Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 1: Unreachable Magic
Synopsis
Gald, a middle-aged adventurer who cannot reach A-rank, meets Nil, a young mage whose magic cannot reach its target.
Nil's magic has the power to stop what is happening to whatever he touches.
However, if it doesn't reach, nothing happens.
Gald uses his sword and experience to carry that magic to where it can reach.
Accepting guild requests, failing, reporting, and chatting a little at the tavern.
As they repeat these field experiences, the two gradually become accustomed to the guild.
There is no awakening, no hero.
An adult ensemble drama set in another world where two people who cannot reach their goals search for a place where they can.
Wooden mugs clink.
Plates slide across the table.
In front of the reception desk, a mud-covered young adventurer held out a torn request form with both hands.
"I'm telling you, the bridge had already collapsed."
"We did not accept a request for a collapsed bridge."
The receptionist kept her smile as she stamped the ledger.
At the long table in the back, an adventurer was peering at a map while holding a piece of bread in his mouth.
The woman sitting across from him placed her wooden mug on top of the map.
"It's going to get wet."
"It's all the same since I can't read it anyway."
Someone laughed.
Laughter leaked out from beyond the door.
The man stopped in front of the door.
He looked up at the letters on the sign.
Guild.
"Is this the place?"
The greatsword on his back dug into his shoulder.
He placed his hand on the door.
The sound of a table being struck echoed through the wood.
The smell of alcohol and grilled meat wafted out from the gap in the door.
The man let out a short breath.
Then he pushed the door open.
The hinges creaked.
"Pardon the intrusion."
An adventurer with bread in his mouth turned around.
He immediately turned his back and pulled out a chair.
At the round table in the back, someone was still laughing.
Dishes clattered in the kitchen area.
The adventurer in front of the reception desk turned around while holding a paper, then immediately faced forward again.
The greatsword on his back hit the sword of the adventurer heading toward the door.
There was a heavy sound of iron.
The adventurer shifted one foot and shrugged his shoulders.
He started to turn around, then scratched his head with his raised hand.
He faced forward again and opened the door.
"My bad."
The man said.
The adventurer left without replying.
The door closed.
The man's waist pouch bumped the elbow of the woman at the edge of the round table.
The female adventurer with a scar on her arm stood up.
Ale was wetting the outside of the wooden mug.
"Hey, you."
The woman next to her pulled the scarred woman's arm.
The scarred woman looked at the man's back.
Then she clicked her tongue and sat down.
She threw one leg up onto the round table.
"Oops, sorry about that."
The man did not turn around.
"That's a nasty scar. Can you even see?"
The one-eyed adventurer said.
The man turned around.
"Yeah, I can see."
The one-eyed adventurer froze with his wooden mug still raised.
The adventurer in leather armor who had been in front of the reception desk looked at the man.
He took three steps diagonally backward and lined up at the reception desk next to it.
His face was turned away.
The man stood in front of the empty reception desk.
"Lina, we have a customer.""
Someone once said.
Standing behind the reception desk, Lina smoothed her hair twice with her fingers.
She tilted her head and curled the corners of her mouth upward.
How may I help you?
Her eyes were fixed on the greatsword on his back.
Lina took a half-step back.
There was the sound of coins dropping.
At the edge of the reception area, an old man was picking up a copper coin from the floor.
Beyond the old man's hand were the man's feet.
The man crouched down and picked up the copper coin.
Does it hurt?
The old man asked.
Can you tell?
The man handed over the copper coin he had picked up.
I can tell when you pick it up.
The old man put the copper coin into his pouch and stood up, clutching his lower back.
Are you alone, son?
Yeah.
The man looked into the old man's eyes.
It's no good being alone while you're still young.
Where is the old man?
I am not young anymore.
The old man narrowed his eyes.
A voice called out from the round table in front.
Old man, is it a dragon today?
Someone laughed.
It is ditch cleaning.
The old man laughed as he opened the door and left.
The old man's left leg was lagging behind.
The man placed his storage bag on the floor.
He took his guild card out of his chest pocket.
The edges were chipped, and the letters were worn and fading.
He showed it to Rina, then immediately put it back in the bag.
You are Gald, aren't you?
Yeah.
I am looking for a stray mage.
Gald placed both hands on the reception counter.
His leather gloves creaked faintly.
An unaffiliated mage, you say?
Rina opened her ledger.
Are there any conditions?
A freelancer is fine.
What about rank?
It doesn't matter.
Rina's finger stopped at the edge of the paper.
In that case, there is one person.
There is?
Yes, there is.
Rina looked up.
However, I wouldn't really recommend them.
Don't bother.
A voice came from behind.
Gald turned around.
A man holding a wooden mug was looking at them.
That guy isn't a mage.
Rina lowered her eyes to the ledger.
She slid her finger along, one character at a time.
They are registered as a mage.
They can't even cast a spell, can they?
He said that, then tilted his wooden mug.
The man next to me leaned back in his chair and laughed.
"I do make sure to pull out even the weeds, right down to the roots, though."
Gald reached into the pouch at his chest once more.
He placed his guild card on the reception counter.
"No, it's fine."
The edge of the card clicked softly against the wood.
"If I can just team up with someone."
Lina picked up the card with one hand.
A 'B' remained at the edge of the worn, fading text.
"...B-rank."
Gald took a deep breath.
"You can't reach A-rank solo."
Lina returned the guild card with both hands.
"Shall I call someone?"
"Please."
Lina bowed her head and disappeared into the back.
Beyond the reception desk, there was the sound of a ledger closing.
Someone laughed, then immediately stopped.
The bespectacled woman who had been keeping the ledger at the desk in the back looked at Gald.
Our eyes met.
Gald looked away.
He tapped his finger on the reception counter three times.
When he turned his face back, the bespectacled woman had her eyes cast down on her ledger.
The door in the back opened.
Rina brought in a boy clutching a storage bag.
The hem of his bluish-gray robe was dragging on the floor.
A single root of a medicinal herb was sticking out from the mouth of the bag.
"More weeds?"
Someone laughed.
In the back, a wooden mug struck a table.
The boy did not look toward the laughter.
Rina said,
"This person says they want to form a party with you."
The boy looked at Gald.
"...I, my magic, it doesn't reach."
"Doesn't reach?"
"Yes."
"What doesn't?"
The boy was silent for a moment.
"Various things."
"What do you mean by 'various things'?"
"Various things."
The boy did not look away.
"You don't feel like explaining, do you?"
"Because it won't reach."
Gald let out a short sigh.
"What's your name?"
"Nil."
"Nil."
Gald repeated.
"Let's go."
"Um."
Gald stopped walking.
"It's Gald."
"...It's Nil."
"I heard that already."
Gald walked toward the door.
Nil placed the storage bag on the reception counter and took out its contents.
"Please."
Inside the reception counter, Rina held a wooden box.
Nil bowed his head and followed Gald.
"What is this, babysitting a brat?"
Someone said.
"There's been someone noisy for a while now."
A woman at the round table in the back crossed her legs.
Rina placed the wooden box beside the desk and pulled over a ledger.
Steam from the herbal tea in the ceramic cup wavered.
A child's voice came from outside the door.
Gald pushed the door open.
Across the street, the fabric sign of the general store was swaying.
Children were running in front of the shop.
The child in the lead nearly bumped into Gald's knee.
"Whoa. Watch it."
Gald patted the child's head.
The child looked up, mouth agape.
Nil came out a moment later.
The child started to cry.
"Are they okay?"
Nil asked.
"I didn't hit them."
"......The child, they cried."
"It wasn't me."
"Yeah."
Gald headed straight for the forest.
Nil adjusted her storage bag and followed him at a trot.
"Where are you going?"
"The forest. I want to at least confirm our coordination."
"Coordination?"
"That's right."
The hem of Nil's robe brushed against the grass.
Dew from the grass soaked into the hem.
Gald slowed his pace.
"You're fine in the back line, right?"
"That's impossible."
Nil straightened her crooked hat.
"You're a mage, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Then, you're in the back."
Nil stopped walking.
"I'm going home."
Gald turned around.
Why?
It always ends here.
What is?
The talk about coordination.
I see.
Want to try it?
Nil looked at Gald.
No, I don't.
Then I'm going home.
Wait, let's confirm.
Gald looked ahead.
Do as you like.
He kept walking through the forest.
Several thick, broken branches were lying by the side of the path.
Isn't it too quiet?
Yeah.
Gald stopped in his tracks.
There was a smear of red on the grass on the ground.
A forest cat crossed the path with a mountain mouse in its mouth.
A forest cat, huh?
Gald exhaled.
The bushes rustled.
"It's coming."
Gald placed his fingers on the hilt of his greatsword.
A kobold leaped out.
It ran past the two of them and headed deeper inside.
"...It ran away?"
Further in, a tree snapped.
The bushes collapsed.
Gald's fingers gripped the hilt.
"What is that?"
"Probably a stray."
Nil adjusted his hat.
"That's too big to be just a stray."
On its head was a crushed iron ring.
Dried blood had hardened into a black crust on one side.
"A crown?"
Gald said.
"Doesn't matter."
Nil drew his staff from his robe's waist.
I gripped my staff again.
Gald glanced at the staff.
"It's short."
"Yeah."
Gald drew his greatsword.
"Hey, isn't that thing weird?"
"Yeah."
The one with the crown was shouting while swinging a large sword around.
The shouting echoed off into the depths of the forest.
"It can't see us, can it?"
"Probably."
Nil raised her staff.
She looked at Gald and immediately lowered it.
Gald tightened his grip on the hilt.
"I'll take the big one."
Gald closed the distance with a sliding step.
He lowered his hips and stepped forward.
The grass was crushed.
His body lunged forward.
A moment later, the greatsword swept in from the side.
A dull thud.
The greatsword bounced off.
Gald slid back half a step.
His boot soles scraped the dirt.
The giant turned to the side, a beat too late.
"Can you see me?"
Gald circled around.
The giant swung his sword at the spot where Gald had been a moment ago.
A tree trunk split open.
Gald stepped in.
He swung his greatsword down.
The giant blocked it.
The blades slid against each other.
Gald's shoulder dropped.
It's coming from above.
Gald braced his greatsword upright.
A heavy sound struck his chest.
His feet slid backward.
The earth tore up.
"He's heavy!"
Gald gritted his teeth.
He pushed back with both hands.
The giant staggered.
It took two steps back.
Gald stepped back as well.
He shook his right wrist.
The fingers gripping the hilt were trembling.
That guy, he can see things up close!
Yeah, I get it.
Get what!
It's okay.
The hem of a robe crossed Gald's field of vision.
Hey.
It was Nil.
Gald started to reach out.
His feet slid to the side.
Don't step forward!
It won't reach!
What won't!
The magic!
Nil swung her staff down.
Her sleeve opened a moment later.
The giant parried it with his sword.
The staff bounced back.
"Throw something! Right in front of me!"
"What?"
"Hurry!"
Nil took a half-step back.
She shifted her body to the side.
The giant's sword grazed the front of her robe.
The hem of her robe swayed and came to a stop.
She swung her staff down once more.
The staff was deflected upward.
"You say 'something,' but I don't have anything!"
Gald stepped on a branch at his feet.
He snapped it off, leaves and all.
"Hey! You crown-wearing jerk!"
Gald threw it at him.
The giant parried it with his sword.
The leaves scattered.
The sound vanished.
A leaf swayed in front of the giant's face.
The staff traced a circle, carried by the momentum of being deflected.
Nil's left hand gripped the hilt.
Her right elbow thrust forward.
Her sleeve followed a moment later.
Her wrist snapped back.
Her index and middle fingers extended.
They touched the giant's flank.
Zero.
It was a whisper.
The giant's throat rattled.
His knees buckled.
He leaned his weight onto his sword.
Foam spilled from his mouth.
He collapsed forward, sword and all.
A white breath escaped her.
What did you do?
I touched him.
You expect me to believe he fell just from being touched?
I stopped it.
Stopped it?
Yes, the magic. Because it reached it.
Nil looked up at Gald.
Please, finish it off.
Finish it off?
It's still a little alive.
The giant's fingers grasped at the grass several times.
Can't be helped, then!
Gald swung his greatsword down.
The eyes of the severed head did not close.
Don't look at me like that.
Gald swung his greatsword to shake off the blood.
Blood splattered onto the grass.
On the way back, the tip of Nil's hat caught on a branch.
Doesn't that hat get in your way?
Gald asked.
Nil pulled the brim of his hat down.
Because I am a mage.
Gald walked ahead.
Hey.
What is it?
Gald turned around.
The storage bag hanging from his shoulder swayed.
A large foot sticking out from the side of the bag was swaying too.
Your foot is sticking out.
I know.
It's torn.
I can see that.
Gald stopped walking.
Do you want to use mine? Everything will fit.
Nil shifted the storage bag to his other hand.
No, I'm fine.
Gald held the opening of the bag shut.
I want to take it out of mine.
I see.
Nil's mouth softened into a smile.
When he pushed open the guild door, several faces turned toward them.
They immediately looked away.
The adventurer who had been resting his feet on the table put them down.
I turned my back and pulled out a chair.
“Eek!”
An adventurer I passed at the entrance jumped to the side.
“It’s a leg!”
Someone stood up from their chair.
Ale spilled onto the floor.
“Good work.”
Rina tilted her head and curled her lips upward.
“Here’s a souvenir.”
Gald lifted his chin.
The mouth of the bag opened.
A clump of black fur fell onto the reception counter and rolled.
The staff member in the back stood up.
A chair toppled over.
“Guild Master!”
The sound of footsteps increased.
The Guild Master came down the stairs.
Rina took a step back.
The Guild Master looked at the head on the counter.
He furrowed his brow.
Then, he grabbed it by the fur and lifted it up.
Blood dripped from the edge of the board.
Behind the reception counter, a staff member knocked over a stack of documents.
Papers scattered across the floor.
I just kept staring at what the guild master was holding.
The guild master remained silent, still looking at the head.
“...It’s a King, isn’t it.”
Someone said from behind Nil.
“A stray one?”
“That’s amazing.”
The door opened.
Laughter from outside drifted in, then immediately vanished.
Gald laughed.
“That’s right, it’s a King.”
“Gald did it.”
Nil said.
“Yes, I did it.”
“I stopped the inside.”
Gald lowered his voice.
“You don’t need to say that.”
Lina cast her eyes downward.
In the back, a wooden mug clinked softly.
Someone snorted.
At a desk in the back, a woman with glasses holding a pen was watching Gald.
She immediately returned her gaze to her paper.
Hmm?
Nil looked at Gald.
It is nothing.
Gald said.
The tavern was a little noisier than before.
Chairs were creaking.
A drunkard was singing.
Someone had left a wooden mug dropped on the floor and was slumped over the table.
Shall we team up?
Nil tore off a piece of bread.
Are you sure that is okay?
Yes.
I see.
Nil met Gald's eyes.
Shall we give it a try?
Gald held out his hand.
Nil reached out as well.
Her fingertips drew closer.
Gald's elbow stopped moving.
...Are you sure it's okay to touch?
I'm not planning on doing anything.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Nil did not lower her hand.
Gald hesitated for a moment before taking her hand.
You're a little cold.
Yeah, because I used magic.
Hey, two ales over here!
Gald raised his hand and called out loudly.
A mug tipped over at a table in the back.
Sorry about that, I spilled it.
Don't worry about it.
Someone was wiping down the table.
A short while later, the server arrived carrying wooden mugs in both hands.
Thanks.
Gald took the wooden mug.
He placed one in front of Nil.
Bring me some meat. Orc will do.
Gald said to the server.
I'm going to drink today. And eat.
Gald laughed.
Something good happen?
The server tilted their head.
Something like that.
Gald replied.
One orc steak, please!
The server called out and walked toward the kitchen.
Nil was touching the wooden mug.
Her mouth moved slightly.
No voice could be heard.
Gald grabbed the wooden mug.
He clinked his mug against Nil's.
The mugs rang out.
A little foam spilled over.
Gald took a sip and looked at the mug.
It's cold.
He said that and took another sip.
"I touched it."
"What?"
"The mug."
"……Can you cool it down?"
"If I touch it."
Gald looked at it again.
"That's convenient."
Nil looked down slightly.
"I've never been told that before."
"I see."
Gald lifted the mug.
"Well, keep that in mind then."
A server brought over a large plate.
"Thanks."
Gald laughed.
Nil adjusted her hat.
Gald took another sip of the chilled ale.
At a round table in the back, someone messed up the lyrics to a song.
Laughter erupted.
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 2: Walking Behind
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 3: Back Entrance
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 4: Hopeless Weakness
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 5: Reply of Grass
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 6: Front is Beside
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 7: A Walk
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 8: A Form That Doesn't Die
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 9: It Wasn't a Magic Duel
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 10-1: The Princess's Arm
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 10-2: Waiting is Also a Duty
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 11: Order of the Soup Kitchen
Zero Distance: The Unreachable Mage - Guild Arc - Ep 12: What is Your Business?