“【Thrust】!”
The impact of the 【Combat Art】 I unleashed with my knife gouged the log a meter away. 【Combat Arts】 are single-syllable, Non-Attribute Magic, like special moves for close-combat classes, activated through a weapon.
Using it consumes Mana, unleashing power several times greater than a normal attack. However, being easy to use comes with limitations; the higher the level, the more Mana it consumes, making it harder to handle. Also, using it accumulates heat-like Mana Particles in the muscles, and forcing it before the heat dissipates can damage them.
Of course, damaged muscles can be healed with 【Heal】, but the pain remains. Continuing to use 【Heal】 forcefully can leave you unable to lift your arm for days.
The Dagger Arts Skill, Rank 1 Combat Art, is 【Thrust】. It uses the knife in a stabbing motion, doubling the impact and releasing it forward. The range can extend beyond a meter depending on skill, compensating for the low power and short reach of daggers, making it a very useful Combat Art.
I thought learning Combat Arts would be difficult since I lacked proper knowledge, but Viro taught me the form and showed me an example, and I was able to use it in less than an hour. 【Thrust】 is simply ‘Magic’ that releases Non-Attribute Mana in the shape of a blade. Conscious that it’s Magic, not Sorcery, I tried to recreate the flow of Mana Particles, using it with the image of extending the blade rather than launching Mana.
My experience learning all the Utility Magic, however clumsy, came in handy. But if I hadn’t learned Mana Control, it would have taken even longer, I think.
Clap, clap, clap…
“Excellent, Aria-san. That was a wonderful Combat Art. I welcome you as a Rank 1 Adventurer of the Adventurer’s Guild.”
The receptionist, who also served as the examiner, greeted me with applause, handing me the already-prepared identification tag. Normally, you’d have to wait a while after the exam, but apparently, my ability to use Light Magic made it a non-issue, so they made it in advance.
The woman who handed it to me with a gentle smile turned a menacing gaze towards the man behind me.
“Viro-san, please pay the training ground usage fee and registration fee, two Silver Coins in total, quickly.”
“The attitude change is too much!”
“Don’t you think it’s natural for the attitude to change between a young, cute girl and an old man?”
“Damn it, can’t argue with that!”
…Is that okay? Well, I guess I’ll just assume they’re close.
“Aria, let’s go to the next place.”
“Okay.”
Following Viro, who was stomping as if expressing his dissatisfaction, I left the Adventurer’s Guild. Glancing back, I noticed the receptionist waving at me.
Come to think of it, according to that woman’s “knowledge,” there’s a tradition where new Adventurers are always harassed by rough Adventurers, but thanks to Viro being there, that seems to be postponed for a bit.
For now, let’s talk about the job with Viro.
According to his plan, I’d be given errands for about a week, and if I seemed useful, Viro would personally provide combat training. If he found me trustworthy, then I’d finally work at the client’s place.
Just as I don’t fully trust Viro, he doesn’t seem to have completely assessed me either, so he hasn’t told me who the client is or what kind of work I’ll be doing there yet.
But… could it be possible that the client is a noble?
I can’t imagine a noble would have a street urchin-like child do work, but even if they were a noble, I’ve grown a bit taller now, so I don’t think they’d immediately realize I’m the child who disappeared from the Orphanage.
I was so wary of nobles, but what kind of change of heart occurred? Well, I’m trying to become stronger to survive, but seeing Feld and Viro, I realized that becoming strong means being somewhat conspicuous.
If I become strong, I might have opportunities to interact with nobles. Whether I run away every time or tolerate it to some extent while hiding my identity will greatly change my life afterward.
So, I thought being able to contact a noble with Viro as an intermediary was a good opportunity. If possible, I’d like a connection as “insurance” in case I encounter a terrible noble, but that’s probably too greedy. Besides, even if the client is a noble, I don’t think they’d be a very high-ranking noble if they’re having a street urchin do work.
Also, I’ve reconsidered that if I can eventually gain the ability to escape to another country on my own, it’ll be okay even if I’m found out.
And to “become strong,” it seemed like doing Viro’s job was the fastest way.
“Well then, I’ll train you so you can do the bare minimum for the job.”
“…Okay.”
The image of Feld’s training, which seemed unimaginable for a child, flashed in my mind.
But Viro seems to be covering the living expenses during that time, and not only that, but he’ll also give me a small Silver Coin as a daily allowance.
It might seem cheap to ordinary commoners, but for a street urchin from the Slums, it’s an overly generous treatment, so there’s no reason to complain.
“And… Aria. Show me your knife.”
“Huh?”
I’m uneasy about handing my weapon to someone else, but there’s no point in refusing someone as skilled as Viro. Viro took the knife I offered, frowned slightly, and made a subtle face.
“…Did you get this as a gift?”
“Yeah? But…”
Viro sighed lightly at my reply and returned the knife to me.
“Only use that for dismantling or keep it as a spare weapon. Using it for both will quickly dull the blade with blood.”
“But what do I do when fighting?”
“The main reason I came to this town was to see the blacksmith here. I’ll buy you one that fits your hand. That knife’s grip is too big for a kid.”
“…Okay.”
It was originally used by Feld, who was a large man, so the grip is big. I was aware of that myself, so if he’s buying me one, I’ll gladly accept it.
“And… wear these too.”
“Hm?”
What Viro handed me was a pair of shorts. He must have bought something that caught his eye at a stall, as the size was somewhat random, but I could still wear them.
But why do I need these? Tilting my head, not understanding the meaning, I looked up at Viro, who frowned and ruffled my hair roughly.
“You’re flapping around too much during combat!”
I followed Viro, who started walking while saying something incomprehensible. For some reason, it might be a topic I shouldn’t ask about too much.
“By the way, did you use Magic during the fight?”
After Viro chanted something that sounded like Magic during the battle, Viro, who was supposed to be in front, was behind me. I thought it might be his Magic. When I asked about that phenomenon, Viro seemed to remember it too, and glanced back slightly while walking.
“Ah, that? I can use 【Dark Magic】. I can only use one spell at level 1, but that’s a Magic that generates “sound” at any location.”
“…Dark Magic.”
I see, a Dark Magic of the illusion type. It might not sound like much to just make a sound somewhere, but if someone like Viro or I, who are scouts, uses it, it could be useful in various situations.
“Teach me Dark Magic.”
Since I’ve found someone who knows Dark Magic that I don’t know from my knowledge, there’s no way I’m letting this chance slip. When I said that, Viro stopped walking and looked down at me, showing a slight thinking expression.
“Magic, huh…? I don’t know if you have an affinity for Dark Magic, so I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to learn it, you know? I don’t know how to teach it, so I can only teach you the incantation… is that okay?”
“Enough.”
I’ve never learned from anyone in the first place. If I know the incantation and its meaning, I can take my time to analyze it little by little.
While having such a conversation and walking along the main street, Viro headed towards a residential area for low-income earners near the Slum District.
Isn’t this… where that old man’s general store is? Come to think of it, the old man was talking about a grumpy dwarf blacksmith. If that’s the case, are we going to that dwarf’s smithy?
After walking through the area where low-income people live for a while, I heard the sound of metal being hammered from somewhere in the distance. Perhaps that’s our destination, as Viro entered a complex alley with a familiar air, and after walking for a while, we arrived at a slightly larger stone workshop.
“Galbas, are you there!”
When Viro shouted in a roaring voice, a loud voice like ringing a gong came back from the back after a while.
“Don’t make such a loud noise in front of someone’s house!!!”
I instinctively covered my ears at the voice that vibrated my eardrums, and a dwarf old man with a pure white beard, who was small in stature but seemed to have more width than Feld, appeared from the back.
Old man… right? I only know about them from my “knowledge,” and it’s my first time meeting a dwarf, so I’m not really sure.
“What is it, Viro, you little rascal? Did you bring me some booze?”
“Come on, stop calling me ‘rascal.’ I brought you what you asked for. Here, a Fire-Breathing Lizard Magic Stone. It’s a good one, you know?”
“Oh, you finally got it! I can’t get the furnace hot enough without it. I’ll use it right away!”
“Hey, at least pay me. It took a lot of effort to get it.”
“Don’t be so stingy. Bring out that dagger I made for you before. I’ll make it as good as new.”
“…Fine.”
I don’t really understand their exchange, but they seem to be quite close. I was curiously watching how he would fix the weapon when the dwarf… Galbas, finally noticed me.
“Is this your kid? …No, you don’t look like the type. An apprentice?”
“That’s a bit harsh… Well, she’s kind of like an apprentice. I want her to use a knife, so I was wondering if you had anything.”
“I don’t have any weapons for a kid like her!! …But, I guess you can take whatever’s lying around. Put it on Viro’s tab.”
“…You haven’t even paid me for the Magic Stone, and you’re already putting it on my tab?”
Ignoring Viro’s mutterings, Galbas threw a part of the Magic Stone into the furnace.
The color of the flames in the furnace clearly changed, and intense heat poured out. In the scorching heat, Galbas took a mouthful of sake from a bottle and blew it into the furnace, causing the flames to flicker as if dancing.
It must not be just sake. Perhaps it was because of the Fire-Breathing Lizard Magic Stone and the sake, but I was captivated by the vivid ‘color’ of the Mana Particles dwelling in the flames, and I couldn’t help but let out a voice.
“…Beautiful…”
“…………”
Galbas, catching my murmur, raised his face from the furnace and looked at me intently.
“You can see the ‘color’ of this fire?”
“Unadulterated… ‘red.'”
As I unconsciously answered, Galbas stroked his white beard and nodded slowly while staring at my face.
“That hair… You’re the ‘Ash-covered’ that the grumpy old man at the general store was talking about.”
“…………”
I wonder if they both call each other “grumpy.”
“Hey, Ash-covered. You said you wanted a knife, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, I got it. Hey, Viro!! Stop looking at those crappy weapons that customers left as trade-ins and answer me!! Do you have time until tomorrow!?”
Viro, who had been seriously choosing a dagger from a box in the corner of the smithy, turned around with a surprised look at Galbas’s voice.
“You were letting her choose from those crappy weapons!? Well, I guess tomorrow is fine… What’s up?”
Galbas nodded at Viro’s answer, went to the back, and after a while, came back with a slender, jet-black knife and handed it to me.
“This is a knife I made a long time ago, Ash-covered. I’ll fix it to fit your hand.”
I apologize, but the next update will be on Saturday.
Next time: A new weapon