"Magic?"
"Yes, magic."
It was time for lunch just as I was about to start reading; I went towards the dining room in anguish.
Lunch was just brown bread with vegetable soup and minced meat seasoned with salt, like in the morning. I am just happy to be able to eat in this world was what I thought as I ate my meal.
As I began to finish up my meal as always; I asked Eric nii-san, who sat next to me, what he knew about magic.
By the way, my parents and my two older brothers were apparently busy discussing how best to cultivate the newly expanded (cleared) land and did not seem to care about me.
"Concerning magic, almost all books on the subject is in father's study room and there is even a crystal ball used for magic training."
It seems the magic technique in this world was not something that was hidden away.
Those detailed books were placed in the study room because father was unfamiliar with magic.
"There also the crystal ball but the books related to the subject of magic is cheaper than the books concerning other fields."
The reason is simple; very few human beings have magical talent.
And apparently magical talent is not hereditary.
The chances of a prodigy in magic being born in farmer's family are actually quite high. It was thus established that books on magic are easily obtained even by the commoners. It seems that I won't die without knowing if I have magical talent.
By the way, it is the kingdom that is providing the aid.
Since an excellent mage brings a lot of benefit to the nation
"Actually, most humans have slight magic power but are unable to cast magic at any scale. It is said that only one person in a thousand can use magic."
Moreover of that number, 5 in 10 are able produce a spark or fill a cup of water but only once a day.
They can do only that much.
"A mage who can produce a fireball capable of burning monsters will be hired with a high salary by anyone in the royal family or nobles. Such a person is quite rare however."
They would go that far since such a person in only one in several thousand and can't be found that easily.
The number of people who live in this country is about fifty million, according to the book I read, and based on that alone, I calculated that there is only about 10,000 to 20,000 capable of using magic.
"Next is..."
Mages seem to have preferences.
There is the classic user of magic attacks such as fireball, ice arrow, rock splinter and kamaitachi.
Then there are some that fight in hand-to-hand combat, increasing their attacks, agility and defence against both melee and magic.
There also people who specialises in non-combat systems such as communications or ways to reach a destination quickly.
And finally, there are those who purify metal ores, use magic stored in mana prisms or specialized in creating magical tools.
The number of people in each category grow smaller as you go down the list, so it was extremely logical that such an existence can earn a lot of money.
"Magic, it is filled with dreams."
"Well, yeah…"
Brother Erich let out a complicated smile to my comment.
I thought that it was exactly like a children's dream but I am not dreaming in such a way; since I am 25 years old inside.
It is just that if you were to take such an att.i.tude, adults will look at you with a certain affection, at least based on my own believe.
"I remember I used to practice magic every day, just like you Vel."
Erich nii-san talks about his memories from the past.
I am not really sure how it was shortened from Wendelin to Vel.
"I will try practicing magic immediately."
"Do your best."
After I finished my talk with Erich nii-san, I quickly finished my meal and hurriedly went to the study room.
The other family member had no interest in me and were absorbed in sword practice or talking about the newly reclaimed land.
They give minimum support towards a useless child, but that doesn't mean I was forced to do hard labour, so it was not a cruel family. However, my only wish now was to quickly become independent.