Yesterday I traced all the magic circles I could… Or at least I tried, but I got a terrible headache when I started on the second one and couldn’t do any more.
My head felt heavy and blood came out of my nose, like my brain was denying any more Trace. Apparently tracing magic circles causes a bigger strain than I thought, so I should limit myself to one per day.
By tracing a magic circle, I learned that to use one I have to know its composition and the flow of magic energy.
As Master Azabu said, magic circles are projected magic energy flows, so being able to see the composition and flow leads to a quicker understanding.
Also, the magic circles used when casting spells are different from the ones carved into stuff like equipment.
If you carve one of the former into equipment, the circuit might burn after a few uses, or worse, the magic energy might go berserk and lead to it breaking. This is why the book specifies under the magic circles if they’re for production or magic.
I feel like this was included in yesterday’s explanation, but I completely ignored it.
Also, if I’m going to write a magic circle, it has to be in something where magic energy can flow. If not, there won’t be any effect.
And magic energy can only circulate in materials that come from the dungeon, so it’s not unfair to say the guild has a monopoly on those.
Someone with a Blacksmith, Alchemy, Sewing, or some other production skill has a lot more opportunities to get their hands on them, but most people not part of a corporation buy those materials from the guild.
I’m getting off track, but activating a magic circle with magic energy leads to strong effects. But that also comes with a big magic energy cost, and it won’t happen if the user doesn’t understand the magic circle. Still, the effect matches the costs.
That demon combined two magic circles and burned a forest, not to mention the tornado that was like a natural disaster.
So basically, it was a power of a level not approachable by a skill alone, but I can do it too if I can use magic circles.
I’m getting excited!
I’m only doing one a day to be safe, but there are more than one hundred in the book, so that’s how long it’s going to take me to Trace them all.
I want to prioritize ones that look useful to me, but I’m still considering which ones.
I can’t stop turning the pages!
Then the phone rings, and I see it’s Ai.
It’s been a while, I think as I pick up, but for some reason she starts asking about me like she’s my aunt or something.
Yes I’ve been doing well, I say. And she asks if they can start production on the capture ball, mister move suppressor.
I don’t know why she’s asking me, but I say sure.
She’s quiet for a bit, and hangs up after saying ‘thank you, I hope to hear from you again’.
What was that all about, I think as I get ready for my exploration.
◇ ◇ ◇
The twenty-third floor.
I reach the river I’m familiar with, and carefully set up the tent. I have my eye on my surroundings, checking for green slimes.
The tent I got from Kumagai is meant to be for four people, so it’s too big for me.
I heard they used to take two tents with them, so I got that spare one too. That means I’ll get by even if I’m attacked by green slimes again.
After I’m done setting it up, I head to the river naked.
…Cold.
Normally I just dive head first, but I’m walking into the river while watching the tent, so I feel the coldness of the water and pull my leg back.
As I do that, a green slime heads towards the tent, so I take out the tyrant battleaxe and get ready to move out at any moment.
It keeps going, but at some point starts moving slower, trembles like it doesn’t like something, and heads in another direction.
Ooh, is this the monster repellent?
It’s sold as its own product, and it sure works.
I’m impressed, and I dive into the river. And I land where a green slime is hovering.
◇ ◇ ◇
The twenty-fifth floor.
With a determination in my greatsword of fortitude that it will cut for sure, a trent is bisected. It goes down, and I send a slash towards an imp that tries to escape, ending its life.
A silent condor drops towards me, but I use Physical Strengthening, move a little, and kick while using the divine bird boots’ talons to rip it to shreds.
Hm, this dodge was copied from Kumagai, and it worked better than I expected.
It’s a lot easier compared to yesterday’s underwater battle.
Yesterday, that green slime moved underwater pretty much as well as they usually do on land. It was like it didn’t even feel any resistance from the water.
I on the other hand had to flap my legs as much as I could. The difference in mobility was such that I almost died.
It attacked me furiously like it was mad about me rubbing my filth against it. I swung my tyrant battleaxe vigorously to deal with it, but it dodged and hit me straight in the stomach. All the air left my lungs.
I had to use Limit Break to hit the green slime up to the surface.
I also rushed out of the water and started coughing, and then I noticed a lot more green slimes were waiting for me.
I feel like I shouldn’t stay near the river.
At least the tent was unharmed this time, so that’s progress.
Let’s leave it at that, or I won’t find the motivation to keep going.
◇ ◇ ◇
I want to stay in that cave with the big tree carved on it that’s on this floor.
Why there? Because it’s the only nice place I found, but also, when I think about staying somewhere, that’s the place that comes to mind.
When I reach the cave, I notice a lot of orcs standing in front of it. What are they doing?
There must be over a hundred of them, and I see three muscular ones that are bigger than the others in the center, going fugofugo.
Then they start stomping their feet in unison, and the three muscular ones enter the cave.
After watching them go in, the orcs start yelling with joy like they just saw their friends leave the house and start a new life.
After a while they disperse and disappear somewhere.
I wonder what that was about as I cautiously approach the cave and peek inside. But I can’t see very deep, so I go in.
Those three muscular orcs should be here, so I get ready to swing my weapon at any time.
And when I reach the place with the big tree carved, it’s not here anymore. Neither are the muscular orcs.
I feel like I was tricked by a kitsune, and look around for a while.
◇ ◇ ◇
Tonight I had a dream about a big tree.
It looked like the muscular orcs were receiving a blessing from some sort of divine being.
When the orcs turned around, they saw orcs, big ant queens, and green slimes. And all sorts of other monsters, but I couldn’t see them clearly.
There were a lot of shining orbs floating under the big tree, illuminating the area around it. And after going under the big tree, I saw a beautiful blue sky and a floating island.
What an incredible dream, I thought, and then I noticed I was being watched.
It was a divine presence in the form of a girl with long ears, who said something I couldn’t catch.
“Ru… Ca…. Ain…”
I felt myself being pushed by a strong power and woke up.
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