episode_0042

42. Burdensome.

“So, you’ve come to learn magic?”

“Yes! That’s right.”

“Huh…”

Yohan stared at the fire mage who had come to his mansion, seemingly dumbfounded. He definitely gave him a concussion for sure, how is he already recovered?

‘Is this the power of fantasy…?’

Perhaps sensing something from Yohan’s expression, Jerry hurriedly added.

“I heard that there isn’t a proper mage at Lord Zakison’s mansion.”

“……That’s true.”

The head butler answered sullenly. Is he picking a fight right now?

Fortunately, Jerry’s intentions were not impure.

Jerry pointed to the magic book the butler was holding and said.

“From what I see, you seem to be learning spells through magic books, but spells aren’t only learned through magic books.”

At those words, Yohan’s eyes twinkled.

“Then, could it be…?”

“Yes. I will teach you spells.”

Jerry answered with a bright smile. Yohan wore a dubious expression.

“I understand what you’re saying. However, the magic I can teach Jerry-nim will be of a lower level.”

“It’s alright. What I’ve come to learn isn’t the spells themselves.”

Jerry took rough breaths as if he was getting excited.

“I didn’t even know Magic Missile was coming. If you had only returned the strength to its original state, my life would have been gone.”

“……”

He wasn’t wrong. Yohan didn’t want to escalate the fight unnecessarily, and he judged that a mere fainting was enough.

“There wasn’t a mage who could beat me in the inner keep. Except for the elders, that is. Thanks to Yohan-nim, I’ve broken free from my well.”

Jerry’s words continued.

“I will teach you spells, and Yohan-nim, please teach me the know-how of spells. To be honest, when it comes to combat, I think Yohan-nim is better than the elders.”

“……”

Suddenly, Jerry bowed politely to Yohan.

“I apologize for my rude words and actions. Please, give me your teachings.”

“……”

Yohan was stunned by the completely unexpected situation, and so was the head butler.

‘For that arrogant fellow to bow his head to a mere commoner mage, light shines upon the master’s future!’

Jerry remained still with his head bowed. It seemed he would maintain the posture until Yohan’s answer was given.

Eventually, Yohan opened his mouth.

“Please get up quickly. I will gladly share the know-how of magic with you.”

“Really?! Thank you!”

“However, my methods are extremely humble. Are you really okay with that?”

“I’m fine with it! Let’s start right away!”

Jerry hurriedly straightened his back and rejoiced like a child.

Thus, Yohan and Jerry’s mutual tutoring began.

***

The next morning, Yohan left the mansion with familiar steps. It was to stop the wave.

It was the same path as usual, but the faces of the people next to him were different.

“Jerry-nim, are you also participating in the wave?”

“That’s right. Most mages only participate on the last day.”

“Is there a reason for that?”

Jerry answered while twisting strands of mana back and forth. It is said to be a type of training.

“It’s also to save mana and mental strength, and in the first place, there’s not much that mages gain from wiping out monsters.”

Before he knew it, Jerry’s mana strands were taking on a familiar shape. Sarah’s eyes sparkled as she watched it.

“It’s only unskilled mages who are fully employed in the wave; mages who belong to the privileged class usually train during that time.”

“Ah……So.”

No wonder the skills of the mages on the ramparts were so poor, so that’s why.

At that moment, Lord Zakison chimed in from the side.

“That’s right. In fact, I only participated on the last day during the last wave. It’s an option, not a mandatory requirement.”

“……”

Those with strength and money aren’t dragged away, while those without strength and money are dragged away.

‘Perhaps the reason Lord Zakison participated is because he wants to increase his standing within the family.’

Jerry said, looking at the ramparts that were already close. In his hand was a sculpture made of mana threads.

“Thanks to you, today will be quite a sight. Most of the elders will have come.”

Jerry handed the sculpture to Sarah. The sculpture’s appearance was very similar to Yohan.

“……Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

They lightly made their way onto the ramparts. Unlike yesterday, a sticky tension was flowing down people’s faces.

Immediately after, the sound of a trumpet announcing the start of the wave echoed through the city.

Jerry said, raising a red-colored mana from his entire body.

“It’s starting. I will watch and learn.”

“Yes.”

The two had a fierce debate about magic yesterday. Yohan was able to obtain fire spells, and Jerry was able to receive Yohan’s teachings.

The result was amazing. Jerry became an avid fan of Yohan.

‘To think a person’s attitude could change this much.’

He felt a bit awkward. Well, it was beneficial for Yohan.

In the next moment, the sound of marching that shook the ground was heard.

Dudududududu─

Yohan widened his eyes slightly.

“The number of those guys is……”

There were too many. The number seemed to be at least three times greater than yesterday’s forces.

Jerry countered Yohan’s words.

“That’s why mages who rarely leave their homes participate. The numbers are not normal.”

“I heard about it last night, but it’s truly beyond my imagination.”

“Haha, but this time, one more elder-level mage has been added. It will end easily.”

“……Could it be, are you talking about me?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“……”

Yohan felt burdened by Jerry’s sparkling eyes. He subtly rolled his eyes and looked at the enemy’s forces.

“Let’s start soon.”

“Yes.”

Just when he thought they were close enough, Jerry’s spell was completed.

“Firefox.”

Whirr, Jerry’s hand extended beyond the ramparts. The space around it distorted.

It was thanks to the heat of the fire spell. Immediately after, foxes made of flames were born one after another from his palm.

“Go play.”

The moment Jerry muttered in a light tone, they were already running across the field.

Yohan watched Jerry’s spell form with interest.

‘It’s definitely not artificial intelligence, but is it targeting the energy possessed by the monsters?’

It wouldn’t be well-received in individual combat, but it seemed useful in such large-scale battles.

‘By granting autonomy, he saved on mana usage. Efficient.’

Of course, Yohan couldn’t use it right away just because he saw it once. Only desperate effort would bear fruit.

If it were a normal person, they would have forgotten Jerry’s magic as soon as they saw it, but Yohan was different. Inspirations were piling up in his head.

……Before long, the fire foxes were almost close to the enemies. Just because they were in the form of beasts didn’t mean they would bite the monsters.

Puffpuffpuffpuffpang!!

They simply exploded and turned into pillars of fire. Immediately after, Yohan and Jerry’s mana moved simultaneously.

He had worked with him last night, but it was the first time in a real battle. He was a little nervous.

“Please make a path first. I will follow.”

“Yes.”

Although it was a subtle difference, Yohan’s mana rippled ahead.

Although Jerry had the advantage in the number of spells and the length of time he had been initiated into magic, Yohan was overwhelmingly superior in the details of spell shaping.

“Fire Arrow.”

────.

Red-colored arrows of fire surged towards the enemies. Unlike before, they made a very quiet sound.

It was thanks to Jerry’s lesson. His understanding of fire-type spells had increased explosively.

Pupu pupuk.

The fire arrows stretched out, covering a wide area.

Instead of targeting one place intensively, it was as if they were planting flags.

If someone had seen this scene from the sky, they would have said this.

“Flame Star.”

Whirr-!

Lines of fire stretched out between the arrows. Pillars of fire and star patterns. The preparation was complete.

“Now is the time!”

“Huuu!”

Jerry raised his mana in response to Yohan’s signal. This was the same for Yohan.

The mana of the two talented mages intertwined. The pillars of fire became even fiercer, and the star increased its size even more.

Numerous monsters were roasted whole. The firepower was so strong that they instantly turned to ashes.

Yohan thought while looking at the endlessly burning flames.

‘The key to fire magic is continuity.’

He had completed the first concept. Now it was time to move on to the second.

Although constantly watching the flames was one method, it was also important to cut them off at the right time.

In other words, moderation was important. He had to maximize the damage while maintaining control over his mana.

“Now, now is the time.”

“Yes!”

Jerry answered loudly. He followed Yohan’s decision without saying a word.

Immediately after, the flames covering the monsters writhed.

Puh-!

As if pouring water into boiling oil, ultra-high temperature flames splattered around.

Large and small fireballs falling onto the vast battlefield. The main executives of the city could realize from that spectacular sight.

Who the protagonist of this wave was.