Kays Translations

Chapter 16: Observation

Until the end of the meeting, the black-robed onii-san taught me many things about magic.

He told me that only one “change” is possible per thread of silvate.

If I combine “attribute changes, I can create a compound attribute change.

The compound attribute is related to the compatibility of the attributes.

And that “trait change” is far more difficult than attribute change.

Based on these facts, I decided to master the basic attribute  by the time my father came back.

Having said that, since I could already use fire and wind, I was only able to practice the remaining three.

“As expected of you, Itsuki-sama. I can’t believe you learned the five attributes so quickly.”

“It’s thanks to the way onii-san taught me!”

In the dusk of the setting sun, I bowed to the black-robed brother with the dismembered model dolls in front of me.

What a guy.

Even though he had to work, he had been there for me all the time to teach me magic.

It is no exaggeration to say that he’s my third master after Renji-san and my father.

Thanks to him, my magic is taking shape.

“Normally people start learning at the age of seven, but at the age of five, you’ve mastered all of the basic attributes,…… and it’s only because of Itsuki-sama’s power.”

The black-robed brother said this to me with a smile.

Just as I was about to say a few more words of thanks, the man in black suddenly straightened his posture.

I turned around to see my father, who looked a little tired.

“Itsuki. I didn’t know you were here. I’ve been looking for you.”

“Papa!”

I ran up to him, and he picked me up and put me on his shoulder.

“Have you finished the meeting?”

“Yes, a little early. What were you doing?”

“I was practicing my magic. I was learning from this onii-san.”

As I said this, my father looked at the brother in black.

He bowed his head quietly.

“I’m sorry. but I’m afraid I’ve put you on the spot for Itsuki’s selfishness.”

“Please don’t worry about it. The master of the house has instructed me to do so.”

“Akane-dono?”

My father asked and the black robbed onii-san nodded.

Yes, the blonde priestess is actually called Akane-san.

The name sounds Japanese, but she doesn’t look very Japanese.

My father spoke slowly.

“Itsuki. I’d like to talk to you about something….”

“Talk to me? What’s wrong?”

I asked him, thinking it was unusual for my father to clam up about something, and he opened his mouth as if he’d made up his mind.

“It’s about time you took a look at your dad’s work.”

“Huh? By work, you mean your exorcist job?” 

“Oh. How about that? When I was your age, I used to follow your grandfather around to see what he did.”

“Grandpa—“

To tell you the truth, I’ve never met my grandfather.

Maybe he’s in the family photo zone, but even if he is, I’ve never met him. I have only seen his picture.

Moreover, I haven’t been near that zone since I saw a picture of the person I thought was my brother. I’m afraid that I might become one of them when I’m there.

……But let’s not talk about the deceased.

“Is it safe for me to see your work?”

“Oh, of course. You won’t get in the way. Papa’s strong!”

I asked my father, who laughed.

“If I go, won’t I die?”

“If you want to come along and observe, it’ll have to be a weak monster of the first or second rank, not a stronger one, even if you are with me.”

I was silenced by his words.

In my heart of hearts, I really want to see it.

I wonder how my dad uses his magic to fight.

I’ve only seen one real battle magic so far, after all.

This was when I was three years old and my father burned a monster that was stuck to the car at the time of my first Shichi-go-san.

And with the help of today’s black-robed brother, I’m at least able to change the basic attributes of the magic.

But I don’t know how it’s used in a real battle.

That’s why I want to see it. I want to see a real exorcist in action.

Just as strong as that, the fear of death runs through me.

You may laugh at me for saying this, but I’m still scared.

I still feel the pain in my gut from being stabbed to death five years ago.

I can always remember that pain and fear. That’s why I don’t want to die.

I thought about that and shook my head.

I had decided to be strong so that I wouldn’t die.

I clenched my hands tightly and looked at my father, determined.

“Yes, papa. I want to see… I want to see you fight!”

“Oh, yeah! Alright! Tomorrow! Let’s go tomorrow!”

Isn’t that too much action!

I was a little surprised, but when I thought about the possibility that wasting time might shake my resolve, on the contrary, I began to feel that this would be okay. Then, let’s go with that.

I was so excited that my father picked me up and looked at the dismembered human figure at the same time.

“So, what’s the situation here?”

I thought to myself, “I haven’t explained it yet,” and I showed my father the “attribute change” that I had just learned. My father was astonished.

—————————

The next day.

The sun was already high in the sky and it was about to be noon when my father saw his phone ring and then saw me in the yard swinging my wooden sword.

“Itsuki. I got a job. Come with me.”

“Yes!”

I wipe the sweat off my face with a towel, quickly change my clothes and follow after my father.

When I first went around to the back of the house, I saw a black sedan I had never seen before parked there.

“Itsuki can ride in the passenger seat.”

“It doesn’t have a child seat?”

“Make sure you fasten your seatbelt on properly.”

So that’s it.

I thought a child seat was required until the age of five.

As I was thinking this in my head, my father got into the driver’s seat.

As I looked at him in surprise, our eyes met.

“What’s wrong?”

“Can you drive, Papa?”

“Yes. papa can do anything!”

I was puzzled by the reply, which may or may not have been an answer.

Well, that’s the way it always is.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“Did a monster appear?”

“Yes. The place we’re going to is going to be very stimulating for you, Itsuki. But if you’re going to be an exorcist, you absolutely can’t avoid it. Get used to it from now on.”

……Eh, where are we going?

My body stiffens as he talks like a soldier captain heading for the battlefield from a Western movie.

But my father, oblivious to the change in me, stepped on the gas pedal and the car started up.

Before I had time to even begin to waver in the resolve I had just made, he pulled into the driveway.

“Today, I will be dealing with monster of the first rank. I heard that it went out to a house in a residential area. The police officers have already made sure of it to keep the public away from the area.”

No, first of all, why the police….

The car entered a narrow street in a residential area before I had time to make a comment.

The road is not as wide as the road to the Kamiarizuki house.

The road is just barely wide enough for one car to pass.

As my father skillfully navigated the intricate road, the destination came into view in less than 10 minutes.

It was an ordinary house blocked by yellow tape with the words “KEEP OUT” written on it, something I had only seen in TV dramas and movies. Strangely enough, there were no onlookers.

“It’s an ordinary house.”

“Ah, yes. Weak monsters are attracted to this kind of place.”

He stopped the car, pulled the side brake, and looked at me as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

“From now on, no matter what happens, don’t leave my side.”

He got out of the car and I followed him.

And as I was instructed, I stuck to my father’s side.

“We’ve been expecting you, Exorcist-dono.”

“Sorry I’m late.”

Just as he was about to enter the tape, the policeman looked at me.

No, of course he would look at a five-year-old trying to enter a crime scene.

I’d be curious, too.

“Who are you?”

“That’s my son.”

My father nodded and he let me in.

So that’s how it is.

Is an exorcist really that important?

Tilting my head inwardly, I followed my father into the crime scene.

It was an eerily ordinary house.

It was hard to believe that a monster had appeared.

“The key seems to be open……”

My father pulled the front door and it opened without any resistance.

When we entered the house, we found a small tricycle sitting there.

Maybe there is a child close to my age in this house.

“Itsuki, keep your shoes on. You never know what might happen.”

My father goes up to someone else’s house with his feet in the dirt.

Seriously? That’s quite a resistance….

But if my father who has fought in many battles says so, he must be right.

I stepped into the battlefield for the first time in my life.

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