Ch.2121. One Step (3)

“…dangerous.”

George muttered. Nella had just burned another Hornhog. I shook my head to clear the acrid smoke and looked at George. The smell wafting through the black smoke reminded me of grilling pork belly.

“What’s so dangerous?”

“At this rate, we’ll have no choice but to kick Daphne out of the party.”

Nella incinerated five Hornhogs with a flick of her finger. Daphne, walking slightly behind her, still hadn’t properly manifested a single spell. Just like during our training sessions, small sparks of magic power flickered from her hands but never transformed into actual magic. So far, Daphne hadn’t been able to defeat a single monster.

“Are you worried? I thought you wanted Nella to win?”

George frowned uncomfortably at my question. I let out a low, mischievous laugh.

“I merely made a proposal that both would accept to stop them from fighting. I wasn’t particularly hoping for either one to win.”

Liar. I knew full well how much Nella had pushed George around. While Aryen was just a target for bullying, George was an easy meat shield. George definitely wouldn’t want Nella back in the party. Yet he inflexibly proposed a challenge where Nella had a higher chance of winning, all for the sake of making a “reasonable proposal.” Or perhaps he’s an extreme masochist.

“Honestly, I want Daphne to win. Definitely.”

“Then why did you let Nella and Daphne compete when their skill levels are so obviously different?”

George spoke to me accusingly. I narrowed my eyes and looked at Daphne. She was still leaking mana and creating sparks in her hands. But something felt completely different from usual. I smiled as I watched Daphne’s growth, then answered George’s question.

“Because Daphne said she would do it. So I believed in her, that’s all.”

Crackle.

Whenever Daphne failed to manifest magic before, she always wore a dejected expression. A look that showed disappointment in herself and apologized to me. When she failed again after dwelling on her previous failure, her movements and expression would become even heavier.

But now, Daphne’s expression was completely different.

“It’s pathetic watching a 4th Circle mage trembling before me, unable to cast a single spell.”

She completely ignored Nella’s provocation. Daphne had the intense focus of an artist on the verge of inspiration. What reflected in her eyes wasn’t the charging monsters, and certainly not Nella.

Crackle!

Something had changed. Daphne’s eyes remained the same, but Nella’s eyes began to waver as she looked at Daphne. She seemed to notice that something was changing in Daphne. Nella turned to me and shouted urgently.

“Isn’t this enough?! Do we need to see more?!”

No, you weren’t planning to stop either. I chuckled and shook my head. We should see this through until Daphne properly breaks through her wall.

“It’s not over yet.”

Nella’s face contorted with anger and despair. I felt Daphne’s wildly wasting mana suddenly disappear completely. Her violet eyes, which had been deeply focused on her mental landscape as if searching for something, returned to normal. Then I smiled as I saw the sphere of purple magical energy forming in Daphne’s hand.

She’s taken a step forward.

The dissipated mana soon led to a single point of explosion. Daphne stretched her hand forward and chanted a spell.

BOOM!!

A purple lightning bolt—no, at this point it was something taking the form of lightning. A surge of magical power writhing like a dragon began to blast away the surrounding forest with a thunderous roar.

“…!!”

George and I were pushed back by the shockwave, while Nella hastily deployed a protective spell to shield herself. Dirt and sand sprayed up like waves in the wind. After the dust settled, George gaped at the devastation caused by Daphne’s magic.

“…Is this really the Lightning Bolt I know?”

Why make such a fuss over this? I looked at Daphne with inner satisfaction. Purple currents surrounded Daphne like armor, crackling with sparks. Before her, everything the magic had swept through had completely vanished—as if someone had erased the forest with an eraser. Trees, ground, monsters, everything.

“Daphne’s magic is special. No need to be surprised. She’ll only grow stronger from here.”

I barely suppressed the urge to run over and high-five Daphne, trying to appear nonchalant as I answered. Of course, my voice couldn’t hide my pride. George stared blankly at the debris before turning to me with an equally incredulous expression.

“…Did you know this would happen all along, Ilroy?”

I shrugged. Of course I knew. Though her breaking through the wall and coming this far was entirely her own achievement. I merely watched the process from the sidelines.

“You need to see people properly. Well, this was possible because Daphne worked hard.”

“…You really…”

George was looking at me with a very peculiar expression. I wish he wouldn’t stare at me like that, it’s creepy. Then George sighed.

“I see. You believed in her all along, which made all this possible.”

I smirked at George before turning my attention back to the mages. Now the real competition was about to begin.

“…Don’t get cocky just because you’ve finally reached the level where you can use magic.”

Nella said in a low voice as she looked at Daphne. In terms of pure numbers, it was 5th Circle versus 5th Circle. But the five rings of magic Daphne had completed were on an entirely different level from Nella’s. And both Daphne and Nella seemed to realize this fact.

She should stop before it gets uglier.

I thought to myself as I followed the mages walking ahead. And then, a massacre too painful to watch began. Of course, this time the victim was Nella, not Daphne.

Lightning Bolt.

BOOM!!

Daphne advanced using the same spell with terrible persistence. Every time she extended her hand, lightning flew out, and Nella could only watch as monsters disappeared without her having a chance to act. Nella gritted her teeth and unleashed a 4th Circle attack spell, trying to eliminate monsters before Daphne could.

“…Is Lightning Bolt the only 3rd Circle spell you know how to use?”

Daphne frowned as she looked down at her hand. Nella gave a hollow laugh at the sight. Daphne shook her head as she clenched and unclenched her fist.

“I guess that won’t work after all.”

“…?”

“I suppose it would be difficult to win with just ‘Lightning Bolt’ alone.”

“What…?”

Nella showed a dumbfounded expression, and Daphne kindled new mana in her hand. This time, flames bloomed like flower petals. Daphne sent the dancing fire from her palm into the air. Nella’s expression wavered violently at the sight of the magic. It was the 5th Circle spell she had primarily used—Pillar of Fire. But it was different. The magic forming at Daphne’s fingertips was on an entirely different dimension from Nella’s.

“I was planning to make you regret every word you said earlier.”

Daphne murmured, then clenched her fist. The flames swirling in Daphne’s grasp disappeared. A similar fire seemed to appear in Daphne’s violet eyes. An Ash Bear suddenly appeared, leaping over the bushes. Daphne’s eyes locked onto the Ash Bear, which roared and began charging at those who were destroying its territory.

BOOM!!

And then, a massive pillar of fire engulfed the bear. The flames wrapped around the bear’s thick hide and fur, burning fiercely. The bear stepped back with a painful cry. It was astonishing that it didn’t die instantly from such an attack.

“Not enough.”

Daphne drew up mana again. A shining ice spear pierced the staggering bear’s head. As if one wasn’t enough, the bear still raised its arms high despite having its head impaled. Daphne expressionlessly flicked her finger again.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

Ice spears easily penetrated the Ash Bear’s hide, which had been softened by the pillar of fire. Belly, back, front legs, and hind legs. The Ash Bear died bleeding, turned into a porcupine. Considering how much trouble I had when taking down one of these creatures, the ease with which Daphne handled the Ash Bear was almost frightening.

“[If you don’t stay vigilant, that child will surpass you.]”

The Holy Sword said leisurely. I think she’s already caught up and more. I watched Daphne standing proudly before the fallen Ash Bear with a bitter smile.

“Would you like to continue?”

Nella clenched her fist at Daphne’s provocative question. The defeat was obvious. But Nella shook her head defiantly. She probably hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.

“It’s not over yet.”

Nella drew up mana. Unlike Daphne, Nella would tire if she expended any more magical power. She had already wiped out dozens, if not hundreds of monsters, and continued forcing her way through without time to recover. Anyone who wasn’t an exceptional mage would have collapsed by now.

“Not yet…”

A light of magical power rose above Nella’s head. She seemed to be trying to demonstrate that she still had reserves, that she could still fight. Then, Nella’s and Daphne’s eyes met.

Crackle!

The magical power swirling around Nella disappeared with the sound of electrical discharge. It was a magical discharge phenomenon. Nella looked at Daphne with surprised eyes. Daphne returned the gaze with equally questioning eyes.

Is it time for Nella to collapse?

“[No, she should still have mana reserves available.]”

The Holy Sword denied my thought. She still has available mana reserves?

“[What affects a mage’s spell casting isn’t just remaining mana. Psychological factors cannot be ignored. That mage is probably intimidated by Daphne right now.]”

Intimidated?

“[Yes. Her morale has been broken. Even if she wants to deny it in her heart, her mind has realized it. No matter how much she struggles, she cannot overcome this situation. She cannot defeat Daphne. She wasn’t as strong-willed as she appeared.]”

There were no more monster attacks. It seemed they had wiped out most of the monsters living in the area. A mountain breeze blew. The remains of monsters turned to ash mixed with the wind.

“You lost.”

Daphne declared Nella’s defeat and her own victory. Nella neither denied nor accepted the obvious result, just hung her head.

“Keep your promise.”

“You damn… bitch…”

Nella turned around, staggering like the bear hit by the pillar of fire. Thud, thud, her retreating footsteps heavily trampled the ashes.

“Ilroy… you’re really going through with this.”

Nella stopped in front of me and hissed quietly. I looked down at Nella and sighed softly.

“If you’re willing to change your attitude, I’m willing to let you stay. If not…”

“Don’t give me that crap, Hero. Go die fighting the Calamity.”

Nella spat with deep anger and walked past me. I watched Nella’s disappearing figure, then turned my head at the sound of footsteps behind me.

“Ilroy.”

Daphne was standing there. She now wore a bright smile, as if all tension had completely drained from her. Daphne slowly approached me, then collapsed forward as her legs gave out. Having used mental strength no less than mana to overcome her trauma, it was natural for her to be exhausted. I caught Daphne. Her faint scent brushed my nose.

“I… did it.”

Daphne said with a proud voice mixed with laughter. Her cheeks, slightly dirty with ash and dust, were flushed. Her tired violet eyes were shining with joy.

“Yes. You finally did it.”

“Thank you… for believing…”

Daphne lost consciousness before finishing her sentence. She seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep from accumulated fatigue. As I picked her up, George approached. He wore an expression that was both bitter and relieved.

“Good job, Ilroy.”

After briefly speaking, George started heading back. Now that stubborn guy won’t have to suffer because of people anymore.

“Il…roy.”

I heard Daphne’s sleep-talking. Even in deep sleep, she wore a faint smile. One of Daphne’s trials had ended. I was genuinely happy about that fact and brushed away the strands of hair clinging to her face.

“Well done, Daphne.”

I picked up Daphne and slowly began returning to the royal capital, following George who walked ahead.