In a sanctuary located within the God Realm, two individuals who could easily be called the pinnacles of the world were currently exchanging words with serious expressions.
"……No."
"……But I want to help Kaito-san as well."
"I said no!"
"Why? If I simply amplify Kaito-san’s Magic Power to the level of the 'Peerage-class,' the matter would be settled, would it not?"
It had all started the previous day, when Kaito decided to begin a special training regime to increase his Magic Power Amount so he could finally do something about Isis’s Magic Power of Death.
Kuromueina had erected a barrier to keep the training hidden from Shallow Vernal’s sight, but the Creator God had caught wind of it anyway. Now, she was offering her assistance, and Kuromueina was flatly refusing her.
"The result might be the same, but the result isn't everything! The process of Kaito-kun working his hardest for Isis’s sake is what matters!"
"Muu. I believe it is a non-issue as long as the end result is identical……"
"Look, Shiro, wouldn't you be happier receiving sweets that Kaito-kun struggled to make by hand rather than something he just picked up at a shop? It’s the same principle."
"……I see. I believe I finally understand."
"Good. Then—"
"In that case, I shall create a 'Magic Tool that increases Magic Power Amount through mere touch'……"
"……No, that is exactly what I’m talking about……"
Shallow Vernal’s motivation was simple and sweet: she wanted to be of use to Kaito. However, if a being who was essentially Almighty lent her strength without restraint, Kaito’s efforts would be rendered meaningless, and the whole ordeal would be over in an instant.
As someone who deeply valued the "process," this was a compromise Kuromueina could not overlook. Thus, she continued to reject Shallow Vernal's cooperation.
"……Nevertheless, I still wish to grant Kaito-san some form of aid."
"U-Umm…… well, maybe I could have you make the Magic Tool for the training? Let’s see—if we had something with these specific properties, the training would go a lot faster……"
"I understand…… It is finished."
"Yeah, thanks. Well then, I’m heading over to Kaito-kun’s place."
Accepting the Magic Tool Shallow Vernal had produced, Kuromueina waved and departed. Shallow Vernal was left alone in the sanctuary, still looking somewhat dissatisfied.
She stood there in thought for a moment before an idea seemed to strike her. She traced a circle in the air with her finger.
A window appeared, projecting an image of Kaito in his room. Shallow Vernal gave a light flick of her finger toward the image.
"……Surely it will be fine if I at least make Kaito-san 'prone to growth'."
She whispered the words with a faint smile, but there was no one there to hear them.
The day after I resolved to challenge the Magic Power of Death for Isis-san’s sake, I found myself slightly regretting my choice.
"Alright, we’re starting your training today."
"Y-Yeah. But before we begin, can I ask one thing?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"W-What is that mountain of 'Fruit of the World Tree' doing there?"
Directly behind Kuro, hundreds upon hundreds of Fruits of the World Tree were piled high, filling me with an indescribable sense of dread.
In response to my timid question, Kuro beamed at me…… with a smile that could only be described as diabolical.
"……These are for your recovery, Kaito-kun. For now, I’ve prepared '500' as 'today's portion'."
"Today's portion!?"
There was no way the training itself was just eating 500 pieces of fruit. I’d heard that certain species of monsters could increase their Magic Power by consuming mana-rich food—like my Rin, for instance—but I was also told that humans couldn't increase their capacity through diet.
In other words, the purpose of these fruits wasn't the growth itself, but their ability to instantly heal all wounds and exhaustion.
To put it simply, I was about to undergo a "hellish training regime that required 500 Fruits of the World Tree just to survive." This was turning out to be much grimmer than I had imagined.
"First, I’ll explain the basic method of increasing Magic Power. Your maximum capacity grows the more you use your Magic Power. It increases most significantly when you drain yourself from full to empty and then recover."
"……Can I ask a question?"
"Go ahead~"
"If I recall correctly, don't you 'faint' when your Magic Power hits zero?"
"Yep. Not only that, but rapid consumption causes headaches and dizziness, and the sense of lethargy is overwhelming. That’s why people usually take their time to increase it bit by bit…… but we don't have that kind of time! I’m going to have you use your magic until you 'faint over and over again,' Kaito-kun!"
W-Well, I’d prepared myself for something like this…… Fainting a few times was within my expectations.
"Once you faint, you won’t wake up until your Magic Power recovers naturally. But don’t worry. When you pass out, I’ll replenish a tiny bit of your mana and use 'Awakening Magic' to 'forcibly wake you up'."
"U-Um?"
"And once you’re awake, you’ll eat a Fruit of the World Tree. Since the fruit also restores Magic Power…… you can jump right back into the training!"
"Ah, right."
S-So, basically, it was like that, wasn't it? A cycle of "inescapable torture."
"Now, as for the method of draining your magic…… Shiro helped out by preparing this Magic Tool."
"……A Pocket Watch?"
Kuro pulled out a Pocket Watch that looked perfectly ordinary. However, since Shiro-san was the one who made it, it was bound to be anything but.
I wondered what kind of absurd effect it had……
"This watch is a Magic Tool customized specifically for you, Kaito-kun. As long as you’re holding it, it has the effect of 'consuming 10% of your Magic Power every 10 seconds.' In other words, you’ll be bone-dry in 100 seconds."
"……What is this, some kind of cursed equipment?"
"With this, we can drain all your mana in a short time even as your capacity grows…… So, for now, why don't we try fainting 'a light 500 times' today?"
"……Yes, ma'am."
I see…… I see. This was her idea of "light." I didn't even want to think about what tomorrow would look like.
Shivering with a chill that ran down my spine, I took the Pocket Watch.
I waited for ten seconds, and I immediately felt a dull heaviness, as if I’d just finished a light jog.
"Mgh……"
"Your magic is being consumed. It starts getting painful once you drop below half, so hang in there."
"Y-Yeah…… Gh, ugh……"
Just as Kuro warned, once about fifty seconds had passed, a throbbing headache akin to a severe hangover slammed into me.
Ten seconds later, nausea followed. I see, so this was what it felt like to lose Magic Power at a rapid rate…… This was much worse than I’d anticipated.
Battling the headache and nausea, I gritted my teeth and endured for another thirty seconds. Finally, as my Magic Power hit rock bottom, my vision went pitch black, and I lost consciousness.
"……Hah!?"
"Alright, eat your Fruit of the World Tree~"
……Or so I thought, but I was woken up in an instant. I took the fruit Kuro offered and began to eat. Ugh, the nausea was so bad I felt like I was going to throw up.
"……My head hurts…… Does the headache not go away?"
"Physical symptoms caused by rapid mana depletion take a little while to fade, even with the Fruit of the World Tree. What do you want to do? Should we take a break until it subsides?"
"……No, let's keep going. How much did it increase from that one time?"
"Hmm. I’d say your 0.001 became about 0.0015?"
"……It’s going to be a long road."
Should I be depressed that it only went up by 0.0005, or should I be impressed that I’d just seen a 1.5-fold increase? Either way, the goal of 100,000 times my original capacity was a staggering distance away.
I have to do my best…… wait, blegh!? The headache is getting even stronger!? And I have 498 more of these to go today…… This really is hell.
Kaito Special Abilities: Sympathy Magic, (New) Increased Magic Power Growth Rate, (New) Magic Power Growth Limit Break, (New) Experience Points Doubled, (New) A Date with the Creator God as a Reward for This Time (Automatic activation, consumed after one use)
Natural God: "……Perfect."
Underworld King: "Wait, were you even listening to me!? And why did you casually add a curse driven by your own selfish desires at the end!?"
Natural God: "……There should be a reward. I also wish to flirt with Kaito-san."
Underworld King: "……She’s completely unapologetic…… Good grief, I have to do something about this Creator God before it's too late……"