By Zephyria 
The Finger Projectile Skill was a martial art that fired internal energy like a bullet.
I had heard that there were ways to emit internal energy from each of the five fingers, but what I knew, and what I had taught Marianne, was to fire Finger Wind using only the index finger of my right hand.
It wasn’t a separate technique; it was a simple method of drawing out the internal energy within the body and forcefully expelling it in time with one’s breath, so it wasn’t difficult to use or learn.
Standing three paces away, I aimed my index finger at the target and fired, channeling ten years of internal energy.
Thwack.
Few things made such a small impact sound when hit by Finger Wind. The black circle of the Aventa Bump, not yet fully bloomed, was merely dented slightly on its side.
Even though I had adjusted the amount of internal energy, its power was enough to bore a hole through a human-sized rock. Was this current state normal? I hesitated, worried I might be feeding something evil.
Marianne urged me on.
“Mikael, what are you doing? One more time.”
“Is it… really okay?”
“Yes. You can make it a bit stronger too?”
“Yes. I can.”
“Shoot.”
“Yes.”
If I was told to do it, I had to. What else could I do?
This time, I channeled thirty years of internal energy. The Finger Wind, imbued with half a century’s worth of internal energy, emitted a powerful goooh sound from my fingertip as it gathered before being fired. The gathered energy then poured out like lightning, shaking the target. Dust rose first, then the sound.
KWA-A-A-ANG!
The dust cloud made it difficult to see with the naked eye. My index fingertip tingled faintly, having concentrated so much energy there after a long time. I reflexively clenched and unclenched my hand, then looked back at Marianne.
Was it done now?
The child, whose face was lit up as if by a bright lamp, hopped towards me and extended her hand. I instinctively raised my right hand and met hers with a slap in mid-air.
“It works! It’s done! Wow!”
“Is it all done?”
“It’s exactly half done now. One more time should do it.”
“I’ll do it once the dust settles.”
“Okay! Phew, it’s safe. You’re doing it so safely and cleanly.”
I almost burst out laughing. I deliberately put on a stern expression.
“If you’re going to praise me, just praise me. Don’t tease me.”
“Nooo. What did I sayyyy.”
“Marianne.”
“Look at you taking her side. Alright, alright. Just one more time, exactly like that.”
“Yes.”
As the dust settled, my laughter also subsided. Glancing over, I saw Rubel’s face was still flushed. Benjamin, about to console him, swallowed his laughter and stepped a few paces away.
I pushed back the sigh boiling up in my throat and collected myself.
Again, channeling thirty years of internal energy,
KWA-A-A-A-ANG!
I fired it the same way, but this time, twice the amount of dust as before rose.
The contaminated mana that had gathered darkly in the deep crater vanished without a trace. Marianne squinted, looking into the space, then swung her staff, conjuring Wind Magic to blow the dust far away.
Marianne was so excited that she hopped next to the crater, crouched down, and began humming a cheerful tune, even doing a little shoulder dance. Her appearance was so cute that I couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.
The seniors, watching her with expressions of disbelief, joined us.
“You really could be a Paladin, you know.”
“Paladin, physical.”
“…Thank you for the compliment.”
There was nothing around the deeply gouged mark. The ground was simply packed firm, with no sign of anything having been buried there.
But Marianne seemed to sense something. Without caring about getting her clothes dirty, she lay on the ground, peering with her eyes and listening with her ears, then patted the ground.
“Found it! I found it!”
“Where?”
“It’s under here.”
The direction her fingertip pointed was clear. The spot where the black stain had been was now a hole about a hand’s span deep from my Finger Wind. Deeper than that?
Marianne giggled sheepishly.
“It’s a bit deep.”
Elvin stopped me from saying I’d do it and held his sword reverse-grip.
It was because I thought I was the only one who would be fine even if contaminated mana seeped into my body. Rubel didn’t try to stop me this time. It was a great relief, as I had resolved to do my part even if the child had tried to stop me.
Since using Sword Energy to quickly dig it out might damage the Medium once the magic was released, I had to excavate the soil more carefully than usual. I marked an area about a hand’s span wider than my shoulders and slowly dug inward.
As soon as the hole exceeded my height, I let out the laughter I had been holding back.
Good heavens.
Discovering traces of Black Magic was a rather serious matter. I knew I shouldn’t be this happy, but the laughter kept coming. Watching Ruben fuss over me with concern was so amusing that I felt as light as if I were out for a stroll, my gestures and steps carefree.
As if she knew I was completely captivated, the child who kept shaking me up was so endearing that I couldn’t regain my composure. I laughed out loud, then, afraid of upsetting her, I smiled only with my face.
I pressed the back of my hand to my mouth, suppressing the smile. With a giddy feeling, I scooped up the soil from the ground and tossed it over my shoulder. I assumed they had moved to a safe distance since I couldn’t see them.
“Kyaak!”
“Ugh! Hey! Aren’t you going to be careful?!”
“…I’ll be careful!”
I should have told the others to stay clear beforehand.
After digging for quite some time, I discovered an object buried approximately 4 meters deep from the surface.
Mana clung to it with a shimmering black light. Was it a leg guard? It was made of solid metal on one side, like part of armor, and featured intricate craftsmanship. The places where it was deeply dented were likely where Mana Stones had once been embedded.
I didn’t know what kind of Artifact it was. I brushed it with my fingertip, but the shimmering black mana couldn’t penetrate my body. It was the same even when I grasped it with my hand. Holding the object, I leaped out of the hole.
The group, who had retreated to a safe distance, rushed back. I showed them what I had found, like a dog owner showing treats to puppies.
“Wow, you’re holding that with your bare hands. Are you okay?”
“Yes. No particular issues. Is it dangerous?”
“Hmm, probably? It just has a few curses stacked on it, but it’s nothing major. It’s weakened so much that even a commoner would probably just cough for a day and be fine. Still, please hold it like that for a moment.”
“Yes.”
While Marianne took out samples, reagents, and a Magic Pen to draw the necessary Magic Circle on the ground, I stood beside her. Hu Benson, curious, peered at it, so I held the object up on both sides for him to see clearly. The other children also gathered around me to examine the object.
“What is this?”
“Uh, it looks like something you wear on your arm? It protects from the elbow to the wrist.”
Marianne, who had been diligently calculating and writing formulas on the ground, chimed in.
“It’s a Wizard Bracer. Most wizards have poor stamina, right? Lightweight Magic reduces weight by a percentage, not an absolute value, so they can’t wear shields. If they’re in real danger and their body is heavy, they could die. So they usually wear things like this.”
“…Why didn’t Marianne buy one?”
“Because someone bought me a lot of Defense Artifacts. I have four Damage Reduction Rings alone, you know.”
“Ah.”
I was about to scold her for not mentioning it if she needed one, but I stopped myself. If she had lighter and better items, that was fine. I simply waited patiently. After nearly a quarter of an hour of intense concentration, Marianne called out to me with a triumphant “Manse!”
“Done! Please place it here. In the center, this direction. Make sure it’s not crooked.”
“What are you going to do now? Seal it?”
“No, Scrying. It hasn’t exploded yet, so I think it might retain its immediate memories. I’m going to try and read about the person who was holding it.”
What could be read by a Scrying Magic Circle was only about the person or object that had been in direct contact with the item. Its form would flash before the caster’s eyes, and the method of interpreting that information varied from wizard to wizard. I had heard that it was common to arrive at completely different interpretations.
Marianne, activating the Magic Formula, closed her eyes tightly, her lips moving, then let out a long sigh.
“…It’s one person!”
“Oh.”
“They’re wearing a black robe.”
“Hmm.”
“I can’t see their face…”
Hu Benson, who had been listening quietly, chuckled and asked,
“Well, I could say that much too. Don’t you have a Crystal Ball?”
“Gasp. I do!”
“…”
We all shared a brief laugh. A Black Magician wearing a black robe, carrying a purple Crystal Ball to tell fortunes or cast curses, was something out of children’s fairy tales. Modern Black Magicians wore whatever they pleased and carried ordinary staffs, just like other wizards.
Marianne tilted her head, furrowing her brow further.
While she pondered, Hu Benson and Benjamin whispered amongst themselves.
“…Is it some strange new religious cult?”
“It could be.”
Marianne spoke again.
“…They’re heading west…”
“No, I could say that much too.”
“I’m relaying a message to Ranunculus.”
Hu Benson, who had been grumbling complaints, snapped his mouth shut. Everyone looked at Marianne. The child, eyes tightly shut, clutched her staff and mumbled, repeating the words the Black Magician might have spoken.
“…I have installed seven Aventa Bumps. I will await further instructions at Owen Bardiol until the next Medium is prepared. If you wish to send me a Red Bird, I will gladly respond at any time.”
“…”
“…And they buried this Bracer right away.”
She mumbled a bit more, trying to see something else, then shook her head.
Her eyes, which had suddenly opened, gleamed with intelligence.
“And I think I know why the Medium didn’t detonate immediately.”
“What is it?”
“Well… there are four types of magic used to bury or plant objects deep in the ground.”
“Get to the point.”
“Burying an object deep in the ground through a specific Medium is a 4th Circle magic. It shouldn’t take long, even with a Magic Circle… but they buried it with great difficulty? They seem to be a wizard with a surprisingly low Circle. Furthermore, the Medium’s formula was partially erased because they used magic to bury it.”
Everyone in the group exchanged glances.
Bardiol in the Kingdom of Owen was the capital of Owen. A low-level wizard, a mere subordinate of some group, was communicating with their superior using Ranunculus, and was far away. Although we had to return to the Widdrow Duchy by next January, it was only July now.
It was quite a tempting prey. I couldn’t help but speak.
“Shouldn’t we… catch the tail of a commoner?”
All the children stared intently at Hu Benson. Marianne clasped her dirt-stained hands together, preparing to act cute again. Hu Benson waved his hand, preventing her from acting spoiled, and then spoke.
“Not for long. Let’s just go in and take a look first.”
“Yes!”
At least I wouldn’t have to dig holes for a while. I asked Marianne to cover me with Clean Magic. I spent all night coaxing Rubel, who was still too embarrassed to come near me.