[Explosive Advantage] Engaging in a Mental Battle with the Strongest Evil Spirit Since Birth, I Exceeded the Measurable Magic Limit – The Humble Conquest of the Cursed Child - Chapter 12

Just like Miss Kagami had demonstrated, Kai extended his arm and turned his palm upward.

“I’ll do it now… Fire Art: Hotarubi.”

[…]

In conclusion—nothing happened.

“Ahahahaha! You were totally giving off this vibe like, ‘I’m going to nail it on the first try,’ and then—nothing! Not a single spark!”

(…Hey, cut it out. That’s seriously embarrassing.)

Douma’s teasing hit Kai harder than he’d like to admit.

“……”

Miss Kagami was speechless as well.

(Ugh… even Miss Kagami is stunned… that bad, huh…?)

“Why couldn’t you…? No, it can’t be… Ah—m-my sincerest apologies!”

(She’s not only shocked I failed but even apologized out of pity… This sorcery must be ridiculously easy if she’s reacting like that…)

Kai’s spirits dipped.

“W-Well then… Lord Kai, let’s focus on your physical training for now. While it may seem plain, martial arts are never a waste of time.”

“…Alright.”

And so, that day ended with more physical training—essentially, another session of muscle conditioning.

Once again, it was quite tough.

The next day—

“Miss Kagami.”

“Ah, yes? Is something the matter, Lord Kai?”

Kai greeted her with a mischievous grin as soon as they met.

“Watch this.”

“…? Very well.”

“Fire Art: Hotarubi.”

A faint blue flame flickered to life in Kai’s palm.

“……!!”

Kagami visibly flinched in shock.

“Lord Kai… this is…?”

“Ah, well, I was so frustrated yesterday that after training, I practiced on my own.”

After their training, Kai had secretly kept practicing Hotarubi.
He failed again and again—but finally succeeded in producing a small flame.

“You did this… all by yourself…?”

“Hmm? Yes, I did.”

“………”

Kagami was once again struck speechless by surprise.

Seeing her reaction, Kai thought to himself:

(Miss Kagami seemed shocked when I couldn’t do it yesterday, and now she’s just as shocked that I can. Maybe she’s secretly really good at reaction comedy?)

That was not the case.

There was a clear reason for Kagami’s astonishment.

A yorishiro child unable to perform even simple sorcery—that was unheard of.

Likewise, an ordinary four-year-old able to perform sorcery—that, too, had no precedent.

Both cases were extraordinary.

“Phew… Still, Miss Kagami, I feel a bit better now.”

“Eh…?”

“I was starting to think maybe I had no talent at all…”

“N-Not at all, Lord Kai. Please, perish the thought.”

“Heh…”

(She’s trying to cheer me up… Her reactions might be over-the-top, but she really is kind…)

“Um, Miss Kagami… if possible, could you also give me an overview of Heart?”

“Eh…?”

So far, Kai had learned Body as martial arts and Skill as sorcery—but had heard nothing about Heart.

“Y-Yes… While you won’t be practicing Heart for some time, if you wish, I can explain the basics.”

“Please.”

“Heart… it refers to the technique of reflecting one’s very soul. This unique technique is called Soul Arts—Hakujutsu.”

“Hakujutsu…? How is it different from sorcery?”

“Sorcery, so long as one has an aptitude, can be used by anyone. Soul Arts, however, are born from the practitioner’s own spirit. In other words, it is a technique unique to the individual.”

“W-Wow… That sounds incredible.”

“Yes… In fact, there are very few people who can use Hakujutsu at all.”

“I see… So, Miss Kagami, how do you use it?”

“Goodness… Lord Kai, you’re so impatient…! Ah! I-I beg your pardon, I was terribly rude—”

“Miss Kagami, you don’t need to apologize every time.”

“Eh…? Y-Yes…”

Kagami looked stunned by his response.

“Well then… As for using Soul Arts, I’m afraid there’s not much I can actually teach. Those with the talent can instinctively shape their magic into form.”

“I-I see…”

(To shape magic into form, huh…)

Curious, Kai tried focusing on his magical energy.

“Ahh! Lord Kai, stop!”

“Eh—!?”

“I-I apologize, but… were you just trying to reshape your magical energy?”

“Yes… I almost did it…”

“That in itself is not bad, however… once your magical image is fixed, it cannot be changed again.”

“…!”

“Some Soul Arts users end up unhappy with their abilities because they rushed into it without proper thought. Therefore… please take time to face your own soul before attempting it.”

“Yes… Thank you, Miss Kagami, for teaching me.”

(Once the image is fixed, it can never change… That was close… So, if I accidentally shaped it into something like… poop, that’d be my special ability forever?)

As Kai’s mind wandered into absurdity, he remembered something.

(Wait…? I think I once tried to reshape magic before…)

It was when Kai was two years old.

After his mother locked his smartphone, Kai had, on his own, attempted to reshape magic.

(And the one who stopped me, even while teasing me, was…)

………..

“…Thanks, Douma. You’re actually kinda like a good big brother…”

…!? H-Huh!? What the hell’s with you all of a sudden!?

Douma seemed flustered by Kai’s sudden gratitude.

W-Wait, you little brat! You’re seriously misunderstanding something here!

(Huh…? …!)

Suddenly, Kai realized Kagami was staring at him intently.

(Ah… crap… I said that out loud again, didn’t I…?)

Kai felt a bit panicked—then weirdly calm.

(Eh, whatever… Kids around this age tend to talk to themselves, right?)

That might apply to middle schoolers.
But for a four-year-old, it was a bit early…