Chapter 2

Shuu floated and wandered through the forest. As a high-level spirit, he could move easily even in the dense forest, which was difficult to navigate. He was grateful for this ability.

Moreover, the fact that he did not need to eat or sleep was also an advantage. It would be troublesome to be forced to survive in an unknown forest.

(Ah, I found a goblin.)

By chance, he discovered a stray goblin, and Shuu activated his 'Life Absorption.' Having become accustomed to it, he absorbed the life force in an instant. The absorbed life force was converted into magic power and accumulated within Shuu. He also knew that when the goblin was defeated, magic power could be absorbed from its corpse and accumulated.

This was something he had realized after defeating goblins, wolves, deer, and bears multiple times. The magic power obtained from ordinary animals like wolves, deer, and bears was quite minimal. On the other hand, goblins and some wolves could provide a considerable amount of magic power. From this, it was clear that there were creatures that possessed a particularly large amount of magic power.

Shuu provisionally called these creatures with a lot of magic power 'monsters.'

"Guuuaaaahhh!?"

The goblin let out a final scream and breathed its last. As a last-ditch effort, it sometimes screamed to call for help. After such a death cry, at least a few goblins would come.

To deal with them, Shuu floated up to a tree and hid behind the branches and leaves.

(Well, how many will come?)

Although he had not yet evolved from a high-level spirit, he was almost certain that he could evolve by accumulating magic power. Besides, growing was enjoyable.

Perhaps because his moral values from his previous life remained only as knowledge, he could take lives without feeling repulsion. In his human life, he had also taken the lives of livestock to grow. Thinking of it in the same way, he felt little guilt.

However, this was the mindset of a predator, and the perspective of the prey did not enter his thoughts. Shuu had not forgotten the possibility of being hunted himself.

(They're here...)

Two shadows emerged, rustling through the grass. Shuu, thinking they were goblins, was about to activate 'Life Absorption' but quickly realized they were different.

(Those are... humans!)

They were unmistakably humans. They had Western features, and they looked to be in their early teens, still retaining a hint of childishness.

"Look! It's a goblin's corpse!"

"Did someone do this? It's creepy because there are no wounds..."

Was that goblin a monster? Shuu wondered. He remained hidden in the tree and eavesdropped on the conversation between the two boys.

"Is it sick?"

"Then we should burn it."

"Yeah."

One of the boys extended his arm toward the goblin and began to mumble something. His palm glowed with a bluish light, and geometric patterns began to form. It was a magic circle.

Shuu, who had been watching intently, felt a bit excited.

(Could it be magic? I have to observe this!)

As the boy continued to mumble, the magic circle completed, forming a circle about fifty centimeters in diameter. When the light reached its peak, the boy shouted.

"Fireball!"

However, the magic circle shattered, and the gathered magic power dissipated. Of course, no flame appeared.

Shuu tilted his head in confusion. The boy, clutching his head, shouted again.

"Damn it! I failed again!"

"Flaj, you're not good at magic. You only succeeded once by chance in the last magic test, right? You lack imagination. It's a waste to have a fire-type magic device."

"I know... damn it. If that's the case, I'll burn it with my magic device."

"Really... you're going that far?"

"Shut up, Miguel."

It seemed the magic circle was officially called a magic circle. Regardless, the boy named Flaj extended his right hand toward the goblin again, channeling magic power. A gauntlet-like device appeared on his hand, surprising Shuu.

(What is that...!?)

A fireball shot out from Flaj's gauntlet and struck the goblin. It was more powerful and numerous than the fireball he had tried to cast with the magic circle. The goblin burned up instantly.

"Heh. With my magic device, that's all it takes!"

"Ha... you wasted magic power again. You know that deploying a magic device uses a lot of magic power, even though using its abilities doesn't."

"I don't care. My magic power level went up to B in the last test! An S rank isn't a dream!"

"Okay, okay. I get it."

Listening to their conversation, Shuu organized the information.

(The difference between magic and magic devices... Magic is a technique that activates with magic power and imagination, while magic devices have inherent abilities, like my 'Life Absorption.')

If that was the case, Shuu might be able to use magic as well. He wanted to practice immediately, but unfortunately, the two boys were still there. He didn't want to be discovered by doing anything unnecessary. Although Shuu was a spirit, he was visible to others. If he were attacked by mistake, it would be a disaster.

He decided to stay quiet. Moreover, the goblin's death cry should have attracted its companions. If Flaj and Miguel fought the goblins, he might learn more about magic and magic devices. He continued to observe with this hope.

Sure enough, five goblins appeared.

"No way! Five goblins!?"

"Flaj, I'll use my magic device too!"

Miguel channeled magic power, and the next moment, he thrust both hands into the ground. Vines sprouted from the feet of the five goblins, growing rapidly and entangling them. Although the vines could be easily broken, Flaj quickly launched a fireball from his gauntlet.

"Phew..."

"Ha... I'm tired."

"Miguel, your area-type magic device uses a lot of magic power, right? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, somehow. In situations like this, I envy Flaj's standard armor-type device."

"Hey, you have a rare area-type device. What are you complaining about?"

"Ahaha, sorry."

Another new term emerged. Shuu thought about it again.

(Area-type and armor-type are probably types of magic devices. Flaj's gauntlet is an armor-type because it's in the shape of armor. Miguel's ability affects a specific area, so it's an area-type. There are likely other types as well.)

Another thing that caught Shuu's attention was the boys' clothing.

(They're wearing the same clothes. It looks like a uniform. Maybe it's a school that teaches magic and magic devices? Or maybe they're just part of regular education. In any case, this power seems to be common among humans.)

Flaj and Miguel were wearing the same uniform, with a badge-like emblem on their left chest. They had mentioned a magic test earlier, so Shuu's reasoning was likely correct.

"We've defeated the goblins, so that's enough for today's practice. Let's go home."

"Okay."

While Shuu was thinking, the two boys left. It was an unexpected encounter, but he had observed the first humans in this world and discovered the power of magic. Although magic devices seemed difficult, magic was a possibility.

Shuu's heart leaped a little.

(Magic is about magic power and imagination, right? It would be surprising if I could produce fire just like that...)

Producing fire immediately was too dangerous. He had no intention of handling dangerous things with unknown power. So, Shuu decided to start with water, which seemed relatively safe.

After confirming that the two boys had disappeared into the distance, he extended his hand and began to imagine.

(Enthalpy calculation, hydrogen and oxygen ionization covalent bond, pressure and temperature parameters, entropy calculation, liquid formation of water, surface tension and interfacial energy calculation, adjustment to minimum value, decision to form a sphere, gravity parameter correction)

Using his knowledge of physics, he imagined a water sphere. After calculating the thermal energy to form the hydrogen and oxygen bond, he calculated the entropy from the pressure and temperature to determine the state. Since the current parameters favored a liquid state, he imagined that and then decided on the shape. By incorporating the interfacial energy between water and air and the surface tension of water, and adjusting for gravity, he ensured the energy was at its minimum value. The minimum energy state is the most stable, which is the natural state. In this case, the minimum energy state is a sphere.

As a result, a water sphere formed. There were some rough parts, but they were simplified.

However, the magic circle formed successfully, and a water sphere floated on Shuu's hand.

(Hmm, surprisingly easy. And the magic circle forms automatically. That's pretty cool.)

Geometric patterns and mysterious formulas were inscribed in the magic circle. Although he couldn't understand the content, it stirred his heart. If his guess was correct, the magic circle was not just a meaningless string of characters and patterns. The magic circle must have meaning.

With this expectation, Shuu formed the next image.

(Fix the state of the water sphere, parameterize the radius, calculate the surface area, incorporate air viscosity, parameterize wind direction and speed, calculate air resistance as a function of velocity, add reaction to various resistances during launch to maintain shape, determine movement speed)

Additional patterns appeared in the magic circle, and the water sphere shot out at high speed in the direction of his extended hand. It hit the ground and left a small indentation. It was quite powerful.

Of course, the activation took a bit of time, so practical use would require some adjustments. It was a technology worth studying.

(If I can do this well, it could be a strong card.)

Shuu decided this and began to analyze and study magic.