Episode 45 – Stepping Stones (4)

Stepping Stones (4)

“You’re free to roam around while working on the assignment. After all, it’s impossible to cheat on this task. You can even take a walk to clear your mind. Feel free to order as much food as you want during lunchtime~”

What should I choose? I’m contemplating while eyeing the bookshelves. There seem to be about 100 books each on the advanced, intermediate, and beginner shelves.

Let’s start with the beginner level.

I picked up a book from the beginner shelf.

[Enchantment: Alarm]

I flipped through the pages—there were 30 in total. The Alarm Magic Formula took up 8 pages, and the enchantment process was 22 pages.

In fact, this ‘enchantment process’ is more important than the Magic Formula. It’s what maintains the Magic Formula—or Magic Spell—on an object. Without a proper enchantment process, the enchantment would fade in just 10 minutes.

The process can be summarized as follows: implant the Magic Formula into an object, then overlay the enchantment process on top of it using a magic stone as a medium, and you have a basic enchantment.

I do know about enchantments. After all, the underworld is rife with illegal enchantments.

Tap, tap.

Suddenly, a small figure approached me. He stood next to me, looking at the same bookshelf.

“Shion, do you know how to enchant?”

It was Layla.

“Do you think that guy knows? He can’t even figure out a circuit, he’ll fail.”

Kain sneered nearby.

“Hey, hey, hey. Those books are expensive, don’t steal them. You’ll get caught. Even if you worked part-time for a whole month, you couldn’t afford one.”

Asher joined in.

“Ah, you guys, go away! You’re annoying!”

Layla pushed the two of them away. They were making a racket amongst themselves.

“Anyway, Shion. Should I teach you~?”

“……”

I also glanced at the intermediate and advanced bookshelves. The intermediate books were usually 30-40 pages, and the advanced ones were 40-50 pages.

If you ask why the books are so thick when the Magic Formula is essentially the same, it’s because of the volume of the Magic equations explaining the Magic Formula.

Of course, as someone who possesses intuition, I don’t need such Magic equations.

“Should I teach you!!!!”

“You startled me.”

“Stop offering.”

Layla made a face like a bulldog.

“Well…… maybe.”

I can handle this level of Magic Formula with a paper crane.

“Ah! You seem like you don’t trust me!”

“How did you know?”

“Look! Look at this!”

Then Layla showed me some kind of bracelet.

“It’s a Sapphire level Artifact. It’s from the Romelord line, and it’s an intermediate enchantment. I only brought this level to school to be discreet. I have better ones at home, and this one alone contains two Magic Spells.”

Suddenly, she was showing off. Layla cleared her throat and patted her chest.

“Ahem. That’s to say, I know a lot about enchantments.”

……What kind of logic is that?

“If you own several cars, does that mean you can make cars well?”

“What? Why are we talking about cars all of a sudden?”

“That’s your logic just now-”

“Ah~ That’s why men~ They only know about cars, watches, and such.”

“……”

“Anyway. What about this?”

Layla pulled out a book from the lower shelf. It was titled [Enchantment: Purification].

“With this, you can even drink sewage water from a cup.”

“I’d rather not.”

“What about this one?”

Layla switched the book. It was [Enchantment: Deodorization].

“If you make this into an artifact, it can absorb all smells. When you’re trying to hide your identity…”

Suddenly, she clammed up. A quick glance revealed her eyes darting around, as if she’d made a verbal slip.

“I don’t like either. How about this?”

“What, which one?”

She pulled out [Enchantment: Heater] from the upper shelf.

At first glance, it seemed incredibly practical. It would be great to learn and use on my underwear. Layla flicked her finger.

“Ah~ a heater~ This one’s a bit tricky. If you make a slight mistake, it can go wrong. And its performance isn’t particularly outstanding~”

“Is that so?”

Seems like a subtle expert.

“Yep. Even if you use the best mana stone, the temperature only increases by 4~5 degrees. It’s useless in hot places. Things like temperature are covered by Magic Body anyway, right?”

The Magic Body of the One Belt, Four Lines type basically allows humans to withstand harsh conditions, such as extreme cold or heat.

I can’t use it.

“Well… I’ll just go with the heater.”

“Go ahead~ I warned you~ No, I definitely helped you~”

Layla left with a playful stride, and I picked up [Enchantment: Heater].

Next, it’s time to choose a mana stone.

Most seniors pick up mana stones without much thought. After all, all mana stones are of the same C-grade.

But there are definitely differences. Even if they’re the same grade, they’re divided into ‘cost levels’.

The elites likes of Elise, Gerkhen Kal Doon, and Kain are proof. They’ve been choosing mana stones since a while ago.

“Let’s see.”

I quickly found it with the 「SZX-9500」. Among hundreds of mana stones in the barrel, the one with the clearest core and the roundest shape. As I was about to turn around with the little hatchet-like stone in my grip.

“Hey, stop there.”

A voice called out to me. I turned towards it. Asher was smirking and snapped his fingers.

“Let me see that. Swap it with mine.”

“Fuck off.”

“…What?”

Asher was momentarily stunned, and Kain burst into real laughter.

“Pfft! Ah, that crazy bastard is hilarious.”

“Is this bastard for real?”

Ignoring the two idiots, I returned to my seat. I spread out [Enchantment: Heater] on the desk. The first page was filled with Magic equations, but there was no need to calculate. The circuit diagram of the Magic Formula was intuitively understood.

Next, I carefully looked at the enchantment formula.

Since the enchantment formula is a type of Magic Formula, it shouldn’t be difficult.

“…Huh.”

It shouldn’t be difficult.

It shouldn’t be, right?

I frowned and glared at the enchantment formula. Only when I strained my eyes did a faint blue light flicker from the starting point of the enchantment formula.

The circuit that had been unfolding from it, however, had twisted and tangled on its own, eventually collapsing without even finding a turning point or endpoint.

It’s a failure.

No, is this enchantment harder than a paper bird?

That can’t be. There must be some other reason-

“……”

Suddenly, I looked at the magic stone in my hand.

“Medium.”

An enchantment always requires a medium. Simply put, it’s a ‘medium formula’.

On the other hand, my 「Notepad」 paper bird is a Magic Spell purely made with the Mage’s magic, without a medium.

Since they are different types, the operation of the circuit is also different. Therefore, intuitive compatibility is impossible.

“……I’m screwed.”

If this is the case, I can’t understand the enchantment. Should I give up on this task? Damn useless Shelton. There’s nothing to stack as data right now……

—It’s a Sapphire level artifact. Romelord line, and it’s a mid-level enchant.

I don’t know why I can hear Layla’s unique melodious voice in my ear.

Actually, I do.

I raised my head and looked at Layla’s wrist. Every time she moved her hand, the bracelet jingled.

A mid-level artifact of the Sapphire level Romelord line.

The Sapphire level means that its value as a work of art is more than that of a common gem, Romelord is the name of a famous workshop that made the artifact, and mid-level is the level of the enchant.

“……”

I silently got up. I approached Layla and called her.

“Hey.”

“Huh?”

Layla, who had been fiddling with clay, looked up at me. Elise, next to her, frowned as soon as she saw me.

“Get lost.”

“Not you. Hey, can I take a look at that bracelet for a moment?”

“……”

A question mark appeared on Layla’s forehead. It was suspicion.

“It’s pretty. It would be nice if you ‘help’.”

I deliberately put an accent on ‘help’.

She’s my Secret Friend after all.

“……Well~ that much is.”

She stretched out her wrist. I looked at the artifact with my 「SZX-9500」.

On the surface of the bracelet, there is a very small pattern of magic. It’s much more complex than what I just saw in 「Enchant: Stove」, and of course, it’s a much higher level enchantment.

I captured the entire circuit of the shape of the spell and the way the magic circulates in my 「Notepad」.

“!”

Pain shot through my eye. It felt like a capillary had burst slightly.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“……Nothing.”

Then Elise said.

“Now get lost.”

I checked my 「Notepad」 with one eye closed.

[100 / 103 (-1)] (This is expressing 103 – 1, because of the mana core he created)

Capacity history within the last 24 hours: +2

The capacity was tight, but the Memory was definitely done.

“Let’s go.”

I returned to my seat and looked at the ‘Heater’ enchantment again.

“……It works.”

I understood it, but I used up all my magic.

“……”

I looked around and then laid down on the desk.

The best way to recover magic is to sleep. Moreover, my magic recovery efficiency is more than twice that of an ordinary person.

It’s not a brag, but thanks to the Cancer of the Magic’s Core. Something about cancer cells that proliferate infinitely helping with magic recovery.

“Yaaawn……”

I fell asleep right away.

______________________________________________________________________

12:40 PM.

20 minutes before lunchtime.

“……Hmm.”

Elise is in deep thought. She’s scrutinizing the object in her hand, wondering what to choose. What to choose so she won’t regret it. What to choose so she can reminisce about ‘that was a good day-‘ for the next month.

She is preparing for the biggest decision.

“Elly. Have you decided?”

Layla asked. Elise shook her head.

“Please give me a little more time.”

“What’s there to ponder so much about choosing a lunch menu?”

Layla tapped the screen of her smartphone. Asher, Kain, and she had already chosen their menus 30 minutes ago, but Elise had been in torment since then.

“It’s a regular meal day. Just a little more. Give me 5 minutes.”

Elise’s diet management is eternal. For her appearance, for her strong body, for her Magic Body, for her intelligence, for her concentration and insight, for her health.

However, the cheat to maintain that eternity is today, once a month —— ‘Thursday’.

She can’t waste the wait of 30 days, 720 hours, 43,200 minutes.

“……5 minutes. Okay, but you have to tell me within 5 minutes. We need to order delivery. If it comes late, we’ll have to eat in a hurry.”

“Ah!”

A look of defeat appeared in Elise’s eyes.

“Right, if we have to eat in a hurry…… I forgot about that variable…… I made a mistake……”

“No, don’t make that enlightened face. If you choose the menu quickly, we won’t have to eat in a hurry, okay?”

“……”

Elise had already buried her nose in her smartphone. Layla sighed and leaned back in her chair.

“……Yaaawn.”

Then a yawn was heard. There was a man in the back row slowly getting up.

“Hey Shion, did you sleep well?”

Layla asked with a big smile.

Grrrrr——!

Instead of an answer, a stomach growl was heard. Layla slightly narrowed her eyes and then opened them wide. She had a good idea.

“Oh, Shion, are you hungry?!”

“……It’s almost lunchtime.”

“I’ll buy you lunch!”

Shion, who was about to leave, froze in his tracks. He asked with an intrigued tone,

“I eat quite a lot, you know.”

“That’s okay! I’m rich! Order anything you want!”

“Must be nice, being rich.”

Yawning again, Shion accepted the smartphone handed to him.

“We’re planning to order from Seven Guy Burger. Pick anything from the menu.”

“In that case, I’ll have…”

Shion poked at the delivery app screen, selecting his menu.

“Seven Burger, Spicy Bacon Burger, Spicy Chicken Burger, Hot Dog Burger, Chicken…”

His finger moved about 15 times. With each selection, Layla’s smile grew wider.

The more he orders, the more he’ll help!

“Alright. I’ve chosen. Thanks.”

Layla, who received the smartphone back, pointed at Elise.

“Just wait a bit~ Elly is still deciding.”

“Deciding?”

Shion also looked at Elise. She was still flipping through the delivery app’s menu.

“Just eat anything, why the fuss?”

“……”

At that, a vein popped on Elise’s temple. She put down her smartphone and said,

“Are you buying for that monkey too? Then I’ll order from somewhere else.”

“Hey~ why are you like that. You were the one who first wanted Seven Guy Burger.”

Layla mouthed ‘Secret Friend’ to Elise.

It meant she should help because she’s her Secret Friend.

“……sigh.”

Elise looked at her smartphone again.

It took quite a long time, but she was almost there.

After intensely considering several hypotheses, reviewing the process dozens of times, and imagining the future that would follow, she was about to make a decision she wouldn’t regret today, tomorrow, and for the next month.

Right here, right now.

“Bulgogi Burger, large set.”

“Okay! Decision made! I’ll place the order right away!”

Layla quickly checked and placed the order.

“Phew…… that was tough.”

While Elise was wiping her sweat and looking satisfied, Shion said,

“Why did you even bother if you were just going to order the basic set?”

“……Can’t you just keep your mouth shut?”