Kays Translations

Chapter 6: Let’s Go to the Countryside! (Part 3)

While waiting for the police, who were called to transport the collapsed female shop owner from the café, Irena checked my body with fairies.

As for what she was checking, it was to see if the drinks and food provided by the shop owner were poisoned. They were given by a monster, so it was only natural to be cautious.

“Based on what I’ve heard about the monsters, their goal seems to be to absorb magical energy, so I don’t think there is any lethal poison. However, just to be safe, let’s conduct a proper examination.”

Well, if Irena says so, I have no objections. In fact, I would rather ask for it myself.

Irena created a small fairy and handed it to me.

“The fairy inside your body will check for poison and detoxify you if necessary.”

Saying that, Irena demonstrated by swallowing a fairy herself.

Upon seeing that, both Nina-chan and I also swallowed the fairies.

A warm sensation passed through my throat.

“…But still, we fell right into its trap, didn’t we?”

Irena murmured inside the now brightly lit room of the café.

“‘Thought Induction’ is the most basic form of ‘Brainwashing Magic.’ Originally, it’s a magic used by ‘Third-Rank Knights’… but it seems like they’ve been using it since their ‘Second-Rank Pawn’ days.”

“When did it cast the magic on us?”

“It was probably embedded in the PDF that contained the case files. Most likely, it’s in there.”

Saying that, Irena showed me her smartphone.

On the screen, there was a lock screen and a prominently displayed clock showing the current time.

However, that screen never went dark no matter how much time passed.

…Could it be that my assumption about the smartphone’s display having a short blackout interval was my misunderstanding, and that was actually the result of a magic trick?

No, but the smartphone’s text didn’t mention anything about ‘Guiding Thread Silvate’…

As I was perplexed about the magic, Irena continued.

“There are several old methods of magic that involve using paper, but I’ve never heard of magic being cast on electronic devices… This must be a new type of magic created by the monsters… It’s troublesome.”

“Paper? Magic that uses paper?”

“Yes, for example, Contract Seals. It’s an old magic where you make a contract with a monster to make them obey you. In Japan, I believe ofuda (spirit charms) are famous for that.”

Even if you say it’s famous, I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Oh, wait. Could it be that? The ofuda I received from Akane-san, a member of the Kamiarizuki household.

I place my hand on the ofuda that I keep in my chest pocket.

The ofuda blew off the arm of the Rank 6 Thunderlord, Raikou-douji. I had no idea how the magic worked, but I see.

It connects to unexpected things.

“Formally, it’s called ‘Symbolic Seal Magic.’ I think the Japanese name is ‘Kokujutsu,’ but it’s a magic that fell out of use after the 16th and 17th centuries.”

“Huh? It disappeared?”

“Yes. It’s inefficient. It’s much faster and there’s no loss of magical energy to ask a fairy, which is a concentrated mass of magical power, instead of writing on paper and using it as an intermediary.”

I wonder if Japan’s ‘Guiding Thread Silvate’ is the same.

It’s probably similar… I recall the history of magic that my father taught me a little while ago, and I watched as Irena pocketed her smartphone.

“And if it’s just ‘Symbolic Seal Magic’ level of magic, it can be easily defended against with the current ‘Inhibiting Magic.’ So… to be honest, I underestimated the situation and thought I would be fine. I never expected they would come through electronic files.”

Irena’s expression as she said that was stern.

Is this it? It feels like she almost had her PC destroyed by the latest virus because she got careless, thinking that she had antivirus software installed.

Well, I’m more of a smartphone person than a computer person, so I haven’t had that experience, but I have a feeling that’s what Irena is talking about.

“We need to report the new magic as soon as possible.”

With a deep sigh, Irena finally saw the patrol car arrive.

We asked the arriving police for the necessary procedures and left the café.

Afterward, I suddenly thought of something.

“Hey, Irena-san.”

“Yes? What’s up?”

“If I study it, can I learn to use that ‘Thought Induction’ magic that the monster used earlier?”

“Hmm. I’m not so sure. I think it would be difficult.”

While creating countless fairies at her fingertips, Irena said so.

And she scattered the created fairies throughout the city.

It was a search using fairies to see if there were any monsters left behind in this town.

Watching her doing that, I asked.

“Why?”

“Magic that distorts people’s thoughts is a forbidden technique. So, at this point, there is no one who can teach you how to learn it. Well, there may be exorcists who know about forbidden techniques… but fortunately, I don’t.”

Saying that, while looking at the fairies dispersing in the night sky, Irena explained to me.

Following Irena’s gaze, I looked up at the sky and was surprised to see an abundance of stars.

Perhaps it’s because the surroundings are dark.

It wouldn’t be like this in Tokyo, I thought.

“I thought it would be convenient if I could use it against monsters…”

“Yes, I thought you would say that, Itsuki-san. However, in reality, thought induction doesn’t work on monsters.”

“Eh!? Is that so?”

“Yes. There have been several experiments conducted in the past… but there haven’t been any good results. It’s hypothesized that since monsters’ thoughts are already distorted, they are less susceptible to external inducement.”

“Ah…”

If it’s put that way, I can’t help but agree.

Among the monsters I’ve fought so far, I don’t know of any that had the same thoughts as humans. The only one I thought I could have a normal conversation with was the “Fifth Rank” monster I fought in the forest, but even that one was like a child, just born, so it’s not much of a reference.

Neither Raikou-douji nor the Cube Sisters I fought before, nor the monster this time, are individuals whose thoughts I can understand and agree with.

While pondering such things, Nina-chan tugged at my hand.

When I turned around, she seemed a little upset.

“Itsuki, don’t you have anything to say?”

“Something to say…?”

Suddenly asked, I fell into slight contemplation.

Something to say, something to say… Ah!

Realizing it, I clapped my hands in my heart, faced Nina-chan properly, and thanked her.

“Thanks to you, Nina-chan, I was able to defeat the monster. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Nina-chan answered as if she wasn’t particularly bothered, and I repeated “thank you” once again.

It really was a dangerous situation if it weren’t for Nina-chan.

Well, in case of emergency, the ofuda would have somehow helped, but it’s crucial that I didn’t have to rely on it.

As I was thinking that and looking up at the sky, the fairies quickly returned.

The sight was like shooting stars. It had a charming and pleasant feeling.

“It seems there aren’t any others. It appears that the monster was left alone because it was in the countryside. Perhaps it created a new magic because it wasn’t discovered by exorcists, or maybe there’s a shared new magic among the monsters… It seems like it’s going to be a bit difficult.”

While saying such things, Irena started to dismiss the gathered fairies.

The last fairy returned to Irena’s hand, and after confirming that there really weren’t any other monsters, we were given a ride in a patrol car to a nearby regional city. We would stay in a hotel tonight and head to Tokyo the next day.

“You seem tired, Itsuki.”

“Yeah, Nina-chan.”

While saying that, I felt the weight of Nina-chan leaning against me. I looked outside the window.

Speaking of which, a new magic, huh?

…I also need to come up with some defensive magic.

With such thoughts in mind, I played with the treasure of the Raikou-douji in my hands.

While I was playing with it, Nina-chan fell asleep.

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