Chapter 23: Chapter 23

One could argue that the environment I was in during my previous life had prevented me from being interested in studying.

When I risked dying at any moment in some unknown land, sitting down to read a book and think about the future was a luxury.

Actual combat doubled as a method of studying swordsmanship for me. However, since that was a matter of life and death, we could leave that out of the picture.

Up until one reached a certain realm of magic, magic was academic study, and thus far removed from actual combat. It was different from swordsmanship, where even in the hands of a child, one could stab into someone’s flesh and cause bleeding.

Only when theory and practice had been established with certainty could it be evaluated as ‘being useful’.

“Oh, it’s that code. For sure. Cast it now!”

With that in mind, learning magic had been extremely fun.

I learned solid theory from Arabella in my childhood years. Then by combining theory and my magic—in other words, my innate talent—I could see explosive results through just a bit of simple guidance. It made learning fun.

Vwoom…

A sphere of light appeared out of thin air.

“Ho… it’s very bright.”

It was a light-type spell that could illuminate one’s surroundings, and depending on its strength, could instantly blind a target.

It was simple, but depending on how the code was arranged, the duration and strength of it could differ.

Since it differed from person to person, in some cases it would ‘pop’ and then turn right back off.

“Enough, you can release it now. If you’re able to hold your first cast for twenty minutes then there’s nothing left to see. After all, normally people can only hold the first cast for five minutes.”

“That sounds good.”

“Indeed. It’s absolutely, incredibly good.”

Cidrane nodded his head vigorously, as if I had done something very well, and then counted off on his fingers.

“This would be your fourth… learning four over half a month is an impressive speed.”

Four codes.

That was the number of code arrangements I had mastered over the course of half a month.

“It normally takes up to a month to master one code, but four in half a month… that’s amazing. Extremely amazing.”

Cidrane looked to be highly enjoying himself. I would not do so, but if I were to tell him I would become his disciple, he probably would have been doing somersaults.

Anyway, things had been going well.

Originally, I had been thinking of going to the academy to learn magic, but with this, I could be equipped with more than enough skills even before I made it to the academy.

“Good. I think that’s enough for today,” Cidrane said. Then he asked, “Do you have any questions?”

I did.

I asked about something I had seen in a book not long ago and became interested in it.

“I want to know a bit about magic reagents.”

“Magic reagents?”

Cidrane blinked a few times.

“Why do you want to know about them all of a sudden?”

“I went to the library to find magic books to review and I saw one on magic reagents. It was quite interesting.”

Magic reagents.

They were a type of potion made by mixing magic ingredients together. Depending on their use, they could be far more powerful than casting a spell directly. Because that method was so incredibly complicated, I had heard mages only really delved into related disciplines.

“I wanted to ask if it would be a good idea if I were to try and make a reagent.”

Cidrane burst into laughter suddenly.

“Hm. And how did you know I have a knack for magic reagents? Hahaha!”

I did know. After all, I heard it from Arabella.

“Hm hm. Fine. Normally it would be difficult to teach someone this, but I’ll make a special, really special exception and teach you, just this once! Hahaha!”

The head of the mage tower looked to be in great spirits.

Arabelle had told me that winning over a mage was a simple matter. You just needed to inquire about an area the mage was confident in. That was the quickest way to please a mage who pursued academic knowledge.

“Geniuses really are quite different. I would never have guessed you would be interested in magic reagents. I can’t understand those who find magic reagents boring. Not at all!”

I could understand. After all, when I talked to Arabella through the crystal ball, she would complain about dying of boredom from her magic reagent class.

“Okay. I’ll teach you personally. Hm. But I can’t stay here for quite that long… If you became my disciple, then it’d be different… Well, I’m not telling you to become one, but if you were to become my disciple I would be able to satisfy all your curiosities. That’s all I’m saying.”

I looked at the mage tower head who was dropping hints indirectly—or, rather, openly—and said, “Now that I think about it, I think magic reagents will be boring, after all. Mm. I want to practice code arrangements again, instead.”

“N-No way! Just learn it first and you’ll change your mind. It’s so exciting, after all! The thrill of supplying the exact amount of ingredients and producing a perfect result! I’m sure you wouldn’t have any idea what it’s like unless you experience it for yourself!”

I saw him trying to persuade me so hastily that I felt a bit sorry for him.

“Really?”

“Yes, of course! We shouldn’t just stand here. Let’s go buy some ingredients. You’ll probably even enjoy the process of picking out the ingredients. I guarantee it!”

But what was I supposed to do? Being a mage was just one path. Spearmanship, swordsmanship, assassination skills, and summoning skills were also so much fun.

In any case, the mage tower head looked so excited. I had gained a new piece of knowledge.

Would this not be considered a true win-win situation?

After getting permission from Father, I departed the castle with Cidrane.

Father had given permission easily, though he didn’t forget to tell me to take the opportunity to tour the territory before returning home. He had taken me out of the castle every now and then once I had turned about nine years old, showing me how the territory was being run, how the people in it lived, and why we were able to live in the castle.

Because of this, I had a general idea of what there was outside the territory, how the people lived, and what the atmosphere was like.

“Oh, it’s the young Lord Dane!”

“Lord Dane! Come and take some of these snacks with you! They’re brand new products!”

“Oh look, his silver locks are flowing so beautifully today, too, but I’m just getting more gray hairs!”

The territory was peaceful, as always. It was probably due to Father’s nature and his desire to always take care of his people with leisure, peace, and warmth.

I did not say that simply because I was the son of the territory’s lord.

“I’m going to drop by there for a bit.”

“Hm? You’re going to do what? But that place doesn’t sell any magic ingredients?”

“That there tastes really good. Would you like one?”

Cidrane and I had been riding horses on the street. I got off my horse for a short while to head to the frozen candy store.

“Mr. Jeez, have you been doing well?”

“Oh, Lord Dane. How is it that whenever I see you, you seem to have shot up in height even more? Haha. Oh goodness, Herman, you’re here, too?”

Mr. Jeez greeted Herman and me warmly as I looked at the frozen candy stand and swallowed my saliva. Frozen candy looked like a transparent bead. If you place one in your mouth, the sweetness slowly spreads in your mouth as you bite into it. It was a snack I enjoyed as much as I liked tarts.

“Later, when I’m all grown up, I think I’ll always come by to buy your frozen candies, mister.”

“Oh my, what are you saying? By that time, I will have retired. Hahaha.”

I faced him laughing and handed him a single silver crown that I had prepared ahead of time.

“Please give me six.”

“Six? But it’ll be dinner soon. Won’t you get in trouble with the countess?”

“I’ll be sharing these.”

I glanced behind me furtively and Mr. Jeez nodded his head.

“Then I’ll select a particularly large one for you today.”

I returned with four frozen candies in each of my hands and handed two over to Cidrane.

“Try these. This is one of the snacks I like the most.”

Cidrane took the frozen candies and put one in his mouth. He had a surprised look on his face.

“Ho, this is so refreshing.”

“Doesn’t it make your mouth feel so refreshed?”

“Indeed it does. What is this made of?”

“They say it is made from ingredients extracted from grass only grown in the south.”

One could call it a type of mint, but it grew better in the south, where there was a lot of sunlight, and its cooling sensation felt really good.

“There are quite a lot of good things in the south. Snacks, the weather, and… the people.”

Cidrane added, “It’s a sight you won’t easily see in the capital.”

What type of place could the capital be? I was sure it would be a better place to be than the battlefield, however.

I headed to the magic ingredient shop with Cidrane. There was only one of them in the territory. I had never been there before. Arabella had told me the owner was a retired mage, so would he know of Cidrane?

“Young master, we’ve arrived.”

At that moment, Herman notified me of our arrival at the sole magic ingredient shop in the territory. After tying the horses up out front, the three of us entered the store.

“Oh my goodness, tower master! The rumors were true! I didn’t expect you’d be staying in the territory.”

Looks like he knew Cidrane all too well. The moment we entered the store, we found the store owner smiling brightly.

“Haha, you know of me?”

“I do indeed know of you! Who would have known a mage would not only enter the Forest of the Last Days but eat red-nose mushrooms on top of that and pass out?!”

“……”

It seemed the rumors had spread in incredible detail.

“Ahem…”

I turned away from Cidrane’s glowering stare.

“Haha. It is such an honor to have you visit my store, tower master. Please let me know if you are in need of anything! I’ll provide plenty of free items to you, as well.”

“I’d be soo thankful.”

Cidrane did not look thankful one bit but began to look around the store.

“Ah, you must be Lord Dane, right? It is a pleasure to meet you. I could tell immediately. Your silver hair and green eyes—where else would you find them in this territory?”

“It’s a pleasure. How has business been?”

“It’s going as it always does. Haha. Who in this territory would come purchasing magic ingredients? I usually sell to outsiders or to parents who can no longer endure the harassment of their children when they’re interested in magic.”

With that said, the store owner looked at Cidrane and smiled.

“But given that I have had a chance to see the head of a mage tower, I believe I made the right choice in opening this shop.”

There is that.

There were only as many mage towers in the empire as there were fingers on one’s hand, after all, and the head of one among those towers was Cidrane.

However, was it because it was a magic store? I was getting some kind of feeling. It was a rather strangely familiar type of feeling, I could say. Or maybe it was because I had learned some magic.

“Please take your time looking around. If there are any ingredients you want, I will go find them for you.”

The store was filled to the brim with fascinating items I had never seen before. It was full of everything from mana crystals to ingredients whose purpose I could not determine and even dried plants I had seen in my previous life. I could see magic tools to one side.

“Ah, if you inject mana into those… then flames come out like this. Isn’t it cool? Mages normally use this to light cigars. They would light them by hand in the past, but these days the trend has changed, so they light them with stylish items like these.”

In my past life, I had smoked a pipe to soothe my mind and body when I was fatigued from battle. If I had something like this back then, it would have been a lot more convenient.

Well, not that I was thinking of smoking now.

“This, likewise, is operated with mana…”

The store owner was kind enough to stay by me and explain various things here and there and quickly satisfied my curiosity.

“Mm. But I’m surprised.”

“Surprised by what?”

“Whenever you place your hands on them, the tools react. Does it feel like you have very high magic sensitivity?”

Cidrane interjected in response to those words, saying, “You have observed quite well. Isn’t it an impressive level of sensitivity?”

“It looks like his affinity is really high, too, given how sensitivity and affinity are normally proportional. My goodness, how pure must his mana be…”

Oh dear.

If the shop owner was going to compliment me like that, I’d have no idea what to say in response. To avoid being caught feeling embarrassed, I needed something to be absorbed in. Was that a magic tool, as well? I approached something that looked like a stone.

The moment I approached it to touch it…

“That is just a piece of decoration, Lord Dane.”

“……”

“Haha, did we make you feel a bit embarrassed?”

“Come over here and look over reagent ingredients with me. Mm, for a basic ingredient, I think moonroot would be suitable.”

“That is an excellent choice. There are maybe fifty different reagents that use moonroot. For your information, this is a high-quality product. I dried it myself and put it through a chemical process.”

“You’re skilled.”

I shrugged my shoulders as if in denial and took my hand away. I was about to walk towards the two of them when, at that moment…

Vooom voom.

I felt something from the item I had intended to touch.

I spun around again, stretching out my hand in disbelief, when…

Voom voom!

It began to react again. The item was a square-shaped stone that did not look like anything in particular.

“Young master, is there something wrong?”

I nodded very slightly at Herman’s question and gestured at the stone, saying, “I feel something.”

I drew out my mana in hopes of something…

Vwwoom Voom!

The stone was shaking as if it had been waiting.

What was it? Did it only react to my mana?