Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 004
Chapter Title: Learning Magic (1)
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Learning magic was a bit different from what I'd imagined.
I'd thought it'd involve something like breathing techniques or sitting cross-legged to sense mana, but first things first, I needed knowledge.
I spread open the grimoire again, sat down at my desk like I was studying a textbook, notepad at the ready, and dove into Mysteries of Insects, taking careful notes and committing it all to memory.
"Ah~ So this is what planetary days mean. Mercury's day is Wednesday, Jupiter's is Thursday. Way more intuitive than I expected."
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Sun.
According to medieval magic lore, these seven planets held immense magical power, so casting certain powerful spells required borrowing the attributes and strength of the corresponding planet.
And it wasn't just about matching the day— the time of day had to align too.
The first hour after sunrise was when that planet's power peaked, then it cycled hourly through the others. With seven planets, if you missed the first hour post-sunrise, the next window was seven hours later.
Since sunrise varied by season like summer or winter, you had to calculate carefully and pay attention.
...There's a lot to keep track of.
Why not just use mana circuits instead of planetary magic?
Well, it said these were only for specific spells. So, how amazing were these spells anyway?
[Spell to Find Stolen Goods] [Spell to Prevent Accidents During Exercise] [Spell to Make Socks That Never Tire on Trips] [Spell to Gain Others' Favor] [Spell to Ensure Successful Scams]
And so on.
My eyes blinked involuntarily.
I mean, they were impressive in their own way... but kinda underwhelming.
Nothing flashy or proper?
Just then, figuring I was focused, Grizzly quietly reached for the fridge door.
"Grrr~."
Grizzly. The name I'd given my Transparent Vampire.
Grizzly, because it tears people apart like a bear.
No idea what had gotten into it, but the thing loved opening and closing the fridge door.
Screeech—
"Grizzly."
"Giii..."
At its master's call, Grizzly quietly shut the door again.
I reached out and stroked its head.
A cool, smooth, firm texture. I'd never touched a reptile, but it felt like that might be similar.
"Good boy, good boy."
"Grrrng~."
Transparent Vampire. A horrifying, terrifying creature, but I planned to keep things as friendly as possible with it.
No clue if it'd work... but at least when it got hungry, it might remember me as the guy who fed it instead of meat.
I stroked and scratched Grizzly's head a few more times.
Then I checked news articles on my phone.
[Tragedy at ○○ University Professor; Links to Campus Incident?]
As expected, the professor's death in the lecture hall was buzzing online, tied to the man killed in the university district.
There was a murder victim, but no killer in sight.
Surfing the web, I saw theories linking it to spontaneous human combustion, some unknown virus bursting from inside, or even students conspiring to kill the prof and cover it up.
Either way, it wasn't good for me.
Because I'd been at both scenes.
This was dangerous. No direct evidence tying me to being the culprit, but with zero evidence at all...
They might investigate me just to poke around for info.
The first could pass as bad luck, but the second painted a bad picture.
At least the lecture hall where the prof died had no CCTV, so no footage.
But grab the class roster, and they'd know I was there quick enough.
"........."
...Am I overthinking this negatively?
They might not even notice I was at the first scene, or if they did, just let it slide?
"Haa..."
I sighed and shut down the optimistic thoughts.
Enough. Positive is fine, but naive isn't.
The world doesn't bend to my wishes like some cozy hug.
I learned that at five, when my birth mom dumped me at the orphanage.
...Thinking about it now just pisses me off.
Can't even remember her face anymore.
Damn bitch— if she was gonna ditch me, do it right after birth. I missed adoption season and ended up unadopted.
A hollow laugh tugged at my lips.
Whatever, I wasn't cute anyway. With my personality, even if adopted, I'd have been returned fast.
Dwelling on the past isn't my style.
Anyway, lots of problems to solve...
Problems galore, but let's sort it: three big things I need to do from now on.
First— study magic through the grimoire. Essential.
Beyond just understanding it and controlling Grizzly, those spells could actually help me.
Second— cover up any links between me and the man/professor murders.
Government agencies seem incompetent, but they're sharp where it counts.
Might be paranoia, but...
With real grimoires and monsters out there, there had to be some secret gov org handling it to protect society.
That group would investigate and find me.
I need to hide that I have Mysteries of Insects and own a Transparent Vampire.
They might try recruiting me, but nah— easier and safer to off a powerless orphan and reclaim the grimoire.
And third, the most important...
"Gya?"
Grizzly tilted its head at my stare, then held out the meat chunk it used as a food bowl.
"Gyaat!"
It was like saying 'Feed me!' ...No, like exactly feed me.
"........."
Third— earn money for Grizzly's food.
Great that butcher meat and milk worked, but its size meant it ate a ton.
...Drop out of uni and ramp up part-time jobs?
At least it fully digested everything— monster biology, I guess. No poop, no litter or bags needed. Lucky break.
No need to specify what we're responding to.
It's the organization that deals with things beyond human reason and protects social order. That's the Response Special Task Force.
The incident's origin.
The conference room projector showed footage of a man brutally murdered on a university street.
His arm torn off, guts spilled— but no killer visible.
"...What kind of psycho does this?"
Weird cases usually happened in abandoned buildings or blind spots. But this was bold, right in the middle of the street.
And possibly linked, the very next day—a professor killed in a uni lecture hall.
Lack of reason? Or a declaration of war?
The higher-ups funding us freaked out over this blatant murder.
Used to issuing safe orders, now terrified of invisible 'somethings' striking anytime.
"But why was that guy killed so brutally? Who even was he?"
"Because he's the kind who pulls crap like this. Maybe just bored?"
"Might not even be human."
Amid the murmurs from other officials, the poised woman at the podium continued her briefing.
Response Special Task Force's Shin Sion pressed on.
"We suspect this incident may involve a grimoire."
Sion advanced the slide.
The screen showed a pristine, antique white-covered book.
"This grimoire was stored in the Papal Vault. Now missing. It sensed a compatible owner and left on its own."
"...What does that mean?"
"Grimoires aren't items you can just lock away safely. They're just pausing until they find someone they like."
Sion explained calmly.
"Powerful grimoires manipulate situations so the right person picks them, or leave it to chance to find a new master."
"Like blending in as an old heirloom book. Or waiting at an antiquarian shop."
The government official rubbed his chin.
"...So this incident's connected to that?"
"No. Book of Raziel the Angel has spells for prophecy, reading hidden thoughts, and angelic rites."
Sion switched back to the street murder footage.
"We link it to a grimoire because this doesn't match wizard or anomaly behavior. Those types avoid CCTV streets, even for incidents. They're more covert."
Her steady voice filled the room, methodically dissecting the case.
"Thus, the Response Special Task Force suspects this is a rampage by someone who accidentally got a grimoire or dangerous artifact."