[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 22

[Partially from Kurita’s Perspective]

Evening free time at the Seigoin Institute.

Kai, Ame, and Kurita were gathered in the Chamber of Stillness.

“Well then, Kai-kun, I look forward to your guidance and instruction,”
Ame said, bowing politely.

“…”

(Ah… so I wasn’t hearing things after all…)

She really had asked Kai to train her.

“Uh, um… Ame-san… you know I’m in no position to be instructing anyone, right…?”

“…R-Right. I thought so. Then… at the very least, could you show me that technique again?”

“Eh…”

(She means that youjutsu from earlier… which would mean borrowing Douma’s mana again…)

Kai felt awkward asking Douma for help so soon.
At the same time, it would be embarrassing to say he couldn’t reproduce what he’d just done.

(“Douma, can I talk to you about something?”)

{What is it?}

(“I want to borrow your mana again. But this time, instead of having you perform the technique, I’ll try controlling it myself.”)

{Hmm… I don’t particularly mind using my mana, but… if that’s what you want to do, then give it a shot, Tasuke.}

(“Thanks… Wait, so you’re sticking with ‘Tasuke’…”)

It made Kai smile just a little.

{Hmm? What’s so funny?}

(“Nothing, really.”)

Up until now, Douma had never called anyone by name.
It was always “brat,” “girl,” or “that one”—impersonal terms.
Even if “Tasuke” was a weird reading of his name, the fact that Douma had chosen a personal name for him made Kai feel… kind of happy.

“U-Um… Kai-kun…?”

Ame tilted her head slightly, concerned, as Kai stood there zoning out with a goofy grin on his face.

“Ah—sorry. I’ll give it a try now.”

Kai turned slightly serious and carefully opened the mental faucet that allowed Douma’s mana to flow.

(…Here it comes.)

He could feel the dark mana coursing through his body—cold, potent, and steady.

(“Douma… I’ll be using it now.”)

{Alright.}

“Okay, here I go.”

With that, Kai extended his hand forward.

Ame, and Kurita who was observing from the side, both leaned in with eager anticipation.

“…Flame Technique: Firefly Flame.”

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

““—!!””

Ame and Kurita blinked, stunned.

““…………””

Then the mood turned… just a little awkward.
Like the kind of silence where you can almost hear someone thinking “…wait, huh?”

(…)

Kai understood why.

The Firefly Flame he produced this time looked nothing like the one from earlier.
It was just an ordinary, unimpressive flicker of a flame.

“Uh… Kai-kun… you can go all-out if you want to, you know…”

“…That was all-out.”

“…R-Right.”

Feeling a little dejected, but not discouraged, Kai took a mental step back and analyzed the situation.

(Douma’s Firefly Flame was incredible. I don’t even have the vocabulary to describe it… but it was a dark flame with a steady, unwavering core.
Even Ame-san’s Water Ring—though not quite on the level of Douma’s technique—was still leagues above my Firefly Flame.
She even froze it at the end…)

“…Huh?”

“Hm? Something wrong, Kai-kun?”

“Ah, uh… Ame-san, can I ask you a question?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you. So, um… your Water Ring—how did it end up freezing if it was a water technique?”

“…Ah! I see. It’s probably because… my mana attribute is Ice.”

“…!”

(I knew it…)

Just as Kai had suspected.

(Ame-san’s Water Ring technique was a water spell infused with her own ice attribute.
And Douma’s Firefly Flame—that was a fire spell laced with his darkness attribute.)

“Ame-san… that means it’s possible to mix your personal mana attribute into your youjutsu, right?”

“Eh—ah… probably, yes…”

She nodded, though her expression suggested she’d been meaning to say: “But you already did that during training earlier, didn’t you?”

(“Probably,” huh… so maybe she’s doing it unconsciously, too.)

As Kai considered this—

“That’s called Resonance Technique.”

““……!””

Both Kai and Ame turned, surprised by the calm voice that had joined in.
It was Kurita.

“Ah… Kurita-sensei…”

“……Ah! Kai-kun… you called me sensei again…!”

Kurita’s reaction was slightly dramatic.

(…Between him and Dr. Kagami, adults in this world sure like their over-the-top reactions…)

“I was keeping quiet so as not to interrupt you two, but actually… Resonance Technique is my area of expertise,” Kurita said, bowing slightly.

“……! You’re kidding…”

“I know I’m not worthy, but… if it’s not too much trouble, would you allow me, Kurita, the honor of instructing you in Resonance Technique?”

“Would we!? Yes, please—thank you so much!”

Kai bowed his head gratefully.

◇◇◇

It was… far too beautiful.

I, Kurita—though unworthy—have spent my life pursuing the art of Resonance.
Through relentless training, I clawed my way to the title of a Class 3 Exorcist, said to be the highest level achievable through raw effort.

And because I’ve walked that path, I know.

That dark Firefly Flame was the pinnacle of Resonance.

But then—

“Flame Technique: Firefly Flame.”

When I heard those words again, my heart leapt with anticipation.
But what emerged was… an ordinary Firefly Flame.

I sensed a faint hint of darkness within the mana, but it was still just a basic flame.
It wasn’t even true Resonance.

“Um… Ame-san, I wanted to ask—why did your Water Ring turn into ice if it was a water technique?”

He asked something so bizarre, so clueless, it almost made me doubt what I’d seen.

What could it mean…?

…! No… it can’t be…!

No way—surely not—
But what other explanation is there?

That earlier Firefly Flame—was Douma-sama’s spell.
This one now—was Kai-kun’s.

Which means…
Kai-kun was controlling Douma-sama…?

The Douma—the Demon God himself!?

How!? How could a child possibly do such a thing!?

“Ame-san… that means it’s possible to mix your personal attribute into your youjutsu, right?”

“Eh—ah… probably, yes…”

……

…I might be killed if I’m wrong.

But even so…

Standing in the presence of a miracle like this—
I now understand.
Humans can offer up their lives this easily when faced with something truly extraordinary.

“That’s called Resonance Technique.”

This child…
He might rewrite history.

Is it selfish to think this way…?

Still…

If I can be of help to Kai-kun…
That will be my greatest pride.