Chapter 1 Anthony's Magic Cottage
"Today, if you wish to take over my shop, you must first step over my great sword!"
"Debbie, what exactly are you doing? Your father passed away due to a severe illness. You borrowed a substantial sum of money from me to cover his funeral expenses. According to the terms of our contract, if you fail to repay this debt, you must surrender Anthony's Magic Cottage to me. We have a formal written agreement. Are you attempting to renege on it now?"
"Busca, you know very well that I could have repaid the debt. However, your recent actions—illegally driving away my customers—have disrupted my business operations, preventing me from raising sufficient funds. Everyone knows that you have long coveted Anthony's Magic Cottage!"
"Regardless of your arguments, the contract remains valid. If you refuse to hand over the magic cottage, there is nothing you can do. Debbie, I advise you not to act rashly."
As his consciousness began to return, Stephen suddenly overheard this heated exchange. What was happening? Was someone filming a movie nearby? Or was this an instance of blatant bullying against a helpless young woman? Where was the sense of morality in this situation?
He attempted to open his eyes and sit up but immediately cried out in pain, collapsing back onto the ground. A sharp, unbearable ache spread throughout his body, accompanied by an indescribable discomfort.
Yet, what astonished Stephen even more was his unfamiliar surroundings. He found himself lying in a small room filled with peculiar objects, exuding an unmistakably magical ambiance. In the center of the space, resembling a grocery store, stood two opposing groups.
The first group consisted of three individuals. The leader was a stout man with a large head, short stature, straight nose, red curly hair, and a distinctive goatee. Clad in a golden robe, he was undoubtedly Busca, mentioned earlier in the conversation. His companions were tall, muscular men with fierce expressions, wielding long swords and advancing menacingly.
Facing them was Debbie, a girl of approximately fifteen or sixteen years old, with short black hair and a slender, fragile frame. To Stephen's astonishment, she held an enormous sword, far larger than her own body, which appeared to weigh several hundred pounds. Despite her diminutive size, she managed to wield it effortlessly, standing defiantly before her adversaries—a sight so incongruous that it defied comprehension.
"What is going on here? Where am I? Who are these people? They seem to be Westerners, and their attire does not resemble modern clothing..." Stephen felt utterly bewildered. "I recall being in my rented apartment. How did I end up here? Could it be... I have died and been transported to another realm?"
Having spent much of his life as a hacker immersed in the internet, Stephen had undoubtedly read countless online novels. At this moment, a sudden, intense headache overwhelmed him. Waves of memories flooded his mind—memories belonging to the original occupant of this body.
Stephen quickly grasped the situation. This was not his world but a completely different one governed by magic, known as the Egedas Continent—a name that evoked a refreshing breeze. The body he now inhabited belonged to "Hamton," an orphan adopted by George Anthony, the owner of Anthony's Magic Shop. Lacking a formal surname, Hamton had grown up under the care of Old George, who recognized his latent magical talent and intended him as his successor. Old George also had a daughter, Debbie, and in his plans, Hamton was to marry Debbie in the future.
Unfortunately, Old George had suffered from poor health for some time and recently passed away. To treat his illness, Hamton and Debbie depleted their savings, yet Old George succumbed to his condition. To arrange his funeral and repay the medical debts, they borrowed a significant sum from Buska, the wealthiest individual on this street, using the Magic Shop as collateral.
Buska, owning numerous businesses, operated a competing Magic Store on the same street. Despite its size, his store never matched the success of Anthony's Magic Shop. Out of envy, he had long sought to acquire Anthony's establishment. Seizing the opportunity presented by Hamton and Debbie's financial difficulties, he employed underhanded tactics to divert customers from Anthony's Magic Shop to his own, thwarting their efforts to repay the debt. Today, Buska arrived to claim the shop by force.
When Hamton intervened, he was shoved to the ground, striking his head and losing his life. Having devoted himself to the magical arts, Hamton's physical frailty contributed to his untimely demise. Yet, this misfortune proved fortuitous for Stephen, whose possession of Hamton's body remained inexplicable.
"So, my current identity is that of a magician?" Stephen marveled at the memories now integrated into his consciousness. In his previous existence, he was a renowned hacker nicknamed "the magician." Now reborn, he had become a genuine magician! Just then, a series of metallic clashes echoed through the room as Buska's henchmen engaged Debbie in combat.
Though slender, Debbie wielded the massive sword with remarkable ease, leaving Stephen in awe. Through Hamton's memories, he understood that such feats were not uncommon on the Argendasus Continent. Beyond magicians, various other professions existed, including swordsmen.
Swordsmen could specialize in different branches, and while Debbie lacked aptitude for magic perception, she demonstrated exceptional potential as a first-class swordsman. Her ultimate aspiration was to become the most formidable Great Swordsman within the swordsman branch.
Currently, however, she was merely a second-level beginner swordsman. The two men accompanying Buska were also second-level beginner swordsmen. Although they were not Great Swordsmen, their combined strength far exceeded Debbie's capabilities. Attacking her one after another, how could she possibly prevail?
Witnessing Debbie's relentless retreat while brandishing the colossal sword, Stephen could no longer remain silent.