Chapter 7 - Research x research

It has been 2 days since I got accepted into the Magic Academy. After I have finished all the procedures to register as a new student, I immediately go to the library and have been grinding at it.

Of course, I don’t stay all 24 hours in the library, I still need to do my morning training and night meditation. I also told Jane about the thing that happened in the new student test on the night after the test. She should be digging into the information of the two antagonistic people I’ve met.

I stayed almost all day long yesterday and I plan to do the same today too. I already got some boxed lunches for my mid-day break. Having magic is really convenient. I can reheat my boxed lunch anytime I want. And in case you are asking what I have in my boxed lunch, it’s a large slab of steak. The sauce is just made from herbs and fruit though so it is not as delicious as the usual steak from Earth but meat is cheap so the portion is simply XXXL.

I am still in my growth period, after all, I need to eat more. I can’t wait to have my ranch up and running so I can get some milk too. But that will be for later.

Anyway, my 5 followers are also joining me in grinding books here. I just ask them to learn the things that are related to their affinity and some others that I thought would be good to learn.

For the light affinity, I ask him to learn about healing, be it magical or not as having a dedicated healer in the army is important for the survival of my troops.

For the nature affinity, I ask him to learn about growing trees and general botany. I want him to find out whether growing trees instantly is something possible or not. I also want him to be able to plant most plants so we can plant herbs and spices in the future.

For the earth affinity, I ask him to learn about building and architecture. There are two important earth elemental magics that I think would become very important in the future: the mud-to-stone and the stone-to-mud spell. Those two spells are basically a cheat in a construction project. He will be the builder in the future. He needs to know how to build roads, houses, and maybe even a fort.

For the metal affinity, I actually don’t expect someone with metal affinity so I just ask him to learn more about metallurgy if it even existed here. I don’t know, maybe he can be our blacksmith? I also tell him to learn more about dwarves as they are a race famous for their craftsmanship. He might want to find dwarven friends in the future if he decided to dive deeper into metal research.

For the ice affinity, all I have in mind is to make her learn about how to produce ice without magic and how to make an ice house for storage. Those are the important ones while air conditioning is just an extra. She does not have that much to learn when I think about it so I just let her read whatever if she is done with my request.

Of course, the others could read anything they want if they are also done with the research. I doubt they would though, knowing how wide the information they need to learn.

As for me? Well, first off, I need to learn about the things related to my affinity first. The darkness affinity. And as I have deduced earlier, darkness magic mostly functions as control with both curse magic and mind magic. But unfortunately, those two magic studies are banned in this kingdom for their scary effect. After all, those two branches from the darkness element are stealthy and deadly.

And not only deadly, the victim could actually experience something worse than death with the magic from those two studies.

The keyword of the darkness element is [Domination]. Both curses and mind magic indeed represent that keyword. Curse magic dominates the target’s body while mind magic dominates the target’s mind.

There is also the infamous necromancy. And sure it does dominate the soul of the dead. Or at least the corpse of the dead. And of course, it is also highly abhorred by everyone.

Other minor darkness magic is only those from stealth-focused spells.

So in short, I still don’t know what kind of magic study my shadow-controlling magic and tentacle-summoning magic came from.

Every night after the entrance test, I never forget to train this new magic of mine. As I just know that my affinity is to darkness and those two are the only darkness elemental spell that I have, of course, I need to get familiar with it.

After 2 nights of testing, I get the feeling that shadow-controlling magic is just like what the blind blond assassin uses while fighting. The magic makes my own shadow pliable and I can turn them into many shapes. Of course, as I only learned this magic for 2 days, I can’t make complex shapes yet but making a basic blade with my shadow is not that hard and it feels like I have extra limbs to stab people from below. On the other hand, the few things that I learned from summoning tentacles are that I can only summon it in any place that is attached to my body or shadow like in the test and I can command the tentacle to either crush or grab close objects.

I also did an endurance test and tried to cut off some of my shadow and the tentacle. For my shadow, even if it got cut, it will dissipate and return back to me. For the tentacle, it is actually so hard that it is almost impossible to cut. And I could not perfectly control the tentacle yet so it will just try to smash at everything close by. I should not casually cast this magic.

Although my only harvest when researching spells in my affinity is only those minor darkness magic. It is better than nothing. All 3 spells that I get are all stealth related. Shadow-meld, Shadow-hide, and Shadow refuge. Meld and hide are stealth skills meant to make you less conspicuous with the difference that 'meld' can only be cast while staying still and 'hide' can be used while walking around.

The best one is of course the shadow refuge. It allows me to enter my own shadow to hide. If I can combine it with shadow control, I won’t even need the other two spells at all.

And that was all the books related to darkness magic in the academy’s library. Darkness magic seems to be extremely hated and nobody really cared about learning it. Heh, it somehow reminds me of the reaction from the instructor who tested my affinity. I now understand why he acted like that.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Well, I can still use magic from other elements anyway so I don’t feel that there is an urgent need to learn more darkness element magic.

Anyway, I am currently reading another interesting book. It is about a magic circuit casting guide. Nowadays magic is mostly dominated by chanting as it is relatively faster than the magic circuit casting method and as the mage trains more with their chant, they can shorten it or even reach the stage of chantless eventually.

The magic circuit method also would always release a constant result when casting while the chanting method has a fluctuating result. Yes, it can be weaker than usual but an experienced caster can easily release ‘strengthened’ versions of the magic with the cost of spending more mana and as most mage search for ways to deal more destruction toward their enemies, that method is highly favored.

Yes, it is mostly an obsolete method of casting magic now. But when I read the word ‘circuit’ in the title, it reminded me of electronic circuits back on Earth and it got me interested. And after I get some understanding of it, it indeed seems feasible to be used to craft magical items with a little modification.

Getting excited at the premise, I immediately collected more books related to magic circuit casting and magic item crafting.

I don’t realize that there is someone who has been watching over me for the past 2 days. And it seems that the one looking at me finally could not beat his curiosity when I started learning magic circuits with zeal.

“Young student, I’m sorry to abruptly disturb you but I have some questions for you”

A wizened old man with white hair and a simple mage cloak suddenly approached me while asking that. Seeing the gentle smile on the old man, I immediately return the smile and nod.

“Of course, sir. What do you want to ask?”

“I can’t help but notice that you have been studying zealously these two days. And I am curious why would you learn the magic circuit casting method with deep interest like that”

“Ah, I just don’t expect my actual elemental affinity to be the darkness element which I know the least about when compared to other elements so I am trying to learn more about it. But there is not much material about darkness element magic so I just find books that interest me. And when I read the title of magic circuit casting method, I thought that if I can create a magic circuit and put it in an item, I can make a magic item that would always give the constant output”

“Oh, I see. So you are trying to be more familiar with your own affinity. That is a wise choice. I recommend you read books about demons and monsterology then search for monsters with darkness affinity. You might be able to learn more about darkness magic that way. And for the magic circuit… I see… to think that there is also a possible application of magic circuits besides using it for casting magic. But even so, I think it would be just a waste to research it further as even if you managed to create a magic item, it would not be able to do things better when compared to if you cast those magic yourself. I suggest you train yourself to become a better mage rather than relying on magic items”

Wow, yeah, old things would definitely have a fixed worldview at their age. I just want to make some convenient tools with this knowledge. Not some tool of war.

“Hahaha, sir, you misunderstand me. I don’t want to make some super combat magic item with the knowledge from magic circuit, I just want to make some convenient item like blowing cool wind for a long time”

“Blowing cool wind?”

“Yes. It is a preparation for summer. I can cast the magic myself but if I can make a magic tool to cast that for long hours while I am studying in the hot summer, won’t it be a pleasant studying environment?”

“That… does sound like a pleasant time indeed. Forgive this old man for connecting all magic-related study to battle. It might be time for the new generation to take over the stage”

“Hahaha, I know you mean good for me sir. It’s just that I don’t want to make my servant get tired from fanning me all day long. It feels like such a waste to make my capable servant do that all day long. By the way, I also want to thank you for your suggestion on learning darkness magic from demons and dark elemental monsters, sir. I feel that my mind just got expanded from your casual suggestion”

“I see that you are someone who cherishes those working for you. That is a good trait to have, young student. And for your affinity, that is all that I can suggest to you currently. There are more materials regarding darkness magic but you need to have a higher standing with our magic academy”

“I see, can I ask how I can increase my standing in the academy?”

“Hahaha, you are just accepted to the academy. You will know it naturally later. Just focus on what you can do now rather than thinking of other things that you can’t accomplish now”

“It is indeed a wise word sir. Thank you for your advice. I indeed feel uncomfortable not knowing much about magic in my own affinity. I couldn’t feel safe somehow without it”

“That is a praiseworthy trait you have there, young student. It is indeed a dangerous world out there. You need all the weapons you could wield to stay safe. Especially the weapon you already have within you. Sigh, I wish someone I know would also understand this”

“Hahaha, sir, if you need help, I might be able to help. I need to somehow pay for this favor for teaching me the right way after all”

“Hahaha, I will consider it. Also if you like, you might also read some books about defense against dark magic”

“Ah, I see, there’s also that point of view. The one who knows something the best… is their enemy”

“That is a profound thing you are saying there, young student. But it is indeed like that. One more thing, young student. Why do you seem to be in a hurry to get strong? Isn’t it hard to reach tier 3 magician at your age?”

“Well, sir, this is already an open secret between nobles but in fact, my whole family is cursed. I am also afflicted with the curse and only have 5 years of free time to solve it or I need to return and take care of my family business. I actually want to live a slow, relaxing life too but there are just too many threats hanging around me that force me the way I am now”

“Hahaha, you want a slow relaxing life? Your taste is like an old man, young student. But it is still a fine wish nonetheless. I wish you luck with that”

“Thank you. And good day to you, sir”

The old man walks away from me while laughing. He is walking towards one of my followers now. Is he going to ask them something too? Well, maybe he is just feeling happy that there are enthusiastic new students coming. A real teacher character would be happy for that at least.

Now then, I can read more about magical circuits later. It is only a whim of mine that is not really urgent now. But as I have a clue for what to learn next. Let’s chase after it.

And I immediately found it. The information about demons and other unholy beings.

There is information about necromancers and the ultimate form of the necromancer, the lich. About how they move about. About what kind of spells they usually used. And about how to defeat them. Necromancer basically masters all the banned study in darkness element magic which are necromancy, curse magic, and mind magic which I have known earlier.

There’s also information about demons. But contrary to my expectation, demonology isn’t actually categorized under darkness element magic. It is just that most demons would use darkness magic in their arsenal which gives the impression that darkness magic is related to demonology

There are many kinds of demons listed in the books. Complete with their traits, skills, and weaknesses. Well, for the most part, that is. There are still many things unknown about demons.

Hey, there are succubuses and incubuses listed here. These two demons might know something about my curse but well, let’s keep it for later. Raising my own skill takes precedence.

And that’s when I finally found the thing that I am looking for. The main target for my research.

The fleshmancer demon.