Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Experiment Arc (9)
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Mere sat at the table, reading Bark's notes.
As I entered, she opened her mouth coldly without even glancing my way.
"So you went ahead and learned five spells on your own."
"...Instructor Karashi taught them to me out of kindness."
"I didn't permit you to learn anything outside the assigned spells. Actions taken on your own whim deserve punishment."
She rose from her seat.
Perplexed by her incomprehensible words, I barely had time to react before she closed the distance in an instant and roughly seized my right hand.
"I'll make sure your body remembers what happens if you act out again."
A dagger—the one she usually used for casting—rose in her other hand.
"W-Wait a—"
—Slice
"Argh— Uugh!"
With excruciating pain, the first joint of my right index finger fell to the floor. Blood poured out in thick drops.
From the severed stump, a burning agony spread up my entire arm.
I clutched my right hand and rolled on the floor.
Even amid the intense pain, I couldn't scream properly while watching Mere's murderous glare.
"If you act out once more, I'll cut off your arm next time."
Mere simply gazed down at my suffering with indifference.
That day's experiment dragged on for two full hours amid the bleeding torment. I was so consumed by the pain in my finger that I couldn't even recall what the experiment entailed.
Only when the experiment ended and it was time to leave did Mere approach me.
"Prompt to Magic Cast— Healing Hand."
⟨ Healing Hand ⟩
A familiar white light enveloped my severed finger. The bleeding stopped and the wound healed, but the missing finger did not return.
She had only stopped the pain, not restored the lost finger.
"No words for me?"
"...Thank you for the treatment, Lady Mere."
"Again."
"I won't act on my own anymore."
I bowed to Mere, who nodded, then turned and left.
And as I felt the empty space where my right index finger had been, I walked out of the lab in silence.
It was April at age twenty-one. In a month or two, I'd turn twenty-two on my birthday.
About half a year had passed since last autumn, when Karashi had taught me intermediate blue magic, up to this spring.
"Prompt to Magic Cast— Dirt Clear."
⟨ Dirt Clear ⟩
It felt like it took about ten seconds to cast, but so what? I was now a proper intermediate blue mage who could wield magic.
'The effect isn't cleaning—it's laundry and bathing...'
Indeed. It was a 'laundry and cleansing' spell far superior to any washing machine.
Cast on my servant uniform stained with blood spots, the marks vanished cleanly. It felt crisp and fresh, like clothes straight out of the dryer.
And it worked on people too. It left you spotless, like brand-new merchandise, far beyond what washing yourself could achieve.
Regrettably, it had no effect on objects or furniture.
While understanding the mental magic circuits, I'd learned the true nature of Dirt Clear, which sparked all sorts of thoughts. Karashi calling it a 'spell you'd regret learning,' Mere ordering me to master it... What was her intention?
Personally, I thought it was fantastic.
Karashi or Bark probably figured there were more practical spells than replacing manual labor with magic.
But considering the long ears' lifespan, the time saved with Dirt Clear added up.
Quickly handling tedious laundry and keeping your body pristine at all times was great too.
...It'd be perfect for adventuring and camping someday.
"Prompt to Magic Cast— Preserve."
⟨ Preserve ⟩
Blue mana flew from my fingertips and seeped into the rice ball.
This rice ball wouldn't spoil even if left out for ages.
'This one's great too.'
Preserve maintained the state of various items—weapons, clothes, food, and more.
It prevented damage, wear, and food spoilage.
Mere had ordered me to learn it, but among intermediate blue magic, it had to be one of the best.
'I can stockpile tons of rice balls for my escape.'
Lost in whimsical fantasies half-serious, half-joking, I lay down on the laundry room floor.
'Tomorrow, after getting my reward, I can ask my questions right away.'
Today I'd sleep, then head to the lab tomorrow.
Since I'd learned the spells before the deadline as ordered, I deserved my reward.
Considering Mere's temperament after nearly two years, I'd probably get the reward and ask questions immediately after.
I needed to prioritize my questions before heading to the lab tomorrow.
With those thoughts, I drifted off to sleep.
The night before, I'd had a nightmare of the first day of experiments.
The lingering dread kept me up, so I woke earlier than usual, splashing water on my face to clear my head.
"Hoo, ha."
Even with Dirt Clear, sometimes you needed the feel of actual water.
As I steadied myself, someone entered the bathroom.
"Up early."
It was Rat Pup.
This was the first time he'd spoken to me since our chat before my first lab visit.
"Yes, a bit early."
"Your finger... still?"
He meant my right index finger, severed half a year ago.
Unsure what to say, I just nodded.
"Seeing you reminds me of my own experiment days, so I've kept my distance."
He said it plainly, without hiding anything. That explained why I'd barely noticed him.
"Anyway, just saying since we crossed paths. Don't mind it."
I greeted him as I left the bathroom after his parting words.
"I'll greet you first from now on."
Evening came, and I headed to the lab. My heart always raced with tension, but today—with a reward on the line—it pounded even harder.
—Knock, knock
Bark opened the door.
"Instructor Bark, I've mastered Dirt Clear and Preserve."
I couldn't address Mere first upon entering the lab, so I informed Bark ahead.
He nodded at my words and led the way inside.
After a brief wait, I followed. Mere sat in the chair behind the research desk, waiting for me.
Bark must have relayed it immediately; a subtle shift hung in her expression.
"Good day, Lady Mere."
"Begin recording. Yes, Bark just told me. You've learned both spells? Cast them now."
At Mere's command, I cast immediately. Gathering and focusing mana took ten seconds.
"Prompt to Magic Cast— Dirt Clear."
⟨ Dirt Clear ⟩
Blue mana gathered at my fingertips, glowing as it enveloped and seeped into my clothes.
"Good. Try Preserve on this."
Mere drew a dagger from the sheath at her left waist and placed it on the desk.
"Prompt to Magic Cast— Preserve."
⟨ Preserve ⟩
After another ten seconds of focus, the blue mana enveloped and seeped into the dagger.
"Did you check how long the effect lasts?"
I reported the results from testing on the rice ball.
"After casting on food, about four days later, half the mana remained, so it should hold for around eight days."
For target-bound spells, the caster's mana seeps into the subject. Remaining mana gave a rough estimate of duration.
"Then cast Preserve on 'Privé' every time you visit the lab weekly."
Mere pointed to her dagger. 'Privé'? So it had a name.
"Mana catalyst weapons lose durability with use. Preserve solves that perfectly."
Indeed, Mere rarely used Privé for magic except early on or for special-grade spells.
She was preserving its durability. How valuable was it to manage so carefully? Was that why she made me learn Preserve...?
"Bark, bring my clothes to Maggot every morning. Maggot, launder them with Dirt Clear and return to Bark. Alternate between two outfits daily."
"Understood."
"Understood."
Bark and I answered in unison, and Mere demanded another casting.
"Now cast Dirt Clear on my clothes immediately, Maggot."
"Yes, Lady Mere... Prompt to Magic Cast— Dirt Clear."
⟨ Dirt Clear ⟩
From assigning daily laundry to demanding instant casts, Mere seemed obsessively averse to dirty clothes.
Making Bark fetch a robe for full-body protection at experiment starts was probably to avoid my blood splattering her outfit.
'Dirt Clear and Preserve must be essential for her research...'
You could twist her words to justify it.
Dirty clothes distracting from research, needing Privé for spells... Hm.
'She's still a lunatic. Wasting two precious intermediate spell slots just to maintain her clothes and weapon...'
Lunatic, lunatic, lunatic...
While inwardly cursing up a storm, Mere glanced at her now-pristine clothes and spoke.
"I said if you learned the required spells within two years, you'd get rewards. You've mastered both, so two rewards."
Mere's words were unexpected.
I'd planned to ask how many questions counted as rewards, but this might let me ask questions and get something else.
"Speak your desires."
First, questions.