7 7 A Devil and the Quasi-Dragonborn

Oliver Schtrom.

Long, silver hair. Tanned skin. A supposed refugee from the Empire who became a teacher in this kingdom. The Empire is full of people who think just like how past Kurt did: Nobles are special, and everyone else exist to serve them. That cannot be a mere coincidence.

Where is he?

I made snow angels while lying on my pile of gold in the Batcave. The Batcave is a pretty nice place to interrogate people, just as I discovered. No one can disturb me here, so it was also a pretty nice place to think.

After making my third snow angel, I reached a conclusion.

"I can't think of anything with all this expensive shit around."

I was wrong. The Batcave was, in fact, not a great place to think. The gold and all the treasures were very distracting.

I made a gate beside me and rolled through it. I wasn't bothered to get on my feet. My clothes were enchanted to always stay clean so I didn't worry about dirtying them.

Besides, when I passed the gate, my destination was my bedroom in Grandpa's mansion and not some dirty road. Some of my golden coins spilled over to my room. Eh, I'll put them back later.

I noticed lot of noise coming from downstairs. The people I brought from earlier must still be here.

Since I didn't feel like meeting and greeting them, I opened my bedroom window and jumped out to the yard.

"Eek—! Young Master Thomas!"

"I didn't mean to scare you, mister gardener."

"There's no problem at all, young master! I was just a bit surprised."

"Welp, see you around then. Oh, and I was never here, capiche?"

The gardener vigorously bobbed his head. Good man.

After I exited the mansion, I walked for a bit until I was surrounded by a crowd of people once again. There were plenty of food stalls around, so I bought some of that stuff. Each time I did, I asked the vendors one simple question.

"Aside from the Advanced Magic Academy, do you know of any other schools in the capital?"

"There's the Intermediate Magic Academy, somewhere in that direction. I forgot what the name of the other schools are though."

"Thanks for the info. Keep the change since you've helped me."

I compiled a list in no time. A handful of schools were in the capital, and one of them had to have Oliver Schtrom in one.

If he's not there, this kingdom is potentially super fucked.

First, I eliminated the ones that were this world's equivalent of a high school. Oliver Schtrom was in Kurt's middle school after all. But I didn't eliminate them entirely. I can still check in on them if I found no Oliver Schtrom in the schools I suspect him in.

There was a school I was already close to. I headed there first.

"Hello, good afternoon. I'm looking for an Oliver Schtrom in your staff."

"Oliver Schtrom? First, I need to ask who you are."

"Uhh... can't I just be some guy asking around?"

"Get out."

Damn it. Why are they so strict? Just answer the simple question. Tsk tsk tsk.

I conjured a gold coin in my hand and pretended to grab it from my pocket. I flicked it over to the receptionist before asking again. "Do you have an Oliver Schtrom here?"

The receptionist looked at the gold coin in awe and wonder. They snapped out of it after a bit before saying, "Nope. Now get out."

"..."

I gave him a middle finger. Since this was another world, he didn't know what the fuck I was doing.

Sonovabitch. Well, it's fine.

I made sure to enchant that gold coin to give him diarrhea after a few minutes. Serves you right, prick.

So, I went to another school. This one was a bit far, so I decided to use light magic to turn myself invisible and travel through the rooftops.

"Oliver Schtrom? Never heard of a guy working here with that name."

"Aight. Ty."

...

"Maybe you mean Oliver Baum? We have someone like that."

"Can you describe to me what he looks like?"

"He's balding with brown eyes, kind of macho, and he walks with a limp."

"Does this Oliver Baum wear an eye mask?"

"I don't think so."

"Nevermind then. I don't think he's the one I'm looking for."

...

"Teacher Schtrom? He's already gone home. Unfortunately, I don't have any details regarding his residence..."

Finally found him! But he's not here?

"Is he coming to school tomorrow? Can I meet him then?"

"His timetable shows that he won't be here until next week."

"Damn," I cursed.

I can't wait that long. Who knows what he's up to right now.

The receptionist of this school had a helpless smile. "Sorry, but our opening hours will be closed soon. It's almost night and you'll have to come tomorrow for more details."

"Yeah, no, that's fine."

I thanked the receptionist lady before turning around to leave. The results of today wasn't all too bad. I managed to find the school where Oliver Schtrom works. All I need to do now is somehow figure out where he lives and quickly snatch him up...

I bumped into someone as I turned a corner.

"Oops. My bad. I didn't see you there."

"Likewise," politely replied the man. He walked past me, going in the same direction I just left.

I froze on my tracks. I gawked at the dude who continued walking in the opposite direction.

Hey, doesn't he kinda look like who I'm looking for?

After regaining my thoughts, I said, "Hey there!, Can I ask you something real quick?"

"What is it? Make it quick, I need to retrieve an item before the school closes," replied the man with long, silver hair.

"Why are you wearing an eye mask? Is that a new fashion thing?"

The man chuckled. Maybe he's been asked the same question many times before.

"No, no. I'm simply blind."

That was all I needed. I almost laughed since this was entirely unexpected.

The man continued to walk in the direction of the reception office. It looks like he didn't find anything suspicious about my sudden question.

Oliver Schtrom. Found ya.

I opened a gate in front of him. I completely expected him to walk in by himself since he was blind and all, but he stopped just in time.

"What is this?" He turned towards me.

Oh?

I didn't lose my composure. "It's magic my brother made called a gate. It'll help you get to your destination faster."

Of course, that was a lie.

"Interesting... but no thank you. I'm not so handicapped as to need assistance."

He sidestepped the gate before moving along as if nothing happened.

But I can tell.

I can tell that Schtrom was fucking tense. His guard was up. My search magic showed me that he possessed a high magic capacity too. Rather than the usual ant that is the commoner, this Schtrom was like a wolf or something.

For reference, I am a dragon in comparison.

A fight will break out if I push him any further. That much is certain. And I plan to keep pushing.

But we can't fight in the royal capital. Allow me to set the scene.

"Tiid!" (Slow Time)

The world slowed into a standstill.

I walked in front of Schtrom.

He didn't—couldn't react. He was still blankly staring forward with not a change to his expression.

Very, very gently, I pushed him. It was just the slightest of nudges, but a nudge nonetheless.

Satisfied with seeing Schtrom jerk back in slow motion, I willed the Thu'um to lose effect.

Time resumed its normal pace.

"!"

Schtrom got yeeted backwards. His body hurtled into the gate behind him in the blink of an eye. My little nudge in a slowed down world translated to a powerful shove when the shout wore off.

The loud jingle of treasures sounded from beyond the gate. It must have been a rough landing, but a big boy like Schtrom can definitely take it.

"Whatever it was you wanted to pick up from the school, I'm sure it can wait until we're done."

I passed through the gate as well.

—From above.

Without looking up, I encased myself in a spherical magic barrier.

*BOOOOM!*

A sea of flames filled my sight. I couldn't see Schtrom through it, but I could sense him manipulating his magic power.

He has a lot. More than Grandpa, perhaps?

When the sea of flames had gone, I found myself mesmerized by the sight before me.

In its place was a sea of gold. The previous attack melted the ungodly amount of gold coins and trinkets in the entire Batcave. It was deep enough to reach my knees.

Standing on liquid gold feels weird, but it's manageable.

I pulled out a wooden practice sword from my spatial storage. I still planned to ask Schtrom questions after I subdue him, so using my lightsaber from the get go would be a bit much.

"Who are you?!"

"I'm Batman, and you're in my Batcave. Can I ask you a few questions, Oliver Schtrom?"

A streak of chaotic lightning struck my magic barrier, vaporizing the gold in my immediate surroundings. The resulting steam hindered my sight.

"I'll take that as a no."

I flourished my wooden sword, blowing the curtain of steam away.

All you needed to do was answer my questions... but this is fine too. I feel like you deserve a beating.

After dispelling the magic barrier, I dashed towards the chanting Schtrom, running through the knee-deep molten gold with ease.

Despite chanting for what seemed to be a massive AoE spell, physical enhancement magic simultaneously wrapped around him as he retreated back.

Dual casting? Impressive.

I coated my sword in haki as I closed the distance, turning it black—at least, it only looked black for me. No one else ever said anything about the change in appearance. Anime logic or something, I don't know. I don't watch One Piece.

Soon, I was in front of him.

"Dual casting and no chant. Are you really just a normal teacher?" I commented while smashing my sword downwards. Schtrom used magical barriers to defend. However, my haki-coated sword just smashed straight through them.

"You are the suspicious one in this situation!" said Schtrom as he barely dodged to the side.

Even though his magic barriers failed to fully block my sword, they did slow it down. Schtrom relied on his surprisingly quick reflexes to dodge afterwards.

Giving him no time to rest, I unleashed a flurry of attacks.

"You're pretty good..."

Layers upon layers of magic barriers continuously got in my way, allowing Schtrom to avoid any incoming hit.

"...But I'm built different."

I decided to loosen up. Move faster. Be more serious.

Tis' nothing but a warm up.

"Argh!"

One of my swings landed on his ribs. He fell for a feint. Schtrom crouched from the pain, making it easier to kick him in the face.

But before I could, magic barriers got in the way. I forgot to coat my leg in haki, so Schtrom got flung away unharmed.

As he tumbled through the air, he finished his magic chant.

"Lightning Storm!"

Uh oh.

His hands flashed with a crimson light. I braced myself as thick coils of lightning shot towards me like a nest of vipers.

Holy shit! That's cool!

I smashed through tens of them, but hundreds remained. There were too many and they were too quick.

Lightning struck me from every single direction.

My body was hit in different places. Electrical currents danced throughout the surface of my skin and spread over the boiling, bubbling gold around me.

However, the attack hadn't pierced deeper. My school uniform was enchanted by Shin after all. For the exposed areas, a coat of armament haki protected me from lethal shocks. A weak tingle was all I felt.

This kind of magic... it's pretty powerful by this world's common sense. If I didn't have my uniform and haki, it would've hurt like hell.

It was a good decision to come to the capital. If I decided to just live independently, I might have never found someone stronger than Grandpa. Just who are you?

I equipped a second wooden sword and chased after the wide-eyed (I think?), retreating Schtrom.

"How did you escape my attack unharmed?!"

"I'm Batman," I shrugged.

More powerful spells came my way, but I smashed through them all the same. While defending myself wasn't particularly straining, approaching Schtrom became much harder.

Not all the spells were offensive. Some were casted specifically to keep me at bay like walls made of earth or water columns.

It reminded me of the times I fought Shin during training. This guy was trying to kite me since I was mainly using my swordsmanship, just like my brother would when I decide to place a handicap or two on myself during combat training.

While I hold back a lot against my brother, I can't say the same for you, Oliver Schtrom.

I finally decided to use physical enhancement magic.

20% will do.

My speed rose to an insane degree. What took me tens of steps to travel now only needed one.

"Huup!"

To dodge a blow to his head, Schtrom jumped into the air. The air pressure from my slash divided the sea of liquid gold into two.

Dumbass, you can't dodge in midair! You panicked and made the worst decision possible!

But once more, he showed me something I'd never seen before.

He's floating?!

Oliver Schtrom looked down on me from above. Even though he was blind, I thought I could feel his gaze behind the eye mask. And that gaze felt like he was looking at me as if I was the wolf and he was the dragon.

"What will you do now, swordsman? You can't reach me up here. As long as magic users keep their distance, we can never lose."

"Yeah, I know. Stay still for me."

I brandished my swords and jumped after him.

"A foolish decision. You shall die here."

Multiple flaming orbs flew towards me. I smashed some to pieces, but the remaining flanked me from behind.

I couldn't possibly dodge all the orbs in midair, nor could I smash them with my back turned towards them. I wasn't like Schtrom who could somehow defy gravity and maneuver my body in ways that defied the laws of physics.

I was definitely dead without a way out.

Right?

Yeah, not really.

"Wuld!" (Whirlwind Tempest)

The flaming orbs exploded after crashing into each other. I was nowhere near them, completely unfazed.

For in a blink of an eye, the Thu'um sent me beside Schtrom.

"Wha—?!"

With both swords raised to the sky, I brought them down onto Schtrom's unguarded shoulders.

The power behind my swing sent Schtrom falling at a speed way past terminal velocity. Liquid gold flew everywhere where he landed.

"W-what kind of magic—?!"

He can still talk after that?

"Wuld!" (Whirlwind Tempest)

Like a meteor falling to Earth.

Another powerful sword swing forced the air out his lungs. I struck Schtrom on the stomach and sent him flying, practically skidding on the sea of gold like a nice, flat rock.

"Have you calmed down?"

No answer. Not even a twitch of a muscle. Maybe I overdid it.

I teleported to his side and poured healing magic throughout his body. His wounds, internal or not, healed at a noticeable rate.

Schtrom was unconscious, but with my magic, he already showed signs of waking up. His outfit was worse for wear though. I've broken his eye mask and his clothes resembled those of a beggar's.

I nudged him awake, and his eyes began to quiver. "Wakey wakey. I'm here to inform you that any more of your stupid magic experimentation will lead to your ass getting kicked. Today is just a taste of what is to come should you decide to fuck with them kids again. No more of that for everyone's good, okay?"

Slowly, Schtrom's eyes opened. They were unfocused, like in a daze. He probably didn't hear me then. Eh, I'll just say it again when he's more attentive.

Wait... huh?

...what the fuck?

Schtrom possessed crimson eyes. Not like red pupils, but the white in his eyes were fucking red.

Those crimson eyes locked into mine.

And they were royally pissed.

"You... are the greatest threat to my revenge on the Empire!" Schtrom roared, and an explosion of malevolent magic pushed me tens of meters back. That single move evaporated the gold around him as his magic took on a new, more destructive form.

Ah.

A lightbulb went off in my head.

"Are you a Devil, Schtrom?" I said.

"...you just figured it out?"

Holy shit! He's really a Devil?!

To say that I was shocked would be an understatement. After all...

But he's so weak! Something like him almost destroyed a kingdom! But he's so weak!

"Are you sure you're a Devil?" I asked again. Perhaps I misheard.

"I am!"

"But I don't sense any maliciousness from you." Perhaps Schtrom was mistaken. Maybe he's something else.

"Believe me, it exists. I'm keeping it hidden. If I didn't, I would have been caught since the first day of coming to the kingdom."

That makes sense. Then maybe...

"Did hiding your maliciousness make you weaker? Or did you turn into a Devil through your experiments, so you aren't a real Devil? I really expected a Devil to be loads stronger. One of you almost destroyed a kingdom. You're probably a semi-Devil then. That would make more sense. Though to be honest, you are pretty strong compared to almost everyone I've seen, but I doubt you can destroy a kingdom..."

"...just shut up. I'll kill you!"

Ticked off, he released a pulse of destructive magic.

I braced myself. It was an AoE attack that couldn't be dodged unless I went out the Batcave.

When the magic washed over me, my skin began to burn. No, it felt like it was burning.

His attack got through my haki? That's insane. The quality of his magic became stronger.

To stop this painful feeling, I activated my school uniform's auto heal enchantment.

Thanks, Shin.

Once I was fully healed, I asked Schtrom another question.

"Do you remember Kurt? One of your old students? Who else have you experimented on apart from him? I have to save those kids."

"I said shut up!" The air twisted as Schtrom's magic power quickly became more volatile. Malicious mana escaped him, proving to me that he really was a demonized man. More than that, it proved that he was responsible for Kurt's magical and psychological change.

The concentration of magic rapidly grew. It kinda reminded me of when Shin does one of his super explosive spells.

Oh. Shit.

Is he... Don't tell me...

"I will bring you down with me! If I can't destroy the Empire, then I will destroy you!"

A terrible wind swept through the Batcave. Schtrom became the epicenter of an expanding magical vortex, its strength escalating with every passing moment. The robust walls of the Batcave began to crack open, trembling with a force strong enough to reduce an entire city to rubble. He hasn't even exploded yet, so I could only imagine the aftermath.

Confronted by this overwhelming power, at least I now understood that neither Grandpa nor the historical records had exaggerated.

I wasn't too worried about that aspect though.

Don't you dare self-destruct! You still need to answer my question! I don't wanna go and fucking dox the people you experimented on when finding you was troublesome enough!

"Zun!" (Disarm)

The Thu'um made a beeline towards the enemy.

Oliver Schtrom staggered when the Thu'um passed him, disrupting his self-destructive spell.

"Again with this inexplicable magic! Some form of advanced chanting I know nothing of...?!"

Schtrom tried to cast a spell.

"...?!"

Confusion. His face showed it when no magic power came out.

He tried one more time. What element was it that he attempted to conjure? I didn't know since nothing came out.

"You..."

Schtrom stared at his empty hands.

Then, he screamed.

"What have you done to me?!"

Instead of answering, I walked towards him. The power of my shout wouldn't be so easy to overcome. Until I feel like it, Oliver Schtrom won't be able to use magic for the next few days.

From the status of a wolf, he became a dung beetle.

The Devil began to retreat.

"Stay back!"

Deja vu... Kurt said the same thing.

A step forward for me was three steps back for him. I didn't bother hurrying over. We were in the Batcave after all. Escape was impossible.

Before long, Oliver Schtrom backed himself into a wall.

"I heard that Devils and demons alike have lost all their sense of reasoning. Now, I've never heard of a talking Devil before, but I'll make a guess, and you'll tell me if my guess is right or wrong."

"..."

"You knew what would happen to Kurt, didn't you? You knew that he would eventually become a Devil—a real, blood-crazed Devil."

"..."

"Maybe that was your goal from the start. To make Devils. Experimenting on middle schoolers... it was probably never an experiment at all. You just wanted to fuck up the kingdom. But you said you wanted to destroy the Empire... that means the kingdom was just a pawn in your plans."

"..."

Schtrom stayed hatefully silent. I gritted my teeth.

Using kids like that... and risking the lives of so many people... and planning to actually cause the deaths of millions... you really have become a Devil, huh.

The image of a destroyed capital flashed in my mind. Those streets I wandered, the houses, the people, the castle...

My home... my family... all in ruin.

I can't just let this go.

I spoke slowly. "You know you'll die here, right?"

I stored my wooden swords, and in their place, my red lightsaber hummed to life. While pointing the tip at his neck, I said, "Tell me who else you experimented on. I'll save them if I can."

Finally, Schtrom broke his silence. He sneered, saying, "Save them? You mean kill them. You can only save yourselves since there is no way to save them. It's only a matter of time until they become Devils themselves. Even Kurt, that useless idiot who you care about, will have to die by your hand."

When did I say I cared about Kurt? I just know that kid for being annoying.

"Are you deaf as well as blind? I literally said save them. I can save them. If Kurt was here, he'd tell you all about it."

Schtrom's eyes widened.

"You're a liar."

"No, bitch. I'm Batman."

"You can't trick me! It's an impossible task! No magic in the world can undo what has been done—!"

Schtrom paused mid sentence, as if realizing something. He looked down on his empty hands. As mad as he was, Schtrom still possessed enough intellect to piece together the facts.

"—Ah... could it be? This inexplicable magic binding me... If it can be applied in another fashion..."

Yeah. Batman wins with enough prep time no matter what, and I've been preparing for the past 15 years.

With that realization came laughter.

Laughter—helpless laughter—resounded in the Batcave. Oliver Schtrom looked like he finally lost it.

Witnessing the whole thing was unsettling.

"Everything was for naught! It's laughable! Hahahahaha! How fruitless! How unfair! The world truly is cruel!"

Schtrom punched the wall behind him. All he managed to do was hurt himself. Blood flowed down his fist, but he just kept laughing.

Should I... smack some sense into him?

I decided not to.

Schtrom stopped laughing eventually. As if he lost all the strength in his body, he slumped down to the ground.

"I'm afraid... I'll be acting like a Devil until the very end. Kill me now for I vowed to never help you humans ever again."

"Tsk." It was useless in the end.

...

The act of killing another person. That is the conclusion I reached to prevent any future catastrophes.

However.

Fuck. Even though I told him I'll kill him, I've never actually killed anyone.

Wild animals, beasts, and demons. Those were the only things I've ever killed.

I've thought about killing Devils in the past. Grandpa's bedtime story about how he and Grandma Melinda defeated a Devil was very descriptive to the point that I could run simulations of the fight in my head. I'd basically daydream what it would be like to fight a Devil.

But the Devil of that story was a mindless beast incapable of reason. This guy in front of me is somehow a fucking school teacher. He looks no different from an ordinary guy, apart from those eyes of his.

"What are you waiting for? Do it!" Schtrom offered his neck. He could do nothing else but accept the fate that awaits him at this point.

"Umm, yeah, I have another question."

"What else could you possibly want? I already said I wouldn't help you."

"No. It's not like that." I shook my head. "I wanted to ask if you... had a place in mind where you want to die."

Give me more time to get my shit together...

I wouldn't say it out loud, but that was how I felt at the moment. The act of killing another person is just...

"..."

Schtrom was obviously taken aback. He gave a 'what the fuck is wrong with this guy' kind of look.

I thought he would curse me out and tell me to be quick with his execution, but he surprised me by actually thinking.

He said, "Kill me on top of a mountain. I'd rather die there than in a stuffy cave like this."

"It's not that stuffy. For your information, my Batcave is a pretty incredible cave, even if you fucking ruined it a bit."

I opened a gate. As he was somewhat familiar with the magic, Schtrom walked through it. He didn't seem to be planning anything sketchy, nor did he think I was planning anything sketchy. Perhaps he had really given up.

This mountain I chose was a mountain I'd seen while riding the carriage to the capital. But even if I looked really hard, I wouldn't see the capital from here—not right now anyway. A thick layer of clouds blocked my view of the land below. That was how high we were.

The air was quite thin at this altitude, but I doubt that would trouble a Devil like Schtrom.

Speaking of Schtrom, he stood near the peak, taking in the scenery. A sunset was underway, and the usually blue skies and white clouds were tinted a beautiful golden.

Night would come in but a moment.

"I sincerely wish," he said, "that the Empire makes an enemy out of you soon."

What is with this dude's obsession with Empire?

"I sincerely hope not. Why do you even want to destroy that place?"

"You will understand. It's only a matter of time until you destroy that land, just as it destroyed everything dear to me."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Heh, your uniform has told me enough. The world is a cruel place, young man. One day, you will see."

And with those words, Oliver Schtrom closed his demonic eyes.

The time has come to fulfill my promise.

This was the first time I would kill a person. As much as I don't want to do this, this guy can make Devils left and right.

Forgive me for being a little pussy. I won't be killing you with my literal hands. I'll also be imagining you as if you were Hitler to make this easier to swallow.

After taking several deep breaths, finally, I was ready.

"Krii Lum Aus." (Marked For Death)

Schtrom went limp. He fell backwards the moment the Thu'um washed over him. I caught his bloodied body with magic before it fell down the mountain.

My magic enveloped him like a swaddle, and through it, I perceived the death of a person more closely.

No breathing. No pulse. No warmth. With a downcast expression, the Devil known as Schtrom died.

Devils are scary.

Blue flames rushed out my palms and burned his body into ashes. They scattered with the wind, disappearing below the clouds.

Apart from your eyes, you looked no different from a normal man.

My stomach felt like it was burning. I felt nauseous too, even more so now than before.

I'm fully aware of what Schtrom was capable of and his twisted state of mind. But he was in a way, still human. I'm glad the bastard is dead, but also... I don't know. It's hard to say.

The sunset on the horizon was calming at the very least.

...

I opened a gate to the royal capital. More specifically, on the roof of Uncle Dis's castle.

The sky was filled with clouds, and night had fallen. Thus, the royal capital was lit up by countless lights, magical or not, to drive the darkness away.

Search Magic.

My magic power rushed out like a tidal wave. In the span of a few seconds, the whole capital was under my all-seeing gaze.

Using Schtrom's malicious magic as a reference, I detected individuals with the same malicious magic in their systems.

There are a lot. Damn.

They weren't full-blown devils, being in a similar situation Kurt was in, but given enough time, they will become one.

I'm lucky I got up close with Kurt. I wouldn't have detected the weirdness in his magic if I only used normal search magic...

After marking those individuals, I went on another kidnapping spree.

The existence of the Batcave thus became known to a few, select people.

---------------

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#Omake#

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Shin found his brother in his own bedroom in the mansion. Said brother was sitting by the window, staring out into the raining outdoors.

"What's got you all depressed looking? Do you miss our little cottage in the forest?"

"I look depressed? Don't ask me nonsense while I'm busy training."

"Training?"

Thomas pointed at something outside. Curious, Shin walked over and looked.

At first, Shin couldn't see anything of note. He thought that maybe Thomas was just messing with him and that there was no training happening. After all, the two of them had a designated training ground where they can test their magic without holding back.

"Wait," said Shin while squinting his eyes, "I see something."

"Of course you do. I don't lie."

Shin scoffed at his brother's words.

What about that time you told me you saw a beautiful elf girl in the forest while hunting? I spent a week looking for something that didn't exist!

Just remembering it made him mad. Shin used all of his willpower to focus on the subject at hand. Something in the air flew so quickly that all Shin saw was a blur. The heavy rain didn't help either, but he was sure that Thomas was doing something.

"What are you doing exactly?"

"Controlling this." Thomas opened his palm. Magic power converged to create a tiny origami crane made of pure magic. "You showed me how to make this, remember?"

"Yeah. Wait, no. I showed you how to fold paper origami, not whatever this is."

"I just folded magic in a similar way."

Shin marveled at the magic power construct before him. He never thought it possible that something like this could exist.

This isn't even a chemistry thing...

"But how is flying this around in the rain training?" asked Shin with a doubtful gaze. After all, it seemed like Thomas was just screwing around than training anything.

"I'm dodging them."

"Dodging what?"

"The raindrops." Thomas revealed a smug smile. "I'm flying my paper crane around them."

"No way."

The rain was heavy. The winds were unpredictable. Flying a little origami crane around all those raindrops was an impossible task that no magic can accomplish.

"Okay, I lied. There's actually two more cranes flying with my main one. I'm using them to repel the raindrops that my main origami crane can't dodge."

"No way. That sounds even more ridiculous than just controlling one."

"I have a special kind of magic that let's me do just that."

"Is it the same special magic that you can't teach anyone?"

"Hey, if you're just gonna doubt me, you might as well just hang out with Sizilien than waste your time here... oh wait, you forgot to get her contact info last time! Ahahahaa!"

Back in the cafe, Thomas acted like a huge fan girl of their grandparents that Shin couldn't handle the cringe and had to run away. To his horror, when they got home, he realized that he forgot to ask Sizilien for her contact details.

After being reminded of his folly, Shin decided to karate chop Thomas on the head. But even though the surprise attack came from Thomas's blind side, he still Dark Souls rolled out of danger.

"Nice try, little bro."

"You're the little bro."

Shin gathered a ball of water in his hand. It was only as small as a ping pong ball, but the concentration of water was immense.

"Repel this you filthy casual!"

A column of water shot out at dizzying speeds. It smashed through the window with ease and threatened to do the same to the paper airplanes.

But it froze over just before reaching its target.

Thomas succeeded in stopping the attack. However...

"Hey!!! You distracted me! My crane got wet because of that! I had a good streak going, you know?!"

Shin's attack may not have reached its target, but it was still effective.

"Heh, tough luck."

Shin left his brother's room with a sense of accomplishment in his chest.