Chapter 4

"Huh? Where's Kanata?"

The next day, the Karyjas mercenary group returned to town with the combined forces of the lord's army. At the inn that would serve as their temporary base in town, they unloaded their belongings and were given some free time—some respite for the children who scavenged the battlefield.

However, Kanata was nowhere to be found, and Roa looked around the dining area of the inn in confusion.

"Kanata was called away a little while ago."

"Did he do something again? He gets so stubborn when it comes to his hobbies."

"Ugh... really..."

Roa, who had been about to invite Kanata to buy a sleeping bag he had mentioned losing the night before, slumped a little at the news from the other children who were already eating bread in the dining area. She had not expected him to be called away even during free time.

Among the children who scavenged the battlefield, Roa was particularly concerned about Kanata. To Kanata, Roa was like a younger brother, a year younger, and the first junior she had ever taken care of.

"Kanata... what did you do...?"

Her sigh, heavy and slow, was half exasperation and half worry. She could only hope that Kanata hadn't done anything.

---

At the same time, Kanata was sitting on the floor in Guriare's room, having been summoned. The inn was just a regular one, not particularly luxurious, but the captain and vice-captain had their own private rooms where no one could disturb them. This made it an ideal place to ask questions about the previous night's events.

"Um, Vice-Captain Guriare..."

"What is it?"

"Is this... posture... something special?"

Kanata was sitting on the floor with his back straight and his knees pressed together. Guriare, the vice-captain of the Karyjas mercenary group, stood towering over him with a sharp gaze. Kanata couldn't tell if his trembling was due to the unfamiliar posture or the pressure from Guriare's presence. Probably both.

"That posture is called 'seiza.'"

Guriare's clear voice answered Kanata's question. Guriare, known for her beauty and stern face, which bore the marks of many battles, was a core member of the mercenary group. Unlike the free-spirited Uval, she was known for her good care of others, but at the moment, Kanata only felt fear.

"Seiza...?"

"Yes, it's a posture from a certain island nation. If you sit like this for a long time, your legs will go numb and you won't be able to move. It was probably used to make criminals sit in this position during torture or interrogation in that country."

"Such a terrifying posture exists... or, does that mean... I'm going to be tortured!?"

"No, but depending on your answers, it might come to that. Don't make me do something like that, I'm a kind person, you know?"

Guriare tried to smile, but the awkward expression only made Kanata more afraid, and he could only nod.

"I'm already making a lot of concessions by trying to get the details from you in private. Why did you hide the fact that you can use magic?"

"N-no! It's not like that! It just happened suddenly yesterday! I was as surprised as anyone... I didn't mean to burn the sleeping bag... I don't even understand what happened... I just saw the magic residue and..."

Guriare's piercing gaze made Kanata fidget. He tried to explain, but his words were hesitant, and he was unsure if he was being believed. His eyes darted between Guriare's face and the sword at her waist. Even though he was young, Kanata knew about war and the discipline within the group. If Guriare wanted to, she could easily sever his head from his body. Despite his fear, it seemed his earnestness had gotten through to Guriare, and her expression softened.

"Alright, I see. If you were an enemy mage, you wouldn't have just burned the sleeping bag. I don't think you're that foolish. I believe you."

"Y-yes... thank you..."

Kanata let out a sigh of relief, but the questioning wasn't over yet.

"Then, how did you start the fire yesterday? Don't tell me it was from the campfire."

"Well, actually..."

Under Guriare's pressure, Kanata recounted the events of the previous night. He described seeing patterns in the magic residue, connecting the patterns from the residue he had scavenged, and the words that had appeared in his mind. He didn't understand it himself, but he told her everything, as if seeking an answer.

"...I find that hard to believe."

"!!"

Kanata's body broke out in a cold sweat at Guriare's words. If she didn't believe him, it would be the same as lying. He opened his mouth to try to convince her, but—

"What you saw were 'magic formulas.'"

"Wh-what?"

To his surprise, Guriare believed him right away. Not only that, she explained something Kanata didn't understand.

"Magic formulas are used to make magic easier to visualize... The patterns you saw in the magic residue were part of these formulas. By gathering the same type of magic residue and connecting the patterns, you managed to form a complete formula that you could cast, I suppose?"

"Y-yeah, but you sound so unsure... Vice-Captain Guriare, you're an adult..."

"Being an adult doesn't change anything. I know a bit about magic, but I've never heard of a case like this. Confidence comes from knowledge, and I don't know this."

Guriare ran her orange hair in frustration. She had seemed scary at first, but the new expression on her face made Kanata feel a strange sense of familiarity.

"Anyway, someone who can't even handle magic energy shouldn't be casting spells. It's not just a step ahead, it's like skipping several steps. Magic or any other skill should be learned in order."

"But I don't understand what's happening... When I chanted, the sleeping bag suddenly caught fire..."

"I believe you. I'm not a mage, so I can't explain the details, but..."

Guriare paused and sighed, looking annoyed.

"It's a problem if you keep using magic without understanding it... I'll teach you how to handle magic energy during my free time. Learn to control it so that you don't cause another incident like last night."

"!!"

Kanata trembled with joy at Guriare's words. It was a step towards the romantic dreams he had through the magic residue, even if it was still far from them. His mouth curved into a smile, and his arms naturally formed a victory pose.

"Ah, right. Tell me what spell you used to burn the sleeping bag last night. I need to know which spell to help you control."

"Um, 'Flame Spirit'—gah!"

As Kanata tried to say the name of the spell that had come to his mind last night, Guriare suddenly kicked him in the chest. Kanata, who had been sitting in seiza, fell backward and hit the wall hard.

"Are you crazy! If you chant it without understanding, what will happen if it goes wrong like last night?"

"Cough! But you told me to say it...!"

"I said to tell me! You're so reckless!"

Guriare sighed again, shaking her head. But she quickly returned to a serious expression.

"Wait... Was the name you just started to say the spell you cast last night?"

"Ow... Huh? Y-yes... I think so..."

Magic spells are classified into five levels based on their power and effect. Normally, mages learn them in order, starting from the lowest level.

(Saying 'Flame Spirit' means it's an elemental spell... Elemental spells are usually at least level three... How could Kanata, who can't even control magic energy, cast it?)

Guriare's knowledge and Kanata's condition didn't match, and her brow furrowed. However, Kanata couldn't lie about the spell's details if he didn't know them.

"Vice-Captain Guriare...!"

"What is it?"

While Guriare was deep in thought, Kanata, whose legs were trembling, supported himself against the wall to stand up.

"My legs... are numb...! How do I fix this...!?"

"Haha, that's the power of seiza. It should be a good lesson, right? Consider this a light punishment for last night's trouble."

"Ugh...!"

The sensation in his legs was clearly different from usual, and it was painful every time he moved, like a weak electric shock. Kanata, who had just secured a thrilling promise, was trembling like a newborn fawn.

"Anyway, come when I call you. I'll train you."

"Y-yes...!"

"Also, make sure Uval doesn't find out."

"Huh? The captain?"

"Didn't you know? He hates mages. If he finds out, being kicked out would be the best-case scenario... If you use magic carelessly, he'll cut off your head without hesitation. You'll end up like a fruit on a tree."

Kanata's face turned pale at Guriare's threats. The excitement he had felt was suddenly knocked out of him, and he returned to his room, shaken.