1-22 Magic
The Meat Owl Tavern felt like a casual Chinese restaurant, brimming with a down-to-earth vibe.
I explained to the staff that we had a meeting here and took our seats, glancing around. Sure enough, every table was crowded with meat dishes. The reason it reminded me of a Chinese spot was the style—huge platters piled high with food that everyone picked from communally.
The menu leaned that way too: whole roasted birds, strips of meat stir-fried and smothered in thick veggie sauce. It all had that vaguely Chinese flair.
"Looks delicious."
"Yes, indeed!"
Sasha was leaning forward, poring over the menu with intense focus.
Well, with the family-style platters, we can probably order a bunch and start eating without anyone getting mad.
"Hey there, sorry if I kept you waiting?"
In strolled Elliott, the guy who was handsome in both looks and personality, trailed by his slaves in a procession. There was a new woman I hadn't seen before too.
"Nah, not really. Who's the lady?"
Elliott draped an arm around the stranger's shoulder and thrust her forward toward me.
"First time meeting, right? This is Zuliya."
Zuliya bowed silently. She was a bit shorter than Elliott, with ample chest armor plating, fox-like beast ears sprouting from her head.
But the standout feature, overshadowing all that, was her greenish skin tone.
Her face was sharp and noble-looking, framed by a bob of brown hair, and she wore a striking red dress that stood out a bit in this working-class joint.
"I'm Yoyo. Elliott's acquaintance... kinda like his junior?"
"I've heard about you, Master Yoyo."
"Uh, yeah."
Who the hell is she really? Family from Elliott's side? Or maybe a fiancée?
"She's the head slave managing my house here—the first one I ever bought."
"Huh, a slave?"
I couldn't help scanning Zuliya up and down, but she didn't give off even a hint of "slave" vibes.
"She's a real studious type. She's been learning all sorts of etiquette to play the part at dinners with nobles and such."
"Got it."
So, not some fallen noble turned slave—she'd busted her ass to be able to hang with high society. Respect.
"Anyway, let's order some food first. You guys get anything yet?"
"Nope, not yet."
Marie was ignoring our chat, menu spread wide. Sasha sat ramrod straight in welcome mode but radiated starving energy that could've drooled rivers, so I left the ordering to her and just got some fruit wine.
"You're heading south from here, right?"
"The holy land? I've looked into it—planning to go if it seems fun."
"I've heard of it too. Good money, but super dangerous."
"Yeah, figures."
The monster-hunting holy land. Probably crawling with deadly beasts—enough that even hordes of hunters from everywhere couldn't clear 'em out.
"Word is, the whole territory's walled in. Still not enough, so there are forts all around too."
"The whole territory? That's insane."
Every wall I'd seen so far guarded cities, inns, or farmland—limited spots.
Walling off an entire territory no-questions-asked? Massive undertaking.
"The walls aren't perfect—some spots are just fences, others smashed by monsters. Charming, right?"
"Yeah, makes sense."
"Inside, there are bases dotted around for hunters. Some guy from Tarstira—the biggest city in the central zone—bragged about it once."
"Tarstira, huh."
"Sounds crazy dangerous. Making a name there is a real badge of honor."
"Why didn't you go, Elliott?"
"Hmm, I've mostly operated up north. By the time I heard about it, I had a decent setup going. Didn't feel like risking it all to climb higher."
"Fair enough."
For a pro hunter, it was like the American Dream. Where there's light, there's shadow. No need to chase it blindly.
"Either way, I'll gather intel first. Stuck here till then, but monsters are scarce—problem."
"Yeah."
Elliott nodded sagely, popping a meatball that'd just arrived.
"No spawn points around here, and stragglers get hunted down hard. Head east if you wanna grind."
"...The sea?"
"Yup. Can't manage ocean spawn points. Coastal areas always swarm with sea-spilled monsters."
"Sea, though. Need proper gear for that."
"Exactly. Sea specialists handle it— not a side-gig thing."
Marie and Sasha must've ordered a ton; platters kept rolling out nonstop.
"Oh, these giant prawns? Made from sea monsters."
Zuliya chimed in.
"No kidding?"
There was this massive shrimp in a sweet-spicy boil—size I'd never seen back on Earth. Monster ingredient, huh.
Taste? Mmm, plump and subtly sweet. Premium stuff.
"What a great town...!"
Sasha was in bliss, savoring a prawn bite.
"Seafood galore, plus sea trade—cuisine from everywhere. Food's plentiful."
"Naturally. Plenty of nobles with villas here for their families, beyond the capital."
"Haha, Zuliya's plugged in."
Elliott gushed. Seriously, where does she get noble gossip?
"Even as a slave, some noble ladies are kind to me."
"Impressive."
A bit intimidating as a woman type, but handy for connections.
Elliott lucked out with her as his first slave.
"You sticking in Oguri Kyuresu forever, Zuliya?"
"Mostly, yeah. Used to take her everywhere, but once I got the house, needed a manager."
"Yes, I'm no fighter, but I love housework. Master Elliott bought this prime spot for me."
Zuliya blushed recounting it.
"But... it means less time with Master Elliott."
"Yeah, I'm stuffed."
Elliott probably got plenty of action without a slave party. That's where we differ.
"Portions are huge here."
"Not what I meant!"
"Haha."
I shoveled in fried rice-ish stuff, ignoring Elliott's cheeky wink.
What is this? Delicious! Fluffy grains, perfect salt, meat melting in your mouth.
"So good! What meat is this!?"
Sasha was geeking out with Marie and Trishiera.
Nice night.
"Well, hope we meet again sometime."
"Yeah, thanks for everything. When I swing back, leave word at the mercenary guild... or better, gimme your house address?"
"Oh, right—didn't give it. Here."
He sketched a quick map on scrap paper.
"I'll drop by to say hi. Be cool to party up again."
"Music to my ears, Yoyo."
"Heh."
"Seriously, stay alive—for Sasha's sake too."
Elliott got dead serious at the end. Behind him, Marie—now kinda friendly—waved.
I waved back, watching them go.
Sasha clutched my sleeve tight. Tears glistened in her eyes. Girls always cry at times like this...
"C'mon, back to the inn, Sasha."
"Yes. Sorry, Master."
"Don't sweat it."
First real friends in this world—parting sucked for me too.
But I chose to split off. Gotta get strong, repay the favors. Felt genuine.
That night, no moves on weary-looking Sasha—just held her tight and slept.
"You the beginner who wants magic lessons?"
At the Magic Guild, they ushered me to a private room—perfect. Then she showed up late. Pint-sized sorceress. Dwarfkin too?
Blonde side-tail, rest bobbed even. Cocky face but cute—total anime childhood friend vibe.
Robe like a proper mage, face fully out.
"What?"
"Receptionist intro'd you, so... Tutuk tribe?"
"Rude!"
She slammed the desk.
"I'm full human! Sorry I'm small everywhere!"
"Whoa, sorry. Chill."
"You pissed me off, newbie!"
Ugh, pain. Can I bail now?
"No canceling now."
"Wasn't planning to."
"Riiight?"
She glared up with dead-fish eyes.
"So, uh... your name, short—er, miss?"
"You first!"
"Yoyo. Merc. Fresh Mage job."
"Fresh my ass!"
Still fuming. Sheesh.
"I'm Pikata! Prodigy at Central District High Academy."
"Brag much... Anyway, nice, Pikata. You'll teach magic?"
"Duh. Basic spells? What're you aiming for?"
"Lemme grasp Mage jobs first."
"From scratch? Why'd you call me?!"
"Didn't spec anyone. Swap if you wa—"
"Fine! Prepay three silvers."
Hand out—I paid. Student side-hustle vibes.
"Heh, eases this month's budget. Mage jobs rundown?"
"Yeah."
Pikata tapped her chin, explaining clearly, step-by-step. Pretty solid.
Mage is the base for all. No it, no others.
Level Mage + Swordsman → Magic Swordsman.
Combos with combat jobs spawn derivatives.
Patch's Healer: Mage + medical.
Trishiera's Sex Warlock + Mage → Sex Magic User. Rumors say it grants guy-dream spells.
Level Mage hones magic → specialized Mage jobs.
Base Mage: four elements—fire, water, earth, wind.
Master fire → Fire Mage.
Tweak basics into ice/lightning → Lightning Mage, etc.
Triggers unlock rare spells → new jobs.
Sasha's legendary Space Mage type.
Common: Light Mage, Dark Mage. Even Body Enhancer.
"Then upper-tier like Magister. Starts at Lv1, so think hard before switching."
"Crystal clear. Thanks."
"O-of course! Elite mage here."
Full circle to cute. Tsundere archetype? Real-life hassle.
"Time left. Magic advice?"
"The point. Can you cast now?"
"Kinda. Watch."
I fired water magic, imagining gathering moisture—half-glass worth.
"Water. Weird flow, but solid for Lv1."
"Power ties to level?"
"Duh, Magic stat boosts damage."
"Right."
"Needs imagery + knowledge. Self-taught first-try? Good job."
"So Lv1 practice → combat-viable?"
"Combat... maybe. Dangerous to people, sure."
"Nice."
Knowledge gap on this world's magic, huh?
"Water practice: fetch water, manipulate it first."
"Why?"
"Magic intervenes with matter. Creating from nothing's advanced. Grasp moving stuff with mana first."
"Huh."
Had Sasha fill a glass, floated a leaf, chanted—no extra water.
Special trait maybe.
"Whatcha doing?"
"Just testing."
But leaf-wobble via water current? She praised as solid beginner drill. Kinda embarrassing.
Yeah, channeling water magic over hand felt like mana flowing through magitech.
Knead like magic gun charge → currents, leaf dances. Nailed it.
"N-not bad... Really fresh-switched?"
"Yeah. Magitech habit makes mana easy."
"That spawned Mage, huh."
Sharp. Probably the trigger.
"Isn't that normal?"
"Similar. Dedicated mana-training tools exist—practice → job. That's standard."
"Job-granting magitech?"
"Yup. Pricey, so few commoner Mages."
"Ah."
Still, decent numbers cuz Mages get perks everywhere. Desperate parents splurge on kids.
Makes sense—magic boosts production, trade, travel. Water spell alone eases journeys.
Practiced water till it splashed out, got tips on others.
Creation magic: imagine mana converting to water, not pulling from air. Helpful.
Conversion... yeah, missed that. Chem knowledge blocked it.
But advanced magic needs chem—like evaporation. Not wasted.
She was shocked a bookless merc grasped basics.
"Who are you? Fancy background?"
"Nah, just asked experts outta interest. Half-baked knowledge."
She nodded, attitude softening a tad—educated guy appeal.
"Thought you were some dumb merc dreaming of magic. Like motivated types."
Grinned toothily—heart skip. Body too pint-sized for crush, though.
Scheduled matching days next two weeks, ended lesson.
Magic shaping up usable. Big win.
Till Mage levels, just poke damage. But more ranged options? Yes.
Or magic gun for offense, magic for defense.
Fun pondering skill uses. Time to grind hard.