「Alright, here we are—first floor of the dungeon. Today’s training will take place here.」
We spread out a vinyl sheet just inside the entrance hallway and unloaded our gear.
From the bags, I pulled out a bucket and a few steel cans.
「So, let’s start with physical enhancement. What kind of image do you two have of it?」
「Hmm… like being able to move like Captain Am○rica or something?」
「Umm… maybe like the Hu○k?」
Why are they both using American comic heroes as examples? Well, whatever.
「Close, but not quite. Sure, with physical enhancement, you can exert superhuman power if you try. But what do you think happens when someone who hasn’t trained suddenly uses that kind of strength?」
I let the question hang in the air, and both of them started thinking… until Ootori-san suddenly caught on.
「Could it be… that their muscle fibers tear and get shredded or something?」
「Exactly. Bit of a gruesome way to put it, but yeah.」
I handed each of them a steel can.
「So to start, I want you two to try crushing these cans—like this.」
I demonstrated by crushing one between my thumb and forefinger. Back in my other world, it was rocks we used… My instructor there was terrible at teaching magic, so I ended up doing training like this for a whole month.
While I was briefly reminiscing about my hellish training days, Hikari spoke up.
「But Yuuki, we don’t even know how to use magic, right?」
「Yeah, I’ll teach you that now. I just wanted you two to first understand the goal—crushing the can.」
As I spoke, I crushed a can in my hand, flattening it completely.
「Okay, let’s go one at a time. Hikari, you’re first.」
I gently took her hands in mine and aligned them with mine. Then, I slowly poured a low-level healing spell through our hands.
「Hikari, do you feel something warm flowing through your hands?」
「Ummm… oh! Yeah, I think I do! It’s like it’s circulating inside me.」
「That’s it. Alright, stopping now.」
「Ahh… whoa. My shoulder stiffness is totally gone…」
Hikari spun her shoulders around in big circles, causing her chest to bounce along with the movement. A blessed sight.
「Nngh-hmm.」
A pointed cough from Ootori-san brought me back to reality—and served as a warning.
「Alright then, Ootori-san, you’re next. Shall we begin?」
I took her hands and began channeling a light healing spell into them.
「Do you feel anything?」
「Hmm… not really, no.」
「I see. Then let’s try a different approach. When you usually fight monsters, what’s it like?」
「Hmm… to be honest, I don’t really remember much of it.」
「Ah, I see. That must be due to your job class—Berserker, right?」
「Yes… it’s a little embarrassing to admit.」
「No worries. I know how to handle that.」
「Ehto… what do you mean by that, exactly?」
「Ah……」
(Crap. Totally slipped.)
「Alright, listen. What I’m about to tell you is… unusual. You absolutely must not share it with anyone else. Can you promise me that?」
I released a wave of magical pressure and glared at her with serious intent. If she didn’t understand what I was about to say, I wouldn’t be able to stay here. Hell, I might not even be able to stay in Japan.
「Understood… I swear not to speak of what you’re about to tell me. If I betray that—」
「No need to go that far. I trust you—at least enough to have this conversation.」
「Thank you. I’ll make sure not to betray that trust.」
And so I told her.
That I had gone to another world—and returned. That I could use both attack and healing magic. That, as a result, my job class couldn’t even be measured anymore.
Ootori-san didn’t make light of anything I said. She just quietly listened to it all.
「So that’s how you managed to defeat three ogres at once…」
「That’s right. The normal variants I can kill instantly now. Even mutated ones only give me slight trouble before I win.」
「You’ve become that strong…?」
「I guess you could call it leveling up. Or maybe breaking through a barrier is more accurate… That moment makes you stronger. Though it was my first time experiencing it in this world.」
「Then I can become stronger too…?」
「Well, first you’ll need to learn to control your power.」
「Ugh…」
「Hey now Yuuki, don’t tease her like that!」
「Sorry, sorry. But if you can’t control it, you’ll just push yourself too hard.」
「Is that how it works?」
「If you lose yourself and can’t recognize when to stop… it could cost you your life.」
「You’re right… So what’s the solution?」
「Martial arts training is best, but that takes time… So we’ll have to use a rougher method for now.」
「Understood. I’ll leave it to you.」
「This will take time, so let’s start with Hikari’s training method first. It might help you too, Ootori-san, so please listen.」
「Got it!」「Understood!」
「Hikari, try focusing on the magic power you felt earlier – this time, imagine containing it within yourself. Visualizing it in your stomach might help.」
As I spoke, I channeled a faint healing spell into Hikari.
「Ah… I think I’m starting to understand…」
「Now imagine that same power exists within you.」
「Mmm…! …Ah! Found it!」
「Try to spread that energy throughout your entire body.」
「Mmm… mmmph…! …Aah… Failed…」
「No, that was excellent! You’re learning so quickly, Hikari!」
「Ehehe～ Praise me more, more～」
I patted her head as she clung to me, showering her with compliments. Then I noticed Ootori-san staring blankly in our direction.
「Ootori-san? Is something wrong?」
She immediately flustered at being addressed.
「I-It’s nothing! Everything’s fine!」
If you say so…
She’s been acting strange lately.
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Afterword
About Ootori-chan – she may seem like an ojou-sama but she’s really just a normal high school girl at heart (well, from a wealthy family but attends a regular high school).
You might think her personality is different from before – that will be explained later!
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