Upon hearing this, I finally comprehended that I was not merely dreaming; rather, I had been transported here by these two foolish old fellows using the so-called "Otherworldly Thunder," causing me to be burnt by fire and assaulted. It truly infuriated me.
Unable to restrain myself, I leapt from the bed and swung a fist towards the silver-haired head of the red-bearded man, intending to reclaim at least a modicum of dignity.
Unperturbed, the red-bearded man calmly extended his hand towards me, reciting a phrase, "Bind of the Wind." Suddenly, it felt as though an invisible cord had ensnared me, rendering me immobile.
Chuckling heartily, the long-bearded one remarked, "Young lad, do not get agitated. Since we are the ones who brought you here, we will find a way to return you."
I exclaimed, "Why not use that 'Otherworldly Thunder' again?"
The red-bearded man replied, "The spatial transference of the 'Otherworldly Thunder' is not certain. There are countless dimensions in this world, and the likelihood of returning you to your original world is minuscule. You might even be sent to the Demon Realm or the Underworld."
I was left dumbfounded.
The long-bearded one suggested, "Young lad, settle down here for now. If you're bored, you can learn some magic from us. We'll find a way to send you back eventually."
Considering the circumstances, I reluctantly agreed. After all, learning magic and showcasing it upon my return seemed like an interesting prospect.
The red-bearded man released the restraint on me, and the two of them proceeded to introduce me to the continent of the Sacred Demon.
This Sacred Demon continent is a dimensional world of magic and swords, housing various races such as humans, demons, dwarves, elves, orcs, dragons, and more.
Among the humans on this continent, four nations have been established—Babunica Kingdom, Reinhardt Kingdom, Reign Kingdom, and the Ice and Snow Kingdom. Each has its own territories, knights, and magical legions.
Among the various professions, mages and knights are the most esteemed, with rigorous hierarchical divisions. The highest-ranking includes nine Holy Knights and only seven Grand Magicians.
Unfortunately, the red-bearded and long-bearded individuals, whom I had previously referred to as sufferers of senile dementia, happen to be two of the seven Grand Magicians. Yulis, the red-bearded one, specializes in elemental and psychic magic, while Linca, the long-bearded one, excels in summoning and light magic. He also serves as the Guardian Mage of the Babunica Kingdom.
Magic on the Sacred Demon continent is broadly categorized into elemental magic, manipulating earth, water, wind, fire, and lightning, summoning magic for conjuring magical beasts, light magic exclusive to priests, and the formidable dark magic. Additionally, there are the elfin magic peculiar to the fairy race and the dragon language magic of the dragon race.
To learn magic, one requires exceptional aptitude and unwavering determination, as the cultivation of magical power is an exceedingly arduous task. Hearing this, my typically lazy self was tempted to reconsider.
Observing my hesitation, Yulis discerned my reluctance and said, "Young lad, let me first teach you the simplest fire magic—'Fireball.' You can practice it on your own."
Leading me outside, he explained, "This entire area is enveloped by the enchantment I created. Within this enchantment, magic has only a tenth of its usual potency. So, you just need to practice until you can produce a wisp of flame, and the 'Fireball' will be deemed successful."
He chanted, "Oh, mighty Fire God, heed my prayer. Fireball."
As he extended his hand, a ball of fire shot forth, scorching the ground and reminding me of the beautiful maiden who had launched a fireball at me by the lake. She was likely Yulis's daughter—a surprising revelation considering his captivating offspring.
Lost in my thoughts, I was suddenly struck on the head by Yulis, who exclaimed, "Young lad, stop daydreaming and begin your practice."
Apprehensive of this telepathic old fellow, I took a hesitant step and weakly uttered, "Oh, mighty Fire God, heed my prayer. Fireball."
To my astonishment, a miraculous event occurred. A fireball, ten times larger than Yulis's, shot from my hand, creating a resounding roar upon hitting the ground and forming a large crater several meters wide.
Unexpected, truly unexpected. I gazed at the sizable pit I had created, almost unable to believe my eyes. Meanwhile, Yulis and Linca stared at me as if I were a monster, wearing dumbfounded expressions.
In a flash, a golden-haired beauty emerged from one of the wooden cabins, inquiring, "What happened?"
Recognizing her as the lovely maiden from the lake, I couldn't help but be captivated by her. Women, the bane of men.
Seeing my seemingly enamored gaze, her beautiful face immediately turned frosty. After chanting a few incantations, she waved her hand, sending a "Fireball" towards me.
Heh-heh, now I'm not afraid of you anymore. I promptly shouted, "Fireball," extending my hand. However, I soon realized that I had forgotten to recite the incantation. Watching the approaching fireball, I couldn't help but mourn my own foolishness.
Suddenly, my outstretched hand felt a surge of heat. A colossal "Fireball," even larger than Yulis's, shot out from my hand, roaring as it devoured the maiden's fireball and hurtled towards her.