Next day.
Whilst Eris and Ghislaine went to attend lessons with the home tutor, I went out to visit the Magicians' Guild after testing the wand I bought.
Philip did not want me to go out alone, so I had to wait for a while and eventually went out with Gilbert again.
After visiting the second floor, Camille brought me to the Guild Master's office.
Pascal seemed to be busy at work, with many papers scattered around his desk. Most of the papers seemed to be with Magic Circles.
"Good morning, Pascal-san." I did the nobles' greeting, slightly bowing my head, acting neither too humble nor too haughty.
Standing up, Pascal greeted me rather warmly. "Gilbert. Seraphim-kun. It's good to see you. How are the books I lent you?"
"They were very helpful. I learned a lot. I also summoned my first familiar."
"Is that so? That's very good. Please, sit down."
"Yes."
As I sat down, Pascal looked at me intently, then said, "Why did you want to see me? Is it about your studies? Or do you want advice?"
By the look of it, he seemed awfully eager to offer his advice.
At those words, I brought the wand I bought in front of me. I said, "I bought this Magic Tool recently and have been testing it."
"Yes, and what about it? As someone who can do truncated casting, it probably isn't very useful to you."
"I think it's very good and user friendly. But it's too weak. I wondered if it would be difficult to increase its power?"
"Increase its power? It's a simple matter. However, it wouldn't be very useful."
Hm?
What does he mean it wouldn't be useful?!
You rump up the power of Stone Cannon enough, you can slay demigods!
Trying to calm down a little, I said, "Why wouldn't it be useful? If the power and speed of the Stone Cannon could be increased, even an Advanced ran swordsman would not be able to avoid it."
Pascal shook his head in denial. "One of my predecessors in my family tried it before, but it doesn't work this way. Although the spell's power increases, the projectile still travels around the same speed, so a skilled swordsman can deflect it."
My brain tried to process what Pascal was saying for a while.
Huh, what?
Increased power, but the speed is the same? What?
After I thought for a while, something suddenly clicked in my brain. "Is it because you increase the power of the entire spell, so the bullet's size increases as well?"
"Yes, of course," Pascal said matter of factly.
I felt like face-palming.
That's why this world's magic progresses at the speed of a snail! People are too narrow-minded. Probably the result of peace that lasted for too long.
As Pascal started frowning probably at my reaction, I relaxed my own face. I put on a naive childish expression and I told him, "If the stone bullet becomes two times larger and two times heavier, and the force acting on it also becomes two times larger, then it's normal that the speed it travels at would remain the same, right? Then how about a modification that doesn't increase the size of the bullet and only increases the magic power put into its speed?"
"..." Pascal stared at me silently.
I imagined a loading bar above his head as he seemed to be digesting what I had just said.
After a good while, he looked at me with an astonished expression as if suddenly enlightened. "This!…"
"This could increase the speed of the bullet to the level that even an Advanced rank swordsman could not avoid it," I finished for him.
"Exactly! However, with such a light bullet, I doubt it would be able to pierce through the defenses of an Advanced rank swordsman and cause significant damage. A normal person wouldn't survive a shot to the head, but higher rank swordsmen defenses are higher. It's the same for monsters with tough skin."
"Hm? Then we can simply increase the speed more."
"Yes, but the bullet would still be too weak."
"Then make it denser.
"You don't understand, young man. The projectile would be too small and light to cause serious damage." Pascal shook his head in resignation.
What the F***K?!
What is this about again?!
It's only when I realized that the Guild Master is stupider than he looks that I understood what he was talking about.
I swallowed some saliva, then patiently said, "I don't think that's the case. As the speed increases, the impact force increases as well, even if the bullet's weight doesn't."
"..." Pascal looked at me with doubt.
I thought for a moment, then continued, "It's like a stronger swordsman swinging the same sword faster. The sword's weight is the same in the hands of both, but the speed of their sword strikes isn't. As the sword's speed increases, the striking and cutting power does as well. That's why even a tiny bullet should theoretically be able to pierce through a high rank swordsman's defenses with enough speed."
Pascal looked at me wide eyed.
As the guild master had a loading screen again, at the back Gilbert coughed and said, "I don't know all that magic mumbo jumbo stuff, but it seems to make sense to me. It's logical. An attack doesn't need to be heavy to kill. This is the ideology of the Sword God style. It's all about speed."
"Yes, I noticed it in the Sword God style," I quickly added and nodded to downplay myself.
Though it really doesn't take much brain power to figure it out. By default spells only get bigger with more mana, but magicians only needed to take a page from the swordsmen.
"...Is that the case? After the Intermediate rank, normal Incantation spells focus more and more on area of effect and size to increase their power, rather than on raising their speed… Support and crowd control is the primary job of a magician, after all. But this kind of tool might be quite useful in an emergency against a single opponent," Pascal commented, trying to sound as if everything was as expected.
I don't think it's only for emergencies, it could be an incredibly deadly offensive tool as well, but I didn't feel like saying anything.
I talked for some time more with Pascal and we decided to start a project of creating a Stone Cannon wand that could kill even an Advanced rank swordsman and also stronger monsters.
The bullet's size would stay the same and it would be only made a little denser, but the attack's speed would be increased by a lot.
Pascal didn't even mention the shape of the bullet, which means he'll probably keep it standard in the form of a round stone ball.
I could not trust him fully yet, so I didn't yet give him any suggestions to also modify the bullet.
In the end, I convinced Pascal into making a wand Magic Tool that would consume 3 times more mana than the usual Intermediate rank Stone Cannon. Most of this mana would be used to raise the speed parameter.
When Pascal said that he wanted to make it cost 3 times more mana, I wanted to make it at least 5 times, but he tried to drill into my head that it was a ridiculous number.
Although the mana cost would increase only by 3, he said that the required mana control to control such a fast spell would be enormous and surpass most Advanced rank spells.
Seeing how stubborn he was, I simply agreed with him on that kind of wand.
I mainly just wanted to know the limitations that this kind of wand would have from Pascal's perspective, but it seemed as if he would be able to make it even stronger if he wanted to. The only thing he worried about is that it would be difficult to aim with if the mana is compressed too much.
Let's test what he makes first. With 3 times the speed of an Intermediate rank spell, it should still be a quite spicy tool.
The wand was to be made by him not due to me ordering it, but in the process of experimentation.
Afterwards, Pascal told me, "From what I'm aware, your previous Master had separated from you a while back, is that correct?"
"Yes. She said that teaching me made her realize her shortcomings and she began to tour the world to polish her magic."
"Ha-ha! Is that so?" Pascal smiled wryly. "I can understand that. Teaching such a talented student would make any Saint rank magician doubt their qualifications."
I faintly smiled.
I could see a greedy expression on his face.
Is the conversation actually going in the direction I think it is?
Pascal cleared his throat. "At any rate. Magicians tend to learn various things from different teachers. I believe that your old Master would have nothing against it. How about you become my disciple while you stay here in Roa?"
"Your disciple?"
Pascal continued, "Correct. Since your old Master left you after just teaching you the basics, the things I can teach you are Magic Circles, Saint-ranked Wind magic and much more. What do you think?"
"I think… I would be honored. I would surely learn a lot more than through self-study," while speaking, I adapted a more respectful posture in my seat.
"Then that settles it! From today you can call me your Master and come to the Magicians' Guild. I will personally teach you here!"
Pascal had the audacity to make me call him Master, unlike Roxy who was much brighter, but I did not call him out on it.
"Yes! Master!" With a childish respectful expression, I stood up and made a bow toward my new master.
The Guild Master seemed satisfied.
In general, Pascal went out of his way to take me on as his disciple.
But was it strange?
I think not at all. In his position I would have also done that. It was only a matter of time it happened.
Whether he wanted to raise his reputation by becoming known as a genius's teacher, thought well of my future or whatever, that was all irrelevant.
The limited mindset and method of thinking of people in this world are very aggravating. After today's conversation I could understand Nanahoshi's frustration. If there is any way to excuse it, then I can only say that after the war 400 years ago the humanity was mostly wiped out and most of the magic knowledge was gone. What then followed was a period of peace.
Either way, the Guild Master doesn't seem exceptionally bright, but there were still many things he could teach me.
From that day, Pascal Greencrow began to personally guide me in the art of Magic Circles, Wind magic and Magic Tool creation!
…
"Master, thank you for offering to teach me, but how can I repay you? I don't have much money," I told Pascal with an uncertain expression. I couldn't appear ungrateful.
"Ha-ha! I'm not quite interested in money. Just teaching such a brilliant student is compensation enough. I decided to be your master because I think well of your future," Pascal spoke in a slightly arrogant tone and nodded his head.
I understood that he should have had his ulterior motives, but I didn't pry into it.
Since he can teach me things, I'll give him the satisfaction of calling me his student. It's nothing much.
While I was already in the guild, I randomly asked Pascal something about Magic Circles, which then transformed into a long lecture that answered some of the questions and doubts I had.
Hours passed as I began drawing actual Magic Circles, and Pascal guided me through the process from scratch.
In the meantime Gilbert looked very bored.
By the end of the lecture, Pascal had thrown even more books at me.
…
My first official lesson with Master Pascal after he accepted me as his disciple was scheduled to happen in the woods on the very next day.
After coming to the Magicians' Guild, I then boarded a luxurious carriage with a black crow emblem on a green background together with Pascal.
Gilbert took the reins in place of the coachman. I think it's for the security of information.
At that time Pascal had already made the prototype of the wand we talked about and showed it to me inside the carriage.
The wand was a prototype and it was only made from regular wood.
"Would it help if the wand was made from special wood?" I asked.
"Not really. In fact, using special wood for Magic Tools is just a cosmetic thing. Nobles like it, that is all. It might matter for a staff, but in Magic Tools mana flows through the magic ink of the Magic Circle, so the surface doesn't matter."
"I see. So it could even be made from metal?"
"Correct. There's no problem making the wand from metal, but it would be quite heavy to carry."
"I see. But then it could be used for self defense at close range."
"Why would a magician use a metal rod for self defense?" Pascal slightly snorted.
"If he was also skilled in Water God Style, he could do it."
Pascal chuckled, then said arrogantly, "Magician is a magician. Fighting in close range can be left to others, to those brutes who can do nothing but swing their sword!"
I imagined Gilbert suddenly sneezing behind the reins.
After a moment, I patiently said, "Yes, but it would still be useful to be able to use Water God techniques for defense, together with magic."
"It's better to focus on a single thing. You have an inconceivable amount of talent for magic. Don't waste it!"
Me: "..."
"Just reaching Advanced rank in a single magic school before 20 is a sign of a genius magician. But you reached that level and beyond at only 5 years old! Work hard! By the time you're 10 years old, I'll try to make you a Saint-ranked Wind magician!"
"...Yes."
"Later I will show you how a magician should handle close-range threats!"
"Yes."
Pascal was stubborn. And he had a very narrow minded and old fashioned way of thinking.
I have noticed it very well by now. In comparison, Roxy is a genius and is only clumsy.
Although I did not agree with him, I did not want to fight, so I simply nodded and quietened down.
Give and take, this was the kind of relationship we had.
Even if I have to act humble, I'll do it. It's all for an opportunity to learn and grow stronger.
It doesn't mean I'll do what he says.
To not waste my time while inside the carriage, I thought of something and asked Pascal another question, hoping I'd learn something.
…
After riding the carriage for a good while, we eventually arrived in the woods outside of town.
After we stepped out, Pascal asked me, "How much experience do you have with Wind magic?"
"I can use all of the Intermediate rank spells from the Magic Guidebook plus some others that my previous Master taught me. I can use Sonic Boom and Wind Slice quite well."
"I see, I expected as much. I'll ask you for the details later. Let's put the Intermediate rank spells aside for now... The most popular Advanced rank Wind magic spell is Sonic Blast, let's focus on that."
"Yes."
"[Sonic Blast] is an augmented version of the Intermediate-rank [Wind Blast] and the Elementary ranked [Blast]. It sends out a pressurized wave of wind at the enemy at high speed, being both an offensive and defensive move. However, it is primarily a defensive move. Why do you think it is like this?"
"It's because it will send the enemy flying back," I said. Obvious things are obvious.
"Correct. The closer the enemy is when you release the spell, the larger the damage and the force of the wind pushing him back, but it is mostly a defensive spell."
"Hmm, yes," I answered absentmindedly.
'Not that I think about it, this kind of spell would be ideal to make into an overpowered wand with a fixed direction. You'd just point it at the enemy and blast them away to Africa with maximum power. Even Orsted might not be able to resist it and be simply flung back…' I thought.
"Seraphim. Focus," Pascal said sternly.
I looked up back at him. "Yes. I just had an idea and thought about it."
Pascal looked at me for a while, then said, "I'll demonstrate to you the Advanced rank spell Sonic Blast. This is the level of power you can expect from a Saint ranked Wind magician."
Pascal aimed his staff in the direction of some trees, then chanted a long chant that consisted of three verses and the spell name.
In the end, he said, "...Sonic Blast!"
As the wind gathered in front of his staff, with a loud boom, a blast of wind traveled out into the clearing between some trees.
The rocks, pebbles, leaves, grasses and all kinds of smaller objects were blown away. The grasses and bushes were blown back, some of them out rooted. The trees also received the blast and faintly swayed after the impact.
Pascal turned to me expressionlessly and said, "This spell doesn't have much destructive power at range. Even at close range, it is limited in power. As I said before, it's mostly a defensive or support spell used to push away the enemies that get too close."
"..."
"If the targeted monster is large and heavy, it might barely have an effect. However, against smaller monsters and humans, it is very effective."
"What about Water God style users?"
Pascal slightly frowned and said, "They can cut through it and avoid the wind blast, but they cannot disperse it completely, so it would still hit their companions. They also need to be at least at the Advanced rank to do it. Even then, most Advanced rank Water God Style users won't be fast enough to cut through a Sonic Blast of a genius magician."
So if I boost my [Sonic Blast], I could blast away all Advanced rank swordsmen no problem if they get close enough?
I have always seen in the anime Rudeus pushing away himself from swordsmen enemies in a hurry to make distance, but almost never sending out powerful blasts to push away the enemies instead.
It really seemed like a wasted opportunity.
The only problem seemed to be the build-up of mana and how long it would take… But wouldn't I also be pushed back? Ah...
Pascal said, "To master this spell the easiest way is to repeatedly practice the Intermediate rank [Wind Blast] while aiming to put more and more magical power into it. This way you'll train the required mana control. Starting today, I want you to practice this spell every day."
"..." I looked at Pascal blankly.
Should I even keep up this farce?
I wanted safety and confidentiality, but as it is, Pascal is way too annoying.
"What is it?" Pascal slowly asked.
"Actually… I already reached Advanced rank in all four attack schools."
"Hm?" Pascal looked at me weirdly.
"I'm Advanced rank in all four attack schools already. The reason my master's letter didn't include it was to downplay my abilities at my age for safety."
Let's just get this over with. It's getting too annoying.
I could have kept up the play and made Pascal think that it was him who taught me Advanced rank Wind magic, but I rejected the idea. There's no point in making him even more full of himself.
I have already thought about my situation yesterday.
With what I noticed, Pascal seems to want to make use of me to increase his own standing and reputation. In that case, it isn't like he would sell me out.
However, if I don't want to be used as a tool, I should probably show him the difference between us.
I let out a small breath, then pointed out my hand toward the clearing.
I gathered mana in my hand, transformed it into pressurized wind, then slowly muttered the words: "Sonic… Blast."
After speaking, I released my spell.
I tried to control my magic and let out a blast of wind with a strength that should be a little stronger than that of Pascal's spell.
As the bushes and trees still swayed in the aftermath, and the small pebbles still rolled about in the distance, I expressionlessly looked back at Pascal.
Pascal looked at the scene with wide-open eyes and a shocked expression.
He turned to me.
There was a huge difference in our height, a 5 year old child and a middle-aged wisened-looking wizard.
Pascal muttered, "You… Are you really human?"
"From what I'm aware."
"Not a Magic God?"