Chapter 30

Shops that deal in magic and magic formulas are commonly known as “Magic Shops.” It’s much the same way people call a hardware store a “Weapon Shop.”

“Welcome~!”

Maria and I walked from the tavern to the magic shop and entered together. Based on the name alone, I had imagined a house where a witch from a fairy tale might live, but the reality was nothing like that. If anything, it felt more like a bookstore from my old world.

Bookshelves were lined up in a way that didn’t obstruct the flow of customers, and the walls were packed tight with volumes. I approached a woman sitting behind the counter. She was a tall clerk with long (Elf) ears.

“Excuse me… I’ve come to buy some magic stones for learning spells.”

“Magic stones, I see. Right then… stocks have been getting a bit low lately, so… let’s see, here is the catalog. Please choose from these.”

With that, the clerk pulled a weathered catalog from beneath the counter. I flipped through it briefly; a massive number of spells were listed. However, sticky notes reading “Out of Stock” were plastered everywhere.

“What’s with all these ‘Out of Stock’ tags…?”

“Exactly what they say. Every nation is facing a shortage lately. Items are scarce enough as it is, but with the tournament and events coming up, things are even tighter. Honestly, there isn’t much of value left. Even if you placed a reservation now, I wouldn’t be able to hand anything over until after the tournament. It’s a slow business—materials are scarce, and production takes time.”

There were arenas in this world. As an extension of that, there was supposed to be a Martial Arts Tournament to determine the strongest among those who made their living through combat. Apparently, this was the time of year when participants bought up magic to use in the competition.

Feeling a bit discouraged by our poor timing, I looked through the catalog. A quick glance suggested there were thousands of spells.

“I see. Let me take a closer look.”

Attack magic and recovery magic. Attribute magic and support magic. There were various categories ranging from basic ones I was familiar with to “Lifestyle Magic” and “Ritual Magic.” For now, I wanted to buy Maria at least one support-type spell. However, everything that looked useful was already sold out.

As for Maria herself, she was wandering around the shop behind me, looking at everything with curiosity.

“Take a look too, Maria. If you find something that looks interesting, I’ll buy it for you.”

“Oh, okay. I will.”

I called over the wandering Maria to have her help choose a spell. When I did, the clerk stopped us, looking flustered.

“W-Wait just a moment, sir. Are you perhaps planning to have that child learn it?”

It seemed rare for a child of Maria’s age to buy magic. Since I was tall, I hadn’t been treated like a child while shopping, but Maria’s height made that impossible.

“Uh, is there some kind of problem with her?”

“No, it’s just that she’s a bit young… It would be better to check if she has the aptitude for using magic first…”

She likely didn’t want to sell magic to a child. I could tell she was trying to steer the conversation toward a polite rejection. The clerk pulled various items from under the counter, including a crystal ball and papers inscribed with incantations.

“Can you tell just from this?”

“Yes. If she places her hand on this, we can determine the quality and quantity of her blood. Based on that, we can measure the genres and capacity of the magic she can learn.”

What a convenient thing, I thought, staring intently at the magical tool. It seemed that in a world where magic had flourished, tools like this were naturally developed.

I took a moment to analyze her words: “genres and capacity.” Most likely, there were limits to what spells one could learn. My hope of completing the entire catalog as long as I had the money was effectively crushed.

“Now, young lady. Could you touch this?”

The clerk held the magical tool out to Maria.

“Ah, okay.”

Maria reached out her hand. As she did, a red mist began to swirl inside the crystal ball.

“Eh? Oh, wow… It’s incredible. …This is mid-tier magic power. And a dual attribute of Fire and Null.”

According to the clerk, Maria was “mid-tier.” If that was the case, what would that make me or Dia? Suddenly, I felt a bit afraid to touch the crystal ball myself. Perhaps excited to have found a prodigy, the clerk began showering Maria with praise in rapid succession.

“You’re amazing, little girl! I’ve been doing this job for a long time, but it’s rare to see someone so young with this much magic power!”

“U-Um, thank you…”

Clearly unaccustomed to being praised, Maria shyly hid her face behind the catalog.

“Now then, you’re next, young man.”

The clerk turned the crystal ball toward me. I hesitated for a moment, but then steeled my resolve and placed my hand on it.

The change was immediate.

The entire crystal ball became even more transparent. The crystal had been clear to begin with, but any slight impurities or cloudiness vanished completely, leaving it perfectly translucent.

“—H-Huh? What is this? I’ve never seen this phenomenon or this color before. Or rather, is this even a color?”

The clerk pulled out a thick book from nearby. It seemed she was using it to investigate the phenomenon. Since I had a general idea of what was happening, I stopped her.

“No, it’s fine. You don’t have to look it up—”

“No, no, I’ll find it in a second. Ah, this transparent color… it seems it’s called ‘Dimension Attribute.’ It’s an incredibly minor and ancient attribute. Because it’s transparent, I can’t really tell what your capacity is… I’m sorry…”

The clerk bowed her head apologetically. But for me, this was enough. Given my Status, there was no way my capacity was lacking. It was more likely that my capacity was so high it couldn’t be measured by the crystal ball. Since my Magic stat was several times higher than Maria’s, who was considered “mid-tier,” I was certain of it.

“I don’t mind. Knowing my attribute is enough for me.”

“Hmm. It would be great if we had measurement tools other than the crystal ball, but we don’t have any in stock. My apologies. I’ll bring out the Dimension attribute catalog for you. I believe there was a catalog for minor magic around here…”

The clerk pulled out a thin catalog and handed it to me. Glancing through it, I saw categories like ‘Star,’ ‘Sun,’ ‘Moon,’ ‘Light,’ and ‘Dark.’ Even within this “minor” catalog, Dimension magic was exceptionally rare.

There were only two types listed. Even if I bought both, I’d have money left over.

“Dimension Magic: Connection. Dimension Magic: Form. It seems there are only two…”

“Th-That really is a small selection… Ah, but it looks like we have them in stock. Or rather, they’re only left over because there are so few people with the Dimension attribute.”

“I’ll take both, then.”

“Huh? Are you sure? You don’t even know your own capacity yet.”

“Well, even if it doesn’t work out right now, I’m sure I’ll be able to learn them eventually.”

“You’re quite casual about this, aren’t you? Are you perhaps… very wealthy?”

“Buying magic spells so casually… I’m jealous, honestly. Alright, I’ll go grab them quickly, so please wait a moment.”

The clerk stood up and disappeared into the back of the shop. While she was gone, I decided to finalize Maria’s spells.

“What about you, Maria? See anything interesting?”

“There isn’t much. All the practical fire-attribute attack spells are sold out. However, it seems there are some decent null-attribute ones left, perhaps because that user population is smaller.”

“Huh.”

I looked over the catalog Maria was studying. True enough, the fire section was full of “Out of Stock” tags. They didn’t even have the basic *Flame Arrow. I checked the ice attribute as well, but it was in the same state. Since I was focusing on Dimension magic anyway, the lack of ice wasn’t a dealbreaker.

“How about this Firefly one?”

“Eh? That one?”

Scanning the pages, I pointed to a random spell. Named after the insect, it was a fire spell used for blinding enemies. A warning note mentioned that its heat was low, so it lacked attack power.

“I’m not looking for raw power from you, Maria. I want you to provide support.”

“I see… if you say so. Oh, for the null-attribute, I’d highly recommend Impulse. It’s a proper attack spell.”

Maria pointed to Impulse in the null-attribute column. It was described as a short-range vibration spell. Any enemy hit by it at close range would supposedly be sent flying several meters by the shockwave.

“Alright, let’s get those two. The price is reasonable. And for myself, I’ll pick up a simple freezing spell, Little Snow, just in case.”

“…”

“What is it?”

“Sigh. You really do just throw around large sums of money, don’t you?”

Maria glared at me, looking exasperated.

“It’s money I earned by putting my life on the line. It’s a waste if I don’t use it, right?”

“Normal people would just save it…”

Maria was in total opposition to my view. However, since I was acting with the sole goal of not staying in this world long-term, the concept of “savings” didn’t exist to me.

“Sorry for the wait! Here are your magic stones, young man.”

While I was bickering with Maria, the clerk returned from the back.

“Thank you. Also, we’ve decided on her spells. Fire Magic: Firefly and Null Magic: Impulse, please. And I’ll take Ice Magic: Little Snow for myself too.”

“Firefly, Impulse, and Little Snow. Those are common spells, so I can bring them out immediately. But… you don’t have an affinity for ice according to the test, so you won’t be able to learn Little Snow, you know?”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Just a rich man’s whim.”

The aptitude test earlier hadn’t shown any affinity for the ice attribute. However, I knew for a fact that I could use ice magic, so I had to test this.

“A whim, huh? Well, as long as they sell, it’s all the same to me.”

“I’ll pay upfront.”

“Ah, yes.”

The total came to less than two gold coins. Impulse was slightly expensive, but the others were cheap since their uses were limited. As usual, I made a show of reaching into the bag hanging behind me while actually pulling two gold coins from my [Inventory].

“He really did just cough it up.”

Maria looked at me like I was something beyond comprehension. I really wished she’d stop giving me that look every time money was involved.

“Pleasure doing business with you! My, you really are wealthy. I’ll go get the young lady’s stones right away.”

In exchange for the gold, I received silver coins as change and my Dimension magic stones. The Dimension stones emitted a mysterious hue. The physical stone was just like the ones dropped in the Labyrinth, but the craftsmanship was on another level. The magical formulas carved densely even into the interior of the stones achieved a strange, haunting beauty.

“It’s beautiful. Seems a waste to swallow it.”

“Some people wear them as accessories, apparently. I’ve heard there are rings made from them,” Maria shared, offering her knowledge. I’d heard some people even used holy magic stones as wedding bands to pray for a long and healthy life.

While we chatted, the clerk returned with Maria’s stones.

“Here are yours, young lady. I’ve included the national certificates as well. If anything happens, come see us again. Since you’re such a good customer, we’ll make sure the after-sales service is top-notch.”

“Thanks. By the way… can we swallow these right here?”

“I don’t mind. Shall I bring some water?”

“Please. It’s our first time, so I’d like a professional nearby.”

“Coming right up~”

With practiced ease, the clerk brought water from the back. Maria and I used it to wash down the magic stones. I took three, including the ice spell, and Maria took two. I felt some resistance to the act of swallowing stones, but seeing Maria—who was younger than me—gulp them down without a single complaint, I steeled myself and followed suit.

“Congratulations, young lady! You should be able to use magic now. Just… don’t do it inside the shop. As for you, young man, I still can’t say if it worked.”

“I understand. …How about it, Maria? Think you can do it?”

“There’s no way I can tell yet. This is my first time.”

Maria stared at her palms, seemingly unsure of what had changed.

“Excuse me, ma’am. We’re going to try them out back.”

“There aren’t any other customers, so I’ll come along and watch.”

The clerk was kind enough to offer her guidance. We stepped out into the shop’s garden. It was equipped with straw target dummies, suggesting that customers testing their magic was a common occurrence.

“Now, young lady, imagine… the mana circulating through your body gathering in your palms. The heat of that mana rising sharply until flames spill from your hands like an overflowing liquid. Then, chant: Firefly!”

“—Firefly!”

Fire bloomed from Maria’s hand. The clerk was clearly experienced; she had likely guided many people through their first spells. Maria seemed to be in good hands. Now, I had to test mine.

“You’re amazing, little girl! A natural talent. Alright, let’s try the next one. This time, imagine gathering colorless mana. It clumps together, vibrating as if it’s about to burst from your palms. Suppress that shaking, hold it back, and then shout: Impulse!”

“—Impulse!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the straw dummy go flying. I focused on my own task.

I checked my magic list using [Display]. While Connection and Form had been added, Little Snow was nowhere to be found. The aptitude test in the shop had indeed shown no ice affinity. Was I only capable of learning Dimension magic? If so, I didn’t understand why I already had Freeze and Ice.

Perhaps my “capacity” was insufficient, but I couldn’t be sure. Since the magic shop’s test was vague, I’d have to figure it out through trial and error. Putting the mysteries aside for now, I decided to grasp the details of my new spells.

The details weren’t much different from the catalog descriptions. Naturally, my expectations for Connection were high. If the description was literal, I might be able to go back to my original world right now.

As I investigated my magic, Maria approached me, having finished her practice.

“Master! I can use magic too!”

“…Don’t call me that outside. Also, be quiet for a second. I’m going to test mine.”

Maria was bouncing around, looking genuinely happy. However, if Connection could take me home, I was the one who should be jumping for joy. I ignored Maria and began the chant.

The image. A single wish. The wish to go back to my world.

“—Magic: Connection!”

I held out one hand and constructed the mental image, intending to pour all my mana into it. Mana that interferes with dimensions surged from my palm. It swallowed the surrounding air, condensing in front of me. The compressed air formed a wall made of pale purple light. It was an amorphous magical door, looking like the shimmering surface of water.

I reached out toward the door. If it worked as I imagined, this led back to my world. I pushed the door to open it—

“It… won’t open.”

It didn’t budge. As I was pushing and pulling the magical door, the clerk approached, looking intrigued.

“Hoh, I’ve never seen that before. So that’s Dimension Magic: Connection? To see a spell I’ve only read about in books with my own eyes… I’m deeply moved. But, that won’t open as it is. You have to chant it again to create a ‘pair’ for it to function.”

“Eh?”

“Go on, chant it once more.”

The clerk seemed to know more about the spell’s details than I did. Deciding it was best to follow an expert’s advice, I chanted again.

“—Magic: Connection.”

As instructed, I created another door nearby.

“There. Now this one and that one should be linked. According to the records, at least.”

In other words, it was like setting up my own personal “Anywhere Door.” I understood how to use it now.

“I see. …Alright, go ahead, Maria.”

“Eh, no thank you. It looks suspicious. It’s scary.”

I felt the same way. Even though I was the one who made them, stepping through an obviously non-physical purple door took courage. Resigned, I cautiously pushed my right hand through the door. This time, there was no resistance.

Immediately, my right arm emerged from the other door.

Creepy…

“Just like the records say. Congratulations, young man.”

“Th-Thanks.”

“But please get rid of them. They’re in the way.”

“Ah, right.”

I pulled my hand back and visualized the doors disappearing. They vanished without a problem.

It seemed this wasn’t a means of “Returning.” It was a warp-point spell. If I could “Return,” it would be by placing one of these doors in my original world. Of course, if I could do that, I wouldn’t be struggling in the first place.

Shaking off the disappointment, I decided to have the clerk look at my other spell.

“Excuse me. Could you tell me about this other one too?”

“The other one… Form, right? Hmm, Connection is easy to understand because of the illustrations, but there’s very little documentation on Form. All I know is that it ‘infuses’ dimension attributes.”

Unfortunately, the second spell was a total mystery. I had no choice but to test it blindly.

“I’ll just try it. —Magic: Form.”

With only a vague image, I released mana into the air. What appeared was a pale purple bubble.

“A bubble?”

The clerk poked the bubble curiously with her fingertip. It didn’t pop like a soap bubble, but it vanished easily.

“It’s a bubble, alright,” I agreed.

However, I was the only one who knew it was more than that. As the one controlling the bubble, I understood it instinctively. This bubble was… “shifted.”

The outline of this bubble couldn’t possibly be made of moisture. That made sense, as it wasn’t water-attribute. What created the circular boundary was a dimensional shift. It was a bubble unique to the dimension attribute.

I didn’t understand the true meaning of “infusing dimension attributes,” but it was certain that this bubble possessed that attribute and was under my control.

“Well? Did you figure anything out, young man?”

“No, not really… it just seems like a regular bubble.”

If I explained the sensation to the clerk, she might find a practical use for it. However, I had just obtained a magic that few in this world possessed. The desire to keep it hidden won out, and I lied to the clerk.

“I see. That’s a shame.”

“Form doesn’t seem very useful… but you’ve been a big help. Both the girl and I were total beginners.”

“Not at all, it’s my job.”

I bowed to the clerk as she shook her head. Then, I called out to Maria, who was busy poking my bubbles for fun.

“Maria, you done over there?”

“I’m fine. I’ve got the hang of it.”

Maria sounded confident. I got the feeling she was a bit giddy after being praised for her talent.

“Then, we’ll be going. Thank you very much. I’m sure we’ll be back.”

“Yes, goodbye. You too, young lady.”

“Thank you for everything. Excuse us.”

After exchanging farewells, Maria and I left the magic shop. The clerk waved until we were out of sight. And so, Maria and I had both acquired new magic.