[Creative Grand Prize 2025 Entry] Infinite Magic Power but Can't Use Magic!? The Birth of the Strongest Physical Sage!! [Chapter 2]

This is a continuation from the previous work.

If you haven't read it yet, please start from Chapter 1.

Chapter 2: Awakening and Memories of Childhood Days

--It felt as if my entire body was being burned.

　Even after the light from the shrine subsided and the strange presence vanished, Ray's body remained feverish.

　Blood and magic power surged through every corner of his body.

　It was a sensation as if power were overflowing from within.

　However, it was different from the "flow of the spell formula" one feels when casting magic.

　It was more instinctive, wilder, and felt as if the very structure of his body was being rewritten—a strange, alien quality.

"…Haa, haa…! Is this… my power?"

　He stared at his fist. His hand was trembling slightly. It wasn't fear. Nor was it certainty.

　He simply felt that something unknown had truly "awakened."

◇　◇　◇

"Ray!!"

　A girl's voice echoed from afar.

　Turning around, Filia Crest came running, her golden hair swaying.

　Her amber eyes were stained with anxiety and impatience, and she let out a deep sigh the moment she confirmed Ray's presence.

"…You were… safe…!"

　She rushed up to him, buried her face in his chest, and whispered as if relieved.

...Sorry. I made you worry.

...Of course you did. You received a notice of expulsion and then just disappeared without saying a word...

As if holding back tears, Filia lightly tapped Ray's chest with her fist.

...Idiot.

That was her own way of expressing affection.

◇ ◇ ◇

The two sat down by the shrine and surrendered themselves to the quiet forest breeze for a while.

And then—Filia opened her mouth.

Ray. Do you remember?

...Hm?

The time we used to play together on that hill back in the day.

Ray slowly looked up.

A hill on the edge of the village from when they were small. Flowers bloomed, and birds built nests in the shade of the trees.

It was a secret place where he often played with Filia.

...Yeah. There was a strange stone under the cliff.

That's right. It glowed red and pulsed as if it were alive.

I touched it back then, didn't I? ...And then

The stone... broke.

Filia's voice trembled.

That's right. The moment Ray reached out to that stone, a red light burst forth, and the stone shattered and vanished.

Ray fainted on the spot and didn't wake up until half a day later.

From that point on—Ray's magic power began to increase rapidly.

To the point where the surrounding measuring instruments went haywire.

"Hey, Ray... that wasn't just any ordinary stone."

"...I suppose not."

Filia continued, choosing her words carefully.

"After that, your magic power jumped to an immeasurable level. But, magic... you still couldn't cast it."

"...I practiced so many times. Desperately. But it wouldn't come out."

He clenched his fist. Even now, that frustration is burned deep into his chest.

However, he still didn't give up. He didn't want to give up.

"You know... I've helped a diagnostician a little bit before. There's a way to look at not just the amount of magic power, but the nature of its 'flow' and 'conversion'."

"...?"

"Ray, your magic power is the 'opposite' of a normal person's. It's not a structure that releases it... but one where the magic power returns into yourself."

"...Magic power, returning into myself?"

Within him, the words he heard at the shrine crossed his mind.

"...Could it be that my magic power isn't a force meant to be released outward, but one meant to be transformed inward...?"

"Yeah. Perhaps... that is the reason why you 'can't use magic,' and the true nature of your 'infinite magic power.'"

◇ ◇ ◇

Returning to the shrine once more, the two stared at the crumbling stone monument.

With Filia's healing magic, a portion of the monument's surface became easier to read.

What was carved there was an ancient language.

Ray read the characters slowly and felt something click deep within his chest.

"My magic power is... being 'converted'."

"Yes. Surely, not in the form of 'magic'... but as 'strength'."

At those words, Ray smiled.

"If that's the case, then that's fine."

He stood up slowly and clenched his fist.

That fist—it easily crushed a fist-sized stone that had been lying nearby.

"I will use my own strength. With these hands, I will protect what is precious."

Ray's eyes were fixed straight ahead.

Filia also looked at his profile and smiled quietly.

"That's just like you, Ray."

In the sky, a single ray of light shone through the clouds.

It was as if it were announcing the beginning of a new story.

~To be continued~

Afterword

How is it?

Since I am submitting this as a series of short stories for the Creative Awards, I included a flashback scene early on.

If you have any thoughts, please feel free to leave a comment.

I want to make this work even better with your valuable feedback.

Thank you in advance.😸

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