[V3C22] A Conversation Between Adults
Translated by Jodas 3: The Fateful Brothers“Inscription magic?”
Wren repeated the words Röhm had said right back to her.
At the very least, that was a word he had yet to learn in his group lessons.
“What we did in the lesson this morning was in fact a type of inscription magic. You write a formula on a piece of paper and pour mana into it, then the magic activates.”
As she spoke, Röhm lined the paper and ink up on the table. He recognized that ink bottle. It was the same as the one they had used in the morning’s lesson.
Wren thought back to the group lesson that morning.
They wrote magical formulas on a piece of paper, then poured mana into them. When they did, the letters glowed brilliantly.
“You mean that, just by writing more complicated magical formulas, you can make awesome magic happen? And you’re talking not just glowing, but actually launching fire or blowing wind? …….Umm, since my attribute is lightning, it would be all sparky and stuff?”
“To be frank, yes. It’s considered a type of Classical Magecraft, but it’s also a foundational technique to Modern Magecraft as well. Think about it, you write a magical formula with special ink, then activate it by pouring mana into it…… doesn’t it remind you of magical devices?”
“So it’s a kind of magic that lets you make magical devices with just a pen and paper?”
I could do this! A feeling of joy arose inside him, but so too did some doubts.
Inscription magic wasn’t widely used these days. That meant it had some drawbacks compared to incantation-based Modern Magecraft.
“Hey, Ms. Röhm. There has to be a reason not too many people use it these days, right?”
“Yes, it’s rather inconvenient to use for a couple reasons…..”
Röhm picked up her pen and wrote down the drawbacks of incantation magic on the page.
—It requires talent in writing (If you don’t write it correctly, it won’t work)
—You can’t write it, then save it for later (You have to activate it right after writing it)
—The effects tend to be weak.
Beside that last line about the effects being weak, she added that means mana consumption is low.
It appeared that that was the reason she suggested inscription magic for Wren.
“Also, there’s the added difficulty of preparing the paper and ink. Even though those things have become easier to get your hands on recently, both paper and ink were incredibly expensive in the old days, so…..”
“Do you need a certain kind of paper and ink?”
“Yes, if you’re going to learn it seriously, it would be a good idea to be on good terms with the Management and Library Offices.”
That made sense. Certainly, that would make it overwhelmingly less convenient compared to Modern Magecraft which worked as long as you knew the incantation.
Incantations could take time, but writing the formulas down would take even longer. Especially because you couldn’t write the formula beforehand to use it later.
The advantage of inscription magic was its low mana consumption. That meant it was best suited for formulas which were highly complex but required little power.
(But, what sort of formulas would that be…..?)
“In addition, aside from its merits as a form of magecraft…… If you master inscription magic, it will be a huge help towards getting a good job in the Library Office or working with grimoires. Most people in the Library Office are inscription magic users.”
Wren folded his arms and groaned.
Despite all this persuading, he still found himself attracted to powerful Modern Magecraft that could be cast simply by performing an incantation. It was just way cooler.
“Umm…… If I need paper and ink to practice it, I don’t think I can make a decision right now, but I’ll think about it.”
“Of course. If you ever want to get serious about studying it, just head over to the Library Office.”
Speaking of the Library Office, it was under the authority of Director Linke, who was able to control a monster sealed within a book during the entrance exam.
Wren secretly shuddered at the thought of that lady who looked nice but would definitely be terrifying if he got on her bad side.
(Hold on, that monster-sealing book was probably a type of inscription magic too. Since the seal didn’t wear off, it probably also had some magical device techniques involved as well.)
If he thought of it that way, inscription magic might actually be more versatile than he thought.
Deciding to let that thought simmer for a little bit longer, Wren said a few more things to Röhm before making his way out of the Guidance Office.
After finishing her session with Wren Bayer, Röhm cleaned up the table and stepped out of the room when she heard a voice call “Ms. Röhm.”
It was one of Röhm’s fellow Guidance Office mages, Caspar Hütter.
Hütter held his hand at the back of his head as he bowed towards Röhm.
“Geez, sorry to bother you like that. He’s my student, so I shouldn’t be making you take care of him and all.”
“No, I agree that it’s best to let him know the dangers of mana organ damage as soon as possible……. It was a good idea to have this talk before Wren goes and does something reckless that can’t be undone.”
“Boys his age like to think ‘Look, I’m doing something crazy! Aren’t I cool!?’ …….I wanted to put a stop to that sooner rather than later.”
“Hehe, it’s not just boys, you know? I was like that, too. Thinking doing crazy things was the coolest……. I really was convinced that I was strongest when I was in the most danger.”
Competing against her rival had been fun.
Those days when her heart burned with desire to win no matter the cost, when they would bring out the best in each other, shone brightly. She had those those days might never come to an end.
And yet, the end came all too soon.
Her mana organs damaged irreparably, Röhm could no longer stand on the front lines as she had before. She could no longer stand side-by-side with her rival and compare their battle honors.
That sentimental feeling felt like a cold hand brushing against her chest. Nevertheless, it would not ease the pain.
Röhm smiled wistfully as Hütter leaned over as if to whisper a secret into her ear.
“But it’s appealing, isn’t it? When the protagonist is backed into a corner, he awakens to a new power! Isn’t that just the coolest thing?”
“Hehe, you had that phase as well, Mr. Hütter?”
Röhm asked jokingly, to which Hütter stroked his chin and smirked.
“I’m the illusion idiot who thought about nothing but illusions until I managed chantless illusion magic, you know?”
Röhm couldn’t stop herself from bursting out in laughter and her shoulders shook lightly.
Geez, what do I do? How long has it been since I laughed like this?
(I know what this feeling is.)
The protagonist who awakens to a new power when backed into a corner. Röhm had always aspired to be precisely that.
Plus, she wanted to keep competing with her rival.
“Oh if it isn’t Liese!”
Someone called to them as they chatted in the hallway.
It was a tall woman with brilliant blonde hair tied behind her head. She was a little older than Röhm, in her late twenties.
“Good afternoon, Director Böll.”
To Röhm, Böll was her senior, but also her peer. The two of them were in separate classes, but they were Apprentices at the same time.
Böll excelled at battles against other people, and was a true talent who rose to become Director of the Protection Office at a young age. Hütter probably hadn’t met her yet.
Röhm stood between the two of them and looked up at Hütter.
“Mr. Hütter, this is Director Böll, of the Protection Office in the Second Spire: Golden Needle.”
“The Protection Office, huh? ……Oh, um, right, thanks for earlier. I am Caspar Hütter, of the Guidance Office. Your subordinate, Otto, has been an incredible help to me lately…….”
“No, I should thank you. After all the times you’ve tried to visit me in my office, I must apologize that our timing could never line up.”
A few days ago, the Apprentice Mages from Hütter’s class accompanied the Investigation Office on a mana density survey.
Since Sevil, the Imperial Princess, was in Hütter’s class, the Protection Office sent one of their mages, Otto, to go along with them. That was probably what Hütter was talking about.
Hütter was a meticulous man. Surely he had tried to go and give his thanks to the Protection Office’s Director, Böll, many times after that.
Böll stared at Hütter with interest and gave him a thin smile.
“Mr. Hütter, do you have time after this? …….There’s something I want to ask you.”
“Oh, no problem. I’ve got all kinds of time.”
Röhm new Hütter didn’t have any time to spare at all.
Even though the students from Hütter’s class were all visiting different Offices on special assignments, Hütter still needed this time to prepare for his group lessons, to research magecraft that fits his students’ quirks, and building relationships with other Offices. He was always working hard on something.
Working hard enough that it left him no time to research his mana organ damage.
Hütter had pushed himself over and over again to research chantless illusion magic, only to damage his mana organs. He had come to the Wedge Tower to search for a cure for his condition.
(And yet, Mr. Hütter always prioritizes his students over himself……)
What an upstanding man. Röhm looked at Hütter with respect.