Vol. 1 - Ch. 2 - Let's read a book

I logged in to the game after taking a break. It was already midnight in the game and obviously the perfect time to sneak in.

'Let's go out and look for the library.'

 I went south first, just as the diary says. The "two blocks" is a bit of a long way off, but I think it means two streets away. Let's assume my guess is correct and move on.

"Well, it's the Lesser Rat Man..."

 I spotted Lesser Ratman walking along the end of the sewer a little further on. It seems like he hasn't noticed me yet. What should I do?

 Well, I guess I'll just have to run since I have no weapons for distant attacks.

 I put on my robe and ducked under the shadows of some of the pillars to avoid him. In this way, the body of a moving skeleton with no breathing sounds and body heat might be too easy to hide from others.

You have gained [Concealment] from your previous action experience.

You have gained [Stealthy feet] from your previous action experience.

 After hiding myself from others, I arrived at the ladder described in the diary, avoiding possible combat. On the way, I've gained two new ability skills, and it might help me sneak into the library a little easier.

Oh yeah, I think I forgot to explain that. There are two ways to gain ability skills in this game. The first method was to spend the SP (skill points you get when you level up), and the other was to repeat the action corresponding to the ability skill. I must have gained the ability skill to conceal myself because I hid in the shadows and walked without making a sound, all the way here.

 I wasn't aware of this method earlier because it was very unpopular among players. Even though it has the advantage of not consuming SP, it was tedious and painful to do something repeatedly in the game. For example, to acquire [Swordsmanship], you have to keep swinging your sword a certain required number of times.

On other hand, it was quicker to use the SP gained from leveling up to obtain a new ability.

"Now, let's go up."

 Putting aside the discussion of ability skills, I decided to climb the thin wooden ladder in front of the library.

Thankfully, I'm very light since I am only bones. Even though I had average grades in PE at school, I can easily climb up. After all, the Moving skeleton is a great scout species.

No, let's not get distracted. After climbing up the ladder in just ten seconds, I pushed open the cover that looked like a manhole that blocked the entrance.

"Hmmmmm, it's heavy...!"

 After moving the lid without making any noise, I finally broke into the library.

Although there were many players in the game, I think I'm the first player who trespassed into a building.

"Here are cleaning supplies too.. this looks like a storage room."

The [Stealth] level has increased.

The [stealthy feet] level has increased.

I searched and found some books that are useful for me. I brought some of the books to the private room instead of reading them at the library.

"Mmm-hmm-hmm!"

I couldn't help but laugh in my private office at the base. Well, I've gotten more than I expected. Not only I've found "The Basics of Magic", "What is Attribute Magic", "The Basics of Alchemy", and "Introduction to Summoning", but I also got "The Complete Book of Elementary Ability Skills", "The List of Alchemy Materials", "Applied Magic", "Applied Alchemy", and even a book called "Magical Formation Studies"!

 And as for the last one, "Magic Circle Studies", it seems like I can acquire the [Magic Circle] ability skill by reading it carefully. This was not an option when I created my character, but it looks like there are a lot of ability skills that I can obtain by gathering information within the game.

 And by the way, I didn't steal the books from the library. I've only planned to borrow them for a long time. Well, when I left with the contents of the drawers, it never showed that I had acquired the ability skill of "stealing", so I  think I should be fine.

"Let's read the basics of magic."

You have gained the [Magic Control] skill from your previous action experience.

You have gained the [No Magic] skill from your previous action experience.

 Yes, I finished reading the first book. It was way more fun than I thought it would be!

 The content of the book can be summarized as follows:

"Witchcraft is the use of magic to create some special phenomenon, and I will be able to learn how to feel and use the magic that is the source of the phenomenon. The explanations on the books were so easy that even a junior high school student, or even an upper elementary school student, can understand them. AT the end of the chapter, there was a section called "Let's practice!" which helps the reader to get better at it. I could acquire two ability skills just by following the "Practice!"

Thanks to [Magic Control], Now, I can freely control my own magical power, and [No Magic] can handle non-attributes, the pure magical power without any attributes. Now I can say that I have finally entered the world of magic! Let's read more and more and find new things!

"What is Attribute Magic?"

 I finished reading "What is Attribute Magic" and "Fundamentals of Alchemy".

I learned to acquire attribute magic without consuming SP, even though I had to read a specialized book on each attribute. I found out that magic evolves into a higher ability skill when it reaches level 10, and to do so, it requires SP. Unfortunately, the only way to increase magic and alchemy levels was to practice them repeatedly.

"I'll have to go out into the field."

 According to the list of alchemy materials, the only materials available in the city of Firth was medicinal herbs and poisonous plants that grow naturally in the southern forests. The ores were in the northern mountains as well as the entrails and bones of demons.

 It seems that the rat's front teeth and skin that I received earlier are alchemy materials. However, the minimum level required for them was 3.

I'll never succeed with what I have in my hands at the moment. Moreover, according to the "Fundamentals of Alchemy," the level for [alchemy] can only be increased by success. I guess there is no other way but to go out and collect materials.

 So I set out immediately.

 But the trouble was, I couldn't figure out how to get out of the sewers and move to the fields. So while mapping out the sewers, I decided to hunt down the demons along the way and raise my level. However, even though I'm trying to level up, I'm currently a solo sorcerer. The moment I run out of magic, it's obvious that  I will become nothing more than a doll. I can't do anything rash, and I can't definitely fight without magic.

 I made full use of [Stealth] and [Stealthy Feet] and proceeded cautiously to the north for now. Although there is not even a single light in the sewers, thanks to my night vision, I can see everything clearly,

"There you are."

 After a minute's walk, I spotted Lesser Ratman,  who seems to be a regular in the sewers. Thanks to my ability skill, he failed to notice me.

It's a chance for a surprise attack. Before that, let's try [Appraisal] on the opponent.

Race: Lesser Ratman Lv4

Occupation: None

Ability Skill: [Bad Eating]

   [????]

[Bad Eating]??.... I guess they can't eat a proper meal in this environment? Well, I also don't have anywhere to eat, but....... no, wait. Is it possible that they eat bones too? Maybe that's why it attacked me recently.

"Dark Ball Dark Ball."

The moment I activated my magic, a black sphere formed at the tip of my wand. Maybe the ball was made up of only magical cosmic energy. When it became about the size of a bowling ball in a few seconds, it flew straight toward the small Lesser Ratman and hit his head directly.

"Juh..."

You have won a battle.

You have acquired the [Surprise] skill from your previous actions.

A single blow? Is the power of magic that high? Or is it the effect of the [Surprise Attack] I just acquired? If it succeeds, will the damage be doubled? Damn, I need to verify again. Let's look for our next prey.

...Okay, there they are. Now there are two of preys. The result of the [appraisal] is the same as before, four levels. Well, that's good for verification.

"Dark Ball Dark Ball."

"Joooo..."

"Sssss!"

I attacked them with a surprise attack.

 The surprise attack was successful. I knew it was a blow. Watching me attacking, the other lesser Rat Man came towards me.

"Dark Ball Dark Ball!"

"Zzz!"

 The Lesser Rat Man stepped and ducked my dark ball in anger. But to no avail! Thanks to my careful reading of the introductory textbook, I have mastered [magic power control]. This technique allowed me to freely control my actions and manipulate the magic to unleash it to some extent.

"What?"

  I made my Dark Ball move to track the Lesser Rat Man and struck him directly in the face.

My strength is... geez, it's barely over half of what I have left. Oh well.

"Magic Ball."

"Ji!"

 The magic ball is one of the basic offensive magic techniques. Even though it delivers a clean hit to the head, its effect will be about 10% weaker than the dark ball.

 I was expecting this. According to the book "Fundamentals of Magic", "no magic" is superior in terms of fuel consumption and activation speed. Since the magic ball has no attributes, it can leave a specific effect on any enemy, but it is inferior to attribute magic in terms of the power of a single shot.

"Dark Ball Dark Ball"

 I quickly hit him with another dark ball to finish it off. That was pretty easy. Next time if I take them by surprise, I'll be able to defeat the two Lesser Ratmen from a single blow.

Race level increased. 1SP gained.

Occupation job level increased. 1SP gained.

Magic Control level increased.

Dark Magic level increased.

No Magic level increased.

Surprise attack level increased.

 Oh, I've leveled up. The growth of my ability skills is going well, too. I heard it is easy to go up to the 10th level, so I guess I'm not leveling up at a quicker rate.

 At this rate, I have to continue hunting until my magic power gets reduced to half. Then I'll go back to the lab and study magic until my magic power gets restored. This routine should be okay to continue for a while.

 Speaking of which, my magic level went up, but my [wand] level didn't increase? Is it because it got only raised in the first battle?

 Perhaps the [Wand] level requires more experience, it might work if I hit with it... or something like that?

 And now,  it's time to use the SP.

 I was planning to use the magic of all attributes anyway. As Yifa sama said, I can't learn the light attributes, but it is no longer a  problem since I've got four basic attributes and four SPs with me.

Retrieved from [Earth Magic].

Retrieved from [Water Magic].

Fire magic is now available.

Wind magic is now available.

 That's it, then. Now, I will resume my hunt and use it to raise my ability skill level as much as possible.

Well,  it's good to have a magical knowledge that surpasses the main character, the wise man, as a villain specializing in magic.

Name: Isam

Race: Moving Skeleton Lv2 up!

Occupation: Apprentice Magician Lv2 up!

Ability Skill: Remaining SP 100

   [Wand] Lv1

   [Magic Control] Lv1 new!

   [Earth Magic] Lv0 new!

   [Water Magic] Lv0 new!

   [Fire Magic] Lv0 new!

   [Wind Magic] Lv0 new!

   [Dark Magic] Lv1 up!

   [No Magic] Lv1 new!

   [Archeology] (Lv5 up!)

   [Linguistics] (Lv3 up!)

   [Alchemy] (Lv0)

   [Appraisal] (Lv3 up!)

   [Night Vision] Lv-!

   [Covert] Lv2 new!

   [Stealthy Feetsteps] Lv1 new!

   [Ambush] Lv1 new!

   [Disable Abnormalities] (Lv-)

   [Vulnerable to Light Attribute] (Lv10)

   [Vulnerable to Blows] Lv10

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