The next day, when I came to school, Nakatsuka-san and the others greeted me with bright voices. A happy hello in the morning really lifts the mood.
"Hey, Old Man, class gets serious from today, ssu. I'm a striker, so I think I have a gift for attack magic, ssu, but what about you?" Jinnai asked.
"What do you mean?" I said.
"I mean, what's your gift, Old Man?"
"Well... I don't really know," I answered.
"What, don't tell me you didn't study at all, ssu."
"Study? Well... yeah."
So Jinnai had done his homework. I, on the other hand, had a fun café time with Nakatsuka-san and the others, felt good, drank a can of chu-hai, and fell asleep. Not great.
"Each job has a gift, ssu. I'm a striker, so I should be good at attack magic, ssu."
"I see."
"So what's your job, Old Man?"
"My... job?"
"Yeah, your job. It's not something you need to hide."
"Oh, r-right. Umm, I'm a great—"
"Huh? Couldn't hear that, ssu."
Is it okay to say it? Well, we're on the same team. They will find out sooner or later when class moves on.
"Um... I'm a great magician."
"What? Say that again, ssu."
"A great magician."
"No way, Old Man. You're messing with me, right? Stop joking and say the real one, ssu."
"I'm serious. I'm a great magician."
"...For real, ssu?"
"Yeah. For real."
"Does a job like that even exist, ssu?"
"Looks like it does."
"Sounds amazing, ssu."
"Maybe."
Even Jinnai didn't know about the great magician job. The name sounds big, so I hope I can live up to it.
"There was nothing like that in the textbook, ssu. The closest thing is a magic user (mahou-tsukai)? No, not even close, ssu. A magic user is an all-rounder who has a gift for most magic, ssu."
"A magic user? My ancestor was one, I think."
"That's already crazy, ssu. magic user are super rare, ssu."
"Jinnai-kun, I may be an Old Man, but I'm Hanaoka."
"Yeah, I know, Old Man, ssu."
There was no point telling him. It was fine. For a nineteen-year-old, I really was an Old Man.
Talking with Jinnai, we walked to the school field for the first lesson of the day.
"Alright, we start with magic practice. First is the most basic fire spell. It's called 'Fire'," the teacher said.
"That name is just the same as what it is, ssu," someone called out.
"Who said that? I didn't name the spell, so complaining to me won't help," the teacher said, making the class laugh.
This teacher was good at talking with students. In the warm mood, our first magic training began.
The Defense Force mainly hunted monsters in dungeons, but sometimes had to wipe out ones that came to the surface. I didn't know this, but even with some limits, magic could be used on the surface too.
"Just focus and say the chant from the textbook. If you have the gift, it will work. It's much easier now than in the old days, because we have a clear manual. Let's try it," the teacher said.
He faced the target and began the chant.
"Spirits of this world, follow my pact and show your power here. Dance, flame of the first fire! 'Fire'!"
As soon as he finished the chant, flames rose around the target and it caught fire.
It was our first taste of real magic in action.
Notes:
• Nakatsuka - A 20-year-old classmate first seen when she approaches Hanaoka after class; invites him to tea due to interest in his single status; no leader involved; meets Hanaoka socially; no known other relationships; likes drinking.
• Jinnai - A 19-year-old student first seen at orientation; questions Hanaoka about age and life due to curiosity; caused by meeting a much older classmate; connects as classmate; married; blunt but friendly.