Chapter 10: Harvest Magic and Bypassing Incantations

After finishing the creation of Aleister and collapsing into a deep sleep, I woke up to find it was still evening—despite having gone to bed the previous evening.

Apparently, I had slept for an entire day. Pulling three all-nighters in a row was clearly not a smart move. While I hadn’t felt it in the moment, my fingertips, shoulders, and lower back all ached, and my eyes were dry and strained.

That said, I felt refreshed after such a deep sleep, and my mind was clear. I brewed some instant coffee as a wake-up drink, had a light snack of canned tuna and corn, and headed out to check on the rice field. I had left it unattended for three days, and I was worried.

Now that I’ve started growing rice myself, I completely understand why elderly farmers risk their lives to check their fields during typhoons. You just can’t help but worry.

Thankfully, the field was fine. The water level had dropped a bit, but nothing serious. I adjusted the valve to increase the inflow slightly and returned home before it got completely dark.

Although there’s a severe food shortage in the city, living alone in the rural mountains of Okutama doesn’t make it feel very real to me. The Blue Witch supplies me with food regularly, and my rice field is doing well. Of course, I’ll have to deal with pests and animals trying to steal my rice when harvest season comes, so I can’t get too comfortable just yet.

As I headed back home, I thought about asking her to teach me her upgraded version of harvest magic if she ever perfected it.

When I reached my house, I found the Blue Witch standing at the door with a girl I didn’t recognize, silhouetted by the setting sun.

“Oh! Dairi-san! Welcome back! Were you out?”

The cheerful girl waved at me energetically, but I didn’t recognize her face.

However, her voice sounded familiar.

Her short white hair, little weasel-like ears sticking out, and a white tail tipped with black—those details were familiar too.

A girl around the age of a sixth grader, with weasel-like traits, holding the Aleister wand I had given to Ohinata-sensei.

I froze in shock.

Y-you… no way!

“Thank you so much for Aleister! Thanks to it, I was able to return like this! I didn’t fully transform back, but I just had to say thank you!”

“Change back.” 

I blurted out.

I had meant to say something polite to Ohinata-sensei, like “That’s great,” but my true feelings slipped out instead.

Why did you turn back into a human, Sensei?!

I’m not good with people!

No, no, no! I liked you better as a stoat! Change back! Turn back into a weasel!

Damn it!

“…It’s good that you could return to your human form.” 

I managed to say begrudgingly.

“You sound so dissatisfied!”

Ohinata-sensei seemed flustered by my forced congratulations.

I overheard the Blue Witch whispering to her.

“Kei-chan, I think Dairi might be a furry.”

“A furry…?”

“Dairi doesn’t like humans. I think he can only fall for animals or beast-like traits.”

“I-I see…?”

“I can hear you, you filthy human lovers.”

From my perspective, all of you are the abnormal ones for liking humans. Sure, I know I’m the odd one out here, but still.

“It’s not that I love animals. I just don’t like humans.”

“I see… Would you like to touch my tail?”

It seemed like there was still some misunderstanding, but I accepted her offer and stroked her fluffy tail.

As it got darker outside, I invited the two of them in. My house doesn’t have anything fancy like a parlor, so I led them to the kitchen and offered the rest of the instant coffee.

“So, how’s Aleister working out?”

I asked.

“It’s amazing!”

Ohinata-sensei smiled brightly as she responded.

Judging by the fact that she had managed to return to her human form, it was clear that the staff was incredibly effective. Still, as its creator, I wanted detailed feedback.

“How’s the design?”

“That’s amazing too! It’s like you somehow knew exactly what I imagined when I thought about receiving a staff, even though I never told you!”

“That’s good to hear. I’ll adjust the handle length since I originally tailored it for your stoat form.”

“Oh? No, it’s actually perfect as it is.”

Ohinata lifted the staff effortlessly, tilting her head in confusion.

Hmm. Well, if she says so.

I had planned for the staff to be comically oversized for a small animal, but since she had returned to her human form, it had unintentionally become a regular-sized weapon.

“Still, I didn’t expect your research to yield results in just one day. Was it really that effective?”

“Well, yes, but that’s not all. Before, there was always a risk of magic mishaps, so I had to carefully select only the most essential experiments from my list, which took me over a year to compile. Thanks to this breakthrough, I could finally work through the backlog all at once.”

“I see. What’s the current accident rate?”

“Effectively 0%. Just like the manual said. Even if something goes wrong, it’s almost harmless now.”

“I tried it too. Its power was about 1/100 to 1/120 compared to unprocessed Gremlin-based magic. If you control your magic properly, the power increases slightly. For witches and wizards, it could be useful for training under stress.”

The Blue Witch added as she cooled her lukewarm coffee into iced coffee. 

“Oh? Do you want one too, Blue Witch? A fractal staff?”

“No, I’m fine with just Kyanos.”

The Blue Witch lightly tapped her shoulder with her staff, Kyanos.

At first, it seemed like she wasn’t used to it, but now it appeared to have fully become her trusty companion.

I glanced at the two people sitting across from me once again.
The witch, clad in black robes, wearing a mask, and wielding a beautiful blue staff.
The young beast-girl with white hair, holding a geometric staff.

It’s surreal to think that this isn’t cosplay.

The generation born after the Gremlin disaster will grow up with these bizarre magic staffs and witches as a natural part of their lives.

It’s such a strange feeling. What’s a fantastical, heart-pounding reality for me will just be everyday, normal things for the new generation of kids.

And that’s how generational gaps are born, I suppose.

“Well, if you haven’t had any problems using it, that’s good. It’s a pretty delicate structure, so if you notice any issues, let me know. I’ll do maintenance on it. Though, since it’s hardened with resin, it shouldn’t chip easily as long as you use it properly.”

“Yes, it’s been working great so far, but if anything comes up, I’ll definitely rely on you!”

“Please do. By the way, how’s the Fertility Magic coming along? Is your research progressing?”

“Oh, I’ve completed it.”

“…What?”

“The improvements to Fertility Magic. They’re done.”

“…………!?”

The shock hit me so hard that my brain experienced a delay in processing.

No way! It was just yesterday!

Does this mean the grim future where Japan was predicted to face an unprecedented famine has been overturned in a single day!?

Not only did she manage to reverse her transformation, but she also improved Fertility Magic in just one day!?

Incredible. Absolutely incredible!

But also terrifying!

It’s too much! Ohinata-sensei is so ridiculously brilliant that it’s scary!

“Ohinata-sensei is truly remarkable. I’m in awe.”

“Uh, please don’t use formal language with me. Like I mentioned earlier, I didn’t do all of this in just one day, okay? My father, his colleagues, and the Ohinata research team left behind a massive amount of data. All I did was give it the final push. About 95% of the research was already completed. I only solved the last 5%, and even that was mostly thanks to you advancing it by 4.9%. I just wrapped up the remaining 0.1%.”

“Oh, I see. That makes sense. I was getting freaked out for a second. Still, you’re the one who absorbed all that data and turned it into something you could use. You worked incredibly hard, and it’s genuinely impressive. It’s undoubtedly the work of a genius. And coming from a genius like me, you know it’s true.”

“Do you really think so? Thank you.”

“Your dad must be so proud, wherever he is. You’re his brilliant daughter, after all.”

“…………”

The moment I carelessly let that slip, Ohinata-sensei’s cheerful expression changed.

She quickly covered her face with her hands and hung her head.

Before I knew it, I could hear the soft sound of her sobbing.

Oh, crap. I made her cry.

I must’ve hit a nerve by bringing up her late father.

Damn it, this is why I hate talking to people. If this had been a written conversation, I could’ve reviewed my words and avoided saying something careless. Human interaction is way too complicated.

“I-I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me.”

As I awkwardly apologized, fumbling for the right words, the Blue Witch, who had been gently rubbing Ohinata’s back, answered calmly in her place.

“It’s fine. Dairi has a way of unintentionally touching people’s hearts. In a good way, that is. Sure, he’s often tactless, but both Kei-chan and I know that’s just how he is. And yet, he has this habit of giving you exactly what you truly wanted—exactly the words you needed to hear, like a surprise attack.”

“…………?”

“Heh. In short, we’re saying Dairi should stay the way he is.”

The Blue Witch smiled faintly and simplified things for me.

Oh. Is that how it is…?

Ohinata-sensei was still crying, but she nodded at the Blue Witch’s words, so I guess that’s the case.

I don’t get it at all, though.

Whatever.

If they’re telling me to stay the way I am, then I will.

I decided to move on and continue the conversation. It seemed like Ohinata-sensei had mostly stopped crying by now.

“Getting back to the topic, if you’ve perfected the Fertility Magic, could you teach it to me too? It’s a spell I can use, right? I want to increase my rice field’s yield.”

“…Sniff… Yes, of course. I was actually thinking of asking you to be the final tester before reporting to the Future Sight team. How about I teach you as part of that process?”

“So I’d be a spell tester? Sure, I’m up for it.”

While the Blue Witch was in the kitchen preparing dinner, I began learning the revised Fertility Magic. I had thought there might be some restrictions since it’s a state-level secret, but then again, they’re planning to spread it across Japan soon enough. A little head start for me wouldn’t hurt.

“Alright, so would you prefer just to memorize the spell? Or would you like to understand its origins as well?”

“I’m interested in the origins.”

Previously, I had only learned the basics of magic language. Now I was curious—how had they developed the rerouted incantation for Fertility Magic, said to be the culmination of magic language research?

“Alright then, I’ll explain. Don’t worry; I’ll keep it within the bounds of what you already understand, so you won’t feel lost.

First, Fertility Magic originates from the Flower Witch, who oversees the region spanning Arakawa Ward and Taito Ward in Tokyo. The Seer compensated her for teaching the spell, and I, in turn, learned it from them.

The original incantation is ‘The season of crystals cycles, Glistra Hiarzi. Blessings of the Netherworld Predator, honya-honya Wewevent.’ However, it’s impossible for humans to pronounce.”

“‘Honya-honya’? That part is unpronounceable?”

“Exactly. It sounds like the rustling of trees in the wind deep in a forest. Have you ever heard that kind of sound?”

I attempted to mimic the sound but gave up immediately. There was no way I could pronounce that.

“Every spell contains what we call a core word. Think of it as the base spell. For the Blue Witch, that would be ‘Freeze, Vaara.’ Every spell she uses incorporates that phrase. When modifying a spell, this core word cannot be changed. It’s fixed. Fortunately, the Flower Witch’s core word is ‘Blessings of Wewevent,’ which humans can pronounce.”

“Are there core words that can’t be pronounced? I’ve heard that higher-level spells often contain unpronounceable sounds. Does that mean that a core word, which is considered a basic spell, could still be from the lowest tier of magic?”

“That’s an excellent question!”

With an enthusiastic smile, Ohinata adjusted her non-existent glasses and launched into an explanation.

“Take, for example, the Seer’s core phrase: ‘Revelation of honya-honya Knack.’ In some cases, the core word itself is already part of a high-level spell. Witches or wizards using such advanced core words often suffer magic feedback, resulting in physical damage or catastrophic loss of control. It’s a frequent problem.”

“Wow, yeah, even the simplest form of future sight seems like it would count as advanced magic.”

Her explanation made sense.

Even being able to see one second into the future would make you invincible in sports or combat. Of course, it’s advanced magic. That means future sight is likely impossible for regular humans to use, no matter how much the magic language is altered. It’s exclusive to witches and wizards. That’s unfair.

“The original incantation, ‘The season of crystals cycles, Glistra Hiarzi. Blessings of the Netherworld Predator, honya-honya Wewevent,’ can mostly be pronounced. ‘The season of crystals cycles’ doesn’t need to be changed since it’s clear and pronounceable. The core word, ‘Blessings of,’ is also fixed.

The real issue is with the ‘Netherworld Predator.’ Do you know what that refers to?”

“Uh… no idea.”

When I answered immediately, Ohinata nodded with a deep sigh.

“Exactly. I don’t know either. Nobody in this world knows what it means. ‘Predator’ implies it’s probably a living creature, but it could be symbolic. Like how Americans give hurricanes human names. Without knowing the culture or values of the civilization that used magic language, we can only guess at the meaning of ‘Netherworld Predator.’

Based on our guesses, the research team identified 72 existing words from other spells that could serve as substitutions. We experimented with different combinations of pronounceable words to rebuild the incantation into rerouted spells—15 variations, to be precise.”

“And you tested those 15 on Aleister, right?”

“Exactly. Among those 15 rerouted spells, only one produced the same effect as the original. Here it is: ‘The season of crystals cycles, Glistra Hiarzi. O you, Zei, whose gaze reflects a world not the same as the Optrae world reflected in Dadanida. Blessings upon not the prey but the non-prey Kapaja, Wewevent.’”

“That’s so long!”

“It’s a rerouted spell, after all.”

Phew, no wonder this research is such a challenge.

It’s like trying to conduct a business conversation while banning all loanwords and limiting your vocabulary to what a preschooler knows. The fact that they managed to whip up a rerouted incantation at all is impressive. Of course, it ended up being so long-winded.

“I have to memorize a text this long? Yikes.”

“Understanding the structure of the sentences can make it a bit easier to remember. I imagine memorization will be relatively easy for you, though, Dairi-san. Now! Let’s practice the pronunciation. Since it’s long, we’ll divide it into segments and take it step by step. Just follow after me, and don’t forget the safety sounds. ‘The season of crystals cycles, Glistra Hiarzi.’”

“Glista Hiarjui.”

“Oooh! ‘Gurista’ was great. The first half is perfect! Excellent work. But the second half could use a bit of tweaking. The last sound is not ju-i but zi. You know how we pronounce the letter Z as zee in English? Start with that sound and adjust by opening your mouth slightly while pressing your tongue like this…”

After receiving pronunciation lessons from a sixth-grade girl, getting my tongue held down with her fingers, and practicing non-stop until midnight, I finally managed to learn the rerouted Fertility Magic spell. I wrote down every little pronunciation note on paper to make sure I wouldn’t forget.

While we were busy with the chanting lessons, the Blue Witch didn’t just make dinner—she also prepared a late-night snack for us without saying a word. What a convenient, reliable woman. She really saved me there.

Though, honestly, I think she did it more for Ohinata’s sake than mine. The curry was mild, after all.

By the time Ohinata gave me the OK, it was well past midnight.

Without hesitation, she casually said, “Can I borrow your sofa or something?” and made herself comfortable, fully intending to stay the night. Naturally, I pawned her off on the Blue Witch.

No way. With the Blue Witch acting as her escort, it didn’t matter if she had to walk through dark alleys or war zones—she’d be perfectly safe. I firmly insisted that she go home.

Though she seemed slightly dissatisfied, Ohinata obediently took the Blue Witch’s hand and stood by the entrance. Just before leaving, she turned around, fidgeting nervously.

“Um, may I come visit again sometime?”

“Nope.”

“Dairi, you bastard!”

“Oh, no, it’s fine, it’s fine! Don’t worry about it. I think it’s just… how he says things. Uh, I mean, I’d like to exchange ideas again. You know, thanks to my knowledge, we were able to create that dodecahedral fractal-patterned magic staff this time, right? And thanks to Aleister, I managed to complete the rerouted Fertility Magic spell and… mostly turn back into a human—like, 90% back. It’s fair to say this technology exchange brought about significant innovations. I think meeting regularly, exchanging ideas, and collaborating like this would be stimulating for both of us. What do you think?”

“Nope. Never want to see you again.”

She tried reasoning with me, explaining the benefits of future meetings, but I resolutely refused.

If it were her stoat form, I’d be happy to meet again, but no thanks to the beast-ear mode.

Ohinata is a good kid, despite being so young. She’s fun to talk to.

But her extremely outgoing and cheerful personality triggers my instincts to reject her. Even if she wore a mask to hide her face like the Blue Witch, my body would still refuse to tolerate her presence.

The Blue Witch looked murderous at my blatant and petty rejection of a child, so I quickly offered a compromise before I could be turned into an ice sculpture.

“I absolutely refuse to meet in person, but I’d be thrilled to exchange letters instead. Let’s be pen pals.”

“Pen pals…?”

“Yeah. I don’t want to see you, but I do want to continue exchanging ideas. And your stories are interesting.”

“I see! That’s a great idea. Let’s do it! I’m getting excited just thinking about it. I’ll write you a letter as soon as I get home!”

Ohinata, delighted by my socially awkward but enthusiastic suggestion, waved vigorously as she left. She kept looking back with a big smile while the Blue Witch escorted her home.

Once they were gone, I wiped the cold sweat from my brow. Phew, that was exhausting.

If she’s already like this at twelve years old, who knows how she’ll turn out when she grows up?

I wouldn’t even be surprised if she starts speaking bird or fish languages someday.

I’ll quietly keep an eye on Ohinata-sensei’s future from a safe distance.

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