Once lunch was over and we resumed our trek through the canyon, the terrain began to deteriorate just as Siber-san had predicted. Surrounded by jagged rock faces and steep cliffs, the scenery was a monotonous loop of grey and brown. Without a guide, getting lost would have been trivial.
Encounters with monsters grew more frequent as well. Most were small and easily driven off, but I knew better than to lower my guard. Even with weak monsters, a single moment of inattention could be fatal, and the treacherous footing meant one slip could trigger a chain reaction of accidents.
Still, remaining constantly tense would only lead to needless exhaustion. I maintained my vigilance while trying to keep my body relaxed... until a putrid stench drifted toward us, accompanied by a strange, heavy presence.
"That smell..."
"Yeah. There's an undead up ahead," Siber-san said. "Most likely a zombie."
His prediction was spot on. After we waited for about twenty seconds, a rotting human corpse shambled into view from around a blind corner, its gait slow and swaying.
Based on my prior research, the undead in this world preferred the night or places untouched by the sun, becoming most active in the dark. However, that didn't mean they were strictly nocturnal; they were perfectly capable of moving under the sunlight. Their pace was roughly equivalent to a brisk walk for a normal adult.
They weren't particularly agile, meaning you could easily outrun them if necessary. Compared to other monsters, they didn't feel like a major threat—they were little more than a sensory assault on the eyes and nose.
"Now then, let's confirm the nature of the undead first. To start—"
No sooner had Siber-san spoken than he closed the distance to the zombie. His halberd flashed, cleaving the creature diagonally from the shoulder in a single, fluid stroke, followed instantly by a second strike that severed its torso. He stepped back as the monster lay in three distinct pieces.
"I cut it down using only my weapon without magic, but as you can see, this isn't very effective. It will regenerate and attack again immediately."
True to his words, the severed chunks of the zombie's body began to crawl toward one another, knitting themselves back together.
"Regeneration is a trait common to almost all undead, not just zombies. Trying to defeat them with blades alone is inefficient. It’s not impossible, but if you have to rely on physical weapons, you're better off using a blunt instrument to thoroughly crush them. However, depending on the variety, even that might not work. Attacking with magic is the most fundamental and effective countermeasure."
By now, the zombie had finished its gruesome recovery and turned back toward us. Siber-san unleashed a Wind Cutter, once again slicing the creature in two at the waist. It began to regenerate again, but its movements seemed slightly more sluggish this time.
"Using magic slows their recovery, making them easier to finish off. The common theory is that Undead-type monsters are animated by Dark Attribute mana, which magic helps disperse. While the effect varies by attribute, Light Magic is by far the most potent. You mentioned you could use it, right, Ryoma? Try hitting it with a Light Ball once it finishes its next recovery."
I did as instructed. As the zombie pulled itself back together, I conjured a spell.
"Light Ball!"
"Ah... Aaaah!"
The orb of light formed in my hand and shot toward the zombie in a straight line. It impacted the creature's chest and didn't just pierce through—it obliterated the surrounding flesh and bone entirely. The zombie let out a pained shriek, but unlike before, the wound showed no sign of closing. It stood frozen for a moment before collapsing into the dirt.
"Remily?" Siber-san prompted.
"The power and speed are both sufficient," she noted. "Your foundations are solid. However, if you hit a non-vital area, you might not finish them off in one go. You should always aim for the chest or the head. For anything else, assume you'll need two or three follow-up shots."
"I understand. But I'm surprised the body actually vanishes like that. I heard the undead are former humans, but a normal corpse wouldn't disappear from a Light Ball, would it?"
"No," Siber-san replied. "A mere corpse wouldn't be affected that way by Light Magic. It’s believed that a physical change occurs when a body becomes undead. The truth remains a mystery, though. Not all undead were originally corpses; some manifest naturally without a body at all, so they are enigmatic creatures."
"There's a theory that their bodies are constructed from Dark Attribute mana," Remily added. "But then you have cases where old objects with long histories become possessed or transform. It's hard to make a general rule."
While we were discussing the finer points of necromancy, another zombie shambled toward us. As I prepared to cast again, Remily-san held up a hand.
"Ryoma-chan, I saw you using Chantless casting during your match yesterday. Could you show me that instead? Don't worry about the attribute; just show me what you're most comfortable with."
"Understood."
In that case, I would stick with Wind. I enveloped both hands in Wind Attribute mana. An instant later, I unleashed a pair of compressed air masses from my fists, pulverizing the zombie’s head and sternum simultaneously.
"Ho, an Air Hammer? And two at once, no less."
"Power and speed are excellent," Sebas added. "It certainly doesn't pale in comparison to the Light Ball."
"Ryoma-kun has always been talented, but it seems he’s polished his skills even further," Reinbach noted with a proud smile.
Based on their reactions, I figured I’d done well. However, when I looked at Remily-san, she had a troubled expression on her face.
"Is there a problem?" I asked.
"It's not a problem, exactly, but I'm struggling with how to teach you. I assumed I'd have to start with the basics, but I can clearly skip that. Still, your magic is almost entirely self-taught, isn't it?"
"Yes. Is it that obvious?"
"I am a former Court Mage, dear. Mages who train at the Academy, in the military, or under a formal master receive systematic guidance from the start. For better or worse, they fit a certain mold. Their habits are predictable, which makes them easy to read. But you? Your absolute basics like Mana Release and Attribute Conversion are perfect, but then you add your own ingenuity and just do whatever you like. Your Chantless casting just now... it didn't feel like you 'cast a spell.' It felt like you punched them with a fist made of wind."
I was impressed—could a professional really see that much, or was I just an open book? Either way, she was right.
I had only recently mastered Chantless casting, sparked by the "Slime Magic" I’d developed at the end of the year. I hadn't realized it initially, but when I used Slime Magic, I was transmitting mental images through Taming Magic to the slimes I had performed Assimilation with. I didn't need chants for that.
Once I realized that, I began to visualize "natural" magic usage based on that sensation, and it worked perfectly. My success rate and power had skyrocketed. To bridge the gap, I had linked the magic to my muscle memory from the martial arts I’d practiced in my previous life—movements that were as natural to me as breathing. For a projectile like Air Hammer, I used the form of a Straight Punch. For Earth Needle, a Low Kick.
"Normally, it takes years of repetition to find that kind of sensation, but you developed it by combining martial arts and... Slime Magic? It’s almost like the Magic Swordsmanship used by knights. If you were a regular student, I’d just follow a set curriculum, but I’m at a loss for how to guide someone like you."
"Remily-sama," Sebas interjected, "I believe the best approach would be to demonstrate your own magic and let him practice. Ryoma-sama has a history of creating his own techniques; once you explain the principles, he will likely be able to adjust them to fit his own style."
"That is how he reached the intermediate level of Space Magic when Sebas taught him, after all," Reinbach added.
"Fair enough," Remily agreed. "We'll try that. If it doesn't work, we'll think of something else."
As they finalized their plan, a low dragging sound signaled the arrival of yet another zombie.
"Again? That's quite a few," Siber-san muttered.
"Is it unusual?" I asked.
"They might be reacting to the noise, but three in such a short window is high for a spot only half a day from the main road."
"There have been reports of monster populations increasing across the board. Perhaps the undead are no exception," Sebas suggested.
As we prepared to deal with the newcomer, Remily-san stepped forward.
"This is perfect for your training. I'll demonstrate an Intermediate Light Magic spell."
She pointed her staff at the zombie and began to chant.
"Exorcism!"
A sphere of light roughly the size of a basketball burst from the tip of her staff. It didn't pierce the zombie; instead, it blossomed outward, bathing the creature in radiance until it vanished completely.
"As you can see, this spell envelops the target in Light Attribute mana. It can erase minor undead like zombies, but it can also be used for Binding high-ranking or fast-moving undead. It's a useful one to have in your repertoire. It consumes about 1,500 mana per cast, so don't waste it on common skeletons—stick to Light Ball for the rank-and-file. Fire Magic works well against them too, especially if you can get a blaze to spread through a crowd. But for now, let's just focus on getting you some experience."
With that, I began my formal training against the undead, practicing against the zombies and skeletons that emerged from the shadows of the canyon.