Magic Inventor
There is a pattern Assistant Sofia of the Magic Academy sees every year among incoming students at the admissions office.
It's the so-called smart kids who were rumored back in their hometowns to have decent magical sense, getting carried away and declaring that they'll develop new magic.
'Bind first-grade spells together to create a spellbook never before known to the world.'
It's not impossible—but the probability is extremely low.
There are a considerable number of first-grade spells, and the number of spells a mage can learn is limited.
Moreover, once a spell is learned, switching it out isn't impossible, but it requires an enormous amount of time and labor.
Even so, why doesn't the Magic Academy stop students from attempting new spellbook binding?
Because only by letting them try can new spellbooks emerge.
New students, praised as geniuses and filled with passion and dreams, study diligently believing they'll someday become professors like Ishirov or Meldini—but cruelly, the academy sees them as expendables.
You want to try binding a new spellbook? Sure, go ahead! We'll cheer you on!
If you fail, you're out.
If you succeed, you'll become top talent the academy will nurture from then on.
Most freshmen who dream of the latter and take the challenge end up struggling here and there with broken builds, eventually becoming third-rate mages or quietly returning to their hometowns.
But then...
"You really plan to go with these three spells?"
Magic Academy assistant Sofia was left speechless.
"Is that not allowed?"
"It's not that it's not allowed, but this is... I honestly can't even figure out the logic behind this combination..."
Caleb.
The newcomer who had become famous around the academy one way or another had submitted a proposal overflowing with madness.
[Three 1st-Grade Spells]
▶ Combat Magic: Dust Shot
▶ Combat Magic: Heat Gust
▶ Utility Magic: Humidify
"Caleb. Dust Shot as a combat spell isn't bad. It lets you control an area and can suppress enemies by inducing coughing fits."
Sofia desperately tried to talk him out of it.
"But it's not a powerful spell. Heat Gust is the same. You can burn monsters or knock them down with wind, but with Fireball you can just kill them outright, right? It'd be nice if binding produced a strong second-grade spell, but statistically, that's unlikely."
That's why, even if a binding test fails, it's normal to include a versatile spell like Fireball so you at least gain something.
Not extreme minor combinations like Dust Shot and Heat Gust.
"And on top of that..."
The most serious problem lay elsewhere.
"Why is the third spell a utility spell?!"
Magic is broadly divided into two categories.
Combat magic and utility magic.
The former includes things like Fireball; the latter includes spells like 'Lie Detection.'
'Humidify' is also a utility spell.
"Caleb. To begin with, almost no one learns utility magic. It doesn't help in combat."
Veteran mages who've honed magic for a long time possess far more spells than they have slots, so they can afford to mix in a few utility spells.
But freshmen are different.
"Especially among utility spells, 'Humidify' is one no one learns at all. All it does is increase the humidity of the surrounding air. If you soak a towel in water and hang it up, that's already a humidifier, isn't it?"
Honestly, the assistant's first thought was that this genius freshman had crossed the line after being coddled too much by those around him.
This was insanity.
With this combination, there was nothing to gain at all—
"Why is it so noisy here?"
Professor Dalstream suddenly walked up from the side.
Sofia quickly showed him Caleb's spell proposal.
"Hmm..."
Professor Dalstream stared intently at the proposal, then handed it back to Caleb.
"Go ahead and try it."
"Professor?!"
Sofia looked at Professor Dalstream in disbelief.
"New approaches to spellbook binding are always welcome. And legally speaking, the Magic Academy can't stop you."
"..."
"You can purchase spellbooks at the magic bookstore."
If he'd grilled me with questions, it could've gotten annoying, but Dalstream being so chill made things easier.
I left the admissions office and headed straight to the magic bookstore on campus.
Two from the combat magic section.
[Spellbook: Dust Shot]
[Spellbook: Heat Gust]
One from the utility magic section.
[Spellbook: Humidify]
Now, back to the dorm.
In-game, learning magic is just a 'double-click,' but in reality, it's a bit more of a hassle.
You open the memory book and read the spellbook aloud.
Then the memory book absorbs the letters from the spellbook, recording them, like a smartphone with a voice memo app turned on.
Like this.
[Memory Book]
▶ Owned Spells
Dust Shot, Heat Gust, Humidify.
The spells enter the memory book.
"Done."
But in this state, you still can't use the spells—you have to move them into the registered spell section of the memory book.
[Memory Book]
▶ Owned Spells
Dust Shot, Heat Gust, Humidify.
▶ Registered Spells
1st-Grade Spell Slots (0/3)
①
②
③
In-game, you drag and drop them into the slots—and it's the same here.
'Drag and drop with the tip of the wand.'
It really makes you realize how intuitive the game was. When I hovered the tip of my wand over 'Dust Shot' in the owned spells section, the letters lifted up and followed the wand.
Drop it into the registered spells tab, and you're done.
[Memory Book]
▶ Owned Spells
Dust Shot, Heat Gust, Humidify.
▶ Registered Spells
1st-Grade Spell Slots (3/3)
① Dust Shot
② Heat Gust
③ Humidify
Once the slots are filled, spellbook binding happens automatically.
This part is exactly the same as the game too.
[Acquired Bound Spellbook of Dust Shot and Heat Gust]
『Tome of Dust Explosion』
2nd-Grade spell 'Dust Explosion' has been recorded in the memory book.
Bound spellbooks are similar to spellbooks.
They're just called differently for convenience; in essence, it's no different from acquiring and reciting a single spellbook.
The spellbook 'Tome of Dust Explosion,' which isn't sold in the magic bookstore.
Did the assistant say something about Fireball?
This is far stronger.
And the second binding.
[Acquired Bound Spellbook of Heat Gust and Humidify]
『Tome of Scorching Heat』
2nd-Grade spell 'Scorching Heat' has been recorded in the memory book.
A crowd-control spell that inflicts severe fatigue and heatstroke status effects—absolute poison to living-type enemies.
The final, third binding.
[Acquired Bound Spellbook of Heat Gust, Humidify, and Dust Shot]
『Tome of Red Thunderclouds』
2nd-Grade spell 'Red Thunderclouds' has been recorded in the memory book.
When was the first time I tried this build in-game? Around the 'God of Strategy' difficulty, I think.
Increase humidity, create an updraft with Heat Gust to lift water vapor, then use Dust Shot as a coagulant to condense droplets—and you get clouds.
...An experimental idea straight out of a middle-school science class manifested in-game as the binding of the Red Thunderclouds spellbook.
'To be honest, I didn't exactly hit the jackpot with this build back then.'
I eventually lost on the master floor and started a new game.
So why try it again now?
Because many magic builds are heavily influenced by special abilities—and Red Thunderclouds has great synergy with the hourglass.
"Should I buy a lightning wand too?"
Red Thunderclouds is a type of summoning magic, and every time nearby enemies are struck by lightning magic, it calls down an additional powerful bolt of lightning.
There's something I want to test with this during the hourglass turn.
[Memory Book]
▶ Owned Spells
Dust Shot, Heat Gust, Humidify.
▶ Registered Spells
1st-Grade Spell Slots (3/3)
① Dust Shot
② Heat Gust
③ Humidify
2nd-Grade Spell Slots (0+3)
① Dust Explosion
② Scorching Heat
③ Red Thunderclouds
Tap!
I checked the memory book one more time and closed it.
Now it's shopping time.
Buy a wand—and buy Yernil too.
Ah.
Before that, I should stop by the temple first.
The temple closes early.
The infamous criminal of the city of Flandor.
The legendary drug trafficker(?) who transported a whopping 100 kilograms of narcotics—Yernil!
She was currently witnessing the absurd sight of her own body being sold for 75 gold.
"..."
Even when she was sold to the Magic Academy over the unpaid 3,000 gold fine she couldn't pay in Flandor, it hadn't felt this miserable.
No, seriously—75 gold is way too cruel, isn't it?!
"You know the rules, right? These 75 gold are the remaining balance of your fine, so they can only be repaid with money you earn in the labyrinth by your own abilities."
Magic Academy assistant Jacob was explaining this to the man who appeared to be the team leader of the Adventurers' Guild's slave labor division.
So the Adventurers' Guild had a department like that too.
"Yernil."
Jacob approached her and gave a bit of encouragement.
"The Adventurers' Guild doesn't use contribution-evaluation scales like we do. So when you come out of the labyrinth and give your report, you need to make aggressive statements."
"..."
"People like Caleb, who consider their party members when reporting, are rare. Most people give selfish reports."
"Yes..."
"But since only 75 gold remain, unless something goes terribly wrong, you'll clear it in just one labyrinth run."
That one run is the problem.
At the Magic Academy, everyone is bound into slave teams and thrown into the labyrinth, but the Adventurers' Guild doesn't work that way.
Here, veteran parties will pick Yernil up and take her along.
Doesn't that make it safer, then?
They're veteran parties, so they'll handle monsters well.
The problem is that the party itself will be dangerous.
Logically, with plenty of proven adventurers around, would a party that skips all of them and instead takes along a convicted slave laborer with no equipment or skills be in their right mind?
Let's say there are two parties.
The Virtanen Party, and the Bald Mage Party of newly freed commoners.
If both were recruiting at the Adventurers' Guild, the party that would take Yernil would be the latter.
The Virtanen Party would aim for someone like Abison or Caleb instead.
'Caleb.'
Yernil pictured him in her mind.
To be honest, she wanted to see him.
She agreed with what Jacob said—that people like Caleb, who care about their party members when giving reports, are rare.
"Follow me. You've already been assigned to a party."
The head of the slave labor division led Yernil away.
'Already assigned a party.'
What kind of people would they be?
The labyrinth has laws and morals—but slaves are excluded from them.
You can tell just by looking at the Virtanen case.
They tried to recruit Caleb in front of the exit room, and only afterward claimed it was rude to poach another party's member.
But at the time, Virtanen hadn't even paid attention to Yernil's existence, so they could act however they pleased.
'The veteran party taking me will probably be the same.'
Seventy-five gold was pocket change—but to Yernil right now, it was the price of her life.
'Can I really come back alive?'
Click.
The clerk opened the door to the Adventurers' Guild waiting room, and beyond it—
Was Caleb.
"Caleb!"
A shocked Yernil screamed.
"Whoa."
I was genuinely startled. I didn't expect her voice to be this loud.
"W-what are you doing here?"
And I didn't know her eyes could get this big either. She already had a small face and sharp features, true to an elf—but now her eyes were twice their normal size from shock.
"Did you come to take me with you?"
She asked, as if she couldn't believe it.
"Yes. Of course."
"Why... why? Weren't you joining the Virtanen Party?"
The Virtanen Party.
Hmm.
Honestly, that wouldn't be bad either.
But if I can use both Yernil and Back Attack, then forming a new party with an added tank is a hundred times better.
Besides, I can issue commands during my own turn if Yernil's with me.
"I'll make you a free citizen."
"...!"
"Let's go."
Yernil's face filled with happiness in real time.
"It's so... so delicious."
Starting from when we ate together at a restaurant near the Adventurers' Guild.
"I've never eaten anything this good before."
She looked like she was on the verge of tears from sheer emotion.
It wasn't bad for me either.
By modern standards the pasta was a bit bland, though.
"Yernil. Listen carefully while we eat."
"Yes!"
"Actually, I can make you a free citizen immediately."
"...!?"
Yernil froze for several seconds, thinking hard, then asked:
"I-I know! The magic stone money!"
She blurted out.
"You said Virtanen would sell the magic stones from the Venomic Spider and give us 20% each! Has that not been settled yet?"
Yernil is getting smarter!
Still the wrong answer, though.
"Even if that gets settled, the Magic Academy will confiscate all of Yernil's share anyway."
"Ah... then it won't even reach 75 gold?"
"No. When we killed the spider, Yernil's share was only five gold."
"...Then what's the method?"
"The Abison corpse recovery fee."
"Wasn't that already settled?"
I thought so too—but it wasn't.
I heard it from Clorence. When the academy asked how much compensation he wanted, he wrote down '100 gold.'
Because if the amount got bigger, the Magic Academy would confiscate it as unjust gains.
"So he said that once Abison is revived, he'll open a party, and told us to come then to receive the reward separately."
"Then...?"
"We ask Clorence for permission and request a new settlement for the recovery fee. The academy won't confiscate it, and it'll be much more than 100 gold."
"...."
"Then more than 75 gold will go to Yernil. That's the first way for you to become a free citizen."
I explained it honestly.
For the sake of trust going forward, it's better to share things like this truthfully.
"The second way is to enter the labyrinth with me once more and come back out. You'll become a free citizen, and then you'll go with me to Abison's revival party."
"Huh?"
"The Abison family won't bring out magic scales and act stingy. They'll give Yernil a much bigger share than the academy would."
"...."
"If you choose the first option, I'll keep Yernil as my party member until the recovery fee is resettled."
"Why?"
"So that another party at the Adventurers' Guild can't take Yernil into the labyrinth before the settlement is done."
"Ah...."
"Choose whatever you want, Yernil."
I said it calmly, but honestly, I was pretty nervous inside.
But this question wasn't only for Yernil's sake.
If she becomes a free citizen and then decides the labyrinth is too scary and leaves the party anyway, wouldn't it be better for her to leave now?
Then I'll be able to train a new party member too.
Of course, it'd be best if you didn't leave, Yernil. I'm trusting you, okay?
"Are you going to keep adventuring in the labyrinth, Caleb?"
Yernil asked.
"Yes."
"Then..."
She twirled her pasta around and around, thinking, before speaking.
"Then can I keep following you around too, Caleb?"
"I'd be happy with that."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"But I'm not very helpful..."
Haha.
Yernil.
You really worry about the strangest things.
You're going to go through hellish training from now on, and you'll become famous around here as a genius archer.
"Let's make money in the labyrinth together."
Yernil's expression visibly brightened.
"What about the other two party members?"
She asked.
"I've already posted a notice at the Adventurers' Guild to recruit one tank."
"And the other one?"
"I've already found them."
"As expected of you, Caleb. You're thorough."
I'm worried whether you'll get along with that last one.
After finishing our meal, I took Yernil out shopping.
At the weapons shop, we looked over about ten bows and crossbows, pulling each string one by one.
"I'll take this one!"
"I'll buy it for now, but I'll deduct it from Yernil's next labyrinth earnings."
"Yes!"
Even though it wasn't a gift but credit, Yernil beamed as if she'd received a present.
"Wear this too."
I bought her a set of light armor suitable for an archer and had her put it on. I gave her a helmet and boots as well.
"Please show me arrows too. Special arrows as well."
I bought some consumables too, to the delight of the weapons merchant who'd hit the jackpot today.
And when I strapped a fully filled quiver to her waist—ta-da!
The genius archer Yernil appears!
"...!"
She couldn't hide her joy as she looked at her figure(?) in the mirror.
Ahh.
Even to my eyes, it looks perfect.
Maybe it's because she was already slim and pretty. Dressed properly like a ranger, she looks straight out of The Lord of the Rings.
On a whim, I bought myself a Lightning Shock wand and checked the mirror too.
The genius dual-wielding wand mage appears!
Hmm.
Let's stop... too scrawny.
No, I definitely looked decent when I checked the mirror back at the dorm. Strange. Is it because I looked at Yernil right before this?
"Oh, right. Yernil."
On to the next item.
"You don't have anywhere to sleep right now, do you?"
A truly great party leader takes care of their party members' meals, equipment, and even lodging.
"There are two bedrooms in my Magic Academy dorm, and I'm using it alone. You can use the other one."
"Wow, really? Is that okay?"
"Yes."
"Thank you! I don't have anywhere to sleep, and I don't have money for lodging either!"
That's why I suggested it. With her personality, she'd probably end up sleeping rough—and I was worried she'd get robbed or hurt picking a fight.
"Let's go."
Yernil looked as happy as a child who'd just received a Christmas present.
"I'm so, so happy!"
She grabbed my hand and led the way.
Chattering away excitedly the whole time.
"Caleb, the Magic Academy slave quarters have rats, the mattresses are all torn up, and it's super cold, you know."
Really? I actually don't know.
I've never been to the slave quarters since transmigrating here.
"But I heard the dorms are really nice?"
"They are."
That's for sure.
"Is there hot water?"
"There is."
"Soap too?"
"There is."
"Waaah!"
"The beds are soft and comfy too."
"Waaah!"
Yernil grinned dreamily, filled with fantasies of sleeping soundly in a hotel-like dorm and roaming the labyrinth alongside the super-genius mage Caleb.
And then, the moment we returned to the dorm and opened the door to Room 308—
Thud.
Yernil dropped the bow she was holding.
Because Mr. Back Attack was standing in the living room.
"It's necromancy."
During the day, acting as a junior mage employee under Ishirov, I went to the temple, purchased Back Attack's corpse on his behalf, tore open the necromancy scroll Ishirov gave me, and raised Back Attack back up.
"He's our party member. Say hello."
And now I introduced him to Yernil.
Dorm Room 308 has hot water, soap, beds—and an undead Back Attack.
"Grrr..."
"He says hello. Say hello back, Yernil."
"Caleb. I think I need to leave."
"Nope."