Natural Change #1

 

“I have learned a new skill: telekinesis.”

I had some idea of what I would learn.

The magic templates provided by the Magical Classic are fixed to about 100 patterns.

The magic I’ve learned so far is magic arrows, frost sword, and emotions.

If we look at the pattern, the magic that comes after that is either psychokinesis or magical fog.

Judging by the level of my current skill training, the next move was likely to be the Psychic, which would grant me an aptitude bonus.

‘Thank goodness.’

This is the result I was hoping for. Psychokinesis is better than magic fog.

Basic magic for manipulating objects.

It’s useful for both offensive and support purposes, but there’s another reason why this magic is useful to me.

‘This could disguise the command magic.’

Now, if you manipulate a corpse, you can just say that you did it with telekinesis.

Most people who don’t know much about magic anyway will probably not be able to tell the difference between telekinesis and necromantic magic.

There are very few people on the continent who can properly use command magic.

“What kind of magic did you learn, Estelle?”

Instead of answering, I pointed at Estelle’s coffee cup.

I feel an invisible, intangible magical power extending from my fingertips.

It felt strange at first, but I quickly got the hang of it.

“I use telekinesis.”

Dalgrak.

The coffee cup began to float into the air.

“Ah, this is-”

Flora was delighted.

“That’s the magic our master used too. It looks so convenient. I’m jealous.”

As Flora said.

Among all the magic, salt magic boasts the greatest convenience.

Numerous applications have emerged from the simple mechanism of manipulating objects without touching them.

A typical usage example would be⋯

You can turn off the lights while lying in bed without getting up.

You can pick up snacks without getting your hands greasy.

‘I got some good magic.’

I tried spinning the coffee cup using only magic power.

Once I tried it, I got a general feel for the method, and more complex operations were possible.

‘It’s this easy.’

I tried to show off my skills a little more.

A sphere of coffee floated around me. At first glance, it looked like the moon orbiting the Earth.

“Senior, do you want some coffee?”

“yes?”

“Oh, try it. I’ll pour it down your throat.”

“Huh? I don’t like it! It’s hot.”

“It’s not that hot- I told you to try it.”

Flora quickly turned her face away as he held out a steaming cup of coffee.

The problem is that just looking at him makes me want to keep messing with him.

While I was teasing Flora like that for a while.

“You have mastered the fundamentals of magic. You have mastered every spell this book can teach you.”

“You have acquired the trait ‘Magic Beginner’.

—Magic Beginner: Magic power increases permanently by 10%.

The magic book, having completed its mission, gave off a bright light for the last time, then turned into an old book with nothing written on it.

“Thank you, Mr. Magical Seok.”

Flora stroked the magic book with a look of deep emotion.

Now the next level of magic books will be available in major cities.

“senior.”

“yes?”

“Adventurer’s Guild, will you join me in the challenge?”

I pointed to the poster on my back with my thumb.

The poster said that the guild would soon be holding a test to become a guild member at Garden.

It seemed that the Prometheon Guild, famous even within the Empire, was trying to recruit new talent.

“If Estelle does it, I want to do it too.”

“Then I’ll just assume that’s the case.”

Anyway, I have to make Flora do her part too.

If you gain experience in the Adventurer’s Guild and develop skills as a wizard, you won’t die in vain.

‘I somehow ended up falling for it.’

A snicker came out.

She’s just a typical, ordinary adventurer girl.

At first, we were just going to hunt together once or twice and get used to it.

But the human heart isn’t something that can be tied and severed like a machine or a knife. I realized this anew.

“⋯Huh?”

Flora craned her neck and looked at the cafe entrance.

His eyes are wide open as if he saw someone he knows.

“Ms. Estelle, aren’t those people the ones I saw at the bar before?”

I also turned my head at Flora’s words.

These are familiar faces.

Dawson and the vigilantes were entering the cafe, their teeth bared like a pack of lynxes.

‘Why are those kids here?’

First, I pulled my hood down low to hide my face. I told Flora, who still didn’t understand English, to do the same.

Luckily, Dawson didn’t seem to notice us.

The man walked briskly toward the store counter, accompanied by his subordinates.

“What a wonderful cafe. I never expected a place like this to open in Garden.”

Dawson spoke, leaning his arm on the counter as casually as if it were his own home.

The cafe owner smiled awkwardly.

Anyone who looks at him can clearly see that he is nervous.

“Oh, I’ve heard a lot about that. Mr. Dawson, I’ll be counting on you in the future.”

It was as if I could see clearly what the cafe owner was thinking.

I’m probably praying desperately that he’ll just have a cup of coffee and leave quietly.

However, Dawson ignored the cafe owner’s earnest wishes and leisurely looked around the shop.

“You must be having a hard time. Doing business in a place with such a tense atmosphere like Garden must not be easy.”

“⋯Oh, yeah. Yeah, that’s right.”

“But don’t worry. From now on, our vigilantes will take responsibility and protect you. You can just focus on your coffee business. Trustworthy, right?”

Dawson placed his hand on the café owner’s shoulder without hesitation.

“You said you would protect me-?”

“Yeah. If any of those little bastards start a fight, tell us right away. We’ll show them a lesson right away.”

“Ah⋯.”

“Of course, I won’t be helping you outright. We need to eat and live, too. We’ll receive a monthly allowance. But above all, we can afford to pay that much for guaranteed safety, right?”

The smile that had barely been hanging on the café owner’s lips gradually disappeared.

He muttered in a dark voice.

“Protection fee? There’s a guard at Garden… I haven’t heard anything like that-”

“The Guard? This guy’s information is really late. Don’t worry about that. If something happens, do you think they’ll really protect you?”

“⋯.”

“Let’s make this clear now. It’s not them who actually protect the security of Garden. It’s us. Don’t you think you’ll regret trusting the slow-moving guards later?”

The vigilantes’ obvious trick was unfolding.

Their main source of income is collecting money under the pretext of protection fees.

This kind of trickery, which walks a fine line between legal and illegal, is still popular in the remote gardens.

“One hundred thousand gold every month. Don’t forget to prepare well.”

“A hundred thousand gold?”

The cafe owner’s mouth dropped open. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked again.

“T-That’s hard to say. A cup of coffee costs at most a hundred gold pieces-“

“Oh, you really are such a petty person. Do you think you’ll only come to your senses after the store and everything else is turned upside down?”

“Ahhh⋯.”

The cafe owner stumbled, his legs giving out as he leaned against the counter.

At this very moment, a waitress appeared carrying a coffee cup on a tray.

“Here are five cups of coffee⋯.”

The young lady’s words became unclear and slurred, as if she sensed the ominous atmosphere.

The gazes of the five men, like hungry lynxes, were focused on the young lady.

“Are you an employee here?”

“Ah- I’m your daughter, and I’m helping you with your father’s work⋯.”

“It’s pretty. It’ll attract a lot of customers.”

“Thank you⋯⋯.”

When she met Dawson’s sticky gaze, which was oozing with desire, the daughter couldn’t properly control her expression.

A look of blatant contempt.

But that doesn’t change anything. There’s nothing we can do.

I just desperately hope these rude men will disappear from my father’s side soon.

“Come to think of it, our vigilante group needs a secretary to handle accounting.”

Dawson said, licking his lower lip.

“If your daughter helps us with our work, I’m willing to reduce the protection fee. I’ll only accept 50,000 gold.”

“⋯That’s-”

“I’m not asking you to decide right now. I’ll give you time. I’ll be back in three days, so decide by then. If you don’t have any other ideas, prepare a hundred thousand gold.”

There was despair in the cafe owner’s eyes.

Dawson and the vigilantes left the cafe, holding coffee cups and giggling among themselves.

“It’s a bit awkward to just watch.”

Flora shook her head and muttered.

“I want to help, but I don’t know how to do it—it’s not easy.”

“Senior, don’t worry.”

“Estelle, is there any good way?”

Flora asked with a smile.

Any good ways?

If you were looking for a clever way to fool them and turn the situation around by playing with your tongue, unfortunately, there is no such thing.

This pioneering land we are in now is a lawless place ruled by the logic of power.

The stronger one just takes it all.

“Anyway, those guys won’t get a single penny from this. I guarantee it.”

I smiled faintly.

It’s almost time to collect the debts owed to the vigilantes.

***

Although there was still some time left until the next meeting, Flora and I decided to visit our colleagues’ accommodations.

This is entirely Flora’s opinion.

I wonder where everyone is and how they are doing.

“Now that we’re colleagues, it’s time we got to know each other better.”

There was no reason to object. All maintenance was complete, and there were no urgent tasks to be addressed.

“It’s near here.”

I walked along the street where the Garden’s inns were lined up, as Mitchell had told me.

Before long, a four-story wooden building of acceptable appearance came into view.

“Is Mr. Mitchell staying here? Hmm—that’s pretty cool.”

“Yeah. It’ll cost quite a bit of money for accommodation.”

If it were me, I wouldn’t bother paying extra money and staying in expensive accommodations.

The facilities are good, but they are only at the level of Garden.

The stamina recovery effect doesn’t increase significantly, and it’s literally just a luxury.

It was typical of Mitchell to spend money he didn’t necessarily have to without hesitation.

“Excuse me.”

Flora looked around the inn with sparkling eyes.

When we told the owner that we were Mitchell’s colleagues, he readily let us in.

Miss Flora, it seems you didn’t think it was necessary to be wary of a little girl like me.

‘If you judge someone based solely on their appearance, you’ll regret it later.’

I was concerned about my unprofessional attitude, but since it wasn’t my job anyway, I climbed the stairs in silence.

“Room 301. Here it is.”

Standing in front of the door.

I could sense a presence inside. Occasionally, I could hear the sound of water.

dripping.

I knocked lightly, but there was no answer.

“Mitchell, it’s me. I’m here with you. I’m going in.”

When I opened the door and went in, I saw a fairly spacious room.

Still, as expected from an expensive accommodation, the room was well-equipped even in the poor garden.

There is a round table next to the bed, and the curtains on the window flutter in the breeze.

“Is this worth the money? It’s quite comfortable.”

Flora said, sitting up on the soft bed.

“Is that so?”

I also sat on the edge of the bed.

I know there is no significant difference in the stamina recovery effect.

However, the sensation of it touching my butt was definitely comfortable.

I think I’ll feel refreshed if I sleep here and wake up in the morning.

Is Mitchell actually wise?

While I was thinking about that.

Suddenly, the sound of water coming from the bathroom stopped, and the door opened with a cloud of steam.

“Ah- I heard something like that earlier. Was it you?”

Mitchell walked out, toweling his fiery red hair.

No, wait a minute.

But you⋯

“Hey kid, what’s with your expression? Like you’ve seen something you shouldn’t.”

Why are you completely naked?

Of course, it’s natural to take off your clothes after washing up.

However, the momentary shock was too great for me, who had not anticipated this simple cause and effect.

“Where does it hurt?”

Mitchell approached.

A pure white naked body approached me, showing off perfect balance.