[V2C14] Monsters and Magical Devices
Translated by Jodas 2: Daily Lives of a New Teacher and the Apprentice MagesWhen the four members of Hütter’s class and the three mages of the Investigation Office gathered at the main gate in preparation for the Investigation Office’s mana density survey, one of the gatekeepers called out to Hütter, saying “Um, excuse me.”
It was a middle-aged man with gaunt cheeks and short, frizzy brown hair. He wore light leather padding and a sword at his hip.
Sevil also wore a sword, but unlike her, the middle-aged man did not have the keen glint of a swordsman, much less the aura she had. With sleepy eyes and heavy eyelids, he had the presence of a tired old dog.
Tia felt like she had seen him somewhere before. She silently pored through her memory.
“You must be Mr. Hütter, for the extracurricular lesson, yes? I am Otto, from the Protection Office.”
Tia was better at memorizing voices than faces. So, after hearing his voice, she remembered well.
On the day of the entrance exam, he was the old man at the gate who told Tia the correct place to go after she mistook the gathering point.
“You’re the old man who told me where the meeting place was! Thank you for that!”
“Oh, you’re the kid who made it just in time. I’m glad you were able to pass.”
Otto gave Tia a friendly smile, then looked back at Hütter and the Investigation Office mages.
“So, you know, the higher-ups told me to go along with you guys, so……”
Otto spoke with an apologetic attitude, and for some reason Hütter made a distressed face.
“Ah~~~, Yes, yes, I see how it is…….. Sorry to bother you.”
As he said that, Hütter stole a glance towards Sevil.
Why was he looking at Sevil? Tia wondered, but Wren explained it to her in a whisper.
“It would be a bad look for them to let the Imperial Princess go out without any guards to escort her, so the higher-ups panicked and sent him, probably.”
“Their concern is unnecessary. Tell your superiors that I have no need for such things next time.”
Sevil seemed displeased, but she did not object to Otto’s presence. One guard was something she could overlook.
The Protection Office was a department of the Second Spire: Golden Needle, and they were primarily tasked with the defense of the Tower itself. If a fight broke out among the mages within the Tower, it would also be the Protection Office that would run to quell the chaos.
In either case, they were specialized at combat against other humans, so the Protection Office was often tasked with escort and scouting duties as well.
In the case of combat against Monsters or long-distance excursions, that primarily fell to the Extermination Office.
“In this case, the escort was sent from the Protection Office, right? That means the odds of a Monster appearing within the survey area are low.”
“I see! Wren, you’re so smart!”
“Of course I am, and I have a good face!”
Tia expressed her honest amazement, to which Wren winked.
The mages of the Investigation Office waste no time in unfurling a map and explaining today’s destination to Otto from the Protection Office.
“Today we will be conducting a mana density survey to the south of the forest where the entrance exam occurred. There is no chance of magic beasts appearing in that area, but just in case…”
“Yes, that area, I see. Then, I suppose we can’t fully rule it out.”
Otto nodded along to the Investigation Office’s explanation.
Watching their exchange, Sevil crossed her arms and asked.
“What exactly is the difference between magic beasts and Monsters?”
“Oh, you haven’t covered that in your group lessons yet? It must be hard for you guys, having so much to learn right off the bat.”
Otto spoke casually.
He didn’t try to grovel in front of Sevil or anything of the sort. No matter who he was talking to, his eyebrows drooped and he spoke uncertainly with a worried-looking face. Almost the exact opposite of Sevil, who always exuded aura.
“Monsters can be divided into greater and lesser categories. Greater Monsters are the ones you might call ‘demons’ or ‘devils’; they have extremely long lifespans, but no ability to reproduce. Also, pretty much the only ones that can completely take on a human form are greater types.”
Tia knew of those kinds of Monsters.
The ones Otto called greater Monsters were strong, terrifying creatures. But there weren’t many of them.
“On the other hand, lesser types have shorter lifespans but are capable of reproduction. Among them, the ones that look like beasts get called ‘magical beasts.’ Werewolves would be one such type. There’s also bird-types, bug-types, fish-types, and more, but none of them can perfectly mimic humans.”
Oh, I see now, Tia quietly nodded.
Tia was aware that she was a Monster and a Harpy, but she hadn’t known much about the detailed categorization of that.
(So the bird-type lesser Monsters he mentioned are Harpies.)
Tia was currently perfectly mimicking a human form, but that was not an ability she had because she was a Harpy. She had borrowed the power of a third party. That meant she wasn’t a greater type.
As far as Tia was concerned, Monsters were broadly categorized into two sets: strong Monsters and Monsters that weren’t strong. Harpies were in the not-strong category.
The truly strong Monsters couldn’t leave the deepest parts of the Crystal Territory. Strong Monsters couldn’t live unless they were in an area with high mana density.
Otto continued slowly.
“The weak lesser Monsters can live for a while after leaving the Crystal Territory, so we occasionally see them…….The really troubling ones are the stronger individuals that occasionally appear among lesser types. Some of us even call them ‘mutants.’ They can operate to an extent even in low mana density areas, and can be as strong as some greater Monsters…….they’re a dangerous presence.”
Seeing Sevil and Wren’s expressions harden, Otto looked like he was worried he’d said too much.
His eyebrows drooped weakly, and he forced a smile.
“But don’t worry about it. Monsters won’t show up to the south of the forest where you did the entrance exam. It’ll be fine. For now, you should be more worried about the cold than about Monsters.”
Otto said that part looking at Tia.
(Why is he looking at me, I wonder……? Does he suspect me of being a Monster!?)
“This region gets pretty cold, and when the sun sets the frost will set in. Won’t you be cold dressed like that, little lady?”
Tia looked down to check her outfit.
She was wearing a simple shirt and loose shorts that came down to above her knees. Her usual outfit.
Tia looked at Wren and Sevil.
Wren wore a solid outdoor coat. Like his other clothes, the coat was the wrong size and looked way too big on him, but it also looked warm.
Sevil had always been wearing a thick jacket, so she wouldn’t get cold either.
“I’m not cold! I’m just fine!”
It was true. The Crystal Territory and the Breakneck Gorge were both farther north than the Wedge Tower, and the temperature was low all year round. Almost all of the Monsters who could survive living near the Crystal Territory were strong against the cold. Harpies were no exception.
Tia was in human form at the moment, but it was only as if she were wearing a layer of human skin; on the inside, she was still a Harpy. That’s why she had so much endurance, was so tough, and so strong against the cold.
(If I could bring my feathers out, I would be even warmer.)
Harpies’ feathers were waterproof, and they prided themselves on how fluffy and warm their feathers were. If fellow Harpies brought their feathers together, they would be very happy.
As she reminisced on her sister’s fluffy wings, Hütter spoke seriously.
“Look, guys. Saying you don’t get cold is only cool until you turn ten. Stop acting tough and put a coat on. The cold will come back to bite you in the hip……..one day, all of a sudden.”
Hütter, who was wearing several layers under his robes, whispered the last part with sincerity.
If she was going to pretend to be a human, then perhaps it was best for her to wear a little more clothing. Tia reflected on her mistakes, while Sevil patted her on the shoulder.
“Tia, if you start feeling cold, I’ll let you borrow this.”
Sevil took something out of her jacket pocket and showed it to Tia. It was a brooch in the shape of a red butterfly.
The butterfly’s wings were translucent, and appeared to be made of a thinly-sliced gemstone, but upon closer inspection, that seemed incorrect.
Wren stared intently at the brooch and spoke.
“No way, is this a fire dragon’s scale? Aren’t those crazy expensive?”
“Indeed it is. This is a magical device produced from a fire dragon’s scale. If you put mana into it, it will let off a little heat and warm you up. Is it not splendid?”
Wren made an impressed face, then looked to realize something.
“Wait, but in that case……wouldn’t it be better to put it in your pocket than to wear it as a brooch?”
“Well, that is true. That is why I had it in my pocket.”
Sevil nodded as if it was a matter of fact. Wren made a skeptical look.
“That’s stupid. Why did they make it a brooch in the first place?”
“There was no helping it. I simply was in the mood for a brooch at the time.”
Sevil remained confident, without any hint of regret.
Even for Wren, the rare opportunity to see a magical device up close won out, and he borrowed the brooch from Sevil to inspect it further.
Tia also looked at the brooch. Magical devices were supposed to work by flowing mana through them, but it looked too flimsy to Tia’s eyes.
It might have been enough to handle the amount that humans, with their low mana reserves, would use, but if a Monster tried to use it it would just break.
(If a Harpy tried putting mana into this, it would go boom! ……..But, my mana levels are restricted at the moment, so maybe……..it might be okay?)
Tia suddenly remembered the answers each of them had given to Hütter’s question about magical devices earlier.
To the question ‘What is a magical device?’ Sevil’s answer was pure and simple.
“Hey, Sevil, is that brooch also a weapon?”
“Didn’t you hear the explanation just now? This is a device for creating warmth……”
Before Wren could finish his flabbergasted explanation, Sevil confidently nodded.
“Indeed! If one were to flow a large amount of mana into this brooch, it would send out a fireball!”
“Gyah!” Wren screamed, returning the brooch in his hands to Sevil.