Nagai Koto c13

Nagai Koto Chapter 013
The Long Journey Until I Reunite With You

School... Beginning And End

I didn't think I was this weak. So, I thought I simply needed to become strong. It's just, there are no standards for measuring combat strength. Though I say that, for the talent-less me who is unable to use magic, I don’t feel like I’ll get stronger by just haphazardly doing whatever I can. I already proved that over the last ten years. What was it that I needed? If I can’t obtain it, it will become my third regret.

「*Nuooooooh!*」 (Velt)
「You did it, it moved, Velt-kun! You finally moved the jar!」 (Teacher)

On the platform where the attention of the cla.s.s was gathered, just being able to do what everyone else could already do was met with applause. However, being this disgraceful was fine. The other kids my age have already moved countless steps ahead of me.

「Now then, everyone in the cla.s.s has pa.s.sed... Well, Velt-kun has various things to learn about the foundation of magic still, but everyone should work hard from today forth to learn magic that suits them.」 (Teacher)

While the majority of the cla.s.s had delighted expressions, I alone was dejected. To be honest, this levitation magic is my limit. Any more than this is too hard.

「Now then, to review, can someone tell me the eight types of elemental magic in the world?」 (Teacher)

To answer the teacher's gentle question, the most of the cla.s.s vigorously raised their hands. The answer is obvious even for children. Shalt was chosen, and responded full of confidence.

「There are eight types. Fire, earth, lightning, wind, water, darkness, light, and void.」 (Shalt)
「Yes, that is correct. Aside from levitation magic, which is a bit of an exception, a person will generally have an affinity with one type of magic. When you have determined your magical affinity, you have set foot on the path of magic.」 (Teacher)
(TN: We think void magic is something along the lines of not having an element. Will have to see how this changes, if at all.)

In this world, there is technical magic and elemental magic. Technical magic is like the levitation magic I struggled with, including things like telepathy and binding magic, and there are over one hundred different ones. However, alongside technical magic exists elemental magic. Put simply, things like fire and lightning and wind magic can be created and manipulated, and be used to attack. It's the standard for wizards. How well you can utilize elemental magic determines your value as a wizard, so it makes everyone excited.

「Shalt-kun, you already know what element you have an affinity for, and you can use some elemental magic, yes?」 (Teacher)
「Yes, of course.」 (Shalt)
「Then, would you like to try practicing? Do the best you can.」 (Teacher)

Shalt moved to the front and raised his hand. At that moment, a gentle breeze began to flow inside the closed room.

「Wind.」 (Shalt)

It was weak. Well, it’s supposed to be controlled anyways. It was weak enough to only cause his hair to sway. However, that is Shalt's element.

「Shalt-kun has wind. He can combine it with water magic to produce ice magic. Everyone, please try each of the different elements and put them together to make magic this month.」 (Teacher)

Impossible. It's not a complaint, but I have no idea how. By the way, Shalt could blow away a full grown man if he was serious, while I'm only at the level of moving a jar right now. In all seriousness, the differentiation between wizards is their use of elemental magic. There's the magic soldier type that uses a combination of magic with a weapon to fight. Those that can use both elemental and technical magic are the wizard type. They don't have any problems at all. The genius types that can master both blade and magic are what they call heroes and heroines. Aside from those are the useless people that can't use magic that must find different jobs. That's the type I probably am. In other words, elemental magic determines if you're a plebeian or a hero.

「Incidentally, the famous young hero can use all of the elements. By chance, you may be able to become a hero or heroine as well, so please try hard.」 (Teacher)

What kind of freaking cheat is that.

Just so you know, my element is earth. There's something to be said for being the son of a farmer, and I'm a bit disappointed it's not at the level of some kind of cheat.

「Earth, is it... Anyways, fire and lightning are cooler and seem stronger, so it would be good to have those.」 (Velt)

Muttering to myself about my boring element, the teacher came over while laughing with a smile, riding upon the earth.

「Oh? Humans are an existence born from the earth you know? Earth magic is an expression of humanity itself, an exceedingly beautiful element, no?」 (Teacher)

Though the teacher said so gently, she probably has compliments for all of the elements. Because you can't choose your element, there have to be others who are disappointed as well.

「c.r.a.p, I wanted to get void. It's cool and seems the strongest.」 (Student A)
「What're you saying, isn't fire magic cooler and more manly?」 (Student B)
「But, with void you can make cool things like gravity magic you know? I would be happy about that.」 (Student A)

Ooh, chuunibyou is it? Ah, they're ten years old. Heck, they're at the same level as me. Well, void and darkness and light seem to be rare elements, but somehow or another there doesn't appear to be anyone in my cla.s.s with those.

Wait, wasn't Forna a genius that can use lightning, light, and void magic?

「Ahaha, stuuupid. Even if you had void, you wouldn't be able to use gravity magic. That's one of the hardest magic to use you know?」 (Student B)
「S, shut up, I wanted it a little bit. A long time ago, the old man at the second-hand magic shop beat up demons with gravity magic, it was super cool.」 (Student A)

What? That old man was that amazing? Can't judge a person by appearance. However, I'm honestly surprised. Gravity magic literally makes something heavier, though I don't know how much. Ten times, one hundred times, a thousand times heavier, it's a cheat magic that breaks the rules, and is completely unrelated to me. But, even though it may be unrelated to me, it might be the magic I need the most, in a sense.

「That's right. Possibly, at that time, if the baton had more power...」 (Velt)

More destructive power would come from speed, power, and weight. Though, it's not worth much with the body of a ten-year-old. Training would give me power and speed, but nothing can be done about the weight.

「Ha, pointless. I'm an idiot. I finally made something float...」 (Velt)

Right now, what I said, made me think of a foolish question.

「Hey, I've got a question.」 (Velt)
「Eh? Velt-kun has a question! ...*sniff*, Aruna, your son has become so splendid.」 (Teacher)
「No, that's not something to cry about. Instead of that, it's a dumb question, but what's the difference between levitation magic and gravity magic?」 (Velt)
「...Ha?」 (Teacher)
「Well, gravity magic, makes things heavier right? Doesn't levitation magic make things lighter? Though the effect is the opposite, don't they both change the weight?」 (Velt)

The teacher, and the rest of the cla.s.s were dumbfounded. Then, voices began to leak out one by one, resulting in laughter from all.

「Ahahahahaha, Velt, what are you saying?」 (Student C)
「*Hi~, A~*, It hurts, what are you saying with a straight face?」 (Student D)
「Velt-kun is bad in the head. Forna-chan, your future doesn't look good.」 (Student E)

What? Was my question really that dumb? The teacher was trying to hide her face while laughing right along. I suddenly feel disgraced now.

「*Fufufu*, sorry, Velt-kun. To answer your question, they're a bit different.」 (Teacher)
「Wh, wa, eh?」 (Velt)
「Levitation magic only makes something float, not make it lighter.」 (Teacher)
「But, but it floated! That, isn't it because it got lighter?」 (Velt)
「Not quite. First, gravity magic makes something heavier. For example, if I made this textbook one hundred times heavier and hit you with it, you would feel one hundred times the power. But if I used levitation magic to make the book float and then 『grabbed』 it to hit you, it would be just with the weight of the book. The phenomenon of 『levitation』 occurs, so teacher's book doesn't actually change weight. That's how it is.」 (Teacher)

Hearing the teacher's explanation, I, even to this day, don't know why it was that unusual. It's like that, right? But why don't I think that way even after that explanation? You all, what are you thinking? Am I the weird one here? Is it because I'm the only one that grew up in a world where levitation is a downright lie, where magic is nothing but a trick? Levitation magic is amazing! Wait, why am I only thinking at the level of making something float? This, I can use this. No, most of my worries might have just gone away.

「Teacher~」 (Velt)
「What is it? Velt-kun.」 (Teacher)
「I... I'm super motivated now. I'll try hard.」 (Velt)
「Velt-kun! That's it, that interest! Ah~ Velt-kun finally understands what I've been teaching him.」 (Teacher)

Right, I'm motivated.

Thinking that, I decided to leave school.

I wrote a few words that I was dropping out, delivered it to the school, and left. The next day, even as the teacher cried and Forna stormed into the ramen shop shouting, my decision did not change.