Chapter 18

"Treating Rena like a pot, that's really mean. Oh, you can just call me Nina~"

Nina is so angry that onomatopoeic sounds of irritation seem to be coming from her head, but because of her drawn-out way of speaking, her emotions don't quite come across. This girl seems to be getting more and more silly ever since she met me...

"Okay, I get it. Those people were being rude to me, the genius."

This confident woman is named Rena. She was apparently heading to the city of Kama in a carriage, but when some adventurers mocked her as a kid, she got off when she saw us.

"Genius? Just because you can use a bit of white magic and black magic, your physical abilities are no different from any other kid."

She was apparently being called "Pot-chan" by the adventurers because she can use white magic, probably as a substitute for potions.

"...Do you have a magic eye?"

"Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

I was internally shaken but tried not to show it in my expression.

"...I told you I can use white magic, but I didn't tell you I can use black magic."

"......It's the Analysis skill. I figured it out with the Analysis skill. And since you call yourself a mage, it's not hard to guess that you can use black magic."

"Aww..."

Nina is visibly shaken beside me. It's almost as if she's saying I have a magic eye. Still, how did she figure it out?

"...I couldn't sense any magical activation from you. When you use magic or active skills, there's a magical activation."

(Magical activation!? I've never been aware of it before...)

"If I have a magic eye, what would you do?"

"...Nothing. We are travel companions."

"My companions are only Nina."

"...What do I need to do to become your companion?"

"Yu... Yu, no good?"

Nina asks with teary eyes.

"No way."

"Uu... Yu..."

Nina approaches with even more teary eyes.

"Alright, but only until we reach Kama."

"...Thank you."

"That's great, Rena!"

Nina, even more excited than Rena, hugs me. Honestly, I can't trust anyone but Nina.

That night, Night Wolves attacked us. We were eating, but thanks to my detection, we knew in advance and repelled them without panicking. These Night Wolves aren't particularly strong individually, but they hunt in packs, so there were many of them. Nina and I took care of most of them with Fireballs, but that woman can apparently use water and wind magic too.

However... she seems to have trouble moving as her status suggests. She has the upper hand when casting spells from a distance, but when the Night Wolves get close, her movements become sluggish and she almost loses.

"...Haa... Haa... Does Yu have a non-verbal skill?"

"Rena~ Yu doesn't have a non-verbal skill~ That's not it."

"Nina, don't give away our information so easily! And don't call me by my first name so casually. You're still a Pot-chan. You get tired just from a little movement. We're already behind schedule because of your pace today."

Nina is depressed after being scolded by me, but she shouldn't give away information so easily. If our skills are known, it could put us at a disadvantage, and people might approach us for our skills.

"...Haa... A trade."

"Huh?"

"...Can Yu use magic other than Fireball? If not, I'll tell you about it in exchange for teaching me about non-verbal casting."

This girl might have some backbone despite her tough talk.

"Shouldn't you focus on physical training before non-verbal casting?"

"...I don't like moving."

"Rena, it's okay! I'll persuade Yu."

In the end, I gave in to Nina's pressure and decided to teach her how to activate spells without incantations.

"...It's difficult."

"Hehe, I struggled at first too~"

"Just being able to activate spells without incantations doesn't mean you can shorten the process."

"...I can tell which magic you're using by the magical activation. But not having to incant gives you an advantage in battle."

(Do you understand the benefits of not incanting?)

In exchange, I learned water and wind magic from her. I had already seen her use magic, so I understood the tricks and could use them right away. More importantly, learning the theory behind magic was helpful. There are many types of magic, such as white magic, black magic, holy magic, dark magic, summoning magic, elemental magic, time-space magic, enchantment magic, and necromancy. The way to use magical power, incantations, and equipment enhancements vary. If I could observe or buy expensive magic books, I might be able to use them.

I decided to take the night watch again. Nina was against it, but I need to get used to detection as soon as possible.