Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Survival Arc (3)
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—Knock, knock
"Is anyone home?"
There was no response, so I knocked on the door again. A moment later, someone came out and opened it.
"Who might you be?"
He appeared to be the village chief's son.
He had the look of a man in his forties, with sun-tanned bronze skin and thick, sturdy forearms.
I relayed what I'd heard from the villagers and asked if he could give me a ride on his wagon to Bellunia.
He eyed me up and down for a moment before asking,
"The wagon to Bellunia leaves in a week. But what can you do for us in return? We can't just give you a free ride."
I'd expected something like this since I had no money.
'I need to hide that I'm a Long Ears half-breed and live without drawing attention... but I can't just wander aimlessly and starve to death.'
After a moment's thought, I decided I had no choice but to take this risk for now.
"It's nothing impressive, but I'm a Blue Mage. I can wash clothes with magic, prepare baths, and even extend the shelf life of food."
I figured revealing myself as a Blue Mage in a remote little village like this wouldn't attract much notice.
But at my words, the village chief's son's eyes widened.
"Oh, a Blue Mage! The river's frozen solid right now, and everyone's struggling with laundry. Perfect timing. Could you handle the whole village's washing? About twenty households—if it's too much, we'll limit the amount."
"Of course. That's no problem at all."
"If you're taking care of laundry for a few days, just riding in the wagon won't be enough payment. You probably don't have a place to eat or sleep, so how about staying with us and getting your meals here too?"
"I'd be deeply grateful. I'll gladly impose on you for a while."
And with that, the deal was struck.
For the next week, I'd stay in an empty room at the chief's house, handling all the villagers' laundry over a few days.
Later, he gave me soup and potatoes for dinner.
That same taste I'd had in the forest.
The familiar texture and flavor filled me with nostalgia. Once I finished, a sense of fullness and fatigue washed over me, and I lay down on the hard floor.
'Don't look back—think only of what's ahead, only ahead.'
As I recalled the last few days, all the mental and physical exhaustion hit me at once.
'Only ahead...'
'Ahead...'
Staring at the unfamiliar ceiling like that, I fell asleep.
The next morning, after a simple breakfast, I headed out with the village chief's son.
The door to the first house was opened by a spry-looking old woman.
Even after his introduction, she eyed me suspiciously before leading me to a mountain of laundry piled in the corner.
'If there's a lot, I can use more mana to handle it all at once.'
Not exactly a laundry expert... but from countless casts of Dirt Clear, I knew I could wash multiple items at once proportional to the mana spent, rather than one by one.
I silently approached the pile and cast the spell.
"Prompt to Magic Cast—Dirt Clear."
⟨ Dirt Clear ⟩
A soft indigo light flowed from my fingertips, enveloping the pile. Wrinkles smoothed out, and stubborn stains vanished in an instant.
Soon, only fluffy, freshly dried clothes remained.
The old woman couldn't close her gaping mouth.
She touched a perfectly dry towel with trembling hands, feeling the magic's effect for real.
"Thank you, Mage... I didn't realize you were one without a staff. Forgive my rudeness."
'Ah, I've got Privé instead of a staff. Maybe use it next time.'
She told me to wait a moment, went inside, and returned with a bundle of cloth.
"Some bread I baked. Eat it when you're hungry."
'Looks like more than a snack.'
"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
As I took the thick bundle, her hand brushed mine.
That warmth, that pure kindness, seemed to reach straight to my heart.
The second house welcomed me warmly from the start.
Children crowded around, fascinated by the magic, while the adults expressed heartfelt thanks.
This time, I cast through Privé from inside my robe, and the effect was astonishing.
Mana consumption dropped by nearly half, and the power increased.
Is this why they use mana catalysts like staves?
'I get why Kiru told me to keep it hidden.'
I could feel why Privé was such a rare "royal-grade" magic tool, and why someone had obsessed over it.
The third house belonged to an elderly man who lived alone and had trouble moving.
After cleaning him with Dirt Clear, he teared up, saying it was the first time in years he'd felt so refreshed. My heart swelled in response.
I visited a few more houses, using Dirt Clear, and the sheer volume of laundry depleted my mana. After a few hours' rest, I did a few more.
Through it all, I received pure goodwill and gratitude from the villagers for the first time in my life.
Things I'd never experienced in the forest settlement.
In return, they gave me fresh-baked bread, smoked meat, fresh milk—simple gifts of food.
I gratefully accepted them all, casting Preserve and storing them neatly in my pouch.
'The hunger I felt for twenty years in the settlement... could it really be filled in just one day like this?'
It was bittersweet, but a corner of my heart warmed.
On the third day, at the last house,
I couldn't tear my eyes from an old longsword hanging on the living room wall.
No fancy decorations—just a rugged blade built for battle. The leather grip was worn, and faint nicks scarred the edge.
The owner was a white-haired grandfather, vigorous with sharp eyes.
"Interested in the sword, Mage?"
"Ah, yes. It's a fine blade."
"Heh, it was mine. I was a fairly renowned Advanced Warrior once, but now I rest easy in my hometown."
Advanced Warrior.
Same realm as... no, the Short Stature warrior from the rescue team.
Kiru had once sparred with me and said I needed to learn weapons.
And now with Privé, I couldn't help being curious about swords.
The grandfather watched my interest with amusement and made an unexpected offer.
"If you're that keen, how about a spar with me?"
"I've never handled a weapon before."
"Then I'll teach you. Beats doing nothing."
"...I'd be honored to learn from you."
The chief's son had left me to my own devices after the first day.
This being the last house, I had plenty of time after.
The grandfather fetched two dusty wooden swords from the shed.
"The chief's son wanted lessons once and took these. He trained hard at first, then lost interest."
I took off my robe, wrapping Privé inside sheath and all, and gripped the wooden sword he handed me.
The unfamiliar length and weight, the wood's grip against my palm.
"Stance first. Feet shoulder-width, knees slightly bent. Back straight like a pillar."
He adjusted my posture personally.
Following his instructions, I steadied my breath, assumed the stance, and tensed the arm holding the sword.
"Good. Now swing it."
At his low voice, I swung.
Whoosh—
It cut the air feebly, like a thin twig.
He had me swing a few more times before saying,
"The beginning's always tough. With time and effort, you'll improve."
Unless you're not average, that is.
Of course, my form and results screamed no talent for swordplay, even to me.
But with repetition, my stance settled faster than expected, and the swings improved.
Probably thanks to the constant Focus and Balance spells.
"You adapt quickly. Usually slow to start?"
His words at my improved form.
"It's the magic boosting my focus and balance."
"True, some Blue Mages buffed that. But duration was short."
As a former Advanced Warrior, he'd experienced it before.
Mine couldn't be cast on others, but they were stronger and permanent.
"They're Reflexive prefix spells—personal use only, but they last indefinitely."
"Ho, I see. Most Blue Mages buff others, so I've never seen your type."
That was typical for Blue Mages.
Unless awakening warrior power to fight personally, self-buffs were inefficient. Better on combat allies.
But I was building personal combat strength, so personal Blue Magic suited me.
After hours of swings under his guidance, he told me to come back tomorrow. Thanking him, I returned to the empty room at the chief's.
'Tomorrow, reveal my warrior power and learn to channel mana into the sword?'
The issues from him knowing I was mage and warrior paled against the gains.
He seemed the type to respect a request for secrecy.
'To Bellunia, then earn money at the guild anyway.'
I needed coin for the Empire wagon, and had none. Like Kiru said, take solo requests to save up.
Combat ability would help with requests.
'If only there were laundry jobs...'
With that absurd thought, I spent my third night here.
The next morning, I handled extra laundry from the first houses.
Villagers had given me odd looks all day, but I understood why after meeting the swordmaster grandfather that afternoon.
"Mage, something happen overnight?"
His serious expression puzzled me at first.
"Nothing at all. Is something wrong with my face?"
I kept clean with Dirt Clear, and Filum Stasis prevented messy hair, so no mirror checks.
"Your features look more masculine, shoulders broader. Voice a bit deeper too."
...Puberty?
"M-mirror?"
He led me to one.
In the bathroom mirror, I understood.
"Ah, this... I'm a Short Stature half-breed, so puberty's hitting late."
Shocked by my changed reflection, a bald-faced lie slipped out.
If revealing my heritage, Short Stature half-breed it was.
"Tall for one. Face seemed youthful for your height—puberty explains it. Heh."
Nose a bit bigger, forehead wider.
Eyes sharper—heroic or villainous, depending.
Shoulders just a tad broader, not gym-rat wide. Shoulders make the man, huh.
'Even puberty can't fix my looks.'
Not just looks.
Magic was reincarnation cheat, not talent. No prodigy in weapons or warrior arts.
Awakening power was talent enough, but ordinary—bottom rung or lucky elsewhere.
'Ungrateful whining.'
True. Blue Mage alone was rare talent. Plus warrior power.
Greed in check.
Reminding myself, to the staring grandfather:
"Can you teach me to channel mana into the sword?"
When I said I could wield warrior power, the surprised grandfather readily agreed to teach.
But now wooden swords wouldn't do—he fetched a mana-catalyst magic weapon.
"Short one I didn't use much. Might suit a beginner mage."
About 80cm including hilt, broad blade.
Privé was 35cm dagger—plenty long for me.
"Shorter than the wooden one, but much heavier."
A light swing felt solidly heavy; needed retraining just to wield.
Without body enhancement, it'd tire me fast.
"Enhance your arm first, swing like with the wooden sword."
Enhancing as instructed, the swing was lighter and faster than before.
"Advanced Blue Mage young as you are is impressive, and solid enhancement too. Mid-level?"
"Yes, but weapons are new—beginner level."
"Humble. Self-awareness is key."
His praise made me laugh awkwardly, 'Ahaha,' and move on.
After thirty minutes, the weight felt familiar like the wooden sword. Then, training to infuse mana per his advice.
"Saw a royal-grade warrior long ago. He concentrated mana only where the blade met foe, not the whole thing. Aim for that as warrior-mage?"
...I could barely infuse steadily.
But years of mana control paid off—success in three hours.
Key was focusing mana in hand, channeling to sword, maintaining connection.
'Royal-grade focuses to part of blade? Million years for me.'
But he said such quick success was rare.
"Usually takes weeks minimum. Your mana control must be exceptional."
Why he mentioned royal-grade.
I'd heard my mana handling was top-notch before.
Hm, my profile then.
'Advanced Blue Mage sans true advanced spells.'
'Mid warrior, no sword talent.'
'Excellent mana control.'
Mediocre at best...
Lucky no status window—spares the fact-bombs.
Ah, one more line.
'Kiru says fast warrior growth.'
Not that I notice.
In Nellin-style positivity, dubbing myself 'high-potential mage-warrior.'
Self-consoling like that, I ended training and returned to the chief's.