Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Volume 5 Chapter 3   Tricks

I came here to figure out how to deal with it, shaking my head immediately. Then, I took out the items I would use from my luggage and threw them at Asada.

“Take these.”

“What’s this? Magic stones?”

Despite being thrown suddenly, Asada effortlessly caught them and furrowed her brows as she looked at what was in her hand.

Well, I suppose that’s to be expected.

Magic stones are energy sources extracted from the bodies of monsters, but they need to be processed into tools to be used. Even if you’re in an awakened state or not, you can’t use them just by receiving individual magic stones.

However, there is an annotation to that statement – “normally.”

Normally, it’s true that people cannot use magic stones without any tools or processing. But if it’s done in an unconventional way, it can be used.

“That’s right. Oh, it’s not that expensive, so don’t worry about breaking it”

“What’s this?”

“I’m going to teach you a secret technique.”

The technique I’m about to teach involves using those magic stones. It’s a dangerous technique that even Hiro and the others couldn’t grasp, and I’ve failed and injured myself numerous times trying it.

Normally, I wouldn’t have intended to teach them such an unconventional secret technique, considering they are already strong enough without it.

However, I decided to teach it because it’s necessary to move forward from the current situation.

“A secret technique?”

“That’s right. You want to become stronger, don’t you?”

As soon as I said that, Asada’s body trembled in surprise, and her gaze slightly averted.

But after closing her eyes for a moment, she quickly opened them and looked back at me with determined eyes.

“Teach me.”

Ah, that’s right. That’s the spirit.

Rather than being troubled, it’s better for you to look ahead and move forward.

However, before we begin training, there’s something I need to ask.

“Before that, how much savings do you have?”

“Huh? Savings?”

Perhaps because she was suddenly asked something seemingly unrelated, Asada’s expression shifted from serious to a bewildered look.

“Oh, right. Come on, tell me.”

“Huh? Um… about this much?”

“…That should be enough.”

Though Asada seemed confused, she obediently operated her phone and showed me her account balance.

…Why is she showing it so easily? What if you end up being deceived someday?

Such thoughts crossed my mind as I looked at the screen, where a seven-digit number was displayed. It was a sufficient amount for what I was about to do.

“What’s that?”

“It’s the tuition fee. I’ll be teaching you outside of regular hours, so I can’t do it for free.”

I didn’t actually need to receive any tuition fees, but by accepting the money, I felt it would make Asada rely on my goodwill and not feel overly burdened.

“You always…”

“Well, never mind. How much do you want?”

“Three hundred.”

Whether Asada understood my intention or not, she furrowed her brows, gave a faint smile while expressing some dissatisfaction, and shrugged her shoulders in exasperation.

With Asada showing a slightly improved demeanor, perhaps due to having found a way to become stronger, I raised three fingers and informed her of the tuition fee.

“Three hundred yen? I don’t need to check my passbook for that.”

However, Asada seemed to misunderstand and tilted her head in confusion.

But that’s not it.

“Not three hundred yen, but three million.”

Just three hundred yen as the tuition fee? It doesn’t make sense to confirm or even accept such an amount. Well, I admit that my wording was poor.

“W-What!? Three million as the tuition fee? You must be joking!”

But as soon as she heard my words, Asada once again made a foolish expression, and a moment later, she let out a surprised voice and glared at me.

Her reaction was as usual, and somehow, I felt relieved by her familiar behavior.

“School tuition fees and all that are just small change.”

“But you’re an individual!”

“I’m teaching you how to handle a special thing called magical power, so I think three million is a bargain.”

In fact, it could be even higher. This is already a fair price. There are instructors who charge not just hundreds but even tens of millions depending on the circumstances.

Well, I called it a tuition fee, but it’s actually the cost of purchasing tools.

It hardly goes into my pocket—on the contrary, I might have to use my own money to acquire the tools.

Well, that’s because it’s my fault as an instructor for overlooking her abnormality and delaying dealing with Miyano, so I have no complaints.

“…But first of all, what are you going to teach me? Am I supposed to use this?”

As Asada glanced down at the magic stone I handed her earlier, she played with it in her hand.

“It’s said that awakened warriors can’t use magic, but that’s not entirely accurate.”

“Huh?”

Ignoring Asada’s reaction for a moment, I took a deep breath and decided to start explaining.

In response, Asada lifted her face and shifted her gaze from the magic stone in her hand to me.

“It’s not that you can’t use it, but rather, you’re constantly using a single magic.”

To begin with, it’s absurd that despite having a physique no different from an ordinary human, you can block bullets or compete with cars. If your body were different, I could understand, but that’s not the case, and it’s not like acquired awakeners are born that way. After all, the human body doesn’t undergo such drastic changes.

And yet, despite having a body structure similar to that of an ordinary human, you’re able to exhibit superhuman strength as if it’s a joke, and that’s because it’s the result of magic.

So, in other words, awakened individuals are constantly using magic to enhance themselves.

“Oh, that’s it. The condition of involuntary magic activation.”

“That’s right. Did we cover it in class?”

“It was the very first thing.”

Well, that’s true. Even if I teach her, it won’t change the roles of the vanguard and the rear guard. There’s no reason not to teach, and teaching won’t lead to anything either.

“But in the end, that means frontliners like me can’t use normal magic, right? Because it’s constantly being used without our control.”

“Well, it’s impossible. When a mage uses magic, they do it at their own will, and they can’t use it if they run out of magical energy. But for warriors, they can’t stop using it at will or lose their function due to lack of magical energy. It’s because their bodies are specifically designed with that functionality.”

Mages can act as frontliners by using magic for physical enhancement, but frontliners can’t replace the role of a rear guard.

“Let’s say, the heart… No, maybe around the ears. Living beings, including humans, rely on hearing to live their lives. But is that function necessary to survive?”

“…Well, it might be necessary.”

As Asada furrowed her brows and affirmed, I shook my head and replied.

“No, it’s different. It might be necessary for daily life, but it’s not necessary just to stay alive. But can you voluntarily stop hearing sounds without any external factors? Can you stop yourself from hearing sounds?”

“It’s impossible.”

“That’s right. It’s the same. It’s not essential to life, but you can’t stop it by your own will. After all, your body is designed with that function from the beginning.”

That’s why frontliners can’t use magic that involves summoning flames or manipulating water—magic that seems like traditional magic.

It applies regardless of the grade, whether it’s Special Class or Third Class.

At least for now, there is no known method to cure the condition of involuntary magic activation.

However, personally, I have one problem or rather, a question about this condition.

“…So? What’s the point of teaching all that in class? What is this secret technique you mentioned?”

“Calm down. It’s a function that you can’t stop or weaken by your own will, but you can strengthen it. Just like the discussion about hearing earlier, even if you can’t weaken it, you can concentrate and amplify it beyond the usual level, right? Even your usual strength had fluctuations of intensity due to emotional ups and downs. That’s because your unconscious mind was trying to exert more power.”

As I explained, Asada seemed to be recalling what we had discussed before, and her expression changed to one of contemplation.

If she continues to show this understanding, she will probably grasp what I’m about to teach.

“Now, as for the secret technique, even though it’s being used involuntarily, it’s still magic. You can’t weaken or stop it, but you can strengthen it if you have enough magical power.”

“But you’re already pouring all your magical power into the magic, right?”

“Yes. But if you don’t have enough magical power, don’t you think you can get it from elsewhere?”

As I said that, I rummaged through my bag once again and took out a small vial. The vial contained a liquid, and I proudly held it in front of my face, making a sound as I shook it back and forth.

“If you drink this magic power replenishment potion, you can enhance your abilities for a short period of time. Well, it’s pointless if you can’t control that magical power properly even after replenishing it.”

“But if you can handle it well…”

“You can wield the power of a Special Class, not just approaching it.”

“The power of a Special Class…”

Upon hearing my words, Asada’s gaze became even more focused than before, and she clenched her fist tightly.