"Elysia, are you really going to be all right?"
A dark night, the mansion's garden. In a private space where not even the butler could enter, Aletus asked with a worried face. In truth, he already knew that rumors about Elysia were circulating.
They were rumors that would turn to certainty if she failed to attend this time, but if participating or not would yield the same result, a father’s heart did not want to create painful memories for her, at the very least. But Elysia gently shook her head and answered.
"It's all right. I can't keep running away, can I?"
"That may be so, but..."
"And I, umm..."
Elysia tapped her index fingers together, pondering. 'Should I tell him?' She had found a janitor who could use magic.
She planned to ask him to somehow get her through this Regeneration Stone event. It was a brief hesitation. It wasn't certain, and there was no guarantee it would go well.
She didn't want to give her father false hope. She had already disappointed him enough.
"You never know, things might turn out well, right? I might even awaken my magic there."
"Yes, that's possible. If that is your wish, I won't stop you any longer."
Seeing the determination in Elysia's expression, Aletus relented. It was her first job experience event with her friends; how much she must have looked forward to it. He had already passed down the worst of talents to her; he didn't want to take away even such a small happiness from his daughter.
A decision made because he did not know that it would be the worst possible choice.
Thorough preparation is always helpful.
"Open the gate."
"Huh? Did you come alone?"
"Yes."
The guard who had treated me like a brat just yesterday bowed deeply as he greeted me. It was thanks to the noble's clothes. I brought them because I had a use for them, and it was the best choice.
"No, but you were scheduled to arrive a little later... Why are you alone? If I may ask who you are and from where-" The guard asked with a slightly suspicious expression.
If I hadn't known much about nobles, I would have been flustered. But not now.
"What are you talking about. Move aside."
I frowned, waved my hand, and walked forward.
Shwwwsh...!
A current pushed the guard. The surest way to prove one's noble blood. All suspicion vanishing from his face, the guard was startled but still blocked my way.
"E-Excuse me! You haven't paid the entrance fee!"
If I don't even pay this, it could leave a trail. It was a waste, but I paid for safety's sake and walked down the main road, which, unlike yesterday, was empty. I hadn't noticed when it was crowded, but I saw many facilities for children to play in.
It really seemed like an amusement park.
"... Not here."
Near the Regeneration Stone, I pushed my Tide Sense to its limits and scanned the area, but I couldn't find the man I saw yesterday. He was a significant fellow in many ways. Right down to his last words.
I can't be sure if he's an enemy... but it would be best to keep it in mind. First, I went into the rabbit hole and finished all preparations for any unforeseen circumstances. I blocked the hole with leaves, securing just a small line of sight, and waited.
"...! ..."
"...?"
About an hour passed. From below, I began to hear the sounds of excited children laughing and chattering. They said only nobles could enter, so it must be the cadets.
They were still outside the range of my Tide Sense. It seemed they were looking at other things first, as they didn't come this way immediately. With nothing else to do, I reviewed what I had learned so far.
In the end, the only thing I can control in this sea is the currents. But the moment I became able to instantly control distant currents, its value skyrocketed to an absurd degree. If I grab the currents around a target and apply pressure from all directions, I can simply make the opponent burst from a distance without any conditions.
Mana?
It doesn't consume any.
Power?
It's nearly infinite. '... But I can never use this.' It has that much incredible power, but I can't use it.
It was a fact I learned through several tests. Ever since I almost died in that alley, I've had to pay a price every time I try to burst something with water pressure.
For example, when I concentrate on Tide Sense, there's a strain that makes my head spin, makes me feel like vomiting, and makes blood flow from my entire body. Water pressure has something similar. A much simpler and easier-to-understand strain.
The golden rule.
"Why is it like this?"
I clicked my tongue and pressed a nearby tree with water pressure.
C-creak...
The tree's branches folded easily, and it shriveled. So did I. It felt like my whole body was being tied with ropes and pulled tight.
"Gasp..."
Unable to even breathe, I hurriedly released the water pressure. This is the strain. When I squeeze something with water pressure, I get squeezed too.
The target and I receive the same pressure simultaneously.
"The cause is..."
Probably.
Its mechanism is different from that of currents. It's not about pushing or pulling; once it starts compressing—though it's simply the domain of water pressure—it begins to resemble what's in the Deep Sea. I, the one applying the pressure, feel it.
Then, it feels like I unconsciously accept that this world is inside the Deep Sea. To put it simply, the moment I apply pressure to a target.
'Huh?
That person is under so much pressure, so why am I fine?' That question arises, and it gives birth to the strain. At first, I tried it with my eyes covered, my ears and nose plugged.
I tried changing my thoughts and did all sorts of crazy things. But as long as I, the one applying the pressure, sense the target through the currents, no escape is possible. In the end, it's useless.
"Still, hmm..."
I frowned and pondered. It is good. It's an absurdly good magic.
If I could just solve the strain, I can't even fathom how many ways I could use it. Is there no way to use it while avoiding the strain? As I was pondering, something entered my Tide Sense.
"We decided to start a little early this year! It's time for the Regeneration Stone, which you all have been re~ally waiting for!"
"Phew, phew... Am I trembling right now?"
"Teacher, I'm not feeling well, can't I do it a little later??"
A clamor.
It was so crowded that even I, who had only eavesdropped on a few children’s classes, was surprised. There seemed to be almost over eighty of them. Were there this many noble kids?
The teacher handled the large group skillfully, as if it wasn't their first or second time.
"Everyone, don't worry too much. It hasn't been long since you all suffered from the divine fever, and you've only learned elemental spells, right?"
"I'm not asking you to show something amazing, just to comfortably practice what you've learned."
"B-But... I'm not confident I can break the stone..."
"Ohoho, you don't need to worry about that. The Regeneration Stone isn't an ordinary stone. It's a child that's very sensitive to mana. It reacts easily to even the slightest bit of magic."
"Really?"
"Yes. Would you like to try?"
A hesitant child raised their hand. Then, water formed in mid-air and shot toward the Regeneration Stone.
Sizzzle!
Just by touching the water, its surface melted away as if doused with acid.
"Whoa...!"
"Isn't it amazing? Though it regenerates after a short while."
"I, I want to try too!"
"Now, now, let's all take turns and try it one by one."
As soon as the children realized the Regeneration Stone was easier than they thought, their eyes lit up, and each one wanted to take on the challenge. The atmosphere was more relaxed than I expected. If it weren't for the assistant teacher seriously writing something in a notebook on the side.
It seemed they made it comfortable, but there was someone they had to report the results to. Well, for nobles, talent in magic doesn't seem to be something taken lightly, so I guess it makes sense.
"Hmph, it's my turn, isn't it?"
"Ah, yes..."
And among those children, one with a bit too much confidence stepped forward. It was a face I recognized.
"Hy-Hyuins! Burn it all down!"
"If it's Hyuins... he might be able to do it!"
"You're going to found a new country!"
The response was quite big. But that last one, doesn't that mean start a rebellion...
"Just watch."
Hyuins, with a confident face, raised his finger and chanted the command.
"Raging flame, melt my enemy!!"
There's no need for that; the simpler the command, the better. He must still be young. Unlike the tacky command, the magic's performance was incredible. -Sizzzzle.....!
"A-As expected of Hyuins!"
"He melted it all!"
It didn't melt completely; when the flame touched the Regeneration Stone, a full twenty percent of it melted away. It was the most powerful magic so far. But Hyuins clicked his tongue as if he wasn't pleased.
"Tsk, is this all it can do?"
"N-No. It's truly amazing. To do this much in less than a month..."
"I couldn't melt all of it."
The fact that he was actually aiming to completely incinerate it made it clear he had a talent for magic. Though he had a bit of an attitude.
"It's her turn next, right?"
"... Ah, that's right. Elysia?"
As Hyuins returned to the group of children, he sneered at the stiff-faced Elysia and whispered something. It was a whisper so quiet that even the children nearby couldn't hear it. However, it was within my Tide Sense.
[Why don't you just cry and run away now? Before you let everyone know you were born with filthy blood.] ..
No, this isn't just a bad attitude. He just insulted her family. I could see Elysia's hands clench into tight fists even from here.
The teacher, who must have known the situation, cleared their throat with a worried expression.
"Uh, Elysia? If you're not feeling well..."
It was a minimal courtesy. If she was going to be found out anyway, at least don't be humiliated... that was the meaning.
"No, I'll do it."
But she nodded her head vigorously with a determined expression. As she did, she looked left and right, as if searching for me somewhere. Unfortunately, I couldn't show myself.
"Hoo..."
Standing before the Regeneration Stone, Elysia took a deep breath and focused. It was about time for me to step in. And, I was also curious.
I had a rough idea of these kids' level. I confirmed the average, the low point, and the high point. Then what about me?
What is the level of my struggle to survive during that same period? Right, they did say it reacts very sensitively to mana.
"Uuuuuhm...! Hya!"
At the same time Elysia let out a cute sound.
"Cut."
The wind magic I manifested scratched the Regeneration Stone. -Swish!
"Oh... Ooooh!"
"Woooow!!"
"E-Eh?"
Even Elysia, who had succeeded, was surprised. A very long gash was left on the Regeneration Stone. It was the result of a single scratch from wind magic.
"E-Elysia... that's amazing! You finally did it!"
"Thank you..."
Cheers erupted from all over. But—it seemed they were more surprised that Elysia had done it, rather than the magic being amazing. The proficiency of the wind magic I manifested wasn't all that different from the other children.
I wasn't despairing. There was distance, and considering Dersia said I had no talent, I should be grateful for even this much. No, it's beyond my imagination.
"This, this is impossible!"
As Elysia was being congratulated, a red-faced Hyuins ran out.
"You couldn't use it even once before, and now suddenly here? What kind of trick did you pull!"
Elysia, who had flinched reflexively, perhaps due to the memory of being bullied, soon crossed her arms confidently.
"So what, I did it anyway! Don't bully me anymore!"
"Then show me your mana circle!"
Elysia froze on the spot. So there was this problem. Seeing her fall silent, Hyuins, as if he'd found his chance, pointed his finger and pressed her.
"See, you can't show it because you have something to hide!"
"N-No, I don't!"
"Then just show it! Where do you think you are..."
Still, it's not a big deal. Even if he raises questions, they'll just remain questions. There's no reason to show it anyway, so she can get past this just by insisting she doesn't want to.
The job is as good as done. As I was sighing in relief, I suddenly saw something strange floating beside my face.
"?"
Originally, the Deep Sea is colorless. It's just dark or transparent. But now, a red liquid was spreading through the Deep Sea.
[..??? ? ???]
The deep sea creatures stirred. I've seen this before. It's the same sight and behavior as when I shed my own blood into the sea.
The amount was much greater and the reaction from the deep sea creatures was much smaller, but it was certain. It's someone's blood.
"What is this...?"
This has never happened before. Flustered, I stood up and looked at the source from which the blood was spreading. At the same time, I was stunned.
The sea was being devoured. To be precise, starting from hundreds of meters away, it had turned red, becoming a sea of blood. It was obviously a crisis.
I immediately pushed my Tide Sense to its maximum.
"-Well now, I've found a jewel."
Such a voice was heard.