SomaRead | The Incompetent Mage’s Infinite Regression

Chapter 23

"Can you really not use any magic?"

Ethan wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief and said.

"Why the sudden challenge?"

During the vacation, there were either no other students in the Combat Magic Society or they rarely visited the workshop, so Rebilton made Ethan and Bien sparring partners for each other.

Thanks to this, Ethan wore quilted armor and held round shields in both hands to practice blocking or dodging Bien's crystal attacks. While it was certainly beneficial for Ethan, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was somehow losing out.

While taking a break from training, when Ethan took off the steel helmet he wore over his quilted armor, Bien suddenly threw out the question.

"It's not a challenge; I'm just curious."

Bien added by way of explanation.

"Although the poor performance in Basic Magic Practice stuck a prejudice of being incompetent, the magic school clearly conducts admission interviews. The interviewers have no intention of accepting students with absolutely no potential. ...Of course, it's true that they prepare a fairly generous lower threshold to maintain the number of students."

Ethan loosened the bindings on the shields strapped to both his hands to drink water and said.

"Well, first, it's best to be accurate about that part. I'm not being modest; I'm clearly a student who just barely clears that generous lower threshold. I met many mages at the mansion, and they said it was rare for someone like me to lack talent. Because, as you know, if a child grows up in a mage family, they try to somehow create talent even if it doesn't exist. That might not be true for small families, but it's certainly the case for the renowned Charasen family."

"Please continue."

Ethan picked up a porcelain teapot said to have been brought from the East and drank water. Bien gave a brief reprimand not to put his mouth directly on it. Ethan waved his hand, indicating he understood. After drinking water, Ethan continued.

"But surprisingly! ...This Ethan Dora Charasen actually knows how to use magic."

"Is that so?"

Demi interjected.

<First, looking at the context of the conversation, I believe the magic Bien is referring to does not include what is commonly called body magic.>

<Ah, Heart Burst too. It's a meaningful spell, but I cannot recommend demonstrating it now.>

<That's not it.>

Bien said.

"What kind of magic can you use?"

"That's... a secret."

"There's no need to bluff just for the sake of pride."

"Okay. I'll say this. It's Family Magic. So I have no choice but to keep it a secret."

Family Magic is magic passed down only through the bloodline of a family, and in some cases, its very existence is kept secret, let alone taught, to those outside the bloodline.

"...But isn't the Charasen family an old family, and most of their Family Magic is almost all known? I understand it's mostly Contract Magic. Hmm. Indeed, Contract Magic is sometimes performed using the target's Magical Power instead of one's own, and it often works regardless of breathing, so that's understandable. But if you have such magic, why did you ignorantly lift the stone during Basic Magic Practice?"

"It's better not to use it."

Bien nodded and then summarized the recent conversation simply.

"In any case, you're saying you can't use magic. We'll continue the training. Put your bucket back on."

"What? I just took it off?"

∞

During the vacation, Ethan continued Ruure's Breathing, learned Hunter's Sword from Rebilton, and trained with Bien in movements to avoid attacks. And in Limbo, Ethan used the C-rank Lottery Coupon obtained thanks to the coin found in Maiya's pocket after killing her.

[Item Acquired!]

[Item: Ascender (D)]

[Item: Climbing rope (D)]

[Item: Climbing hammer (D)]

[Item: Ice pick (D)]

[Item: Anchor bolts 20 (D)]

[Item: Carabiners 5 (D)]

...

Demi said, pulling the items out from somewhere behind him.

"It's a 'Climbing Set'. The number of items is large, but they can be sent when you want, so you don't need to worry too much."

Ethan muttered.

"This isn't very good, is it?"

"Why do you think so?"

"Unless it's a gift, if someone gives you a whole bunch of things when trading, I'm the one losing out."

"Did your father say that too?"

"It's common sense, but I learned common sense from my father."

"Every item is different depending on when, where, and by whom it is used."

Ethan picked up the rope. It was white with a black mosaic pattern, thin and light but very strong and even soft.

"This one, at least, I definitely like. Among adventurers and thieves, there will be people who would buy it for a very high price."

"Do you plan to sell it?"

"...Should I not?"

"If you think you need it, it doesn't matter."

"I'm not selling it right away."

Ethan considered whether he would have occasion to climb cliffs in the future. The ability to climb somewhere would be valuable. There are many places to climb. The outer walls of buildings and castles, and vertical movement is also very significant in labyrinths. However, there was a problem that came before the issue of usefulness.

When he received an item, he gained minimal knowledge about the item's material or use, like an Archive, but he wasn't skilled enough to use it proficiently. Even if Ethan was agile, he couldn't mimic a rock climber from Terra.

'...Unless I get a Rock Climbing Skill later.'

Ethan went to the Merchant and checked the items for sale. Fortunately, the 'Rock Climbing' Skill wasn't among them. Ethan decided to keep the remaining D-rank Coupons.

Before Ethan left Limbo, Demi said.

"Vacation is coming to an end, User."

"That's right."

"Are you really going to do as you said?"

"Yes."

The reason Ethan used the C-rank Lottery just as the vacation was ending was because he needed time. Demi responded to his 고민 (contemplation), and Ethan reached a conclusion.

"It might not be the direction Bien wanted, but I'm keeping my promise."

∞

When Bien woke up in the morning, he found his glasses, put them on, and checked the date on the calendar he had drawn himself at the beginning of the year. Only about a week of vacation remained.

'Perhaps I should start pressing Ethan.'

It was fortunate that the school didn't make a big issue out of the disappearance of Maiya Onyx and Koshe Ludirock. However, it was uncertain how long the current situation would last.

'Maybe we can graduate without anything happening.'

If that were the case, there would be nothing surprising about it. Bien would continue to live as a slave subordinate to Vine Wiz Dekarun. Although he had never thought of Vine as a good master, Bien thought of people worse off than himself. There were many children who lived worse lives and died more painfully and earlier. And Bien hadn't been particularly surprised by that fact.

Recently, his thoughts had changed.

'It seems it's all because of Ethan.'

No one cared about a slave belonging to a mage. Vine knew many mages, and many passed by Bien's side, but no one had come forward offering to free him from his subordination.

'Though Ethan didn't say he would free me either.'

Since Ethan had given him unnecessary hope, Bien couldn't help but feel his heart and actions lean towards that direction.

At a clean knock that didn't match his personality at all, Bien said "Come in," and Ethan poked his head in.

"What is it again, this early?"

"I have something to show you. Can you come out right away?"

"...I'll get ready and come out."

After Bien changed his clothes and came out, Ethan led the way. They were heading to the dormitory basement.

"Surely we're not going to the Great Library Labyrinth?"

"That's right. How do you feel?"

"Are you suddenly asking about my feelings?"

Bien replied.

"I'm tired, unlike you, who's full of energy from the morning."

"That's because you don't move your body normally. I think during the next training session, it might be better for you to wear the quilted armor, the bucket, and hold the shields in both hands."

"Then will you be throwing rocks?"

After small talk that was no different from usual, the two entered the Great Library Labyrinth. The secret door in the dormitory basement didn't seem to have been discovered, but immediately after Maiya and Koshe's disappearance, security was strict with automatons stationed there. However, in the past month, it had returned to the previous level. Yurmus Magic School was large, the number of automatons was limited, and labor was always scarce.

After entering the library stacks and moving through several stacks irregularly, yet with a sense that they were following the right path thanks to Ethan's confident steps, Ethan said.

"I got a message from the Madowon."

Bien thought that Ethan was finally getting to the main point. Bien had pointed out that they didn't need to go so deep just to have a secret conversation, but Ethan kept walking.

"What did they say?"

"Listen, but don't expect too much."

"It's fine. I haven't lived that long, but the world 'always' doesn't go the way I want it to. I have to endure a little more than I thought, suffer a little more than I thought, and... I'm a little more tired than I thought."

Ethan glanced back, and Bien shook his head.

"Ethan, you are just a student, and frankly, I thought it would be realistically difficult. You're not a Black Mage from Terra, and my value won't increase just because I identified an ordinary Black Mage."

"...Right. A Black Mage from Terra is different."

"Right?"

Ethan said, walking forward, looking straight ahead.

"They said they couldn't lend me enough money to terminate your contract with Vine, the Contract of Pasitaros. Well, if I had to say, it's because my credit hasn't been properly proven yet. It's not an issue of performance."

"...I suppose so."

"But it seems there's an alternative."

"An alternative?"

Ethan replied.

"What do you think the problem with your contract is? At the point where the Contract of Pasitaros was made, you didn't have the power to resist a mage, and at the point where you gained the power to resist, you couldn't terminate the contract by killing Vine because of the Binding, a mental magic. So it's simple."

Ethan snapped his fingers.

"Then someone just has to kill Vine for you, right?"

"...What?"

Ethan pointed to the middle of the stack.

"So I killed him."

Vine Wiz Dekarun was lying there, bleeding reddish-black blood from his forehead. His eyes were still open.