Studying Magic
The festival's sense of the extraordinary had subsided, and normalcy returned to Regor.
Thanks to the cleanup activities, the town looked cleaner, and the flying jellyfish had completely lost their color. It seemed that their color faded completely in just half a day. The colored jellyfish that had been flying around until yesterday were probably the result of children's pranks or games.
Tourists had checked out of their lodgings, and the guild members left Regor to escort the caravans.
There were still plenty of monsters outside the town that needed to be culled regularly to avoid hell during harvest season, which meant many extermination missions were issued.
The busy season had resumed.
That said, I only gathered wild vegetables and prepared them for eating. Moving around in the heat was exhausting. Of course, I did some extermination work when I felt like it, but small jobs didn't pay much.
I had recently come into some money, though it was dirty, but now I planned to invest in self-improvement for a while.
「Ah, um, thank you for the other day. You really helped me...」
「It's fine. I just found someone I didn't like and beat them up.」
I was standing in front of a magic shop with the 『Sapling's Staff』 kid.
I had heard from Sally that a magic shop from the capital would be opening here in spring, and it finally opened a few days ago.
Located near the guards' station, it was in a prime spot for security. It wasn't a very crowded street, but for a specialty store dealing in high-priced items, it was ideal.
The one who directed me here was a girl named Miselina, the mage I had helped in the alley before when some guy was harassing her. Since then, we only exchanged greetings whenever we met at the guild.
She was quiet and a bit stammering, but according to Sally, she was a skilled wind mage. To repay the favor, she offered to guide me this time.
「This is the Gilbert Magic Supplies Store. They sell consumables and catalysts for mages... It's the same as in the capital. They also sell beginner materials and tools, though they're a bit pricey, but the quality is good.」
「Oh, that helps. If you try to buy something at the market, you'll end up with a knockoff.」
The shop, both inside and out, had a cleanliness not often seen in Regor. Although, being a new opening, that was expected, it felt like one of those intimidating department store sections where you never quite feel at ease.
「Welcome. Ah, you're from the 『Sapling's Staff』.」
「Hello, Gilbert-san. I'm Miselina.」
「Oh, Miselina. I didn't expect our connection to continue in Regor. And who is this with you?」
A middle-aged man at the counter looked at me.
He had black hair streaked with gray, slicked back, and gave off a competent vibe.
「This is Mongrel-san from the guild. He helped me before. Oh, and he knows Sally as well...」
「Hello, I'm Mongrel.」
「Ah, a guild member... But that's a sword, isn't it? You're not a magic swordsman, though?」
「I'm a complete beginner, but I thought I'd start studying magic from scratch. I heard that quality beginner materials are available here...」
「Ah, it makes me squirm for a guild swordsman to be so formal. Talk casually, please.」
「Do you have any good teaching materials, Gilbert-san?」
「Hmm.」
Gilbert scratched his chin.
「First, I'd like to know what kind of magician you aim to be. Let me make it clear from the start, magicians rely heavily on inherent talent. Moreover, it's a field that requires long-term dedication as a spiritual discipline. You look about 25 or 30... You're unlikely to achieve mastery or be able to make it a profession at this age.」
「Oh, I'm not looking for that. I just want to use a bit of water magic.」
My goal was to be able to wash my hands and face anytime.
Or to create drinking water. That alone would make life much more convenient.
「I see, it is handy indeed... But even for such basic magic, there's no guarantee you'll learn it. As I mentioned, aptitude is crucial in this field. You might spend years trying and end up with nothing. It's that kind of world.」
「Ugh.」
「I can sell you the materials, but they're aimed at the wealthy and are not cheap. Since there's no guarantee you'll learn, you could be left with nothing if it doesn't work out... In that case, I can buy back the materials...」
「Is a teacher necessary for this kind of thing?」
「Usually, people learn from a private tutor. However, these materials are for wealthy commoners, so all the knowledge is included in written form. With enough effort, one can learn independently.」
Hmm, maybe I'll buy it. I want to try using water magic.
It would really elevate my hygiene outdoors. Even if it doesn't work out, I can give up after trying.
「If it's a recommendation from the 『Sapling's Staff』, I'll offer a discount. An apprentice wand, magic stone, 10 sets of catalysts, and a textbook would come to about this price.」
「That's expensive... I'll buy it.」
「E-Excuse me, Mongrel-san, maybe you should negotiate...」
「Well, it would be inconsiderate to make trouble for the shop after being introduced.」
「... Hahaha. Hearing that makes me feel good. As a goodwill gesture, I'll knock off 300 jelly. Just this once... Practice is all about getting a feel for it. Continue it daily, perhaps before bed. If you learn, please come to our shop again. We have good wands.」
「Sure, thanks. I'll work hard to be able to shop here.」
I shook hands with Gilbert-san and left the magic shop.
Now, when you buy tools for a new hobby, the most enjoyable moment is opening them.
After parting ways with Miselina, I returned to the inn and laid out the materials I bought from the magic shop on the table.
「So, this is the apprentice wand... It's like one of those Harry Potter wands.」
The wand was a small, baton-like one. Even skilled mages sometimes used tools like this.
But this one was probably just a rudimentary model.
There were also some mysterious, individually packaged catalysts that I didn't understand at all.
Anyway, the important thing was the instruction manual.
This material was like an introductory book on magic, consisting of about 20 sheets of thin parchment, filled with advice and little tips in tiny letters.
Compared to instructional books and guides in my past life, the formatting was disorganized and hard to read at first glance, but I thought I'd start by deciphering and thoroughly reading it.
After all, if you're a modern person reincarnated with a cheat, magic is the key.
Not to mention, with scientific knowledge, I surpass the locals in terms of clear imagery... It might soon be like, "Could it really be such a great spell without the presence of water?" after meditating and flicking a wand...
Yikes, if I flood the inn it'd be a real problem...
I didn't want to inconvenience others with my overly vivid imagery... Guess I have no choice! I'll practice outside the town! My strength is better not revealed to others~
Three days after I began practicing magic.
「Hey, Mongrel-senpai. I haven't seen you around much lately, but it's rare to find you at the guild.」
「Yeah. I guess from three days ago or so, I was focused on magic practice.」
「Magic, huh!? You said you would, but you're actually doing it, huh?」
I was drinking ale at the guild.
「Yeah. But I stopped.」
「... What?」
「I might not have any talent for magic.」
「... Isn't that just because you got bored?」
「There's that too.」
Well, it's just meditation with no results...
What do they mean by imagining a swirl under your heart? There's no such organ...
「Please don't give up on learning the archery I'm teaching you like that.」
「... Well, I'll try my best.」
「I'm not confident you will.」
That day, I shared the skimpy magical acquisition technique I half-heard from Raina and drank with her.
Raina might actually have more talent for being a mage. She can focus, after all...
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】