SomaRead | The Incompetent Mage’s Infinite Regression

Chapter 2

Text appeared before my eyes.

[Item Acquired!]

[Item: Handgun (C)]

But I couldn't understand what this text alone meant.

"Glock 45? Handgun?"

Another text appeared.

[Archive Acquired!]

[Archive: Handgun (D)]

[Skill Acquired!]

[Skill: Marksmanship (D)]

Before I could even ask what Archive, Skill, and Download meant, I could roughly guess what they were.

'A handgun is a weapon from another world. Like cannons made with alchemy, it shoots lead projectiles with gunpowder. But its size is small enough to be held in one hand and is easy to carry... I've never learned this kind of knowledge.'

I looked down at the handgun in my hand, then separated and reassembled the slide on the nearby table. Next, I pulled back the slide to load it, then even assumed a stance aligning the front and rear sights.

'I've never learned this kind of skill, either.'

Demi said.

As I pulled back the slide again, the loaded bullet was ejected. I leisurely caught it.

"This is black magic from another world?"

"I see. Is that what they call magic in that world?"

<That's not it...>

I mused over my Archive and Skills.

"I understand that I can kill people with this magic. It doesn't quite feel real yet, but it seems incredible. But with just this, I can't be called a great mage."

"Leveling Up?"

Demi explained.

"Quests?"

Text appeared before my eyes again.

[Quest Generated!]

[Quest: Pass Basic Magic Practice (D)]

I read the text, looked down at the object in my hand, and then looked at the text again.

"This should be simple, shouldn't it?"

<Contract?>

I replied.

"I'll do it."

∞

"Attending class until the very end. Your courage is commendable. Is it the honor of a high-ranking family?"

"Well. If it's clearly revealed that he can't use magic, shouldn't it be seen as dishonor?"

Hours later, I walked down towards the platform, ignoring all the snickering sounds. Until now, I had thought it was too much that Professor Rebilton's Basic Magic Practice lecture was held in a tiered lecture hall. It was such a humiliating position for someone who couldn't use magic.

Professor Rebilton on the platform spoke to me.

"Young Ethan, this is your last practical session."

"Yes."

"It's prepared as you requested. Does it seem alright?"

"Yes."

I had asked Rebilton to screen me from the students with a thin curtain and shine light towards the students from inside the curtain so only my shadow was visible. Covering the magic directly was relatively common; when using family magic rather than the lesser magic everyone learns, it was done to prevent the secret from being witnessed by others if possible. It was something anyone would do if necessary, so my request wasn't unreasonable, yet there were still students ridiculing me.

But I had no interest in those students.

'This wasn't a place for humiliation, was it?'

I looked out at the students from the platform. For those who could use magic, a tiered lecture hall like this was a place to highlight their magic. Originally, it was a place to demonstrate lesser magic, such as creating a ball of light or showing palm-sized illusions. Thus, it was designed so that even a small success could receive attention and be shown off.

"Begin when you are ready."

I walked behind the curtain and looked at the scarecrow dressed in armor. This was my target for this Basic Magic Practice lecture.

I drew the loaded Glock 45, aimed it at the scarecrow, and pulled the trigger.

-Bang!

Even if it was just a 9mm bullet, the blast generated by the immense energy created by gunpowder could damage eardrums. Indoors, the reverberation amplifies the sound. Unlike me and Professor Rebilton, who had anticipated the intensity of the sound, the other students were startled and frozen by the gunshot I produced.

Rebilton said to me.

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

I hid the gun before Rebilton removed the curtain. Rebilton approached the fallen scarecrow.

"Indeed."

Squatting down and looking at the scarecrow's armor, Rebilton began to remove the armor from the scarecrow.

"The blast just now would have been enough to say you passed, but it will be a learning experience for the other students."

Lifting the front plate of the steel plate armor, Rebilton held the armor up to the candlelight.

Then the candlelight leaked through the hole in the armor.

"It completely penetrated. Excellent combat magic, young Ethan."

"Thank you."

"I can guess the lineage... but this level of power is something I haven't seen before. Is it unique magic?"

Unique magic referred to magic one created oneself without learning it from anyone else. Since I was hiding the fact that it was black magic anyway, I had to let it be seen that way. Fortunately, Rebilton didn't seem to think it was black magic but misunderstood it as some kind of alchemy. After all, not only in appearance but also magi-theoretically, it was somewhat similar to alchemy.

"That's right."

"Excellent. While I can't know the secret behind it, being able to knock down a knight is enough for a combat mage to do their part. Hmm, of course, I don't recommend that path, but... Anyway, I thought you were wandering in the early semester, but you were diligently working behind the scenes. Good work."

Saying so, Rebilton patted me on the shoulder.

As far as I could remember, no student in this class had received such praise.

"Thank you, Professor. Then my test..."

"Why ask? Of course, you passed."

As I headed to my seat, text appeared before my eyes.

['Quest: Pass Basic Magic Practice (D)' Success!]

[Reward: Experience Points 12]

[Reward: D-rank Lottery Coupon]

I sat down and asked Demi.

<D-rank Lottery Coupon?>

I remembered that the Archive for the handgun was D-rank. Indeed, while the handgun itself and its usage have value, simply knowing what a handgun is doesn't seem to have much value.

<No. To perform the lottery, you must be in a state of unconsciousness. In other words...>

Demi was about to provide further explanation when Rebilton announced the end of class. I said we could talk when I returned to my room.

∞

"Ethan."

After finishing Basic Magic Practice, I heard a voice calling me and turned around. It was my sister, Arka. Arka was leaning against the stone railing of the second-floor corridor connecting the lecture building and the dormitory, arms crossed, looking at me.

"What is it, Sister?"

"I heard you passed the Basic Magic Practice lecture?"

"Yes."

"For an ordinary magic school student, me saying this would be rude. Basic Magic Practice is something obvious for some people. But I know you, and I trust you'll listen without misunderstanding what I'm saying."

"Please speak."

"...Congratulations."

I smiled.

"Thank you, Sister. I won't be able to accept the offer you made earlier."

"That can't be helped."

Arka averted her gaze, then looked back at me.

"But I wish you'd tell me how you became able to use magic."

I had expected this kind of question to come up in some way. If it were anyone else, maybe not, but Arka knew my limitations well.

I said blithely.

"It's the result of repeated research and practice."

"I'm sorry to say this, but your lack of talent isn't something that can be overcome with effort. As Father said, someone as incompetent in magic as you is very rare. You're a magic idiot."

Demi said.

<It's pretty normal for siblings, isn't it?>

<Understood.>

I said to Arka.

"In any case, what's important is that, nevertheless, I used magic."

Arka raised an eyebrow.

"So it's a secret, is it? Alright."

Arka left just like that.

It was regrettable for me, but I couldn't reveal the fact that I had dabbled in black magic. I thought that Arka might understand me and even hide my secret, but knowing about the existence of a black mage and not reporting it was also a sin. Thus, telling the truth carried a significant risk, not just for me, but for Arka as well.

Demi asked.

Just as I was about to return to my room like that, someone called me from close behind my back.

"Ethan."

At the unfamiliar voice, I tried to turn around. But I couldn't.

-Thump.

I felt a terrible sensation crawl up my spine from my side. I tried to scream, but only bloody foam frothed from my mouth. I felt all the strength drain from my body as I automatically fell, opening my eyes wide. I wanted to identify the one who stabbed me somehow. But the periphery of my vision had already turned black and blurry. He barely realized he was wearing a school uniform, but for the 'unconscious' Ethan, it was meaningless.

∞

Ethan died.

∞

I opened my eyes in a dark space. Being made of black bricks all around felt somehow familiar, but it was still a space I didn't know. I noticed another being in the space besides myself.

"You are...?"

It was clad in smooth iron armor, but inside the connecting joints, complex gears rotated, pistons moved up and down, and wires fiercely pulled at the joint parts to support them. Inside the translucent helmet, a single clear red point glowed.

I examined Demi closely.

"A doll... is that what it is?"

I looked around.

"Where is this?"

I reacted to the word 'death'.

"Wait, then am I dead?"

<Yes. Thanks to that...>

Demi in front of me held out a black box.