Nine's magic was so amazing. More than it followed my thought, it was so perfect. If Magician Confederation saw it, they would give the full score. I knew because I got it before.
"Inverse, Search, and Property… Did I call it correct? What is the meaning?"
[…the opposite, finding the result, and characteristic.]
During the test time, Nine spoke many of his dialects. Just some words he told the meaning, but I felt he wasn't like it.
[When you know nothing, you're very innocent like a chick.]
[You have the same yellow feather too.]
"My hair was golden!"
This bastard... He thought I was the chick in his palm, wasn't it?
I shouldn't ask.
"You have a problem when I asked right?"
[Yes. I don't like a dumb High Sage.]
God... Your enemy really pissed me off. I took a deep breath and told with a calm voice.
"High Sage doesn't know everything."
"Mage uses a staff to help people, Sage used a pen to get more knowledge. Every Sage has their goal, the specific knowledge."
That's why…
"We're stupid persons that look only our interesting."
Skillful in one branch, at the same time, know nothing about regular knowing. That was the reason I couldn't lose this job. I couldn't live like others. I was different.
"…"
"Nine? Are you still here?"
Nine was unusually silent. Maybe I could kick him out. That's right, he didn't like a stupid person.
Haha… a laugh was louder in my head.
But it wasn't my laugh.
[Your explanation is interesting High Sage. It can change my mind. Although you're stupid I still like you.]
Oh, my karma…
[The more you stupid is more your clever right?]
[Hahahaha!]
I shook my head for his devil laughed. The countdown was 18:02:46 left. I already finished the test, so I cleared my books on the desk. In the meantime, I heard a sound like someone opened a bag and unbox.
"What are you doing?" It was so suspect.
[I should ask you instead. Don't you eat dinner?]
"What… Oh! it's time."
Sunset already, the sky outside the window had a little bit orange in the dark. I was always like this. When I focused on work, I would forget about time. Using magic again made me filled with fun and happiness.
[That's not good. If you don't eat on time, you will have gastritis.]
"What is it?"
[A stomachache. Even if you eat at the full stomach, you still hurt.]
"I had that before, it can cure with an antidote."
[…]
Nine sighed deeply. The atmosphere was strangely pressed.
"Alright Alright. I'll go to the cafeteria but first, could you turn your sound off? I heard everything."
The sound of a spoon hit the dish and chewing some things in the mouth too. Was this a new music service?
[What are you eating usually?]
He didn't turn it off.
"Anything. I didn't care much."
I thought I lost my appetite. However, the cafeteria's food wasn't bad, I could simply switch food day by day.
[Do you want the same as me?]
"Hm?"
[These things.]
Three dishes appeared on the desk. I flinched immediately.
"You bastard! Keep it away from my book!!"
I picked a plate out at the full speed. Luckily, it was just one book that became base and didn't have any dirty. I was so shocked. I didn't think he would send a portion of food like this. Every dished was still hot.
[I didn't send it to you. I made it for you.]
"You cooked it and send it to me. Isn't it?"
[I created it in front of you. Like magic.]
[Would you try it? Could you eat this food?]
I looked at three dishes. It had slice vegetables with many colors mixed with beans and tomatoes[1], grilled chicken skewers, and sticky rice.
I started by ate grilled chicken skewer.
"Wow!!"
It was delicious than I thought. A chicken was so smooth. Mixed with sticky rice, it was the perfect combination.
[Vegetable plate too. First, I recommend you test its soup.]
I hesitated but I followed.
"It's sour! What is this? My tongue is gonna burn!"
[Hahahahaha!]
Nine laughed like his trap was successful.
[It calls spicy! You can drink this to heal your status.]
A glass of pink water appeared.
"…Milk?"
It was milk with pink color[2]. Sweet taste and had a nice smell, plus it could heal spicy status. Such a weird antidote.
My tongue became good, so I continued to eat it. Even if this meal was spicy, it was delicious. Vegetable slices were crispy, and tomatoes were sweet and fresh. Mix with grilled chicken skewers, and sticky rice was the best. I couldn't stop my hand.
I couldn't recall the last time I ate and felt delicious…
I drank Pink Milk until the last drop and licked my lip. I was happy… with non-magic things.
Nine laughed again.
[You're innocent like a kid.]
From a chick to a kid, I was relieved that not an infant.
"You drank it too, right? Your food same as me."
[Unfortunate, my cup wasn't a kid thing.]
[If you finish a meal, I'll clean it for you.]
Dishes and glass disappeared, he cleaned water drops too. If Nine was waiter, I would give him a full score... No, reduce one point, he put a dish on my book.
…Too much freedom.
How can he do these things, exactly?
[I create it.]
[Creating Object is one of the NUMBERS' services.]
Nine explained to me, he could create things like creating magic. The thing had to belong in Item Lists. If it was signed in Infinity Record, it won't be a problem. Even a number changed, God hadn't much will to pay attention.
[If you like the food, you can eat it as you want.]
I followed his word, then...
"What about Sword of Strong Faith and Staff of Heaven Guidance, you can't create it, right?"
God's weapon that my parents didn't get it.
[That's right. We can make grass but the sun.]
Maybe it was for safety, but it still had so much freedom.
…
One thing I knew about NUMBERS was they were living things, Nine already showed it. Before we went to sleep separately, I asked him to look at my report. I was satisfied with testing magic, now I wouldn't let Free Trial end so easily.
Let's made him create the work for me.
If he couldn't do it, I would have a chance to reduce his score too.
[I have to go out. Could I do it later?]
I stayed holding the report.
Maybe NUMBERS was a working basement and he turned to his living place. I didn't have reason to stop him if he went out, I would have rested time too.
"You'll come back, right? If something happens, and I want magic, what should I do?"
[You can call me. Just call, I'll be back immediately. To avoid the confusion about your real call, I success you to reduce your miss about me a little.]
This bastard.
"Quickly go and quickly back!"
[Roger that. Keep calm I'll be back to you.]
[my High Sage.]
The countdown was 17:34:21 left. When I was sure that he went out, I went to take a shower.
It was a truly relaxed time. Even only his voice but to have someone stay all time made me got nervous. I had to manner my behavior… something like that.
I didn't know about how to dress, so my closet was full of the shirt. My nightgown too. It was a white color like Sage's cloth, but it wasn't a problem for me.
After took a shower, I lied down on the long sofa in the waiting area. I didn't have many guests, so this area became my relaxing place. It had a short table near me.
"I'll create you by myself again. I promise."
I had sworn with the report on the table. For me, every work was my child. This work was a beautiful daughter.
Please wait for me, I'll certainly do it.
I'll get my magic back for sure.
Nine's service was so good. Spoke the truth, I rather liked it but compared with the magic thing… It couldn't be a substitute.
I wanted to use magic by myself, I wanted to sense magic in my body. It was important for me. The time that success came, it was only I could sense.
I missed my magic so much.
"Fireball!"
Nothing happened. Although we connected, I have to wait for him to create it. I wasn't used to relying on others. I felt bad, and they didn't convenient as did it by myself.
The countdown was 15:41:06 left. Nine still didn't come back yet. I didn't know did he get caught by Angel or not. I didn't know anything but waited. From my comfortable sense, after took a bath, it made me fell asleep.
I didn't know how much time passed.
[High Sage.]
[Um… What should I do? If I leave him like this, he must tell I'm cheating.]
[Hello. Hi. High Sage.]
[This way may work…]
Something soft touched my cheek.
[Wake up High Sage. If you don't, the time will end.]
"What!! No!!!"
Like pulled up from the ground. My eyes became clear immediately and my hands tried to find the card.
14:34:45
I was safe. I just slept for one hour.
"Too late! You plan to buy the time again?!" I scolded the air.
[I apologize, it took more time than I thought.]
Did he get some attack?
"…Are you safe?"
[I'm safe. Thank you for your kind.]
I shook my head at his happy tone. Before I picked the report on the table, my eyes contact with something strange.
The black dog doll that travel-sized…
Waved his hand to me!
"N Nine!! What is it?! Is it coming from Angel?!" I pulled my leg up to the sofa.
[Be cool High Sage, I create it. I use the dog painting on your cup as a prototype.]
"Y… you create…"
It was similar to the dog painting on my cup. His hair looked so soft and his black bead eyes reflect my image too.
"Is it have a soul or String Magic?" I tough his body with one finger.
[I'm controlling it. Is it cute?]
The doll moved his head to left and right. Cute… just the doll. If Nine did the same move, it was hard to answer.
"Hm?" The doll lied down.
[I turn it off.]
The doll became the normal doll.
[Do you want me to delete this?]
I was shocked by his word. Created when he wanted, deleted when he didn't want it. Maybe Eccentric and we had a different logic.
"…It's ok. Sometimes mom left things in my room, it's not strange to have a doll."
[Understood.]
"Are you free now? Let's look that my report. My life depends on it!" I put my hand on the cover.
[What do you mean?]
Maybe it was the first time Nine didn't know everything.
I told him about Magic Conference, the deadline for my research, and the certificate from Magician Confederation. Nine was quickly understood and accepted to look at my report.
"How can I send it to you? I have to look page by page, right?"
[Yes, you just hold in front of your eyes.]
I hold the first page of my report.
[That's right, please stretch your arm a little. I want to see the full page. Ah… That's it.]
[Ok, next page please.]
It was fast to read. Maybe it was Record Magic.
My report was thick like a book, so it took a whole time. My arms were weak, so I asked him to rest from time to time. When I finished showing him all pages, I asked.
"How about it?"
[Please wait a minute.]
Maybe he was reading. NUMBERS would be reading type, so I didn't worry much. I didn't want to send my thought to disturb him, so I made my mind clear…
And played with the doll.
He was so soft, had a smell of new things, and cuter than the paint in my cup. He wasn't suited to be the thing from Eccentric.
Around half an hour later, Nine came back.
[Thank you for waiting.]
"How are you? Do you have any questions?"
I had a little bit enthusiastic and looked at a joint between wall and ceiling as he was right here.
How did he feel about my research? Did he think it was beautiful? Did he know how wonderful when this magic becomes real?
Tell me Nine. Tell me you can make life to this magic.
[High Sage, about your research.]
"Yes."
[I couldn't create it.]
[1] Thai food is called Som Tam.
[2] Thai drink called Pink Milk.