Volume 1: 07 - Virtuous Old Man, Save Lives

A whole year has passed from the time I created the Philosopher’s Stone.

With the amount of knowledge that can be extracted from it, I no longer have the need for tutoring at the age of seven. I have graduated, so to speak.

Today, as well, I am with Angie in the mansion’s garden, using the knowledge from the Philosopher’s Stone in our magic practice.

Seven spheres are floating in the air before me.

Each one is a different colour…. Red, blue, green, yellow… and the rest the of the rainbow coloration.

These are magical spheres that have an enormous amount of magical power inside of them.

I touch them as they float about, pour my magic into them, and whirl them with a snap of my wrist.

The magic spheres have high rotating speed in the air.

This magic training method is called the「Theramics Method 」.

The person is supposed to release the magic power of their specialty attribute into the air and twirl into a spherical shape.

It is a method that allows a person to train in the release and control of magic power concurrently.

Angie is by my side spinning a white magic ball also.

Her rotation is not as good as mine, she still has some distortions, nonetheless she is doing impressively well for a seven-year-old.

I am in control of seven spheres simultaneously.

Fire, Ice, Wind, Earth, Light, Darkness, and Void.

I am maintaining the magic spheres perfectly round for each of the seven attributes.

「An opening!!! 」

Suddenly, with the spirit and call about an opening, something frightening appeared.

Accompanied by the sound of wind slashing, from what apparently was a double-handled sword, a Zweihander of sorts.

I put my hand out and increase the rotation on the red ball to manoeuvre it.

The red magic sphere, flame attribute sphere, positions in the path of the slash.

A sizzling sound is heard as the two-handed sword melts into the magic ball like butter.

No other attack came, and I looked at him a little taken aback.

「What are you doing here father? 」

「Hahaha, that’s my Alec 」

Father drops the large sword to the ground, which is now only the third of its original size, and laughs with hands on his hips.

It’s the laughter of a triumphant person, which in this case is crazy – is it not.

「Good morning, father-in-law 」

This is a fairly common sight in our house, as evidenced by the fact that Angie, who is with us, does not seem disturbed.

「Mm, good morning. You’re doing great Angie 」

Father looks satisfied as he watches Angie spin the white magic sphere.

「You’re control is far better than I was when I was seven 」

「Thanks to what Alec-sama has taught me 」

「Well, mmm, that’s great, Alec. They say that geniuses are notoriously bad at teaching, and that doesn’t seem to be the case with Alec at all 」

「I’d appreciate it if you didn’t attack me all of a sudden, Father. The servants are watching you, and perhaps some of your guests. If you’re seen in this manner it may affect your reputation 」

「I see! 」

Father looks around and gasps.

Thank goodness, I think he understands – .

「So inviting the Emperor and doing this will inadvertently be a natural way to display of Alec’s genius! I was not aware of that! 」

「No Father that is not what I telling you 」

I was almost relieved.

If I do not convince him otherwise, Father can actually make it happen.

He’s a good lord to the people, but when it comes to the「Alec Appeal 」thing he’s a different person.

「Oh, well, it’s just in time for the Emperor to go on vacation. I should write the Emperor an invite to visit our Carlisle estate 」

With that said, father disappeared into the mansion with more vigour than when he had taken me by surprise.

……

Well.

This means, the Emperor may really be coming here, does it not?

*

The city of Molech.

I have been walking around town with Angie as usual.

Her many facial expressions, are enjoyable to see, so I go out with her almost every day.

「Oh…. 」

「What is it, Angie? 」

「This…. Alec-sama 」

With a frightened look on her face, Angie points to the poster taped to the outside wall of a building.

「Serial killer wanted…. Dead or alive. I see 」

「He killed ten people. I am scared, Alec-sama 」

「Yeah 」

I studied the poster.

There’s a sketch of him, he is quite a thug.

「This is… not to be overlooked 」

「Alec-sama? What do you mean? 」

「I meant my word. I’ve got to do something about it quickly. Otherwise, this may get out of hand 」

The sketch is released for this thug who’s killed ten people.

But it is only a matter of time before he strikes again.

I strongly feel compelled to prevent that from happening.

*

I am now walking through the streets of Molech by myself tonight.

The purpose, of course is to place myself as bait to lure the serial killer who’s in the city out.

I had talked to the city’s security forces, and it seems that the thug is experienced, and only targets women and children.

Then I am the perfect person to do this, so here I am, walking alone in the city at night.

「— Huh!」

I had been walking cautiously, but immediately as I brushed passed one man, and who was now behind me, he grabbed me by the neck and tried to pull me into the shadows.

There is a sharp, cold sensation on my neck. A blade no doubt.

To avoid any collateral damage and innocent people getting caught in the middle of this, I let myself get dragged into the alleyway by the man.

「hmmmm, hmmmm, hahaha」

The man stopped dragging and burst into laughter.

I glanced over my shoulder at the man’s face – it is the same as the sketch from the poster.

「Hey, why are you doing this? 」

「Meat, meat…. Meat, meat meat meat meat meat mea – 」

The man with bloodshot eyes mutters as he pushes his knife further into my neck.

I cannot seem to get through to him.

Then there is one thing I can do for him.

「Meaty meat, — eh? 」

The man aghast, questioned.

As I quickly slipped out of his arm around my neck, took a few steps, and turned to face him.

The man stared at the blade he was holding with a look of disbelief.

The knife is now only a handle; the blade has melted and has sloshed to the ground.

「This is as far as it goes. Anymore and you’ll have more time waiting to be human again….. 」

「Haaaaaaa! 」

The man deliriously swings the remaining portion of the blade and slashes at me.

I swept his hand away carelessly.

The red magic sphere – the magic sphere that I created earlier that melted the man’s weapon – flew with the swing trajectory of my hand.

In the middle of the air, it exploded in size and swallowed the man’s entire body, dissolving his body in an instant.

Not even a bone remained of him afterwards.

He probably did not have time to feel any pain from was done to him, and just died.

I look at the chunk of metal that had been the man’s weapon which is on the ground.

The memory of the people with evil deeds plays in my head and I remember their reincarnations I had watched when I was in line for mine.

「If you kill ten people, you only need to live once as animal 」

I pray that the man would be born a decent human being the next time around.