146 Mushoku Tensei

There once was a young girl, rescued some 200 years ago from a Labyrinth.
However, that girl lost all her memory and emotions.
Her identity unknown, but from appearance her race could be determined.
Thus, that girl was dropped off at that race's village and begun her life there.
The villagers happily welcomed that girl.

That girl never regain her memories.
But few years later, emotions did return to her.
Soon that bright and cheerful girl fell for a boy of the village, and they became lovers.

Soon they married, but from then a strange problem appeared.
Her sexual appetite grew and grew.
Every night she craved for him.

The race that girl belonged to lacks strong sexual appetite.
Inferior to human or goblins.
Because of that, the boy often felt troubled, but still they lived a quiet life.

Soon afterwards, that girl's body began to change.

Starting from her first time with a boy, every time of the month, she gave birth to something.
A magical crystal.
A small and round magical crystal.
Containing enormous magic power, it could be sold for a high price.
With her husband they discussed it.
Although it made him slightly uncomfortable, never less he accepts her.

Afterwards, the boy sold the magical crystal in the city.
The enormous sums blinded him... But it wasn't his fault, so don't blame the boy.
Not particularly wealthy, nor did the girl work.
At least, the boy did not treat that girl as a golden goose.
They lived happily together.

It happened 5 years later.

The boy died.
He was murdered.
Carrying valuables so regularly, he was marked by human bandits, attacked, losing both life and money.
The boy died, and that girl became a widow.

Ten days after his death.
That girl lost control of herself and attacked another boy in the village.
She knew she shouldn't, yet she did.
But the target didn't really mind, so the matter rests.

Ten days passed.
That girl attacked another boy.
Another ten days, then another.
That girl went wild, her actions exposed, and finally caught by the girls of the village.

Thus she was cast out the village.
Thereafter, she lived as a prostitute, a slave, and finally an adventurer, and even now she wanders the world.

---

Listening to Elinalise's story was the first thing I did this morning.

"... Pretty much that's my life's story."
"I don't really need that much detail..."

Honestly, I feel rather bothered by that story.
ALl I really need is information about curses.
Yet, Elinalise went ahead and told me everything.

"I'm sorry for hiding this from you all this time."
"Does... Cliff know about this?"
"Of course, I told him everything before the wedding."
"Right... and Sylphy?"
"Sylphy doesn't know.  Her grandma was once a prostitute, isn't it better if she doesn't?"
"I think Sylphy wouldn't mind something like this..."
"Rudeus too, please don't look at Sylphy differently after hearing these things.  That girl may be of my blood, but she's just a normal girl."
"Of course.  Me too."

Elinalise is Elinalise, Sylphy is Sylphy.
Still, with a past like hers, I can understand why she wasn't so forthcoming as Sylphy's grandma.
Most people would probably look at her at a differnt light.
What's past is past.
One shouldn't run from one's past, but only I know of it is enough.

"Well, in summary, what is this curse Elinalise speaks of?"
"Magic crystalize within my body after fertilized by men.  Without sperm, magic will expand until I die.  That sort of feeling."
"But, nothing happened in the first few years?"
"I'm not very sure myself about that... But back then, my monthlies haven't start yet, so that might be the case."
"Monthlies..."

So it's related to menstruation.  Magic crystallized from her eggs?
In that case, Zenith's curse is probably something different.
Zenith already have two kids.
I should check with Lilia, but Zenith should be 35 or so, so it's possible.
Still, at least for now, nothing has happened.

"Memory, did it ever return?"
"No, still nothing."
"..."

Her memory never came back.
So who Elinalise actually is, we may never know.
It's still possible that she would suddenly know one day.
But after 200 years, I doubt it.

"Well, Zenith is different from 'that girl' back then.  At least right now, she seems to recognize her flesh and blood.  Maybe her memories can recover."
"It'd be great if that's the case."

I shouldn't be too opportunistic.
Rather, I should just assume the worse and plan from there.

"What about the curse?"
"For now, no symptoms of like mine."
"Right."
"She probably... have a different curse."
"Right."
"Highly likely.  Do you have an idea?"

Idea?
Clues?
Well.
Maybe, maybe not.
I don't have any clue for the curse.

"Nothing."
"Is that so.  Still, can't be too careful."

Probably not a life threatening one.
But as Elinalise said, there might be a trigger somewhere.

"In other words, all we can do now is wait and see?"
"Yeah."

Not too opportunistic.
Hopefully, nothing will happen to Zenith in the future.

"That's everything I know.  I'm sorry.  There's a lot I don't want to talk about, so I was so late to tell you these things."

Elinalise looks downcast after those words.
Yeah, it's a little late.
If it was someone else, he'd yell at her for not saying anything until now.
But I can understand wanting to hide a dark past.
Rather, I should be the one apologizing for hiding my past life.

"No, it's obviously something hard to talk about, yet you told me anyways.  I'm really thankful."

I hold out a hand to Elinalise.
She hold it tightly.

"Then, I'm heading back to Cliff's."
"I'll take a break, then head over to check in with Nanahoshi."
"Ah, then see you later."

Elinalise left the room with those words.

In the end, not much progress regarding Zenith.
Although a curse is highly likely, at least so far nothing happened.
Prepare for now, we'll deal with situations as they arise.

---

After lunch.
I sat by a long table in a room at the Sky Castle.
Seated besides me are Nanahoshi and Cliff, and next to him Zanoba.

Across me me sits Sylvaril of the Void.
With jet black wings, an underling of Perugius.

"Well, let's begin."

Nanahoshi asked Perugius to tutor her in summoning magic.
Having said that, under Nanahoshi's care we end up joining as well.
Since the lessons start from the basics, the teacher isn't Perugius.
Looks like we have to wait until the more advanced part before he makes an appearance.
Right now, Perugius is probably having tea with Ariel.

Although I don't know why exactly Ariel is so set on winning the throne, but having a goal is nice.
I'll support her from behind.
Since Sylphy is her friend.
Although their stations may differ, but there's no such concept as equality in the first place.  It can't be helped.
Since Sylphy and Ariel consider each other friends, then they are.

Oh, I really pay attention to the lessons right now.

"Then, first, just to make sure, what is summoning magic?"

Sylvaril of the Void starts the lesson with a question.

"Person over there..."
"Cliff.  Cliff Grimoire."
"Then, Cliff, answer.  What is summoning?"

Summoning Magic comes in two types.

The Enchantment type.
Primarily has to do creation of magic tools.
In other words, the art of drawing magic circles.
This is Cliff's major and actively taught in Magic City Sharia.

The Summon type.
A way to summon something from this world.
From the most basic creatures to smarter animals like cats and dogs.
Domesticated and docile magical beasts.
Low intelligence magic creatures like goblins and treants.
Or call up the various spirits that dwell in this world.
None of the teachers at Magic City Sharia know this magic, and only a few of the initiates at the Magic Guild are versed in it.
Maybe an unknown country has monopolized the techniques.  Basically, no one teaches it at the Magic City.

That's all I know about it.
Cliff is probably the same and gave a similar answer.

"... That's incorrect."

To that, Sylvaril shakes her head to refuse.

"Indeed, magic circles are indispensable for summoning magic.  But the art of magic circles itself can't be properly call summoning magic."
"In other word, summoning is two of the latter?"

I ask to confirm.
This reminds me of when Roxy taught me magic.

"Yes.  It's true that summoning come in two types."
"Basically, Enchantment isn't one of them."
"That's correct."

Sylvaril continues the lecture.
But there're no teaching supplies, no black boards.
We're using feather pens to take down notes.
This really feels like a lecture.

"Summoning come in two forms, "Magical Beast Summoning" and "Spirit Summoning."
Spirits exist in this world somewhere, but they seem to be rare.
I only ever saw the Spirit of Light from my magic scroll.

"What's the difference between them"
"Magical Beast Summon is just as you think, it can summons creatures from various places.  But by an ancient covenant "man" cannot be summoned.  Besides that, it can summon any living thing of this world."

All living things.
Even dragons?

"Ancient Covenant?"
"A covenant passed down since the founding of summoning magic in this world.  No magic can defy this covenant."
"I see."

Man cannot.
... But, is it really impossible?
Teleporting people, and summoning that person, what's the difference?
Em, oh well.  Let's focus on the basics for now.
Once we get there, I'll ask properly.

"Sorry, please continue."
"Okay.  With Magical Beast Summoning, it's impossible to summon any existence with greater magic power.  Even if it's done, it cannot be controlled."

Ah, I read a story like this before.
The book was "Shigu's Summoning Techniques."
 witch named Shigu summoned an existence she cannot control, and was eaten alive.
I have enough magic to probably summon anything, but doesn't mean I have to follow through.
Indeed, I have no plans to summon anything that scary.
Basically, I already have 3 pets at home.
No point in calling another one.

"Say, can we only summon living things?"
"Yes.  We can't summon the dead."
"No, not that.  Like things... For example, can I summon cloth from home?"
"That's impossible."

In other words, Roxy's panty is out of question.
No, wait.
Nanahoshi successfully summoned a baby bottle.
So it isn't impossible.
More like this is the limit of current technology of this world.
Then Perugius met Nanahoshi and confirmed her results.
So that's why Perugius and Nanahoshi end up working together.

"May I continue?"
"Ah, yes.  Sorry for the interruption."
"No, questions shows you're paying attention."

Sylvaril nods slowly and continues the lecture.

"Spirit Summoning... is the magic of constructing spirits."
"Constructing?  So they're made?"
"Yes.  Using magic of the summoner to construct spirits of various attributes.  That is Spirit Summoning."

Oh.
In other words, those scrolls I been using.
When I summon them, I'm really making the Spirit of Light myself?

"Spirits have low intelligence.  They'll follow the summoner's every commands until their magic has been exhausted."
"Can they refuse any commands?"
"... If the magic circle has been especially designed that way, it might be possible."

Ohh.
Make it yourself, then it can be anything you want it to be.
So it's almost programming.
Eh?
Basically programming, where have I heard that before?

"That doesn't make sense."

Cliff sounds unsatisfied.

"You are Familiars of Perugius-sama, and He summoned you over 400 years ago, right?  Yet you're both intelligent and permanent.  Isn't that weird?"

Oh, as expected of Cliff to get to the heart of the matter.
Sylvaril nods with satisfaction.

"About that, allow me to explain.  Perugius-sama's predecessor, the original Armored Dragon-sama, left behind the method of summoning 11 ancient spirits of both high intelligence and power.  But such powerful spirits only lasted a day.  It is Perugius-sama that developed a way to make it possible for them to exist as long as he lives."

Sounds like a point of pride for her.
Day long familiars becoming perpetual ones.
Perpetual motion, no matter what world that's an incredible achievement.
Eh?
11 ancient spirits?

"Don't you mean 12?"
"Right.  I'm not one of Perugius-sama's spirits."
"You're not?"
"That's right.  Perugius-sama rescued me during the Laplace Campaign.  Since then I have always served him.  I'm merely a Heaven Race."

Heaven Race.
Well, that makes sense, she got wings after all.
Compared to rest of his underlying, she seems more like his confidant.
Actually his lover... No, that's impossible.
Not every relationship is about love.

"Then, which will we be studying?"
"We'll use Magic Beast Summoning as foundation, but Perugius-sama believes other worlds summoning is closer related to Spirit Summoning, so we'll touch up on that as well."

Teaching both types?
Looking forward to it.
Summoning magical beasts from all over the world and open a zoo could be fun.

"Then if possible, please teach us Spirit Summoning in detail as well."
"I am also very interested in Spirit Summoning."

Zanoba and Cliff both seem particularly interested in Spirit Summoning.
Ah, that's right.  I get it.
Programming.
The heart of the automatic doll.
When I saw it back then, I thought it looks like programming.

In other words, with Spirit Summoning, it might be possible to complete the doll.
But I imagine, if the Mad Dragon King Chaos left it unfinished, it can't be that easy...
But, we should at least be able to take another step forward.
But I don't know the specifics of where to even begin to apply such knowledge.

"Well, let's start with the basics of Magic Beast Summoning.  First take a look at this magic circle--"

While I was thinking, Sylvaril begins the lecture on basic summoning.
I really should have studied up the basics on my on own rather than getting help.
Well, a little late for that.
Better now than never.

In the end, I'm only 18 years old in this world.
Compared to Zanoba.
Who's already 25 or 26 by the time he enrolled, yet he still day and night practicing doll making.
I need to follow his example.

Anyways, right now, I'm definitely behind everyone else.
After class, I need to do some self-study.

"By the way, everyone, it's about time for lunch.  Please feel free to ask if you want something in particular."

Sylvaril ends the lecture with that said.

----