Magic Is Learned For Nothing [EN]: Chapter 168

Magic is Learned for Nothing – Episode 169

# 169

“Amanda, who is that man?” Mizsette asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Dreyzaire couldn’t contain his curiosity. “A tree where decisions grow?”

He approached the tree, noticing the high fence surrounding it. “Someone built a fence around the tree. The fence was over 2 meters high. I wouldn’t have thought much of it before, but in this territory, they don’t build fences this high anymore.”

Since the lord [Legion] made a peace agreement with the orcs and goblins, monster attacks have become rare. To even get here, monsters would have to pass through orc or goblin villages.

The chances of monsters breaking through those villages and reaching the territory were extremely low.

Even if they somehow bypassed the orcs, they’d still have to contend with the goblins. In some ways, goblins were even more dangerous.

“These days, young goblins even come to the territory to study abroad.”

They were learning language and about civilization. Moreover, they had a great teacher in the territory, Lauzel.

“Lauzel is incredibly knowledgeable about military science, even more so than some nobles.”

One might think, *How could a mere herbalist know so much about military science and the art of kings?* But no one questioned it.

Silkeut voiced the general sentiment: “An herbalist should know that much.”

Everyone agreed.

An herbalist in the Legion territory *should* know about military science.

Thanks to this, the goblins studying in the Legion territory were learning military science for the first time and putting it into practice.

The goblins fortified their villages.

Even the battle-hardened orcs couldn’t guarantee an easy victory in a full-scale war against the goblins.

The Legion territory was, knowingly or unknowingly, being protected by them. At least, there was little worry about monsters coming south from the north.

There was still the threat of larger monsters like ogres and trolls, but even that wasn’t a major concern.

Because Sepia was taking care of it.

He seemed to be gathering lone ogres whenever he had the chance.

He’d give them food and say, “Let’s shed our monstrous reputation. Come down to our brother’s territory and become civilized ogres.”

Thanks to Sepia, a small tribe of about ten ogres had formed on the outskirts of the territory, living in a separate settlement.

They even farmed alongside humans.

Count Persimmon had seen ogres walking outside his window several times, but he pretended not to notice, convinced he was hallucinating due to his still-recovering intelligence. [Count Persimmon suffered brain damage and is slowly recovering.]

An ogre farming was simply too absurd to believe.

Given all this, a fence over 2 meters high was completely unnecessary.

It was just a waste of wood.

In other words, this wall was a clear warning: *Do not touch.*.

But Dreyzaire wasn’t one to simply walk away.

Next to the fence, a chilling message was written: “Warning: Never cross inside the fence. We are not responsible for the lives of those who do.”

“Hmph, trying to scare me.”

Dreyzaire’s massive frame easily leaped over the 2-meter fence. The moment his foot touched the ground—

*Kukukukung!*

An explosion erupted.

Right in front of Dreyzaire’s face.

“Damn it, did you have to try and kill someone?”

It was landmine magic.

His curiosity about the tree’s identity only intensified.

The landmine magic had to be carefully placed to avoid damaging the tree. It would only be nearby.

Dreyzaire took a deep breath, covering dozens of meters in a single bound.

The tree was rooted as firmly as steel. It resembled a shrunken baobab tree, a species found only in the western regions of the empire.

It was certainly unique.

“Was the secret of the decision-making process hidden in this tree?”

Of course, only Legion knew that the real secret was his butt. If anyone knew that, no one would ever eat another decision.

Dreyzaire felt a surge of greed.

The decisions all granted different abilities. Some were similar, but none were exactly the same.

He even entertained the thought that if he ate all the decisions on this tree, he might become a god.

Dreyzaire shook his head.

*Don’t be greedy.*

There had to be a reason for such a dire warning.

*So…*

*Let’s just eat one.*

Dreyzaire reached for the decision that appealed to him most—one that shone like the North Star.

*Somehow, if I eat this…*

*My magic power might double instantly.*

*Or I could become a magic swordsman like my subordinates.*

He was already stronger than a magic swordsman, that was undeniable. But he still felt a twinge of envy when he saw them combine magic with their swordsmanship. It was a jealousy born of something he couldn’t do.

If he chose the right decision, he believed he could become a magic swordsman.

Dreyzaire swallowed the decision.

*Oh! It smells even better than the ones the lord gave me. The lord’s always had a strange, musty smell.*

*-The decision is starting to dissolve.*

*Good! Go!*

*-You have acquired the Hair Salon skill. You can now do two hairstyles.*

“……??”

Dreyzaire blinked.

*What skill?*

*Hair Salon skill? What is that?*

*-Bob cut and pigtail braid. You can choose between two hairstyles. If you level up your Hair Salon skill, you can do more diverse hairstyles.*

Dreyzaire was dumbfounded. This was *not* the skill he wanted.

*Okay, let’s say such a skill exists.*

*Then it should at least be a decent hairstyle. Why a bob cut and pigtail braid? Are you crazy?*

*-The Barber Shop skill is separate. It is a skill exclusively for women.*

“……What? What exclusive?”

*-Please select one of the two hairstyles. If you do not decide, it will be selected randomly. Ding, 9 seconds, ding, 8 seconds, ding, 7 seconds.*

“Wait, what are you doing? You son of a bitch! Are you kidding me! No! Don’t do it!”

One of the seven strongest in the kingdom.

The current Dark General, master of the Dragon Slayer technique.

A self-proclaimed strongest person with 7-star top-level skills.

Dreyzaire’s short hair began to lengthen, forming pigtails.

* * *

Legion stared at Mizsette in front of him.

Just a few days ago, Mizsette had been plain but healthy… but now she was quite pretty.

“Who are you? Why do you look so much like Mizsette?”

“Who are you?” Mizsette countered.

She had heard that someone had come to rescue her.

The maids from the Stone Head Church were kind and attentive. She felt especially close to Amanda, as if she were a younger sister.

When she heard about the intruder, she initially suspected President Le [Legion’s alias]. He was the only one she could imagine doing something so reckless.

But the moment she saw him, she knew it wasn’t President Le.

For one, the president could never wear such armor.

The president was shorter than her. And extremely overweight. He couldn’t possibly fit into that armor.

Besides, no one could imitate that terrifying voice.

The other maids, except Mizsette and Amanda, froze in fear.

The sheer dread emanating from the armored warrior was overwhelming.

“It’s me.”

“Me?”

“Me, who? I don’t know you.”

“Can’t you tell just by looking?”

“I can’t tell even if I look.”

“Tsk.”

Legion glanced around. At his signal, everyone quickly left the large room.

Only Legion and Mizsette remained.

“Su, surely… me.”

Mizsette stepped back, covering her chest.

“That’s not it!” Legion shouted, his voice echoing through the large room. The reverberation was so strong, it felt like the room itself was shaking.

It wasn’t magic, just pure murderous intent.

Mizsette, who was known for her strong will, paled. It was a truly terrifying force. She had never encountered anyone with such intense malice.

She knew of one other being with similar murderous intent.

Sepia.

The Legion territory’s strongest guardian.

Aside from him, she had never seen anyone exude such raw aggression.

“It’s me, President Le.”

“You’re lying….”

“It’s true!”

“Take off your helmet.”

“I can’t take it off.”

“Why?”

“I’m undergoing plastic surgery magic.”

“Plastic surgery magic?”

“Yes, did I tell you about the contract I made with the dark elves?”

“No. You just told me to follow you.”

“Is that so? Well, that’s how it is.”

“So, you’re saying that the president is using magic to lose weight and get taller?”

“That’s right. But I can’t take off this armor for six months.”

“Do you really get that tall?”

“That’s what they say.”

Realizing it was Legion, Mizsette relaxed and approached. Legion in his ironclad armor was incredibly intimidating up close.

The president’s biggest insecurity was his appearance.

Because he was short, people tended to look down on him, no matter how strong he was.

And he was overweight.

The president was incredibly diligent. He trained every day without fail.

Mizsette had met many people, but she had never seen anyone work so hard.

Her role model had shifted from Master Saibi-man to the president. To truly change your life, you had to work that hard.

But why didn’t he lose weight, despite all his efforts?

It was a truly mysterious body.

Yes, she understood why the president would want plastic surgery magic.

He hadn’t said it, but he must have been hurt quite a bit over the years.

“But I really can’t recognize you.”

Legion looked Mizsette up and down.

It wasn’t polite to stare at a woman like that. Legion, being a rural lord, knew that much. But it was rare for a woman to change so drastically.

Unless her husband was cheating or her son was getting married.

Mizsette didn’t fit either category.

“Did I gain some… weight?”

“Yes, you’ve become prettier.”

“Huh?”

“Ah, no. I said you gained weight.”

“I did it on purpose.”

“On purpose?”

“Yes, I couldn’t risk being dolled up and dragged into the bedroom by the archbishop or some other bastard. I deliberately ruined my appearance. It’s my revenge.”

“How long were you planning to gain weight?”

“I have to gain weight to the president’s level. I have to reach that point before I can truly say I’ve gained weight.”

“Hehehe.”

Legion laughed for the first time in a while.

As he laughed, Mizsette trembled, even though she knew it was Legion. His laugh was truly terrifying.

Why did his voice sound like that? Legion imagined Mizsette becoming as fat as he was and meeting the archbishop. He couldn’t even imagine the archbishop’s reaction.

*As expected, I hired the right people.*

*I have to remember to reflect this in next year’s salary evaluations.*

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“We need to get the mandragora.”

“Mandragora? Why?”

“Your colleagues are poisoned. I’ve delayed the effects as much as possible, but there’s a time limit.”

“Will they die?”

“They will.”

“How much time is left?”

“Less than ten days.”

“That’s urgent.”

“That’s right. We have to hurry and get the mandragora. I’ll have nightmares if they die.”

“Mandragora… I know where to find it.”

“You do?”

Mizsette replied confidently.

Legion looked into her eyes. He had a feeling he knew.

“Could it be the Magic Tower?”

“There’s no herb that doesn’t exist there. My master will definitely save my colleagues.”