Magic had four great attributes.
Among them, earth magic alone had characteristics that differed somewhat from the others.
“Fireball!”
As usual, I sat by the window in my room and watched Sister Shia training in the garden.
The moment she cast her spell, a mass of flame as large as a boulder shot from her outstretched palm, streaked through the air, and pierced the target.
“Very flashy.”
That was how ordinary magic worked.
Creating something from nothing was the basis of magic.
“…Like this?”
Earth magic, however, was different.
It transformed things that already existed. I reshaped the spoon in my hand into a fork.
“Does this really count as earth?”
Just how broad was the meaning of earth?
In this world, earth magic seemed to define “earth” as the land itself.
Having interfered with the silver and changed its shape, I stirred the tea and sugar in my cup with the fork.
It took some effort to think of silver as earth, but my magic recognized it that way. If I could reshape silver, I could probably reshape iron as well.
“It would be the perfect magic if I could make gold.”
It would have been perfect if, like the other attributes, earth magic could create something from nothing and produce gold. Unfortunately, it could only transform existing matter.
Calling it a technique for processing anything buried in the ground made it sound impressive, but its usefulness in battle was questionable. Steam engines had already been invented in this world and the Industrial Revolution was progressing, so it had great potential in industry.
However, there was one major drawback.
“There just aren’t many people who use earth magic.”
Magic was an advanced art.
Talent also played a large role. So few people could properly wield earth magic that no one had proposed making industrial use of earth mages.
“Well… If you asked whether I can work precisely enough for industrial use, I wouldn’t be very confident either.”
At present, the most I could do was vaguely turn a spoon into a fork. I doubted I could mass-produce identical objects. I lacked fine control, so each attempt came out slightly different.
That was only true for me, of course. An extraordinarily skilled mage might be different.
For now, earth magic was used mainly for civil engineering tasks such as leveling land.
“Not exactly work for a noble.”
Doing various kinds of work at a construction site was undoubtedly important.
But it wasn’t a noble’s occupation.
Therefore, no matter how far I went, I would probably never escape being treated as an underachiever for having been born with the earth attribute. Everyone possessed only one magical attribute. I was an unfortunate child whose fate had been sealed at birth.
“Here goes.”
Even so, magic was still magic.
As a former Japanese person, the mere fact that it was magic excited me.
“Though honestly, I wish it were flashier.”
I opened the window, threw myself out, flipped twice in the air, and landed on the ground.
“I can use body enhancement without any trouble now.”
It was a second-story drop—not high enough to kill me, but high enough that no ordinary person could land unharmed and carry on as if nothing had happened. I was perfectly fine, thanks to body enhancement, a form of non-attribute magic.
“Hmm-hmm-hmm.”
Keeping out of sight, I quickly crossed the garden and made my way to the deserted backyard.
“Let’s do this.”
I raised one foot slightly and brought it down against the ground.
That alone activated my magic, opening a large hole beneath my feet.
“Good.”
Casting magic didn’t require an incantation. A trivial gesture was enough to activate it.
It was considered good manners, however, to call out the spell’s name so that everyone nearby knew what kind of magic you had used.
“Seen like this, it looks rather powerful.”
After making the hole, I placed a hand on the ground and raised an earthen wall.
“Good.”
I nodded at the wall, which stood taller than I did. It should have been more than enough to block an opponent’s magic.
Unfortunately, non-attribute defensive magic capable of nullifying hostile spells had already been invented and, apparently, was being used on the battlefield. My earthen wall might already have outlived its usefulness.
“Y-Young Master?”
As I used magic to return the earthen wall to the ground, someone spoke behind me.
“Oh no.”
I spun around and found the butler who served our household.
“W-What are you doing…?”
The old butler stared at me in astonishment, and I hurriedly pressed a finger to my lips.
“Shh. Please don’t tell anyone… All right?”
“Ah, well…”
“Father will make a fuss if he learns I’m using magic.”
My father’s disregard—his contempt—for earth magic was terrible. If he saw me using it, he would undoubtedly fly into a rage. That was why I sneaked into the backyard to practise.
“…Yes, I understand that, but… Since when have you been able to use magic?”
“Hm? For a little while now… What do you think? I’m quite good, aren’t I?”
“Q-Quite good, you say…? No… that magic… No, first of all, the amount of mana…”
“What are you muttering about? …Well, never mind. Grandpa, please keep what you saw here a secret. I’ll quietly take my leave.”
The old butler didn’t seem inclined to scold me.
I decided to leave before the situation became troublesome.
We don’t use ads!
If you enjoyed our translation, please consider buying us a cup…
Thanks!!!
Become a Patron!
We don’t use ads!
If you enjoyed our translation, please consider buying us a cup…
Thanks!!!
Become a Patron!