I Want to Live a Normal Life

Episode 3: The Launch of Mine’s Enhancement Plan

“I’d be satisfied just living a normal life, you know…”

I don’t need any depressing developments. I’d be content just living happily. Oh, but I wouldn’t mind giving a hard time to the Stubble and Cain. And maybe to the knights and servants too. Well, basically everyone in this house.

For that, I need to avoid following the original Mine’s route. But there isn’t much I can do while being confined like this. Whether it’s escaping from this detached house by myself or waiting for liberation, the only way to increase my survival rate is to acquire combat skills.

“Yeah, magic is probably the only way.”

According to the setting, Mine-kun should have had quite a knack for magic, so it’s up to my efforts from here on. Fortunately, I have a rough understanding of the original story, so I’ll try various things.

Currently, Mine-kun is seven years old. He still has about five years until adulthood. I want to build up enough strength in these five years to live on my own at the very least.

Oh, by the way, it seems like there are no status screens or menus like in typical isekai stories in this world. I tried saying it out loud just in case, but it didn’t work. Well, I guess not everything can be like it is in games, huh? I was kind of looking forward to it though.

“Alright, the plan is set. Let’s give it our best starting tomorrow.”

It’s already pitch dark, so there’s no helping it, huh?

…Come to think of it, nobody brought dinner. How rude.

“Hey, useless, come out!”

“Geez, go die.”

I was woken up by shouting and banging on the door since morning and inadvertently grumbled. Well, they can’t hear me from outside, anyway.

“…Ah, it wasn’t a dream after all, huh?”

I went to sleep hoping I’d wake up in my own room, but well, that’s not happening, huh?

“Hey! Are you even listening, you useless!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

As I was thinking about that, the voices outside kept getting louder, so I decided to go out. A tray with bread and soup was pushed through a small window at the bottom of the door.

“This is for the day, show some gratitude to the Marquis.”

“…Uh, thanks.”

“Next time, come out faster. We’re not here to waste time.”

I casually ignored the complaints outside and brought the meal inside. On the tray were mostly broth with hardly any ingredients and four tough-looking pieces of bread.

“Huh? Is this all for the meal? The Marquis’ household is stingy.”

Well, without this, I’d be guaranteed to starve, so I’ll gratefully accept it.

“Ugh, the taste is so bland.”

“This bread is hard.”

“Marquis household stinginess.”

I began practicing magic after leaving about half of the meal for dinner. But first, I need to sense the magical power within me. Sitting on the floor, I focus my consciousness inside my body. According to the setting, there should be an organ near the heart that produces magical power, so I’ll focus on that area.

“Oh, is this it?”

I found something that seemed like it relatively easily. Well, Mine-kun could do this much, so it’s natural. Still, just taking a step closer to the fantasy of casting magic that didn’t exist in my past life makes me excited.

Now, it’s time for the role of my knowledge from the original story. There are apparently three things to focus on to improve a mage’s skills in this world, as the teacher in the original story mentioned.

First is magical power. The more magical power you have, the larger the scale, frequency, and duration of the magic you can use increase. Magical power gradually increases as magical power from the surroundings is absorbed into the body during recovery. In other words, the more you use magic, the more it grows.

Next is magical manipulation. As the name suggests, it’s the technique of manipulating magical power inside and outside the body. By doing this smoothly, you can activate magic faster, more accurately, and with less magical power. It is said that mastering magical manipulation allows you to infinitely cast magic using magical power from the atmosphere. In the game, it’s said to be a realm only reached by “Sages.”

Well, even if reaching that level is impossible, I want to extend my magical manipulation skills as much as possible since it’s an indispensable technique for handling magical power.

Lastly, there’s visualization. While there are restrictions such as attributes and magical power, you can create new spells based on your imagination. Furthermore, having a more concrete image of the magic being cast increases its power and accuracy. This aspect seems somewhat covered by my knowledge from my past life, including the information from the original story. Well, it might only provide a slight advantage with the level of knowledge I remember. I should have studied properly if I knew I’d end up like this. But it’s too late for regrets now.

By the way, Mine-kun can use earth attribute magic and explosion magic. It’s quite rare to have multiple attributes, and explosion magic is even more rare as it’s a special attribute. In the game, Mine used explosion magic set in the ground along the highway to kill the “Sword Saint” along with the troops of the Marquis of Arlight. Hmm, truly a minefield, Mine. I also remember using standard magic like hurling debris or summoning spears from the ground.

Well, I’ll figure out which magic to use gradually. It’s not advisable to use attribute magic carelessly within this detached house.

I also need to increase my knowledge of this world. There seems to be a study-like room, so I’ll read a bit every day.

“So, let’s kick off the Mine Enhancement Plan!”