Chapter 23

0.4 seconds → 0.2, 3 seconds, changed m(_ _)m

In the morning, after waking up and doing (or being made to do) what needed to be done, I went to the study with the maid and Sukuna.

(This is the long-awaited day to unlock the magic book!

Man, it's been a long road!!

The days of leveling up with only 1 experience point are probably over today.)

Since there's a possibility that other magic might also only increase by 1, I added "probably."

Then, with high spirits, I went to the study and picked up the magic book.

To maintain the pretense, I showed it to Sukuna and explained.

"Sukuna, this is a magic book, which contains all the magic from level 1 to level 3."

"Yes!"

"Good response, Sukuna. I want you to learn the fire magic part of this magic book, but can you read the text first?"

"N-no, I can't read it..."

She answered and started to look down.

(Well, that's expected.)

In this world with a low literacy rate, it's unlikely that a slave child would know how to read. I had hoped she might have learned from the slave traders.

(Now that I think about it, she did say she had only been here for a short time...)

"No, it's fine. Since I can read, I'll teach you one magic incantation. Let's chant it together. Then we'll gradually learn the letters."

"A-a, a, a, a! Shouldn't we learn the letters first?"

"Huh? Why is that?"

"Because, I learn better when I focus on one thing at a time!"

She said this with great enthusiasm.

"Ah, I see... Is that so? If that's the case, please learn from this attendant, I mean, the maid."

I almost called her a maid.

"Yes!!"

(...Is that how it works? I haven't had much social interaction since high school, so I don't know.)

When I don't understand something, I just assume some people are like that, so I'll do the same this time.

(Now, I'll study the magic book.)

I opened the magic book.

(I want to memorize all the level 3 spells, but I want to keep what spells I can use a secret...

I'll chant them secretly at night.)

I respect them. I think they are amazing people.

But I don't trust or believe them.

I don't understand their actions.

Even if I did, I probably wouldn't trust them.

The wounds in my heart are not that simple.

Since my position is still unclear, I can't afford to show any weakness.

Therefore, they are slaves.

When I go out to be an adventurer, I need immediate combat power.

I can't use attack magic.

I want to avoid combat with swords or spears.

I think my motor skills are pretty good.

But they are just good enough.

I can't clash swords with a clang.

So I want to use a bow.

It's a way to attack from a distance.

The reason I don't use a staff is that a staff is basically for increasing the power and range of magic.

For example, the best staff sold in town increases the MP used in magic by 1.2 times.

In simple terms, using this staff, 100 MP would result in the power of 120 MP.

But I don't need it.

I can provide powerful support with a large amount of magic.

I don't need to multiply it.

So, I'll use a bow.

After using magic for a while, I realized that when I cast magic on myself, it only takes effect for a very short moment.

About 0.2 to 0.3 seconds.

But during that time, if I cast magic on myself just as I release an arrow, the accuracy improves.

In this world, support magic not only boosts stats but also assists in skills like swordsmanship and precise archery.

If I learn this, I think even I, a beginner, can hit the enemy.

So, I aim to be a bow user and support magic user.

I want her to work hard.

I read in a book that the maximum number of people in an adventurer party depends on the dungeon, but it can be up to 10.

It says that as the number of people increases, so do conflicts, which is why 10 is the limit.

I plan to go to the dungeon with 6 people, including myself.

The dungeon I plan to go to has a limit of 6 people per party.

There is a magic circle that allows you to return and restart, and the maximum number of people it can move is 6.

Of course, everyone except me will be slaves.

I think there will be about 3 front-line fighters and 1 rear guard.

I have some aversion to buying slaves.

I do, but I'm ignoring it.

Because I've decided to work hard and live a satisfying life in "this world."

I have social anxiety. I can't sell myself by saying, "I can do this much for you."

I wouldn't trust a third party with no ties.

I would suspect they might abandon me in a crisis.

I know that's not good.

A minimum level of trust is needed.

So, slaves are the best option.

I'm not overconfident, but with me, we can explore quite safely.

I have no intention of mistreating slaves.

If they really don't want to, I won't force them. (Actually, they would be a hindrance.)

I've decided to let them live a decent life as long as they are alive.

What if they die in the dungeon?

There's no answer to that.

I don't know how to repay their deaths.

Should I travel alone from town to town?

To be honest, if I were surrounded by 5 goblins, I'm confident my life would be over.

I can't accept such a death.

I wouldn't be satisfied with it, even more so than in my previous life.

So, I need to buy and train them.

In this world, slaves are considered "things."

You won't get caught for mistreating slaves.

But slaves rarely try to fight back or stand up to their masters.

I know this from my past life of being bullied.

The spirit breaks.

The will to fight back diminishes.

Thinking about what happens after fighting back makes one's legs tremble.

It's not easy to kill someone in a fight.

I've decided to let them live a much better life.

So, I can ignore my aversion to them.

But to increase their survival rate, I need to support them properly.

I memorized a few spells from the magic book.

At least one spell from each magic attribute, plus a few more.

(With this, if I can secretly chant magic at night, my mission will be complete.)

So, I decided to go to bed early to prepare for the night.