Chapter 16
Until the materials for alchemy could be gathered, the decision was made to focus on practicing magic. And so, there I, Claude, stood in a vast desert.
I’d gotten here using Netzal-san’s Teleportation Magic.
“Here, you can fire off as much magic as you want without any problems, he’d said.”
Currently, I was in the midst of casting the spells he’d instructed, supposedly to check my magic proficiency.
“Hmph, hmph. You’ve been practicing diligently, haven’t you? You get a passing mark for intermediate-level magic. Well then, let’s finally try some advanced-level magic!”
Carried away by Netzal-san’s casual enthusiasm, I chanted the advanced magic I’d learned from the book.
“Gather, O flames. Bloom, O conflagration of hellfire. I command thee. Incinerate thy foes. Inferno!”
A tremendous conflagration materialized before my eyes, the flames roaring fiercely as if to incinerate everything.
“Mhm, mhm. It seems you managed to activate it. But your control is lacking. Needs more practice, it does.”
After that, under Netzal-san’s guidance, I cast advanced magic many more times.
Predictably, my mana ran out, so I plopped down to take a break.
“Ho ho. To be able to cast it this many times, your mana pool is quite something. This is a Recovery Potion I made with alchemy. Drink this and challenge yourself further!”
Netzal-san had a kind smile on his face as he held a large number of bottles.
Every time my mana depleted, I drank a Recovery Potion and resumed my magic practice.
My stomach was understandably sloshing with liquid. When I looked at Netzal-san, hoping for a break, he just wordlessly beamed and offered me another Recovery Potion.
Steeling my resolve, I gulped down the Recovery Potion and went back to my magic practice.
When evening came, we returned to the mansion using Netzal-san’s Teleportation Magic.
Clutching my stomach, which was sloshing from all the potions, I said I didn’t need dinner and returned to my room.
If I put anything more into my stomach, I’d definitely throw up.
It was an incredibly spartan training regimen, but since I could tell I was improving with every piece of advice he gave, I realized he was a skilled instructor.
Netzal was having dinner in the dining hall with Finel and Licia.
“How is my son doing?” Finel asked.
“I sense a frightening amount of talent in him,” Netzal replied. “I was enjoying teaching him so much that I inadvertently pushed him too hard.”
“To hear you say that, Netzal-dono, makes me very proud,” Finel said.
“I promise to teach him every technique I possess,” Netzal declared.
“Learning all the techniques of a Sage-sama will surely be arduous,” Licia commented, “but I’m sure that boy will enjoy the process of learning them.”
Netzal was utterly ecstatic.
He had tutored others before, but he had never encountered anyone with this much talent.
How should I instruct him starting tomorrow?
Netzal mulled over such thoughts while enjoying his meal and the conversation.