It is perhaps a bit sudden, but I feel I must explain the nature of Magic¹ in this world.
Nearly everyone living here is capable of using it, yet surprisingly few manage to make a proper living through such arts alone. The reason for this boils down to two distinct factors: Mana Capacity² and Magic Aptitude³.
Mana Capacity is exactly what it sounds like-the total volume of magical energy a person possesses. It is a raw talent determined almost entirely at the moment of birth. While it might grow slightly as the body matures, it seems it never changes in any significant way.
Magic Aptitude, on the other hand, refers to the specific elements a person is naturally suited for. Attempting to cast magic outside of one's innate alignment causes the mana consumption to skyrocket, making the spell nearly impossible to manifest. Most people fall into the categories of the four major elements-Fire, Water, Wood, or Earth-though rare affinities like Light and Darkness do exist.
Regardless of whether one is a noble or a commoner, anyone over the age of seven can have these traits measured at a church. Naturally, as the heir to a Duke house⁴, Kraut underwent this examination as soon as he reached the appropriate age. The results were... modest. His mana capacity was lower-mid, and his aptitude was Water. Don't you dare call that average!
In a fantasy novel, a 'cheat' protagonist would be firing off 'Water Lances' or 'Water Dragons' to overwhelm their foes, but Kraut knew that was impossible for someone with his meager reserves. Creating water from nothing is exhausting; a dragon was out of the question. At best, he could splash someone with a sphere of water and leave them quite soggy. Kraut recalled that his game counterpart was limited to similar feats.
For comparison, the protagonist of 'Sword and Magic and Cadenas⁵' possessed upper-mid mana and aptitude for every single element. Kraut couldn't help but wish he could purchase even half of that talent. To put it plainly, he lacked innate talent in both swordsmanship and magic.
However, lack of talent did not excuse him from the necessity of becoming strong. He had to find a way to combine the sword, magic, and the knowledge of his previous life into something functional. This problem had occupied his thoughts for a long time.
* * *
"⁶Iai, you say?" Heliotrope asked.
"That's right. Iai," I replied.
We stood facing each other in the training hall. Heliotrope held a wooden practice sword, while I gripped the katana I had recently acquired. "It involves drawing the blade from the scabbard with immense speed and striking in a single motion. To put it simply, anyway."
While it likely differed from the authentic art, the key lay in perfecting a single movement. To draw fast and strike sharp—that was all a clumsy person like me could manage. A seamless follow-up was nothing more than a distant dream.
"I find it difficult to believe that would be practical in a real fight," Heliotrope said.
Her skepticism was well-founded. Even I wasn't entirely sure if it would work, as my inspiration was drawn entirely from fiction. A true expert would likely have been incensed by my amateurish theory.
"Well, we won't know until we try. Come at me without holding back!" I said.
I gripped the scabbard's mouth with my left hand and the hilt with my right. Lowering my center of gravity, I stepped back slightly with my left foot. I reminded myself that if one does not try, nothing can be achieved. Since this world (presumably) lacked the concept of Iai, I had to forge the path myself. I intended to strike like a flash of lightning!
"I feel no fear... very well, here I come," Heliotrope said.
Despite her long-skirted maid uniform, she lunged forward with startling sharpness. She brought her wooden sword down in a powerful overhead strike. I braced myself, pouring every ounce of focus into my next move. I used my magic to instantly flood the inside of the scabbard with water.
"Ah," I gasped.
The sudden water pressure acted like a piston. The blade didn't just slide out—it shot out of the scabbard with such force that it ripped itself right out of my hands. It was a new kind of quick-draw that would have left even a legendary master speechless.
"Abeshi!!" I shrieked.
Before I could register the failure, Heliotrope's wooden sword connected squarely with the crown of my head. My consciousness instantly flickered and died into a total blackout. In hindsight, I realized how foolish it was to attempt such a stunt without a single practice run. I had simply been far too excited about owning a katana.
Summary:
Kraut explains the magic system of his world, noting his own mediocre mana and water aptitude compared to the game's protagonist. He decides to invent a new combat style by combining swordsmanship with his limited magic. Attempting to demonstrate a 'water-pressurized' quick-draw (Iai) to Heliotrope, he fails spectacularly. The blade flies out of his hands, and he is promptly knocked unconscious by Heliotrope's counterattack.
Character Insight:
Kraut demonstrates a mix of creative desperation and reckless enthusiasm. Aware of his lack of 'cheat' powers, he attempts to innovate using his past-life knowledge of tropes, but his overexcitement leads to a lack of basic safety and testing. Heliotrope remains the grounded, practical foil to his eccentric ideas, showing her combat prowess even while restricted by a maid's uniform.
Behind the Scene:
The 'Abeshi' scream is a famous death cry from 'Fist of the North Star', highlighting the author's use of 80s/90s pop culture references. The mention of 'Bakkousai' is a play on Himura Battousai from 'Rurouni Kenshin'.
T/L:
¹ ↩ The fundamental supernatural force in this world, accessible to most people.
² ↩ The total 'fuel tank' of energy a person can use for spells.
³ ↩ Natural elemental alignment determining spell efficiency.
⁴ ↩ One of the highest ranks of nobility, indicating Kraut's high social standing.
⁵ ↩ The title of the fictional 'Otome' game this world is based on.
⁶ ↩ A Japanese martial art focusing on drawing the sword and striking in one fluid motion.
Notes:
• Kraut - The eldest son of a Duke's family. He has blue eyes, a straight nose, and short silver hair. Despite his handsome facial features, he is notably obese. He was previously arrogant and selfish before regaining memories of a past life.
• Heliotrope - Kraut's exclusive maid, fifteen years old (six years older than Kraut). She has long black hair reaching her waist and a cool, beautiful face. She is a 'slave battle maid' who was formerly a noble lady from a fallen northern country. She wears a Victorian-style long-dress maid outfit.