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Chapter 16: A Once-in-a-Million Magic Prodigy

Nora walked beside Reiner and stole a glance at him from time to time.

(What exactly did Master do last night? When I woke up it was already dawn, and that human woman was still by his side.)

Reiner yawned.

He had spent the entire night discussing magic with Junice and had done nothing shameful.

At the same time the system’s voice echoed in his ears.

[Congratulations, Host, on unlocking the achievement: Magic Enlightenment]

“So? Does this achievement give any bonuses?”

[None]

It seemed to be yet another trivial achievement.

Reiner looked around.

After last night’s test, multicolored elements constantly floated in his field of vision.

Any slight contact with his body drew them straight into him.

Each time he absorbed one, the crystal in his spiritual sea took on a faint new hue.

Junice had said these were natural elements intimately tied to spellcasting, roughly equivalent to a mana bar.

However, the elements were not interchangeable, so he had to treat them as five separate mana bars.

Just then Nora tapped Reiner’s shoulder and whispered, “Master, do you want to catch a little sleep? You look really tired.”

“No need, missing one night of sleep is nothing; a few years ago I even pulled three straight all-nighters at an internet café.”

“What’s an all-nighter?” Nora asked, totally confused.

“It means playing games for three days and three nights non-stop.”

“Oh.” Nora shut her mouth and stopped persuading him.

The adventurers were now divided into many squads and were sweeping the whole Dawn Forest.

It probably would not take long before they found the goblin nest hidden in these woods.

“Master, need me to go help them?” Nora asked again.

“No, scouting is dangerous work; avoid it if you can.” Reiner reached out and rubbed Nora’s ears.

He did not want his beast-ear girl taking excessive risks.

It would not be too late to lend a hand once they actually located the lair.

Martina nodded solemnly and said, “Reiner is smart, at least smarter than I am.”

Being praised by a beast-ear girl with a D-rank intellect did not make Reiner happy at all.

At that moment Junice patted his shoulder from behind and asked in puzzlement, “What are you doing here?”

“Just waiting; once they find it I’ll go help.” After answering honestly, Reiner asked her, “What about you?”

“Searching for the nest isn’t my job; I’m only useful if someone gets hurt.” Junice hugged her staff, sat down under a tree, drooped her head, and started fishing. “Remember to call me before you leave.”

“Alright.” Reiner patted Nora and Martina on the shoulders. “Rest here for a bit.”

After speaking he sat beside Junice, hesitated for a moment, and then asked shamelessly, “Could you lend me your magic book for a look?”

Junice opened her eyes and, without even thinking, handed over the book she was holding.

Books were valuable in this world, and books about magic were even more so.

He did not know the exact price, but it definitely was not cheap.

Reiner stroked the rough, worn cover and gently opened to the first page.

Junice watched quietly at his side.

After a long while she asked softly, “Can you read?”

“Of course. Not only can I read, I know many languages.”

With the system cheat in place, anything he did not understand could be translated instantly.

Junice suddenly said in another language, “The weather is really nice today.”

Reiner answered in the same tongue, “That’s Rosnoan; the sun is shining brightly, it really is nice.”

The Kingdom of Rosno was Dyast’s neighbor, not very far away, and usually only border residents spoke this language.

Reiner conversed with Junice in several other languages; she could answer a few lines occasionally, but most of the time she remained silent.

As a result, Reiner unabashedly showed off.

Junice looked at him in admiration. “I never expected that, besides demi-human speech, you’d be fluent in so many languages… amazing!”

Reiner gave an awkward smile.

Junice went on, “After we go back, how about I become your magic teacher and you become my language teacher?”

“If I have time, sure.”

“If you’re free, come find me at the Adventurers’ Guild; I spend most of my time there.”

“Okay.”

After completing this quest he could live off the 10 gold coins he earned and rest for a few days.

He could use that time to discuss things with her.

Junice was a well-educated girl, and spending time with her made Reiner feel fulfilled.

Reiner focused on the book while Junice concentrated on her fishing.

At that moment a stray inner voice drifted into Reiner’s ears.

(Master is chatting so happily with her; I’m jealous they have so much to talk about.)

Reiner looked toward Nora.

The girl was hugging her knees and sneaking peeks at him.

When their eyes met she quickly looked away and pretended to be busy.

(Oh no, I disturbed Master.)

Reiner reached out and ruffled her ears, then went back to the book.

The magic book contained only fire-attribute spells.

Reiner glanced at the table of contents and started with the most basic spell, Fireball.

He raised his hand and chanted the incantation while reading.

But after fussing for half the day nothing happened.

Junice woke up and said with a smile, “You have to focus while casting; to really use it takes years of practice.”

Reiner memorized the spell silently, closed the book, and centered his attention.

Soon he felt a faint burning sensation in his palm.

Thin wisps of smoke rose from his hand.

Junice’s mouth fell half open and she exclaimed, “Your talent is definitely above mine! You learned Fireball after just a few glances.”

“I haven’t learned it yet; it smoked for a second and went out.”

“You’re nearly there; once you balance the elements inside your body you’ll soon be able to… ”

Before Junice finished speaking, a scorching little fireball appeared in Reiner’s palm.

Nora and Martina exclaimed in amazement nearby.

It was clear this was their first time seeing magic.

At that moment his palm felt painfully hot.

“How do I shoot this thing?”

“Just… first do this and then that!” Junice stammered incoherently, unable to explain.

???

Unable to stand it, Reiner stood up and flung the fireball, hitting a pine tree dead on and setting it ablaze in an instant.

Junice picked up her staff, murmured a spell, and shot a water ball at the flames, extinguishing them immediately.

“That was close…”

Junice said very seriously, “Reiner! I’m now even more certain… you are truly a once-in-a-million prodigy!”

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