Even though Kuro mentioned that she could sense something in my body, I can’t see any change in my appearance because magical energy isn’t something visible.
However, aside from the physical changes, I can definitely feel something shifting. It’s much less intense than when Kuro’s magic power was artificially wrapped around me, and I hadn’t noticed it until now, but I can sense that my body is clad by something.
[Now that you mention it, I do feel like I’m somehow clad in magic power.]
[Mm, mm. It might feel a bit uncomfortable since your body isn’t used to it yet, and I don’t think you’ll be able to move it properly for a while… but after about two days you’ll be able to move your magical power instinctively. Then you’ll finally be able to use Magic.]
[Whoa…]
It’s exactly as Kuro said. I can feel the magic power surrounding me, but I can’t make it move. Well, to be more precise, I feel like I could, but I know I won’t be able to control it properly.
According to Kuro, this is because my body isn’t yet accustomed to being filled with magic power. In other words, it’s like how a baby, having just learned to stand, will eventually grow stronger and more balanced over time, and gradually, I’ll be able to manipulate my magic power.
As I was moved by the realization that I was finally at the starting line of using Magic, Kuro smiled and mentioned something that had been nagging at me.
Humans from other worlds possess a special kind of Magic, with abilities unique to them… It’s a concept that seems to be a staple in stories about people summoned to other worlds.
[Unn. For example, Hikari-chan, the First Hero, was able to materialize her magic power… turning it into swords or shields, or more accurately, transforming it into some kind of minerals. There are Demons, myself included, who can do similar things, but compared to shaping magic power into fire or water, turning it into something like iron consumes an enormous amount of magic power. Normally, it would be impossible for her to do this with the magic power of a human, but Hikari-chan was able to manage it with only a small amount of consumption.]
[Fumu……]
[Moreover, Hikari-chan didn’t need any magic techniques—like a magic circle—to use that magic. Materialization is a highly advanced magic. Normally, it wouldn’t be possible to skip the use of magic techniques unless you’re a High-ranking Demon, but Hikari-chan seems to have been able to do it from the moment she first learned Magic.]
[Doesn’t that just mean the First Hero was special?]
The First Hero can wield this magic better than a High-ranking Demon, which would typically require the power of a High-ranking Demon to use.
Still, I’m not sure if this is due to her being an otherworlder or because she is the First Hero.
[Unnn. There have been a few other children in the past who were chosen as heroes but didn’t return to their original world, staying here instead. Those children were able to use Magic unique to them. There was one child who couldn’t use any other Magic but could perform Teleportation Magic on the level of Demons with a peerage title. Another had very little magical power but could use powerful Magic—though only with the water attribute. They were all different, but… in the end, they could use Magic that humans typically couldn’t.]
[Does that mean I also have some kind of unusual Magic?]
[Unnn. It’s quite possible. Have you felt any “strange sensations” since your magical power awakened? Like feeling you can suddenly do something you couldn’t before, or sensing a part of you that’s different from how you were…?]
[……Now that you mention it…]
What came to mind when Kuro asked me was that strange feeling I had earlier this morning—and just now. The incident where I somehow knew, with near certainty, that the weather would change…
When I explained this to Kuro, she placed a hand on her chin, looking like she was deep in thought.
[You knew the weather would change? Hmmm. If it’s related to foresight… It’s too limited to consider it like that, but as for weather manipulation… It’s not like you willed the weather to change yourself… Speaking of which, Kaito-kun has “Shiro’s Blessing”… Perhaps…]
Kuro began muttering to herself, and after a moment, it seemed like she had come to some conclusion. She turned to face me.
[Kaito-kun, would you mind if we try something?]
[Eh? Ah, umm.]
[Then, I’m sorry for this.]
[Nggh!? Guuhhh, uuaagghh……]
I nodded at Kuro when she told me she had a hunch about my magic—and wanted to try something out. Kuro then extended her hand toward me, and immediately, an overwhelming pressure descended on my body.
It felt as if the air around me had turned to lead, and my body was frozen, unable to move even a single inch. I’m not sure what Kuro was thinking, but for me, the inability to move at all was far more intense than I had anticipated…
[……Kaito-kun, can you move your body in that situation?]
Don’t say something unreasonable… How could I move when it feels like I’m trapped under a boulder like this? …No? Wait, I don’t feel that same weight anymore. It’s as if the heaviness has lifted, and I think I might be able to move if I try hard enough.
Following Kuro’s words, I focused on moving my body. At first, nothing happened—my body wouldn’t budge. But after a few moments, the pressure started to ease, like how I’d finally be able to struggle free after being trapped in hardened concrete, as if the weight clinging to me had softened into mud. Slowly, I managed to shift my body a little.
Kuro continued to watch me quietly.
[………………] [ ! ? ! ? ]
Immediately after, a chill swept through my entire body.
I can’t quite describe it, but it’s an incredibly unsettling sensation. It’s as if my whole body were being held against a sharp blade—no, even that would feel lukewarm compared to the overwhelming fear gripping me right now.
The moment my eyes met her golden ones, which were quietly staring at me, a deep darkness seemed to swallow my mind whole.
—I will be killed.
The instant that thought emerged, memories from the past rushed through my mind, one after another. The times spent with my parents, the tragic accident that took them from me, the days that blurred after that, and the time after I arrived in this world…
The moment I realized I was truly staring into the revolving lantern, that suffocating feeling of despair that had been overwhelming me vanished. My body gave way, and I collapsed to my knees.
With no strength left to stand, gravity began to pull me downward, and I fell to the floor—only to be caught once again, just like before.
[I’m sorry, Kaito-kun. It was pretty scary, wasn’t it?]
[……Kuro?]
The atmosphere around her shifted back to the warm, reassuring presence I was used to, with none of the fear I had felt earlier. Kuro, who now held my trembling body in her arms, spoke to me in her gentle, comforting voice.
I’m not sure what just happened. My head feels like it’s spinning, and I can’t think clearly.
[To test Kaito-kun’s power, I infused a little of my killing intent into my magic power. I’m really sorry.]
While softly stroking my head, Kuro apologized.
She only put a little killing intent into her magic power, she says… That’s enough to break my mind. How should I put this? I guess it’s to be expected from the Underworld King, huh…
[Are you alright? Is there anywhere that hurts?]
[…..I’m feeling a little lightheaded.]
[I guess the high density of magic power must have caused you to get magic intoxication… You should feel better after some rest.]
When Kuro said that, my body lifted off the ground and was gently moved toward the bed. Kuro followed, and before I knew it, my head was resting in her lap, lying down with her lap as my pillow.
Kuro softly stroked my head to soothe me, speaking to me in a calm, gentle voice.
[I’m really sorry. But because Kaito-kun was able to persevere, I now understand what kind of power you have.]
[……Is that so?]
[Unnn. Kaito-kun seems to be able to sense the magic power in the surroundings very keenly. It’s so sensitive that it can even detect the “faintest emotions” embedded within the surrounding magic power. I’m guessing you’re able to read it even more acutely now that you can use your own magic power, but before, you were probably picking up on it unconsciously, right?]
[The emotions within the surrounding magic power?]
As those gentle words whispered in my ear, bringing a sense of relief to my mind, my thoughts, which had been growing foggy, slowly returned to normal.
[Unnn. Magic power is heavily influenced by the user’s emotions. Just like how hostile magic can intimidate others, while the opposite can make someone feel safe. It seems Kaito-kun is very sensitive to the emotions carried within magic power, huh? Haven’t you ever noticed it since you came to this world? Like how some people are easy to talk to, and others are harder to approach… I think you’ve subconsciously been picking up on the emotions people feel towards you through their magic power.]
It seems I have an exceptional ability to sense other people’s magical energy.
Now that she’s mentioned it, I realize I’ve felt this way for a while. Even among the servants at Lilia-san’s mansion, some, like Sieg-san, are easy to talk to, while others feel strangely difficult to approach.
It seems this is because I’ve been unconsciously reading the emotions embedded in the surrounding magical power, much like how I sense nearby presences or pick up on the mood around me.
I see now—this might also explain why I feel oddly at ease around Kuro. It’s because I’m picking up on the positive feelings she’s sending my way.
[So you’re saying I have an aptitude for Perception Magic?]
[Hmm. It’s just my guess, but I don’t think it’s limited to just perception…]
[Unn?]
[The fact that you were able to have a “proper conversation” with Shiro, and when I first applied pressure to your body by weighing it down with high-density magic power, Kaito-kun, you were able to move a little—right? That’s something a normal human shouldn’t be able to do.]
[Eh?]
[It’s almost like magical binding, after all. A human wouldn’t normally be able to move an inch under that magic power, but Kaito-kun “sensed” that my magic power wasn’t hostile and tried to “adapt” to it, bit by bit.]
Come to think of it, I think Shiro-san said something similar before. If I remember correctly, she mentioned that “I could say this adaptability of mine might even be my talent” or something like that… Could this be what she meant?
As for the part where I couldn’t move earlier, like I was trapped inside a boulder, it doesn’t seem like Kuro weakened the power she placed on me to weigh me down. Instead, it seems I was able to move because I adapted to it.
[I think you were able to sense the change in the weather because you could read the magic power in the air… but I wonder if it was thanks to “Shiro’s Blessing” that you were able to do that?]
[Errr, so what does that mean?]
[Hmmm, well, it’s an interesting power, is what I’m saying. Depending on how you use it, you could do some really fascinating things. For example…]
As my head rested on her lap, Kuro shared her thoughts on the power I have.
A magic that lets me sense and adapt to magical power… If I had to name it, I guess it could be something like Sympathy Magic? To be honest, the examples Kuro gave were pretty far-fetched, and I’m not sure I believe it’s possible to do all that, but there’s no denying this is some unusual Magic.
By the way, how long do I have to stay like this, lying on your lap?
[Unnn? Kaito-kun can stay there as long as you like… It’s fine if you want to take a little nap, you know?]
[……………]
It’s a very tempting offer. Or rather, to be honest, it might have something to do with the fact that I woke up early this morning, but this pleasant sensation is making me drift off.
I’m not sure if it’s that magic intoxication she mentioned, but even though my head has stopped spinning, I still feel exhausted, so I think I’ll just give in and indulge myself.
Dear Mom, Dad—I was a loner back home, but it seems I’m better at reading other people’s emotions in this world. Moreover, from what I’ve gathered from Kuro’s explanation—It might be a cheat ability In some way.