The small bell above the entrance rang softly as Ray pushed the door open.
A faint smell of old paper and dust greeted him.
The interior was relatively spacious, with several wooden shelves arranged throughout the room. Each was filled with books of different sizes, their covers ranging from simple cloth to worn leather. A few customers were browsing quietly, while an elderly man sat behind the counter, reading a book.
Ray stepped inside and closed the door.
He glanced around.
It was an ordinary bookshop, nothing particularly impressive. However, considering his current circumstances, even an ordinary bookshop was considerably more valuable than it would have been in his previous life.
Information was something he desperately needed.
He approached the nearest shelf and began examining the titles.
Most of the books concerned relatively ordinary subjects. Cooking, farming, medicine, household management, and several other practical matters.
He picked up a book about medicinal herbs and briefly flipped through its pages.
The writing was unfamiliar in appearance, yet he could understand it without much difficulty.
He had already noticed this strange phenomenon yesterday.
Despite never having encountered the language before, he could read and understand it almost as naturally as his previous language.
Perhaps it was something inherent to this body.
He wasn't particularly interested in investigating that mystery right now, so he returned the book and continued browsing.
Eventually, he found a section containing books about geography and general knowledge.
That was more like it.
Ray picked up a relatively thin book titled A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Midgar.
He opened it and began reading.
The Kingdom of Midgar was a relatively prosperous human kingdom with a functioning royal government and an established noble hierarchy.
Its territory consisted of several regions governed by nobles, each responsible for managing their respective lands.
The capital, also called Midgar, was the political and economic center of the kingdom.
There were also numerous smaller cities, towns, and villages scattered throughout its territory.
Ray continued reading.
The book explained that most ordinary citizens lived relatively simple lives. Agriculture, craftsmanship, trading, and various forms of labor made up a considerable portion of the kingdom's economy.
Merchants traveled between settlements to exchange goods, while nobles maintained authority over their respective territories.
There were also knights and soldiers responsible for protecting settlements and maintaining order.
Nothing particularly surprising.
It resembled the general structure of a medieval monarchy.
Ray turned another page.
There was a map displaying the kingdom's major settlements, roads, and surrounding territories.
He studied it for a while, although the amount of information was somewhat overwhelming.
He had no idea where his current town was located on the map.
Perhaps he could ask someone later.
For now, he simply memorized the kingdom's name.
Midgar.
At least he now knew where he was, more or less.
He closed the book and returned it to the shelf.
His next objective was understanding how people made a living in this world.
He wasn't particularly interested in becoming a merchant or a farmer, but knowing what occupations existed would help him understand the society around him.
He moved toward another section.
A book titled Occupations and Trades of the Kingdom caught his attention.
He pulled it out.
The contents were relatively straightforward.
There were blacksmiths, carpenters, tailors, merchants, farmers, healers, and numerous other professions.
However, two particular occupations appeared repeatedly throughout the pages.
Adventurers and swordsmen.
Ray leaned slightly closer.
Those were considerably more interesting.
According to the book, adventurers were individuals who registered with an adventurers' guild and accepted requests from individuals, merchants, settlements, and other organizations.
Their work varied considerably.
Some gathered medicinal herbs, hunted monsters, explored dangerous areas, escorted travelers, or searched for valuable materials.
Others specialized in combat-related assignments.
The guild generally classified its members according to their abilities and achievements.
Ray read through the section explaining the ranking system.
The ranks began at F and gradually increased through E, D, C, B, A, and finally S.
Higher-ranked adventurers were generally entrusted with more difficult and dangerous assignments.
The exact requirements differed depending on the guild and the nature of the work.
Ray nodded slightly.
It was a fairly understandable system.
He turned another page.
There were also references to mercenaries.
Unlike adventurers, mercenaries generally worked through private contracts, offering their services to individuals, merchants, nobles, or organizations.
Their responsibilities varied depending on the agreement.
Some acted as escorts, while others provided additional protection during conflicts.
Ray paused.
So adventurers weren't the only people who dealt with dangerous situations.
There were also professional fighters who worked independently.
He continued reading.
The next section concerned swordsmen.
Apparently, swordsmanship was considered one of the most widely practiced combat disciplines in the kingdom.
Many nobles trained their children in swordsmanship from a young age, while commoners sometimes learned it for personal protection or professional purposes.
There were different schools and styles, each with its own methods of training.
Some emphasized speed and precision, while others focused on strength, defense, or balanced techniques.
The book also mentioned that experienced swordsmen could incorporate mana into their physical abilities.
Ray stopped.
He reread that particular sentence.
Mana?
He had already encountered the word yesterday, but he hadn't expected it to be connected to swordsmanship.
He flipped through the remaining pages.
There were brief references to magic swordsmen, individuals who combined swordsmanship with magical techniques.
Apparently, such individuals were considerably more capable than ordinary fighters.
Ray closed the book.
"...So even swordsmen can use magic."
That was interesting.
He had initially assumed that magic and swordsmanship were separate disciplines.
It seemed he had underestimated how things worked in this world.
He returned the book to its shelf and searched for something more specific.
It didn't take long before he found another section dedicated to magic.
Several books were arranged together, most of them appearing considerably older than the others.
One title caught his attention.
The Fundamentals of Mana.
Ray picked it up.
He opened the first page.
According to the book, mana was a natural energy that existed within living beings and throughout the surrounding environment.
All living creatures possessed mana to varying degrees, although the amount differed considerably between individuals.
Some possessed relatively large reserves, while others had considerably less.
The ability to manipulate mana was also dependent on one's natural aptitude and level of control.
Ray continued reading.
The book explained that mana could be used in several ways.
One of the most common applications was strengthening the body.
By circulating mana throughout their bodies, individuals could improve their physical capabilities, including their strength, speed, durability, and general physical performance.
This was apparently one of the foundations of combat in the world.
Ray stopped reading for a moment.
So even ordinary physical combat wasn't necessarily ordinary.
That explained why the swordsmen he had seen yesterday appeared to carry themselves differently from the average townspeople.
He continued.
Another application was magic itself.
By controlling and shaping mana, individuals could produce various magical effects.
There were several recognized magical attributes, including fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning.
However, the book also mentioned that magical aptitude differed between individuals.
Not everyone could use every attribute, and some people possessed a natural affinity for particular forms of magic.
There were also individuals with unusual magical abilities that didn't fit neatly into the common categories.
Ray leaned back slightly.
It was a fairly complicated system.
He wasn't particularly knowledgeable about magic, but the general explanation was understandable.
Possessing mana didn't automatically make someone powerful.
There was also the matter of control, experience, and natural aptitude.
He turned another page.
A short section discussed magical training.
Beginners were generally encouraged to learn how to sense and control their own mana before attempting more complicated techniques.
Excessive or improper mana usage could lead to exhaustion and other complications.
Ray closed the book.
"...I see."
He looked down at his hands.
He wondered how much mana this body possessed.
Was it above average?
Below average?
Or perhaps completely ordinary?
There was no way to know without an assessment.
He made a mental note to investigate that later.
For now, he had learned enough about the fundamentals.
"Interested in magic?"
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
Ray turned.
The elderly shopkeeper had approached him sometime during his reading.
The man glanced at the book in his hands.
"That's a rather popular subject among children. Especially those who dream of becoming great mages."
Ray looked at the cover.
"I'm just curious about how it works."
"Haha. Nothing wrong with that."
The elderly man adjusted his spectacles.
"If you're interested in learning more, there's a small magic assessment facility in town. They can examine your mana and give you a general idea of your aptitude."
"Is it expensive?"
"Not particularly. A basic examination should be affordable, although a more detailed assessment might cost considerably more."
Ray nodded.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The shopkeeper returned to his counter.
Ray placed the book back on the shelf.
He had learned quite a bit already, but there were still some things he wanted to understand.
For example, how common was magic?
Were ordinary citizens capable of using it?
And were there any differences between people who learned magic and those who relied primarily on physical combat?
He glanced toward the elderly man.
"Excuse me."
"Hm?"
"Are people who use magic common?"
The shopkeeper considered the question.
"That depends on what you mean by common. Most people possess mana, but those capable of using magic effectively are considerably fewer."
"Then what about swordsmen?"
"Ah, swordsmen are much more common. Many people learn basic swordsmanship, especially those who work as guards, soldiers, or adventurers."
Ray nodded.
"I understand."
The elderly man returned to his reading.
Ray decided not to bother him any further.
He had already spent a considerable amount of time inside the shop.
Before leaving, he briefly examined the other shelves.
He found books about cooking, basic medicine, local plants, and even a few simple educational materials intended for children.
He considered purchasing something, but ultimately decided against it.
He didn't want to spend his money unnecessarily.
He could always return another day.
After giving the shopkeeper a small nod, he headed toward the entrance.
The bell rang softly as he stepped outside.
The afternoon sun illuminated the streets as Ray continued walking.
He had spent nearly two hours inside the bookshop, and his understanding of the world had improved considerably.
Still, books could only tell him so much.
He wanted to see how things actually worked.
As he passed through the marketplace, he noticed several people carrying wooden crates toward a nearby carriage.
A merchant was speaking with two armed individuals.
Their equipment was relatively simple, consisting of leather armor, belts, and swords hanging from their waists.
Ray slowed down slightly.
"...Are they adventurers?"
He observed them from a short distance.
One of the men was checking the carriage wheels while the other spoke with the merchant.
"Make sure you stay close to the road. We don't want to waste time taking unnecessary detours."
"Understood. We'll leave once everything is ready."
Their conversation was relatively ordinary.
It appeared that they had been hired to escort the merchant somewhere.
Ray continued walking.
A little further ahead, he noticed a group of young men practicing with wooden swords.
They were standing in an open area near a training ground.
An older man supervised them, occasionally correcting their posture.
"Keep your balance! You're putting too much weight on your front foot!"
One of the boys attempted another swing.
The wooden sword moved awkwardly through the air.
The instructor shook his head.
"Again."
Ray watched for a few moments.
The training looked relatively simple, at least from a distance.
However, he noticed that the older students performed their movements with considerably more control.
Their footwork was stable, and their swings were more deliberate.
It was clear that swordsmanship required more than simply swinging a weapon around.
He watched another exchange before continuing.
He wasn't particularly interested in learning swordsmanship at the moment, but he couldn't deny that it was something worth considering.
After all, being able to defend himself in an unfamiliar world would probably be useful.
Especially considering the existence of monsters.
As he walked further, he eventually arrived at the building he had noticed yesterday.
The adventurers' guild.
He stood outside for a moment.
The building was relatively large compared to the surrounding shops. Several people were entering and leaving, most of them carrying weapons or wearing some form of protective equipment.
Ray pushed the door open.
A bell rang.
The interior was noisy.
Several tables occupied the main hall, with adventurers sitting around them. Some were eating, while others discussed their assignments.
There was a counter near the back where a few staff members were handling requests.
Ray stepped inside.
Nobody paid him much attention.
He slowly approached the large noticeboard along the wall.
Numerous pieces of paper had been attached to it.
He began reading.
Some requests involved gathering herbs and collecting materials from nearby forests.
Others concerned the transportation of goods or the escorting of merchants.
There were also several requests involving monster extermination.
Ray examined one of them.
It mentioned a group of goblins that had been spotted near a farming settlement.
Another concerned unusually aggressive wolves near a nearby forest.
He moved his gaze toward the other notices.
The rewards varied depending on the difficulty and nature of the assignments.
Some offered only a few bronze coins, while others offered several silver coins.
He wasn't particularly interested in the rewards.
What caught his attention was how organized everything seemed.
The guild wasn't simply a gathering place for people who wanted to fight monsters.
It functioned as an intermediary between individuals who needed assistance and those willing to provide it.
There were also records, rankings, requests, and apparently a system for evaluating its members.
It was more structured than he had initially imagined.
"Hey, little one."
Ray turned.
A young man wearing leather armor stood nearby.
"Are you looking for someone?"
Ray shook his head.
"No. Just looking around."
The man glanced at the noticeboard.
"Interested in becoming an adventurer?"
"Not particularly."
"Then what brings you here?"
"I was curious about the place."
The adventurer gave a short laugh.
"Well, curiosity is fine. Just don't touch the requests unless you know what you're doing."
"I understand."
The man nodded before returning to his companions.
Ray looked at the noticeboard one last time.
He wasn't planning to become an adventurer anytime soon.
He was still a child, and even if his previous memories remained intact, his current body was physically weaker than what he was accustomed to.
There was no reason to take unnecessary risks.
He left the building shortly afterward.
The afternoon gradually turned into evening.
Ray spent some time walking around the remaining streets.
He discovered a small clinic, several clothing shops, and a modest temple.
The temple was dedicated to the Goddess of the Church, and people occasionally entered to offer prayers.
He didn't enter.
Instead, he observed the people coming and going.
Some wore ordinary clothes, while others appeared to be merchants or travelers.
Religion seemed to have a relatively noticeable presence in everyday life.
He would have to learn more about it eventually.
However, he wasn't particularly interested in investigating every aspect of the world in a single day.
There was a limit to how much information he could reasonably process.
He continued walking until he eventually returned to the residential district.
He already knew that his previous guardian had been called Alden and that the man had taken care of him after his parents passed away.
That was enough for now.
He could investigate the matter further another time.
By the time Ray reached his house, the sky had begun darkening.
He unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The interior was still quiet.
He placed his pouch on the wooden table before heading into the kitchen.
He prepared a simple meal using the ingredients he had purchased earlier.
It wasn't particularly delicious, but it was enough.
After eating, he washed the utensils and returned upstairs.
He sat at the wooden table and took out the piece of paper he had used the previous evening.
There was still plenty of space left.
He picked up the charcoal and began writing.
(General Information)
- Kingdom: Midgar Kingdom.
- Government: Monarchy.
- Society consists of nobles, commoners, merchants, and other social classes.
- Agriculture, trade, craftsmanship, and other occupations support the economy.
- Currency follows a decimal system.
(Occupations and Combat)
- Adventurers accept requests through guilds.
- Mercenaries work through private contracts.
- Knights and soldiers are responsible for protection and military duties.
- Swordsmanship is a common form of combat training.
- Experienced swordsmen can incorporate mana into their physical abilities.
(Mana and Magic)
- Mana exists within living creatures and the surrounding environment.
- Individuals possess different amounts of mana.
- Magical aptitude varies between people.
- Mana can be used to strengthen the body.
- Magic requires control, practice, and understanding.
- Several magical attributes exist, including fire, water, earth, wind, and lightning.
Ray stopped writing.
He examined the list.
It was a reasonable amount of information after one day of gathering information.
He placed the charcoal down and leaned back in his chair.
There were still several things he wanted to understand.
He didn't know how this body's mana compared to that of ordinary people.
He also didn't know whether he had any particular magical aptitude.
Then there was the matter of his previous guardian.
He wanted to find out whether Alden had left behind any documents, belongings, or information concerning the family of this body he transmigrated into.
Perhaps there were relatives somewhere.
It was worth checking.
Ray looked toward the window.
The sky had already grown dark.
"...I suppose that's enough for today."
He closed the wooden box and placed it beside the bed.
Tomorrow, he would probably visit the assessment facility.
He was curious about his mana, and a basic examination seemed like a reasonable place to start.
He also wanted to purchase a few more books, preferably something about basic medicine and the geography of the surrounding region.
There was no particular reason to rush.
He wasn't trying to become the strongest person in the kingdom, nor did he have some grand ambition waiting for him.
He simply wanted to understand where he was living.
After all, it would be rather inconvenient to spend the rest of his life in a world he barely understood.
Ray lay down and pulled the blanket over himself.
His thoughts gradually drifted.
He remembered his previous home.
His mother's complaints, his father's reminders, and his brother's constant habit of borrowing his belongings without permission.
A faint sense of longing remained.
But there was nothing he could do about it now.
He turned slightly toward the window.
The moonlight slipped through the narrow opening, illuminating a small portion of the wooden floor.
"...Goodnight."
He closed his eyes.
Tomorrow would probably be another ordinary day.
Or at least, he hoped it would be.
(End of Chapter 2)