Chapter 1-5: The Sage Appears

Four years had passed since Tenma was taken in and raised, and one year had passed since he began studying magic.

One day…

“Tenma, your days of learning only from books end here.”

“You’ve worked very hard. I’m proud of you.”

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin teaching you beginner-level magic from the very basics.”

The moment Celia gave him permission, Tenma shouted with joy:

“Really?! I can finally use magic? That’s amazing!”

Celia immediately spoke in a stern tone.

“However!”

“From now on, you must listen to me even more carefully than before.”

“You are not allowed to use magic carelessly.”

“No matter how difficult things become, you must never give up halfway through.”

“Do you understand?”

“Yes!”

“Good.”

“Your father will come with us tomorrow as well.”

“We’ll go to the river nearby to practice.”

“So go to bed early tonight and make sure you’re well rested.”

“Yes, Mother~”

That was what Tenma said…

But he was so happy and excited about finally being able to use magic that he could not fall asleep for a long time.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Tenma went with his parents to a river about a ten-minute walk from the village.

“All right, Tenma.”

“First, I’ll teach you water magic.”

“Watch carefully.”

Celia lowered her hand toward a slow-moving part of the river and said:

“『O water.』”

Immediately…

A column of water about one meter high rose from the surface of the river.

“All right. This is the foundation of Water Magic.”

“At first, start practicing where the current is slow.”

“Then gradually train until you can maintain the water column even where the current is stronger.”

“Give it a try.”

Just as Tenma was about to lower his hand toward the water…

He suddenly felt someone watching him.

Tenma turned his head.

At the same time, Ricardo turned as well and looked surprised.

“Ho ho…”

“It seems I’ve been noticed.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt. My apologies.”

About ten meters away from Ricardo.

About fifteen meters away from Tenma.

A man was standing there, though no one knew when he had appeared.

A black cloak covered his head.

When the man started walking toward them…

Celia immediately stepped in front of Tenma as if to protect him.

Ricardo took one step back, drew the large knife at his waist, and positioned himself between Tenma and the stranger.

“Who are you?!”

Despite Ricardo’s wariness, the man did not seem concerned in the slightest.

He stopped and spoke.

“Don’t be so cautious, Ricardo.”

“Have you forgotten me, Celia?”

As he spoke, he lowered the hood of his cloak and revealed his face.

“Merlin!”

“Uncle!”

Ricardo called him Merlin.

Celia called him Uncle.

Hearing them, the wrinkles on the man’s face deepened as he burst into laughter.

“That’s right.”

“I am Merlin.”

“If you recognize me now, put the knife away, Ricardo.”

“Ah… right. Sorry.”

Ricardo immediately sheathed his knife.

After seeing that, the man named Merlin slowly approached.

“It’s been a long time since I last saw the two of you.”

“How many years has it been?”

“It’s been eleven years, Merlin.”

“That’s right, Uncle.”

“You didn’t contact us for all those years. We were really worried.”

Hearing the two of them say that, Merlin laughed loudly.

“Sorry, sorry.”

“I meant to write a letter many times…”

“But then I forgot.”

He scratched his head as he spoke.

“You really haven’t changed at all, Uncle.”

“Well, we heard bits and pieces about you from travelers, so we figured you probably weren’t dead.”

Just then, Merlin looked toward Tenma, who was standing behind the two of them.

“By the way…”

“Is this child yours?”

“Celia, when did you give birth to him?”

As he spoke, he looked directly into Tenma’s eyes.

Ricardo led Merlin a short distance away and spoke quietly.

“You’re half right and half wrong, Merlin.”

“What do you mean?”

“This child was abandoned in the Great Ancient Forest when he was still a baby.”

“I happened to find him while I was out hunting.”

“After that, we adopted him.”

“I see…”

“But now…”

“He is our treasure.”

Ricardo said that with a smile.

Seeing that smile, Merlin smiled as well.

After they finished talking, the two returned.

Tenma and Merlin formally introduced themselves.

“Your name is Tenma, right?”

“Nice to meet you.”

“I am Merlin.”

“I’m Celia’s uncle.”

“In this world, people sometimes also call me…”

“The Sage.”

The old man said it with a smile.

Hearing that, Tenma unconsciously blurted out:

“The Sage… You mean that pervert?”

The moment the words left his mouth, Tenma realized he had slipped up.

But Merlin did not get angry at all.

“I’m often called that too.”

He answered calmly.

“I’m sorry.”

“My name is Tenma.”

“I’m four years old.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I have certainly done quite a few things that would make people call me an eccentric.”

Merlin laughed cheerfully.

“By the way, Celia.”

“What were you doing?”

“Oh, I was planning to teach Tenma the basics of magic.”

“I see.”

“Tenma, show me.”

“Yes.”

Tenma walked over to the river.

He lowered his hand toward the water.

“『O water.』”

Immediately…

A water column about one meter high appeared in front of him.

“Tenma!”

“That was amazing!”

“You succeeded on your first try. That’s really impressive!”

“That’s right!”

“Normally, children either can’t make the water react at all…”

“Or they can’t maintain its shape.”

The two praised him happily.

However, Merlin looked serious.

“Tenma.”

“Before practicing this, there’s something more important you need to do.”

“If you continue like this, your body may be harmed.”

Before anyone could ask, Merlin continued.

“Your magical power is far too high for your age.”

“So first, you need to thoroughly train your control over your magical power.”

“Only then should you continue learning magic.”

“But Uncle…”

“Normally, children are first taught to get used to releasing magical power outside their bodies.”

“And only after that do they learn how to control it, right?”

Celia asked.

“That’s correct.”

“Normally, children first become accustomed to the sensation of sending magical power outside the body.”

“Then they learn to control it.”

“But that only applies to children with ordinary talent.”

“Tenma isn’t ordinary?”

At Ricardo’s question, Merlin nodded.

“This child’s magical power and total mana…”

“May already have reached the threshold of a true expert.”

“But his body is still only that of a child.”

“If he carelessly releases his magical power…”

“He may lose control of it, and it could erupt.”

“The result…”

“If he’s lucky, he could become permanently crippled.”

“And if things go worse…”

“The entire surrounding area could be blown away and reduced to ash.”

Hearing Merlin’s words, Tenma and the others all turned pale.

“Then what should we do…?”

Celia’s voice sounded as though she were about to cry.

Merlin spoke calmly.

“That is precisely why, before anything like that can happen…”

“I will teach him how to circulate magical power inside his body without releasing it externally.”

“At the same time, he’ll learn how to control it.”

Celia calmed down somewhat.

But then she realized something.

She herself could not teach that method.

Seeing her expression, Merlin said:

“There’s no need to worry.”

“I’ll teach Tenma.”

“If Tenma is ever at risk of losing control, I’ll be able to stop him as well.”

As he spoke, Merlin gently patted Tenma’s head.

His expression…

Looked exactly like that of a grandfather affectionately stroking his grandchild’s head.

“Merlin.”

“Please take care of Tenma.”

“Uncle, please help Tenma.”

“Mm. I understand.”

“If he’s the child of you two, then to me, he’s no different from a grandson.”

“I’ll give it everything I have.”

“Tenma, what do you think?”

Merlin asked.

At this point, Tenma had little choice but to learn from Merlin.

Besides…

Being taught directly by a Sage while also reducing the danger was obviously a good thing.

“Yes!”

“Please teach me!”

The Sage has appeared.

Originally, the author planned to have him show up quickly and forcibly become Tenma’s master.

But somehow, he ended up becoming a gentle old man who feels more like a kind grandfather.

Whatever happened to the whole “eccentric” setting?!

Recently, Tenma hasn’t been talking very much.

It feels like he keeps getting swept along by the people around him.

But since he’s still so young, I guess that can’t really be helped.

Status Reveal

【Name: Celia】

Attribute	Value
Age	36
Race	Human
Title	First-Class Mage
HP	10,000
MP	20,000
Strength	C-
Defense	D+
Speed	C+
Magical Power	A+
Spirit	A+
Growth Potential	C
Luck	B+

Skills:
Fire Magic Lv8, Water Magic Lv8, Cooking Lv8, Earth Magic Lv7, Wind Magic Lv7, Anatomy Lv6, Holy Magic Lv5, Swordsmanship Lv5, Throwing Lv5, Staff Arts Lv5, Night Vision Lv5, Endurance Lv5, Martial Arts Lv4, Abnormal Status Resistance Lv4, Axe Arts Lv3, Magical Power Enhancement Lv3

Blessing: Blessing of the God of Magic

【Name: Merlin】

Attribute	Value
Age	62
Race	Human
Title	Sage / Archmage / Dragon Slayer / Eccentric
HP	12,000
MP	40,000
Strength	C+
Defense	C+
Speed	B-
Magical Power	S
Spirit	S+
Growth Potential	D+
Luck	A

Blessings:
Blessing of the War God / Blessing of the God of Magic

【Name: Tenma Ootori】

Attribute	Value
Age	4
Race	Human
Title	Disciple of the Sage (Child Loved by the Gods)
HP	800
MP	6,500
Strength	F
Defense	F-
Speed	E
Magical Power	B+
Spirit	B-
Growth Potential	S+
Luck	B

Skills:
Throwing Lv4, Night Vision Lv4, Cooking Lv3, Endurance Lv3, Anatomy Lv3, Traps Lv3, Archery Lv3, Swordsmanship Lv2, Martial Arts Lv2, Spear Arts Lv2, Staff Arts Lv2, Axe Arts Lv2, Fire Magic Lv2, Water Magic Lv2, All-Attribute Magic Lv1 (6)

Hidden Skills:
Appraisal Lv10, Detection Lv10, Concealment Lv10, Skill Learning Enhancement Lv10, Subordinate Enhancement Lv10, Growth Enhancement Lv8, Life Enhancement Lv8, Recovery Enhancement Lv8, Abnormal Status Resistance Lv8, Sensory Enhancement Lv7, Physical Enhancement Lv7, Destructive Power Enhancement Lv5, Magical Power Enhancement Lv5, Creation Magic Lv5, Support Magic Lv5, Destruction Resistance Lv5, Instant Death Resistance Lv5, Mastery of All Martial Arts Lv5

Blessing: Blessing of the Gods

Tenma has grown! Everything is progressing smoothly.