"Hey, Kuramoto. Do you have any plans for summer vacation? My grandfather is going to take me to the river, and I was wondering if you wanted to come along."
"Oh, sorry. I don't think I'll be able to make it this summer. Sorry."
"What, something came up?"
"Oh, I heard about that earlier. Sota won a spot on a 'Summer Language Study Trip for Elementary School Students.' Apparently, he entered a contest and won!"
"Wow, really? That's awesome! You get to go overseas? I'm so jealous!"
The curious glances from my classmates about my language study trip are painful. Many of them have never been overseas, and some have already asked me to bring them souvenirs.
Lately, the sun has been getting quite strong. With school lunches over and after a few days of shortened classes, I will be entering my last summer vacation as an elementary school student. I have a faint memory of a past life, so maybe this is actually my second time, but it still feels very emotional.
However, this summer vacation is very different from previous ones. Until last year, I had always lived on the surface. I have a family and a normal life, so I couldn't disrupt that. That's why it was fine until now.
However, at the beginning of this spring, I stepped into the shadows, and a little while ago, I fought a life-and-death battle. That made me realize that I couldn't go on like this. But I can't just throw away my current life and seek strength alone. This place is irreplaceable and important to me.
A long break was a blessing for resolving one of these dilemmas. I wanted to at least learn some self-defense skills to protect myself. Plus, summer vacation was the perfect opportunity. Without school, I could be much more flexible. However, I didn't want to worry my family, so I couldn't just leave home without telling them. I was agonizing over it, but to be honest, I had underestimated the power of the underworld. I never thought I'd come up with such a method. It's something an ordinary person's child couldn't possibly imitate.
"Yeah, but are you sure you'll be okay alone? You're going to stay with a host family abroad for over a month, right?"
"Yeah, but the host family I'm staying with are nice people, so I'll be fine. They can speak some Japanese, and I've already made friends with someone around my age."
"Huh, really? But you're really taking a big risk, aren't you?"
"Hahaha."
That's exactly what I was thinking. But this gives me a good reason to stay abroad long-term. My family was surprised that I had applied for something like this without telling them, and they were pretty worried, but they understood that it's a good opportunity. I'll actually get to go abroad, and it'll be good for my language studies. My sister was even more flustered than I was, which was pretty funny. She bought me various travel books and dictionaries, and I'll make sure to take good care of them.
Now, about this language study trip. Of course, I'm heading to the underworld. I asked a travel agency that deals with demons and wizards to create a cover story for me. I can't thank Mephisto enough. I've been in touch with Lavinia via email, but it's been a while since we've met in person. For souvenirs, I picked out the top ten things that foreigners would probably like. The one for Mephisto was the hardest, but I'll just let him pick his favorite from what I bought. I don't know his tastes, so I'll leave it up to him.
"Let's have a lot of fun before summer vacation starts. Is it okay to meet at my place today?"
"Eh, today is my soccer day!"
"Haha, don't worry about it! Oh, Kurimoto, after lunch, bring some video games over, okay?"
"Sure, I'll pick out some games we can all play together."
"I'm going too!"
I joined my classmates in their excitement and chatted with them, but we got so loud that the teacher scolded us. It was already past dismissal time, so we said goodbye to the teacher, put on our backpacks, and headed toward the entrance.
During that time, we talked excitedly about school life and the future as we walked toward our respective homes.
"...I guess I don't want to break it after all."
Walking home alone, I recalled the conversation I had just had with everyone. I stepped into the back alley, and I might be heading even deeper into it. It would be dangerous, and I might even have to fight for my life.
I want to become stronger. I want to be strong enough to protect myself, strong enough to avoid feeling such regret. That desire has been growing within me since that day. Still, I don't want to give up everything I've had to become stronger. I want to keep playing with my friends. I want to laugh with my family. I don't want to destroy my daily life.
I know my feelings are probably naive. As the holder of the Sacred Gear, I shouldn't be living such a normal life.
Hyoudou Issei was trying his best to protect both the surface and the hidden aspects of his life. But I don't have the strength to protect everyone like he did. If I didn't have the memories of my past life, I would have been separated from my parents and friends to prevent me from misusing the power of the Sacred Gear. To keep them out of danger, to prevent them from being dragged into it. But by chance, thanks to the power of the Sacred Gear and my knowledge of this world, I was able to avoid that beforehand. That's all there is to it.
"We need to talk about a lot of things. About myself, about the future..."
When I looked up suddenly, the clear blue sky stretched out endlessly. How much could I accomplish during this summer vacation? I didn't know. But I couldn't stop. Even if it was half-hearted, I was the one who chose this path.
I clenched my fist tightly and ran straight toward my house.
A few days after returning from that trip, my summer vacation plans were decided.
"Um, this is what I've been keeping from you."
"You, huh..."
"I've really caused you a lot of trouble."
We were in a private room at a gathering place for freelancers. It was one of the places used for discussions and consultations, and magic was used to prevent eavesdropping. It's also where my master handles information exchanges, so it's supposedly trustworthy, but just to be safe, I used the magical tools I received as a souvenir from the association to further block any eavesdropping.
The person I bowed to was my master himself. I decided to tell him about things other than my past life and knowledge, albeit in a condensed form. The reason was, of course, the invitation from Lord Mephisto. Since then, I've been thinking hard at home. If I'm going to think about the Sacred Gear, I should join an organization. No matter how hard I try alone, there are limits to how strong I can become. By joining the association, I can gain a backing, receive guidance from Lavinia, who possesses the God-Slaying Weapon, and learn more about magic.
Above all, Mephisto is, to put it bluntly, a laissez-faire individual. And he's one of the few non-human beings who respects humans. Regardless of our master-servant relationship, I have no qualms about working under him. In fact, I even wondered if there was a better place to work as a human being.
The reason the mage association didn't appear much in the original work is because they were an organization on the human side. In the original work, even though the world was facing a crisis that could lead to its destruction, they didn't get involved in the troubles of the underworld.
It's understandable, I suppose. Plus, since they're human, they couldn't participate in the original's overpowered non-human showdown. Instead, they likely focused on magical support, crafting magical tools, and other behind-the-scenes work. I had reservations about joining one of the three major factions. But I didn't want to join an enemy organization, and staying completely independent would eventually become unsustainable. I too want this world to be at peace. I'd be happy to help the protagonists and sincerely hope they succeed. That's why the "magician faction," which can quietly assist the three major factions while maintaining a certain distance to observe the world, was truly eye-opening.
Although the chairman is a demon, he's somewhat demon-leaning, but he has no involvement in the underworld. More importantly, even after just a few months in the underworld, magical power is an indispensable necessity.
Demons, fallen angels, angels, and other factions that oppose the mages would suffer greatly if they couldn't use their magic. That's why I think the association has become an inviolable territory. Lord Mephisto doesn't seem to care much about angels, fallen angels, or even other races. He probably feels it's safer to cooperate or use each other rather than oppose them.
Well, that's as far as I can think. In conclusion, joining the mages' organization isn't a bad idea. But if I were the kind of person who could decide immediately, I wouldn't be in such a pathetic state. To be honest, I'm anxious. I'm anxious about whether I should really join the organization. Mephisto probably won't rush me. But in this situation, where I don't know when I'll be dragged into another worldly problem, I don't have the luxury of time to think things over. Of course, I know it's no good to say "I'm leaving the organization" after the fact.
No matter how much I think about it, there's nothing I can do. So the next thing I thought of was to consult someone. It's hard to ask someone on the wizard side, like Lavinia or Mephisto. But there was one person I could trust behind the scenes. That was one of the reasons I decided to talk to my master. Above all, I'm his disciple. If I'm going to join another organization, I have to tell him first. But it's unlikely that a large organization would recruit someone like me.
In other words, he had no choice but to either tell me or cut me off. And I couldn't bring myself to cut off someone who had done so much for me.
"So that port incident was your fault... I was thinking about all kinds of things, like stray demons, criminals with grudges against the three major forces, freelancers, or ordinary people who had awakened their Sacred Gears and gone on a rampage..."
"Grudges and rampages?"
"That was a case that required a lot of cover-up. If you knew what was going on behind the scenes, you wouldn't do that. So, it's either a malicious crime committed by someone who knew what they were doing, or a rampage by someone who gained power without knowing anything. But there's nothing to support that. The information I've gathered since then shows the perpetrator's caution and the inconsistency between their careful planning and reckless actions, which left me scratching my head."
I'm sorry, I really didn't think it through. After a deep sigh, my master said, "Well, you did your best," and gave me a word of encouragement. I felt embarrassed and looked down, but I nodded slightly in response. It wasn't a compliment. I was scolded. But I was genuinely happy that my actions were acknowledged.
"I understand why you told me. I suspected something, but a Sacred Gear... and one with such troublesome effects. Is your inconsistent knowledge related to that?"
"Well, as for the knowledge, it's just a coincidence, or something..."
"Shou, you need to work on being too honest. If you don't want to answer, I'm not telling you to lie, but at least hide it better. If you keep this up, I can see why Lord Feres is worried about you."
"Yes, I'm sorry."
That's definitely the truth. It hits me straight in the heart and hurts. I wonder if this is how Lavinia felt when she was being lectured by Mephisto. Next time we meet, let's talk it out over some juice. Guardians are strong.
"Um, Master. So, should I stay with the 'Gray Magicians'? I definitely want to become stronger, and I don't want this power to be misused. But there's still so much I want to learn from you. I'm still not good at using the Sacred Gear or as an information broker, so I'm not sure what to do."
"You're such a troublesome disciple... Let me tell you, becoming a wizard's personal assistant is no small thing. Don't even think about comparing yourself to me."
"To me, you're worth that much."
My master silently hit me on the head. I'm so embarrassed.
"Alright, I understand. I'll just give you advice. The decision is yours."
"Yes, of course."
"...In my opinion, you should get the backing of Lord Feres. And you should do it now. At the very least, just being affiliated with the 'Gray Magician' will serve as a significant deterrent."
According to my master, there are three main reasons. First, he can't protect me, and he's not familiar with the handling of Sacred Gears. He says he can't bring out my full potential. Those who wield Sacred Gears are easy targets. No matter how well you hide them, they will be discovered eventually. At that point, there are limits to what I can do to protect you.
Second, if you want to survive in this world, you need the strength to resist. My master knows his limits and will not stray from them. But in my case, they may come after me. I must be prepared to be drawn into their world and live with that risk. That requires at least a minimum level of strength.
And third, there was the danger of my Sacred Gear's abilities. When my master mentioned it, I widened my eyes in surprise but listened quietly. In this world, the ability to erase concepts could potentially cause chaos. For example, "pseudo-healing techniques." Those seeking healing power are endless. And my Sacred Gear might be able to erase "disease," "curses," or "seals."
"But to affect others with my Sacred Gear, I have to stab them with the spear."
"You could erase a serious injury with just a small hole. The same goes for deadly diseases and curses. As Lord Feres said, be aware of this. Even with just your 'healing technique,' there will be no end to those who want to keep it for themselves and worship it. I think it's good that you're cowardly and honest. The only ones who know about your power are me, Sir Feres, and the young lady who wields the God-Destroying Weapon, right?"
"Yes, just the three of us. As for the stray wizard, it seems that Mephisto took care of him."
"Then keep it hidden as much as possible from now on. I've gotten my hands on some unbelievable information, and it's giving me a headache."
I'm really sorry about that. Hearing my master's words, I was reminded of Asia Argento, the heroine of High School DxD. The power of her Sacred Gear was healing. With that power, she was revered as a saint and used like a tool in a way. It was her kind nature and strong will that allowed her to endure such an environment. She could even smile. Just thinking about it makes me shiver. I couldn't endure it, not in a million years.
There are people with healing powers all over the world. This was mentioned in the original story. However, healing powers are ineffective against demons and fallen angels. That's why Asia's Sacred Gear was considered dangerous, as it could affect even demon-like beings of different species. As for my Sacred Gear, it can probably heal other species as well. My power is different from the sacred power granted by the gods; it is the power of annihilation.
Maybe I shouldn't have told my master. At my current state, using healing techniques or curse-breaking on others would be too taxing on me, and I probably don't have the skills to do it anyway. But... it's just a matter of lacking the necessary skills. Someday, I might be able to do it.
If I were a terrorist, I might try to forcefully awaken that power using the "method to reach the forbidden technique." I've dragged my master into such dangerous information. Seeing my pale face, my master gently nudged me.
"...I'm not so fallen that I need a child to worry about me. You should only worry about yourself. It's an adult's duty to worry about children. Besides, you trusted me enough to tell me, didn't you? Leaking information isn't something to be praised, but I still have enough pride to at least try to live up to that trust."
"...Master, you're really cool."
"Hmph, you seem to have regained your spirit. Now, Shou. What you need most right now is the simple strength to overcome injustice. It can be combat strength, organizational strength, escape strength, information strength, any kind of strength. Acquire the strength to stand up to them. And right now, the strength you can acquire the fastest is—"
"Organizational skills. And the ability to master the Sacred Gear."
"That's right. And I haven't taught you everything yet. Anyway, I'll just keep working as an informant in the background. I'll wait patiently for you to return as my disciple. ...So, make sure you get stronger."
From now on, if someone asks me who I respect the most, I'm sure my master will be the first person to come to mind. I can't tell anyone else because I don't want to put him in danger. But this overwhelming joy will never fade. Thank you, Master.
In the end, it was Master's encouragement that finally made me decide. From now on, I can't keep relying on others like this. No matter how uncertain the future may be, it's up to me to choose my own path. When I return as his disciple, I'll make sure I'm at least a little better than I am now. I'll make use of everything I learned as your disciple and strive to be recognized as the "Gray Magician."
That's how I'll repay everyone who supported me.
"...Master. I'm joining the organization of magicians. I'll learn as much as I can there and do my best to ease your worries, even if it's just a little."
"Well, I hope you'll become a little better."
"Ugh... That's harsh."
My master smiled, shrugging his shoulders at my words of determination, and then saw me off.
Then, using the magic circle card I had received from Lord Mephisto, I sent a message, and the notification of my selection for the summer language study abroad program was sent through the magic circle. Everything was arranged, including contact information and schedules for my family. What a capable person. Though I was a bit intimidated, my summer plans were decided in an instant.
I was told that someone from the Magic Users' Association in Japan would pick me up on the day of departure, so I was to follow their instructions. With a mix of excitement and anxiety, I spent the days leading up to summer vacation. I bought souvenirs for my host family, played with friends to make up for the summer break, and even participated in cleaning activities. Looking back, I was pretty free and easy.
"Well, I'm off."
"Be careful and don't get into trouble. And don't cause any trouble for your host family. Oh, and..."
"I already heard all the rules yesterday. You take care too."
Laughing at her usual manner, I waved goodbye to my family. And so, my first summer vacation in my secret world began.
***
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