21 Magicians of the Magical Forest

-Afternoon, Guest Room, Alice's House-

-Me POV-​

So did you guys remember in a few days ago in Reimu's house that I'm confused to claim myself as a magician or not, at that time I'm planning to ask a real magician that question, yeah, a "real" Magician, that mean not asking Marisa about it, I knew she's also a real deal, but let's just say my opinion about her is on the low side and also, I want to ask another important question.

Which is why I plan to ask my question at the same time with giving her magical ingredient order to her, it's like getting two birds with one stone in a house of a real magician, no offense to Marisa fan, really, chill, please.

"I can?" I surprised.

I hear Alice chuckle. "Of course, I mean why not? All of your item are enchanted by you right? That means you already proven yourself as a magician just by doing that. You can even be called Item Enchantment Specialized Magician from the great quality of the magic item you make." she said.

"…Is it really that easy? Calling someone a magician, I mean." I said worriedly.

Right now I'm in the Guest Room of Alice's House, me and Alice facing each other while sitting on our respectable couch. Our deal already done and I start asking my question after that.

"In my opinion, anyone can be called a magician if they can use magic, it's different story if Arah-san claim to be a magician but doesn't have any prove that you're one but like I said, Arah-san already prove himself by enchanting your own item and failing at enchanting experiment, resulting in your blindness right now, even though I already heard from Marisa that the purpose of that experiment is a bit shameful, but it's one of a few characteristic of a Magician, pursuer of knowledge." I can picture Alice smiling as she explained.

"…I see, but I want to object Marisa's statement, the purpose of that experiment is not to make me can seeing through girl's clothes." I object.

"Oh, then what is it?" she ask with curious tone.

"About that, I'm sorry." I lightly bowed to her.

"…I understand, secrecy of one technique is important to all of us." she said understandingly.

"…Thank you, Alice-san." Once again, I lightly bowed to her.

"Don't worry about it. Now let's drink our tea before its getting cold." she said cheerfully.

"Yeah, you're right." I said with a smile.

I reach for my tea on the guest room coffee table and drink it.

'Maybe this is why I don't consult with Marisa, nice tea, nice conversation, and nice girl too.' I think.

I sense a magical signature coming to our location from different room and I smell…cookie?

"I know that this talk will be going for a while, so I'm making us some cookies." she said.

'And she got cookies too. SHE'S THE BEST!' I scream inwardly.

I sense that magical signature actually her doll, her doll floating and holding some kind of tray, the doll place it on the coffee table.

"There you go, please enjoy." she said.

"Don't mind if I do." I said happily.

I pick a cookie and eat it.

"It's delicious!" I said.

"Glad, you like It." she happily said.

As I start eating the cookies, I'm re-sensing the room again.

'…The magic string from Alice is still there, there's 7 other strings, other than the doll near us, coming out from Alice to different room, is that how she control her entire dolls? I need to test how much multi-tasking I can do sometimes in the future.' I think.

Alice's Puppeteer Magic, it works by giving a doll the user magic and then controlling them, the amount of doll that can be controlled are unlimited, but controlling them is different story, so much complexity, so much calculation, and so much detail. I remember the first time I seen her dolls, they do hand gesture, they do cute action, it's almost like they are alive, after all, Alice's life-long-goal is to make a Fully-Autonomous Doll, a Sentient Doll.

"So, you actually never claim yourself as a magician before?" ask Alice.

"Sorry?" I perk up, as in opened my eyes when she asked.

-Alice POV-​

"Let me rephrase that, is hiding your magician identity not your intention from the start?" I ask again.

He shakes his head. "No, why did you think that was the case?" he ask back.

"Well, I remember when the first time I sense magical energy from your clothes, you didn't say anything about being a Magician, and then there's time where you said you made a magic item but you still not declare yourself as a magician. I though you have a reason for not announcing yourself as one." I explained.

"…I see. "He closed his eyes. "Truthfully, in the past, I imagine that a Magician is someone that control all 6 elements, destroy and create mountain at will, command hundreds of magical beast, have an item that can turn the heaven and earth upside down all together, etcetera, etcetera, but after I started observing all Magicians in Gensokyo…."

"…Did you start to feel disappointed about it?" I asked.

"It will be a lie if I said I don't, but I also known that it's my fault if I feel that way, I was just keep stacking my hope up high only to fall from those height when the realization comes, the magician stuff I just said probably only been heard in the legend and such, just a story to riled up kids to want to become a magician." he said with sad tone.

"…" I stay silent and start observing his appearances.

A human boy with tanned skin and short black hair, age estimation to be 15-17 years old based on his height, eyes closed because he's blinded from one of his failed experiment, an unknown black line on his neck, presumably one of his magic item, black Yukata with padded collar, long and wide sleeves, and even blacker cloud motif, a magical item in the shape of a waist pouch, a long black pants with some kind of string that I've never seen before and a magical item in a shape of a walking cane beside him.

'So young, but his dream crushed by reality, mental injury is more difficult to heal rather than the physical one, he need to rebound from his down mental state, if there's actually one that is. Every time we meet he's not looking like someone whose dream got crushed before his eyes, it's either he already get over his emotion or he's really good at hiding it, but either way, I don't really care what will he become as long as my ingredient get deliver.' I conclude my analysis about the boy.

"BUT!" he suddenly shouted.

"?!" I startled from sudden increase of volume.

He opened his eyes and smile confidently "So what if it's a legend?! So what if it's a dream?!" he point his thumb to himself. "I will be the one who become the legend instead! I will be the one who make it into reality instead! Because that's my dream, and I will reach it! Someday! Eventually…Maybe…I don't know." he's starting to dispirit at near the end of his declaration.

I'm actually surprised with what I hear. Seems like he somehow get over it.

"…Is that gonna to be your dream from now on?" I ask.

"Of course, as long as I live, eventually I will reach it,…yeah, eventually…someday, aaaaaand my pessimism kicking in. *sigh*" he's starting to closed his eyes and slouch on the couch.

'…It seems like his pessimism reduce his mental damage, that's good, and also,' I cover my lip with my fingers. ""As long as I live, eventually I will reach it", is it? Fufu." I happily chuckle at his word.

He looked up to me from his position. "He,haha, yeah, like I s-" he suddenly stopped in his word and opened his eyed as if he's surprised seeing at something.

'What happened? Why did he look surprised? He's eyes definitely grey in colors, which mean he's genuinely blinded right now.' I start wondering about his condition.

I consider asking what happen to him but before I ask, he's already starting to move.

He start sitting normally, after that he bring his fist to his mouth and do a fake cough to clear his throat "*cough*As a matter of fact, yes, anything can be achieve as long as someone have resource and time, anyone can reach their goal, and in my case, I already using and acquiring it at the same time, now, all I need is time." he said with a hint of seriousness in his voice.

"Did you mean "Time" as in halting your aging process?" I ask.

He nodded. "Yes, I know that if I do that I will stop being a human, I mean it in changing species into other than Human, not like becoming a heartless monster or something." he explained.

"I understand, Human is limited to only be able to live in 100 years or less, I say it's just too short with what we're trying to accomplish." I explained back to him.

'We?" he ask.

'Since he told me about his dream, I think it's fair enough that I tell him about mine.' I think.

"You know, Arah-kun, I was a Human once but since I judge that the human age are too limited, I stop my aging process, which mean I am a Youkai Magician now, before you ask, it's a Magician as a species too and not just as a profession." I observed him, 'Odd, he doesn't look surprised by what I said.' I think.

"As for my dream," I start gathering everyone in to this room and present them all in front of him. "Is to make all these girls to be able to fully-autonomous on their own, to make them alive in the sense of they can think on their own and move on their own." I explained.

"…I think that's a wonderful dream and very like you, Alice-san." he said with a smile.

"Thank you for the praise." I smile back.

"Say, can I ask you some question?" he said.

"Of course." I reply

"What's the condition of turning into a Youkai Magician?" he asked.

"Well, the first half of it, you need to research magic about not needing any food to live, and the latter half of it, you already heard it, just stop your age with magic, and you'll turn into one." I explained.

"I see…can I ask another question?" he asked again.

"Sure." I said.

"Is Marisa also a Youkai Magician?" he asked.

"Hmm…I think she's still Human, I never ask her myself because that's a private thing after all." I said.

"Oh…I understand, so that mean I thank you for having this conversation with me." he bowed his head.

'Oh my, polite and understanding at that.' I think. "Ufufu…No need to worried about it." I happily reply.

"…I'm sorry to bother but can I ask another question? I swear this is gonna be the last." he plead.

"No problem, go ahead." I said.

"…Okay then…so…why 'Arah-kun'?" he questioned the way I called him.

"Why not, it's cute." I smile widely..

"…as a Man, I much preferred to be called Cool rather than Cute, please." he said.

"Nope, your image stays in 'Cute Boy' ever since you announce your goal in life a few minutes ago." I said with a cheerful smile.

"…Can I change your mind about my image?" he request.

"Sorry, I think you can't." I denied.

"*groaaaaan*" he groan while covering up his face with both of his hands.

"Fufu, look at him, he's embarrassed." I chuckle.

I send one of my dolls to pat him in the head.

He recovered from his poses to look back at the doll.

I make the doll tilt its head.

"Thank you, little one." He patted back the doll using his finger.

'Fufu." I chuckle looking at this antic.

With that cue, both of us reaching for our tea.

"The tea is getting cold, should I warm it back?" I question.

"Yeah, I think you should because there's another guest for you in a second." he answered.

"Another guest?" I ask confused.

He didn't answer but instead looking at the door direction.

I also look at it and soon enough someone barging in to the room.

*BAM* the door slammed open.

"Hey, Alice! I come to play-ze!" shout the guest.

"…Oh, it's you." I feel tired looking at our new guest.

-Me POV-​

So Marisa barging in to Alice's House, Alice sound really tired when seeing her, aaaaaand they are throwing sarcasm at each other right now, leaving me out of their conversation, which I'm grateful about because I want to think about what happened in my conversation between Alice.

[Lv.42 Seven Colored Puppeteer, Alice Margatroid]

Past 39, now 42.

[Life Time Mission Alert]

[Making Lie into Reality]: [Become the Best Magician in the World]

[Fail requirement: Dead or Lost of will to become the Greatest]

[Fail punishment: Level Reset]

[Achievement Alert]

[Ye'r a Wizard, User!]: [Officially claim to be a Magician.]

[Reward: 20.000 AP & 20.000 IP]

[Impress the Seven Color Puppeteer]

[Reward: 20.000 AP & 20.000 IP]

[Join Us in This Magical Adventure!]: [Get into any Magician Community]

[Reward: 20.000 AP & 20.000 IP]

I can ignore and grateful about the reward from the achievement.

I can congratulate about Alice leveled up.

But for the quest, I totally can't ignore that.

My lie suddenly turning against me, even though it's just a harmless/white lie to make it easier to explained my situation.

Oh well, to simplify this quest, I just need to become stronger, just like another of my long game.

Then that mean I don't have to worry about it and keep wanting to become stronger, and in this case, keep helping in each future incidents.

As I finished planned for my future, I heard someone beside me calling my name.

"Arah! Wake up! Are you listening-ze?" said that someone.

I turn to look at her direction. "Sorry, I didn't listen, what did you say?" I ask.

"I said, what are you doing here-ze?" she said.

"Well," I told her what happen and why I'm here, and minus the white lie I told to Alice before.

Now that she finished listening, she suddenly pounded my shoulder.

"Then welcome to the group, Newbie!" she said cheerfully.

"O-oh…" I reply. 'Please, I don't want to be the target of her energetic action, I can't deal with her. 'I said inwardly.

"Then as a celebration from your senpai, let's do some Danmaku duel-ze!" she said.

"What?!" I surprised with what she said.

"Come on-ze!" she started tugging my Yukata sleeve, but because she's not Reimu and a normal magician girl, she can't drag me away from the couch.

I turn toward Alice for help.

"Teach her a lesson, Arah-kun." Alice said determinately.

"…So I'm already decided to be fighting Marisa is it?" I said tiredly.

"Come on, as your senpai I'll show you how the real Danmaku battler use their spell card-ze!" Marisa now using both of her hands to drag me out but nonetheless she's just too weak to do it.

I start thinking about this situation.

'If I denied her, then she probably gonna keep bugging me until I accept her challenge, and if I accept her duel, then I probably gonna get blasted by her Master Spark, and this is a Danmaku Duel, I can't cheat by redirecting her shoot. Hmm, the decisions.' I think.

After a few thinking and tugging, I finally make my decision.

"*sigh* Okay then let's do it." I said.

"Great-daze! I'm gonna wait outside then-ze!" Marisa said excitedly as she walk away to the entrance door.

"…Sorry for the commotion, Alice-san." I said apologetically.

"Don't worry, Arah-kun. Just focus on beating her down." she said.

'Oh, wow, it's the first time I hear this kind of Alice.' I think.

I grab a cookie, put in my mouth and then I proceed to the entrance door as I eat it.

I already outside and I already sense Marisa hovering in the air on her broomstick.

"Your slow, newbie-ze!" she said.

"No, you're just the one who's too excited for this." I reply.

"Whatever, start flying-ze!" she order.

"Based on Spell Card Rule, since you're the one who challenge me, I'm the one who decided the rule right?" I said.

"Of course-daze!" she said.

"Good." I satisfied.

I sense Alice go out from her house, she probably want to watch the battle.

I make my Quadra-wings and fly higher than the forest tree.

I stop going higher and decided that this height is good enough.

I sense Marisa flying higher to catching up to me.

"What's the rule-ze?" she asked.

"Basic rule, only one spell card." I said.

"Only one?! Come on, at least making it three-ze!" she pleaded.

"Nah, you challenge me, so I'm the one who making the rule, Marisa." I said grinning.

"Cheapskate!" she yelled at me.

"No, I only want to get this over with as soon as possible." I give my reasoning.

As soon as I said that she flies away a few meters from me and then stopped.

'Taking distance is it?' I think.

"Are you ready-ze?!" she asked from the distance.

I sense she already summon her spell card.

I too summon my spell card in return.

'If she do what I think she's gonna do, then this duel gonna be over in a seconds.' I think.

"Love Sign "Master Spark""

'I FUCKING KNEW IT!' I scream internally.

I immediately dive fast to the ground.

I sense a big beam of energy coming out from Marisa direction.

*Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir* it's the sound of Master Spark flying toward my previous location.

If I dodge upward I absolutely can't dodge it, but because I dodge downward, I barely dodge it because the gravity help me going faster to the ground and my prediction that she will use that spell card help me to avoid it.

'With this, the duel already finished.' I think.

Now that I already dodge her beam, I fly toward Marisa direction, under her giant beam that still pouring out from her Mini-Hakkero.

"Theater Sign "Duet Dancer""

I grip the light saber that suddenly appeared in my hand.

With obvious energy beam signature that I can sense a mile away, I navigate myself toward it source.

I found her and proceed to fly to her, toward her back.

"This is the end." I said behind her back.

"W-what?!" she look behind her and yelled in surprised.

I slashed at her.

*Crack*

"Whaaaaaah!" she screamed in pain as her spell card break.

I sense she's falling from her broom but I pull her back up and carry her in princess carry.

"Seriously, this girl." I said looking at Marisa.

"Ugh…" she groan in pain and probably unconscious at that.

I float down toward Alice's House.

I sense Alice still on the ground.

"Is there a room for this unconscious little girl?" I said with a helpless smile.

"Of course, come in." she said cheerfully and probably smiling too right now.

And with that said, I enter Alice's House again for the second time today.

Author note:

Heyo, Author here, I still have spare time with my final project, so why don't just make another fanfic again this week.

About Alice, I hope I do Alice right in this chapter, based on the Wiki; Alice is indifferent to other people, and I want to express that personality in this chapter, it's hard man, in my head, Alice is like the nicest girl in the neighborhood and she help anyone that need it.

About human age, I know there's someone in my country that live until he's 145, setting the new record for the longest human to live but I'm talking about the general age human can lives and that's around 100 years old.

So, Uh, Every time I see the review count goes up, I scream "COME ON, BURN ME!" as I read the review, so….yeah….