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"Mana is like the rain. Just as rain falls from the sky, flows into valleys, becomes rivers, becomes seas, and then rises back to the sky, you must keep it circulating without stopping."
The lesson was taking place in the training ground inside the Mage's Association.
The project to turn Mirabelle into a great witch had officially begun.
Colton, the head of Riveria's Mage's Association, had volunteered to be Mirabelle's magic teacher. To think that the head of a city's association would personally teach magic.
My Mirabelle is truly the best.
For reference, the lessons were held at the same time every day, and the tuition was free. This was because Colton stood to gain considerably if Mirabelle became famous.
Though their intentions differed, their desires aligned, making it a win-win situation.
He'd be shocked to learn that the person he's teaching turns out to be a witch.
Well, that wasn't my problem.
"That's all for today's lesson. Try to refine your flow of mana even more by tomorrow."
The lesson ended while I was crouched in a corner of the training ground, waiting. Mirabelle walked towards me with Colton.
"Is it over?"
"Yes."
"How is Miss Mirabelle's condition?"
"The measurements were indeed accurate. Her innate mana pool and manipulation skills are at a level that is hard to believe for someone who recently started learning magic. However…"
"However?"
Colton trailed off. Why was this guy being ominously vague?
"Something is different."
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."
"It's exactly as I say. Her mana feels foreign compared to normal mana, and I can't figure out why. It might take longer than expected for her to use magic."
It was because she's a witch.
I couldn't feel the difference because I was no magic expert, but I knew the reason. Witches and mages use magic slightly differently.
"I see. Well, as I don't know much about magic, I suppose I will have to trust your judgment completely, Association Head."
"Haha, to think you had such trust in me. I am truly at a loss for words."
"Haha, it's nothing."
I should trust what's trustworthy.
I'll need to come up with a plan.
***
There weren't many chores I could assign to Mirabelle since I didn't have a house or run a store.
Even if there were, I would try not to give her too many.
It would be trouble if, after I free her later, she tried to kill me saying, 'This is revenge for making me wash your underwear!' despite being master and slave. It was a bizarre relationship where I was the subordinate and Mirabelle was the boss.
Nonetheless, I tried to consistently give her some basic tasks. I was worried she might become a crazy witch who only knew how to use magic otherwise.
Of course, I'd never give up the maid outfit even if it kills me.
Every man is born with something he values above life itself.
The task I just gave Mirabelle was to go shopping. I handed her some money and a list of items to buy.
Mirabelle returned to the inn not long after. She placed the items she bought on the table one by one.
Handkerchiefs, insect repellent incense, portable magic stone lanterns—nothing special, just essential adventure supplies. And lastly, a brown paper bag.
Inside were fried foods.
Slime fritters, no less.
"Well done. You bought everything without anything missing."
"Phew…"
Mirabelle let out a sigh of relief, her hand on her chest.
She must have been nervous, even though it wouldn't have mattered if she made a few mistakes.
"You did well."
I unconsciously reached out to pat Mirabelle's head, but she flinched and avoided my touch.
Tch. Maybe I tried to close the distance too quickly. That was a mistake.
In that case, I should give her a different reward. Fortunately, I had something here that she might like.
I took out a slime fritter from the bag Mirabelle bought and handed it to her.
"Here, eat this."
"Me…?"
"Is there anyone here besides you, Miss Mirabelle? Go on."
Mirabelle, who had been staring at the slime fritter in surprise, carefully took it from me. Even so, she looked at me uncertainly, still hesitant to eat it.
I gave her an encouraging smile and shrugged, and only then did she take a bite.
"How is it? Delicious?"
"…Yes."
"I'm glad you like it."
Slime fritters.
To someone from Earth like me, it was just weird food, but for Mirabelle, it held a very different meaning. You see, this was a snack her mother used to make for her often.
It was like the equivalent of mom's homemade soup from when she was alive.
Of course, Mirabelle knew this better than anyone. Her indigo eyes instantly filled with tears.
Tear-soaked slime fritters. Not exactly appetizing, but certainly an image that tugs at one's heartstrings.
"Why are you crying? Is it that delicious?"
"Yes… Very."
"Is that so? I wouldn't know, I've never tried."
I didn't realize at the time… That this would be a big mistake.
"You've never tried…?"
"No. I'm quite the picky eater, you see."
After I said that, Mirabelle fumbled with the bag and took out another slime fritter, offering it to me.
"P-Please try it. It's salty and delicious."
"No thank you, I'm fine."
"Oh…"
Mirabelle sighed, her expression sinking as she lowered her hand holding the fritter.
"But… it's delicious."
Why are you making such a pitiful face? It's breaking my heart. If you react like that, it makes me look like trash.
I snatched the fritter Mirabelle was holding.
Slime is slime, it all tastes the same when fried, right?
With that mindset, I put it in my mouth and chewed.
Mirabelle's eyes widened.
"Well, it's not bad. The saltiness makes it a decent snack."
"Right? It's good on its own, but even better with a cold glass of milk."
Mirabelle started rambling about things only she knew. If I did that, I'd expect someone to say, 'What are you on about, you weeb?', but when the beautiful Mirabelle did it, it felt different.
I didn't expect her to be this happy just because I showed a bit of empathy. I should buy these for her often. And eat them together… huh?
"Did something just wriggle?"
"Wow, you must have gotten a fresh one. That happens sometimes. So lucky!"
This little…
Lucky, my ass.
I'm never eating these again.
I somehow managed to swallow the slime fritter.
Once it was in your mouth, you couldn't spit it out. It became somewhat bearable after drinking some water.
On the other hand, Mirabelle seemed to really enjoy them. Even after I had eaten one, she kept taking them out and eating them one by one. How many did she buy? They kept coming out like from Doraemon's pocket.
I was going to wait until she finished eating, but at this rate, we'd be here all night. Listen while you eat.
"Today, Association Head Colton said something interesting. He said Miss Mirabelle is different from other mages. That it might take longer for you to use magic. Do you have any idea why?"
"Cough!"
Mirabelle choked. She must have gotten something stuck in her throat as she pounded her chest.
I handed her some water, which she gulped down without hesitation. Only then did she seem to calm down, catching her breath.
"I-I'm not sure… I've only just started learning magic…"
"I see. In that case, I'm out of ideas as well."
It would take Mirabelle a long time to learn magic. This was quite troublesome for me.
It's not Mirabelle that's the problem, but what comes after.
Mirabelle's liberation wasn't particularly time-sensitive. As long as I succeeded in rescuing her from the Slave Carnival, there was no problem in taking it slow.
However, there were other slaves who were not in the same situation.
While there were already heroines who were slaves, there were also those about to become slaves due to certain events.
In the game, you could rescue a slave on the other side of the continent with just a click of a button, but this was reality. I had to go there myself to save them.
Missing even one would be a huge setback. After falling behind even once, it became an endless cycle of falling further and further behind.
The easiest way would be to find a witch…
If it differed from the magic that mages use, then learning directly from a witch would solve the problem. I knew the location of one or two witches, though not all of them.
The reason I came to Riveria despite knowing this was because many witches were eccentric people.
As I mentioned before, Mirabelle was a supernova born once in a thousand years. This applied not just among mages, but among witches as well.
She was a talent even witches would covet. If I brought Mirabelle before them, it would be like offering her up on a silver platter. Witches couldn't be controlled.
In the end, seeking out a witch was out of the question. By process of elimination, we were left with one option. It was something I had anticipated to some extent, which was why we came to Rivera in the first place.
I stood up.
"If you're done eating, shall we get going, Miss Mirabelle?"
"Mmm?"
"…Finish eating and then we'll go."
***
To raise a slave most efficiently, one must properly utilize game knowledge.
As time passed, various variables might arise that could render this knowledge useless, but at least that wasn't the case right now.
If things start going wrong this early, forget about returning home. I'd have to settle for rescuing one cute beastkin and living happily ever after.
Changing the subject…
In TOS, there were various means to develop slaves. Not just skills, but you could also feed them potions and equip them with gear.
Potions were decent, but not something you would use from the beginning. They needed to be administered over a long period and were costly. They were more for endgame players.
What I could do for Mirabelle right now was equipment. It was the most efficient method at this point.
That was why I came to Riveria.
"Hahahahahaha!"
In the deserted pre-dawn graveyard.
I was in the midst of a joyful grave-robbing session, wearing a one-time-use invisibility robe that cost me 2,000 points.
"M-Master! We can't do this! If we're caught it's a capital offense! God will be angry!"
"Hahahaha, Miss Mirabelle. You're stating the obvious. Indeed. If we are caught, it's a capital offense. Alas in this harsh world, there is something you must know, so listen carefully."
"W-What is it?"
"It's not a crime if you don't get caught."
The presumption of innocence.
One is innocent until proven guilty.
In other words, if there's not even a trial, let alone a verdict, of course you're innocent!
Mirabelle screamed but quickly covered her mouth, afraid someone might hear. Don't worry, dear. Although the invisibility robe I bought from the shop was expensive and single-use, its performance was on par with top-tier artifacts.
There was absolutely no way we would be caught! Unless an archmage used a detection spell.
Tick.
As I kept digging, my shovel hit something. I dug around it and picked up the object.
Even in the dim light of dawn, a silver handle glimmered in the moonlight. At the end was a luminous crystal—it was a staff.
Three hundred years ago, a high elf who fell in love with the Sage Arselia carved a branch from the World Tree and gifted this staff to their lover.
That staff was passed down to Inaxia, the half-elf son born between Arselia and the high elf. He quietly lived out his days here in Riveria. As a half-elf, his lifespan was shorter than that of a pure-blooded elf.
The half-elf was buried in a 7x7 location of Riveria's public cemetery. Dig there and you would find the Sage's Staff.
[You have acquired the Heavenly Covenant.]
With this, I could greatly enhance Mirabelle's magical abilities!
"Here, Miss Mirabelle. I've put a lot of thought into this gift!"
I happily handed the staff to Mirabelle, and her expression was… well, beyond words.