After finishing discussions about my disciples' future living arrangements and aligning our understanding of the current situation, I came up to the roof of the main Downing Company building for a break.
"I knew you'd be here."
As I gazed at the streets of the capital, Celest, Shion approached.
"Shion. Thanks for earlier. Thanks to you, my disciples' wishes could be fulfilled."
"No, this was just my own self-satisfaction, so don't worry about it. I'll have their profiles ready in a few days."
"Understood. Then after seeing them off, we should be able to head to the Kyokuto region."
"Hart's back too, so we're heading to the Kyokuto region soon, right?"
"Yeah. We'll set out on the 15th of August."
"I see, you've even decided on the date."
"There's a festival called the Spirit Dance Festival held in the Kyokuto region every year from the 15th of August for three days. During the festival, there's much more foot traffic than usual, so we'll use that opportunity to enter the Kyokuto region."
"Got it. I'll prepare too. —Oh, right. There was something I wanted to ask Orun."
"What is it?"
"It's about that red-haired girl—Sophia, right? She's Selma Claudel's little sister, isn't she?"
Just from Shion's question, I understood what she wanted to know.
Come to think of it, the time Sophia became able to use Psychokinesis was when she was attacked by Shion and the others.
"Yeah, that's right."
"So if Sophia and Selma Claudel are stepsisters, that means…?"
"They have different mothers, but they share the same father's blood—they're true blood relatives."
"I see. Then that really was Psychokinesis."
There are several rules regarding the manifestation of special abilities.
One is that they can be inherited through genetics.
Related to that, when someone manifests a special ability, no other ability users will appear within two degrees of kinship.
Grandpa was an acquired ability user, so he falls outside this rule, but Selma is a pure ability user with a lineage going back to the era of the fairy tales.
That means—
"Just as you guessed, Shion. That power of Sophia's isn't a special ability…"
"…That's amazing. At that time, Orun had lost his childhood memories, right? That means she became able to use Psychokinesis all on her own, without any guidance. What incredible talent."
Shion sounded genuinely impressed.
If her guess is correct, then yes, it would be incredible talent.
But this matter isn't so simple that it can be dismissed with the word "genius."
It's not that Sophia has no talent, but I have an idea why she's able to use Psychokinesis.
"There's no doubt she has the aptitude, but the reason she became able to use Psychokinesis is probably because of me."
"Because of you? What do you mean?"
"Actually, a long time ago, I patted her head—"
"—You patted her head!? Wait, does that mean you and Sophia have that kind of relationship!?"
Shion interrupted me mid-sentence and leaned forward.
"N-no. Calm down."
"I can't calm down!"
"…Besides, Shion, why are you getting so worked up over something like this?"
I looked at Shion, half exasperated, as she pressed closer with an excited expression.
"B-because… Orun patting another girl's head…!"
Shion puffed out her cheeks and glared at me with a pouty face.
"I already told you, it's not like that. It was just that she was scared about something back then, and I thought patting her head might calm her down."
At that time, right after being kicked out of the Hero Party, I unconsciously craved connection with others.
I think that's why, when I came into contact with Sophia—who was in a similar situation—I sympathized with her, and my ability affected her.
That said, I don't remember the sensation from back then, and there's almost no reproducibility, so I don't think I could make other people able to use Psychokinesis the same way as Sophia.
"…Hmm?"
Shion stared intently into my eyes for a while, then suddenly crossed her arms and turned her face away with a huff.
"Well, I understand that Orun isn't cheating, but…"
"If you understand, then it's fine, right?"
"No, it's not!"
As soon as she said that, Shion stepped right in front of me and leaned in aggressively.
"Then pat me too!"
"…Huh?"
"Sophia got patted, but I didn't—that's unfair!"
Shion put her hands on her hips and wore a triumphant expression.
"I don't think it's unfair… Besides, patting someone's head is basically treating them like a child, right?"
"No! I want to be patted too! Otherwise it's not fair!"
"You…"
Shion was being unusually stubborn.
It was behavior I wouldn't expect from her normally, but thinking that she was showing me a side of herself that only I got to see made me happy.
When I gently stroked her soft hair with my fingertips as if combing it, Shion's eyes widened in surprise for a moment.
"…Mm."
Then she slowly closed her eyes and let out a small breath, as if savoring the feel of my hand.
"…I'll forgive you for this much."
Seeing Shion blush with a satisfied look, all I could do was smile wryly.