'Crap, how did I pass out? What time is it? Did I just skip my major's exam?'
"I don't know anything about a major's exam, but I can tell you it's already eleven in the morning, Senior!" an energetic whisper responded to Rorschach.
'I really missed it. I'm screwed! Wait, I've already transmigrated. What major's exam could there be?!'
Rorschach finally snapped out of his daze. He still felt very weak. "Noon? How long was I asleep?" he asked.
"You were asleep for three days! Mr. Ah Le is such a great guy. He took out his precious sugar cubes, mixed them with salt and water, and fed the solution to you, Senior!"
"Three days..." Rorschach's senses and thoughts gradually returned. He was lying on the hard wooden floor of a cart and could feel its jolting progress. His head, however, was perfectly steady, resting on something soft. A faint, sweet fragrance and a gentle warmth emanated from it.
'Could this be the legendary lap pillow? Why the sudden light-novel-esque development?'
Rorschach's eyes flew open, and he was immediately blinded by the sunlight. When his vision refocused, he found himself staring into a pair of smiling, sparkling green eyes. The girl had shoulder-length chestnut hair, the ends of which brushed against his face, tickling him.
"Okay, you're cute, and this lap pillow is super comfortable, but who the hell are you?!"
"Mage Rorschach, could you maybe get up before you say things like that?"
...
"Young Master Rorschach, you're finally awake!" The Dwarf, who was in the middle of cooking, saw Rorschach and quickly waved him over to the pot. "While you were out these last few days, I was the one choppin' the vegetables. My hands are all cut up!"
'So they just want to use me as a tool...'
Rorschach asked as he used his Decomposition Skill, "So, where did this little girl come from? Does anyone know her?"
"Little girl? Are you some kind of baby-faced old man, Senior?" the girl in question immediately protested.
"I'm the one who found 'er," the Dwarf said with a hearty grin. "Yep, we were just walkin' along and saw someone collapsed on the road up ahead. Took a look and saw she was a real looker. We asked her. Turns out the gal's a Magic Apprentice who got lost after leaving Limborg. Collapsed on the road from thirst."
"The Water Creation Skill is way too difficult! It shouldn't even be considered Basic Level Magic!" the girl said with a shrug.
Rorschach couldn't agree more. 'That's right,' he thought, 'a high-difficulty first step like Plane Positioning is just cruel to a beginner.'
"I'm so glad I ran into you all. It's wonderful to find a caravan willing to take me in! I've already negotiated a price with Mr. Ah Le, so I can travel with everyone to the Empire's border."
"How much did you pay?"
"Ten Silver Coins!"
'That much money wouldn't even be enough for a horse-drawn carriage, let alone an Airship. She's got some nerve.' Rorschach didn't even look at the girl, instead shooting a questioning glance directly at Mr. Ah Le.
"It's just as Singrev said. We found the young Apprentice on the road. I'm surprised she made it this far from Limborg on foot... assuming what she says is true, of course."
Mr. Ah Le paused for a moment before continuing, "Mage Rorschach, we've decided to rest when we reach the next town. Our supplies are sufficient for the journey there. We'll escort the young Apprentice to the town. How does that sound to you?"
"If you, the employer, have agreed, then I have no objections."
"I don't agree! You have to take me at least to Antorrela!"
"Young Apprentice, we aren't stopping at any towns along the way. Our next stop *is* Antorrela," Mr. Ah Le explained.
"You dare to travel that far alone? What's in Antorrela for you?"
"Allow me to formally introduce myself, Senior. I am Anastasia, an outstanding Apprentice from the Tower of Forest, transferring to the Tower of Storms on my teacher's recommendation. My full name is a bit of a mouthful and hard to remember, so you can just call me Tassia!"
Rorschach wasn't easily convinced. He pressed on, "It's extremely rare for an Apprentice to transfer. In fact, I've never even heard of it happening. You weren't expelled, were you?"
At his words, the suspicious gazes of the others fell on Tassia. She arched an eyebrow. "Well, now you've met one, haven't you, Senior? Let me prove the worth of an outstanding Apprentice from the Tower of Forest!"
With that, she grabbed a handful of powdered herbs from her satchel and began Casting. Under the influence of Magic, the powder floated and began to spread. Having just survived the battle with Leopold, the group went on high alert, drawing their swords and raising their Warhammers.
This reaction startled Tassia. "Put your weapons down! This Magic is useless on people! It probably wouldn't even work on you, Mister Dwarf! Don't be nervous, this spell is just for... little rabbits."
As she spoke, a RUSTLING sound came from the grass in the distance, and rabbits began to appear from all directions. At first, they lingered at a distance, seemingly hesitant. Then, as if unable to resist, they began to hop dazedly toward the group.
'Druid-type Magic? Creature affinity? A summoning?'
In this world, Druids originated from the Priests of the Mire Elves, who were found on the island of Istani and in the northern part of the continent. Some Humans and Dwarves also followed the Druidic path and mastered its power.
After the Old Empire conquered Istani and established it as a province, Mire Elf Druids became increasingly rare. However, their spellcasting techniques were absorbed into the Mages' system, becoming part of Natural Spells and Summoning Spells. The Tower of Forest was the Magic Tower with the most comprehensive and profound mastery of Druidic Magic.
'Animal-related spells within the Natural System are quite rare. It seems Tassia might have actually studied at the Tower of Forest after all.'
"This spell uses herbs and Magic Power to simulate... the pheromones that rabbits release during mating season. The added Magic Power scrambles their poor little brains and makes them deliver themselves right to our doorstep."
"Huh? Why are they all male?" Singrev asked, lifting two of the rabbits to get a better look.
...So it was basically a honey trap for rabbits! Rorschach also picked one up. It looked dazed, constantly kicking its hind legs and twitching its tail.
"Was that a professional enough explanation? You should believe that I'm a formally trained Apprentice now, right, Senior? I even have my acceptance letter from the Tower of Storms! But it's really important, so I can't show it to you, sorry!"
THWIP! A Crossbow Arrow pinned an unlucky rabbit to the ground. Hill had returned from her hunt, a Wild Boar slung over her horse.
"Why are there so many rabbits?"
The Dwarf explained the Magic Tassia had cast. Hill frowned, dismounted, and picked up a rabbit to inspect it.
"It has a narcotic effect. Are you sure it's safe for us to eat?"
"If you're so worried about it, go hunt your own food!" Tassia shot Hill a cold glare before turning and running back to the cart.
"We shouldn't be treatin' Miss Tassia like that, Young Master Rorschach. She's the one who's been lookin' after you these past couple of days."
Rorschach remembered the lap pillow from when he'd woken up. He nodded. "Alright, I'll go find Tassia to apologize and thank her."
'She took the initiative to get close to me? Doesn't that just make her more suspicious?'
With that thought, Rorschach discreetly checked his Storage Ring.
'Nothing's missing. Good.'
After that, Tassia kept her distance from the others, sitting silently in the cart.
...
That night, Rorschach volunteered for watch duty. Though everyone insisted he should rest more, he was adamant.
'Still just a loading circle. Forget it.'
He had opened his panel, but ever since he'd woken up, it had been stuck on a loading screen. Rorschach had no idea when it would return to normal.
The chirping of insects and the cawing of strange birds echoed as a cool wind swept across the open, rolling hills. Rorschach sat leaning against a wheel hub when, to his surprise, a figure emerged from the cart.
"Senior, there's something I want to talk to you about..."