“Wait. Hold on a second.”
Rei couldn’t help but speak as he stared at the results displayed on the Orb of Diagnosis.
“Guruu?”
Set, who had been admiring the jewelry box a short distance away, must have sensed something. It turned around and looked toward him.
Noticing the attention, Rei shook his head slightly to show it was nothing, then instinctively buried his face in his hand.
“My magic affinity is only for Fire? Is that it? Because I merged with Zephyle, the Fire Mage?”
Even as he muttered the question, he suspected that wasn't the case. According to Zephyle’s knowledge, the man had indeed called himself a Fire Mage, but that was simply because Fire Magic was his specialty. It didn't mean he couldn't use other types. He hadn't mastered every single element, of course, but he’d definitely utilized Wind Magic, Space-Time Magic, Alchemy, Summoning Magic, and Ancient Magic.
“Which means my own natural affinity is purely specialized in Fire Magic... right?”
His mana capacity had been enough to shock even Zephyle. If all that power was funneled into Fire Magic, his offensive potential would be off the charts. But...
“I’m a total novice, and I’m supposed to use Fire Magic in the middle of a forest?”
That was the problem. Fire Magic, naturally, involved fire, and they were surrounded by woods. If his magic went haywire or if he botched the scale of a spell, a blast fueled by his massive mana reserves would incinerate the entire forest in an instant. He and Set would likely be caught in the inferno, too.
“Out of Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind, if it had been anything else, I could at least use it in the forest with some peace of mind... No, there’s no time to second-guess it now. I have to leave this mansion tomorrow one way or another, so I’ll just have to make do with the hand I’ve been dealt.”
Technically, he had ten days’ worth of food, but that was based on human portions. For a creature like Set, who stood over two meters tall, that stash would barely last a few meals. If they stayed here, they’d starve to death. Rei’s only real option was to leave tomorrow and find a village or town as fast as possible.
“First, I need to see if I can actually cast anything properly.”
Through Zephyle, Rei had all the knowledge needed to master Fire Magic. However, that was Zephyle’s experience, not his own. Magic was heavily influenced by an individual’s aptitude and mental imagery; relying too much on borrowed memories could lead to a fatal mistake at a critical moment.
“Gurururuu.”
“Yeah, stay there and watch, Set. I’m just going to practice a bit.”
Rei answered the trilling griffon as he walked back toward the spot where the magic circle was drawn. He stopped a safe distance away.
While his knowledge told him the circle on the floor wouldn't react to anything but Beast Magic, it never hurt to be careful.
He gripped the Death Scythe—his magical focus—took a deep breath, and concentrated. He found he could naturally sense the mana dwelling within his body.
Magic was the art of deceiving the world. By imbuing words with mana to create an incantation, a mage could temporarily rewrite reality to achieve a desired result. Consequently, every mage’s incantations were different; using someone else's words rarely produced the same effect. While this principle varied for magics outside the primary elements, for someone like Rei with a pure Fire Magic affinity, it was the absolute essence of the craft.
“O Flame, gather at my fingertip.”
He poured mana into the words. The most important part was the image. While the incantation provided the framework, the clearer the caster’s mental image, the more powerful the effect. For someone like Rei, who had enjoyed subcultures like manga, anime, movies, and games, visualizing such things was second nature.
The incantation began to overwrite the laws of the world, saturated by Rei’s intent.
“Small Flame.”
The image took hold. A fist-sized ball of fire flickered into existence at the tip of his right index finger.
“...Alright. My first spell in this world is a success.”
Technically, Beast Magic had been his first, but that was an almost entirely automated process. He’d stood on a pre-drawn circle and spoken a specific phrase, and the circle had done the heavy lifting by draining his mana to manifest the creature. In terms of performing a spell from start to finish by his own will, this was his true debut.
“Fire Magic works fine. But... I can’t really practice much more than this in here. I might burn the whole mansion down if I’m not careful. I definitely don’t want to destroy the circle for the Beast Magic.”
He glanced toward the center of the room, where the massive array was drawn.
“Gurulu.”
Set, who had been watching the whole time, approached with a gait so light it defied its massive weight. It rubbed its eagle-like face against his.
“What is it? Want some attention?”
“Guruu.”
“Well, I can’t do much more magic practice anyway...”
Rei gave Set’s head a gentle pat. As he looked at his own arm, he realized there were other preparations to make.
“I need to pick out some equipment. Like in a game, items are useless if you just leave them in your inventory.”
Still scratching Set’s neck with his left hand, he brought up the list of items stored in the Misty Ring.
“This is a mess... wait, maybe...”
He frowned at the cluttered display: dragon fangs next to mana recovery potions, meteorite fragments above mandrake roots. Remembering that Takumu was one of the ring’s creators, he visualized a command: Sort Function.
“I knew it.”
The mental list instantly reorganized itself into neat categories.
“Good old Takumu.”
It was a standard feature in any game, so he’d gambled on it being included in the Misty Ring’s interface. It had paid off.
“The Death Scythe handles the weapon slot. I guess next is armor.”
He scrolled through the defensive gear until one name caught his eye.
Dragon Robe.
It sounded incredibly expensive and powerful. He dug through Zephyle’s memories for details.
It was a robe crafted from the hide of a dragon that had lived for centuries. The leather had been dyed with dragon blood and bone meal, granting it phenomenal magic resistance. It was a double-layered garment with dragon scales sewn between the hides, meaning its physical defense was also remarkably high. Because it utilized hides from both Fire Dragons and Water Dragons, it acted as a climate-control suit—keeping the wearer cool in the heat and warm in the cold. Finally, the clan's alchemist, Estha Nor, had added a concealment enchantment so it wouldn't look like a legendary Magic Item at first glance.
The sheer defensive stats were impressive, but for Rei, the "wearable air conditioner" aspect was the biggest selling point.
“This will do for my armor.”
He selected the Dragon Robe, and a black robe materialized in his right hand.
“Weapon and armor are set. Next, footwear.”
He opened the boots category and, just like with the robe, one entry immediately stood out.
Sleipnir's Shoes.
Sleipnir was an eight-legged horse-type Monster, one of the fastest creatures on land and capable of running through the sky. These boots were made from its hide. They boosted the wearer's movement speed and allowed them to "kick" the air to jump a second time, though only for a few seconds.
“These are the ones.”
He pulled the shoes out of the Misty Ring and set them on the floor near the robe.
“Guruu.”
Set watched with wide eyes as more items appeared, then suddenly nudged Rei.
“Hmm? You want some gear too?”
“Gurururuu.”
“Hang on. Let me see what would fit you...”
Scratching behind Set’s ears, he scrolled through the ring’s list and pulled out a few promising items.
Bracelet of Wind Manipulation: Protects the wearer from a single projectile or spell. Recharges every ten hours.
Bracelet of Herculean Strength: Boosts the wearer's physical power.
Bracelet of Magic Absorption: Absorbs mana from enemies in proportion to damage dealt.
Dropstone of Benevolence: A drop-shaped pendant. Created by the clan's alchemist, Estha Nor, using a Unicorn's magic stone. Grants a constant healing effect to the wearer.
“How about these? Which ones do you like, Set?”
Set seemed to ponder for a moment before letting out a soft trill and picking up the Bracelet of Wind Manipulation, the Bracelet of Herculean Strength, and the Dropstone of Benevolence with its beak.
Rei chuckled and stroked the creature’s neck.
“Three, huh? Well, you're my partner. You deserve the best. I’ll put the pendant on your neck, but what about the bracelets?”
“Guruu.”
With a small cry, Set offered its eagle-like front talons.
“Will these even fit?”
The talons were clearly much larger than the bands. Still, assuming Magic Items would have a solution, Rei brought the Bracelet of Wind Manipulation to the right leg and the Bracelet of Herculean Strength to the left. The bracelets floated from his hand, expanded in size, and snapped perfectly into place around Set’s limbs.
Impressed by the convenience, Rei finished by fastening the Dropstone of Benevolence around Set’s neck.
“Gurururuu!”
Clearly delighted with the gifts from its master, Set nuzzled its head against Rei.
Rei then slipped the remaining Bracelet of Magic Absorption onto his own left wrist. The preparations were complete.
For a weapon, he had the Death Scythe. For armor, the Dragon Robe. On his feet were Sleipnir’s Shoes. His right hand bore the Misty Ring, and his left the Bracelet of Magic Absorption. He didn't realize it yet, but including Set’s gear, he was draped in artifacts that would be considered national treasures in this world.
“Gurururuu...”
Rei was admiring his new look when a pitiful whine from Set broke the silence.
“What's wrong?”
“Guruu.”
Even if they were linked by mana, they couldn't speak to each other. He could only catch the general vibe of Set's moods.
“Gurururuu.”
Set whined again, rubbing its head against Rei’s stomach. Finally, it clicked.
“Are you hungry?”
“Guruu.”
Set nodded emphatically. Now that the topic had come up, Rei realized his own stomach was growling.
“Come to think of it, I haven't eaten since I woke up. No wonder we're starving. Let's head to the dining hall for our last supper before the journey starts.”
“Guruu!”
With Set following close behind, Rei left the laboratory.
Though Set was a massive two-meter Beast, the mansion had been designed for Beast Magic users, so the doorways were plenty large enough for it to pass through. They found some bland black bread in the kitchen, softened it with water to make it edible, and finished their meager meal. Exhausted from the day’s events, the two of them headed to the bedroom and fell into a deep sleep.