chapter 2

Glory's Soul.

An ordinary RPG game set in a medieval fantasy that could be anywhere.

It was a source of trouble that I had been holding onto the ending of my previous job for five years because I liked what I started to do roughly with time.

I cleared the game with the warrior, priest, archer, and finally the mage…

If you ask me why the mage was last, there is no particular reason.

If I have to think about it, it may be because the character's appearance, which was unnecessarily overly curly, was bothered unconsciously.

[Create a mage character.]

[Start synchronizing with the character for the last scenario.]

The message that came to mind as soon as the character was created is still clear.

He and I started the fantasy continent adventure together, not the avatar beyond the monitor, but the actual person who clicked and tapped the keyboard outside the monitor.

It was a hell of a job.

If you thought it was a shameless game that swallowed the user, you wouldn't have seen it even in the first place.

'I've been playing hard for five years, and this is the reward…'

Perhaps because of the full moon, which rose especially big, it was a gloomy night.

It was a time when I was watching a bonfire, chewing cheap jerky handed out by the mercenaries.

"Erm, um…"

Carl turned his head at the sound of a deliberate cough.

Before I knew it, there was a woman standing next to me.

After being humiliated by the bandits, the woman didn't say a word in the carriage.

I knew it was coming, but apparently she wanted to say something here.

"Something to say?"

"Huh? What, no…"

She looks a little embarrassed, but she's sitting quietly away.

Carl opened his mouth again.

"Why don't you just watch your eyes and say it quickly? It's been bothering me since you started glancing."

"…"

With a slightly hurt look on her face, she finally brought up the matter.

"Well, it's just… I just wanted to thank you for the day."

"You don't need to thank me. They blocked my way, so I took care of it. It wasn't for anyone else."

"…"

Again, speechless, she sniffed and got up from her seat.

The back of the carriage with the shoulders stretched out.

Contrary to the day, I feel like I can feel my broken self-esteem up to here.

Carl sighed deeply and called her up.

"What's your name?"

"…?"

"You can come back and sit down. If you want a conversation, I'll hang out with you for a while."

The remark brought her back to her mind.

"M-my name is Rasha."

"I'm Carl."

"Ah…that's a nice name."

"That's the kind of compliment I've never heard of. It's just a broad, uncharacteristic name."

Rasha blushed as if she was speechless.

"Oh, thank you very much anyway. What would you have done if you were taken away by those bandits?"

"Yes, well."

"And I apologize for what happened in the carriage before that."

"…?"

"I was rude. What do I know about magic? Haha, my face is burning to death. A woman like me who can't even compare to half a penny."

She looked really ashamed and embarrassed.

Carl tilted his head slightly.

Now that I see it, this woman seems to be the kind of person who lacks self-esteem.

The only thing that caught the attention of the passers-by by lighting candles.

"It was me who made fun of you first. There's nothing to apologize for."

"Oh, no, it's not like that. I…"

Rasha, who was mumbling, smiled awkwardly and turned the subject around.

"I've never seen such a powerful mage at such a young age as you. Furthermore, I heard that fire magic is very difficult to control, but you're amazing."

"It's not much of a big deal."

Though it may sound like an obvious nonchalant, Carl meant it.

It wasn't magic, he's just using a skill.

No mana control, no skill development, no understanding of magic, just the will.

After all, Carl's real magic skills were much worse than Rasha's.

"May I ask what your school is like?"

"I'm not enrolled yet. However, my teacher was a member of the Altius school."

It was the default setting for mage characters.

It was not revealed that the current journey was the way to visit the school's headquarters.

Rasha opened her mouth wide.

Soon after, she smiled sadly and muttered.

"The Altius school, you're a great man."

"What about you?"

"…You won't know even if you hear it. There are fewer than 30 mages in my lower classes. There's nothing they can teach us properly, but the teacher keeps his students in check, and the way he does it, he does it until he dies."

It was a characteristic of a typical lower-class school.

Once she burst into words, her mouth continued nonstop.

"…I thought I'd be able to stand alone somehow after I left school. But it wasn't. I was stuck in a dark inner room, and when I came out to the world, I realized how insignificant I was. But I thought anyone would need me because I'm a mage."

"You don't need a mage's hand to set fire to firewood."

The casually muttered Carl raised its head in a daze.

Water began to form around Rasha's eyes, which hardened in shock.

"Well, I was kidding."

"No… no. That's right. You said it exactly. Too precise…"

"…"

"The only magic I can do, the utterance and the luminous magic, is these two. As you can see, my mana is terrible. I'm just wandering from place to place, but I have nothing to do. I'm almost out of money now, and I think I should go into the circus if it's like this."

In the words of an ordinary half-mage.

Fortunately, I didn't spit it out this time.

Nodding his head, Carl looked at the bonfire again and began chewing the jerky.

'I don't know what to say.'

What good will it be to say, "Cheer up?"

It was a passing relationship anyway, and she was only life.

There was no way to help, and there was no reason to help.

At the moment, I remembered some magic books in the inventory, but the idea eventually leaned toward not doing her good.

I don't make useless noises.

That's how I can survive this crazy fantasy world.

Then a phrase came to my mind.

[An unexpected quest has occurred.]

Rasha Lozariel. She is a fallen aristocrat of a prestigious family, and in fact has quite a talent for magic. She just didn't learn properly because she met a bad-tempered teacher.

Do her a little good deed. If you cherish a passing relationship, you may come back with great help at an unexpected time. Of course, the choice is yours.

Quest Completion Compensation: None

"…?"

It's been a while since I've done an unexpected quest.

The content was quite fresh, so a little interest showed on Carl's face.

'Investment for the future.'

There is no immediate quest reward.

However, if you help her, it may be helpful in the future.

Carl had considerable trust in the content.

At least the quest hasn't done anything to hurt him.

Although there were many courses like dogs, they all benefited as a result.

'This will change the story.'

Originally, it was useless noise, but now that the quest occurred, it was related to himself.

Carl turned and took a copy of the magic book out of the inventory.

Introduction to the Flerician's Grimoire.

There's nothing to use as a skill book, but I carried it around thinking that I'll sell it when I get a chance.

Although it is an introductory book, it is different from other books that are often circulating here and there.

As long as she learns this properly, her magic level will be no match for what it is now.

"So are you going to give up?"

"…What?"

"The mage's path is to ask if you're going to give up like this way it is. Well, it's inevitable if you don't have enough ability."

Rasha looked angry at the words.

"Can't you just say a little… a little good thing?"

"But that doesn't change the reality."

"…I shouldn't have talked about it. Yeah, I'd look terrible in the eyes of a great man like you."

"…"

"But I have my own goal to live with. I can't raise my head now, but I have a clear purpose in life. You didn't have to spoil it. I didn't mean anything about the circus…"

Rasha, who spat out her words in a tearful voice, got up from her seat.

Carl spoke in a grave voice.

"Calm down and sit back down."

"Why? Was belittling me not enough?"

"That's not what I meant. I've never thought you were terrible or ignored your life. I just wanted to check your attitude."

"…"

"Would you like to grab a chance? It's much more valuable than consolation that doesn't mean anything."

Rasha's eyes opened round.

This is because she saw a book in Carl's hand.

Although it was a poor level, she realized instinctively because she was also a mage.

That's not just a normal book.

"It's a pretty good introductory magic book with everything in it."

"…Hey, this magic book?!"

"Shh. Even if it's an introductory level, you can learn to do the right circling and the way to cast spells. It will be of great help to you."

Carl handed her the grimoire without hesitation.

Even if he can't sell it anywhere, dozens of gold coins will be received, but there was no regret because the money was not in a bad situation.

"…"

Rasha is mesmerizing and alternating between Carl and the magic book.

She stuttered and asked.

"Hey, hey, hey, why are you doing this to me?"

It was a natural response.

Magic is a much more precious treasure than gold to mages.

In particular, Carl's good intentions were confusing to her, who had never learned proper magic while being forced by a terrible teacher.

"…Is there anything you want from me?"

"What can you give me?"

"…"

"There's nothing right now, but what do you ask? I'm just giving it to you. Or maybe you want to be enslaved?"

Carl smirked at her, who was still absent-minded.

"Think of it as an investment."

"…?"

"I'm not a person who does favors for no reason. For you, um… I could see some qualities. I believe in my feelings and invest."

Of course, his words were nonsense, and he was just following the quest.

Rasha said in a trembling voice.

"Well, I don't have much talent…"

"I believe in my senses. Anyway, don't feel pressured. I'm just saying that, so you can just let it slide. However, I hope you won't forget what happened today when we meet again someday."

Carl, who finished talking, took something out of his arms.

I handed her an additional bag of money full of silver.

"You said you don't have much money left, so your living expenses will be ample for the time being."

Then, Carl stands up as if the story is over.

Rasha, who had been absent minded until then, urgently shouted.

"T-thank you! Thank you very much."

"…"

"I will never forget this favor. How can I forget? I swear on my name and all my honor."

"Yes, that's all I need."

The downfall of a prestigious family. Did you say nobleman?

Given that she has a goal in life, it may be the reconstruction of the family, and she will probably keep her promise since she has put her honor on it.

Of course, it's the future. Nobody knows what's going to happen right now.

"But… do you really think so?"

She asked in a trembling voice.

"Do you really think I'm qualified? I've been learning magic for years, and I've only learned two magic spells."

"You can count on it."

"…"

"A much greater man than you think has affirmed it. So you can count on it."

She may have understood that Carl was speaking of himself, but he was referring to the existence that brought him into this world.

After a brief silence, Carl returned to the carriage.

Rasha, who was left alone, stared blankly at the place where he had left for a long time.

Swish.

The sound of bugs and firewood burning.

Soon the sound of paper flipping was added to it.

* * *

Three days later, the carriage arrived at its destination as scheduled.

Merchants, mercenaries, and passengers went their separate ways after handing out their thanks to Carl.

Finally, after a few more conversations with Rasha and breaking up, Carl was only then able to move on.

"Whew, I'm gonna take the time to learn how to ride. I'm tired of being put on top of my business whenever I go far away."

The free city of Ruben.

A free city closest to the capital of the Empire.

A free city adjacent to the capital and not owned by the imperial family.

It may sound strange, but anyone would nod when they thought about what groups were located in the city.

"Altius…"

It is one of the three major magical schools of the continent, and is recognized as the most prestigious of all continents in terms of size and reputation.

It is home to the very school.

That was why even the Emperor could not have an eye on the city.

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it because it's the main quest."

It was good to avoid being entangled with a huge group, but Carl had no choice but to come here.

Because of that damn quest.

In order to be strong in preparation for the upcoming crisis in the world, and to find a way back to Earth, he had to keep taking quests.

Beyond the low buildings, huge towers can be seen far away.

Carl sighed deeply and moved on to the place.