Wizard of the Deep Sea

TL/ED – Miso

When I thought about it carefully, the condition Dersia had set for persuading her was hard to understand.

Stand out. Make sure that news of you reaches my ears.

Isn’t that too vague?

To explain it in simpler terms, it means to stand out like a crane among chickens.

…But how?

If I were a cadet, it would be easier. I could simply prove my ability.

But my job at the Academy is a janitor. And not even a proper one, just an aspiring janitor. On top of that, an orphan.

If I prove my ability, by the time that news reaches Dersia, a lot of things could have happened.

For example, what if Huins, who throws a fit just because a fellow noble like Elysia can’t use magic, finds out that a commoner orphan janitor can?

Hmm, no matter how positively I think about it, I doubt anything good would come of it.

And now the news has to somehow reach the ears of the Empire’s greatest wizard in this situation? That’s just absurd.

‘…This must be part of the test.’

Of course, there’s no way Dersia wouldn’t have considered that.

If I want to become her disciple, it must mean I have to prove my worth beyond just magic.

Then I had no choice.

Because there were no other options.

“…I’ve written it all down.”

“Thank you.”

I double-checked the simplified contract that Elysia had eagerly written in her notebook while sitting on the bench.

There were three clauses.

Make it look like she successfully manifested magic during the field trip.

After that, arrange a private meeting with her father.

And speak highly of me there.

“Are you sure you don’t need to include ‘teach me magic’ in the contract?”

That’s probably what she wants most.

When I asked, Elysia scoffed like it was absurd.

“Just help me get through the field trip safely, okay? I’m not even hoping for that kind of thing.”

“…Let me just tell you one thing in advance. Elysia-nim, you are already manifesting magic.”

“What? Me?”

“Yes. However, compared to others’ magic…”

It’s similar to mine.

I didn’t actually say that. It would only make her more anxious for no reason.

And just being similar doesn’t mean she’s fallen. This girl, blinking those large eyes, looked perfectly normal.

She has no symptoms of mental burden, so she’s clearly different from me. Even Dersia said she’s never seen another case like mine.

“It’s a slightly different type of magic.”

“…Thanks, even if you’re just saying that.”

Elysia answered with a slightly relaxed expression.

Seeing that lukewarm look on her face, she probably thought I was trying to comfort her.

Let her think what she wants. After the field trip ends and I convince her father, I’ll take her straight to Dersia to figure out what kind of mechanism this is.

I had to, for my own sake. Whether she was touched or not, I asked for details.

“Could you explain what this field trip is exactly?”

“It’s nothing special, we’re just going on a trip. But the entire children’s class goes together, and there’s an annual event where we show our progress using the Regeneration Stone.”

“Regeneration Stone?”

What’s that.

“It’s a stone that regenerates infinitely. We use magic on it and show everyone how much we can chip away from it. Since most of the kids have only recently gone through Awakening Fever, the results are pretty similar, and it’s said only a few with real talent stand out.”

“Why do something so barbaric?”

“In the founding myth, the first Emperor melted the entire stone when he was ten years old, and it took ten years to regenerate. Don’t you know that story?”

“I’m hearing it for the first time.”

I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a founding myth.

If we were in Korea, this would be like a mugwort and garlic eating experience.

Anyway, I now understood that it carried some deeper meaning, and why Elysia had that miserable look earlier. If she skipped even that kind of event, she’d definitely be branded as a failure.

But now she has me. I asked confidently.

“Just trust me. Where is the event being held?”

“Roxfell Canyon. Do you know it?”

“…That’s far.”

“Really? It doesn’t even take two hours by carriage.”

Is that a carriage pulled by a dragon or something?

“It’s pulled by a ground dragon.”

“Ah… I see. Got it. We need to leave at least a day in advance, so please come and inform me beforehand.”

“Mm? It’s tomorrow.”

“…Huh?”

I looked at Elysia, wondering if I had misheard her.

“Did you say tomorrow?”

“Y-yeah. That’s why I was venting to you like that.”

Elysia nodded with a slightly timid expression.

This was bad. With a regular carriage, I’d only arrive by dawn.

“…By any chance, could I borrow that carriage pulled by the ground dragon?”

“I’m supposed to ride with a friend, so I don’t think that’s possible.”

“You have a friend?”

“I-I have a few.”

…

Then I didn’t have time to be standing around like this.

I quickly got up from the bench and bowed my head.

“Understood. Then I’ll see you at the canyon tomorrow. I’ll be counting on you.”

“Uh… will you be able to make it?”

“No need to worry.”

I gave a wide grin.

“I’ve got a secret weapon.”

*

For someone who spoke so confidently, I got completely ripped off.

“Thank you, customer!”

“…”

The coachman, beaming with a bright smile, left me behind. I could still hear him humming from here.

Well… for taking just one kid and charging that much, he probably felt like he just made easy money.

With a sour expression, I stuffed the half-empty pouch into my backpack and sighed.

There’s nothing that can’t be done with money.

For example, there are things like bullet carriages meant for delivering important cargo in a flash.

Of course, the price is outrageous, but it’s something you just have to accept.

“Let’s see…”

Even though the evening glow had already faded, I entered the entrance of the canyon, which was still crowded with people.

Then a burly man managing the entrance blocked my way.

“Hey, kiddo, you’ve got to pay an entrance fee to get in.”

“…”

I got ripped off again.

Since I’d have to come back in tomorrow, I’d be paying the fee twice. Still, I had to do it. I needed to check in advance where I could hide and use magic.

But, from the outside, things already seemed off, and once I entered, it was clear there were way too many people.

It felt like being at an amusement park on Children’s Day. I struggled to read the map, and it turned out the so-called Regeneration Stone was way up high.

“Haah…”

Looking at the crowd crammed on the bridge leading up to the Regeneration Stone made me want to throw up.

“Seriously, why are there so many people here?”

“They’re closing this place for two days starting tomorrow. The noble kids are coming for their field trip.”

After hearing complaints from people who had thoughts similar to mine, I understood the reason for the crowd.

It’s already a popular historical site, and since it’ll be off-limits for a while, everyone must’ve rushed in today.

Not much I could do. I took a deep breath and dove into the human wave.

“Excuse me… just… trying to get through…”

I barely escaped the crowd.

The path to the Regeneration Stone was quieter than expected.

Well, down below, people were putting on fire shows. If you’re a commoner who can’t even learn magic, you’d naturally be more interested in something like that than a rock with a legend.

When I finally reached the Regeneration Stone, only a few couples were there along with me.

I looked up at it with a bit of surprise.

“Hmm. It’s big.”

The Regeneration Stone was truly a massive chunk of jade.

Maybe around three meters tall? Its bluish glow definitely hinted that some kind of magical effect was at work.

It was fascinating, but I didn’t feel anything special. I couldn’t destroy it now anyway.

First, I looked around the surroundings.

Places to hide, there were more than I expected. All within magic range, too.

‘This should be enough…’

Right then, I spotted a small hole nearby that looked like a fox had dug it.

When I pushed my feet in first, I slid in pretty well. Enough to get my upper body inside, too.

As a test, I cast a very light wind spell on the Regeneration Stone from inside the hole.

-Crack.

A small fragment chipped off.

It worked really well.

It’s visible too. Even if someone tried to find the source, it wouldn’t be easy. No way I’d get caught unless someone was actively looking for it.

This is why preliminary scouting is important. As I stood up with a satisfied expression.

An unfamiliar voice called out to me.

“Ah~ hey there. Mind if I ask for directions?”

“…?”

I didn’t turn around and instead intensified my current sense.

…It was faint. So faint that I didn’t even notice until he was right behind me.

What the hell is this guy?

“Hey? Hey, I’m talking to you. Kid.”

“…Ah, are you talking to me?”

Still, it wasn’t something to overreact about. I didn’t know what method he used, but he didn’t seem hostile toward me.

When I turned my head, I saw a tall man with red hair.

Flawless, fair, and clean skin with a handsome face. His rugged voice and casual speech didn’t match his elite knight-like appearance.

Scratching his head with an awkward expression, he asked,

“Yeah. It’s nothing serious, but do you happen to know where the Regeneration Stone is? Regeneration Stone. It’s supposed to be somewhere around here.”

“That over there, I think.”

I pointed toward the jade stone a short distance away.

The man looked dumbfounded, as if he hadn’t expected it to be so close.

“…What, that’s it? It’s fucking smaller than I thought. Thanks.” 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

“No problem.”

Even as we spoke, I kept scanning the man with my current sense.

It was really faint. So faint that if I wasn’t seeing him with my eyes, I wouldn’t even believe he was there.

At this level, I’d barely be able to catch him even with currents.

‘Though that’s unlikely to happen…’

Something about it was unpleasant. Just as I tried to get away from the spot, the man, as if he just remembered something, called out to me again.

“Oh, right. Mind if I ask you one more thing?”

“What is it?”

He asked lightly, like he was just checking the time.

“Are you a wizard, by any chance?”

“…”

I wasn’t flustered.

In fact, I laughed boldly and responded with gratitude.

“Do I look that refined? That’s flattering. But unfortunately, I’m a commoner.”

“Ah, really…? Tsk…that’s strange.”

Clicking his tongue, the man looked me over again.

“I just had that feeling.”

As soon as he turned his head, I pulled out a handful of emergency medicine from my upper pocket and chewed them all at once.

This was preparation, for what I was about to do and the consequences that might follow.

“…Kgh.”

The taste of the medicine was hellish. I covered my mouth to keep from vomiting and maximized my current sense to observe the man.

The burden was immediate. My vision grew darker, and my body started to tighten.

However, the sense shifted. The current sense, which had felt like blindly feeling around to identify shapes, moved up a dimension.

All seawater became my eyes.

In this state, I could even sense a single strand of the man’s hair.

Of course, I didn’t let my guard down. The moment he showed even a flicker of hostility, I would crush him with water pressure. Then escape.

“…”

About thirty seconds passed until the man walked over to the Regeneration Stone.

Those thirty seconds felt like thirty years, but in the end, nothing happened.

He didn’t look back even once.

Maybe I really was overreacting.

Still, if that’s all it was, then I was lucky. Just before my legs gave out, drenched in sweat.

[Tch, thought I’d get something out of this early, but it was a wasted effort.]

That’s what his lips mouthed.