2-13 Backstory Review
"Lightning magic, huh? I went the skill-first route myself."
While on the move, I chatted with Firo about magic, keeping an eye on our surroundings.
Mages are the firepower specialists, so they get positioned in the center of the formation—pretty laid-back duty, all things considered. I figured yakking away like this might draw some side-eye, but no one said a word.
"Skill-first?"
"Huh? You don't know? With compound magic, it's not like you develop it yourself... it's more like..."
"You acquire the skill and then you can use it, right?"
"Yeah, exactly."
It clicked for me. I'd heard compound magic comes in two flavors: either you develop it yourself and the skill catches up later, or you have the aptitude and pick up the skill, which lets you use it.
I'd hoped to pick Firo's brain on lightning magic tips, but that wasn't happening. Just to check, I asked, and he goes, "It's like, boom! Zap zap! You get it?" Yeah, no dice.
"I've never picked up magic that way myself..."
"Huh. Well, that's the normal path anyway."
"So Firo, you had an aptitude for lightning magic."
"Pretty much. Though it's not that strong."
"Really? Lightning seems pretty badass."
"Eh, it's iffy. Super fast, sure, and it can paralyze—handy for support. But unlike your fire magic, there's no big energy explosion phase. So the raw power's kinda meh."
"Huh. Got it."
Probably means less magical energy buildup. Handy, sure, but compound magic isn't always stronger.
I shared a bit about defense magic in return.
Apparently, even among Mages, lots struggle with defense spells. Firo's one of them.
"Is Magic Swordsman good at defense magic?"
"Dunno. Actually, I've been told it's rare for them to even use it."
"Huh."
Look, I'm going by Magic Swordsman now, but let's be real—I never once claimed it myself. It's their assumption. Fine by me.
Still, how does Magic Swordsman magic even work? Gotta research that before I slip up.
...Did I even need to roll with the Magic Swordsman bit? Could've just said Mage who swings a sword—no big deal. Me and Sarsa traveling together doesn't scream noble drama or anything. It just kinda happened. Once we settle somewhere, maybe rethink the whole persona.
"Hey, teach me some wall spell tricks."
"Hm? Well... Does lightning even have walls?"
"...Never heard of any."
"Sounds tricky even if it does. Why not practice the basic four elements?"
"Naw, I'm bad at all of 'em..."
"What'd you use before the lightning skill?"
"Fire, maybe? But once I got lightning, that's my go-to."
"Fire, huh. Personally, I recommend wind—Wind Wall."
"Fire Wall feels too situational anyway."
"Yeah."
Fire Wall resists magic attacks okay, but the power's iffy and it blocks your view—that's why I barely use it.
Wake Wall or Sand Wall from earth magic hold up well against physical hits and have decent strength, but again, vision block.
Water Wall handles both physical and magic decently, distorts the scenery but lets you see through—used it a few times.
Wind Wall's not super sturdy, but you can whip it up anywhere instantly with almost no vision hindrance. Downside: it vanishes the second you stop channeling MP.
"Ignoring affinities, water or earth are easiest to practice—real-world stuff to work with."
"Makes sense~"
"Try both, stick with whichever you're less awful at. Gotta be good to have options beyond lightning, right?"
"True? I heard you're supposed to master one element."
"Huh. Well, to each their own."
Single-focus the norm here?
"Eh, rare chance—might give it a shot. Even just more water output helps with first aid."
"Nice."
I lightly explained my wall practice routine, then asked about mage treatment in the Warrior Squad.
Mages are somewhat rare, good pay. Extra bonuses if you help with water/fire for campsites. Earth mages get big perks for base-building.
...I did wall-building side gigs; bet the squad would love me. Nah, too hierarchical for my taste.
"They push earth magic from the top, but it's so boring."
"Yeah. Can't fix boring."
"Nope."
"For better defense precision, try this in downtime."
I summoned a water orb and orbited it around me.
"Whoa, slick."
"My theory: defense magic doesn't need power—just smooth morphing and movement."
I thrust out my right fist, index finger extended, orbiting the orb on the tip.
"Start with fingertips. Then arm, body—expand the range."
"Ooh."
"Self-taught, so YMMV."
My nightly ritual.
"Like this?"
Firo summoned a water orb to orbit... and it burst.
"...Start with holding a stable orb first."
His water magic's worse than I thought. He tried again, but a guy behind us barked, "Hey, conserve MP!" Fair point.
During our chit-chat, we ran into a pack of five subhumans—surrounded and dropped in seconds.
Mages have limited MP, so unless it's heavy combat, we hang back on alert.
"Feels too easy—kinda guilty."
"That's why we shine when it counts."
Makes sense.
Archers are similar—limited arrows. They deploy before mages, priority-wise.
Sarsa wasn't engaging either, just quietly tailing as my attendant.
During a break in an open spot, someone brought up our relationship.
"So, you and the girl back there—what's the deal?"
"Sarsa? My attendant."
"Heard that. But like, romantically?"
"Romantically... can't say no."
Not lovers. But physical? Yeah. How to phrase it?
"Hmmm... That why you bailed?"
"Huh?"
Firo muttered it, but dropped it. Guess he thinks we eloped or something.
Whatever.
As sunset painted the road red, a massive wall loomed ahead.
The paved path ran straight, flanked by walled districts.
Left wall: proper fortifications, like my side-gig walls. Right: makeshift, uneven color/height, bumpy, vines overgrown—ruiny vibe.
"Made it~"
"That's Cross Point?"
"Yup. Left's our base—Cross Point Base. Right's everything else. Town, I guess."
"Guess this is goodbye."
A silver-haired handsome middle-aged guy approached—the captain.
"We'll head out here. North inside the right wall has merc inns. Show your Monster Hunter Guild card at the gate; should be smooth."
"Thanks. This magic stone okay to keep?"
I flashed the leather pouch of stones he'd shared.
"Fine. ...That said, as a skilled mage, I've a favor."
"What?"
Oh boy, trouble now?
"Nothing tense. We're short on fire mages in the squad. Might post a request via the guild. If you're staying in Cross Point awhile, keep an eye out."
"Got it."
"Appreciated."
Requests are optional, right? Turning down the squad might burn bridges... Talk to guild staff.
"Ooh, captain's taken a shine to ya."
Once he left, Firo teased from afar.
"Who knows."
"Captain avoids big merc groups. You're in."
"Huh. Squad short on mages?"
"Always kinda. Low-rankers get crap pay; mages have better gigs."
"Fire magic seems niche—just campfires?"
"Nah, plenty in town. Mercs or caravan guards pay better anyway."
"Ah."
Squad's not the hot job.
"Well, might team up again. See ya! Take care, attendant-chan."
"Yeah."
"Yes."
Firo and the squad headed left to the base. We queued at the right-town gate.
Flashed our Monster Hunter Guild cards, entered. Modest scale—narrower than Tarstira's main street entry, flanked by simple one-story buildings.
"...Shall we, Master?"
Sarsa nudged my pause; we strolled the main street.
"Hey, Monster Hunter Guild?"
Dead-end T-junction ahead: bigger building with the familiar sign.
Inside: gym-sized space, counters at the back, busy staff. Sold stones—five ahead, so waited.
"Guild buildings are fancy, huh."
"Royal-backed, I hear."
"Hm. What's the royals get outta it?"
"Not sure, but the grandeur screams public works."
"Yeah? Like overbuilt rural roads back home?"
No local pols here... maybe similar pork.
"Roads?"
"Earth thing."
"Ah. I figured new projects funnel cash to insiders, hence the excess."
"Yup. Sounds right."
Sarsa's merchant savvy showing. Why'd she end up enslaved? Past is past.
"Number ten, please."
"Coming."
Grabbed the pouch. Subhuman stones alone: over eight silver coins. Sweet. Hyena-like night ambush stones? Meh value. Total savings: about 30 silver.
"Squad might ping me for a job. I'll check daily—note it?"
"From the squad? Cross Point's Home Guard Warrior Squad?"
"Probably. Just 'might talk'."
"Got it. Will flag."
"Thanks."
"Anything else?"
"Planning to grind here awhile—monster intel? Paid sightings nearby?"
"Some. Also, southbound monster migrations—free bulletin."
"Noted. Careful."
"Public info in the left partition. No removal."
"Ah, there."
Entry-left: simple wood screens. No full archive.
"Personal requests? Like to browse."
"Sorted by tomorrow."
"Cool."
"Ten coppers fee."
"Do it."
1,000 yen for intel. Pricey? Fair? Hope it's worth it.
"Acceptance fees separate."
"Gotcha. System noted."
Done, asked for inns. Few in the small town—lots camp the plaza. Lucky: double room open at referral spot.
"Whew, gotta sleep in a bed after travel."
"Agreed. Glad it's free."
Classic bed-dive with Sarsa chat-time.
"Future plans—thoughts?"
"Not really."
"Cool. ...Dinner brainstorm?"
"Mind grabbing the medkit for dinner?"
"Sure."
Compact, stored in subsapce as valuables. Sarsa portioned pills from her kit.
"You stock a ton of meds, Sarsa. What's what?"
I leave daily stuff to her, but wanna know the essentials.
"No worry—mostly sundries. Sanitary stuff."
"Periods? Oh, those."
"Yes. Contraceptives, cold meds too... Bulk's for timing/adjusting."
"R-Right. Sorry, prying."
Adjustable? Japan had options? This world's skill-pharma's advanced.
"No burden."
"Good. Use during hunts if rough. Plan ahead if needed—blood scent's risky."
"Didn't think of it... You've been handling."
"Y-Yeah."
"Speak up if bad. No hunt pressure."
"It's mild usually. Heavier days, I medicate. Like now."
"Now?"
"Yes. Sorry."
"Nah. Tough topic."
"Told the squad women, just in case."
"Smart."
Illness plus blood scent. No big issues so far, but maybe stick to nearby hunts during.
"...Party growth'll complicate this."
"True. But rotations possible—one pro, one con."
"Maybe."
"Male slaves?"
"Nope."
"..."
No way. Militarily smart, but... male slaves sound miserable. Feed 'em, send to brothels for care? Gross.
Anyway, fresh in town—time for a break. Tarstira was rest-ish, but mock battles daily. Full break here!
Contraceptives I bought first—fantasy pills with sex magic. Reliable over non-magic. Downside: pricey for daily. Few silvers per ten-pack. Some spots worse. Gotta save.
Can't do it? Saves cash—silver lining.
"Back on track."
"Yes."
"Town arrival, your timing—let's chill awhile."
"I'm fine, but..."
"I wanna rest. Magic experiments, guild mocksound fun."
Tarstira's Tsutsu vs. hot, nice instructor here? Hopes up.
"Funds okay?"
"Subhumans paid well. Good for now. Sarsa, anything here?"
"Not really."
"Rest at inn today! Cool?"
"Yes."
She's medding heavy today. Curb my endless lust—let her rest.
Lounged ideating magic. Hunger hit—inn cafeteria: veggie stir-fry set. Sarsa: mushroom steak. Classy.
"Oh, right."
"Mmff?"
"While eating: rethinking my backstory."
"...Nom nom."
"Noble Magic Swordsman vibe from momentum—thoughts?"
"Master... private room for that?"
"Right."
Quick finish, back to room for Sarsa's take.
"No need to change, honestly."
"Yeah? Why'd we even go there...?"
Stared at ceiling, memory-dive.
Smooth magic+sword with Magic Swordsman. Or Joysman kill alibi. Led to noble assumptions—handy, so stuck. Eh, either works.
Mage with sword: odd but possible. No lies—safe.
Magic Swordsman: skill knowledge gaps risk bust. But no biggie—fanboy excuse. Perk: noble aura.
Difference: noble assumption or not. Rest irrelevant.
Squad thinks Magic Swordsman—stick here. Blur later. Worked before.
Next: secrets.
Top: Transferee, Interferer. Linked—hunting risk. Ally or eliminate.
Subsspace too—rare space magic. Other transfers? Careful.
Magic gun ace. Joysman clutch—keep hidden insurance.
But squad jobs: can't hide, risk trap. ...Build anti-person aces, unlock for trusteds. Ideal.
"Sorted."
"Master? Okay?"
"Yeah, sorry—solo brainstorm. Magic Swordsman for now, play loose."
"Fine?"
"Yeah, low stakes. Key secrets: my weird powers, status view, subsspace. Max hush."
"Yes."
"...Said before. Ongoing. Magic gun: hide less if possible. Ace for now."
"Understood."
"Bedtime."
"No fun? ...Hands or mouth okay."
"...Nah, tonight."
Resisted temptation—early sleep.
...Night.
(Forgot where, but med setting's here. Thought port—my bad.)
Periods simplified for ease. World logic—roll with it.