“How strange.
Am I overthinking it?” After leading the sturdy men away, the village chief muttered to himself.
… On the other side.
After the village chief and the villagers had completely disappeared, Mirajane came downstairs.
Looking out the window, she watched them leave with an expression of relief.
“I was really scared!
I thought our demon appearance had been exposed.” “No way.” “The villagers know a fair amount about demons and magic, so if they saw your arm, Mirajane, they would definitely assume you were possessed by a demon.” Igor shrugged, a faint sense of powerlessness appearing on his face.
“Let’s set those things aside for now.
By the way, Igor, what happened to the change in your body?” Mirajane pointed at Igor, who had returned to being an “ordinary person” with the demon’s hand gone, and spoke with great concern.
“Because I successfully controlled the ‘magical power’ lurking inside my body.” Igor smiled and answered Mirajane’s question honestly.
“Huh?” “Igor, why can you master ‘magical power’ faster than me?” “Hey, how did you do it?
Teach me right now!” Mirajane quickly approached Igor, pressed her forehead tightly against his, and brought her eyes so close they almost touched, continuously murmuring, “Look into my eyes and answer!
Don’t try to run away!
If you confess you’ll be treated leniently; if you resist you’ll be severely punished!” “It’s something very simple.” Looking a little nervous, Igor took half a step back, creating a little distance from Mirajane, and spoke the explanation he had prepared all night.
“Because I learned the ‘Magic and Ethernano Refinement Method.’ As for who taught me this ‘method,’ it goes back a very long time…” “It would take too long to talk about that, so let’s not…” “Igor, please teach me the refinement method.” Mirajane looked at Igor with a very serious expression and made the request.
“Of course.” Without the slightest hesitation, Igor immediately agreed.
After all, what he liked most about Mirajane was her unpretentious straightforwardness.
“Of course, I intend to teach this ‘refinement method’ not only to you, but also to Elfman and Lisanna…” After a short pause, Igor looked at the nearby Elfman and Lisanna and said with a smile, “You two should work hard as well!
Like Mirajane and me, strive to awaken your own magic as soon as possible.” “That’s great.” “We’re going to become great Wizards too.” “Big Brother Igor is the best…” When Lisanna and Elfman learned that they too could learn magic like Igor and Mirajane, they immediately shouted excitedly and continued praising Igor’s name.
“Hmph.” “For the sake of the ‘Magic Refinement Method,’ I’ll temporarily allow you to surpass me today and choose you as the most outstanding person in Lisanna’s and Elfman’s hearts.” Mirajane let out a slightly arrogant snort.
Although she said that, she was truly happy from the bottom of her heart that Lisanna and Elfman liked Igor so much.
After all, she was the one who had brought Igor home from the forest, so she had to take responsibility for the relationship between Igor and her family.
“All right, everyone sit cross-legged and try to sense the direction of the air currents in the space while searching for the glowing points.” “These glowing points are ‘Ethernano,’ also known as ‘magical power’!
Use your mental power to capture these ‘Ethernano’ and try to take them into your body.” Igor began teaching the three Strauss siblings the contents of the “Elementary Magic and Ethernano Refinement.” “Found them.” “It’s very simple.” Mirajane lived up to her reputation as a genius at “Take Over magic.” She quickly sensed the “Ethernano” in the atmosphere and, following Igor’s instructions, succeeded in taking them into her body.
“Hmm, as expected of Mirajane.” Igor smiled and praised Mirajane several times, then continued, “So, smart Mirajane, were you able to sense the energy in the atmosphere that is the complete opposite of ‘Ethernano’?” “…Particles that emit a black luster.
These particles are ‘magic barrier particles,’ the energy used by demons.” “Considering Mirajane’s genius, she should be able to capture them well and take them into her body to utilize them, right?” Igor used a guidance method specialized for Mirajane to instruct her.
“Isn’t that obvious?” Guided by Igor’s voice, Mirajane succeeded in capturing the “Ethernano,” but stumbled at the stage of taking the “magic barrier particles” into her body.
She closed her eyes, her forehead dripping with sweat, and struggled with the completely unmanageable abominable “magic barrier particles.” It took Mirajane another full hour before she finally managed to take those damned “magic barrier particles” into her body.
After Mirajane successfully completed Igor’s request, he let out a sigh of relief and smiled.
“Easy, easy!” “Wonderful!
Mirajane, you really are a genius.” “So, Mirajane, what you should do is make absorbing ‘Ethernano’ and ‘magic barrier particles’ from the atmosphere into something almost as instinctive as breathing.” Seizing this opportunity, Igor continued guiding Mirajane in the practice of the “refinement method.” “I see.” After receiving instructions from Igor, Mirajane continued meditating on the spot, doing her best to capture the “Ethernano” and “magic barrier particles” in the atmosphere.
“Mm.” Seeing Mirajane, who seemed to understand the situation well, Igor lightly nodded.
Then he looked at the nearby Lisanna and Elfman and said quietly, “Elfman, Lisanna, there’s no need to rush.
You’re still young.
It’s fine to proceed slowly with everything.” “Mm.” Following Igor’s words, Elfman and Lisanna slowed the pace of their training and first began by sensing the “Ethernano” in the atmosphere.
“Very good.” “You siblings really are geniuses.” Watching the Strauss Siblings advance steadily and in an orderly manner, Igor smiled and nodded.
At this pace, Mirajane would be able to completely control the “demon soul” inside her body in less than a month.
Furthermore, Elfman and Lisanna would awaken their magic earlier than scheduled.
“Then, for the remaining period, I’ll protect this secret for the Strauss Siblings.” Igor stretched, but a serious expression appeared in his eyes.
After all, the village chief had already noticed that something unusual was happening with Strauss’s family.
In order to prevent the tragedy of Strauss’s family being discriminated against and “bullied” by the villagers from the original timeline from happening again, the coming month would be the perfect opportunity for him to outwit the villagers and stay one step ahead.
And what happened next was… … In the first week after the Strauss Siblings began practicing the “refinement method.” Throughout the week, Igor ran all over the village, keeping the three Strauss Siblings out of sight, which naturally aroused the villagers’ curiosity.
In the second week, instead of Igor handling the shopping, Elfman began taking care of various chores around the village.
In the third week, the person responsible for purchasing daily necessities in the village changed from Elfman to Lisanna.
Igor deliberately used this method to convey to the villagers that the Strauss family was living smoothly, but everyone was busy, so they took turns going out to shop.
Why didn’t he simply stay home for a month and wait until Mirajane could completely control the “demon soul” before coming out?
Because if they failed to appear for a long time, it would be easy for the villagers to start suspecting them.