"To make humans degenerate?"
"Degeneration might be a bit of an exaggeration, I suppose."
"What do you mean by that? I always thought support magic was meant to draw out potential beyond a person’s natural limits."
In response to my eccentric remark, Luna countered with the common perspective. It was a fair point. Until recently, I’d shared that exact perspective.
"True. It’s certainly convenient. I don't think there’s anything wrong with using it as a temporary measure—a 'stopgap,' so to speak."
"I’m sorry, Orun-san. I still don't quite follow."
"Think of it this way. Support magic buffs cause a person's physical abilities to spike rapidly. And yet, why is it that everyone can adapt to that change instantly?"
To put it in simple numbers: if your natural strength is at a ten, a support spell might suddenly swell it to twenty or thirty. Normally, that sudden surge should be overwhelming. You shouldn't be able to control it.
And yet, that never happens. Without exception, everyone who receives a buff adapts to it the moment it hits. To me, that felt fundamentally wrong.
If you consider the possibility that the human capacity limit was originally one hundred, then it makes much more sense. Whether your strength is at twenty or thirty, you can manage it because it’s still well within your innate potential.
"...Now that you mention it, you're right. I always took it for granted that buffs just work. I never stopped to ask why. But how does that lead to 'degeneration'?"
"Here’s my hypothesis. Again, using numbers to keep it simple: humans once possessed the means to raise their base strength from ten all the way to one hundred. However, that knowledge was lost somewhere along the way, leaving us only able to exert that base ten. Long after that, a new method was discovered to boost that ten to twenty or thirty, and that method became the standard."
"And you're suggesting that method is the Six Basic Types of support magic?"
"Exactly. The Six Basic Types are relatively new in the history of magic. We were once capable of reaching one hundred, but now we settle for twenty or thirty. From that perspective, you could say humanity has regressed. It’s a far-fetched theory, I know. There are plenty of holes in it—like why that original knowledge was lost in the first place."
"It’s certainly a leap. But you have a reason for thinking this way, don't you, Orun-san?"
"Calling it a 'reason' might be overstating it."
I had arrived at this conclusion because I had learned about Ki.
On the day I spoke with Marquis Forgas after he lost his memory, I had asked Haruto-san to teach me about it. He agreed, and until the day I left Tsutrail, I carved out time whenever I could to study under him.
Ki is the energy that dwells within the body. By intentionally manipulating and activating it, one can enhance their physical capabilities. Haruto-san had been vague about the details, but based on his explanations, I suspected there were applications far beyond simple physical buffs.
The way he had shattered his opponent’s weapon during the martial arts tournament was almost certainly an application of Ki. Now that I understood the basics, I realized just how terrifyingly proficient he was. Projecting Ki outside the body was beyond me; I couldn't pull that off right now if my life depended on it.
Learning the details of Ki had left me astonished. The Six Basic Types of support magic and Ki both shared the same goal: physical enhancement. Initially, I thought they were two different things that could be layered to reach even greater heights.
In reality, they were the same thing—just approached from different angles.
Support magic works by using external spell formulas and mana to stimulate the target's Ki, forcibly activating it. While this external stimulation doesn't harm the body, it’s incredibly inefficient. Activating your Ki yourself yields far better results. Even with someone as skilled as Selma-san, her buffs probably only tapped into about fifty percent of a person’s total capacity.
"And what is this evidence you found?" Luna asked.
It was only natural to be curious after a story like that.
"I’m sorry. I know I’m the one who brought it up, but I can't talk about that part."
As I apologized to Luna, my mind drifted back to my final conversation with Haruto-san.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Orun, since it’s you asking, I’ll teach you about Ki. But you have to make me a promise. If you can't keep it, I can't teach you."
Haruto-san had looked at me with an uncharacteristically grim expression.
"As long as it isn't impossible, I’ll keep it. What’s the promise?"
Haruto-san didn't answer immediately. He stared into my eyes for a long moment before finally nodding, seemingly satisfied.
"It’s a simple thing even a kid could do. Don't tell a soul about Ki. If I find out you’ve blabbed, I’ll kill you. And I’ll kill everyone you told, too."
He directed a chilling wave of bloodlust at me. He wasn't exaggerating. If I broke my word, he would genuinely try to take my life.
"If that’s the condition, I accept. But why? From what I can tell, this is incredibly useful. Wouldn't it be better to share it with the world?"
"It’s not that simple. Just give me your word. You won't tell anyone."
"...I understand. I promise I won't speak of it to anyone."
"Good. Man, I'm beat. I can't stand serious atmospheres; they’re suffocating. You can relax now, Orun."
The moment I gave my word, the bloodlust vanished as if it had never been there, replaced by the usual, carefree Haruto-san.
"Um..."
The sudden shift was so jarring I probably looked like an idiot standing there with my mouth hanging open.
"Hm? What’s with the stupid face?"
"I mean, give me a break! That was a hell of a transition!"
"Hahaha! That takes me back! Kati and Huey reacted the same way when we first met. You'll get used to it. I'm just a laid-back guy."
Haruto-san cackled. I hadn't even started the training yet, and I was already exhausted.
◇
"Guh... ugh..."
A few days into my training, I finally managed to activate my Ki and circulate it through my body. Even so, it required nearly all of my concentration just to keep it flowing. Moving around in this state was still out of the question. I would need a lot more practice before I could use this in a real fight.
"Whoa... You got that far in just a few days? Impressive."
Haruto-san sounded genuinely surprised.
"Not yet... I need to be able to use this... in combat..."
The moment I spoke, the Ki dissipated, vanishing into my body. If I couldn't even maintain it while talking, it was useless.
"Nah, that’s plenty. Usually takes months just to get where you are. I guess that’s what makes you a Spe—... Tsutrail’s strongest explorer."
"Does being the strongest have anything to do with it?"
"Hell if I know."
He really was a piece of work.
"I’ve always been like this. I’m good at grasping the 'knack' of things. I can reach a functional level with most techniques pretty quickly. My old party used to call me a 'Jack of all Trades' because of it."
"Jack of all Trades, huh? Sounds like you're just bragging to me!"
"Ah, you caught me."
There was something unique about talking to Haruto-san. I’d never met anyone like him, yet he was remarkably easy to talk to. Perhaps it was because, despite his flighty attitude, he was a master at reading people. He never stepped into the places I wanted to keep private. Because I didn't have to be on guard, I found myself being more playful than usual.
"Man! I wish I had something like that to brag about!"
"By the way, there's something I’ve been wondering."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"You seem so reluctant to let the secret of Ki get out. So why did you decide to teach me? I’m grateful, obviously, but still."
"............Just a whim."
There was a pregnant pause before he gave that typical, flippant answer. That meant there was a real reason, but he wasn't going to share it. He clearly had his own criteria for who was 'allowed' to know. I didn't know what those criteria were, but I’d been lucky enough to meet them.
"You're surprisingly secretive, Haruto-san."
"Heh. Haven't you heard, Orun? Men are more popular when they’re a little mysterious."
"I think that depends entirely on the man."
"Don't sweat the details."
We spent those final days in Tsutrail like that, trading quips while he taught me the secrets of Ki.
◇ ◇ ◇
I realized I’d let my mind wander a bit too far into the past.
Regardless, I’d gained a deep understanding of Ki and had been training constantly ever since. Even during the long carriage rides, I’d practiced activating it while talking or reading. Thanks to that, I was finally reaching the point where I could maintain the state while focusing on other tasks.
"Anyway, sorry. I didn't mean to dump a weird story on you. It’s just a theory, so feel free to forget it."
I apologized to Luna. Since I couldn't explain the Ki part, I probably shouldn't have brought it up at all.
"Orun-san... if someone told you that the world had changed so much from the past that you would grow to hate it... would you believe them?"
"...Eh?"
Luna’s unexpected question caught me off guard. Regardless of whether I’d hate it, the world had certainly changed. Technology, magic tools, and the very way people lived were constantly evolving. But I had a feeling that wasn't what she meant.
"Ah, sorry! Forget I said that. I was just so impressed by your theory that it slipped out. I must be getting caught up in the mood. How embarrassing... There’s no deep meaning behind it, I promise!"
Luna waved her hands frantically, her words tumbling over each other. It was too dark to be sure, but I bet her face was bright red. Still, she wouldn't have said something like that without a reason.
I wanted to ask, but it felt wrong to push. I’d just been vague with her about my own secrets; it wouldn't be fair to demand she reveal hers.
"Ahaha! You were impressed by my delusions?" I teased, letting her off the hook.
"Hey! Even if it is a delusion, it was a very striking one!"
Luna caught my drift and played along. After a bit more lighthearted banter, the heavy atmosphere from moments ago had completely vanished.
"Well, we have an early start tomorrow. We should get some sleep."
"Agreed."
We stood up from the rocks and headed back to the tent. Based on our pace, we should reach our destination in about a week. I’d need to give Sophie and the others a thorough briefing on the labyrinth investigation before then to make sure we could hit the ground running.