I looked down at myself when Kuro pointed it out, but since magic isn't normally visible to the eye, I didn't see any outward change.
However, I could definitely feel something different through senses other than sight. It was much fainter than when I’d been artificially cloaked in Kuro’s magic power—so thin I hadn't noticed it until now—but I definitely felt a sensation like something was wrapping around my body.
"Now that you mention it, I think I can feel something. It’s like a faint layer of magic power."
"Right. Your body isn't used to it yet, so it might feel a little strange. You won't be able to move it well just yet, but in about two days, you'll start to move it intuitively. That's when you'll finally be able to cast magic."
"Ohh..."
Just as Kuro said, I could feel the magic power surrounding me, but I couldn't actually control it. To be precise, I felt like I knew how I should move it, but my body just wouldn't respond correctly.
According to Kuro, this was simply because my body hadn't adjusted to being cloaked in magic power. It was like a baby who had only just learned to stand; from here, I would gradually learn how to manipulate it.
"By the way, here’s something interesting."
"Yeah?"
"Children who come from other worlds sometimes manifest unique magic, possibly because they grew up in an environment with different laws."
"Special magic?"
While I was still reeling from the excitement of finally reaching the starting line of magic, Kuro shared something intriguing with a smile.
People from other worlds possessing unique magic or special skills—that was certainly a staple for anyone summoned to another world.
"For example, the girl known as the First Hero, Hikari-chan, could use the Materialization of Magic Power. She turned magic into swords, shields... more specifically, into minerals. There are demons who can do similar things, myself included, but compared to turning magic into fire or water, turning it into iron consumes a massive amount of power. Normally, a human wouldn't have enough capacity to use it, but Hikari-chan could do it with very little consumption."
"I see..."
"What’s more, she didn't need a magic formula—a magic circle—for that specific magic. Materialization is an advanced art. Usually, you’d have to be a high-ranking demon to even consider skipping the formula, but Hikari-chan could do it from the moment she first learned magic."
"Does that mean it was only the First Hero who was special?"
Essentially, the First Hero could use magic that normally required the strength of a high-ranking demon even more efficiently than the demons themselves. However, it wasn't clear if that was because she was an otherworlder or simply because she was the Hero.
"No, there were several other people in Hero-roles who stayed in this world instead of going home, and they could use special magic too. One person was hopeless at everything else but could use teleportation magic on par with a Peerage-class Demon. Another had very little magic capacity but could cast Great Magic, provided it was water-attribute. They were all different, but they all shared one thing: they could use magic that the human race normally shouldn't be able to."
"So, does that mean I might be able to use some kind of unusual magic too?"
"The possibility is definitely there. Now that you’ve awakened, do you feel any 'strange sensations'? Anything that feels like you might be able to do it, or parts of your senses that feel different than before?"
"Now that you mention it..."
Prompted by Kuro’s question, I recalled the strange sensations I’d felt this morning and just a moment ago. That odd occurrence where I’d predicted the change in weather with a conviction that felt like absolute certainty.
When I explained this to Kuro, she placed a hand on her chin, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
"You knew the weather would change? Hmm. Prediction-type... no, that's too specific. Weather manipulation... but it’s not like you were the one changing it. Come to think of it, Kaito-kun has Shiro's Blessing... Wait, could it be...?"
Kuro muttered something under her breath, and after a moment, she seemed to reach a conclusion and turned back to me.
"Kaito-kun, can I try something?"
"Eh? Oh, sure."
"Then, sorry about this."
"!? Gh... ugh..."
I nodded, assuming she wanted to test something regarding my magic, but the moment I did, Kuro pointed her hand at me. Instantly, an incredible pressure crushed my body.
It felt as if the air around me had suddenly turned into solid lead. I couldn't move a muscle. I didn't know what Kuro was doing, but the sensation of being completely paralyzed was more grueling than I could have imagined.
"Kaito-kun, can you move in that state?"
She was asking the impossible. There was no way I could move while feeling like I was encased in stone. Wait... actually, the weight didn't feel as heavy as it had a second ago. I had the feeling that if I pushed, I could actually move.
Following Kuro’s prompt, I tried to move my limbs. At first, they stayed frozen, but after a short while—perhaps because she’d eased the pressure—the sensation of being set in concrete softened. It became more like struggling through thick mud, and I managed to shift my body just a little.
Kuro watched me quietly the entire time.
"..."
"!!??"
The next instant, a bone-chilling cold raced through me.
I didn't know how to describe it, but it was a primal, sickening sensation. It was like having a thousand razor-sharp blades pressed against my skin—no, even that was a mild comparison for this overwhelming terror.
The moment my eyes met her golden ones, a deep, swallowing darkness filled my mind.
—I’m going to die.
As that thought flickered through me, my life began to flash before my eyes.
Memories of my parents, the day they died in the accident, the dull and colorless days that followed, everything that had happened since I came to this world...
Just as I realized I was seeing a life review, the soul-crushing despair vanished. My strength left me, and my knees buckled.
I was falling, gravity pulling my limp body toward the floor, but I was caught just before I hit the ground.
"I’m sorry, Kaito-kun. That was scary, wasn't it?"
"...Kuro?"
Kuro held my collapsing frame, her voice gentle and reassuring. The terror from a moment ago was gone, replaced by her usual warm, comforting presence. I didn't understand what had just happened. My head was spinning, and I couldn't think straight.
"I put just a tiny bit of killing intent into my magic power to confirm your ability. I’m truly sorry."
Kuro apologized while stroking my hair.
Just a tiny bit of killing intent... and my heart had almost shattered. It was terrifying. I supposed that was what it meant to be the Underworld King.
"Are you okay? Do you hurt anywhere?"
"My head... is just spinning a bit."
"I put you under a lot of high-density magic pressure, so you’ve probably got a case of magic power sickness. You’ll feel better after a short rest."
As she spoke, I felt my body float gently into the air and move toward the bed. Kuro sat down beside me and pulled my head into her lap.
She continued to stroke my hair to calm me down, her voice low and soothing.
"I really am sorry. But because of that, I think I know what kind of power you have now."
"You do?"
"Yes. Kaito-kun, you read the surrounding magic power with incredible sensitivity. You can even pick up on the faint emotions embedded within it. It seems your awakening has sharpened that sense, but I think you’ve probably been doing it unconsciously this whole time."
"Emotions in the magic?"
Her whispering voice brought a sense of peace to my heart, and the fog in my mind began to clear.
"Magic power is heavily influenced by the user's emotions. Magic laden with hostility can intimidate others, while the opposite can provide a sense of security. It seems you are exceptionally sensitive to those feelings. Haven't you noticed it since you arrived? That some people are easy to talk to, while others feel unapproachable? I think you were unconsciously reading the emotions they directed at you through their magic."
Apparently, I had an extraordinary talent for reading magic power.
Now that she mentioned it, I had felt that way before. Even among the staff at Lilia-san's mansion, there were people like Sieg-san who were easy to be around, and others who felt difficult to approach. It wasn't just an "atmosphere" or a "vibe"; I had been reading the actual emotions within their magic power without even knowing it.
That explained why I felt so safe around Kuro—I was picking up on the immense goodwill she felt toward me.
"So, does that mean I have an aptitude for sensing-type magic?"
"Hmm. My guess is that it’s not just sensing."
"What do you mean?"
"The fact that you could have a normal conversation with Shiro is one clue. But also, when I first pressured you with high-density magic, you were able to move a little, weren't you? That’s impossible for a normal human."
"It is?"
"That pressure is essentially a physical restraint made of magic. Usually, a human wouldn't be able to move an inch, but you sensed that there was no hostility in my magic and gradually tried to adapt to it."
I remembered Shiro-san saying something like that. She had mentioned that my "adaptability might be called a talent." Was this what she meant?
As for why I could move when I felt encased in stone—Kuro hadn't actually weakened her power. I had simply adapted to it.
"I think you understood the weather because you read the magic power in the atmosphere... and you can probably do that thanks to Shiro's Blessing."
"So... what does that mean in the end?"
"Well, it means you have a very interesting power. Depending on how you use it, you could do some amazing things. For example..."
Kuro went on to share her theories about my power.
Magic that senses and adapts to magic power... Sympathy-type Magic, as she called it. To be honest, the examples she gave were so incredible that I was half-skeptical I could ever do such things, but it was certainly a unique ability.
By the way... I wondered how long I was going to be getting this lap pillow.
"Hmm? You can stay like this as long as you want, Kaito-kun. You can even take a nap."
"..."
It was a very tempting offer. Between waking up so early and the lingering fatigue from the magic sickness, I was starting to feel incredibly drowsy. I decided to give in to her kindness.
Dear Mom, Dad—it turns out that here in this other world, the loner I used to be is actually great at reading people. And according to Kuro's explanation... in a sense, it might be a cheat ability.