I Might Lose If I’m Not Careful.

-Bang bang bang!

The attack doesn’t stop at just one.

Binz keeps snapping her fingers several times while jumping sideways.

As the projectiles of physical force being shot increased, admiration began to flow from the mouths of those watching Binz’s movements.

“W-what’s with that kid? She’s incredibly fast!”

“It’s just Magic Missile. What’s so great about a technique that’s not even magic…”

“No, do you think it’s easy to deploy Magic Missile that quickly?”

“Even so, it’s just Magic Missile, isn’t it?”

The audience’s reaction was generally “the technique is impressive, but the result is trivial.”

Magic Missile is a technique that can’t even be called magic.

It’s just an easy thing that concentrates and shoots physical force, but even that loses its power greatly as the distance increases due to the loss of will.

Unlike those transformed into fire or electricity through application, it can only deliver an impact equivalent to picking up and throwing stones to an opponent at some distance.

‘No, that child knows how to fight.’

But those with expertise in combat were highly evaluating Binz’s tactics.

The woman in a white gown sitting in the spectator seats, and Gale who was judging, were doing so.

One of the techniques they used most on the front lines they fought on was the Magic Missile that Binz was using.

‘In the first place, magic is a technique that requires knowledge and calculation. Since it has to go through the process of gathering mana and adjusting it, it inevitably takes time.’

Therefore, the fastest thing to use is those that deal with pure physical force.

Of course, while Magic Missile’s power is inferior compared to martial arts or weapon techniques that directly apply mana to the body, it can interfere with the enemy’s actions or break their concentration through continuous checks.

The main strategy on the front lines was to aim for a decisive blow by targeting the momentary gap created in this way.

Focusing on this aspect itself shows proficiency in combat.

‘As expected of the young lady of the Jogret family.’

Then, how will the top student respond to this?

Being a surprise attack, there’s a high chance of failing to respond.

If handled poorly, there’s a high possibility of being overwhelmed and allowing all follow-up attacks.

“…Huh?”

But as soon as he turned his gaze to confirm this, Gale’s eyes widened.

-Whoosh, swish.

An empty noise echoed at the end of the trajectory where the Magic Missile was advancing.

It was a phenomenon that looked like it had evaporated rather than the air compressed by physical force bursting.

‘What’s this? If it had collided with the barrier, such a phenomenon shouldn’t occur?’

When compressed physical force is released upon collision, it usually results in a breaking sound or an explosion.

This is true not only for the barrier created by the bracelet but also if one directly solidifies mana to deploy a shield.

Then what is happening in front of him now?

-Crackle!

Amidst this, the sound of electricity sparking echoed.

It was the sound of Binz, who had been firing Magic Missiles, finishing the preparation of an attack magic she had been pre-casting with her other hand.

Thunder Bolt.

A basic offensive magic that, although slow to cast, can hit the enemy the fastest.

-Zzzzt…

Even that electric current disappeared as if it were a lie as soon as it touched Dale’s body.

Even though there should have been some reaction from the collision if a defense was deployed, it really was like a lie.

“Whoa!?”

Dale faced Binz, who belatedly realized this fact and turned to the side.

The bright smile that followed was born out of pure admiration.

“Th-that just now. Was that you? That, using static electricity as a catalyst… no, did you create plasma through frictional heat?”

Dale kept asking questions, his heart pounding with curiosity.

Yes, what Binz did, as the boy is guessing now, might look technical and mysterious, but its principle is clearly something that humans can understand.

“How…”

On the contrary, Binz.

At this moment, she couldn’t comprehend with her own mind this phenomenon where all of her attacks were blocked.

“What on earth did you do, Dale Enberton!!!”

To block all of her attacks without any mana operation whatsoever.

Isn’t that an astounding thing that violates the laws of physics itself?

---

“Oh my, it’s come to this after all.”

As the second-ranked student’s scream echoed through the training ground, I was still observing the scene from afar while bringing snacks to my mouth.

Perhaps because I was usually the one fighting rather than watching? It seemed like I only realized today how special it is to eat chicken while watching a fight like this.

To the point where it felt regrettable that the contents decreased as I ate.

“Teacher Saine, did you know it would turn out like this?”

On the other hand, Teacher Lloyd, unlike me, was watching the training ground, forgetting even to eat.

Even his characteristic squinty eyes were wide open, showing how bewildering the current situation was.

“Well, yes, I taught him personally for about a week.”

And people who know how to fight would realize how incredible the scene they’re seeing now is.

Usually, those called geniuses excel in talent but lack experience, but that girl’s sense for combat stands out even more than her talent.

The fact that she has accumulated countless ‘practical experiences’ that those commonly called geniuses overlook.

At least when it comes to combat, there probably isn’t a student in the middle school division of this academy who could beat that girl.

“From the first day of admission, he even broke the window of this school, so isn’t it natural that it would turn out like this if confronted with magic?”

But no matter how high the combat power is, all of that is based on magic.

Whether it’s experience or talent, if what’s being used is magic in the first place, it will all be useless against that child.

“…A special ability user who blocks magical power?”

“Something like that.”

More precisely, some energy that binds mana…

In other words, it removes ‘arbitrary force X’ derived from human will or will, or nullifies everything made of mana by disrupting its balance.

Probably the reason why holy power is nullified is similar to this.

Holy power is also energy emitted based on human will, after all.

“…That’s completely unfair, isn’t it?”

“Well… except for the fact that he himself has a constitution that makes it difficult to use magic, it’s essentially no different from boasting absolute defense when it comes to magic.”

I smiled and brought the cola to my mouth.

Meanwhile, the duel between Dale and Binz was still in full swing.

Dale was surprised only at first, but now he seemed to have realized that his opponent’s attacks weren’t working and was trying to take action.

“What are you doing now!”

But perhaps even that seemed slow and frustrating?

Soon, jeers towards Dale started pouring from various parts of the audience.

“Yeah! Just staying like that could damage the barrier! What are you going to do if you take a decisive hit like that!?”

“If you’ve blocked an attack, you should counterattack immediately!”

“Use magic! Attack with anything!”

To people who don’t know about his ability, it might look like he’s blocking attacks with some defensive magic.

But whatever it is, the current cries were filled with desperation and even expectation.

It wasn’t hard to understand.

Considering that the place where those cheers were echoing was the ‘regular seats’ where Teacher Lloyd and I were.

“It seems there’s quite a lot built up.”

Yes, isn’t this a situation where many gathered after hearing that the top student was a commoner?

In such a situation, when all the attacks by the second-ranked student are blocked, but no counterattack is made, it’s understandable to feel frustrated.

“Tch, there’s no elegance at all.”

On the other hand, the nobles probably aren’t too pleased with this situation.

They thought it would be different in actual combat, but the fight is unfolding in a completely different way than expected.

“Getting so excited just because he blocked a few attacks?”

“They’re probably that expectant. Even if that child wins here, it’s not like their own circumstances will change.”

“But that child, by what means is he blocking those attacks?”

“I don’t know, but isn’t he going to lose at this rate?”

“No way. If it’s the Jogret family, not just any other family…”

“What kind of trick are you pulling?”

Relatively calm but anxious voices.

Amidst such murmurs stirring the training ground, Dale started to gather mana in his hand to prepare for an attack.

“What attack magic was there again? Uh, um…”

“Don’t get distracted!!”

Binz now screamed in indignation.

Multiple fireballs generated in her hand were thrown, but even those disappeared as if evaporating as soon as they touched Dale’s body.

The shock from the wave of light that came to close quarters was only momentary.

Soon, Dale, having finished concentrating, created a fireball in his hand as well and showed a bright smile.

“O-okay. Take this!”

Dale threw the completed fireball like that.

But that attack easily missed as Binz simply stepped aside from her position.

Of course, since the casting motion was visible and it was a clumsy strike.

“That’s mean! I worked hard on that!”

“Did you think I would let such a visible attack hit me?”

-Bang bang bang!

And multiple magic attacks followed again.

Seemingly thinking that speed alone wouldn’t be enough anymore, high-powered magic began to pour towards Dale.

Each one has considerable power.

It’s not easy for a middle school entrant to rapid-fire such magic, but anyone who knows that child’s background would understand.

“As expected of a member of the Jogrets.”

Yes, Teacher Lloyd watching beside me must have figured it out too.

“Do you know about the Jogret family?”

“…There’s probably no one from the Allied Forces who doesn’t hold a grudge against that family.”

“What a coincidence, it’s the same for the Imperial Army.”

People who did non-military activities or civilians might not know, but for soldiers, the Jogret family was a place that incurred resentment regardless of friend or foe.

After all, they are a family that has historically been in charge of nurturing the ‘staff officers’ who were the core of the Imperial Army.

What kind of existence is a staff officer?

They are the ones who ponder how to crush the enemy more efficiently, aiming for victory by grinding down allies in every operation.

As they make strategies looking only at statistics, they throw ethics to the dogs, so both enemies and allies die indiscriminately in their strategies.

I too have quite a bit of ill feelings, having been under someone from that family.

But because of that, I could predict one thing.

“This could be bad, he might lose if he’s not careful.”

If this duel isn’t ended quickly.

There’s a high probability that the one who will lose this fight will be Dale.

---

‘It’s not working at all.’

As she felt herself getting out of breath after the one-sided bombardment.

Binz lowered her hand, which was tingling from manipulating physical force.

No matter how many times she attacked, it was the same.

Rapid-fire using pure mana, as well as flames, electric currents, ice throws, and high-pressure wind shots all disappeared without a trace the moment they touched that boy’s body.

‘How on earth, by what principle…!!’

-Thwack!!

At that moment, an ice dagger shot towards her.

The low-level ice magic, Ice Arrow, struck precisely at her feet.

It wasn’t shot straight, making it easy to dodge, but curved like an arrow, making its trajectory difficult to predict.

What followed, created in the boy’s hand, was a small fireball.

“So, like this…”

“Eek!!”

Binz snapped her fingers to shoot a spark, trying to stop it.

But even that evaporated as soon as it touched the boy’s body.

-Crackle!

A spark started to jump from her hand as the fireball that was shot next grazed past her side.

The combination speed had become incomparably faster than at first.

‘Chain casting…!’

Consecutive incantation.

It’s a technique that recovers the heat or physical energy released when casting magic and uses it as a catalyst to prepare another magic.

If successful, it can increase the combination speed, but if even a little late, the energy scatters, so it requires skill and quick reflexes.

Unless one receives specialized training like herself, it’s not something a middle school student can imitate.

‘But don’t tell me, he learned that by copying me?’

Yes, that boy was learning by watching her fight, even in the midst of combat.

Despite showing no knowledge of combat whatsoever before this duel started.