‘So, how do I approach this situation again?’

  Thita thought as he and the girl/Astell, were now near the edge of the forest.

  After finishing up the ritual, Astell had her suckles removed since, as the advisor said, “She can no longer use her mana to cause trouble for anyone without your permission, so there is no need for these restraints anymore.”

  Thita then paid the 4 gold coins and headed towards the forest with Astell, who was now following him close behind without saying anything the whole time.

  ‘Come to think of it, she has barely said anything at all since I first saw her. From what I heard, there are usually a lot of curses and failed attacks during the first stages. Oh well, no reason to complain. For now, I guess, I should say something.”

  Looking towards her, Thita spoke.

  “Say, why did you ask me to buy you? I know that you were going to end up being bought by someone, but why did you ask me out of everyone?”

  This was a question he really wanted to ask. He knew that there had to be a reason behind such an action, and knowing it might end up being beneficial.

  Finally looking up to face him, Astell spoke with a somewhat casual tone.

  “I didn’t ask you because I wanted to be bought by you specifically. I just needed to be bought today to live for another day. I was too troublesome for them to be kept alive, I heard, so if I wasn’t sold today, they would kill me. It was a matter of life and death, and I couldn’t waste any chance of being bought. You just happened to be the first to show interest in buying me, and I didn’t waste it. There is no other reason behind it.”

  Astel said while also waiting for Thita to respond.

  ‘I see. That explains pretty much everything. I guess I would do the same if I were in a similar situation. Still, I really hoped there was another reason behind it.’

  “I see. And I was wondering why they lowered their price so much. Why would they want so much to get rid of you, though?”

  Astell sighed and replied.

  “You can probably feel it, but if not. It’s because of the large amount of mana that surrounds me.”

  “Isn’t that a good thing, though? I thought that people with large amounts of mana are really powerful.”

  “Yes, but mostly as fighters. Not as slaves waiting to be bought. Being near a person with a lot of mana for some time can cause people with little mana experience symptoms such as headaches, loss of sleep, and a lot more. And as you can tell, beast people aren’t known for their large amounts of mana. So, me being near them causes them to lose most of their value. Hence, the reason I was more of a burden.”

  ‘Makes sense. I guess I did experience something similar while being close to Zero. But only when he released his mana. So, couldn’t she also not realise it too?’

  “Couldn’t they just force you not to release your mana then, or just do it by yourself in order not to be killed?”

  “I could, but not with the shackles. With them on, I can't control my mana, and for that reason, I am unable to withdraw it. Of course, they can’t just remove them and expect me to behave even if I promised.”

  “I see. Well, I guess those are enough questions from my side. Is there anything you want to ask too?”

  Astell couldn’t help but be taken aback by the question and the fact that she was allowed to even ask anything at all.

  “Oh…, well, in that case, may I know what you are planning to do with me?”

  Hearing the question, Thita replied calmly.

  “I don’t have any specific plans. For now, I guess you will just help me make some of my money back. Also, you are good at using magic, right?”

  “I do know the basics.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “That’s good enough. In that case, you will help me hunt some monsters and teach me the basics about magic. That’s mostly all for now.”

  Astel couldn’t help but be surprised, but she didn't show it. It might have been a mistake to show it after all.

  ‘Is this guy for real? Perhaps, he just doesn’t want to reveal everything from the start, so I can’t relax yet. I don’t have any reason to trust his words, but he doesn't seem to be lying.’

  “If that's all, then I am fine with my position. It's not like I can have an opinion on the matter anyway, but I have no complaints.”

  “Great to hear. I don't really want to force you to do anything that you don't want to. My name is Thita, by the way, and I hope that we get along.”

  Thita said as he extended his hand towards her. Astel looked at it with a confused expression and replied slowly.

  “Same…?”

  ‘Oh, right, she probably doesn't know what a handshake is. Can't really blame her, but I'd better just inform her or my gesture will be seen as very awkward…’

  “Oh, right. This is a gesture from where I am from. We shake each other's hands when we greet each other or meet someone new. It's fine if you don't wanna.”

  “Oh… no, it's fine.”

  Astell said as she too extended her hand and made a handshake with Thita.

  ‘Well, that seems to be going smoothly. Hopefully, it will stay like that. I don't know how well I could work with someone who was more rebellious. That doesn't mean that she isn't plotting a way to stab me behind my back, but that's fine.

  If we can at least understand each other, then it will do. So for now, I guess I should ask her for a demonstration of her magic. It's a bit early, but I really can't wait to find out what she can do.’

  After finishing the gesture, Thita spoke.

  “So, do you mind demonstrating to me the type of magic you can use? Any type of spell will do, I don't want anything specific.”

  Hearing his question, Astel thought for a bit and spoke.

  “Okay, I will use something simple then.”

  Saying that, she turned towards and looked at a nearby tree, and she slowly raised her hand.

  “This is a really basic spell that almost anybody can use with any type of magic.”

  She said as she quickly concentrated her mana on the tip of her finger and pointed at the tree. At the same time, almost instantly, a black beam was shot towards the tree, hitting it head-on.

  A loud crack was heard, and the area where the tree was struck now had a bump in it, as if someone had punched it with a lot of strength.

  “I didn't use much mana on it, so there wasn't any real damage done to it. If I wanted to, though, making a small hole wouldn't have been a problem.”

  Astel said casually with a bit of pride hidden behind her tone. Thita listened to her explanations while also staring at the tree.

  ‘I see. So if you concentrate some of your mana in a single spot, it's easier to control it and transform it… into a beam? No, I didn't get that right. It wasn't transformed, was it? Something else happened, but I didn't get it.

  I will probably ask her about it later. It's too many questions for now. Still, I could feel her mana, and what she did because of the contract that binds us together, so every time she uses a spell, I can probably feel it too. Or maybe not, I will figure it out.’

  “I see. I didn't quite get how it works, though. Still, if you can, teach me how to do it another time. This will do for now.”

  “It doesn't take long to teach, but it also depends on the type of magic you have an affinity for.”

  “Oh, right. In that case, do you perhaps know what type of magic is associated with the colour purple?”

  “Purple?” Astell said in surprise.

  “I am sorry, but that is the first time I have heard that. I do know a lot about magic, but that's a first for me.” Astell said with a troublesome expression.

  ‘Looks like she also doesn’t know. Well, for now, I guess that I will have to wait for the adventure guild to call in an expert. Hopefully, it won’t take too long.’

  Seeing Thita’s thoughtful expression, Astell spoke.

  “I might not know the type of magic associated with the colour purple, but I think that I can make a speculation about it. Is there perhaps any spells that you can use? Even a basic one can help me determine what type of magic it is.”

  “Well, I do only know one spell, but I believe that it might be unrelated to the type of magic that I can use.”

  ‘Zero did say that it is supposed to be a blessing, so it’s probably different from my magic. Or maybe not.’

  “I am sure that it must be related to it. When it comes to magic, everything is related to each other, even in ways that we cannot yet understand.”

  “I see. Well, in that case, tell me what you think. This is basically all I can do so far in terms of magic.”

  Thita said as he raised his hand. At the same time, a portal started slowly appearing in front of his hand. The inside of it presenting a location from further inside the forest.

  ‘This is probably good enough. That will probably fill her curiosi-!? Why is she making such an expression?’

  Thita couldn’t help but be surprised as Astell, who stood right next to him, had an expression filled with shock. She seemed genuinely terrified.

  “What… is that thing!?”