Choice and Focus (3)

Two people facing each other in the open space.

Seraphine gazed at her opponent amid the suddenly heavy atmosphere.

‘Inspector Psyche’s combat style is… essentially the natural enemy of a mage.’

A reckless charging attack, wrapping all kinds of enhancement magic around the dragon tribe’s inherently robust body and lunging forward. If she carelessly allowed approach, her body might literally explode.

Of course, since this was a duel, she wouldn’t actually explode.

‘Because of that ridiculous speed, it’s not easy to land magic on her either. I need to detonate an area-of-effect spell at the decisive moment to subdue her..’

Meanwhile, Psyche was all smiles.

She’d dodge around and then rush in when she spotted an opening.

Having finished her thoughts, Psyche kicked off the ground and moved.

Thud.

The ground was gouged and dust rose as Psyche’s body shot forward.

Seraphine responded immediately.

“Magic bullet.”

Four blue magic bullets cut through the air.

A concentrated form of magic imbued with homing properties that persistently tracked its target.

The magic bullets, each tracing a different trajectory, flew toward Psyche.

Psyche grinned.

She reduced her speed with a sudden brake by scraping the ground with her left foot, and at the moment the magic bullets reached right in front of her.

Kwang!

Psyche moved as if teleporting sideways, easily avoiding the magic bullets.

Only an indented mark remained where she had been.

Not stopping there, Psyche continued her next movement.

Simultaneously with her evasion, like a shell bursting from a gun barrel, Psyche charged straight toward Seraphine.

‘As expected.’

I knew it.

Seraphine had already anticipated Psyche’s charge and immediately cast her second spell.

“Electric wave.”

A shock wave filled with blue electric current rapidly spread in a circle centered on Seraphine.

It was an area-of-effect spell with nowhere to escape.

Yet Psyche didn’t panic.

In fact, they had dueled more than ten times already….

Of course, every single time, these duels were arranged after Psyche’s persistent begging.

Having experienced this wave spell to the point of weariness, Psyche instinctively remembered how to counter it.

“Hup!”

Psyche jumped into the air without hesitation.

Easily leaping over the electric wave sweeping the ground, she pulled her fist back behind her shoulder and wrapped it with magical power in mid-air.

She intended to drive her magic-condensed fist down onto Seraphine’s head.

Psyche flew in a parabolic arc.

Just before Psyche’s fist reached Seraphine.

“Lightning transformation.”

Seraphine’s body transformed into blue lightning and instantly moved sideways. Ku-woong!

Immediately after, the ground where she had been standing was deeply gouged like a crater by Psyche’s fist, making a tremendous noise.

It was so powerful that spider-web-like cracks formed around her fist.

Seraphine looked back at Psyche with an incredulous expression.

“Inspector Psyche? Isn’t your fist’s power too strong for a duel?”

Psyche, who stood up while pulling out her fist, laughed awkwardly.

Her tail swayed as she scratched her head.

“Hehe. I didn’t control my strength since I knew you’d dodge it..”

Seraphine let out a half-laugh.

The duel resumed.

As she continued attacking and evading, Seraphine thought to herself.

‘To catch Inspector Psyche… I need an area-of-effect spell with a range that exceeds that speed. But such magic inevitably requires a long casting time.’

To catch Psyche who was moving all over the place, paradoxically, she needed an area-of-effect spell that allowed quick casting while being able to scatter electric current over a wide area.

Seraphine’s mind spun wildly within the duel.

In a fleeting moment, like puzzle pieces coming together, the form of the specialized magic she had vaguely thought of became increasingly clear.

‘With this…!’

She felt an inexplicable certainty.

It seemed like she could succeed now.

After all, she was just one step away from completion.

Seraphine cast a new spell with her left hand while extending her right hand forward.

“Electric lance.”

A sharp lance formed at Seraphine’s fingertips and shot toward Psyche.

Swoosh!!

The lance narrowly grazed Psyche’s cheek and passed by. Patzu-zut.

Psyche momentarily paused at the tingling electric current grazing her skin, but she didn’t mind and charged toward Seraphine again.

The distance closed in an instant.

With an excited face, Psyche predicted Seraphine’s next move.

Magic bullet? Blade? Magic beam? Given the lack of casting time, it would probably be a simple linear attack spell?

Of course, Seraphine was also reading Psyche’s thoughts.

‘Having dueled more than ten times, she must have already figured out my attack patterns. Using that to my advantage….’

Blue magical power began gathering at Seraphine’s fingertips.

‘Spread electricity like a net so she can’t avoid it even if she knows it’s coming.’

Electrocution, overload, diffusion, penetration, acceleration.

She assigned each property to the magical power and concretized the image of the spell she had pictured in her mind.

And finally, the completed spell.

Seraphine extended her hand.

“Current diffusion.”

Contrary to Psyche’s expectation of a simple attack spell.

What burst from Seraphine’s fingertips was a bundle of dozens of lightning branches.

Like a fan, dozens of thin lightning stems spread out like a spider web, spreading wildly toward the entire space in front.

“Eek?”

A stupid sound burst from Psyche’s mouth. Of course, it was a spell she was seeing for the first time.

Current diffusion? Did she really complete a specialized spell during a duel?

Sensing danger, Psyche urgently stamped the ground with her right foot and turned sideways.

Just at the moment she was trying to quickly avoid the spell.

Pazizik!

Several branches of lightning, expanding overwhelmingly faster than her evasion speed, struck Psyche’s leg and side.

“Kyaaaaak!”

Thud!

Psyche fell to the open space with a strange scream.

A bizarre scream burst from Psyche’s mouth as she trembled from the electric current flowing throughout her body.

Looking down at her, Seraphine wore a satisfied smile.

“Fufu. Now I too have mastered a specialized spell.”

Of course, Psyche could only tremble without making any response.

Leaving her behind, Seraphine hummed a tune as she moved to brag about this achievement to Loen. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t really bragging, just something like going to share the news?

Then suddenly.

“I wonder if she’s okay..?”

Remembering that she couldn’t properly control the power since it was her first time using the specialized spell, Seraphine turned back to support Psyche.

Afterward, Psyche with disheveled hair and Seraphine headed to where Loen was.

 

Training ground inside the corps fortress.

Loen was checking newly arrived prototype combat equipment with the staff officers.

Knighthood-exclusive equipment with prominent magic engravings, new muskets for soldiers, and cannons.

It was truly a culmination of the Franz family’s technological prowess and capital strength.

“This… is almost on par with our Armored Knight Corps equipment.”

The Armored Knight Commander let out a hollow laugh as he carefully caressed the black armor.

It was clearly among the highest level throughout the entire Empire.

“To provide equipment of this caliber to the entire corps knighthood…”

The staff officers also stuck to various equipment that caught their interest, continuously letting out exclamations of admiration.

It was a natural scene since few soldiers weren’t interested in new equipment.

“It looks much more sophisticated than what those elves used!”

“I never thought the day would come when the Southern Corps would use cannons..”

Loen also couldn’t help but inwardly marvel.

‘The prototype arrival date is much earlier than expected?’

She had a rough idea of how this happened.

It must have been due to the research and development organization led by her father, a 6-star archmage.

The Franz family’s mages, technicians and artisans absorbed from the south, and even Dwarf blacksmith Hans who was already supplying muskets beyond the barrier.

It was a case of outstanding talent meeting an inexhaustible budget, producing the best results.

“Corps Commander. May I try on the new knight’s gear myself to check its performance?”

At that moment, the Knight Commander, who was examining every corner of the armor with sparkling eyes, asked Loen.

His usual taciturnity was nowhere to be seen; he had excited eyes like a child who had discovered a new toy.

His appearance was so surprising that it rather disconcerted Loen.

Is this what they call someone who goes crazy at the sight of combat equipment…?

Somehow, it seemed like he would fall into extreme depression if she refused.

“…Go ahead.”

As soon as Loen gave permission, the Knight Commander, with the help of the staff officers, completed his full armament in an instant.

Thanks to the weight reduction magic, his movements were surprisingly light.

A medium-armored knight in black with faint blue magical patterns engraved.

The appearance was quite intimidating and sharp.

The Armored Knight Commander swung his arms and legs widely, twisted his body vigorously, and said with satisfaction.

“It’s perfect without any hindrances at the joints. The defensive capabilities go without saying.”

“That’s good to hear.”

A faint smile appeared on Loen’s lips at his praise.

She realized that the plan was progressing smoothly.

Click.

At that moment, the heavy door of the training ground opened, and Seraphine and Psyche entered.

“Loen! I’ve come to tell you some news…?”

As soon as she crossed the threshold, Seraphine inhaled sharply and stopped speaking at the sight of the ferocious black knight.

Of course, “ferocious” was only from her perspective.

“Why did you suddenly stop… oh?”

Psyche, who was following behind, also lost her words.

Setting aside the black knight, the sight of the staff officers touching various new equipment like children and grinning… was not a particularly pleasant sight for Psyche and Seraphine.

It was simply strange to see Loen standing among them as if nothing was unusual.

Loen naturally turned at the voice from behind.

Seraphine looking somewhat bright, and Psyche with inexplicably disheveled hair.

‘It seems they had another duel.’

Loen said.

“News? What is it?”

“It’s nothing. It’s not particularly urgent news, so I’ll just tell you later.”

When her eyes met Loen’s, Seraphine hastily changed her words and pulled Psyche’s arm.

Tilting her head, Loen turned her attention back to the staff officers who were enthusiastically testing the new equipment.

 

After completing the initial review of the new equipment.

Loen headed to her office accompanied by the Armored Knight Commander/Chief of Staff and Staff Officer Bern.

Amid only the calm sound of footsteps, Loen spoke first.

“Are there any other notable issues related to the corps reorganization?”

After a moment’s hesitation, the operations staff officer cautiously opened his mouth.

“Well… it’s not confirmed yet. But within the corps.. a few individuals showing dissident movements have been detected.”

Tap.

Loen’s footsteps stopped in place.

The air in the corridor seemed to momentarily turn cold.

“Dissident movements?”

Is that even possible?

‘After substantially increasing salaries, raising the quality of supplies to the highest level, and declaring compensation for injury or death. Dissident movements…’

Loen’s red pupils stared directly at the operations staff officer.

Under the unspoken pressure, the staff officer swallowed hard and quickly continued.

“When the command personnel were reorganized before, weren’t all officers who only focused on internal politics or were connected to former Corps Commander Donnelly relegated to insignificant positions?”

Loen nodded.

“Some of them seem to be secretly discontented with this corps reorganization. But what’s cunning about this is….”

The operations staff officer’s expression became awkward.

“Instead of openly showing resistance, they intentionally delay the implementation of directives from superiors, or slightly twist the content of orders when conveying them to soldiers. So even the command is in an ambiguous situation where it’s difficult to impose sanctions.”

Deep wrinkles formed between Loen’s brows.

‘They kept quiet like dead mice professing loyalty when eradicating the Southern Alliance, and now they show this attitude and hinder progress?’

Loen’s fingers rhythmically tapped her arm as she crossed her arms and leaned against the corridor wall.

This time, the Knight Commander added.

“That’s not all. There are reports that some local nobles in the south are also showing uncooperative attitudes toward the corps.”

Loen’s eyebrows twitched.

The Southern Corps is not a group that stays holed up in a fortress doing nothing.

The corps, with the duty to protect the south, continues various activities such as investigation, reconnaissance, subjugation, etc.

Therefore, smooth cooperation with local nobles is essential.

Usually, as long as the corps doesn’t cross lines, nobles also show cooperative attitudes toward the corps.

There’s nothing to lose by having a good relationship with the Corps Commander.

“Of course, it’s not to the level of openly refusing cooperation. They just refuse to provide training locations using unavoidable circumstances as an excuse, or slightly delay permits for corps transport units to pass through cities.”

Loen sensed it.

This wasn’t simple non-cooperation.

It was certain that someone behind the scenes was instigating them.

Otherwise, why would they approach the Franz family, which had taken control of the south, in this manner?

Tok, tok.

Loen stopped tapping her arm and opened her mouth.

“Any other notable issues?”

The Knight Commander and operations staff officer exchanged glances.

They seemed to be momentarily debating whether to report this as well.

Finally, they opened their mouths in turn.

“The situation in the western part of the Empire is extremely concerning recently. Perhaps because of that, there have been frequent appearances of armed forces presumed to be Partisans from the west.”

Loen had roughly heard about this through correspondence.

Unlike the south, the Great Holy War in the west led by the Enforcement Division was in a state of chaos due to the traitors’ extreme resistance and counterattacks. It was so bad that even inspectors were dying… there was no need to say more.

“And the frequency of observing Red Band Elves near the southern border has also increased compared to before. It’s not at a threatening level yet.. but it seems necessary to keep watching.”

Loen thought.

Things that needed attention both internally and externally were piling up one by one.

If left unattended, they could disrupt the corps reorganization.

‘That can’t happen. I need to cut off the sprouts before the problem grows larger.’

Loen detached herself from the wall and began walking down the corridor again.

“Operations staff officer, please tell the intelligence staff officer to keep monitoring external movements for now.”

“Understood.”

The operations staff officer moved toward the opposite corridor.

“And Knight Commander, or rather Chief of Staff, let’s have a brief talk in the reception room.”

The Knight Commander swallowed hard at Loen’s stern gaze and answered.

“Yes.”

Loen crossed the corridor while touching the Inspection Corps badge located on the chest of her uniform.