Since that mock battle, Alisa’s demeanor has softened slightly.
Of course, it’s still harsh compared to before—by my own subjective standard—but at least I’m no longer ignored or subjected to overtly hostile behavior.
Living in a space with someone who dislikes you is undeniably challenging.
But those days are behind me now.
Like stubborn grease that eventually dissolves when soaked, Alisa’s attitude seems to be gradually softening with time. I plan to be patient and look at the situation with a long-term perspective.
Thanks to Kamui and Mel’s thoughtful intervention, Alisa and I now engage in regular mock battles.
As a result, my study efficiency has significantly improved.
Having a rival to compete with makes a huge difference in motivation.
Thanks to this, I’ve learned to use some advanced magic.
For example, Cloudian magic, which creates rain clouds and alters the weather, or Flare Vortex, a spell that can artificially generate firestorms—these are powerful enough to change the course of a battle.
But what I feel has improved the most is my ability to fight against other people.
When sparring with Kamui, it’s harder to notice my own progress.
While he points out my weaknesses with precision, it leaves me feeling overwhelmed, as if my flaws are being laid bare.
In contrast, fighting Alisa gives me a tangible sense of growth.
Whether it’s directing her gaze, feints, or new spells I’ve learned, the way her movements change in response to my new tactics is clear to see.
The fact that techniques that worked before quickly stop being effective is proof that our abilities are evenly matched.
Alisa is a great rival.
Her aggressiveness toward me hasn’t faded, but at least I’d like to think I’m not disliked.
Incidentally, since I’m better at trickier tactics, I have a slight edge in our win-loss record.
That said, no matter how hard I’ve tried, I’ve never been able to use body-enhancement magic.
Body enhancement relies heavily on natural talent.
Given how much I’ve practiced without success, I probably just don’t have the aptitude for it.
As a result, our recent mock battles have shifted toward magical duels, focusing on maintaining distance.
Still, with my weak physical condition, fighting against warrior-types is tough. I need to find a way to address this.
Is there some effective method I’m missing?
“Kuhn, are you there?”
After finishing my usual training with Kamui and relaxing, I hear a voice.
When I open the door with a click, I find Alisa standing there.
“…What? Do I look strange?”
“No, I just thought you look different than usual.”
Alisa was wearing an emerald-green dress.
Her hair was adorned with ornaments, and her lips bore a faint touch of rouge.
I’ll keep it to myself, but for a split second, I wondered, Who is this?
“Kuhn, Father is calling for you.”
Kamui?
What could he want?
Descending the stairs together, I saw Kamui and the others, dressed impeccably.
Kamui was in a sharp tuxedo-like outfit, neatly styled, while Mel, standing beside him, was also beautifully dressed.
“Let’s go out for dinner!”
Kamui flashed a brilliant smile, his teeth shining like something out of a commercial.
“Give me ten—no, five minutes!”
I dashed back up the stairs to change into formal attire.
The sound of soft laughter from behind wasn’t unpleasant for some reason.
When we stepped outside, a carriage was waiting for us, and we seamlessly climbed aboard.
The coachman was a middle-aged gentleman with a bushy beard, exuding a dandy charm.
With one unexpected event after another, my mind was on the verge of short-circuiting.
We don’t often eat out, so I wonder what brought this on today.
Come to think of it, this might actually be my first time going out to eat with Kamui and the others.
The destination turned out to be a restaurant with the imposing name “Dragon’s Jaw.”
Apparently, it was quite an upscale establishment, as we were guided to a private room adorned with furnishings that looked exceedingly expensive.
Once inside, I indulged in the restaurant’s cuisine.
Frankly, I hadn’t expected much from food in this world, but it seemed that my lackluster experiences thus far had been due to poor restaurant choices.
The dishes included crisp, cracker-like flatbread, sandwiches reminiscent of hamburgers with meat tucked inside, and a smooth fruit juice likely sweetened with honey.
One by one, the dishes arrived in what resembled a course meal, and for the first time in ages, my palate rejoiced.
The flavors were so good that I found myself thinking I wouldn’t mind working harder to earn money just to taste this again.
“That… that’s something, isn’t it?”
“What’s something, Dad?”
“Well, if I had to say… today’s cloudy, huh?”
“It’s been cloudy lately, hasn’t it?”
While I focused on the food, Kamui was noticeably acting strangely among the three of us.
His eyes darted around nervously, and he seemed oddly restless.
Sure, he was drinking, but even so, his behavior was peculiar.
Was the excellent food putting him in high spirits?
I could relate to that feeling, after all.
When I gave him a small nod, Kamui inexplicably looked away.
Our thoughts were completely misaligned—we were operating on entirely different wavelengths.
By the time dessert was about to be served, my stomach was completely full.
The unlimited soft white bread was a major culprit.
As I wondered whether I’d even have room for dessert, the lights in the private room suddenly dimmed.
I immediately went on high alert, using wind magic for reconnaissance, suspecting an ambush.
However, Kamui and the others showed no signs of concern.
Then…
“Congratulations!”
The door opened with a clatter, and a server entered.
On a cart illuminated by candlelight was a hefty cake.
On top, it bore the words “Happy Birthday.”
Oh… right.
Today was my birthday.
As I stood there dumbfounded, the three of them held gift bags.
Thanks to the knowledge I’d shared, Mel had already expanded her Inventorya’s capacity, likely retrieving the gifts from there.
Judging by their expressions, it was immediately clear the bags contained presents.
“Dad, couldn’t you have acted a bit more properly?”
“Well, I mean…”
So Kamui’s odd behavior had been because of this.
Since my reincarnation, I hadn’t celebrated a single birthday, to the point where I had pushed the thought of birthdays far to the back of my mind.
I remembered birthdays from my past life more vividly than my current ones.
“Happy Birthday!!”
I accepted the gift bags they handed me and blew out the candles on the cake.
So this custom exists in this world too.
Could it be that there are other reincarnators like me here?
“Thank you… so much.”
When the lights came back on, I bowed deeply.
The last time I’d had a birthday celebration was back in my previous life, with my grandfather.
It felt a bit embarrassing, but strangely, it made me happy.
A warm, curious feeling filled my chest.
“Can I open them?”
“Of course!”
I started with Kamui’s bag.
Inside was a sword.
“You haven’t mastered body strengthening yet, but your swordsmanship’s coming along. You should have a proper blade at this point.”
Apparently, it was a sword Kamui had used before.
Even as someone with limited knowledge of swords, I could tell it was a finely crafted weapon.
Next, I opened Mel’s bag, which contained a staff.
It had a mahogany-like sheen, with a purple gem embedded at the top.
“The staff is made from Elder Trent wood, paired with a gemstone attuned to time-space magic. It’s a magical artifact in itself.”
“A m-magic artifact!?”
Magical artifacts in this world were generally high-class items.
Of course, there were exceptions, like the measurement orbs handed out for free.
But enchanters, those capable of imbuing objects with magical effects, were exceedingly rare.
In this country, there wasn’t a single enchanter, and worldwide, their numbers didn’t even reach double digits.
Enchanting magic was one of the rarest bloodline magics, only manifesting in individuals of the royal lineage of the neighboring kingdom of Hydracia.
It likely only appeared in those with specific genetic traits.
“If you channel time-space magic into it, you can create a completely isolated space. At your current level, Koon, you should be able to maintain it long enough for a good night’s sleep.”
The performance was incredible.
If it ensured restful sleep in any situation, it might even make an overnight stay in the Forest of Demons feasible.
Honestly, I couldn’t even begin to estimate how much this might cost.
But without a doubt, it’s worth no less than a thousand gold coins.
Considering that one gold coin roughly equates to ten thousand yen, that would make it over ten million yen in Japanese terms.
That said, magical tools are so rare that even acquiring one is nearly impossible without connections to the neighboring kingdom.
As an ordinary guy, I’d be too nervous to use something like this casually.
“And… I’d be really happy if you could treat me a bit more casually. It feels like you’re only close with Kamui, and I get jealous,” Mel said.
“…Got it.”
I hadn’t found the right moment to switch from formal language, so I’d let it drag on. But now that I think about it, this is as good an opportunity as any.
It’s not like I have anything against Mel specifically.
“This is from me,” Alisa said, handing me a thick book.
It was a copy she had transcribed herself, titled Encyclopedic Compendium.
Apparently, it was meant to help me study since I was unfamiliar with this world’s norms.
“…”
“What? You don’t like it?”
Of course not. That wasn’t it at all.
I just couldn’t find the right words to express how I felt.
“Ah… Thank you!”
“Whoa, don’t just shout out like that all of a sudden!”
When was the last time someone gave me something?
It might have been back when my grandfather gave me a gift in my previous life.
A warm feeling began to well up deep inside me, gently spreading warmth throughout my body.
That warmth sent a pleasant tremor through my chest, radiating the joy to every part of me.
“Hehe…”
“Hmph… Make sure you read it properly, okay?”
Turning away with a pout, Alisa’s ears were faintly tinged with red.
It seemed like she was a bit embarrassed too.
“Hey, hurry up and eat, or the cake will get cold,” Kamui urged.
“Was the cake warm to begin with…?” Mel retorted.
Listening to the two bicker like a comedic duo, I turned my attention to the massive cake before me.
Together, we tackled the larger-than-expected birthday cake with all our might.
That day, I felt like I’d truly become a part of the Kamui family in every sense of the word.
