12-Episode 12: A new departure and the end of the two

"I'll give you the basics of lightning magic then.

Uh-huh.

After defeating the Cursed Viper and getting a B-rank, I had taught Mina lightning magic, as I had promised her for a long time.

''Lightning magic is a derivative of the wind attribute,''

'What?　Isn't that a light attribute?

Lightning is often mistaken for that because it glows.

'Doesn't thunder come with storms?　The storm is the wind itself, so it's a wind attribute.

Wow, I didn't know that.

Every object and phenomenon in this world is based on some attribute.

Everything in this world is based on some attribute, and the development of magic starts with finding that attribute.

The easiest way to learn it is to understand the principle before you learn it, but I don't have enough time to teach you that, so let's have you actually see and experience lightning magic and learn it.

There are two methods of magic: unraveling the principles and then recreating it, or seeing and experiencing it and recreating the scene and sensations of the moment.

The latter is Jairo-kun's way of recalling the sensations he felt when he received the recovery spell and activating his body enhancement spell.

'Experiencing lightning is a bit scary, isn't it?

I'll take it down a notch.

Saying that, I activate a weak lightning magic in front of Mina.

''Sparksphere!''

A small ball of lightning appears in front of Mina.

Mina-san looks at me with jittery eyes.

''If you learn the principles, Mina-san will be able to use unchained magic with ease.

I don't know if it's true...

No, no, no, really, the uncensored magic itself is easy.

"See, you're using a body strengthening spell. That's a no-casting spell.

That's what I thought.

Huh, he seemed to agree with me.

"Well, I'm going to make it less powerful and you can touch it.

Uh-huh.

Mina gently brings her finger closer to the ball of lightning.

''Whoa!''

Mina screams as she receives a bee-knock sensation in her fingertips.

''What a buzzing sensation!

'This is what it feels like to be struck by lightning. It's bad for you if you take more great ones, so let's practice on this scale first.

Yeah, okay.

After making them feel the lightning, I'll teach them magic theory and make them practice spell chanting.

You'd think that if you're going to teach them chanting, there's no need to make them experience it, but the power and accuracy of magic changes depending on whether they experience it or not.

It's not uncommon for the school to say that the magic you learn should be experienced by yourself for this reason in the past.

You can't do it because you'll die if the magic is too powerful, though.

However, there were a few stiff people who dared to take defensive magic over and over again.

''Hey, are you going to go after this is over?''

Yes.

I think Mina is saying that I'm willing to go into dangerous territory.

'I see, I'm going to miss you.

It hasn't even been a month yet.

It's crazy to think about it, running up to a B grade in less than a month.

'Really?　I don't really feel it.

Yeah, that's right!　How many low-ranked, smoldering adventurers do you think there are in the world!　If you can make it to a C grade, you're good, and even a B grade is pretty elite if you think about it normally.

Heh, I see.

'Okay?　A "B" grade is the third one from the top!　That would be awesome!

'Oh, when you think about it, is it pretty awesome?'

You don't look like you know what you're doing.

I was taken aback.

'Well, we're probably going to be here for a while, so you can always come back if you get lonely.

Yes, I will.

''Well, personally, I'm sorry to lose someone to teach me magic.

I see, even now Mina is learning lightning magic from me, so I can't help but want someone to be my teacher.

The wizards in this town only teach the basics to their apprentices, so it seems to be strict.

''Then why don't you go to my village?''

'What?　In Lex's village?

Yeah, they have a textbook of magic that I wrote for them.

The magic book by Lex?　Oh, my God, I can't wait to see it!

No, it's not much of a stretch.

"I made it to teach the kids in the village about magic. It might help Mina.

You taught the kids in the village... and you used paper for that?

Huh?　I feel like I'm being surprised in some weird way!

Well, I'm curious about your village in more ways than one.

I'm not sure about the "many things" part, but I'm glad if I can be of help.

'My village is just over two mountains to the west.

The village beyond the two mountains to the west. All right.

'Well, I only write magic for children, so I don't have that dangerous magic.

That's a lie.

He denied it fast, but it's true!

You're not going to be able to do that.

Over the next few days, after getting ready for the journey, I decided to head to the nearest B-ranked danger area from this town.

At the entrance of the town, a group of adventurers I met at the guild came to see me off.

Of course, among them were Jairo-kun and his friends who were the best friends of my age, and Elma-san, the receptionist, came to see me as well.

''Woohoo!　I'll miss you, brother!

In the midst of all this, Jairo, who found out I was leaving, was crying like a child.

Wow, I didn't know there really were people who could cry like this.

"You're not a child, so don't be embarrassed by that!

d*mn you!　You're losing your brother!　Yes!　We should follow my brother!

Good idea and Gyro you stand up, but you can't do that.

'Dumbass, we're F-rated, there's no way we're going to get into a dangerous area that only B-rated people can get into.

Yes, no matter how motivated Gyro-kun is, he can't break the rules of the Adventurer's Guild.

''But yo''

Don't be selfish!

Jairo and Mina are like father and son or sister and brother, aren't they?

In that case, Jairo should have raised his adventurer's rank.

''No, that would be difficult indeed. We're F-rated, so catching up with Lex-san, who is B-rated, will be quite a feat.

Norbu-san says so, but I don't think so.

''Don't worry, I've taught everyone body-enhancement magic, and if you train this one along with your sword and magic training, you'll be strong in no time.''

I am reminded of the people I once met in my past life's memories.

All the people who became strong not only had talent, but also a belief that they were willing to work hard.

I believe that Jairo-kun, who aims to become a mysterious dragon slayer who uses his tremendous strength and skill to defeat dragons without harming them as far as possible, will run up the ladder of strength with a strong will.

So, can you do it, bro?

Jairo-kun asks me in a confident tone.

"It's going to be okay," he says.

It's going to be okay, Gyro-kun.

Gyro-kun's eyes change at my words.

'All right, brother!　I'll catch up with you soon enough!　So you'll just have to wait and see!

Yeah, I'll be looking forward to it.

Oh!

By the time you're at B anyway, Lex will be at S.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

...Surely, it's possible for Aniki.

I think I am.

I think so, too.

Huh?　Do you think people give me too much credit?

Huh, well, that's okay.

Gyro-kun stopped crying, too.

Take care, everyone.

'Good luck, Mr. Lex. Mr. Aug didn't come here at the invitation of his lord, but he left a message for you. 'I can't go to see him off, but you should do your best too.'

Elma-san passed on a message from Aug.

Aug-san is also a righteous person.

''And the guild leader also wanted to come see me off, but I left him behind because I have a lot of work to do.

Haha, the guild leader is also formless to Elma-san.

''I'll catch up with you soon, brother!

Take care of yourself.

I hope you brought something back.

Mr. Megri!　Oh, you can't be serious.　Take care of yourself.

Good luck!

"Surprise those people over there, too!

Masterful!

Everyone talks to me.

Even though it's only been a short time, it's become a comfortable place like my home.

But I am an adventurer.

Adventurers are destined to leave like the wind!

Well, I'm off!　Wing Flight!

I push my body up into the air with my flying magic and wave to everyone before flying towards the danger zone.

''I flew!''

Hmm?　I don't know, I feel like they're surprised that I flew down there.

But isn't flying magic normal?

Oh, but I didn't see anyone flying in the city.

Oops, could it be that flying magic was bad manners in the city?

Reflection, reflection, let's be careful in the next town.

◆

I didn't expect you to do it at the last minute.

''How outrageous can flying magic be?''

'Yeah, I was surprised. Mina was surprised too, but how hard is flying magic?　

Megri, who was equally surprised, asked me such a question.

Yeah, if you're someone who can't use magic, you may be surprised, but you won't understand how outrageous it is.

'Flying magic has been studied for a long time, but no one has yet been able to fly freely. Rumor has it that there are wizards in the country and the military that continue to work on it, but as it stands, they say it's faster to train a flying demon to fly.

So I guess that means Mr. Lex is outrageous after all.

It's obvious, but I guess I couldn't help but say it.

Norbu chuckled.

'Alright then, let's get on with the training!　I'm going to train like crazy and catch up with my brother and have an adventure with him!

The excited idiot is screaming, but that's not what I wanted to do.

'Hey, training is great, but don't you want to know more about Lex?'

What?　My brother?

You don't usually listen to me, but this idiot really gets good at hearing about Lex.

What do you know about him?

Gyro and Megri seem to be interested in this as well, and they join me in my story.

'I heard about where Lex's hometown is the other day. Would you guys be interested in that?

""I am."

It's settled then. Our next adventure will be to see Lex's hometown.

'Whoa!　My brother's home!　What kind of a place is this?

What kind of place is that?

The fact that he was born where he was born means that we may be able to get to the source of his strength.

'Then let's get ready to go!　And we're going to find out the secret of that guy's strength in Lex's hometown!

""Oh, oh!"

Huh?　I think I just heard a lot of voices?

'Yes, yes, Guild Chief, let's go home and do our job!

I'm worried about that guy's secret too!

Guild leader, when did you...

You guys!　If you find out what it is, let me know!

'Yes, whatever you have to do, please do your job.'

Elma, you're so strong.

◆

Thank you for coming, Mr. Aug. Well, please make yourself at home and enjoy your meal.

Although he was a commoner, Lord Org was invited to the dinner at the Viscount Grimoire's house, where only a very small number of his relatives were allowed to attend.

The people present here are Viscount Grimoire, the master of the house, and his daughter, Lady Celia.

And then there's the adventurer hired by Viscount Grimoire, Lord Aug Aug.

The rest is just me, John, the butler.

This dinner was meant to be a secret meeting, so the maids weren't even allowed to come near the room, and I was in charge of all their work.

I poured new wine when the drinks were low, and if the mouth was dirty, I wiped it with a napkin.

It's a very thoughtful job.

"Well, you're still eating great.

Lord Org nervously touches his food, but as soon as he takes a bite, his face lights up with the deliciousness of the food and he pours it into his mouth one after another.

His manners are not flattering, but no one here is paying attention to that.

It's because both Viscount Grimoire-sama and Lady Celia are in a good mood because their troubles that they couldn't tell others about have been resolved.

''Come to think of it, Aug-dono, I heard that you have once again defeated the Evil Boar.

Again?　.........Oh, I'm sure I beat Evilboa the other day.

'And from what I hear, he took them down alone?　That's an impressive feat for a man of that size to be alone.

No, no, it's because he's a little guy. If he had been bigger, it would have been a close call.

At Viscount Grimoire-sama's praise, Aug-dono showed his humility.

''Even so, to be able to defeat a B-ranked demon by yourself, you are indeed an A-ranked adventurer!

Lady Celia pours the wine into Lord Aug's glass.

This was not my negligence, but rather the lady's wish that I did not dare to pour it.

I am competent.

'Quite. Humble and competent!　Apparently I've made a connection with a good adventurer!

Unusually, Viscount Grimoire's drinking progresses quickly.

Shall I serve more nibbles so that I don't get badly drunk?

''Even so, the auction rewards for the dragons and Evilboa have become quite large, but with this much, there's no need to continue being an adventurer any longer, right?　Why don't you think about switching to a knight or something from now on?

It seems Viscount Grimoire-sama has gotten down to business.

He's such a gem that he can slay a dragon, if he continues to be an adventurer, then eventually many nobles will realize that he's an adventurer who slayed a dragon and will try to keep him on hand.

But he is an adventurer operating in this Viscount Grimoire territory.

And there's no way to miss out on a gem that can slay a dragon.

You'll want to call him a knight here to control other nobles.

Depending on the situation, he may even choose to marry a nobleman's daughter as bait.

In that case, Miss Celia will be sad, so I should think of something good to do.

Well, it's my job to think about that.

Hmm, that's where I feel sick to my stomach.

But here's where Lord Org spoke the words I didn't expect to hear.

''Eh?　A dragon?　What are you talking about?

What?

Viscount Grimoire looks dubiously at Lord Aug's words.

''No, I'm talking about the dragon and Evilboa that you defeated and sold at auction in King's Landing. They're the talk of the town, aren't they?

''Yes, thanks to that, I've got a great dragon core too.

However, contrary to what the two of them said, Aug-dono nodded his head, increasingly unintelligible.

'Both the dragon and Evilboa were slain by the town's adventurers, I'm told. It was you who slayed them, wasn't it?　I know you don't want to show off, but there's no need to fool around here.

Yes, Viscount Grimoire is right.

You don't have to be blunt, do you?　You're not playing dumb, are you?

No, the guy who slayed the dragon was the one who did it.

.....

'But you took down Evilboa, didn't you?

Yes, I took down a guy for the first time the other day.

First time?　You're not a fifth horse?

No, it's my first time...

... oh, oh.

"Glimpses.

"Glancing.

"Glancing.

Three eyes stare at me.

''.........''

John, what's going on?

Ah, ah, Viscount Grimoire-sama's eyes are scary.

''........''

John, explain yourself.

Miss Celia comes staring at me with a bright red face.

''Uh, what do you mean by that?''

I'd love to hear that!

Mr. ""John"

I can't stop sweating.

Is this what they call a waterfall of sweat?

But it was unlikely that I would be able to remain silent any longer.

So, I opened my mouth with an intention.

''Ha ha ha, it's true that Og-dono was a competent person who could defeat Evilboa, and I'm glad that your master was able to get a great subordinate. Hahahahaha.

''Jo-ohh!''

◆.

I was scolded badly.

I was scolded terribly.　

But I was able to scout for an A-ranked adventurer who could defeat Evilboa, so I was somehow forgiven.

Thank you, Aug.

Thank you so much.

Then I came back to the Adventurer's Guild.

Then I came back to the Adventurers' Guild to once again scout for the adventurers who had defeated the dragon.

"Are there any adventurers who have defeated the dragon?

Ask the usual receptionist if the Dragonslayer is here.

This time I will ask the receptionist to introduce me directly to him so that we don't make a mistake.

Then the receptionist looked at me with an indecisive look on her face.

I'm very sorry, but the adventurer you're looking for has gone off to explore the danger zone and won't be back for a while.

...done.