"It's a kind of mental power. It follows the objective rules of this world, while also responding to the thoughts within your heart… Some say magic power comes from spirit and body, but there's no shortage of people with strong bodies and very little magic, nor of people with frail bodies but immense magic power.
"Of course, there are also those who are strong because both their body and spirit are strong. Yet I've also seen people whose bodies and minds were both exhausted, and who still possessed formidable magic power. And to a certain extent, vitality and magic power can be converted into each other…
"So you can think of magic power as coming primarily from the mind, and secondarily from the body. As long as you master the method, magic can be life, and life can be magic—it all depends on how you use it.
"But as for what magic power truly is, or what kind of existence it really represents, that's something you must explore for yourself."
Sharan's voice was gentle, carrying a tone that naturally drew people toward the study of magic, making one want to devote all their energy to it.
But Leo had already grasped her meaning.
"So in other words, every mage needs their own understanding?"
"Exactly. Magic and magic power are very broad terms—much like what people call qi. In a certain sense, isn't that also a kind of magic?"
Sharan smiled at Leo.
"So however you choose to understand it is your own affair. I'm merely a guide, appointed to lead those interested in magic into its halls. How you think about it, how you comprehend magic—that's up to you. I can only offer advice based on my knowledge, and make available the spellbooks that are permitted to be shared."
Sharan shrugged.
Learning magic itself didn't require money—Queen Skadi had special funding for that. But spellbooks and magical experiments were another matter entirely. Those costs were enormous, and even Queen Skadi couldn't cover them all, which was why students had to rely on their own insight.
"This is a spellbook containing some basic magic. If you want to learn properly, the Mage Guild has people who can teach you—but the prerequisite is that you must first learn how to use magic power to construct a standard magic circle, and…"
Sharan looked at Leo with a strange expression.
"Literacy."
"Tch."
Leo clicked his tongue in annoyance.
He was starting to understand the importance of foreign languages more and more—but the problem was, no school back on Earth had ever taught Arad language.
"But you're still in time, aren't you? Now that you've mastered magic power, you can recharge that brooch every day. As long as you're careful, it'll last about three months. No matter how carefully you use it, though, after three months the brooch will be damaged by magical erosion. So you'd better learn the language quickly. After three months, if you come back to me, I won't be able to help you for free—that's the rule."
Sharan spoke in a strictly businesslike tone, and Leo didn't have the nerve to argue.
"Understood. But… do you have anyone here who's short on money? I'll probably need someone to help me learn the written language."
Leo sighed. For reasons of pride and face, he didn't want to rely on Kelly, so finding someone else was his only option.
"Well…"
Sharan didn't refuse. She quite liked this polite human. After thinking for a moment, she nodded.
"There's a child named Rosh who's quite short on money. I can ask her for you. Given her abilities, I don't need to worry about her safety."
Rosh? A cosmic demon?
A question mark popped up in Leo's mind.
Before he could ask anything else, a small red-haired figure suddenly burst in, rushed forward, and threw herself into Sharan's arms.
"Yo! Sharan a—sister! I brought back the Fire Element Crystal!"
As she spoke, the red-haired figure pulled out a red, crystal-like object from her skirt and proudly displayed it to Sharan. But due to her height, even standing on tiptoe only brought the crystal up to Sharan's neck. Her pale, soot-smeared face immediately puffed up with grievance, her small lips pouting adorably.
Leo finally got a clear look at her: blood-red hair tied into playful twin tails, a black-and-red shirt, a tattered-edged dress, bare feet with calf-high leather boots.
Most striking was the yellow, disk-like ornament on her body—and the scythe-like head of her staff, which bore a face-like pattern.
The moment Leo saw her, he knew he'd run into a main character from the Dungeon Fighter storyline.
That outfit, that look—it was unmistakably protagonist-coded.
Sharan fondly rubbed the girl's crimson hair and took the crystal from her hand.
"Mm, this time it's correct. But you came over covered in grime again. Cleaning these clothes is a real hassle. I'm docking part of your allowance this week."
She spoke half-jokingly, but the little girl's face instantly turned horrified.
"Huh?! Sharan aun—sister, you're mean!"
Leo clearly saw Sharan's expression soften instantly. Then the crystal in her hand knocked the red-haired girlits head, producing a sharp yelp as the girl collapsed at her feet.
"Mm. Call me sister. Oh right—almost forgot."
Only then did Sharan remember Leo was still there. She casually grabbed the dazed little girl by the collar and presented her to him.
"Mr. Leo, this child is the one who can teach you the language. Don't let her appearance fool you—she's a demon from the Demon World, but she speaks the common tongue very well."
"Ugh… Sharan aun—sister is mean…"
Rosh muttered while clutching her head.
Leo looked at Rosh, then at Sharan—whose gaze had once again become gentle. He very much wanted to complain about being taught Arad language by a demon from the Demon World, but since Sharan recommended her—and she was a main character, no less—
"If you're recommending her, then I can only be grateful. How should we handle the pay?"
Sharan smiled lightly.
"It's not much. Just cover her food and lodging, plus five gold coins."
"Yeah! Food is the most important!"
Rosh immediately raised her hand high.
Leo looked at her small frame and felt it wouldn't be a problem.
So he made a promise on the spot.
"Don't worry. It might not be fancy, but you'll definitely eat your fill."
And then he saw Rosh's eyes—
Light up.