Thus, I began training for “The Deal with the World” with Sis.
Incidentally, Diplakla-san moved into the castle to craft those clothes, and the boy Legacy wandered out of the castle.
Now, in the garden, there are only me, Sis, and Hidaki.
I closed my eyes as if meditating and began to practice the method Sis taught me repeatedly.
Without rest, over and over again, I converted the “Demonic Poison” inside and outside my body into a different power. However, no matter how many times I repeated it, there was no progress beyond the sensation of my vision expanding.
According to what I’ve heard, this “Demonic Poison” is the “Source” of all substances. If I wanted to, I could convert it into cold air, just like Hidaki. This means I am still immature and can only convert it into what I am best at.
That’s right. If I have the aptitude, I should be able to convert “Demonic Poison” into “Yotaki’s Medicine.” I’m sure the Apostles also hope I reach that level.
I continued to try and fail.
“…!”
My breath didn’t run out. However, my sweat wouldn’t stop. My body seemed to have noticed something strange, as my body temperature kept rising. I could feel not only my concentration wearing thin but also my stamina being noticeably depleted.
There was no pain, but it was agonizing. However, my sister, who is likely suffering even more than I am, is waiting for the completion of the treatment. As long as Hidaki is watching over me, I will never give up.
I closed my eyes and repeated “The Deal with the World.” Following Sis’s advice, I prioritized imagination over theory, felt the world’s flow on my skin, focused on my own “Circulatory Function,” concentrated on the power flowing from “the other side,” and then…
“—Grrr! So roundabout!!”
About an hour into my meditation, I finally cursed. The first thing I stumbled on was the phrase “The Deal with the World.” It wasn’t the difficulty of the task, but the roundabout image conveyed by the phrase. The Apostles probably intended to teach me with sincere and precise language. It’s “The Deal with the World” because you’re making a deal with the world. It’s very simple, very correct—but the wording is very stiff.
“This makes it hard to imagine…! More, more…!”
As Sis taught me, imagination is undoubtedly the most important thing. In fact, I succeeded in “The Deal with the World” after hearing her soft expression, “something like magic.” This means that the phrase “The Deal with the World” is unsuitable for training. It’s stiff, like a word from a textbook. And long. No, I don’t dislike long things. I like shouting long names. For example, I like lengthy final attack names that connect all the previous techniques, common in manga and games. However, in this kind of dull, repetitive practice, a long name is nothing but a hindrance. The important thing in imagination is relevance that can directly lead to it—
It was with this bad habit that I decided to modify the terms of “Another World.”
“More simply… For ‘The Deal with the World,’ shouldn’t we just call it ‘Magic’… no, not yet…”
I can’t call it “Magic” yet. I intuitively felt that. From Sis’s “something like magic” advice, it’s highly likely that in this world, the word “Magic” has a unique meaning. Also, simply put, these two characters are the words that make my heart flutter the most, and the most easily imaginable words for a “Foreigner.” I wanted to save it as a celebratory word for the completion stage, not the development stage. Therefore, I will choose the next best option. The most appropriate phrase for the current stage.
“—This is ‘Curse Technique.’ Let’s go with ‘Curse Technique’ for ‘The Deal with the World’.”
Since the word “Price” existed, I had been thinking. “The Deal with the World,” which requires losing something, is appropriate for the word “Curse Technique,” which has a slightly dark impression. It’s a personal feeling, but the image of a curse user wielding dark power comes to mind intuitively.
“The term ‘Circulatory Function’ is no longer necessary… It’s a bodily function, so I don’t need to consciously do it. My body does it automatically. —So, for now, this is ‘Aptitude.’ It’s the ‘Aptitude’ to break down ‘Demonic Poison’.”
I continued to simplify the terms. In other words, I have the “Aptitude” to circulate “Demonic Poison.” I acquired it when I was summoned. However, the tendency of that circulation is specialized for each person. My best “Curse Technique” was the “power of Dimension.”
Ah. This is completely—
“—Then, the tendency an individual possesses is ‘Attribute.’ I have the Dimension Attribute, and Hidaki has the Ice Attribute. Ah, that’s right. This can only be ‘Attribute’…!”
It’s becoming nicely customized for me. In other words, I was summoned to “Another World,” understood my own “Aptitude” for the Dimension Attribute, and became a “Vessel capable of adapting to Demonic Poison”—
“Let’s shorten ‘Vessel capable of adapting to Demonic Poison’ too. This is simply ‘Vessel.’ No, isn’t ‘The’ cooler…?”
My mood began to improve. Gradually, the body heat that was only painful began to feel comfortable. However, Hidaki and Sis, who were watching me, looked extremely confused. Their conversation reached my ears.
“N-Older Brother… Aren’t those all game terms…”
“Hmm? Kanami is muttering something. Strange Japanese.”
“Perhaps, Older Brother is complaining about the names Sis taught him. He’s trying to make ‘Vessel capable of adapting to Demonic Poison’ into ‘The’ now… Sigh.”
“Complaining…? Huh, about the names? Does that mean he finds them troublesome because they’re long?”
“No, he seems to like long ones… but he just doesn’t like them…”
“…Hmm. ‘The,’ you say. So, he wants you to call him ‘The Kanami’? Like our ‘Apostle Sis’.”
When Sis mentioned my name, a jolt ran through my mind. …Wait, ‘The Kanami’!? I realized that the part about ‘Vessel capable of adapting to Demonic Poison’ was related to my self-introduction. I immediately abandoned my original goal of shortening terms and began to think of a name Sis would call me. “The” is not bad, not trying to be too clever. But if I had to be greedy, I’d prefer something a little longer. It’s my theory, but when speaking coined words like these, the longer they are, the more satisfying they feel to say. For the sake of the self-introduction that will eventually come, I pondered deeply. Something that fits this world and situation—
And then, I arrived at a word. The word came out very naturally.
“—Alright. Let’s make ‘Vessel capable of adapting to Demonic Poison’ into ‘Thief of Principles.’ That is, I am ‘Kanami, the Thief of Principles of Dimension.’ This way, when using the ‘power of Dimension,’ the series of steps will be easier to imagine…!”
At that, I stopped meditating and glanced at Hidaki and Sis, who were chatting in the distance. My sister, used to it, sensed my wish and, with a sigh, conveyed it to Sis.
“…Sigh. Um, Sis. Older Brother wants you to call him ‘Kanami, the Thief of Principles of Dimension,’ not ‘The Kanami.’ …I’m sorry about Older Brother like this. But he’s not a bad brother.”
“Thief…?”
Hearing that, Sis showed a surprised expression. I might have gotten carried away and chosen strange names. Just as I started to regret it,
“—You understand, don’t you? I think it’s a good name. I’ll call it that from now on instead of ‘Vessel capable of adapting to Demonic Poison’.”
“Eh?”
To my surprise, I received unexpected praise, and Hidaki was astonished. I was also astonished.
“…!”
It had been a long time since someone understood my sense of style. In my Original World, my sense of style was constantly called dreamy, but perhaps in this Another World, it’s considered normal. A strange sense of joy welled up in my chest, and embracing that warmth, I closed my eyes again. Somehow, all of today’s fatigue seemed to disappear. The flow of “Demonic Poison” in this world felt clearer, as if it were blessing me. Fortunately or unfortunately, my sister and I were summoned to “Another World.” However, this “Another World” suits us. If anything, it suits Aikawa Uzunami better than his Original World. I thought. Whether that was by chance or destiny, I didn’t know. But with that conviction, my “Deal with the World”—no, my “Curse Technique”—became sharper.
The “power of Dimension” overflowed from my body. It was clearly a greater amount than just before. The expanding sensation reached the edge of the garden. A third viewpoint felt like it was soaring into the sky, not above my head.
Sis, sensing the evolution of the Curse Technique, was tracking the filling magic power with her eyes. She then discussed the results with Hidaki.
“What…?! To this extent in such a short time…?! Amazing! It seems the act of changing the name now is becoming a ‘Price’…!”
“Huh? That counts as a ‘Price’? Something like that?”
“Yes, that’s fine. The act of conceiving, imprinting, and inscribing a new name is a splendid ‘Price.’ As I said earlier, everything in this world can serve as a ‘Price.’ In any case, as long as you have the ‘Price’ of action, you can intervene in the world’s transactions.”
“…………. Is it okay to do it so easily?”
“Well, only five people in the world, including you two and the other… um, three ‘Thieves of Principles,’ can do it so easily. Other humans simply don’t have… ‘aptitude’?”
Sis used the word I decided on with momentum, and explained it to Hidaki clearly.
Finally, she mumbled softly. It was a voice so quiet that even Hidaki in front of her couldn’t hear it, but I, whose senses had spread, could.
“A name as a ‘Price’… it brings back a little nostalgia. The child of the wind also initially used their own name as a ‘Price’ to generate stronger winds…”
It seemed to be a method with a precedent.
At the same time, I understood the importance of names in this world. This is also common in RPG magic worlds. It’s easy to imagine, which is a great help.
That each and every name and word holds power and interferes with the world…
It’s truly made for me…
When my conviction that the world favored me turned from speculation to certainty, I spoke.
Naturally, without thinking, but carefully cherishing each word, imbuing it with a definite meaning—
“—’Faintly lost,’ ‘Past and time, nostalgic home, sorrow,’ ‘All for the blessings of a new beginning’—”
In my original world, there was resistance, but here it was almost nil.
This is Another World.
Beside me were only Sis, who said, “I understand,” and “It’s good,” and Hidaki, who was like family.
Furthermore, I was more excited than ever before.
Today was full of new experiences, and each one was like my favorite game. Hidaki was also starting to move in a good direction, and much hope sprang forth. Moreover, due to a lack of oxygen from prolonged training, I was experiencing a slight runner’s high. Simply put, I was on cloud nine.
—As a result, I recited poetry.
The moment I did, the magic in my body stirred.
As if hearing poetry for the first time, like pure children frolicking.
Each particle of magic leaped and danced.
Furthermore, its volume also expanded.
I understood the meaning precisely.
The poem I just composed and my life in this Another World had become the ‘Price,’ and the world was returning ‘results’ to me as if giving me a small gift.
My field of vision, which had reached the edges of the garden, finally crossed physical barriers and allowed me to see into the interiors of multiple towers.
The people living in Fuziaze Castle. The faces of the steel knights, which were a symbol of fear just a few hours ago, one by one. The insides of their full armor were ordinary adult men. Reassured by this, I smiled amidst the spreading dimensional magic.
To be honest.
It’s fun.
Right now, I’m having fun.
In this Another World, I’m freely manipulating something like magic.
If this weren’t fun, I wouldn’t know what I was enjoying about games until today.
“Fu, fufu, hahahaha! Ah, ahahahahahah—!!”
My smile naturally grew wider, echoing throughout the entire garden.
Sis ran towards me. What I had just done seemed to be something she had never seen before, and she looked quite excited.
“—Kanami, what did you do?! The Demonic Poison just did something incredible! More importantly, what was that just now?! What was it!?”
However, when asked for details like this again, my excitement didn’t last long.
Once I came to my senses, this was a bit—
“Um, this is… it’s like what we call poetry in our world… a magical ‘Incantation’… I decided to call it an ‘Incantation.’ This whole sequence of Curse Techniques.”
“‘Incantation’! So that’s ‘Incantation’!! Amazing! Curse Techniques can do this too! It’s an idea we, who lack human hearts, never had!”
However, Sis blew away the embarrassment I felt.
She accepted it as it was and complimented me straightforwardly.
On top of that, she even tried to imitate my ‘Incantation’ like a child.
“Um, ‘Faintly lost,’ ‘Do you remember the rest…?'”
“‘Past and time, nostalgic home, sorrow,’ ‘All for the blessings of a new beginning.'”
“—’Faintly lost,’ ‘Past and time, nostalgic person, sorrow,’ ‘All for the blessings of a new beginning’—!!”
Sis repeated it, word for word, without changing a single character.
Releasing her unique radiant magic from her body.
However, the amount of magic did not change much even after finishing the ‘Incantation.’
“Huh…? It hasn’t changed that much…? Kanami, why…?”
“I suspect… this isn’t just something you say. If you don’t have the heart to offer what’s in the poem, the transaction with the world won’t be established, and it won’t become a beautiful Curse Technique…”
“Hmm, hmm…? So, you’re making two transactions at once…? Kanami, you’re already making such complex negotiations! I’ll try again…! Oops, the words slipped away again. Um, what was it? It’s cool, but it’s difficult and hard to remember, which is a drawback.”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll write it down on the ground now…”
I wrote characters on the garden ground with my foot.
After ‘Faintly lost,’ ‘Past and time, nostalgic home, sorrow,’ ‘All for the blessings of a new beginning,’ I added a note: ‘Think of the past and precious people you once lost, and shout with strong desire.’
Looking at it, Sis tried again, but as she read the note, she calmed down.
“Ugh… I can’t do this ‘Price.’ Because I don’t have a past. I can’t negotiate with something I don’t have. Hey, Kanami. Don’t you have a better ‘Incantation’?”
“Hmm. If you say ‘better Incantation,’ I don’t think I can make it without knowing more about Sis. This isn’t just a collection of words… it’s heartfelt.”
“Heart, huh… Then I can’t help it. What a shame… But, prepare a private ‘Incantation’ for me eventually! It’s a promise!”
“…Yes, I promise. Right now, Hidaki is the priority, but someday for sure.”
I nodded firmly and jotted down this promise in my mental notepad so as not to forget it.
I felt that if it were for Sis, I would gladly prepare anything.
Then, we two smiled at each other warmly—but beside us, Hidaki glared at me with her characteristic look.
“Older Brother… Do you know what you’re doing right now?”
“Huh? What… I’m trying to make this world’s Curse Technique more my own—”
“You’re deceiving the pure and innocent Sis and trying to mold her to your own image. There’s a limit to how wicked a man can be.”
“No, I’m not doing anything like that! We’re just exchanging advice like normal people!”
“Haa. …I doubt it.”
I was being treated like a wicked man trying to trick Sis.
I didn’t think that was the case and tried to get Sis herself to deny it, but she was repeating the ‘Incantation’ she had given up on earlier, albeit a little distance away. She made a strange pose and shouted, “All for the blessings of a new beginning!” then muttered, “Hmm, it’s not working. Heart, heart, heart. Recite poetry with a human heart…”
She was completely engrossed in the ‘Incantation’ I came up with. …To be honest, at first glance, it looked like a foreign college student in her early twenties was suffering from chuunibyou. And I was undoubtedly the one who infected her, who was previously untouched.
“Nn… Well, I think ‘Incantation’ is a truly usable technique, so to some extent…”
“Yes, you want her to be colored by you to some extent. Good for you, Older Brother. You’ve found a fellow enthusiast you never had in your original world. And on top of that, she’s an incredibly beautiful newborn. You could imprint on her as much as you wanted. Ah, truly splendid.”
“Your words are sharp. …Or rather, is she truly a newborn?”
I had vaguely suspected it, but I didn’t ask further.
It was about the backgrounds of the three people who called themselves Apostles. Hidaki, who was summoned ahead of time, seemed to know.
“Yes. It seems that a great person called the ‘Master of this World’ sent beings to the ground in my stead because they couldn’t move themselves, and those are the ‘Apostles’… In fact, those three are younger than us. However, they are each influenced by their respective appearances, so there seem to be differences.”
“All three of you…!? I thought Diplakla was different…”
“Diplakla’s sensibility is also quite strange. He acts intelligent to match his old man appearance, but don’t be fooled. He’s still incomplete. He’s in the process of learning from humans.”
“I see… No, but I still believe Ms. Diplakla is a calm and kind person…”
Without Diplakla, today’s discussion would have taken more than twice as long. I can focus on my training calmly now precisely because of his consideration.
“…That’s right. Just as Older Brother says. He is certainly the most level-headed and kind-hearted.”
“Yeah. We’ve only talked a little, but I thought he was someone we could entrust Hidaki to. Much more so than the doctors I met in my original world…”
While I don’t blame the doctors who had to deal with many patients, there’s no doubt we siblings were unwelcome in my original world. At least Diplakla treats Hidaki not as a number, but as a living individual. He’s not just trying to cure her as a job, but out of a sense of mission.
That’s why I truly believed I could entrust Hidaki to him. It gave me the luxury of focusing on training. But—
“But I can’t just leave everything to Diplakla and rest. If there’s something I can do, I must do more…!”
Cutting short our casual conversation, I closed my eyes again and focused on my Curse Technique. Having become a Thief of the Principles of Dimensions, my current Aptitude is sufficient. Through Incantation, it’s confirmed that Demonic Poison can transform into anything.
Defining the terms has solidified the imagery, turning it into conviction. Up until now, I’d been half-in-doubt about the Apostles’ explanations, but now I can see it all as reality and nothing less.
I am now a Thief of the Principles of Dimensions. As the Apostles wished, I will live up to that Ideal.
—I am a Thief of the Principles of Dimensions, not a Thief of the Principles of ■.
That’s why I can do it. I can live up to the expectations not only of the Apostles, but also of Hidaki.
I will now, here and now, create the Curse Technique to cure that illness.
Thanks to Diplakla, I know the cause is Demonic Poison. I don’t know the exact principles, the mechanisms, or the phenomena it causes, but there’s no doubt the Demonic Poison is acting maliciously.
Therefore, a Curse Technique to convert all the Demonic Poison in my body into something else, without exception. Of course, not something dangerous like cold air, but something beneficial.
For example, if I were to convert the Demonic Poison accumulating in my body right now—
“My, you truly have a good grasp of things, your older brother… Honestly, it’s quite different from what we planned. Is he a healthy ordinary person rather than a sickly genius…?”
While I was experimenting on myself, Sis and Hidaki were conversing. Due to the nature of my Dimensional power, all their conversation reached my ears.
“I told you, didn’t I? Older Brother is also excellent. He has a strong tendency to be convinced of things, so I said he’d be suited for this. …More importantly, he’s someone who can overcome his limits to meet someone’s expectations. In that regard, he’s not inferior to me. Yes, my Older Brother is absolutely not inferior to me. He’s the coolest older brother in the world. Without a doubt.”
“You have such high expectations… But is that the only reason Uzunami is so capable? Perhaps Curse Techniques are prioritized for the weak? I’ve heard that the world wants to save the weak more than the strong.”
“…Yes. I believe it’s the result of various such elements aligning perfectly.”
While letting their conversation wash over me, I accelerated my imagery. There are still many things I want to try.
—A power, but a power converted into the ‘power of human life.’
The image of converting Demonic Poison into human vitality. Not just converting it into fuel like spirit and stamina, but also into the body itself.
First, I will convert the Demonic Poison permeating each individual cell into a similar type of cell. Of course, not an identical one. If I did that, the duplicated cells would interfere with each other and burst within my body.
An ordinary replacement won’t do. Blood and flesh constructed with something more high-dimensional, something ‘magic-like.’ Cells that can serve as skin, flesh, bone, blood, and nerves—cells that are simultaneously blood and flesh, yet ‘cells that possess no physical mass’ is the Ideal.
I am not bound by ordinary principles. This is Another World, I am a Thief of the Principles of Dimensions, and I am using Curse Technique, so it should be possible; I must believe that.
“Alright…! With this…!!”
Thus, I succeeded in the slightly dangerous experiment of ‘increasing muscle strength without changing the amount of muscle in my body’ on myself. If I were to express that in words, of course—
“STR has increased by 1…! Next is—”
I will re-experiment to see if other complentations are possible. Converting Demonic Poison into endurance would be ideal for treating illness.
Other possibilities include converting it into immunity, explosive power, nerve transmission speed, or the expansion of brain domains. There are any number of human functions I could increase.
Focus. I can do it. If this is that kind of world, it should be possible—!
“With the image of increasing a person’s VIT…!”
I am converting all the Demonic Poison within my body into the power of human life, as if distributing initial points in a game’s character creation.
The process was flawless. With the conviction that it was possible, I converted the Demonic Poison without any problems.
—Midway, my concentration wavered for a moment. My body felt strangely light, and a sense of exhilaration washed over me.
I opened my closed eyes and lightly clapped my palms together. A loud *paan* sound echoed. It was followed by a strong impact that reached my bones.
It was clearly no longer ordinary. No, my body remained ordinary. Nothing had changed. But within that body, my new power resided. That power, though not muscle, was assisting my muscle. The ‘cells with no physical mass’ constructed with something ‘magic-like’ were overlapping with ‘cells with physical mass,’ supplementing my body’s movements. I could feel it.
“Hahaha… It’s just like a game… Now, to do this for Hidaki too…”
I want to try it on Hidaki. But I hesitated, lacking the confidence to succeed with the exact same Curse Technique. Forcing myself to replicate the exact same image is difficult. For now, I’ll create a summary of the image procedure, and I mindlessly moved my toes, beginning to take notes on the ground.
—’Flesh’ ‘Cells’ ‘Copy’ ‘Non-physical’ ‘Infiltration’ ‘Support’ ‘Strength’ ‘Stamina’ ‘Speed’ ‘Intelligence’ ‘Conversion’—
“Yes, ‘Conversion.’ …I’ll call this process a Spell Formation for now.”
Following my notes, I traced the same Spell Formation and performed the same Curse Technique. I will refine the Spell Formation until I am certain it is the exact same Curse Technique, repeating it countless times until the Demonic Poison remaining in my body is completely gone.
And then, several tens of minutes later—
“—Okay.”
I felt the Spell Formation for the Curse Technique, which converts Demonic Poison into ‘cells with no physical mass,’ was complete. Immediately, I asked my observer, my teacher, to evaluate the new Curse Technique.
“Sis, please take a look. I need a confirmation of its safety.”
Sis, who had been talking with Hidaki, was startled by the sudden address and replied, “Eh? What has been done?”
“A Curse Technique to convert Demonic Poison. And not just converting it as it is, but converting it into ‘the power of human life.’ I think it’s perfect now.”
“Eh, ehh? Already…? It hasn’t even been half a day, it shouldn’t be possible so easily…”
“That’s why I want you to look. I’m hesitant to use it on Hidaki immediately… By the way, I’ve decided to call this Curse Technique Level Up.”
I urged Sis on in a rush. I wanted her to check it immediately. More than for Hidaki, I had the desire to boast about what I had just created.
Sis, who was unfamiliar with my world, seemed unable to grasp the nuance of the game term. She asked, much like I had inquired about the meaning of words earlier when hearing terms from another world.
“Le-Level Up…? What is Level Up?”
“It’s a Curse Technique that consumes ‘Demonic Poison’ and converts it into ‘the life force of humans’.”
“Hmm…?”
Since she wasn’t understanding, I thought it would be faster to show her the actual Curse Technique rather than explain.
In front of her, I converted my remaining Demonic Poison using the Curse Technique.
“Older Brother, Level Up… That’s completely…”
“This is what I was most confident about. If Sis’s explanation is correct, this method of visualization suits me. — Curse Technique (Level Up).”
Before she could stop me, I spoke its name and activated the Curse Technique.
Of course, it was followed by an Incantation to assist the Curse Technique.
It was an original Incantation specifically for this.
“—’Behold and Reflect with Keen Eyes’ ‘Know the Radiance of That Life,’ ‘It Exists in Me, It Exists in You’ —”
This time, my Price would be my own Demonic Poison.
By following the proper procedure, I converted it into human power, not the power of dimensions.
Upon the success of Level Up, my body began to emit a faint glow.
The ominous, dim Demonic Poison was turning into particles of light. And that radiance seeped into my body and disappeared.
Seeing this, Sis opened her mouth wide in surprise.
“—! Amazing…! The Demonic Poison inside Kanami is all gone…! Instead, your presence has increased, making you seem more powerful!!”
“Even from my perspective, I can see that the bad stuff has disappeared from Older Brother’s body. Isn’t this the solution to the Demonic Poison problem in this world?”
“—! Quick, Kanami! Let’s test if anyone else can do that, that Curse Technique, Level Up!”
Sis urged me to use the Curse Technique.
A means to remove the Demonic Poison, the Apostle’s primary objective, had suddenly appeared. I could understand her excitement, but I wished she would evaluate it a little more calmly.
“Um, Sis… What’s your impression of the Curse Technique just now?”
“There’s no need to worry! It was a beautiful Curse Technique! I can admit that Kanami is now better than me!!”
Or rather, I had somehow surpassed Sis, my master.
Although we Foreigners were summoned for this purpose, I hadn’t expected to surpass my master so quickly.
This meant that Curse Technique (Level Up) was no longer within Sis’s domain.
The responsibility for it could only be borne by me, who had developed it.
Naturally, hesitation welled up within me.
However, Hidaki took my hand.
“Older Brother, please. I believe in you.”
She dispelled all my anxieties.
I no longer had any doubts.
I immediately began the treatment.
“Understood. Then, here I go, Hidaki. — Curse Technique (Level Up).”
The visualization for the Curse Technique was the same.
But this time, the target was different.
Interacting with another person’s Demonic Poison, not my own familiar self, was a challenge on a different dimension. Even imagining a single cell in the body felt vastly different.
“—’Behold and Reflect with Keen Eyes’ ‘Know the Radiance of That Life,’ ‘It Exists in Me, It Exists in You’ —!!”
However, with me as the caster and Hidaki as the target—I had no unease.
There were no two siblings who knew each other as well, who communicated their feelings so profoundly, and who were as close as we were.
I strengthened the power of the Curse Technique through the Incantation.
I was converting all the Demonic Poison within Hidaki’s body into human power. In particular, I focused on increasing her vitality and stamina, and bolstering her immunity to all diseases—
“Kuh—, Ahh—!!”
However, mid-way, Hidaki let out a scream.
I was surprised to see her face contorted in agony, unlike my own serene expression.
My Curse Technique (Level Up) had activated, and Hidaki’s internal Demonic Poison was eradicated.
Yet, Hidaki collapsed to her knees.
“Failed…!? Hidaki, I’m sorry! Are you alright?!”
I immediately rushed to Hidaki and supported her body.
Sis followed behind me. However, instead of worrying about Hidaki, she was keenly observing the changes in her condition.
“Uzunami, it’s not a failure. Hidaki’s Demonic Poison has been properly removed. But it doesn’t seem to be a complete solution…”
“It’s gone, but why?!”
“Look closely… Because the Demonic Poison has disappeared, the cause has become a little easier to discern.”
Sis urged me to observe calmly as well. I, having used the Curse Technique myself, understood that this was what was most necessary right Now.
I switched my mindset from family member to doctor and tried to grasp the Situation.
I examined Hidaki’s body.
Ignoring her pained expression, I gauged the amount of sweat on her skin. I took her wrist to check her temperature and pulse, and finally, I used the dimensional power to see through Hidaki’s body.
Her internal Demonic Poison was empty.
This was as expected.
However, Hidaki was suffering.
The most significant difference compared to before was the movement of the surrounding Demonic Poison.
Hidaki’s absorption of Demonic Poison had drastically intensified. Like a dry sponge, her body was trying to suck in the Demonic Poison present in the air. Clearing it seemed to have activated the absorption.
“It seems the problem with Hidaki’s condition is the in-and-out flow. Unlike others, is it because her Vessel is too large? No, perhaps it’s simply because her Vessel has too many cracks, causing pain when things flow in and out? Hmm… I see.”
“The cause of the pain is the in-and-out flow…? So, if we prevent the in-and-out flow, Hidaki’s body won’t feel pain…? Then—!”
I identified the next problem and immediately tried to create a new Curse Technique to address it. However, Sis stopped me.
“No, Kanami!! First, you should concentrate on the current Curse Technique, Level Up! Although it was unfortunately ineffective for Hidaki, it should be effective for people who aren’t a magnet for absorption! Wait a moment!!”
After instructing me not to move, Sis ran off.
“Eh, huh? Sis! I want to solve Hidaki’s problem first… Wow, she’s fast!”
By the time I finished my reply, her figure had already become small in the depths of the garden. As I stood dumbfounded by her surprising speed, which seemed unsuited to her slender body, Hidaki spoke from behind me.
“Older Brother… For Now, let’s follow Sis as much as possible. We are already indebted to them for stopping the progression of the illness and saving my life. My body can still handle it, so there’s no need to rush.”
“Even if you say you can handle it, you’re in pain…”
“It’s not excruciating pain. Compared to before, it’s really… You understand, don’t you, Older Brother?”
I understood what she was trying to say.
Hidaki’s face Now was far more flushed than it had been a few days ago. Considering the critical situation where she hadn’t even broken a sweat, it was reasonable to say she had some leeway.
“…That’s right. Hidaki is energetic today. Truly… energetic.”
“Yes, I am. So, let’s first repay the favor of making me this energetic. Even if it’s about my detailed treatment, it won’t be too late afterward.”
Hidaki was sticking to the procedure of give and take.
Since she had received something first, it was our turn to give back.
She expected me to show such basic human sincerity.
Therefore, even though dissatisfaction was stuck in my throat, I couldn’t voice it.
As long as Hidaki herself insisted she was fine, it would be overbearing for me to act on my own.
“Understood… If that’s what Hidaki says…”
I relaxed my body and nodded wordlessly.
Seeing this, Hidaki smiled.
As I gazed at my sister’s smile, I harbored a doubt in the corner of my heart.
—Is it true?
I knew my sister’s acting abilities better than anyone. She could smile like this even if she were in excruciating pain, comparable to a fracture. On top of that, she was a kind girl who would bear the pain alone out of consideration for others.
I had a past precedent where I hadn’t realized the severity of Hidaki’s illness until she was in a critical condition.
—I can’t afford to be relieved yet. I will never be deceived by Hidaki again.
As I made this vow in my heart, Sis returned from the depths of the garden.
Her return was faster than I had expected.
“Uzunami, Hidaki! I’ve brought them! The next test subjects! It’s fortunate they were nearby!”
Sis ran over to us, holding a young girl. She roughly set the girl down on the ground and puffed out her chest.
The girl, carried like a parcel, looked around in confusion.
Upon seeing the girl, Hidaki’s eyes widened.
“Sis…! Isn’t that the princess of this castle…?”
“Yes, she is… So what?”
“Trying out a Curse Technique you just learned on a princess is a bit much…”
I recognized the face of the girl called princess.
She had long, shining hair that was neither white nor yellow, and wore about two layers of thin clothing. Undoubtedly, she was the same girl I met at the top of the tower when I first arrived in this Other World today.
I spoke her newly learned name aloud.
“Tiara…?”
Hearing that, the girl’s shoulders visibly trembled, and her body stiffened.
Then, looking at me, she spoke a name she had likely just learned, too.
“Kanami…?”
The moment she recognized me, Tiara stopped her flustered movements and, with slow steps, hid behind my back.
She seemed wary of Sis, who had treated her like a package, and of Hidaki, whom she had just met.
“Huh…? Older Brother, do you know her?”
Naturally, Hidaki voiced her confusion.
She probably thought I had no acquaintances in this Another World other than the Apostles.
“Uh, yeah… I met her when she got lost and ran away in here, and she helped me out a little. I heard her name was Tiara…”
“…Oh.”
Hidaki replied with just a single word.
She didn’t say anything else. She just stared at me—and at Tiara—lost in thought.
“Now then! Tiara! As promised, the Foreigner I summoned will save you, pitiful as you are— Oh, Japanese won’t do! Let me see, the Fuziaze language is…”
Sis switched languages mid-sentence.
Then, with words that sounded like a muffled incantation, she spoke to Tiara, who was hiding behind me.
“‘—-, —-!’ ‘—-‘!!”
I didn’t understand the words.
But as I listened to the flood of sounds, Tiara’s wariness gradually faded. After looking at me with utter surprise, she slowly revealed herself to everyone.
“Uzunami! I’ve persuaded Tiara! She’s willing! Come on, do it!”
Sis gazed at me with sparkling eyes, eagerly awaiting my Curse Technique. However, I had no intention of blindly accepting her permission.
I approached the small girl who had come out from behind my back, made sure to meet her eyes, and tried to gauge her feelings directly.
“Tiara, are you really okay…?”
Even if words didn’t convey meaning, the atmosphere would.
I was confident in that. After all, just a little while ago, Tiara and I had communicated solely through feeling and taught each other words. This brief contact should be possible.
“…Kanami. ‘Believe’.”
In response, Tiara looked back at me, placed a hand on her chest, and replied haltingly.
It wasn’t Japanese, but it was a language I knew. She was expressing her will using only the words she had taught me.
“‘Perhaps’ ‘for this’ ‘we’ ‘met’.”
Then, Tiara stepped forward, took my hand, and closed her eyes.
It was a short exchange, but a strong sense of trust conveyed itself. Precisely because the words were insufficient, her inner feelings could be read from her expression and gestures.
—Right now, Tiara feels destiny along with trust.
And, just as much, I am bewildered by our strange connection. It’s simply that she is the first person I’ve been able to truly open up to since I came to this Another World—yet, I feel as though our relationship will last until death.
This might all be a misunderstanding.
Our meeting might have been mere chance.
But as I felt the warmth of her hand holding mine, my hesitation turned into conviction.
“…Understood. I will absolutely succeed, Tiara. —’Behold and reflect with clear eyes,’ ‘Know the brilliance of that life,’ ‘It is in me, it is in you’ —”
Following the same procedure, I recited the Incantation and, while Tiara’s eyes were closed, worked on the Demonic Poison within her body.
The process was remarkably smooth.
Even smoother than with my sister, Hidaki—no, perhaps even smoother than when I used it on myself.
I truly feel destiny.
It succeeded, as if everything had occurred for Tiara’s sake at this very moment.
“—Curse Technique Level Up.”
Upon completing the Curse Technique, Tiara’s body glowed faintly.
This was proof that the Demonic Poison had transformed into the power of human life.
Now, Tiara would no longer be relentlessly consumed by her body. Every corner of her body was filled with new strength. Her respiratory system, which had made her cough repeatedly, should also be strengthened.
“Tiara…. I think it succeeded, probably…”
As I spoke, Tiara slowly opened her eyes.
Then, looking at me, then at the scenery around her, her eyes widened. Next, looking at her own palm, her body trembled. Gradually, she began to sob.
“‘Ugh,’ ‘Ugh’…” ‘Uaaaaaaah,’ ‘Aaaahhh’—!!”
The thought of failure crossed my mind again, and I rushed towards Tiara.
However, she ran out before I could reach her.
She threw herself into my chest and hugged me—
“‘Thank you’…. ‘Kanami’….”
She expressed her gratitude.
Looking down at her face, I felt relieved.
Tears were streaming from her eyes, but her smile indicated she was no longer in pain. I couldn’t imagine it, having never experienced a life plagued by illness, but I could sense the overwhelming emotions overflowing from her.
“‘It’s,’ ‘good’….”
So, I uttered a single word.
Blessing Tiara’s liberation with the words I had just learned,
“‘—-‘…. ‘————‘.”
She looked up and replied in a language I didn’t understand.
Her ears and nose were bright red, and her face was tear-streaked, but she had a beaming smile. Surely, these were words of unadorned, heartfelt joy.
I rejoiced for her as if it were my own, and Sis laughed heartily, taking credit for herself.
“Hoo, hoo, hahaha! I did it! It succeeded! It’s not a large amount, but it’s definitely there! The circulation is normal for a human! This time too, it’s thanks to me! Thanks to this Sis, not Diplakla! Hoo, ahahaha!!”
Beside her, Hidaki breathed a sigh of relief.
Along with the deepest sigh of the day.
“…Haa. …I was a little nervous, but I’m glad it succeeded. As expected, your Curse Technique, Older Brother, was perfect. The problem was with my body.”
It seemed her sister had been somewhat opposed to using an unconfirmed Curse Technique on a princess.
However, the outcome was a great success.
A person from another world, who had been afflicted by a debilitating illness, was restored to her rightful state, and the total amount of Demonic Poison in the world had been undeniably reduced, albeit slightly.
Right now, I have my first success story in my arms.
Despite everything, it’s been great progress in just one day.
Perhaps the crisis of this world might be resolved soon.
Next is investigating Hidaki’s condition. That might also be resolved within a few months, and perhaps in a year, we’ll all be living happily together—I had such a faint dream floating through my mind as I laughed.
“Haha, good…. Haha, really, good….”
I felt slightly dreamlike.
It was understandable.
In just one day, my world had been completely reshaped.
To be summoned to Another World, my sister’s life saved, to meet a princess, to be able to use something like magic, and to take the first step towards saving the world…
—Frankly, it’s too good to be true.
But even so, I couldn’t deny the joy of Tiara and Sis. I couldn’t say that Hidaki’s improved condition was a lie, especially when I was the one who witnessed it.
“Good…. Haha….”
And so, as always.
Fearing that asking might bring an end to things, things I actually needed to ask remained unasked.
Discarding the world that had failed me, I began a new life in an entirely different world.
The first day of this story was a beginning without a single failure.
On this first day, the four of us—
