363 360. Time to skip.txt (2/2)

Without a carriage, they would be attacked by monsters more often than not. And yet, those soldiers, who didn't benefit much from the 《Level Up》, were willing to protect us even if it meant their lives. Avoiding a needless death, we half-heartedly chose to travel alone, giving them orders.

Even now, I'm not sure if I made the right choice.

In the absence of adults who are used to traveling, everything is fumbling. Soon our wallets were ripped out of our wallets wherever we went, and when we stayed at an inn, the landlord took our belongings, and we were now relegated to a journey where we had to rely on a few gold coins.

If it weren't for the fact that Master hadn't hidden gold coins all over his body, we wouldn't have the pots and pans, water, and roasted beans that we now prepare for ourselves.

-- and I finish reminiscing about the time I personally had a terrific time, and finish preparing the meal.

I built a bonfire with a light 'spell', drank the boiled water, took time to chew the beans and get comfortable.

'Feng ......'

Mmm, not so good.

Hey, Tiara. It's you. ......

My master was too concerned to voice his complaints, but I didn't hesitate to let them out as my thoughts.

I was immediately poked and prodded by Master, who laughed bitterly and proceeded to prepare for sleep in the slightly lighter air.

'Then let's take turns sleeping shallowly as usual, shall we?

'Yes. Today is fire night from me, isn't it?

...... Oh, before that. I'll give you the ones I've been putting together at night. Try it out while you're awake.

With that, the master took out a crudely bound book from his burlap sack. It was an expensive and sturdy 'blank bundle' that he had taken out of the Hoozeyards' castle.

He took it and looked at the contents.

There was a lot of writing on it that I had never seen before. It is not the Japanese language of my master's world. If anything, it's closer to our language. The shape is strangely misshapen, but I don't think it's impossible to force it to be read - it's a strange character.

'What is this?'

'It may seem a bit odd, but it's a book that I've written about all of the 'art formulas' up to today, all in one place.

'Oh, that's a 'jutsu': ....... Hmm, is that an abbreviation?

'Yeah, it's a simplified version of a long word. It's got 'chanting' in it as well, and I've already 'paid for it', so watch out. ...... I tried that prepayment (...) you mentioned before.

What, already?　Does that include the one you're talking about?

Truly, Master is quick to work.

The fact that it includes not only the 'jutsu formula' but even 'chanting' means that he has everything necessary to activate the 'spell'. Suddenly the book I was holding felt heavy and dangerous.

''I've been experimenting with it a bit over the past few days. I think I've made each letter inscribed in the book more powerful. I think just by holding it, I think it will enhance Tiara's 'spellcraft': .......

I get the gist of it. So, what does it say and how does it work?

'Well, those pages are the 'compensation' for the 'witchcraft' of fire. It's got words written on it that are fueled by emotions.

'That's what I'm writing in these gnarly, weird letters. Sure, there are some letters that look like hearts and flames and stuff, but ......

'I've simplified it to the limit of its limitations. For example, this character means not only fire, but also passion. It would have required one sentence, but this way I could cram it into one character. And there's something else too--

Very happily, the master begins to explain these coined words. I know the conversation is going to be very long when this happens, so I decide to end it as early as possible.

'So, you mean they're Master's original letters!　That's great, Master!

'What?　No, it's more like the original ....... One of the images of magic in my world, like a magic (rune) letter, is ....... When I use magic or something like that, I thought it would sound like that when I saw those letters come to mind, so I came up with .......

When I plunged in, my mentor bristled.

It seems that Master has taken an idea from somewhere else again. Maybe it's because of his serious roots, but it's easy to see the guilt on his face right away.

However, from my point of view, it's not so much of a concern.

Leaving my master, who continues to make strange excuses, I read a book.

I lightly manipulated the 'Demon Poison' in my body and poured it into the book, and the letters began to glow. At the same time, the flames that were burning in front of me flickered slightly.

''Oops. Even I, who's not very good at 'spellcasting', was able to do it, Master. I feel like the bonfire in front of me is getting stronger.''

''Good. If you practice this, one day Tiara will be able to use a strong 'spell' for combat.

...... Even if you can't use it separately, though, it's strong with your bare hands. Me.

'You can't be like that forever when you're dealing with monsters too, can you?　Honestly, I've been worried about it for a long time.

When fighting monsters, the master fights from a distance and uses 'spellcraft' to manipulate something. I only fight at close range because hitting is the quickest way to fight. Master didn't seem to be pleased with that way of fighting.

''Hmm. So you've been writing books at night all the time lately. ...... You don't need to do that, I'm strong enough to do that.

I thought he didn't trust me, and my mouth twitched a bit.

Seeing this, my master lightly said ”sorry” and then continued to speak. With his black twin eyes hidden underneath his slightly longer bangs, he stared at me with his black twin eyes, and then slowly--

'I know Tiara is strong. Still, I don't want to see Tiara get hurt as much as possible. ...... Before I left on my journey, I swore I would protect Tiara. So I want you to use that book for my sake.

He said that without any embarrassment.

That 'ideal' complaint startled me and made my heart beat faster.

'......!!!'

I reply, trying not to let them read the faint emotions in my mind.

'............. Then I'll be grateful to use it. But I think the only person who will probably be protected is my master, right?　Even the chase off earlier was basically me beating him down.

'Yes, ....... I think I'm going to make Tiara do all kinds of dangerous things. Sorry.

''I don't care that Master is helping me with that, because he's helping me with 'spellcraft'!　I told you from the beginning that the roles are divided!

The master studies and I practice.

The rear guard and the vanguard.

Undoubtedly, this is the best form and has produced the best results.

Yet, it seems that Master still wants to stand in front of me and fight myself.

All of my power is due to my master's 'spellcasting', yet he doesn't seem to be trying to boast about it at all.

I laugh, thinking it's very much like my master.

Seeing me laughing that many times, Master narrows his eyes dazzlingly and begins to mutter.

'...... Oh. Really, it's good to have a tiara with you.

The words were like vomit from the bottom of my stomach.

It was immediately clear to me that it was the real intentions that my master had been holding onto all along.

'Tiara is bright ....... That cheerfulness has always helped me. I shudder to think what it would be like if it weren't for Tiara. Thank you so much, Tiara .......

I'm bright ......?

Oh, really, the master has been ...... for a while now.

Do you think that this situation where the two of you are camping together alone is just a normal, everyday act? If it's a book, do you think it's 'between the lines' that's not worth noting?　--I'm not. I've been feeling hot and unbearable in my chest for a while now. I don't know how red my face is getting. I can't predict it anymore.

I turn my face away and use this dark world to hide my emotions and reply.

'We're both there. The light to me is my master!

'I see. ....... Then let's keep working together ....... Until the end (・・・・), we'll all be together ......--

With those last words, the Master wrapped himself in his cloak, put the tree behind his back, and meditated.

His exhaustion had reached its limit and he must have gone into a sound sleep instead of a nap.

I know that for the past few days, he had been going around helping people ”level up” every time he took his eyes off the ground. I tolerated that sleep, watched it, and called out ”good night”.

Then, with a grimace, I ruminated on Master's words that I spilled because I was in a daze earlier, added them to the collection of Master's quotes in my mind, and then looked down at the book in my hand.

''Shucks, a book that's already been 'compensated'. It seems that if I have this, I can use 'spellcasting' for combat like my master, but ....... This--

It's too big for nothing.

The monstrous binding is so thick that you can't grab it with one hand. This makes it difficult to hold it in one hand while fighting. I could forcefully pick at the edges hard, but the book probably wouldn't be able to withstand my grip.

I need something smaller and more durable.

'An ore about the size of the palm of your hand or ......?　I hope a good clue can be found in Fania's ”The Stone that Creates Fire”: ....... 'Budding Nativity Flame', 'Cut-off Flame' --

Even if I 'chanted' at random, the letters only emitted light and nothing was lost from me.

In other words, my master paid the 'price' for every page of this thick book as he traveled.

I flipped through it.

There are roughly a hundred pages packed with characters.

He must have written this much with a single-minded desire to protect me.

Even though he was physically inferior to me in the 《Level Up》 in terms of physical ability and cut me off, leaving all the rough stuff to me, I can see that he kept searching for alternatives. The result of that is this book.

That's what I love about it - chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp.

'Really Master is ......'

I'd like to see a group of nighttime thieves attack us.

Right now, I can turn them all into firebrands with my latest 'spellcasting' technique.

However, contrary to my expectations, the forest is really quiet.

Not even a night burglar or a monster could be seen. The camp chosen by the Stealer of Dimensionality was perfect, and all I could hear were the cries of insects.

I finish reading silently, and I'm left with nothing to hand.

I flip through the book with my hands, but there's nothing more interesting to look at.

The vigilance is important to show people that I'm awake, and it's not something that keeps me on my toes that much. So, I--.

Alright, I'm free. I've got to write something.

I begin to write on the next blank page what I noticed today.

It's a string of characters from this world, unlike my master's unique language. But with all my heart and soul, I write down the words as hard as my master does.

This book is now a unique work of ”Gentile”.

Then it is my duty to adapt and improve it for this world.

That's the first promise I made in Hoozeyards' castle.

I continue to think about the continuation of the view I was thinking about earlier.

--books are too expensive for this idea.

Paper may have been inexpensive in my master's world, but it's too valuable in this world, which has entered the Dark Ages.

In the future, the 'spellcraft' needs to become a substitute that everyone in the world can use comfortably, not just special races such as 'gentiles', 'apostles' and 'royalty'.

If that's the case, the cheapest thing in our world should be the one to write in the ”Jutsu-shiki”.

The method of writing should be understandable not only to specific people like Master and me, but also to the general public. The end goal is the whole world (・・・・), so the methodology needs to be appropriate.

Ideally, something stronger and bigger than a stone.

Something longer lasting and deeper than a book.

Something shorter and easier to understand than language, which is much broader than language - and much more expansive.

I added the annotations of the magic (rune) letters that my master had made to the blank pages.

Gazing at the sleeping face of my master next to me, the work, though monotonous, was soothing to me.

I loosened my mouth and floated away, continuing to write my book in front of the fire.

It is as if I am in the midst of a story and yet I am spinning a tale, and it brings me enough excitement to blow away the fatigue of travel and insomnia.

'Huh, hmmm, haha, hihihi--'

Now I am in a story. I don't have a title yet, but I'm certainly writing my story, by me, for me. And then--!

'Shhhhhh, ....... Shishou, Master Master Master Master. Master Master, Master Master Master--

Aikawa Kanami is there.

I called her over and over again in a whisper, watching her sleeping face.

I carefully read and savored every second and every letter of this story.

This is how I crossed the 'line' of my journey, nurturing the spark of 'magic (...)' a thousand years later.

After savoring and savoring the mere travel time, I finally roll up the pages and move on to the next - the story of Fania, where the ”Stealers of Reason” are waiting for the yet-to-be-seen ”Stealers of Reason”.

Arriving at the main part of the journey, the point of view becomes me and my mentor as we walk through the streets of Fania.