That's it for today's class! Everyone. Have a safe trip home.
"Yes, sir!

　The children replied cheerfully, got up from their seats, and left the classroom as if they had been released.
　A little later, I also gathered up my textbooks, tied them together, and went to Ms. Claire to bow.

I'll be back in a few days." "Bye, Miss Claire. ...... And I'm sorry I've been so absent-minded today.
"It's okay, Mr. Ranga. It's a good thing I'm not a teacher, because I've been punished for trying to test you. It's my punishment for being a teacher. I'm still a novice.

　Ms. Claire smiled, then closed her eyes, clasped her hands in front of her chest, and assumed a penitent posture.
　She is a saintly person who never doubts anyone and is popular among children.
　I'm still not used to being treated like a child, but I felt good to be treated that way by this person.

"Be careful on your way home.
"Okay.

　As I said goodbye to Ms. Claire and left the school building, I saw a group of children gathered in front of a bush on the grounds.
　Curious, I walked up to one of the kids and spoke to him.

"Hey, what's going on?　Hey, what's up, guys?
"Oh, Ranga. It's a cat. It's in the bushes.

　I looked into the bushes and saw a black cat.
　I wondered if it had wandered in, with its beautiful fur and gold and silver odd eyes. It was a beautiful black cat with a well-shaped face.
　The cat was yawning carefree, but was looking at everyone so that it could escape at any time.
　It was the typical behavior of a stray cat.
　Then, Renton, the boy who had spoken to me earlier, crouched down in front of the black cat and moved his finger.

"There, there, there. Come here.

　But the cat shows no sign of responding, and doesn't even look at Renton.
　Undeterred, the black cat glanced at Renton, who was pawing at him, and rolled his eyes.

"Meow!

　As if it had noticed something, the cat made a small mew and jumped towards Renton.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

What?　What? He's taking my treat!

　It seemed that the cat had only found the dried meat in his pocket.
　With a quick pounce, the cat climbed up the church wall and turned around.

"Meow!

　With a mocking purr, the cat jumped down and ran away.

"d*mn it!

　Renton stomped on the ground in frustration, but the cat was already far away.
　Everyone is consoling Renton, who is feeling down.
　Poor Renton, but I don't think you should keep dried meat in your pocket.

　I left.

　I left the place and went not to my house, but to the stone wall surrounding the city.
　I avoided the straw bundles that had been placed in the gap between the houses, and found a hole in the wall through which a child could pass, and slipped out.

"Yoo-hoo!

　Outside the city, there is a desolate land.
　I could see dead grass growing everywhere, tangled into a ball, rolling in the wind.

　I put my hood up tightly and proceeded to keep an eye out for people around me.
　If they find the kid, they'll take him back at once.
　After a while, I saw something moving in the shade of a rock.

You're at .......

　The creature was a cloudy, dusky-colored mucus called Zell.
　A demon is a being that has been shaped by the magical power that overflows from the depths of the earth to the surface.
　A demonic creature that avenges people.

　My goal is to fight this thing.
　A certain amount of strength is necessary for a peaceful life.
　There are many ways to train for this, but in the end, actual combat is the most efficient.
　What's more convenient is that when they see humans, they will gladly attack them, so there is no pain in their hearts.

"Surreal......!

　This Zell was no exception. When it recognized me, it turned its internal eyes toward me.
　Red eyes full of hostility.
　I'm not sure what to make of this.
　Attacking from all directions, I prepared to face it.

"Shaaaaah!

　I put magic power into both of my palms and lightly flicked the tentacles that came out like a supple whip.
　With a poof, the tentacle's whip changed course and slammed into the ground.
　Sensitivity is good. Let's start by getting used to it.
　Poof, poof, poof... Zell's attack is repelled. Keep playing. Each time you do, your attack speed increases.

"Shoe ......?

　Finally, Zell seems to have noticed something strange.
　The moment I touch Zell, I cast a light spell to improve his physical abilities.
　He's no match for a mere Zell, but if I raise his basic performance like this, he'll be a good training ground.

　The battle between me and Zell gradually increased in speed, and became invisible to the casual observer.


　A series of dry clicks sounded like "clap, clap, clap, clap.

"......?

　Zell's tentacles slipped through my hands as I tried to defend myself, and snatched at my cheeks.
　While I was frightened, two or three more shots were fired.
　It seems that the other side's speed is starting to exceed mine.
　The magic power circulating in my body can no longer keep up with my body control.

　I can see how inexperienced my magic control is in actual combat.
　The control of magic power is the lifeline of a physical demon like me.
　It's easy to say, but it's much harder than it sounds.
　It is very difficult to make a perfect blow in succession with speed, excess, density, and shape.

　Even when I was a Four Heavenly Kings, I could not say that I had mastered it, and even more so now that I have the body of a child.
　The series of movements that allow the flow of magic power to spread from the torso to the arms and fingertips is extremely slow.
　I'm consciously trying to move the magic up a tempo now, but this only works for low-grade demons.
　My simple physical abilities are not up to par, and I can't move my body as expected.
　My current fighting level is even lower than that of the lower demons.

"Shhhh!

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　---- Of course, you don't have to give it to me.
　I grabbed it easily and stopped it.

I grabbed it easily and stopped it. "What the ......?

　The tentacles wriggle around, trying to escape, but they can't.
　It's the irregularity of the strikes that makes it difficult for me to read their movements, but there's no way they'd be able to take a readable attack like that.
　When I put my strength into the wriggling tentacles, the ends of them swell up distortedly.

Don't get carried away, okay?
"----

　The tentacle bursts open with a bang.
　The tentacle falls to the ground, bounces a few times, and then disappears.

"Gishi......ishi......ishi......!

　As it regenerated its lost tentacles, it took a rhythmic step toward Zell, who was backing away.
　It sprouted countless tentacles and made desperate attempts to resist, but ignored all of them and moved forward.
　Even though he has enhanced his physical abilities, he is still a low-level demon, and his specs are too different from mine to do any real damage.
　At close range, I put magic power into my fist and take another step.
　I took a short breath and exhaled ----.

"Huh!

　At the time of breathing, I put magic power into my fist and pierce the center of Zell.
　The core of the blow penetrated the mucous body, and the aftermath of the impact caused Zell's body to ripple.
　The waves were small at first, then gradually became larger and larger. ---- Finally, Zell could no longer hold his shape and burst.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm not ready for ....... I'm not sure what to make of this.

　It's still not enough. I guess I'll have to keep practicing for a while.
　Besides, this training is also meant to weed out the demons.
　It is not uncommon for a large number of demons to gather and destroy a city.

"...... Oops, I'd better get home. My dad's not coming home.

　I muttered, and rushed off towards the city.