The Sting of No Longer Being Special

As for the people who would use the Magic Weapon Summoning Book, Zheng Yichen first ruled out the older ones. Elderly Mages could forget it. In this world, age did not necessarily mean strength.

Older professionals certainly had more experience than younger ones, but if he gave them contracts with the Magic Weapon Summoning Book, they probably would not use it directly. They would study it endlessly instead.

Zheng Yichen needed professionals who would use Magic Weapons regularly, not researchers. So... students seemed like a good choice. They might be weak now and able to provide the Magic Weapon Summoning Tome with only limited magic power, but no one could deny that they had room to grow.

Lolise had not actually taken part in strengthening the Magic Weapon Summoning Book during this period. If she had, the magic power she provided alone would have far exceeded the combined contribution of all the Ghost Maids.

"I'm such an idiot!" Zheng Yichen knocked himself on the head. Wandering around aimlessly in search of suitable contractors was far too inefficient. The Magic Weapon Summoning Book was still limited in strength, so it would not cause much of a sensation. Its reach was bound to remain small.

Powerful people would not give it a second glance, while weak ones would be no damn use. Giving it to them would be a waste. People of middling strength would do.

"Twelve hours. No one will see through your identity during that time, but once it's up, this body will collapse," Lolise told Zheng Yichen.

Zheng Yichen examined the body before him with considerable curiosity. It was the incarnation Lolise had made for him. Because she had used real flesh and blood, it gave off the same aura as a human. That was only a disguise, of course; the body was still a product of Necromantic Magic.

Its lifespan was therefore limited. Lolise's own physical nature shortened it considerably further. And because this was a complete high-level spell, Zheng Yichen had no hope of learning it. After all, the body did not have the slightest trace of a necromantic aura.

Even many Light Magic spells designed to counter such things could not detect anything unusual about it.

Zheng Yichen scratched his head, then followed Lolise's instructions and slipped his projection into the body's hollow head. The opening in the temporary incarnation's skull closed on its own.

Inside, Zheng Yichen shifted the body a little awkwardly before taking control of all its movements. It felt astonishingly like using his own body before he had crossed over, except that now he had an option to "detach."

"I really want to reach the next rank soon," Zheng Yichen said wistfully. Magic in this world was not restricted by rank. Even a low-level spell like Fireball—provided it was the full version simply called "Fireball," not some basic or introductory version watered down for apprentices—could accomplish incredible things if its caster was strong enough and understood it deeply enough.

A single fireball could blow the top off a mountain, though that would take an enormous amount of magic power.

On his way out of the castle, Zheng Yichen picked up a bag filled with Magic Weapon Summoning Books. They were all one-use projections that would be destroyed after use, essentially contract scrolls with an extra function attached.

He did intend to choose the Magic Weapon Summoning Tome's contractors from among students, but he was not going to pass over everyone else. Scattering a few among them would be fine.

"Ahh... I'm sleepy." A city guard let out a long yawn and stared at the distant scenery in boredom. Guard duty was tedious, especially in a large city like Star City, deep in the heart of the continent.

Even when war raged elsewhere, a city like this was unlikely to be the first target. Its location aside, its defenses alone would be a tough nut to crack. This was a peaceful region.

The city flourished, and its guards had little to do. Those assigned to the gate spent most days wishing their shifts would end so they could have a couple of drinks at a tavern and go home. Standing around here was worse than training at the Drill Ground!

"Have you heard? There's a strange rumor going around the city lately." With little to do at midday, when hardly anyone was out and about, several guards began chatting.

Naturally, they talked about the latest news.

"You mean the summoning book that can call forth powerful Magic Weapons?" another guard chimed in as soon as the first had finished.

"No, no, I heard there were lots of books."

"Hmph! You don't know enough about magic. There's only one book, but magic lets many people find it. If you get hold of it, you can sign a contract and summon the powerful Magic Weapons inside! Unfortunately, each Magic Weapon Summoning Tome disappears as soon as someone signs a contract with it."

"Magic Weapons, huh..." One guard wistfully swung the spear in his hand. Magic Weapons had never been commonplace. To make the magical effects bestowed on one last, rare materials had to be added during its creation.

Otherwise, magic could only enchant a weapon temporarily. Once the effect wore off, it would become an ordinary weapon again. Worse, erosion from elemental forces could reduce its durability or even break it outright.

And a temporary enchantment could never match a Magic Weapon made from special materials.

Rank-and-file soldiers like them might go their whole lives without touching a Magic Weapon. "Why can't we get lucky and find a Magic Weapon Summoning Book?"

According to the rumors, finding a Magic Weapon Summoning Tome was indeed possible. The books appeared in unpredictable places; a person might step on one while walking down the street. Yet anyone who searched deliberately would come up empty-handed.

Some people had even posted rewards for unused Magic Weapon Summoning Books. Their usefulness had been confirmed, too: even the basic Magic Weapons could match the power of certain standard enchanted weapons on the market.

Beginner Magic Weapons were easily several times more powerful than basic ones. Higher-level Magic Weapons remained sealed, and no one knew what conditions would unlock them, so few people knew what the Intermediate ones were like.

The guards were discussing what they would do if they got their hands on a Magic Weapon Summoning Book when a thud drew their attention. They looked over. There lay a Magic Weapon Summoning Book...

The rumors had made the appearance of the Magic Weapon Summoning Tome widely known. Some people had even made counterfeits, but its distinctive magic fluctuations let anyone who knew what to look for spot a fake immediately. There was another curious detail: most people who encountered a Magic Weapon Book were young.

The guards fell briefly silent as they stared at the book that had dropped from who knew where. "What were we just saying? That we wanted to find a Magic Weapon Summoning Book?"

"Yeah..."

At the academy's Training Ground, Petty watched Kesha warm up, her attention wandering. She felt a pang of disappointment. She had heard the rumors about the Magic Weapon Summoning Tome. At first, she had thought Connor had prepared it especially for her. But now there were Magic Weapon Wielders... That was what some people called those who had signed contracts with the book.

As the number of Magic Weapon Wielders slowly grew, Petty realized she was not the only one. She had merely gotten her contract early because of her contractual connection to Zheng Yichen.

She had braced herself for it, but the disappointment she felt was still hard to put into words. Not only had many others become Magic Weapon Wielders, but Kesha, the senior student teaching her combat techniques, had also "happened" to find a Magic Weapon Summoning Book two days ago and become one.

"What's wrong?" Kesha sat down beside Petty after warming up, looking quite pleased. She had spent a day trying out the Magic Weapons she could summon from the book, and their power had impressed her. They were much better than the weapon she currently used, with a variety of effects that could handle all sorts of situations.