The Basics of Magic

"H-Hilde, what do you mean, saying that all of a sudden? I don't get it..."

"Huh? You're still going to keep pretending at this point? There's no point, is there? Haven't you suspected for ages that I'm a reincarnator too?"

Compared to Rudeus, who had suddenly frozen, Hilde was completely calm.

After all...

No matter how you looked at it, neither of them behaved like normal babies.

Calling it some kind of extraordinary talent would be far too ridiculous.

And since she herself was a reincarnator, it was only natural for her to think the other person was a reincarnator just like her.

"Just admit it, Rudeus. I'm not going to eat you."

"...Fine, I admit it."

Rudeus surrendered helplessly. "So you really are a reincarnator too. How did you get reincarnated?"

"Before asking someone else, shouldn't you talk about your own situation first?"

Hilde did not shy away from the topic.

After all, the two of them had already suspected each other of being reincarnators, and it was precisely because of that that Rudeus had come to show off to her the moment he learned magic.

This was the perfect chance for them to be open and honest, to lay everything out clearly, so nothing went wrong later.

"I..."

Rudeus scratched his head.

His eyes darted around several times. He wanted to speak, stopped himself, then wanted to speak again...

In the end, he still said nothing.

"We've already reincarnated into this world. Is there really any need to hide things? We might be the only two reincarnators in this whole world. Even if you tell me, it's not like anything bad will happen, right?" Hilde said helplessly.

"Uh, mine is... really not much to talk about."

Rudeus's gaze wavered. He truly did not want to bring up his previous life.

Getting caught by his older brother while getting off to a video of his niece bathing and being thrown out of the house, wandering the streets in a downpour, then getting killed on the spot by a large truck...

Just saying something like that out loud was enough to make him want to die.

More importantly, he was afraid it would ruin his image in Hilde's mind.

"There really isn't much to say about me. Let's talk about you instead. How did you reincarnate? Did you also get hit by a truck?"

"Hmph. Since you have asked with such sincerity, I shall be merciful and tell you—"

Hilde lifted her chin slightly.

She extended her hand forward and spoke as though she were an emperor looking down upon the world.

"...I don't know."

"Huh?"

"Mm. I don't know."

"So you never intended to tell me at all?"

"No, I really don't know. Or rather... I forgot."

Hilde tilted her head, a trace of confusion showing on her face. "I'm very clear that I'm a reincarnator, and I remember the language and writing from my previous life, but aside from that... I don't remember anything. I can't even recall my name from my previous life."

"Amnesia?" Rudeus asked doubtfully.

"I don't know."

Hilde tapped her own head.

"But I vaguely remember one thing. I think I came to this world for some kind of purpose..."

"If you're going to say it, then don't keep me in suspense. Don't tell me it was to defeat the Demon King or something."

This world really did have Demon Kings.

Why had the conversation suddenly turned so strange?

"I think it was a girl."

Hilde suddenly said.

"What?" Rudeus froze for a moment.

"I pretty much remember now. I came to this world for a certain girl."

"..."

Holy crap, the demon lesbian descends.

"So before you reincarnated, were you a man or a woman?"

Rudeus carefully edged closer.

"That doesn't matter. Besides, I can't remember now anyway!"

Hilde grabbed Rudeus by the head and shoved him away.

"In any case, the only thing I can remember is that the reason I came to this world has something to do with a girl. But I don't know which girl exactly. Maybe I'll remember someday in the future."

"...Are you serious? Why do I feel like your backstory is way more complicated than mine?" Rudeus quipped.

"Heh."

Hilde rolled her eyes, too lazy to keep discussing the topic with Rudeus. He wasn't planning to say anything anyway, and she couldn't remember anything either.

She casually picked up that copy of The Magic Textbook and started reading.

If Rudeus could teach himself magic without a teacher, then she should be able to do it too.

In any case, she would try first...

Seeing Hilde start to focus on the book, Rudeus, off to the side, couldn't help acting obnoxious again. He sidled up to her with a shameless grin plastered across his face.

"Say, want me to teach you? This stuff is actually a little tricky, you know. It's not easy for an average person to learn. Even I had to spend some time before I got the hang of it..."

"Get lost."

Hilde casually threw a punch and knocked Rudeus out cold.

The attic instantly fell silent.

Because of her natural, prodigious strength, Hilde had found it very hard to control her force before and often broke furniture by accident. Thanks to Rudeus, through the countless times she had beaten him up, she had finally learned how to control her strength to the exact degree needed to knock this guy unconscious.

Now she could finally read in peace. Mm-hmm.

Before she knew it, it was noon.

Because the two of them had not shown themselves for a long time, Zenith and Lilia had already started searching everywhere for them.

Hilde yawned and shook Rudeus awake.

"Ugh... Why did I suddenly pass out?"

Rudeus rubbed his forehead, his head feeling groggy.

"Maybe low blood sugar."

"What two-year-old kid gets low blood sugar..."

"Never mind that for now."

Hilde put down The Magic Textbook in her hands and took a deep breath.

"I feel like I've already got it."

"Huh? That fast?"

Rudeus was dumbfounded. Even he had spent almost two days learning a simple beginner spell.

"Watch." Hilde raised her palm toward the bucket. "May the great blessing of water descend where thou dost seek it, let a cool shallow stream manifest here—Water Ball."

"..."

Nothing happened.

Huh?

Hilde looked at her own palm.

"Looks like it's a little harder than I imagined."

"See? I told you it wasn't that simple. You have to feel the flow of mana."

As Rudeus spoke, he secretly wiped away a cold sweat.

If even this field was something Hilde could easily surpass him in, then his pride would really...

Well, it wasn't like he had much to begin with.

"Rudeus! Hilde!"

"Where did you two run off to?"

Zenith's voice came from downstairs, and the range of the search seemed to be gradually moving closer to them.

Rudeus and Hilde exchanged a glance, then tacitly began tidying up the attic. For now, it seemed magic was probably fairly widespread in this world, but a mere two-year-old suddenly learning magic was still a little too shocking. It was better to hide this for the time being.

After they finished tidying the attic, the two quickly went downstairs.

Naturally, they could not avoid getting a lecture from Zenith.

After that, about a week passed.

Hilde learned the elementary water spell Water Ball.

It took her almost another half a month before she learned to use magic without chanting, just like Rudeus.

Rudeus was terribly smug about this.

After all, this was one of the very few areas where he could beat Hilde, so he could not resist showing off in front of her a few extra times.

Then Hilde beat him up.