OKIH 37

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Chapter 37

Kawazu-san took over explaining things instead of the clueless us.

“Ah, this, weren’t you using some sort of barrier? It’s something that

reacts to spells. And you caught it too. It seems like it caused a reaction

even though it was already removed.”

“It’s a terrible thing, isn’t it, ‘coincidence’ is amazing!”

“Well, it began when you touched that curse. The moment you let go, it

was activated and followed”

“Even such a troublesome curse could be somehow ‘coincidentally’

neutralized by my magic, yea! Good good!”

Kawazu-san brought in a moving broom, and cleaned up the bracelet. He

picked a broken piece and sighed.

“Well then, isn’t this a good time to just leave it be? Whether you report it or not, it won’t make a difference. I have to congratulate you, you’re free. You should go wherever you want” (K)

“Ah! That’s right! If possible, we prefer it if you don’t spread information about us powerful mages!”

“……”

I smiled and desperately tried to sweep everything under the rug.

Kawazu-san is piercing me with eyes that say that I’m reckless and stupid.

At first, Sailor Soldier was dazedly looking at her newly freed arm. Now she had an unconvinced look directed at me, it’s very uncomfortable.

Then she finally opened her mouth as I broke out in cold sweat.

“…… you can do amazing things, can’t you?”

“Isn’t it just fine to think of it as just one more troublesome thing that’s gone? Yea, Sailor Soldier?” (T)

“It’s not Sailor Soldier!” (SS)

“Oh yes? It’s selfish to wish for more than this, Sailor Soldier!” (K)

“…… not that! Was that magic? I haven’t seen it before!” (SS)

She seems to be pouting when she interrupted the flow of that conversation.

It would really help me out if we continuted being away from this discussion though.

“A-, yeeaa, something like that. I learned it from Kawazu-san”

Though I don’t have a memory on having been taught on how to grab a curse.

But when I said that, a deep furrow appeared between Sailor Soldier’s brows as she neared my face.

It’s easy to rattle people like me by just making a beautiful girl get this close.

“…… is it possible that you’re some ridiculously powerful wizard? Is it possible that you could somehow blast off part of a mountain, or make a giant tree appear?”

“N-no, how could I do something like that……”

You’re unexpectedly keen, Sailor Soldier.

No, maybe a person would normally connect the dots.

A hero may not be as flashy.

However, I would like to seal that as my dark past, so I would appreciate it if you handle the topic more delicately.

Anyway, I tried to excuse myself from being seen as the mastermind, but Kawazu-san smacked my head.

“You just don’t know when to give up. This miss clearly sees the situation. Just come clean.”

“…… Ah, isn’t it just good for Kawazu-san? Isn’t it better to hide?”

Saying so, I get an smack.

“If you really wanted to hide it, you shouldn’t have taken her to your room. From the beginning, you wanted to lend a hand, didn’t you? It’s not very impressive”

Oh dear me, that’s indeed the case.

When we brought her back to the house, I was already curious.

Although I thought that I had no plans, it seems that I really do care quite a bit.

“…… in that case, I’m right! You do know how to get back!”

Sailor Soldier exclaimed in a hopeful voice.

We’ve come to the point where I must really tell her the truth.

I sighed deeply and gave her an answer that she definitely didn’t want to hear.

“Ah, theoretically, there’s a way to go back. But I can’t do it”

“No way!”

“The reason is simple, not enough magical power”

“Magical power? Then you can use mine! Even if I’m like this, I supposedly have a lot of it……”

Ahh, she brought that up.

But, not enough means not enough, and there’s nothing we can do about that.

“I’m sorry, but that’s still not enough. When you came here, you were also taught about magic right?”

“Yes, I was taught. But I can cast all kinds of magic, even Spirit Magic!”

“? No, it’s not about that…… I can cast the the magic itself, but I lack the fuel”

“? …… sorry, I’m not clear on that. But from what I understand, as long as you have enought magical power, you can do anything right?”

What she said was exactly right.

But that’s why it’s impossible.

I already thought about it.

It may be possible to use a large amount of manastones, like the ones used for the PCs.

But to make it, you’ll need around 1 million manastones that could carry about 10mp each, that degree.

It’s hard to make up for that shortage.

Besides that, even if I managed to download it, the withdrawn magic can’t be used for anything else other than that.

20 million or 30 million…… what kind of harassment is that? (T/N: I’m assuming he’s factoring other magics that would go along with going back to their world, for the both of them?)

Even saying that seems to be insufficient in fully understanding it, so I decided to make a demonstration.

“A, well why don’t you see for yourself. Is there anything you’d like to have?”

“Um, if you say it so suddenly…… a shortcake”

“A shortcake sounds nice”

I focused my conciousness on the desktop, and casted summoning magic in that state.

I’m sorry to the random Cake Shop, but it’s a request so it can’t be helped.

The magic array shone a bright blue light, and a shortcake on a plate appeared.

It came with a vinyl film, that immediately indicates that it’s not something that came from this world.

I presented the plated shortcake, but it seems to be more surprising than expected.

“What should I say…… it’s too different from what I know. Was that summoning magic just now?”

“That’s right. Weren’t you also brought to this world using a similar magic? ”

“No, in my case it was more…… it involved a huge magic array, and quite a lot of magicians”

Whether it’s the vague memory or the bad explanation, but well, that country called Vanaria – it may a difference in the Summoning Magic’s magic array, but the fundamentals should be the same.

I pointed at the shortcake and said,

“A, as you can see, I’m a capable wizard.

This is not a living thing so it was easy to bring it over, but a living creature increases the magical power expenditure.

Furthermore, inverting the process increases the mp expenditure exponentially.

Even just doing this much, you would need to use an amount of mp that will reduce you into dried fish several times”

“So what you mean is, even if you can bring it here, returning it is hard? For there to be a rule like that……”

“I also think it’s suspicious, but it’s not a lie. At the moment, even I can’t perform that magic”

“…… no matter what?”

“We~ll, it’s possible theoretically, but it will take several years”

“…… you have to try!”

“You’ll know without trying. Let’s see, using Analysis Magic should’ve been enough of an explanation. Can you use basic magic?”

I restrained Sailor Soldier’s rising excitement with my words, and I went back to sit on a chair.

“…… the basics at least”

She concentrated some magic to the cup in front of her, and the cup rose and floated.

I wonder what this kid is doing? That’s normal magic.

“No, that’s not it. Much more basic….. that’s right! Attribute Magic!”

I remembered that there were quite a few ways to call it so I rephrased, but for some reason, Sailor Soldier looked at me in confusion.

“I can use it, but is that basic? It’s a bit different from what I’ve heard”

“Is it wrong?”

It suddenly upset the foundation that I’ve settled on.

Even so, I’ve quit humanity to study.

That, if you just tell me I’m wrong in something incredibly fundamental.

What could this mistake possibly be?

I turned to the guy that should know some answers, narrowed my eyes and gathered my hands. There was Kawazu-san who was trying to act normal.

However, he was moist and sweaty, so his state was easy to understand.

He was at a point where he was as reflective as an oiled surface.

“…… hey Kawazu. Do you know something about this?”

“…… about what? I know nothing”

“You’re just bad at giving up…… a whatever, if you can explain it to Sailor Soldier, everything will be settled”

“I said quit it with the whole ‘Sailor Soldier’ thing!”

Even if you say it with a red face, it’s a closed topic.

“No. Then if you please, teacher”

So for show, I proceeded to make glasses out of magic, and handed it over.

“Ha~ah…… is it possible that you’re trying out a cosplay character?” (SS)

Sailor Soldier put on the glasses with a light sigh.

Ah, now we’re talking.

She’s an unexpectedly obedient girl.

“Then let’s have an easy explanation”

Pushing up the shiny glasses, Sailor Soldier began to talk about what she knew of magic, and Kawazu-san became restless.

“From what I’ve been taught, first – things like the floating objects from earlier, or body heat regulation – these are called basic everyday magic”

Sailor Soldier lightly tapped her clothes and made a magic array appear. The dirt on her clothes disappeared and it looked brand new.

Ooh, laundry magic.

I understood Sailor Soldier till here, I get it.

That’s quite the sinful magic.

“Then there’s Attribute Magic derived from the Five Attributes, and the third one is Spiritual Magic, I think that makes all of them. At least, I haven’t seen use of magic that don’t belong to what I’ve mentioned”

“Heyhey, isn’t it about time you step in and we start hearing from you, Kawazu-san?”

“…… well we’ll see”

I went back to pointedly staring, waiting for the it.

I don’t know if she noticed our exchange, but Sailor Soldier continued with her explanation.

“To put it simply, Attribute magic is a higher level magic, and on a higher level still is Spirit Magic.

That seems to be all there is to Basic Magic.

But personally, I find these basic magicks to be more convenient?

It has magic that could clean clothes, like the one I showed earlier”

I’m sorry to Sailor Soldier who took time to explain, but I’m just unconvinced.

According to that classification, won’t that mean my magic is demoted as simply ‘basic magic’?

To look at it another way, analysis takes a hundred transformations and you call it basic, and you dump it along with dead resurrection that include world transitions, I’m just not convinced.

One more thing, magic that I’ve never heard before is also a problem.

“What is that Spirit Magic that you speak of?”

From what I learned from Kawazu-san, there’s no such thing.

Sailor Soldier found it strange but continued.

“You don’t know? Spirit magic can only be used by people who have divine Spirit Protection, I hear it’s a talent-dependent magic. On that note, it’s powerful and hard to control”

……powerful and hard to control?

However I hear it, it sounds hardcore.

Anyway, my Attribute Magic blew off a mountain.

Does that mean I can shoot something stronger than that?

The world like that is too dangerous, I can’t bear to see it.

So to say, there’s something wrong.

Kawazu-san continued to be silent, but that cold sweat tells that he’s hiding a story.

The right time to talk should be now.

“And? Kawazu-sensei. Sailor Soldier said her piece, what about it?”

“Something changed again……”

“…… I know nothing”

“Don’t give me that! What’s with this dicrepancy!?”

I strengthened my eyes and glared at Kawazu-san.

Kawazu-san ran.

As if I’ll let you!

I quickly deployed a spell, the best magic for capturing.

But wait, there’s more! It was improved from previously failed magic!

“I won’t let you escape! Sticky Whip!!”

Let me explain!

What Sticky Whip is!

With the glowing birdlime (sticky substance) from before, improved from Sticky Beam, it’s a stretchy whip-like beam.

Afterwards, the stickiness captured Kawazu-san while rolling him, and brought him back to where he was originally.

“Let go! Let me go!”

It seems like that struggling Kawazu-san doesn’t understand the situation that he’s currently in.

“Kawazu-san, the you right now…… aren’t in a position where you can assert your opinions. If…… that person’s companions that trap people doesn’t mean anything, what am I supposed to do?”

I asked with a sweet smile, Kawazu-san gulped.

I wonder why?

As if he thought about it, he drooped his head and started talking bit by bit.

“Haah…… I guess theren’s no choice. Ei, damn. The truth is I really didn’t want to talk about it. Today’s general magic theory, there’s really nothing to tell you about it. Have you noticed? There’s some contradictions here”

Sailor Soldier had a confused expression, but there are indeed some places that are unfamiliar.

“Like for example, the mp consumption of Basic Magic?” (T)

“…… strange, isn’t it? It’s a category that contains otherworld summoning but it’s reduced to be basic magic” (K)

“Isn’t Attribute Magic more ‘basic’?”

Kawazu-san shook his head to answer my question.

“Not just that, if you can’t use magic from the five attributes, did you know that neither can you use Basic magic? Creatures from this world can potentially use the five elements, almost anyone can. The magic arrays are inherently engraved in the body. But you otherworlders are molded differently. That’s why after you try it, you shouldn’t be able to use it unless you’ve mastered it. I find that part dubious as well”

“What about that?”

Actually, I know nothing about such thing, but it seems to be consistent with Sailor Soldier’s circumstances.

“N-now that you mention it. I was first taught Attribute Magic”

Hm, with this, the the first point is resolved.

“Then with that logic, why is it of a higher order than common magic? What about that?”

Sailor Soldier was shaking her head, and chose her words while looking back at her memories.

“I heard that magical arrays are passed down within wizards’ families over their generations. Excellent magicians have excellent magic arrays. They research to make their own more powerful and more efficient. Though speaking of magicians, Tarou-san’s magic is more magical if you compare” (SS)

If it takes time and effort, then I understand why it should be considered to be a higher rank.

Fom a modern person’s like me, I understand what magic is like just from the five classifications.

It’s an indespensible thing for the general public.

“And Spirit Magic?”

The one who answered that question was Kawazu-san.

“Ah that…… spirit just pertains to creatures that can’t be seen with the naked eye, you give them magical powers and they’ll lend their strength to you. Spirits are creatures that live off of magical powers, and can only be used by the chosen ones, based on the taste of their magical powers. Naturally, the power needs to be stabilized. Since it’s just something that’s borrowed”

Instead of something worth really looking forward to, the answer is unexpectedly a letdown.

It seems that I’m not the only one, as Sailor Soldier herself was surprised.

“Just that! Those guys were pretty hyped, running around with it!”

A, it seems that those guys wielded spirit magic by using her.

Kawazu-san had a bitter smile, and added that ‘it could be amazing, amazing’.

“We~ll, it is what it is, and you can overdo it. It can multiply the magical power that the spirits favor, like gathering more spirits…… a lot of other things”

“In other words, the truth is Attribute magic is more powerful?”

Asking about the part I was wondering about, Kawazu-san gave a huge nod.

It seems like my way of thinking wasn’t wrong.

“That’s right, Spirit magic’s weakness is when you run out of mp”

“Is that true?”

“It’s the truth. By the way, I wonder if you know this? When an ancient book is discovered, there’s sometimes magic still in there, it’s magic that is impossible for me to wield. Until now, magicians call those magic defective. The unusable theories are just not feasible. But at the same time, we regularly improve those magicks so that they’ll be available for use.

Right now, they are called Basic Magic, but I found a relevant book, and my doubts and questions were resolved”*

That must be the spellbook where Magic Creation was based from.

If that magic can be used, observing magic itself isn’t difficult at all.

For Kawazu-san who has a large amount of mp compared to other magicians, he must have observed a lot of powerful magicks that had never been seen before.

It’s not strange for him to conclude that it’s higher ranked compared to attribute magic.

“It’s somehow clearer to me now. In the past, you can still use magic even without such improvements right?”

And despite having such magic, the fact that those books that greatly lack improvement have remained, means that there was a point when they were not needed.

“Exactly, aren’t you quite sharp. But for some unknown reason, magical power gradually decreased. I guess it finally declined to this state. Magicians wielded their power using the reduced amount of mana, then they just stuck with it.

Borrowing the power of spirits, with the most basic and aggressive Basic Magic, they poured their life’s blood into it. Those that can fight are given preferential treatment, and became a privileged class. Those that cannot fight will go down in the hierarchy”

And that’s the status quo of this world.

“So you mean to say that the magicians right now…… only adapted to the decline of magical power!”

“That’s why I didn’t want to talk about it! …… that’s right! If you want to laugh, just laugh!”

Kawazu-san’s cheeks were swollen in anger.

Since it was Kawazu-san who came into magic first, this conversation certainly wounded his pride.

“No no, thank you. I heard something interesting”

I was satisfied looking at Kawazu-san’s pouting face, but unlike me, Sailor Soldier looked unsettled.

“So the magic that would send me back…… is an incredibly powerful magic that only ancient people could use?”

“Well that’s about right. It’s possible that there’s a different Repatriation Magic that was improved in this world, but either way it’s mostly wishful thinking”

“……”

I was too blunt, I think that was overboard?

As much as possible, I wanted to lighten the mood, but my hope was crushed, and all it did was make things more depressing.

A man that makes a girl cry is trash, as my mom has heavily impressed on me.

Long ago, a made a girl cry, and I will never forget the nightmare that occured because of it.

“…… are you okay?”

“…… yes, thank you. But right now, I’m just satisfied with being free. Besides, I think it’s a good outcome just to know that the possibility isn’t zero”

Saying so, the girl in front of me seems to be overflowing with fighting spirit.

It’s a world’s diffference from me who had dead fish eyes.

I’ll be hated if I tell her, and I’m convinced that this is what a hero should be.

s i d e o u t

s i d e ???

A girl was praying in a dark cathedral.

Flowing from within the light of the stained glass, the girl who was fervently continuing to pray was quite mysterious and solemn.

It wouldn’t be strange if one finds divinity in her appearance, as the girls prayers seem to be impossible to transgress.

A black robed shadow appeared behind her.

The shadow stood beside the girl and told her in a whisper,

“…… the signals from the hero have been cut, she might be dead”

The girl who didn’t even move slightly until now, finally reacted by raising her head in surprise.

“The hero? …… I see, although we had to sacrifice a lot, it was still a failure in the end”

“Is that so? I thought it had a lot of hidden potential?”

Cutting off the shadow’s words, the girl’s gaze sharpened to a point.

However the girl didn’t reprove the shadow but laughed coldly.

“She was too skeptical, and besides, she’s a girl. A girl’s war potential ultimately loses to that of a man’s”

“Yes……”

“Other than that, no matter how excellent she is, she can’t be a match against demons when she was defeated by the likes of Fairies. ……she just amounts to this”

“Now what?”

“Let’s see, we’ll have to give it another try, won’t we. This time……”

Finishing her prayer, the girl stood up.

Her face had a meaningful smile, her thoughts unreadable and her eyes cold as she gazed at the shadow.

“We shall summon a true hero, and must prepare things to perfection”

“……yes”

The shadow gave a brief reply and reverently bowed, the girl ordered,

“Like last time, we should immediately hold him in suspicion so he won’t run away. Fufufu, if possible, I would like a beautiful gentleman this time”

“……Priestess-sama, please refrain from saying statements like that”

“It’s a joke. There’s no one here but you and me anyway, so can you please stop telling me such stiffling things? Rather than that, don’t you have to do something of the utmost urgency?”

“…… as you will”

Then the shadow soundlessly disappeared the same way that it came.

After she was sure that the shadow is gone, the girl continued to pray.

Whatever she was praying for, she’s the only one that knows.

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