I feel like it’s an awkward stopping point, so I’ll update one more chapter.
The good-natured giant, Feld, declared that he would spend a day drilling the basics into me.
I trusted him to some extent, but still wary of adults by about thirty percent, I intended to slip away before going to sleep. However, considering Feld’s abilities, it seemed impossible to escape, and the woman’s “knowledge” left me uneasy about close combat, so I decided to accept his offer.
The next day, I woke up with the sunrise, shared the black bread Feld had, and lightly toasted it over the fire for breakfast.
The children at the Orphanage often grumbled, “Black bread is hard and tasteless, we want white bread.” Certainly, some pieces were so hard you’d think you were gnawing on leather sandals, but I didn’t dislike it that much.
It lacked the softness of white bread, but the inside was chewy, and it had a proper taste when you chewed it. If it was ground into fine flour and made carefully, it wouldn’t be so bad. The problem was people who cut corners with low-quality rye flour and made it carelessly.
Even so, the black bread at the Orphanage was the worst.
“First, kid. Have you ever seen your own ‘Status’?”
I shook my head at Feld’s words as he stood with his arms crossed.
It seemed that in this world, unlike in that woman’s “previous life,” there was a convenient technology to express one’s “strength,” such as vitality and Mana, as numerical values.
Status was an individual’s ability information that could be viewed through [Appraisal]. But there was no one near that Orphanage who could do that, and I didn’t remember ever having it checked when my parents were alive.
However, according to the lessons of that woman’s… or rather, her teacher, the commonly used Appraisal wasn’t some grand Magic that connected one’s spirit to the world’s information or peered into the soul of the target. Instead, it sensed the target’s power through sight, hearing, skin, and Mana, and converted it into numerical values.
Therefore, they said that [Appraisal] could only reveal Mana, HP, and [Overall Combat Strength], which was a numerical representation of strength.
They also said that there was a [Complete Appraisal] that could perfectly see the target’s information, but that woman’s teacher told her never to try to learn it, even if she had the chance.
That was because peering into the soul of others or the information of the world put a strain on the soul of mortals, and the price was one’s own “lifespan.” Using it would certainly shorten your life, so only Dragonkind with eternal life, or ancient Elves or High Elves among the human races, would use it.
In the past, there were those who obtained such Appraisal abilities through [Divine Protection], but those people were said to be suspicious and didn’t talk about their abilities to others, unknowingly wasting their lifespan.
Convenient abilities that could be used without visible compensation… especially the special abilities (cheats) that woman craved, were likely to have a “catch.”
“Can you use it, Feld?”
“Yeah, I finally learned to use it as a Skill recently. This is your ability as I see it. Can you read the letters?”
Feld said, writing it on the ground with a wooden stick.
Mana Capacity: 13/13 HP: 22/26
Overall Combat Strength: 21
“…Well, that’s about right for a kid. Did you memorize the numbers?”
My numbers seemed very weak. As I matched the letters with my knowledge, Feld, noticing my subtle expression, threw something at me.
“…?”
“That’s called an ‘Appraisal Orb.’ It reads and quantifies the power and Mana of the creatures you look at through it. If you use it repeatedly, you’ll naturally learn [Appraisal], but for now, look at your own body and wish to ‘see your power.’ You should have two uses left, so make sure you’re thinking of your own numbers from earlier.”
“…………”
A tool to assist in self-[Appraisal], huh? As I was told, I looked at my own hand through the crystal and wished, and some numbers appeared on the crystal.
“Match the numbers you see with the numbers from earlier. Did you match them successfully?”
[Alicia] [Race: Human Female]
[Mana Capacity: 13/13] [HP: 21/26]
[Strength: 3] [Endurance: 4] [Agility: 5] [Dexterity: 5]
[Overall Combat Strength: 21]
When I nodded that it was “correct,” Feld activated his [Body Enhancement] and told me to [Appraise] him this time.
[Feld] [Race: Human Male]
[Mana Capacity: 177/210] [HP: 354/370]
[Overall Combat Strength: 1378 (During Body Enhancement: 1764)]
…Whether Feld was strong or I was too weak, the difference was so vast that I couldn’t even fathom how strong he was. He nodded silently as I read out the numbers.
“Well, it’s mostly correct. The way the numbers appear differs from person to person, but that crystal should have the ‘commonly used appearance on this continent’ imprinted on it, so if you remember it, it should be easier to compare with others later.”
After looking at Feld’s numbers for a while, the letters disappeared, and the light was lost from the Appraisal Orb.
“How many times do I have to use this to learn Appraisal?”
“Well… it took me about sixty times, but usually, it doesn’t go up to 100.”
“Do they sell these?”
“They can be used about ten times each, and they cost about three Silver Coins.”
“…………”
That’s quite expensive. No, should I think it’s cheap if it lets you know someone’s power?
But since you can stay at an inn with breakfast for three days for one Silver Coin, I don’t think ordinary Adventurers can use it much. Considering that, it seems like only people with money can use [Appraisal].
“With that, you should have the basics of using the Appraisal Orb. And it seems like you don’t have any Combat Skills with your Combat Strength. Well, as expected, but next, we’re going hunting!”
“…Eh?”
I hurriedly chased after Feld as he suddenly slung his Greatsword over his back and plunged into the Forest.
“Crouch down. Don’t make any noise.”
Feld, who had been leading the way, suddenly crouched down in the bushes, and I, who was desperately trying to keep up, almost lost sight of him for a moment as his presence quickly faded.
“This is…”
“Keep your voice down too. I’m not good at Stealth either, but I have [Stealth Skill] at level 1 because I have experience hunting in the Forest. Don’t use Body Enhancement either, okay? It’ll alert sensitive prey. I’ll teach you how to use Mana later, but first, sense the ‘Mana Particles’ filling the Forest.”
“…Okay.”
Probably, the prey Feld was talking about was nearby. I tried to sense the surrounding Mana by focusing my awareness on the surroundings, trying to calm my slightly ragged breathing.
“Feel the flow of the wind with the Mana Particles. Smell the scents in the wind. It’s okay if you can’t do it right away, but there’s a big difference in the speed of learning depending on whether you’re aware of it or not.”
“…………”
I nodded for now, but I didn’t really understand.
I somehow understood my own Mana, but I could only vaguely sense the surrounding Mana Particles, and I couldn’t tell if it was the Mana of plants or animals.
“Feel the difference between your own Mana and the surrounding Mana Particles. It’s not enough to just move quietly to avoid being noticed by animals. Match your own Mana with the surrounding Mana Particles. If you make the flow and size exactly the same, your presence will fade.”
“…Understood.”
Was he really planning to drill the basics into me in one day? I realized that if I was vague, I would end up doing nothing, so I focused on trying to sense the surrounding Mana Particles.
Read the wind with the flow of Mana Particles. Does that mean that Mana Particles fill the ‘atmosphere,’ as that woman’s knowledge said? If so, then reading the wind with Mana Particles means that the Mana Particles flowing in the atmosphere are the flow of the wind itself.
I tried to concentrate and feel the moving Mana Particles around me, and I felt like something was moving, but I still couldn’t tell clearly.
Without stopping my feet, I followed Feld and desperately advanced through the Forest.
“Kid, stop. Look over there. Can you tell if there’s something there?”
“…………”
I think he was pointing to the bushes in front, but I couldn’t tell what was there at all.
“Plants spread their branches and leaves horizontally unless there are obstacles. If there’s sunlight, they turn their leaves towards it and extend their branches. So, can you tell if there’s an unnatural branch?”
“…Ah.”
Certainly, if I looked closely, there was a branch that was bent unnaturally, and once I noticed that, I started to notice unnatural parts in the Forest.
“If you’ve noticed, look at the movement of the leaves. There are parts that move differently from the flow of the wind.”
The wind flowed, and the leaves swayed like waves from right to left. When that flow ended, there was a branch that moved slightly differently.
“There’s prey there. Can you feel it? It’s the same feeling as when you Appraised. Sense the presence of the creature there.”
…That’s unreasonable. But if I was aware that it was “there,” I did feel like something was there.
“It’s a rabbit. We’ll hunt that first.”
Feld suddenly took aim with his Hand Axe and threw it into the bushes.
A faint cry could be heard. Following him as he headed there, I saw a rabbit lying dead with the Hand Axe stuck deeply into its back.
“After we process it, we’ll go to the next one.”
Then, throughout the morning, the hunting in the forest continued without regard for my understanding or stamina. Feld hastily drilled me on how to drain blood from the hunted game, skin them, and process the organs, all through practical experience.
Back at the campsite, I collapsed from exhaustion. Feld moved a little away from me and began skewering the butchered rabbit meat onto whittled wooden skewers.
“Hey, kid! We’re grilling meat!”
“…Okay.”
More than my tired body, I frowned at the poor nutritional balance, thinking, “It’s been nothing but meat since yesterday,” and stood up.
“【Spark (Fire)】”
Feld used his Utility Magic to ignite the dead leaves, then burned thin branches, and finally lit thicker branches.
He could use Magic, but it wasn’t his main profession. Unlike that woman, he didn’t know all six types of Utility Magic, only 【Spark (Fire)】, 【Water】, and 【Light】.
While sticking skewers around the bonfire, I stared intently at the flow of Mana in the Utility Magic, something I had never seen up close before.
That woman’s master had her constantly watch the fire burn while refining her Mana as training for 【Spark (Fire)】. For hours each day, until she fell asleep and even saw it in her dreams.
Perhaps this was the same as “reading the flow of Mana Particles” that Feld had mentioned?
The existence of Spirits is closely related to the physical phenomena of this world. Spirit believers say that fire burns because there is a Fire Spirit present, and indeed, fire can only burn using Fire-attributed Mana Particles as fuel.
Regardless of whether Spirits are actually there, Mana Particles are involved in physical phenomena. Initially, Mana Particles are Non-Attribute, but by coming into contact with creatures or substances with attributes, they become “Attribute Mana,” which serves as fuel for that Attribute Magic?
Do people with attributes convert the absorbed Mana Particles into their own attribute?
So… maybe the Utility Magic one can learn becomes their “Mana Attribute”?
…No, that woman could use all six types, albeit barely. That woman’s master also said that learning all six types of Utility Magic was a magician’s etiquette. Does that mean it’s wrong to think that Utility Magic is connected to “Magic Attributes”?
But Feld’s Magic is 【Light Magic】 and 【Fire Magic】, almost the same as the Utility Magic he can use. Perhaps “Mana Attribute” is just a kind of “affinity,” and it’s not that you can’t use other types, just that they’re harder to learn.
The first Utility Magic that woman was made to learn was 【Spark (Fire)】, and it took her the most time and effort.
And since the woman could use 【Fire Magic】 and 【Water Magic】, maybe it’s simply because they were the “most memorable Magic”?
But… then why are there so few people who can handle multiple attributes? There should have been people who were interested in everything.
Maybe… by possessing a lot of Mana, a “Magic Stone” of that attribute is generated in the heart. But having multiple attributes might have some drawbacks.
“It’s grilled, kid. Eat up.”
My thoughts were interrupted, and I accepted the grilled rabbit skewer that Feld offered.
Frankly, I was too tired to have any appetite, but since there was no guarantee I would get proper food next time, I forced it down my throat while burning the Mana Particles in the burning fire into my eyes.
“Wake up, kid! Let’s start the next training!”
Just as I was dozing off with a full stomach, Feld’s voice woke me up.
Next, he was going to teach me how to use weapons. When asked what weapon I wanted to use, I answered Knife, and Feld thought for a moment before nodding deeply.
“The basics of combat are 【Swordsmanship】, but 【Spearmanship】 and 【Dagger Arts】 can be learned relatively quickly at level 1, so they’re not bad. I use 【Swordsmanship】, but since I use Greatsword techniques, I can’t use 【Combat Art】 with a one-handed sword. Swordsmanship and Dagger Arts are separate because the handling is different. But even without Combat Art, you can handle a Knife to some extent.”
In other words, even if you only have the Swordsmanship Skill, it doesn’t mean you’re a complete amateur with a club.
The techniques you can handle are simply burned into your soul, so even if someone has 【Swordsmanship】 at level 3, they can use a club or Dagger at around level 1 if the handling is similar.
“What’s Combat Art?”
I remember from my “knowledge” that it was a “special move” used by warrior-types. But even though that woman had the Dagger Skill, she didn’t know any 【Combat Art】.
“It’s said to be a monosyllabic Non-Attribute Magic that can be used as an application of 【Body Enhancement】. In a way, Body Enhancement and Combat Art are advanced Non-Attribute Magic equivalent to Attribute Magic.”
“How do you learn it?”
“Hmm… recently, you can apparently learn rank 1 Combat Art at the Adventurer’s Guild. It costs money, though. Beyond that, you have to learn from someone who can use it or become an apprentice somewhere.”
“Hmph…”
You need to learn from someone like with Magic. Troublesome.
Then Feld corrected my stance, swing, stab, and defense with the Knife. What I learned from that was that the woman’s Dagger Arts were quite sloppy.
I was impressed that she was able to acquire the Dagger Arts Skill with that.
I was taught several basic “forms” and had my arms and waist slapped while my movements were corrected. But since there was no time to learn perfectly, I was put through practical training as soon as I could move reasonably well.
I used a Knife, and Feld used a wooden stick, but in the end, my Knife couldn’t even break the wooden stick, and after that, I was thrown around repeatedly as practice for breakfalls.
Feld himself was probably teaching me out of kindness, but was this really training that should be done with a seven-year-old child?
After a while, I became unable to move again due to fatigue, but Feld splashed water on me from head to toe with 【Water】, and forcibly recovered my stamina with 【Heal】.
“Normally, it’s not good to overuse 【Heal】 in training because you won’t build up stamina, but we don’t have time, so whatever. I’ve been thinking since you fought back in the forest, kid, but you’re decisive, so I think you can become reasonably strong. After that, once you learn the Dagger Skill, you can use Body Enhancement too… oh, you can already use it, can’t you? I don’t think you can get the Skill yet, but be careful not to run out of Mana.”
“…What happens when you run out of Mana?”
“You just faint. Normally, your Mana recovers after sleeping for one night, but if you faint from running out of Mana, you won’t wake up for half a day. Also, if your Mana drops to the limit, you’ll become starved. If you’re unlucky, you could die of weakness while unconscious, so don’t use up all your Mana unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“…Okay.”
That’s certainly dangerous. Especially in my case, there was a risk of being killed by wild animals before I woke up from fainting. I’ll be careful if there’s even a slight risk to my life.
After that, I was taught how to use 【Body Enhancement】 and its precautions by Feld.
Normally, in the process of acquiring a level 1 Melee Combat Skill, you naturally learn to circulate Mana throughout your body, and you naturally acquire Body Enhancement there.
Melee Combat Skills and Body Enhancement are closely related, and the usage level is said to be the same.
Also, although it varies somewhat depending on the individual’s Mana control proficiency, it consumes 1 Mana for about every 100 counts when you’re not used to it, so I was told to learn with my body how much I can fight.
In my case, I already have the basics of 【Body Enhancement】, so if I firmly remember the Dagger forms, I can acquire the 【Dagger Skill】 relatively quickly.
“Well, it was the basics of the basics, and it was rushed, but I think I’ve packed in the minimum necessary. I have to go now, but take care, kid.”
Feld, who was running out of time as evening approached, said that and picked up his luggage.
“…Okay.”
A sudden encounter and harsh training. But in his words and actions, there was the kindness and warmth of an “adult” that I hadn’t felt since becoming an orphan.
The “child” part of me felt a little lonely and looked down, and Feld roughly stroked my head, which was covered in ash and sweat, and walked towards the town with his large back showing before it got dark.
“…………”
I saw him off until his back disappeared into the sunset, and I swallowed the loneliness in my heart along with a deep breath.
Normally, people don’t care about Street Urchins. Feld, who taught me how to survive even temporarily, was quite the good Samaritan.
I held the rabbit meat wrapped in leaves that Feld had left for me, and before another traveler came, I stamped out the bonfire and hid in the forest.
I checked to see if the food I had hung on the branch had been gnawed on by insects or small animals, and then climbed up a tree and listened to the sound of the nearby stream on a thick branch. I don’t need a fire source anymore.
“——【Spark (Fire)】——”
I put my hand forward and chanted a Utility Magic, and although still clumsy, a small ember sparked with a crack.
Then, listening to the flow of water, I chanted 【Water】, swallowed the droplets that oozed onto my fingertips as if savoring them, and while cautiously watching the darkening surroundings, I took short naps every few minutes, striving to recover my stamina and Mana.
＊＊＊
Around that time, a certain “incident” was the talk of the town where Alicia’s Orphanage was located.
In this country, great nobles of Count rank or higher manage territories as patrons, with many noble houses of Viscount rank or lower gathered as their dependents. In one such region governed by the Taurus Count family, in a town within the Horace Barony near the northern border, two murder cases had occurred.
One of the victims was a woman believed to be an Adventurer Magician, and it was thought to be the work of a robber since her belongings had been stolen.
The Horace Barony is located in the frontier, but there is a large Forest inhabited by Monsters to the north, making this area a lively place for many Adventurers. Adventurers gather in the large town where the Baron resides, which is close to the Monster Forest, so they don’t visit this small town very often, but even so, the residents who knew the nature of the drifter Adventurers didn’t pay much attention, thinking it was just a quarrel between Adventurers.
However, it was a different story when the victim was a resident of the town, the old woman who was the caretaker of the orphans.
It wasn’t that the old woman was loved by the other residents, but because she was an “important” person who took on the troublesome task of taking care of the orphans with a small amount of donations. For that reason, even if the old woman’s “discipline” towards the orphans was a bit excessive, the adults in the town turned a blind eye.
With the resident murdered, the Knight who governed the area around this town investigated the old woman’s room and found evidence that she had been selling children as pet slaves to other territories to enrich herself.
Perhaps the reason the old woman was murdered was related to a mafia involved in slave trading, so they tried to investigate where the children had been sold, but there were no records, and no one could grasp how many orphans were missing. In the end, the case was treated as unsolved.
The Horace Baron had the Taurus Count, his patron, introduce him to a new Orphanage manager, and until that person arrived, the Baron’s servants took care of the orphans, who were assigned to community service in the town.
Among them, a seven-year-old girl in charge of cleaning the gutters picked up a half-broken Magic Stone in that place, her eyes shining as if fascinated by its eerie glow.
“……Yeah. I……want to be the Protagonist (Heroine).”
Next, I will update one episode per day.
Next, I will explore combat methods.