The Second Attack

Stephen Lesser Giant. The name made it sound like something between a human and a Dwarf, but "lesser" was relative to giants that routinely stood six or seven meters tall.

An adult Stephen Lesser Giant was still a towering creature over four meters tall.

They lived in tribes in the vast forest between the southern plains and the northern Snow Mountains. The one that had wandered near Breeze City was likely an old Stephen Lesser Giant that had left its tribe.

Aside from extraordinary races like dragons and devils, which only grew stronger with age, Dwarf Giants obeyed the rules of this world: growing old meant growing weaker.

And this old Dwarf Giant might have a Spellbook in its collection.

Annan knew what a Spellbook was: a magic item like a Magic Ring or a scroll, but without restrictions on its use. Any spellcaster could bypass their usual limitations and cast the spells recorded in it, provided they had enough Magic Power.

A mage who specialized only in Evocation, for instance, could cast a Summoning spell they had never learned, or a Sorcerer who knew only summoning could cast spells from other schools.

Both Annan and Michael could make use of this Spellbook.

It was rather far away, though—about half a day's journey from Breeze City.

Annan and Michael rode in the Mage Tower Carriage again. Annan couldn't help asking whether they might be reported for abusing it.

"I'm in the Carriage too, so of course it doesn't count as abuse."

Michael said it as if it were obvious. The Mage Tower looked after its own, and loopholes like this were made for insiders.

Francois's family Carriage followed behind. Klein rode a heavy Destrier, radiating an unparalleled sense of menace and security, like a knight in full armor.

Annan thought