Moving House

After work, he passed by a group of stinking drunkards and returned to his single-room dormitory.

Aibo stared at the system before him and fell into deep thought.

Just now, he had invested 1,000 Inspiration Points into Drawing Magic, and the system had undergone an unexpected change.

It had gone from this panel:

[Shaping Magic LV0, 333/1000], [Drawing Magic LV0, 1/1000]

To this:

[Shaping Magic LV1, 334/10000]

[Drawing LV1, 1/10000]

After he invested 1,000 Inspiration Points, Drawing Magic had disappeared, becoming LV1 Shaping Magic and LV1 Drawing.

This was a change that had never happened before.

What did it mean?

It was seriously frustrating that this piece-of-crap system didn't come with a manual.

So after adding points to a subordinate skill, its experience merged into a higher-level skill?

Had he lost out, or gained from this?

Could his skill list not only record magic, but other everyday skills as well?

Then his writing ability should count as a skill too, right? Why hadn't it appeared?

Just as Aibo thought this, the panel changed again:

[Writing LV1, 107/10000]

Holy crap! It appeared!?

This piece-of-crap system could even patch itself??

No, no, calm down. Thinking about it carefully, it was probably because he hadn't fully figured out how the system worked yet!

Before today, he had never regarded writing as a skill, so it hadn't shown up on the panel?

Come to think of it, this wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

The names of all the skills he possessed had been taught to him by others.

At the very beginning, when he had just awakened his memories, the first skill displayed by the system had been [Telepathy LV4].

After Gildarts told him that his awakened magic was Telepathy Magic, [Telepathy] had become [Telepathy Magic].

Aibo hadn't paid attention to that minor detail at the time, but now it seemed the system's secret was hidden within it.

The system's perception of skills was entirely guided by Aibo's own will.

In other words, this system was a foolproof system. It could only passively quantify and organize data; all its other functions needed to be uncovered through his own initiative.

Then... did cooking count as a skill?

[Cooking LV0, 233/1000]

"..."

He really couldn't cook, but he still felt like the system was mocking him.

Then running, exercise, and fitness all counted as skills too?

[Body Training LV0, 69/1000]

Wow, that was ridiculous. What about music?

[Singing and Playing LV0, 6/1000]

[Inspiration Points: 4377→4496]

Wait, something was off with his Inspiration Points.

Aibo suddenly noticed that his Inspiration Points had dropped several times just now. Although they had quickly recovered, they had definitely decreased!

So "creating" new skills also consumed Inspiration Points?

But compared to how delighted he felt right now, that tiny amount of Inspiration Points was nothing.

Since everyday skills could be created, could magic skills also be created by himself?

Mages needed to control magic, so control over magical power should count as a skill too, right?

[Magic Power Control LV1, 555/10000]

It really worked!

[Inspiration Points: 4496→3245→4063]

!?

His Inspiration Points jumped several times right before his eyes, startling Aibo.

Holy crap, it had consumed more than a thousand Inspiration Points?

Still, it was worth it!

It was absolutely worth it!

[Inspiration Points: 5156]

I'm basically Superman! Happy Superman!

[Hehe~ After I finish the commission tomorrow, I'll go see Miss Jenny. Miss Jenny's big ass~ Hehehe~]

[Ah, Tom will be back next week. I need to visit his place a few more times these days. Who knows when I'll get another chance next time.]

[Sigh, all the beautiful women in the guild have boyfriends. Where is my springtime~~]

"..."

Aibo's face darkened. Damn it, those old perverts had all returned to the dorms and ruined his good mood!

In a fit of impotent rage, Aibo threw a series of punches at the air. Venting was useless, so he could only sit at his desk and start writing.

But the messy voices in his mind did not stop at all. Mixed in with all sorts of chaotic thoughts, they left him restless and irritated.

"Aaaah! I can't take it anymore! I can't endure this! I'm moving out!!!"

Aibo grabbed his head and ruffled his hair wildly until it became a complete mess.

He had realized that moving out could not wait another moment.

Spending even one more day in this crappy dormitory would be torture. He was Happy Superman; he needed to maintain a good mood to grow stronger. Staying here would only drag him into a mire.

I! Am! Moving! Out!

Having made up his mind, Aibo picked up a thick book, lay down on his bed, raised it over his head, and smashed it into his forehead, magnificently knocking himself unconscious.

"What? You're not staying in the boys' dormitory anymore? Why?"

The next day, Makarov looked at Aibo, who had submitted a "resignation request," with surprise and curiosity.

"I plan to move out on my own and live outside the forest east of town. I want to find a place to practice magic."

That was the reason Aibo had come up with. The guild master knew he had learned Crush Magic, but had forbidden him from using it in town. Using that as an excuse should earn his approval.

"Ummmm, the eastern forest..."

"Guild Master, you don't need to worry about my safety. I already know how to use plenty of magic. If things really go wrong, I can use Telepathy Magic to call for help..."

"No, no, that's not what I'm worried about. I'm worried that using magic recklessly in the forest will put you in danger."

"?"

Makarov tucked his hands into his sleeves and explained, "An old friend of mine lives in the eastern forest. How should I put this... she doesn't really like humans..."

"Uh, I won't go out of my way to bother anyone. Besides, I generally won't enter the forest."

"Fine, as long as you have a plan. But what about building a house?"

"Can I pay someone to build one for me?"

"That... might be a little troublesome. Since you haven't purchased any land, building a house on the edge of town would be illegal construction. No one would take that kind of job."

Aibo scratched his head.

"So you mean people would actually be willing to take a job building a house inside the forest?"

"Yes."

"Would a completed illegal building be torn down?"

"Normally, yes. But you're a mage, so it won't."

Fine.

Aibo sighed and held out his hand toward Makarov.

"Guild Master, do you have any magic books introducing earth magic and wood magic? The most basic kind will do."

"I do, but what do you want them for?"

"I'm going to teach myself how to build a house." Aibo's expression remained blank.

"?"

In the end, Makarov still found the magic books Aibo needed in the guild library. Then he watched the kid read two pages, clap his hands, and leave the guild, leaving Makarov with a head full of question marks.

In truth, after Aibo had glanced through the books and received the skill prompts, he directly spent two thousand Inspiration Points to forcefully master the two magics.

[Earth Magic LV1, 1/10000]

[Wood Magic LV1, 1/10000]

[Inspiration Points: 3210]

Although he felt that learning these two magics on his own would not take much time, Aibo could no longer wait.

With a small bag slung over his back, he jogged all the way to the edge of town and chose a spot by the riverbank, several hundred meters away from the nearest house, as his new home.

"Hmm, the environment's pretty nice. It's a little far from the guild, but... that's exactly what I want!"

Combining elemental magic with Shaping Magic, Aibo tested it a few times before successfully using Earth Shaping Magic and Wood Shaping Magic.

They were rather awkward and difficult to use, but he did not need to make anything luxurious. As long as it was usable, that was enough. He could just treat it like playing Minecraft.

He first used Earth Shaping Magic to make a foundation, then put together a simple unfinished house.

LV1 Wood Shaping Magic required plant seeds, but it could also be used directly near trees.

He found a hardwood tree nearby, pressed his hand against the trunk, and poured in magical power. The branches then grew according to his wishes, producing the lumber he needed.

Beams, doors and windows, wall pillars, a chimney, roof tiles, furniture...

Without question, magic was the foremost productive force in this world. Work that should have required several people working together was completed by Aibo after he figured it out on his own.

And so, Aibo spent the day as a construction worker on the edge of town. By dusk, he had finally cobbled together his first house.

Although it was very simple, perhaps due to the influence of his LV1 Drawing skill, the little house actually looked quite pleasing.

His body was exhausted, and he had consumed a great deal of magical power, but because he was far from the crowds and could barely hear any noise, his heart was more peaceful than ever.

Having completed the house-building project entirely by himself, an unprecedented sense of satisfaction washed over his soul.

It felt amazing.

Magic was truly wonderful!

[Inspiration Points: 4410]