Chapter 40

The carriage moved along the stone-paved road, making a clattering sound.

I asked the driver,

"How much longer until we reach the 'Magic City'?"

"Well, probably two or three days, I guess?"

It was quite an ambiguous answer.

"After all, it depends on the weather. It's all up to luck."

Hmm.

I remember hearing such a story before.

The surrounding areas of the Magic City are sometimes hit by such severe bad weather that travel on the roads becomes impossible.

This happens irregularly and suddenly, making it difficult to predict.

The Magic City of Arsbell.

As its name suggests, it is said to be the city where magic is most advanced in the world.

It has produced many renowned users throughout history, and even now, excellent magicians gather to research day and night in pursuit of the true essence of magic.

In search of even greater heights in magic, I am now heading for this city.

By now, my father and mother must be having a hard time calming down the angry Mira.

Forgive me, Mira.

I'll take a bath with you again when I get back.

It has been a little over three years since I started my magic training.

I am nineteen years old.

"Hey, are you going to the Magic City too?"

The one who asked in a familiar tone was a boy who had boarded at a station a while ago.

He must be around the middle of his teens.

Though I couldn't say much myself, he looked like a typical country boy, but he had a rather stubborn and competitive face.

"Yeah, that's right."

When I answered, the boy laughed in a condescending manner.

"Hey, hey. What have you been doing all this time since you received your blessing? I think it's too late to go to the Magic City, don't you think?"

The City of Swords was a place where people with some experience in swordsmanship gathered.

Therefore, most of them were experienced "Advanced Classes," and it was not uncommon for new guild members to be in their twenties or thirties.

However, the Magic City also had an aspect as an "educational institution for magicians."

It was composed of multiple schools called "Academies," and the majority of the city's residents were students of these academies.

Therefore, the city was mostly visited by young boys and girls who had received their blessings only a few years ago.

"Cut it out, Kaito. This person has probably been failing the entrance exams all this time. It's the result of their hard work, so don't make fun of them."

The one who tried to smooth things over but ended up saying something even worse was a girl of the same age as the boy.

Her serious face suggested that she didn't mean to be cruel.

"Shut up, Kufa. Besides, aren't you looking down on him too?"

"Huh? I'm not, am I?"

The two of them created a tense atmosphere.

Then, another girl hurriedly tried to mediate.

"S, stop it, both of you! P, please don't fight..."

"We're not fighting, Colette."

"That's right. I'm just scolding Kaito."

They were probably childhood friends from the same hometown, heading to the Magic City together.

However, I wish they would stop arguing in front of me.

"Tch."

"Hmph."

"Ugh..."

Perhaps my thoughts reached them, and they each fell silent in their own way.

But then, after a while, the boy spoke again.

"So, what kind of magic are you good at?"

He seemed unusually interested in me.

Or maybe he just needed someone to pass the time with, or perhaps he couldn't stand not having a conversation.

"Hmm. Not really anything in particular."

I answered honestly.

"Huh? What are you talking about? You must have a magic you're good at. I mean, what skills do you have? By the way, I have red magic."

Even as a "Basic Class" Mage, different people can acquire different skills, such as "Red Magic - Beginner" or "Blue Magic - Beginner."

It seems this boy has red magic skills.

By the way, it is said that there are six types of magic:

Red Magic: Magic related to fire and heat

Blue Magic: Magic related to water, ice, and cold

Green Magic: Magic related to the atmosphere and weather

Yellow Magic: Magic related to earth and metal

White Magic: Magic related to light and life

Black Magic: Magic related to darkness and death

However, I am just an "Unemployed" person and, of course, have no skills at all.

Therefore, when asked if I had any magic I was good at, I could only answer that I didn't.

"Actually, I don't have any magic skills."

Not just magic, but none at all.

"Because my job is 'Unemployed.'"

"Huh?"

The boy opened his mouth wide in surprise.

The girl who had been listening nearby suddenly burst out laughing.

"Haha! Kaito, you're being teased. Normally, an 'Unemployed' person wouldn't even think about entering the Magic City."

"Wha...?"

The boy's face turned red with humiliation.

No, it's the truth.

"I'm not lying."

I showed him my identification.

"Wh-what? You're really 'Unemployed'? Is this a forgery?"

"R-really...?"

"Hahaha! So you're seriously trying to enter the Magic City! This guy must be crazy!"

The boy's laughter was contagious, and the other passengers started laughing too.

Hmm.

I've seen this scene before.

Back then, right after this, the King Oak appeared—

"Hey, that...!"

One of the passengers shouted in a tense voice.

I followed his gaze.

There was a particularly large one.

"A, a Troll King!?"

Sigh, this time it's a higher-level Troll.