Daichi Yayahara picked up the magic staff and pressed his palm to it, imprinting it with his will.
Immediately, a powerful surge of mana flooded into his sea of consciousness, filling it to the brim in an instant.
After guiding the turbulent magic until it stabilized, Daichi knew he was ready—he'd be able to forge his fourth sigil by tonight.
He tested the staff by casting a Tier 2 spell without chanting. The gem embedded at its head gave off a soft blue glow, and the magic sigils along the shaft shimmered faintly. With a casual flick, a shard of ice shot out and pierced straight through a tree.
"Hm. Not bad. Same mana, but without chanting. Power's up by about twenty percent, and it's faster too," he said, clearly satisfied with the results.
He turned to say something to Dekisugi, only to be preempted by him.
"Why are you destroying trees again?! That's so irresponsible!" Dekisugi said, frowning.
Daichi paused and finally muttered, "...Sorry. Let's head back."
Seeing Daichi apologize, Dekisugi didn't press further. "There's only about ten minutes until noon. I don't think we'll make it back in time."
"No, we'll make it. I have magic."
Daichi still wore his neutral expression.
"Okay… but are you just going to carry that staff around in public? It'll definitely attract attention."
Daichi gave the staff a twirl. In an instant, it shrank down and left behind a faint pink mark on his palm—if one looked closely, it was the miniature shape of the staff.
He then retrieved it again and said, "Let's go. We'll miss lunch otherwise."
As he spoke, Daichi cast Wind Step on himself, stomped once, and launched forward.
While Dekisugi was still reacting, Daichi scooped him up onto his shoulder and sprinted down the mountain.
Ignoring Dekisugi's cries, Daichi sped through the forest, using his detection spell to avoid any pedestrians and sticking to the empty paths.
In less than ten minutes, he arrived at their house and gently set Dekisugi down.
"You see? I told you we'd make it in time."
Dekisugi, pale-faced, waved a hand and took a few deep breaths before shouting, "Don't just carry me like that without asking first!"
Daichi looked at him, then unexpectedly burst into laughter.
Dekisugi huffed and walked inside, with Daichi following behind.
Lunch was decent, since the adults were home. Dekisugi, still a bit rattled, ate slowly but still finished everything.
Just as Daichi was preparing to leave, Dekisugi's father stopped him and said he had something to discuss.
Dekisugi went upstairs to read, while Daichi followed the older man into the guest room.
There, Dekisugi's father sat down and gestured for Daichi to sit across from him.
"The house has found a buyer," he said, lighting a cigarette. "It'll be sold soon. I assume you have no objections?"
Daichi shook his head. They had already agreed to pass the house to the guardians, so he had no reason to go back on it.
The man continued, "It's going for ten million yen. After taxes, renovations, medical expenses, and a few months of meals, there should be around five million yen left."
"I'm not going to pocket that. It'll serve as your living expenses. When you come of age, if there's any left, it's yours. If not, you'll have to figure it out. Also, if there's anything you want to retrieve from the old house, go today. It'll be handed over tomorrow."
Daichi was surprised. He'd expected the man to just take the money for household use. He hadn't thought they'd be this fair.
So that's where Dekisugi's integrity comes from.
"I don't need anything from the house," Daichi said after some thought. "But I'd like to stay there for the night."
"Fine by me," the man nodded. "You know your way."
Daichi returned to his room. Dekisugi was still reading.
"Be safe," he said as Daichi grabbed his things.
Daichi nodded and left.
An hour later, he stood once more—perhaps for the last time—before the familiar and distant house.
Everything was just as he remembered, save for a few missing items—his belongings.
He slowly walked through each room, committing every detail to memory.
But this time, there was no sadness. Only quiet reflection.
The soul of the original Daichi Yayahara had nearly faded from this body.
Two months. He'd been here for two months.
In this world, he was beginning to lose track of where he truly belonged.
Maybe when he grew up, that question would no longer matter.
Eventually, the past would fade—just like the original Daichi had been rejected by his current self, leaving nothing but traces.
Lying on the bed, Daichi began drawing in natural energy without restraint. His sea of consciousness soon overflowed.
After a long session, he successfully inscribed a fourth sigil—he was now a Tier 2, Four-Sigil Mage.
But he didn't stop. He pressed onward.
Exhaustion was just physical. A good night's sleep would fix that.
And if there was one thing he had plenty of, it was time.
He trained until 10 p.m., pushing his energy reserves to their limit.
He'd only filled a quarter of a new sigil, but this kind of unrestrained practice wasn't normally possible.
He had to stay sharp at school, review material at night, deal with Nobita's nonsense… his life was anything but dull.
Feeling the fatigue set in, Daichi welcomed it and drifted into sleep.
In his dream, he saw a child being born, learning to crawl, to walk, to speak—with his parents always at his side.
He saw that child go to school for the first time, his mother nervous, his father reassuring.
The child wasn't top of the class, but he tried. Each time he brought home a decent report card, his parents praised him.
Over the years, he grew, from first grade to third, from six to nine.
He was loved. He worked hard. He brought home a third-place ranking once.
His parents, overjoyed, rewarded him with a ski trip.
That day became his nightmare. His ending.
No one knew why, but halfway down the slope, a tremendous sound echoed—and the snow above started to slide.
An avalanche.
They ran, but no human could outrun nature.
Before the snow buried them, his parents wrapped him tightly in their arms. His mother raised her ski pole high, hoping someone would see.
Time passed. Darkness and cold reigned.
Until a shaft of light pierced the snow.
Daichi squinted against the brightness.
He awoke.
The sun was high in the sky.
"That child… was Daichi Yayahara, wasn't it?" he whispered. "How tragic…"
To be ripped from happiness and hurled into darkness—that was tragedy.
"Well, I guess that's how I ended up in this world. In a way… we're the same."
After getting up, he decided not to continue training.
People had limits. He couldn't train every day without break.
Even if rest could heal the body, the will would eventually break.
He glanced at the clock. It was already 9 a.m.—the first time in ages his internal clock had slipped.
Looks like yesterday really drained him. He'd need to avoid overdoing it in the future.
He walked down the hallway. There was nothing left to take. He planned to stay a while, then return.
Just then, the phone rang.
He answered.
"Daichi, you up? The house is being handed over this afternoon. Be back before then."
"Got it. I'll be home soon."
After hanging up, he put on his shoes and stepped outside.
The sun was shining, and with it came a little warmth to his heart.
Ah well. Life has many roads left to walk. No point brooding over what's already happened.
Now then… where to next?
(End of Chapter)