episode_0121

Several weeks ago, the magic tower in northern Nifrantz.

A gentle breeze flowed into the room of Leonardo Price, the tower master preparing for retirement.

“Peaceful…”

Leonardo leaned back deep into his chair, passing the time listlessly, pondering retirement plans and various other things.

After handing over the tower-related documents only to that kid, and entrusting everything else to Emil…

Without telling anyone else, I’ll quietly slip away, maybe down to some quiet countryside, and spend my remaining days farming.

No, I’m sick of work now.

After completing my mission, I want to play as much as I didn’t get to play as a child, until I’m utterly exhausted.

Instead of an agricultural region, I want to go to a resort area like a coastal city and enjoy myself watching the bodies of young, firm girls.

Without my wife, daughter, assistant, or anyone else interfering.

A time all my own, where no one knows I’m the tower master, a time where even I don’t know anyone.

I just want to spend it without any anxieties.

What shattered that daydream was a powerful surge of magical energy.

“…This is.”

Suddenly— BANG-!

Soon, the mages standing guard sent out an alert.

“Tower Master, right now…!!”

“Yes, yes. I felt it too. Something… very powerful seems to be coming.”

“Y-yes…!! We must immediately activate interception magic—”

Pfft—

Leonardo suddenly burst into laughter.

Yes, it definitely happened.

About 20 years ago, this kind of catastrophic event.

He spun his chair around, looked out the window, and waved his hands dismissively.

“It’s fine. It’s my guest.”

“Khhk… I’m sorry I couldn’t be of assistance!!”

“No, really, it’s a guest.”

“Uh-”

Unknowingly, a gentle smile appeared on his lips.

‘I heard that even Lea took a considerable amount of time mastering teleportation magic…’

Whether she completely awakened the power she inherited from me, or whether she awakened it herself…

What’s certain is… a monster with the same potential as Lea, or perhaps even stronger, is coming.

No—

[Teleportation]!

—She may have already arrived.

Leonardo quickly put on his magic cloak and jumped out of the window.

Whoosh—

Kwang-!

Landing in the courtyard, his body not as light as in his younger days, stood a woman with the same appearance and aura as his…

First love.

“Kheung- Couldn’t you have arrived a little more normally?”

“Ah… I’m sorry. If I used [Teleportation], I thought you’d probably have a rough idea of why I came to see you.”

Yes, different yet an exact copy.

Her speech, gestures, expressions… even her flowing black hair.

She resembled her so much.

The girl held out her hand, levitating a small magic stone.

“Here, the documents you requested.”

***

“That being so… we shall now begin the Nifrantz regular course, 1st semester final individual tournament preliminaries.”

My name is Charles McKinstry.

Well, you don’t have to remember it. I’m just an ordinary person, nothing particularly outstanding; just one extra in front of brilliant geniuses.

“Knightly Arts Department, 3rd year, Charles McKinstry; enter!”

That’s the story so far.

“Go, Charles—!!”

“Do your best—!! Our vanguard—!!”

“If you lose, you’ll face my wrath—”

The erupting cheers. The heated gallery.

Thump-thump-

Everyone’s belief in me gathers within me as a single force.

Two years. A full two years.

I secretly trained my strength, together with my true friends.

Commoners cannot defeat geniuses. That was an immutable truth I learned painfully over the past two years.

Even if I perfected lighter footwork, and mastered the technique to freely manipulate the power of my whole body.

Even if I swung my sword a hundred days to attain mastery of swordsmanship.

Ultimately, the commoner’s sword doesn’t even reach the tips of the genius’s toes.

Still, I couldn’t stop trying.

Long ago, during my snot-nosed days, when I went on a field trip to the royal palace. In what was called the hall of swordsmanship, I witnessed an unforgettable scene.

A flower.

A pure white flower of innocence. Gentle, yet its integrity unwavering; a beautiful and strong flower.

I don’t know its name.

I don’t even remember its face well.

Nevertheless, the image of her sword remains in my mind, uneffaced.

With the single desire to wield a sword just like her, even just once. I swung my sword tens of thousands of times. Replicated that image in my mind tens of thousands of times.

First year, and second year. I never properly showed my skill until it was complete. I felt presenting an unfinished product to others would be an insult to her sword.

I had no regrets. I wanted to obtain even a fragment of that sword, more than just a number in parchment.

And the time came. I could perfectly emulate her swordsmanship.

“Next—Magic Department, 1st year, Narias Philbrogue, enter!”

My first opponent to showcase that sword today is… a first-year, and from the Magic Department?

I’m sorry, but it can’t be helped. From the level of the gallery and up, we have far too much of a difference—.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!”

“Narias! Narias! Narias! Narias!”

“Please take me!!!!”

“She’s beautiful!! Narias!!”

“The best output of the Magic Department, the kingdom’s top SSS-class beauty!!!”

“Mom!! When I grow up, I’m going to—”

“You pervert, die—!!”

“Wow!! Look at those boobs!!”

A difference…?

Hm, she’s quite a popular girl it seems.

But… the reaction is insane. It feels like almost the entire first year is cheering.

Just how does she look—

Swaying-

“Ah… it’s a senior as my first opponent.”

She’s quite big… exactly how many cups—

“Damn it—”

Slap-!

I slapped both my cheeks.

I’m crazy, falling into such vulgar thoughts. My heart is devoted only to her sword.

I barely managed to regain my senses.

“Hm- hm- Please take care of me. I’ll do my best to make it a match not unworthy of a senior.”

“Thank you. I also intend to do my best.”

Hoo, I thought she would be just a pretty, ordinary noble lady judging by her pretty appearance. She has more fighting spirit than I expected.

Watching her quietly tie her hair while warming up, my heart quickened a little.

Thump-thump-

The smooth jawline beneath her flowing hair—

No!

I must focus on the match. Today is a memorable day, the first time I’ll be showing her sword.

And facing her junior who is fully prepared, I couldn’t afford to not give my all.

“Mutual- salute! Both sides, prepare for sparring!”

Swish-

My sword feels unusually light today. This is a good omen.

With the clear sky and this fine weather, coupled with peak condition.

There’s nothing lacking. As always, I’ll only follow her single sword.

“Hoo… Haa…”

She doesn’t seem tense, but there are flaws here and there.

That is ultimately the limit of this rookie mage.

I was going to press my advantage relentlessly.

I let the mana stored in my dantian flow through my entire body, filling me from the lower half firmly. Pointing the tip of my sword at my opponent, I heighten my senses across my entire body, not wasting a single breath.

“Sparring, begin!”

And the moment the referee’s signal fell, I leaped from the ground.

Today is a good day. Like the day I saw that beautiful flower long ago.

That scene etched firmly in my mind, to the point that it’s practically fused into my very being.

The technique I honed by sacrificing my body and soul, only for this day.

From my toes to my fingertips, I perfectly emulated it, not even a little wrong.

My sword clearly sliced through my junior’s right shoulder, across her large chest, and to her left waist completely.

It should have.

The next moment, for some reason, I was outside the arena.

***

“The result! The winner, Narias Philbrogue!”

Hoo, did I waste a little energy?

Due to overestimating my opponent, I merely flicked away the sword, mistakenly causing her to be eliminated by being thrown out of bounds.

“Waaaaah!!!!”

“What, what?! I didn’t see it!!”

“Amazing!!”

And just like when she appeared, insane cheers followed. My ears are ringing.

“Kuh- Kuh-cough-”

Slowly walking from the sparring grounds, I walked out the way I came in.

Some Charles something or other, caught within my peripheral vision, flew toward the opposite wall and landed there, but somehow his eyes were wide open.

He grinned and gave a thumbs up.

“…I’m kinda sorry that it went this far.”

Eventually, people rushed out from the infirmary and carried Charles something or other away on a stretcher. I’ll be doing that kind of work soon…

Across the arena, Tier from the medical camp subtly waved her hand.

“I mentioned I’d help, so… it can’t be helped.”

I’m going to be spending most of today there anyway. It’s better to spend my free time more usefully, isn’t it?

Eve and Yuri also have matches in other arenas shortly, so I need to properly watch and cheer them on.

Pushing through the crowd whose enthusiasm knows no bounds, I moved on to another location.