Chapter 41

In the carriage heading to the Magic Guild, I was asking Luke about the Knights.

When Alice visited the mansion, I didn't get to ask for many details.

Luke said that everyone in the Knights was doing well. Captain Smith was taken to the royal castle, and no one knew what happened to him after that.

If I had known, my uncle would have told me, so I didn't press the matter deeply.

Next, regarding Maroos and Hans, the investigation concluded that Maroos was innocent.

The man who had been following me and was said to be connected to Captain Smith was also implicated in the attack on me, but his testimony was invalidated.

However, Hans' violence against the apprentice knights, including Sol, came to light and he was expelled from the Knights.

The Magic Guild is located near the headquarters of the second district.

I've been here a few times before.

I came to read books that were open to the public.

However, I've never entered the actual research building.

The walls, made of brown brick, are adorned with tapestries featuring various patterns.

I arrive at the laboratory to which I was directed from the reception.

The door is left open, and I can hear a faint voice from inside.

"Excuse me."

When I call out, a woman with copper hair turns and smiles at me.

"I've been waiting for you! You must be Noah, right?"

"Yes. It's nice to meet you. This is Luke from the Guild and Quincy, my bodyguard."

The laboratory doesn't have the dark, dark magic atmosphere; it looks bright and open.

"I'm Lava. I'll be in charge of this team."

Lava, who introduced herself, will apparently lead the experiment with the Guild card.

There are about ten assistants in the laboratory.

"Alright, the preparations for the experiment are complete. Please come this way."

Lava, with her red semi-long hair fluttering, guides me to the center of the laboratory.

There, a crystal and a chair, which are often used at the Guild's counter, are prepared.

"First, I'll ask you a few questions, Noah."

Lava and I sit on the chairs, with the crystal between us. She asks about my skills, and I answer calmly.

"So, Noah, you can see the other person's age, physical strength, magic power, magic attribute, occupation, special abilities, and skills, and they are displayed as numerical values, right?"

"Basically, yes. When I say age, it's more accurate to say racial level. For example, if I see 'Human/23,' that means the person is 23 years old."

However, this doesn't apply to beastmen. Due to differences in growth rates, a beastman might be over twenty years old but have a racial level of seven.

I haven't tested it much on the elderly, but it's possible that the age and the internal maturity might not match if the body is adult but the mind is immature.

"I see. Then, for the card, we'll write the racial level. For beastmen and the elderly, we'll collect data gradually, okay?"

"Yes, that's fine. Thank you."

Next, we talk about magic attributes.

Lava listens to me with an excited look.

"The attributes you have an aptitude for glow."

There are seven types of attributes: fire, wind, earth, water, lightning, light, and darkness.

For example, if you have an aptitude for fire, it doesn't mean you can't use other attributes.

"It's just that the attributes you have an aptitude for are visible."

"Yes, but if you focus on developing those attributes, you'll improve faster than with others. That's amazing."

Lava is right. I also gave advice like this in Albus.

"What do you mean by occupation?"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't think of a better way to say it. For example, in the case of Sol, an apprentice knight, I see 'Warrior' displayed."

Warriors have levels. More specifically, based on the experiences they've accumulated, they might display appropriate occupations like swordsman or mage.

As these levels increase, they can advance to higher occupations, such as from swordsman to knight.

"Wow. We planned to collect data on us and the assistants later. I'm really looking forward to the results."

Lava and the assistants look at me with sparkling eyes. It's a bit blinding.

"Special abilities vary by individual or race. Some people don't display any."

"We need data for this too. What kinds have you seen so far?"

"For example, luck, dexterity, intelligence, and great strength. Most are innate talents. Sometimes, they can increase later in life, depending on what you're equipped with, like magic items."

It's not easy to distinguish between innate talents and those enhanced by items, but I use my appraiser skill to compensate for this.

Lava nods in agreement with my explanation.

"Then, let's try burning the information onto the card using the crystal!"

Lava places the Guild card on the crystal. I take it, infuse it with magic, and call up her information as I usually do at the counter.

Lava Kalbunculus

Registered/Albion Headquarters

Solo Rank/C

Party Rank/B

"Then, please activate your skill."

I nod and look into Lava's eyes, activating my skill. The card is burned with the following information.

Human/26

Physical Strength/75 Magic Power/120

Attributes/Earth, Fire

Alchemist/4

Special/Outgoing Skill/Scorching Heat

"Wow! This is amazing! It's really numerical!"

Lava, looking at the card, is excited and jumping around.

The assistants also take the cards one by one, checking the contents and writing them down on paper.

I'm relieved that the information is displayed as data, but there are slight differences between what I see and what's on the card. Once Lava calms down from her excitement, I speak up.

"Can I ask you something? About the 'Alchemist' part of the occupation."

"Yes, yes! What is it?"

I explain that there are differences between the status I see when I activate my skill and the information burned onto the card. The information isn't wrong, but it's abbreviated.

"You explained it earlier. Hmm. Can you write it out for me?"

I take the paper and pen from an assistant and write down what I actually see.

"I see 'Mage/48 (Witch/32, Scholar/20, Blacksmith/8, Alchemist/4).' I think Blacksmith and Witch are other occupations you have an aptitude for."

"Really, you can see everything. Yes, I was taught blacksmithing. But I'm using that experience now to make magic items."

Lava smiles gently, reminiscing about the past, but quickly returns to her curious self.

"This means it's a choice! The card shows the main occupation you've chosen. There's room for improvement here!"

"Yes. When the Mage level increases, the Alchemist level also increases."

"Hmm, I can still grow! Specifically, I need to study more."

I chuckle. Her Mage level is quite high.

Still, she has honed her alchemy skills, using her experience as a blacksmith and a witch.

"From my experience, a skill is usually acquired when the level reaches around the tenth level."

"I noted that! I don't know how long it will take, but I'll definitely raise my alchemy level and get a skill!"

Lava, taking confirmation from the assistants, is determined.

"Then, please check the others next. I'll help with the records."

"Understood."

Lava stands up and pushes one of the assistants.

After that, I burned the status of several people.

2015/01/12 Revised