After two years, the man in the black suit I saw was the same driver who had taken us to the Kamiarizuki household for my 'Shichi-Go-San' ceremony when I was three years old.
"Please, get in," he said.
"Okay!" I replied enthusiastically.
It wasn't just the driver I hadn't seen in two years. It was also the first time in two years that I was riding in a car or even leaving the house since the 'Shichi-Go-San' ceremony.
Given my extraordinary magical power, classified as 'Seventh Rank,' I wasn't allowed to go outside until I had properly learned magic.
Today was a day I had been eagerly anticipating, even if it meant encountering a monster along the way.
As the car accelerated and entered the residential area, I gazed absentmindedly out the window. The driver broke the silence with a conversation.
"I've heard rumors about your son. They say he could use 'Shijutsu' at the age of three."
"Yes, he's such a genius that it's hard to believe he's my child," my father replied.
"Even you, Lord Souichirou?" the driver exclaimed, surprised.
I only knew from stories that my father was incredibly strong. It wasn't something I had witnessed firsthand.
"Itsuki is a 'Seventh Rank.' A genius born once in a few hundred years. I can't even compare to him," my father said humbly.
"You're too modest..."
As they chatted, the car left the residential area and headed toward the highway interchange.
"Has Itsuki already started magic training?" the driver asked.
"No, I'm currently teaching him swordsmanship. Building a strong body from a young age is crucial," my father replied.
As my father said, I hadn't been properly taught magic yet. I had only practiced the basics of 'Kaijutsu' and 'Shijutsu.'
"But why don't you teach him magic? It seems like a waste of his talent," the driver questioned.
"Now is the time to enhance his magical control. Magic can be learned later, but the ability to control magic needs to be practiced from a young age," my father explained.
"You're absolutely right," the driver agreed.
We passed through the ETC lane, and the car entered the highway, speeding up. The scenery outside the window blurred as we drove past.
"...Okay. Thanks."
I nodded and sent my 'Silveits' toward the monster running on the highway. The monster leaped to avoid them, just as I expected. The first two threads were a bluff.
The remaining three threads entangled the airborne monster, binding it tightly.
"Take this!"
With a breath, I changed the nature of my magic. In an instant, the 'Silveits' turned into sharp blades, slicing the monster into pieces.
"See? I did it!"
"...No way!"
My father, who was ready to jump in at a moment's notice, gasped. The shredded monster's remains turned into black mist and vanished. Both my parents and the driver stared at my magic, eyes wide.
"Itsuki! How did you do that?"
"How? I just copied what I saw you and Renji do."
"Copied..."
My father was dumbfounded, but I wasn't lying. Thanks to my 'True Eye,' I could see how they used magic.
I had secretly practiced on tissues at night when my parents were asleep. It was my first time using it in real combat, so I was relieved it worked.
"To think you could use magic without being taught..."
"I feel a bit dizzy..." the driver and my mother said almost simultaneously.
I hoped my mother wasn't feeling too unwell.
"...Well, he did use 'Kaijutsu' without being taught. It's not surprising he can use magic too..."
Ignoring my father's mumblings, I reflected on my first use of magic. The power was fine, but the activation was a bit slow. If the monster had been stronger, it might have escaped before I could turn the threads into blades.
...I still have a long way to go.
I sighed inwardly. My father had always told me that being careless could be fatal in the world of exorcists. I needed to practice more to speed up the process.
With these thoughts in mind, the car continued toward the Kamiarizuki household.