8 Chapter 7: Slight Hurdles

After I had taken the book, I left the bookshelf as it is since I didn't want to interrupt Pellet-chan's peaceful sleep just to put them back in the storage. How can I even resist her cuteness? As a girl, it's natural to love cute things so you can't blame me for liking other cute girls! It's justice!

Anyway, I seated myself on my bed which was now next to Pellet-chan's bed. I did an angel seat while facing the sleeping girl backwards and began to open the book's contents.

Ofcourse, the most basic part is understanding what mana is. In this other world, the mana originates and recycled from the World's Core which is the center of all mana energy.

Mana or Magic Power is currently present everywhere in the world. Magicians can intake them and expand their mana storage by training the proficiency for years through body adaptation. However, in this world, not everyone seems to be equal in terms of talent, Earth was the same but not as severe as this one. Mana Storage and aptitudes are decided at birth. There are people with high aptitudes for either magic or physical strength. Majority of those with high magic aptitude are women while physical prowess are mostly present in men. In some cases, there are newborns with balanced aptitudes in physical prowess and magic capability while there are also those with the opposite aptitudes by gender.

Which makes me unusual.

According to the test from the guild, I scored a full 100 in both Physical and Magic. Nina-san wasn't that surprised about it so maybe there are more people with the same case of having both high aptitudes.

Well, enough with myself.

"Okay... Let's start."

Firstly I closed my eyes, I must visualize, imagine, desire and feel mana circulating around my body like blood. I don't know if it's working, but I think it is. My body feels comfortable but my mind feels like mental energy is being drained out a little, and if my theory is correct, I would fall unconscious if a certain limit is reached.

Out of curiosity, I opened my eyes slightly to take a peek at my hands. Currently, I'm not wearing any clothes besides the underwear that Pellet-chan gave me because I felt like it would be much better if I had more skin exposure. According to the magic book, mana can be absorbed by the skin and be transferred to the magic core. The magic core is something like a part of a magic user's brain. It is present in everyone in this world including me, and the reason I'm absorbing mana is to widen my storage and get used to the sensation of mana flow. At the same time I was seeing some sort of bluish particles of light being emitted by my skin, it was flowing out.

Is this excess mana? Am I not doing well enough?

I was worried that instead of expanding my mana storage, it would shrink so I hurriedly tried finding the reason why these things are leaking out. I read the contents of the book regarding mana flow intently a dozen times while not showing any signs of stopping the process and I came to the conclusion that it was normal. But, this made me feel uneasy. Seeing so much mana passing by is such a waste.

I tried relaxing my body a bit more, I breathed in and out moderately. The quantity of the excess mana being expelled from my body shrunk considerably to it's former mass. I strongly imagined the excess mana not flowing out of my body and instead refine my magic core to increase my mana storage.

While I found that the number of expelled mana decreased, it didn't disappear completely. I went with this process until early morning at 4am. My body and mind had shown no signs of fatique whatsoever, this game system is convenient, but I felt like I was no longer human. While my mental power was being drained by circulating mana in my entire body, it was being replenished by the mana absorption I have done, making an endless cycle of magic core refinement. Even right now I'm still doing this process, I plan on doing this at all times as it doesn't seem impossible.

I shifted my gaze to Pellet-chan who was still sleeping. There was a futon covering her body, I was worried she was cold so I put the futon over her body.

Right now, I'm confident I can continue this process at all times, even in battle. It's not that hard as long as I can remember this feeling and get used to it.

All of a sudden, I felt movement behind me. I came to take a look what it was without stopping my training.

And there I saw Pellet-chan who just woke up, rubbing her eyes, stretching her arms and fixing her clothes which had gone a bit sideways.

"Good morning, how was your sleep?"

I greeted her which she received with a short nod. Last night before sleeping, she changed into a sleeveless white shirt so it's what she's wearing now. Apparently, this place doesn't have things like air-conditioners so she had to adjust. For me on the other hand, I didn't even sleep and my body temperature was made balanced because of the continuos influx of mana energy. Looks like it had that unique property.

"Ah... So you reached the second stage of magic usage already."

She didn't answer my question and was instead observing the mana coming in and out of my skin.

"Did anyone teach you how to sense mana and enter the state of magic casting?"

"Not really."

Bluntly, I answered her. But she didn't answer my question from earlier, which is sad.

Pout.

"Ka' falni?"

"What?"

She said a word unfamiliar to me, her manner of speaking also seemed to have changed.

"Aiya, garre semni kal voi zan..."

She once again spoke in some sort of other language before bringing out her large staff out of the storage ring which clapped onto her lap. After picking it up, she pointed the tip of the weapon at me which began glowing the same way as yesterday.

"...Can you understand me now?"

"Y-Yes..."

"That is good. Well then, let's get up and have breakfast. We still have to go and sell the golden statues from yesterday."

So this really isn't a delusion that I have. Hearing this world's language, it came to my mind. That this should be my reality now.

After going downstairs and eating our breakfast, Pellet-chan guided me in town to the merchant's district. Instead of stalls lined up in the streets, I saw shops instead that were finely placed in order according to the goods they sell. Food, weapons, armors, artifacts, gems and other kinds of items could be seen in front of their stores as samples.

"We are here..."

We arrived at the front doors of a wooden building. From the glass panes, I could see many kinds of jewelry in display.

Without further delay, Pellet-chan opened the door entrance to the shop with me following her closely from behind. A bell rang as the glass door was swung open.

At first glance, this place looked like a normal grocery store but if you look around a bit more, there were a few people here examining different kinds of colorful stones or crystals. They looked pretty grand and nouveau riche, perhaps they were noble women enjoying their wealth. They were each accompanied by men in black suits. Which reminded me that it looked pretty similar to modern bodyguards back on Earth.

"Good morning, Milk-san."

I was holding onto Pellet-chan's hood so I wouldn't get lost while looking around. We came to a stop beside a big scary looking adult man who was oozing out the aura of a murderer.

"Oh my, if it isn't Leyla-chan. How can I help you?"

Eh?

Did he just call Pellet-chan, Leyla?

He's looking at her, there's no mistake.

When he came to greet Pellet-chan, his murderous aura disappeared as if it was never there to begin with. But now it got replaced with an approachable feel, and his tone seemed to say he was good friends with Pellet-chan. Not only my impression of him has changed, his voice seemed to be quite different but rather contrary to his muscular looks. Not to mention this voice... It was a GAY!

"And who's this girl with you?"

"Indeed I am. I am sorry I have forgotten to tell you, Seven. My real name is Leyla Schwarzerrin. The one you have been calling me all this time was an alias to people I am not familiar with."

Her voice at the last part were made into a whisper.

"Ahaha..."

I couldn't say anything but laugh like an idiot. The one called Milk-san, smiled at me refreshingly.

"This person is the owner of this trades store for natural minerals, Milk Coenovure-sama. Please refer to her as a 'She' rather than a 'He'. She prefers it that way. Milk-san, this is Seven Clavery from the Adventurer's Guild."

Come to think of it, this person is wearing a similar but tight-looking pink and white uniform that the employees here wear. But I heard she was the owner of this place, why work?

"So Milk-san, the reason we came here is to sell you some items this Adventurer have obtained from a hidden dungeon. Can we?"

"Umu. I see, can we see those items to ascertain their value?"

At Milk-san's request, Pellet— I mean 'Leyla' brought out a golden lycan statue from her ring. This one in particular looked as if it was going to attack something with it's claws. And because of it's unstable figure, it lost it's balance and I had to catch it before it would fall.

Many of the customers were looking in our directions because of this fine piece of gold made into an artistic statue. Milk-san was looking closely at the statue, I noticed the monocle she wore had little glowing carvings at it's frame and the image of her eyes behind it, zoomed in and out as if magnifying.

"Such a masterpiece. And it's without a doubt made out of purely gold. More than that, it looks like a real depiction of a vicious monster called a Lycan."

Aha... That's because it was once an actual Lycan. But ofcourse I can't tell her that.

"Alright, this will sell for at most 300 Gold Coins due to it's availability in being converted to gold, and an extra due to it's precise craftsmanship. Is that alright with you, Leyla-chan?"

Leyla looked at me with an expression saying I should be the one answering.

Waaah... I've been relying on her too much.

"U-Um, I think that's fine with me."

◾◽◾◽◾

After receiving payment, I didn't sell the remaining 29 Golden Lycan Statues. The reason for that is simple, I have enough money already. I honestly didn't expect it would cost that much, if I knew that then I would have left all these statues in the forest as a reward for anyone who goes that deep in the woods. But now I have myself about 30,000 Mithra in the form of 30 Platinum coins.

"..."

I and Leyla were walking around the merchant district again. It looks like I amassed enough mithra to buy myself a storage ring. However, my companion here doesn't look happy about something. She's usually shrouded in that expressionless face of hers but right now she seemed unhappy.

"Is there anything troubling you?"

"..."

She had a sad look on her face. But she still told me why that was so, I couldn't see her eyes due to her hair blocking the way and her head facing slightly downwards.

"I shall be leaving later. I still have a task to do besides marking the stone monument from yesterday."

"!"

She's already leaving? But we just met, that's too fast!

"I will later transfer your properties to your storage ring when you buy one."

"Why? Where are you going!?"

"Why do you seem too unhappy? I was asked by my superiors to guide the exploration team to the location I have marked. It wouldn't be possible without me. Our meeting will be held in the Aries Kingdom so I will be leaving this country today."

I felt a little relieved. So she only has to guide them and she will be back.

"After that, I shall move to another country to teach in a magic academy."

And that hope fell to ruin as quick as it was given.

"O-Owh, so Leyla-san is a teacher. But how old are you?"

Hearing she already had a job, I couldn't help but be curious about her age.

"Somewhere around 200 years."

"You're not even sure of it?!"

Flabbergasted, I held my face.

"Yes, I was once an orphan. A refugee of a monster outbreak at a small town inside the Aries territory. The military wasn't able to provide aid to us in time, so my parents died along with many of my relatives. Which made me an orphan. It was a miracle I had survived as a baby."

I decided to listen to her story while we continued on the roadsides.

"But then, a kind feudal lord of a city close to the Serbera Lake caught sight of me and decided to adopt me as he was travelling and looking for a child to take in. I was never mistreated, the feudal lord raised me like his own child and even hired teachers to teach me magic."

"Such a nice person..."

"I know right?"

The sorrowful look that Leyla had earlier quickly vanished and replaced by nostalgia. Seeing her happy like this, she looks so cute that I want to kiss her.

So without her consent, I hugged her tightly from behind.

"H-Hey! We're in public, cease this act!"

"Fufu, mad Leyla is cute too."

"S-Surely not! Unhand me!"

I let go of her but didn't give up with just that and gave her a pat which she didn't oppose. Her cheeks were reddening but she allowed it.

After 20 minutes, I was able to buy a storage ring with the same weight capacity as Leyla's. By pressing the gems of our rings together, Leyla transferred the 29 golden statues to my storage ring along with the 8 platinum coins I had left after purchasing this storage ring. I can't say it's expensive since it's totally worth it's price.

◾◽◾◽◾

"Well, with that. It is time to say our farewell."

We both stood at the gate of the city. I came with her to say a proper goodbye.

"Earlier, I sneakily added the basic magic book and also the Grandmaster Level Magic Spells Book in your ring. You have to study well. Afterall, I want to meet you again. If you have the chance, please visit the Aries Kingdom and go to it's only Magic Academy."

"I will!"

A blinding light suddenly coated Leyla's body, it was so bright I had to close my eyes for a while.

There emerged a woman just as tall as me. She looked just like the loli elf from earlier, but her ears were not sharp but of a human's. Her body was slim, and her green eyes sharp.

But that blonde hair remained outstanding.

That person held me from the shoulders and pressed her lips against mine.

"?!"

I was speechless when our lips parted.

"Seven Clavery, let us meet again in the near future."

The voice she had was mesmerizing, as if she really was a goddess. It was different from the low and immature voice she had earlier.

She must have used some kind of spell to change her appearance.

I gave her one last glance as she put her hood over her head while turning her back on me.

Her body began floating as a small torrent of wind swiftly formed below her feet. Then in a second, she ascended to the sky heading to the direction in the East. That must be where the Aries Kingdom is located. And with that speed, she might get there pretty soon.

"Yeah... let's meet again."