Chapter 16 (1/2)
Ex Strongest, Asking a Girl to Teach Magic
”Let's see, teach me magic…!” (Soma)
”I don't really understand at all?” (Aina)
When Soma told the details of the content yesterday, a confused voiced sounded as a reply.
Well, coming together here to do the daily routine, it was the words uttered at the moment their faces met.
If she wasn't confused, she was probably surprised.
Since she understood about Soma, it would be easy to briefly explained the situation once she made a satisfactory expression after a while.
”It is out of common sense… well, it is true that people with Special Rank have such feeling, but I am only able to use magic only for one day, you know? Although I myself also don't understand much about magic, being told to teach is…” (Aina)
”What? It is probably easier than ripping s.p.a.ce with a sword.” (Soma)
”Your standard is weird!” (Aina)
Aina was shouting as such, but for Soma, it was easier to rip the s.p.a.ce with a sword, so the theory was logical for the time being.
However, it was true that the standard was wrong.
”Well, I won't know until I try something. It may be unexpectedly easy to do it if I try it.” (Soma)
”Hey, when you said 'unexpectedly', you don't think that you can do it, right?” (Aina)
”…Phew, phew.” (Soma)
”Don't make a awkward whistling as if you're looking at the day after tomorrow! Never try to cheat yourself!” (Aina)
Well, to be honest, it wasn't that he didn't think he could do it. He actually expected that he couldn't do it.
Of course, he wanted to be able to use magic.
Although he was thinking such a thing, he felt somehow regret when he learned the process.
Anyway, that was why he worked hard until now.
Moreover, even if such a fact was true, if he became able to use magic, he would unmistakably feel pleased from the bottom of his heart.
”Well. This is to return the favor yesterday. That is also under the pretext of asking.” (Soma)
”The favor yesterday? …Indeed, there is no mistake that it was a favor, but…” (Aina)
”Well, I was thinking to offset it with the help you lent a year ago, but then, it is not so balanced.” (Soma)
”…You are right. Compare to what I did for you from a year ago–” (Aina)
”Compared to the fact that I was rescued, it was too light to offset with what I've done yesterday.” (Soma)
”Eh, you mean!?” (Aina)
For some reason, Aina was surprised, but as Soma didn't understand why she was like that, he just tilted his neck.
Speaking of what Soma did yesterday, compared to the usual daily routine, he just swung the wooden stick once.
It was shameless to equally compare to saving lives.
”What do you mean by saving my life?” (Aina)
”There is no other meaning, right? If I leave 'it' alone, I also feel 'it' is too dangerous to me.” (Soma)
He completely didn't put any strength yesterday.
This place was such a place, so if he poorly did it, n.o.body would know. There was a possibility that she would be treated as missing in action.
It took a while for Soma to give that service, but it didn't matter how he had done it.
Given that, it wasn't an exaggeration when he said about saving her life.
”No matter how I think about it, you are exaggerating, but… oh well. Whatever you say, you won't take back your words, right?” (Aina)
”Hmmm, you understand well.” (Soma)
”I have seen that face every day for a year. Even if I don't like it, I still get it.” (Aina)
”Hmm… are you displeased? If that's the case, you don't have to say otherwise, but…” (Soma)
”Is that a figure of speech!?” (Aina)
While the situation progressed in such a way, they decided to try it for the time being.
Anyway, there were many things not yet understood. Hence, he tried it in the same way as Aina, but–
”Hmm, put out the right hand, get ready with the posture, and… what next?” (Soma)
”Yes, chant while loading mana on the palm of your right hand–…” (Aina)
”Wait a second.” (Soma)
”Eh, what is it?” (Aina)
”When you said about mana and other stuff, what is mana in the first place, anyway?” (Soma)
”…Eh?” (Aina)
Although he was aware that there were numerous differences in understanding, he didn't need that much time.
”Even if I have to say it, mana is just mana, you know?”(Aina)
”Hmmm, I don't even feel such a thing, but… no, better yet, how about not having mind about mana?” (Soma)
”Eh, what do you mean by that? You can't use magic without mana, you know?” (Aina)
”Hmm, is that how it is? About using magic, how about comparing it with a series of actions of swordsmans.h.i.+p? Maybe I can understand better in that way?” (Soma)
”Even if you can understand it, I can't even explain such a thing in the first place…!” (Aina)
To begin with, Aina seemed to be more on sensory than theory.
She tried to explain afterwards, but it wasn't well understood since the explanation was mixed with onomatopoeia.
By the way, it could be said that Soma was also more on sensory.
It would be easy if they were sharing similar feeling, but their understandings were different in many ways.
It didn't take long time to consider that this endeavor was impossible.
But to give up was something that Soma wouldn't do.
While he was wondering if there was other method–
”In the first place, it is possible that I can't feel it because I don't understand it. Anyway, it is necessary to make I understand it, or…” (Soma)
”…Wait a sec, somehow I have a bad feeling. What are you thinking?” (Aina)
”No, I thought that whether I could understand it if you hit me with a magic.” (Soma)
”…Haa!?” (Aina)
”No, that is not correct. In the current situation, my good point is swordsmans.h.i.+p, so if I slice magic, maybe I will understand something.” (Soma)
”…Haa!?” (Aina)
Although he corrected with the exact meaning, Aina was astonished after all.
No, instead of using such words, Aina was looking at Soma as if she couldn't believe it.
However, there was no way Soma knew that reason. He could only tilt his head.
”Hmm… was it really shocking?” (Soma)
”Rather than shocking, I should say that I am amazed, but… are you sure about this?” (Aina)
”Of course?” (Soma)
When he nodded, Aina let out a sigh.
And then, she directed reproachful eyes.
”…Anyhow, let's not forget what you said just now, alright?” (Aina)
”Of course.” (Soma)