Chapter 2 (1/2)
I’m now inside a carriage.
My fellow pa.s.sengers are Swyn Coolyard-san, Gai, and the four Spirits. The Knight Panama-san[1] is driving the carriage. Guarding the left side of the carriage and riding on top of a warhorse is Captain Rubens Kenan, on the right side is the youngest one of this knights' team, Guze-san[2]. Finally, Blum-san[3] is in charge of the rear.
The original preparation for the departure was greatly shortened, as it had been decided that Gai and I are going with the Swyn’s group, and thus we left the village three days after the examination. Ilga Village is the last village that the examination team visited during its round, and it will take 5 days for us to return to the capital. It’s not like we will always stay in the carriage, since there are villages and cities along the road, we will stopping by to buy some food or sleep at some inns.
For the time being, we will reach the next village in two days.
Despite our sudden departure, the villagers gave us various things as farewell gifts. Captain-san said that it’s good that we won’t need to eat the emergency rations. It’s something to be thankful for.[4]
The carriage clatters and jolts as it moves towards the place where we are scheduled to eat our lunch. At the beginning we are really excited with our first trip away from home, but we are currently tired of seeing the unchanging road. So inside the carriage, a lecture about foundation of magic is being held.
「Magic is a phenomenon imagined by the caster and requesting the Spirits to fulfill it in exchange of their Magic power as the payment. There are 4 families of Spirits that respond to Human: Spirits of Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. Each attribute’s magic is called Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth Magic respectively.」[5](Swyn)
The Spirits, which are the subject of the lecture, are currently doing whatever they pleased after coming out of the Crystal Ball when the examination finished.
「If the image is not clear then the Spirits can’t grant the caster’s wish. However, if your magical power is insufficient, no matter how clear your image is, the magic size or scope will only as big as the Magic power you can provide.Also, each Spirit family has their own Magic power preference, so this is used to cla.s.sify the magic power attribute of a magician」(Swyn)
「Then does that means that the Fire Spirit likes my Magic power taste?」(Gai)
Gai raises his hand and asks, and Swyn-san answers.
「That’s correct, and someone like Mira, who is loved by every Spirits, is extremely rare. For that reason, when a magician with a fire attribute wants to use water magic, he will use a Magic Tool[6] or a Magic Stone[7] that has been filled with water attribute magic power.」(Swyn)
「Magic Tool and Magic Stone?」(Gai)
「A tool that could use magical power in a specific way is called a magic tool. For example, to make the Crystal Ball that was used in the academy selection exam, first magicians from each element fills the Crystal Ball with their magic power and then turned it into a magic tool by requesting the spirit to judge in the examination.」(Swyn)
I can’t believe it. It’s a kokkurisan[8] for spirits!
「If the caster wants to use the magic freely, he will use a Magic Stone. The Magic Stones are the cores of Magic Beasts and Monsters which have been filled with the Magic power from their bodies. If its magic power is depleted, it is possible to recharge it. But, there is a limit to how many times it can be recharged.」(Swyn)
So it’s recyclable. How Eco-friendly. Swyn-san took his left arm out from his robe. Does he wear his robe all year long? His arm is so pale. On that pale arm are bracelets that were made from several stones of red, blue or green color.
「The blue stone is water magic.」(Swyn)
「Then, this red stone is fire, right?」(Gai)
「That’s right. Then, what do you think this green one is?」(Swyn)
「Umm.」(Gai)
Swyn-san smiles at Gai, who is folds his hand and seems to have a difficult time thinking. Then he looks at me, who was silent from beginning, and is startled.
「Mi-Mira-san, your face is very pale.....」(Swyn)
「........urp.」(Mira)
I run straight to the back of the carriage, and REVERSEvomit.[9]
After leaving the village, the carriage was rocking for 3 hours. I have splendidly become carriage-sick. Even if I wanted to watch the spirits play, even if I wanted to concentrate on the magic lectures, I couldn't. My resistance was futile, and I am completely annihilated. Because it’s shaking too much!
Because the road isn’t paved, it's extremely shaky. However even if the road was paved, I suffered from car-sickness in my previous life, so I still might get sick.
After thinking about it, I've never ridden in any carriages until now. The only carriage in the village was in Village Chief-san’s house. The people who had business in the city will choose representatives amongst themselves to go using that carriage. For me, who doesn’t have any business in the city, there weren’t opportunities to ride it. Gai is still energetic; however I can’t match that feral child. At any rate, that fellow really loves to play like Tarzan. His semicircular ca.n.a.ls are a monster.[10]
「Here. Water.」(Panama)
The carriage stops. Panama-san gave me his leather canteen.
「Thank you very much.」
I thank him as I gasp for air. I forcibly sweep the sour taste in my mouth with the water. Even though I want more, I must endure. While travelling, water is a valuable resource.
「Your mouth still sour right? Wash it completely, all right?」(Panama)
「But.....」(Mira)
「Guze has water attribute, so if there isn’t enough water, he can produce it. Don’t worry, it’s fine.」(Panama)
Water attribute is amazing since they can make water. I did what Panama said and rinsed my mouth, and lastly, I drank a gulp of water.
「Are you all right now?」(Swyn)
I nod in response to the question from Swyn as he got off from the carriage. He points his right hand at the ground where I vomited various *things*.
「Then, let’s me demonstrate Earth Magic.」(Swyn)
I forget my sick feeling and watched him. Gai also hung out from the side of the carriage to see.
「Consume my mana, and grant me my wish.」[11](Swyn)
After saying those words, a yellow ball of light appears from his palm. Seeing this, the yellow clothed spirit leaps from the carriage and eats it.
「Make a trench in the ground.」(Swyn)
The spirit raises one of his hands and swung it downwards according to Swyn-san chant. The ground where the vomits resided made a *zaku* sound and sank down. The ground surrounding the resulting trench was pushed to the side and made a small dirt hill. Swyn-san then pushed the dirt hillwith his feet to bury the trench completely.
「With this, it’s finished.」(Swyn)
The ending requires human power huh? More like, the first part with the elaborate chanting was quite cool, but the later half was disappointing. This spell must be 『Grand GrooveGround Trench』[12]... wait, has my chuunibyou had relapsed!?
「It's a proper etiquette to bury the trash in a campsite or the blood from a hunted animals that has pooled with the method he has shown you. This is important to not attract Beasts or Magic Beasts.」(Panama)
Gai and I nodded together towards Panama-san’s explanation.
「But if we defeat monsters and Magic Beasts, we can get Magic Stones. That way, if we have a shortage in travelling expenses or Magic Stone, we can just call them on purpose.」(Panama)
Hey!
「But there is a risk that we will call something unmanageable. So, I don’t really recommended it.」(Swyn)
Swyn-san, who is boarding the carriage, attaches a remark. Like I thought before, that method is risky. I hope they can show some self-restraint while we are going together with them. There is no need for us to save on the travelling expense or Magic Stones.
「That’s true, isn’t it? But for a Rank S Hunter it will be easy.」(Panama)
「Rank S you say, there only 5 people in the world have that highest rank, isn’t it?.」(Guze)[13]
Guze-san gave a tsukkomi to Panama-san.[13] Maybe because he remembered it after hearing the word “S Rank”, Blum-san began to spoke.
「Now that you mention it, this morning I received a report from the Transmission Bird. It’s about the multiple sightings of a Mana Eater a few days ago near the vicinity of villages, so they have put out request for S Rank Hunters to do an investigation and subjugation.」(Blum)
「Are you serious, Blum-senpai?」(Guze)
「Yup.」(Blum)
Blum-san nods when Guze-san asked him.
「If I remember correctly, the Mana Eater sightings are in a forest about a day away by carriage towards the west beyond these hills. But the 5 Rank S’s are currently are working under contract at a distant place, so they cannot accept the request immediately. But in their place, a team of 10 Rank B Huntersaccepted the request......」(Blum)
「Hey, if you received that, then report it to me. We need to keep our distance from the sighting locations.」 (Captain)
「I’m sorry, Captain.」(Blum)
Blum-san deeply apologized.
It seems to be a serious conversation for some reason.
Nevertheless, doesn’t this world doesn’t have concept of “SPINACH”[14]? Reporting, Contacting and Consultation is important you know? Even if there are no telephones since there is means of communication using magic, I thought that they should’ve applied it.[15]
By the way Transmission Bird is one of communication magics. It will take little time for it to reach the receiver, who will receive something similar to a letter. From Swyn-san’s explanation, to maintain the accuracy of the information that is being transmitted, it can only be performed by fellow wind attribute magicians that are acquainted with each other. It can’t be casted using Magic Stone, so it is a special kind of magic.
「However if there were multiple Mana Eaters then I guess it would require at least 10 Rank A Hunters. It’s different if they only want to check the authenticity of the sightings, but if they are unskillful in dealing with it, it might escape and coming this way.」(Captain)
「Please don’t say ominous words like that, Captain Kenan」(Guze)
Guze-san’s face turns pale as he complains. In my mind, I also have the same opinion as him. Yes, he’s right. Have you ever heard about a proverb: “Speak of the devil and he shall appear.”[16]? Or how it will set a flag?[17]
「I know!」(Gai)
Everyone turns their glance at Gai, who suddenly shouted.
「Green is Earth!」(Gai)
Are you still thinking about that?
「.... It should be Wind you know.」(Mira)
「But isn’t the earth green?」(Gai)
「The color doesn’t refer to the plants, Gai.」(Mira)
When Swyn-san performed his “Earth Magic” a yellow colored Magic power appeared from his hand. The Spirit that respond to that Magic power also wear yellow clothes, and most importantly, what he chanting was: 「Consume my mana, and grant me my wish.」
「Mira-san is correct. By any chance, are you able to see magic power?」(Swyn)
Because of Swyn-san’s question my mind goes full alert.
What should I do? Should I say that I only guessed it afterwards? No wait. Is this something that a 5 years old would think about?