Ah, finished!
How are you coming?
If you're done, want to go grab a beer?
"The Wonders of Science for Children 100" No, I'm nowhere near done. I'll be a while, so go on ahead.
Oh. Okay, see you.
Don't stay too late.
--Where do you want to go? --I found a great place.
"Observing the Night Sky"
This is taking forever.
Then again, I have no one waiting for me if I did leave earlier.
I can either watch something in my TV queue,
or keep playing through an unfinished game.
I can finally go home.
There sure are a lot of people on Earth like me.
Hey, you...
Watch out!
Call an ambulance!
"Wise Man's Grandchild"
Yes! I caught me some food!
My name is Shin Wolford.
"Shin Wolford (age 8)" My name is Shin Wolford.
I live in this forest together with my grandpa.
I have memories of my past life.
Memories of being raised on a planet called Earth, in a country named Japan.
I can't remember how I died, though.
I'm home!
Oh, welcome back.
How did you fare on today's hunt?
"Merlin Wolford" This old man is Merlin Wolford.
When I was the only survivor of a carriage that was attacked by a demon,
he took me in as a baby and raised me. I owe him my life.
Ho-ho, three chickens and a boar?
It's not good to overhunt, right?
Wind blade slashes.
Nicely done.
They're best suited for hunting, after all.
Unlike the world where I once lived, magic exists here.
Grandpa seems to be well-versed in magic,
and he's taught me a lot.
All right, how are your flames?
Shin, set that on fire.
Mm-hmm!
The magic in this world works without chanting.
So you just have to visualize it well enough.
--Honestly, that's a real lifesaver. From what I remember of over there,
--Flames, focus in my hand and strike the enemy! Fire Ball! --Honestly, that's a real lifesaver. From what I remember of over there,
--Flames, focus in my hand and strike the enemy! Fire Ball! --I wouldn't be wild about chanting incantations and calling out spell names.
Granny Melida and Mr. Michel are coming over!
Shin, you shouldn't just learn my magic.
You should study magical gear and swordsmanship, too.
Mm-hmm!
A boar hunt?!
Shin, how could you do something so dangerous?!
"Melida Bowen" This is Melida Bowen. She's a friend of Grandpa's and often comes to visit.
It's not all that dangerous.
I have this magical gear that we made together.
My word, in what world does an eight-year-old child go boar hunting?
Right here.
You dummy!
You know how skilled Shin has become with magic.
This forest is kind of like a backyard to Shin.
Still, to be able to bring down a boar!
"Michel Colling" Still, to be able to bring down a boar!
"Michel Colling" I'll have to make your combat training even more demanding.
Eh? Don't do that!
"Two years later"
"Shin (age 10)" A demon hunt?
You are ten now, Shin. It's about time you experienced one.
A demon, huh?
Magical power permeates this world. All living creatures can reap its benefits.
But if they fail to control it, those creatures become violent
and end up attacking everything indiscriminately. That's what a demon is.
And people are no exception.
Long ago, a person became a demon and nearly destroyed a whole nation.
But you rescued them, didn't you, Grandpa?
Even now, you're a hero in that land, right?
All right, why don't we get started?
First, we find a demon.
How do I do that?
By thinly spreading out your magic power around you.
If it comes into contact with another magic power, you'll be able to feel it.
All living creatures have magic power,
so you'll be able to tell right away what is where.
This is called "search magic."
Although, it's hard to do unless you can control your magic to some extent.
Incredible! I feel the magic in the creatures of the forest...
...and Granny Melida in her house, too!
Hmm, I expected him to be able to do it, but to succeed on the first try?
What's that sinister-feeling thing?
Ho, did you find one? That's the magic power of a demon.
Grandpa, let's get going!
Something bad will happen if we don't do something about that!
You're right. This might be a bit dangerous.
That's a demon?
If we leave him to run free...
No, wait, Shin!
"Ultrasonic Vibration"
"Air Jets"
Grandpa? Grandpa?
Did I do it right? I didn't mess up, did I?
Oh, sorry. I kind of spaced out, there.
You did it so perfectly, it couldn't have been done better.
Really? So is our demon hunt a success?
Of course.
All right!
But what magic has been enchanted into your sword and boots?
Oh, well, you know...
Shin took down a demonized red grizzly?
Yeah. I didn't even have a chance to assist him.
Just who is this boy, anyway?
The speed at which he masters magic is extraordinary.
He even keeps up with Michel's fighting skills.
And as far as enchantments, he knows them in the original tongue.
It's conceivable that he has come from another world.
It doesn't matter who he is.
He looks up to me as his "grandpa." I can't help but adore him.
I think of him as my own grandson now.
Oh, my, I can't believe I'm listening to
the man they once called the Lord of Destruction.
Would you cut that out? You'll make me wince thinking about the past.
Ha-ha, and nowadays, you are a wise man.
I adore the boy, too, the same as you.
I may only be able to come over once in a while,
but I also think of him as my own grandson.
That's enough for today.
Have you finished training?
He's been a lot tougher on me lately.
And yet, you're still keeping up with him, aren't you? Anyhow, Shin...
We need to talk.
I'm not your real grandson?
Mm-mm. I'm sorry for not saying anything sooner.
Sorry, but I already knew.
They were done in by a demon.
How terrible. The least I can do is bury them--
Is that a baby crying?!
It's a miracle.
Could this be Providence?
Perhaps your temperature dropped from the rain,
and the demon didn't realize you were there. It's possible that demon...
--No... --It was the red grizzly from earlier?
Shin...
Oh, I was just thinking, maybe. And if it was,
maybe I was able to avenge my parents, too.
Perhaps so.
So who were my parents? Where were they from?
They were ravaged beyond recognition.
I never did find anything to tell me who they were.
Oh.
You're taking this pretty well, huh?
Hmm... They may have been my parents, but I don't remember them.
Besides, I have you, Grandpa.
And I have Granny Melida, and Mr. Michel, too.
I've never felt like I've had anyone to miss.
Shin...
So, Grandpa,
thanks for taking me in. I'm glad I was taken in by you.
Shin...!
H-Hold on, Grandpa! Don't cry! It's embarrassing!
Grandpa, thanks, really.
"Five years later"
Ahem. The grandson of our hero, Master Merlin,
has just turned 15, and has reached manhood.
"Shin (age 15)"
"Diseum (Uncle Dis)"
And so, to celebrate Shin's 15th year and reaching manhood,
cheers!
Cheers!
Imagine, that tiny baby Shin growing up to become a man.
It happened so fast.
Speaking of which, Shin, what are you going to do now?
Now?
As of today, you're a full-fledged adult. Is there anything you want to do?
Hmm, as it is, I've never even left the forest before.
I'm thinking of going to see the town nearby.
Ho, and then what?
Then what?
"Christina Hayden" "Siegfried Marquez" There must be something, right?
"Christina Hayden" "Siegfried Marquez" Seeing as you learned how to fight from Sir Michel, you could join the royal order
or become a demon hunter, right?
Mm-hmm.
Demon hunter? What's that?
"Tom Haag (merchant)" There's something called the Demon Hunter's Society.
"Tom Haag (merchant)" They collect rewards when they take down a demon.
Wow, you don't even know about that?
Mm-mm. So that's someone's job, huh?
You could become a magic gear dealer by doing enchantments.
You're handsome enough that maybe you could land a girl
and have her support you.
You're the only one who thinks that.
--Huh?! --Something wrong?!
Right. As an adult, I'm going to have to earn some money,
and I'm going to have to learn how to use it.
You mean, Shin, you've never even gone shopping before?
No, I haven't.
Merlin, come on!
I forgot to teach him common practices!
"Whoops!" I forgot to teach him common practices!
Come to think of it, I learned nothing but magic and didn't pick up anything else.
Oh, I'm sure it will work out.
"Wilderness - magic training ground"
What the...? We're all the way out here in the blink of an eye?
Did we teleport?
This is one of Shin's original spells.
This is likely to turn the world's logistics-- no, its very wisdom on its ear.
It's surprising enough that he can use such off-the-wall magic as it is.
Is there some reason why we've come to this place?
Oh, it would be too dangerous to do this if there wasn't anything else around.
Dangerous?
I already know what it is. Take care not to be too shocked.
Shin, show them that one spell as though this were a final exam.
That one thing? Will fire be okay?
Visualize burning. A flashpoint is created,
and when oxygen is added, it induces combustion.
I've never seen pale blue flames before!
Take a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen. Encase it within a partition of air,
and at the moment of impact, ignite it from the flashpoint!
That's about what I can do now.
Huh? What's the matter, everyone?
Merlin! Come on!
--Why didn't you teach the boy prudence?!
--Well, he soaks up everything he's taught! --Why didn't you teach the boy prudence?!
--Well, he soaks up everything he's taught!
I couldn't help but want to see what he could do, that's all!
I'll give you "that's all"! You disgust me!
G-Granny! It's not good for you to get so worked up!
And whose fault is that?!
I'm not so sure about sending him out into the world now.
With that much destructive magic and the teleportation magic?
Not to mention the fighting skills that Michel trained him in.
Other lands will be falling over themselves to get Shin.
Mm-hmm, it's sure to spark conflicts.
Is this bad?
Master Merlin, Shin's abilities are enough to upset the balance of power.
On top of which, outside of this forest, he'll be a know-nothing rube.
If he goes out into society like this, it will spell disaster.
It goes without saying that the empire is actively trying to expand its military.
That's true...
Which is why I have an idea.
What if you enrolled Shin into the magic academy?
Huh?
Is your idea to assume Shin into your own country?
I swear to you now that I will not exploit Shin for military use.
I think of him as my nephew, myself.
I don't wish to get him involved in our country's disputes.
What's a magic academy?
A magic school in the royal capital.
An educational institution for students
who were exceptional in magic at their middle schools to advance into.
If you go there, you'll discover just how off the scale you are.
Am I off the scale?
Plus, since you haven't had anyone your own age around,
don't you think it will be the perfect chance for you to make some friends?
Yes, indeed. What do you say, Shin?
That sounds good. I'd like to try going to school.
I'll make the arrangements with the school.
The classes are set up according to entrance exams,
so you'll take one of those.
My nation's magic academy is under absolutely no influence from the nobility;
it is entirely based on merit. I can't show any favoritism.
"My nation"? Who are you, Uncle Dis?
Oh, I guess I never mentioned that, did I?
My name is Diseum von Earlsheid. I'm king of the Kingdom of Earlsheid.
"Diseum von Earlsheid" My name is Diseum von Earlsheid. I'm king of the Kingdom of Earlsheid.
"King" You're a king?!
So then, Big Sister Chris and Big Brother Sieg, you're...?
I'm with the order of the royal guard. I'm here escorting His Majesty.
I'm a magician with the court magic division. Also here as an escort.
Huh?! Big Sister Chris I can see, but Big Brother Sieg? No way!
Hey, hold on!
Shin has a keen eye, all right.
What was that?
What was what?
So what about you, Mr. Michel?
Hmm? I'm retired now, but I was once knight commander of the order.
What gives with this who's-who-of-the-kingdom turn of events?
You really haven't told him anything, have you?
Well...
But then, why would a king be calling on Grandpa?
You know the tale of how Master Merlin once brought down a demonized person?
I heard about it from Grandpa, yes.
It was an incident that happened in my own country, to tell the truth.
The first demonoid to ever appear in the kingdom.
Two subjugation squads had been eliminated.
A whole city had been wiped off the map.
In this crisis, the nation decided to draft its students,
"3rd Group, Demonoid Subjugation Squad" In this crisis, the nation decided to draft its students,
"3rd Group, Demonoid Subjugation Squad" and I, then the crown prince attending the magic academy,
ignored the objections of those around me,
and volunteered for the subjugation squad. However...
Y-Your Highness!
Just as the demonoid was before me, about to take my life...
Lad, it's too dangerous here. Get behind me.
It was Master Merlin and Mistress Melida.
Mistress Melida wielded her magical gear with such bewitching good looks,
while Master Merlin faced the enemy with ferocious vigor!
The sight of them was something I looked up to so much, I trembled.
Bewitching? Ferocious?
Youthful excess.
I haven't lost my looks yet, right?
After these two put down the demonoid,
they were held up as heroes who delivered us from our national crisis.
Ever since, we've shared a friendship that went beyond our stations.
Even now, I visit often so I have someone to bellyache to.
I see. Wait, bellyache?!
You've learned I'm a king, but you aren't treating me any differently.
Yeah, well, I've known you a long time, and I thought you were just an uncle.
It's all right!
You're the only one I can have this kind of relaxed conversation with.
Make sure you never change.
Yeah, but wow.
Grandpa and Granny once formed their own party, huh?
Their own party? They were once husband and wife.
Huh?
Huh? For real?!
"A half month later"
We're almost to the capital.
Tell me, Grandpa, how big is your house in the capital?
I don't really remember. It was bestowed upon me by the country,
so I think it was pretty large.
It will be super-easy to move using other-dimensional storage space.
Granny, sorry for insisting you come live with us.
But I'm really happy you came along.
Well, I have misgivings with leaving everything up to this old man.
I can see the capital now.
Do you have your identification?
Will this do?
Right here.
Y-You're Master Merlin the Wise Man and Mistress Melida the Guru?!
Did he say the wise man?
And the guru, too?!
Where?
I'd love to see them!
Pardon me, but could you finish this up quickly?
I'm so sorry!
Um, who is the young master?
"Master"?
Shin Wolford. Our grandson.
--Master Shin! --Master Shin!
It's huge.
Welcome home, Master Merlin, Mistress Melida, and Master Shin.
"Master Shin"?
"Steve (butler)" I am the head butler, Steve.
"Marika (head maid)" I am the head maid, Marika.
"Koller (head chef)" I am the head chef, Koller.
Please feel free to ask if you need anything at all.
What gives with the VIP treatment?
Diseum must have sent them.
This is the reason why we dread coming here.
How about you let us handle things here and you go look around town?
I'll do that.
Um, is this enough?
That's my first time ever buying something.
I could get lost.
Please stop!
Would you cut it out already?!
Oh, how terrifying. Don't be so angry. I'm just saying, we should have some fun.
You'll have fun playing with us. It might even feel good, too.
How utterly clichéd.
Uh, excuse me, but are they bothering you?
Yes! They're ultra-bothering us!
What is it, kid? You want something?
Fancy yourself a champion of justice?
We hunters protect these ladies by hunting demons.
We're the champions of justice!
Fellows, hunting demons may be the work of justice...
...but when you hunt girls, too, you become villains.
What did you say, kid?!
Die!
How slow!
You little...!
Why, you!
Are you okay? You aren't hurt, are you?
What about you? Are you all right?! He pulled a dagger!
With blade skills like that? I'm fine.
Um, thank you very much, really.
Is something the matter?
Y-You're beyond cute!