Chapter 62: I Was Expelled from the Security Force for Having the Weakest Magic Power, But Now They Want Me Back—And It’s Not Too Late

“Shou. You need to quit the security force.”

“Huh?”

In a small office of the security force headquarters, a repurposed police box in Kita Ward, Tokyo, Shou couldn’t comprehend the cold words coming from his childhood friend, Shuichi.

“W-Why? Sure, I’ve been doing desk work lately, but I’m still working hard! I swear! So why are you suddenly telling me to quit?”

“Because all you can do is desk work. You’re not pulling your weight. You’re useless in the field.”

Shou was stunned by Shuichi’s harsh words. It was the first time he had ever been treated so coldly by him.

Shuuichi Tsurumi and Shou Yamagami were the closest of friends—so much so that both they and everyone around them recognized it.

They had been next-door neighbors since birth, with Shou being born exactly one day after Shuichi. They played together in the same kindergarten, studied in the same elementary school, and sweated side by side in the same middle school club.

When Shuichi was beaten up by an upperclassman, Shou punched back. They both got beaten up, but they walked home arm in arm, laughing.

When Shou confessed to his crush, Shuichi helped set the stage. The confession failed, and Shou got rejected. That night, they snuck liquor from the fridge and drank it on the school rooftop, crying over the bitter taste—of both the alcohol and their defeat. They got drunk, but more than that, they got drunk on their own self-pity.

Good things, bad things—they did it all together.

Even after the Gremlin Disaster struck on the day of their high school entrance ceremony, they both volunteered for the security force in Kita Ward, fighting through the chaos side by side. Together, they felt like they could take on anything.

But lately, Shou hadn’t been in the field at all. He just couldn’t keep up anymore.

The Rising Standards of the Kita Security Force

The Kita Security Force was originally established as a monster combat unit by the biological father of the Northern Witch.

During the Gremlin Disaster, the Northern Witch—then the youngest member of the Witches’ Council at just twelve years old—fought desperately to protect people. But her grasp on reality was shaky at best.

It was understandable—after all, she was just a sixth grader. Awakened to her powers overnight, she was swept up in a magic girl fantasy, acting like a hero straight out of a TV show.

That naivety was her downfall. The Iruma mage exploited her carelessness, ensnaring her in puppet magic and forcing her to attack her fellow witches. The memory of gleefully striking down her allies, followed by the merciless attempt on her life by the Blue Witch, traumatized her so deeply that she was unable to function for a time.

The security force was formed to ease her burden as much as possible.

Though she bravely returned to the front lines after a month, the force’s standards only grew stricter to prevent her from having to fight at all.

What had started as a unit wielding makeshift weapons like wooden planks and car doors as shields evolved into one wielding crossbows, crude metal spears, and swords.

Shou and Shuichi excelled at aiming, quickly establishing themselves as elite sharpshooters. Their synchronized alternating fire was so precise that they could flawlessly take down a Rank-1 monster together.

Then magic changed everything.

Crossbows and swords were rendered obsolete as magic staffs took their place. The force now required not just physical strength, but also magic reserves.

Shuichi had plenty. He could fire twenty-four consecutive “Shoot Ahhh” spells without breaking a sweat.

Shou? Not even one. His magic power was too weak.

As a result, he quickly became a liability.

In combat squads, it’s said that a unit is only as strong as its weakest link. Modern battles rely on seamless coordination—if even one person falls behind, the entire formation collapses.

And Shou was falling behind.

Unlike magic users, crossbowmen had to reload after every shot, drastically slowing their rate of fire. His lack of magic destroyed his ability to coordinate with his team.

While his fellow officers racked up Rank-2 monster kills, Shou was barely holding his own against Rank-3.

No matter how accurately he chanted spells…
No matter how much monster knowledge he crammed into his brain…
His low magic power was an insurmountable wall.

He was gradually demoted—first to carrying equipment, then to the back lines, and finally to clerical work.

Shou was more frustrated than anyone about his inability to fight.

He pushed himself—training his body, perfecting his crossbow technique, refining the district’s monster alert system, helping lost children, volunteering for night shifts, and rushing to evacuate citizens during Rank-2 monster attacks before the main force arrived.

He did everything he could to support the team.

Yet now, his childhood friend—the one person he thought understood him—was telling him to quit.

Hearing the commotion, the security force captain entered the room, sipping from a cup of genmaicha.

After listening for a moment, he nodded indifferently.

“Yeah, Shuichi’s right. Anyone could do the work you’re doing, Yamagami. We don’t need office clerks. This is a good opportunity. Quit the force. You’re just an old-timer taking up space.”

“Wh-what? I never meant to act like some senior officer! Captain! My crossbow accuracy has improved! I even modified the winch system to reload faster—”

“But you still can’t use magic, can you, Yamagami? That’s all that matters. You’re not cut out for this. No matter how much effort you put in, if you don’t have magic, you’re just a burden. You’ve got some time to pack your things. Now get out. Go be a farmer or something.”

Shou froze as the captain—whom he thought he had gotten along with—delivered the final blow.

With his soul drained, he mechanically packed up his belongings and staggered out of the station.

Even after falling behind, he had tried his best to support the team. He still saw them as comrades.

He thought that even if he couldn’t fight the same way, he could still be part of the team—with his friends, with his childhood buddy.

But it seemed he was the only one who thought that.

Wandering aimlessly, Shou bit his lip, determined not to cry.

Then he remembered—his crossbow.

In the shock of being kicked out, he had forgotten it at the firing range.

The thought of returning was embarrassing after being so thoroughly rejected. But that crossbow… it was his partner, the weapon that had carried him through countless battles. He couldn’t just leave it behind.

Bracing himself, he slowly walked back.

Just as he reached the station, he heard Shuichi and the captain talking.

And in their conversation… they mentioned his name.

Instinctively, Shou ducked into the bushes.

He expected them to mock him, to talk about how useless he was.

But what he heard was something else entirely.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to say it more gently? Did you see Yamagami’s face? I’ve never seen him look that close to tears before.”

“Shou is stubborn. You know that too, Captain, right? That guy charged into Class B all on his own! Sure, they say he was just buying time, but that’s the kind of person he is. If you put a weapon in his hands, he can’t help but run forward. He’s a good guy.”

“Yeah, I get it. I worry about him for the same reason. Even if we put him in the rear for desk work and ordered him not to fight, he wouldn’t stop training. He probably feels competitive with you, since you’re the ace of our squad.”

“We’ve always been together. If I were in his position, I’d do anything to stand tall beside him as his equal. But if I don’t push him away like this, he’s going to die someday. I don’t want to drive him out either. But it’s much better than watching him die recklessly.”

That was as far as Shou could bear to eavesdrop. His emotions overflowed, and he couldn’t listen any further.

Shou took off running. He ran through the twilight-lit streets, shouting out his frustration and determination. People turned to look at him in surprise, but if he didn’t let it all out, he felt like he would burst.

Gasping from the strain, he screamed and ran until his lungs burned. Then, as the sun sank below the horizon, he made a vow.

He would become strong enough that his childhood friend would never have to say such painful words again. Strong enough that his captain would never have to worry about him again.

He would obtain the strength worthy of the prestigious Northern Security Force—and he would return!

Thus began a new chapter in Shou’s life.

Regardless of the circumstances, Shou had been dismissed from the security force. In search of work, he moved to Minato Ward (since the Northern Ward had no labor quotas, job changes were unrestricted).

Minato Ward had once been reduced to ruins and was actively recruiting immigrants. Shou’s relocation was easily approved, and he soon secured a job at the newly established shipyard, built for the region’s emerging maritime trade.

Shou had no background in construction, but in this world where heavy machinery no longer functioned, a former security officer with a sturdy build was in high demand as a laborer.

While working a physically demanding job, Shou searched for a way to gain power.

He gathered information about the legendary craftsman 0933’s staff, believing that if he obtained it, he might be able to use magic. However, after speaking with one of Minato Ward’s ritual magic practitioners, he learned the truth: even the best-crafted staff couldn’t compensate for a fundamental lack of magic power.

Shou was disappointed. He had at least learned that even someone with his abysmally low magic reserves could use a ritual tool to perform a weak spell if he gathered thirteen people—but that was hardly reassuring.

Shou didn’t just want to use magic. He wanted to fight alongside his best friend as a true member of the security force.

His next idea was monster.

While working at the shipyard, he often saw monsters from the Hokkaido Beast Farm pulling trade ships into port.

The aquatic monsters, which had yet to arrive in Tokyo, resembled a Loch Ness with rocky shells on their backs and measured around five meters in length. They were intelligent enough to follow handlers’ commands and use their long necks to grip and transport cargo.

Other famous creatures included the Iron Sheep and the Owl Sparrow, and if one could tame a Cannon Balsam, they would become a formidable defense unit.

However, once again, Shou’s lack of magic power held him back.

Trained monsters, referred to as monsters, required integration with a Gremlin implant to recognize their handler as an ally.

But embedding a Gremlin caused a permanent reduction in one’s maximum magic power.

If a person’s magic power reached zero, they would disintegrate into dust and vanish from existence.

With his magic levels, Shou couldn’t even withstand the weakest implant required to control an Owl Sparrow.

Shou couldn’t become a magician. He couldn’t become a beast tamer.

That left him with one remaining hope: the Tohoku Hunting Guild.

Through his shipyard connections, Shou arranged for a study trip to Sendai, the guild’s headquarters.

He had heard that hunting was thriving in Sendai. Firearms were in circulation, and hunting courses were available.

No matter how little magic he had, guns were purely physical weapons—they didn’t require magic at all.

If he could swap his crossbow for a hunting rifle, his combat strength would increase dramatically.

Shou had a natural talent for it. His physical conditioning and studious nature helped him obtain his hunting license in just three months.

This hunting license was not the same as those from the old era. To acquire it, one had to master a wide range of skills, including gunpowder production, tracking, erasing traces, and reading wind patterns.

Recognizing his potential, the instructors at the licensing center encouraged him to stay in Sendai. But Shou was determined to return to the Northern Security Force.

He was grateful for the offer, but he turned it down. With much reluctance, he left Sendai and returned to Tokyo.

Back in Tokyo, Shou resumed work at the shipyard. Thanks to his newfound expertise, he was occasionally consulted on firearm and gunpowder production at Minato Ward’s workshops.

His coworkers knew he wanted to return to the security force.

“You’ve learned how to use a gun now. Are you finally going back?” 

But Shou shook his head.

In higher-ranked classes such as B-class and above, there exist monsters that can only be harmed by magic attacks, like ghosts, or those highly resistant to physical attacks, like slimes.

Shou had certainly grown stronger after learning how to handle firearms.

However, to overcome the wall of B-class monsters, magic was absolutely necessary.

Mastering firearms only served to reinforce that realization.

Using magic required magic power—something Shou simply did not have.

Magic, magic, magic. Everything came down to magic.

In an era where magic technology was advancing year by year, having no magic power was akin to being a bird without wings.

A glimmer of hope appeared in Shou’s dead-end situation when he was flagged during a magic power capacity survey conducted by the Magic University.

That day, Shou happened to be shopping in Bunkyō Ward when he was asked to cooperate with the survey. He agreed, and after testing, it was revealed that he possessed a mere 0.2K of magic power—the lowest recorded among humans.

Shou was shocked by how weak he truly was.

The weakest human! He had always known his magic power was low, but he never imagined it was that bad.

However, the university’s Mutation Department students who conducted the test were brimming with excitement and desperately begged Shou to cooperate with their research.

At first, Shou thought they were mocking him and refused. But upon hearing them out, he realized they were entirely serious.

They explained that someone with the lowest recorded magic capacity was an ideal research subject. They spoke about how “outliers hold the key to breakthroughs” and other things, but the jargon was too dense for him to fully grasp.

When he learned that the Mutation Department studied ways to transform ordinary humans into witches and wizards, Shou ultimately agreed to participate in their research.

Shou began visiting the Mutation Department’s research lab at Tokyo Magic University once a week to assist in their studies.

He received a considerable stipend for his cooperation and, after signing a consent form and even writing a will, participated in suspicious experiments involving magnetic irradiation.

The result? He blacked out and could barely walk for days.

Fortunately, he recovered with no lasting effects, but seeing a professor in a wheelchair and another researcher whose eyeballs were constantly twitching, he decided to decline any further experiments.

Of course, he still wanted to become stronger. He was willing to go to great lengths for that goal. But entrusting himself to mad scientists was a surefire way to get himself killed.

Through his involvement, Shou became well-versed in the Mutation Department’s research, gradually understanding their specialized terminology and forming friendships with the students.

But making new friends only reminded him of Shuichi.

No matter how many people he befriended, no one clicked with him like Shuichi did.

If he returned to Kita Ward and begged, Shuichi would begrudgingly welcome him back.

But Shou refused to earn his place through pity.

Because they were best friends, he wanted to stand as equals.

That’s how it had always been. Though the balance had been lost, Shou was determined to reclaim it.

He would become strong enough to return to the Guard Corps with his head held high.

If possible, he wanted to be so formidable that they’d beg him to come back.

Shou continued working with the university, accumulating knowledge.

Then, his efforts bore fruit.

In May, the Aratake Gang Assault Incident left a deep scar on Tokyo.

However, this event also accelerated the Mutation Department’s research, leading them to a breakthrough discovery:

The Magic Power Training Method.

As a research assistant, Shou gained access to the technique before its official release.

His once pathetic 0.2K of magic power began increasing daily.

While other test subjects barely managed to raise their power by 1–2K before succumbing to magic-related ailments, Shou experienced no adverse effects and continued his steady growth.

His frail 0.2K magic power reached 1.0K, the standard for an average human.

After a month, he surpassed 5.0K, the minimum requirement for admission into the Magic University.

After three months, he hit 18K, allowing him to effortlessly wield the signature spell of elite magicians—the Ice Lance.

Yet, his growth showed no signs of stopping.

The Mutation Department’s professors were astonished by his unprecedented progress.

Even the Flame Witch, the younger sister of the legendary Rekindling Flame Witch, had reached her limit after growing 20K—yet Shou had already exceeded 25K and was still climbing.

Across all of Tokyo, no one exhibited such consistent magic power growth—except for Shou (excluding witches and wizards, of course).

How far would he grow? Even Shou himself didn’t know.

The Mutation Department was fascinated by his exceptional progress and even invited him to join as a researcher.

Since he already had some knowledge of their field, they hoped to recruit him.

But after much deliberation, Shou declined.

Joining the department might make him even stronger.

But it would also tie him down with research responsibilities, making it harder to leave for the Guard Corps.

Besides… the Mutation Department was filled with eccentric weirdos with questionable ethics—and Shou wasn’t sure he could handle that environment.

Instead, their offer solidified his decision to return home.

If the Mutation Department’s top scholars were actively trying to recruit him, that meant he had become a person of significance.

At last, he had obtained the strength worthy of the elite Kita Ward Guard Corps.

There was no reason to stay cooped up in a lab any longer.

When Shou informed the Mutation Department that he was returning to the Security Force, the assistant professors and lower-ranked staff tried to persuade him to stay. Though they softened their words, their true concern was clear—losing such a valuable research sample to battle would be a significant loss. Shou could only smile wryly at their reaction.

What surprised him, however, was that the professor supported his departure.

The wheelchair-bound professor of the Mutation Department expressed deep gratitude for Shou’s significant contributions to their research, silenced the complaints of the assistant professors, and presented him with two parting gifts.

The first was the “Sage’s Staff.”

Only two of these exist in the world. It was an invaluable artifact—a miniaturized version of the coffin-shaped magic power training device. With the Sage’s Staff, one could train their magic power anytime, anywhere.

The professor asked Shou to continue his training whenever possible and to report his progress at least once a year. Shou gladly agreed. He was more than happy to increase his magic power further.

The second gift was the latest model of a magic staff, crafted by 0933.

This new staff, featuring the cutting-edge “Quant-style Magic Compression Ring,” had been unveiled on New Year’s Day of the year 2030, with only a few units sold to renowned magicians worldwide.

The professor of the Mutation Department had been fortunate enough to obtain one of these staffs—an item valuable enough to buy a house.

And yet, he was now offering it to Shou.

Shou hesitated, feeling the weight of such generosity, but the wheelchair-bound professor grinned and reassured him.

“Oh, don’t worry—it’s an experiment. You see, I’m in this condition, so I can’t exactly go around wielding a staff in combat. I’d like you to use it and send back real battle data.”

“…If that’s the case, then I’ll accept it.”

Sensing the professor’s kindness hidden beneath his words, Shou bowed deeply and received the two staffs.

For the Mutation Department, which specialized in research rather than combat, battle data from magic staffs held little practical value. The professor had fabricated a reason so that Shou wouldn’t feel obligated or burdened by the gift.

Even after returning to the Security Force, his connection with the research lab wouldn’t be completely severed. However, the relationship would inevitably become more distant.

Shou waved to the researchers, who looked reluctant to part, and bid them farewell for the time being.

After explaining his situation to his supervisor at the Minato Ward Shipyard, he vacated his company dormitory. With only a few belongings on his back, he set off for Kita Ward.

The familiar streets of Kita Ward remained unchanged since the day he swore to return. Even the setting sun sinking below the horizon was the same as that day.

Walking down the well-trodden path, he arrived at the Security Force outpost. The place was empty, but from behind the building came a beaver-like scream.

Shou headed to the back, where the shooting range was located, and found Shuichi training alone.

Holding his staff, Shuichi was running around, drenched in sweat, shouting “Shoot, aahhh!” as he practiced his aim.

Feeling mischievous, Shou quietly activated his staff’s magic compression and aimed it at the target Shuichi was about to shoot.

Then, he chanted a spell commonly used by the Northern Witch.

“Shatter, Dwaaah!”

Normally, this spell would fire a white magic bullet. However, with compression, it was transformed into a dense, high-speed projectile.

The sharply fired magic bullet struck the center of the target with a satisfying sound.

This spell had lower power, slower speed, and higher magic consumption compared to the ice spear magic “Du Vaala.”

By all accounts, it was an inferior spell.

But it had one advantage—its casting time was shorter.

The Northern Witch could control the trajectory of her magic bullets with extreme precision, but Shou lacked such skill. Instead, he compensated by compressing them to increase speed and density. That alone made it viable for combat.

Shuichi, startled by the sudden interference, turned around in shock.

When he saw Shou casually resting his staff on his shoulder and waving at him, his face lit up with joy, and he ran toward him—only to suddenly stop, looking awkward.

“Yo, Shuichi. I’m back—this time, as a magician.”

“That magic just now… was yours?”

“Yeah. You know about magic power training, right? Thanks to that, my magic power has surpassed yours.”

“What? No way! If that’s true, then—”

“Then what?”

When Shou prompted him to finish his sentence, Shuichi hesitated, opened and closed his mouth a few times—then suddenly dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.

“Please! Come back to the Security Force! I know I have no right to ask after the way we drove you out, but I want you to return. Join us again. The Security Force without you… it’s just not the same. We need you, Shou.”

“Stand up, Shuichi. I know. Actually, after you guys kicked me out that day… I overheard you talking with the captain.”

Shou grabbed Shuichi’s hand firmly and pulled him to his feet.

As he grasped Shuichi’s calloused, rough hands, he understood.

Shuichi, too, had been training relentlessly.

And when Shuichi looked into Shou’s eyes, he understood as well—how hard Shou had been working.

No more words were needed. They simply smiled and knocked their fists together.

They had been best friends since birth. No explanation was necessary.

Shuichi wrapped up his shooting practice and changed into casual clothes—his shift was over.

Shou spotted his wooden nameplate still hanging on the attendance board at the outpost. A surge of emotion welled up in him, but he held back the tears.

His nameplate, which had been marked as “On Leave,” was still there. He took it and moved it to “Off Duty” instead.

Together, the two stepped out into the darkening night.

Side by side, shoulders squared against the wind, walking tall.

“Hey, remember back in middle school? When we snuck up to the rooftop and drank together?”

“Like I’d ever forget! Hah, but this time, we’re drinking as actual adults. And it’s not the bitter taste of heartbreak—we’re celebrating.”

“That’s right. Welcome back! We’re drinking till dawn, my friend!”

With their arms around each other’s shoulders, laughing, Shou and Shuichi headed off into the night.

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