"Whoa!!!"
Seeing the incredible flames shoot up, I instinctively closed my eyes. But the fire never reached me.
I opened my eyes cautiously and saw a transparent barrier.
The raging flames were stopped by that barrier, created by my father standing right in front of me.
He had used magic in the brief moment between dropping my hair into the fire and the explosion to protect us...!
"Did you just say 'Papa,' Itsuki?"
"No..."
I didn't.
"I see, I must have misheard. However..."
My father looked up at the towering flames.
"Just how much magic power do you have...?"
The column of fire rose so high it made my neck ache, and unlike the flames from the Satsuki and Shimotsuki girls, it showed no signs of calming down over time.
This was completely unexpected.
I mean, sure, I've been working hard since I was one, so I thought I had more magic power than others. I would have been disappointed if my efforts hadn't paid off after all this daily training.
But still, this was beyond anything I imagined.
As I stood there, stunned, the flames suddenly vanished as if doused with water.
"You sly dog, Kisaragi. You knew this would happen, didn't you?"
"N-no, of course not..."
My father answered the blonde woman from the Kamiarizuki family with utmost respect. Is she someone very important...?
While I was feeling apprehensive, she smirked.
"Without question, this is 'Seventh Rank.' This year is bountiful indeed. No, it's beyond bountiful. I never expected to meet a genius that appears once in several hundred years."
The Satsuki and Shimotsuki families gasped.
"What...!? Seventh Rank is legendary!"
"...Yes, you can tell just by looking. This is off the charts."
The men spoke in hushed, awed voices, looking at the space where the flames had been.
"You were hiding something incredible, Souichiro."
"I thought you were just a doting father..."
They laughed, clapping my father on the shoulder.
Apparently, Seventh Rank referred to my magic power.
I had no idea about the scale.
I mean, Satsuki Rin was Fourth Rank, right? With such a difference in fire, how are there only three ranks between us?
Not understanding any of this, I tugged on my mother's sleeve.
"Mom, what is Seventh Rank?"
"Hey, Kisaragi. Haven't you taught your child about this yet?"
The blonde woman from the Kamiarizuki family answered instead. When I nodded, she smiled.
"Alright, I'll explain. Listen well. A person's total magic power directly relates to their strength as an exorcist. Therefore, we measure it in six ranks from First to Sixth."
"...Six?"
But I'm Seventh.
"That's right. From birth to death, one's magic power doesn't change. Exorcists live with these six ranks all their lives. The amount of power varies by person, but generally, each rank is about thirty times more powerful than the one below it."
"Wait, what???"
So Second Rank has thirty times the magic power of First? And Third Rank has 900 times the power of First...?
"Most people fall within the First or Second Ranks. Rarely, there are geniuses born with Third or Fourth Rank."
Third and Fourth Rank are considered geniuses... So Rin and Aya, who went before me, are geniuses. No wonder she called this year bountiful.
How much magic power does my father have?
As I looked at him, he proudly declared,
"Papa is Fifth Rank!"
"Exactly. Souichiro is Fifth Rank, a talent seen once in several decades."
The blonde woman smiled and continued.
"But... once in several hundred years, a person is born with an unimaginable amount of magic power. Even the Kamiarizuki family's methods can't measure it. For these individuals, we created the 'Seventh Rank.' This is the first time I've seen a real one. What a sight."
"I have that much...?"
I clenched my fists.
What filled my heart wasn't fear or confusion, but an indescribable sense of accomplishment.
Two years. For two years!
I trained without rest, and now it's paid off. I couldn't be happier.
Maybe I overdid it, but having a lot of magic power directly translates to being a powerful exorcist. That's exactly what the blonde priestess said.
I had never faced monsters or battles. Living as an exorcist with its high mortality rate, I needed to become exceptionally strong. Otherwise, I'd die quickly.
At least, that's what I believe.
So, this is the first step successfully taken.
"This talent must be protected, Souichiro."
"Yes! I will protect him with my life!"
"Good answer."
As I tried to get used to my father speaking so formally, the blonde woman crouched to my level and asked,
"Boy, what's your name?"
"Itsuki!"
"Alright, Itsuki. Take this."
She pulled a talisman from her white priestess-like robes and handed it to me.
"What's this?"
"It's called a Hamafuda. It can kill weak 'demons' in one strike. Keep it with you at all times."
"Okay!"
When I nodded, my mother gently poked my shoulder.
"Itsuki, what do you say when someone gives you something?"
Oh!
"Thank you very much!"
"Good boy."
Oops.
I forgot my manners, even at my age.
"Listen well, Itsuki. This talisman will protect your life. Do not lose it if you want to live."
...That sounded ominous.
"E-excuse me!"
"What is it?"
"Why would I die without the talisman?"
"A normal barrier can hide magic power up to Sixth Rank. But Seventh Rank magic can't be concealed by an ordinary barrier. From now on, whether at home or outside, many 'demons' will target you."
"What?"
"Of course. 'Demons' are drawn to human magic. With so much magic, it's only natural that they will target you."
W-wait!?
I worked so hard to increase my magic power to avoid dying, and now it's the reason demons will come after me!? That's backwards!!!
"That talisman is your lifeline. Don't lose it."
"O-okay..."
I turned pale and ran to my father.
"Papa!"
"Don't worry. Papa will protect you no matter what!"
He smiled as he hugged me.
That's reassuring, but it's not enough.
If I stay in a protected position, I won't be able to fight when it matters.
In my past life, I was an adult who got stabbed to death by a random attacker.
I need to gain the strength to protect myself first and foremost!
So I said to my father,
"Papa! Teach me magic!!!"