The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

"Digray, I'll be taking your son. I'm making this child my disciple. That's alright, isn't it?"

The Mystic Queen - a solitary existence who has lived for thousands of years since before recorded history.

She appears in numerous legends and stories, always depicted and feared as an immortal being. She's the master of Verugana, who is herself an incredibly skilled magician, and even Digray, who became the head of the kingdom's knights, wasn't allowed to study under her.

To her words, I answered without hesitation.

"I respectfully decline."

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

"Eh!?"

Roze, Digray, and Verugana were dumbfounded.

It seems they hadn't expected to be refused, as the Mystic Queen Roze showed signs of being flustered for the first time.

"W-w-w-why ever not? You'd be my disciple, you know? You could delve into the depths of mystic arts!"

"My life goal isn't to master mystic arts."

Of course, it would be great if I could master mystic arts.

But think about it.

What would I gain from mastering mystic arts? Has mystic art been useful in my life so far?

The answer is no.

No matter how much you master a technique that can't even flush water, it won't make poop flush!

Well, it would be disrespectful to convey such vulgar realities to the Mystic Queen.

I should at least give her a different reason.

"I have a sister, and I made a promise to her. I said I'd become a respectable, independent man in six years. If I'm going to study mystic arts, it should be after that."

"Respectable... Just being my disciple would earn you considerable respect in society, wouldn't it? Wouldn't that be a respectable reputation and position?"

"That's just borrowing your reputation, isn't it, Roze-san? It has nothing to do with my own abilities."

"Ugh."

It seems I hit the nail on the head, as Roze was left speechless.

"Of course, I think begging for your teachings would be an excellent opportunity to improve my abilities, but I don't want to waste the precious time of my childhood."

"...Is this child really 9 years old?"

Roze's face was twitching.

Well, this is my honest opinion. From now on, I need to make various preparations to become an adventurer and level up. I certainly don't have time to just train in mystic arts.

But undeniably, this is also a chance to change my life.

So, I'll try changing the direction of my words.

Of course, in a gentlemanly manner.

"However, it would be rude to refuse an invitation from such a beautiful lady. And normally, I should be the one begging for teachings, and such an opportunity might never come again. So, I have one request for you, Roze-san."

"A request?"

"My current life plan is to become independent and successful as an adventurer. Of course, by my own abilities. So I want you to allow me to live as an adventurer while being your disciple. Of course, I'll also need to ask my father as my guardian, but what do you think?"

Saying this, I turned to face Digray.

Digray, who had been dumbfounded by the unexpected turn of events, groaned lowly when suddenly addressed.

"But we can't expose to the world that a son of our House Muuteru is an outcast."

"Wouldn't it be fine if I don't use the Muuteru name when registering as an adventurer?"

"Hmm... Indeed, without the family name, you'd be thought of as a commoner. However, anyone with an appraisal skill would see through it immediately. While holy magic users are few, you'd surely encounter them somewhere as an adventurer."

"Ah, that's right. That's troublesome."

At the point when Roze invited me to be her disciple, I had already abandoned the plan to run away and become an adventurer on my own.

But unless this problem is solved, Digray won't give his permission either.

And come to think of it, I have no intention of causing trouble by acting on my own. For the sake of Lilith and Rina too, I want to avoid damaging House Muuteru's reputation because of me as much as possible.

As I crossed my arms and pondered with an "Hmm," Roze said resignedly:

"Can't be helped. Alright, I'll compromise."

"Do you have a solution?"

"This, this."

Saying that, Roze points to the robe folded on her lap.

"This has a recognition interference technique woven into it. It's effective even against those with appraisal skills. I'll teach you this skill."

Come to think of it, when I first saw her, I couldn't tell if she was male or female. Even though she was petite with a high voice, I somehow couldn't think about her gender.

Was that slight sense of discomfort I felt then due to this effect?

But I can't wear a robe all the time during activities.

And there's one thing I'm curious about.

"As expected of sensei! If that's the case--"

"As expected of Master--"

"But based on the feeling from earlier, you can't hide the fact that recognition is being interfered with, right? Wouldn't that fact be communicated against appraisal-type skills?"

Interrupting Digray and Verugana who were about to praise unreservedly, I pressed for confirmation.

Roze shook her head.

"This is a technique called [Substitution Method] that causes misrecognition by overwriting specific information. In my case, there's a sense of discomfort because I'm 'intentionally concealing', but if I wanted to, I could even make all status values appear as 100. If you cause misrecognition rather than hiding, there's no need to worry... Of course, you could also make just the magic power value appear normal, for example."

"I see. That's an unimaginably useful deception skill."

"D-deception..."

Huh, Roze seems to have gotten depressed for some reason.

Anyway, that's a convenient technique.

"I see. Those conditions would be helpful for us as well. Father, would that be acceptable to you?"

"Ah, yes... If it has the teacher's approval, I have no objections."

"Then we have a deal. Roze-san... no, Master. Looking forward to--"

"Before that."

As I was about to shake hands, she shook her head.

"Your conditions are that Ruruk becomes my disciple and then becomes an adventurer and is active. Before that, he uses the recognition interference technique to equip himself. Digray acknowledges this and lets Ruruk do as he pleases. Is that about right?"

"Yes, that's correct. Do you have any more negotiation conditions?"

"From my side, it's more of a request than a condition. Feel free to refuse if you don't like it. I don't mind Ruruk becoming an adventurer, but surely you're not planning to act alone, are you?"

"...You mean about a party. Indeed, I hadn't thought about that."

Come to think of it, adventurers usually operate in parties, don't they?

Only skilled veteran adventurers can manage solo, I suppose.

"Ruruk is still 9 years old. No one wants to add a 9-year-old to their party."

"That's undoubtedly true. Adventurers are always risking their lives. Only suicidal people would want a child in their party."

Verugana nods in agreement with a knowing look.

I hadn't thought about it, but indeed, would anyone want a level 1 nine-year-old as a companion? I wouldn't.

"That's why I want to add another of my disciples to Ruruk's party members, and I'd like you to agree to that."

"Another disciple?"

"Yes. I just picked up a new disciple recently."

Please don't say it so casually like you're talking about picking up a stray kitten.

"I couldn't help it, you know. When I visited a village, it was being attacked by a horde of monsters, and by the time I had defeated all the monsters, that child was the only survivor. Moreover, despite being so young, the child has genius-level talent for magic, and on top of that, is small and cute... There's no way I could not take care of such a child, right?"

"No comment on your preferences. But still, magic?"

"That's right. Is there something strange about that?"

Strange isn't the word, but a magic user disciple of the Mystic Queen?

I don't quite understand.

"Let me tell you, I'm also first-class as a magic user."

"That's right. Master is also my teacher in magic."

Ah, that's right, I had forgotten.

Verugana can't use mystic arts after all.

"Of course, I'm no match for the historical Demon Kings. I can't use that many types of magic. But that child has enough talent to become a Demon King, so then they might be able to fight me properly."

The Mystic Queen says such dangerous things with a happy face.

I hope she's not saying that because she's lived too long and is starved for excitement.

If that's the case, I'll quit being her disciple immediately.

"So, that's why I'm asking about the party member. Will you accept?"

"Of course. We'll be fellow disciples after all."

"Hehe, what a cute junior disciple. I'm sure Ruruk will be happy too."

A girl, huh.

It's a shame she doesn't seem to be a beautiful older sister from her tone, but if she's going to be a companion, I hope she has a good personality.

"Then our negotiation is settled. Now then, disciple, let's go to the Adventurers' Guild right away."

"Eh? From now?"

"Of course. Ah, but before that, watch this for a moment."

Roze held her hand over her robe and muttered briefly.

"[Threshold Compilation]"

The mana undulated and was absorbed into the robe.

I understood that the mana, which usually just drifted aimlessly, was complexly arranged in layers, acting as a single technique.

An impression of 'seeming high quality' was added to the plain robe.

It's a recognition interference technique that causes misrecognition of visual impressions.

"This is how you do it. Try writing in the status values."

Roze says casually.

Isn't that too much of an unreasonable demand?

"Isn't there any explanation of theory or methodology? I'm not some freak who can reproduce it after seeing it just once, you know?"

"Oh, alright. First, embed your quantified status in the first layer, create a circulation circuit in the second layer that connects the first to third layers with mana, embed only the values you want to change in the specific locations in the third layer, and in the fourth layer, pass a visual recognition path that connects to the circulation circuit in the second layer. That's it. It's just difficult to surface, but the composition formula itself is mid-level technique, so I'd like you to be able to do at least this much."

"You say it so simply... Phew, [Threshold Compilation]"

Ah, it's no good.

The mana scattered midway.

It seems the mana in the first layer becomes unstable halfway through the third layer. Since the total amount of mana that can be manipulated at once should be proportional to the mystic art proficiency, it's simply a matter of my insufficient output.

Which means I need to change the basic construction method.

Hmm.

Layering has to do with the vector of visibility from outside to inside, right?

Four layers from outside to inside.

But with my proficiency of 3000, I can only maintain two layers simultaneously.

It's no wonder it doesn't work well.

It's like a two-layered pie isn't delicious.

...Hm, pie?

Come to think of it, I remember trying to make a pie by myself when I was in elementary school. Dad and Mom had sent an apple pie as a souvenir from some country, and it was so delicious that I tried to make it myself.

But I couldn't make the pie crust well, and in the end, I couldn't make a delicious pie.

I ended up buying frozen pie crust, but I remember when I looked up how to make pie crust--

"Well, honestly, I didn't expect you to be able to do it right away. Today, I'll--"

"Father, do you have any unused adult scarves?"

"Hm? Well, there are plenty..."

"Please lend me one."

I had an idea, so I asked Digray.

When Digray ordered the butler, he brought several scarves in a matter of minutes.

For now, I spread out a beige scarf that matches my brown hair.

After spreading it out, I folded it in half once.

"[Threshold Compilation]"

First, on the left half of that folded side, my status values.

Next, on the right half of the same plane, centered on when the scarf is spread out, a straight visual recognition circuit.

Flipping the scarf over, now on the right side of the reverse face, a circulation circuit connecting all faces.

Finally, on the left side, I wrote in the magic power and proficiency increased by 100, and deleted or lowered skills and values that would be troublesome if seen.

A total of two layers.

Now if I fold this scarf between left and right to make a four-layer structure, and then wrap it around my neck--

"Alright, looks like it worked."

"No way..."

Roze was surprised.

This completes the recognition interference scarf.

I never thought the pie crust folding method I learned from a video long ago would come in handy like this.

Good job, past loner me.

"Ruruk, you're a genius."

"No, no, this is just borrowing others' wisdom."

Mainly from pie bakers and video creators.

Come to think of it, this method doesn't necessarily have to be a scarf.

As long as you can connect the four-layer circuit at once, you could do the same thing with thin cloth, and if you put that in a bracelet, couldn't you make a recognition interference bracelet? Wouldn't that make even tough guys fashionable?

I'll try it sometime.

"So, Master Roze, sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we go to the Adventurers' Guild?"

"Eh... Yes, let's go."

Saying goodbye to Digray and Verugana, who had fallen silent with indescribable expressions, Roze and I set out for the Adventurers' Guild.

Thus, for the first time since coming to this world, I was able to leave the mansion proudly and openly from the front.

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Author Notes:

  [Status values after recognition interference

  ――――――――――

  [Name] Ruruk ←

  [Race] Human

  [Level] 1

  [Health] 145 (+0)

  [Magic Power] 100 (+0) ←

  [Strength] 171 (+0)

  [Endurance] 165 (+0)

  [Agility] 270 (+0)

  [Intelligence] 268 (+0)

  [Luck] 101 (+0)

  [Theoretical Art Proficiency] 390

  [Magic Art Proficiency] 100 ←

  [Mystic Art Proficiency] 600

  [Possessed Skills]

  ≪Automatic Type≫

  "Calm and Collected"

  "Fire Magic Aptitude" ←

  ≪Activation Type≫

  "Minor Spirit Summoning"

  "Semi-Spirit Summoning"

  "Familiar Summoning"

  "Equipment Summoning"

  "Transfer"

  "Solidification"

  ――――――――――]

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