~Side Sebasu~
Ryouma-sama invoked Teleport, and in the next instant, he appeared beside the nearby rock. He invoked it 4 more times after that, appearing and disappearing around me, until the fourth invocation where he appeared in front of me again.
Teleport is a spell that instantly changes one’s position, so many beginners lose their footing after casting it, but Ryouma-sama did not lose his footing even once. It was a spectacular Teleport.
It may only be a beginner spell, but you can really feel his experience with it from how natural and how quickly he invokes it. He must have spent much time training with it to use it to this extent.
“Masterful performance, Ryouma-sama. If you can use it that well then you should also be able to use the intermediate dimension spells, Dimension Magic and Warp.” [Sebasu]
“Really!?” [Ryouma]
“Yes. Ryouma-sama, do you know why dimension magic is the hardest attribute to use among the higher attributes?” [Sebasu]
“No. Why is it the hardest?” [Ryouma]
“Can you explain how to use dimension magic?” [Sebasu]
“Use mana to interfere with the space and distort it.” [Ryouma]
“Exactly. But it is that very basic concept of interfering with space that leaves so many boggled.
Space is ever present, but only few can truly grasp it.” [Sebasu]
To make things worse, most of the textbooks teaching dimension magic are filled with exaggerated wording such as ‘that which envelops all things within the world’, making it difficult for aspiring dimension mages to grasp the proper image. In the end, the image they visualize often ends up poorly, leaving them with nothing more than a shoddy attempt at interference.
In actuality, the most important thing is to use mana precisely and grasp it deeply within the space. Unfortunately, that’s not something that could be explained with words.
Words alone can only give half the picture. There’s no other way to succeed but to keep on trying until one is able to grasp the sensation. Until then learning intermediate dimension magic or higher will remain but a dream.
“This might surprise you, but actually, the lower dimension spells aren’t actually any different from the intermediate spells.” [Sebasu]
“!?” [Ryouma]
He he… A fitting reaction.
“In the past, dimension magic didn’t have the lower spells it has now. It didn’t have such distinctions. After all, the first step to mastering dimension magic is to grasp space, and those who fail to do that are considered incomplete.
With time the people who could use dimension magic grew less and less, until eventually, the standard for dimension magic plummeted and the spells grew weaker. The elementary spells today are none other than the weakened intermediate spells.” [Sebasu]
“So you’re saying I could use the same image I use for Item Box and Teleport to cast Dimension Home and Warp?” [Ryouma]
“Yes. You’ll need to supplement Dimension Magic with something else, but for Warp, it’s exactly the same image. The casting range of Warp is far greater than Teleport, so as long as you can grasp your destination, you can go as far as your mana permits. Let’s see… How about the top of that rock?” [Sebasu]
I pointed toward the farthest and biggest rock around.
The top of that rock was flat, so there was sufficient foothold. He shouldn’t get hurt even if he falls.
“Sure. I’ll give it a shot.” [Ryouma]
Oh, Ryouma-sama looks quite eager to test his mettle. Students like him are truly worthy of teaching.
How many students have I taught just like this?
When I was born and it was found out that I possessed an aptitude for dimension magic, I spent all my time training and working as a butler.
My magic proved most useful during my travels with the previous lord. When the previous lord stopped traveling, I worked daily as his aide.
I believe it was around this time when I was praised as one of the country’s leading dimension mages. The reason behind that was because I often used Dimension Home to carry most of the previous lord’s luggage. There were plenty of times when I appeared in public too.
Because of that countless people asked to become my disciple.
I ignored all the letters sent to me, but there were some who used their connections with the previous lord to have their sons or retainers taught.
Naturally, I couldn’t ignore such people, so I taught them. I know for sure that I’ve taught over a hundred people, but I stopped counting after that, so the actual number is a mystery, but regardless, the number of people who could use intermediate dimension spells by the end of my sessions do not even number 10.
Many of the sons from the affluent families refused to listen when I told them that dimension magic couldn’t be explained well with words, and they did nothing but complain, in the end, not getting much of any proper training done.
Someone like Ryouma-sama who obediently listens and earnestly trains is the best sort of student to teach. Even more so when he’s talented too. I wonder if there was ever a time when I personally wanted to teach someone? Perhaps there was indeed such a time, but I don’t remember it anymore.
While I was thinking that, Ryouma-sama closed his eyes and focused.
He was as still as tranquil waters, almost as if he couldn’t hear anything around him.
It is remarkable that he is able to concentrate this much at such a young age, but what sort of training did he undergo to reach this state?
When I think back to it, from the first time I met Ryouma-sama, he’s always been an unbalanced young boy.
He did not have any parents and isolated himself in the forest, but despite all the time spent alone in the forest, his clothes were well kept.
He had difficulties speaking at first, but even then, he spoke with courtesy as he invited us to his house and offered us a most luxurious tea accompanied with an equally luxurious honey.
His house was simple in design but solid and pleasant. He even had a bath. He lived just like a noble.
But the strangest things about him are his knowledge and skill.
He researched slimes, which had long been abandoned by other researchers, and bettered his life by discovering cleaner slimes and scavenger slimes. He even invented a thread I’d never seen before and waterproof clothing.
Once, he said the salt from Gana Forest could be used so long as the poison was detoxified. Reinhart-sama showed interest there, wanting to sell the salt, but what did he say?
There’s not enough to sell. The competition will just drown it out.
He must have been raised as a noble, if not, then at least a merchant, or else how could a child his age have such knowledge of business?
I still remember how he looked at his first town with empty eyes and how skillfully he protected the ojousama from crooks.
And though still young, he has already achieved something by preventing the outbreak of a plague.
Every one of these feats would have been impossible for a normal child, but he did them all.
From time to time, he seems like an adult, but after opening his heart a little, he’s finally started to act his age.
Ryouma-sama is…
“Sebasu-san.” [Ryouma]
Oh, dear… It seems I lost myself in my thoughts there.
“Yes? What is it?” [Sebasu]
“I think I can do it. I’ll try it.” [Ryouma]
“Show me.” [Sebasu]
“… ‘Warp’” [Ryouma]
In the next moment, Ryouma-sama disappeared, and in the next moment, he appeared on top of the rock just as I’ve instructed him.
I warped to the same spot.
“Congratulations, Ryouma-sama. You’ve succeeded at invoking the intermediate dimension spell, Warp.” [Sebasau]
“I did! I really did it! Thank you so much, Sebasu-san!” [Ryouma]
He he… So he acts his age when it comes to magic, I see.
“In that case, let us move on to Dimension Home. You will be opening a hole and imagining a big room inside just like you do for Item Box.
That’s the usual process for Item Box, so I’ve omitted much of the details, but after that is where things change.
After going through the initial stages for Item Box, you will now have to imagine the space you’re creating to have the same environment you have around you.
This is the reason why it’s possible to live and raise monsters inside Dimension Home.
Without this step all you’ll be casting is the elementary spell, Item Box.” [Sebasu]
“I understand.” [Ryouma]
As Ryouma-sama said that, he closed his eyes and focused once more.
It was a much more complicated spell than Warp, so it was only natural that Ryouma-sama seemed to be desperately grasping for the spell’s feeling.
He chanted several times, but nothing more than a black hole appeared.
Again he chanted, again he failed.
He repeated that time and time again, one attempt after another followed by one failure after another, and eventually, sweat trickled down him.
But despite that, Ryouma-sama continued to concentrate. He would take a breather every now and then, but he continued to proactive even as the hours passed. And after 4 hours of training, Ryouma-sama chanted once more, and…
“… ‘Dimension Home’” [Ryouma]
In that instant, a white hole appeared before Ryouma-sama.
“Congratulations, Ryouma-sama. You’ve succeeded in casting Dimension Home.” [Sebasu]
“Alright! Thank you so much! With this I can finally put my slimes in!” [Ryouma]
“I’m glad I was able to help. Should you find your Dimension Home too small, you can always cast it again with more mana to make it bigger. Just note that a black hole means failure, and a white hole means success.” [Sebasu]
“I’ll remember.” [Ryouma]
“Now then, shall we go to where the others are? It’s already dark.” [Sebasu]
“Eh…? Ah!? Wow, it’s this late already?” [Ryouma]
Looks like he didn’t notice.
If he didn’t succeed just now, he might have kept on going.
Normally, he’d have long run out of mana, but as expected of someone with a mana pool rivaling that of the ojousama’s, he’s still got plenty to spare.
“You were really into it. Well then, let us be on our way. ‘Warp’.” [Sebasu]
There are some things I’m concerned about, but for now, let’s just quietly watch over him.
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