Chapter 5

Sirone looked back on the events that had taken place in the city. It wasn’t a simple matter. If he began to talk about it, he would have to explain what happened at the magic school as well. Sirone could sense just how significant the events of that day were. Whether it was a blessing or a curse, he was well aware that he couldn’t go back to how things were before.

A prodigy often knew they were a prodigy, and Sirone had vaguely realized from a young age that he was different from others. He knew he was gifted, and even though he had never felt superior, his desire to surpass his limits was stronger than anyone else’s. However, he couldn’t show it. To him, his parents were the most precious beings in the whole world. Even though they were poor, they had never forced him onto the wrong path.

So, life continued as usual. He helped his mother with household chores, and in the afternoons, he went to the nearby forest to gather wood. However, most of the time he spent there was not with an ax but in meditation. Since his awakening, Sirone had secretly been practicing entering the Spirit Zone every day. Eventually, about a month later, he could enter the Spirit Zone much quicker than before. However, there were still parts that were not as easy as he had thought. Even though he had become accustomed to the spirit realm, he couldn’t replicate the magic he had cast in the alley.

It can’t be helped. After all, it was magic that succeeded through coercion and unconsciously. The magic that had been performed under pressure, even in the same circumstances or emotions, was difficult to imitate once he was already conscious of its success.

To cast magic rationally, I need to understand all the intermediate steps beyond insight. Since Sirone hadn’t formally learned magic, there was no information available to him. Instead, he persistently delved into the one thing he could do, which was enter the Spirit Zone. After finishing meditation, he practiced his Thunderstrikes.

Strangely, as he started to become conscious of it, his success rate actually dropped. Insight is truly remarkable. Sometimes, beginners succeeded not because of knowledge but because of insight. However, chopping wood was different from magic, so he could practice as much as he wanted. Sirone corrected one error after another, swinging the ax dozens of times. With every crack and thud, trees fell satisfyingly. But Sirone began sawing without happiness or satisfaction. He had only discovered and corrected one error.

“Tomorrow, and then again the next day...”

That was how he continued with the basics. For the opportunity that will come someday... As Sirone carried the wood back home, his gaze was more intense than usual.

A Chance More Precious Than Life

Standing by the window, Sirone looked out at the breathtaking sight of autumn leaves swirling around the mountains. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed, and he had turned fifteen. Although traces of boyishness still lingered, his face was remarkably beautiful, enough to catch anyone’s eye.

“I’ll be back soon, Mom,” he called.

“Don’t push yourself. We have enough firewood now.”

“Winter is approaching. It’s better to prepare ahead of time.” As he stepped out of the cabin, a chill lingered in the air. Snow had already begun to pile up on the mountaintop as seasons arrived earlier in the mountains compared to the city. “I’ll have to hurry if I want to return before sunset.”

Sirone was not afraid of the cold. After three years of training in the Spirit Zone, his mental endurance surpassed that of most adults. Ever since his shyness disappeared, he got along with the children of lumberjacks, but he didn’t have any particularly close friends.

They were different from Sirone. The lumberjack’s children were all tough, and the girls shared a similar mindset. For instance, a year ago, a woman named Hauran from a slash-and-burn village had tried to seduce Sirone. Despite being six years older, when she attempted to get physically close, Sirone was taken aback and firmly declined. In response, she threatened to spread false rumors and tarnish his family name. Looking back on that time, Sirone couldn’t help but chuckle. While it didn’t happen, he still vividly remembered the days he spent worrying if she would actually come. I hope she’s doing well.

Arriving at the logging area, he found a suitable tree and skillfully wielded his ax. Then he carefully inspected the carved-out grooves, not with his eyes but with his insight. It’s not something you can perceive with just your eyes.

When one repeats the same action or thought countless times, one might come to understand the underlying principle. Over the course of three years, Sirone had tried various techniques with the ax, and recently, he was starting to get the hang of it.

Feel it with my eyes. It was a method he referred to as “inner sight.” In an instant, the look in his eyes changed, and with newfound strength, he struck the grooved area. Following the thunderous sound, the tree fell. Success on the second try... While luck was particularly on his side this time, Sirone was the type to succeed sooner or later.

“Whew,” he sighed. Having finished his quota, Sirone sat beside the felled tree and entered the Spirit Zone. The Spirit Zone he was in was a rough sphere with a diameter of about forty meters, a level that would be considered to be among the top percentile even at the prestigious School of Magic.

Sirone felt the world beneath the ground. He sensed the rustling of the bushes, as if in harmony with the earth, the movements of the earthworms, and even the sound of tree roots absorbing moisture. Sirone could vividly perceive them all. Nature never rests. It constantly changes. Immersing himself in this dynamic world, five hours passed in the blink of an eye.

“Huh? It’s already dark,” he said to himself. After concluding his meditation, Sirone chopped the tree into pieces and slung them onto a carrying pole. Upon arriving home, he noticed a carriage standing in the yard and looked toward the stable. Two unfamiliar white horses were nibbling at their feed.

“I’m back,” Sirone called. Unlike usual, there was no cheerful response. The atmosphere felt strange. His mother wore a somber expression, and in the living room, an unfamiliar elderly man was talking to his father.

“Huh? Dad? When did you get back?”

“Sirone, you’re here,” his father acknowledged. Considering he had left at dawn to sell goods, his return was rather quick. Under normal circumstances, there would have been hugs and greetings, but this time, everyone seemed tense.

“Greet our guest, Sirone. He is the under-butler of House Ojent, Mr. Temuran.”

The old man approached Sirone. “Pleased to meet you. I am Temuran.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Sirone,” he greeted politely. Even though he lived in a rural valley, he was aware of House Ojent. They were second-class nobles from Creyas, a lineage that had produced numerous warriors.

“I’ve come here to meet you.” Though the butler was a commoner, his way of speaking carried the sensibilities typical of nobility.

The Kingdom of Tormia’s social hierarchy was divided into nobles and commoners, but in reality, it was much more complex. Those who worked closely with the nobility held higher authority, while those who lived completely outside the castle walls, like Vincent’s family, were often referred to as untouchables and treated with condescension. But still... Why had a high-ranking commoner come all the way to this remote valley?

“I’ll take a look first.” Temuran examined Sirone’s appearance, physique, gaze, and more by assessing him. It felt like he was being treated like livestock, and just as Sirone was starting to feel frustrated, the under-butler said, “I was told you know how to read.”

“Yes. I’ve been reading books bit by bit since I was young.”

“Hmm.” The old man mused.

Sirone’s patience was reaching its limit. “Could you please tell me what this is about? Please explain what’s going on first,” he blurted out.

Temuran’s gaze sharpened. “Your reputation is quite impressive. A woodsman’s son who can read, and they also say you’re deeply devoted to your family.” It sounded like he was mocking him.

What is all this about? Unable to bear it any longer, Sirone was about to respond, but an unbelievable statement from Temuran interrupted him.

“Would you consider working for House Ojent?”

“Pardon?” Sirone felt like he had been struck by lightning. What kind of work does he mean? No, that’s not the problem. Working for a second-class noble family wasn’t an issue.

“The family is relocating their grand library. It’s not a task that can be entrusted to just anyone. Among the thousands of books, there are some that must not be leaked. The laborers will handle the heavy lifting, but the sorting work will be done by you and me alone. It’ll take about two years.”

A library? Sirone felt like his heart was about to explode. His keen insight sensed the hidden venom in the proposal, yet it seemed like he would drink any poison offered.

Temuran explained what kind of poison Sirone would have to drink. He took pride in not deceiving commoners. “Only you and your family will know this fact. If, for any reason, it gets out that books were leaked, you and your family will be as good as dead.”

Sirone understood why his parents’ expressions were so grim. Even if nothing were to be leaked, entrusting their lives to others for two years, not knowing what might happen, was a risk. Yet, perhaps the reason he couldn’t refuse the offer was...

“Since it’s a matter of life and death, you’ll be adequately compensated. You’ll receive much more than what your father earns from hunting. Your family will prosper by having a gifted child,” Temuran added.

Vincent responded with a flushed face. “I didn’t consider your proposal because of money! All I want is for our Sirone, our Sirone...” He trailed off as his eyes suddenly welled up with tears. He felt unworthy as a father, like he hadn’t done anything for Sirone. When he was finally able to give his son an opportunity, it was at the risk of his son’s life. “I want... his dreams to come true,” he murmured.

Temuran let out a bitter laugh. “What are you hoping for? To seek success through flattery? If so, snap out of it. Let me be clear, this is simply a job offer. After all, you were the one who begged me to employ your son. I’m sure you did so for the money.”

“You said he would be able to read books!”

“Indeed, he could. But what I meant is that it will be impossible to monitor him closely enough to prevent him from reading. That’s why if there’s a leak, he’ll lose his head. It’s a basic safety measure.”

Vincent gritted his teeth together. When he went into the city to sell goods, he heard that a commoner who could read was being sought by a noble family’s butler. Seeing it as a stroke of good fortune, he didn’t hesitate and rushed to Temuran, pleading for the opportunity to employ Sirone. However, he never expected it to turn out like this. Above all, he feared what his son may think of him. What if he thought that his father would sell his own child, blinded by money?

“Get out. I don’t need any money. If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have asked. So leave at once!”

“Dad, I’ll do it.”

“Sirone!”

Temuran looked at the boy with surprise. It was a matter of life and death and quite a terrifying task for a fifteen-year-old boy from a humble background to take on.

“Are you sure? I’m not trying to scare you. But know that even if the smallest rumor spreads, you’ll lose your life.”

“Yes, I’ll do it. I’ll never let anything leak. Even if for some reason a rumor does spread, I won’t hold it against you. Please let me do it.”

Sirone spoke with such determination that Temuran felt like he could trust him. All the conditions were perfect. He was an untouchable who could be killed at any moment, had a deep sense of duty, and was clever. Feeling satisfied after making a successful deal, Temuran turned to leave.

“I’ll come back in one week. If your mind changes before then, feel free to refuse. But once you enter the mansion, you can not leave until the job is done.”

Temuran opened the door and left, but Sirone’s family wasn’t in the mood to wish the under-butler a good journey.