The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

"Eh…"

Shien's expression suddenly turned somewhat shifty.

This isn't guilt from not being able to satisfy the learning requirements.

It's the exact opposite. Shien believes that he's already more than satisfied the requirements.

A close quarters weapon skill to level 5 or above?

Shien's [Two-handed Sword] has long since been maxed out.

Magic power needs to reach certain level?

Although he doesn't really know what that level is, Shien gets the maximum stat increases for all stats whenever he levels. He also learned the [Magecraft] skill which greatly increases his magic power and the strength of his magic, and that skill is also max level. If that still wasn't enough, Shien at least wouldn't believe it.

As described above, Shien has unquestionably satisfied the learning requirements, in fact, it could be said that he has far exceeded it.

But, to anyone who doesn't know that, Shien is still a level 10 newbie adventurer, and he hasn't yet learned a single skill, so no matter how one looks at it, there's no way he should be able to satisfy the requirements for learning [Magic Sword].

It's for that exact reason that when Diere expressed that she would teach him [Magic Sword], the members of Vivian's party were so surprised, right?

If Shien were to admit here that he satisfies the learning conditions, that would be equivalent to telling Diere that he has in fact hidden the information regarding his skills.

If that happened…

(No. Perhaps Diere had already discovered something.)

Shien had the sudden realization.

After all, Diere had agreed to Shien's request to learn [Magic Sword] without hesitation.

If Diere thought that Shien didn't satisfy the conditions for learning [Magic Sword], would she still have agreed so easily?

Definitely not.

Therefore…

(This girl has already more or less discovered some of my abnormalities, huh?)

Shien stared at Diere mutely.

Diere didn't hurry Shien to answer either, she just waited quietly.

A little while later, Shien relaxed his shoulders first.

"Well then, what should I do next?"

What such words were equivalent to, it already does not need to be said.

Of course Diere wouldn't be unable to understand that, so after a moment of silence, she answered.

"Since you've satisfied the learning conditions, then let's start from the most basic step." Diere said, "You can feel the existence of magic power, right?"

"Should be, right?" Shien let out a sigh of relief at the fact that Diere didn't see fit to pursue further and spoke uncertainly, "That's the vicious waves that demonic beasts will let out when they're fighting, right?"

"You can say that." Diere didn't confirm or deny, she only said, "Normally speaking, magic power cannot be easily detected unless you've learned the [Magic Detection] skill. Otherwise, most people can only do like you, using waves, aura, atmosphere, etc. to detect the existence of magic power."

That's basically the same logic as sound waves.

Those who have learned the [Magic Detection] skill would be like they had a sonic receiver. They can clearly detect the existence of sonic waves and could even see it through the receiver.

Under normal circumstance, people naturally wouldn't be able to detect the existence of sonic waves. At most, they can hear sounds within the range they're capable of, but they can't detect the existence of the waves themselves.

Magic power is like that. Normally, it wouldn't be directly felt by anyone. Only particularly sensitive people could detect their existence through other means. However, to detect the existence of magic power directly, that requires learning the [Magic Detection] skill first.

If one learns this skill, they'd be able to directly feel or even see magic power.

That is something that is quite useful.

Take Shien for example. After he learned the [Enemy Detection] skill, he could use it to detect existences that bear hostility towards him, but he has no way of detecting those without hostility. Even if he could detect danger, if he was being monitored or followed, he would have no way of knowing. Nor would he able to detect anything that doesn't have any relation to him, like how a radar could, and discover the location and movements of people around him.

Of course, demonic beasts are an exception. That's because they are hostile towards all mortals at all times, and they'd attack the moment they see a mortal. Thus, with a limit to just demonic beasts, anyone with [Enemy Detection] could detect the existence of demonic beasts at any time within the range of the skill.

Given that feature, [Enemy Detection] actually still has a number of uses.

Such as, if someone wants to infiltrate a heavily guarded base. Then, [Enemy Detection] would be able to detect everyone on patrol within, the location of the guards or even military encampments. That's because they would have hostile intent towards any infiltrators, so the moment one makes oneself the infiltrator, they'd be able to use [Enemy Detection] as a means of scanning.

Thanks to that, professions like thieves, spies, or adventurers would all generally have people crop up from time to time with the [Enemy Detection] skill. This skill is pretty useful all told.

But what [Enemy Detection] is focused on is ultimately still hostile intent, not life signs. So ultimately, it can't be used to detect everything around one at any time.

But [Magic Detection] is different. It detect magic power, and even allows one to directly see it. Unless the opponent's magic power is just way too low or the distance is too far, which would make detection impossible. That said though, this is something that can be improved with the skill level, allowing one's detection become more sensitive and the range larger. It's the same basic logic as [Enemy Detection].

However, there is one circumstance under which that anyone could clearly feel the existence of magic power.

"That would be the magic power flowing though yourself." Diere said, "Then the magic power within oneself grows to a certain extent, then no matter who it is, they'd be able to feel the flow of the magic power within their body."

Diere raise her head and stared at Shien.

"Now, focus your concentration onto your own body. Feel your own magic power."

Hearing that, Shien nodded before closing his eyes.

"————"

His mind dove deep within his body.

"Thump…"

The sound of his heartbeat became unusually clear.

Shien focused every bit of his concentration to "find" the magic power within his body.

Not long after…

"Found it."

Shien spoke with his eyes still closed.

Shien could feel it, a stream of magic power flowing about within his body.

That feeling is like seeing an "air flow" or "water current" flowing within his body.

In the past, Shien had more than once felt the existence of the magic power within his body, but none of those times were as clear as now.

Shien from before couldn't really be said to have detected magic power, only that through the use of skills, he naturally made magic power move as according to the skills, that's all.

Therefore…

「Skill gained – [Magic Detection] – Would you like to learn?」

Shien had easily gained the ability to learn the skill just mentioned.

Before Shien could even react, Diere's voice entered his ears.

"Concentrate your mind, enter the depths within yourself, allow your will to draw out your magic power, and release it."

"Remember, don't use the feeling you get when using your skills to release your magic power. That magic power would only end up working the same way as when using the skill. You can't control the magic power like that, so there's no point to it."

"You have to control your magic power with your own will. Shift it little by little first, then concentrate it on the hand holding your weapon before releasing it. Remember, don't let it out all at once. That kind of magic power will just disperse. You have to let the magic power enter your weapon through your arm, and have it gather within the weapon itself."

Hearing that kind of explanation, Shien who drew the broadsword at his waist at some point did as Diere taught and directed the magic power within himself.

「Skill gained – [Magic Control] – Would you like to learn?」

Shien immediately got a new skill.