to be one of the country''s great persons if you try?" "I have no desire to, it''s annoying. I want to take care of the fields and live leisurely." "What a waste of talent" "Everyone chooses the way they want to live their lives. I don''t want to change mine just because others say so." In terms of his personality, he doesn''t feel like being in an important spot in the country''s government apparatus. He just wants enough money to live leisurely, and the power struggle of the n.o.bles who are in charge of the country''s internal affairs is fierce. Currently, most of this world''s war potential is due to the contributions of the combat profession of knights. Although the social status of a magician would only be high in a magic State(*T.N: I think the narrator is talking in general about States where that political system exists, not a country in specific; ), they''re currently clinging onto power, and don''t understand the nuances in tactics meant for real battles. Up until now, the Solistair Magic Kingdom has never been involved in any major war, and for some reason, the chain of command of the military has been divided into two; with the magicians and the knights often acting independently from each other. However, when it comes to battles, they had to fight together, thus, having a divided chain of command proved to be quite inconvenient. When the time to move together comes, the order is transmitted to both divisions, but they try to pull each other''s legs and compete as to which side gets the credit as soon as possible. Of course, there were few direct clashes, but given that they did not trust each other, under the surface sparks flew between them by means of political squabbles and tactics. The magicians also train for combat, but they''ve never experienced a real one, in the truest sense of the word. On the other hand, knights have strengthen their coordination having bandits and monsters as their opponents, and aim for the effective management of their organization. However, their joint operations with the magicians result in failures more often than not, due to the divided chain of command and the constant pulling of each other''s legs. (*T.N: I gave up with that last sentence, at least this makes more sense to me than the raw;ˮʤϵy֤ħʿ⤬ӤϤɤȤʤ ) Even if they receive the same instructions, magicians would often interpret it differently, and move on their own accord, despising the knights, who were engaging in actual battle (mainly bandit subjugations). Of course, that could be useful in a war, but it''s mainly done as hara.s.sment towards the knights. This could be due to the fact that magicians are divided into different factions, each one arguing about who will take the credit and gain the upper hand against the others. There are some magicians that try to fulfill their role seriously, but if you go against your faction, you could easily lose your job, considering that they''re composed of n.o.bles that hold most of the political power in the country. Both the King and the Chivalric Order are overburdened with the internal discord of the Magic Division, but because the leaders of each faction have their hands in the political center, they can''t be carelessly irritated. The country is in turmoil, and far from stopping any time soon, some of the factions are even starting to behave recklessly. "Would you want to serve such a country? I feel like I''d get stabbed in the back eventually." "Is this country okay? I feel like it''s lacking in term of national defenses" "Well, if you can manage to incorporate serious magicians into the knights'' ranks it''ll be a different story, but you''d have to get around all of the factions trying to pull each other''s legs. That sounds impossible, right?" "Serious magicians look pretty adorable in their eyes, huh. Looks like the ongoing hara.s.sment it''s mutual, and would be hard for them to team with each other, specially with the power struggle going on between the magicians'' factions." Creston created his own faction for that purpose, but so far, the situation is not looking good. Above all, there were many magicians that wanted to dedicate themselves exclusively to research, so often, they didn''t want to be involved in military affairs. On the other hand, there were magicians that didn''t want to join Creston''s faction because they were scared of the other factions. Due to that, it was difficult to secure personnel. "I heard there were the Royalist faction, the n.o.bles, and the Knights, right?" "Do they love creating factions that much? I don''t think they''ll be able to run the country in that way." "They seem to have profits in mind, so no one would want to stop each other''s despotic actions towards the people, well there seems to be some fools that try to now and then, but for the most part, is a tacit understanding." Zeros calmly takes out a cigarette from the pouch at his waist, lights it up, and quietly breathes in the white smoke. "Cigarettes aren''t they banned?" "They''re selling them normally, though? This is an irresistible world for smokers, you can treat anything with healing magic." "And with that my image of a fantasy world crumbles down instantly hey, Why do you look so happy about it?" "Even if the price was high, I wouldn''t stop smoking. Have you ever felt the sensation of lighting up a cigarette in the smoking area where the north wind blows through in the cold winter? Well, there''s no roof here but you get the point." "You should stop it! It''s bad for your health and the ones around you." Zeros, cigarette enthusiast. Couldn''t stop smoking even after getting fired. Casually haves a smoke after working on the fields. "It was hard not being able to smoke during the first few days after I arrived to this world." "I wish you could just stop smoking altogether" "When I found a tobacco shop in the city, I, involuntarily, made a Hanagasa Ondo-like dance." (*T.N: traditional song; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanagasa_Ondo) "What even.show it to me!!" "For some reason, those who were watching, left money so I earned a little extra income." "Did you get mistaken as a street performer!? And you even earned money!!" Zeros lets out the cigarette''s smoke and looks at Iris with an expression as if saying ''What even are you talking about?'' "W-What is it?" "Are you going to continue working as a mercenary?" "Of course! There''s nothing as fun as that in this world. Moreover, there are even dungeons, right?" " And miss your marriageable age period? In this world, most people get married when they''re 17, you won''t be able to find a partner after you''re over 20 years old." "Well, I''ll catch a good man by then!" "I see, you''re free to dream" Zeros exhales the cigarette''s smoke in a casual manner. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** What he really wanted to say was ''Do you want to keep putting yourself into these dangerous situations? This is a world where the rule of kill or be killed prevales'', But he stopped himself due to the lack of persuasiveness of his argument, considering he''ll be out of work in a couple of weeks. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 20 Ossan, gets fired up *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. *Changed Alev to Alyx. And, Santor to Santhor. Sounded cooler. *Lastly, In the previous chapters, I translated the name of the Kingdom as Solistair because I a.s.sumed that it was different from Solisthea(the Duke''s name), but it seems it''s the same, which makes me a bit confused. I might be the only one, but It''s obviously weird for a Ducal house to have the same name as the royal family when technically they aren''t part of it, right? I don''t think I''m wrong in this, am I? Chivalric Order headquarters. There, two knights were meeting. One was the Knight Commander of the Order, Marc Vitron, and the other being Alyx Gilbert. "I summoned you to hear more about your report, but this is absurd. Level 154 in such a short amount of time? Just how many times did you almost die" "It is as you read, Sir. We kept fighting monster after monster every day, and managed to survive." "Goblins and Orcs, as well as Ogres, Trolls, Chimeras and Man-Eaters? You''ve done well returning home." "We would''ve been the ones to be eaten if we didn''t defeat them in many ways" Alyx averts his eyes, looking at the distance, for some reason as he says that last part. Though Marc didn''t notice as he is still looking at the report while pondering his words. "On the second day the supplies were stolen and from that moment on, it was a struggle for survival and it seems you could overcome all those hardships." "It''s thanks to my subordinates'' efforts. I couldn''t have make it all that alone." In Far-flung forest it''s not an easy task to procure food, considering most monsters'' meat is inedible; Trolls'' and Chimeras'' being particularly poisonous. In response to Alyx, who answered plainly, Marc couldn''t hide his surprise at the sight of him, due to the change in his appearance, which has become noticeable in these last few days. (Just what kind of experience did you go through Doesn''t he look like a completely different person now?) Alyx seemed to have a different aura around him. While he was thinking about his newfound, overwhelming aura, like that of a wild beast, Marc''s body shivered in both amazement and joy. It was Marc himself who trained and raised him to be a person worthy of calling himself a knight, he felt like how a parent would do when reminiscing about their children''s growth. After returning from being lost in thought, he looked back to the report and let out a ''Bufu!'' sound as he choked in surprise due to what was written A description of the Crazy Ape''s ecology. "Alyx I-Is this some sort of joke?" "No, Sir. It''s the pure truth. That thing that monster was a serious threat to us." "I see if what''s written here is truth then it''s truly horrifying in a different sense, but" "You may not want to believe it. But it''s not something we can look away from forever." The Crazy Ape is a kind of primate-type monster composed of only of females. They compete amongst themselves and the weakest ones turn into males. The problem was that, these genderbent monkeys will then start targeting and attacking males from other species, specially human males. When they fall to the bottom of the social hierarchy and get transformed into males, they often attack human males to display their own superiority, allowing them to return to their original genders. By performing the deed with other males against their wills, they prove their strength, and thus, climb up the social ladder within their group. (*T.N: I think in the previous chapters I translated it as "metamorphic habit" or something like that but it seems it was an euphemism for a.n.a.l rape.) As they live in troops, a social hierarchy is one of the most important things for their survival, and human males are used as a tool to, both, climb to its top, and for breeding. The Crazy Apes don''t have that behavior purely because they''re perverted, it''s closely related to their own survival. The issue was that, for the human males, that behavior was a serious threat in a different sense, though, the Crazy Apes don''t think of such things in the first place, given that it''s an habit cultivated from their struggle to survive after all. "C Crazy, that''s absurd" "That''s not the case, Sir. If it''s a behavior derived to instinctively leave offspring behind, it makes sense. Although, accepting it is a different matter" "Certainly, it can''t be helped that they seek males from other races but, I wonder if there are people who had been victims to them already" "Probably there are. Desperate mercenaries and bandits I don''t even want to think about it." Villagers and travelers that had suddenly disappeared, there would be no end to it if one started making a list. In addition, it''s also hard to tell because they move around in the forest from place to place without settling down somewhere in particular, and possess quite the strength compared to humans. There''s no doubt that a regular mercenary would only fall victim to them in a pitiful manner. "I''ll send a warning to the Mercenary Guild. Hopefully, no more casualties will arise after this." "That''s reasonable. Even if they fall prey to them, it would be due to their own carelessness." "The white ape fur is a high-cla.s.s prized commodity, but now we have to take into account that they behave just like Goblins and Orcs" There are only a limited number of monsters that use humans, and other species, as breeding tools. These monsters often leave the forest and attack human settlements. Even if they don''t spread the information, it''s likely that mercenaries would fall victims to them, and if knowing that and they still challenge them and get defeated, it will be regarded as their own lack of caution and strength. After all, it''s a monster whose level is over 200, there''s no choice but to fight it at one''s own risk of getting the tables turned on oneself. " In any case, you must be tired after having such a tough time. You can go home and see your wife now." "It''s alright, Sir. That was part of my duty as a knight." "I see. Part of the proceeds from selling the monster materials will be given to you in the near future, I''m sorry about today." "I want to rest for a while, that forest was h.e.l.l" "I see" After Alyx left his office, Marc hunched over on the desk holding his head. "Am I really going to have to explain this? What a headache." Thinking about all the work he would have to do, his heart felt heavy. The Crazy Ape''s ecology was strange to that degree. On a later date, Marc timidly disclosed the information about the monster''s ecology to the Mercenary Guild, but they just laughed it off, resulting in many mercenaries never returning. The price of that White Ape Fur]was that attractive. No matter how absurd the information looked, there were still some people who commendable took it to heart, although, trusting it was a different matter. The mercenaries who didn''t believe in the information would soon regret it. However, in this world, it''s too late by the time you start regretting it. It may sound harsh, but that''s the world mercenaries live in. Where they are always at risk of getting themselves killed with every job, specially if they neglect information gathering. Afterward, the Mercenary Guild would bow down towards him and ask for a search party to be organized, to look for the missing mercenaries, but Marc ignored them. After all, they, who didn''t believe the information given by the Knights, are to blame for their own misfortune Three days later, they arrived at Santhor. As usual, Celestina and Zweit were in the middle of their combat training against Golems. However, the Golems Zeros had created for this occasion were Stone Golems. The two of them had just managed to defeat one, though, while struggling. But for people that had treaded around the boundary between life and death, and had returned in one piece, they seemed to be in excellent condition. Their levels and overall skill had gone up and they are incomparable to what they were a week ago, and their movements give the impression of being more refined and precise. "Hoh, my capabilities have gone up considerably, it''s almost as if I were a different person from before." "It was as I thought, after all. You''ll get stronger once you gain experience in actual combat, you can feel what''s important with your own flesh." "What''s the level of the Stone Golems anyways? The Mud Golems'' movements seem to be slower compared to them." "I tried to keep them at an average of level 100. Their movements don''t vary too much in a prolonged battle, but on the other hand, you have to memorize them to be able to beat them." "Are? kukuku. They''re going to be really reliable in the future and my faction''s influence will grow." Apparently, Creston wants them to join his faction. Taking into account the future of the country, the conflict between the magicians and the knights must be resolved. Nonetheless, with two people who can decipher magic characters, even a small faction like his would rise in influence. Furthermore, given that they''re blood relatives of the royal family, they can''t be carelessly antagonized. "That''s quite the scheme, if I do say so myself, however, there''s no fail-safe way to deal with those fools, am I correct?" "It''ll get the underworld to make a move. There''s an organization at the direct control of the royal family. I''m sure they will be willing to help reform the country." (*T.N: I''m not quite sure about this part, it could be taken either as: there''s an organization with the name ''dark side'' that the royal family will mobilize, or that the underworld is going to move and the royal family controls part of it. We''ll see how it''s played out in the following chapters.) "Is there some sort of guild working behind the scenes? You also can''t trust the ridiculous rumors from the people working at the Royal Palace, can you?" "Hm? The groundwork has already been laid. The textbook you wrote will help with driving them against the wall." "So it''s about the textbook produced by the other factions, isn''t it? It would''ve been much easier to understand if they didn''t tinker with it unnecessarily. I don''t understand why were you using such a makeshift excuse of a magic textbook." "They pretend to do research, but pocket in most of their research funds. They didn''t think we were in dire need of competent magicians, and so, the textbooks gradually got worse instead of improving." "That is an awful vicious cycle, are you sure this country is going to be alright?" Regardless of their ability to handle the domestic affairs of the country, they are nothing but ill-suited to act as the shield of the country in case of war. If another nation decides to invade, they will be the first to get killed on the battlefield. There''s no person who wouldn''t worry about the state of such a country. "Well, we have to do something now so nothing bad happens. Though, I wonder how did we get to this point" "I''d like to know too. Just how things got to become the present situation we have to deal with." Naturally, a magician who l.u.s.ted for power managed to bribe other powerful n.o.bles. If one person makes a mistake, they would have two options: either to denounce their wrongdoings, or to commit other wrongdoings along with them. (There''s going to be a war soon, isn''t it? I''m sorry, but I don''t want to get involved. It sounds extremely troublesome.) When there are people who try to rectify the state of the country, there will be those that will surely try to avoid that to happen. They will take whatever abhorrent measures necessary to protect their own necks. "But well, we''re already making our move. The revised spells are already being put into scrolls and have started selling in this city." "Would selling those cheap and useful magic scrolls break the power-balance between the rest of the factions?" "Hmm, about that, some of the magicians who have been kicked out of their factions, have already started to gather here." The main source of income for magicians is the sell of magic scrolls, and potions made through alchemy. Factions take a 60% cut of that revenue, making it the foundation of their organizations. The current feudal lord, DelSasis, has been selling the magic scrolls optimized by Zeros as a side business. It''s the worse situation for the other factions, which might end up shaking them to the very core. After all, the house of the Duke of Solisthea is one of the country''s richest merchant families, and also a blood relative of the royal family. They were a particularly troublesome family to turn as enemies. "It''s all thanks to you, that magic-erasing spell proved to be quite useful." "Once you learn the magic, having magic scrolls is just a hindrance. If you sell them, even after taking into account the cost of the magic paper, you will surely end up profiting at the end of the day." "Though, some of the proceeds will go to you, isn''t that right?" "Life gets easier if you possess some money." "The territory is already under development, but are you already starting to build the foundations of your house? Your magic, Gaia Control]is truly excellent." Having found out about the magic Zeros used in the orphanage, Creston asked if he would be willing to sell it. Although, he didn''t have the intention of carelessly spreading dangerous magics, by limiting the way to use it, he succeeded in averting away the eyes of people interested in using it for more nefarious purposes. And now, it has become popular amongst the farmers. Digging a hole, hardening the surrounding soil solidifying it into rock, digging up ditches, or in other words, everything under the umbrella of civil engineering, in hopes that no one would try using it as an attack magic. In addition, even if the spell itself spreads, the magic formula itself will disappear from the scroll once it''s used, so there''s no risk of it leaking to a third party. It may be eventually bought by a magician, but there''s no need for an earth magician to learn this spell in the first place. Due to that, the magicGaia Control]was beginning to be widely circulated among the general public. Because most of the people who go out of their way to learn this spell have low mana capacity, they''re not much of a threat, at least right now, for the magicians and knights who are accustomed to living in peaceful times. In addition, because it appears to only be used for farming, it''s considered, in their eyes, to be a beginner''s spell. "Rather than that, let''s focus on their training, if you will. Your opinion, Creston-san, who has actual combat experience, should be beneficial to the two of them. After all, if they only get my feedback, the knowledge they obtain might be biased." "Umu. I might be a senile old man, but I can still be useful, although I''m glad to say that there''s not much to point out. At any rate, I''m overjoyed to be blessed with such talented grandchildren." In his mind Zeros thought ''It''s not your grandson you''re talking about, right? It''s obviously your cute granddaughter!''. He had a lot more things he wanted to say, but he decided to turn his eyes once again to the two people that were in the midst of their training. "Still it always attacks in that same way, but its defense is still tough to break through." "It''s troublesome, isn''t it? It''s a relief that they don''t move too fast, but" "Instead, it does that" Stone Golems defend and protect the surrounding Golems while the Mud Golems attack. A cla.s.sic strategy, yet it was difficult to overcome. Stone Golems, which have a better defense compared to its mud counterparts, can''t be destroyed in a single blow, and above all, it can attack at long range. One of the Stone Golems separates countless small stones from its body and makes them float around in the air. "Here it comes!" "Tch! Mana Shield]" The floating stones become bullets that are soon fired towards Zweit. He hurriedly deploys a magic barrier to protect himself against the Golem''s attack. "Stone Shot. We would''ve been in trouble if that hit us." "Ahh it''s easy to predict because the stones float for a while before being launched, though, the attack range is quite wide." "Even if it hits a Mud Golem, nothing would happen since it''s just rocks. .h.i.tting mud." "There''s no choice but to destroy the core after all so annoying." There are two types of Mud Golems, and the combination of the regular Mud Golem''s direct attacks, the more sly and underhanded nimbler Mud Golem''s attacks, in addition to the Stone Golems which are completely defense-focus, their formation is like an iron wall. A Golem can''t be defeated unless their core is destroyed, but it''s an extremely troublesome task. Moreover, if the core only gets halfway destroyed, it can generate itself again. Celestina''s and Zweit''s levels have increased considerably after returning from Far-flung forest, but at the same time, the training''s difficulty has risen as well. "Adding the fast-moving Golems into the mix, it makes it almost impossible." "That''s right. But that just means that we can try over and over until we manage to get it right." "Indeed. Let''s get to it then!" "Ohhh, let''s go!!!" ""Silver G.o.d''s Wall]!!"" They deployed Silver G.o.d''s Wall]. As long as the user continues to supply mana to it, the barrier''s shape can expand and be changed freely. In order to eliminate the surrounding Golems, Celestina''s barrier took the shape of countless thorns that spring forward with great momentum. Zweit transforms his into a large sword, with which, he mows down the enemies around him. Against Stone Golems, a drawn-out battle is only exhausting, so they decided to make a bold move and destroy the Golem commanding the surrounding enemies. "Shield Bash!" "Blade Slash!" (*T.N: they were written in katakana, but they still sound kinda lame. dunno if you guys have any name suggestions.) They have activated their martial arts skills and used them on top of the silver shield to boldly destroy their opponents. Celestina''s relentless a.s.sault caused the Mud Golems to stop dead on their tracks, failing to reach Zweit. In addition, by combining their attacks with their martial arts skills, the power will be doubled. The combat training would end once they manage to defeat the commander-type Golem, which was an enormous Stone Golem, bigger than the rest. It''s a difficult task to beat them in a single strike, but if they succeed in destroying the core, they would win. They tried to find a way out with a short and reckless a.s.sault. The idea itself was good but DDD Goooooooooooooooh! DDDD Zudon! The leader, the Stone Golem commander, raises both of its arms and proceeds to slam them against the ground with all the strength it could muster. As soon as its arms make contact with the ground, the pressure wave generated by the impact shakes the earth, disturbing Zweit''s and Celestina''s posture. "Wha!?Earthquake]!?" "It''s not the moment to ask about that!!" Natural-born Golem-type monsters don''t often attack with magic. After all, if they consume too much mana, they will return to being inanimate matter. But, that doesn''t mean they can''t use magic. When it feels threatened enough, it will attack just like this particular Stone Golem did, shaking the ground and smashing the enemies after their stances have been broken. Incidentally, the Golem commander had Mud Golems as its underlings, and when it slammed its arms against the ground, shaking the earth, its subordinates immediately collapsed due to the force of the impact, crawling around like slimes and encircling the two youths. As a result, their bold attack strategy was successfully countered, and they ended up covered in mud from head to toe. "Un, it was definitely too early to make a move like that. You don''t always have your opponents openly showing you their hand, after all, wouldn''t you agree?" "But, it''s a great way to train. I''m looking forward to train like this more often." "Although, it''s frustrating ahhh, I wanna try again." "But, that Earthquake back there you really can''t underestimate Golems." *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** "Well, these Golems can''t compare to the ones in Far-flung, after all. Because of the large amount of sand and sediments, the one I fought, blew away a large part of the surroundings in the forest with its Earthquake, ahhh how nostalgic." *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 21 Ossan, proceeds to build his house *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. *Fair warning that this is a really slow chapter, not much happens in this one. It still has its moments but you won''t miss anything if you skim through it. *also I think I''ve put a lot more TL notes than usual, but it''s just that I picked up on a lot more references in this chapter in particular, which is probably why it took me so long to translate. This morning, Zeros went to the feudal lord''s residence to meet with the current Duke, DelSasis. The gazes of the d.u.c.h.esses were piercing deeply into Zeros, but he didn''t seem to mind. Saying anything more than what''s necessary will be adding fuel to the fire. Currently, Zeros is taking full advantage of his past life''s experience, and is on full salesman mode. "You, what is your name?" "Me? My name is Zeros Merlin, just a humble magician." (*T.N: he uses "watashi" here, a formal p.r.o.noun.) "Hohoho, you seem to know your manners despite those shabby rags you''re wearing." "I''m just fond of them." For some reason, the two madams seemed to be evaluating him. He asks DelSasis for help with his eyes, but he looked like he was enduring a headache ma.s.saging the spot between his brows with a finger. "By the way, Your Grace, Duke DelSasis, may I inquire about the reason I have been summoned today?" "Umu, do you remember the talk about giving you a plot of land?" "Yes, it''s been often in the corner of my mind, specially these last few days. At this point, I was feeling like I''ve been lodging in an expensive inn." "You mean ''just borrowing the place'', right? Oh well, I''ve said too much." "I have no idea how Your Grace knows about that, but anyway, I''m here to receive the t.i.tle deed of the property, am I correct?" "That''s right, let''s leave the long talk for another time. I want to wrap this up quickly, I''m planning on going out for a stroll with my wives after this." Zeros had heard before that they were on bad terms with each other, but it seemed it wasn''t like that. They were happily talking about where to go, like old friends. "How shrewd" "Well, let''s leave it at that this is the t.i.tle deed of the property. The ownership rights will be transferred to you once you sign this doc.u.ment here with your name." "It''s certainly the plot of land behind the orphanage, in the old town" "There are, indeed, some security concerns, but you should be able to handle any troublesome individuals, am I correct?" "It''s hard to hold back enough so they don''t die Woah, is the house under construction already?" There were some plans on the table that Zeros hadn''t seen before, from which he saw what the layout of the house was going to be like. " Is this part here really alright?" "What part?" "It says the house is expected to be finished two weeks from now. Is it really that easy to build a house?" "Well, these dwarf carpenters are madmen." "And, who are these dwarves exactly?" Apparently, they were a local group of expert craftsmen, who take pride in their work and claimed being able to finish anything they set out to make. And that''s not the only compromise they make. It seems like, in the past, they committed a small blunder during the planning of a building, overlooking the existence of a giant tree in the property, which, they then proceeded to strike down with their bare fists.(*T.N: kanji reads Iron Fist(Tekken), maybe it''s a special technique or smt.) Incidentally, there was no leniency from the client, and so, the one who made the mistake in the making of the design was mercilessly beaten up in the mounting position. "That''s how it is. Sometimes, they abruptly decide to change the design of a building when it''s already halfway finished, because it didn''t suit their fancy." "Never make a craftsman cry. Such a client will only see h.e.l.l." "What are you saying, aren''t they just making what they want to build? These dwarves" "Nevertheless, I''ll trust their abilities. I''m sure they will manage to get the job done in time." "I see I have faith in their skills as well." He felt like there was something wrong in the way he said it, but Zeros didn''t voice out his doubts. "I''ll be glad if you could have a look in advance and tell me your opinion about it, as I thought I''m anxious about leaving everything to those guys." "I don''t see any problems with the house itself. Bath, toilet I feel like there aren''t many rooms, but I don''t see any issues." "Is that so?" "It would be nice to have a storage room instead of a bas.e.m.e.nt but, in all honesty, my budget is a bit" "Don''t worry about money, this is repayment for the Wyverns'' magic stones, after all. You don''t have to hold back, but you should tell them about the bas.e.m.e.nt directly yourself." " Why, what''s wrong?" "I might get beaten up if I tell them" "Eh? Beaten up? Are they really that violent?" They are a group that look like they''re quite difficult to deal with. Rather than being trustworthy artisans, the impression they give as that of those who use their occupation as an excuse to do whatever they please, akin to the individuals who derive pleasure in seeing other people''s reactions to their crimes*. (*T.N: Yukaihan, ) Truth be told, Zeros didn''t want to go to such a place. "Isn''t it the house you will be living in? Wouldn''t it be strange not to give your own thoughts about it?" "That might be true, but I don''t want to get involved with shady people." "I understand how you feel, but if you don''t go, they''ll come to beat you up, y''know? In a gang." "Do they like blood that much!? Are they really craftsmen!?" Heaving a long sigh in exasperation, Zeros stands up to leave the room. It seemed like he would have to go to inspect the place whether he wanted or not. While thinking of such things, the two madams call out to Zeros. "Hey, I heard you were single, but are you not planning to get married?" "Right now, I''m worried about securing a place to live. I will think about marriage once my life is more stable." "Is that so? Then, why don''t you take that good-for-nothing from our family? Frankly, she''s not suited to be part of this Duke''s household." "Good-for-nothing? Are you referring to Celestinsama? A commoner like myself?" "Since she can''t use magic, she''s useless even for a political marriage. Even so, we can''t just have her loiter around here forever, wouldn''t you agree?" DelSasis'' wives still believed that Celestina couldn''t use magic. But in actuality, she''s strong enough to be called a high-ranked magician. The two, who didn''t have a clue about it, seemed to be focused on how to dispose of such an unwelcome person. "I appreciate the offer, but I will have to decline. I don''t want to get killed by Creston-sama, after all. Well then I wouldn''t want to keep disturbing your leisure time with your wives, so I will excuse myself now. Have a nice day." Zeros plays it safe with some noncommittal words, bows his head in reverence and quickly leaves the place. He left the room walking with a calm gait, though he didn''t want to get involved with this n.o.ble family''s problems any longer. "He easily dodged the topic, huh." "Hmm, well he wanted some land, so I thought he would be more ambitious" "A person without any ambitions, I don''t think he''s trustworthy." "What is father-in-law thinking, bringing in such a shady magician?" The two women were not aware of Zeros'' real competence as a magician. And after speculating that much, they decided to ask their husband, DelSasis, about him. But he had no intentions of answering his wives'' questions. After all, he didn''t want to make a Great Sage into an enemy. "He is an excellent individual. But rather than that, are you ready to go?" "Yes, let''s enjoy ourselves today, my dear husband." "That''s right. Where are you taking us today? I''m looking forward to it." With just a word from DelSasis, they quickly forgot about Zeros. It seems like this lord is quite loved by his wives. He has the mouth of a lawyer, the heart of a swindler, and the quick feet of a scoundrel. He''s not your run-of-the-mill philanderer. DelSasis, uselessly overflowing with the spirit of a true dandy, is a master of the art of playing around with women. A man among men who doesn''t forget about providing the crucial after-sales service*. (*T.N: this is a bit of a tricky one.ե`[after-care], in this context it''d be after-sales service, a management term that basically means ''to make the costumers happy with their purchase, so they spread good word about your product'', and well, you see the innuendo here. ) Zeros walks through the city of Santhor. He heads towards the construction site at the back of the orphanage, which is now his own property. There wasn''t any construction work two weeks ago, around the time of the Mandrakes'' harvest. However, when he arrived to what should''ve been an empty lot, there were a lot of dwarves working hard in building his house. "Boss! Where is this pillar attached to!?" "Haaa!? There''s a number written on it! Can''t you f.u.c.king see!?" "It''s gone. Did someone spill water on it or something? How many are like this?" "Who''s the idiot that had lunch on the building materials!? There''s tea all over the d.a.m.n place!" "It was him!" "Ah! You fool! How dare you betray me!?" There seemed to be some kind of commotion going on, and Zeros is just standing there with his mouth open as he stares dumbfounded at the scene unfolding before his eyes. "Byrle, I hope you''re ready" "Wait, Daryl is guilty too! If you''re gonna beat me, beat his a.s.s as well!" "Oi! Why are you selling me out!?" "Ugh, you''re coming down with me in this as well!" "Both of ya, clench your teeth tight!!" There was a booming sound like that of an explosion, followed by the groans of two dwarves, who drop to the ground while holding their heads. "How long are you planning to stay on the ground for!? Get back to work!!" " Heeee." Dwarves were rather st.u.r.dy. Even a heavyweight boxer would likely be knocked out by a punch like that, but they seemed to stand up as if nothing happened, so they were probably awfully tough. In addition, that was the first time Zeros had seen another race besides humans. The dwarf boss notices the stunned Zeros. "Oh, what brings ya here?" "Eh!? Ahh my apologies, I''m Zeros. I''m the one who''s going to live here." "You? The feudal lord was supposed to be our client, though?" "Well, it''s complicated But anyways, are you the one in charge of the construction?" "Ou, I''m the leader of these dwarves, the name is Naguri Monda." In all honesty, Zeros couldn''t distinguish the dwarves apart. They all had a long beard, beer barrel bellies, stout arms and short legs. A typical fantasy race. "Then, Naguri-san. I''ll be in your care." "Yeah yeah. So, whatcha think about the house?" "It''s good. I have no complaints about the balance and the arrangement of the rooms, but" "What? Is there a problem?" "Not really a problem. It''s just that because I am a magician, I''d like to have more of a storage room-like bas.e.m.e.nt. But I guess it would be impossible now that the foundations had been laid." At that moment, Naguri''s eyes flash with a dangerous and sharp glint. "What? Bas.e.m.e.nt storage room?" "No, well, I don''t want to force additional work upon you. The foundation work is already done after all." "What a blunder! Because our client was the Duke, I thought he was going to live there with one of his mistresses." "That man just how many women does he play around with?" "Well, I always see him with a different woman every time. Mostly widows and women going through hard times." DelSasis often has relationships with women that have troublesome circ.u.mstances. One of his most famous anecdotes is about the time when the lover he had at that moment was being targeted by a shady organization, he protected her without making any incessant onslaught, ultimately, thoroughly crushing the organization, without overlooking anything. Moreover, he didn''t borrow the authority of the Duke''s household. He acted on the sidelines only using his connections with different merchants. And, as a result, he''s now known as one of the country''s most influential merchants. Incidentally, all the crushed organizations fell under his umbrella, and they''re now working on legitimate business. "He''s also known as ''The Silent Lord'', he might appear as a frivolous man on the outside, but he''s quite the dangerous guy, y''know?" "I see, but what makes him such a dangerous person?" "Well, his whole raison d''tre is to please women*. He even wrote a book, y''know? ''Dandyism for men. Living one''s life for the sake of pleasing women.''" (*T.N: I think the kanji read something like "woman''s shadow", the kanji for shadow also being an archaism for the female genitals, so that''s probably the implication there.) "What is the Duke doing!? How much money does he even earn from the royalties!? Wait, before that, you''ve read it before!?" "Of course. It''s a best-seller after all, y''know? It''s a man''s bible." "You''re kidding!" He was a feudal lord who goes diagonally above expectations. "Well, leaving the matter with the feudal lord aside, about the bas.e.m.e.nt I wonder ifGaia Control]could handle it." "It could, but you''d need a very precise control, y''know?" "Hm? And how do ya know that?" "Because I''m a magician. So, what should I do? I''m pretty good at this kind of work." "I''m kinda uneasy leaving this to an amateur, but we ain''t very good at magic" Dwarves are fundamentally bad at magic. Although, with a lot of effort, it was possible for them to become magicians, they are a race more suited for manual labor. The magicGaia Control], which could be used for farm work and civil engineering, was highly prized. It was specially useful for doing foundation work and reclamation of woodlands for agricultural production. In addition, it was very compatible with them, so they were quick to buy it from the Solisthea''s Chamber of Commerce. The issue is that it''s not easy to perform operations that require pinpoint precision and control, but by continuously using it, one would eventually learnMagic Manipulation]. But, at the moment, there wasn''t anyone capable of using it amongst the dwarves. "Well, I guess it doesn''t matter if your house breaks down a little, I''m getting paid by the feudal lord after all." "It''s quite an unorthodox plan. The problem is that we have to change the form of the structural foundation, right?" "Well, let''s take a look. Come." Guided by Naguri, Zeros is taken to the construction site where the foundation work has been done. There''s a small open s.p.a.ce that would eventually be the kitchen and living room. Several squared wooden pillars are affixed to the ground as part of the foundation of the floor, though that stage of the construction is not completely finished, making it easier to work with it. "From here we''d have to dig through directly next to the pillars, but I''m worried about the structural integrity. It''s just soil, so the house would collapse eventually, y''know?" "Let''s dig through withGaia Control]and then harden the ground withRock Forming], including the foundations." "There''s a magic like that? First time hearing ''bout it!" "It just compresses the soil and forcibly hardens it into rocks." It''s a magic created mainly to make flower beds and the like, but depending on how it''s used, it''s possible to erect a fort in a short amount of time, so it couldn''t be carelessly spread around. The ability of hastily building a stronghold, could greatly affect the world''s military balance. If an enemy fort suddenly appears one day, where there wasn''t supposed to be anything, it can send the enemy''s chain of command into disarray, just like with Sunomata castle, the ''one night castle''. (*T.N:famous story of a fortress built overnight. ) Civilians are sent to war as engineers to built military bases. If they win, they get a reward, if they lose, they die. Additionally, they could also end up as slaves. Not only knights fight in wars. There are also mercenaries and magicians, but the overwhelming majority of the soldiers are conscripts levied from the populace. Incidentally, criminals are also used as soldiers but mostly just as disposable p.a.w.ns on the front lines. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** For that reason, Zeros doesn''t want to spread his magic too much. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 22 Ossan, unemployed again *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. *I had quite a bit of fun translating this one, didn''t think I''ll finish it so soon. You can expect the next one on Sat.u.r.day probably. *Also, would you guys be interested if I make a discord server to get notified whenever I post a new chapter and stuff? Additionally, it would really help me keep up my motivation if I get messages about it on discord. The comments on here also help a lot, so I appreciate them as well. Today, Zeros was sitting in front of his desk working on something. A complex magic circle was spread out on it. On top of it, a palm-sized metal lump was placed. "Alright, it''s ready. Then, let''s begin." He mutters, speaking to himself. A habit he picked up after his many years of living as a bachelor. He begins to work in the room where there''s no one but himself. By pouring mana into the magic formula, the magic circle glows filled with light, and begins to execute its determined function. The lump of metal floats above the magic circle, and each time Zeros taps on the console panel, it begins to change its shape. What he''s doing is the highest secret technique inAlchemy]. It''s used to process metals in any way the magician wants to without any additional equipment, but it''s a highly advanced and difficult magic, that will fail if you don''t fully understand the process of the thing you''re manufacturing, as well as the technique to construct the magic circle. It''s one of the ultimate magics, and requires a great ability in magic control, magic manipulation, having the knowledge of the smelting process of the metal you''re working with, chemical refining knowledge, and so on. A terminal similar to a computer keyboard unfolds in front of the magic circle, Zeros'' fingertips move rhythmically, swiftly gliding across the keys, as if playing a beautiful melody on the piano. The piece of metal in the center changes its shape accordingly, with every command entered. In the end, he makes two rings and a bracelet. They''re made of mithril, a metal with a high mana conductivity*. (*T.N: ħȤԤȤƤϱ^Ĥ˸ߤRAWs say magic power affinity. I might change it in the future.) Then, they are alloyed with ma.n.a.lite ore, which has a similar nature to mithril, to make up for its lack of strength and so they don''t break apart easily, creating a new long-lasting magic medium. Despite mithril having such a high mana conductivity, it has to undergo this process because it lacks sufficient strength as a metal. Magicians often prefer to use wands to amplify their magic, though, skillful magicians don''t have the need to use wooden wands. The reason behind their use is that plants, more specifically, trees, tend to acc.u.mulate mana more easily, but depending on the type of wood used, the strength and ability to acc.u.mulate mana will differ. Moreover, issues related to the invocation of magic may arise depending on how old the material is. Even magicians with the same level of ability don''t stabilize magic according to their own inherent qualities. The difference in their spells'' power varies depending on the wands'' materials, which is their magic medium. And that, eventually leads to the difference in the ranking of magicians. In fact, even at the Istor Magic Academy, an aristocratic magician will have a wand made of high quality materials, despite their abilities not being much different from the run-of-the-mill magician. As a result, n.o.bles with a high quality wand rise to the top in terms of power, whereas the ordinary magician, who can only afford a cheap wand will always remain at the bottom of the pyramid. Even though, there shouldn''t be any difference in real ability, there''s a disparity in their strength due to the wands they have at hand, and thus, discrimination is born from it. However, a magic medium made out of metal is always stable, and in theory, there''s not much difference in power, except for the natural fragility of wooden wands, in relation with the toughness of metal. It''s also because of it, that it could be said to be more reliable than a wooden wand. It''s tougher and more durable, and with the exception of getting one of inferior quality, there wasn''t a more reliable magic medium. Both metal and wood deteriorate, and eventually, break down. But, in terms of total lifespan, metal is more durable and reliable than a wooden wand. However, the magicians in this world almost exclusively used wooden wands, and few were willing to use a metallic magic medium. Metals were always in high demand, specially in the production of armors and weapons, so their prices were always high and few magicians were likely to buy any. Furthermore, there''s the widespread popular belief that metal repels mana, though, it''s completely baseless. (*T.N: RAWs say something about leaves and root, but I a.s.sume that''s what it meant;ˤδ˽ħ򏎤Ȥ~ʤgӤƤ뤫) In the end, these rumors will not be dispelled and will remain as they are unless concrete evidence is presented about their practicality. However, that didn''t matter to Zeros, given that the person in question didn''t intend to take on that task. "Next is to engrave the magic formula, right? It''s my first time doing it, I''m a bit anxious." Once the shape and ornamentation of the magic medium are decided, the magic formula must be engraved. It enhances its mana efficiency, the power and efficiency of the spell, and, reduces the burden on the caster by a drastic amount, to the point of being almost nonexistent. And, if the burden is reduced, then the magician''s ability and, consequentially, their own strength, will greatly improve. This process is essential in the production of magic tools, and the amount of mana saved serves as a proof of the artisan''s skills. It''s not an exaggeration to say that it''s the determining factor in whether the creation of the magic tool is a success or not. Although, it doesn''t really matter if the magic medium is only going to be used to practice magic. However, Zeros was a production maniac, who would be thoroughly concerned with every little detail in the process of making magic tools. The magic formula disappears from the surface of the bundle of magic paper, and the magic characters then flow onto the created accessories, engraving themselves in them. To give an example, it would be the kind of visual effect when a character in an anime is playing an instrument, and the musical notes are visually represented coming out of it. Nevertheless, the magic formula is definitely being engraved onto the ring and bracelet, leaving a complex pattern on them. Even if the process was interrupted, the magic formula would remain engraved. It''s uncertain how much time had pa.s.sed. However, it''s clear that it''s an awfully grueling work. In fact, sweat is trickling down Zeros'' forehead, and even though he''s fatigued, he continues to hit the magically-made console panel, engraving the lengthy formula into the bracelet and the rings. Though, the work is completed before long. After confirming that the entirety of the magic formula has been engraved, Zeros released the magic circle and heaved a deep sigh. " I struggled more than I thought. It''s a lot more difficult compared to when it was a game." The process in itself isn''t hard, but it takes quite a bit of time and effort to prepare and engrave the magic formula. In the same way, healing and other magic potions can be refined, but in that case, a container such as a vial is required. It''s not possible to create both at the same time. Due to that reason, Zeros reuses the wine bottles he finds here and there as containers for his magic potions. It looks bad from an outsider''s point of view, even if it''s just recycling for the person in question. " Well, I found out I can perform magic refining, but this what do I do with these exactly?" There are two silver rings and a bracelet in front of him. Although they were the products of his magic experiments, Zeros had no use for them. Because he already has the best possible equipment he could get, there was no need to use a magic medium meant for an intermediate magician. He thinks about it for a while, but eventually he decides to put off the issue for now and go to bed. He seemed to be mentally exhausted after the experiment, and so, he falls asleep almost immediately. He often gets really excited and fired up about things he considers to be fascinating at the time, but quickly loses interest in them afterwards. And, after some time, the sleeping breath of a middle-aged man could be heard. His actions seemed to be meaningful, but that couldn''t be further from the truth Celestina and Zweit will return to the dormitory life at the Istor Magic Academy after their holidays are over in a couple of days. They are currently making their preparations for that, though they''re not excited in the least about returning to the Academy. Their vacations lasted two months, and the next one will be the Winter holidays, four months later. Until then, they won''t be able to receive Zeros'' magic lectures, and so, they will return to their monotonous and depressing days. Because of that, their hearts felt heavy. Even so, their level of confidence in Zeros, who teaches them what they really want to know about magic, has risen, and now, they''re even working on the concoction process of magic potions. A field somewhat different from what they initially wanted to specialize in. Zeros said: ''Don''t think you''ll always be prepared for each and every situation. In some cases, you may end up stranded and already had used up all your potions. At that time, if you can make a simple magic potion, it will greatly increase your odds of survival.'' He said such a self-important sounding thing, but inside the mind of the person in question, the moment he said that, was akin to a barren prairie with bunches of rabbits-sans running around. After their usual combat training, a.k.a Crazy* Golem Mania'', they set up in an unused, vacant room and kept staring at the test tubes and breakers. (*T.N: It uses the kanji for depression[] as in concave, sunken and hollow. I realize it would sound kinda weird but I couldn''t find anything that made more sense. I dug up a super obscure meaning of the kanji.) They''re investigating and recording the ideal, most effective, concoction method for magic potions. They test the drug to ascertain its efficacy, record it, and then compound it a second time. The two have improved enough to be able to make lower grade Potions]and Mana Potions]. And, even if they''re sold for less than the market price, they''d still get a reasonable amount of money for them. Due to their way of thinking, the two, these past two months have been doing brutal combat training in the morning, and after that they would seclude themselves, like hikikomoris*, in the makeshift lab, researching different kinds of magic potions. (*T.N: In case you were not aware of the term-> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikikomori) Although, it was different from the way healthy teenage people spent their holidays, during these two months, each day has been rich, fulfilling, and fun. But, they''re almost over, and soon they''ll return to the monotony of their previous routine. "Haaahh" "What''s with the sighs? Well, I get you, but it can''t be helped that we have to return to the Academy, after all." "I know, but I still can''t get around that it''s depressing." "That''s right. Why would we want to go back to that place? There''s so much to research and discover here." "Yeah. I wanted to keep studying the multi-layered formula technique." "When I ask them about something I don''t understand, the teachers at the Academy just say ''figure it out yourself'', and that''s it. I just end up with the same doubt." "The teachers are graduates from the Academy. They only know what they were taught" In the Academy, they teach that each of the 56 magic characters and 10 numbers is represented by one distinct sound, and that they have a meaning on their own, which is, in actuality, not incorrect. However, it''s unknown the exact meaning of the characters, and they can''t seem to a.s.sociate it with any modern writing system either. (*T.N: take the paragraph above with a grain of salt. I''m confident that its broad meaning is not wrong, but I had a lot of trouble trying to translate it.) They have endlessly repeated the method of disa.s.sembling the traditional magic formulas, incorporating back the characters one by one, and checking what effect it has. This doesn''t mean that current day''s magicians are incompetent. The cause of the drastic decrease in the level of the study of magic rests in the Evil G.o.d War, where all the excellent magicians were sent to the battlefield, and it resulted in them being wiped out with a single blow of the Evil G.o.d. Neither the warriors hailed as heroes, nor the sages who accompanied them would''ve been able to seal the Evil G.o.d without the artifact given to them by the G.o.ds. The battle ended at a great cost, and the lack of human resources became a serious problem afterwards. The remaining magicians were only at the level of apprentices, merely youths without much experience. And they, who didn''t get any special training other than the standard curriculum at the time, naturally, couldn''t inherit the original magics of their masters. Well, in reality, there were some talented magicians who survived but were decimated afterwards due to the outbreak of a plague. Its cause was the dead bodies that were left in the battlefield. The epidemic rapidly spread because no one buried the corpses after the battle took place. In need, many magicians became alchemists instead. It was only hundreds of years later that the first movements trying to decipher magic formulas appeared. They had the genuine magic formulas of old, but when they actually started to decipher them, they could only fumble their way through. No one understood the meaning of the magic characters, so naturally, it was an incredibly laborious task. Unfortunately for them, the research never progressed much. Every few years, a war would break out between the countries, and they couldn''t ask for cooperation from them due to the ever increasing strain in the diplomatic relationships with each other. The magics that were successfully completed by chance were powerful, but in the end, they were an imperfect subst.i.tute limited only to a select elite group. Eventually, the situation evolved to the point where only a few could actually use magic, culminating in the birth of the aristocratic magician as it currently is. The families that inherited these powerful original magics, generation after generation, became the protectors of the country and the ancestors of the current n.o.ble houses. The treasure-cla.s.s magic Infernal Dragon Destruction], handed down to the Duke of Solisthea, is one of the magics that had been transmitted in this way. "Our secret heirloom magic seems to be a defective magic, huh?" "It consumes a lot of mana, and places a great burden on the caster. I''m trying to improve the efficiency, but it looks like it will be really difficult." "It''s a problem to solely rely on the caster''s mana capacity. The magic conversion is unsteady, and even though the power is great, you''ll completely run out of mana if you cast it three times, right?" "If you don''t increase the efficiency of mana consumption, you''ll soon fall on the battlefield. It''s not a multi-layered magic formula, and the idea of increasing its efficiency with only one magic circle is a bit" Because it''s a wide range attack magic, the formula is complex and requires a large amount of mana to activate. The problem is that, it consumes a large part of your magic in a single use, effectively rendering you unable to fight in case of an emergency. Due to the fact that the two have actual combat experience now, they''ve realized the flaws in their family''s treasure-cla.s.s heirloom magic during deciphering practice, and they were now working on improving it. Old man Creston gazes merrily at the two youths. Looking at his grandchildren growth makes him immensely happy. (Ahh my cute Tina. She''s gotten so strong in these past two months, I''m really glad Ugh, I think I''m going to cry now However, if she becomes so excellent, some bug will come and try to marry her. My Tina!! Over my dead body! I will send those wild beasts to h.e.l.l with these very hands!! Yes, come. Try to seek an engagement with my cute Tina. I''ll kill you aaaalllll!!) Well, maybe not. No matter where he went, the old man was obsessed with his granddaughter. And he was releasing killing intent for a suitor that hadn''t even appeared yet. "Ah, Creston-san. I''ve completed what you requested the other day." "Hm? Ah! As expected of Lord Zeros. That was fast." "It''s a splendidly wasteful magic, so it was quite troublesome, but I tried to optimize it as much as possible. The burden on the caster should be almost nonexistent." "I''m sorry about that. I would''ve wanted to do it with my own hands, but as the years go by, the memory starts to fail." "But, is that really okay? Showing your treasure-cla.s.s heirloom magic to outsiders?" The two turn around with Zeros'' words. Improving the efficiency of the heirloom magic was the issue they were facing at the moment. Even so, they never thought that their grandfather would ask him to improve it. "With this, the bugs will kukuku" The eyes of such grandfather were terrifying. ""Grandfather!?"" "W-What is it!? Don''t scare me like that, I thought my heart would stop!" "What are you doing!? Showing our family''s heirloom magic to shishou! It''s supposed to be a secret magic, you know!?" "Then, what we''ve been doing" "Isn''t Zeros-dono''s magic leagues apart from ours already? I don''t think it matters much at this point." It''s a magic that''s handed down to the four Archdukes, who protect the Solisthean royal family. It''s not a good thing to show it to others. Seeing Creston easily revealing it to Zeros, the two doubted if he even had any common sense left. "S-Sensei, this magic is really" "I understand. I didn''t get carried away this time and recklessly increased its power. Well, I''m not going to teach it to anyone in the first place. It''s quite the dangerous magic after all" "You what the h.e.l.l are you doing!?" "The increased power this magic is, in a bad sense, constructed with exquisite balance. The incomprehensible magic formula seems to have an important role in the magic''s foundation, for some reason" "W-With this with this I can finally exterminate themfufufu!!?" ""Grandfather!? Who are you going to kill!?"" Zeros has just given a knife to a dangerous person. The old man, who has finished engraving the magic into his mind, has a demented smile on his face. n.o.bles seeking an engagement with his granddaughter is no longer a far-fetched possibility. No, wouldn''t it be like adding more fuel to the fire if it happens? Nevertheless, this old man was willing to kill. "So, is the color of the medicinal herbs changing? Add the magic crystal''s liquid ether and Mandrake''s powder." ""Changing the topic!?"" "I don''t really care about this old man trying to squash some roaches. It''s better to incinerate those bugs sooner rather than later, they''re rotten to the core anyways." "Fufufu, yeah! I''m just cleaning up all the filth hahaha!!" It seems almost as if sparks were coming out of Creston Zeros was clearly irresponsible. To start with, magicians were indifferent to the world, and only cared about their research. Though Zeros seems to have the same disposition. Well, he was feeling a bit guilty now Creston gave the impression that he could go on a world-destroying conflagration* any time now. (*T.N:ٻ [gouka]; It''s apparently some cataclism-like event in Buddhism. I couldn''t find any concrete reference in english, but the point is to sound like it would be a catastrophe of biblical proportions.) For the sake of his beloved granddaughter, he would become a Demon King or even an Evil G.o.d. "It''s better to take it out of the fire early on, right? If you let it boil more time than this, it will be incredibly bitter." " Let''s just forget about that. Here, it''s by the fire." "Grandfather just what are you doing?" He grabs the beaker that has been over the fire with heat-resistant gloves, and places it on the table. The clear yellow liquid starts to turn green as it cools down. "Add the Mandrake powder now" "Ugh, Mandrakes I don''t want to think about it." *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** " I agree." *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 23 Ossan, quickly discovers rice *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. *I know I said I would post this chapter on Sat.u.r.day, but I was a bit busy these past few days, so I didn''t have much time to be on my computer. *Also, I ended up making a discord server either way, so if you want to get notified when I post a new update or ask me when tf am I posting, please join -> The subtle smell of soil stimulates the nose. The earthworms coming out every time the field is ploughed, are a sign of how rich and healthy the land is. These small creatures inhabit the fertile field, using its impurities as nourishment, further enriching the land. Though they can be used to remove the impurities from the soil, but it''s troublesome, thinking about the work it required to breathe out the fields, he decided to focus on making the ridges and furrows first. Resting the hoe against the recently flattened field, thinking about what kind of crop to sow first, A smile spontaneously appears on his face. "How much humus do I need to collect from the forest, aside from the compost the others are making? I don''t think it''ll be a big deal, I don''t leave enough leftovers for that, besides, there are only five children in the orphanage, so it''s not like I can gather much from there anyways. And, I haven''t even introduced myself to the neighbors. Asking them is out of the question hmmm?" After mumbling that, the middle-aged man with an average build, messy stubble on his chin, and bangs long enough to cover his eyes, puts a cigarette in his mouth and lights it up. To start with, he was a pitiful uncle, who reincarnated into this world due to the carelessness of the G.o.ds, but, on the other hand, he''s also a Great Sage, the job that stands at the pinnacle of all magicians. His name is Zeros Merlin, though, in his former world, he was Osako Satoshi. Truly an unappealing uncle who finds enjoyable grooming himself as little as possible, just to look like some fishy hiki-neet. Just a few days ago, he was a tutor, teaching magic to the son and daughter of the Duke, though he is now unemployed. "I have money, but it looks bad to be unemployed I have the rights to the magic textbook I wrote, and the money I earned working as a tutor, but there''s no way I can proudly say that I''m not going to get a job anymore just because of it There shouldn''t be any problems if I wanted to be self-indulgent, and live my life that way, but then, it wouldn''t be so different from my previous world. And more importantly, why would anyone choose to marry me when my occupation is ''unemployed''? Imagine if I had a child, and they ask me ''dad, what kind of job is unemployed?'', I''d seriously want to die." One could say that he''s a farmer, but in the first place, that is just one of his several hobbies, so he doesn''t consider that to be his profession. Naturally, there are peasants in this world, and they live a similar lifestyle to him, earning a living with a variety of different jobs aside from farming. However, Zeros is slightly out of touch regarding the troubles the people of this world face. Farming is merely an interest of him, so he''s reluctant to call himself one. His strength as a magician is undoubtedly as high as it can get, but that isn''t something he feels proud about, because it was a power given to him by the G.o.ddess. On the other hand, he''s a college graduate, though he doesn''t intend to use his cheat knowledge either. He had the mentality of ''one only needs enough money to live leisurely'', so he couldn''t bring himself to spend all that money he made during these two months. To put it bluntly, he had an incomprehensible fixation with avoiding troublesome things, and also had the inclination of doing things in extreme ways to avoid them. He was just a timid person, that tended to avoid taking the initiative, even though he has the strength to stand above others. Becoming a private tutor was just him going along with the flow. He was just a salary-man, trying to make use of his vast knowledge of the game to make a living, when it became reality. He thought he could survive in this world, with the unshakable impetus cultivated from pulling off countless all-nighters when he was working at the company. But, in actuality, he was quite afraid of what kind of influence he would have on his two young pupils. He tended to be a bit emotionally unstable sometimes. He probably needs counseling or to go to the church. "Let''s see the seeds I got s.e.xy Daikon*, Metabolic Turnip*, which are root vegetables, Maximum Spinach, and Booster Lettuce What do maximum and booster even mean? Moreover, Who named them like that? What the h.e.l.l is with that naming sense? Truly what a mystery." (*T.N: Daikon is a white raddish; ᥿ܥ[metabokabu]: this might be a reference of sort, when I googled it I just got pictures of a Honda bike, and then I realized that kabu means turnip but it was written in katakana, though I have no idea if ''metabo'' is supposed to mean something else.) Zeros was interested in the strangest of things. His long life as a hikikomori has twisted his personality in a strange direction. Well, the person in question didn''t seem to be aware of it, so it''s probably alright "With a place this big, I''d like to keep a couple of chickens. It might be a good idea to find out where they sell them." He''s making plans for his slow life in his new home, and considering what he should do in the future. Tamago kake gohan was one of his favorite dish. For the sake of that, chickens were absolutely indispensable, so it was one of the obstacles he had to overcome. (*T.N: tamago kake gohan, or raw egg over rice, it''s exactly as its name says. Cooked rice, with a raw egg and dressed with soy sauce, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamago_kake_gohan) (Is there rice in this country? I''ve only seen wheat being sold) The lack of soy sauce was also a big problem to him. (Jack Bean, this looks like a type of legume. Isn''t it like a soybean? Or a mung bean*? It kind of looks like an adzuki bean* as well.) (*T.N:mung bean, a green bean commonly used in asian cuisine; adzuki bean, similar type of bean, but red.) It''s a brown-ish bean seed, but Zeros can''t tell exactly what type of bean it is. Appraisal only showed: ''A very ordinary type of bean widely eaten in this world.'' The appraisal skill could be extremely whimsical at times. It provides necessary information, so it''s extremely convenient, but occasionally it only gives a very short comment. It''s not clear whether it has emotions, or even if it''s sentient, but rarely, it gives one word descriptions, like ''Dish'', ''Stone'', or ''Magic stone''. Almost as if there were someone in charge of writing them, but the messages they send depend on the mood they had that day. (Is it saying ''You shouldn''t rely on appraisal''? This thing is really hard to please.) While he ponders about such things, resting his chin on the handle of the hoe, and smoking a cigarette, a group of dwarves comes to Zeros'' new home. They are the craftsmen of ''Hanba Constructions'', who undertook the request to build his house. Their extensive range of different jobs varied, from construction of common houses to castles, as well as, from road maintenance to furniture making. Most of the important projects go directly to them. They are widely trusted due to their credibility. Around 20% of their personnel are made up of dwarf craftsmen, and they are well trusted in the Craftsman''s Guild. After all, they did most of the handicrafts by themselves, and the entirety of the artisans registering at the guild were their disciples. In a sense, they might be in charge of the guild, but in actuality, they''re a rowdy bunch who doesn''t care about such things other than their own work, so they left all the paperwork to others. On the other hand, it''s thanks to that, that the Craftsman''s Guild has managed to keep its appearance. They are a group of artisans you don''t want to turn into enemies, in a different sense "Yo, Zeros-san. You''re out of work now, aren''t cha?" "Ah, Naguri-san. Thank you for your hard work, I''ll be in your care from now on." "It''s a fine job, you know? This being my line of work, I can tell ya it''s easy. You can do whatever you want!" They take pride in their own work and never allow any compromises. To say nothing of, when they had already done a perfect job with the initial designs, only for them to get changed on a whim afterwards. The responsible will definitely receive the full brunt of a dwarf''s iron fist. After listening carefully to the client''s request in the initial stage before the construction, creating the design, then setting up a meeting to make the final revisions and put the final check in order to start the on-site work, for then to have the design changed on a whim after they had already started with the construction work. There is no shortage of n.o.bles who''ve been turned into punching bags because of that. Most of the complaints and trouble making come from the n.o.bles, followed by merchants. They think having power and money gives them the right to behave arrogantly, but as one would expect from the Hanba Constructions company, they''re not afraid to shake things up. Moreover, they would beat up even the King himself dare he behave like that towards them, all to protect their pride as a craftsman. ''This much is to be expected of any reputable craftsman, right?'' They say such questionable things, but even so, their work is trusted to that extent, that most clients don''t feel the need to change the designs unless there are some extenuating circ.u.mstances. Aside from their personalities, they had a solid track record. Even the royal family couldn''t say anything about it. "Speaking of which, this next job is rather troublesome would you mind giving us a hand?" "I don''t know when it''s the deadline for the project, but it depends on the contents, there are things I can and can''t do." "Actually, we''re going to build a bridge in a certain place, but the terrain is difficult to work with. The river flow is so strong we haven''t been able to lay the foundations yet." "The current, is it? I see, but why me again?" "Your magic is the most reliable way, we still can''t use the spells that well. We can build and maintain roads, but not bridges y''know?." The new spells that are being sold recently, Gaia Control]and Rock Forming], quickly spread from the farming to the construction industry, and Hanba Constructions were quick to adopt it. However, most of their workers were dwarves, so they weren''t skillful at using magic to begin with. It''s incredibly difficult to do the foundation work for a bridge on a river with a strong current. In this world, where there wasn''t any heavy machinery, they would have to put themselves at a major risk by doing it manually. Falling to the river would most likely result in death, and in some cases, the corpse might never be found. Thus, the human hydraulic excavator, Zeros the Great Sage, was immediately chosen for this task. (Isn''t this really sad? I''m in the same category as bucket-wheel excavators and bulldozers.) "Huh? Why are you crying?" "It''s nothing, I just got something in my eye." There are times when he wants to cry, too. What they expect from Zeros is his performance as heavy machinery. The dwarves don''t realize they''re treating him as some high-performance machine, not a human. They''re asking him as if renting an excavator with exceptional performance. Though whether they were aware of it or not, what Zeros does is essentially the same. "So, when do I start?" "We begin next week. We''ll do the rest once you help us with the foundation work." The amount of progress they could make by themselves right now amounts to just to connecting the foundations in the shape of a bridge. Their proficiency in magic wasn''t enough to lay the foundations on the riverbed. Without Zeros, they would have to use magic continuously again and again, so they''ve been earnestly practicing before the actual construction work started in case they couldn''t count on him. Because the job this time was incredibly dangerous, they were seriously trying to improve their abilities. "I understand. I''ll be there next week." "Do you prefer working on the fields rather than in construction?" "Yeah, I''m not planning to take away your jobs, you know? Well, just doing the foundation work could be taken as that." "Ahh that''s right. It was okay to consider ya just an occasional helper, right?" "Yes, if I''m always doing all the work for you then you''ll never get better at magic." Naguri is satisfied with that answer. It''s true that if they have Zeros, they could work more efficiently, but they won''t be able to improve their own skills. That would eventually lead to struggling to do anything without him, and it will be more likely for them to make a mistake in their future jobs. For a craftsman, such a thing isn''t allowed. Since the construction industry is indispensable to people''s lives, they''ve been working diligently without slacking off. They took pride in their creations being the most important place for others. Relying entirely on Zeros would mean abandoning that pride. "We''re all practicing magic together, but we still don''t have the skill." (T.N: skill written in katakana.) "That won''t be effective unless you practice until you collapse. You see, you have to memorize the sensation of running out of mana by doing it repeatedly several times." "Ahh but then it would be too troublesome to carry those guys after they collapse" "You won''t acquire skills unless you exhaust your mana at least once." "So, we gotta know our limits, right? The G.o.ddess sure is harsh." "The G.o.ddess fufufu That G.o.ddess Those guys don''t need such grandiose names ''fiend'' or ''demon'' would be more fitting." Zeros was absolutely sick of hearing about the G.o.ds. He left too many things behind in his original world. And, because the G.o.ds took all of those things away from him, his resentment runs deep. Things such as his stuffed gorilla or his ginj sake, which don''t really seem to matter at first. However, they were very important to Zeros, fueling his resentment even more. What is important really is subjective. "Hey Are ya really right in the head? If you get reported, a simple excuse won''t work, y''know?" "The G.o.ds are the real enemy. I won''t forgive them kukuku" " I dunno what happened, but it wouldn''t be funny if you''re mistaken for a dangerous fella. What if the church tries to kill ya?" "I''ll return their kindness in full, fufufu" The believers of G.o.d were the enemies. "Well, I''m not even gonna ask That aside, it looks like the crops are almost fully grown, are you prepared for the harvest?" "Huh!? No way" "Well, those kinds of vegetables grow incredibly fast. Things like medicinal herbs grow in a few days and can quickly propagate through the fields, y''know?" Vegetables in this world had more vitality than in Earth. A seed could be planted, sprout overnight, and be harvested a couple of weeks later. This is due to the effects of mana, which accelerates and promotes the cellular cycle of plants. Not all living beings get an accelerated growth due to mana, they gradually adapt to their environments by way of diet and physical exercise, though plants, which are directly absorbing the mana from the earth through their roots and through photosynthesis, have a larger gap in growth speed. Moreover, not only the growth rate was extremely fast, but the seeds scattered around and germinated twice as quickly. And, Zeros'' fields were filled with such plants. Incidentally, the cry of the Mandrake is produced once it''s pulled out of the ground and its mana absorption line is severed. It then proceeds to emit a wave of mana to the surroundings, which only affect human beings. The mana wave directly affects the brain producing an auditory hallucination, and thus, registering as a scream. It induces a state of fear to mentally throw the opponent out of balance, though the effects are lessened once you get used to it. Oddly enough, other monsters prey on Mandrakes, but they aren''t affected by said mana wave. The range of emission is wider than one might expect, given that it could be heard even in the area surrounding the orphanage. In addition, it''s useless to use earplugs and the like, because it attacks the brain directly, and the wave can easily go through walls. "Hm, this is truly annoying. I think it would be necessary to rent slaves, right?" "Ahh, in that case it''d be better to just buy one. Renting one is considerably more expensive than buying one directly from a slave dealer." "But if I buy one I would have food and other maintenance expenses" "Don''t worry ''bout it, you''ll easily get money working with us, y''know?" "Wait, are you trying to get me into working for you full-time?" (Tch, he found out huh?) No company would miss out on the chance to get such excellent heavy machinery er, well hiring such a capable person. Dwarves are like several generations old machinery, whereas, Zeros is a state-of-the-art, general purpose, universal type of heavy machinery. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** There''s no way they would let the opportunity slide. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 24 Ossan, goes to an abandoned mine *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. When it comes to going to an abandoned mine, naturally, you''d need a guide, or at least information about the place. Though, Zeros, who was close to being invincible, was looking for the latter. The question now is where to gather information, and there are few places to do so. It''s either at the Mercenary Guild, or at a some back-street''s shady tavern. Since he wasn''t a mercenary, he stopped himself from going to the guild, and instead went to a nearby tavern. In this world, they are establishments that function as restaurants during the day, and later, as bars when the sun goes down. It was currently lunchtime, so many merchants and craftsmen were gathered to have a meal and talk with each other. It was also possible to see merchants conducting business negotiations, and mercenaries bartering different items with one another. Zeros'' image of fantasy taverns was a spot where only shady people gathered, but surprisingly, it was a social gathering place open to everyone. (Hmm Shouldn''t I revise my knowledge of these situations? One shouldn''t believe all the things that appear in light novels, right? This looks just like a bar in the Bronx.) In all honesty, he was scared of going to a tavern. At first glance, he looked aloof and collected, but in reality he was a cowardly old man. If he stayed locked up in his house, there was little chance of running into something troublesome, but he wouldn''t be able to get information and grasp the common sense of the people in this world, which would be unwise considering he had no choice but to live there. There''s bound to be a difference in common sense with his former world, and not having a grasp on it can lead to misunderstandings with people. Business negotiations and information gathering require one to have proper knowledge on it, and it''s not always possible to pretend to be a magician withdrawn from society. After the episode in which he sold magic stones, he had to put more effort into blending with the surroundings. Though, he forgets that he already looks suspicious enough to normal people. (Somehow I feel like I''m being stared at What''s going on? Is a clich light novel event going to happen or something?) When a boorish-looking middle-aged magician, wearing a discolored and shabby gray robe, enters the tavern, all the surrounding gazes gather on him. He got so used to his shady look, that he forgot how sloppy his appearance actually was. Humans are creatures that quickly adapt to their environments, and in this case, the person in question was unconcerned with his appearance. He came to this place for the sake of gathering information, but the matter of his looks got pushed out to the back of his mind, completely forgetting about it, making the surroundings cautious of the unfamiliar and suspicious-looking magician. Because it''s mostly regulars who hang out at such taverns, the appearance of such an uncle will be conspicuous whether the person likes it or not. The shady uncle''s face distorts after receiving the inquisitive eyes from the tavern''s patrons. (Let''s see now, I can''t gather any information if I''m standing here alone, I should get a seat and order something right?) He looks for a free seat, but due to the place being packed, there didn''t seem to be any. Looking around, he sees a familiar figure. A twin-tailed girl dressed in an all black outfit that dangerously exposed her flat chest, which seemed as if she was trying way too hard to look more mature than she actually was, but ending up giving the complete opposite impression. It''s the fellow j.a.panese person he rescued from the bandits a while ago. There seemed to be two other women with her, and so, Zeros thought of getting information from them. "Huh? Mister, it''s been a while *mogu mogu*" "Don''t say h.e.l.lo while you''re eating And it''s been a while, Iris-san. And your friends are?" "I''m Rena. I''m sincerely grateful. Thank you for saving us back then." "Ah, that''s right. I remember you now, Rensan." The woman named Rena seemed to be a mercenary specialized in being a vanguard, wearing a green leather vest, easy-to-move clothes, in addition to the small buckler, and short sword on her waist. Alongside them, there was brown skin, red-haired woman staring at Zeros with sharp eyes. She was equipped with a breastplate over a chain mail armor, and a bit further there was a greatsword leaning against the table. She seemed to have the role of dealing damage as a vanguard. Zeros didn''t overlook the fact that she was taller than the average woman, and most importantly, her considerably bountiful bosom. She looked like a model, and was completely his type. Though if he had to point out an issue, it would be their age difference. "Oi, who''s the old man? Do you know each other?" "Hmm? Yeah. He helped us when we were caught by bandits a while ago." "So shady and somehow I feel like he''s staring at my chest." "Isn''t that the usual? You have quite the figure, Jane. Of course men''s eyes will be glued to it." "But isn''t it the same with you, Rena? How many men have tried to hit on you so far since we''ve been here?" "Well well, I''m only interested in younger boys anyways." It seemed like Rena was apparently a shotacon. "Is it okay to share a seat? The place is so busy there''s nowhere else to seat." "Hm? Yeah, it''s fine, mister. But, didn''t you say you were going to live as a farmer from now on?" "Well, I''m going to the abandoned mine north of the city, but before that I thought I should gather a bit of information at least." "The abandoned mine? Give up, uncle. That place is impossible for a gray robe, you know?" "What about gray robes, does it mean that you''re really strong, mister?" Iris was unaware of the cla.s.sification of magicians in this world, and more specifically, in this country, where the color of their robes signifies their abilities, with gray being the lowest, followed by black, crimson, and finally white. However, Zeros and Iris weren''t from this country, so that common sense didn''t apply to them. She summarizes it to Iris in that way. "Fuun. Then, mister, is it really safe for you to go there?" "Well? I''ve never been there, so I can''t say, but, is it really a dangerous place?" "I often receive escort request from laborers. Things like Goblins, Kobolds, Worms, and Golems are commonplace there. Worms are the most troublesome though." "Fumu. So, it''s possible to mine there, right? Excellent." "Were you even listening to me? The whole place is a giant maze, it''s dangerous to go alone." While hearing Jane''s advice, Zeros takes a bite of the fried chicken-like sandwich he ordered. The meat seemed to have been macerated with different herbs, which was the first thing he tasted, followed by the sweetness of the fat of chicken-like meat, that spreads in his mouth as he chews, mixed together with the subtle flavor of the herbs, in addition to the unique aroma of the hard bread. "I know it will be dangerous, but I really need to get metal right now, so I will go either way." "I don''t know if you''re an over-confident fool or not, but well, it doesn''t matter to me if you die." "We were gonna go there anyways, right? It''s better if we have more fighting potential." "That''s right, didn''t you want to mend your sword, Jane? You said it would be cheaper if you could mine metal ores at the mine, right?" "Uuu you wanna take this old man there?" (*T.N: the word she uses is H[oyaji], which is used to refer to someone else''s father in a casual way, so it''s not really said in a derogatory manner imo.) While looking at Jane, Zeros was thinking that her back must hurt with all that weight on her shoulders. Nevertheless, the shaking of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, springing up as she stands up, somehow fills his heart with a strange sensation. That sensation is the same thing he felt when he first met Luceris, something he never experienced in his former world. Though, it was closer to the feeling you get when you look at nudes on the weekly p.o.r.n mags. (I wonder what is this feeling) He couldn''t understand this mysterious feeling welling up in his chest for the first time since arriving at this world. "Well, if you guide me around you can do as you please, I guess. Are you also looking to get metal?" "Err, yeah that''s right. Jane''s sword is about to break, and she needs iron or black iron to mend it." "What about blazing red iron*? Isn''t it stronger?" (*T.N: ) "You can''t mine it unless you go to the deepest parts. It''s really dangerous because there are a lot of Worms loitering around there." "We don''t have to worry about that because mister will be with us so, why don''t we go together?" Zeros contemplates about her proposal for a little while. He wanted to get metal, but being accompanied by a party of women of marriageable age made him a little embarra.s.sed. However, it will certainly be easier if he goes with them. He didn''t have a problem with going alone, and above all, he wasn''t that over-confident to the extent of carelessly wandering through the unfamiliar pa.s.sages. Mere bandits wouldn''t even pose a problem to him, but from the experience of being constantly chased by monsters in Far-flung forest, he knew that having to protect that many people would be extremely troublesome. "Then, if that''s alright with you, I don''t have a problem. But, it will be completely dark by the time we arrive there, are we camping outside?" "Nah, it''s alright. There''s a village near the mine. It''s called Ahhan village" "Ah, you mean Aaahhnn? village, right? I''ve occasionally escorted some young boys there to level up fufufu" "It''s Ahhan village, you idiot!!" Apparently, the people going there for a different reason, had given the village a new moniker. Silently entering the village accompanied by a beautiful woman. Thinking about that made Zeros'' cheeks loose into a smile. It didn''t seem all that bad. (No way Does she really eat inexperienced young boys starting out as novice mercenaries? Wouldn''t that be a crime? Hmm but it might be another difference in common sense compared to j.a.pan.) *T.N: it''s probably clear enough, but the verb ''to eat'' [ʳ] can be specifically used to refer to having s.e.xual relations with a woman for the first time. He unconsciously started to compare it to what would be a crime in his former world. She seemed to be quite upfront about being a lewd woman, and also had a different modus operandi from a certain feudal lord. Though he kept wondering why that sort of thing wasn''t a crime "Well, whichever way it''s fine. There''s no problem if we stay at an inn, right? I am a man, of course, and if there''s such a charming woman in front of my very own eyes, it wouldn''t be strange if I become a savage beast. That''s why we''ll stay in separate rooms, so you can be at ease." "Me? Charming?" "I''m not interested in kids. That would totally be a crime." "Oh my? Then is it about me, I wonder?" "Sadly, I''m not really into women with such a suspicious way of smiling" (*T.N: not sure about this; äΉЦo؂习ʤΤǤ) That means there''s only one person remaining, Jane, who for some reason, was left stunned, while the gazes of the other two women gathered on her. "C-Charming!? Me!?" "Going by process of elimination, you''re the one left. Were you not aware of it? You''re quite a beauty, you know?" "Aahh!?" With her face dying in crimson, her panicking expression was, quite frankly, really cute. However, Zeros, who didn''t expect such a reaction, had his heart racing like crazy, though he managed to keep eating his sandwich as if nothing happened. Such poker face was a remainder from his time as a salaryman. "T-This uncle, aren''t you quite the smooth-talker!?" "Heee Isn''t that fine? He said you were cute, Jane, you know? You have quite the appeal" "That''s right, apparently he was a bit displeased about me devouring one or two young boys" " Iris aside, Isn''t that a crime, Sena?" (Ah, I knew it. So it was a crime. I doubted my common sense for a second there.) The three women seemed to be quite dense. However, since he didn''t want it to be a big deal, Zeros keeps eating quietly. That''s because, if he stops talking about it, it''s more likely that they would gloss it over as a joke. "No! I don''t wanna go with this uncle anymore!" "It''s better to have a higher fighting potential, so give up." "Is that so? No one is as powerful as mister though. We can go there safely if he''s with us." "N-Noooooo!!!" It seemed like he really wasn''t her type. And being so bluntly rejected gave him quite the shock. In the end, she agreed to go after being persuaded by Iris and Sena. However, for some reason, she keeps glancing cautiously at Zeros. He just complimented her by calling her cute, but somehow he ended up branded as a pick-up artist. After finishing their meal, the group proceeded by foot towards the abandoned mine, though Jane was the only one whining until the end. It''s often said that all travels are pleasant when you are accompanied by friends, but after walking for three hours, no one is speaking a word. The girls who were initially, noisy and lively, were now walking silently down the path. There''s an enormous forest as far as the eye can see, and a road made by clearing the surrounding vegetation and levelling the ground. It''s a half a day trip to Ahhan village, but it''s a considerable distance to travel by foot. For around six hours, they continued to follow the forest road safely, without encountering any monsters on the way. They''re certainly proceeding within schedule, but it would be a boring and tedious experience if they continued like this the rest of the way. Iris, who couldn''t stand the silence any longer, asks a question. "Hey, mister. What are you gonna use the metal you extract from the mine for, are you making new equipment?" *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** "I''m thinking of making some sort of container that dries and stores rice. It''s called a desiccator." *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 25 Everyday life without uncle, part 1 *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.*I HAVE A DISCORD SERVER IN CASE YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN I''M ABOUT TO POST A NEW UPDATE. Istor Magic Academy. A learning inst.i.tution where young people from relatively affluent families gathered. Renowned for its long history, spanning over 300 years since its founding, and boasting of producing many famous magicians, it was the most famous academic inst.i.tution of the Solisthea Magic Kingdom. It''s not an exaggeration to say that it''s an academy city, due to its vast area, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with many magical research inst.i.tutes, and even a town that supports the students'' lives. It was supposed to be a place where a lot of people with the desire to learn congregated, and where ability and academic background were the only entry barriers. But currently, the Academy is under the influence of the many magicians'' factions and their power struggles. It would still be acceptable if it were just a conflict between students, but effectively, it was a proxy war between aristocratic magicians. The n.o.bles who had already graduated from the Academy have no choice but to manipulate their children to raise their influence within the inst.i.tution, and so, the students form factions, defaming and ostracizing those who don''t follow their will. The overwhelming majority of them were magicians of n.o.ble origin, most of them having succeeded their family''s bloodline magic and other kinds of inheritance spells. Though, there were some magicians who were fallen n.o.bles trying to restore their houses to their former glory. Inheritance magics were the spells handed down to the members of a household regardless of how strong they were as magicians, mainly because they were generally useless in battle, so possessing them was merely a sign of having a good relationship with one''s family. Because some of these spells would have strange and random effects, they could be quite the strong research material for a family of magicians. Well, there were some families who''ve changed in a strange direction due to said research On the other hand, bloodline magic is, as its name indicates, magic that is transmitted to the members of a family, and it''s an inborn type of unique magic succeeded from parent to child. These magics may have a wide range of different effects, and the person who inherits them, is often not able to control them. They function at a subconscious level, and the person is able to suddenly invoke the magic without any need to chant. In many ways, it can be an incredibly dangerous magic. Particularly, Charm], Spontaneous Ignition], Foresight], and so on, were all unique magics, but at the same time, they didn''t have great power, and moreover, they were difficult to control. For instance, spontaneous ignition is literally, as its name suggests, the ability to suddenly ignite things on fire, and to produce a small fire with one''s eyes, though it couldn''t be used in actual combat. It was impossible to burn your enemies to death with a single glance. Furthermore, it was an immensely inconvenient ability to live with, when everything you look at catches on fire. In the case of foresight, its predictions could be considered merely fortune-telling, regardless of whether they''re right or not. There were a lot of unique magics like that, but they were often unreliable magics that were considered useless by most people. In one corner of the Academy, where many capable magicians gathered, there was one of the student dormitories, which were decided by their academic ranking. The building itself had an early gothic style, and immediately after entering through the main entrance you were met by a vaulted ceiling, with its distinct characteristic, a pattern of two semi-cylindrical barrels intersecting each other, in other words, a rib vault ceiling*, decorating the whole structure. The rooms where the students lived were located left and right on both sides of the pa.s.sage extending from the facade of the dormitory, followed by a pair of staircases on both ends. (*T.N: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vault_(architecture)#Rib_vault . I couldn''t quite grasp the proper meaning of that paragraph, what the author described is not exactly what a rib vault is, but I have no clue what other thing they might be referring to, though I don''t think it matters that much in the end.) It''s a plainly ornamented building, but to Celestina, it gives her a calm feeling, closer to the one in her grandfather''s villa. Additionally, there are small spires symmetrically placed on both sides of the building, which in the past were mainly used to inflict punishments, though they have not been used much so far. Given that it was an old building, the students who resided there were mostly from merchant and commoner households. The people who saw her, openly expressed their apathy towards her on their expressions. Their impression of Celestina, born to a Ducal house was that she, was ''talented in lacking talent'', ''an incompetent person, only here because of their family''s influence'', ''the teacher''s pet'', and so on. She must be an irritating presence to those who''ve paid the hefty tuition fees, and were desperately doing their best to learn. Naturally, she understood that, and thus, she used to spend all her time holed up in the Academy''s library. On one hand, she felt sorry for them, but on the other, she was desperate to learn magic one way or another. The results were unsatisfactory, but that''s a story for another time. Celestina could now use magic, and if it''s firing one shot at a time, it''s possible for her to do it chantlessly. There''s no need to open your mouth and recite an aria to be able to invoke a spell, the key is how strong is your imagination and how much can it be overlaid with the magic formula. To successfully invoke a spell, the foundation is, first and foremost, the magic formula. And, while chanting is the trigger that activates the spell itself, it only helps to give shape to the magic. One''s own mental image is more important, so when you have a sufficient understanding of magic, chanting becomes unnecessary. For example, when you''re about to shoot your gun, and the enemy was told ''the bullets are loaded into the magazine, the safety was released and the hammer was pulled. Now, let''s shoot!''. Does that sort of thing really need to be said? It''s the same with magic arias. However, the students don''t know the current Celestina. They still think she''s incompetent. "Young lady, please don''t worry too much. They don''t know about how strong you have become." "I know, but just two months ago I used to be in such a place, honestly, it feels really unpleasant." "But your mind and heart have grown at an incredible pace, soon everyone will realize that, you know? And, you will do your best in cla.s.s, isn''t that right, young lady?" "Yes, you''re right, Misuka I''m going to graduate from this academy and become a magician that will live up to sensei''s name!" With an expression full of motivation and determination, she begins to walk resolutely. Shining on Celestina''s right arm is the magic medium made by her mentor, Zeros. Her new day begins. With a newfound determination in her heart and mind, she goes to take her lecture at the Academy, but it seems the status quo won''t change that easily. The same scenery from two months ago is repeated. Eyes full of contempt and apathy are directed towards her. In all honesty, all she wants is to run away, but somehow stops herself and steps into the cla.s.sroom. Additionally, the lecturers at the Academy pretend not to see anything about Celestina''s bullying, not saying anything unnecessary either. The reason is, whenever she asked a question regarding the lesson''s contents, she would confront them by presenting a theory from a different perspective, causing them to be at a loss, not knowing how to answer. For the lecturers, she''s the personification of a demon, and while her att.i.tude of asking about what she doesn''t know is good, for them, it''s extremely troublesome to be asked things they have no clue about. Although she couldn''t use magic herself, being so excellent in everything related to magic theory made her a tough opponent for the lecturers. Her presence was problematic to them, who are supposed to teach magic to their students, hence, they decided to ignore her altogether. Though, from their point of view, Celestina''s talent was terrifying. They thought that, if she only could invoke magic, she would become a magician superior to themselves, so the fact that she couldn''t, above all, hurt their pride. They didn''t want to admit they were inferior to the ''incompetent student''. The lecturers all belong to the different factions, and have the mission of attracting talented people to their own clique. But, what if they''re excellent and more knowledgeable than they themselves, except that they can''t use magic? All what they''ve been doing so far would be meaningless. In the current state of the Academy, belonging to a faction is a symbol of status, thus, such a girl possessing that much knowledge without belonging to any faction, is nothing but an unpleasant fact to them. While the mind of such a lecturer was drifting to somewhere else, Celestina was taking notes of the lesson''s contents on a bundle of papers bound together. There weren''t such convenient things like notebooks in this world. If you don''t buy paper on your own, you have no choice but to use your memory. Due to that, students take the lectures at the Academy seriously. (I checked the contents of this lesson at the library. The lecturer said that preparing before the lesson was crucial, but isn''t it a mistake to think that each individual magic character is a word containing meaning in itself? It''s true what he said about the magic characters forming command words that change the mana accordingly to their respective functions, but, is it alright to keep spreading misinformation about the meanings of the magic characters any longer? Now that the conflicts between the factions are becoming more intense. What should I do?) Currently, there''s nothing for her to learn at the Academy. Because she already understands the true nature of the magic characters and magic formulas, it''s useless for her to take a lecture about those very same topics at this point. However, it would leave a bad taste in her mouth continuing to allow the spreading of misinformation and erroneous teachings. For the sake of all the future magicians, she thought it was necessary to put a stop on said believes. And so she does. "Excuse me, teacher. May I ask a question?" (*T.N: for future reference, she uses the word v[koushi] which means ''lecturer'', but it sounds kinda weird here.) The lecturer, Samus was screaming inside his mind: ''Here it comes! Ahhh!!'' This is the situation he was fearing the most. "What is it, Celestina. Is there something wrong with the lecture''s contents?" "No, it''s just that I''ve been thinking from a while ago that, each of the 56 magic characters and 10 numbers* have a distinct sound, correct? And, each of them have their own meaning. Furthermore, a magic formula is a complex combination of these characters. This is the modern consensus about magic theory. There''s no doubt that that should be the case." (*T.N: I think the author made a typo there, they wrote ''magic characters'' again, when previously it was ''numbers''.) "Y-yes. I-Is there a problem about that?" "It''s a simple question, aren''t the magic characters used to form words, and not words themselves? How useful is to learn this, when the characters themselves don''t have meaning, but it''s a series of characters making up a command word that transforms the mana accordingly to the predetermined function?" Celestina casually said such a shocking remark. It would be better to say that the deciphering of magic formulas was nearly impossible, rather than just claiming it was progressing slowly. Many magicians believed that a magic formula was a series of magic characters, and, in addition, it was some sort of puzzle, which was in the form of a chain made up of said characters, and that somehow invoked magic. However, the meaning itself changes when it comes to forming a string of words. The condition for the invocation of magic is directly related to the words that make up the formula, which materializes the desired phenomenon in accordance to the laws of physics. (*T.N: not sure; ħΰk~Ȥ֤ʹʽγɡ줬ħƤtΤǾ߬F¤ǘʄ߳) But despite that, it was generally taught that the magic characters, linked one by one, caused a chain reaction, that turned mana into a physical phenomenon. If Celestina''s theory is true, then everything they''ve learned so far would be meaningless. Current day spells are created by modifying and optimizing the magic from the Lost Age, but if done poorly, there''s the possibility of transforming a magic that was originally easy to use into one that''s a lot more difficult to use. Actually, Celestina is already able to engrave magic formulas directly into her mind, though the invocation itself is still imperfect. And if this theory is proven, it would be impossible to say whether it would be accepted. Many magicians are desperately working to decipher the magic characters, even to this day, they''ve been repeatedly creating many spells with their own methods, sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail. Taking into account that long history of hardships, those magicians wouldn''t accept Celestina''s theory. They''re all haughty, domineering, and thickheaded at the same time. In other words, it''s impossible for them to put up with her flexible way of thinking. "H-How did you come up with such an intriguing idea?" "As you know, I couldn''t use magic. That''s why I tried to figure out the reason by ama.s.sing a good amount of knowledge, but then I wondered what if, in the first place, current magic was inferior to the old one." "I see that''s not impossible." "All humans possess mana, but why are there so few magicians compared to the past? What if, during the development of the magic deciphering movements, the magic from the Lost Age was altered in the wrong way, and created individual differences in the invocation process? Then, modern magic research would be going in the wrong direction." It''s not completely impossible that the magic of the Lost Age was already completely destroyed by modern magic research. As Celestina said, there''s an extremely limited number of magicians in the present era. According to the academic literature, it''s said that, in the past, most people could use magic, and that it was the foundation of their everyday lives. The teacher finds himself unable to respond because of the persuasiveness of her argument, and, at the same time, he realized an odd implication in her previous words. "Celestina, you said you ''couldn''t use magic'', why in past tense?" "I can use it now. In these past two months, I''ve trained and managed to invoke magic successfully." "Impossible! If that''s really the case how were you able to use magic in such a short period of time?" "I had combat training every day, and in between, I also had magic control practice. And also, I experienced actual combat?" That''s her second shocking remark. If she had such an experience, then, naturally she would level up. And when that happens, her body would begin to optimize itself to efficiently manage its newfound power, which would lead to a considerable increase in physical ability and magic capacity. If one is to believe her words, it would mean she continued to fight until to the point where she was able to use magic. It''s not quite what a normal student would do on their summer vacation. "You seem to have done something quite absurd. There''s a risk that the body will present abnormalities when you level up too fast." "There was no time to think about that when you''re at the brink of death. Because monsters attacked our camp, we had to hunt for food, and we fought continuously for about four days, with only a few hours of rest each day." "There''s no way anyone could survive such a harsh situation!" "I''m here because I did. My brother and a knight squad were with me, you may confirm it with them if you doubt my words." She remembers her experience trying to survive in the vast forest of Far-flung. Because of the dangerous environment they were in, Celestina, along with the knights, inevitably had to be on high alert at all times, and for the sake of satiating their hunger, they had to hunt the monsters wandering around the forest, so their personalities ended up slightly twisted by the end of the training camp as a result. The polite knights turned into ferocious warriors in just a few days, her revered master, Zeros mercilessly mowed down monsters, and her brother, came to realize how fun alchemy was and went crazy. Celestina herself enjoyed raising her levels, and was happily killing monsters left and right. "It''s certainly a place made to break the human heart" "W-Why do your eyes look so dead?" "Current day magicians wouldn''t be able to survive in that forest that place is just too harsh." "Just how many hardships did you go through in that forest!?" "The monsters in the depths of Far-flung are even more fierce. Even I would die if I went there right now." It was an unimaginable situation. The monsters in Far-flung forest grow stronger the deeper you go, the ones wandering around the outer areas can''t even be compared with them. It''s nothing but h.e.l.l to keep fighting in such a place. In addition, only knights were trained enough in close-quarters combat to fight in such situations, and it was impossible for the rest of the factions to carry out that sort of training without them. However, the Chivalric Order and the magicians'' factions were famously antagonizing each other. Neither of them were insane enough to work together with a hostile political faction. Only the magicians from the Solisthea faction would be able to pull off something like that. Cold sweat ran down Samus'' spine. He belongs to the Weissler faction, but the situation would be completely different if the Solisthea faction is conducting such a combat training for their magicians. The Weissler faction, renowned for excelling in battle prowess, would lose relevance, and at the same time, the Solisthea faction will strengthen their ties with the Knight faction. It''s the impossible dream of all magicians'' factions: to seize the control of the military. "Does Solisthea have an experienced combat magician?" "I don''t know about that, but at least I don''t intend to join any other faction. After all, they weren''t the ones that helped me use magic." "Did you get someone''s guidance then? What faction are they in?" "I can only say they''re a friend of my grandfather. I don''t have the authority to make that public." A magician who was able to help Celestina didn''t exist in any faction. Nevertheless, given that she can now use magic, then there must have been someone who taught her. It came to be rumored that there was a powerful magician in the shadows behind the Solisthea faction. If it''s an acquaintance of the notorious ''Magician of the Purgatory'', then it must indeed be quite a strong magician. That fact will create ripples through the Weissler faction, though that''s a story for the future. This other shocking remark greatly affects the surroundings. They were the students who hara.s.sed her and despised her for being ''incompetent''. "Seriously the incompetent can use magic now? What will happen now?" "Hey we totally made a fool of her, didn''t we?" "She''s the Duke''s daughter, right? Isn''t this bad?" *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** "What should I do? I laughed at her before" *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 26 Ossan, unnecessarily meddles. *Apparently the t.i.tle (򟆤), refers to when you''re caring too much about another person to the point where it starts becoming really annoying for them, even when you''re only acting out of goodwill. With a ragged breath, Zeros runs through the forest in the middle of the night. The surroundings are filled with monsters that prey upon each other, the weak being nothing but fodder for the strong. The days of concealing his breath and erasing his presence continue. "Kuh For how long do I have to keep doing this s.h.i.t!? Is there even a way out of this forest?" He returned to his younger self''s way of speaking*, and while he had a severely haggard appearance, his eyes were sharp like a beast''s. (*T.N: he usually talks with a super polite speech, while here he''s speaking casually, though it''s hard to translate his usual tone without sounding too awkward imo.) But, he couldn''t afford to worry about his speech right now. All around him are monsters that attack as soon as they see him, so he has to keep being on high alert even while eating and sleeping, and because of that, the mental fatigue keeps acc.u.mulating. There''s barely even time to rest, as he''s in the middle of a nest of h.e.l.lish demons. Individually, the monsters aren''t very strong, but every time he defeats one, others immediately come to attack him, attracted by the smell of blood. Depending on the monster''s species, they might come alone or in groups, increasing his exhaustion. He adjusts his breathing in between battles, but pays attention to the surroundings without relaxing his guard. Just a moment of carelessness could prove to be fatal. He jumps away immediately after sensing a presence behind him. DDSlash! A deep incision is carved onto the ground. It was an enemy attack, though he can''t see where it is. He sharpens his senses and focuses on searching for signs of movements in the surroundings. (It''s I can feel it looking at me) Though he doesn''t have any visual confirmation of the enemy, it''s clear that there''s a dangerous predator aiming for him. Beasts instinctively avoid clashing with a stronger foe, but it''s a different story altogether when they sense a weaker opponent. The survival of the fittest is the original providence of nature. Naturally, you can''t live if you don''t kill and eat other living beings. And that''s true for both Zeros and his opponent. He doesn''t know what kind of monster the other party is, but there''s no doubt that it has the ability to camouflage itself. "The problem is which type is it an optical camouflage, or some sort of cognitive disruption ability?" Optical camouflage refers to the ability to hide one''s figure by refracting the light from the surroundings. Cognitive disruption is the type of camouflage that sends a specific wavelength directly to the opponent''s brain, interfering with their five senses and causing them to be unable to recognize the user, thus, successfully concealing their presence from their prey. It was impossible for the latter to be the case, given that Zeros definitely felt a monster''s presence the moment it attacked. He determined that there was a high probability that it was some kind of optical camouflage. Sensing another attack, Zeros instinctively jumps again, hooking a wire to the branches of a giant tree, big enough to make one think that it must be over a century old to get to that size. And, sure enough, on the place he was standing just a moment ago, there were a few marks carved onto the ground again. At this point, Zeros was sure it was an attack by slashing. Moreover, he was able to confirm the enemy''s appearance for a brief moment. It was something more similar to a blur caused by the s.p.a.ce distorting, but it was obviously a large size monster. Incidentally, most likely because they''re afraid of the existence of such a powerful being, the surrounding monsters are not approaching them. "Pierce, Arrow of the Hunting G.o.d." The dust floating around instantly condenses forming an arrow capable of piercing through steel, which is then released towards the direction of the optical distortion. It probably managed to penetrate its back, but due to its camouflage it was impossible for Zeros to confirm the damaged dealt. DDKishaaaaaa!!! Maybe because of the pain it felt, the monster released its optical camouflage and showed itself. Though it looked like a giant praying mantis, somehow its appearance was grotesque and repulsive. Possessing a black outer sh.e.l.l, long sickle-like forelegs, and long and stout hind legs that supported its ma.s.sive body. Its sharp pincers gouge the ground and its compound eyes glows with a crimson hue. "Death Mantis" In the game, it was a type of monster that could be easily defeated, but suddenly having it actually in front of him, makes its presence feel much stronger. There was a vast gap between its level and its gruesome appearance. It had innumerable sharp protrusions all over its body as if to protect it from external threats. "Is it an evolved species or a subspecies? How annoying, do insects even feel pain?" Though it was a rather naive thing to ask in this otherworld. Because this world has a different common sense, he has no way of telling whether his knowledge is useful or not. In any case, the monster had to be defeated, but its armor-like outer sh.e.l.l made it a truly troublesome opponent. It was able to raise its defense power by circulating mana throughout its already tough sh.e.l.l, and only weapons similarly clad in mana would be able to counterbalance its enhanced defense. Even though Zeros could easily defeat it, considering the magnitude of the forest he was in, he wanted to preserve as much mana as he could, because, no matter how high your mana capacity is, it will reach its limits. In this harsh environment, magic is his only lifeline, thus he doesn''t want to waste even the tiniest amount of it. Zeros accelerates towards the bosom of the Death Mantis. Reacting to his movements, the Death Mantis swings its scythe-like foreleg towards Zeros with tremendous speed. But he aimed for that exact moment. "Here!" Two short swords are swung against the joints that connect both sickles to their respective forelegs. It''s common practice to take away the enemy''s strength first, that''s why he aimed to sever its ma.s.sive scythes. Without waiting for any confirmation, Zeros ran and slashed at the weak joints with his two short-swords. Striking the same spot at the same time, Zeros swords instantly cut both its forelegs apart. The Death Mantis'' sickles fly through the air and pierce the ground. Furthermore, the same action is repeated with each of its limbs, and so, the Death Mantis, whose limbs have been completely mutilated, falls to the ground. After quickly dismantling the beaten-up monster and placing its parts into his inventory, Zeros starts walking out again, promptly leaving that spot as soon as possible. Given that monsters are very sensitive to the smell of blood, they are bound to approach sooner rather than later. But this was a demonic forest where many powerful monsters gathered. Even after defeating a monster, this is a h.e.l.lish environment where another powerful monster will attack you without a moment''s delay. DDBuruburuburu A heavy, low-pitched sound resonates in his head. And, as Zeros turns in the direction of the sound it appeared there. A creature with a jet-black outer sh.e.l.l shining with an impressive l.u.s.ter. It''s a strong insect that has roamed the planet since time immemorial without much change to its appearance. And above all huge. "G-Great Giveridon*" (*T.N: The name is supposed to be some kind of pun involving the name for c.o.c.kroaches in j.a.panese [֥ gokiburi] and making it sound like some kind of dinosaur, but I couldn''t think of a way to translate it into English.) A thing he didn''t want to see even more than those white monkeys, came flying towards him at a high speed. The Great Giveridon lands on the ground with a roaring sound. It was the strongest insect-type monster, with a body much larger than the Death Mantis. It moves its giant antennas searching for food, and the moment its compound eyes caught sight of Zeros'' figure -Zazazazazaza!!! It started running with unbelievable swiftness. To put it plainly, it''s an incredibly disgusting creature. Moreover, as it approaches, it creates a large dust cloud while knocking down all the nearby trees in its path. For many reasons, Zeros'' face goes pale. "No! Oh my G.o.d!! Help me!!!" *T.N: said in English. Due to the extreme terror and mental stress the monster caused him, he stopped being j.a.panese for a moment there. The Great Sage not only was terrified of a certain ape with strange tendencies, but also completely dreaded c.o.c.kroaches. (*T.N: The author probably didn''t mean it like that, but the literal translation sounds really offensive, like, d.a.m.n. It was something like ''he hates the gays and c.o.c.kroaches''.) Rather, if there''s someone who likes both of those, then by all means, they are welcomed to take Zeros'' place and engage in all sorts of ''biological relationships'' with them. "Why Just why c.o.c.kroaches in this world had to be f.u.c.king gigantic!!" It''s as Zeros said. Even if the Death Mantis had those fiendish protuberances growing out of its sh.e.l.l, unlike the mantises he knew, the c.o.c.kroaches had an appearance comparable, if not the same, to the ones in his former world. In this otherworld, it''s a creature that has maintained the same appearance since time immemorial, and has also become as big as a dinosaur. It would be easy to kill them with a single swing of one''s slippers, if it were the c.o.c.kroaches from Earth, but that wouldn''t be a suitable approach for a 10 meters long insect. More like, it would be completely useless. To make matters worse, Zeros'' appraisal didn''t work on it for some reason, even its status couldn''t be read. That episode was only one in the series of incidents that could only be thought as hara.s.sment. It''s also one of the reasons behind his apathy towards the four G.o.ddesses*. (*T.N: The term used Ů can mean that there''s a G.o.ddess with or supporting four pillars, or that there are simply four G.o.ddesses[the word pillar being a counter for G.o.ds], which is what I''m going for until it clearly appears differently in future chapters. Also, I think I translated previous chapters in a different way, so I''m going to recheck afterwards.) The Giveridon gives chase to Zeros who promptly started running away. He''s chased by the gigantic, disgusting, and fierce insect until early morning. Soon after, the cry of a heartbroken middle-aged man resonates in the forest. Ironically, the mortal pursuit made him get closer to the highway. Though Zeros doesn''t know that fact. The c.o.c.kroach might be an unexpectedly good fella. " And that''s how it went. Huh? What''s wrong?" The three mercenary girls, Iris, Rena, and Jane, were lying flat on the table and mumbling things like: "c.o.c.kroaches scary", "I don''t want to ever see a gigantic c.o.c.kroach monster", while trembling. At breakfast, Zeros was asked to speak about his experiences, so he told them the anecdote of the time he was lost in Far-flung forest and encountered a ma.s.sive c.o.c.kroach, but it seemed that imagining such a monster caused them to have a mental breakdown all at once. "Mister that''s quite the adventure" "Zeros-san, you''ve done well in coming back. No one would want to approach the evil monsters inhabiting that G.o.d-forsaken forest." "A gigantic c.o.c.kroach huh I''m amazed you managed to defeat such a fiendish thing" Incidentally, the Great Giveridon he encountered was the biggest specimen ever registered, because up until that moment, they were yet to find an individual Giveridon over the five-meter cla.s.s. Nonetheless, it was still hard to conceive the heinousness of a monster with such a huge body moving at an insane speed while mowing down all nearby trees. Additionally, the larger it is, the thicker its outer sh.e.l.l is, so, without using something at the level of siege weapons, it would be impossible to hurt it. It''s even difficult to escape from such an outrageous monster. But, the girls were scared of it in a different sense. They didn''t even know what to feel about him anymore. "Wouldn''t it be better if we quickly finish breakfast? We''re going to the mine now, right?" "You''re right, but" "I lost my appet.i.te ugh, gigantic c.o.c.kroaches" ".. (buruburu)" (*T.N: shaking sfx apparently.) One they start imagining it, they can''t stop. A fiendish figure creeps inside their mind, depriving them of their appet.i.te. "If you lose your appet.i.te with something of this level, you won''t last much as a mercenary. There will be times you will have to kill human opponents, right? Like bandits, thugs, or even other mercenaries." "Mister, can you stop saying such nasty things? We specialize in monster subjugation." "That''s right. I can''t kill other human beings, even if they''re bad guys" "So that''s how you were both caught? You need to think about how are you going to survive if there''s someone trying to harm you. As a mercenary, it''s your own responsibility to take care of yourself, you can''t expect someone to help you every time you are in trouble." Iris and Rena seem to have never killed a person before. That''s why they hesitated and were captured by bandits. It''s really naive, thinking they could survive while refusing to kill a person in this world, where the price of life is rather insignificant. "Well, I''m not someone who can smile and calmly kill other human beings, but I''m resolved to kill someone if I had to." "I''ve killed before, and I didn''t feel good about it." "If there''s someone who can kill people comfortably, they have something wrong in their head." It appears Jane has killed bandits before, but she wasn''t fond of it. As mercenaries, they will sometimes be faced against criminals, and killing them is allowed in order to protect themselves. Even so, Zeros still thought of it as unpleasant because he would still be responsible of taking another person''s life. "Then, why don''t we wrap up our food in a bento* instead, and save it up for later?" (*T.N: j.a.panese lunchbox.) "Ah! Right, there was that." "Bento? What''s that?" "Never heard of it, but Iris seems to know, right?" There were no such things as bentos in this world. Most workers live in the city, and often work close to their own homes. And, even if they can''t return to have a meal, there are many shops where they can get something to eat. There are street stalls as well, so there wasn''t a real need for bentos. "I''ll make a sandwich with the smoked meat and the vegetables and wrap it up in paper." "I see, then Iris will take care of the bentos." "Good idea! Can I leave it to you, Iris?" "Okay?! Then, wait for me in front of the inn until I''m done, mister." Iris heads towards the kitchen with a light gait. Incidentally, it seems like the innkeeper of Ahhan village''s inn was also the chef, like the owner of a certain inn for sailors from somewhere. (*T.N: didn''t get the reference, and also, totally random.) "By the way, are the materials from the Death Mantis good? Can you make equipment with them?" "Its sh.e.l.l is great for making different kinds of weapons and armor. It''s light and strong, though it''s weak against fire magic." "Well, it''s an insect, so it''s a taken that it''d be weak against fire." "The meat around the sh.e.l.l was exquisite. It tasted like crab or shrimp." The air suddenly froze as he said that. "D-Did you eat the Death Mantis?" "It''s a monster! Are you sane!?" "It''s alright. You guys also eat things like Orc meat, so is not that strange, is it? And above all, it was a situation where I had no choice but to eat monsters'' meat to survive, that''s why, if there was no poison in it, I had to eat it." "I get that but you''d eat a huge insect too?" "It''s not something I''d usually consider eating No, actually, it''s impossible. No way!" "With that mindset, you''ll starve to death in the case of an emergency. Living is a battle Yes, it can be called a war, even" (Somehow their eyes look scary.)[*Zeros] (I know it must''ve been a horrible experience, but isn''t that a bit too extreme? Yup, I definitely won''t ever go near that forest.)[*Jane] Because Zeros had eaten gra.s.shopper tsukudani* in his former world, he didn''t have that much aversion to eating insects. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** (*T.N: seafood, meat or seaweed preserved in soy sauce and mirin; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukudani) *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 27 Ossan, enters the abandoned mine *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.*I HAVE A DISCORD SERVER IN CASE YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN I''M ABOUT TO POST A NEW UPDATE. Contrary to what one might expect, the inside of the mine wasn''t completely dark, as it contained some sort of light-emitting ore. A pale blue hue illuminates the surroundings all the way to the depths of a tunnel. The clanking sound of steel hitting a hard surface, the indication that there''s someone fighting, reverberates from time to time. What will decide whether the monster or the mercenary wins is, ultimately, strength and luck. So they don''t end up attacking each other by mistake in such a narrow pa.s.sway, Zeros'' group is divided into vanguard and rearguard, but somehow he ended up in the former position despite being a magician. Although that''s not particularly problematic for him, he was placed there after Jane grumbled: "I can''t help being anxious that this old man will try to s.e.xually hara.s.s me from behind.". In the end, the formation consisted of Zeros and Jane as the vanguards, plus Rena and Iris as the rearguards. Rena''s role is to protect Iris, and she''s certainly the right person for the job considering she''s equipped with a tough-looking shield. And, it would''ve been perfect if only she didn''t have a slovenly grin plastered on her face, seemingly immersed in her questionable thoughts " Is she okay?" "Ah, yeah. That''s the usual, don''t worry about it, mister." "I-Is she really always like that? She''s bound to get reported if people see her like that though" "Well, she''s been reported several times, actually. Honestly, I think I should really start thinking about whether is good to keep a.s.sociating with her." (It''s just her dangerous delusions, right? To be honest, I''m kind of afraid to ask, but) The mood wasn''t particularly comfortable. She had a strange ecstatic smile while murmuring weird things. Although he could understand their content if he listened more closely, he stopped himself from doing so. His intuition told him that it might make him an accomplice to a crime. There are things in this world that are better left unknown. "She has to return to sanity in case a monster really appears. Shouldn''t you guys be concerned about that?" "Well, she''ll probably return on her own, besides, I don''t think she''ll listen even if we ask her, just look at her" "I wish monsters would come out already." In other words, Zeros will have to keep going forward while hearing the occasional coquettish panting from behind him, though in all honesty, he would''ve liked to be spared from it. Then, Zeros suddenly stops. His enemy search skill picked up a reaction, and when he focused his awareness towards the end of the tunnel, he could indeed feel a presence heading towards them. Incidentally, these types of skills are intuitive and don''t appear as images in one''s mind. While a.s.serting that feeling in his mind, he sighs and proceeds to look around. "What''s wrong, mister?" "I sensed monsters'' presences just now. I''m not entirely sure about their number, but they''re Kobolds, maybe?" "Rena, get back to your senses! Monster attack incoming!" "Hah!? Where''s my cute little boy!? I had him tied to my bed with a rope huh?" (What kind of crime were you committing in your delusions? You totally sound like a convicted criminal) She seemed to have been thinking about a variety of dangerous things in her head. There are things Zeros would''ve liked to ask, but he felt like he shouldn''t listen for some reason. He doesn''t want to end up in prison with her. He takes his mind off such silly topics and focuses his attention forward, where there''s a shadow approaching. Its dog-like head, accompanied by a developed sense of smell, is certainly the distinctive feature of Kobolds. Perhaps it has noticed them as well, as it''s preparing for battle. Apparently, it was only a scout, given that there were multiple groups also approaching behind it. " Should we attack first?" "Are there more of those guys coming from behind it? If not, then I''ll rush in" "Who has the lowest level here?" "Hmm? I think both Rensan and Jane are around level 50." "Iris, it''s a crime to tell someone about other people''s levels, you know?" Reincarnators generally have a higher level than the natives of this world. It appears that it was necessary to work towards raising their battle potential. "I''ll stop their movements. You two, go ahead and defeat them to raise your levels." "And the magic stones? Is it alright to take them? It''s common sense for mercenaries to get the magic stones of the prey they defeat." "Sure, I don''t mind. I have enough to last a lifetime." Zeros, who obtained a large number of magic stones during the time he was surviving in Far-flung forest, is not particularly looking to expand his collection. If he sells them all at once, he might single-handedly collapse the magic stone''s market and crash the kingdom''s economy as a whole. "Alright, let''s do this. So, Jane will rush at the enemy, and I will follow after, are you okay with that?" "Roger. You won''t complain later if I take them all for myself, right?" "I won''t. Rather than that, please don''t get me involved." "Let''s go!" The attack formation has been decided. They start moving at once. "Area Paralyze" (*T.N: changed it a bit, and I think the author made a small typo;`?ѥ饤 and it should be ѥ饤.) A ball of light is formed in Zeros'' left hand, who then proceeds to shoot it towards the depths of the tunnel. Soon after, ''Gyah!'', a monster''s scream echoes in the tunnel. At the same time, the two break into a run, and soon the Kobolds'' death throes could be heard. Zeros and Iris immediately headed towards their companions, not expecting, however, the pitiful state of the monsters'' corpses. Rena and Jane were cutting their chests open and taking out their magic stones. "As always, it''s a disgusting thing to see." "Is that so? I don''t really mind anymore." Walking alongside Zeros, who''s smoking a cigarette, Iris holds her head. "How could you adapt so easily, mister? I don''t get it." "I''ve dismantled wild boars while hunting before. There''s not much of a difference, right?" "Mister so you were really brave." "Did you know that a bear''s paws have a gelatin-like consistency? They are very tasty, and they also have collagen, so it''s definitely good for your skin." "You make it sound as if they are like pig''s trotters. Disgusting. I really don''t wanna eat something like that." In fact, Zeros had eaten pig''s trotters and pig heads before. (Hmm, I would actually love to eat some again, offal too. And with a cold beer, it would be the best Oh, and pig ears* too [*T.N: ߥߥ`, okinawan dish of pig ears. I dare you to google that.] In this world, the alcohol they have is mostly wine and fruity ale. Surely they must have beer somewhere, right? I''d really like to at least have a cold beer one of these days.) The old man really missed Izakaya bars*. (*T.N: informal bars that serve alcohol and snacks. Typical after-work drinking places https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izakaya) Ale, which is the precursor of the modern-era beer, is not chilled, so it''s not a particularly delicious summertime drink. He, who knew how the beer in his former world tasted like, wasn''t satisfied by the warm ale produced in this world. Today seemed to be one of those days where he really missed a cold beer. "Hmm, should I try making a refrigerator? The problem is that they only sell ale in small barrels. I''d like to be able to buy it already bottled." "A refrigerator, you say Mister, are you planning to introduce modern technology?" "No way, I''m going to make it for myself. I would like to be spared from having to deal with some sly, greedy merchant." "Unfair! Why are you only making it for yourself?" "Naturally, I''m not planning to interfere much with this world." Those words come out, despite being responsible for a major revolution in the field of magic. He wants to live a normal life, though there might be a gap between what''s ''normal'' for him and for other people. But, humans are creatures that choose to live their lives according to their own values, and at the same time, don''t find worth in the things they''re not interested in. What is perfectly natural for some people might be considered insane for others. In fact, he doesn''t consider himself to be a farmer, still believing to be unemployed. One might say, that at that point, his sense of value was already quite strange. "Well then, I''ll continue to search for enemies though it doesn''t seem like there are more monsters close by. The Kobolds from earlier were scouts, and I have the feeling that there will be more the deeper we go." "I''m just taking it slow right now, okay? Because of mister and everyone else, I haven''t had my turn, that''s all." "It''s the level difference, isn''t it? When your skills'' levels are also high, it feels like you''re just messing around, right? Compared to that forest''s monsters, this is a child''s play. I can one-punch all these small fries." "Uuu that''s too much of a cheat, it''s so unfair, mister." He fully understood that fact. That''s why he wanted to live in peace. While he was talking to Iris, the girls finished collecting all the magic stones. However, they didn''t look all too happy. "The magic stones are too small. These won''t give enough money for a new sword, we''re gonna need a lot more." "They''re not very high quality, but well, at least we can cover part of our living expenses." "What about the Kobolds'' bodies? Shall I burn them?" "We can just leave them as they are. By the time we''re back they''ll probably be gone, you know?" "eh?" He felt something odd in Jane''s words. "Please wait a moment, what do you mean by that?" "Because other monsters will dispose of them, isn''t it?" "That''s impossible. Are Worms wandering around these parts?" "Supposedly, Worms appear in the lower layers, while, there are only Kobolds near the entrance, and Giant Ants after them." "So, monsters won''t take care of the corpses? What a lousy ecosystem." Monsters are living beings. And, as such, they will fight to secure food. The strong will naturally have priority in doing so, by means of attacking and eating the weak, and in turn, the weak fight amongst themselves for whatever leftover food remains. However, such a food chain hasn''t been established in these tunnels. If Jane''s and Rena''s story is to be believed, that would mean monsters settle down in each layer, just fighting the mercenaries that come inside the mine. However, if there isn''t a food chain in place, all monsters will eventually die. Obviously, such a ridiculous thing is impossible. "I have a question, does the type of monster you encounter changes according to the layer you''re in?" "Hmm? Ah! Yeah, that''s right. Giant Ants from the third level, and Big Spiders and Mount Scorpions starting from the fifth level." "All of them are monsters that don''t predate on each other Impossible!" "Ah! I get it! This mine is a dungeon, right?" "That is probably the case. For the dungeon, monsters and mercenaries are nothing but fodder. No matter whichever survives, it will get food in the end." Dungeon. It''s a field-type monster that is sometimes born when the concentration of mana of a place exceeds a certain level. The core is generated by condensing the mana from the ground, transforming the surrounding land into its own body, and then proceeding to summon monsters, which in turn, attracts their natural enemy: humans; thus, securing its food. Ores, precious metals, jewelry, and so on, are produced to attract them and make them fight against the monsters. In addition, the dungeon absorbs the bodies and souls of both humans and monsters after they die (though for some reason only the magic stones remain), and converts them into its own mana, allowing it to expand its scale and summon more monsters. Though it doesn''t have an ego of its own, dungeons instinctively summon monsters and attract people just to maintain themselves. In other words, the mine is practically the belly of a huge monster. Incidentally, the weapons and armor of the people that die inside it, are not absorbed, and by taking in the mana of the surroundings over a long period of time, they might get transformed into powerful equipment. Such equipment is usually worn by the dungeon''s monsters, and since they receive a mana supply from it, they don''t become hungry and are able to breed indefinitely. Even if too many monsters are produced, the balance is regained by releasing them outside the dungeon. This is a phenomenon known as ''stampede'', which towns and villages near dungeons are always on alert for. The dungeon''s core is always shifting, and it''s hard to pinpoint its location. To humans, it''s a place where they can make huge profits from, and at the same time, is an incredibly deadly danger zone. The Mercenary Guild is always monitoring the situation around them, and other trade guilds help manage the surrounding areas, sometimes building gigantic towns nearby them. Although it brought many business opportunities, it was also a dangerous place with a lot of trouble attached. Currently, only three dungeons have been found so far, but they are all low-leveled ones with only relatively weak monsters inhabiting them, which has also contributed to the weakening of the knights and magicians over time. They can''t put to test their abilities and raise their levels in those places, leaving only the dense Far-flung forest as a place to train. There are records of people from the old era who have managed to reach the depths of these dungeons, but in the present time, there aren''t any people capable of doing that, which is also due to their average level becoming lower compared to the past. (*T.N: Take this paragraph with a grain of salt, it was very confusing, and I''m not sure whether the narrator is talking about the dungeons in general, this mine dungeon in particular, or far-flung forest. I just went with dungeons in general.) If the mine were indeed a dungeon, Ahhan village would have the potential to develop into a city. At the same time, a lot more reckless people will die, though that''s not something the guilds care about, as they claim it''s the mercenaries'' own responsibility. "I''ve read before that dungeons are not hard to find. They''re attractive places if we only look at the amount of money you can make, but at the same time, there are a lot of troublesome things to find there." "Like what for example?" "It is unclear right now, but the monsters at the lowest layer might be increasing their numbers indiscriminately given that this dungeon hasn''t been conquered yet. Worst case scenario, those monsters might ascend from there and go outside the mine." "Eh? Is this mine really a dungeon? Is there gonna be a stampede?" "It''s still just a possibility. We may need to go to the bottom layer to ascertain the truth." Suddenly, the air froze. They don''t understand what Zeros is saying Well, they understand but don''t want to believe it. " Naturally, I''ll go alone. Haah what a pain, honestly." "Oi, old man, are you sane!? There are only high-leveled monsters in the bottom layers, you know!?" "How can you casually say such a thing!?" "Ehh? I initially only came here to mine metal ores, but we may have found an undiscovered dungeon, you know? Most likely, we wouldn''t be able to get a good amount of ores unless we get closer to the bottom layer, and in the meantime, we''ll get swarmed by monsters which is almost exactly like the time I was lost in the forest. Monster parties* are really depressing" (*T.N: 󥹥` ѩ`ƥ`; I only found pictures of Halloween parties when I googled that, so I''m not exactly sure what it means, it''s probably some kind of pun.) *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** "So, you''re just feeling like exterminating monsters while mining!? You are insane! What are you gonna do if it''s an actual dungeon!?" *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 28 Ossan, does it *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. *I HAVE A DISCORD SERVER IN CASE YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN I''M ABOUT TO POST A NEW UPDATE. Zeros and the others went down the endless, bleak tunnels defeating the monsters that appeared along the way. However, it took them a long time to get to places with vein deposits, where they could extract metallic ores from. As they progressed towards the deeper layers, the number of monsters, as well as their strength, increased. The monsters are supplied with mana from the dungeon, so for that reason, they don''t starve, however, that brought upon the side effect of having a complete loss of appet.i.te. Because of that, they surrender themselves to their s.e.xual desires and spend their time breeding, or to their more violent instincts, fighting against each other. Such creatures gave the impression of missing something as living beings, though, despite that, they were still a threat. Nevertheless, strong monsters bring about huge opportunities for mercenaries to make money. Extraordinary profits can be made by selling their materials and magic stones. Depending on the case, it can be an extremely profitable business. As they descended, it became more difficult to spot the traps set by the dungeon, but fortunately, Zeros was capable of easily detecting them, thus they were able to advance safely. "There''s a trap over there. It''s a relief that they don''t explode." "Don''t say unpleasant things, mister. I don''t want to get caught in one of those." "You''d have to be an extreme m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t to like it, right? I wouldn''t mind seeing that though." (*T.N: referring to Iris.) "I really don''t get you sometimes, Rena" So far, they haven''t found anything but pitfalls, but the were some traps released poison gas, traps that gave electric shocks, and many more different kinds. Explosive traps, however, being the worst amongst them. In the game, even if players were caught in them, there wouldn''t be any loss of body parts, but now that it''s reality, there''s always the possibility of losing one''s limbs in an explosion. Recovery magic isn''t able to completely restore someone''s body to a perfect condition, and even if that were possible, the body wouldn''t be able to replenish the necessary nutrients to reconstruct limbs. No matter how strong the regeneration ability of a creature may be, it''s necessary to meet the appropriate conditions to fix the missing parts. There''s a discrepancy between the game and reality. In this world, it was impossible to regenerate a person''s missing limbs. And in particular, reincarnators had a strong tendency to nonchalantly get themselves into reckless situations, probably because they retained the common sense from the game. But doing such things when it''s become reality, is akin to throwing away their lives, and supposing they could overcome them, it would require them to have an unreasonably high level, like for example, Zeros, whose level is over 1000. "Enemy ahead. Oh, Big Spiders. Should I defeat them?" "And their numbers? How many are there?" "There are three. It should be a walk in the park for you, girls. What will you do?" The three look away. "That spider''s magic stone can be sold for quite the price, right?" (*T.N: Keep in mind that Rena(probably) said [oishii], which in this context I think it means profitable/desirable, but it can also mean delicious, as in a delicious meal.) "But, it looks tough. I don''t think I can cut it with my sword." "Even so, I really want the experience points" "''Delicious*'' huh? Now that you mention it, deep-fried spiders taste just like shrimp. I wonder if I could eat this one too" (*T.N: and here Zeros interprets Rena''s(probably) oishii as delicious/tasty.) """You want to eat a spider!? No, wait, you''ve eaten spiders before!?""" On one occasion, when he traveled abroad for a business trip, he went to an extravagant restaurant, where he was served a deep-fried tarantula. He has even eaten a huge centipede before, showing his skill to be able to live anywhere. Though the representative of the local partner company only served it as a joke, he never thought he would seriously eat it. Zeros [Osako Satoshi] may have the extraordinary power of environmental adaptation. "Ahh, it tasted good with alcohol" """So you did eat it!!""" "The cold monkey brain looked absolutely disgusting though They serve you the monkey''s head on a plate, so you have to eat it while it''s staring at you." Cigarette smoke drifts in the air. For some reason, a cold breeze blows through, as if to accompany the sad man''s melancholy. In another sense, it was hard to be a salaryman. The continuous all-nighters spent crunching looked like heaven on Earth in comparison. "Oh, but the calf''s brain was delicious, wasn''t it? It looked like a little cow''s head but it was properly cooked. It had a nice, smooth texture." "Please stop!!!" "Nooooo!!! Now I''m imaging it!!" "(bukubuku)"*T.N: foaming sfx. Jane had a mental breakdown. She fainted while standing, with foam coming out of her mouth. Zeros'' gorey cuisine description had an immense effect on the girls'' overactive imaginations. They seemed to be having delusions about the strange high-quality dishes. "By the way, what should we do about the Big Spiders?" "You want me to fight in this state? Are you an S, mister? You''re really an S, aren''t you!??" "Uuu The monkey''s freshly severed head Noo!! It won''t disappear!!" "(Ah, I can see a flower field)" After receiving a critical hit from those words, she was about to depart to Nirvana. Jane, the usually strong-willed woman, was, surprisingly, emotionally weak. Zeros breathes in the tobacco smoke once again. "Women can''t live without being tough, but if they aren''t kind, they are not women, huh?" "Mister, that hard-boiled* kinda mood really suits you. So, why don''t you stop wearing such a shabby outfit?" (*T.N: Apparently it''s a literary genre that''s similar to crime fiction but usually ambianced in the 20''s or 30''s; So, I guess she''s telling him to dress more elegantly?? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardboiled) "I refuse. This is a policy of mine." "That''s a lie, isn''t it? I don''t think you have such a thing, mister." " Is this where I should cry?" It sounded like a cruel thing to say to him, but it was a fact that he liked to dress like that. He wasn''t different from your ordinary farmer. While they were messing around like that, the three spiders had gone somewhere else. The girls had missed their chance. In the end, Zeros was irritated at the three for having let slide a perfectly good opportunity to make money. The old man was lonely. Incidentally, it wasn''t clear whether he ate the cold monkey brain or not As Zeros continued to advance while feeling the stinging cold gazes of the three people behind him, he finally reached a T-shaped junction. p.r.i.c.king up his ears, he heard the weak noise of metal striking against something from a place that seemed to be deeper in the mine. It was a sound too strange to be from a battle as it was quickly being repeated over and over. " Is not from a fight, is it? It sounds like someone blindly hitting a metallic surface." "I don''t know. Isn''t it your fault, mister?" "The only people come here to do other than fighting is mining. It''s not that strange." "Zeros-san, we haven''t forgiven you yet though?" It was a serious problem once a woman ended up in a bad mood. Their gazes were painful. However, all the nagging coming his way, as one would expect, ended up annoying him a little, and spontaneously started saying things like ''speaking of which, the cold monkey brain had a really strange flavor'', and so on. To which, the three girls immediately covered their ears all at once. "Why are you saying such a thing now!? I imagined it again!!!" "(purupuru)"*T.N: shivering sfx. "I knew it, after all, you''re an S Uuu just when I was about to forget" "No, it doesn''t really mean anything. Nevertheless, I thought that not paying attention to those weird signs would lead to your deaths in a dungeon." He nonchalantly recites such a thing while flashing an absolutely perfect smile. He unexpectedly had such a personality. "It''s useless to worry about something like that Ah, Big Spiders. It seems they''re heading towards the direction of that sound. Their numbers are ten What will you do?" "I want to get spider threads if I can. It''s the raw material for making spider silk." "I know it sells at a high price, but there are ten of them It''ll be difficult, right?" "Even so, we can make a lot of money. It can be a good challenge for us." They seemed to have decided to hunt them. The mercenary life looks to be less profitable than one would expect. In addition to the wear and tear of weapons and armor, they have other regular expenses such as healing medicine and food. Moreover, most of the money earned from requests will disappear instantly due to the immediate living expenses when there isn''t work to be done. It was hard to live by for them without securing extra income. They were actually in desperate financial straits. Following the Big Spiders, the four turn right at the T-shaped junction and quietly head towards the direction of the metallic noises. The hitherto fast-paced noise changed to a more violent one, the sound of fighting. s.h.i.t! The spiders are coming!!] We gotta keep going!! We''re saving Christine-sama soon!!] I know, but this thing won''t open!!] Hurry up, there are a lot of them!] It looked like they were in trouble. Four mercenaries seemed to be fighting the Big Spiders. Normally, they wouldn''t intervene, but without thinking it twice, the four people move. "Teeeeeeii!!" With the longsword above her right shoulder, Jane slashed diagonally downwards, twisting her body as she does so, while Rena pierces the spider''s body as it flinched from the previous attack. "Iris!" "I know! Rock Blast!!" The countless rocks released from Iris'' hands are shot towards the group of Big Spiders, successfully defeating three of them with a single magic attack. Simultaneously, Zeros runs like a gale, slashing left and right, cutting the spiders'' legs, and instantly dismantling another three. "Four remaining!" "Thank you for your help! We are" "We''ll talk about it later!" "Right! My bad." With the addition of another four combatants, they managed to subjugate the spiders that attacked them. Rena and Jane immediately moved onto dismantling them, while Iris tried her best to not look at such a scene of carnage. It seemed like it was physiologically impossible for her. "You guys saved us back there. Allow me to thank you." "No, no. It''s natural to help each other out in these kinds of situations. So, even knights are in trouble sometimes. Can you tell me what happened?" "!? How did you know we were knights?" "The swords you guys have possess a family crest, so you''re probably the knights of some n.o.ble, am I correct? I tutored a n.o.bleman''s children for a while and I saw ma.s.s-produced swords like that before." Even when disguised as mercenaries, knights never replace their swords, as they are important items that can be used to identify themselves when moving without their distinctive armor on some missions. Because they are ma.s.s-produced, all swords have the same shape along with a seal engraved on the handle indicating that they belong to this kingdom''s knights. In addition to that, a family crest could be engraved on the swords'' guards, proof that the knights have gained the trust of a n.o.ble family, and are designated as close aids. By showing this, they would reveal the ident.i.ty of the n.o.bleman they served, and it would distinguish them from knights serving other families. "What a magician! Please lend us your wisdom here." "I don''t think I''m such an important person to be called that* but well, what''s the issue?" (*T.N: So, this was completely lost in translation, but the knight referred to Zeros as F[kiden] which is apparently a super respectful way of referring to one''s male equals or superiors.) "Christine-sama, the Lord whom we serve, fell into a pit shooter trap. We''ve been trying to help her somehow, but the opening won''t budge." "Wha!? This is really bad" "Who would think of such a villainous trickKuh" A pit shooter is a common trap in dungeons. In short, it will randomly send you to another floor of the dungeon. You may end up on the upper floors, but in some extreme cases, it can also drop you off at the deepest part of the dungeon. Naturally, the strength of the monsters there is in a different league, so if rookie mercenaries end up there, they will not be saved. Depending on where you fall, you could end up as dungeon fodder. "I was too late to notice that this place was a dungeon. The question now is whether this is connected to the deepest layer or not" "A dungeon!? Wasn''t this just an abandoned mine!?" "Mister. These people, maybe they''re comrades of that kid you helped out before? Probably it was her who fell down" "Don''t say more, I understand. But, I''ve opened one of these once, so I should be able to do it again, I think." Zeros tries to get on the closed opening of the pit shooter trap. It''s tightly shut and doesn''t budge even with the full weight of an adult male. "It won''t open. It''s going to take us some time to find a route around, so it''s better to" DDD Gakon! While thinking, ''let''s try to blow it away with magic,'' the top opened just when he was about to prepare a spell, and so, Zeros disappeared after dropping straight into the opening. It completely looked like a failed sketch comedy routine. "Misteeer!?" "Magician-dono!?" "Oi That won''t end up as a double accident, right?" "That was on purpose, wasn''t it?" "But now we''re able to get where Christine-sama is. If he''s that skillful, he''ll probably be alright. We''ll take a detour and go to her rescue." The knights started to move fast, while Iris waited for the two girls who were still dismantling the monsters. She wasn''t worried about Zeros at all, after all, she knew the stories of the Annihilators]. Rather, she was worried about the dungeon. Luckily, the pit shooter trap was a slide. However, just before it, there was a three-meter fall, which ended up with him smashing his rear before slipping down said slide that, unfortunately for him, had an uneven surface, so the pain in his b.u.t.tocks was severe. He felt a bit numb, probably because he hit his back too hard. "Ouch I really hope my behind doesn''t end up abraded Well then, It seems I ended up in the same place as her, but I wonder where the princess[*T.N: ohime-sama: Rich, sheltered girl] is right now Isn''t this another clich?" The lonely Zeros starts walking while rubbing his lower back. The place he fell was a narrow s.p.a.ce around three meters from the top. The path seems to only be going in one direction, but as he doesn''t know what he might find ahead, he''s carefully advancing while being on high alert for any surprise attacks. Incidentally, the walls of this tunnel also glow in a pale blue hue. Zeros stopped in his tracks and began to think with a serious face. (This light is not radioactive, right? Given that the laws of physics seem to be the same in this world, it wouldn''t be strange for such a thing to exist. It wouldn''t be funny if my hair falls off while I''m walking around) The true nature of the light is a stone that glows in the dark called Luminescent Stone], and it doesn''t emit anything like harmful radiation. However, he was terrified that it might actually be a dangerous thing. Though, if it was really radioactive, it would''ve been game over for him the moment he set a foot inside the mine either way. Nevertheless, it took him some time to realize that fact. DDD Gyiiooooohhhhhh!!! Zeros returns from his delusions with the sound of what it seemed to be a monster''s roar. "Looks like there''s no time to think about that, I should hurry up and look for her. It would be awful if she ends up as monster fodder, after all." While monologuing, Zeros, to whom the rescue was the absolute priority, proceeded to run towards the commotion at full speed. At the end of the pa.s.sage was a precipice, and there was only a small foothold about thirty centimeters wide. There was no other way to get through there other than sticking his body against the rock wall. However, he realized that the pa.s.sage he had to cross before reaching it was too narrow for an adult male like him to pa.s.s. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** "Just what kind of uncivilized place is this? I''ve never even done rock climbing before." *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 29 *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.*I HAVE A DISCORD SERVER IN CASE YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN I''M ABOUT TO POST A NEW UPDATE. * and yeah, a bit of a late chapter this time, a lot of unexpected things happened this week, but mostly it was just me PROCRASTINATING. Ossan, tension rises A high-pitched metallic sound repeatedly echoes in the vast underground s.p.a.ce. Zeros smiles in satisfaction while picking up the pieces of metal ores scattered after swinging his pickaxe against the wall. And, despite not relying on his OP cheat abilities to find the location of the veins, he was in a good mood, immersed in the task of excavating as if he had no other choice. The ores are then melted by the wide-range annihilation magic Scorching Purgatory Flames], and because heavy metals containing a similar relative density were h.o.m.ogeneously combined together, he managed to obtain a large number of unusual materials. After refining them, the metal ingots are stored away in his inventory. "Ohh? It''s Hihiirogane*. I didn''t know it could be found in a place like this. Truly an excellent ore Kukuku." (*T.N: ; legendary metal in fantasy said to be bright like flames. Written in katakana, I believe it was mentioned a couple of chapters ago but written in kanji. I''ll look up what it was translated as.) "Just what did you mine Ah, I found some weird clay" "Oh, isn''t this orichalc.u.m? You''re quite lucky hahaha!!" "Ha!?" Immersed in a good mod, Zeros continues mining. Occasionally, the mine''s walls are blasted with magic, and high-quality materials are collected. He was burning with ambition. His objective was gathering enough materials to build a desiccator silo and a refrigerator, and then a stepping threshing machine. Afterward, if it was possible, he would also build a bath heater*. (*T.N: Lθ[furugama] https://oyumawari.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_4620.jpg they look like PCs that heat up your bathwater, basically.) "Iyaa I did it, I did it, I can''t stop laughing Hahaha!" "Your race hasn''t changed or anything like that, right? This is orichalc.u.m Are you listening!?" (*T.N: race as in ethnic race, I guess it was suppose to be a pun or smt that I didn''t get.) "With this With this, I will take the rice back. Just wait! Then, s-sake, soy sauce, miso, mirin sake. I will take them all back hahahaha!!" "Isn''t your tension a bit too high!? And why did you say sake twice!? Is it that important!?" It was incredibly important for this bibulous j.a.panese uncle. The pickaxe striking against the volcanic rock makes a pleasant sound, scattering rock fragments on the surroundings as it burrows through the bedrock. His mining speed and accuracy are both beyond belief. Without a doubt, he would be able to earn a living working as a miner. In addition, he will clearly be the top breadwinner in this trip. The long-awaited mining has finally come, his head filled with being even a step closer to his dream of recreating his j.a.panese lifestyle. Just like going abroad and missing j.a.panese food, Zeros, who can''t return to his former world, seeks the taste of his hometown. It has come to the point where his tension was unusually high. For a moment, his tension seemed to go through the roof, and a strange laughter echoed in the mine until he was satisfied. No one would''ve been able to get through him during that time. Thus, he got a ma.s.sive amount of different ores in his hands. Ma.s.sive enough to not be able to use them all up even if he tried his hardest "Iya, how embarra.s.sing. Getting so fired up despite my age." "Please don''t mind it, but shouldn''t we get moving soon? Monsters might appear again" "They probably got mixed up in my magic." "Yeah, that''s ri not right. My level is too low to fight against these monsters!" "Your real thoughts came out Well, that''s fine too" After annihilating the group of Worms, the vast ore deposits were discovered after Zeros'' tension was raised due to the embarra.s.sment caused after Christine persistently asked him about himself while they were mining. Nevertheless, despite originally coming to rescue her, they seemed to be in the deepest layer of the dungeon. Casually falling from the upper to the bottom layer in one go is impossible, but there might be such traps in young dungeons that seek to consume the mana of its sacrifices to maintain itself. Although they don''t possess an ego of their own, as they grow, they set up their traps constructing something akin to a complex system. To this day, the reason behind this has not been identified and remains as one of the many mysteries about dungeons. And yet, it''s accepted as something natural in this world. Most people aren''t particularly interested in such topics, with the exception of stubborn scholars that question the cause and effect of every phenomenon. "In any case, that desert-like place looks like a volcano now." "It was more powerful than I thought it would be. It used to be smaller" The aftereffects between the virtual world and the real world were different. Previously, the Worms squirming around in that place were much weaker than Zeros. But with his opponents being instantly incinerated by the excessive heat of his magic, the moniker of Annihilator] was not a mere exaggeration. It was a habit from the days of the game, to fire high-power magic as soon as he found a large number of enemies around. Moreover, as he didn''t need to chant to cast magic, he only needed to have enough mana. "It looked as if you directly shot the magic formula itself, just what kind of principle does it use? It''s clearly different from regular magic!" "Right? That''s why it''s such a dangerous magic, but it was unexpected that it had such power" Scorching Purgatory Flames] is a spell made with an extremely dense magic formula. Originally, the brain would have to process the magic formula, and the desired phenomenon would be produced the moment the magic circle was completed. However, this magic would reproduce and fire the formula itself, using it as artillery sh.e.l.ls. The high-density magic formula is constructed from 0s and 1s, and for humans to be able to use it, they would need to process information at the speed of a supercomputer, which is impossible for the human brain. If that was the case, then it was just a matter of developing a program to process the magic formula in place of the brain. In addition, he thought it would be an excellent idea to use it as sh.e.l.ls, thus giving birth to a nasty annihilation magic. When a magic bullet, made out of a compressed magic formula and loaded with enough mana to trigger an explosion, is fired, the high processing program will expand the magic formula when it reaches its target, while absorbing the mana from the surroundings. Finally, said mana, which possesses enormous destructive power is converted into a tangible physical phenomenon. If the user manages to process the information of the highly-dense magic formula by that means, there''s no need to force the human brain to take on that task. The wide-range annihilation magic researched at the Istor Magic Academy is done so under the a.s.sumption that a single person has to be able to process the magic formula in their heads, but in the first place, it''s practically impossible for the brain to read a formula rotating at a high speed and convert it into a physical phenomenon. The burden is not something humans can endure. Even if it were possible to read the formula, the user''s brain would be destroyed, leading to their death before they could even finish casting the spell to ascertain its power. In his former world, after creating this spell in the game, he was struck by a severe headache, triggering the game''s safety mechanism and forcefully logging him out. It was quite a dangerous thing that could''ve ended with him becoming crippled. (If you think about it, including the console, the technology of the game was odd. It accurately simulated the laws of physics to their minute details as if another world was recreated in the digital s.p.a.ce. Who created the master system that could handle such a program? A model of this world, even to the smallest details of the environment, such as the laws of physics and quantum theory, was recreated without anyone feeling anything out of place. Is such a thing really possible? That game was revolutionary in many ways, and it could be called a great invention that could fundamentally change the world. Well, it''s regrettable but it''s not something I can confirm at this point.) For the first time after coming to this world, he noticed an abnormality in the online game he used to enjoy so much. The backbone of the master system of the high-speed processing computer known as ''Babel'', was originally an information control system developed by the Department of Defense for the sake of national protection. It was created to keep cla.s.sified information of individuals and the country safe from malicious hackers trying to access from the outside, however, due to budgetary issues, the project was eventually shut down and sold to a private company. And, some time later, said company announced its new MMORPG, ''Sword and Sorcery''. Although it had a simple name, one was able to access and freely adventure a vast virtual world through a readily available personal console, which was, in addition, marketed towards the general public as a family gaming console along with the game itself, vastly contributing its ma.s.sification. But, on the other hand one could say that there was an entirely different intention, as if the game was trying to hide its own bizarreness. [*T.N: This paragraph was a bit confusing to translate especially because the word [kyotai], which literally means ''case'' kept appearing and I only found pictures of those old arcade machines when I googled it, but I a.s.sume it means console, as in game console.] (Why am I thinking about this now? This is weird it''s as if the world itself was being controlled so there''s no feeling on incongruity compared to the game no way, hey) Zeros started to feel a sense of discomfort, something he never felt in his former world. His expression gradually becomes sharp as he starts pondering, as if his consciousness was buried in his thoughts. He''s once again conscious of his former world''s abnormal reality. "san Zeros-san!" "Ah! W-What happened!?" "That''s my line. I was just asking you when were we going to leave this place, but you suddenly started to think about something with a scary face. Did something happen?" Returning to his senses, there''s a world of molten rocks. He suddenly remembered his current situation. "Ah, it''s nothing. Well, we''re done mining then, we should go back up soon." "That''s perfect, but I''m just going to be a burden, right?" "A burden? Why?" "Because I''m weak." In contrast to Christine, who''s looking down dejectedly, Zeros awkwardly scratches his head. If this is the deepest layer, the number of monsters will increase as they go up. It was dangerous for her to keep advancing with her current ability. As he was thinking, he casually glances at the collapsed ceiling where he could see the adjacent layer. "It''s going to be easier from now on. If we go through there, we''ll be fine." "Eh? But, it''s too high" The place Zeros is pointing at, is the collapsed ceiling where the exposed adjacent layer is. Which meant "N-No way Are we flying?" "Is there any other way?" "B-But, I fell off a precipice just now and" "You''ll be fine, I''ll hold on to you tightly. Come on, just keep your eyes on the ceiling, we''ll be there in a jiffy, alright?" She seems to have developed a small trauma after falling off the ledge. Her facial muscles are also twitching slightly, showing her disapproval of flying with Zeros'' flight magic. "You don''t want to even if your companions won''t be able to get here? Aside from here, there are monsters on every layer, you know?" "B-But it''s too high" "If you stay still, we''ll be there in a second. Only if you stay still" Flight magic is a kind of spell that defies the laws of physics. It works by creating a repulsion field with the user''s own mana, and at the same time, the propulsion is generated by taking in the mana from the surroundings. Because of that, the mana consumption rate is very high. Moreover, it''s designed to only support the weight of the user, so if the weight is further increased, the burden is compensated by consuming more mana. "E-Even if we get there, I still don''t have the strength to beat the monsters there!" "Just for this one time, I''ll lend you one of my prized weapons. You''ll one-hit all the monsters around here, you know? Fufufu" Along with his companions, Zeros created a modded magic weapon. Most small-fries should receive a burial with only one hit from this weapon. It had such a destructive power that he decided to keep it for himself. For him, it''s just another weapon, but for Christine, it should hold quite the power. "Can I choose" "You can''t. But well, while we''re messing around here, I wonder how the knights are doing Ahhh, I really hope they''re not dead already." "Uuu" She hasn''t made a decision yet, and she seems ready to run away at any second while looking at the ceiling. And given that it would be useless to spend more time idling in that place, Zeros decides to forcefully hold her. "Hyaaaahh!!" "Wings of the Black Bird" He ignores her screaming and proceeds to fly high in the air at a tremendous speed. While such an uncle soars through the air, a scream echoes in the vast s.p.a.ce below them, in the deepest layer of the dungeon. He just wanted to get home early so he could work on making appliances. The pitiful Christine was just dragged into it. She would later recall, "The sky is scary I don''t want to fly anymore". In the end, he only worsened her fear of heights. It''s even more terrible because he was completely oblivious to it. The two people descend on the ground after reaching the upper floor using flight magic. Most of the monsters they encounter in the way are kicked around by Zeros while Christine follows behind him. She said she didn''t have enough battle prowess, and indeed she was weak. They are currently resting on a narrow s.p.a.ce in a rocky area. Fortunately, Zeros always keeps firewood in his inventory, so he lights up a campfire and prepares for a small late lunch break. "Fumu. By the way, can you use magic, Christine-san?" In contrast to Zeros, who just finished starting the fire, she reluctantly starts talking while lying face down. "I can''t use magic. It seems like I don''t have the apt.i.tude. I can memorize the magic formula, but I can''t invoke the spell, something like that." "I see. If you could use magic, would you like to learn?" "I''d like to learn if I could, but it''s impossible. All the magicians who''ve tried to teach me magic said that." While inhaling the cigarette smoke, Zeros takes out several pieces of magic paper from his inventory. They are the same magic scrolls, modified from the Academy''s textbooks, that Celestina had memorized before. It''s a prototype he made when the talk of selling magic scrolls came up, but unlike the scrolls being currently sold, these do not possess a magic erasing technique. "This is?" "I dare say, my lady might be able to use this magic, perchance?" "But I don''t have the apt.i.tude" "Right now we''re are practically at the gates of Hades, you won''t lose anything trying it." "Uuu That might be true. Then, I will try." As she says that, she pours mana into the scroll, activating the magic formula, which is then etched into her mind. After the process was done, she mutters the spell''s chant. "Burn the light, illuminate my way. Torch" The moment she finishes her chant, a small flame flickers on the top of her palm. Christine opens her eyes wide in astonishment. "Z-Zeros-san! I don''t feel sluggish like when I used the spells I''ve been taught before!" "That''s excellent. Ah, please return the scroll. This magic has spread around enough." "I was able to use magic" "My student had the same problem as you. Please consider this magic as closer to the one of the past." Christine, who comes from a family of knights, doesn''t have much to do with magic. However, now that she''s able to cast magic, her options are wide open. Though she''s not aware of that fact yet "Umm, is this okay? This is one of your original spells, right?" "No, this is something I modified from the Magic Academy''s textbook, it''s good if you like it, but we have to do something, my lady. I don''t know what those knights will doiyaa, seriously" The knights will surely come down looking for Christine. But they will be bothered if she''s injured when she joins them. He was thinking it was better to have as few worries as possible, as Christine was trying to learn several spells in a hurry. "I was wondering, what kind of meat is this?" She says what she was wondering about to Zeros, who was grilling meat skewers over the fire as a savory fragrance wafts in the air. "Hmm? Well, I have many different kinds of meat sitting in my inventory, so I''m not entirely sure, but don''t worry about it. Please try it, alright?" The meat that''s being grilled over the fire drips its delicious oil. He sprinkles some salt and spices before roasting it again for some time and then hands her the skewer. Despite being improper, she loudly gulps the saliva unconsciously acc.u.mulated in her mouth before slowly bitting into the meat skewer. The juicy sweetness and tenderness of the meat, that seems to almost melt in her mouth, give away its rich flavor. "D-Delicious." She could only utter that single word. She hadn''t eaten anything since falling to the deepest layer of the dungeon, and the meat skewer seemed to be a heaven-sent treat to quench her hunger. "Ah This is Manticore, Wyvern and Death Mantis meat." "Bufu! Gohogoho!"(*T.N: choking sfx.) *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Zeros remembers from which monsters the meat was from after tasting it. Manticore and Wyvern meat are amongst the finest ingredients. They''re luxurious enough that even n.o.bles would hardly ever have the opportunity to savor them, with the exception of the Death Mantis, which was an unheard-of type of meat. In addition, in this world not only did no one think of eating insects but also monsters were known for being dangerous creatures with ferocious strength. It''s certainly not something one could easily get their hands on. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 30 Ossan, quickly returns home *DISCLAIMER: I DON''T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. *I HAVE A DISCORD SERVER IN CASE YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN I''M ABOUT TO POST A NEW UPDATE. *Yeah, also I put too many unnecessary translator notes, which are pretty much reminders for myself at this point, unless you actually know j.a.panese and can correct me, which I would appreciate. Christine woke up in a plain room made out of wood. Looking around, one would be able to see a table placed near the bed, an antique dresser alongside the wall, and a simple vase without any flowers in it. She vacantly stares at the ceiling, but as time pa.s.sed, she gradually started recalling her present condition. The girl couldn''t remember anything after defeating the Wuant, but now, she finally understood that she was staying in an inn room until this morning. "How How did I get here Ah, Zeros-san!" She could only a.s.sume that the suspicious-looking magician brought her here. When she abruptly tries to get off the bed, intense dizziness a.s.saulted her. As a result of the fast level-up, her body is in a state of disharmony, and such symptoms are the signs that the optimization process hasn''t finished yet. And so, she falls down on the bed once again. "Ahh" She lets out a weird moan before burying her head in the pillow. Despite trying to stand up, she can''t help but feel extremely tired. (It''s okay if I give him my thanks tomorrow, right?) It was impossible to properly convey her grat.i.tude in her current condition, so she decided to give priority to her recovery for the time being. As she covers herself with the sheets and closes her eyes, she could hear the hustle and bustle coming from the dining hall on the first floor. And after a while, a calm breathing could be heard from the room of the old inn. Christine had fallen asleep again. The next morning, as soon as she woke up, Christine immediately changed her clothes and dashed out of the room. When she went downstairs and headed towards the dining hall on the first floor, there were several mercenaries having their breakfast. There, as she recognized the faces of the people she was looking for, the fact that she was safe finally started seeping into her brain. "Have you woken up, Christine-sama? How is your body?" "I was really worried when you suddenly disappeared in front of our eyes." "I''m alright now, Izzard, Syll. Corsa and Soctas, I''m glad you''re fine, too." "I would go anywhere to save you, my lady." "That''s right. Well, honestly, I was quite on edge at that time." She was relieved from the bottom of her heart to see that the knights, who were so close to her, were safe, but she had come here with another purpose in mind. "Izzard, where''s the person who saved me?" "That magician? I haven''t seen him after he brought you here, Christine-sama. We should probably try asking the ladies who were accompanying him." The young man, who happened to be the leader of the knights, calls out to the three women having breakfast on the table in front of him. "Hey, I''m sorry to bother you, but do you guys know where that magician is? Christine-sama wants to thank him." "Ahh? The old man? Now that you mention it, I haven''t seen him anywhere." "Yeah. Is he still sleeping?" "Ah, if you''re looking for mister, he went back home last night." """Ha?""" When Iris informs them that Zeros had left Ahhan village last night, the three people who were completely unaware let out a dumb voice. "Wait a minute, Iris! When did Zeros-san leave?" "You were having a meal when I happened to see you yesterday, right?" "Yeah. Then we rested for a little while and decided to go back to our rooms, but when we were climbing up the stairs he told me that he was going to take the day off." "It takes half a day to get to Santhor, right? Is he insane? He''ll be the perfect target for bandits well, no. It''s probably the opposite." "Yeah, I don''t think there are any bandits that can defeat him. He returned unscathed from the deepest layer of the mine, after all." Even though Zeros left the village late at night, they weren''t worried in the slightest. On the contrary, because he was so ridiculously strong, they thought, ''I''d like to see if there''s someone capable of killing him.'' They were treating him terribly even when he wasn''t there. "Did Zeros-san say anything else?" "Hmm He said that because it would be troublesome to get involved with a n.o.ble, and they would persistently try to scout him to work for them or something, he was gonna disappear before they tried to talk to him, I think?" "So, I won''t be able to give him my thanks Hmm, do you know where he lives?" "Hmm? No clue~. Mister said that he was an ''inn vagabond'' or something, right?" The knights didn''t know what to say to the discouraged Christine. Magicians tend to be self-centered people that are completely apathetic towards others, and Zeros quickly vanished without bothering to hear the words of grat.i.tude of the girl he saved, bringing an awkward atmosphere to what was supposed to be a refreshing morning. No one knew where the middle-aged magician was. "Well, they say magicians are that kind of narcissistic people, you shouldn''t worry too much about it." "But, he saved my life I really think I should properly convey my grat.i.tude as a person and as a n.o.bleman." "We''re talking of Zeros-san though, maybe you shouldn''t expect much from him to begin with." "Don''t torment yourself with that, aight? Mister just wants to live a carefree life in the first place, you know~?" Christine just wanted to say her thanks but won''t be able to now because the person in question suddenly vanished. She was quite dispirited after that, and no matter what they said, they couldn''t lift her mood. The middle-aged magician had hurriedly left the village and now they were feeling like that. And, the responsible for said incident, at that time had long arrived at the gates of Santhor, and was humming while smoking a cigarette Incidentally, it will take some time for the abandoned mine near Ahhan village to be officially recognized as a dungeon. An investigation team composed of skilled mercenaries was sent to ascertain the veracity of the information, so after some procedures and formalities, it took three months for the dungeon to be officially acknowledged. Taking full advantage of that opportunity, it took several years for Ahhan village to become revitalized. Around that time, the interior of the abandoned mine expanded even more and the number of monsters increased. Naturally, they didn''t know that the cause of that was a certain uncle ma.s.sacring monsters with wide-range annihilation magic. The victims that were instantly turned into ashes were efficiently absorbed by the dungeon and became its nourishment, providing it with a new source of power. This dungeon will continue to expand and become an indispensable place for the people that bet their lives fighting monsters to make a living Until the day the dungeon core is finally destroyed. Later on, that dungeon will end up being known as ''Ahhan Great Labyrinth''. Time goes back a little, and the place moves to a tavern in the city of Santhor, where many uncouth hoodlums gather, ordering alcohol as they please, messing around with each other, and occasionally starting fights. In this tavern, where the guards are frequently called to stop said brawls, a group of mercenaries is drinking alcohol, trying to forget this morning''s disgrace. They are the mercenaries that tried to pick a fight with Christine. After being threatened by Zeros, they fled and came to this city, half a day away from Ahhan village. Though, only one of them still has this morning''s incident weighing in his heart, drowning his troubles in alcohol. "f.u.c.k! That magician It gets me so f.u.c.king angry every time I remember that s.h.i.t!" "Oi, haven''t you said enough? Just give up" "Wasn''t that mithril sword all f.u.c.ked up too? Even if you had s.n.a.t.c.hed it away, it was useless anyway, you dumba.s.s hahaha!" "The f.u.c.k you know. Maybe it was that son of a b.i.t.c.h pulling a snow job on me, y''know?" There were two reasons why he thought Zeros was lying to him. First, it was impossible to prove that he actually had the appraisal skill. Second, when he unsheathed his sword and thrust it before his neck, he said: ''leave the sword and disappear.'' Even if someone were to claim that they have the appraisal skill, there wouldn''t any way to verify it unless there was another person with said ability. In addition, there''s the possibility that Zeros pulling out his sword to intimidate them to be merely an act. In which case, the story about having the appraisal skill is likely to be a lie. But, more than anything else, it was his shady appearance that made this mercenary misjudge his true strength. "Aight, let''s say you''re right. You have any confidence in your skills? Dude didn''t seem much of a magician, y''know?" "Ahh I hated that he pulled out his sword before I knew it." "That''s the kinda man you shouldn''t pick a fight with if you value your life." "f.u.c.k! I know that!!" All the mercenaries here were of low rank. Instead of raising their levels, they''ve come that far only taking advantage of other people''s hard work. They would secretly follow the mercenary escorts of merchants, who naturally seemed to be strong enough to reliably protect them, and whenever the escorts had to defeat monsters that appeared on the way, they would make their entrance and aim to steal their prey, attacking when the monsters were already weakened, the so-called ''parasitic method''. They thought they were being really clever, but such a thing made them lose the Guild''s trust, resulting in being unable to advance their ranks. But even then, they resented the Guild and continued to act in such a way while trying to hide it from them. These kinds of people were everywhere. A man drinking at the counter approaches them. He was a black-robed magician. "What a funny story, did you really think you would get stronger if you had a powerful weapon? It really makes me laugh." "The f.u.c.k you say!? You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, are you picking a fight with us!?" "Ha, the likes of mercenaries losing to a magician aren''t even worth calling ''enemies'', don''t you think? Well, it made me laugh quite a bit, so I will also tell you an interesting story." "Haa? You''re a magician too, right motherf.u.c.ker? And what''s that about an interesting story, ah?" "Before that, you want to get stronger than you are now, right? I''ll tell you how if you answer me this: how do you think one can get stronger than others?" The mercenaries exchange glances. The magician they encountered this morning was just as suspicious-looking, but this one looked even more suspicious in a different sense. Moreover, he was wearing a hooded robe despite being indoors. They also doubted he would simply give them that kind of information just because he listened to their story. "Ah! You just have to talk. You don''t seem to have enough gold to say you''ll pay for it, after all. Let''s have a drink. Including that entertaining story from before, it''s fine if you answer my question, right?" "b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you''re just tryna make us drink, don''t you?" "How rude. It''s just a thing I don''t need anymore, so I''m trying to give it away to someone who might find it useful. You can also just give it to someone else, you know? It might sell for a surprisingly high price." The mercenaries looked at each other again. The magician in front of them seemed to be giving them something he didn''t need, but they have no clue what the object in question was. But getting stronger will obviously lead to having the possibility of making more money than what they currently earn. Although they were unscrupulous, they were also wary of the man, and planned to continue pulling the aforementioned underhanded method in the future as it was the safer option or that''s what they should have thought, however, they were too drunk and didn''t think deeply about the magician''s story. "Then, first show us what you wanna give us, we ain''t got no clue, y''know?" "Ah, that''s right. Here it is." The mercenaries are surprised at the magician who suddenly produced something from the empty s.p.a.ce. Ignoring them, what he puts on the table is some sort of amulet with countless black stones inlaid onto it. "Well then, did that satisfy your curiosity? Please get me something to drink, will you? Ah, and by the way let me say this, it doesn''t matter if you steal it or not, as you need to know how to properly use it in the first place." "Tch, oi! Bring some ale for this magician!!" So the man shouts, and after a while, a well-built aunty brings in a wooden mug filled with ale, roughly putting it on the table. No, it might be better to say that she slammed it against the table with all her might. The table shakes due to the impact but not a single drop of alcohol is spilled. " Can you really run a business with that att.i.tude?" "We''re full of mysteries." "The food is delicious but the att.i.tude is really s.h.i.t" "You''re still single, right?" "I-I was almost pushed down by that aunty naked it was scary." Gazes full of sympathy and compa.s.sion gather on one man. He was so terrified that he looked like he was about to cry. Especially because the woman had an incredible physique. She was a fox-eyed* aunty with a body so fat she could''ve easily been a Guinness record holder. The floor creaked with every step she took, making people wonder just how much did she weigh. And, in all honesty, no one wanted to be ravished by such a woman. (*T.N: fox eyes refer to having scary slanted eyes like this: ) "W-Well, do what you want, I don''t care. So? How do I use this thing?" "Iyaa, this is quite delicious, isn''t it? Ah, how to use this? You just have to wear it and pour mana into it and it will bestow you with power." "It''s okay if I try it, right?" "Go ahead, I don''t need it anymore." The man squeezes the amulet in his hand and pours mana. DDDokun! Thereupon, he was completely filled with a sense of euphoria, and at the same time, a violent torrent of power suddenly welled up inside his body and appeared to start becoming hotter and hotter as the power began to overflow within him. "Hahaha! This thing! This is amazing, I feel filled with power!" "Seriously? I want it too." "Is that so? I have three more, but" """Give it to us!!""" The men approached the magician. And as expected, he handed the same amulet to each of them with a cramped smile, drawing towards them as if to take a closer look at their faces. "Well then, it''s about time. I''ll excuse myself now, I have work to do." "Oi, you''re leaving already?" "It''s work, after all. My boss is quite a tiresome person, so I wouldn''t want to be late." "So you have it hard too, magician" "Indeed. We''ll meet again if fate allows it." "We''ll be making bank by then." "If that''s good then I''m glad." The magician splits from the group and leaves the tavern. After that, the men continued making noise until the next morning. After exiting the tavern, the magician enters a building in a nearby back alley, where several hoodlums were waiting for him. "Success?" "Yeah, it went well. The rest is up to you, I guess?" "Those guys are truly pitiful. They never even thought they were being used as test subjects in a human experiment, really." "That garbage will give you results, so let''s sleep and wait." "b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you still have a job left." "It will be depending on your report. Therefore, please present me with outstanding results. For the sake of your country." (*T.N: This guy is talking with a super polite speech btw, I just couldn''t find a way to properly translate it into English.) The magician exits the building and walks leisurely through the back alley without minding the other men''s presence on the slightest. These men lightly nodded at each other and disappeared as if they were erased from the face of the planet. "However, I couldn''t give a d.a.m.n about that" The magician mumbles before floating an eerie smile in his face and disappearing into the darkness. Now only silence wrapped around the back alley. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Zeros arrived at the city of Santhor around the time the morning sun was starting to rise. It was supposed to be a refreshing morning, but he was abnormally fired up in a different sense. *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 31 Published at 21st of March 2020 03:37:30 PM Chapter 31 Zweit von Solisthea . A former student of a certain middle-aged magician uncle, and the eldest son of the House of the Duke of Solisthea, as well as its heir . He is well aware of that fact, and because of that, hes diligent and serious in his studies . Sponsored Content Currently, hes partic.i.p.ating in his factions tactics a.s.sembly, that is to say, the Weissler faction . However, he was feeling that the discussion happening in front of his eyes was far removed from reality . Therefore, if we place the knights at this point, and spread out our magicians magic attacks, the enemy will be caught in a pincer a.s.sault . But, would that actually work? Since the enemy is also human, they would immediately see through such a simple tactic, in my opinion . And thats exactly why it would be effective . You might ask why are we using the knights for, then? Am I correct? Well, obviously as disposable p.a.w.ns! Those guys would probably act taking into account their own exhaustion, dont you think? Its also a question of whether we can arrange our battle formations before that or not . Theyve gathered to discuss a particular hypothetic case, and to design some kind of simulation regarding the best way to attack and take by storm the enemy encampment, however, in this place there are only supposed to be personages with ample knowledge of military tactics, yet they were quibbling at each other over the smallest things . Moreover, although they are making plausible conjectures, none of them have experienced a real battle . Zweit, what do you think about this? Dio, were discussing tactics, right? In that case, shouldnt we call the knights as well, given that they probably understand the battlefield better than any of us? As he said those words, the air of the room seemed to freeze . Its not a secret that the current relationship between the Chivalric Order and magicians is like that of cats and dogs, so its unlikely that either side would accept such an invitation . To say nothing of the rest of the Weissler factions members, who believe in only trusting their own strength . His words could be taken as a grave insult to their pride . Why do we have to invite the knights? They cant do anything without our support in the first place . One cant wage a war alone . There has to be a thorough back and forth during the tactics discussion between the many commanders we have . One persons opinion should only be that, lest the battle progresses in a disadvantageous way . Yeah, I know, but its unlikely the knights will listen to us, you know? Then, is there even a point in having these kinds of discussions here in the first place? No matter how much we try to devise strategies and the like, the knights will be the ones to execute them in an actual battle, and most importantly, were a.s.suming that the enemys movements are practically nonexistent . Really? I think theyre devising the strategy quite skillfully though . Even his friend, Dio, wasnt aware of this tactics discussions tremendous flaw . After returning from Far-flung forest, which is said to be the most dangerous place in the country, it seemed to Zweit that this debate was meaningless . Well then, let me ask this CWhy are enemies and allies always evenly matched in military strength? Even equipment and supplies, and the number of soldiers? In the previous situation, we had an overwhelming advantage over the enemy . Thats because war basically consists of ama.s.sing a military force equal to your enemys, right? Dude listen here, theres no way such a convenient situation ever happens in the first place! Also, the number of soldiers available depends on things like the political situation and the time of the year, as well as the scale of the country, you know? Based on that, the strategy to be used might change in a drastic way . Its highly unlikely to ever have a military force evenly matched to the enemys, and that theyll also move according to how we want them to . Then, whats your point? I get what youre saying, but Im not sure where youre going with this . Theyre not antic.i.p.ating the worst-case scenario . They a.s.sume from the start that were going to win and that the enemy will move according to their predictions . Does it really make sense to have this sort of discussion then? This was the current state of the Weissler faction . After all, theyre a gathering of graduate students that have never experienced something as h.e.l.lish as war, and thus they cant imagine the worst-case scenario . So, how would you allocate the troops to face the enemy nations army, huh? Please enlighten us . Hmmm Then, imagine if a widespread famine suddenly struck the neighboring country, the general prices of food will rise exponentially and people will eventually die because of it . Their armys numbers will increase as a whole, and then they will invade our country to plunder its riches . Adding the populace into their military strength, that countrys total amount of soldiers would increase by lets say 10 times . And naturally, as it was a surprise attack, we wouldnt be able to grasp the enemy armys movements . The surrounding students, who overheard Zweit and Dios conversation immediately kicked up a fuss after hearing the hypothetic enemys invasion plan . Until now, theyve never considered an invasion force with ten times the numbers . Moreover, Zweits surprise tactics idea was equally as shocking . To sum it up, an invasion at the scale of a whole army will begin, and things like foodstuffs will immediately be plundered . On top of such a terrible situation, no one could promptly create a plan to counter the hypothetic enemy . Preposterous! Thats just baseless speculation!! Why is it preposterous? From the enemy nations point of view, its better to plunder the neighboring country than to let its people starve, and above all, theyll be able to expand their territory . Alliances are, after all, nothing more than words on a paper, that sort of thing cant be trusted when push comes to shove . When that happens, the invaded countries will definitely be destroyed, wouldnt you agree? T-Thats So? How would you guys resolve this situation? While you make your petty complaints about my ideas the invasion continues, the people are killed and your property is seized . Youre required to make quick decisions and take immediate action . They were unable to devise a suitable plan to beat Zweits enemy invasion scenario . They could only imagine a battle they were a.s.sured to win, and couldnt come up with an emergency strategy on the spot . Namely, a strategy the a.s.sumes the worst-case scenario and practical application in a real battle . By the way, Id leave behind half of my soldiers to defend Fort Laos . Id use other troops like knights and mercenaries to help evacuate the people from the battlefield while collecting and burning all the food we can find to starve the enemy at the same time . Thereupon, saving a large percentage of people . But that would make us lose the majority of our territory!! The country wouldnt be saved! It would be incredibly difficult for the enemy to take Fort Laos . And because they would be starving at the same time, the war front will naturally have to be expanded for them to secure a supply line, which we will then be attacking every time a convoy is sent . Their country will fall to ruin before we even finish evacuating the people . It wasnt a strategy to win but to destroy the enemy nation . Their constant plundering would slow down the speed of their invasion, giving the defending side enough time to evacuate its citizens . In addition, because of the need to secure provisions for their soldiers, the invading side wouldnt be able to disperse their forces, thus eliminating the need of having to face their whole army at once . And, to effectively implement said strategy, it would be required to have a solid grasp on the countrys information, and keep a military force thats able to be deployed at any given time . Incidentally, in this hypothetic strategy, the magicians are sent to the frontlines to burn down the food supplies with their magic . What nonsense is this!? Why should we be on the frontlines!? Burn down our food supplies to starve the enemy? Magicians on the frontlines? What the h.e.l.l are you talking about? The knights are for carrying the oil and other supplies, right? Hahaha! Do you think its possible to do that in case of an emergency? Wed be able to burn at most 10% of the supplies, dont you think? Sponsored Content But even so, for knights to use magic is Oi, thats like saying we dont need magicians anymore, you know? If were knights to learn to use magic, there wouldnt be a reason for us to exist . In the first place, magicians arent suitable to be sent to the frontlines . Everyone was at a loss of words . Zweits hypothetical war scenario was the worst conceivable thing for them, requiring them to be quick-witted and to swiftly take action to beat it . If were the Kings command, the magicians wouldnt be able to avoid being deployed on the frontlines, and also wouldnt be able to use the simplistic tactics theyve been using up until now . War is the most detrimental policy to have, but do you really think youll be able to stay in the backlines launching small magics attacks forever? How naive you guys are! In some situations, you can expect to starve, and for the sake of things like preserving your stamina and securing food, all sorts of different abilities are needed . But you guys already knew all this, right? Having these sorts of discussions, again, do they actually matter? Even though there are more ways of waging a war other than simply pushing our troops forward towards the enemy . What do you think about this area here? we can completely cut off and isolate the enemys forces, for example . It was an acceptable opinion . A graduate student, whos never experienced a real war, cant imagine such a disastrous situation . War is like a living creature, and victory or defeat is only clear once one side has killed the other . (*T . N: I didnt really get what the author meant; Ǥꡢٔϥå֤뚢ϤʤΤ) The people tasked with the countrys protection couldnt help being anxious at their future prospects . Zweit! Those are quite the self-important words youre spewing for someone who hasnt experienced a real war . Thats true, I havent been in a war, but I have experienced real combat . When monsters destroyed our food supplies, we had to survive for four days inside Far-flung forest . !? At that time I realized that you not only need the knowledge but also the skill and experience to survive in harsh conditions It was a special kind of dreadfulness that people who havent experienced real combat wouldnt understand . With that in mind, Zweit has been earnestly preparing to deal with such situations in the future . I understand that youre trying to gain control of the Chivalric Order, but thats impossible right now, isnt it? And also, its true that since were only shooting magic from the back, we might hit our allies on the battlefield, but since theyre merely disposable p.a.w.ns, I dont see why we should bestow them with more authority . You really said they were your disposable p.a.w.ns, right? You son of a b.i.t.c.h!? Theyre a disorderly mob that would have no other use than being an artillery battery . Because of that, theyll probably only be a hindrance, will a knight that has learned magic truly be useful in a battle? Besides I wonder how many of our people will they really protect at the end of the day, dont you think so? Right! W-We can use powerful magic! Are you saying that we cant even protect our own bodies!? And when you cant use magic to attack after exhausting your mana, or when its about to run out? You have to also think about a situation where you have to make do without magic potions, and where you wont be able to obtain supplies . In the end, magicians who arent skilled in close-quarters combat will definitely end up dead . And actually, I wouldve died if a magician acquaintance of mine wasnt there to rescue at that time . Then, as expected, magic is truly incredible! That person was cleaving monsters in half only with his sword, you know? Despite being a magician too . He protected me by slashing them left and right, and before we went to the forest, he even said magicians without any proficiency in hand-to-hand combat are destined to die on the battlefield, you know? ??????????? No matter how much they discuss this impractical, imaginary case, chances are that reality would be completely different . Tactics are important, but its the humans themselves who are in charge of executing them, and theres no way of successfully organizing a defensive formation when the different army units have no intention of cooperating with each other, to begin with . Its often the case to be isolated on the battlefield, with no possibility of maintaining constant and reliable communication with each other, and in addition, the inept implementation of poorly thought-out tactics is more than likely to amplify the damages to ones own side . Zweit took the contents of all the precedent pseudo-tactics they had discussed so far, pointing out in detail every aspect that was flawed, and refuting all the plans the other graduate students made . His words thrashed their confidence from the roots by way of sound and logical arguments and counterarguments . In the end, the meeting lasted for three more hours . I think its better to differentiate the magicians who fight on the battlefield from those who dedicate themselves to magical research . As things are today, only half-baked magicians are being formed, and theres no way theyd be useful in a real war . Im not particularly criticizing the existence of the factions, you know? However, we also need to objectively reexamine our current situation . Kuh Even though you said you only real combat once yet youre acting all high and mighty . (*T . N: I didnt know how to translate it properly into English, but this once implies one occurrence or experience in general, not that he only fought one time against one monster in particular . ) Yeah, it might look that way from the point of view of you guys, but during this summer vacation, was there a time where your lives were truly in danger? Having to kill monster after monster I experienced h.e.l.l during those four days . We had to hunt to survive, but we encountered endless waves of monsters . Even after defeating one, there was another one following right behind it . The lookouts were changed every hour but still, everyone ended up beat up when a swarm of monsters appeared, rinse and repeat for four days . It was supposed a week-long training camp, but I realized how lucky I was to survive after I returned back home . I experienced h.e.l.l and I started to wake up at the slightest noise at night . Only recently Ive been able to sleep well . ??????????????? It was a horrible event for him . He underwent a real battle only once, but in all honesty, it was a terribly hard and h.e.l.lish experience to go through . Its not something students would experience first hand . It was more dangerous than monster hunting, which was the usual training method for the Chivalric Order, and even a single moment of carelessness could prove to be fatal . The previous training I went through really helped me out, you know? Thanks to it, I could keep my composure and carefully a.n.a.lyze the situation after I ran out of mana . I have pretty much experienced every situation . He recalls the h.e.l.lish training that his mentor put him through . Without the combat training against the Golems with regenerative abilities, he wouldnt be alive today . He made use of that experience inside Far-flung forest, and despite struggling, he could feel becoming stronger from it . And he also remembers the exhilarating sensation he was feeling before, on the last day, waiting for the enemies to come . Hmph! Its true that a magician that has actual battle experience is valuable, but with the wide-range annihilation magic that our faction is currently researching, theres no need to fear the likes of those commoners . That Yes, that might be so, but have you managed to successfully develop it? For that kind of magic to be used by a single magician, they would have to process an enormous magic formula to activate it . And besides, a person with enough mana to do so probably doesnt exist, to begin with . You should stop before turning your magicians into cripples . The h.e.l.l you know, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d! That magic formula is our factions masterpiece, I wont stand for this mockery! No, if you think calmly, its impossible to activate such a spell with the mana capacity of a human . And even if you could, how and where would you place such a ridiculously huge magic circle? That is Its engraved into the brain, of course Thats impossible . Theres a limit on the number of spells a person can memorize, and said capacity will decrease faster depending on the density of the spells magic formula . You would have to increase your levels if you want to improve the capacity, and a magician that hasnt experienced actual combat would also have a low mana capacity . At the very least theyd need a level over 1000 to use that kind of magic . Who would be able to use it? Their research of wide-range annihilation magic was flawed from its very foundations . The amount of mana a person needs to activate such a magic formula would be colossal, which again, its close to impossible, and even if for arguments sake there was someone capable, as a prerequisite they would first need to have a magician with a level of over 1000 . Sponsored Content Even if they say that their research is not a futile endeavor, it will still end as a failure given that the theory itself is flawed . To begin with, the magic construction process of Zeros is fundamentally different . In his former world, he connected the gaming console with his homebuilt personal computer, using it as a dedicated server to compensate for the formers lack of processing capacity . The magic could be used thanks to the processing power of the original master system, the supercomputer Babel, and because of that, the time and effort required to activate magic in this world would be several times higher than in j.a.pan . When he was reincarnated into this world, he was recreated using his in-game avatar as a base, and only the magic formulas already etched into his brain could be used, but to recreate them now, it would take a significant amount of work . Up until now, the amount of information contained in the formula of an annihilation magic spell wasnt something the human brain could withstand . Zeros annihilation magic incorporates a high-speed-processing-formula system into the spells own magic formula . That way, the user only has to point towards the enemy and pour in the necessary amount of mana to activate the formula . And as a matter of fact, in this world, it was impossible to create magic formulas made out of 0s and 1s . Only this middle-aged magician would be able to make something like that . He made a formula processing system, which used the existing magic characters, and ran it on his computer . Subsequently, the high-speed processing CPU is tasked with transforming said characters into 0s and 1s and creating a system with an enormous processing power by repeating this process over and over . However, whether the person in question was willing to make it again was another story altogether . In short, there wasnt a single human capable of using wide-range annihilation magic at this point in time other than Zeros . Because Zweit had been observed this super high-cla.s.s, half-hearted magician from up close, he immediately realized how inexperienced the people in front of him were . Instead of clinging to something you dont know if it will ever be useful, I think itd be more useful to train and temper yourselves . You This is an insult to my faction! Thats not the case, Im just saying that Im the only magician currently capable to stand for this country . Saying treason this, betrayal that What sort of authority do you have to declare that, Samtroll*? (*T . N:ȥ`[samutorouru]; Yeah, thats this dudes name . I have no clue if its supposed to be a pun or not . It kinda sounds like the citys name tho ȩ`[santouru]) You b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Youre wrong about one thing . This is not your faction, its ours . Get some self-awareness, this here is not your personal property, you know? Samtrolls stern face was reddened, and he was desperately trying to endure his rage . He was the second son of the House of the Marquess of Weissler and had the ambition of becoming the factions leader in the future . However, because of his hot-headed and belligerent personality, one couldnt say he was a person with many virtues . He wanted to obtain control of the faction from the shadows, but he crashed against the wall known as the eldest son of the Duke of Solisthea . Originally, he was supposed to use his influence to strengthen the factions power, but he ended up wallowing in his self-conceitedness . He used various behind-the-scenes maneuvers to win Zweit over, but it all ended up as wasted time after this summer vacation since he emerged as a powerful rival . Hes feeling impatient because, at this rate, the faction might be completely controlled by him . What good is a weak magician . Leave researching to the Saint-Germain faction . We should improve our own strength and organize our countrys domestic situation . That way, if theres a war, we wont be crushed . Are you saying were going to be defeated!? Arent you underestimating us a bit too much? Its a fact . Can you really say that, while we were fighting among ourselves for political power, other countries hadnt been increasing their national power? *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Zweit calmly receives Samtrolls glare . At this point, it was clear the difference in character . *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Chapter 32 Published at 28th of March 2020 05:57:51 PM Chapter 32 reuz von Solisthea . Hes the second son of the Duke of Solisthea, and being the Magic Academys top student, hes been dubbed as a genius magician . He is calm and collected but seemed to only be interested in magic research to the point of turning a blind eye and pretending not to notice his own Houses internal squabble, and spending all of his time on his research . Sponsored Content Ultimately, it was all background noise to him, who wasnt interested in succeeding his fathers t.i.tle . His interest lied in magic, as he was a researcher in the pursuit of knowledge . And, as such, he will continue to seek wisdom even if this long-cherished ambition ends up destroying him in the end, is what he seriously thought . Though he was currently buried under a large number of books . Its not going well . Just what the h.e.l.l am I missing? He was investigating magic formulas . Naturally, he also studies other disciplines such as magic potions brewing, however, this was his area of expertise . The pursuit of knowledge was both his raison dtre and hobby . In short, he was a research otaku . With well-ordered facial features and silver hair resembling his mothers, he was a good-looking youth . He had gla.s.ses that suited the cool-headed impression he gave off, but even though he may seem apathetic on the surface, he earned the good faith and trust from the people around him, causing him to be on the end of the pa.s.sionate gazes of his many fans whenever they saw him . Putting it plainly, he was a riajuu* (*T . N: ꥢ; a normie; a person who is satisfied with their real (offline) life . ) Be that as it may, this was the perspective other people had of him, and if one were to ask the person in question, he would completely deny it . In any case, given that he knew his elder brother would be the one inheriting the position of the next family head, today as well, he was burning up with the pa.s.sion to do what he really loved, that is to say, magic research . In addition, it was a pitiful story, that even though, at the moment, other people were having a dispute over who will succeed his fathers t.i.tle, things like political power didnt tickle his fancy at all . His evaluation towards his own family was also quite low and were he return home, a doting mother and a philanderer father would be expecting him in there . His elder brother had grown foolish and ill-mannered over the past few years, and his mother started to see herself only as Kreuzs mothers friend* . (*T . N: that sentence was too ambiguous . I thought Kreuz and Zweit were twins tho, but to me, this sentence makes more sense this way than to say Zweits mother only thought of herself as a friend of herself;ĸHԷ֤ĸHˤȤJRƤʤä) His grandfather was a respectable personage, but his favoritism towards Kreuzs incompetent little sister also played part in his low evaluation . As he was also born in a family that hailed from a long line of magicians, he took no interest in Celestina, who couldnt use magic . Even though they were raised together, he continued to treat her like air . Something that hasnt changed even to this day . However, he couldnt have expected that he would need to correct some of his evaluations now . That is because he stayed locked up in his room for two months, and of the previously mentioned, three weeks in the laboratory a.s.signed by the Academy . In addition, he also had no concern for things like gossips in the first place . Though, one could say he was a severe hikikomori . Currently, he was researching magic formula deciphering methods . Kreuz held doubts regarding the interpretation taught by the Academy of things like magic characters and magic formulas, so he decided to get into the heart of the matter using his own . That is Each individual magic character doesnt possess a meaning on its own, they only make sense when they are put together . If this hypothesis is correct, it will certainly explain why all previous studies on this subject have failed He thought that magic formulas were things similar to command words . Up until now, the established theory was that each magic character had a meaning on its own and that, from the series of characters a magic formula was composed of, mana was smoothly drawn and transformed into a physical phenomenon . However, there were, occasionally, odd magic formulas that completely failed to work despite being correctly activated . If said theory was correct, a magic formula should still activate and give some sort of reaction even if the magic characters used didnt make any sense It was common knowledge that within the magic characters, there were some that determined the spells attribute, but if it didnt work, it meant that the mana itself wasnt flowing through the formula . He believed in the contents of the lessons, and so he compared a magic formula that didnt work with one that activated normally, finding out that only one small section of the formula was different . He painstakingly selected a list of common magic characters between both formulas, as well as magic formulas with other magic attributes, leaving behind the unintelligible parts . As a result, it turned out that this magic formula had been modified many generations ago, which, made him draw the inference that modern magicians had completely destroyed the magic from the past . And, at the same time, it made him come up with the notion of using the magic characters to form words that represented a physical phenomenon . For instance, the wind element . This magic attribute is seen in many sections across this list and so, he thought that it was the magic formula that determined the attribute change of the spell itself, and the rest of the common magic characters between the two are things that regulate the spells control and power . (*T . N: It legit took me like 2 whole hours to get these two paragraphs . ) He worked on his own on a thorough investigation of this topic, recording everything and compiling it into an essay . However, it lacked persuasion as there wasnt any supporting evidence . The magicians belonging to the Saint-Germain faction will surely acknowledge it, but the other factions will criticize that point, using it as an excuse to hide and bury his research . In this current situation, where the factions are constantly trying to pull each others legs, Kreuz couldnt carelessly publish his essay . He abruptly stands up but frowns because of the pain that a.s.saulted him after being sat in a chair for too long . Ugh Speaking of which, I dont even remember how long Ive been sitting here for . You also said the same thing yesterday, right? Just how immersed in yourself can you be, Kreuz-kun? When he turns his eyes towards the voice that called him out, he sees a dog-eared woman resting up on the sofa nearby with a blanket on top . Yi Ling . When did you intrude? I didnt realize at all . (*T . N:`?; according to weblio, its a chinese name written in katakana . Without the dot in the middle, itd be Erin . ) Ehh? How mean~ I called out to you just in case, you know? Youre the one who didnt notice . With a chestnut-colored, messy bed hair, and a friendly smile on her face, shes a researcher, who joined Kreuzs faction at the same time as him . (*T . N: The term used here is ͬ[douki] which is often used to refer to people who entered a company in the same year, so like, colleagues . ) Shes a mixed-race born between a human and a beastman[], and in addition, she possesses an innate high mana capacity, as well as being one of the Academys most outstanding students with the highest grades . Originally, The beastmen race is one not very adept at magic, however, the opposite was true for her, magic being one of her strong points . Its not praiseworthy for a woman of marriageable age to intrude alone into a mans room, you know? Its alright, I trust you, Kreuz-kun . Im honored . Um Well, they told me that when its my first time I should properly use contraceptives, though . What kind of trust is that Kreuz heaves a tired sigh . He might be a riajuu, but more than that, he was an unsociable person . The two talked about the lessons contents and the like for a while, however Speaking of which, Kreuz-kun, you had a younger sister called Celestina, right? For some reason, the topic of his stepsister comes out . (*T . N: `[harachigai] in specific a sibling born from a different mother . ) In all honesty, to him, it had been a very pleasant conversation until that moment Thats correct, but why do you ask? Sponsored Content I heard that she couldnt use magic, is that true? Ehh, well, when I was young, I was told she didnt have any talent for magic . What about it? That girl Shes now one of the top students in terms of average grades . Shes becoming a powerful magician, almost as if that story about her being unable to use magic were a lie . The book he was casually holding between his hands falls to the ground with a loud clang . Are you sure youre not mistaken? I doubt shed be able to pretend like that What I heard is that she went on some sort of training trip towards Far-flung forest, together with your elder brother . No, that cant be correct . My brother hated her guts . But like~, recently the two have been regularly in the library investigating something, you know? And it seems like its a really complicated topic, because, like I had no idea what they were talking about . At least to Kreuz, his brother, Zweit, didnt seem like the kind of person to get along with Celestina . Rather, he remembers that since they were young, Zweit was the one to take the initiative to bully her . There seemed to be a discrepancy between Kreuzs memory, and the story she told about his siblings . Did he have some sort of change of heart? But still, I dont think its likely that their relationship improved to that degree . Thats why~, like I looked into it, and it seems its true . They like, stay cooped up inside the library from the afternoon until its closing time, you know? The two of them (*T . N: yes, she says like in every sentence) How weird . To be honest, the two can do whatever they want for all I care, but it doesnt add up that theyre working together . Its unnatural . The two of them secretly No way! They have a forbidden relationship!? How did the story even get there? No, I think something mustve happened back home . In response to Kreuzs calm tone of voice, Yi Ling said, Arent ya a gloomy guy, Kreuz-kun? He was slightly hurt . Well~, also the person in charge of the library said that you have to return the books you borrowed as soon as possible, okay? ??????? Now that you mention it, Ive been borrowing these books for a long time now . Ill go return them Why do you look so tired, though? The books I borrowed are Its because, that pile of books over there are all the books I borrowed . You Youll probably need a dolly cart . Where Kreuz pointed at, there was a huge pile of books stacked from the floor all the way up to the ceiling, and they looked like they could collapse at any time . I sometimes use this room as a place to stay, but well, will you give me a hand with this? Ehh~ With these many books? How many times do you think well have to go back and forth? Lets see . With a dolly at least ten times? Ah I just remembered I had a previous engagement, so Kreuz grabs Yi Lings arm when she was about to escape . Youll help me right? If you stare at me so closely Ill get embarra.s.sed Your face is cramping up a little, you know? By the way, your answer? With a smile, Kreuz presses her for an answer while emitting a menacing aura around him . Yi Ling flinches while trying to step back, but ultimately, she couldnt escape with him grasping her arm . Noooo~!! I cant do it ten times~! I-Ill break!! Youll be fine . You have more stamina than me . Noo! nowaynowaynoway~~! Nooo w~~~aaa~~yyyy!! She was so reluctant, that she rampages around, trying to shake free from Kreuzs grasp . But there was no way he would let go of his previous manpower . As they struggle with one another, they end up falling over onto the sofa . ???????????????? They wound up in a position as if they were about to start having a love affair, intently looking at each others eyes . For some reason, time flows in silence . It was unclear whether it was a minute or a second, but an awkward silence pa.s.sed between the two . W-Wha What the h.e.l.l are you guys doing? Heeyyyy~ Kreuz . Can you do me a favor ahaaahhhh!? Selina!? Makarov!? And so, their love scene was seen . Kreuz-kun, I thought I knew you, but it looks like I was wrong S-So you guys were in that kind of relationship Youre wrong!! B-By the way, y-youre unexpectedly tough . Doing it ten times Even if you have beastmen blood flowing through your veins, as I thought, you might break, Yi Ling What!? Kreuz, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d! How can you say you dont have any interest in women when we just caught you getting laid! He was greatly misunderstood . Sponsored Content Selina blushing further incited the misunderstanding, and on the other hand, Makarov was tightly making a fist while shedding tears of blood . Its a misunderstanding . I was just asking her to help me bring back the books to the library, and then Then you pushed her down so strongly that she unconsciously blurted out so hot, right!? you f.u.c.ker!! T-Thats not the case! It really was just an accident . Ehh an accident, is it? An accident of youth Um, are you using contraceptives, right? Youre not listening . As the misunderstanding deepened and they began to run loose, it took them around three hours to desperately calm down and correct the delusions of those two . Both Kreuz and Yi Lin ended up with extremely tired . And, although they more or less understood Ehh I get it . So, you want to keep it a secret? Dont worry, despite how I look, Im an adult woman, so Oi Kreuz . Ill forgive you for today! But youre telling me everything later, okay? In GREAT detail, you understand!? They said that before leaving . The misunderstanding wasnt cleared up at all . The next morning, rumors began to spread about the two becoming lovers, and even their relationship was given official recognition inside the Saint-Germain faction . At the Istor Magic Academy, marriage between students is allowed, and there are many married couples that attend there . Because of a certain persons jealousy, the two seemed unable to resolve the misunderstanding . No one knew how it would turn out for these two people, but at least, Yi Ling herself didnt seem at all unhappy about the rumors . After Kreuz said he was staying in his room, no one saw him for four days . And, in any case, it seemed that returning back the books will be delayed for a while . A few days later, Kreuz went to the library* Well, to be precise, he went to the Great Library* located within the Academy grounds, but due to its sheer size, it was simply called library for conveniences sake . (*T . N: first its called as [shoko] using the kanji for warehouse, and then its called ^[daitoshokan] with the kanji for mansion . So, its like the difference between your local schools library and the Congress . ) The reason is, of course, the borrowed books that hadnt been returned . He could only sigh at the prospect of making round trips from his lab to the Great Library for several days to return all the books . Hes always been the indoor type, and so, hes never been the sort of person to want play outside . In his leisure time, he always reads a book while enjoying a cup of black tea . Therefore, he always spews complaints like a troublesome season has come every year when it was time for the combat training event, organized by the upper-grade students, which would be held in the near future . He was seriously contemplating whether he should boycott the event given that he didnt want to be bothered by things other than his research . Because hes tall, he looked like he had high stamina, however, he was completely useless when it came to sports . His reluctance to even go return the books showed how hardcore his desire to stay at home was . He didnt even want to think about a situation where he had to go monster hunting in the name of combat training, but as the Academys top student, he wasnt in a position where he could plainly refuse to go . Some rumors also suggest that he has a sharp and brilliant mind, excellent grades, transcendent beauty, hes good at sports, and comes from a family of good social standing . In short, an bermensch, though none of these rumors were based in reality *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ *** Of course, they didnt know he was a mere hikikomori, which would greatly damage his reputation if it came to be known . Still, most of the male students directed gazes full of envy towards him *** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ ***