Saras Magic Practice and Extra Teaches the Secret of Incantations

* * *

The busy days of a maid apprentice fly by with cleaning, laundry, and all sorts of other tasks.

Truthfully, my initial impression was that this residence wasnt particularly large, but maintaining it spick-and-span with such a small staff is incredibly difficult.

According to Maid-senpai, even though were in the rural frontier, unexpected guests could arrive at any time. So the residence must be kept spotless, or else the Baron will be mocked by other nobles for a lack of decorum.

Geez, is this some kind of noble face-saving thing?

How tiresome.

Well, even if I think that, Ill still do the cleaning diligently since its my job.

Since Maid-senpai is also tasked with cooking, shes currently holed up in the kitchen prepping for dinner.

Wouldnt they normally hire a cook for something like that?

<Well, I suppose they normally wouldbut this is likely a compromise the Baron had to make due to being impoverished?>

Whether its a compromise or not doesnt really matter, but honestly, isnt Maid-senpai overworked?

She seems fine with it, but Id like to think its not an issue.

At the very least, Ill strive to give Maid-senpai some relief during this one month that Im here.

Oh, incidentally, I was firmly denied entry into the kitchen.

As expected, they cant just allow a newcomer who arrived only yesterday into the kitchen, or so Im told.

After parting with Maid-senpai, following her instructions, I weeded the grounds around the residence together with Uncle Mauve, the other servant here.

This man, well, hes the plain-looking uncle who was our coachman yesterday.

He has a gentle face and seems kind, but also a bit of an absent-minded air that makes me feel uneasy around him.

Earlier, while weeding, he accidentally uprooted some medicinal herbs the Baroness had planted, and got severely scolded by that intimidating old butler.

The areas were clearly demarcated with stones and such, so how did he mix that up?

Come to think of it, he also broke a plate at breakfast this morning.

Is he really cut out for servants work?

Since he looked dejected, I patted him encouragingly on the back, but he flinched away from me and kept wiping the area my hand had touched with a handkerchief over and over.

Ah, my bad Uncle, I touched you right after cleaning without thinking.

Emiiii! Emiiii! Where are youuu!?

Oh, that cute yet boisterous voice belongs to Sara.

Looking up, shes leaning precariously out of the second floor study room window, searching for me.

Ah, be careful Sara! You could die if you fall from there!

<Perhaps if she had undergone cliff diving training like Emi, then maybe?>

No maybe about it. A young lady wouldnt be put through something like that.

Before she continues these dangerous antics, I quickly move under the window.

Ah! Emi! Im going to practice magic now! Ill be going outside with Mother, so please wait for me at the entrance!

Saying that, Sara pulls herself back into the room.

I hear some scuffling sounds as she likely begins preparing to go out.

The Baroness admonishments of Dont shout! and Dont run! can also be heard.

Sara has a long, long way to go on the path to becoming a proper lady.

Seriously, good luck Baroness.

* * *

And now, Ive come to the magic practice grounds behind the residence together with Sara and the Baroness.

The so-called practice grounds is simply a mowed field with some targets set up.

Beyond the field lies a forest, so just in case there are assassins lurking for the Barons householdI remained vigilant while observing Saras magic practice.

O water bullet, manifest and pierce my enemy! Water Bullet!

As Sara chanted something while pointing her index finger at a target, a small water sphere formed at her fingertip.

That water sphere flew forcefully towards the targetonly to plop uselessly to the ground, leaving a small wet mark.

MmmI cant do it properly

You need to concentrate more. Firmly visualizing the image while incanting is crucial. O water bullet, manifest and pierce my enemy! Water Bullet!'

The water sphere launched by the Baroness flew straight and struck the target with a loud thump.

That level of force likely couldnt kill, but would certainly be enough to stun or immobilize an opponent.

Apparently, this Water Bullet spell is the most basic magic that noble children in this country learn first an introductory defensive spell.

Speaking of which, Extra.

I have a question.

<Yes, what is it Emi?>

Up until now, youve taught me living magic spells like Ignite, Desiccate, Gather Water, and Ive already learned those

<Yes, yes.>

But the magic Ive been using didnt require any kind of incantation like that, right?

Yet Sara and the Baroness are muttering some kind of incantation, arent they?

What exactly is a magic incantation?

<Put simply, a magic incantation is a password to connect to the magic assistance system created by the God of Magic. I learned about it from the documentary series The Gods Challenge.>

A system? A password?

<Yes. Manipulating magical power is difficult, right? So the God of Magic created this system to assist anyone in using magic. If you incant the preset phrases registered by the God of Magic, it triggers a spell within certain predefined specifications thats the system.>

Assisting magical power manipulation with a system!?

<Yes. Thanks to this systems implementation, the population capable of using magic increased 50-fold from before. It was for this great contribution that the God of Magics divine rank rose rapidly from a low-ranking god to a high-ranking one>

Wait, wait, wait!?

So youre saying, like with Ignite for example, I really struggled a lot to learn that, right!?

But if I had just known the proper incantation for Ignite, I could have used it effortlessly!?

<Well, yes, essentially.>

Ehhh!?

You should have taught me those incantations then~~!

<My apologies, but I cannot do that.>

Eh?

<You see, that system is designed with baseline human users in mind. It interfaces with the human soul to assist in magical power manipulation.>

But Im human too!

<But you have me, the Divine Vessel, residing within you.>

Ah?

<So if you try to mimic those incantations, the system will undoubtedly bug out.>

Bug out!?

<To put it bluntly, if you use an incantation to cast magic, youll instantly explode and die.>

Scary!!?

<Therefore, you must absolutely never use incantations, Emi.>

I-I see

The world really doesnt make things easy for me, does it?

<Well, lets look at it another way, Emi. Isnt it great that you cant use the system? That allows you to hone your magical power manipulation skills! Relying solely on the systems magic has many limitations. Its far better if you can perform the manipulations yourself.>

I suppose

Yeah, I guess youre right.

Just looking at activation speed alone, not having to mumble an incantation makes going without much faster, so there are merits.

<Speed isnt the only benefit. Lower magical power consumption is another big advantage.>

Is that so?

<Using the system consumes extra magical power compared to not using it. This is essentially a maintenance fee collected by the God of Magicbut rumor has it that magical power is barely used for actual system maintenance and just lines the Gods own pockets. Apparently, the God of Magic is raking in huge profits by monopolizing magic rights. Even in the divine realm, the God is heavily criticized for this.>

I just asked about magic incantations and ended up learning way more than I wanted to know about corruption in the divine world

* * *

Anyway, even as I enjoy this mental conversation with Extra, Im not letting my guard down.

There dont seem to be any suspicious figures in the forest, and no strange noises besides animal calls. No issues at the moment.

Rather, Sara lying on the ground looking nauseous from magical power depletion is more of a concern right now.

When your internal magical power gets too low, you end up feeling sick and unable to move like that.

If this happened in the forest or mountains, youd be done for, mauled by some beast. So I always keep a close eye on my remaining reserves to avoid such a predicament.

The most dangerous time was probably during my battle with the great serpent.

Ugh, urpoh, ahhaah

Deep breaths Sara, deep breaths.

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

I pat the back of the squirming pink-haired beauty making an unbecoming face as she struggles.

Ive told you time and again that magic doesnt simply activate by pouring in magical power, havent I?

The lecturing Baroness looks exasperated.

Ah, being a true noble born and raised, the Baroness says she cant fight but has mastered basic magic incantations and usage.

Apparently, being able to use magic incantations is considered a essential noble education.

The main reason the Baroness wants Sara to learn magic seems to be along those lines.

ButurpI dont know how to do it properlywhew

Sara can produce the water sphere, but after that, she cant seem to launch it towards the target properly.

And getting frustrated at her inability, she overdid the practice and depleted her reserves, collapsing as a result.

Hmm, but I wonder why she cant do it properly?

If shes incanting correctly, the magic assistance system should be functioning normally to enable success, no?

<Thats likely because, as the Baroness mentioned, shes unable to properly visualize the magic, as I suspected. The system can only assist with magical power manipulation. If the user cant firmly visualize the magic they want to use, and doesnt have the corresponding magical power for it, the system alone wont allow them to use that magic.>

I see, visualization hmm

<Additionally, Saras easily distracted nature is also an issue. You cant thread a needle while looking elsewhere, can you?>

If you put it that way, it really does seem like a pipe dream for the current airheaded Sara to use magic properly.

You need to stay focused, Sara.

Be a lady to use magic, is that it?

Hey hey, Emi, Emi can use magic too right? I want to see Emis magic!

Oh? The rested and slightly reenergized Sara is saying strange things again?

<Her mind is wandering again. She likely wants some kind of change of pace.>

You used magic to save us from the robbers, right? The robbers said so! I didnt get a good look at it then, so I want to see it!

Hmm, well even if you say that

I do think Im fairly capable when it comes to magical power manipulation.

So in the fundamental sense, you could say I can use magic without any issue.

But the kind of magic Sara and the Baroness are referring to is the type that manifests through incantations, right?

In that case, I cant use magic.

If I try an incantation, Ill apparently explode and die.

I want to see! I want to see Emis magic~~!

Ah! Sara, stop being so noisy!

Dont flail around on the ground like that!

Look, youre making a vein bulge on the Baroness forehead! Realize it, Sara!

Geez, fine then. Allow me to show you my magic!

I plunge my right hand into the ground and scoop up some dirt clumps as usual.

Then I clench my fist tightly.

Alright, Solidify!

I manipulate my magical power to make the pebbles as hard as possible.

Watch closely Sara! Im using magic right now!

And with the completed hardened pebble, I put everything into Stone Throw towards the target!

Of course, I dont forget to apply Body Reinforcement either.

The pebble that shot out of my palm at an abnormal speed struck the target, and without losing momentum, mowed down several trees in the forest beyond the field.

The crashing sound of the toppling trees echoed out.

Sara stares dumbfounded, while the Baroness looks at me with a pale expression.

I showed you. My magic.

Hows that, milady?

Are you satisfied?

I dont think that was magic

No, it was magic, probably. In the fundamental sense.

I dont think that was magic

Even the Baroness! Well, I can understand their perspective to an extent.

Afterwards, the gruff old butler came running out from the residence, alarmed by the crashing sound. He gave me a thorough scolding, and Saras magic practice session was promptly concluded for the day.