Chapter 5

A few days passed, and while I was reading a book at the guild as usual, Tres called out to me.

“Hey, how’s the magic absorption stone doing?”

“I’ve been working hard on it every day, but how is it?”

By the way, what I was reading was the guild’s manual.

This is the only decent book here.

But don’t underestimate it just because it’s a working manual.

It has a preface that’s like a mythical national history, and that part is surprisingly enjoyable to read.

It says that in this country, which had been ruled by cruel long-eared people for many years, a single human came from the west.

He received a divine revelation, rose up, reclaimed the country from the long-eared people’s tyranny, and brought peace and prosperity, or something like that.

“Show us the magic absorption stone.

Let’s take a look.”

“Is it okay?”

I removed the pendant from my neck and placed it on the desk.

Lambda and Tres closed the windows.

Baldom brought out the lantern and the appraisal chart.

He lit the lantern, placed the magic absorption stone on a white cloth, and compared it to the appraisal chart.

“Oh, it’s reached 8!

If anything, it’s maybe 7.5.”

“Seriously?”

“You have amazing magic power, kid.”

“…Then why can’t I do it?”

The discussion was back to square one.

“Um, did all of you get it right away?”

“Yeah, normally, once you memorize the chant, you can do it immediately.”

“It took me a little time.

You know, chants have a lot of difficult words, right?

It didn’t activate properly until I fully understood the meaning.”

Hou hou, Tres stumbled because he didn’t understand the words’ meanings.

So there’s a possibility that I’m misunderstanding the words in the chants.

“Baldom-san, what are spirits?”

“Eh, you know, those.

Like fairies, or ancestral souls, or something like that—noble beings like gods.”

It’s a pretty rough understanding, but it doesn’t stray far from mine.

I’ll confirm the other words just in case.

“What about water spirits?”

“They are the spirits that govern water.”

“Are they male or female?”

“Eh?

Never thought about it.

Aren’t they like a bunch of little bird-like angels flying around?”

“Eh?

They should be female!

Obviously transparent beauties wearing veils.”

“Ah, my image is female too.”

Baldom imagines small angels.

Lambda and Tres imagine females.

“It was in the guild’s training book, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, there was an illustration.”

“The book I used didn’t have pictures.”

Is it because of generational differences that the textbooks are different?

Anyway, it seems differences to that extent are within acceptable range.

“Well, then I’ll try various things at home too.”

“Ah, better not do that.

If you practice magic in a weird self-taught way, you’ll get cursed.”

“Cursed?”

“Yes.

If you don’t properly use the taught chants, family members might die while sleeping, or you yourself get injured.”

“Seriously?”

Lambda and Tres nodded deeply too.

“Yeah, there was a guy who took basic training with me in the army who got cursed.

That guy killed all seven new recruits who shared his room.”

“What the, that’s scary!”

“He apparently said it wasn’t him, but the new recruits’ room is locked from outside to prevent desertion.

Bars on the windows—a complete sealed room.”

“Geez!”

“Of course, he was immediately beheaded.”

“Ugh~…”

Actually, I’d been practicing magic at home too, but I’ll stop immediately.

Too dangerous.

Absolutely not!

“But with as much magic power as you have, it’s worrying.”

“No, it’ll be fine.

I won’t practice secretly or anything.”

“That’s not it.

If you have a lot of magic power, a magic stone forms inside your body and you get sick.”

“After curses, now illness?”

“Yes.

In fact, the lifespan of this country’s citizens is around 50, right?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that.”

“Magic users live close to 100.”

“Seriously?

Then why doesn’t everyone use magic?”

Baldom stroked his face and sat down.

“We try to teach magic too.

But no one wants to learn.”

“Why?”

“Water—you can collect rainwater.

Fire—you can start it with flint.

That way, there’s no risk of being cursed.”

“And you know, by 50, standing in the sea becomes too hard.

Same for women—with farm work, they can’t do it anymore.”

“Living when you can’t work is painful.”

I understand.

I understand, but…

So that’s why Father made that complicated face…

“Should I… give up on magic?”

Baldom stroked his face again.

“That’s… up to you.”