"Ms. Mirabelle, your horsepower control is much better than yesterday. What happened?"
"...."
Mirabelle remained silent, unable to answer Colton's question.
Yesterday, when she was presented with the staff, Mirabelle had the expression of someone facing an evil god, but now her expression was strange.
It was as if she had changed her mind about where she had gotten it, but it was so good to use.
'Of course it is, what kind of item is that?
Each game item has its own specifications.
Some have basic stat increases, others have special effects, and Taosl was one of them. There are items that increase stats or suppress debuffs on slaves.
These items are tiered, starting with Normal, then Rare, Epic, Unique, and Legendary. The Celestial Oath is naturally in the Legendary tier.
It comes with all sorts of gimmicky effects that are standard for wands, such as increased hp and greatly increased spell power.
Among its many effects, one of the most notable is the ability to change the nature of magic.
Its previous owner, Inaxia, was the son of a wise man and a high elf, which might seem like an unlikely image. He was despised his entire life for being a half-elf.
Though less so nowadays, the prevailing attitude in the past was that being born to a human and a monkey was no better than being born to a human.
As a result, Inaxia's long ears were cropped, her hair dyed blonde, and the scent of the forager's forest was tainted with strong perfume.
Unable to do anything about the natural magic of the hornaelf, he spent decades tinkering with his mother's legacy, the Celestial Pact.
He cast a spell to alter the nature of the magic in his body so that it would feel different, to hide the fact that he was a half-elf.
"And the effect is useful for Mirabelle, too.
Mirabelle, the witch.
Reduces the strangeness of other people's magic, and also dulls the witchy scent that clerics detect.
It's a device exclusively for Mirabelle.
Perhaps in Mirabelle's mind, angels and demons are fighting over whether to like her or not.
That was the story.
Ouch.
Heat and light poured from the bruises. A small fireball hovered in front of Mirabelle's staff.
"Heh, I can't believe you're already making fireballs.... I didn't think you'd be able to do that, but you always exceed my expectations in class."
I knew it took at least a year to learn to use magic, even with a good diet from infancy and a court magic teacher.
But it's only been a week.
The time it took Mirabelle to learn magic.
I guess life is a blood sport after all, and I can't help but think of a certain one-eyed manga.
Embarrassed by the compliment, Mirabelle hid by burying her forehead in her wand. Instead, I beamed with pride. It means I've done a good job taking care of her.
Mirabelle peeks at me.
"Haha, no thanks, you're a pot belly who'll bring me bigger gifts than this.
"If you're already this good, you can learn higher magic."
To think an elementary school student learns a high school curriculum in a week.
"Well, keep up the good work. I'm going to go for a walk."
The magic unfolding in front of me is like a circus, but Mirabelle is still a witch, and she gets tired of doing the same tricks over and over again.
I walked out of the training center, doing calisthenics.
***]
The magic training continued even after Karami left the training center.
Mirabelle is an Orb Adept who can teach one and enlighten a hundred. She knew how to use magic, how to use magic, and how to use magic. It was hard to find something she couldn't do.
Because of this, Colton was enjoying being an educator to the fullest. The same was true for Mirabelle, who was learning.
He'd heard that studying was boring, but it wasn't. From understanding knowledge to making it your own. The whole process was fun.
Wizards and witches are not so different. They are both madmen of the same ilk, thirsty for knowledge and crazy about the study of magic.
Woof.
The Celestial Oath glowed in response to Mirabelle's magic. The atmosphere crackles, wind blades form, and they fly away. The practice metal scarecrow slices up and down with a clatter.
Colton claps his hands together.
"That wind elemental magic is pretty neat, too. I don't know how many times I've seen it, but it's phenomenal. If other mages saw it, they'd be in awe, not jealousy."
"Go, thank you."
Mirabelle was dumbfounded by the storm of praise. She crossed herself in embarrassment and buried her head in her wand.
After firing off spells in a frenzy, Mirabelle took a break.
Her magical powers were undiminished by her natural abilities and the Celestial Pact, but each spell she cast drained her mental energy.
As Mirabelle rested with a drink of water, Colton spoke to her with a serious expression on his face.
"Miss Mirabelle, is this man named Karami by any chance a slave trader?"
"Yes, and?"
"Also...."
Colton tilted his head to himself, as if he'd already guessed.
"Why, why...?"
"Because Miss Mirabelle has a talent that could shake the world, and it's too bad she's a slave to a man like that. Even if Miss Mirabelle were to work hard and become an archmage, she would only be his handmaiden."
Colon sighed heavily at the realization.
Mirabelle tilted her head slightly at his reaction. She had never thought of becoming an archmage, not even in her wildest dreams, so she couldn't sympathize with his pity.
Then Colon looked up at her, his expression fierce.
"Miss Mirabelle, if you are willing, I will fully assist you in freeing yourself from slavery."
"What...?"
"From what I perceive, you seem to have made a contract with your soul, is that correct?"
Mirabelle nodded.
"It's a very nefarious method, for a soul-bound slave cannot find freedom even in death. They are enslaved forever. It's usually reserved for the most heinous criminals or captives of enemy nations, and that's what you have done to Miss Mirabelle."
"Is that so...?"
"The good news is that he's ignorant of magic, and a wizard of Miss Mirabelle's caliber can break the shackles of her soul on her own. Of course, it will take time, as Miss Mirabelle is currently inexperienced."
Colton, who had been rambling on, shook his head confidently.
"But don't worry. I'll be by your side to help you break the shackles of your soul, to teach you to become an archmage!"
Mirabelle listened to Colton's words and pondered.
'Does being able to break the shackles of my soul mean I won't be a slave?
"Does that... make sense?
He was abandoned anyway.
He has no home to return to.
The stone called life rolled this way and that until it fell to a cliff where no light could reach it. Even if the stone grew limbs, would it be able to climb the cliff and reach the light?
Mirabelle shook her head inwardly. I'm sure that day will never come.
If life were hard now, she might consider it, but it wasn't, not really.
It was hard when I was a new slave, but now I'm better fed than I was with my family, and I'm experiencing things I didn't in my small village.
As for the maeve clothes... At first, I felt insanely embarrassed, but once I got used to it, I didn't mind it. The material is soft and pretty, but it's a little short.
Of course, I don't think Karami is a good person. Called the Slave Reaper, he was the evil of humanity, responsible for the deaths of countless slaves.
"Maybe the rumors are a little different.
In any case, Mirabelle had no desire for freedom.
"As for killing him... no, it's more likely to make the shackles stronger. I'm in favor of breaking the spell after all...."
Unaware that the girl was thinking that way, Colton rolled his eyes with a worldly serious expression.
***]
Since Mirabelle had begun to master her magic, her life had become much more convenient in many ways.
She can move heavy objects to the salt shaker, insulate herself from the elements, and pour water into a cup with a simple "Miz."
I stared at the water in the cup and thought.
"Since magic is like blood, is this like Mirabelle's bodily fluids?
After having this debate of a lifetime in my head, I took a one-shot. It seemed to taste sweeter than normal water.
It reminded me so much of why wizards are so highly favored in fantasy worlds: they're an all-around, living, breathing toolset.
If I break up with Mirabelle, I'm going to feel a wave of regret.
I need to control myself.
"Miss Mirabelle, don't you get tired of using magic all the time?"
"Only a little tired.... I started learning magic late, so I need to brush up on my skills from time to time, and the Guild Leader said I have a lot of magic, so there's no problem with overdoing it."
"Then there's no reason for me to stop you."
Mirabelle's mastery of magic is much faster than I expected.
Talent is a big part of it, but Mirabelle's own interest in magic has also played a part. Her soulless eyes sparkle like stars when she uses magic.
It was in her blood, a witch's blood that could not be denied.
"Nice to see.
In the game, it's just a status bar that goes up or changes, and you're like, "Oh, yeah," but in person, it's tangible. You can see that he's getting better and better.
I'm like, "Okay, can we move forward with the plan?
Mirabelle is completely liberated.
In other words, there is a magic that you must learn in order to see the true ending.
You can't get it through normal means, you have to go through dungeons. Before, I could just send you to explore dungeons until I got it, but now I'll have to go directly.
Sooner or later, I'll have to get it.
A few more days passed, and I was about a month into my stay in Libria.
"Mr. Colton, we're about to go."
Translation.
Good job sucking honey.
Adios.