Each Choice #5

 

First, Mitchell and Wagner left the training ground together.

Next, Flora left.

“⋯.”

I was left alone in the dark and quiet training ground.

I chewed over Flora’s words over and over again.

—I don’t want to be a burden to my colleagues anymore. I want to stand tall as a proud adventurer and meet Estelle again someday.

I think we should cheer him on because he’s so special.

Why did I only say such harsh words?

I was sad.

It felt like the kitten I had raised in my arms since it was little had grown up and gone out into the world.

“If you want to go, go. I have no right to stop you, senior. I’m not your guardian, nor your parent.”

—Ms. Estelle, would you like to meet me here again tonight?

-why.

—I want to show you how much I’ve grown. I think you’ll agree, Estelle. I’m not the rookie wizard I used to be.

I accepted Flora’s offer.

So tonight, once again, our party members will be competing against each other.

Estelle vs Flora.

This is the matchup of the century. The outcome is so predictable to gamblers that the odds are a mess.

However, unlike Mitchell and Wagner’s fight, I have no intention of just ending it.

It will make Flora feel the difference in class.

How helpless Flora still is.

How far is it?

To change your mind and decide to stay by my side a little longer.

‘Senior, don’t leave me on your own.’

“Nine Stars” is no longer a game.

It means that I am the main character and the world is not a theme park that revolves solely around me.

Flora thinks, moves, and decides according to Flora’s beliefs.

“I forgot. I was just possessed within the game, not the game itself.”

It was my mistake.

It was Flora, not me, who decided when and whether she would leave the party.

I left the dark gym alone.

The sun had already set and the streets were deserted.

A few hours later, Flora and I engage in a fight that will determine our future course of action.

There is no turning back now.

***

The odds are slim.

No, to be blunt, there isn’t any at all.

Flora knew that fact all too well.

‘Because Estelle is a genius.’

A talent greater than anyone she had ever seen in her life.

A power so powerful that it is almost miraculous.

Maybe I’ll end up like a tiny egg hitting a rock.

Still, I had to do it.

That way I can reassure you.

“Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Wagner have also shown courage. So now it’s my turn.”

Flora sat cross-legged on the bed and tried to calm her mind.

The beginning and end of magic, “meditation.”

In the past, I didn’t really feel the need for meditation.

Even though she forced herself to close her eyes and sit still, distracting thoughts would still swirl around in her head, and Flora had a particularly hard time concentrating.

Now I know.

The importance of a quiet mind.

Sharpen your mind like a sharpened sword, and focus it on a single point.

Only at that moment does magic become a miracle that changes reality.

Skipping the metaphysics and getting to the practical effects, meditating grants you +20% mana regeneration, +15% magic attack power, and +30% magic casting speed for 6 hours.

Of course, Flora, a resident in the game, does not meditate while being conscious of these specific increases.

Flora finished her preparations by meditating until the match time.

“Phew.”

The time has come.

Flora stood up from her seat.

The egg must now be broken.

Still, if you throw it well, you might be able to put a small scratch on the rock.

It was a bright moonlit night.

Estelle, who had arrived first and was waiting, was seen.

Estelle sat on a bench in front of the gym, gazing at the stars in the night sky.

“Ms. Estelle.”

“⋯.”

Estelle looked at Flora but said nothing.

Estelle silently walked ahead into the gym.

Estelle’s slender back looked like a giant’s today.

Where Mitchell and Wagner had stood a few hours before, now stood Flora and Estelle.

“Shall we begin?”

“⋯.”

Estelle remained silent.

A face that makes it impossible to tell what it is thinking.

“Don’t be scared in advance. Even if I lose, I have to show Estelle that I’m different than I used to be.”

As soon as the battle began, Flora circulated mana throughout her body with all her might.

First, the heart. Then the danjeon. Mana swirls through every nook and cranny of the body, following the blood vessels.

There are quite a few cards that Flora can use.

It’s different from the days of Garden. It’s a world of difference from the rookie days back then, when he relied solely on “magic arrows” and “magic shields.”

So, you can do this too.

“I’m going.”

Hoot— Flora took a deep breath.

A sky-blue orb of magic gathered above Flora’s hand.

“Magic Vortex”.

It’s a magic that I studied while locked in the library for days, drinking coffee.

Kuoooo—

A sphere of condensed magical power flew towards Estelle.

Estelle’s eyes twitched faintly.

What is she thinking now?

Would you find it laughable? Or would you be surprised by Flora’s progress?

There’s no way to know since you don’t say anything.

Estelle avoided the magical vortex leisurely with light steps, without using any magic.

“She’s a wizard, but her movements are better than those of a trained warrior. Estelle is truly amazing.”

I wish I had hit the mark, but I didn’t have high expectations.

Flora, unfazed, immediately launched the next attack.

The magical vortex that landed near Estelle began to tremble violently.

Even if the magic vortex misses, there’s still a next move. A combo that sends the magic ball into a frenzy, sweeping away the surrounding area.

“Magic Vortex—Destabilization”.

Kwakwakwang—!

The magic ball exploded and a sharp wind blew everywhere.

Flora saw Estelle unfolding her barrier through a gap in the storm.

‘You block it so easily.’

For a moment, Flora almost clapped her hands in admiration.

Still, it was a strike I was confident in its power. I was confident it surpassed the attack power of an E-rank adventurer.

But it didn’t seem to mean much to Estelle.

P-shot—

Whoosh—!

Before the storm had even cleared, a flash of light surged through the air currents.

Flora immediately deployed her defensive wall as soon as she saw the light.

“Magic Shield”.

If you think and react with your head, it’s already too late. Even Flora was familiar with that swift attack.

Dagger shot granted with “Frost Sword”.

It’s just a simple dagger throw using the basic magic of a wizard, but the caster is S-rank adventurer Estelle.

Estelle’s Frost Sword transformed the dagger’s blade into a lethal blade, and Estelle’s magical control warped the dagger’s trajectory in a myriad of ways.

The total number of daggers flying in all directions was 16. At this point, it was no different from the realm of the Igi Geom.

‘If even one is correct, it’s over.’

Flora desperately traced the dagger’s trajectory, feeling a heavy weight sinking into her chest with a sense of crisis.

The captured dagger was blocked by a magic shield.

The key is not to wait until she reaches you, but to block before the acceleration reaches its peak.

‘As expected, Estelle is strong.’

Flora realized it anew.

Flora’s magical shield was pierced by the Frost Sword like butter on a midsummer fan.

It’s embarrassing to call it a shield, but since the opponent is Estelle, it might not be embarrassing.

It was fortunate that the dagger’s trajectory was disrupted as it pierced the shield.

If not, Flora’s body would have already become a dagger stand.

“If you drag it out too long, you’ll end up in a pinch. If you’re going to do it, do it now, while you still have the energy.”

Estelle’s absolute amount of mana and sense are incomparable.

Flora decided to gather her strength and take on the challenge.

The card Flora chose was⋯

‘This is it.’

“Magic Arrow”.

It is the first magic I learned and the magic I used the most.

Flora ran forward, blocking the dagger with her magic shield.

Flora grabbed his other wrist with one hand and focused her magic.

Gather all magical power into one point.

With sincerity that reaches Estelle.

“Let’s go!”

Flora shouted loudly.

Magic power was condensed into a single point at the tip of the finger.

It’s a magic arrow, but it’s not used in an ordinary way.

Flora’s secret technique, perfected through research and training.

The magic I learned while watching my most admired junior.

“Magic Arrow – Estelle Style Reinforcement”.

“Senior, that magic is-”

Estelle spoke for the first time since the match began.

A look of admiration was visible on the face that was shimmering with the reflection of magical power.

Flora aimed her index finger at Estelle.

Magic compression complete.

Orbit setup complete.

Power enhancement, recoil control all completed.

And then, shoot.

Like Estelle. Now, Flora can follow suit.

Crackle!

A dazzling flash of light spread out.

With a deafening, loud crackling sound, a laser of absolute zero was shot from Flora’s fingertips.

The power that Flora can produce now.

“Whew, Whew… How is it, Estelle?”

Flora placed her hands on her knees and gasped for breath.

Now, not a single drop of magic remained. The reaction of using too much magic in a short period of time left me dizzy and my legs trembling.

I did everything I could.

Just as I was thinking that.

Finally, Estelle appeared through the magic smoke.

“Ahaha, my goodness-”

Flora laughed hollowly.

Estelle was surprisingly sane.

In a corner of Flora’s heart, there was a worry that Estelle might get hurt.

Looking back now, I see that those concerns were absurd.

Seeing that not a single hair was injured made me lose my fighting spirit.

“Is this all?”

Estelle muttered coldly.

Those eyes were not the ones that had been determined to fight Flora from the beginning.

A gaze that evaluates from the distant sky.

“Well, for an E-rank-”

Estelle walked slowly towards Flora.

Soon, I will finish off Flora, who has completely exhausted her energy.

Are you going to strike me down with a mace?

Or with a frost sword?

Flora waited for the coming attack. Still, she believed it wouldn’t cause serious harm.

and.

“Uh, uh.”

Estelle staggered.

Estelle staggered like a drunk, then fell awkwardly to the floor.

“Ugh, the shock came too late… You’re quite something, senior…”

Estelle said with a tearful face, as if spitting out words.

Flora couldn’t help but laugh at that poor acting.