TAMWSFB 67

Chapter 67 

 Origami-kun No. 1

After making a shocking statement, my older brother started the class as if nothing had happened.

The classroom fell into an almost terrifying silence. The other students carefully avoided making eye contact with me.

Well… I can’t really blame them.

After all, defying my older brother is the same as defying the Duke of Rosenberg. If anything happens, it won’t just affect you—it could affect your entire family.

Still, the reason my older brother seems to favor me isn’t personal; it mainly has to do with my physical condition and the special nature of my magic.

After all, I can’t use ordinary magic.

“Now, everyone, I believe you have all used magic before. I would like each of you to tell me which type of magic you are most skilled in. Let’s start with Leticia Rosenberg.”

I was thrilled to be called on and happily stood up.

Moko, who had been sitting on my lap, quickly jumped to my shoulder.

A shoulder-riding Moko—so cute!

Everyone’s attention immediately shifted to Moko. Maria, sitting next to me, covered her mouth with her hands and whispered softly, “So cute.”

Yes, yes—my little one really is adorable.

“My specialty magic is ‘Protection Amulets.’”

“What kind of magic is that?”

“It’s a protective magic. The details are confidential.”

When a magic’s details are too special to explain to others, it is classified as a secret.

In other words, revealing it would expose weaknesses, so it must remain a secret.

Of course, the academy has been properly briefed, so there’s no problem.

“Do you have any other magic?”

My brother asked politely.

Actually, this question is for my benefit.

My excess magic has been cured, but unlike Abel, when I use magic, the magical energy flows too quickly and I risk losing consciousness.

According to my brother and Ran’s analysis, my outlet for magic is small, causing the energy to back up in my body.

Even after my cure, I can’t use magic effectively. If I fail to demonstrate magic properly, people might assume I have no magic at all.

Among nobles, having magic is normal, so being powerless is extremely embarrassing.

Since my magic specializes in amulets, I first need to explain that, proving I do have magic and am constantly channeling it.

But if I reveal that, I have to disclose the secrets of my amulets.

And if I make too many amulets, Moko’s fluffy, soft fur would be ruined.

Also, revealing such secrets would give my rivals—houses hostile to the Rosenbergs—access to my techniques, so I can’t teach them freely at school.

If only my magic outlet were bigger, I could use my surplus energy for flashy, large-scale spells.

When my magic overflowed before, the outlet broke, wasting magic. Now it’s clogged—a truly troublesome condition.

I’m grateful I won’t die from it anymore, but since I was reincarnated, I really wanted to use flashy magic.

“It’s not exactly a familiar, but I can fight using paper dolls.”

The class looked at Moko perched on my shoulder.

No, Moko is not a familiar, please stop staring.

“Then show us,” my brother said.

“Yes!”

I nodded and pulled out what I had prepared.

Ta-da! This is my ultimate weapon!

“What is that…?”
“Paper?”
“I’ve never seen a shape like that.”

I unfolded the paper I had folded. It transformed into a paper crane.

Gently placing the crane on my palm, I let it float into the air. It hovered lightly, then glided straight through the air without flapping its wings, heading straight toward my older brother.

Hehe.

This is my secret weapon: Origami-kun No. 1.

See, amulets are embroidered with Moko’s fur on paper. But just showing that isn’t enough to demonstrate their power. And revealing an almost-impervious amulet to unknown people—friend or foe—is dangerous.

So, I thought of another way to channel magic: inspired by the shikigami used by Onmyoji.

Onmyoji imbue paper figures—humans or birds—with spiritual power to serve as shikigami, which can transform into humans, spirits, or monsters to fight supernatural entities.

There are no shikigami in this world, but there are familiars—magical creatures under a mage’s command.

In other words, there’s already a system for controlling “magical entities.”

If ordinary paper moves on its own, people might assume it’s something evil or dangerous.

But if you command that “evil thing,” suddenly it becomes a powerful ally.

Of course, my Origami-kun No. 1 isn’t just for flying.

Its wings are razor-sharp, and it can attack enemies at speeds too fast for the eye to follow.

Developing this took a lot of work.

I didn’t know which symbols to embroider on the paper to make it act like a shikigami.

After much trial and error, I finally succeeded.

The solution? Just embroider the word “Shikigami” on the paper.

The human-shaped paper shikigami could move exactly as I commanded.

But thin paper isn’t ideal for action.

I wished it could transform like a real shikigami, but that was impossible.

So I thought: how could I make it three-dimensional?

That’s when I came up with the paper crane. It won’t be blown away easily by a small gust of wind.

Through repeated improvements, my origami developed personalities.

Origami-kun No. 1 is a natural leader. Origami-kun No. 2 is the brains. Origami-kun No. 3 is the youngest—curious and mischievous.

Even if the origami breaks, renaming it restores its personality. Maybe I really did create shikigami.

Origami-kun No. 1 became my familiar.
Origami-kun No. 2 went to my older brother.
Origami-kun No. 3 went to my father.

Through them, even separated by distance, the three of us could communicate.

In other words, I can talk to my older brother anytime, anywhere. And also my father.

Honestly… this is the best!