I’m the Eldest Son of a Poor Family, but My Magical Talent Awakened While Working Hard for My Family - Chapter 3

The purple lightning pierced the Mobmen in an instant.

Black smoke rises, and two motionless monsters lie on the ground.

The masked lady let out a sigh and then smiled at me.

“Like this.”

“C-cool!”

When she lightly tapped the ground with her cane, the older sister smiled. Since the mask only covered the upper half of her face, her expression was clearly visible.

I found it a bit smug and cute.

“I’ll explain while we walk. Oh, do you want me to hold its heart?”

“Thank you. I’ll get it right away.”

Swiftly slicing open the abdomen, I store the 350 yen organ in a bag-like pack. I put it in my bag and started walking.

“You’re really efficient. You seem like a pro already.”

“Because it resembles humans.”

“…”

“Ah, no, I just listened to its own heartbeat and used that as a reference.”

“Y-yeah, that’s right. I knew it. I knew it, so it’s okay, Bora~”

“I’m so surprised that the volunteer mask has come out!”

Could it be that, maybe, that’s your true self, sister? Do you usually force yourself to speak politely?

“Bora~! It’s about time I explain the magic, Bora!”

It would be helpful if she could explain it in a normal manner.

“Isn’t that right?”

Ahaha, for just a moment, the masked lady returned to her voice with the receptionist lady. When I ignored it, she started talking as if nothing had happened.

The masked lady raises the index finger of her right hand, which is not holding a cane.

“To use magic, the most important thing is to have a concrete image of ‘what you want to do.’ A vague visual image isn’t enough.”

“I see. So that’s why my flames weren’t hot…”

“That’s right. If you don’t give commands that affect the core parts, the magic won’t work.”

The older sister creates fire on her palm.

“For example, with fire magic, you have to do three things with magic; ‘generate organic matter,’ ‘raise the temperature above the ignition point,’ and ‘supply oxygen.'”

“It seems like science.”

“Yeah. Magic actually requires quite a bit of brainpower. Well, with organic materials, you can kind of just force it even if you’re a bit sloppy. But I think it’s good to find what you’re good at as you go along.”

“Yes.”

At least, the resolution has improved significantly compared to yesterday.

I’ll try various things later.

“Alright, it’s about time to head to the next area.”

The light was coming from the direction the older sister was pointing.

Emerging from the dimness of the Labyrinth, we stand on the sunlit land. Before us stretches a forest made of towering trees that make our necks ache.

“The [Sea of Sacrifice]—For beginners, this is the first checkpoint.”

“Isn’t that quite an ominous name?”

“Actually, it’s a pretty dangerous place, so be careful. It’s completely different from just a moment ago.”

I think to myself, “That makes sense.” While looking at the forest in front of me.

Even the forests of Earth are filled with crises where one could easily die, and yet, this is a dungeon. It’s needless to say that it’s dangerous.

Somehow, the atmosphere feels tense. Could this intangible substance that touches my intuition be what is called mana?

Entering the woods. The forest is filled with the rustling of life. Among them, there is one sound that is clearly approaching us.

The older sister raised her gaze.

“Itsushiki-kun, I want you to promise me one thing.”

What appeared from beyond the trees was a gigantic monkey. Its entire body was covered in pure white fur, and it had a red face. It had long, developed limbs, and when it saw us, it bared its teeth in a threatening manner.

“Angry Monkey… If you can’t defeat that monster alone, you should form a party.”

I kind of understand why the older sister said that.

That monkey is probably a monster equivalent to a Mobmen in the [Labyrinth of Beginnings].

Seeing them come to kill across the trees, it’s impossible to avoid fighting with them in this forest.

If I can’t win, I won’t be able to continue from here.

“I understand.”

I draw the knife and step in front of the older sister.

Angry Monkey… that’s a long name. How about I just call it Anmon? Anmon is one.

“Yahh yahh yahh.”

Landing on the ground with long limbs while repeatedly issuing short threats. Slightly leaning forward. It doesn’t seem to be a complete bipedal walk; it looks like it’s balancing with its arms.

“Yaaahh!”

Anmon screams.

――It’s coming.

I braced myself.

The next moment.

I could see the sky.

“Huh.”

A strong impact on my back. I was slammed down. I was blown away. Gradually, I became aware of the intense pain in my chest.

“Yahh yahh.”

Anmon screams.

What happened――no. I understand the situation.

Fast. It was just incredibly fast. I was blown away before I could even follow with my eyes.

I stand up. I haven’t broken any bones. Why? With that kind of impact, my ribs should have broken…

Could it be?

Is this also magic?

Since entering the dungeon, I felt like my body was moving unusually well. It’s possible that my body is unconsciously utilizing mana.

Then, if I do it consciously—

“Yahh.”

Anmon steps in.

A sudden impact on the arm that instinctively protected my head. I’m blown away again. However, it’s a shorter distance than before.

The pursuit is coming.

“Yaaahh!”

I saw it baring its teeth and lunging at me.

Rolling to the left. My arm is gouged. Bl00d is gushing out. Anmon’s claws seem to be sharp.

――Am I going to die?

Anmon is biting me. The bones in my right arm creak and grind.

Bl00d is leaving my body. It hurts so much I want to scream. With an unyielding force, Anmon clings to me.

I am…

――I’ll bet my life on it.

If it was about resolve, I should have made up my mind long ago.

Zero distance. The target doesn’t move. At this range, I can hit it with my magic.

If I can’t do it, I’ll die. That’s all there is to it.

“Concentrate.”

I feel the mana in the atmosphere moving according to my will.

Ah, this is――

“[Blasting].”

Boom!

A sound like a burst that could rupture an eardrum resonates deep within Anmon’s throat.

“Gi…g…g…”

I look down from above at the monkey struggling and writhing, clutching its throat.

It just burst into the air. However, there’s no way to protect the inside of the throat. Every living creature has a fragile interior.

“…So this is magic. Surprisingly, if I try, I can do it. Haha. Ah, this is interesting.”

I take aim once more at the monster that keeps coughing while drooling.

It’s in pain. The pain is generating a massive amount of adrenaline, making the brain active.

Right now, I feel like I can do anything.

“Molecular interference, dissociation, conductor generation.”

Dancing with my left hand, I weave the magic.

Boom.

The air bursts at my fingertips.

“[Lightning Flash].”

Lightning strikes the monster――

◇

“What is up with that kid?!”

Seeing the purple lightning strike the monster, Haruka was intensely shaken.

That magic is undoubtedly Haruka’s. Although it falls short in terms of range, accuracy, and power, he has perfectly grasped the key points.

That’s not all. At the moment he took the first hit, Itsuki consciously switched to enhancing his body with mana.

That’s usually something only seasoned adventurers do.

Of course, there were inconsistencies, and it can’t be called good by any stretch of the imagination.

However, he thought, “I can do it,” and then went ahead and did it. That’s what’s abnormal.

“Itsushiki-kun!”

Haruka runs over.

――This kid is surely going to become an amazing adventurer.

He has enough talent and inner strength that he doesn’t need anyone to protect him. From tomorrow, she should give him a strong push and send him off.

“If it’s you, then in the future too—wait, are you getting electrocuted!?”

Itsuki had fainted and fallen sideways.

Haruka hurriedly performs CPR.

“That’s right! If you shoot lightning from that distance, you’ll get hit too!”