Chapter 37 - Learning Magic
For some reason, the accessory merchant joined our peddling. I'm not complaining since there is payment, but I don't know what this fellow is up to.
The accessory merchant started teaching me various things after he found out about my Hero status during the bandit fiasco, which he seemed to have enjoyed.
Apparently accessory merchant wants to refine my talents...
While the accessory merchant on the surface is someone who is gentle and teaches apprentices kindly. He actually holds considerable influence within the merchant guild. Apparently, the thieves around this area are notorious. It seems that they were tipped off by associates within the merchant guild.
The first thing he taught me was where to mine for the gemstones needed to create jewellery. Next is processing precious metals into accessories. I am currently capable of making various designs. Because I am somewhat of a picture otaku, my creations were quite nice.
The tools needed to work are also cheap. In this world, there are magic tools that were powered by magic stones, similar to how fuel works. There are several points that seem similar to the burning and grinding process of metalworking in my world.
Naofumi: "Yeah, even though my slave can already use magic"
Accessory Merchant: "It's a piece of an extremely rare ore. It’s quite expensive."
Accessory Merchant: "Can you read the letters?"
I play with the fragment while thinking.
The fragment begins to shine.
Accessory Merchant: "I grew up knowing the magical power was there. However, you had no idea of its existence until recently, but you seemed to have succeeded"
Naofumi: "Fast Guard!"
A target mark appears in my view. I selected myself as a test.
Naofumi: "I seemed to have learnt it somehow. Well then, teach me some magic."
The accessory merchant disregarded my excitement and begins another lecture.
Though, it wasn't that draining to use such a spell. Then I recall the enchantment magic taught by the accessory merchant.
I try and apply magical power to a processed jewel.
I had trouble at first but my shield corrected some of my mistakes.
It gets difficult when I try mixing power from a different gem. Also I seem to be able to draw out magical power from medicine and apply it.
Accessory Merchant: "Well, that's the basics. Please keep improving and apply it to your business afterwards."
The accessory merchant gets of the carriage and heads off.
Thus, I learn how to craft something besides medicine.
Because it is necessary to use ores, when we arrived at a mining town, I started mining immediately.
Owner: "Eh? Is that an introduction letter?"
The coal mine owner asked in surprise when I showed him the accessory merchant's letter of introduction.
Owner: "This is certainly a letter from him. How did you manage to get something from someone so stingy?"
Naofumi: "Uhm, may I mine it myself? It would be cheaper."
As expected of a different world, a crystal is exposed on the wall and shines.
Owner: "This cave is safe unless there are extreme circumstances, so there are no problems wherever you may want to dig. However, the risk of collapse is not zero."
I was guided to several places within the mine by the coal mine owner.
What? Do I strike there?
Naofumi: "Tei!"
I swing the pickaxe down with momentum.
With a clang a crack emerges from the wall. The crack spreads and the wall falls apart.
Owner: "Whoa!"
That was a very fragile wall.
Naofumi: "Hm?"
The coal mine owner looked at me as if I'm crazy.
Owner: "That hard bedrock... In one strike?"
That was hard…?
Due to the mining skill, walls collapse whenever I swing and ores were collected at a terrifying pace.
Maybe it's because of my low skill level.
Naofumi: "Well I’ll just work with this."
It is surprisingly easy to find in the neighbourhood.
Even though this is a different world, I believed the good quality gems will be buried deep underground.
Ruby Bracelet was made!
I also tried to imbue the bracelet with magic.
Ruby Bracelet (Fire-Resistance +)
Though I don't know much about expensive jewellery
However, production takes quite a while.
Requirements for Copper Ore Shield have been revealed.
Requirements for Lead Ore Shield have been revealed.
Unsealing completed... Equipment Bonus: Smelting Ability 2
Copper Ore Shield
Unsealing completed... Equipment Bonus: 2% Damage reduction from Demons
Lead Ore Shield
It's pretty useless to me at the moment anyway.
The Lead Ore Shield seems to have displaced another skill. I'm not going to use that skill anyway.
Every day of peddling was passed with such a feeling.
Through a certain reliable source (Accessory Merchant), I heard of a province that wants to acquire large amounts of Herbicide.
Apparently there's a lot of money to be made so we leave for a south-west village in haste.
(tl note: No idea...... なんでも速度からして間に合うのは神鳥……フィーロ位なものらしい。 )