The Strategist of the Magic Emperor Shatters the Second Destruction - Volume 1 Chapter 4
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- Volume 1 Chapter 4 - Pain and Reunion
Day Two.
The first day was mostly spent observing my teacher’s swings and understanding the necessity of those movements.
This aspect is similar to the fundamentals of magic and suits my thought-oriented nature.
However, martial arts and practice are inseparable.
Just knowing how to swing isn’t enough.
On the second day, after some light swinging, I intended to learn some simple forms but…
“Ouch, ouch, ouch…”
“Well, that was bound to happen.”
Muscle soreness.
It’s inevitable for anyone who swings a sword for the first time.
“Maybe we should call it a day today.”
“What? But, Teacher, you’ll be leaving in a week, right?!”
“Whoa, don’t shout suddenly… Yeah, I’m leaving, but there’s nothing you can do with your body in that state. It’s not wise to force yourself to move.”
“But, that’s it! Sister can use healing magic, Medical!”
“No good. Forcing your muscles back together will just return them to their pre-growth state. It’s better to rest.”
“But, no way…”
Seeing my dejected state, my teacher sighed deeply and drew his sword.
“Alright, I’ll perform the forms here, and you watch. You probably like observing, don’t you?”
“Really?!”
“Just watch! And stop shouting!”
Imitating the swings made me realize, this person must be quite incredible.
The sword moves along a perfectly steady trajectory without any deviation.
It might look simple, but it’s anything but trivial.
In all my encounters, I’ve only seen a handful of people who can swing a sword this beautifully.
Considering my Talent, my teacher’s suggestion couldn’t be more perfect.
『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.
Swordsmanship, of course, falls within the scope of abilities I’ve observed before.
Observation and understanding.
With that in mind, I continue to focus on my teacher’s swordplay.
Watching his footwork, I ask why certain actions are taken.
I consider the optimal solution for covering vulnerabilities after a horizontal slash.
I think about how I would evade after a deflection.
I lose track of time, absorbed in these thoughts.
I really do enjoy thinking.
Then, a sense of deja vu hits me.
I feel a nostalgic sensation in the nuances of my teacher’s swordplay.
Where have I seen this before?
Could it be that we’ve met, somewhere in my first life?
But such thoughts disappear before the flowing lines of the sword.
I trace the sword’s movements in my mind, noticing the necessary footwork, predicting my teacher’s actions at the end of a form.
It feels like I’ve been doing this for hours.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“No. It’s enjoyable.”
“Is that so… You really are different.”
“Is that strange?”
“On the contrary, it might be your calling.”
“I’m glad, then.”
Despite the urge to move, I restrain myself.
For now, observation and understanding come first.
Practice follows.
Just as I grip the wooden sword in my lap firmly…
“Balam―――! There’s a visitor for you――!”
Sister’s unusually high-spirited voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
“Hm? You have a visitor.”
“A visitor for me?”
Strange, I shouldn’t have any friends at this age or anyone who would visit…
What enters my sight as I turn around is something unbelievable.
“…Hey.”
Waving at me with a smile is a beautiful black-haired, blue-eyed girl.
“An… Anim?”
“Yeah. Remember, I said I’d see you again… so I came.”
“Why?”
“My dad and mom aren’t around today. I was thinking I have nothing to do… then I remembered you… Is it a bother?”
“No, not at all… but…”
“Okay, good.”
While gazing at the blushing Anim in a daze, my mind swirls with confusion.
This can’t be real. I wasn’t supposed to become close friends with Anim for almost another year. More precisely, not until I left the orphanage to study magic in the holy city.
That should have been our first real meeting.
No, maybe things changed when we talked in the cathedral.
After all, Anim doesn’t have many friends of the same age… she’s shy.
So, she visited me, possibly her first-ever friend?
But why did Anim approach me in the cathedral?
Right, because she saw me crying.
Could this lead to any complications?
I don’t know.
I don’t know, but…
“Hey, since I discovered my Talent, my dad and mom seem busy… so, can I come here to play again?”
I couldn’t possibly refuse.
“Of course, you’re always welcome. Right, Sister?”
“Absolutely. Come by anytime.”
“Thanks.”
Distracted by Anim’s happy expression, I freeze.
“Hey, kid. Are we done for today?”
Nudged by my teacher, I turn back to the courtyard.
“Sorry! Sorry, Anim… I’m in the middle of learning swordsmanship.”
“Don’t mind me. I’m fine just watching.”
“Well, this kid here is also just watching.”
“Is that so?” Anim tilts her head in confusion, then I explain the situation with a wry smile.
As I explain about the muscle soreness, I think to myself how it seems a bit embarrassing…
“So you worked hard, huh?”
Okay, I like her.
No, that’s not right. She’s just being nice.
Together with Anim, who says such things, we watch my teacher’s sword forms.
During a break, Anim turns to me and asks.
“By the way, what is your Talent? Something to do with martial arts?”
“No, my Talent is magic-related. Like this…”
I pick up a slightly larger stone, place it on my palm, and apply magic.
The stone decomposes and reassembles into a mini rabbit statue of the same size.
“Wow! Amazing!”
“Seriously… I’ve heard that casting magic isn’t easy…”
“I use Conversion Magic, which allows me to change various items into equivalent things. I can’t make something larger or change its material, though…”
“It’s amazing just being able to activate it! I struggle just to do that…”
Anim looks frustrated and concentrates, clutching her right wrist with her left hand.
“―――Flame Magic!”
Though she shouts confidently, only a small pillar of fire appears on her palm.
Anim laughs off the disappointment.
“Like this… I’m not good at controlling magic power.”
“Magic power control is hard… it varies from person to person, making it difficult to teach.”
“My dad said the same. I just need to practice and get used to it.”
As we talk face to face, my teacher encourages us.
“Being able to activate it at your age is amazing. Maybe you’ve got talent?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. But don’t take lessons from that kid… he’s pretty unconventional.”
Harsh, but true.
Even in my first life, I wasn’t this skilled at casting magic.
It’s like a cheat.
“Your Talent is Flame Magic, huh? That’s great – flashy and a super powerful attack spell. You might become a more famous magician than this kid here!”
My teacher teases, and his guess is almost spot on, so I have no argument.
But,
“Oh no, you’re mistaken. My Talent is―――”
He got one thing wrong.
Not just a famous magician.
Anim is destined to be the strongest “Magic Emperor” in the world.
“Attribute Magic. It means I can use any kind of elemental magic depending on my efforts.”
We laugh together at my teacher’s stunned face, bringing an end to the day’s training.
Yes, she was identified as having this unprecedented Talent and will enroll in the holy city’s school.
Counting back from the date she told me about in my first life, it’ll be about three months from now.
While dreading the inevitable farewell, I share a laugh with her.
From that day, Anim started visiting the orphanage almost every day.
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