Outer Ragna: Volume 1

1. Auflage 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7183-7048-7
Verlag: J-Novel Club
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 320 Seiten

Reihe: Outer Ragna

PotatoStarch, a live streamer who's gaining popularity for his excitable attitude and witty banter, has begun streaming Dragon Demon RPG-DX, a game with a cult following known for its extreme difficulty and unreasonable systems. Only masochists would play it.
Meanwhile, in the world of the game, a fierce war between humans, elves, and vampires is reaching its bloody peak. The humans, lacking in magic, were forced into a defensive battle-until a savior appeared. Wielding a battleaxe, a young girl named Kuroi stepped forth to oppose both enemy armies. Her heroic efforts earned her the names 'Dragonslayer' and 'Killer of Demons.' Thanks to Kuroi, a girl 'loved by God,' humans counter-attack.
PotatoStarch is just a video game player. He dives into this world hoping to forget the tiring real world. But through an unexpected series of events, he ends up almost 'possessing' Kuroi. As he reaches the game's climax, Kuroi discovers a mysterious power and PotatoStarch's fate is changed forever.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kasugamaru

Weitere Mitwirkende

Namcooo

Keller-Nelson, Alexander

Leseproben

07 The Sorcerer Rises and Demonstrates the Magic Flame That Has Revived in This Land

I was born the bearer of flame,

And I will die unleashing it.

-Sorcerer Odysson II-

“What do you want from me?” The church office reeks of mold. I hate it. Plus, the noble knight and black-hearted priest are in cahoots, so it’s getting a bit as well in here. Nothing good can come from collusion between the church and the military.

“This isn’t a requisition, but an official request. Please, don’t be so defensive.”

“Indeed. Odysson, you may have been thrown out of the guild, but you are still a sorcerer. We could use your opinions and magic.”

“Hmm. Undoubtedly.”

“We have two jobs for you. They involve alchemy and fire magic.” So they want me to serve in the military, is that it? Doing menial crap like making medicine and wielding flames for them. What a pain.

“Specifically, we’d like you to teach a certain commoner herbology, monster biology, and medicine production as well as prescription. The other, we’d like you to inspect for magic aptitude, as well as test and train them for fire magic. Your official title will be Head Frontier Sorcerer.”

“Your salary will be a hundred gold, and you will be given an aide. You will also be allowed a personal guard of ten soldiers.”

“Wait, wait, wait! I’m begging ya, hold up a second!” What the hell? This ain’t normal. Head Frontier Sorcerer? An aide? Say what? I ain’t never even seen a gold coin in my life! But most importantly, WEREN’T WE JUST ATTACKED BY MONSTERS? Just yesterday, in fact. Many of us died—hell, I was nearly killed—and we ain’t even had a chance to catch our breaths.

These people work too fast. Well, I guess their swiftness is to be commended. The rescue crews and emergency supplies were life-saving. They even handed out blankets to the women. But still, this is too fast. This stinks of scheming.

“What is the matter, sorcerer? You’re shaking. Are you not the master of flame?” I hate the words he chooses, that damn black-hearted priest. So he’s the mastermind, huh?

“Yes, I’m a sorcerer. I have a little bit of book smarts, and I can do some funny tricks.”

“We have high hopes for you. Good. Now, summon the aide and guards—”

“W-Wait! Stop, stop! Listen to me!” These guys are so pushy, damn. “Why me? Why do you want me to do this job? I was excommunicated, you know. And not for anything like fighting with my professors, either. I broke a taboo. They call me a necromancer. That’s not someone you want in an official position.” That’s why I was banished to the Frontier. This is the only place where I can live equally among others. In the south, the Sorcerer’s Guild’s tendrils are everywhere. I wouldn’t have been able to beg for food, let alone work. At first I thought this was a kind of exile, but I was naive. Between the monsters and the hunger, it’s been a straight-up death sentence. Which kind are these guys? Would they leave a guy out to dry, or would they be the ones left out to dry? We’re all getting our just desserts out here. What a load of bull.

“Oh-hoh! A necromancer? How frightening. Is it like the holy book says? Can you control undead monsters?” He said it. He actually said it. Hurry up and kill me if you’re gonna. Yeah, look at you, so high and mighty. If alchemy’s taught me anything, it’s that humans aren’t born with any sort of ‘rank.’ Open ‘em up and they’re all bags of meat; in the end, we’re all just matter. And humans are amazing resources for alchemy. Much better than monsters.

“My, my. What a blasphemous confession. Have you no fear of God?”

“Idiot. Those who seek the miracles of God just don’t understand God.”

“Then please, enlighten me. What have you discovered from slicing open and boiling corpses, O pathetic sorcerer of meager flames?”

“Power.” Both of their eyes go wide. Ah-hah. So they want power, too. That means whatever they’re planning, it involves violence. Fine, I’ll share. They’ll regret this soon enough. Then the Sorcerer’s Guild can kill them both.

“Not just any normal power, either. I’m guessing it’s some kind of power that God has infused only human bodies with. You can get it from other species in limited amounts and find substitutes with other methods, but... they’re no match for humans.”

“Hoh? You’re referring to them as materials, then?”

“That’s right. I call it fire salt.” Fire salt. It’s white, coarse, and a little smelly. In general, you can refine about the weight of one lung’s worth per body.

“I don’t understand. How is that power? Is it used in some strong medicine?”

“You know that catalysts strengthen magic, right?”

“Of course. We priests employ holy signs, while you sorcerers wield staves.”

“Those are magic focusers. They just make it easier to concentrate power. What I’m talking about are consumables.” I gather up some dust from the bookshelf, focus some mana into my palm, and... Bang! Did I scare them? That fireball was quick, but it was big.

“That was Ignite. It’s a spell that consumes flammable objects to increase its firepower. Some use charcoal or oil. It used to be actively researched, but it’s taboo now.”

“I’ve heard of that.” The knight speaks now. I guess an old, fancy family like his would have passed down such stories. “Back when our country lines were decided, the elves forced the Sorcerer’s Guild to abandon certain research pursuits. The military was also forbidden from using bows and moats.”

“You speak of the humiliating Baltrial Treaty, yes? I see, I see. In other words, we were forced to abandon them as part of our disarmament.”

“It’s called Combustion Magic. Remember that.” Now you’re screwed. You’re just as guilty as me now that you know!

“Can this magic help us fight back against the vampires and elves?”

“With fire salt and a bit of skill, maybe.”

“You don’t seem certain. Oh, I get it. You’re too unskilled or too weak to be sure.”

“No, idiot. Ain’t no one alive that’s practiced Combustion more than me. In theory, it’s unbeatable. In theory. But...” I look at my hands. They’re wrinkly, and the shivering won’t stop. I can’t even pat a kid on the head without being careful. They’re pieces of crap. On cold days they ache; on rainy days they itch. Even the bones have gotten brittle.

“I was just one step away.” I can barely make a fist. “Go ahead and laugh, bath man. You’re right. I dunno whether it was human limitations or my own lack of knowledge, but right now my magic isn’t equal to theirs.”

“In the past, you mean.”

“Huh? Well, I guess. But reality is insurmountable. The future ain’t changing.”

“Oh, no. Now, perhaps, everything is different!” Whoa, what the hell? He’s quick for a short fatty. Don’t grab me! Don’t pull me! Damn, he’s a fast runner, too. This is gross!

“Ow, ow, ow! That hurts, damn it!” Why are we going outside? What is this, the wood chopping area? Does he want me to burn something?

“Oh! The magic man!”

“Hey, Sira. What’re you doing here?” Sira, a servant here on the Frontier. So much tragedy inside that small body. She holds a naked blade wrapped in cloth, never letting it out of her grasp. She must think it’s her dad’s sword. But that just ain’t possible.

“Hm?”

“Oh, her?” Sira points at the raven-haired Kuroi. This one’s neither adult nor child. I ain’t got no idea what she’s thinking. But, she saved our lives.

“You’re up to some weird stuff again,” I say as I watch her swing her wood-chopping ax up and down through the air. Three pieces of firewood are laid out on the ground, which she repeatedly jumps over. I just don’t get her.

“Now, let’s get to it!”

“Y-You gotta be kidding me. You want me to do that? What is this, torture?”

“No, my fellow. What are you saying? Let us step back a little so as not to disturb Lady Kuroi. Come, come.” He calls her ‘Lady.’ What the hell? Sure, she’s a great warrior, but it doesn’t suit her. These guys are too reverent around her.

“Now get to it! Unleash your special magic! Make it as big as you can!”

“Uh, I can’t. Where am I gonna get fire salt?”

“Oh, for crying out loud! How unprepared can you be?”

“What, did you think I just conveniently had some on me?”

“How about this, then?” The storybook prince-like knight steps in front of the creepy priest and hands me something. It’s charcoal.

“Swords and magic are simply arts. You don’t always have to use your greatest technique. This should be good enough for you to get your bearings.” Hmph. Well, he ain’t wrong. But what I feel is still up to me.

I grip the charcoal, black like it’s been crammed full of human sadness, and send magic into it from my palm. And then I call out to the flames—the magical fire that only humans can control. Hm? What... What is this heat? This warmth that kindles my soul? I-Is it okay... Is it really okay for me to unleash this magic? Whoa. I feel a gaze along with the strength. Who is it?...