Chapter 7: Mirabelle, the All-Purpose Tool
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 7: Mirabelle, the All-Purpose Tool
“Miss Mirabelle, your mana control has improved significantly since yesterday. Did something happen?”
“……”
At Colton’s question, Mirabelle couldn’t answer, her lips pressed tightly together.
Yesterday, when she received the staff, Mirabelle had worn the expression of someone facing a malevolent god, but now her expression was complex.
It seemed her feelings had changed. She was displeased with where she’d gotten it, but now that she’d tried it, it was just too good.
‘Of course it is. Do you have any idea what kind of item that is?’
In games, items are bound to have their own specs.
Stat boosts are a given, and some items come with special effects, which was also the case in TOS. There are items that raise specs or suppress a slave's debuffs.
Such items are divided by rarity, from Normal to Rare, Epic, Unique, and finally, Legendary. The Heavenly Covenant, of course, belongs to the Legendary tier.
For a staff, it had all sorts of overpowered effects, like the standard mana capacity increase, a massive boost to magic performance, and so on.
Among its many effects, the most noteworthy one was the ability to alter the nature of one's mana.
Its previous owner, Inaxia, was the son of a sage and a high elf. Based on his image alone, you'd think he'd be revered, but that wasn't the case at all. He was scorned his entire life for the sole reason that he was a half-elf.
It's less of an issue these days, but the prevailing attitude in the past was that they were 'no different from the offspring of a human and a monkey.'
Because of this, Inaxia cut off his long ears, which were a source of his complex, dyed his blond hair, and masked his natural forest scent with strong perfume.
But he could do nothing about the unique natural mana inherent to elves, so after decades of deliberation, he modified the Heavenly Covenant, his mother's legacy.
He modified it to make the nature of the mana in his body feel different whenever he cast a spell, all to thoroughly conceal the fact that he was a half-elf.
‘And that effect is useful for Mirabelle, too.’
Mirabelle the Witch.
It could reduce the foreignness of her mana that others felt, and it could also weaken the unique residual scent of a witch that clergy could detect.
It was, in every sense, equipment made just for Mirabelle.
An angel and a devil were probably fighting inside Mirabelle's head. Something along the lines of, 'Should I be happy about this or not?'
That was the gist of it.
Fwoosh.
While I was spacing out, a flash of light accompanied by a wave of heat erupted. A small fireball was floating gently in front of Mirabelle's staff.
“Hah, to think you can already create a fireball… I had my doubts, but I never imagined it would be to this extent. You effortlessly exceed my expectations with every lesson.”
I'd heard that to use magic, it takes at least a year, even if you've eaten well since infancy and have a royal court mage as a tutor.
But it had only been a little over a week.
The time it took for Mirabelle to learn magic.
I guess life really is all about bloodlines. The fact that a certain shitty manga about eyes comes to mind must be a coincidence.
Embarrassed by the praise, Mirabelle hid by pressing her forehead against her staff. I put on a proud expression in her stead. After all, it meant my care was paying off.
Mirabelle glanced my way.
Haha, no need to thank me. You're my lucky charm who'll bring me a gift far greater than this.
“If she's already at this level, she should be fine learning more advanced magic.”
It was like an elementary schooler learning a high school curriculum in just one week.
“Well then, keep up the hard work. I'm just going to go for a short walk.”
The magic unfolding before my eyes was fascinating, like a circus act, but Mirabelle was still a baby witch. Watching her repeat the same spell over and over was bound to get old.
I did a few stretches and left the training grounds.
*
Even after Karami left the magic training grounds, the training continued. The passion for learning showed no signs of dying down.
Mirabelle was a prodigy among prodigies, the kind who understands a hundred things when taught one. Mana manipulation, magic formulas—you name it. It was hard to find anything she couldn't do.
Thanks to her, Colton was experiencing the joy of being an educator with his entire being. The same was true for Mirabelle, the student.
She had heard that studying was boring, but it wasn't like that at all. From understanding the knowledge to making it her own, every part of the process was fun.
Whether a mage or a witch, the fundamental nature isn't so different. Their roots lie in being madmen who crave knowledge and explore the study of magic. In that sense, the two of them were kindred lunatics.
Vwwooom.
The Heavenly Covenant pulsed with light, reacting to Mirabelle's mana. The air shimmered, and a blade of wind formed and shot forward. With a slice, the metal practice dummy was cut in two.
Colton clapped his hands together.
“Your wind-attribute magic is quite clean as well. I don't know how many times I've said this, but it's marvelous no matter how many times I see it. So much so that I don't feel like I'm wasting my praise. If other mages saw this, they wouldn't feel jealousy, but awe.”
“Th-thank you.”
Overwhelmed by the endless storm of praise, Mirabelle didn't know what to do with herself. She squirmed shyly and buried her face against her staff.
After excitedly firing off spells, Mirabelle took a break.
Thanks to her innate reserves and the Heavenly Covenant she wore, her mana showed no signs of depleting, but casting spells consumed mental energy.
As Mirabelle rested and drank some water, Colton approached her, his expression completely serious.
“Miss Mirabelle, is that man named Karami by any chance a slave trader?”
“Yes, he is. Why?”
“I knew it…”
Colton nodded to himself as if he had already guessed as much.
“Wh-why…?”
“The talent you possess is enough to shake the world, so it's just so regrettable that you are a mere slave to such a man. Even if you work hard and become an Archmage, you will only ever be his hands and feet.”
Colton let out a deep sigh at the grim reality.
Mirabelle, however, merely tilted her head at his reaction. She had never even dreamed of becoming an Archmage, so she couldn't empathize with his words of pity.
Then, Colton looked at Mirabelle with a solemn expression.
“Miss Mirabelle, if you wish it, I will do everything in my power to help you escape your status as a slave.”
“What…?”
“From what I can sense, it seems you are bound by a soul contract. Is that correct?”
Mirabelle nodded.
“That is a truly vicious method. A slave whose soul is bound cannot find freedom even in death. They become an eternal slave. It's a method typically used only on the most heinous criminals or prisoners of war from enemy nations, yet he used it on you, Miss Mirabelle.”
“Is that so…?”
“The fortunate thing is that he is ignorant about magic. A mage of your caliber, Miss Mirabelle, can undo the soul shackles herself. Of course, you are still inexperienced, so it will take time.”
Having laid out his long explanation, Colton raised his head confidently.
“But do not worry. I will help you from the sidelines. To undo the soul shackles and, under my tutelage, become an Archmage!”
Mirabelle listened to Colton's words and thought deeply.
Being able to undo the soul shackles… does that mean I won't be a slave anymore?
‘Is there… any meaning in that?’
I've been abandoned anyway.
I don't even have a home to return to anymore.
The pebble that was her life had rolled here and there before falling off a cliff where not even light could reach. Even if that pebble grew arms and legs, could it ever climb back up that cliff to where the light was?
Mirabelle shook her head inwardly. She was certain such a day would never come.
If her current life were difficult, she might have considered it, but that wasn't really the case.
It had been hard when she first became a slave, but now she was eating better than when she was with her family, and she was experiencing things she never could have in her small village.
The maid outfit… At first, it was maddeningly shameful, but now that she was used to it, it was kind of okay. The material was soft, and it was pretty, too. It was just a little short.
Of course, she didn't think Karami was a good person. Known as the Slave Reaper, he was an evil of humanity who had driven countless slaves to their deaths.
‘Though he seems a little different from the rumors.’
In any case, Mirabelle had no desire for freedom whatsoever.
“Killing him… no. That might actually make the shackles stronger. Yes, undoing the magic is the way to go…”
Unaware of the girl's thoughts, Colton racked his brain with the most serious expression in the world.
*
Ever since Mirabelle started learning magic, my convenience had increased dramatically in many ways.
Heavy objects were moved with telekinesis. If the weather felt chilly, she'd cast a warming spell. If I shouted, “Water,” a cup would be filled.
I stared at the water in the cup and thought.
‘Mana is like blood, so is this something like Mirabelle's bodily fluids?’
After having this once-in-a-lifetime debate in my head, I downed it in one shot. It felt somehow sweeter than ordinary water.
I was keenly feeling the reason why mages are so highly valued in fantasy worlds. They're truly all-purpose. A living, breathing toolkit.
If I ever part ways with Mirabelle, the withdrawal is going to hit me like a tidal wave.
I need to exercise some self-control.
“Miss Mirabelle, don't you get tired from using magic constantly?”
“Just a little tired…. The Association Head said that since I started learning magic late, I need to raise my proficiency whenever I have a spare moment. He also said that since I have a lot of mana, it's not a problem even if I use it recklessly.”
“In that case, I have no reason to stop you.”
Mirabelle's speed at learning magic was much faster than I had anticipated.
Her talent played a significant part, but Mirabelle's own interest in magic also contributed. The same Mirabelle who used to have such soulless eyes would sparkle like the stars whenever she used magic.
It was the bloodline of a witch, undeniable no matter how much one tried to deny it.
‘Good to see.’
When I played the game, it was just a stat increase or a click on the status screen, and all I'd think was, 'I see.' But seeing it in person is a completely different feeling. I can see with my own eyes that her condition is gradually improving.
‘At this rate, I could probably move the plan forward.’
Mirabelle's complete liberation.
In other words, there was a spell she had to learn to see the true ending.
You couldn't get it through normal means; you had to clear a dungeon. Before, I could just send her on dungeon explorations over and over until she got it, but now I'll have to go myself.
I'll have to set a date soon.
A few more days passed, and on a day that marked about a month since we'd arrived in Riveria…
“Mr. Colton, we'll be on our way now.”
Translation:
We've sucked all the honey we could.
Adios.