New chapter of Ordinary Person is out! (1/3 chapters)

 

 

Chapter 143

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Everyone had gone home.

Now I must face the ordeal known as studying for the test.

“Then, Master, let us immediately pack your textbooks into the backpack and head for the dungeon.” (Muze)

“What?” (Kouta)

“Come now, let us go. It is Master’s beloved dungeon after all. I made a promise to Mira. Since we are at it, let us surpass Emilia together. Do not worry, Muze will be with you.” (Muze)

As we walked, I asked her a few questions.

Water spirits, by nature, do not require sleep. For Muze, sleep is merely a form of entertainment. She says she sleeps because it feels pleasant. That is simply how water spirits are. While I am asleep, Muze is always bored. She spends that time using my smartphone. During that period, she seems to have discovered my grades and has been developing strategies for this day. Even if I study normally, I would barely scrape by, so this time I’ve decided to go along with Muze’s plan.

“Now, Master, are you listening? You may kill goblins as you listen.” (Muze)

I can do it while killing goblins. That alone makes me oddly happy.

I cheerfully continued hunting goblins.

“The other day, I watched the video where Master was fighting those terrorists.” (Muze)

She saw that. She looks like a one-year-old, yet she watches things like that.

“I heard that human reflexes require two-tenths of a second.” (Muze)

Huh? What is she talking about?

“No matter how visible the bullet may be, if you move that slowly, you cannot possibly cut it.” (Muze)

This goblin is in my way. Muze is saying something interesting, and yet I cannot focus.

“Even in that goblin settlement, Master avoided every single attack. The only one that struck you was Emilia’s bite.” (Muze)

That could not be helped. I could not look away from Emilia when she was crying angrily.

“That is–…” (Kouta)

“Listen carefully.” (Muze)

As I tried to make an excuse, Muze interrupted me.

“Do you really believe you could have avoided all those attacks with a reaction time of two-tenths of a second?” (Muze)

She has a point. How did I manage that? I had been focused only on the sense of accomplishment. Was it thanks to magic or skills? No, that could not surpass the physical limits of the body. There must be something else.

“From here on is Muze’s hypothesis, but you must listen carefully.” (Muze)

“…Y-yeah.” (Kouta)

“If information could be transmitted faster than the electrical signals running through the nerves, do you not think it would be possible?” (Muze)

The speed of electrical impulses defines the limit of reflexes. If that limit could be surpassed, then perhaps it would be possible.

“But is something like that even possible?” (Kouta)

I thought she would interrupt me again, but she did not.

“That is the question.” (Muze)

Her tone was unusually heavy and serious.

“However, it is something you have already done.” (Muze)

That was true. It was something I had accomplished myself, so I could not deny it.

“Let us suppose that the substance enabling this is magic essence, the source of magic. If it courses throughout your body, what then?” (Muze)

“…Even if you ask me that…” (Kouta)

Honestly, I could not hide my confusion.

“If it runs through or envelops the entire body, then I believe it is possible to exceed the limit.” (Muze)

“But such a substance does not exist.” (Kouta)

“Is that so? Then, how does Kouta use magic?” (Muze)

“…That’s… well…” (Kouta)

1. That indicates the possible existence of what Muze calls magic essence.

“Lv 0 and Lv 1 are different. The equipment limit of accessories proves it.” (Muze)

I had indeed felt that. Why was that so?

But if that is true, then wouldn’t that mean people beyond Lv 1 are no longer strictly human?

“Even unconsciously, you have realized it, have you not? What do humans call those above Lv 10?” (Muze)

I, too, have been calling them that. People above Lv 10 are superhumans.

“They process information faster than the electrical impulses of the synapses. That is why you could avoid every attack, Master. They transmit information through the magic essence. It is not cheating, you know. At the very least, the governments of various countries encourage people to raise their level.” (Muze)

“…Is this… test preparation?” (Kouta)

“Of course it is.” (Muze)

No way. I never imagined such a test preparation method.

 

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