Chapter 4: The Weight Behind Magic

The next day, the teachers began teaching how to regulate magical energy within a person’s body. But for Kamito, it was surprisingly easy.

“Kamito-kun, I have a question for you.”

“What is it, Ark?”

“Do all candidates for the Sorcerer’s High Class have to enter this Academy first?”

“Yes, they must enter the Academy. If they don’t, they’ll be considered illegal—or worse, they could be arrested.”

“Seriously? You don’t even need the Academy. I could teach you everything about basic magic.”

“No need. I don’t really like magic.”

Kamito’s tone suddenly turned deeper.
Ark immediately knew—there was something within Kamito, something painful, tied to why he disliked magic.

Kamito remembered.
Ten years ago… the day his father died.

His father died trying to save people from the incident known as “The First Ground Wave.”
He fought alone against an A-class creature—“Volcanic Boar – Firebelly Tusker.”
He protected many, but suffered fatal burns from magic he couldn’t control.

Since then, Kamito always questioned:

Why couldn’t magic save everyone? Why couldn’t it save his father?

During class, the teacher asked him:

“Kamito… what do you think it means to maintain magical balance within the human body?”

All eyes in the classroom turned toward him.

Kamito answered calmly—

“If magic loses its balance… a human will lose themselves.”

“And why do you think that happens?”

“Because magic isn’t just power. It’s emotion, hope, fear… all mixed together.”
“If even one of them overflows, the body won’t be able to handle it. Just like how a human heart can’t carry the weight of loss.”

The teacher continued:

“So… what is balance really protecting?”

Kamito replied:

“Yourself.”
“If your magic isn’t balanced, you’re no longer you. You’re just a shell controlled by emotions you never resolved.”

The teacher narrowed his eyes.

“It sounds like you’ve seen it happen before.”

Kamito remembered the dream from last night—the burning city, the corpses, Noa standing alone.

He replied softly—

“I don’t know… or maybe I did know. But my body remembers it more clearly than my mind.”
“What I do know… is that losing control is the greatest fear a human can feel.”

The teacher asked again:

“Magical balance means staying human. That is your first lesson, Kamito.”

Kamito looked at the floor, then lifted his head with new resolve.

“Then… I will learn. I don’t want to lose myself ever again.”

His words shocked the entire class.

The teacher spoke gently:

“Kamito… you seem to be thinking about something. Does magic frighten you?”

Kamito clenched his fists.
He turned to the window—looking toward the city that once became hell.

“…Afraid? No.”
“What I fear… is what magic once did.”
“Ten years ago, my father died because of magic.”
“Volcanic Boar—‘Firebelly Tusker.’ The first A-Class creature that appeared in the city during the Ground Wave Incident.”

“My father was there. He wasn’t an adventurer or a mage. Just an ordinary man… but he couldn’t stand still when people were begging for help.”
“He tried to hold that creature back alone. The uncontrolled magic he used… ended up burning his body.”

The teacher’s eyes softened.

“…Kamito… so that’s why you—”

Kamito continued:

“I don’t hate magic.”
“What I hate… is that magic gives false hope to those who aren’t strong enough to bear it.”

He took a deep breath—holding anger and grief that would never disappear.

“Magic gave him strength he never had… but it didn’t give him a way to survive it.”

Kamito lowered his head, shoulders trembling.

“Since that day… I learned that magic isn’t the answer to everything. Sometimes, it’s just a tool that hastens someone toward death.”

Silence filled the room.
No one dared to speak.

Kamito lifted his face—eyes sharp, but deeply wounded.

“That’s why magical balance isn’t just about control.”
“It’s about understanding human limits before power takes more than you can give.”

The teacher finally spoke, voice soft but heavy:

“…Your father would be proud, Kamito. Because even after losing everything, you still choose to understand, not resent.”

Kamito closed his eyes.

“All I want is to make sure no child ever sees what I saw that day.”
“That’s why I kept trying to enter this Academy, even after failing three times.”

His words made the whole class erupt in applause.
Many students began shouting that Tokyo would not be the same today if not for Kamito’s father.

Ark, listening silently, finally understood—
why Noa chose to be reborn into a world as cruel as this one.

— — —

During lunch break, many students thanked Kamito.
Most of them were victims or children of victims of the incident ten years ago.

Then Masahiro Yuki and her bodyguard approached him.

“Yahoo, Kamito-kun! Do you want to eat together?”

“Yuki-san, perfect timing. I also wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Hoooh, how unusual.” Masahiro teased with a playful smile.

Airi, however, did not like Kamito getting close to Yuki.
She quickly pulled out her pistol.

Kamito was shocked.

“So fast!? Since when!?”

Even Ark was stunned—Airi’s speed exceeded his expectations.

“Airi, put your weapon down. He’s not a threat.” Yuki said calmly.

Airi holstered her gun.

“Do not ever approach Lady Masahiro again, or this bullet will go through your head.” Airi warned with cold eyes.

“What is wrong with this person…?” Kamito muttered, confused by Airi’s hostility.