While reading, Aito discovered that Magic Power wasn’t only used to construct Magic Circles and cast spells.
It could also reinforce the body, almost like internal energy.
That immediately gave him all kinds of ideas about how Magic Power could be used.
While enjoying this sudden burst of inspiration, Aito casually checked his Inspiration Points—and discovered they’d jumped by several dozen.
That gave him a theory.
Perhaps the key to gaining large amounts of Inspiration Points was coming up with new ideas and creating new magic.
After all, they were literally called Inspiration Points.
Surely they had something to do with inspiration!
Unfortunately, magic in this world had an incredibly long history and covered almost everything imaginable.
With Aito’s current level of knowledge, creating an entirely new form of magic was unrealistic.
But he didn’t necessarily need to invent brand-new magic.
Coming up with new concepts or creating new techniques should count as “inspiration” too.
As long as an idea was genuinely possible within the rules of this world’s magic, it should earn him plenty of Inspiration Points.
And so, Aito set his sights on Gray.
He didn’t have many options right now.
Among the people currently at the guild, Gray was about the only one capable enough and willing enough to help him experiment.
Aito wasn’t close enough with the older kids yet, Cana was still learning and refining her own magic, and the adults weren’t going to humor every strange idea from a six-year-old.
Gray-boy, on the other hand, was a little tsundere, straightforward, and ridiculously easy to manipulate.
Perfect.
“…Anyway, Big Brother Gray, Airo gave me the day off today.
I want to see how you train.” “Haha!
Hear that, Cana?
Hand him over!” Gray snatched Aito straight out of Cana’s arms, then smugly dragged him toward the guild entrance.
“Come on, Aito!
Your big bro will show you how a real man trains!” “Hey!
Wait for me, you two!” As the three little kids disappeared through the guild doors, the older men continued their drinking contest and burst into laughter.
“The guild’s new blood sure has plenty of energy!” “Gray’s been a lot more cheerful lately.
He doesn’t look nearly as gloomy as when he first joined.” “Same with Cana.
It’s probably all thanks to Aito.” “To Aito!” “Cheers!” …
The three children chased each other all the way to the riverbank outside town, where Gray finally began demonstrating his training method.
“Watch carefully, Aito.
Step one of training—take off your clothes!” Cana immediately punched Gray on the head.
“Don’t teach my little brother weird things!” “Agh!
Fine, fine!
You don’t have to take them off.” Gray rubbed the swelling on his head and grumbled.
“But it’s a secret technique from my school!
Taking your clothes off improves your perception of Magic Power and helps you learn Ice Magic faster!” “I’ve already passed that stage, though.
These days I only take my clothes off because I’m used to it.” “As for my actual training method…” Gray brought one open palm against his clenched fist.
“Ice-Make Magic—Ice-Make: Hammer!” His Magic Power instantly formed an invisible Magic Circle.
A huge hammer of ice, nearly half his height, crashed into the ground ahead and smashed out a sizable crater.
“Ice-Make: Hammer!” “Ice-Make: Hammer!” “Ice-Make: Hammer!” Gray created three more identical hammers in rapid succession.
Four massive ice hammers stood in a row, spreading a wave of freezing air across the riverbank.
Gray placed his hands on his hips and breathed slightly harder.
“Pretty awesome, right?
I can mold ice faster than plenty of adult Mages!
I can make about ten hammers like these before running dry!” Cana crossed her arms and curled her lips.
“So your training is just standing here and making hammers over and over?” “Of course not!
First, I use up all my Magic Power.
Then I run along the riverbank while it recovers.” “Once it’s full again, I practice my techniques until it’s empty, then run again.
I just keep repeating that cycle.” “Huh?
What kind of idiot training method is that?” “It’s not stupid!” Gray immediately protested.
“My master said the body is the foundation that carries Magic Power!
The stronger your body is, the more Magic Power it can withstand and store!” “You wouldn’t understand because nobody taught you!” “Huh?!
If I have that much time, I’d rather spend it meditating!
Gildarts taught me that!” “Idiot!
What are you going to do when someone gets into close range?!” “You’re the idiot!
We’re Mages, not warriors!
Just don’t let them get close in the first place!
You’re going to teach Aito all the wrong things!” “Stupid Cana!” “Jerk Gray!” Aito helplessly watched the two start screaming at each other before lunging into a fight and disappearing inside an old-fashioned cartoon dust cloud.
To be fair, Aito thought Cana had a point.
A Mage should act like a Mage.
Surely the point of learning magic wasn’t to end up trading punches shirtless with someone.
But Gray’s argument also made sense.
Magic Power in this world could directly reinforce the body, after all.
And Aito’s own System Panel only listed three fundamental attributes: [Vitality], [Stamina], and [Magic Power].
His cheat probably hadn’t chosen those three for no reason.
Stamina likely mattered a great deal in actual combat.
Still, that wasn’t something he needed to worry about today.
He hadn’t come here to watch two kids beat each other up.
“Stop fighting!
Both of you, stop!
Don’t argue!” Aito forced himself between them and finally managed to separate the pair.
He sighed and looked at Cana first.
“Big Sis Cana, is it really okay for a girl to fight this wildly?
What if you get hurt and it leaves a scar?
Don’t let those rowdy adults at the guild corrupt you…” Cana’s little face immediately reddened.
She hurriedly fixed the hair beside her ear and suddenly became much more ladylike.
“A-Ahem.
Don’t misunderstand, little Aito.
Big Sis normally isn’t like this.
Gray is just incredibly annoying!” “Hah?!” Aito immediately turned toward Gray before another fight could begin.
“Big Brother Gray, after watching your magic, I noticed something.
Your main attacks use Molding Magic to deal physical damage, right?” “I thought an Ice Mage would mainly hurt enemies with low temperatures.” Gray was usually rather simple-minded, so his attention was instantly diverted.
“Oh!
You actually noticed that, Aito?” “You’re right.
My main offensive method really is Molding Magic rather than Ice Magic.” “Lowering the temperature also consumes Magic Power.
Right now, I don’t have enough to deal strong freezing damage and molding damage at the same time.” Gray shrugged without much concern.
“Can’t be helped.
I’m only ten!
It’ll get better as I grow stronger.” “I see…” Aito naturally moved on to the idea he’d prepared.
“Then, Big Brother Gray, can you make mirrors out of ice?” “Mirrors?” Gray tilted his head.
“If I change the arrangement of the ice while molding it, I should be able to make the surface reflective.
Why?” “An Ice Mirror is still an ice construct, right?
I think you could use special mirrors to trick an enemy’s vision.” “For example, imagine putting several Ice Mirrors around an enemy.” Aito gestured as he explained.
“You could make your image appear in one mirror while your real body hides behind another.” “Then when the enemy attacks the image…” The longer Aito spoke, the brighter Gray’s eyes became.
“You can do that?!” “I think that would actually work!
I’m trying it right now!” Without another word, Gray immediately created several sheets of reflective ice and enthusiastically began experimenting with reflections and projected images.
He had completely forgotten Cana was even there.
The moment Gray successfully created the first Ice Mirror, Aito stared intently at his System Panel.
[Inspiration Points: 540→710] ‘It works!!’ ‘I knew it!
My theory was right!
This really counts as inspiration!
Hahaha!’ Just as Aito was celebrating his discovery, he suddenly felt something soft touch his cheek.
Mwah~!
Before he could react, he was pulled into a warm embrace.
“Wow!
My Aito is a genius!
How did you come up with such an amazing idea?
You’re incredible!” Cana squeezed him happily.
“Let Big Sis give you another kiss!
Mwah~~!” [Inspiration Points: 710→1001] ‘!?’ Aito froze.
He looked at Cana, who was pressed happily against him, then at Gray experimenting with the mirrors nearby.
Finally, he blinked and looked back at his panel.
[Inspiration Points: 1001→1111] Aito: “????” …