Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Growth Arc (3)
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—!
Mana poured out in an instant.
Soon, accompanied by a faint shaaa— sound, a circular magic circuit bloomed at my fingertips, tracing a pale blue glow.
It was a success!
Overwhelmed with joy, I clenched my fist, and my lips curled into a grin without me even trying.
The pale blue glow faded quickly, replaced by a warm heat spreading through my body. It was the effect of the beginner Blue Magic spell, Warms.
"Whoa..."
A gasp of admiration slipped out unbidden. It was that joyful a moment.
I'd finally become a mage.
A ten-year-old mage, no less. I didn't know the youngest record, but this had to rank in the top ten, right?
...Nah. They were real geniuses, while I was an adult succeeding in a child's body. Gotta stay humble.
Still, I was over the moon.
In this world where I'd been forcibly reincarnated after only reading the prologue, I'd finally gained something I could call a true "ability."
Brimming with happiness, I tried casting the spell again.
Huh, the entire magic circuit just pops into my mind?
As proof that I'd fully mastered the spell, the completed circuit floated clearly in my mind's eye.
Reading and comprehending it from start to finish felt as natural as reading a book.
Thanks to that, I could cast it again in just a dozen seconds or so.
Mana drained away, and once more, the magic circuit and pale blue glow briefly expanded and vanished.
Along with it, I felt the warmth of Warms fade, then return anew.
It seemed that casting the same spell on yourself again didn't stack the effects—it just refreshed and overlaid the new one.
Experiencing it firsthand really was the fastest way to learn.
With the joy, excitement, and now the heat from Warms piling on, I was starting to sweat. Time to call it and head out.
But how long does this last? Can I dispel it?
For now, I'd go ask that gruff guy.
Stepping out, afternoon sunlight poured brilliantly through the corridor windows.
I had no idea how many hours I'd spent inside, but lunchtime had definitely passed.
Man, I'm pretty hungry. Better ask my questions quick and get outta here.
Knock, knock.
I knocked on the door of the first room in the corridor and entered.
The gruff man glanced at me as I came in and spoke right away.
"I see you're wrapped in a Mana Coat, so the mana circulation must have succeeded."
Oh, right—the stele said the Mana Coat activates upon successful mana circulation.
Buoyed by my spellcasting success, my mood was lighter. I replied to him in a softer tone than this morning.
"I don't know what it is exactly, but yeah, it's activated. You can see it?"
"If you infuse your eyes with mana, you can see it faintly."
Like concentrating mana at my fingertips earlier—maybe the same for my eyes? I decided to give it a try.
Today, I'd only circulated mana from my whole body to my fingertips, never to other parts.
After several trial-and-error attempts, I finally succeeded.
Oh, there it is!
I could see the deep blue mana circulating through my body and the thick outline enveloping my skin.
The more I focused, the clearer it became; easing off let me see it faintly.
"Whoa, I really can see it."
"...You're adapting to mana well. So, what about the aptitude tests? Did you give up midway?"
This morning's interrogation came back to me.
This guy had unilaterally decided whether I could learn magic, and now he was grilling me again.
He wouldn't flip out just because I learned a spell, right?
"I learned Blue Magic. Took forever."
He let out a low "Hoo" and stroked his chin.
"Care to show me?"
No need for words—I cast it immediately.
Seeing my spell, he nodded in satisfaction.
"I see. Impressive, but not Red Magic."
Why bring up Red Magic? Sure, I'd failed that one. And Holy Magic and Green Magic after.
"Yeah, Red Magic was what I wanted most, but it wouldn't cast. Failed Red, Holy, and Green—finally got Blue Magic on the fourth try."
Even his perpetually gruff face showed clear surprise.
This guy can change expressions after all.
"What? You did all that?"
"Minus Purple Magic, yeah."
"Heh, even talented fifteen-year-olds can barely test one or two per day. Aptitude checks usually take days. And you're saying a ten-year-old did four before afternoon's end?"
"Ah... I guess it's because I study a lot from books usually."
I hadn't realized. How would I know how long it takes others?
I'd sped through thanks solely to my past-life experience and adult mindset—not some genius talent.
"That's not something books alone can do. Childish exaggeration, or maybe the hybrid... No, forget I said that. Point is, you're no ordinary kid. Testing four aptitudes in half a day at ten? Your speech and behavior don't scream ten-year-old either. And mastering a spell at your age? Far from normal. Any other ten-year-old would've taken days per test."
What's his deal?
His sudden shift in attitude was weird, but everything he pointed out was spot on.
I hadn't acted very childlike, and I truly hadn't known aptitude tests dragged on like that.
"I'll report to the Elder Council that you require monitoring."
His final declaration—practically a banishment order—wrapped up our awkward chat.
I didn't linger and left the Magic Unit building straight away.
I had no clue what the Elder Council report would change, but it sure left me uneasy.
Grandmother comes home tonight; I'll consult her.
I didn't even know who or what the Elder Council was, but the name alone suggested they were the top dogs of the forest.
"We've got a smart cookie here."
"Excellent. Load him into Long Ears Robot Unit 27 right away."
I mind-controlled myself with some silly fantasies. Maybe they'd offer forest-wide support for a prodigy.
The way home was easy.
Thanks to the Long Ears' excellent memory, I wouldn't get lost on a path I'd seen once.
Still, going alone without Grandmother made people's stares sting more.
Probably eyeing my short ears.
I've done nothing wrong—walk tall.
I straightened up against the burdensome gazes and strode on naturally.
Passing the Education Unit and walking a good while, I overheard something that caught my ear near a bustling workshop.
"Heard that kid went into the Magic Unit building with one of the Education Unit elders today."
"Scary stuff. He's still so young—think he went for an aptitude test already?"
"Maybe. Hope nothing bad happened."
What? That's Grandmother and me they're talking about—why's my business on people's lips?
And the tone's off. How's me getting an aptitude test scary?
"When's she heading back to the central village? She gonna keep living here with him?"
"Can't take him anywhere else, so probably not. No other place would accept him, let alone the central village. They manage population too, with all the people there."
"Sigh, can't erase those memories, so everyone's just gonna keep thinking bad of it."
"I get it. We all do."
The two were facing the workshop entrance, chatting away, oblivious to me right behind them.
I wanted to hear more, but someone inside called—maybe they had business there—and they headed off.
Summarizing what they said:
One, they fear me taking an aptitude test.
Two, Grandmother used to live in the forest's central village; now she's here in this remote village with me.
Three, nowhere accepts me?
Four, some bad memory. Did something happen when I was born?
...Putting it all together, my position seems worse than I thought.
What on earth for?
I'd assumed everything stemmed from being a "hybrid."
But combining what the gruff Magic Unit guy said today with this workshop chatter, there might be more to it.
I was lost in thought when—
"Ah—"
Someone exiting the workshop gasped in surprise.
It was that girl my age from before. Flanked by what looked like her parents.
"A."
The parents let out sharp cries and hurriedly hid the girl behind them. What? Why?
Uh, um...
I didn't know exactly, but sensing their fear, I instinctively backed away.
Then turned and ran home.
I wanted Grandmother.
Grandmother was late today—didn't get back until full evening, sun long set.
She kicked off her shoes in a rush the moment she entered, hurried over, and gently grasped my shoulders.
"Roin! You've learned to handle mana."
Grandmother wasn't a mage, but she seemed to have awakened to mana circulation.
So she could see the mana flowing through me.
"Yeah, and I learned Blue Magic too!"
My mood was down from the day's events, but the joy of mastering magic outweighed it. Questions could wait—I'd cast on Grandmother first.
"Here, watch: Prompt to Magic Cast—Warms."
The pale blue light from my fingertips seemed to stretch toward Grandmother but dissipated in midair without reaching her.
"Huh?"
At my reaction, she said matter-of-factly,
"Congratulations, Roin. You've really learned magic. That was you trying to cast on me, right? Spells on others won't work without their consent."
Ah, got it.
So no rogue sleep spells without agreement—good safety feature.
"How does consent work?"
"They request it, or you ask and they agree. Doesn't have to be verbal—if they wish it in their heart, that counts too. Applies to everything except Holy Magic's healing. Basic life knowledge—learn it now."
Simple enough.
"Okay, try casting on me again? Weather's chilly. Grandmother's cold."
It was early summer, temperatures actually rising a bit.
Grandmother wasn't cold but pretended, huffing on her hands. Such a kind soul.
At her consideration, I cast right away, and the pale blue mana light flowed to her, spreading through her body like it seeped in.
"Ooh, so warm. Now I can ask Roin when it's cold. A mage at ten—truly amazing."
Being praised for age made me a tad embarrassed, given my unmentioned past life.
But I'd decided not to sweat that anymore.
Yeah, past-life experience counts as skill.
Grrrrowl.
Come to think of it, nothing since breakfast all afternoon.
"Let's eat dinner quick. We'll make do with what's here today, but tomorrow I'll buy ingredients you like to celebrate."
Grandmother smoothly shifted topics, washed up lightly, and headed to the kitchen.
An hour later, dinner was done.
To settle full bellies, we stepped out for a quiet night stroll.
Now was the time to ask about today's events.