Kays Translations

Chapter 22- History of Magic

I turned to Nina-chan, despite Hina's obstruction.

“So, what do I have to do to learn 'coagulation recollect'?"

“I’m a little confused myself. I don’t know if I can use the "coagulation recollect technique" perfectly.”

“Yes, I know that.”

I knew that.

The last time her mother taught her magic was a year ago, according to what Nina-chan told me.

That last lesson was the basics of "Coagulation Recollect”.

"You have the high magic power of the phase created by 'alchemy elements', right? You have to put it out of your body and collect it. Gently.”

“..Okay."

I did as Nina-chan told me and took out the heavy magic power from my stomach. The moment I’m about to condense it, Hina-chan took hold of my body and pulled it

Owww!

The concentration is broken and the magic power dissipates.

“Itsuki. One more time.”

“Yes.”

Nina-chan swallows my advice and said not to worry about it, and completely passes through Hina-chan's interference.

She has amazing through-the-rocks skills.

But I couldn't go through with it, so I warned Hina-chan for tugging at my clothes.

"Onii-chan is practicing magic, so don't interrupt me. Hina-chan.”

“I'm not interrupting!”

“You're not interrupting?”

“Yes!”

I see. You're not interrupting me?

If you're not interrupting me, it can't be helped.

I patted Hina-chan's head and looked up at her.

“The trick, Itsuki, is to collect them in their fresh state, right after they leave the body.”

“I'll give it a try.”

I gather the magic power in my fingertips and let it out.

But no. It dissipates.

This time, even though there was no interference from it, it didn't work and scattered.

I thought after trying it, I don't know what it feels like to manipulate magic power that has completely gone out of my body.

I usually use shijutsu - that is, a state in which my body is connected to the thread of magic power.

Since my body and magic are connected, I can manipulate them. It makes sense.

But koujutsu is different.

The body and magic are completely separated.

To me, it's like bringing a cup from a faraway place without using your hands. In other words, it is impossible.

No, I know I'm wrong.

Because the fact that Nina-chan is able to perform "coagulation recollect," even if imperfectly, means that she is able to manipulate magic power away from her body.

"Could you do it?"

I was thinking about this when I noticed that Nina-chan's blue eyes were peering into mine.

“Uh-huh. It's scattered.”

“That's how it is at first. It's easier if you have something to hold it in.”

“A container?”

“Yes, you can practice with a doll or a stuffed animal by putting magic into it. That's how I practiced at first.”

I looked around the room and saw dolls.

Not only dolls but also stuffed animals.

All of them are Hina's.

So I turned to Hina, who was clinging to me like a koala, to talk to her.

"Hina, can I borrow your doll?"

“No!”

“I see.”

If that's what she said, there was nothing I could do.

Then I thought, if that's the case, I wonder if there is anything else that can be used as a container, when there was a knock at the door of the room.

“May I come in?"

“Papa? Yes, you can.”

With that, the door was opened, and there stood my father with two teacups on a tray - probably this one has no other name.

“Tea. You can have some sweets, too.”

When the tray was placed, the teacups were filled with green tea.

It wasn’t as fancy as the tea at Nina-chan's house, but I felt more at ease with this one. There was even a manju (a Japanese sweet made from bean-jam buns) on top of the tray.

It was just like home.

“By the way, it seems your magic is scattered. What were you doing?”

"I was practicing the art of coagulation.”

"Hmm?"

When my father made that gesture, Nina-chan answered instead.

“It condenses the magic power that you put out. That's the magic that creates the spirit."

“But I can't move the magic that's been put out.”

My father nodded as if he had just thought of it.

“Ah, Shikijutsu.”

“Huh?”

What did you just say?

“Sounds like Shikijutsu. I can't handle it, but there are exorcists who specialize in that kind of thing. It's a Western European style of magic.”

At my father's words, Nina-chan and I looked at each other and jumped at the same time.

“"You know about that?””

We were both startled and a little amazed. He quickly regained his composure and continued.

“Calm down, both of you. I just know the name. Shikijutsu is an obsolete magic in Japan.”

“Really? Why?”

When I asked him that, my father continued quietly.

“The output is very uneven. It can only be handled completely by an exorcist with a large amount of magic power. That's why it was abandoned in Japan. On the other hand, over there in Europe, it remained."

“I see...”

I nodded, and my father continued.

“In japan, the basics of shijustu called kujutsu, remained. This one, on the other hand, has fallen into disuse over there.”

“Why?”

Nina-chan asked.

My father continued bitterly.

“It’s was as a result of the witch hunt. You know it too.”

Nina-chan's face turned into a blatant frown.

A witch hunt. Even I know about it.

It was an event that killed many wizards and exorcists.

“In Europe at that time, it was considered particularly dangerous to 'manipulate' something. So the exorcists abandoned that method and sought other methods, which, mixed with the indigenous magic, evolved into what we know today.”

Having said all that, my father continued.

“But now we are global. Many try to learn the magic of different countries. Well, many of them never take shape and disappear.”

“Why can't they form?”

“They don't have enough magic.”

“...... Really?”

Even at the fifth rank?

In the actual battle, various kinds of magic are required. [Attribute change] [Character change] [Compound attribute change]. The latter will consume more magic power than the former.

I understand that.

The "compound attribute change" is the magic power jumps by 30 times as the attributes are multiplied together.

The amount of magic power consumed is not ridiculous.

“So even if you learn another magic, there is no time to use it in battle. Instead of doing that, it is better to improve your existing magic skills. If you don't, you won't have enough magic power. But If it’s you Itsuki, then......"

After saying that much, my father stood up quietly.

"So much for shikijutsu[ceremony] or is it called magic art[Koujutsu]? If you want to learn how to do that, there is someone from over there. At the right time, I suggest you ask her.”

"Someone from over there?"

Wait, is there an exorcist other than Nina-chan's mother who came to Japan from Europe at this timing?

As I tilted my head in agreement, my father continued.

“......No, but you may be invited to study over there again. I'd better quit."

Nina-chan asked my father, who shook his head in an easy-to-understand manner.

“What's the name of that exorcist....?”

“It's your mother who came from the other side.”

My father utters this in an unexpected manner, as if to say, 'What are you talking about?’

“Nina-chan's mother?”

“You've met her before, Itsuki. It’s Irena.”

Irena.... Irena...?

As I was digging up my memory, I immediately fell under the category.

Ah, she's the one who suggested I study in England.

I see, that person is Nina-chan's mother.

I thought they looked alike on the street. ......

Hmm?

Then you mean that Irena-san didn't teach her own daughter magic, but invited me to study abroad!?

As I rolled my eyes, my father's phone rang.

This sound is the ringtone of work.

“...... I got a job. It might take a while, so let's take Nina-chan home first."

“Eh, will you be alright? There’s a monster out there, right?”

"Ah, it seems that the exorcist who is nearby is also heading there. Papa was also called, so I have to go."

Nina-chan interrupted him by saying, "Wait a minute!”

“I want you to take me, too! Please! I want to see you exorcise the monsters.”

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