Chapter 138 – Rune Mage

A rune mage, the same class as the ancestors of magic.
After hearing the explanation, I was thrilled to think that I might have gotten a good class, but it is still too early to completely enjoy it.
Indeed, the ancient class called Rune Mage may be outdated in the current era.

‘Yes. Let’s not expect it.’

A certain sage on Earth did that.
If you expect it in the first place, you will be disappointed.
If you don’t expect anything from the start, you won’t be disappointed.
I asked Hannah, prepared to accept the sentence that my class was a mess.

“So, how does the class called Rune Mage compare to other classes? Does it have any merit that sets it apart from others?”
“Compared to ordinary classes, the magic you can learn is far better. Each ancient magic that uses primitive runes is very powerful magic.”

Five.
At that moment, the anticipation that had subsided suddenly rose, but right away, Hanna brought out negative words and lightly stepped on the anticipation.

“However, rune mages know that growing up as a mage is more difficult than others. To use ancient magic, you must major in runes.”
“What is rune science?”
“It is a study that studies the interpretation of runes and their magical meaning. Because it is so difficult, there are very few wizards even in the Mage Tower who major in runes. For an adventurer to walk the path of a rune mage, it means that such studies are essential. “
“…Okay.”

It’s rune
Hannah said it intimidatingly, but she didn’t feel particularly serious.
As for the interpretation of runes and their magical meaning, it was already a discipline that Rumi was diligently learning every day.
To be honest, I was able to tell Hannah this feeling as she was intensively learning runes.

“Is rune science that difficult? It just came into my head when I was learning it.”
“Yes? Were you already learning Rune Studies?”
“I’m learning step by step, starting with the introduction from a wizard I know. I’ve learned all the meanings of the primitive runes, and I’m learning the runic phonology part, but I didn’t feel too difficult.”
“The phonology part is one of the most difficult parts for the Mage Tower students to count on their hands.

Hannah, who was always blunt, expressed her feelings for the first time when she shared her honest impressions.
Hannah thought I was bluffing, so she had a puzzled look on her face.

“Aren’t you misunderstanding that it’s easy to learn from wandering wizards?”
“I’m learning from a proper teacher, not a savage.”
“Then, can I evaluate the adventurer’s knowledge of runes? If you’re confident, try pronouncing the runes properly here. After all, phonology is a study related to the pronunciation of runes.”

I readily accepted Hannah’s offer.
It was because I wanted to test my magic knowledge directly from Hanna, who was the top in the theory field at the Magic Tower.
To be honest, I felt a little nervous whenever I shut myself in the corner of my room and listened to Rumi’s lessons.
Because I don’t know how the achievement of my magic theory compares to others.

“Try pronouncing one by one, from the first rune ‘Pehu’ to the last rune ‘Dagaz’. You should be able to pronounce a total of 24 letters.”
“All right.”

I caught my breath and read the runes one by one in front of Hannah, my secretary, and Bella, her owner.
Using articulation organs such as the tongue, lips, roof of the mouth and gums, phonetically twisted and twisted runes were pronounced accurately.
Soon, a mysterious phenomenon occurred in the office.

“Pehu, Urz, Thorn…”

Magical tools for everyday life placed in the office.
For example, things like magic lamps and heaters that work with magic stones.
When I pronounced it with magical energy on my tongue, the magic tools began to tremble weakly while making a hum.

“What? The magic tools in the office are shaking a little? It doesn’t seem like an earthquake happened.”

Bella noticed the change and asked Hannah.
Hanna calmly opened her mouth while examining the magic tools around her.

“It’s not an earthquake, it’s a rune resonance phenomenon. The runes the adventurer is uttering now resonate with the runes engraved on the magic tool, causing vibrations.”
“Yes? Then, if I speak like Mr. Luke, can I make the magic tools tremble?”
“It’s impossible for Lady Bella. Rune resonance can only be caused by a wizard who has thoroughly mastered rune phonology. It seems that the knowledge the adventurer learned was standard, not savage.”

Hannah, realizing that I wasn’t bluffing, responded meekly by admitting it.

“That’s enough, adventurer. If you pronounce it that accurately, you can easily get an A grade from the professors at the Mage Tower. I apologize for doubting your achievements earlier.”

I even accepted an apology, but I didn’t stop pronouncing the runes.
There is one more thing I want to show Hannah.
I continued to roll my magic-loaded tongue and stare at the ceiling.

Ceiling with magic lights.
The light in the office was off because the bright sunlight was coming in from outside the window.

Ugh.
The rectangular shape of the magic lamp only sounded according to my pronunciation.
Concentrating my mind on the magic light, I put as much magic power into my mouth as possible.
The roof of his mouth was sore from the overflowing mana in his mouth, and even moving his jaw was difficult.
But with force, I uttered a single rune.

“Wunjo-!”

Primitive runic rhyme.
The meaning implied in it is ‘light’.
As soon as he raised his mana to the maximum and pronounced Unjo, a remarkable change occurred in the office.

Dig!
The light that had been turned off came on.
No one touched the switch, but the magic lamp emitted a bright light as if a ghost had been possessed.

“What, what is it? Is the magic light broken?”

Contrary to Bella’s bewilderment, Hannah realized that it was I who caused this phenomenon.
Hannah, who had always had a cold expression, looked at me and smiled softly.

“Lady Bella. The magic lamp is not broken. The adventurer hacked the magic tool by pronouncing the runes.”
“Hacking?”
“It means that the adventurer turned on the lights.”
“Uh, is that so? Did you end up just sitting there and muttering something?”
“A wizard who has mastered rune phonology to the bachelor’s level will learn the ability to hack magic tools remotely. You can manipulate magic tools by correctly pronouncing the base runes. Of course, I can do that too.”

Hanna put mana in her mouth and stared at her ceiling as she pronounced the runes just like me.

“Wunjo.”

Pod!
At that moment, the magic lamp that was shining brightly went out again.
It can be said that just now, Hannah and I alternately hacked the magic lamp to turn it off and on.
Wizards who studied rune phonology were able to hack magic tools by pronouncing runes with magic on their tongues.
In another world, rune phonologists are like excellent hackers.
Unlike the Earth, it can be said that phonology also affects real life.

“Adventurer. It’s certain that you have the talent for runes. It’s a ‘rune interference phenomenon’ that only undergraduates who majored in runes in the Mage’s Tower can cause. It’s the first time in my life that a wandering wizard causes it.”
“The rune interference phenomenon is a hack, right?”
“That’s right. Adventurer-nim, you have the qualifications to become a rune mage. Only those with talent in rune studies can thrive as a mage. I am very happy that you are a mage belonging to our guild.”

Bella asked with a curious expression from the side.

“Is Mr. Luke such a talented wizard?”
“That’s right. The young lady is a talented person who needs to be caught even if she does a sexy dance. If she wants to transfer, the two of you and I will have to seduce him with our bodies.”
“Three, sexy dance? Flirting with your body?”
“Yes.”

When Hannah found out about my magic skills, her words strangely sped up and her expression became lively.
It is a characteristic of idiots that they become extremely active when told a story they know.
Apparently, Hannah has a bit of a idiot wizard-like disposition.
Of course, temperament is fine, but she was concerned about what Hannah just said.

‘If I transfer, you’re going to attack me with your body and stop me? That’s a bit cheesy.’

Seeing the two beauties exchanging trivial jokes, a dirty delusion came to mind.
It was a delusion that a beautiful female secretary would get under my desk and secretly do fella.

Chew. Chew wow.
Chun. Churrup.

It would be icing on the cake if a lady from a noble house could also go under the desk and give her a double fella.

‘Woohyo.’

When I remembered the scene where the two beauties were fasting in the office, my lower body naturally tightened up.
I had to bend down a little to avoid being caught.

“Her face is red. What’s wrong with you?”
“Oh, nothing. I want to continue to hear the explanation about the rune mage. I want to ask Hanna-san, did you get my magic wand?”

She hurriedly distracted Hannah by asking a question.
Of course, it’s not a question thrown without thinking, it’s something I was really curious about.
In order to grow as a wizard on the continent, you must acquire a magic wand.
Awakening from an ordinary mage to a rune mage can be solved in one queue if you obtain a magic wand.

“I couldn’t get the rune mage’s exclusive magic wand from my line. The official name of that exclusive magic wand is ‘Quarter Staff’. A certain magic society monopolizes the production and sale of Quarter Staff.”
“A monopoly? So you’re saying it’s impossible for me to get one?”

It was very brief, but I had an ominous feeling.
I can’t get quarter staff, so I think of the future of living as a third-rate wizard for the rest of my life.

‘Do you monopolize the magic wand? What kind of Mr. Linder are you?’

Fortunately, Hannah was quick to tell me how to get her quarter staff.

“Adventurers, you can visit the magic society yourself. The magic society that monopolizes the Quarter Staff is the ‘Ningard’. It can be said to be a group of wizards who study ancient rune magic.”
“Ningard? Can I just get my quarterstaff if I visit there?”
“They said they don’t just take it, they give it to you for free if you pass a simple test. Of course, the test subject is rune studies.”

Ninggard, a group that studies ancient magic.
There, they say that if you pass the Rune Studies exam, you can get a quarter staff.
I thought that if I didn’t want to end my life as a third-rate wizard all my life, I must go.

“Ninggard is based in a port city in the western continent. It will take about a week to ride a wagon from Yoensuu.”
“I want to go quickly.”

I have never been to a port city in the western continent.
Before leaving, you should thoroughly prepare for your trip.

“You’ve worked hard because of me, Hannah. Thank you for letting me know.”
“If you’re saying thank you, say it to Lady Bella, not to me. It’s because she gave me instructions.”

Her Hannah, in her humble manner, gave her own credit to her employer, her Bella.
She should also express her gratitude to the head lady, who has a capable secretary.
I bowed her head to Bella, who was sitting at her desk.

“Bella. Thank you for always taking care of me. I don’t know how to repay you.”

Bella opened her mouth with a peek laugh.

“If you’re grateful, why don’t you do me a favor?”
“What kind of request is it?”
“Please take me with you when you go to the port city. I also have to meet the wizards of Ninggard this month.”

She suddenly asked Bella to accompany her, but, as expected of a high-ranking person, she did not ask for free.

“Adventurer Luke. I’d like to entrust you with an escort quest. If you take me safely to the port city, I’ll give you 40 silver and an achievement value appropriate to the difficulty level. I can set the quest difficulty to D-class.”

[Bellatrix Escort Quest]
Grade: D
Description: Safely escort the deputy guild master of Galarhorn from Joensuu to the port city.
Reward: 40 silver, D-class guild achievement

If you summarized the outline of the quest, it would be something like this.
I accepted the quest.

“Okay. I’ll take you safely to the port city, Vice Guild Master.”