Chapter 48 - What it Takes to be an Explorer (1)

After Rei and Leaf returned to their lodgings following dinner, I was having my final evening training session before bed.

Surprisingly, the Telema School had everything.

There was even a training room, though it was used sparingly.

In the building's basement.

A place that had been abandoned as storage due to lack of use finally reclaimed its original purpose.

Hecate personally cleaned and organized it while I was in the Abyss.

A School Head who mopped the floor herself because she couldn’t afford to hire help... that was actually kind of touching.

Anyway, for Devil Sorcerers, training was mostly image training.

Since using Devil Magic required paying a price, paid training would be a bit much, no matter what.

However, I wasn't alone in the training room.

"You've definitely gotten faster."

"Right?"

"Yes, it took 3 seconds total from opening the pact seal to firing Magic Bullet. That's about 0.5 seconds faster than last time."

Mea was with me as I practiced firing Magic Bullet.

As expected, having someone watch was more efficient than practicing alone.

Not just timing, but Mea also passed on various know-how to me, who had been practicing mana control through trial and error alone.

Thanks to her, my previously stagnant records showed noticeable improvement.

"That's good," I looked at Mea as I spoke with satisfaction.

Mea sat on a chair beside me.

Her legs were too short for the chair's height, leaving them dangling in the air.

Perhaps bored that her feet couldn't reach the floor, Mea was swinging her legs back and forth.

The way they moved, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly matching her speech rhythm, was like a puppy wagging its tail.

"What are you looking at?"

Belatedly noticing my gaze, Mea stopped kicking her feet.

Then, she changed her posture.

Pulling her knees up to her chest, Mea's small feet rested on the chair.

Afterward, she slowly brought her hands forward as if to cover her feet.

"It’s not what you’re thinking."

"...Not what?"

"Well, I kind of instinctively know what you're thinking. So it’s not what you’re thinking."

It was one of the branding effects.

When nearby, I could sometimes intuitively sense what Mea was thinking.

Like now.

"By the way, how long are you going to keep being formal?"

"Why?"

"Well, I'm your master now, right?"

"...Please don't mention that outside."

I know she’s older, and I understand Elves have different standards than humans... but it's still a bit awkward.

I don't know about other races, but we humans are quite dependent on visual aspects.

"How's the team? Did you find members?"

"Did Hecate tell you?"

"Yes, that you're going back down to the Abyss."

"Yeah, Master."

Right, when it’s just the two of us, it should be fine.

It’s not like I force her to do it.

I'm innocent here, I swear.

"The team is... well formed. Priscilla and Jake..."

"Priscilla and Jake? The ones I know?"

"Right."

It probably wasn't intentional.

Surely, it was a coincidence.

I have yet to tell Mea about Jake, after all.

Three people like our team.

All magic users.

All acquainted with me.

It would be hard to arrange this deliberately, wouldn't it?

"Then they're all Seniors."

"That's why I think we'll mainly operate on the Third Floor. Maybe even the Fourth if we get the chance."

Third Floor, huh?

I wonder how long it'll take us to get there.

"It won't take long."

"...Can you read my thoughts through the brand too?"

"Nnnno. Since the brand's dominance is clearly one-sided. Unless Roman intentionally sends something, there's no backflow."

So Mea read my thoughts just from my expression?

"Roman could handle the Second Floor right now."

"Really?"

"Yes, though you are still somewhat lacking as a Devil Sorcerer, and the absence of a powerful strike is regrettable, you have utility that surpasses that. As support, you'd work even on the Third Floor."

I understand why I was lacking.

I focused on Devil Magic and only learned basic magic, and I have yet to form pacts with various Devils to increase my spells.

"By the way, how many Devils are you in a pact with, Mea?"

"Me? Hmm, want to guess?"

After being branded, Mea revealed she could vaguely sense my Patron Devils through her innate special insight.

Her asking like that suggested I might be able to do the same.

I closed my eyes and focused on the mana sensation.

First, I felt two channels connected to me.

Lady Seir and Leraje.

And between the two, who were like massive suns, there was one faintly shining star.

This is Mea.

The channel connected through the brand with Mea.

And from that small star, there were more connected paths.

"Five... no, seven?"

"Correct. Seven. About average for Devil Sorcerers."

In other words, Mea had at least 7 unique Devil Magic abilities.

More than triple my own.

"Though two of them are more like familiars than Devils. They don’t even have names."

"The wolves?"

"No, those are like children of the Devil who governs Eclipse. Don't you have any familiars yet?"

"I see. Unfortunately, no."

"It's good to have at least one familiar. You can use them as a vanguard in emergencies, and they're very useful for scouting. In my case, I tend to use pacts with nameless Devils as familiars, want me to teach you?"

"I probably couldn't use it even if I knew."

How dare lowly nameless Devils try to match the majesty of the noble Duchess and Great Marquis!

They'd probably stop it with a “Begone!”

Lady Seir might be lenient, but Leraje? No chance.

"Or you could use the basic magic Familiar spell to have a familiar. I'll teach you."

"That might work."

Evening training seemed like it would continue a bit longer.

"Mmmmm... didn't forget anything?"

"I told you no. Let's go already~"

In the pub on the first floor of Rei and Leaf's Inn.

When I walked in, I saw Rei whining to leave and Leaf half-ignoring her while carefully re-reading a paper in her hands.

"What are you doing?"

"Oh, you're here?"

"You came?"

I casually ignored the innkeeper's pointed look asking if I was going to order and sat at their table.

Leaf handed me the paper she was reading.

"Could you check this, Roman?"

"What is it?"

It was a supply list Leaf had written.

Several health potions, several mana potions, signal smoke torches, spare clothes, several blankets, seasonings like salt, pepper, various herbs...

"Doesn't seem like anything's missing?"

"Really?"

"That's what I've been saying~"

"Hmm, then shall we finish with this and go?"

Receiving the list back, Leaf rolled up the paper and stood up.

Rei grumbled at this, "You wouldn't even listen when I said it was fine."

"Rei, you're too casual about everything. I can't trust you with things like this..."

"What? Come here!"

As if this wasn't the first time, Leaf quickly hid behind me.

I grabbed Rei's small head to stop her.

"Enough playing around, let's go."

"I'm not playing."

"Then make it real."

Rei clicked her tongue and removed my hand.

"You messed up my hair."

"It was already like that."

"We're buying potions from the place Roman knows, right?"

"Yeah. I only know their face, but it’s better than somewhere we've never been to before."

It was a potion shop run by Mea's former teammate.

While Leaf carefully gathered potions according to the list, I casually brought up the subject with the owner.

"Mea's going back down to the Abyss, they say."

"Is that so? Alone?"

"She made a team."

"...Will she join up with you later?"

"Who knows? We'll see then."

"Take care of her. She's a pitiful person."

The shop owner then pulled out a potion for me.

"Consider it payment for the information."

"What is this?"

"Amplification potion. Quite expensive. Handmade."

"...You were an Alchemist?"

"What else?"

"I thought you were a martial artist."

The shop owner chuckled as if hearing a joke.

I was serious though.

I mean, how could someone with a physique like yours not be a martial artist?

"Do you know how demanding being an Alchemist is? During my apprenticeship, I spent nights just stirring ladles. Muscles are essential for an Alchemist's survival."

That was quite a reasonable explanation.

"Anyway, good luck. If you find any good materials, bring them. I won't rip you off."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Roman, I've got everything."

"I'll pay."

After stocking up on potions, we went through Leaf's supply list one by one.

And when we finally finished shopping—no, supplying—Rei and I were already as exhausted as if we'd fought a battle in the Abyss.

"This is it now, right? Really it?"

"Hmm, there's one more thing I'd like to look at..."

"No, Leaf."

No more, really.

"Then shall we stop by the Union last?"

"The Union? Why?"

"I think we should properly register as a team like Mea's group."

Rei tilted her head.

"Is that necessary? They're registering because they're hastily formed, but we don't need that, right?"

"Still. It's better to register officially. It's more reassuring, and it feels more like we're really a team."

I wonder if we really need to.

Since there were requests only available to teams, registering early wouldn't hurt.

"Sure, why not? We might find a good request while we're there."

Though I'm not short on money, request rewards aren't always money—sometimes they're rare items.

Plus it was advantageous for future promotion evaluations.

The Union happened to be near our route.

Soon after entering the Union building, we stopped in our tracks at unexpected voices.

"So who is this Roman?"

"I'm telling you, my close junior took the exam, and everyone—Thousand Blade, Joyful Wind, the Grand Duchess—they all watched him."

"He's a Devil Sorcerer, right? How can a Devil Sorcerer do that?"

"Tsk. I think differently."

Ah, this.

The rumors about what happened during the exam must be spreading.

There were quite a few eyes watching.

Setting aside my abilities, it was natural people would find it strange that I, of all people, became central among our classmates.

As I stood still, Rei poked my side with her elbow and said with a laugh, "Pfft, want to borrow my hood? Hmm?"

I couldn't refuse that offer.

"Yeah. Let me borrow it."

Thanks to this, choosing a team name will be easy.

Let's go with Hood Squad.