Chapter 21

The factional magical battle ended with the victory of the royalists, and it was decided that the royalists would take on the commission from the Martinez Trading Company.

The method of determining the winner was based on how many sandbags each side could puncture, so the result was clear. If the judgment had been ambiguous, there would have been those who would not have accepted the outcome.

The elder faction's magicians grumbled until the end, but what was decided in front of Isarco, the councilor, could not be overturned.

Ricardo, Patrick, and Tania were called to Isarco's room. It seemed he wanted them to tell him about the magicians of the Fabius territory.

"There's a wise beast in your bag, right? It must be uncomfortable, so let it out."

Tania spoke to Ricardo. Ricardo nodded and took Monta out of the bag and placed him on the table.

"Kyu-kyu" (Is it okay to be noisy now?)

"It's fine."

It seemed that Isarco and Tania could hear Monta's telepathy.

"What's that?"

When Patrick asked, Ricardo explained how he had bought the wise beast, and Isarco and Tania laughed.

"Hahaha... It's lucky to get a wise beast for three silver coins."

Monta, not understanding what they were laughing about, tilted his head.

Ricardo and the others sat down and started talking.

"Why are you interested in border magicians?"

He asked the question that came to mind.

"When the factions were fighting, you saw them looking bored, right? Only those who are used to actual combat can look at it that way. That's why I became interested in border magicians."

"Is that so?"

Patrick, who seemed nervous, nodded stiffly.

Ricardo talked about life on the border and hunting the evil tree Elbir.

"I see, so you repel the magical beasts in the forests and mountains while hunting the evil tree Elbir. It sounds tough."

Patrick nodded.

"Yes, before Ricardo joined our group, we had two apprentice magicians, but both were killed by Elbir."

"Hmm, it's that dangerous?"

Tania tilted her head.

"Hey, I heard the councilor tested his skills in the magic realm, but didn't you fight Elbir?"

"The place where I hunted with my friends, the beast hunters, had many beast-type magical beasts and few evil tree-type ones. The only evil tree was Trill."

"Is that so? I thought the magic realm had all kinds of magical beasts."

"The magic realm is vast. Some areas have many evil trees, while others have many insects. The entrance to the magic realm closest to the capital, in the Yogul territory, has many beast-type magical beasts, and those who need earth catalysts use this place."

The Yogul territory is a royal direct-administered area west of the royal territory, across the Creem River, where the crown prince Gaius serves as the governor. The northern part of the Yogul territory borders the magic realm of Crebles, and a long defensive wall has been built to prevent magical beasts from entering.

However, it is not only to prevent magical beasts from entering but also to allow entry into the magic realm. From there, beast hunters enter the magic realm, obtain valuable plants and materials from magical beasts, and return to the Yogul territory.

There are three entrances to the magic realm in the Yogul territory, known as the First Magic Realm Gate, the Second Magic Realm Gate, and the Third Magic Realm Gate.

"The one I used was the First Magic Realm Gate. There were small creatures like goblin rats and headbutting rabbits, but my target was the tusk boar. Its long tusks become catalysts."

Isarco also spoke enthusiastically about his hunting experiences.

"Hunting many magical beasts increases one's magical power."

Tania interjected.

"Did you go on dangerous hunts just to increase your magical power?"

"The purpose was not just to increase magical power. I also wanted catalysts and opportunities to use magic in actual combat. However, for a magician, magical power is important."

Tania, as well as Ricardo and Patrick, agreed.

"I understand it's important, but there's also a method to increase magical power by using it to its limit and recovering it."

Isarco frowned.

"That can only be done once or twice a day. How much has your magical power increased using that method?"

Tania's magical power was less than Ricardo's or Patrick's. Tania slumped her shoulders.

"Even though I always tried to increase my magical power when I was tired..."

Ricardo had experienced it too, but using magic to its limit and recovering it before it was fully restored did not increase magical power. When he pointed this out to Tania,

"I didn't know."

She fell into a deep depression. Tania is a talented magician, but she tends to be stubborn and loses sight of her surroundings when she focuses. She continued her training without checking if her magical power had increased.

Isarco turned to Ricardo.

"However, I was surprised that you, who have been studying magic for less than two years, have more magical power than Tania."

This was the result of using the power of the source gate to increase magical power multiple times during the recovery process, which should have been limited to once or twice a day. Since he wanted to keep the source gate a secret, he thought of an excuse.

"Maybe because I've been defeating goblin rats, headbutting rabbits, and evil tree Trills almost every day."

"Almost every day... Why would you do that?"

Patrick suddenly looked at Ricardo's face.

"Maybe because Lord Alessandro didn't give you money to buy catalysts?"

"Well, yeah. I had to hunt magical beasts to practice magic."

Isarco seemed interested in Alessandro and asked for more details. When Patrick and Ricardo explained, Isarco sighed.

"It's deplorable to send a disciple instead of going on a hunt yourself, especially sending a child on a long journey from the distant Fabius territory to the capital. It seems malicious. Ricardo, it would be better for you to live in the capital rather than return to such a master."

Ricardo was troubled by this. He thought he could live independently financially, but he had no relatives in the capital, so he couldn't get identification.

The identification he currently had was guaranteed by Alessandro, and if it expired, he would have to ask Alessandro to renew it.

If he were an adult, he could get identification on his own, but as a minor, he needed a guardian.

When he explained this to Isarco,

"It's simple. Pass the spring magician certification exam and join the Magician's Guild. Then the guild will provide you with identification."

Ricardo had intended to do that, but there was no guarantee he would pass.

Patrick patted Ricardo on the shoulder.

"Don't worry about failing. If that happens, I'll be your guarantor."

Patrick, being an adult, was qualified to be a guarantor. However, if something went wrong, it would cause trouble for Patrick. Ricardo wanted to pass the exam and get the guild's identification.

"Thank you. But I want to go back to my hometown, Unius village, and talk to my parents. My mother will be worried."

Patrick frowned and shook his head.

"It's better not to go back now. Lord Alessandro might make unreasonable demands. What if he tells you to defeat an Elbir alone?"

Ricardo shuddered. He knew how dangerous the evil tree Elbir was. If you couldn't defeat it with the first strike, your life was in danger.

"But the spring exam is about three months away. What should I do in the meantime?"

Isarco smiled.

"Leave it to me. I'll employ you at the guild."

Ricardo had enough money to stay at an inn, but staying alone for several days might raise suspicion. Besides, it might be a good opportunity to learn about the Magician's Guild.

"Thank you. I'll do the same chores as the children at the reception, right?"

As Isarco was about to nod, Tania called out.

"Councilor, please, lend Ricardo and Patrick to me."

"Hmm... What for?"

"I want to go on a hunt to increase my magical power."

"You're not thinking of going to the magic realm, are you? That's too dangerous."

"I'm not that foolish. I heard there are small magical beasts in the upper reaches of the Creem River, which flows through the northern part of the royal territory."

Isarco crossed his arms and thought.

"Alright. The south of the Creem River should be safe. If they agree, I'll allow it."

"Thank you."

For some reason, Ricardo and Patrick ended up helping Tania with her training.

Isarco arranged a place for Ricardo to stay. It was a dormitory for the boys who worked at the guild, and he gave Ricardo a single room to study for the exam.

Usually, small rooms were shared by two boys, and larger rooms by four, but thanks to the councilor's instructions, Ricardo got a small room on the second floor to himself.

He put his luggage from the cart in the dormitory room, went outside, and went to the reception hall to give the appointment letter written by Councilor Isarco to Lilianna at the reception.

"Aren't you here to meet Patrick from the miscellaneous affairs department?"

"Yes, but thanks to Councilor Isarco, I'll be working here until the exam."

"You're a magician candidate, I see. Understood... Put this on your arm."

Ricardo received an armband from Lilianna, which the boys working at the Magician's Guild wore.

"Always wear it when you're on the guild premises."

"Understood."

Back in the dormitory room, Ricardo took Monta out of the bag, and Monta ran around the room, exploring his new home.

As evening approached, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a boy brought Patrick. He was probably two years younger than Ricardo, a smart-looking boy with a clear speaking tone.

"I'm Robson. Come, I'll introduce you to everyone."

On the first floor, fifteen boys, ranging from about eight to fourteen years old, were gathered.

Robson introduced Ricardo.

"He's Ricardo, who will be working here until the exam."

The boys introduced themselves, but Ricardo couldn't remember all their names. He only remembered Sydney, the oldest, and Robson.

"Wow, you're going to be a magician, huh?"

Fourteen-year-old Sydney, who had to leave here when he became an adult, said enviously. The boys here were taken in and worked by the Magician's Guild as part of a charity program for orphans.

There were no girls because the Weavers' Guild took in and worked girls.

When Monta was introduced, the boys said he was cute.

The food was provided by the guild, and they cooked and ate it themselves. There was a cooking schedule. Today, Robson and two others were in charge.

For dinner, they were served the cheapest black bread and a vegetable soup-like dish from the food storage.

The black bread was inevitable, but the vegetable soup was terribly salty. Still, the boys ate it silently.

The food needed to be improved for their health.

Ricardo tried giving some to Monta. When he gave Monta a potato-like vegetable from the soup, Monta ate it and frowned.

"Kyu-kyu" (It's bad, I don't want it.)

Ricardo wasn't sure if he should praise Monta for being a wise beast. He chuckled and was asked for dried grapes as a palate cleanser.

The next day, Tania and Patrick came to pick him up.

"Good morning, Ricardo. We're going to the Creem River today."

Tania was wearing a thick shirt, gray pants, and a leather jacket. Her outfit was suitable for movement, so it barely passed.

She had a catalyst pouch and a rod hanging from her waist. It seemed her weapon was only the rod.

Ricardo and Patrick were dressed similarly, but they had a rod sheath and a backpack on their backs. Ricardo also had a round shield.

Monta was sticking his head out of the backpack, sniffing the air.

After about an hour's walk, they arrived at the north gate of the capital. From there, they walked upstream along the Creem River. The path was narrow, making the journey easy. After about forty minutes, the trees became dense, and the grass grew tall.

Ricardo detected a magical beast with his magic sense.

"There's a magical beast to the right front."

Tania looked puzzled.

"How do you know?"

"It's 'magic sense.' I always use it when hunting."

Tania could use magic sense, but she seemed to have forgotten about it.

A headbutting rabbit appeared from the right. Ricardo signaled to Tania with his eyes.

Tania hastily readied her rod and prepared to cast a spell.

The headbutting rabbit quickly closed the distance. Tania's spell wouldn't be in time.

Ricardo stepped forward and blocked the headbutting rabbit's charge with his round shield. He managed to hold it off and swung his magic rod. The headbutting rabbit jumped back.

"Now!"

Patrick shouted.

Tania's "Heavy Wind Hammer" was activated.

The air above swirled and compressed. The headbutting rabbit, instead of fleeing, looked up nervously. The moment Tania raised and swung her rod, the compressed air formed a large, solid mass and crushed the headbutting rabbit.

"Overkill."

Ricardo muttered.

When Ricardo looked at Tania, she was in a daze. It seemed the voice of a god was echoing in her head.

"What is this?"

Tania muttered. Patrick shrugged. Ricardo advised her.

"How many options do you have?"

"Five."

Of course, Tania seemed to have a talent for magic.

"Choose the fifth option, 'Increase Magic Power.'"

Tania chose "Increase Magic Power," and the "Benefit Selection" ended.

Tania sat on the ground.

While she was in a daze, Ricardo and Patrick skinned and removed the catalyst parts from the crushed headbutting rabbit. The meat was unusable.

Finally, Tania came to her senses.

From there, Patrick's lecture began.

"No matter what, using a mid-level spell like 'Heavy Wind Hammer' on a headbutting rabbit is too much. The opponent is just a common headbutting rabbit."

Tania listened with a red face. After listening to the lecture for a while,

"I'm sorry. I panicked a bit."

Ricardo, looking worried at Tania, suggested to Patrick.

"Maybe we should have started with a goblin rat."

"That's true."

"Shall we look for a goblin rat then?"

Ricardo started searching for a moving magical beast with his magic sense.

2017/3/02 Typo correction