CH 11

11 - Magical Inheritance

“Is it only witches that can use magic?” Lulurun asked.

“Only female mages called ‘witches’ and the ‘witch kindred’ blessed by witches can use magic,” Reines said.

“You mean those guys?” Lulurun asked.

She remembered the cookie-cutter thugs. They were definitely capable of using magic.

“They use magic only to satisfy their greed, no matter how many of them you defeat, they spring up one after another… and we, the Knights of the Holy Empire, are here to fight them.”

“What exactly does it mean to receive the blessing of a witch?” Lulurun said.

“The witch kindred were originally just normal human beings, until the witches give them their magic,”

“Giving them their magic, huh…?”

“What’s on your mind?” Reines asked.

Lulurun was a little troubled by Reines’s expression.

By “blessing,” did Reines mean the magical machines used by the cookie cutters? Or was it a magical inheritance? There were some differences in common sense from her original world…

“No, I wondered if it was something special, you know?” Lulurun asked.

“No way, was it not special in your world to give magic?” Reines asked.

“The gifting and inheritance of magic is a matter of course…” Lulurun said. “Maybe in this world, the witches are in control of something like the fundamentals of magic, and they don’t share that kind of knowledge.”

“So, you can transfer magic?” Reines asked.

“But, they were using a magical machine, which doesn’t mean they inherited their magic exactly… I don’t think it was transferred, no, but… they seemed to have substituted the seals in the magical machine, not everyone can use magic.”

Reines listened to Lulurun’s ramblings curiously.

“Can you also let people inherit your magic, Keisuke?” Reines asked.

“Yes, I can pass down my magic, but… how do I prove it to you?”

Reines holds out her hand as if to answer it. “Prove it with me.”

“Huh?” Lulurun said.

“Pass down some of your magic to me,” Reines said.

“Huuuuhhh?!!” Lulurun squealed.

The method to prove it was enough to surprise Lulurun. However, she wondered if Reines could have the same power as the people she hated, if she could still retain her pride afterward, or whatever else was of concern.

“If I can solve one of the world’s mysteries by throwing away a bit of my pride, then it’s a cheap price to pay,” Reines said.

With that, Reines gave a fearless smile.

“And I want to know, about the power that the people I most despise, what it is and how they use it,” Reines said.

As Lulurun sensed the “preparedness” from Reines, she began to explain the mechanics of magical inheritance.

“… I understand, but I’ll explain it first, even if you inherit it, you can’t always use it, if it doesn’t mesh well with you, you may end up hurting yourself, the total amount of your magical power, and how many seals you can make are factors that you are born with and are unchangeable, and it’s extremely rare for a human who’s never used magic before to inherit it and awaken to a talent for it, I know that you’re a talented swordsman, Reines, which is why,” Lulurun started.

“So long!” Reines yelled. “Make it short!”

“I’m very worried that something might happen to you!” Lulurun said.

Lulurun’s blunt, honest words make Reines’s expression soften.

“I’m Reines von Agrianes, don’t worry, you idiot,” Reines said.

And in response to that, Lulurun said, “… Then, I’ll let you inherit my ‘special’ magic, Reines.

“Special?” Reines asked.

“My original spell that will fit you, Reines, that if you can master it, it will surely be the power you need to accomplish your life’s mission,” Lulurun said.

As she puts her hand in Reines’s hand, a magic circle forms and expands. Perhaps she’s worried, Reines holds Lulurun’s hand back a bit.

“Are you alright?” Lulurun asked.

“I believe in you,” Reines said.

The inheritance began when their eyes met.

“May my apostle inherit a glimpse of magical power, may my apostle be filled by magical power, may my apostle become a vessel for it.”

The unfolding magic circle converges and is engraved in Reines’s palm. It took only a short time, well below Reines’ imagination.

“It’s over,” Lulurun said.

“… Is this the end?” Reines asked.

“Look at your palm,” Lulurun said.

“This is……” Reines mumbled, looking at the glowing magical seal on her skin.

“The magic circle is a seal that can only be seen by the master and the apostle, that is to say, it’s a proof of a contract that can only be seen by you and me, Reines,” Lulurun said.

“A contract……” Reines mumbled.

“Why do you look like that? It’s not that sort of nasty contract!” Lulurun yelled.

“So I would hope…” Reines muttered.

As Reines looked at the engraving on her palm, Lulurun explained the magic.

“To activate normal magic, do the chant → confirm the seal is correct→ supply magic power to the seal→ then activate and follow the procedure to cast the spell,” Lulurun said.

“Hmm, hmm,” Reines hummed.

“Casting is a starter technique for using spells, its role is to activate magic by using a fixed chant, and when the spell is activated, it is approved if the seal corresponds to that magic. I’m trying to use the magic of fire, but if the seal is of water, that magic won’t work… it all goes something like that,” Lulurun said.

“I see,” Reines said.

“There are many opportunities to obtain seals, such as those that were already with the caster, to begin with, training and acquisition, and magical inheritance, but seals are not something that everyone can use. Only a limited number of people can.”

“So those who don’t have seals can’t use magic?” Reines said.

“They should be able to use a magical device with an engraved seal,” Lulurun said.

“So that’s what the witch kindred are using?” Reines asked.

“That’s what I was saying,” Lulurun said, “but, I made it so that your inherited magic can be used while omitting chanting and seal confirmation.”

“Was this a fake, then?” Reines asked.

There seems to be serious doubt in Reines that Lulurun’s magic does not follow proper procedures. Lulurun thinks it over and continues the explanation of how her magic works, in a way Reines could understand.

“It’s not a fake, but the magic seal on your palm is set up to process both chanting and seal confirmation from the start,” Lulurun said.

“Set up?” Reines asked.

“You know that thing you say before you use magic ~all~ those fancy words?” Lulurun said. “That’s been engraved on the seal already. Since the seal understands what the spell is from the start, the chanting and confirmation can be omitted. ”

Simply omitting these two steps will dramatically increase the speed of magic activation, which is the mechanism of chantless magic proposed by Yokoi Keisuke.

“If that’s for efficiency’s sake, how can I activate this magic?” Reines asked.

“All you have to do is say the name of the spell, hope that the seal will activate, and take the magical power from the atmosphere and use it to power the spell.”

“Well, what’s the spell’s name?”

“Yeah, if you use it here, it will be a catastrophe, so you should stop there.”

“Is that so…?” Reines asked.

The power inherited by Reines is powerful Light Magic, the scale of which was at this world’s maximum, and if Reines used it while only accustomed to swords, the collateral damage will be gigantic. Besides, if something happened to Reines, Lulurun would have nothing but regrets.

“Let’s use it in a place where there are no people, so I can practice it next time,” Reines said.

“Right! That’s a promise!” Lulurun said.

“Yeah, a promise,” Reines said.

“Also, Reines… about the Holy Empire…” Lulurun said.

But just as she was about to ask about the Order of the Holy Empire, they heard rough footsteps stepping into the inn.