Let's Try Reading a Book (1)

I've logged in. The in-game time is just after midnight. It's the perfect time to sneak in. Let's get going.

As written in the diary, I head south first. The instruction to go two blocks is rather vague, but I assume it means two streets over. I'll proceed on that assumption.

"Oh, so that's a Lesser Ratman..."

After going a little farther, I spot a Lesser Ratman walking ahead in the sewer. It hasn't noticed me, but what should I do?

Well, running away is my only option. I can't help it when I have no means of attacking from a distance. ...I'm supposed to be a mage, though.

I pull my robe down low and hide in the shadows of the scattered pillars, waiting for it to pass. Now that I think about it, this moving Skeleton body makes no sound when it breathes and has no body heat. Maybe it's actually well suited to scouting.

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Based on your actions so far, you acquired the 【Stealth】 Skill.

Based on your actions so far, you acquired the 【Sneak】 Skill.

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I avoid combat like this and eventually reach the ladder mentioned in the diary. I acquired two Skills along the way. Sneaking into the library should be a little easier now.

Oh, right, I never explained this. There are two ways to acquire Skills in this game. The first is to spend the SP (Skill Points) you receive when you level up, and the second is to repeat the actions associated with a Skill many times. I spent the entire journey hiding in shadows and walking without making a sound, so I must have acquired these Skills that way.

What I didn't know at the time was that the latter method was extremely unpopular among players. It does have the advantage of not costing SP, but honestly, training inside a game is tedious and painful. For example, to acquire 【Swordsmanship】, you have to practice swinging an actual sword the required number of times. If you want a new Skill, it's much quicker to level up and spend the SP you earn.

"Well, time to climb."

Leaving the Skill discussion aside, climbing the ladder is my priority right now. Oh? Being made of bones, my body is surprisingly light. I had average grades in physical education back in school, but I can climb this smoothly. Wait, does that mean a moving Skeleton is actually a Race suited to scouting...?

I-I shouldn't think about it. I climb the ladder in about ten seconds, then push open the manhole-like cover blocking the exit. Gnnngh, this is heavy... there!

Without making much noise, I move the cover and finally sneak into the library. Out of all the players in the world, could I be the only one whose first time entering a building was as a trespasser?

"Cleaning supplies... Is this a storage room?"

Apparently, the room connected to the sewer is the library's storage room. The door doesn't seem to be locked. What luck. Let's get this over with quickly.

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Your 【Stealth】 Skill level has increased.

Your 【Sneak】 Skill level has increased.

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"Heh, heh heh heh!"

I can't help laughing in my private room at my base. Good grief, I got a much better haul than expected. Of course, I found reference books like 'The Basics of Magic,' 'What Is Elemental Magic?' 'The Basics of Alchemy,' and 'An Introduction to Summoning,' as well as practical books like 'The Beginner's Skill Compendium' and 'List of Alchemical Materials.' I even got what looked like textbooks called 'Advanced Magic' and 'Advanced Alchemy,' plus a book titled 'The Study of Magic Circles'! I can't stop laughing!

What's more, if I study the last one, 'The Study of Magic Circles,' thoroughly, I may be able to acquire the 【Magic Circle】 Skill. It wasn't an option during character creation, but there seem to be many Skills like this that require gathering information in the game.

Incidentally, I didn't steal them. I won't make the sophistic argument that I merely borrowed them forever, either. I paid for them! Well, I only left behind everything that was in a drawstring pouch found in a drawer. I haven't acquired the 【Theft】 Skill, so I should be fine. Probably.

"I'll start with 'The Basics of Magic.'"

Anyway, let's read the books I 'bought' from the library. I hope the contents are interesting.

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Based on your actions so far, you acquired the 【Mana Control】 Skill.

Based on your actions so far, you acquired the 【Non-Elemental Magic】 Skill.

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Yes, I've finished the first book. I have to say one thing: this is much more fun than I expected!

To summarize the book, magic is using mana to cause some phenomenon, while learning how to sense and use the mana that serves as its source. The explanations were so clear that even a middle-schooler—or even a fifth- or sixth-grader—could understand them, and simply following the 'Let's Practice!' sections at the end of each chapter let me acquire two Skills.

Thanks to 【Mana Control】, I can now manipulate my own mana freely, while 【Non-Elemental Magic】 allows me to use pure mana without an element. I can finally say that I've set foot in the world of magic! Let's keep reading at this pace!

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I've finished reading 'What Is Elemental Magic?' and 'The Basics of Alchemy.' I learned about the affinities between elements, their strengths and weaknesses, and the fact that leveling up lets me acquire combined-element magic. However, I also learned that acquiring elemental magic without spending SP requires reading a specialized book for each element, that magic evolves into a higher-level Skill at level 10, that evolution requires SP, and that the only way to level up both magic and Alchemy is through practice.

I made a mistake. I didn't steal—cough!—buy the specialized books for the basic elements. Still, each elemental Skill only costs 1 SP, so it shouldn't be too painful. I'll be using them constantly once I learn them anyway, so leveling them up won't be a problem. Skill evolution is a concern for the future, so I'll ignore it for now. I just have to avoid wasting SP. But Alchemy is a serious problem. I can't practice it without any materials on hand.

"I guess I have to go out into the field."

According to 'List of Alchemical Materials,' the materials available here in the city of Fars are medicinal herbs and poisonous herbs growing wild in the southern forest, ores that can be gathered in the northern mountains, and the internal organs and bones of monsters.

As it happens, the rat's front teeth I have are alchemical materials. However, the minimum required level is 3. There's no way I could succeed at this level. What's more, according to 'The Basics of Alchemy,' the 【Alchemy】 Skill only levels up when you succeed. It seems my only option is to go outside and gather materials. So, off I go.

Unfortunately, I have no idea how to get from the sewer to the field. So I'll map the sewer while hunting the monsters along the way and leveling up. That said, I'm currently a solo mage. The moment I run out of mana, I'll obviously become nothing more than a useless lump. I can't be reckless.

Using 【Stealth】 and 【Sneak】, I carefully head north for now. There isn't a single light in the sewer, but thanks to 【Night Vision】, I can see clearly. I'm grateful for that.

"There you are."

After walking for about a minute, I spot a Lesser Ratman, a regular inhabitant of the sewer. Thanks to my Skills, it hasn't noticed me. This is my chance to launch a surprise attack. Before that, I'll use 【Appraisal】 on it.

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Race: Lesser Ratman Lv4

Job: None

Skill: 【Gluttony】

【???】

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Oh? I can see more now. Still, 【Gluttony】...? Given this environment, it probably can't eat a proper meal. Well, I don't have anywhere to eat either... Wait. Could it eat bones too?

That doesn't matter. First strike wins! Time to hit it with the magic I've finally learned!

"Dark Ball"

At the same time as the spell activates, a black sphere begins forming at the tip of my staff. After growing to about the size of a bowling ball in a few seconds, it flies straight toward the Lesser Ratman and slams into its head.

"Dyu..."

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You won the battle.

Based on your actions so far, you acquired the 【Surprise Attack】 Skill.

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O-One hit? Are spells really that powerful, or is this the effect of the 【Surprise Attack】 Skill I just acquired? Does a successful surprise attack double the damage or something? I'll have to investigate this. I'll look for my next target. No drop...? I'll hope for one next time, though I have no use for it.

...There. This time there are two of them. The 【Appraisal】 results are the same as before: level 4. Perfect for testing.

"Dark Ball"

"Dyuuh..."

"Dyu!?"

The surprise attack succeeded. One hit again. The other one noticed me and came over. This is perfect for testing.

"Dark Ball"

"Djit!"

The cheeky Lesser Ratman tried to sidestep my Dark Ball. But it was useless! Thanks to thoroughly studying the introductory book, I acquired 【Mana Control】. This is a technique for manipulating my mana freely, so I can control a spell to some extent even after casting it.

"Dyuah!?"

My Dark Ball moves as if tracking the Lesser Ratman and slams into its face. Its health is... damn, it still has just over half left. Well, I might as well consider this a valuable chance to conduct another test.

"Magic Ball"

"Dyiih!"

Magic Ball is the basic offensive spell of 【Non-Elemental Magic】. It also struck the head cleanly, but about ten percent of its health remained. Apparently, it's weaker than Dark Ball.

This was within my expectations. According to the textbook, 【Non-Elemental Magic】 has excellent mana efficiency and activation speed. Since it has no element, it also has a consistent effect against any enemy. On the other hand, its single-hit power is inferior to elemental magic. You can really appreciate that difference after trying it yourself.

"Dark Ball"

"Dyuah..."

One more Dark Ball finished it off. That was pretty easy. If I launch a surprise attack, I should be able to reliably defeat up to two Lesser Ratmen.

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Your Race level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.

Your Job level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.

Your 【Mana Control】 Skill level has increased.

Your 【Dark Magic】 Skill level has increased.

Your 【Non-Elemental Magic】 Skill level has increased.

Your 【Surprise Attack】 Skill level has increased.

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Oh, I leveled up. My Skills are leveling up smoothly, too. Apparently, levels up to 10 are easy to gain, so I suppose this can't exactly be called fast.

I'll keep hunting until my mana is down to about half. Then I'll return to the laboratory and study magic until my mana recovers. This rotation should work for a while.

Wait, now that I think about it, my magic level went up, but my Staff Skill level didn't. Is that because it went up during the first battle? Could the 【Staff】 Skill gain more experience if I beat things with it...? N-No way...

In any case, I should use my SP soon. I was planning to learn every elemental type of magic anyway. As Iifa-sama said, I can't acquire Light-attribute magic, but I have no problem with the rest. There are four basic elements, and I have four SP left, so it works out perfectly.

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You acquired the 【Earth Magic】 Skill.

You acquired the 【Water Magic】 Skill.

You acquired the 【Fire Magic】 Skill.

You acquired the 【Wind Magic】 Skill.

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There we go. Now, shall I resume hunting? I'll use each one as evenly as possible and level up my Skills. A villain specializing in magic should possess enough knowledge of magic to surpass the sage on the protagonist's side, after all.