Only I know that this world will end – 064 | Sousaku – 創作

Magic Circuit

"I would like to know what skills you have acquired, Nao-san."
"Yeah. ……My skills are 『Physical Strengthening』, 『Magic Circuit』, and 『Elementary Magic』."
"Elementary magic, huh? Why that one……? I hate to say it, but it doesn't fit in with your image, Nao-san."

If anything, he imagined Nao fighting on the front lines.
Akira utters these thoughts, causing a small smile to appear on Nao's lips.

"Well, I wasn't planning on taking 『Elementary Magic』 at first. But after joining up with the Self-Defense Forces, I've been doing a lot of covering in the back, not in the front when we're fighting the monsters. Therefore, I decided to try some kind of magic. ……After all, another world has come to us from beyond. So, you'd like to try those things, right? "

Nao then smiled mischievously.
Looking at her smile, Akira stopped his movement with a snap when he called up the status screen to reconfirm what 『Elementary Magic』 was all about.

(……Ahh, that's right. Now, with all the skill acquisitions and whatnot, my points amounted to zero. This doesn't even get me into the list of skills.)

The number of skills displayed on the screen for selecting new skills by consuming points changed depending on the number of points one had on hand.
To be precise, only the skills that could be obtained by spending those available points were displayed, and if the points on hand were not enough, the list of skills would not even be visible.

(I believe the points required for Elementary Magic were 7, right? I guess I'll have to accumulate that many points in order to see the skill details for myself first.)

With this thought in mind, Akira let out a sigh turned to Nao, and asked.

"I'm sorry, with the points I have, I can't see the details of Elementary Magic. I've seen the content once before…… Can you tell me what it's like? "
"Hmm? Yeah, hold on a second."

Nao then shifted her gaze and stared into empty space.
Most likely, she opened her own status screen.
Her gaze remained glued to the air, her hand moved in the air and made a gesture as if she was choosing something, and eventually, Nao opened her mouth while staring into the air.

"Skill holders will learn the elementary magic "Shock Arrow". The damage of elementary magic varies according to the Magical power value. The number of elementary magics learned depends on skill level―――― Something like that."

After reading the skill detail, Nao glanced over to Akira.
Akira nodded at her gaze and replied with a few words.

"How many points do you need to raise your skill to the next level? "
"Uhmm…… 10."

Surprisingly little.
Akira's eyes widened slightly at what he heard.

(……No. It seemed to say that the type of magic depends on skill level, so does that mean there is a lot of beginner-level magic? If we're thinking in game terms, that means learning one new magic spell for every 10 levels, which is probably more normal than it seems.)

Akira pondering this further asked Nao.

"Do you need something in order to activate the magic? For example, you know, a staff."
"Nothing. But it sure would be nice to have a tool of some sort to help me determine the direction in which to release the magic."
"I see…… What about chanting, then, which is common in anime and manga? "
"That's not necessary either. Just say the magic name and the magic is activated."
"Do you know the distance of the magic? "
"I think it's about thirty meters. Maybe that distance will change at some point in the future."
"How much magical power is consumed? Does it decrease with activation? "
"None of that either. But the more I invoke the magic, the hotter I get inside my body and the more tired I gradually become. If you want to use an analogy, I guess...... it's like running around as fast as you can when you're using magic―― I think it's easier to explain that way. Your heart races like you wouldn't believe, and your breathing is so fast. In addition, when I'm reaching my limit, I get a bad headache and nausea. Now, I don't know because I've never used magic beyond that, but still, if I keep using it, I'm sure I'll pass out."

At Nao's words, Akira groaned in thought as he said, "Hmmm".
Apparently, the elementary magic acquired by Nao used Magical power differently than the type that was activated by the consumption of Magical power, such as Dash.

To use an analogy, the skill of Dash could be described as pumping out the Magical power stored in the vessel called the body and transforming it into a completely different kind of power. Separately, elementary magic skills might be to activate the Magical power stored in the vessel by circulating it within the body without pumping it out.

(Magical power was never part of our status, to begin with. We are merely storing Magical power in our bodies with the help of a skill called Magic Circuit. I don't know whether the place where it is stored in the circuit itself or some other place, but the use of Magical power is very different between a skill that consumes the stored Magical power and converts it into another power, and a skill that circulates the stored Magical power in the body and activates magic.)

Akira contemplated with a complicated look on his face and opened the skill details of 『Magical Circuit』 on his status screen.

(In the first place, the Magical circuit itself was to create a circuit in the body that would generate magical aptitude. If the magical circuit created in the body is the same as the magic circles often seen in fantasy…… To activate the magic, the accumulated Magical power is circulated around the body to activate the inscribed magical circuit itself. Then the circuit would in the end function as a magic circle and the magic would be triggered―――― or something like that? )

Although he had no proof, Akira had an intuition that this speculation was close to the truth.
It must have been an effect, perhaps, of the Sixth Sense, a skill he acquired after waking up.

(…………If so, then. As long as the skill level of the magic circuit is raised, the physical burden caused by magical power should be lessened. If that happens, there's a chance you could increase the number of times the magic is invoked.)

The skill details for the magic circuit stated that the size of the circuit depended on the skill level.
Although it was not possible to know how much magical power circulated in the body to activate magic, in an example in which the fluid of magical power flows through a narrow circuit and the fluid of magical power flows through a thicker circuit the latter would be far less "pressurized" than the former. The less the pressure, the easier it should be on the body.

Once Akira concluded with that, he switched his thoughts.

"How well can you fight with magic? "
"For goblins, it would be two uses. Other monsters, depending on the type, can be defeated in five to seven attacks."

Magic was more powerful than I had expected.
Now it's just been enhanced for the first time.
Nao's magical power value is still low at 9. In such a situation, it would be considered a success if a goblin could be defeated in two attacks.
This would certainly be a strong enough force as long as it was provided as support.

With that thought, Akira exhaled heavily and looked at Nao.

"……I roughly understand. Considering the skills you've acquired, I'll be in the front of the battle from now on, and Nao-san will either cover me from behind or deliver the killing blow when the enemy is weakened."
"I get it. ――――But, Ichijou. Are you sure you're okay? After all, you……"

Nao said and gave him a concerned look.
Akira quickly realized the meaning of that look.

"I'm fine. Thanks to Auto Regen, my body is slowly getting back into shape. I'm sure by tomorrow I'll be able to move."

In fact, the pain that consumed his body was beginning to disappear, even though the painkillers he was given when he woke up were beginning to wear off.
At this rate, he will surely be at or near full recovery by tomorrow.

"……If that's the case, good."

Nao mumbled worriedly and exhaled slowly.

"I'll let you get settled in for the day. That much should be fine I suppose."
"Thank you."

Being straightforward, Akira bowed his head to Nao's words.
Nao nodded toward Akira and gently got up from the pipe stool.

"I'm going to take one look around the hospital to see if any monsters have gotten in. I'm sure the Self-Defense Forces have done their part in that area, but I'd like to check for myself."
"I understand. I'll rest my body once again. Maybe it's because my Stamina is down, but I've been sleepy since a while ago…………"

Saying this, Akira let out a yawn.
Nao saw this and smiled softly.

"Yeah, good night."

She whispered this and quietly left the room.
Akira let out a sigh into the empty room and slowly lowered his eyelids.
His mind wandered around about the future.
Akira turned his thoughts to each of the above thoughts, but eventually, his consciousness slowly fell into the abyss of sleep.