c13 (1/2)

Bathed in murderous stares, Suimei found himself in an aard situation

The forlared at hiered that his body shook uncontrollably

The other athered ’round A dense, threatening pressure enveloped Suimei, this visitor from another world

Uwaaa, this looks bad…

Sui had been a terrible blunder If he were to be scolded for his actions just now, then he’d have to accept it After all, this was an organization of people who earned their daily bread with their blades; that soht to join their ranks was indeed ludicrous Not only did he look co did as well No matter what aspect of his appearance you evaluated, you would only see so his smaller Asian physique on top of all of that, and it was only natural that others would see hi more than a delusional child who didn’t know his own limits

However, in the world he’d couild existed there – even his current appearance wouldn’t have created the predicament he now found himself in In a world that was home to countless techniques, skills, and weapons; even if you were small of stature, even if you looked completely ordinary, even if you were but a child or one of the elderly, there was always the possibly you were hiding soerous Firearic even – when it cas, they ithout number

Although it must be said that a sturdy physique and a ferocious appearance was an advantage of a kind, but it was hardly a decisive factor when it ca an enemy by their appearance had led many a coicians – infinitelythan their opponents, who, outwardly, appeared the erous – were taken into consideration Coic or the trump cards one held were far more important

Sui to his oorld’s standards, acting in concert hat, to him, was only “common sense” This had become a blind spot

However, there was no reason for people of this world to act this way, and so the oversight this ti, he wasn’t going to allow a uild Registering as athat had to happen Moreover, he still had to look for somewhere to stay; he couldn’t afford to waste any more time here

He couldn’t just buy a sword and return, though; his appearance had already been seared into theirhis clothes noouldn’t change a thing They’d just kick him out once more

As Sui for a way out of the current situation, the rily, and he spoke

“…Hey, punk You seeht?”

“You could say that I did say earlier that If I wasn’t sure of myself, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place”

“Is that so Alright then, let’s see what you’ve got…” the ly, as he reached for the sword on his back

Panicking, the receptionist rushed to stop him

“W-wait! No matter what he’s done, this is still…”

“It should be fine That guy see serious himself”

“B-but guild regulations strictly forbid acts of violence against a normal person!”

“This ain’t no ‘act of violence’ Anyway, that’s only against ‘a norht? Then he’s not a nor him a little test should be just fine”

“But… even if you say that…”

The , the receptionist could only sta her completely, the man prodded Suimei with a question

“You’re serious, aren’t you? So this is fine?”

“Pretty much”

Suimei accepted the h that came It was unfortunate that the situation had indeed taken this turn, but given the bloodthirsty atmosphere in the room, the need to demonstrate a bit of force was entirely within expectations

And so he began planning his next move—

Well, at least this isn’t our world Those Church bastards aren’t here, and this is a world where uess I don’t need to bother hiding that much…

To be honest, Suihts on how he should approach life in this world had changed drastically over the last few days At first, he’d planned on keeping his powers as much a secret as he had in his oorld But for these people, ic was a part of daily life Were he to encounter another opponent ielded ic was thewithout a single bystander was incredibly unlikely As long as he lived in this world, it was iic permanently

Further froic only a heresy to be destoyed – the Church – were nowhere to be found Accordingly, any reasons he ic weakened considerably His other concern, that his h and stolen, was similarly a non-concern in this world Given the woeful state of ic in this world, so unlike his own, as far as he could tell, no one even possessed the ability to understand his ic unless he were to expose its secrets himself

Siic here should be quite safe Anyway, if he were to successfully becouild member, his secret would have co it now, as opposed to later, made no difference whatsoever

Although in his heart of hearts, he would have preferred to keep things a secret as long as possible, but as he considered the circumstances, it was also true that the current situation provided an unparalleled opportunity for hith necessary to join the guild He’d end this predicament with the audience as his witnesses

As Suimei pondered his options in silence, the man lost his cool and shouted

“You playing duer you’re in?”

“Well, for that to happen, I’d have to be in danger first, wouldn’t I?” Suimei replied calmly

Rather, he couldn’t think how else to react Cal that he didn’t see any need to worry wasn’t an act

Although the atht be rather tense, but a pressure ofto feel concerned about As he had testified to earlier, Suimei had already experienced life-and-death battles on more than one occasion He was a veteran of combat

The feeling of pressure co from the man was simply not on the sa further still, when compared with the sheer rabid fury exhibited by those who believed in God against the icians, then “open hostility” of this level could practically be considered goodwill That didn’t even include the feeling of being surrounded by military units armed with the latest in modern weaponry, nor did it even approach the threat exhibited by those strange existences they called Monsters, and the forces of nature they wielded

In co threat he felt fronized that he had si experiences, and that it was for that reason that he felt not the slightest hint of danger

I wonder what he thinks of me? Perhaps he saw in him an immature brat who didn’t know his own limitations, an idiot that was unable to read the atmosphere in the room, or a stubborn fool who didn’t knohen it was tiicians of his world to co their identities, it was likely they couldn’t even tell he could use ic

The man snorted

“He this—”

He pronounced the start of the contest It was only at that moment that the others in the rooh with this

If this were just a deth, what need would there have been to announce his had unexpectedly turned serious

Though still inwardly conflicted, Suimei nonetheless focused himself

—The man’s stance showed that he was about to draw his sword and swing Watching, he decided it would be trivial to identify the moment when it would leave its scabbard and trace its trajectory

Targeting the hilt of the sword as the key to victory, he chose the opti, he snapped his fingers

“Guhooo!?”

In an instant, the roar of an explosion and a tragic – not to mention terribly uncute – cry sounded The impact from the compressed air explosion threw the man’sdown shortly after His sword, the hilt of which had been Suih the air

The sound of the heavy sword dropping onto the ground rang out at the saroan

“Ugh… When did you… S-shi+t! W-what just happened…?”

Unable to discern the true forazed around helplessly in confusion

“Wha…?”

The feave voice to her confusion Whether she was shocked at the disparity between Suie of him, or because she was completely at a loss to explain what had just occurred was unclear

The match spectators were similarly stunned, their eyes open wide in shock

“Pardon ht I ask what just happened?”

“I used ic”

Suimei replied indifferently to the question posed by the cowering receptionist

The other party seemed to have finally collected himself, and the man walked over with his hand pressed firmly to his head

“Magic…? But I never heard an incantation or a keyword…?”

“That’s right”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me…”

“I didn’t do anything else besides that”

Suiiven without a hint of modesty

Given the reaction he’d just seen, Felic without either an incantation or a keyword activation was so nonsensical to the people of this world

—Cere on the occasion, it was known either as cereic arts Although it was categorized as ic, it was nonetheless different froic syste, and required an exact reproduction of the prescribed motions and incantations before it would activate When described by ic

Magic that acted in accordance with predeteric systeic was perhaps the best exaic of this world fell under this category

What Suiether different systeer for thisthe activation requirements was all that was needed to enact it

Siic had been systemized, it was extremely convenient to use

Magic without either incantation or activation keywords was nothing to icians of his world

“Then, you’re…”

“Ah, yeah I apologize for not saying this earlier, but I’e, yes”

At his delayed explanation, a commotion broke out around him

“A e… dressed like that?!”

“I’ve never heard of a ic that didn’t need an incantation or a keyword…”

“Oi, don’t tell e…?”

…He’d gone a little too far But still, all he’d done was snap his fingers, really Fro a spell with a predeter at one’s target or cast with grand motions did exist within his repertoire, but Sui what he’d actually done seenore their questions instead Having reached a conclusion, he turned

Facing the receptionist, her gaze colored by surprise, Suied

“Do you believe me now?”

“N-not quite Your ic was certainly undeniable, but I don’t understand why aa staff? Aren’t those indispensable itee?”

…?

“Hes?”

“…Well, no Not really, but pretty e uses them still”

“Then who cares? I’m not one to follow tradition just because”

“…”

His answer had been so unexpected that the receptionist didn’t knohat to say, her

When next…

“T-this isn’t a s are needed for precise ics, you know?!”

“Well, I do have soe’s robe, but I don’t have any need for so particularly complex, then of course supple as sih, then only third-rateto help with that”

“Haaah…”

Suimei’s decisive declaration left the receptionist nearly speechless

Is it really coes always have robes and a staff? Because Felmenia hadn’t used a staff, he hadn’t noticed the latter

The fact of the ic staff was considered a tool of absolute i to the records left behind, this was a practice that originated in ancient Egypt, when ic staves in the likeliness of those held by their Gods beca the countless examples since, perhaps the most well knoere the Celtic Druids Even in modern times, there were examples such as Mathers‘ Lotus Wand

The differences between varying ic staff was an invaluable aid topractitioners of the fire system

That said, he indeed did not have one – the reasoning for which could be left for a later discussion

When it cae robes, items which boosted the defensive capabilities of a wielder of reed

In the Magician’s Society, Western forainsthe had already prepared Should the occasion require, he was ready to materialize that black-white suit and cloak on a moment’s notice

…A e’s robe and staff

He didn’t avoid them because he felt they were antiquated nor did he have anything against the age-old iral part While it was true that ite for a ician, that was hardly a reason to discard them

No, it had been other modern developments that had led them to abandon the robe and staff

Although they single-icians, an ideal that ran directly opposite to that of the science-dominated world they lived in, they had nonetheless been influenced by that saic tools had been developed to take the place of the old Walking the path of ic advocated by the head of the Society had led Suimei to where he was today

The un, and the robe had become a Western suit Ti for ways to ie them aneas just as important

Nevertheless, that this had created substantial confusion was undeniable

“I apologize I hadn’t realized thatwould matter that much”

His huized led the man to make a frantic reply of his own

“N-not at all It wasyou too hastily I’m very sorry”

“I appreciate your saying that …With that settled, auild now?”

“Ah, yeah You’re ato complain about She’ll help you with the rest”

The man walked over and pointed at the receptionist

Following his lead, “Is that alright?” Suimei asked the receptionist

“Y-yes Joining the guild is just fine I apologize for my rude manner earlier”

“M deal…” he answered the young wo his confusion

“No, I truly apologize”

The 180 her attitude had taken was a bit unsettling, but it was understandable

At this ti bystanders who had criticized Suimei earlier returned to their seats one by one From the situation, it seeain apologized and took his leave