Ever since we returned from the Kera Desert, routine has returned to us.

　The guild has ordered us to stand by, and since our quest has just ended, we've been taking it easy on ourselves.
　It's a peaceful day.

　Every day in the morning.

So, try it.
Yes.

　I was in Solstice's room, as usual.

　And now, in my hands, I was holding the great magic wand I borrowed from her.



　A sensation like warm water is poured from my fingertips to the large cane, and in response, the magic stone at the tip begins to glow like a white LED light. I can somehow feel my magic power being amplified inside the large cane in my hand.

　The magical genius girl who was staring at me nodded.

''Fine. Just chant as you go, and write the words.

(Yes.)

　I'm too focused to reply, so I answer in my mind.
　Then I move my great wand.

　In the air, I drew the Thanatos magic letters that I had practiced so many times. The trail of light from the magic stone remains in the air as a letter.
　And.

Shine on my head. --Lightum vaadum!

　Keeping a firm tempo, I chanted.

　At the same time, I completed writing the Thanatos character.
　I put the right amount of magic into it.

(--should be)

　He lifts the large cane and waves it - forward - in front of him.

　Piiin.

"Oh?
Oh.

　Instantly, a small bird made of light flew out of the magic stone of the great staff that glowed.

''Oh, oh, oh...!

　flapping

　The bird, made of magical light, spun around and around above us, illuminating the dark Solstice room.
　Eventually, it chocked on top of my head.

　I looked at Solstice.
　The girl nodded widely.

"Congratulations, Merle. --You did it.

　Yes, yes!
　I couldn't help but gasp.

　This is the first time I've had magic, including in my previous life.
　And thus I........Marle finally learned magic!


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

　
　No! It was a long time.

　First of all, I learned the Thanatos magic letters of "Lightum Vadou".
　With my wand, I practiced writing the letters on the ground over and over again.

(But it's hard to write in the air because you lose your support.)

　I worked hard while being ruined by Solstice.

　I practiced my voice.
　It was hard work because I was tone-deaf.

　Every night I sang with Ms. Illtimina, learning how to vocalize and the rhythm of my voice.

　Practicing, I failed at the amount of magic I could put into the letters, and many times I was saved by the fuse function of the great cane from the backflow of magic.
　My own magic power was low, so I had to practice only once a day.

　It was really, really hard.

　So, I'm glad!
　I'm so happy for you!

Ugh, I did it.
"Okay, okay, good job, good job.

　pom pom

　Solstice's little hand taps my shoulder as I cry with the light bird on my head, smiling.
　That light bird tilts its head back and

　piiiiin

　His beautiful voice echoed in the small room.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


So, from now on, you'll be doing "Heelio" magic.
Yes.

　After the practice, it's a sit-down session.

　But right after using magic, I feel a bit fuzzy.
　Is it because the magic power in my blood has decreased?

　Noticing, Solstice took a small vial from the desk drawer.
　He holds it out to her.

　Inside, a liquid that looks like honey.

'Here, drink this.'
What's this?
Cyrene nectar. It makes it easier to get magic into the bloodstream.

　Huh?

Thanks.

　Take it and drink it. Yeah, it's sweet.

　Gulping.

Basically, you can only recover your magic by breathing. So I don't want you to be reckless until tomorrow morning, okay?
Okay, okay.

　And a treat.

　Then it's time for the two of us to get along and learn.

　The next thing we'll learn is Heelio.
　It's a micro-healing spell.

"Well, I'll show you once.

　As she said this, she suddenly cut the tip of her little finger a bit with her knife.

(Wha?)

　Red blood flows.

　In front of me, I'm surprised.

Heal. --Heelio.

　Solstice placed the large staff, which glowed with a green light, in the palm of her hand.
　The wound quickly disappeared.

　Before it disappeared, something like a tentacle of light was moving in the wound.

　She said that the length and number of these "recovery lights" are linked to the recovery rate of the recovery magic. In short, the more tentacles of light you can create, the higher level of magic you can create.

　A rudimentary micro-recovery is a single ray of light about five centimeters long.

　Solstice pointed a small, faded finger at me.

Well, if it's this big, I can fix it.
Yes.
Well, maybe a bruise or a sprain. But it's not very strong. Don't get overconfident. It'll make you feel better.
Okay.

　I nodded.

(But it's better than nothing, right?)

　And I will be taught the Thanatos magic letters of 'Healio' and the pronunciation of the chanting.

　By the way, the chanting part of 'Lightum Vadoo' and 'Healio' is important, and you can speak the part you say before that as you wish.

'What's important in magic is the image.

　says Lady Solstice, the girl genius.　

　How much strength you give to your magic is determined by its image.
　You must speak up in front of it so that the image is strong.

(I see.)

　So Solstice's mouthpiece is always different when she uses magic.

　Incidentally, since then, I've actually done some research on the three Thanatos magic letters that Illtimina-san taught me how to read when I was in the tower in the Great Forest of Aldoria - 'Ra', 'Tid' and 'Mudah'.

　A single Thanatos magic letter can mean more than 100 different things.

　But there are some major ones that are used a lot, and I've learned those of the three letters.

'Ra' means light, holy, great, etc.

Tid means to reduce, condense, compress, and so on.

Mooda means space, area, containment, and so on.

　I asked the girl genius, "What kind of magic can you do with these three letters?

"What kind of magic can you do with these three letters?
No.

　It was an immediate answer.
　It was the first time Illtimina had taught me Thanatos magic letters, so I was a bit depressed, I was a bit depressed.

　But Solstice continues.

'For now, though.

　.... hmm?

What about now?
Yeah. Hmmm... I don't know. Thanatos magic letters are, in other words, the 'key to the world'.

　And this is what was explained to me.

　To begin with, magic is the act of making the laws of another world materialize in our world. The Thanatos magic letters that cause that magic, in other words, are the keys that open the doors that allow you to communicate with the world.
　It's also said to be a combination key.

　Specifically, here's how it works.

　There are three Thanatos magic letters.

　First of all, how they are arranged.
　Since it's three letters, there are six different types.

　Then, the magic power that you pour into the letters.
　This is important.

　You have to decide how much magic power to pour into each letter. For example, if the magic power is 100, the surgeon is free to divide it into 3 letters in 3 equal parts, 50, 30, 20, or 1, 1, 1, 98.

　And when the 'sequence of letters' and the 'amount of magic power poured into one letter' all match exactly, the key to the world is opened and the magic is activated.
　If they don't match, nothing will happen.

　It's like a dial key for a safe.　

(..................There are too many combinations.

　Moreover, the magic power that pours out is never 100 units, but can be broken down into a thousand, or even 100 million, or even more,

　Solstice says, "So?

'So what?　Right now, we just haven't found it yet, but there might actually be magic that can be activated by those three letters.
I don't think we're going to find him.

　Me with a distant look in my eyes.
　Solstice cowers her shoulders.

''Yes, that's true. But that's how new magic is discovered, whether it's by accident or by steady effort, you know?
..........

　That reminds me.

　Solstice had said before that she was using her own original magic.
　That's what it means.

(.........Solstice is a real genius.)

　Or is it the genius of hard work?

　Once again, I was the one who felt respect for this bespectacled girl.

　That Solstice.

Well,

　pattern

　He closes the instructional book on the desk and looks at me with his crimson eyes, behind his glasses.

''Now that Marle has successfully learned to use magic, why don't we go and buy some magic activators in the near future?
What?

　By magic mover you mean a wand?

'You can't keep using my big cane forever, can you?　They're just disabling the security features, which are not supposed to be available to non-registered users.
Oh, really?

　I didn't know that.

(I didn't know they had fuse-like safeguards and security features, magic wands are pretty high-tech.)

　The girl laughs at my admiration.

The girl laughs, "Well, even the cheapest one costs 2,000 rides, so you'll have to get your money ready, won't you?
..........

　I didn't know you had to do that.

(Hmmm, it's getting expensive again.)

　I'll have to make time to withdraw money from the Royal Bank, I thought.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　In the afternoon, it's time to practice with Kilt-san.

　Every day since we came back from the Kerra Desert, she has been coming from the guild to Ms. Illtimina's house.

'Alright, let's get started,'
Yes!

　In the garden, as usual, I face my master.

　I hold the 'Fairy Sword' in my right eye.
　In contrast, Kirt-san was holding the wooden sword with his right hand only, while his left hand was behind his back. This is because he only uses his right hand, and for the past few days, Kirt-san has been in that stance.

''Yes!''
Hmm, still sweet.

　Kang Kang.

　Many times, we crossed swords.

　Instead of dodging my sword like before, Mr. Kilto is now catching me with his wooden sword.
　It's not that I'm getting any better.

　This is also a way to rehabilitate his right hand.

　Gagging.

Wow!

　Within a few sword fights, "The Fairy Sword" was played and my training ended.

(You're as strong as ever.)

　And.

Come on, get out of my way, you rag.

　Gesi

"Yikes.

　I kick my ass, and now Solstice steps forward, this time with a wooden sword.
　She's wearing an unusually comfortable shirt and trousers, and her soft purple, wavy hair is also tied up around her neck.

　Yes.
　Recently, she, too, had begun practicing her sword.

'Let's go!
Come on.

　Boom, boom, boom, gagan.

　It sounds amazing.

　His sword handling is still poor, but his power is tremendous.
　That's just like the 'demon blood people'.

"Yes, Male.
Oh, thanks, Miss Illtimina.

　As I sit under the shade of a tree and watch, Miss Illtimina comes in with a towel and a glass of water.
　She watches her sister's practice.

He used to hate this kind of sword training before.
..........
'Meeting Marle must have changed Sol's mind. Huh.

　He looked kind of smiling.

(Hmm?)

　As I drink my water, I look at Solstice.

　Oh.
　I knew I'd lost.

"d*mn it.
You want me to pretend more first?　I'll have to wait until I can offer you some advice.

　Mr. Kilt chuckles at Solstice, who looks frustrated.

　Solstice, who comes back to us, is staring at me for some reason.
　Eh, why?

　Illtimina smiles a small smile.
　And.

Irna, you need a partner. Children are not strong enough for rehabilitation.
Yes, I understand.

　She stood up when he named her.

　She took the wooden sword from the Buddha-faced Solstice.

Do you want to get even?
Yes, sir.

　Nodding to her sister, the beautiful sister turned to face the strongest 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter'.

　The air changes.

　In the tight and tranquil world, the swords of the two Demon Hunters clash.

　Ka-ka-ka-ka-ka, swoosh!

　The sound is already different.
　The two swords are so fast that many of them are invisible.

''... different dimensions, different.''
Yeah.

　I nodded to Solstice, who was dumbfounded.

(But I'll have to catch up someday.)

　I continued to desperately watch their movements.

　Eventually, the tornado-like battle between the two ended with Kirto's victory.
　Kilto-san's expression was a bit satisfied.

'Mm. It was good practice.
I'm sorry.

　Iltimina lets out a sigh.
　This time, it looks like he fought better than before.

　Mr. Kilt rubs the little finger on his right hand.

If you keep moving it around, it will get better.

　I see.
　I knew it was because Solstice was so good at treating them?

Yeah, good.

　Relieved, I stood up.

'Good. Well, now it's my turn.
Hmm.

　Mr. Kilt showed no fatigue and fought the three of us in turn.

　Eventually, as the sun began to set, the training ended.

(Ah, I'm tired.)

　My arm is a little numb.
　My grip is getting weaker, and as expected, I'm getting tired.

　Seeing me in such a state.

Hmm. Is it time?

　Mr. Kilt nodded widely.

'Good. --Finally, Marle and Sol, you two will fight it out.
What?
Me and Merle?

　We couldn't help but look at each other.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Switching the weapon in my hand to a wooden sword, I stood in front of Solstice.

(Oh, it's heavy.)

　He was used to the lightness of a fairy sword, and the weight of this wooden sword was quite hard on his now tired arms.

　Solstice, on the other hand

I'm gonna smash you.
..........

　Boom, boom, boom.

　He pretended repeatedly to be ready to kill them.

　Hmmmm?

　Mr. Quilt looked at us and　

'You two, stay alert, okay?　Just stay focused until the end.
Yes, sir.
Of course!

　We nodded.

　Then I breathed and held the wooden sword in my right eye, as I always do.

　Illtimina-san looks a bit worried.
　She can't support either me or my sister, and she just watches the two of us, clasping her hands together as if in prayer.

(It's okay, Iltimina-san.)

　In my mind, I call out.
　And.

Start!

　Our practice began with the voice of the master.

　At the same time as the voice.

'Deaaaaah!'

　Solstice swung her wooden sword over her head and pounced.

(Whoa, fast!)

　Hurriedly, he takes it on with his sword.

　Gatchin'

　I can feel the tremendous impact.

(Hey!?!)

　Is she really trying to kill me?

Hi!　TO!
.....

　Gokiyin.

　I desperately need to take it.
　If I fail to take one, I'm really dead.

(It's kind of like being hit with a log.)

　That's how powerful it is.

　What's more, the troublesome thing is that my movements are surprisingly slow, even for myself, due to 'fatigue' and the 'weight of the wooden sword'.
　It's a simple 'speed' and 'power', and they are superior to you.

　The only thing we're winning is our 'technique'.

(Calm down, Marle.)　

　Concentrate and handle it.

　The girl, who has not been hit by any of the increased offense, exclaims in frustration.

''This!　Come on, you're going to get f*cked!
..........

　Don't be ridiculous.

　Gah gah gah geez.

　Down, down, down, down, down, down.

Yeah!

　Solstice's sword, which was scorched, swung bigger than ever before.
　Now.

''Yes!''

　Snap.

　The tip of my outstretched wooden sword struck the pommel of the swung Solstice's wooden sword, right on target. The pushed wooden sword pops out of my small hands.

''Heh?''

　I lightly touch the wooden sword to Solstice's neck as she loses her weapon.

'Yes, I win.'
'What?　Ehhh!

　The girl was aghast.

　I'm sorry, Solstice.
　But as expected, I didn't feel like losing to your sword with all those gaps in it.

　If you weren't so tired and didn't have such a heavy wooden sword, we could have settled this matter much faster.
　I have that confidence.

　Iltimina-san exhaled heavily, as if relieved.
　Kilt-san nodded in satisfaction.

''Mm, that's as far as it goes.''

　In front of us comes Mr. Quilt, who has picked up the wooden sword.

　He says to the girl, who pulls her lips together.

'Do you understand, Sol?　With the sword by force, you will soon reach your limits. From now on, don't be afraid to hone your sword skills.
Ugh, okay.

　She took the wooden sword and nodded.

　Then Mr. Kilt looked at me, this time.

'Marl, remember what you fought for today. It will be more of the same from now on.
What?

　What does that mean?
　I was puzzled, but my master said to me, "As a swordsman, you have a natural disadvantage.

As a swordsman, you were born with a handicap. That means you are not a people of demon blood.
..........
Even an amateur Solstice has that kind of power and speed. That's how high the Demonbloods' physical abilities are, and they are far ahead of you. And that gap will never be bridged.

　My heart went cold at those words.

(Does that mean ... that I'm not cut out to be a swordsman?)

　Finding the 'fear' in my blue eyes, the beautiful master shakes his head.

'No.'
..........
You should know your weaknesses. You are inferior in strength and speed, so above all, hone your skills.

　Mr. Kilt's golden eyes are looking at me with a strong force.

"As you approach the heights, you will experience battles like today's, many times. Continue to hone your 'skills' with all your might so that you can win them.
........... Yeah.

　I nodded.
　Mr. Kilt smiled reliably.

"Don't worry. This demon princess will give you the swordsmanship you need to do so.

　crumpled

　Then she ruffled my hair with her white hands.
　Wah?

　Mr. Kilt laughed happily at my panic.

　Solstice looks at me with a pout of her lips, looking at me in a somewhat complicated way. Illtimina-san is watching over us, smiling gently as usual.

(I see. I only have 'sword skills'.)

　I just realized it now.
　I have to admit, I was a bit shocked, but I'm glad I found out early on.

　I wonder if it was still hard for Kilt-san to teach that as a teacher?

　But you taught me well.
　Then I'm going to have to try to live up to it.

(Yeah, good luck with that!)

　I clench my fist in a small fist.

　And so our training in the garden at dusk is over.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The days went by like that, and the week passed by in the blink of an eye.

　Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of King Shumuria's birth.

　Solstice and I were waiting in the living room of Illtimina-san's house for him(-)woman(-) to come out.

'--I made you wait.'

　Huh?

　I turn around and see a beautiful woman in a dress coming down the stairs.

　She is dressed in a pale yellow dress and her rich silver hair is tied up. Her shoulders and chest are bare, and a glittering jeweled necklace gleams above her white skin. With every movement, the earring swayed and the jewels on the frame glittered and twinkled.

　It was that quilt, dressed in a beautiful dress.

(Wow, she looks like a real princess.)

　I am dumbfounded.
　Solstice has a girlish, mesmerized look on her face as she dresses.

　Behind that princess, Iltimina-san, who helped her dress up, looks satisfied as she holds the hem of her dress for her.

'Don't look at it too much. I know it doesn't look good on you.

　The princess says something like that, with her cheeks tinted.

　BOOM!

　I shook my head as best I could.

'Nope. You look amazingly beautiful, Kilt.
Nuh-uh...

　She looks a little embarrassed.
　Ms. Illtimina laughs happily.

'So, I told you it would be fine.　It looks great on you.
That sounds flattering.
It's true.

　Yeah, it's true.

　I don't know if he's not used to dressing like this, or if he's uncomfortable in this kind of outfit, but Mr. Kilt looks uncomfortable.
　But it can't be helped.

　She's going to the castle now.

　Tonight, in the great hall of the castle, a dinner will be held the night before the ceremony.
　It's a gathering of kings and nobles.

As the Golden Mark Demon Hunter, she has been personally invited there by the Shumurian royal family.

　It's a tough job.

　But the current Kirt-san is really like a princess, and I don't think she'll ever lose to the noble ladies there.

I like it.

　The girl murmurs with a longing look in her eyes.
　Mr. Kilt chuckles and exhales heavily, as if the corset is painful.

'Honestly, these clothes don't suit my nature.
Be patient.

　Ms. Illtimina laughed and finally adjusted the mess of her dress.

　Concon.

　And then there was a knock on the door of the house.
　When I opened the door, I saw a group of well dressed knights in armor standing there. Behind them - on the road in front of the house - a luxurious carriage was parked on the road in front of the house.

　They said in a stern voice.

'Kirto Amandes-sama, it's time to go.
"Mm.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.
　Then he looked back at us.

Well, I'll have to. Well, I'm going to a dinner party and have an expensive drink.
Yes.
I don't want any rough edges.
Bye, Quilt.

　The demon princess gave a small smile and climbed into the carriage, escorted by her knights.

　Rattle.

　A noise was made and the luxurious carriage began to move.

　There were many people gathered on either side of the road, wondering what was going on. When they saw Kilt-san in her dress, they all cheered, "Oh........
　I was a little proud.

　Then the carriage went down the hill and around the bend and out of sight.

'...
..........
..........

　We looked away.

　Somehow I looked at the sisters.
　They were both in their normal clothes now.

　Ms. Illtimina was wearing a dress and her long, beautiful dark green hair was in a loose braid.

　Solstice is wearing her usual glasses, a shirt and a skirt about knee length. Her soft purple hair is tied up, parted on either side behind her neck.

(Hmmm?)

　I'm going to be honest.

"I would have loved to see you two in your dresses.
"Oh?
What are you talking about?

　Mr. Illtimina laughed gleefully, and Solstice kicked me lightly in the leg with a peck, and went back to the house. Her cheeks were a bit red, though.

　She chuckled at her sister's back, and then Illtimina looked toward the city that stretched down the hill.

　Today, all the way down there, she could hear the sounds of activity.
　The occasional fireworks would also go off.

　All of Mulia, the royal capital, is in full swing for the eve of tomorrow's ceremony.

(How bright the air is.)

　Invited by the enthusiasm, my mood is lifted.

　Noticing me, Illtimina-san laughs.

"Shall the three of us go to the city later?
What?

　I did it.
　As I rejoice, Illtimina-san's smile deepens as her crimson eyes narrow at me.

''Then let's get ready to go out, shall we?
Yes.

　We walk hand in hand to the front door.

(After all, festivals are nice, aren't they?)

　Is it because I'm Japanese in a previous life?
　Yes, I'm very much looking forward to it.

　And so, that afternoon, we went out to the center of the festive royal city - the heart of the city.