That night, the weather was perfect. While not a full moon, the sky was clear and draped in a blanket of stars. Without a single cloud to obstruct it, starlight and moonlight bathed the newly cleared square.
In one corner of the clearing stood a pre-prepared table holding a single metal container. The vessel, which I had asked the Iron Slimes to craft, was polished and highly reflective. To use an analogy, it looked like a mold one might use to bake a bavarois, with the center of the circular container rising into a small, integrated pedestal.
For this experiment, I placed the object to be cleansed—a ring I had borrowed from Lord Rosenberg—onto that pedestal and poured pure water, filtered of as many impurities as possible, around it. According to the ancient records, practitioners of that era used water and metal mirrors to gather and focus the ambient moonlight.
Since this was our very first trial, we performed the ritual exactly as the texts dictated. However...
"It isn't working," I said.
"Hmm... I wouldn't say there’s no effect at all, but..." Lord Rosenberg trailed off.
The curse on the ring showed no sign of breaking. We repeated the ritual several times, but there was almost no change.
"The curse on this ring is supposed to be easy to break, isn't it?" I asked.
"Well, it is our first attempt, after all. To see if the technique would work at all, I provided an item that falls under level one—the lowest rank on the scale of Curse Removal Difficulty set by the House of Cashel."
"Right. By the way, how exactly does that scale work? I remember you saying the curse on me was a level seven, the maximum difficulty."
"I suppose I haven't explained the specifics yet. Curse Removal Difficulty is divided into eight stages, from zero to seven. Strictly speaking, zero means there is no curse at all, or perhaps one so weak it will dissipate naturally over time. Unless a curse is life-threatening, a level zero requires no intervention. Level seven is almost never seen and is officially classified as incurable, so there’s little point in worrying about it."
With that preamble, Lord Rosenberg provided a general breakdown of the levels:
1: A curse that will not break on its own, but has the potential to be broken even by a beginner’s imperfect technique. 2: A curse that can be broken as long as the removal spell is activated correctly. Successfully breaking one is a sign that an apprentice is ready to graduate. 3: The standard for a full-fledged professional who can make a living as a Curse Specialist. 4: Requires a seasoned expert with significant experience to handle. 5: Can only be resolved by a tiny fraction of the most elite experts. Breaking one marks a person as world-class. 6: A level that requires a coordinated effort from multiple elite specialists. Breaking one alone is nearly impossible.
"Even within the same rank, there can be variations depending on the nature of the curse, but to measure it precisely, one needs specialized Magic Medicine."
"The kind you used my blood for before?"
"Exactly. That medicine determines difficulty based on the color change that occurs when the solution touches the target."
It was easy to grasp if I thought of it like using litmus paper to check pH levels. Regardless, we were getting these results even at the easiest possible rank. According to the records, it didn't seem like there was a lack of moonlight.
I observed the ritual space using Slime’s Vision. Natural mana was certainly present, swirling within the spell’s area of effect. The magic was successfully enveloping the ring and attempting to purify it, and yet...
"Am I failing to use the natural mana efficiently?" I wondered aloud.
"You’ve simply had it too easy up until now," Lord Rosenberg said with a chuckle. "Normally, this is exactly what learning Curse Magic feels like. It’s possible this particular spell is intended to gradually weaken a curse over a long duration rather than breaking it instantly. Let’s continue our trials and observations without rushing."
"You’re right. In that case, we’ll leave this pedestal as it is to see how it changes over time, and I’ll prepare a second one."
We continued our experiments until late into the night, but we saw no significant results that day.
The next day.
The morning after our first trial, I spent my time studying Curse Magic in hopes of making the Lost Magic ritual a success. To start, I performed a round of Miasma Purification on the contaminated land as a way of reviewing my progress.
"It seems you have the purification itself down perfectly," Lord Rosenberg noted. "Now, let’s move on to the finishing touches."
"By that, you mean the Miasma-repelling Magic?"
"Precisely. We’ve cleared the miasma that had accumulated here, but over time, more will seep up from the ground. We need to ensure it doesn't leak out before the next purification cycle and prevent the contaminated area from spreading. The spell cast by my predecessor is still holding for now, but it must be recast before it reaches its limit. The 'period of efficacy' serves as the guideline for how often we must return. Since this is your first time, Ryoma-kun, we won't wait for the limit; we’ll start with frequent recasts and gradually extend the intervals."
"Understood."
"Now, when we actually cast the spell, the most important part is the marker—the 'medium' used to anchor the curse. In my predecessor's case, he used those marks over there."
I followed Lord Rosenberg’s gaze to see mysterious symbols painted onto the surrounding trees.
"A spell can be cast without a medium, but using something that helps you visualize the effect results in greater power and longer-lasting results. Usually, a student would assist their master and learn to solidify their mental image by handling specific traditional mediums. However, in your case, Ryoma-kun, it would be best to use whatever you feel is most suitable for the image of your spell."
"Something suitable for warding off miasma..."
"There's no need to overthink it. You're already using smoke as a medium for your purification, aren't you? It's the same principle. Something that comes to mind naturally based on your goal—something you can visualize intuitively—is the best medium for Curse Magic. Sometimes we use seemingly unrelated items to prevent a spell from misfiring or to keep our techniques secret from rivals, but you don't need to worry about that. Just use what feels right."
If that was the criteria, I knew exactly what to use. I reached into my Item Box and pulled out a coil of "Tiger Rope"—the yellow-and-black striped rope commonly found at construction sites. I had made it when we first decided to survey the mountain, thinking it might be useful, but I never expected to use it as a magical anchor.
Still, it was strong enough, and I had perfectly replicated the appearance from my previous life. Thanks to my old part-time jobs, it was a familiar object that I found easy to handle. In my old world, rope was used to define territory—what we called "stretching a line"—and ritual ropes like the shimenawa used at shrines were common in spiritual events. It felt like a perfect fit for my mental image.
I explained my choice to Lord Rosenberg and immediately put it to the test. I regulated my breathing, focused my mind, and reached back for the feelings I’d had while living as a recluse in the forest.
"Isolation!"
As I infused the curse into the rope, I felt a strange sensation—different from when I'd used the pebble. It felt like the mana was soaking deep into the material, like a plant sinking its roots firmly into the soil. I could feel the curse pulsing from the rope, but it felt far more stable than my previous attempts.
"Lord Rosenberg, this feels much different than before."
"That is likely because your internal visualization is in perfect alignment with your medium. I expect this will have excellent longevity. However..."
"However?"
Lord Rosenberg held his right hand over the Tiger Rope. A faint amount of mana radiated from his palm, enveloping the rope for a few seconds before he nodded.
"The curse is a success, but in addition to repelling miasma, it has gained Human-warding and Beast-warding effects."
"Human-warding and Beast-warding? Why?"
"When you cast the curse, you likely visualized something related to that—perhaps a subconscious desire for solitude. Because you were too successful in casting the curse, these extra effects were tacked on. It’s a rare occurrence, but certainly not unheard of."
Was the Human-warding a result of my lingering desire to be a shut-in? And the Beast-warding because I viewed it as a territorial boundary? Now that he mentioned it, I had a pretty good idea why it had happened. It suited our current needs perfectly, so there was no problem using it here, but I needed to be mindful that my magic could produce unintended results.
"Regardless, it is a success," Rosenberg continued. "With your learning speed, you’ll likely master the control soon enough. Just remember this sensation and get used to it through repetition. As for the Lost Magic, you might find success there as well if you apply this same logic. Keep experimenting to find your own unique methods and mediums. You can also use staves or Magic Tools for assistance; there is more than one path to mastery."
"Understood. I look forward to your continued guidance."
"Pardon me. May I ask a question as well?"
Seeing that our conversation had reached a natural lull, Sebas spoke up. He usually remained in the background to avoid disturbing us, so his intervention was a surprise. Lord Rosenberg signaled for him to proceed.
"Lord Rosenberg, what is the effective range of that rope? And what sort of influence does it exert?" Sebas asked.
"In my estimation, the range isn't particularly wide," Rosenberg replied. "As long as one doesn't try to touch it, they could walk right next to it and remain unaffected, even without the kind of protection spells we’re currently using. Even if someone were affected, I don't sense any malice in the magic. They would simply feel a strong urge to stay away; there is no physical danger. It would be more accurate to say the rope 'partitions' the space rather than 'repels' intruders."
"I see... and is that rope usable even if Ryoma-sama is not present?"
"It is. Provided, of course, that there is someone nearby capable of countering the curse with protection magic if necessary."
Sebas was taking an extraordinary interest in that rope. Noticing my puzzled look, he bowed and explained his reasoning.
According to him, the Jamil Duchy was currently in the middle of a massive construction boom. Reinhardt had mentioned plans to develop new villages, and the project to build a new town adjacent to Gimul was already underway. Sebas believed the rope I’d made would be in high demand at these development sites.
"Bandits, monsters, and wild animals are constant dangers in the wilderness," Sebas explained. "This rope would be a tremendous help in ensuring the safety of workers. If a perimeter can be established simply by stretching a line, it would be far faster and easier than digging moats or building stone walls. Furthermore, even outside of land development, farmers could use this rope to protect their fields from beasts, significantly increasing crop yields. There are countless places where people wish to keep others out; the applications are endless."
"It certainly could work as a makeshift wall, though its only function is to prevent intrusion," I noted. "Using it against pests would be like an electric fence. I can see the potential for wide-scale use, especially given the current demand."
"Lord Rosenberg has just guaranteed its efficacy, so I have no doubts," Sebas said. "If it isn't a problem, I would like to prioritize reporting this to the Duke."
I looked back at Eleanora, who was diligently taking records. She nodded firmly, indicating she would handle the official report.
"Go ahead, Eleanora-san. However, we don't know the full extent of its practical limits yet, so let’s start by running some experiments during our work here."
"Takebayashi-sama," Eleanora added, "it would be helpful for the report if we could estimate how much of this rope you can mass-produce."
"Well... for now, my current stock of Tiger Rope should be enough to encircle this contaminated area. If the effect doesn't need to be quite as potent, I feel like I could cast the curse on standard rope from any general store. Just a gut feeling."
"Tailoring the rope to specific uses is also an option," Rosenberg suggested. "By focusing the power on a single effect rather than dispersing it, the efficacy will increase. It would also be good training for your control over the magic."
That sounded perfect. I had more than enough mana. In fact, maybe I should encircle the whole mountain with Human-warding rope to keep out trespassers. But if I did that, I’d definitely run out of stock.
"In that case, I shall head to a nearby town to purchase more," Sebas offered. "As long as there are no special requirements, I should be able to procure a significant amount."
"Thank you, that would be a huge help. As for the cost—"
"The Ducal House will cover the expenses for now," Sebas interrupted. "It will make the logistics move much faster if I handle it that way."
"I see. I suppose it’s easier to get them to accommodate a sudden bulk order if the Duke’s name is attached. Understood. Just give me the receipt later, and please try not to buy so much that it inconveniences the shops."
"As you wish. I shall return shortly."
With an elegant bow, Sebas vanished through a gate of Space Magic.
Casting the curse wasn't a burden, and I could probably process the rope in large batches. The real bottleneck for mass production would be the steady supply of rope rather than my own labor.
As Sebas left, I found myself wondering about the spell Lord Rosenberg had used to analyze the rope’s effects. He’d used it on me before as well; I suspected it was a No-Attribute spell similar to Detection or Appraisal. I’d have to ask him about it during our next lesson.
Lost in these thoughts, I joined the others in the task of stringing the rope around the trees bordering the Miasma Land.