The Horn's Incredible Effects

Dean wanted to argue with Kana, but she seemed to have a point. Wouldn't things be much more efficient if he had a life detection spell right now?

Although the teachers at the Magic Academy scoffed at the spell, it wasn't actually as terrible as they claimed. There was simply almost never any use for it.

The magical fluctuations it produced were so strong that practically anyone it scanned would notice. He would be better off not using it at all.

Yet just as Dean gave up on Life Detection Magic, a piece of information appeared in his mind.

Advanced Life Detection Magic!

There was no question about it: this spell must have come from the Infinite Eye. What surprised Dean, however, was that it was actually an advanced spell.

As a rule, advanced spells could only be learned by Sixth-Level Mage Mentors, though some Fifth-Level Grand Mages could just barely manage them.

There were also special exceptions—advanced spells that were less useful than basic ones and didn't require the strength of a Sixth-Level Mage Mentor.

But no matter how he looked at it, this was still an advanced spell, not something a Level-One Magic Apprentice like Dean could learn.

For a moment, Dean thought something had gone wrong with the Infinite Eye. Why else would it give him something so impractical? Even with this information, given his aptitude, learning a basic spell in a few days would already be an accomplishment, let alone an advanced one.

Still, Dean examined it carefully. Sure enough, this wasn't merely Advanced Life Detection Magic. It was a complete set of spells designed for gradual progression, with two other spells included.

Basic Life Detection Magic and Intermediate Life Detection Magic.

Together with Advanced Life Detection Magic, the three spells formed a set that progressed from low to high.

Moreover, each spell in a set like this was bound to be much more effective than an ordinary spell of the same kind.

Even if both were called Basic Life Detection Magic, the version belonging to a set would certainly be more precise and convenient.

"Kana, Dean's spacing out again. Should I go snap him out of it?" Yanxi looked at the motionless Dean and tugged at the hem of Kana's clothes.

Kana had been about to keep walking, but Yanxi's reminder made her look over.

"No need. Leave it to me. As captain, it's my solemn duty to wake my dear teammate." Grinning, she walked toward Dean.

Yanxi's little face fell, and she turned away. She should have... should have woken Dean herself before saying anything. She silently regretted it, trying not to watch what was about to happen.

Dean, please forgive me. Next time, I'll warn you first and keep Kana from getting her hands on you. Please forgive me just this once! Yanxi prayed silently. Of course, this wasn't the first time. It happened all the time.

By now, Yanxi had practically memorized that prayer.

"Aaaaaah!"

At the piercing scream, Yanxi's small body trembled, then she breathed a sigh of relief. Dean had finally cried out!

Meanwhile, Kana stood on tiptoe, hauling Dean upward by the ear. "You stupid Dean! What are you spacing out for? We're on a tight schedule. We don't have time for you to stand around daydreaming."

Kana knew her limits, though—specifically, the limits needed to keep herself safe. The instant Dean swiped at her, she darted three meters away. Poor Dean was only a mage. He barely had enough time to practice magic, let alone train his body.

So his swipe missed, a thousand percent guaranteed.

"Argh! Kana, you little sneak! I curse you! I curse you to never find a husband!" Dean pointed at her in fury.

"Bleh! I'm the captain, and you had the nerve to ignore me and stand there daydreaming. Consider that a little punishment. Hmph!" Kana smiled smugly.

The tug on his ear hadn't really hurt that much. But Dean had been deep in thought, and a sudden attack like that, especially on his ear, had naturally startled him.

"Damn it! You just interrupted the great Mage Dean's thinking time! Do you have any idea how serious an offense that is?"

"Then should I pull your ear again? I'll do the other side this time, to even things out." As she spoke, Kana deliberately pinched her fingers together, eyeing his untouched ear.

Dean shuddered and instinctively covered his other ear as he shot back, "Enjoy it while you can! One day, I'll get you!"

He said that, but there was little chance of it happening. As an archer, Kana might not have been as physically powerful as a knight, but she still cultivated battle aura. Naturally, she was countless times more agile than a mage like Dean.

Get caught by Dean? What a joke. Wouldn't that be humiliating for an archer like Kana?

"Give me a little time. I'm going to learn Basic Life Detection Magic." With that, Dean sat down right where he was, on a pile of wheat straw.

His actions left Yanxi, Kana, and Lamore staring dumbfounded. What was going on? Could someone simply decide to learn a spell on the spot?

Lamore was especially surprised. Until then, he had been busy smoothing his hair and straightening his clothes, with no time even to watch Kana tease Dean. This farmland was simply too dirty. Or rather, it wasn't dirt so much as all the tiny bits clinging to his clothes.

With his mild obsession with cleanliness, how could Lamore pretend not to see them? He had been frantically picking them off as they walked. Now that they had stopped, he was racing against the clock to clean himself up.

Even so, Dean's actions were enough to shock him.

"Is he joking?" Lamore asked Yanxi and Kana, still picking the tiny bits off his clothes.

"Probably... probably not? Dean brags a little sometimes, but he usually does what he says he'll do... I think?" Yanxi answered uncertainly, her eyes fixed on Dean. Yet there wasn't a trace of magical fluctuation coming from him!

"I think I remember reading a little about that spell. It's supposed to be one of the easiest spells to understand. I think it's even easier than Basic Illumination," Kana said, propping her chin on her small hand.

"But how is he going to learn it? He doesn't even have the most basic instructions from a spellbook," Lamore asked again.

Yanxi fell silent. She was a sword-and-shield fighter and knew nothing at all about magic.

"What are you looking at me for? How would I know? Keep staring and I'll cut your hair off." Kana glared at Lamore. Why couldn't he just stay off to the side admiring himself? He could satisfy his vanity without bothering anyone else.

Instead, Lamore insisted on asking question after question. It was maddening. Kana herself wanted to know what Dean was doing.

Come to think of it, Dean seemed a little different today, though Kana couldn't quite put her finger on how.

Lamore shut his mouth and hurriedly backed away a few steps. He didn't dare provoke that little devil Kana. To her, cutting someone's hair was no big deal. Once it was cut, it was cut. Wouldn't it just grow back later?

(End of chapter)