episode_0017

“Use your magic more efficiently.”

“Like this?”

For nearly 3 years, I taught Edith magic.

To enroll in the academy, she has to take a practical exam, which is conducted through one-on-one combat.

While others prepare by training for a long time, what Edith has learned about combat in earnest is insufficient in comparison.

That time cannot be said to be short, but it also cannot be said to be long.

So I taught her one magic spell.

-Wooong!

Barrier, one of the most basic magic spells.

If you think about it, it would be difficult for a crazy mage who only specialized in this magic to exist.

Who would train a defensive magic spell, not an offensive one, to its limits?

Ultimately, as the circle grows and the hierarchy rises, magic continues to strengthen, so the number of people who train basic magic spells to their limits is small.

However.

Edith’s characteristics, and a method that fits them.

“Then, here I come.”

In the air, a variety of magic spells unfolded in an instant.

Fire, ice, wind, earth, light.

Elemental magic, each with its own color, surged towards Edith one after another.

The first was fire.

As soon as Edith’s barrier recognized the approaching magic, its color changed.

A barrier with a bluish color.

-Phft

The fireball couldn’t pierce the barrier and died out.

“Here I come again.”

Next was ice.

This time too, the barrier turned red.

-Jureureuk

The surging spears of blue ice melted as soon as they touched the barrier.

“Your reaction speed is good.”

The magic spell itself, Barrier, is a spell focused entirely on defense.

However, if the power or hierarchy is higher than the person casting the barrier, it’s bound to be easily pierced.

The barrier Edith casts can be seen as a way to compensate for that.

‘She just needs to perfectly counter one attribute.’

Recognize the form of the attack through the eyes, and instantly switch to the opposing attribute that counters it.

With this, most attacks will absolutely not be able to pierce the barrier.

-Bang! -Kwa-kwang!

Edith’s infinite magic power, and me using the atmosphere’s magic power.

The back-and-forth continued without cease for 30 minutes.

The barrier continuously changed into the optimal form to defend against attacks, and I kept firing magic spells.

-Wooong!

“This is the last one. Raise the output to the maximum.”

“Got it.”

In the air, various elements mixed together, and a single orb was created.

Magic utilizing all possible elements that could be combined.

It rapidly descended towards Edith, who had reached her limit.

-Woo-woong!!

Edith also poured mana into the barrier once again to block the magic.

A white flash flickered, and a barrier as solid as an iron fortress unfolded.

A barrier filled with pure magic power.

It unfolded, drawing a circle around Edith’s radius.

-Kwaang!!

The collision of magic and magic.

Fire and ice. All sorts of elements mixed together, scattering dust and steam.

As it was still impossible to confirm the result, I waited for a moment-

“Ugh….”

Edith’s figure, trembling and barely standing, came into view.

There were no injuries on her body, but the barrier was broken.

I lightly admired that sight.

“You’ve grown a lot, haven’t you?”

“…Did I do well?”

“Of course. You endured the longest out of all the training sessions we’ve had so far.”

“…Heh.”

-Thud

As soon as I finished speaking, Edith gave a silly laugh and collapsed flat on her back on the floor.

Her offensive magic is still clumsy, but her defensive magic will be unrivaled among those her age.

And even high-ranking mages won’t be able to easily pierce her defense.

‘This much should be enough for her to pass.’

Because who Edith has to face are students her age, who come to take the academy’s entrance exam.

-Swoosh

After waiting for a moment until Edith recovered her strength, I reached out my hand.

It was meant to tell her to grab on and get up since she’d find it difficult to stand on her own.

However-

“…It’s fine.”

Edith’s cheeks flushed slightly, and then she rudely smacked my hand away.

‘Hmm.’

She should be past her puberty.

Compared to the beginning, it seems she has opened up a lot, but there were still parts where she acted prickly or spoke brusquely.

From the perspective of having looked after and raised her for 3 years, my heart ached a little.

Despite that, I didn’t show it outwardly.

Instead, since it was almost time to submit application forms, I made one suggestion.

“Edith?”

“What is it? Today’s training is over.”

“Shall we go shopping, just the two of us?”

“…What?”

In a little while, I have to send Edith to the academy by herself.

I wanted to give something as a gift to Edith, who is my third disciple in my life.

During that time, Edith’s daily routine must have been nothing but monotonous and boring.

Days that repeated with the magic lessons I taught, and the close-quarters combat training taught by Kali and Flamberge.

As for Flamberge… well, he’s such a free-spirited person that it might be possible.

Kali is different.

‘That… I heard you’re teaching that kid. I can help.’

She who suddenly found her way here from a certain moment.

At first, she came under the pretext of apologizing to Edith, but after recognizing her talent, she volunteered to be her swordsmanship teacher.

I definitely heard that the Knights Templar’s workload was tough.

When I asked out of curiosity-

‘The vice-captain handles all of that, so it’s fine.’

She said she even dumped her own work on her subordinates and came.

Until now, I thought she was a diligent person overflowing with a sense of justice… but my evaluation changed a little.

To a lazy person overflowing with a sense of justice-

Anyway, from my perspective, there was no reason to refuse.

Because if someone with Kali’s level of skill teaches swordsmanship, it’s no different from receiving a much higher level of education than learning at the academy.

Because of that, a small problem arose.

I had intended to teach her the basics of magic here, but she ended up learning swordsmanship too.

As a result, from a certain point, the reason for sending her to the academy became not for learning.

but for intervening in the main story.

‘Perhaps I should have taught her just enough.’

I held that thought for a moment but soon shook it off.

Well, if I just have her enter as the top student, that’s it.

If that happens, she’ll be able to receive a scholarship and have a prosperous school life within the academy.

-Swoosh

Anyway, there isn’t much time left to spend with Edith now.

The shopping trip just the two of us that I suggested.

Edith, who hesitated for a moment, asked cautiously.

“That… what about training with Sister Kali?”

“You can skip it. Today, I’ll have to tell her to go back to the Knights Templar and handle her own work. Haha.”

“…”

“So, what’s your answer?”

“Okay.”

Having finished speaking, Edith abruptly stood up.

She clearly looked like she had no strength, but was she just exaggerating?

Seeing the happy smile on her face and the small anticipation within her, one thought occurred to me.

That I should have taken her shopping sooner.

***

“Owen, look at that!”

Strolling through the streets, Edith moved lively.

Shops selling clothes, accessories, and magic tools dotted the street.

And places selling street food as a bonus.

-Murmur -Murmur

Unlike 3 years ago, the street was full of life.

Brothels and various unsavory establishments.

Thinking about how delinquents and drug addicts were scattered everywhere, a lot has truly changed.

Looking around the street, I could tell how much Oliver had struggled.

“What should we buy first? You can buy everything you want today.”

“Really? Then I’ll empty your wallet today.”

“…Please refrain from that a little.”

“Why are you taking it so seriously? It’s a joke, a joke.”

“Haha.”

Edith, who used to speak stiffly, no longer hesitated in expressing various emotions.

Bright smiles, and gestures.

As expected, changes in environment seem to have a close connection with one’s emotional state.

-Step -Step

While walking the streets with Edith, we stopped by several shops.

Since she was already using the staff I gave her, I asked if she needed any other magic tools.

But she didn’t seem very interested.

She just looked around the store casually, and then quietly said ‘Let’s go.’ briefly.

“Huh?”

What she showed some interest in were the street foods.

When I took a bite of an apple chilled with a magic tool, she looked at me with surprised eyes.

“What is this?!”

“It’s something similar to ice cream.”

“You try eating it too!”

Very excited, Edith held out the cold apple she was eating to me.

Ah, she’s narrowed the distance to the point where she would even offer the food she was eating.

I was slightly touched.

-Crunch

So, I took a bite of the apple Edith offered.

Putting my mouth on the part Edith had eaten might feel unpleasant, so I ate a different part.

“It’s delicious. Haha.”

“Ah….”

Edith, who was watching that sight, expressed a small disappointment.

Was it because I ate too much and her share disappeared? Since I bought it, she has to put up with that much.

-Step -Step

So, I handed the fruit back to Edith and looked around the street.

Edith was nibbling little by little at the part I had bitten off next to me.

‘I thought wrong.’

It seems the thought that she might feel unpleasant was just my own unfounded worry.

Seeing her eating the apple while glancing at me made me think she resembled a squirrel.

“…What are you looking at?”

“Nothing. Just thinking how well you’ve grown.”

When I first met her, it didn’t really hit me, but now she has truly become a beauty.

Her black hair, reaching down to her waist, flowed with luster, and her features stood out even more, fitting her grown body.

But her shabby and monotonous attire, which didn’t suit that.

As we walked, a clothing store happened to catch my eye.

“How about over there?”

“Oh…!”

At this age, she would likely be very interested in clothes.

And. As if that prediction was exactly correct, Edith entered the store right away with an interested expression.

-Jingle

A luxurious clothing store equipped with a fitting room.

This is one of the businesses Oliver personally runs.

I’ve had suits tailored for myself here several times as well.

‘How about clothes like these?’

‘I’ll arrange to have them placed. It’s unfamiliar, but it seems there will be demand.’

At Oliver’s request, practical outfits that are comfortable to move in yet neat make up the main stock.

Like that, when I also entered the store, familiar staff members guided me.

“Welcome, Mr. Owen. Are you getting a suit tailored today as well?”

“Not today.”

When I asked about clothes for Edith to wear, the staff member gave me a neat dress with a bright smile.

Waiting until she changed clothes-

“How about this one?”

Edith came out wearing a bright dress.

She looked good in anything she wore, so I answered honestly without pretense.

“It’s good.”

“Hmm….”

However, Edith, who turned around once and looked in the mirror.

Changed again as if she didn’t like it.

This time, she wore a neat blue shirt and tidy yet structured white pants.

“The color is good. How about this?”

“It’s good.”

“…Aren’t you saying it too vaguely?”

As I kept repeating the same answer, she looked at me with a slightly pouting face.

But what can I do?

When everything I was saying was sincere.

-Swish

Edith, who looked in the mirror once more, went back into the fitting room as if she didn’t like it.

…Like that, three hours melted away in an instant.

As she changed dozens of times, it was obvious that fatigue was building up on the staff’s faces.

I didn’t expect to spend so much time just here…

It seems I underestimated it.

“Edith, are you still not done?”

“Coming out now!”

-Creak

It took longer than with the other clothes, so when I called Edith, she came out right away.

The clothes she was wearing now were a neat suit mixed with white and black.

“How about this?”

“It’s what I wear. Haha.”

She came out wearing a women’s suit that fit Edith’s body perfectly.

As if she liked it the most among the things she had tried on so far, she looked at herself in the mirror this way and that, then said brightly.

“I’ll buy this one.”

“Hmm… Isn’t it a little drab?”

“It’s what you usually wear.”

“That’s true.”

Is it because it’s the familiar outfit she’s seen for the longest time?

It seems she really took a liking to it.

As I took out my wallet to pay the price without hesitation-

“Phew….”

The staff members, with looks of relief on their faces as if they were finally liberated, were visible.

…I quietly resolved to give them a tip next time I visited.

-Jingle

After finishing the shopping and coming out of the store, the sun had already set, and the moon began to rise.

I had intended to buy her everything she wanted, but perhaps it was because we stayed here for too long.

The expenditure wasn’t as large as I expected.

“Hum hum~”

Her figure, holding the paper bag with the suit in it and walking energetically as if excited, came into view.

If I had known she would like it this much, I should have taken her out sooner.

That kind of regret lingered slightly.

‘…I’ll have to tell her tonight.’

I haven’t spoken about the reason for teaching Edith until now.

And even more so about the academy.

I did so because I didn’t want to unnecessarily burden her.

Now it seems okay to tell her.

-Rustle

The academy, which provides a much better environment than the life she lives here.

Looking at the back of Edith walking ahead, I fidgeted with the application form in my pocket.

‘She’ll like it.’

Clearly… I would have achieved my resolve to send her to the academy safely-

A slightly bitter feeling lingered in my mouth.

“Let’s snap out of it.”

Thinking that I shouldn’t make such an expression at the last moment, I relaxed my face and followed behind Edith.

“Edith, let’s go slower!”

“Hurry up! We have to eat dinner together!”