kscans

Chapter 119 - Lie... Is This Me? Transforming into an Unknown Self!

"Um, thank you for having me today."

That day, Sakuya had visited the Mutual Aid Society's training facility in Tokyo. Rika and the others had suggested it to Satou.

"We've already met everyone and all. Even though we won't start moving in earnest until September, wouldn't it be better to study how to use your powers a bit?"

"Besides, even when you come here in September, you'll probably be busy with daily life stuff for a while."

"You can already use simple magic intuitively at this stage, right? Even if we can't teach you anything, we think we could at least serve as training partners."

That's what they said. Since Sakuya herself wanted to do this too, she decided to come to Tokyo by teleportation on days when she had time. Today was the first day. Satou had only slipped out during lunch break, so after transporting Sakuya, he immediately returned to his company.

"Sacchan, Sacchan. Let's take it easy, take it easy."

"If you're too formal with us, we'll get nervous too."

"S-sorry, okay? I mean, sure, you guys are younger than me, but you're my seniors in this world."

"Well, in my case, the timing isn't that different from Ayase-san's, so I'm not really much of a senior."

"If you put it that way, same goes for us. Right?"

"Yeah. A few months difference is just margin of error in this world."

Rika and the others' words seemed to ease her tension. Sakuya also seemed to relax her shoulders a bit, looking less stiff than before.

"Thank you. By the way, what kind of powers do you all use?"

"Ah, since we're forming a party, we should start with that."

"Then I'll go first since mine's the simplest."

Hikaru stepped forward.

"My classification is psychic, and my ability is simply physical enhancement. My job is to get up front and duke it out."

That's what he said, but whether it was really just physical enhancement was highly questionable. He didn't fit into any existing psychic categories, and above all, he too seemed to be favored by fate.

"How manly."

"Thanks. Well, though that's just all I can do. By the way..."

Hikaru pulled out his light saber and high-frequency blade with a slightly smug expression.

"These are the kinds of weapons I use."

"The sword aside, but that other one... wow, weapons like something out of sci-fi really exist, huh."

Huh? Did I miss the mark? The reaction he was expecting didn't come back, leaving Hikaru deflated. He tilted his head wondering why a boy wouldn't be thrilled by something so obviously cool, but concluded with "well, he seems serious" and left it at that. Rika was next to introduce herself.

"I'm also a psychic. A Star's Fallen Child, was it? I'm classified as that kind of psychic, but... hehehe."

"?"

"Apparently I'm the highest rank among those Star's Fallen Children!"

Sakuya let out a wry smile at Rika's smug double peace sign, thinking how positive she was.

"Though honestly, what I can do now isn't that different from yours, Sacchan."

"Mine?"

"Yeah. Like creating flames and throwing them, or releasing wind like this."

Saying that, Rika demonstrated by shooting flames from one hand.

"If I train, it'll apparently become an almost omnipotent ability. Mama, who's like my completed form, could transform her body into natural phenomena to dodge attacks or do things like short-distance teleportation."

"Amazing... transforming your body into natural phenomena means you can become water or wind, right? It feels like you could do whatever you want..."

When Sakuya let that impression slip, Rika and the others laughed heartily.

"Sacchan, Sacchan. Mama's cute compared to some."

"If you're talking about doing whatever you want, Satou-san is way more so."

"He's human so he has mental vulnerabilities, but regarding his abilities, he could claim to be omnipotent."

"...Is Hero Uncle really that amazing?"

Actually, Sakuya herself knew he was probably incredible. When she visited the Akita Mutual Aid Society for various procedures, they treated him with the utmost respect.

"If you took a survey in the supernatural world, probably ninety percent would answer that he's dangerous."

"He's someone who could conquer both the surface and supernatural worlds right now if he wanted to."

"...I can't really imagine that."

To Sakuya, Satou was a nice uncle figure. She could only see him once or twice a year, but when they met, he was always really good to her. The idea that such a person possessed the power to rule the world right now didn't quite click.

"I know his good sides, but I also know plenty of his pathetic sides..."

"We'll ask you for details about that later, but may I explain myself next?"

"Ah, sorry. I made us get off track. Please go ahead."

"I'm a superhuman classified as ancestral regression."

This was 100% a lie from the start, but... well, given the circumstances, it couldn't be helped.

"Ancestral regression?"

"Among non-human beings, there are those who bear children with humans. This country has many tales of such interspecies marriages, doesn't it?"

"There are. Like with foxes."

"If humans continue marrying, usually by the grandchildren's generation, the influence from non-human blood disappears."

Rarely, through atavism, distant descendants might manifest their ancestors' blood.

"In my case, it seems my ancestor mated with a death god, so I can wield that power."

"D-death god..."

"In game terms, it's instant death magic. Low cost, and against opponents weaker than me, it's no questions asked."

"I-I see."

"It's convenient for clearing out small fry, and Hero-san said it was like a money-making qualification."

"Money-making qualification... that's... well, I guess that's the kind of world this is."

"Yes. The damage from aberrations doesn't make the news, but it's quite substantial."

She concluded that instant death and close combat using a large scythe was her fighting style, finishing Sarna's explanation.

"So that's our party's style."

"We're happy to have Sakuya-san join us since it'll greatly expand our support options."

"Haha, thank you. I'll work hard to meet your expectations."

"Shall we immediately do a mock battle using our powers?"

"Ah, wait. Before that, there are various things I'd like to try."

Things you'd like to try? As the three tilted their heads, Sakuya pulled a notebook from her pocket. The notebook was labeled "Satou's Magic Book."

"What's that?"

"He gave it to me when he came to pick me up. It apparently contains basic knowledge and useful magic."

Practicing alone was forbidden, but if Rika and the others were nearby, there was no problem.

"He said to knock me unconscious if things looked dangerous."

"...He says that so casually."

"Cutting off consciousness to sever magic power injection is standard procedure, so it's not wrong."

"Hey hey! More than that, I'm curious about what's inside that notebook! What kind of magic is written in there?"

"Ah, me too. I apparently have some magical aptitude myself."

"Then let's all take a look together."

The four of them peered into the notebook together. The first part contained easy-to-understand basic knowledge written in readable handwriting, though not particularly skillful. He had probably written it himself for Sakuya's sake. Feeling warm at his kindness, the group continued reading through the contents.

"Satou's Top 100 Recommended Magic... I wonder what's in there."

"It appears to be a three-level rating system."

"Sakuya-san."

"Yeah. Um, the first one is... transformation magic?"

"...Three stars?"

Magic for changing into something else. It was popular, or rather felt like the kind of witch technique that ordinary people would imagine, but was it really worth such a strong recommendation? Well, it certainly felt fantastical and dreamlike, but the group tilted their heads in confusion.

"Looking at the technique explanation, it doesn't seem that complicated."

"The reason for recommending it is on the next page. Sacchan, Sacchan."

"Alright, alright."

They turned the page to see Satou's reason for recommending it... and were struck speechless.

"Transformation magic is easily abused, so many countermeasures exist, but that's exactly what makes it 'delicious' magic. If mastered, you can slip through most countermeasures and exploit the psychological gap of opponents who think they're safe because they have countermeasures. So what does this mean? If you thoroughly develop this, you can cause all kinds of mischief. Ah, the mischief I'm talking about here is, you know, mischief in a good way. Below I'll list specific examples and key points for taking action."

The multiple specific examples that followed were... well, how should I put it, so villainous that they were hard to put into words. Assassination while disguised as close relatives, methods for causing internal organizational splits, most of them were obviously based on real experience and eerily vivid.

"...Maybe it's just because it's the transformation magic section that the explanation became so ruthless... yeah."

Hikaru's defensive comment to no one in particular echoed hollowly. However, betraying his attempt at defense, everything that followed was equally villainous. The magic itself might not be so bad, but Satou's reasons for recommending them were simply evil. After reading about halfway through, Rika muttered quietly.

"Is this a dark magic book?"

"""..."""

No one could say anything.