kscans

Chapter 161 - An Unexpected Conclusion

"Alright, as I explained beforehand, today’s Awakening training will begin with zazen meditation."

"Yes, sir!"

Behind the main temple hall, at the end of a covered walkway, was the former monks’ hall.

Inside, fourteen men and women nodded at Professor Yamadera’s words, each laying out a cushion and sitting in either a cross-legged or formal kneeling position.

It seemed they had changed while we were talking; they were now dressed in white kimonos, though they still wore shirts and sweatpants underneath.

I shifted my gaze from them to the incense burners placed in the four corners of the room.

A faint, a truly faint wisp of mana-infused smoke was rising from them. He was likely burning some kind of magical potion.

On top of that, a barrier had been erected around the building itself, making it difficult for mana to escape. As a result, the mana density inside was slightly higher than outside.

So this is a training ground…

"What do you think of my training hall?"

"Ah, yes. Well, this is my first time in a place like this, so I’m not really sure…"

Professor Yamadera whispered to me, and I kept my own voice low in response.

"But there’s quite a bit of mana built up inside."

"Indeed. I had one of the Awakened Persons who usually comes here set up the barrier for me. It’s not always active; I have them activate it an hour before training and dispel it when we’re finished."

"I see… to prevent the mana inside from stagnating."

"Precisely. Well, since I’m not an Awakened Person myself, I have to ask Arisugawa-kun to come an hour early to set it up for me."

Professor Yamadera gave a slight shrug and picked up a squeaky toy hammer.

…That’s not the long, thin wooden stick I’ve seen in dramas.

"This thing? In this day and age, using a real one would cause problems. This isn’t training to become a monk, after all, so I use this instead."

"I-Is that so?"

Well, I guess it’s better than my parents getting hurt…

"There are times I get nostalgic for the old days, but the modern era has its perks. This is one of them, you see."

With a small laugh, Professor Yamadera began to walk slowly behind the meditating trainees.

As he moved away, Professor Arisugawa came to stand beside me.

"Sensei is an odd man, but he is a trustworthy researcher. Please don’t worry, Kyouta-kun."

"Right… Um, why do you call him ‘Sensei’?"

"Oh, I haven’t told you, have I?"

Professor Arisugawa smiled faintly as she looked at Professor Yamadera.

"My children once attended his lectures. That’s what they called him then, and I’ve continued to call him Sensei ever since."

"I see."

So, Eric-san and Aira-san’s mother.

The Arisugawa family is complicated in so many ways, but they have these occasional moments of normalcy that always leave me unsure how to react.

"As I explained before, what Sensei is currently researching is the ‘elucidation of the Awakening process.’ This training is one part of that research."

"But I’ve heard rumors that there’s still no surefire method for Awakening training."

"That’s correct. Just because one undergoes this training, there is no guarantee they will Awaken. However, searching for an ‘environment that makes Awakening easier’ is also part of the research."

"I see."

It seemed like a long road, but there are few things in this world where the answer is known from the start.

It was likely this kind of steady, incremental work that built modern science. It’s a field I’m not really cut out for.

"This is also, in a way, an attempt to artificially recreate the circumstances of ‘confirmed Awakening cases’ published by the Dungeon Agency."

"Ah, right. I think I heard about a case where someone Awakened after spending time in a house filled with mana from an Awakened Person using their skills constantly."

"You’re well-informed. You get a gold star."

Smiling brightly, Professor Arisugawa made a tight fist.

She really didn’t look like she was in her seventies. Elves are amazing. She must be unconsciously wrecking the emotional stability of students at her university.

If I didn’t know her age or about her grandchildren, I might have fallen for her myself. After all, she looked like a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties.

"There are other patterns, as well. Some become aware of the flow of mana within their own bodies during ‘zazen’ or ‘meditation.’ Some clear their minds while standing under a ‘waterfall,’ causing them to release mana unconsciously. Others put their bodies under strain while ‘mountain climbing,’ feeling nature with their entire being and developing a stronger physique."

"It sounds like a lot of these are just like training methods for monks."

"That’s true. Perhaps that’s why it’s said there’s a relatively high number of Awakened Persons among those at temples and shrines. Of course, there are other methods of Awakening training besides these."

"Right. I think one was ‘activating a magic tool’ or something like that."

"Yes. Since a non-Awakened person can’t manipulate their own mana, they require the support of an Awakened Person. Or, they could use a Magi Battery from the Alchemy Enthusiasts Club."

"…You’re right."

I remembered seeing an article on the news yesterday titled, "I Suddenly Awakened While Supplying Mana to My Golem-chan with a Magi Stand!"

Apparently, such cases were rare, but it was still an absolutely mind-boggling development.

What was truly wild was that this would only make everyone want a ‘love doll-type golem’ even more. Everyone would become desperate to get their hands on an erotic golem.

Is this hell?

It was only a rumor, but I’d heard about robberies and illegal gambling rings popping up, all centered on obtaining these love doll-type golems. The end of days was upon us… especially in terms of visuals.

"And then… I believe there were also old stories of people Awakening in a ‘Private Dungeon.’"

"Yes. Cases where they would intentionally trigger an overflow and have people hunt the monsters that came out."

Private Dungeon.

The term occasionally popped up in fiction, but it was exactly what it sounded like: a dungeon managed by a private individual.

Of course, it was illegal. If you discovered a dungeon and intentionally failed to report it to the government, you could face a prison sentence.

It was rumored that organized crime syndicates and semi-criminal groups, as well as organizations like Turohorse, owned dungeons like these.

In one past case, a university student found a Matango dungeon, deliberately caused it to overflow, and had his family and friends defeat the monsters to induce their Awakening.

One might think they’re just Matango, but if an overflow had happened unnoticed in the middle of the night, and they’d broken through windows to attack people in their sleep, there could have been fatalities.

A dungeon is too vast for an individual to manage. Above all, they can’t take responsibility.

Every last monster harbors an unnatural murderous intent towards humans. It’s more than mere obsession; they move with a sense of duty… as if it were a ‘mission.’

Having encountered overflows numerous times, that was how it seemed to me, at least.

But I digress. The triggers for Awakening are countless and vary from person to person. As of now, I’ve never heard of a foolproof method that guarantees Awakening.

"Um, that aside, there’s something I’ve been wondering about."

"What is it? If it’s something I can answer, I’ll tell you anything."

Professor Arisugawa smiled serenely, and I hesitated for a moment.

Steeling myself, I looked straight ahead.

"Why is Erina-san also playing the role of the one who does the hitting…?"

"…She is sensitive to people’s physical subtleties, so she is, in a way, suited for that role."

With graceful movements, Erina-san patrolled with a squeaky hammer in each hand.

She wore a smile so bright it was dazzling.

"Kaatsu! You have worldly thoughts!"

"Y-Yes!"

"Focus! Let’s do our best!"

The hammers swung with a light, cheerful sound.

With a level of energy that seemed like a fifty-fifty mix of her high-class lady mode and her usual self, the self-proclaimed ninja strolled around, looking like she might break into a hum at any moment.

Well, I guess… it’s fine? Maybe?

As the professor and I watched with uncertain expressions, the zazen session came to an end.

At Professor Yamadera’s request, I brought a magic tool about the size of a human head from the back room.

Its size and shape were like a tray, but it had markings and a needle, resembling some kind of meter. Apparently, the needle would move when mana was poured into it.

It was a simple magic tool, but for that very reason, it could be activated with an extremely small amount of mana.

"Alright, next, each of you will channel mana into this device. Most of you have done this many times, but since this is your first time, Yagawa-kun, I’ll explain things as a quick refresher."

"Please do."

"Basically, we non-Awakened cannot manipulate mana on our own. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t possess it. I want you to channel mana through us and into this magic tool."

"Understood."

I’d heard a rough explanation of this beforehand.

The process was similar to the Magi Stand created by the Alchemy Enthusiasts Club. The difference, however, was that the supporting party’s mana wasn’t ‘colorless.’

How that would affect the Awakening training was an unknown.

"Place your hand on the back of the person using the magic tool, and channel your mana as if tracing the surface of their body… That’s what I’ve asked of the others who have come before."

"Right."

"But I want you to try a different approach. Using those ‘eyes’ of yours."

At Professor Yamadera’s words, a murmur went through the trainees.

My parents were among them, looking at me anxiously.

I was the one who had proposed this. I’d heard about this magic tool through Aira-san and suggested, ‘How about we try this?’

Things quickly escalated from there, and before I knew it, the decision was made to ‘give it a shot.’

All eyes were on me, and a cold sweat trickled down my cheek. This former monks’ hall had apparently been fitted with an air conditioner during its renovation. Thanks to that, it was painfully obvious that this sweat was coming from my own inner turmoil.

Ah, my stomach is starting to hurt.

"Come now. We’ll explain the theory as we go, so let’s start with a practical demonstration. I’ll go first, so if you would, Yagawa-kun."

"Y-Yes."

Perhaps sensing the mood in the room, Professor Yamadera took the lead and accepted the meter-like magic tool.

He sat on the cushion with a practiced air, not cross-legged… no, it was a half-lotus position, I think? The way monks sit.

I knelt behind him on one knee and placed my fingertips on his back.

"Um… even non-Awakened people have mana in their bodies. And it’s not like it isn’t being released at all. It’s just that they can’t open and close that ‘gate’ on their own."

All living things have mana, to a greater or lesser degree. This is an absolute. For that matter, even inorganic matter possesses mana, though its properties are different.

And people are, albeit unconsciously, releasing mana. In fact, a large part of what I perceive as ‘people’s gazes’ is me sensing their mana.

"This time, I’m going to interfere with everyone’s mana vessel from the outside and push the mana within outwards. It should only be a very small amount, so there’s no harm to your health."

In fact, unless you were using something like `Cursed Poison Magic`, it’s impossible to force out enough mana from the outside to harm a human body. The method is completely different.

With that magic, I think a non-Awakened person would die before they even got to use the tool. Seriously.

"Imagine a rubber container with a small hole, filled with water. The water is the mana… That’s the image. Now, I’m going to squeeze the container to force the water out."

"Hmm. Well then, give it a try."

"Right."

I transmitted mana from my fingertips, letting it flow into Professor Yamadera.

Normally, mana cannot be perceived visually. Most Awakened Persons manipulate it through a sixth sense of sorts.

But with my `Spirit Eye`, I could.

I gave Professor Yamadera’s ‘vessel’ a light push. Without resisting the force that tried to push back, I withdrew, and a tiny bit of his mana flowed out.

Now, if I just use `Concept Interference` to guide it a little…

"Hoh…"

Professor Yamadera let out a voice of admiration. It seemed the meter had successfully turned.

But, as expected, he didn’t Awaken on the first try.

"Um, are you alright?"

"Not a problem at all. It seems safe, so let’s have any volunteers give it a try."

Professor Yamadera stood up and offered his cushion. As the trainees exchanged glances, one person moved quickly.

It was my father.

My eyes widened in surprise, and he offered a wry smile in return. For some reason, I felt a little embarrassed and looked down.

"Alright, next up is Yagawa-san. The one on the receiving end just has to relax their shoulders and hold the magic tool like usual, it seems."

"Right. Well, go ahead."

"Okay…"

Feeling a little tense, I touched my father’s back.

It used to seem so big, but now it felt like a normal back. I wondered if a day would come when it would seem small to me.

The thought filled me with emotion, but I consciously pushed it away. I had to focus on the mana now.

…Huh?

As I pushed on his vessel, I felt a sense of… no. It was more like a sense of unfamiliar familiarity, and my brow furrowed.

How to put it… his mana felt incredibly compatible. Perhaps it was because we were parent and child, so our mana types were similar.

With that thought, I guided the mana towards the magic tool and—

In that instant, my fingertips touching his back were physically pushed away.

A hard, cold sensation traveled up my index finger. And then, mana stirred from within my father, rippling across the surface of his body.

Most of all, his clothes changed in a flash, and armor suddenly materialized around him.

There was no doubt. This was…

"`Arcane Gear`…?"

"Huh? Wh-what?"

Looking confused, my father set the meter down and examined his own palms.

I took another look at his `Arcane Gear`… and even from behind, it was plain.

On his head was a helmet that looked like an overturned iron pot, or perhaps a hat. A kettle hat, I think it was called.

He wore a gray hood underneath that extended down to his shoulders. His torso was covered in a thick, white garment that looked like it was stuffed with a lot of cotton.

Were his pants made of linen? And he wore leather boots that seemed to reach his thighs.

He had leather gauntlets on both arms, and a one-handed sword and a buckler hung from a sword belt at his waist.

He really gave off the vibe of a common soldier from medieval Europe. My own `Arcane Gear` is on the plain side, too, so I guess it runs in the family.

But more importantly than that.

"Awakened…"

"It happened…"

Father and son, we muttered in a daze.

Wait, that easily? Seriously?

As I stood there with my mouth agape, a hand suddenly gripped my shoulder forcefully.

I looked over to see Professor Yamadera beaming at me.

"So, still not interested in donating sperm?"

This mad old man is still on about that.

"N-Next, it’s my turn!"

"No, me!"

But Professor Yamadera was knocked aside as the trainees swarmed me.

They rushed forward with the force of a zombie movie, and my father and I were caught in the mob.

"Hey, calm down…! Whoa, who just grabbed my butt?! That’s not going to make you Awaken, you know!?"

A sharp clap echoed through the monks’ hall, where a fight was breaking out over the meter-like magic tool.

In the momentary silence that followed, a beautiful blonde girl slowly approached.

"Everyone, please calm yourselves. We still have plenty of time. Let’s do this one by one."

At the words of Erina-san, who smiled like a peony, the trainees regained their composure.

She wasn’t intimidating them, nor did she possess an overwhelming aura. It was just her perfectly natural posture.

And with it, the air in the room became hers alone.

"However, just as Professor Yamadera did not Awaken, this method is not absolute. Please, do not be disheartened if it does not work out today. If you continue to train diligently, the time may come when your efforts bear fruit."

"Y-Yes…"

After saying this with a smile, her gaze turned to Professor Yamadera, who had been sent flying by the group of older women.

The old man rubbed his lower back and smiled gently.

"Well, I understand everyone’s eagerness. Still, let’s take our time."

"Yes. Um, we’re sorry."

"Are you hurt…?"

"Ho ho. I have a black belt in judo, you know. A little tumble like this is nothing."

As Professor Yamadera laughed, the trainees formed a line with guilty expressions.

"Well then, Yagawa-kun. I’ll leave the rest to you today."

"Ah, yes."

"Also, I’ll give you my contact information later, so feel free to do your thing whenever the mood strikes."

"Professor Yamadera, please don’t overexert yourself."

Erina-san, who had approached without a sound, smiled at Professor Yamadera.

Then, she whispered something in a low voice. I couldn’t make out the words from my position, but sweat suddenly beaded on the old man’s bald head.

"Hohoho… Young lady, do people often tell you that you take after your great-grandfather?"

"No, not particularly. But I am honored that you would say so, Professor Yamadera."

Still smiling, Erina-san moved to stand next to Professor Arisugawa. The professor, in turn, looked at her granddaughter with a slightly surprised expression.

A hush fell over the former monks’ hall after this series of events, but we resumed the training with the magic tool.

However, after my mother also Awakened, the method showed no particular effect on the other trainees. It seemed that interfering with the vessels of non-blood relatives was difficult. The cause was likely the similarity in our mana properties.

In any case, my parents’ Awakening training came to an end in a most unexpected way. Even on the way home, the three of us couldn’t quite believe what had happened.

…Actually, more than my parents’ Awakening, my impression of Erina-san in her high-class lady mode was so strong that my reactions just couldn’t keep up with the day’s events…