How to Survive as a Mage Inside a Game

Glorious Soul.

A generic RPG set in a medieval fantasy world—just another game, the kind you could find anywhere.

It had started as a simple time-killer, but it turned out to be surprisingly my style. I got hooked enough to aim for a full completion with every class route. That was my mistake.

Warrior, priest, ranger, shaman—I cleared them all. The only one I’d left for last was the mage...

If you asked why I left the mage for last, I wouldn’t have a real answer.

Maybe it was because the character’s overly pretty face rubbed me the wrong way on some subconscious level.

[Creating mage character.]

[Syncing with character for final scenario.]

That message that popped up right after creating the character still stuck in my mind, clear as day.

Because the one who began the adventure in this fantasy continent wasn’t the avatar inside the monitor—it was me, the one who’d been clicking the mouse and typing on the keyboard on the other side of the screen.

What an utter shitshow.

If I’d known it was the kind of depraved game that literally sucks the user in, I never would’ve touched it in the first place.

“Fuck this. I played diligently for five damn years, and this is what I get in return...?”

Maybe it was the oversized full moon hanging in the sky, but I felt weirdly melancholic that night.

I was sitting around the campfire, gnawing on some cheap jerky the mercenaries had handed out, staring blankly into the flames when—

“Ahem, ahem...”

An intentionally loud fake cough made me turn my head.

A woman was standing nearby.

The same woman who’d stayed silent the entire way since being humiliated by the bandits.

I’d noticed her approaching long before, but it looked like she had something to say.

“Do you need something?”

“Uh? No, not really...”

She looked a little awkward, then sat down a short distance away.

I spoke again.

“If you’ve got something to say, just say it. You’ve been glancing this way over and over. It’s annoying.”

“......”

With a slightly wounded expression, she finally spoke up.

“I... just wanted to say thank you. For what happened earlier...”

“If you’re talking about the bandits, don’t. They got in my way, so I took care of them. That’s all. I didn’t do it for anyone’s sake.”

“......”

She fell silent again, sniffled quietly, then stood up.

Shoulders drooped, heading back toward the carriage.

Her crushed self-esteem practically radiated from her back.

I let out a deep sigh and called out to her.

“What’s your name?”

“...?”

“You can sit down again. If it’s conversation you’re after, I’ll indulge you for a bit.”

She hesitantly turned around and came back.

“I... I’m Rasha.”

“Karl.”

“Oh... That’s a cool name.”

“That’s a new kind of compliment. It’s about as plain and boring a name as they come.”

Even she seemed a bit embarrassed after saying it.

“Anyway, really... thank you. If the bandits had taken me, who knows what would’ve happened.”

“Yeah, well.”

“And also, I want to apologize for what happened earlier. In the carriage.”

“...?”

“I was rude. Saying you didn’t know anything about magic... Ha. Just thinking about it makes my face burn. Spouting nonsense like that to someone leagues beyond a half-rate like me...”

She looked genuinely ashamed, like she couldn’t even meet my eyes.

I tilted my head slightly.

Now that I looked closer, she seemed like the type with chronically low self-esteem.

Maybe lighting that little flame and showing off in front of the travelers had just been a cry for validation, born of that deficiency.

“I was the one who ran my mouth first and caused that whole situation. There’s nothing for you to apologize for.”

“N-No. That’s not it. I just...”

She trailed off, then awkwardly changed the subject.

“I’ve never seen someone so young use such powerful magic before. And they say lightning-type spells are especially hard to control... You’re amazing.”

“It’s not that amazing.”

It might’ve sounded like modesty, but I was being honest.

Because what I used wasn’t magic—it was a skill.

No need for mana control, no need for ritual formations, no understanding of theory—just the will to use it, and it activated. That’s all.

Strictly speaking, my actual magic ability was worse than Rasha’s.

“Would it be rude to ask what school you belong to?”

“None, yet. But my master did belong to the Altius School.”

That was just the default background of the mage character.

I didn’t bother mentioning that I was on my way to the school’s main campus right now.

Rasha’s mouth dropped open.

Then she gave a faint, wistful smile and murmured,

“The Altius School... You must’ve had an incredible master.”

“What about you?”

“...You wouldn’t know it even if I told you. It’s a low-tier school with barely thirty members. They don’t really teach anything. The master just keeps the apprentices in check and works them to death.”

A textbook example of a bottom-tier school.

Once she started talking, her complaints came pouring out.

“...Even after leaving the school, I thought I could stand on my own. But nope. I holed up in a dark little room for years, and then when I finally stepped out into the world, I realized just how worthless I really was. I thought being a mage would mean someone out there would need me, but...”

“No one needs a mage just to light firewood.”

I muttered it without thinking and immediately regretted it.

Her face froze, eyes wide with shock, and tears started to gather at the corners.

“T-That was a joke.”

“No... it’s okay. You’re right. You hit the nail on the head. Too perfectly...”

“......”

“Fire and light magic—that’s all I can do. You saw it earlier. My mana’s pathetic. I’ve been wandering around without purpose, and now I’m almost broke. At this rate, I really might have to join a damn circus troupe.”

So that’s the fate of a mediocre, half-rate mage.

At least I didn’t say it out loud.

I just nodded quietly and went back to chewing on my jerky, staring at the fire.

‘There’s nothing I can say that’ll help.’

Some clichéd “hang in there” line wouldn’t do her any good.

She was just a passerby. It was her life, not mine.

I had no way to help her, and no reason to.

A couple of magic books in my inventory did cross my mind—but in the end, I leaned away from any act of charity.

No point in playing the do-gooder.

That was how I’d survived in this crazy fantasy world until now.

And that was when something popped into my head.

[A sudden quest has occurred.]

<Investment for the Future>

Rasha Rosariel. A fallen noble from a once-great family, she actually possesses considerable magical talent. Her poor skills are the result of having an awful master and receiving no proper training.

Extend her a small act of kindness. A fleeting connection may one day return to you as unexpected help. Of course, the choice is yours.

Quest Reward: None

“...?”

It had been a while since I got a sudden quest.

The contents were... unexpectedly fresh, and I couldn’t help the faint smile creeping across my face.

“Investment for the future,” huh.

No immediate reward.

But apparently, helping this girl might benefit me later.

And I trusted that.

At the very least, none of the quests so far had ever led me into outright harm.

Sure, the process was often a complete pain in the ass—but the results had always been worthwhile.

‘Well. That changes the story, doesn’t it?’

What would’ve been pointless meddling was now something directly tied to me—because it was a quest.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Normally, it would’ve just been pointless meddling.

But now that a quest had triggered, it was officially his business too.

Karl turned and pulled a magic book from his inventory.

An introductory spellbook for the Fleric-type magic branch.

He’d never had a reason to use it as a skillbook, and had only kept it around like dead weight, figuring he might pawn it off someday.

Though technically an “intro book,” it was in a whole different league from the sloppy knockoff junk you’d find being hawked all over the place.

If she could properly study it, her magic skills would improve dramatically—beyond comparison with what she was now.

“So, are you giving up?”

“...What?”

“I’m asking if you’re going to give up on the path of a mage. Well, I mean, if you're lacking in talent, I guess it can't be helped.”

Rasha’s face tightened in frustration at that.

“Couldn’t you say... I don’t know... something even slightly encouraging?”

“That wouldn’t change reality.”

“...I shouldn’t have said anything. Of course I must look utterly pathetic to someone as impressive as you.”

“......”

“But I do have a goal to live for, you know. It may be out of reach right now, but I have a clear purpose. And you just casually stomped all over it like it’s nothing. That circus comment wasn’t even serious...”

Voice trembling, Rasha rattled off her words all at once and stood up.

Karl replied in a flat voice.

“Calm down and sit.”

“What now? Not finished belittling me yet?”

“That’s not what I meant. I’ve never thought you were pathetic, nor have I disrespected your life. I just wanted to see where your attitude stood.”

“......”

“Would you like to take a chance? There’s something much more valuable here than meaningless comfort.”

Rasha’s eyes went wide.

Because she had finally noticed the book in Karl’s hand.

It might’ve looked humble, but she was a mage herself—instinctively, she understood.

That wasn’t just some ordinary book.

“It’s a decent introductory spellbook. Everything you need to know is in there.”

“...A s-spellbook?!”

“Shh. Even at beginner level, it’ll teach you proper circling and formation deployment. It’ll be a big help to you.”

Without hesitation, Karl handed the book over.

It was worth at least a few dozen gold coins if sold anywhere, but he wasn’t hurting for cash—so he had no regrets.

“......”

Rasha sat there stunned, glancing back and forth between the book and Karl.

She stammered.

“Wh-Why... why would you give something like this to me...?”

It was only natural to ask.

To a mage, magic itself was far more valuable than gold.

Especially to someone like Rasha, who’d been exploited by a cruel master and never properly trained—Karl’s gesture felt more like confusion than kindness.

“...Do you want something from me?”

“What could you possibly give me?”

“......”

“You’ve got nothing to offer, and yet you’re asking that? Just take it. Or what, are you afraid I want to enslave you or something?”

Karl chuckled softly at the still-stupefied Rasha.

“Think of it as an investment.”

“...?”

“I’m not the type to show kindness without reason. But you... hmm, you struck me as someone with potential. I’m trusting my gut and investing in that.”

Of course, that was bullshit. He was just following the quest.

Rasha spoke in a trembling voice.

“I-I don’t think I have any special talent...”

“I believe in my gut. That’s all. And I’m not saying this to put pressure on you. Just... take it however you want. But I’d like it if, someday, when we meet again, you remember this moment.”

As he finished speaking, Karl pulled something else from his coat.

A pouch full of silver coins, which he also handed her.

“You said you’re almost out of money. This should cover your living expenses for a while.”

Then, as if the conversation was over, Karl stood up.

Still frozen, Rasha jumped up and shouted urgently,

“Th-Thank you! Really... truly, thank you!”

“......”

“I won’t forget this kindness. How could I? I swear it—on my name and everything I have left.”

“That’s enough.”

A fallen noble from a once-great house, was it?

If she had a goal, maybe it was to restore her family’s name. And since she swore on that name, she’d likely keep her promise.

Of course, who knew what the future would bring.

“But... do you ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) really mean it?”

She asked with a trembling voice.

“Do you really think I have potential? Even though I’ve been studying magic for years and can barely manage two basic spells...”

“You can believe it.”

“......”

“Because someone far greater than you think just said it with absolute certainty. So yes—believe it.”

She probably thought Karl was talking about himself.

But he’d meant the one who dragged him into this world in the first place.

After a moment of silence, Karl returned to the carriage.

Left alone, Rasha stood for a long while, staring blankly at the spot where he’d been.

Flap.

The sound of bugs chirping, firewood crackling.

And soon, the soft rustle of pages turning joined in.

* * *

Three days later, the carriage arrived at its destination as planned.

The merchants, mercenaries, and other travelers each offered Karl a thank-you before heading off on their separate ways.

After exchanging a few final words with Rasha, Karl finally turned and walked away.

“Phew. I should really make time to learn horseback riding. Hitching a ride on every trade caravan is getting old.”

Rubenne. The Free City.

The closest city to the capital of the Empire.

A free city, independent of the crown, situated right next to the capital. It sounded strange on paper—but anyone who knew which group was based here would understand.

“Altius, huh...”

One of the Three Great Mage Schools on the continent—widely considered the greatest in terms of scale and prestige.

Their headquarters was located right here.

Even the Emperor wouldn’t dare covet this city. That was the reason why.

“Well... it’s a main quest, so I don’t have a choice.”

Karl normally avoided getting tangled with massive factions like this. But in the end, he had no choice but to come here.

Because of that damned quest.

If he wanted to get stronger for the calamity looming over this world—or find a way back to Earth—he had to keep completing quests.

Beyond the low rooftops in the distance, the towering spires came into view.

Karl let out a long sigh, then resumed walking toward them.