Veronica now understood why she had felt a strong affinity with Hajime.
He had a [Grimoire], just like her. The news made her truly happy.
It had been years since the woman had felt such a strong emotion, the last time being when she first held her daughter in her arms after giving birth.
"This is truly destiny! [Grimoires] are rare, and people capable of absorbing one are even rarer! And yet, we have known each other for years! Hajime-chan, I will teach you everything I know!"
Even Goto's stepson was in shock; he finally had the chance to talk with someone similar to him.
Fumio, Kuro, Cloe, and Yukihime were born as [mages], none of them understood how Hajime felt knowing he had become something different from what he was born as.
The boy had suppressed all his negative thoughts about his situation in order to look on the bright side of his new power, and now he had a concrete opportunity to save his mother and little sister from Goto.
But he also had moments of doubt about his identity, especially after the changes in behavior he was undergoing.
Veronica had probably gone through all this; talking to her would be helpful. However, there was a big problem with doing so.
"(I will be vulnerable if I talk to her about my doubts... about what I feel in having this [Grimoire]......)"
Showing weakness and holding everything inside.
Hajime thought about it for a while before coming to a single conclusion: the moment he chose to throw himself into this den of lions, he had shown weakness. Might as well make the most of the situation.
"(......no, it doesn't matter anymore, she probably already knows what I'm thinking, and she'll find a way to extract this information from me.... I will decide what to tell her and when.)"
As the teenager pondered this, the woman managed to calm herself and regain control.
"What an embarrassment... I'm an adult woman yet I acted like a teenage girl excited about her first crush... Hajime-chan, you need to take responsibility for what you've done to me." (Veronica)
"Veronica-shishou, can we start training now?"
"Yes, we've wasted far too much time. Come, I'll show you something."
With her [telekinesis], the woman opened a panel in the wall, revealing mannequins made of a strange semi-solid yellow material.
"They are—" (Hajime)
"Yes, the forensics use them to test their hypotheses at crime scenes. These little ones are just like human beings in every way. We will use them to simulate the effects of our powers on living subjects."
"For 'effects' do you mean making their hearts implode?"
"Yes, my apprentice. As I said, I'll start teaching you this, now watch closely."
Veronica concentrated her [mana] in her hand while holding the mannequin upright with her telekinesis.
With a punch, deliberately slow and easy to observe, she struck the chest of her faux enemy.
"[mana manipulation]: [implosion]!"
The effects of the technique were immediate; the heart imploded while all the other organs were severely damaged by the [mana].
The mannequin's synthetic organs were identical in every respect to human ones, so Hajime had no doubt that death would be the only result after being struck by something like this.
The teenager approached to examine the damage. A look of wonder spread across his face.
"Incredible..... there are no signs left on the outer skin. It's like—"
"If the [mana] passed through without even touching it, causing maximum damage internally? This move is meant to....." (Veronica)
"Killing someone with high defense? Like a mage-warrior? Even if they used some type of protective [magic] like armor, if the damage doesn't affect the exterior but only the interior, then they would still be dead on the spot. And considering that [mages] are proud of their powers, it would be easy to provoke one, a very strong one, until they let their guard down to use this technique." (Hajime)
"Remarkable. Truly remarkable, my apprentice. That's exactly what I wanted to tell you. This technique is ideal for a frontline fighter. Someone like you."
Goto's stepson immediately understood what his teacher meant with those words.
"!? Veronica-shishou, you already knew what type of [mage] I am?"
"It was obvious that you were a mage-warrior, considering how you observe everything around you and how interested you are in [implosion]. Oh, right, you still need to tell me what kind of powers you have! You didn't think I'd forgotten about that, did you?!"
"(Actually, yes......)" (Hajime)
The teenager went on for several minutes explaining what he could do with his powers before the 40-year-old asked him for a practical demonstration.
"I see... so that's how it works."
The woman pulled out some paper and a pen from who-knows-where and handed them to Goto's stepson while murmuring a few things to herself.
"Apprentice, can you tell me all the types of [espers] and [mages] you know? I want you to write them down here, with all the information you have about them." (Veronica)
"Okay."
The types that Hajime knew were four:
Mage-warriors / Esper-warriors = they fight by using magic directly on their bodies. They are usually experts in close combat and in some cases also in mid-distance.
Espers: support type / mages: support type = they do not fight directly, but serve as help during battles. They are very weak alone but very capable in a group. Usually, they act as leaders in their squads.
Mage: mid-distance / esper: mid-distance = their maximum attack range, without deficiencies, is 100 meters. Beyond 200, their powers lose 60% effectiveness. Their minimum range is 5 meters but can vary based on the subject's rank.
Mage: long-distance / esper: long-distance = their maximum attack range is several kilometers (precision and maximum distance vary from person to person). Their minimum range is 50 meters.
Veronica was surprised by what the 17-year-old had written; he was more aware than he let on. The [Mage Omega] couldn't help but smile; it would be much easier than expected to teach Hajime, who had so far proven to be intelligent and intuitive enough to keep up with her lessons.
"I don't know anything else....god..... it feels like I'm at school, taking an exam."
"Ufufufuf, Hajime-chan, would you like me to dress up as a teacher for you? Do you want me to put on glasses and a skirt suit with stockings? You're such a little pervert."
The boy avoided answering and looking her in the eyes. He was already embarrassed enough.
"Anyway, what you've written is all correct. Not everyone knows all these things. Where did you learn it?"
"Hmmm. From various places, the internet, TV, and from what the [Black Corps] used to say when they visited the house...... and from Goto, sometimes that old bastard would tell Kaori-chan some things about his job."
"Good, good, good. Excellent, really excellent. You're almost more capable than I was at your age, my apprentice. The only mistake you made was not considering the fifth type."
The silver-haired boy opened his eyes wide at those words. He had never heard of another class; it was an absolute novelty for him.
"What is it exactly?"
"Simple, it's an individual who belongs to all the types you wrote down and takes the best from each one, but without weaknesses."
"Q-this is impossible; no one could do such a thing, already mastering two is incredibly difficult."
Veronica smiled at Hajime, who felt as though he was missing something in the information he had.
"My dear Hajime-chan, you could be this individual. You have only scratched the surface of your powers, and yet I already have many ideas on how you could perfect what you have at your disposal. I have a strong feeling that when you reach full control of the [Grimoire], you will reach my level... no, you will surpass it."