Wise Man's Grandchild (賢者の孫)

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)"

"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.