episode_0024

Honestly, I wondered if this was necessary.

“The basic principles of mana manipulation—”

“—Oh, I think we can skip that part.”

“Um… Sister, there’s barely anything to write down.”

I had planned to make concise notes on the lesson for Eve, who was fast asleep.

Considering her skill level, there’s nothing to write, absolutely nothing.

I, of course, built a solid foundation of magical knowledge through self-study of mana.

But even so, this is supposedly the Knife Franz Academy’s Department of Magic.

Is this all we learn in the first lesson of the first year?

The lesson is too easy, way too easy.

Even Yuri could easily handle this level.

Teaching this superficially and then immediately going into practical application on the third day is ridiculous.

If the cadets were actually at the level to follow this curriculum, the best they could do would be to shoot a fireball the size of an onigiri.

But then they make us do practical combat that requires mana conservation, circulation, and breathing, as well as an advanced understanding of the incantations used to cast magic.

It’s like asking a baby who just learned to walk to ride a horse and shoot an arrow.

Of course, they wouldn’t actually do that, so I could only assume that the “practical training” the instructors were talking about would be at a fairly low level.

Something like a sparring match, perhaps?

The participants take turns attacking and defending; one side casts a spell, the other receives it, and they repeat.

After all, today’s lesson was all about deploying a mana barrier.

It means that’s all they expect from us.

‘I feel belittled, and it’s frustrating…’

Lulu was gone, probably in another class, and the other instructor who came into the classroom, while enthusiastic, treated us like complete novices.

The other cadets in our class, and Yuri, easily managed this, and everyone seemed to want a faster pace.

“Okay, let’s scrap this. Instead, let’s prepare for some real ‘practical training.’”

“How?”

“You know all the magic I’ve taught you? Let’s try using them all.”

If you imbue attributeless magic with an attribute, it naturally loses its inherent characteristics, but you can imitate most attribute magic.

For Yuri, who uses water mana, I had her practice various techniques, recalling my past sparring with Luke.

Things like an Ice Lance combining water balls with freezing magic, or a Water Barrier using the mana barrier I used for midair stepping.

Thanks to her superior mana capacity, Yuri learned quickly.

Also, they say you learn by teaching.

While I guided Yuri in those diverse spells, I also devised various new ones.

Attributeless mana has faint characteristics, so even just using the basic skill [Mana Manipulation] moderately often led to new spells.

For example, [Muyeong Sword], which creates a transparent sword made of mana, or [Muyeong Armor], which puts a thin mana barrier around the body to amplify durability and mana absorption.

Just wearing those two would change my class from mage to swordsman.

Also, since you can bestow various properties on the [Mana Barrier], you can achieve most effects under simple conditions.

“It’s nice to be reminded of the past.”

“Right.”

There were other cadets around, so Yuri didn’t explicitly say it, but I immediately understood her meaning.

She was talking about the time she first learned magic.

When I recklessly trained my stamina first, then went to the Knights’ “Swordsmanship Hall” for practical sparring.

“I really thought something terrible was going to happen back then…”

“Haha… I’m sorry. It’s thanks to that that I am who I am today.”

“That’s true.”

Even the largest tree begins as a small seed.

And even the smallest seed, you never know how big it will grow.

I desperately wanted to see how well my plant, me, had grown.

Soon the class ended, and the room started to get noisy.

“Let’s go. Eve seems to be awake.”

. . .

Having eaten lunch and hired Eve,

I took the two of them running through the back alleys of the capital.

Stepping on the damp ground, where sunlight didn’t reach, still wet from the rain two days ago.

I casually asked Eve, who was following without understanding.

“Eve, do you know why I hired you for several days instead of giving you a single assignment?”

“…Long-term assignments usually have two reasons: unclear objectives, or objectives that are too clear.”

“Which one is it?”

Silence again.

Above the splashing sound of stepping in puddles, Eve groaned.

Seeing her flustered by the question I posed without much thought, I even felt she was surprisingly pure.

“…If I had to say, the latter.”

“Hmm, why?”

“You… you feel like someone with a plan.”

Indeed, I had a rough idea of how Eve saw me.

Her answer was accurate to a certain extent.

I had given her the long-term assignment with a firm purpose, and I had confidence in the plan I’d devised.

“That’s right, I actually needed to go through tomorrow’s practical training before starting the original assignment; I wanted to ascertain your skills accurately.”

“In that case, my adventurer’s record—”

“No, that won’t do.”

Just as a report card doesn’t reveal a student’s dreams, a record doesn’t reveal an adventurer’s true face.

Just how amazing is this person?

That they appeared as the clearing condition for the first story of my grand epic.

“I need to see it with my own eyes.”

Soon the dark alley ended, and a strong light stung my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again.

There was a wide open space in front of us.

“Wow…”

“This is—”

I wondered why there was nobody here.

This wide, empty lot was located quite far from the residential area, deep in the back alleys of the shopping district. I found it the other day while rummaging the capital searching for Eve; one alley was so suspicious that I investigated, and happily struck gold.

A spacious open field with green grass.

Far from dense buildings, it received plenty of sunlight; small plants and flowers blossomed in various places. It seemed untouched by many human hands; filled with natural elements like trees and rocks rather than artificial structures.

“We can practice here without worrying.”

“…Wasn’t it supposed to be during tomorrow’s sparring?”

“How can I wait until tomorrow? I’m just going to do a quick preview today.”

It’s a lie.

I just really wanted to fight Eve.

So I decided to push her a little more.

“You’re not trying to back down, are you?”

“…….”

“You can’t say it’s a matter of condition. I let you sleep enough and fed you well today for this.”

It’s all part of the plan.

When stalking prey, cut off their escape route first!

I thought of three reasons she might refuse a duel: payment, justification, and condition.

And I smashed each one in turn.

By hiring her directly and paying her, I provided justification for testing her skills, and I ensured her condition was at its best.

There are no escape routes – the situation is designed.

And Eve fell right into it.

Realizing she was in better shape than usual, she clenched and unclenched her hands a few times, then clenched her fists tightly.

“…I’m fine.”

“But why do you look so reluctant? Are you scared?”

Grind.

She clenched her fists even tighter.

“…Don’t blame me if I say something else later.”

“Okay, that’s all I need.”

My enthusiasm has been ignited after a long time.

Or perhaps, my body has been ignited.

Mana boils throughout my body, my muscles twitch.

A vibrant energy constantly emanates from somewhere deep within.

I haven’t had a proper sparring partner yet. There weren’t any opponents strong enough, plus using my full strength would be a security risk.

But now, a trustworthy strong opponent stands before me.

Along with strength, being an adventurer, she’ll undoubtedly be tight-lipped.

Taking the bag from Eve, I placed it neatly beside mine.

Then we walked towards the center of the open space.

“Yuri, please be the referee!”

“Yes! Be careful not to get too carried away!”

All preparations are complete.

It’s time to cause mayhem.

* * *

The moment everything deviated from the plan.

No, a situation where she was simply swept along in someone else’s well-laid plan.

Eve didn’t like this training session, or the current situation itself.

Setting goals, making plans for them, and diligently following them was her life’s approach.

But now, without goals or plans, she was simply following orders.

However, one thing was certain.

‘This is my chance to figure out who Narias Philbrogue really is.’

What kind of person he is, his skill level.

Why he hired me.

It was a moment where nothing was known, and everything was certain at the same time.

They divided the large open space in half, each standing in the center of their respective areas.

Narias on the left, Eve on the right.

And in the middle stood Yurias, the referee, raising her voice.

“Get ready in your positions. Use all your abilities, but be careful not to inflict fatal wounds. To each other, salute!”

Nod.

A proper duel format, of sorts.

Even Eve had often experienced this type of sparring during her formal training days.

The opponent is a top student from the Department of Magic.

If magic is their specialty, then there must be countermeasures.

She remembered them physically.

Reading the flow of mana, approaching quickly to disrupt before the casting is completed, then seizing the initiative.

A simple task for Eve, who mastered both magic and martial arts.

Soon, Narias on the opposite side brought her hands together and began to prepare for magic.

“Ready—”

Yurias, the referee, raised her hand high.

Eve tensed her feet.

“Begin!!”

With the hand coming down, the signal echoing loudly across the open space.

Eve’s reaction was faster.

Whoosh—

Before Narias could finish casting magic, she dashed in like the wind.

Then she struck her in the belly with all the force of her run.

Bam!!

A terrifying shockwave spread.

A dust cloud rose, blurring the view.

Eve realized her fist had hit something hard.

Gradually, her vision cleared.

She caught sight of Narias’s smile.

Grin.

[Muyeong Armor], [Muyeong Sword]!

The casting had been a bluff.

Narias, already armed, brought a large sword down on Eve’s head.