Chapter 12
“Who lives here?”
He tried to sound innocent, hoping to gather useful information about the prince's prominent associates.
“You’re speaking to one right now.”
The man replied with a tone of nonchalance.
Cielo glances at Newcastle, who is walking beside him. With both hands resting on his head, he appears to be quite bored.
Their eyes unexpectedly met, making him flinch, while Newcastle responded with a teasing smirk at his reaction.
“Want to check out my room?”
‘…Is he trying to make me jealous?’
Compared to their lavish accommodations, his chamber is probably no bigger than a closet in this magnificent palace; it might even be as impressive as the corridor on the second floor.
He simply sighed in irritation and rolled his eyes, brushing off the invitation. Imagining it is often more enticing than the actual experience.
Newcastle refrained from being intrusive about visiting his room and continued to follow him, offering explanations from time to time.
He stopped halfway down the corridor, captivated by a solitary painting that adorned the wall. The artwork featured a stunning woman with jet-black hair and deep, dark eyes. She wore a beautiful black gown, accented by emerald necklaces and earrings.
At first glance, the portrait seemed rather unremarkable, however, her poised demeanor and the opulence of the piece indicated that she was likely a princess or an important figure in the Empire.
Cielo glanced to his side, only to find it empty. Newcastle had already moved on without waiting for him, and Cielo found this behavior rather odd. Was Newcastle deliberately ignoring the painting or simply choosing not to discuss it?
Cielo took one last look at the artwork before quickly hurrying to catch up with Newcastle. For the rest of the tour, he decided not to ask about the painting.
His morning outing ended with lighthearted teasing between him and Newcastle as they engaged in a friendly debate over the classic question of whether cats or dogs are better.
Both admitted to being cat lovers.
‘I might think about getting one.’
Since he had never been allowed to have a pet while in the hospital, he had never owned one before. This chance was the realization of a long-held dream, and just the thought of it filled him with great happiness.
When he reached the second floor, Newcastle stopped following him.
“Tomorrow is the official start of our lessons. Make sure to get up early!”
The man waved goodbye and quickly left, not waiting for a response. He seemed just as busy as Alistair.
Cielo stepped into his room and quickly tried to open the window, eager to see if it was hidden by an illusion, as Newcastle had told him. Unfortunately, the window wouldn’t budge. It wasn’t locked, its design simply made it impossible to open.
He considered the option of breaking the window, but unlike the contact mirror, it was much larger, taking up a significant part of the wall. The cost of repairing such a large structure would likely be substantial.
Since he had already signed the contract, he risked having any repair costs deducted from his pay.
‘Forget it.’
He must now be aware of his standing.
***
“I'm the librarian.”
“…Huh?”
Newcastle simply smiled and nonchalantly tossed another magic book his way.
Earlier that day, this person had invited him to the library to begin his lesson on magic. Although he held a strong dislike for Newcastle, he saw it as a chance to browse the books and maybe even sneak a few out.
However, the situation changed once they arrived. Rather than him searching for magic books, it was Newcastle who took the initiative. He then handed the books to him as if they were being offered on a silver platter, leaving him feeling bewildered.
“This is all for me?”
“Indeed. Since we're already here, let's begin our introductory lesson, shall we?”
Are they really starting right away? He doesn't oppose it; he's just surprised by how quickly they're moving.
He looked at the books in his hands. Without gilded covers, they seemed like simple copies. Still, they felt surprisingly heavy.
As he considered the books, he recalled Alistair's earlier comment.
“I thought borrowing books required a license or the prince's approval?”
What if he were caught or something like that?
“Did I not tell you?”
Newcastle donned reading glasses, which gave him a more scholarly appearance than that of a model, and spoke with assurance.
“I manage this paradise.”
Who is responsible for what!?
Back to the present, confusion washed over him.
The man remained silent and simply tossed something his way.
“Here, catch.”
He instinctively caught the hefty book, realizing that its weight could cause him harm if it hit him in the face.
Newcastle let out a whistle, clearly impressed by the clean catch, before returning to his task of sorting through the collection of books in front of him.
Cielo adjusted his grip on the book as he observed Newcastle intently.
‘So he is the librarian?’
Out of all the professions he had imagined for Newcastle, he had never once thought of him as a librarian.
Now, they were on the hunt for more books. The weight was becoming unmanageable, and since he had only recently regained his strength, his hand began to tremble.
Cielo was considering leaving Newcastle to find a table for his heavy books when the man suddenly wrapped an arm around him, blocking his way out.
Newcastle gazed down at him, and he nervously bit his lower lip.
“W, what?”
“Your doctor told me you need more physical activity.”
So, you’ll be carrying those books until I’m done choosing.
Damn it.
He had no choice but to go along with it.
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What frustrated him, however, was that Newcastle was casually browsing the library, even though the section for magical texts was conveniently located right in the middle.
By the time Newcastle finally released him, he was drenched in sweat, and his limbs were shaking uncontrollably.
Newcastle stood before him, looking more polished than before. He then pulled out a black book with a blank cover and began to read.
This person…
“Is it really necessary to engage in physical activity while giving a lecture?”
He asked, breathless from the effort. Thankfully, the coolness of the room helped his sweat evaporate quickly.
“Two birds with one stone.”
He couldn't help but click his tongue in annoyance.
Newcastle turned his gaze toward him, and a clean towel along with a glass of water appeared before him. He watched the spectacle for a moment, taken aback by the display of magic, before silently accepting the items.
After refreshing himself, he was prepared to explore the first book that piqued his interest when Newcastle unexpectedly tapped his hand with his own book.
“Please do not touch those books until your sweat has completely dried, understood?”
Goddamn it, there's hardly even any sweat left!
“Moreover, you need to learn to read and write in our language. It's crucial for you to communicate in Fidellan, as your role is that of a homeless Fidellan citizen living in the slums.”
This remark caused him to hesitate.
He knew he would be playing the role of a homeless person, but it hadn't crossed his mind that he would need to mimic their way of speaking, especially since they seemed to understand him perfectly well when he spoke in his previous world's language.
“In less than a month?”
How is he supposed to achieve that?
Although he started studying the Fidellan language just a week ago, his progress has been quite slow. He can recognize some words, but he still can't read a complete sentence.
Newcastle simply shrugs.
“We have no choice. Even if we manage to communicate, others might become curious. We definitely don’t want them to dig deeper, do we?”
They make a good point. Even the smallest detail can draw attention and spark an investigation, ultimately exposing the suspicious aspects of his background. Still, that doesn’t mean he has to accept the situation without resistance.
“Is there truly no magic that could solve this? The magnifier Alistair provided can translate your language into mine. Don’t you have a spell that would enable me to speak in your language?”
If a magnifying device can understand his language, which comes from a different realm, then why can't a similar solution be devised for him? With some modifications, they could potentially create a spell that allows him to express himself in the Fidellan Language.
Newcastle paused.
“Are you referring to a magnifying glass adorned with leaf engravings on the side?”
“Leaf engravings?”
Now that he mentions it, the magnifying glass does indeed have leaf patterns on its golden accents.
But what is it about this detail that intrigues Newcastle? He appeared taken aback upon the mention of the magnifier. Its importance or value must be substantial to elicit such a reaction from him.
“Is it important…?”
The man didn't reply immediately. Instead, he took a moment to ask.
“…Are you suggesting that he allowed you to use that?”
“Yeah?”
“I see…”
A strange look flickered across his face for an instant before it disappeared, giving way to a smile.
“Mana considered that command rather demanding.”
He abruptly changed the topic of conversation. Cielo noticed the shift but opted not to comment on it.
“They will listen to me, but are you willing to owe me a favor?”
Cielo paused at the proposal.
Could he truly handle the weight of owing a favor to someone so dangerous? What if Newcastle asked for something he would rather avoid or later regret? Was he ready to take that chance?
“…I will consider it.”
He shouldn't make decisions so easily.
“Hm, the decision is yours.”
Newcastle shrugged and moved on from the subject. Still, Cielo doubted that it would leave his mind anytime soon.
After he had been thoroughly dried, Newcastle finally permitted him to open the book. Just as he was about to admit he couldn't read it, a pair of silver reading glasses appeared on the first page.
“Use these. I forgot to give them to you.”
“Thanks.”
In this world, translator glasses were indeed real. How convenient, Cielo thought as he put them on.
“What?”
He asked, noticing Newcastle staring at him intently. Did he look strange with the glasses on?
“Please take good care of them and return them to me right after you finish reading. I put a lot of effort into getting those.”
“Is it expensive?”
Newcastle looked at him with a disapproving gaze.
“Do you really think that something as valuable as translators can be found easily? Such items aren't sold anywhere. I obtained mine from the Imperial Treasury after His Majesty the Emperor was pleased with my work.”
Oh.
Alistair made it seem like these tools were easy to come by. It makes sense that an item capable of translating everything instantly would be difficult to find.
“I promise to return it in perfect condition.”
“Alright then.”
Newcastle smiled afterward, which made him look boyish.
“Since today is our first day together as student and teacher, we'll take it easy. For now, I encourage you to take some time to familiarize yourself with those books.”
The first book he delved into was “All About: Beginner Level,” which comprises a total of 20 volumes. The first volume covered the basics of magic, discussing concepts such as mana, casting, and the role of the caster.
It seems that “mages” are actually referred to as “casters” in this world. This inference is backed by Alistair and Dr. Happy's consistent corrections whenever he called magicians “mages.”
The first volume explained that mana originates from the environment and operates similarly to air. It is produced naturally by elemental forces and continuously circulates around the planet. The supply of mana is limitless, no matter how many people are using it.
The idea of an endless source of mana was fascinating to delve into and this world must be heaven for mages or casters.
Although mana usually follows the command of the caster as long as they use ancient language, there are instances when mana may refuse to obey, especially in cases where it involves intruding on someone else's thoughts or memories.
‘That's honestly so nice.’
Cielo felt reassured by this knowledge. He hadn't expected that Alistair, the prince, or even Newcastle would actually use such magic against him, but it was still comforting to know that his mind would stay shielded from unwanted scrutiny.
The concept of mana was relatively straightforward, which is why it didn't need much further explanation. Cielo then moved on to the next topic regarding “casting.”
The text stated that to engage in magical practices, one must extract mana from the surroundings, as the human body cannot store mana.
Draw mana from the surroundings...
He wet his lips and glanced up at the mole-covered figure who, unfortunately, was his magic instructor.
“You guys have no cores whatsoever?”
In the fantasy novels he remembered, cores were consistently portrayed as vital components. The texts also indicated that without cores, alternative methods for harnessing mana needed to be found.
Newcastle adjusted his book slightly to better concentrate on his words. He then let out a laugh, reminiscent of distant thunder.
“Not at all! Our ancestors believed that cores are hereditary and that one must be born with them.”
Since this world was not originally a world of fantasy, it lacks magic cores or similar entities. Instead of relying on magic cores to store mana, the inhabitants draw mana directly from their environment, interacting with the fundamental essence of their surroundings.
The man leaned forward, his breath carrying the scent of mint. His eyes glimmered with a mix of wisdom and playful curiosity, hinting that he was about to reveal a significant secret.
“You see…”
He said, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
“The true magic lies not in the cores we lack, but in our ability to connect with the mana around us.”
Cielo looked at the man and quietly said.
“That's new.”
He remembered several fantasy novels before and none of them included such storylines. Some were vague, while others mentioned mana cores.
“Stop comparing us to the fantasy stories from your world. Their logic has no bearing on our reality.”
The sharp comment made him flinch a bit.
“…I get it.”
He responded, his voice now more gentle.
“At times, these narratives provide clarity regarding the complexities of this world. While they may lack precision, they present a framework for contemplating the unknown.”
Without those imaginative literary works, he would have found it difficult to grasp the essence and mechanics of magic. They provided him with a deeper understanding of the subject.
The man looked at him with a blend of doubt and intrigue, as if assessing the truth of Cielo's assertions.
Cielo noticed a slight relaxation in the man's stance, indicating a small shift in his attitude.
“Maybe.”
The man admitted, his voice noticeably softer. He then went back to reading.
“… .”
The concept of mana is both straightforward and easily grasped—a mystical energy that flows throughout the world—however, the process of casting magic is anything but simple.