Wizard of the Deep Sea

TL/ED – Miso

Nothing has been resolved yet, but still, just when I was starting to get used to the routine.

An unexpected obstacle appeared.

“Everyone, you all brought your Magic Paper, right?”

“…”

I let out a long sigh as I swept the broom.

It has been about a month since I started eavesdropping on the lessons.

In that time, I steadily followed the process and could solidify my basics. Now, I could even sculpt a puppy doll with its beard completely accurate, from a much wider range.

I have no intention of bragging to kids, but if it is limited to wind magic, I am much better than those taking the class over there.

…though that would only make me slightly better than an ordinary wizard my age.

The problem starts from here.

I cannot go any further than this.

“Yes, but why did you ask us to bring this?”

“I will tell you now. In the world, there are many kinds of people. People who are strong, people who are tall, people who eat well… right?”

“Yes!”

“Just like this, people all have something they are good at, their strengths. It is the same for wizards. You cannot understand it now, but you have already created your own world. In this class, we will use the Magic Paper to take a small peek at that world.”

The obstacle of class supplies is too hard to overcome.

I do not even know where to buy that thing, nor how much it costs.

This means that attending this lesson is close to useless for me.

“Now, put the Magic Paper on your desk, lightly place your hand on it, and do nothing.”

“Why?”

“Magic Paper is really, really sensitive. If you use fire magic on it, it will burn up instantly, and if you use wind magic, it will soar high into the air. Even just touching it will record a trace of mana.”

“Ah, teacher. It ripped.”

“Oh my, Magic Paper must be expensive… should I give you a spare?”

“It is okay, my father said I needed it so he gave me a hundred sheets.”

“I-I see?”

“Um… nothing is changing?”

“It must have recorded something, if you give it to me… oh my, it is slightly singed? Huins seems to have a talent for flame magic!”

So it is something like that.

This class is a bust, but at least I do not need it. If I put my hand on it, it would just get soaked instantly anyway. Knowing about the Inner World already, it is a pointless exercise.

The real problem came with the next class.

“Today is finally the day we enter the basics. Everyone brought their textbooks, right?”

“Yeees~”

…

“Open to page three, today we will learn…”

“This is seriously fucked.”

I let out a sigh and muttered to myself.

This- this really has no solution.

It is not strange. Even if they are teaching children, since it is the regular curriculum, of course, there would be textbooks.

Of course, if I strain my ears and focus, I can get the gist of what they are learning.

But I cannot grasp the details. It feels like half the class content just slips past me.

It is the worst-case scenario.

“…”

After a moment’s thought, I gambled.

Normally, I would run away a few minutes before class ended.

This time, I acted differently. Sweeping and cleaning the floor as normally as possible. Not too diligently, but just enough.

I waited for class to end.

-Clatter!

“Hey, come with us!”

“A white horse was born in our stable today, let’s go see it!”

To avoid drawing suspicion, I glanced at the floor while peeking.

The children were not much different from the ones at the Orphanage.

Of course, their clothes were expensive, and they were already wearing all kinds of accessories, which made for a clear difference, but children are still children. They were just cute.

“Wait a moment, everyone, follow my lead… Ah, no running!”

Fortunately, the teacher hurriedly followed after the kids too.

Round glasses, brown hair, a robe not very noble-looking… unlike the previous teacher, this one even spoke politely to the kids and did not look very experienced.

Well, that is not what matters.

I approached the closed door, grabbed the handle, and tried turning it.

-Clack.

It was not locked.

“Phew…”

Only after checking several times that no one was around did I calm my pounding heart and step into the classroom.

It was exactly the kind of children’s classroom I had imagined. It looked like they left the cleaning to the servants because it was a total mess, chairs toppled over, tissues, torn scraps of paper, it was chaos itself.

Looking around, I saw an open book on one of the desks.

“Is this it?”

I closed it to see the cover.

[Francine’s Path of Magic: Basics, 1]

Looks like it is.

As expected of a textbook, it was a book that was not in the library. Without any hesitation, I began reading.

The contents of the book, were astonishingly easy to understand.

The books in the library used terminology so advanced that I could not even read them, let alone understand them, but this was clearly different.

No, it even explained those terms. Forgetting to copy anything down, I was entranced, reading the textbook without pause.

Most of the magic information I had wanted but which the lessons glossed over was here. From increasing precision to methods of setting exact manifestation points. What to explore, what to avoid. And other fascinating details.

Of course, I could not understand everything at first glance, but that was because it was meant to be a teaching material for lessons. If I had this textbook while attending class, I could probably understand everything as a whole.

-Everything I need to learn right now is in this book.

Gulp, I swallowed without meaning to.

“…I can’t.”

Caught in the grip of impulse, I reached out for the textbook, then clenched my teeth.

Stealing the textbook?

Do I really have a death wish?

The chance of being caught is too high, and the risk if I am caught is far too great.

Theft is not something you can cry your way out of. Child or not, real punishment could come down on me.

The best solution is to copy it.

I did not have time to waste, so I took out the notebook and pencil I had prepared.

A faint current brushed against me.

“…!”

It was that sensation again from before. A subtle flow caused by someone approaching.

I must have been too absorbed in the textbook. Probably the teacher, I thought, just as a grumbling voice reached my ears.

“Haa, teaching kids is seriously exhausting…”

If I go out now, I will be seen leaving the classroom.

There are many places to hide. But that is a last resort. Quickly deciding, I picked up a broom.

Swish, swish… ten seconds passed as I calmly began sweeping the floor.

“…Huh?”

The teacher came in. He looked at me with slightly surprised eyes, and I looked back at him, equally startled.

“Ah, hello?”

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“I’m… cleaning.”

“Cleaning the classroom? No one told you to, why are you-”

Right before suspicion filled the teacher’s eyes, I cut him off and bowed my head deeply.

“Ah, ah! I’m sorry. While cleaning around the classroom, the door was open, so I misunderstood and thought I had to clean inside as well. I’m sorry…”

“Oh? No, it’s not something you need to apologize for… are you the cleaner for this area?”

“Yes…”

“Then I guess it was a misunderstanding. But don’t go into buildings like this without permission from now on. Someone might think you’re a thief.”

I let out a sigh of relief in my heart.

Was that too risky a gamble?

Of course, even in the worst-case scenario, since I had not actually stolen anything, I was confident I could get away with it somehow.

“I’ll take care of this place, so you go sweep outside.”

“Ah, I’ll help you.”

“Hm? This is my job though…”

“I’ve already finished cleaning in front of the classroom.”

“Really? Well, then…”

Helping the teacher clean the classroom and then leaving, I felt my whole body drenched in sweat.

Not from exhaustion, but from tension. I felt like my lifespan had been cut by several years.

“Thanks for helping. Because of you, it finished quickly.”

“No, it’s my job. Is there anything else you want me to do?”

“Really? Then could you help me with one more thing? This is leftover Magic Paper, could you take it to that magic tool shop in the center over there?”

“…Ah, yes.”

I just said it, but there really is something.

As soon as I grabbed it, I panicked that the Magic Paper might all get wet, but thankfully it was handed to me still inside a thick box.

I staggered into the shop carrying it and called the balding owner who was tidying behind the counter.

“Excuse me, the teacher from the children’s class asked me to deliver this.”

“Huh? Ah, leftover Magic Paper. Wait a moment. Nngh-”

While the owner went to the back of the shop to get something, I looked around the store and,

“…huh?”

I froze when I saw the books lined up above the counter.

[Francine’s Path of Magic: Basics, 1]

[Francine’s Path of Magic: Basics, 2]

[Francine’s Path of Magic: Basics, 3]

…was this a jewelry shop?

I really, really wanted them. I started scheming, and when the owner came back out I lowered my face so it would be hard to see and spoke in a low voice.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks for the errand.”

“Um, what kind of shop is this?”

“Huh? This is where students come to buy supplies when they lose them. Why do you ask?”

“Thank you. I was just curious.”

He confirmed it.

Trying to hide my excitement so my face wouldn’t show it, I left the shop and ran to a secluded spot.

As soon as I entered the alley, I stripped off my clothes, pulled out the noble clothes I’d been carrying just in case, and put them on.

I’d been carrying them to avoid getting in trouble if I was caught doing something risky while I was a cleaner, but I never thought I’d actually use them like this.

“…Is my hair okay?”

I checked my reflection in the small stream for a few minutes, wiped off the soot, and tidied my hair.

It was a bit of a problem that my hair was black, but there were nobles with black hair too. It shouldn’t be a huge issue.

Ahem, I straightened my shoulders and cleared my throat.

I left the dirty bag there and walked back into the store acting every inch the noble. As I’d felt entering the library, attitude mattered.

When I reentered the magic tools shop, the owner’s reaction was noticeably different.

He bowed and stepped out from behind the counter as if he’d really seen a noble.

Well, he had better behave, or I’d be in big trouble.

“Ah- welcome. What would you like to look at?”

“Um. I want to buy those three textbooks.”

“Y-you want to…?”

That was the tone.

Still, the owner took out the magic books without suspicion.

“Which family are you from? I can put them on account for you.”

As expected of the Academy, the owner suggested buying on credit.

But I have no family to speak of, so I shook my head.

“Do you accept cash?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then take the rest.”

I thanked Huins inwardly and placed silver coins on the counter.

He’s practically saved my life. Next time I see Elysia I’ll at least quietly tell her where he is, even if I don’t actually hit her. Thinking that, I reached for the textbooks when-

“Oh? Ah hahahaha…”

The owner, who’d been puzzled by the coin I handed over, suddenly laughed.

“Young master, I think you’ve brought the wrong coin. That’s silver, not gold!”

“…Oh, ah, is that so?”

“Yes, each of these textbooks costs 599 silver. It might be better to put them on your family’s account. If you tell me-”

“I’ll come back another time.”

“Uh, okay…?”

I left the shop with my usual confidence.

Then- once I was in the alley, I collapsed and muttered with a face full of despair.

“Seriously, don’t bullshit me…”

599 silver?

A textbook, 599 silver coins?

One book?

All three together are roughly equal to our orphanage’s yearly budget?

Isn’t the inflation too severe?

“…”

I needed to make money.

Immediately.