Jigglypuff's Diary

The Next Morning

I brought up last night’s discussion with everyone during breakfast.

“She’s right, you know. Your lessons on warlock arts are proceeding perfectly well, so devoting time elsewhere won’t be a problem. It’s not good to overwork anyhow and a change of pace might even help, so if anything, I’d recommend it.” [Rosenberg]

“We have to keep surveying the mountain anyway, so we might as well look for better routes while we’re at it.” [Jeff]

“If anything, you’re the question here, Ryouma. You sure you gonna be okay with all this workload?” [Yurdum]

“That’s right, nyaa! Your schedule is packed tight as is and you want to add more!?” [Miya]

It seemed the only concern they had with the plan was me.

“I’ll be fine. We’re already done measuring miasma levels, so while I still need to do some checks before progressing with my purification work, there’s no need to investigate as thoroughly. The most physically demanding tasks are already behind us. And with magic, the construction work shouldn’t be much trouble.” [Ryouma]

Looking over my objectives again:

Study miasma purification
Reproduce the lost magic of dispelling curses
Explore ways for Cormi to interact with outsiders

The first two were my main objectives, to which end, I needed to master the warlock arts. Without solid fundamentals, I wouldn’t be able to do a good job, so Rosenberg-sama had to drill everything into me properly.

It might look like I’m juggling many things, but really, all of these objectives are contingent on my mastery of the warlock arts.

So, it’s not multiple tasks at once but rather multiple tasks that will be cleared in order.

I’ve already mostly learned how to purify miasma on the very first day, so I should have plenty of leeway.

Rosenberg-sama himself says that a change of pace would be beneficial, and improving the living environment and roads can only make our stay here that much more convenient.

Moreover, I’ll also be able to put on a good image as a specialist of the duke and prevent unnecessary problems from cropping up later on. That’s not just two birds with one stone, but three or even four.

“With everyone’s help, and with my familiars, I believe it should be manageable.” [Ryouma]

“Well, if he does overwork himself, we could always just stop him. In that regard, it’s a good plan.” [Yurdum]

After Yurdum-san said that, the others too nodded and the discussion proceeded into the practical stage.

---

After breakfast.

We continued with the lessons on purification (application), but Rosenberg-sama had asked me during breakfast to show him the purification method I used in the Town of Departed Spirits, so we started the lesson with a demonstration on my part.

Moreover, the adventurer team didn’t head out to survey the mountain right away, instead staying behind until I finished. My method relied on smoke, so it could end up badly if my method was flawed somehow or if the smoke got in their way; hence, the precaution.

So, I watched the wind and prepared carefully in that plateau just below where the cave-in occurred, then I started.

Today’s goal was purification, so at first, I thought of the image of to “fumigate and sterilize,” but since the source of the miasma was an abandoned graveyard–in other words, a graveyard with no one to tend to–I thought it would be proper to visualize the image of a memorial offering instead.

The ritual was the same either way, so it was best to start by giving repose, then cleanse the land. I quietly lit a fire, offered food and mana, and then prayed. Using what I learned yesterday, I also kept a close eye on the flow of the miasma.

As I repeated the set motions while monitoring the mana, my mind naturally cleared just like it would when practicing the forms of my martial arts. The noise of the surroundings and even the smell of smoke faded away, and before long, I could only feel the flow of miasma intimately.

Though I had used this spell many times before, by observing it so intimately, I was able to realize something new. The smoke was drawing in the miasma. Just like yesterday’s staff, the miasma gathered into an instrument, but the instrument this time was the smoke, which scattered the miasma into the wind until it dissolved away, at which point, the unpleasant sensation too disappeared.

Taking that as confirmation that the spell was working, I stoked the fire and continued, reinforcing the image of the purification process even more clearly.

“That’s enough.” [Rosenberg]
“Understood.” [Ryouma]

At Rosenberg-sama’s call, I lowered my hands.

“You were really focused.” [Rosenberg]
“Yes, did a lot of time pass?” [Ryouma]
“Just about an hour.” [Rosenberg]

I had been so absorbed I lost track of time. Sitting in front of the fire, I was sweating and my throat was dry. By the time I realized it, Sebasu-san was already at my side with a canteen and a towel. He was as perfectly prepared as ever.

“Take a break and listen. First of all, the purification you just performed worked properly.” [Rosenberg]
“Really? That’s good to hear.” [Ryouma]
“If it hadn’t, I would have stopped you immediately. But it was flawless. In fact, didn’t you refine the technique midway through? I thought the effect grew stronger as you continued.” [Rosenberg]

I explained that I had incorporated what I learned in yesterday’s lesson, and Rosenberg-sama gave an exasperated smile.

“Not only did you develop your own spell and enhance it in such a short time, what surprises me most is that you did it with virtually no prior knowledge of warlock arts. That alone makes further applied training unnecessary.” [Rosenberg]

“So when you say no training is necessary…” [Ryouma]

“Yes. By taking the method of collecting miasma through purification, then manipulating it and dispersing it so widely that its cohesive nature fails, you return it to nature. That is an advanced purification technique.

I’d suspected as much when I heard your description earlier, but to think you had skipped the basics altogether and mastered the advanced method. Just as Clemis-sama said, you truly do have talent in the warlock arts.” [Rosenberg]

“Thank you. But now that I think about it, what I was doing was actually rather dangerous, wasn’t it?” [Ryouma]

If I hadn’t dispersed the miasma properly, I might have just spread it further instead.

“Exactly. That’s why it’s considered advanced. It is not a technique beginners should attempt. Normally, one would master the fundamentals first, then train under a teacher’s supervision before the notion of even trying this would be considered. That’s why I was ready to stop you at a moment’s notice if there were problems.” [Rosenberg]

It was probably because of the results I produced at the Town of Departed Spirits that Rosenberg-sama thought it would be fine.

Remilie-nee-san wasn’t a warlock, but she was a former court mage, so her words carried weight.

“Of course, I didn’t grade you leniently just because you had Clemis-sama’s endorsement. Anyway, since you don’t need further applied training, our next step should be—” [Rosenberg]

“Excuse me.” [Eleonora]

It was Eleonora-san who spoke up here.

“If there are no problems with his purification spell, may I suggest letting the others head out for the survey?” [Eleonora]

“Ah, of course. Rosenberg-sama?” [Ryouma]

“Yes. Since we’ve confirmed it’s safe, that would be more efficient.” [Rosenberg]

And so, the adventurer team and Yurdum-san departed to continue surveying the mountains. After sending them off, we continued with my studies.

“Now that your ability to purify miasma has been confirmed, before proceeding, let’s take a quick look on curses. You’ll need this for the post-purification procedures.” [Rosenberg]

“You mean like those markings left on those trees?” [Ryouma]

The warlock before us had used a spell to keep miasma from leaking, a sort of barrier that lasted for a significantly extended period of time.

“Exactly. You seem to learn best through practice, so let’s keep the explanation brief.

When casting a curse, you need to clearly define the target and it’s purpose, and then you need to restrict it.

This is crucial. You might think that’s true for all magic, but it is especially true for warlock arts, as that is the only way to prevent a curse from going out of control.” [Rosenberg]

Rosenberg-sama continued with a story well known among sorcerers.

As the story goes, a long, long time ago, there was a greedy noble.
He was ruthless, amassing wealth through forceful means and wielding power for selfish gain. He prospered, while his subjects suffered, and he came to be deeply hated.

One day, a corpse was found inside the noble’s carriage.
The cause of death was a curse.
Later investigation would unravel that the culprit was a vagrant.

That vagrant had once been the son of a merchant who did business with the noble’s household. The noble had ruined the family shop, forcing debts upon them, and through hardship the boy’s parents fell ill and perished. When the son encountered the carriage of his parent’s enemy, the son’s long-festering grudge erupted uncontrollably into a curse.

On its own, that pent-up hatred killed a man, telling volumes of just how dangerous curses were, but the story continued, for the man that died wasn’t the hated noble.

“The dead man was a merchant who had dealings with the lord’s household, the very man who had taken the culprit’s father’s place. He had bribed the noble heavily to win his favor. On that day, when his own carriage broke down, the noble, being in a rare good mood, lent him his carriage.” [Rosenberg]

“So the culprit mistook the man riding in the noble’s carriage for the wicked noble?” [Ryouma]

“Exactly. Emotions are like wild horses. If you ride them well, they can grant you great power, allowing you to achieve the impossible even compared to other magics, but they are prone to running wild, and the resulting damage is often severe. Often when an accident occurs, it is already too late.” [Rosenberg]

“Kind of sounds like how rumors work, when malicious intent is spread carelessly and ruins lives.” [Ryouma]

Having lived in a society dominated by social media, I had seen too many situations like that.

“Ah, I’ve gone off on a tangent again. Anyway, the point is this, when casting a curse, never forget to make the target and purpose clear. In this story, a misunderstanding killed the wrong person, but there are cases where a curse spreads indiscriminately and the caster ends up cursed themselves.” [Rosenberg]

“I’ll be careful.” [Ryouma]

“Good. Now, as for the methods of clearly defining the target, a common technique is to ‘use a marker.’ For instance, in the story, the culprit cursed the merchant because he was riding in the noble’s carriage. The carriage bore the noble’s crest, which became the focus of the grudge.” [Rosenberg]

“Ah, so the markings on those trees work based on that concept.” [Ryouma]

“Yes. Family crests, symbols, anything visually recognizable is easy to focus on. It doesn’t have to be an emblem also. Tools, ornaments, even a person’s name, likeness, or body parts can serve as a marker.” [Rosenberg]

The mention of body parts reminded me of the Ushi no Toki Mairi, a traditional japanese curse, where nails are driven into a straw doll with the victim’s hair inside. I asked if that counted and Rosenberg-sama nodded.

“Yes, a human shape, be it drawn in paintings or molded into dolls, is one way to focus a curse. If you know what marker was used, you can trace and counter the curse.

For the record, curses are not only terrifying, they can also have beneficial uses.

For example, someone suffering from insomnia can be helped with a sleep curse.

So, the same technique, depending on context, can do good too. Remember that.” [Rosenberg]

As Rosenberg-sama ended his explanation, we moved on to practical training, and he asked me to demonstrate a curse I had used before.

The one I knew was the Curse of Disease (Influenza), which was taught to me by Remilie-neesan in the ghost town.

Just like back then, I picked up a small stone and cursed it.

Immediately, it exuded a sinister aura.

“Stronger than I expected, but a success nonetheless. You don’t even need the basic practice. At this rate, you’ll be able to create effective seals against miasma that last even longer.” [Rosenberg]

Like that, our training kicked into full gear.

“Just as you invoked your own experience with illness for the Curse of Disease, finding negative emotions that align with your purpose will make casting easier.” [Rosenberg]

“The target is this stone, the purpose is to hold back the miasma, to block, to press down, to repel…” [Ryouma]

I thought about it for a moment, then after a while, I decided on the image of isolation to mean ‘stay away, don’t approach.’

That was exactly how I felt when I had withdrawn into the forest, so it was easy to imagine.

I filled my heart with that memory of weariness against human contact and cast the curse.

“Isolation.” [Ryouma]

It was hard to tell since I had just purified the miasma, but it seemed as though the very air recoiled from the stone.

“How is it?” [Ryoma]

“Perfect. I have nothing left to teach.” [Rosenberg]

It seemed this spell too worked on the first try. Guess, I really did have a knack for the warlock’s path.