Outside the boundary, I was holding a magic book in my left hand and a staff in my right.
“Haap.”
With a shout, I thrust the staff forward. A spark emerged from it, and flames burst out, shooting forward.
“Wow, well done! That’s it!”
Speria, who was inside the boundary, had a proud expression on her face.
Anyone watching would think she was my master.
I closed the magic book and unsummoned it. But I had no choice but to keep holding the staff.
The magic book can be freely summoned and unsummoned because it’s connected to the soul, but the staff is just hastily made from a common branch.
Master Avana said she’d get me a mage’s robe, and only then will I be able to carry the staff around.
Or I could make my own staff.
“Now I understand perfectly. Fire magic. But is there no way around this spark? It seems like it won’t work without the spark.”
Speria nodded.
“Fire was given to humans one day. Humans didn’t create it. They just learned to use it. So magic works the same way.”
“Is it the same for you?”
“I’m fine because I have a fire familiar. Having a fire familiar makes a big difference in fire magic. Why don’t you get a fire familiar too? You don’t have a familiar yet, right?”
To become a full-fledged mage and leave apprenticeship behind, one needs a magic book, a staff, and a familiar. Each of these greatly affects magical power.
In fact, with just the magic book, I became able to use magic other than psychokinesis.
If I were to get a familiar, how much stronger would I become?
I sighed.
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
I walked into the boundary, leaving the spark outside, and said:
“Ever since I made the magic book, more spirits have been talking to me. Even from the wind and trees that I couldn’t feel before.”
Speria poked my waist and said:
“That’s because your talent is that exceptional. Usually, an apprentice needs to go to highly intensified environments to hear a familiar’s voice.”
“Highly intensified environments?”
Speria nodded lightly.
“Places like an actively dividing volcano, the middle of a flood caused by heavy rain, or inside the eye of a storm. That’s where you can barely hear the spirits’ voices. Originally, you’d have to follow your master’s guidance to such places several times to even attempt a contract. It can take years.”
“…”
Come to think of it, Master Avana had taken me to a battlefield full of death so that I could meet a death familiar.
I regret refusing that now.
Speria crossed her arms and muttered more:
“But you can hear the familiar’s voice in stagnant water, a small spark, or just a random breeze. Do you know how ridiculous that is? Even I, to get Phoenix… Ah, never mind. Anyway, think carefully and get a good familiar. You can literally just pick and choose.”
As we entered the cabin after practice, Psyche was just setting food on the table.
Speria naturally walked over and sat down, starting to eat the water herbs one by one as if she owned the place.
Just then, Master Avana appeared from the lake.
“Ran.”
“Yes, Master.”
“It’s time. Come inside.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she went back inside.
I couldn’t help but look at Speria.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that all of a sudden?”
Well, because my future depends on how I act now.
“It’s nothing. Keep eating.”
After saying that, I walked to the lakeside.
Master Avana was standing by the lake, looking at me with a serious expression.
Right now, I need to show that I’m capable enough to participate. If not, Master will participate instead, and she won’t be able to leave Speria as she is now.
No, surely she won’t kill Speria. Master must be afraid of Kalasta’s retaliation too.
“To be employable by the human kingdom, you should be at least at the level of someone who’s just left apprenticeship. Considering it’s the sea, you need to be at least that level to win easily. If you’re not at that level, I’ll participate directly.”
“I know. But if you participate, what about Speria…?”
Master cut off my words.
“I’ll kill her. We can’t keep her as a hostage anymore.”
Wait, Master.
Really?
I couldn’t help but ask.
“If not, can’t we just refuse the Count’s request? Do we really have to think only about killing Speria?”
Master Avana spoke stiffly.
“What do you think I’ve been doing for over two months? I’ve prepared so that there won’t be any consequences even if we kill her.”
“M-Master.”
“Speria has eaten water herbs for a long time, so she’s in a state where her fire magic is completely gone. Even if Kalasta comes directly, he won’t be able to find her trace. So we can really kill her now.”
“…….”
Master smiled faintly.
“The only reason I’m still keeping her is that she’s having a good influence on you. But I heard you’ve learned all the fire magic now? Right?”
I admitted it honestly.
“Yes. I’ve learned it all.”
Master Avana looked at me deeply.
“Speria is beautiful. A beauty that far surpasses human standards. Well, it must be because of such specialness that she reached the same level as me, who has studied for over a hundred years. At just fourteen, it’s natural to have your heart stolen by her. Anyone would have their heart stolen by that beauty.”
“No, Master. It’s not like that.”
“Then is it okay if I kill her?”
You’re really determined, aren’t you.
I thought for a moment, trying to understand Master’s feelings, and I realized one thing.
“Master. Are you worried that I might neglect Psyche?”
“Yes.”
An immediate answer.
As expected.
When I didn’t say anything, Master added:
“You’re both humans, right? Since they’re both at an unimaginable level of beauty, you’d probably choose a fellow human, wouldn’t you?”
“It’s not like that, I’m telling you.”
“Then why are you holding off on getting a familiar? Is it because of her?”
“That’s…”
When I couldn’t give a clear answer, Master’s voice became colder.
“Is the reason you want to save Speria really just fear of Kalasta’s retaliation? Or is it because you’ve fallen in love with her?”
I can definitely say this.
“It’s absolutely not that.”
“Then perhaps it’s because you might join Kalasta later and don’t want to burn the bridges between you.”
Sigh.
I thought I hadn’t opened my heart until now. But now I see, it seems Master Abana is the one who has truly locked her heart.
Well, having learned death magic, which is life-threatening just by being known, she must have lived a harsher life than me until now.
If I have to choose between the two…
Wait.
Something’s strange.
Suddenly she says she’s been preparing to kill Speria for the past two months?
Then she could just go ahead and do it, right? Regardless of whether I participate or Master does.
Does she need my help to kill Speria?
But Master clearly said she could kill her with just a flick of her finger.
And how could I help with not being detected by Kalasta?
Then this is ultimately…
A test?
“Kill her.”
Master Avana’s eyes widened at my short answer.
“……”
When the surprised Master didn’t speak, I looked straight at her and said:
“I repay kindness with kindness. Speria has shown me kindness too. She taught me fire magic. Of course, I think she did it to gain my favour and ensure her own survival. But even if the intention wasn’t pure, kindness is kindness. That’s why I was against killing her.”
“……”
“But if your thoughts are this firm, there’s nothing more I can do here. I think I’ve done my duty, so do as you wish, Master.”
Master Avana’s eyes returned to normal. But her gaze became deeper and softer.
She slowly reached out and patted my head.
“For a mage, beliefs are very important. A belief that you’ve decided to keep in all conditions, situations, and environments becomes the root of that mage’s uniqueness and is directly linked to the magic power they possess.”
“What?”
“As your master, I don’t want to break down my disciple’s precious belief of repaying kindness with kindness. Let’s postpone killing Speria.”
I pretended not to know and asked Master:
“Master? What about water magic?”
“You don’t need to show me. I know you’re good at it.”
It was indeed a test.
After saying that, Master walked towards the cabin.
Psyche was standing near the entrance.
She was staring at me intently with an expressionless face and eyes.
“Ran. Finish your meal.”
She went inside swiftly.
Ah.
Now I understand a bit.
So that’s her happy expression.
* * *
“Ugh, how did I eat this every day?”
“What’s that sudden remark?”
Ah, I guess my thoughts came out as words.
Count Furst, who was walking ahead, was looking at me strangely.
Well, it’s understandable since I was muttering to myself while chewing on herbs.
I swallowed and said:
“It’s nothing. Just a random thought. By the way, where are we going?”
Count Furst turned his head forward again and muttered:
“We’ve found out the sea route the Frenche soldiers are taking. We’re going to meet them at the island in advance. According to Avana, it’s better to use water magic in the middle of the ocean.”
That’s true if we’re dealing with a fire mage.
In the same conditions, it’s impossible to overcome a difference in level, but it’s possible depending on the environment.
“Are you sure they have a fire mage?”
“It’s certain. Frenche hired one for a large sum.”
Speria said that Kalasta and his disciples don’t interact with the ordinary world at all. Not just at that level.
Well, crossing the sea in a day, they must be living in a different world.
Anyway, it must be a mage unrelated to them.
“Let’s make sure. If I use water magic, the opponent won’t be able to use fire magic. But that’s all. Whether we win or lose the fight depends entirely on you, Count Furst.”
Count Furst glanced at me and smiled slightly.
“Don’t worry. It’s better if we don’t win, actually.”
His smile turned meaningful.
We walked for a long time like that and arrived at a high cliff.
The salty smell unique to the sea was strong.
Looking down the cliff, the waves were rougher than I expected.
Every time the seawater hit the cliff, water droplets flew up to where I was standing.
While I was lost in that sight, Count Furst cleared his throat softly.
When I looked at him, Count Furst nodded towards somewhere below the cliff.
Something black was flickering.
Looking closely, a ship was docked in a hollow part inside the cliff. Seeing the torn black sails here and there, it was clearly a pirate ship.
Count Furst walked to one side of the cliff. There was a narrow and steep, but clearly visible path leading down.
Count Furst went down the cliff without hesitation, where one wrong step could lead to a fall.
Does he not know fear?
He’s indeed not an ordinary person.
I followed his movements, trying to match his footsteps as much as possible as I went down.
At the bottom of the cliff, there was a man with a bushy beard and dozens of rough-looking men gathered. Probably the captain and crew of the pirate ship.
And standing firmly in front of them was a man twice the size of a normal person.
“Oh? Oshalo?”
Oshalo saw me and smiled brightly, showing his teeth. His teeth, which were always yellow to the point of being black, had become quite clean.
“Ah, Ran! You came with the Count!”
He came over to me in big strides and hugged me tightly.
Wait a minute. If you bring your face this close, your deadly breath… Huh? It’s not there?
“How have you been? Are you learning magic well? Wow. You’re even holding a staff! And you’ve grown taller, haven’t you?”
Now that his circumstances have improved, he’s become quite talkative.
“Well, I’m just getting by.”
I brushed off Oshalo’s questions and looked at the captain over his shoulder.
The captain was glaring at the staff I was holding, but when our eyes met, he turned his gaze to Count Furst.
“To come to such a place personally, Count.”
The captain said to Count Furst with an evil smile.
He probably thought he was smiling politely.
“I’ll sail with you.”
The captain was greatly surprised by Count Furst’s words.
“You, Count? Really? It could be quite dangerous.”
Count Furst said:
“The mage I brought is my responsibility. And if I don’t take action myself, how can I expect you to follow my plan?”
“……”
“I’ll guarantee my credibility by participating in this matter myself. So, I’ll pay the promised fee when we return safely.”
Count Furst’s words could be interpreted as saying he would personally monitor whether they were doing the job properly or not.
The pirate captain had a bewildered expression.
“I’m sorry, but didn’t you say you’d pay in advance?”
“Things have changed. That’s why I came in person. If the company doesn’t pay, you can take me hostage, can’t you? Isn’t that right, Captain?”
The captain looked around at his crew for a moment.
Of course, the clueless crew members just looked back at the captain.
The captain soon tilted his head this way and that.
I can hear the sound of his brain working from here.
He turned back to Count Furst with an evil smile again.
“Please come aboard, Count.”
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