Episode 7 : Two Men (Part 1)

Summer Fall High, Class 1-A

Tatsuya sat by the window, his elbow resting on the desk as he gazed outside. The sky was a soft shade of blue, with clouds drifting lazily across it. A gentle breeze rustled the trees below, making the leaves dance. The peaceful view was a sharp contrast to the thoughts swirling in his mind.

Tell me, when should I talk to the magical girls?

[At the right time. It wouldn't be wise to approach them directly. We need the perfect moment and opportunity,]

Tatsuya frowned slightly. Are you sure they won't be able to sense that I've gained magical powers?

[No, they won't. My detection-blocking ability is too strong for any magical girl to sense your magical energy.]

Before Tatsuya could respond, a voice interrupted him.

"Hey, Tatsuya, what are you looking at outside?"

He turned his head to see one of his classmates, a male student sitting nearby, leaning toward him with a playful smirk. The boy lowered his voice to a whisper and grinned.

"Tell me, are you checking out the girls down below?"

Tatsuya's brows furrowed, and he shook his head quickly. "What? No! Why would I do that?" he replied, sounding almost offended. "That's creepy. You should respect women, not ogle at them like they're items on display in a store."

The other student chuckled and leaned back in his seat. "Relax, I was just joking."

"Sorry, but I don't find that funny," Tatsuya said with a sigh, his expression firm. "There are plenty of things in the world to joke about—this isn't one of them."

His classmate blinked, surprised by the serious tone in Tatsuya's voice. He let out an awkward chuckle but didn't push the matter further.

[That was nice of you,] Aiag spoke in his mind, [I wish more men had your mindset. It would have saved countless women from losing their honor and dignity.]

Tatsuya's gaze softened slightly as he rested his chin on his hand. Any man can think like me, he replied inwardly. All it takes is for them to rise above their own lust and perversion, to see women as equals, as human beings. But most men don't even try.

Just as he finished his thought, the classroom door slid open. Their homeroom teacher stepped inside, his presence commanding immediate attention. The chatter in the room hushed, and one by one, the students stood up to greet him.

"Take your seats, everyone," the teacher said as he stepped to the front of the classroom.

He was a middle-aged man, likely in his late 40s, with short, neatly combed hair and a well-trimmed beard and mustache. He wore a simple yet formal outfit—a full-sleeved white buttoned shirt, brown pants, and polished black shoes. A cream-colored necktie hung neatly around his collar, adding a touch of professionalism to his otherwise modest attire.

Once the students had settled down, he adjusted his tie slightly and spoke in a firm yet calm voice. "Now, students, open your English books to Chapter 4, page 45."

The sound of pages flipping filled the room as everyone reached for their books.

"Today, we will learn about the life of the great Sun Tzu," he announced.

With that, the lesson began, and the class continued, diving into the history and wisdom of the legendary strategist.

---

It was now lunchtime, and the cafeteria buzzed with chatter and laughter as students gathered in groups to eat. Tatsuya stood by the microwave, waiting as his homemade lunch warmed up. The scent of the food filled the air, reminding him of his elder sister's cooking. She always made sure he had a proper meal, something he appreciated more than he let on.

Once his food was ready, he took a seat at an empty table, unwrapping his meal. As he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite, a thought crossed his mind.

Aiag, I was wondering about something—if you don't mind?

[What is it?]

Tatsuya chewed thoughtfully before continuing. Tell me, what exactly is magic?

He paused for a moment, then added, The only thing I know about it is that you can throw fireballs or summon lightning, like some kind of wizard. Is there more to it than that?

There was a brief silence before Aiag answered.

[Magic is nothing but an advanced form of science.]

Tatsuya stopped mid-bite, blinking in confusion. I'm sorry, what?

[I am saying,] Aiag repeated, [Magic is science.]

Tatsuya stared at his food, processing what he just heard. Magic... is science? That was definitely not the answer he had been expecting.

[To help you understand better, I'll give you an example,] Aiag said. [Consider the spell Explosion, which generates a powerful and loud detonation.]

Alright

[The principle behind it is simple,]Aiag continued. [By extracting diatomic hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) from the surrounding air, the spell gathers these gases into a highly concentrated space. Then, using mana as a controlled ignition source, the hydrogen-oxygen mixture undergoes rapid combustion, resulting in an explosive reaction.]

Tatsuya paused mid-bite, his brow furrowing. So it's essentially a controlled hydrogen-oxygen explosion? Like the kind used in rocket propulsion?

[Precisely. The only difference is that mana allows precise control over the reaction rate and energy release, making it appear supernatural. But fundamentally, it follows the same laws of chemistry and thermodynamics.]

Tatsuya leaned back slightly.

After a moment, he asked, But are the magical girls aware of this? That magic is just science?

[They are,] Aiag replied. [And they understand it completely.]

I see.

Tatsuya nodded, absorbing the information. Then another thought came to him. What about the spell I used? Like my Cleave attack—the one that creates an invisible cut?

[Ah, that's a simple one,] Aiag explained. [Your Cleave attack isn't actually invisible. Instead, it works by compressing air into a highly focused, high-pressure blade and then launching it forward. The air itself is coated with mana, which refracts and bends light around it, making it appear invisible to the naked eye.]

Tatsuya's eyes widened slightly. So it's basically a high-speed, pressurized air blade, camouflaged by light refraction?

[Exactly. The mana acts like an optical cloak, preventing the compressed air from being seen. But the force and sharpness come purely from the physics of air pressure and velocity.]

Tatsuya exhaled slowly.

The more he learned, the more he realized—magic wasn't some mysterious, unknowable force.

It was just science taken to an extreme level, far beyond what normal humans understood.

Tatsuya stood up from his table, having finished his meal. He carefully wrapped his lunchbox, tucking it away in his bag before stretching his arms.

My head hurts from all this science talk, he muttered to Aiag. You know what? I'm not even going to ask how the hell monsters, gods, and all that other stuff fit into this.

Shaking his head, he walked over to the water dispenser by the counter. He grabbed a plastic cup, filled it with water, and took a slow sip, letting the cool liquid refresh him.

---

Ezakiel slammed his glass down onto the table with such force that both the glass and the table shattered on impact. Fragments scattered across the floor, but he didn't care.

With a frustrated groan, he threw himself backward onto his bed. His entire body ached—every nerve screaming in pain. He had pushed himself far beyond his limits, using far more power than necessary.

Now back in his human form, the backlash was unbearable. His white shirt clung to his body, drenched in sweat as his breathing grew heavy. Every muscle ached, reminding him of the reckless amount of power he had used.

"Damn it!" he growled, his frustration boiling over. Then, he shouted, "Mother!"

A figure quickly entered the room—a tall, elegant woman with an eerie calmness in her expression. She bowed slightly and spoke in a composed tone. "Yes, Master. Tell me, for what purpose have you summoned me? Would you like to use me?"

Ezakiel pushed himself off the bed, his movements stiff and pained. He staggered forward, each step making his body protest, but he didn't stop. He stopped in front of her, looking into her eyes with a dark intensity.

"I want you to put up some resistance," he commanded.

"For what, my Master?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Instead of answering, he suddenly grabbed her by the throat, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. Without hesitation, he slammed her onto the bed, his voice erupting in a furious scream.

"Struggle!"

His mother obeyed instantly, her body tensing as she pushed back against him. But before she could react further, his fist collided with her face—once, then again.

Ezakiel didn't stop.

His strikes came harder, faster, a relentless storm of violence. Bone cracked beneath his knuckles, flesh split open, blood spraying across the bed and onto his face.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Until there was nothing left but a gaping hole in her skull. Blood pooled beneath her lifeless form, soaking the sheets, dripping from his fingers. His breath came in ragged gasps as he looked down at his work. His white shirt was now stained deep red, his hands trembling from the sheer force he had unleashed.

And yet, despite the carnage, there was no satisfaction—only silence.

And most of all, there was still pain—deep, unrelenting pain that coursed through his body. Ezakiel had thought that killing someone might offer some relief, might dull the agony he felt.

But as he stood there, covered in blood, he realized it hadn't worked.

With a snap of his fingers, reality bent to his will. The shattered skull, the splattered blood, the ruined bed—all of it reversed in an instant, as if nothing had happened. His mother stood before him, whole and unharmed, awaiting his next command.

"Okay, I'm done," he said, rolling his shoulders. "Just bring me some ice instead. Seems like using you as a punching bag isn't doing much for me."

His mother gave a small bow before silently leaving to retrieve the ice.

Ezakiel let out a slow breath and collapsed back onto the bed, his body still aching. "Seriously, how long is this pain going to last?" he muttered, staring up at the ceiling.

Then, a thought crept into his mind. "Though, I have to say… ever since becoming a monster, my mind feels different. Like it's deteriorating somehow." His fingers tapped idly against the bedsheet. "Or maybe… was I always like this? Maybe becoming a monster just brought out the worst parts of me."

A smirk crossed his lips for a brief moment, but it quickly faded. He shook his head, brushing away the thoughts.

Anyway, there's no time for this. I need to contact Rin and find out how everything's going.