Kays Translations

Chapter 19

After finishing the questioning at the defense squad headquarters, I returned home.

While taking a smoke in my room, I reflected on various things.

It seems that the recent attack incident was a significant topic within the defense squad. Many members stopped in their tracks when they saw me leaving, as if wanting to discuss the matter.

Well, that's understandable, considering one person had their face smashed to the point of death. It's natural to wonder what could lead to such a gruesome fate.

Captain Carton and the mage Coolmin seemed quite skeptical about my background. They approached me with various questions until I left.

It's troubling that the police-like organization in this world is aware of the power of magic. I'll have to be cautious about their movements for a while.

Taking out my smartphone to check the date—July 20th.

It's been a little over half a month since I arrived in this place.

I lie down on the bed and close my eyes.

"............ There are way too many events! Ahhhhhhhhh!"

I can't help but scream out loud.

Until the recent attack incident, I could somewhat convince myself that I was just working at a theme park.

However, the near-death experience was tough. Looking back, the fear resurfaces.

While I was aware that finding an adventurer's corpse in the forest meant danger outside the town, it's a different level of realization when it almost happens to you.

I never had the consciousness of being attacked in the city, but adapting to a suddenly harsh world from a peaceful life in Japan is an impossible task. I can't figure out how to deal with it going forward.

It seems that magic is the key after all. Without being able to use magic this time, it would have been a bad end.

I need to investigate magic promptly. First, I should find an environment where I can practice.

Let's organize things a bit.

First, magic. Magic is something excavated, not created. It's knowledge "discovered from past ruins."

Considering the mention of a mass extinction event in the Creator's story, it seems like a civilization in the past used magic, and people in this world are now harnessing that knowledge.

Currently, I know six types of magic: "Wind, Water, Stone, Earth, Thunder," and, adding healing, which I haven't tried yet.

Wind, Water, and Stone are offensive magics. I think the size of the stone projectiles is about that of a tennis ball. Quite large... it could easily crush a face.

Earth can manipulate the ground in some way. It seems like it's related to earthworks such as digging holes or making embankments... but I'm not sure where to use it.

Thunder causes the body to become charged. However, it seems to be a high-difficulty technique that even magic users from the magic school can't use. Then why is it in the beginner level?

They mentioned that the reading or pronunciation might be different, but as someone who only sees it in Japanese, I have no way to confirm.

Now, speaking of spells, take this stone spell for example:

《I am now going to chant. Magic of Stone. God of Stone, Nutos. Thank you very much. Stone Launch.》

This ridiculously awkward incantation... turns out, it's because I've been "literally translating the magical language."

In reality, it might be a cool chant, but it seems like I've been understanding it with the most basic expressions.

And the first text that I misunderstood as a spell was—

"I shall now unleash a swift wind through my spoken words, under the name of the Wind God Windor, Swift Wind."

This chuunibyou-filled line is the spell description... probably in the Marl language.

Why it's not a literal translation like the others is unclear. I can't tell if it's my gaming brain interpreting it that way or if the text is intentionally written in such beautiful language. But well... I don't mind it.

So far, there are two things different from what's written in the books when it comes to using magic—'Activation from the forehead' and 'Non-chanting.'

But there's actually one more thing—'Chant Shortening.'

In the incantation of the above magic, all that's actually needed are the words "I am now going to chant" and "Stone Launch."

Since I heard there's no god according to the Creator, I tried omitting that part, and it turned out to be the correct move. I cut down various parts from there, ultimately reducing it to just two words.

It's unclear why the spell creators of the past civilization included unnecessary words. Perhaps they wanted to express religious praise.

It could be a case where it activated during development, they thought, "I was able to cast it, so that's good! I won't mess with it anymore."

But people today believe the discovered spells are correct, so they won't reconsider them. They probably won't even think that there might be unnecessary parts.

From what Coolmin, the mage, mentioned about not being able to use thunder magic, it seems like even in the magic school, language analysis might not be perfect yet.

Then, regarding the chant words, I got an idea from the fact that the magic translation was a literal one. It seems like it's possible to 'replace with any preferred words.'

In other words, instead of "I am now going to chant," you could use "Chant," and instead of "Stone Launch," you could use "Shoot." As long as the words have the same meaning.

So, the spell I cast at the archer earlier was a non-chanting, shortened spell using "Chant, Shoot."

　

Being able to cast it quickly because it was short allowed me to shoot immediately when the archer approached. If I had chanted the original spell slowly, I might have been killed.

Probably with a bit more effort, I could come up with something like "Chant, Stone, Shoot" or even "Evil, Instant, Sever."

Might as well try making it a cool incantation with foreign words—

《Chantチャント Stoneストーン Shootシュゥ.》

—Doesn't that sound good?

And the new magic gained from being attacked—"healing heel".

But I haven't tried it yet. It's too scary to cut my own finger or something.

I think I'll try it when I find an injured person or if I get injured myself.

And there's something that caught my attention—'the perception that magic and prayer are different.'

To me, it sounds like the same magic, but they insist that it's different, probably because of the different languages.

Since the church emphasizes it as prayer, the ring translation might also be accepting that.

In this world where healing magic is prevalent, medical practices are monopolized by the church. We can't really argue against their perspective.

"Health insurance fees (prayers) are a burden on the citizens (spells), just like taxes (magic), right?"

Even though they insist, it's probably not something they would ever admit.

This means there's a possibility of finding magic with different languages in the future—maybe that's why there's no 'Fire.'

I somehow felt like I was beginning to understand the principles and rules of this world.

Now, let's consider the tasks ahead.

I had wanted to ask someone from the magic school about magic, but it feels somewhat risky.

It was unfortunate that Coolmin revealed he can use thunder magic.

While I don't think he would blabber about it due to his position, all I can do is pray that no inquiries come from strange places.

It's definitely not a good thing for someone who just read a book to be known to have higher abilities than a school graduate.

I must avoid any further spoilers.

Come to think of it, he mentioned that "the power of a spell depends on the accuracy of the chant."

So, in my case, thanks to the ring, all the spells are in native language, meaning the accuracy is 100 percent.

It's kind of like cheating.

And as for healing magic, since the church teaches the priests the spells, there should be a text available. I want to get my hands on it somehow.

Once I get my salary, I'll go to the church and make a donation as thanks. At that time, I'll try to inquire about it.

And then there's the new element, the "Body Enhancement Technique" that Captain Carton mentioned.

I have no idea what this is all about.

Can all the guards use it? Do adventurers know about it too? He said it's taught at the knight school, but is there a textbook for it?

If possible, it seems like a skill worth acquiring.

After all, he jumped from the third floor and walked away without a scratch. It's like something out of an anime or manga.

And, of course, I have to go to the royal capital someday.

The bookstore owner mentioned that "magic-related books are in the royal capital." Let's consider it a goal to go there eventually.

"Magic... Royal Capital... School..."

After organizing my thoughts for a while, I started feeling sleepy. I guess I'll just go to sleep like this tonight.

　◆ ◆ ◆

After the guild closed, Taran reported the results of the questioning to the guild master.

"Jealousy!?"

"Yes. It seems the four attackers didn't like that Mizuki was getting along well with Carol and Lily."

The guild master was surprised because he hadn't thought the reason for the attack would be a love affair.

"Are they really that close?"

"No, I think Mizuki just interacts with them normally as colleagues."

Of course, they both don't know that the incident of showing them the photos on the phone in the square during break time was the trigger.

"It's true that they were targeting the smartphone, but they thought that if it disappeared, Carol and Lily wouldn't get close to Mizuki anymore..."

“……”

The guild master sighed, pressing his temples with his hand.

"But he got shot with an arrow!"

"Yes. The archer was the main culprit, and the three who attacked in the alley were incited by him. He didn't hesitate to go as far as killing Mizuki."

"Jealousy, huh!"

"Yes."

Taran explained the psychological aspects of stalking that Mizuki had mentioned, and the guild master, who seemed unfamiliar with the principles behind such behavior, listened with keen interest.

"So, there's a possibility that in the end, Carol and Lily could have been killed."

"It seems that way."

"..."

"He said it's a common crime in his country."

Listening to the story with a skeptical expression, it's not unheard of for love affairs to turn violent. Falling in love on one's own and then harboring resentment... it's just unfortunate.

The guild master sighed.

In any case, it's a relief that nothing happened that would warrant legal action.

"How was Yomuyom, the situation in Arencia?"

"I met with the higher-ups. They were concerned about the incident where our staff was attacked."

Initially, thinking they were targeting the smartphone, Taran had gone to explain the situation as a way of probing.

"How about the smartphone issue?"

The guild master shook his head.

"But there's a possibility they know. Some adventurers who come here have seen the smartphone."

"True."

If someone who was rumored to have a magical tool got attacked, even if they knew about its existence, they probably wouldn't mention it.

But both of them were aware that the problem was no longer there.

A regular staff member killed an adventurer.

Moreover, one of the four was a skilled adventurer who could undertake subjugation requests. The guild master mentioned that when he went to both guilds, he was asked about the cause of death.

"I said I didn't know."

Now that the questioning is over, both guilds probably have the information.

"How will this turn out?"

"I won't do anything. Even if we meet, I'll just answer a few questions."

The guild master hadn't actually seen it, so he couldn't answer even if asked. He simply didn't know.

"But what about the mages? If they hear about it—"

"Will they come here?"

"...Those guys, huh? Well, there might be a few idiots."

Captain Carton and Coolmin probably won't leak the information to the outside.

But the fact that this kind of story didn't leak is as unlikely as using a sieve to scoop up water and then shouting about it.

If people heard that a regular person who just read a magic book was stronger than a mage, some might try to pick a fight.

"Make sure to tell Mizuki not to engage with them."

"He's not that type of person, right?"

"Is that so? He killed three people!"

"It was in self-defense."

"So, if he gets attacked, he won't kill them?"

"Well..."

Concerned by the guild master's remarks, Taran decided to at least talk to Mizuki about it.

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