Chapter 41

---

"But, if you have such incredible magical power, don't you think you don't need spells or anything like that?"

"That's not the case."

"Huh? Didn't you cure Riko's three-day fever?"

Indeed, that was true, but it was precisely because of that that the problem became apparent.

"That's true... but, curing diseases is still difficult."

Lowering his tone, he answered, and Gustav frowned in surprise. Then, tapping his fingers on the table, he tilted his head.

"What's the difference between healing injuries and curing diseases?"

"Huh? Well, ... ... huh?"

There should be various differences. To heal injuries, the main method is to create artificial skin to promote regeneration, but there are also other things like manipulating blood flow and cleaning the wound. The methods for curing diseases are different.

"Well... no, when I created something to fight the pathogens, it used a lot more magical power."

For injuries, even a severe one like a through-and-through leg wound could be treated. It uses a lot of magical power, but not enough to cause unconsciousness.

"Pathogens? What are those?"

"Um, they are small living things that cause diseases. In Riko's and my case, they were in the blood vessels and liver."

I see. The concept of microorganisms doesn't exist in this world. Pasteur doesn't exist here.

"I see. So, you can find them?"

"Yes, using magic."

It's a relief that he doesn't deny their existence. I can't tell if he believes me or not.

"When you created that 'thing to fight the living beings,' it consumed a lot of magical power, right?"

The expressionless Gustav is truly unreadable. Recently, he has shown some expressions, but without them, it's impossible to read his emotions.

"So, how do you heal injuries?"

I don't understand the intent behind the question, but I have to answer.

"Injuries... I create artificial skin and muscles, and reattach torn cells. Before that, there's cleaning the wound and stopping the bleeding, among other things."

"Creating skin and muscles... I see."

Gustav then pondered. It wasn't the Gustav who had been spouting water, but the original cunning Gustav.

He opened his mouth quietly. He was probably not pondering the content but whether to say it or not.

"I'm a layman when it comes to magic. I might know less than you."

"..."

I can neither deny nor affirm, so I just nod. Gustav doesn't seem like someone who is unfamiliar with magic, but there are things you can only know by actually using it.

"Can I share my thoughts on this?"

"Of course."

There's no reason not to listen. The wisdom accumulated by an old man is not to be underestimated.

"First, I still don't understand the difference between healing injuries and curing diseases."

Again, he's questioning the basic premise... But I can counter this.

"I explained that the methods are quite different."

"Even after that. I still don't see the difference. The things you create are different, but the actions are the same, right?"

"Creating skin and creating a sterilizing filter are the same...?"

There's a difference between seeing and doing. It might look easy, but it's actually different... But his words suggest otherwise.

"Creating that sterilizing filter was much harder than creating skin, right?"

"Yes, it required a lot of magical power."

"Why is that?"

"Probably... because that sterilizing filter doesn't actually exist..."

"Yes, that's it. The most confusing part is..."

He raised his head, and Gustav's mouth twisted. It looked like he was smiling.

"? What do you mean?"

"It was hard to create because it doesn't actually exist. So, is the artificial skin you create actually real?"

"...Yes, in my knowledge."

It's from my previous life, but artificial skin does exist. I don't know the exact composition, so I create it based on a general idea.

"It doesn't exist in my knowledge. I pride myself on having the fastest ears in this slum. If I don't know it, it's doubtful that anyone in this city knows it."

"But, it's real."

"I'm not doubting you. It's in your head, and I might just not know it. But the same goes for the thing you created to cure the disease."

Artificial skin and a sterilizing filter are the same...?

"Meaning..."

"In my view, both healing injuries and curing diseases are done with things that don't actually exist in reality."

I see, I think I understand what he's trying to say.

Nodding as if agreeing with something, Gustav then looked straight at me.

"I have a few more questions."

"Sure."

"Can you create a bright, cold fire, a touchable rainbow, or a stone that can give birth to children?"

I've heard all of these from Frau. They are the magic used by the witch in the hero's tale. But I can't do them.

"...No. I can create them partially or artificially, but..."

I might be able to create something that looks like a bright, cold fire. A rainbow is just refracted light, and you can't touch light with your body. None of them can be perfectly recreated. As for a stone that can reproduce, I can't even imagine the principle.

"Next, can you turn into a fly? Can you increase the number of your hands? Can you become bigger than this hut?"

"All no..."

I might be able to create the appearance, but that's not what he means. To truly recreate them, I would need to actually change my physical form.

"All of these are things that real mages have done. The stories might have changed a bit as they reached me."

"These are all from the hero's tales."

Hearing this, Gustav's eyes widened in surprise.

"Hmm, you've read the hero's tales?"

"Yes, in the old settlement I used to live in."

I read them secretly.

"Well, these are not just stories. There are actual accounts of such things. Mages and sorcerers really use such magic and sorcery."

"And these things, in reality..."

"Yes, they don't exist. At least, I don't know of a cold fire or a touchable rainbow."

Gustav took a water bag from a shelf and sipped the water inside.

No, that's a product...

"Magic, isn't it the power to create anything you like from magical power?"

"Yes, at least that's what I believe."

"Then..."

He paused for a moment, then said it as if spitting it out.

"Why can't you create things that don't exist in reality?"

"Well, that's because..."

My words trailed off.

Come to think of it, why did I decide that?

---

Creating things that don't exist in reality is difficult. That's why I thought it required a lot of magical power.

But, thinking about it, even something like a floating ball of fire or a wind that can easily cut through objects is strange. It's almost impossible.

Even the telekinesis I use all the time, and the magical power itself, didn't exist in my common sense. At least, I had never heard of or seen such things before I was born.

A floating ball of fire is impossible. A flame that suddenly appears out of nowhere and continues to burn without consuming anything is impossible.

This thought came to me, and I tried to create a ball of fire to verify it.

The ball of fire appeared but disappeared in an instant. I felt like I used more magical power than usual.

"Hey, hey..."

Gustav's hand waved in the corner of my vision, trying to stop me, but I was in the middle of an experiment. I didn't want to be stopped.

I tried again.

This time, I kept consuming magical power to make the ball of fire last longer.

"...Ugh..."

Indeed, the magical power consumption was much higher. My brain felt cold, just like when creating the sterilizing filter.

It's dangerous.

I immediately stopped.

When I cut off the supply of magical power, the fire disappeared as if it had never been there.

"Don't use fire inside the shop."

"...Sorry."

My apology was small and fading.

"Just one more time, it will be quick."

Begging, Gustav smiled faintly and nodded.

I had permission.

Until now, I could use it normally.

I closed my eyes and recalled the first time I used it, the orange ball of fire to protect myself from wild dogs.

Yes, I used it to drive away the dogs for a long time.

Impossible? It's impossible that I can't use it now.

I strongly believed in my heart.

The ball of fire is something I should be able to use normally.

There's no fuel, no ignition source. But this ball of fire can be used without them.

I created the ball of fire again.

There it was, the same flame as always.

I turned to Gustav.

He was smiling, showing his white teeth.

I understand. I now understand what Gustav was trying to say.

And it's probably correct.

The magic I couldn't use was something I had decided I couldn't use.