Underground waterway #2

 

Flora.

A beautiful girl with a rich family vibe, with her hair braided in two pigtails.

A beginner magician of the Buyeo School.

The only magic learned is “Magic Arrow”.

⋯Just one.

Estelle Frostwind.

Cute but a bit short.

Former Lich. Current aspiring wizard.

No magic has been learned yet. Only one dagger is in his possession as a weapon.

Based on the above information⋯

‘Too weak.’

We are not ready yet.

If you want to attack the underground waterway, you need to be stronger than this.

So we headed to the back alleys of the pioneer area.

“This is my first time here.”

Flora craned her neck and looked around.

Of the six starting points in “Nine Stars,” the Garden Western Frontier is not very popular.

Because it is located on the border of the empire, accessibility is poor, and the infrastructure within the town is also poor.

In addition, the fact that NPCs in charge of various functions within the village are all stuck together like this also contributes to its unpopularity.

How would a first-time visitor know that an NPC selling magic books is hiding in a back alley like this?

“Wow! There are so many books piled up!”

A dark alley where the sun doesn’t shine through.

A pile of books appeared, which could be called a castle of paper.

We approached the crow that was leaning against a pile of books.

The guy who had been burying his face in the book raises his head with a gloomy expression.

“I came to buy a book.”

“⋯The piles in front of me are all books, so choose as you like. Thin books are worth a thousand gold coins. Thick books are worth two thousand gold coins… There’s absolutely no room for enuri.”

The crow murmured faintly, then returned its gaze to the book it was reading.

This guy is a pretty unique species even among crows.

A strange type who has no interest in weapons or precious metals, and only compulsively collects books.

Although he is an NPC who sells magic books, he probably doesn’t even realize it.

It is entirely up to the player to find the magic book among the vast pile of books numbering in the thousands.

“Senior, you saw the “Standards of Magic” on the Magic Tower, right? I need to find that book now, so help me.”

“Of course I’ll help you. But is that magic book really here?”

Flora looked hesitant.

“There is. Definitely.”

I’m sure there’s a magic book sleeping somewhere here.

Because this information has been verified dozens of times in the game.

It’s just a matter of time, whether you find it late or early.

So, an hour after we started searching⋯

“Estelle, this is serious.”

Flora said with a sullen face.

“What’s going on?”

“There’s no next volume, Volume 3 of “Sorry☆Supernova Magical Girls Group.”

“⋯.”

“Oh my, it ended so abruptly, right on the spot where Crimson Leo was in danger! I wonder how they’ll overcome this crisis… I’m dying of anxiety!”

For some reason, he was quiet and locked in a corner for a while.

Have you been reading comics until now?

I poked Flora’s forehead with the corner of the book I was holding.

“Ouch-”

“Senior, we’re looking for a magic book, not a comic book.”

“That, that’s right⋯.”

Flora looked at me and shrugged her shoulders.

“Shall I tell you what happens next?”

The “Magical Girl Group” manga that Flora was reading was a kind of work within the work, and it is set up as being famous in its own way in the game world.

Of course, I’ve already read it all the way to the end.

“No, it’s okay! I’ll read it myself.”

“Really? Senior, then⋯.”

A cruel smile appeared on my lips.

“If you keep slacking off, I’ll tell you the contents of the next volume.”

“Huh? I don’t like it—please don’t do that!”

“It was Volume 3, right? So what happens now? Magical Girl Twilight Gemini appears and—”

“Wow, wow!”

The effect was amazing.

Flora covered her ears with her hands and screamed.

And then, as if he really didn’t want to be spoiled, he started flipping through the pile of books at a speed that seemed to be double fast forward.

The movements were almost like “acceleration” magic…

After thirty minutes.

“Whoa… eh, Estelle, haa… I found it, I found it! Here it is-”

Flora, covered in sweat, lifted a book above her head.

If you do that, you can do it well.

I took the magic book from Flora’s hand, who was stretched out in exhaustion.

“The Magical Principles: Concepts and Principles from the Basics”.

Although it looks like a worn-out, old book, its value is enormous.

‘If it weren’t for this book, I would have only been able to learn magic in a big city a long time later.’

However, the crow didn’t seem to care much about the value of the book.

“It’s thin, so it’s like a thousand gold.”

Whether it’s thin or thick, he just glances at it and says it’s over.

“What are you reading?”

“⋯.”

When I asked, the crow showed me the book cover.

“The Fairy and the Sea”.

It is a story about a fairy who went out to sea in a small boat to catch a marlin.

As with most of the books in “Nine Stars,” it is a parody of a book that already exists in reality.

The original work of “The Fairy and the Sea” is the famous Hemingway novel.

“Have you read it by any chance?”

“uh.”

“I guess I know the ending.”

“I don’t remember the details, but I have the general idea.”

The crow showed interest for the first time.

The crow said, showing me the torn back pages of the book.

“As you can see, the back part is torn, so I can’t tell how it ends. I’ve read it over and over again, trying to guess on my own… but it’s not easy.”

“That must be frustrating.”

“That’s a good thing. Hey, if you know the ending, wouldn’t you tell me? And what happens to the fairy?”

There was a hint of desperation in the crow’s voice.

It seems like you were really curious about the details.

‘He looks like a real person.’

That’s what I thought.

In the game, this crow was just an NPC.

An NPC who sits in the same spot every day and repeats the same actions endlessly.

However, the man I was facing right now was by no means a mannequin reciting only set lines.

I feel desire.

I feel a lack.

This guy has his own life, and it will continue to exist solely for him, regardless of my actions.

“It’s not like he’s alive. He’s alive.”

I realized anew that “Nine Stars” had become another reality itself.

“The fairy barely managed to catch a bluefin tuna.”

“I know that.”

“But I can’t bring it back to port. The sharks that follow me all the way there eat it all.”

“⋯What?”

“When we arrive at the port, all that’s left of the tuna is bones. That’s it.”

The crow narrows his eyes, thinks deeply about something, and then blurts it out.

“You must be joking, right?”

“It’s true.”

“You’re teasing me. Okay, if you’re done, you can go now.”

The crow stuck out his lips and began reading “The Fairy and the Sea” again.

***

“You have entered the underground waterway.”

“An ancient aqueduct, saturated with filthy sewage. It’s infested with rats, larger rats, and even more cunningly intelligent ratmen.”

Risk Level: Medium to Low

***

Deep beneath the ground of the Garden Colony.

We are walking through a foul-smelling underground passage.

“Estelle, please wait a moment!”

As the corner of the road appeared, Flora ran ahead.

Then, he sticks his face out and carefully looks ahead.

“There’s nothing wrong! You can come.”

He gestures for me to come to him from behind.

Still, he seems to want to be a senior and set an example for his juniors.

However, despite her proud attitude, Flora’s legs had not stopped shaking since a while ago.

“Senior, don’t push yourself too hard. I’ll take the lead.”

“Yes? Why? It’s okay—I’m fine.”

“This is better. I have good eyesight.”

The intricately twisted paths of the underground waterways are like a labyrinth.

If you accidentally take the wrong path, you might end up wandering endlessly through the canal and collapse from exhaustion.

And, in terms of maintaining the party’s power, it’s better for me to take the risk.

Even if I die, I will come back to life, but once Flora dies, that’s the end.

“but-“

“Senior, you’re the core of our party. You’re our secret weapon. We need to save our strength for crucial moments. Do you understand what I mean?”

“The secret weapon…! I understand.”

When I give him a ride on the plane, he starts laughing again.

She’s a really easy girl to deal with.

While I was going through the underground passage, avoiding the rat droppings…

“stop.”

I raised one hand.

Flora, who was following, whispers.

“What do you have?”

“There’s a rat. It’s a big one.”

“Ugh⋯.”

Flora squinted her eyes.

I was already sick of the little rats I encountered on my way here, but now that a giant rat has appeared, I’m even more apprehensive.

But for me, this is the moment I’ve been waiting for.

The real hunting begins now.

“He doesn’t know we’re nearby yet. Are you ready, Senior?”

“four.”

That’s a good thing.

A single giant rat is the perfect prey to test the party’s strength.

Flora swallowed hard and created a small sphere of magical power over her hand.

The most basic attack magic of a wizard, “Magic Arrow”.

“Look, Miss Estelle. When gathering magic power here, the important thing to remember is to not rush too much and to make sure the shape is—”

“Senior, that’s enough. For now, focus on the enemy in front of you.”

“Oh, yes!”

Flora, as expected from a senior, wanted to teach me some tricks.

Now is not the time for that.

There’s no need for that.

“Aim well, like this-”

phut-

A bullet of magical power shoots out with a bright flash.

The giant rat suddenly turns around at the sudden approach of bright light.

It’s already too late to react.

Crunch.

A giant rat is suddenly struck in the side, spitting out blood and its whiskers twitching.

Not a bad blow.

Unlike the rookie wizard, it seemed like he had learned the basics of magic at the magic tower.

‘It’s a bit disappointing in terms of power, but it’s still good enough.’

The giant rat didn’t fall down in one hit, but glared at me with its nose twitching.

“Huh, huh? Why aren’t you dead?”

“Calm down, senior. Don’t look at me. Don’t take your eyes off the giant rat.”

“Oh, I understand!”

This is who the senior is.

“Senior, you learned that new magic earlier, right? Let’s try that out too.”

“A magic shield, you mean? Okay!”

“The Fundamentals of Magic: From the Basics to the Principles” teaches new magic suited to the reader’s level.

It’s as if the magic book itself has its own unique will. It’s a kind of personalized education.

So even if you read the same book, the magic presented in “The Essentials of Magic” is different for each person.

In Flora’s case, since she had already learned Magic Arrow, she was recommended to use “Magic Shield” as her next magic.

Chijik—

A giant rat, limping in pain, crawls quickly towards Flora.

“Ugh, no! Please don’t come this way!”

Flora stretched her arms forward, forming an X shape with both hands.

A magic shield that is cast immediately.

The giant rat that had been running towards suddenly smashed its head into the transparent barrier that had appeared.

‘Oh? The magic shield is pretty useful.’

Is it because he is a wizard from the enchantment school specializing in auxiliary magic?

This was the first time I’d ever used magic, and it was far more advanced than magic arrows. The way it was used was also quite clever.

‘I guess you’re getting a decent aptitude bonus.’

It might be a good idea to focus on supporting magic and defensive magic when training Flora.

If that’s the case, then the item is…

No, even if it’s difficult, I’d rather get a spirit item…

I shook my head, thinking about Flora’s voice for a moment.

It’s unnecessary worry.

‘I don’t think I’ll be staying with him that long.’

After finishing off the giant rat that has been knocked unconscious by hitting its head on the magic shield, continue forward.

We soon discovered another giant rat.

It’s my turn now.

As I focused my will in my mind using the trick of calling up the status window, magical power began to gather in my palm like Flora.

‘I see. That’s the general idea.’

“Cast a magic arrow.”

“A lost experience comes back to me vaguely. I receive a bonus of exceptional talent.”

“You have excellent aptitude for attack magic. You receive an aptitude bonus.”

A magical power twice as great as the one Flora had shown a moment ago suddenly floated up.

“Ms. Estelle, that’s it! Do you have talent?”

Flora, who had been chatting excitedly, soon began to lose her voice.

“⋯Is this your first time using magic?”

It’s my first time.

However, this girl named Estelle seems to have been quite successful in her younger days.

There’s a saying that even if a rich man goes bankrupt, he can still live for three years.

Anyway, even if I cast the magic like this, it would be enough to catch a rat.

Now that I’ve surprised you, I’ll show you something even more fun.

I made a pistol shape with my hand and aimed it at the giant rat.

“Improve magic in your own unique way.

—「Magic Arrow」changes to 「Magic Arrow: Estelle Style」.

—Magical destructive power is increased.

—The firing speed of magic projectiles is increased. 」

“Gives magic its own unique properties.

—「Magic Arrow: Estelle Style」is imbued with cold properties.」

A large sphere of magical energy began to focus on a point above my index finger.

Aim calmly.

bread.