The Strategist of the Magic Emperor Shatters the Second Destruction - Volume 1 Chapter 1

The Kingdom of Dazril, the Royal Capital.

It’s a perfectly ordinary place I’d call my hometown, prosperous to some extent and somewhat dimly lit in places.

Considering there are not a few kids like me living in the orphanage, you can guess what the public order is like.

“Balam, what’s up? Why are you looking around so much?”

“Ah, sorry. It’s nothing.”

I can’t possibly say it feels nostalgic.

We’re heading to the grand Dazril Cathedral, situated in the center of the capital.

The cathedrals built in cities across the world are structures dedicated to worshiping the land that floats beyond the sky known as “Lanosgard, the Heavens.”

Even now, if you look up at the sky, you can catch glimpses of the underside of that separated land among the clouds.

Honestly, I’d always been skeptical…

“Judgment.”

But now that I know such beings as winged men exist, I can sort of understand the feelings of those who built the cathedral.

The moment I reminisced, I shivered down to my spine.

The sight of a being embodying destruction, scattering light and devastation, made my whole body tense.

However, I quickly shook my head to dismiss such thoughts.

(I won’t let that happen again.)

I chastise my own cowardice and recommit to my resolution.

Even now, I don’t truly feel like I’ve traveled back in time.

Yet, everything conveyed through my senses carries undeniable realism, not allowing thoughts of this being a mere moment before death.

Instead of questioning whether this is a dream or not, I should consider what to do next, which path to choose.

And certainly…

“Anim…”

I want to save you. To do that, staying as I am won’t do.

“Sister.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“I want to become strong. I have to.”

While leading her by the hand, Sister paused, taken aback for a moment.

It’s understandable since it’s odd for a ten-year-old to say something like this out of the blue.

But Sister stopped, smiled gently, and while looking up at the grand cathedral before us, she squeezed my hand strongly.

“Did you get inspired by a hero from a storybook? That’s boys for you.”

“It’s not like that…”

“You can become one. I’m sure.”

Probably, I never had this conversation the first time around.

It’s been so long, I can’t remember.

From a minor resolve that couldn’t even be called a change, I’ve taken a step away from the me of the predetermined past.

The inside of the cathedral was filled with light filtering through the stained glass windows and an unquestionable serenity.

Our footsteps echoed uncomfortably in the otherwise silent hall.

I remember, I’ve always disliked cathedrals.

Even after growing up, I visited several times, but I was always put off by this atmosphere and the unchanging “Blessed Gifts.”

Blessed Gifts.

It is a general term for innate Talents and Abilities acquired through effort.

This world’s cruel yet realistic system.

Talents are determined at birth and don’t increase throughout a lifetime.

On the other hand, Abilities can be acquired and enhanced through effort.

The Blessed Gift soon to be revealed to me has the Talent of “Conversion Magic.”

No Abilities.

At ten, I neither knew nor needed effort.

Yet, I now know that no amount of effort can surpass a Talent.

Yudia.

The silver knight who grasped her sword unyielding even in the face of despair.

Her Talent was swordsmanship.

It might sound simple, but it was truly strong.

The secret lies in the stark difference between Talent and Ability.

Abilities obtained through effort can include swordsmanship, something most aspiring knights possess.

However, there’s a world of difference between the Talent of swordsmanship and the Ability of swordsmanship.

The difference is pitiable, really.

Of course, Abilities enhanced by effort can become strong, but catching up to a Talent requires sacrificing everything else.

That’s the gap between talent and effort.

“Balam-kun, come forward.”

“Balam, do your best!”

The priest assigned by the kingdom beckoned me forward.

All I had to do was stand there, but Sister clasped her hands as if praying, more nervous than me.

Using the “Key of Divine Questioning,” a magic tool only priests are allowed to wield, the priest tapped my shoulders.

Pointing at the parchment on the table before us, the priest pushed my back and said, “Please touch this.”

I already knew what was going to happen, so I felt no particular emotion.

The younger me must have been nervous touching it… but now, it feels like skimming through a book I’ve read once before.

Sure enough, as I touched the parchment, it emitted a faint light, crumbled like sand, and transformed into magic particles.

These particles disappeared as if sucked into my arm, and the content of my Blessed Gift came to mind.

…Wait. Hold on.

“Balam-kun, can you tell us about your Talent? We have a duty to report it to the kingdom. If you have any Abilities, you have the right to keep them confidential.”

Prompted by the hasty priest, I remained standing, unable to respond.

“Ba, Balam? What’s wrong?”

Startled by Sister’s worried tug on my sleeve, I finally regained my composure and hesitantly informed the priest.

“My Talent is… conversion, magic. ‘Conversion Magic.'”

“‘Conversion Magic’…? I’ve never heard of it. It might be a unique magic to you, Balam-kun. Congratulations.”

“Unique…! Balam! That’s amazing!”

Sister’s cheeks flushed with excitement as she waved my hand and jumped for joy.

This scene felt familiar.

Indeed, it happened the same way the first time.

Elated by the words of having an unprecedented Talent, I devoted myself to conversion magic.

Well, that ended up how it did.

But now, it’s not the time for that.

What, what is this?

●　　　　●　　　　●

Balam

Talent

『Conversion Magic』

Uses magic power to change any item into something with a different property.

The target changes into a form that matches its new property.

Conversion condition: Must be equivalent.

Limited to substances or phenomenons the user can imagine.

『Encore』

The mark of a returnee enjoying the second life.

Increases the rate of acquiring and enhancing Abilities that have been seen once.

Activation condition: Observation and understanding.

Effects increase with guidance from someone with superior Talents or Abilities.

Abilities

―――――――――

●　　　　●　　　　●

This is my second Talent.

A possessor of multiple Talents.

I’ve heard such individuals are rare, but that wasn’t supposed to be me.

It seems to be an irregular change caused by time-traveling.

Caught between confusion and astonishment, I involuntarily exclaimed due to the warmth rushing through my entire body to my heart.

“Haha, hahahaha!”

“…Balam?”

“So, sorry, being unique just made me so happy.”

“That’s great! We’ll celebrate with everyone at the orphanage when we get back!”

Watching the excited Sister, I calmed down, thanking the priest, and was about to leave the cathedral when―――――.

“Anim, don’t be nervous.”

“I know, dad. But maybe you should tell mom that, not me.”

“It, it’s okay! You’re bound to receive a wonderful Talent!”

“Ah, ah… Oh, Lanosgard in the heavens… please grant my daughter.”

“Oh no, this isn’t going to go well… Wait?”

That’s right, how could I have forgotten?

We’re supposed to meet a bit later.

But the first time I saw her was today.

We just passed by each other the first time.

Yet, even as a child, I was enchanted by her aura.

And now, the second time.

Faced with my changed Talents, I met her exactly as we were supposed to pass by each other.

That was the only change.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and words failed me.

The beauty barely hinting at her potential, her unchanged black hair, and blue eyes.

Approaching me in a straight line, Anim— who would later be revered and feared as the “Magic Emperor” —taunted me with a laugh.

“Why are you crying? Didn’t you get the Talent you wanted?”

Provoked by her mischievous smile, the words I’d been holding back slipped out.

“―You will not face destruction… I’ll change it for you.”

“…Huh? What are you talking about?”

Oh no… It’s all over.

What did I just blurt out!?

“No, not that! I meant―!”

Animu glared at me suspiciously as I waved my hand in a panic.

I, I have to come up with an excuse…

“Sorry! I thought, you’re so beautiful, and I said something weird!”

“―Hah!?”

“Oh my!”

At my words, Anim’s face flushed, and Sister clasped her hands to her mouth, her eyes sparkling.

“It’s really okay to forget what I just said!”

“What bothers me isn’t that!”

For some reason, Anim is even more desperately pleading with me now than before, so while saying, “I’m really sorry!” I pull Sister’s hand and hurriedly head towards the exit of the cathedral.

But then, Anim caught up to us!

Why!?

“Wait, hold on! Um, your name!”

“Me?”

With Anim shyly nodding, saying “Hmm,” I felt torn inside yet managed to respond while pretending to be calm.

“Ba, Balam. Nice to meet you.”

“Balam… Okay. I’m Anim. You use this cathedral, so you’re from this town, right?”

“Yeah, I live at the orphanage off the main street. She’s the Sister there.”

“Nice to meet you, Anim-chan. Balam is a kind and good boy; be nice to him!”

Somehow overly excited, Sister pressured Anim, who nodded several times in response.

Well, this is just polite talk.

Actually, Anim and I wouldn’t become friends until a year or two later.

It’ll be that long before we meet again.

I have to become much stronger by then.

“Anim! We’re ready!”

“Oh, alright! I have to go.”

“Yeah, do your best, Anim. See you.”

“Yeah, see you, Balam.”

Walking back to the orphanage with Sister, who grinned at me, I felt the resolutions and determinations inside me becoming even more solid.