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

Chapter 12

Quick author note:

I'm putting my foot down this time—I'm confident I can pull off a non-harem fic! If I ever go back on my word and turn this into a harem later, I give you full permission to mentally slap me silly! Although, now that I think about it, I do have a habit of eating my own words... But mark my words, this time it's for real! fr fr no cap! *laughing inside miserably*

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Marisa temporarily left to earn some money, leaving Elfijyah to take care of Roxy despite Elfijyah's desire to tag along. Marisa ignored Elfijyah's protests, causing Elfijyah to sulk momentarily before regaining her composure to warn Roxy about Marisa's unorthodox methods.

"Roxy, I know Marisa's offer to expand your mana capacity is tempting, but please don't accept it," Elfijyah cautioned, her tone serious. "There's a high chance you'll suffer from severe stomach aches or, worse, death."

Undyne, who had heard Elfijyah's previous warnings about Marisa's actions, remained skeptical. "I think you're blowing it out of proportion, Elf. I'm sure Marisa is aware of the risks and wouldn't cause Roxy to suffer," Undyne interjected, offering a contrasting viewpoint.

"If Marisa had done that, there would have been a sudden influx of stomach aches in the village at one point," Elfijyah argued. "Though I hope I'm wrong, and Marisa wouldn't repeat such actions... I'm sure she has good intentions, but her methods seem to benefit herself more than others," Elfijyah explained, expressing her concerns.

Undyne couldn't help but retort, "You're criticizing her harshly one moment, then praising her the next! Please make up your mind, Elf!" Undyne's frustration was evident, caught between Elfijyah's conflicting statements about Marisa.

"If it's possible, I'd love to hear Marisa's story from you, Elfijyah," Roxy expressed her curiosity about Marisa's incredible abilities.

"Hmm... I'm sorry, but I can't reveal Marisa's entire story to you. I learned about her during moments of vulnerability, and I can't share it without her permission," Elfijyah explained with a serious tone. "Perhaps you'll have the chance to hear her story directly from her in the future. As her contractor, I must respect her privacy and not disclose her personal information willingly," Elfijyah added, conveying her commitment to Marisa's trust and confidentiality. Roxy felt a bit disappointed but understood the importance of respecting Marisa's privacy.

As they waited for Marisa to return, Roxy entertained herself by listening to Undyne and Elfijyah's playful banter. Their bickering filled the room until a knock on the door interrupted their exchange. Elfijyah swiftly opened it to reveal Marisa standing there, carrying books and a pouch filled with demon world currency.

"That fast?!" Undyne exclaim in surprise, and Elfijyah couldn't hide her pride at seeing Undyne's reaction.

"It's not that difficult to earn money by fighting creatures, especially with my mastery over magic," Marisa replied casually, as if it were a simple task. "However, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're as proficient as me," she added, glancing at Roxy to emphasize the point that such endeavors were not to be taken lightly.

"I understand," Roxy replied after meeting Marisa's gaze, indicating her comprehension.

"Good. Now, first, I need to assess your level of knowledge. It's not that I don't trust you, but I have to gauge your understanding, you know, the usual stuff," Marisa explained as she took a seat on a nearby chair.

Roxy nodded in agreement, ready for the assessment. Marisa began with a fundamental question, "What are the four elements commonly used in magic?"

"W-water, fire, earth, wind," Roxy replied promptly.

Marisa nodded approvingly and continued, "Are you aware of the higher versions of these elements?"

This question seemed to confuse Roxy a bit. "For example, understanding flame magic can lead to unlocking heat and light magic. Understanding water magic... I don't have much knowledge about it since I focus on heat and light, but as far as I remember, it includes weather and emotional manipulation. Understanding earth can unlock metal and gravity, while understanding wind leads to flight and clairvoyance," Marisa elaborated, surprising Roxy with her in-depth understanding of magical concepts.

"Um, may I ask which magic you've mastered?" Roxy inquired, curious about Marisa's magical abilities.

Marisa, with her carefree demeanor, listed off some rather extraordinary skills that even Undyne found impressive. "I've mastered flame, flight, light, and heat magic. They come as naturally to me as breathing. Currently, I have an advanced rank in water magic and an elementary understanding of earth magic," Marisa explained casually.

Undyne couldn't help but admire Marisa's talent at such a young age and appreciated Elfijyah's discernment in choosing a capable apostle. "Why is your earth magic still at an elementary rank?" Roxy asked, puzzled by Marisa's proficiency gap between her water and earth magic.

Marisa shrugged nonchalantly. "It's simple, really. The concept of earth magic being slow and methodical doesn't appeal to me. My magic style leans towards speed, strength, and flashiness, which is the opposite of traditional earth magic. So, I didn't see the need to delve deeper into that particular magic," Marisa explained, clarifying her approach to magic.

"Of course, I don't expect you to copy my style of using magic since it's clearly not suitable for someone like you who is more attuned to water magic. Unlike me, you have the potential for flexibility, although advancing your fire magic might prove challenging due to your water affinity. However, first, you need to establish a style that you're comfortable with, and from there, you can branch out," Marisa explained seriously, curious about Roxy's potential development in the future. But before anything else, Marisa knew she had to teach Roxy well.

"Anyway, let's start with fire magic," Marisa continued, handing Roxy a makeshift notebook and pen she had bought. "Write down how you understand my lesson, not just what comes out of my mouth. Anything you write is a reflection of how you comprehend my teachings... if they make sense," Marisa added with a slightly awkward chuckle.

"Of course, feel free to raise your hand if you have any questions," Marisa added as she began her lesson.

"So, fire and flame are essentially the same thing. But what creates fire? It's a combination of fuel and a spark of heat. For example, dry grass will ignite when exposed to the heat of the sun; here, the grass is the fuel, and the sun provides the heat. In fire magic, your mana acts as the fuel that the fire consumes, and your will serves as the source of heat to make it burn," Marisa explained as she conjured a water ball using a finger trick, slowly transforming it into a flickering flame. "This is a visual representation of how your mana burns to create fire."

Undyne, perplexed by the water turning into fire, exclaimed, "Fire on water... why?!"

Marisa clarified, "It's called element swapping. It's a stage where you can freely control your mana to change its elemental properties. While it's challenging to learn, it's not impossible." Roxy looked amazed, feeling fortunate to be learning from such a formidable magician.

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My master plan, you ask? It's simple: if people get all worked up over my fanfic, they'll be inspired to create an even better one! And when that happens, guess who wins? Yours truly, because reading an awesome fanfic is my ultimate end goal! It's a win-win... well, for me at least!