章 8: Chapter 8. First lesson with Roxy
Roxy's first magic lesson was very simple so far.
We were just going through the basic principles of magic, with Roxy reviewing my knowledge and comprehension.
Roxy was a good teacher. Once she saw that I understood a certain subject, she moved to another.
There seemed to be no clear flaws in her knowledge, but I think the fact that there was little for her to teach me when it came to the basics was annoying her and hurting her pride a little.
After all, I was not a complete newbie that you'd expect from a little kid.
I have my own understanding of magic, knowledge from reading the novel and also experiences from my previous life, so a lot of what she told me was common knowledge or common sense.
Most importantly, I have the mind of an adult.
I have already gone through the magic guidebook countless times and experimented with magic for a year.
I didn't require Roxy's teachings to become a powerful mage since it was mostly about talent and training, but still, Roxy's knowledge and practical experiences were valuable. I could feel like my view of the world broadened when I listened to her.
There is only so much a person can learn about magic from a single book.
Obviously, I could see at a glance that in large part the world's understanding of magic was quite limited and primitive.
No matter how well-read Roxy is, there are many things that are left unexplained.
For example, magic spells expend different amounts of mana depending on the 'changes to the size'.
If the default is 1 for a silent cast, additional mana will be expended the more I expand the spell and increase the speed.
But in contrast, if I make the spell smaller and weaker, I also have to expend more mana.
Creating a single droplet of water requires more mana than creating a fist-sized Water Ball.
I asked Roxy this question, but the only answer I got was: "That's just the case".
It looks like the common public doesn't know the answer.
I had a simple hypothesis though.
It's probably because that's how it's supposed to be.
In other words, that's how spells are designed to be.
Let's say, a Water Ball spell costs 1 mana and creates a hand-sized ball of water. The moment you activate the spell, you gather 1 mana, no matter what.
If you want to reduce the size of the water ball to the size of a water droplet, you will need to expand additional mana for the change of volume.
Basically, when you cast Water Ball, it has a predetermined mana cost, even when you do it chantlessly. When you want to reduce the size, it expends additional mana to remove the equivalent amount of water mana from the water ball.
It's an additional mana cost that's separate from the mana amount designed to formulate the base structure of a spell.
The only way to reduce the mana cost is if you create a completely new spell that's designed to create a water droplet. Then it will only consume a little bit of mana.
"Teacher, why do incantations work?" Seraph asked at one point.
"They just do," Roxy patiently replied with her usual expressionless face.
"I see…"
The same kind of answer.
Basically, why does a string of specific words cause such a special effect?
Do the words resonate with some rules of the world or a deity, like Words of Power in Skyrim?
Or are the Incantations a method of self-hypnosis over one's magic circuits like in Nasuverse of Fate?
Understanding this would be the key to creating new magic spells, something that had never truly happened in the novel.
The truth behind Incantations.
Looks like it's unknown.
Roxy said, "Well, what should I say?... First of all, the magic that you normally use - are you aware who was the one that figured it out?"
"... No."
"Yes, it's good to be honest. And to answer it, magic is said to have come from the ancient long-eared race High Elves."
High Elves.
Like Elinalise?
I frowned.
I remember that Elinalise was chased out of the Elven Forest after 'assaulting' too many men. The wives of these cheating men banded together, out of jealousy, and chased her away.
A fun fact.
Roxy continued, "Long ears High Elves are a race living in the north of the Millis continent."
According to Roxy's explanation, a very long time ago, before the war between humans and demons broke out, the world was still in chaos and wars arose everywhere.
During that time, ancient long-eared race High Elves were able to communicate with the forest spirits, manipulating the earth and winds to fight off the invaders. It's said that it was the world's oldest magic.
"How were they communicating with the spirits? Was it through words?" I asked.
"...I am not sure. It isn't explicitly stated. The current magic is derived from the human race imitating the ancient High Elves' magic during the wars back then, and evolving it. The incantations of today are shortened versions of incantations humans used in ancient times."
"I see…"
This wasn't very helpful.
Hmm.
"What are forest spirits?" I asked.
And my question seemed to stump Roxy again.
Sorry.
Roxy said, "I'm not sure. Spirits are related to Summoning Magic, but I don't know much about it."
I see. Basically, she doesn't know.
I also don't have any clues.
I guess I'll just have to drop the topic for now.
Roxy looked downwards and muttered, "I'm sorry I'm such a useless teacher."
Oh, wow.
I really sunk her confidence, did I?
I forced a smile and said, "No, not at all. I'm learning a lot."
Roxy stayed expressionless. "You don't need to be polite. I'm not quite qualified to teach someone like you."
I shook my head and continued, "No. You're a great teacher. And I'm learning a lot. You don't need to be ashamed about things you don't know or can't do."
"..."
I thought for a moment, then said, "You know what you know, and you can do what you can do. I think you're amazing, Teacher. It's only shameful if you give up on learning."
I said it then tried to give her my brightest cherubic smile.
I put a lot of thought into my lines, I hope it works.
Roxy continued looking at me for a long while. She then softly smiled, extended her hand and flicked my forehead.
Ouch.
I felt that from that moment onwards I got along with Roxy much better. It isn't that she's a bad teacher. I'm simply a demanding student.
…
"We've covered enough theory for now. How about we do some practical training?" Roxy said.
"Okay."
"Let's start with Water Ball," said Roxy.
Will she do it? Will she do it?
Roxy raised her staff and faintly pointed it at her target. "Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call a refreshing burbling stream here and now. Water Ball."
When Roxy recited the spell, a basketball-sized water bullet was formed in her hand.
It flew towards one of the trees at high speed.
Crash.
The branches snapped easily, and the fence got soaked.
She did it!
Afterwards, she looked at me expressionlessly.
Did she expect praise for her aim?
"Teacher, that tree is one that Mother raised and treasures. I guess Mother will be angry," I said, slightly nodding.
Roxy: "Eh!? Really?"
"Yep." I nodded my head. "One time dad swung his sword and cut some of the branches. Mom was furious."
"This isn't good… Got to think of something!!!" Roxy frantically ran to the tree, and picked up the fallen branches.
I then watched from my chair Roxy with her face red pick up the branches.
"Uu… let the power of God be converted into a bountiful crop, and bestowed into one's who had lost their strength to stand up once again, Healing."
With the chant, the branches attached themselves together back to how they were before.
"Phew." Roxy let out a breath of relief, then started walking back to us.
…
After Roxy's lessons, there was lunch shortly after noon.
Roxy was invited in as well.
When me and Roxy entered the dining room after being called in by Zenith and Paul, the table was already mostly filled with utensils and dishes.
Meanwhile Lilia continued walking around to bring in the rest of the meals and drinks.
"Roxy! You can sit here. We'll start in a minute!" said Zenith.
"Yes. Thank you for inviting me." Roxy politely sat down on a chair that Zenith brought out.
"Seraph, don't touch anything before everyone sits down, yes?" Zenith lectured.
"Yes, mom."
Zenith enjoys it when I call her 'mom', so I did just that... Even though from my perspective I'm akin to an evil spirit of a man older than her that had taken over her son's body and pretends to be her cute little son, so there's a bit of guilt and awkwardness involved when using such an intimate word.
.
Anyway.
I jumped up onto the chair in my usual seat.
Meanwhile Paul took a large gulp from his jug while sitting down in the seat of honor, then let out a satisfied breath. "Haaa…"
"Drinking so early in the day. You're going to die young," I muttered when seeing this.
Paul laughed. "Haha. I'll be just fine. Your old man won't kick the bucket so easily."
I let out a light breath hearing this.
'Be careful what you say. You might have as well just triggered a flag.'
Toward Paul, I had quite complicated feelings to be honest.
He was quite trashy in the novel, but he didn't give me any reasons to complain so far in reality.
Maybe apart from him and Zenith making it difficult to fall asleep every night.
'Wish they had some kind of sound proofing in their bedroom.'
I sighed.
"What's this? Want some, Seraph?" Paul extended his mug toward me.
I shook my head. "No, thank you."
"Haha, I was just kidding." Paul laughed. "By the way, what are you thinking about?
'I'm thinking that I kind of owe you for bringing me up, but if you betray Zenith's feelings and break your vow the same way as in the original, I probably still won't go easy on you,' I answered in my mind.
I was a guy that also secretly wanted a harem.
But it was about integrity.
And also about the way Paul views and treats his spouse and women in general.
"Hm?" Paul looked at me.
I smiled and replied, "Nothing. I was just hoping you would live a long life, so please don't drink, dad…"
Paul was a little stunned for a moment, then grinned. "No worries. I won't die at least before I see my grandkids."
'Why be so specific..' I rolled my eyes inwardly.
Of course, in the novel Paul died just when Rudeus had his first kid, without ever seeing his grandkids...
"Alright, let's start," Zenith spoke up as she sat down at the table.
Soon after, Lilia politely sat down as well on the opposite side, next to Roxy.
"First, let's say a prayer."
When everyone was already seated, Zenith recited a short grace as usual while the others silently listened.
"""Let's eat!"""
Soon enough, lunch began.
I smiled.
The food was really extravagant today for lunch. The table was packed.
Zenith and Paul should have wanted to give a good impression on the magic tutor. These meals were being prepared this morning, ever since we got the news of the tutor coming yesterday.
Paul soon started talking about his S-rank adventurer background and about how he met Zenith.
After that, it was Zenith's turn to introduce herself and she talked about the capital of Milis, Millishion.
"Dad, can you give me some?" I asked while pointing at a chicken which was grilled whole.
It really looked delicious.
Furthermore, sufficient protein was the most important for a child's growth, research and common sense said.
"Sure thing! What do you want? A drumstick?"
"Yeah."
Paul then cut out a large drumstick from the grilled chicken that he was devouring by himself, then passed it onto my wooden cutting board that served as my plate.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Just don't eat too much or you'll puke! After this it's your first swordsmanship lesson!"
"Yes."
As the meal continued, I could see Roxy looking both shy and happy as she tried the various dishes in a merry atmosphere.
"Say, Roxy, where are you from?" Paul asked at one point.
"...To formally put it, I'm from the Migurd village from the Bigoya area in the Demon Continent," Roxy answered with an emotionless tone, yet with anxiety on her face.
"So you're from the Demon Race?"
"Yes…"
Zenith, Paul and Lilia all looked at Roxy.
"I see," Paul replied indifferently, then took a gulp of his beer.
Zenith and then Lilia also returned to their meals after a moment.
And I could see Roxy's eyes widen in surprise.
"Anyway, welcome! You must have had it tough as a demon on the Central Continent," Paul said with a warm smile.
"It wasn't too bad," Roxy said, a clear lie.
Is the discrimination against demons so bad?
I pondered.
Apart from her hair color, she still looked very much human.
Who would discriminate against a girl like her?
Paul then asked Roxy a few casual questions.
It turned out that she had just graduated from Ranoa University.
Teaching me was her first job as a tutor, and her first job after leaving the school.
Talk about running into a tough first job.
I now understood more why she didn't have full confidence in being a capable teacher in the anime, whether for Rudeus or for the perverted fat prince in that kingdom.
And especially for me here.
Eventually, the lunch ended.
After the meal, there was an hour's break for me to digest what I ate.
I spent that time practicing my drawing skills a bit using the new sketchbook I got, drawing the scenery outside my window as well as some of the Magic Circles from the Magic Guidebook.
It wasn't long after when Paul shouted after me, calling me down for sword training.
章 9: Chapter 9. First sword practice, principles of Healing Magic
After lunch, in the early afternoon was the time for my training with Paul.
Paul was already aware that I have been diligently doing physical training every day, so for that day he instead prepared me a short wooden sword fitting my body size.
I was supposed to begin serious sword practice now that I was already 3 years old.
Normal kids start sword training at around 5 years old, but I was of course not a normal kid.
But first he made me jog around the house for a while.
I guess even this world knows the importance of warm-up!
Afterwards, Paul began showing me various sword moves in a slightly disorganized manner.
His teaching method was very straightforward, as he was only able to perform the strikes to show them to me and at most tell me whether I replicate them well or not.
He was unable to tell me what exactly I did wrong or how I could improve.
For example, he would show a sword strike while saying: 'Slash! Like that.'
And if you did it wrongly, he would say, 'Wrong! This is how you slash.'
But it was still a far better method of training than pointlessly swinging a sword with no idea of what was right and what was wrong.
I had no complaints here.
In truth, I already have a little bit of experience with HEMA fencing from my previous life.
But I never did any real sparring with someone.
It was just sword drills by myself done for fun while watching videos from youtube using a steel bastard sword I bought online.
In essence, I already knew a few basic stances, guards, slashes, thrusts, blocks and counters.
I have also watched many videos on sparring and swords, so while I might suck at actual fencing, I had some theoretical knowledge that Paul was not quite able to share with me.
But because of just that, Paul seemed to think that I have a natural talent for swordsmanship and praised me endlessly.
He called me an 'instinctive type', just like him.
Since I grasped the various moves he showed me very easily.
But I knew that it wasn't that I necessarily grasped them easily or that I'm a genius, but I already had a general idea of what swordsmanship should look like.
Either way, I didn't let Paul's praise get to my head.
I was not a 3 year old kid, but secretly an adult.
And my target of being the strongest was still far off.
I expressionlessly continued repeating the sword moves that Paul taught me with focus.
My magic is strong, but if possible, eventually mastering all three sword styles would also be ideal.
At the very least, I have to give it a try and give it my all while I'm young.
If I have no talent for Battle Aura, then so be it. Just knowing how swordsmen fight would be useful enough.
After performing various sword drills for a long while, I was then made to strike a sandbag dummy that Paul also prepared in advance.
I kept striking at the dummy over and over again while Paul watched over me and pointed out when I was doing something wrong.
…
While Seraphim was training under Paul, Zenith had a conversation with Roxy at the porch while drinking tea.
"He's very hard-working, isn't he, Roxy?" Zenith said with a smile.
"Mm. He's a bright and talented boy. I expected him to be more conceited," Roxy said expressionlessly as she also watched the practice.
"Right?" Zenith smiled. "But Seraph isn't like that. He's an angel."
Roxy remained silent whilst her mind wondered.
Zenith didn't pay mind to Roxy's absentminded expression and continued, "He was always like this. Always sincere, charming and hardworking. He's my sunshine."
"..."
"He's amazing, my son. And so cute! My son is the best!"
Roxy forced a small smile as she saw Zenith looking at Seraphim with some kind of obsession.
But she also found it natural. The boy was a prodigy.
'I guess any parent would dote on their child.'
She then thought of herself.
Were her parents also like that when she was young?
Roxy's expression dimmed down. 'I don't think so.'
…
"Okay, that's enough!" Paul announced the end of our training, with a satisfied smile.
And at those words, I dropped the wooden sword and plopped my butt on the ground, soaked in sweat and panting.
My arms were like rubber.
I placed a hand on my chest and silently used Intermediate-ranked Healing magic.
Instantly, all of my pain was gone.
However, the fatigue and lack of energy remained.
Healing magic can remove wounds and muscle pains, but it cannot restore lost stamina.
In spite of common sense, even when using Healing magic to restore the damage done to the muscles during training, a person would still experience strength and endurance gains normally.
But it is not that Healing magic makes the restored muscles instantly become stronger.
A person would still require time to grow. It is only that Post Exercise Muscle Soreness could be avoided.
Based on the principles of hypertrophy back on Earth, you need muscular damage and fatigue to stimulate the growth of muscles.
So when you remove the fatigue and through it that stimulus, there is no reason for your muscles to grow.
It is the same way when athletes on Earth use ice baths after training. Studies proved that doing this does indeed reduce fatigue and post-exercise muscle soreness, but it simultaneously reduces muscle gains.
However, Healing magic denies this.
I suppose because *magic*. It seems to be a more mystical phenomenon.
The result of it was that I probably don't need to worry about overtraining and overtaxing my muscles, and I can train to the maximum of my ability to cause the strongest growth stimulus possible.
It means I can be more extreme with my strength training, which I did.
With Healing Magic, the phrase 'Maximum Recoverable Volume' takes on an entirely different meaning. Utilizing it, I can train with higher intensity and closer to failure, or even always to failure, because I can instantly recover from any abuse.
After training, my muscles can instantly recover to baseline, the damage I caused being healed, and already begin growing, speeding up my growth tremendously.
However, I am still limited by my ability to recover my energy in the form of glycogen and ATP, and would run out of breath during exercise. In other words, at one point I would simply have no strength to move the weights around or would be limited by my cardio.
There should also be a maximum growth stimulus and maximum growth rate that a body can experience, so I'm limited by those.
Effectively, there is a kind of 'maximum effective volume' that I aim to do each day for the most optimal growth.
Still, compared to a trainee back on Earth, you can train *hard* and grow *very quickly* in this world.
Theoretically, a person could approach their genetic limit much quicker in the Mushoku world if they utilized Healing magic and trained hard, experiencing a rapid transformation.
Putting strength training aside, I am not completely sure yet, but I have an idea of the underlying principle behind Healing magic.
Healing magic in this world is not based on boosting natural recovery or cell duplication, or anything like that, as one might think.
Firstly, the body itself does not know what it is supposed to look like as a whole after being healed. When it heals through cell duplication and natural recovery, it never perfectly returns to the previous state, but just kind-of tries to patch up the holes; it forms scars as well.
Secondly, if Healing magic was based on boosting recovery, I should have experienced accelerated strength gains after each training+healing session, but it is not like this. It also does not improve the rate of stamina recovery, even though it really should.
Thirdly, if Healing magic enhanced recovery, in other words duplication of cells, it would greatly increase the rate of a person's cellular aging. After all, cells can only duplicate so many times - once they pass that limit, it is what is called 'natural death'.
With considerable wounds being healed over and over in case of warriors, the effect of accelerated aging might have been noted by now. Something like the case of swordsmen having a shorter natural lifespan than normal men, but I haven't heard about anything like this yet.
However, I am not entirely sure about this, because people in this world in general seem to die quite early natural deaths - in their 70s. But it is not limited to swordsmen, but it includes magicians and everyone else as well.
Putting everything into consideration, I believe that Healing magic is all about <restoring an organism to a perfect healthy state>.
It is similar to Time Magic type healing in some novels, except that the time when the wound was caused has limited implications.
It is about the conceptual power of bringing the body to a healthy state, like a healing spell in a game restoring the character's health bar back to full.
It is more mystical and wondrous than simply boosting recovery.
Because of this, I could not simply do four sets of push-ups, then heal myself to restore my strength and receive gains through cellular repair/recovery, then do another four sets, heal myself again, and then keep repeating the process until I max out my genetic potential within weeks.
I had thought of this kind of cheating training method before, but it appeared to be impossible.
Further supporting my hypothesis, by using Healing magic it is also impossible to remove inborn or genetic diseases like poor eyesight.
I believe it's because this kind of condition is considered to be the natural state of the body, and Healing magic itself is only about restoring the body to that natural 'healthy' state, not beyond it.
For example, someone like Lilia wears glasses and even Advanced or probably Saint ranked Healing magic and above would not be able to fix her eyesight.
It's a pity though because I personally think she would only look better without glasses.
At any rate, Healing magic has a mystical power of bringing the body to an ideal healthy condition.
Animals and plants can also be affected by Healing magic.
However, plants would not grow up rapidly, but only be restored to their ideal (previous) healthy state.
The scene from the anime when Roxy made a tree bloom while healing it could not be replicated in reality. I guess it was just the animators wanting to make the scene look cool.
Otherwise it would be possible to grow vegetables and fruits in an instant by flooding the fields with Healing magic, or during travel you could plant some seeds in the ground and cast a healing spell to grow some tomatoes, but it was simply not the case.
Other than this, a common rule is that more serious injuries can be healed with a higher ranked healing spell, and do it quicker. Simple logic.
Even when casting healing magic silently, there still seemed to be tiers to it.
That's all that I know about healing magic that I learned from Zenith.
I do not yet have much practice with actually healing people apart from healing small cuts or bruises on myself, but I plan to research it thoroughly in the future.
After all, I believe that Healing magic at least might be able to offer a solution at extending a person's lifespan and vitality infinitely.
As long as Healing magic could be applied in conjunction with Time magic in a way to restore the body to a state from the past instead of a 'healthy one', it might be possible. If it has limitations, it could be used repeatedly.
Of course, first I would need to study Time magic and combine the two, likely in the form of a modified Magic Circle healing scroll, but this possibility existed.
I thought of this while keeping in mind the ancient ruins with information on Time Magic Teleportation to a point in the past that Old Rudeus was said to have found.
So far, it was my first and main idea to research on my path toward achieving Eternal Life.
It was not an ideal solution, but it was one idea.
Right now, Paul was walking back to the house with swagger whilst I was plopped on the ground, restoring my breath.
His face was smiling.
I guess he was happy that his 3 year old son, capable of powerful silent magic, was also very enthusiastic about learning the sword.
"My son is a sword genius! He's going to be a Sword King, no, a Sword Emperor at least! Haha!" Paul laughed and bragged while talking to Zenith.
I faintly smiled.
Well, thanks for training me.
I'm not fully just his son, but I'll do what I can. Our wishes aligned.
***
***
***
(AN: A small note: Canonically at 3 years old Rudues only started his physical training under Paul like squats and push-ups, and we don't quite know when he started swinging the sword. Officially it was only at 5. In contrast, Seraph has already been doing his physical training and was even more skilled in magic, so we can see it as Paul bringing forward his sword training by 2 years.)
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