episode_0080
by fnovelpiaMaximilian von Adelheid had a relaxed expression.
The monitor hanging in the center of the training ground was relaying the situation of the training in real time, but from Maximilian’s perspective, there was nothing particularly worth noting. This was because Laura was not in any danger.
There was one situation that could be called a crisis, but Laura easily destroyed it.
Maximilian looked at the situation of the sparring with a relaxed mind. His neck hurt from looking up at the monitor, but there was no other way. With just one word from Maximilian, he could immediately look down on the sparring arena from a high place with General Damian, but he did not do so.
Normally, I would show up confidently, encourage the students participating in the grade-by-grade competition, and be treated with respect by President Damien… .
‘Laura seems to be sensitive these days… .’
In case Laura felt burdened by the news of her visit spreading among the students and was unable to perform to her full potential, she did not step forward and reveal her identity.
Even without that, Laura had become increasingly sensitive recently. In the past, she would run to me, hug me, and tell me that she loved me, but as the years went by, that cute side of her gradually disappeared.
Although Laura was now a troublesome young lady, Maximilian still found her lovable.
‘By the way, our Laura is really… .’
Maximilian wiped his father’s gaze from his sight and soon turned to the gaze of a great wizard who had reached the level of the 7th Circle.
The image of Laura unfolding a magic circle was relayed on the monitor. Maximilian couldn’t help but feel surprised as he observed the magic circle.
‘Not only is the magic circle more elaborate, but there are also fewer unnecessary elements. The time it takes from creation to deployment has also been reduced by almost half.’
She was already quite skilled before entering the academy, but until a few years ago, she had been obsessed with creating magic circles as elaborately as possible.
If she loses that sophistication, the power of her magic will fall below par, and Maximilian also hoped that Laura would overcome her slump and get back on her feet.
And for some reason, Laura, who overcame that difficult time, was growing by leaps and bounds as if she had wings.
Laura, who had previously been called a magical genius, was now truly reborn as a great magician. Maximilian was certain of this.
“Laura said.”
As Maximilian tilted his head slightly, the man in a suit standing next to him like a statue bowed.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It might be my imagination, but haven’t you definitely improved your skills?”
“The first lady’s magic was always perfect.”
“Perfect, perfect… Do you really think so? Karmendorff.”
“Yes. However, jewels become more beautiful the more they are processed.”
Maximilian heard Karmendorff’s words and snorted. He liked this about Karmendorff.
I always try to say nice things, but they don’t deviate from the truth. If there is a situation where I can talk in a nice way, I have a great ability to package it in a way that makes the other person feel as good as possible.
After all, it was a good choice to take Karmendorff with him when he took off his military uniform. Maximilian truly thought so.
“Yeah. Laura was perfect all along. There was a time, when it was poisonous… .”
Maximilian trailed off and turned his gaze towards the monitor.
“He grew up so well, so the result was good.”
“Yes.”
“I’m worried about Lina. She’s physically weak, and I wonder if she’ll lose her spirit when she’s compared to my sister… .”
“The second daughter is also intelligent and has outstanding magical talents, as befitting His Majesty’s daughter, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
“Hehehe… . You guy. Don’t be so sweet.”
“I’m sorry. I will correct it.”
Although he said that, Maximilian’s lips were already curled up to his ears. They had been together for several years, but Karmendorff was always a really nice guy.
“Hmm… . By the way… .”
Maximilian’s gaze turned to the monitor again. The situation in the training ground had already become a mess.
“That kid fights better than I expected.”
It’s amazing. Even if Laura had jumped over that wall, winning the grade-level competition was a given. But an unexpected variable has popped up.
Maximilian looked closely at the face of the student Laura was dealing with. She was a striking girl with pink hair, but the way she dealt with Laura was quite unusual.
‘If he were a normal wizard, he would try to close the distance when dealing with Laura. Even if he were to stay far away, he would have no other means of attacking her other than using magic.’
And Laura’s magic is far more powerful than the magic used by students her age. The difference starts from the sophistication of basic magical power manipulation.
However, the student Laura was dealing with named Chloe was different. Rather, she was increasingly distancing herself from Laura.
‘I’m going to try to win with magic alone. Against Laura.’
It may have been foolish stubbornness, or it may have been an unwise judgment, but Maximilian wanted to praise Chloe’s courage.
The blizzard Laura had created was still destroying the training grounds. Maximilian felt sorry for Chloe who was trapped inside.
“This is enough, but how far do you plan on tormenting me… I guess I should teach you some manners toward your sparring partner.”
Due to Laura’s blizzard, the appearance of the arena was changing every second without a moment to spare. The audience responded with cheers to the splendid magic, but something still felt off.
Maximilian was very confident that Laura would win. No matter what variables came up, he could not picture Laura losing.
However, what he is worried about is…
‘The wit and agility to break through the previous ice wall. That kid has a quick mind too.’
Laura is making arrogant moves, and I am worried that she will fall for my moves.
Laura’s blizzard that had been sweeping through the training grounds disappeared in an instant. Chloe was still standing in the training grounds.
“Oh my… .”
Of course, her body wasn’t in good shape. Maximilian sighed involuntarily as he looked at the sight of a girl of the same age as Laura standing there injured.
– So, are you willing to surrender?
– Phew…! Surrender?”
Just like Maximilian, Laura looked at Chloe with pitiful eyes and advised her to surrender.
– That can’t be true.
Chloe flatly rejected her offer of surrender. Maximilian’s eyes widened slightly as he watched her.
‘That kid… .’
In an instant, it appeared.
The brilliant, innate talent that had been seen in Laura since childhood. That wondrous color was visible.
Maximilian slowly stood up from his seat. Karmendorff looked at him with a slightly bewildered expression, but Maximilian had no time to worry about that.
‘Did I see something wrong? Are my eyes deceiving me?’
It was visible. It was clearly visible. But because of that, it was so amazing that I doubted whether I had been mistaken. Maximilian stared blankly at the monitor.
Chloe, who was reflected on the monitor, looked at Laura’s blizzard with her body completely wounded. Then, she raised her staff.
– In the middle, a spark.
The blue flame that burned brightly inside Chloe, the dreamy blue of the sky. Maximilian was able to witness it, if only for a fleeting moment.
– Outside of that, fusion with the environment.
‘Are you trying to use fire magic? No… No way. Laura’s Blizzard has an overwhelming advantage over fire magic. That can’t be…!’
Then what is that magic circle that Chloe is linking?
‘Surely… you are confident? Confident enough to swallow Laura’s blizzard?’
– Ignition, and compression. Stronger compression. And… .
Even her magic circle was being formed in a way that was quite different from normal flame magic. Maximilian’s eyes grew suspicious.
Because it was an act closer to arrogance. To conjure up magic that could not be defeated even by a match was the very definition of arrogance.
And, Maximilian’s thoughts are like that.
– Burn it.
When I saw the magic that Chloe had deployed, it was shattered into pieces.
A small flame bloomed in a corner of the training ground. Its power, like a single blue wildflower, devoured Laura’s blizzard in an instant, as if it were going to swallow everything up.
Greedily. More greedily than anything else here.
– Kwaaah—!
As if appealing to the law that compatibility is only allowed when the two sides are of equal power, he howled so loudly that the entire training ground shook!
“This is, this is… !”
Maximilian’s face trembled. His beard was the same, and even his eyes, filled with the wisdom of a master of magic, were trembling.
He couldn’t help but be astonished. A shiver ran through his whole body.
It was a light of a completely different color from the talent Laura had. But it was definitely… .
“The talent of the great wizard…!”
The talent of the great wizard. The same qualities that I had seen in Laura were shining within Chloe.
“Okay, wait a minute.”
The blue flames engulfed the snowstorm in an instant. Maximilian stared blankly at the sight for a moment, then quickly changed his expression.
It’s a magic that generates that level of power. Can Laura handle that kind of magic now? A magic that surpasses compatibility?
“… I still don’t know.”
Looking at Chloe’s magic with a cool gaze, there were still many parts that were lacking. Maximilian wiped the cold sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief and slowly sat down. His gaze turned to Laura.
‘The battle starts now! Laura! You have to give it everything you have! Show me your mettle!’
As if her father’s advice had been conveyed, Laura, who had been looking at the pillar of fire with a bewildered expression, quickly regained her composure. Seeing her face filled with an unprecedented tension, Maximilian also began to feel sweaty palms… .
– Parsak… .
“… Huh?”
Maximilian let out a dumb sound without realizing it.
The storm of blue flames that had been rising fiercely as if it were going to engulf the training grounds, died down in an instant.
Since they were losing in a magical firepower showdown, the control of the magic circle was effectively in Chloe’s hands. In this situation, the fact that the magic had subsided meant that Chloe had either scattered the magic circle…
“Ki, you fainted?”
Or, the person who was maintaining the magic circle might lose consciousness.
Chloe, who was being broadcast on the monitor, was lying face down on the floor. Judging by the even rise and fall of her back, she appeared to have fainted.
Silence fell over the training ground. The students who had cheered at the overwhelming firepower of the blue flames stood there, their mouths shut as if dead.
– … This, this is… . Our senior faculty has determined that Chloe is incapacitated, and Laura von Adelheid has finally won! Congratulations!!
A heavy sense of emptiness came over Maximilian. He let out a hollow laugh and looked at the time limit next to the monitor.
“Hehehe… That kid too… .”
The time limit was set at just one minute.
* * * * *
We stared blankly at the monitor.
Not only Deacon Sophia and Professor Esther, but also Elin, who had come with us despite her tired body, stood with the same expression on her face.
“… Oh, no. You’re going to fall like that? Really?”
“This, this, what the hell is going on? I don’t know much about magic, but wasn’t it a situation where Chloe student was going to win just now?”
Elin and Sophia, the deaconess, even stammered their words and expressed their bewilderment. And so did I. However, compared to the two mentioned above, I didn’t show it on the outside as much.
In response to Deacon Sophia’s empty question, Professor Esther sighed deeply and opened her mouth.
“Probably because of the unskilled magic circle.”
“Unskilled magic circle?”
“Yes. Even if it is an elemental magic that fits your body well, if your proficiency in that magic is low, it will be difficult to use a delicate magic circle.”
Professor Esther gave an example, saying that Chloe’s deployment of a blue flame magic circle was like lifting a heavy rock without properly training her strength.
“So… . Even though he inherited control of the magic circle, he couldn’t control the magic circle of Chloe student who was fused with the magic circle, so he ended up fainting?”
“… Yes, that’s correct.”
We stared at the monitor in silence.
Since Chloe passed out before the time limit expired, victory ultimately went to Laura.
The last duel of the grade-level duel. For a head-on confrontation between Laura and Chloe where every moment was tense, it was a truly disappointing ending.
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