Is Being a Magician Considered a Job? Am I Jobless?

Chapter 11

Marisa couldn't help but feel awkward as Roxy responded to her quip with confusion. However, in Marisa's opinion, this was probably the best outcome for such a scenario, considering the potential misinterpretations.

"Um... thank you, I guess," Roxy replied, still trying to process the situation. Undyne stepped in to help Roxy understand Marisa's words better, and the result was satisfactory, so Marisa had no complaints.

"You carried me to an inn and paid for the room alone? I'll make sure to pay you back later," Marisa remarked, piecing together the information she had gathered and guessing the sequence of events that led to this outcome.

"No, I don't want to take money from you," Roxy clarified, catching Marisa off guard. Marisa was puzzled, wondering what Roxy might want from her instead.

"I want you to teach me. You're a magician, right? I aspire to become a great magician in the future too," Roxy explained, her eyes reflecting a firm resolve. Marisa couldn't help but sweat drop at the request, finding it a bit of a hassle. 

However, she also considered that teaching Roxy could be beneficial, especially since Marisa knew she would eventually depart. Having someone carry on her teachings might be a positive legacy to leave behind.

"Sure, but let's grab a meal first and take care of a few things before diving into magic and discussing our plans for the future," Marisa suggested, and Roxy nodded in agreement. Roxy generously paid for Marisa's food and also covered the meals for Undyne and Elfijyah, who were currently in their shared room since Roxy had secured accommodations for three days.

"As for my plan, I aim to locate the other spirits and revitalize the spirit table. They can handle various matters, and I'll grow stronger in the process, although it might get quite hectic with all the traveling," Marisa explained, causing Roxy to fall into deep thought.

"Indeed, you have a busy schedule as an apostle, but I'm eager to learn from you. Please allow me to accompany you until I can stand on my own two feet," Roxy pleaded with Marisa, her eyes earnest and hopeful. Marisa sighed, weighing the decision of whether to reveal all her plans or take an easier route now that Roxy was involved.

"Alright, let's begin with the basics. How much do you already know about magic?" Marisa inquired, fixing her serene gaze on Roxy.

"I know a little bit from the book in my village and also from Undyne's inspiration, although we couldn't communicate in the past. I'd say I'm at an elementary level in water magic, but I haven't made progress with other elements yet," Roxy explained, prompting a nod of understanding from Marisa.

"Do you understand the theory behind mana and its workings?" Marisa asked, and Roxy nodded in confirmation, indicating that she was familiar with the concept. Marisa observed Roxy thoughtfully, noting that despite Roxy's youthful appearance, she belonged to the long-lived Migurd race, possibly being in her twenties or thirties. Nonetheless, Marisa felt reassured that she wouldn't need to start from scratch with Roxy's magical education.

"What you need is practical observation. By witnessing phenomena and understanding how they occur, you can gradually comprehend and apply magic to yourself. This is the easiest way to learn spells; the shape of your mana depends on your memory," Marisa explained, her voice carrying the weight of experience.

With a focused gaze, Marisa controlled the ambient light, shaping it into stars that revolved gracefully from the ceiling. After a moment, she reformed the light, crafting it into a spear-like shape. With a swift motion, she returned the construct to its source, absorbing it back into her body.

"See how the mana takes shape according to my will and memory. Try to observe and replicate similar phenomena," Marisa encouraged Roxy, hoping to guide her in the practical aspects of magic.

Roxy was left awestruck and speechless by Marisa's display of magical prowess. She couldn't help but wonder if she could achieve similar feats one day.

However, before Roxy could gather her thoughts, Undyne abruptly burst into their spiritual space, looking at Marisa as if she were some kind of magical prodigy. "Light?! You used light magic and effortlessly created such intricate constructs without even chanting the spells?!" Undyne exclaimed, clearly impressed yet also baffled.

"It's not chantless; it's called freeform magic. Unlike chantless magic, which has a predetermined outcome, freeform magic allows the user to shape the outcome based on their will and intention. That's why many consider freeform magic to be the most versatile and powerful form of spellcasting," Marisa explained calmly, trying to ease Undyne's confusion.

"Has magic truly advanced to this level?" Undyne muttered, still trying to process the revelation.

Elfijyah appeared, interjecting to refute Marisa's implied claim of creating a groundbreaking technique. "Marisa, you're the only person who can perform that kind of magic! Magic hasn't advanced that much in the Six-Faced World yet, but you've managed to create this technique," Elfijyah asserted, her tone carrying a mix of admiration and frustration.

Marisa, however, downplayed her achievement. "Technically, it's not my technique. It was inspired by something else, and I've merely refined it to suit my preferences. It's not as impressive as you think," Marisa explained nonchalantly, causing Undyne to fall silent in surprise.

Elfijyah, on the other hand, was visibly upset. She couldn't understand why Marisa refused to accept praise and adopt a more arrogant attitude. It was painful for Elfijyah to witness, especially since she had been by Marisa's side all this time and felt that Marisa was still underestimating herself.

"No, that's incredibly impressive, you know," Undyne interjected, expressing her admiration for Marisa's magical abilities. Elfijyah couldn't help but feel pleased that Undyne had acknowledged Marisa's talents.

"Now that I know how capable you are, I, Undyne, the Great Spirit of Water, formally request that you become a mentor to Roxy. I couldn't delve into the intricacies of mana control with her, as it comes to me instinctively," Undyne explained, addressing Marisa directly.

Marisa nodded in agreement. "Sure, Roxy, get ready because we're going to expand your mana capacity," Marisa declared confidently, flashing a grin. Meanwhile, Elfijyah's expression turned pale as she pulled Undyne aside to discuss something privately.

Unaware of the impending danger, Roxy smiled, excited about the prospect of learning magic from Marisa.

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[A/N]

Sleepy...