Chapter 3 Part 1
A week after the incident with Rufus.
“――I want to play in the royal capital…!!”
Millis began saying something similar to what she had said before.
In response, Reid and the others continued eating without showing much concern.
“What now, another one of Millis’s outbursts?”
“Millis is too infatuated with the royal capital.”
“What!? I certainly dream about it! The stylish cobblestones without a blade of grass! Unlike the countryside, where there’s wastefully too much land, the cityscape is built with calculated use of limited space! Stalls hanging with things other than just cheese and dried meat!! I want to experience all of it!!”
Millis passionately spoke of her desire for the royal capital.
She had mentioned wanting to visit the royal capital several times before, but this time, her enthusiasm seemed to be even stronger.
In response to Millis’s words, there was a new reaction this time.
“――Hah, it’s enviable that country bumpkins can get excited over such things.”
That was what Faregh replied with dripping sarcasm.
――While face down on the table, his body shivered.
“Even in this state, Faregh-san can be sarcastic. That’s impressive in its own way.”
“Quiet…! Even if I wanted to move, I can’t…!!”
Faregh, gritting his teeth, remained motionless.
However, seeing Faregh like this, Reid nodded in satisfaction.
“At least you’re energetic enough to be sarcastic. When we started, you’d burn out and collapse after every training session.”
“Why make me do it until I collapse in the first place!? Lately, after training, I don’t remember anything till the next morning. It’s terrifying!!”
“After you collapsed, I carried you back to the academy, forcefully fed you in the dining hall, threw you into a room, then called Valk and Lucas to take care of you. You were fine.”
“Oh, that’s why when I woke up, my clothes had changed and I was already bathed――no, wait a minute, what do you mean by ‘forcefully fed’?”
“I chose a nutritious meal from the dining hall, then stuffed it all in a borrowed magic grinder and liquefied it before pouring it into your stomach.”
“What have you been pouring into me without my knowledge!?”
Faregh was lively in his protests, but he was so tired that he could not even pound the table.
Watching the two of them, Wiesel tilted his head slightly.
“Speaking of which, we’ve been acting separately, but what exactly have you been doing?”
“I’m teaching him ‘swordsmanship’, a close-quarters combat technique. But it’s not exactly the same, so I’m also training him in magic that assists with that.”
For the past week, Reid had been teaching Faregh ‘swordsmanship’.
To be precise, it was not based on any ancient style from a thousand years ago, but rather ‘sword techniques’ that incorporated the knowledge and movements that Reid had learned in battle.
In essence, it was a self-taught swordsmanship, and were ways of fighting that cannot be handled without Reid’s physical abilities, so at that time, it was not something that anyone other than Reid could handle.
However, by incorporating magic for body strengthening and other support magic, one could imitate Reid’s fighting style. Fortunately, Faregh was adept in this area.
When Reid introduced magic that suited his envisioned movements, Faregh could quickly integrate and use it, making the training progress faster than anticipated. But there was one problem――
“As I said! When I try to reproduce your movements, my magic power doesn’t balance out!! Even now, it’s supposed to consume less magic power than offensive magic, but I would run out of magic power midway, you know!?”
“Just work harder.”
“You can’t just dismiss it with that!!”
“Well, aside from knowledge of magic, things like magic power consumption are beyond my expertise…”
In the case of Reid, it was purely physical and endurance-based, rather than relying on magic power. However, when Faregh practiced, the consumption of magic power also came into play.
But since Reid himself had never used magic, he could not offer any advice on how to sense or manage the consumption of magic power.
“I wonder if Elria might have some advice?”
“Mm… I think I might, but I don’t think I have much to offer. The Welminan family should have taught him magic power management methods with a focus on magic combat since childhood.”
“Of course. Besides, managing magic power is something one learns by personal intuition. Even the Caldwens couldn’t teach it.”
Faregh added, and Elria nodded in agreement.
At that moment, Wiesel, who had been deep in thought, looked up.
“Lord Welminan, may I inspect your magic equipment?”
“W-What do you intend to do with my magic equipment…!?”
“…I am a magic equipment engineer from the Blanche family. Unlike Reid, I won’t break it.”
“I-I see… If you’re a magic equipment engineer from Blanche, then it’s alright!”
Remembering the trauma of having his magic equipment broken by Reid, Faregh hesitated for a moment but handed over a small sword-shaped magic equipment to Wiesel.
Holding the small sword, Wiesel scrutinized the magic equipment.
“It was made… in the Estoginia workshop, right? It’s been whittled down due to the break, but it’s been modified as close to its original function as possible. The magic equipment engineer did a good job.”
“Of course! Not only has the Welminan family had its magic equipment made by Estoginia for generations, but we also employ the most skilled magic equipment engineer in the workshop!!”
“I see. However, this clarifies the problem.”
After saying this, Wiesel adjusted his glasses.
“It seems like the magic circuit was adjusted to compensate for the break, and it consumes more magic power than expected when using any magic other than the pre-installed ones.”
“……Is that so?”
“Previous Lords of Welminan primarily used long-range, high-powered magic, so they must’ve created a system that references the use of such a magic circuit and conserves magic power for the most frequently used spells. It’s a good technique, but not suitable if you want to change roles.”
“Ugh… So, I have to make another request for adjustments…”
“Is there a problem?”
“Well… when this magic equipment was repaired last time, my father scolded me, saying ‘How could a mage break his magic equipment?’ I’m worried about what he’ll say if I request another repair…!”
“What’s the matter? You’re the young master of a distinguished family, so just keep the economy running.”
“The one who broke it saying that pisses me off the most!!”
Perhaps anger trumped exhaustion, Faregh pounded on the table in protest. It was good to see him so energized.
At that moment, Wiesel seemed to ponder and spoke,
“If Lord Welminan doesn’t mind, I can modify the magic equipment.”
“Really!?”
“Yes. I have a good relationship with the people of Estoginia and have received magic equipment from them a few times in exchange for technology. I should be able to modify it if I check those magic equipment during the process.”
“If you can, please do! I don’t want to be scolded by my father again!!”
“I understand. It’s a rare opportunity for me to see the Welminan family’s magic equipment, and for my own future learning, I don’t need any payment.”
“Thank you… Thank you, magic equipment engineer of Blanche…!!”
With tears streaming down, Faregh took Wiesel’s hands as if in prayer. He must have been deeply affected by the previous scolding.
As the conversation wrapped up, Millis raised her head, seeming to have realized something.
“Wiesel-san, you’re going to do this work at your family’s workshop, right?”
“Yes. As before, I plan to work at the workshop on my day off.”
“That means you will accompany him, Faregh-san?”
“Of course. He will need to adjust it according to new spells and movements, so I’ll need to use it myself for fine-tuning.”
“In other words, if Reid-san is in a situation where there is no one to teach, and Wiesel-san is absent during training, it would increase the workload for Elria-sama, who is on the instructing side――”
“”On our day off, Millis and I will have a mock battle and beat each other up.””
“Don’t team up to gang up on me!!”
After reprimanding them, Millis decisively pointed out――
“――On our day off, let’s all go to the royal capital!!”
As if she had received a divine revelation, Millis declared with glee.
Chapter 2 Part 5
◆
After Rufus had left, Reid and Elria questioned Philia about her circumstances.
Rufus was not only the daughter of the tribal chief governing the Seven Islands of Serios, but she had also formed a pact with the ‘Guardian Dragons’, placing her at the center of immense expectations. To say that these expectations were a matter of national pride would not be an exaggeration.
Serios and Vegalta shared a long history and had established friendly ties. Precisely because of this history, Serios took immense pride in their summoning magic. The distinct magical languages enabling conversation with magical beasts, specialized ecosystems facilitating their coexistence, and a magical beast-taming technique, which was arguably the root of summoning magic, were all significant cultural and technological features of Serios.
However, their focus on these unique aspects meant other areas of magical advancement had been slower. Their use of magic tools paled in comparison to Vegalta, who had diversified their technology of magic.
Given this backdrop, the weight of expectation on Rufus was significant. If she could prove her capabilities in the summoning magic her country had prided itself on and outshine Vegalta’s magic, it would affirm her country’s standing as equal to Vegalta.
But that was a heavy burden for a young girl. Furthermore, Rufus’s determination and the intensity in her eyes revealed more than just the weight of these expectations.
Lost in thought in her room――
“――What’s got you more spaced out than usual?” Reid asked, holding a teacup filled with milk tea.
“Mm… I was just thinking about Rufus.”
“The <<Dragon Princess>>, huh? She did seem rather precarious, even to me.”
“You felt it too, Reid?”
“Yeah. I caught a glimpse of the mock battle. She seemed more obsessed with winning than the actual battle. There was a hint of desperation in her moves, as if there was no room for mistakes,” Reid mused, rubbing his chin.
“I get the national pride part. But if victory was her sole aim, she could’ve summoned her ‘Guardian Dragons’ as leverage. She must’ve known about you, just as we knew of her from Vegalta,” Reid continued.
“…Do you think youthful arrogance played a part?”
“If that were the case, she would’ve flaunted her ‘Guardian Dragons’ from the beginning. And would someone that arrogant appear so troubled?” Reid spoke with a grim expression.
Rufus looked almost tearful, her visage strained and desperate. Seeing that face was what made Elria restrain her anger.
“Seriously… it reminds me of the old times.”
“…The old times?”
“Yeah. In Altein, it was common for children to become soldiers. They understood that this would reduce the number of mouths to feed. Their eyes held the same desperation, willing to do anything for survival. Rufus’s eyes mirrored theirs.”
“So, you’re suggesting Rufus is undergoing something similar?”
“Who knows. Times have changed, and only she would know her reasons,” Reid sighed heavily, a hint of frustration in his eyes.
“It’s just that… she probably came to this academy carrying that heavy burden and resolve,” Reid continued, gazing into the void.
Elria realized just how perceptive Reid was about people.
He had an uncanny ability to see right through to a person’s core. His astute observations had never missed even the smallest of details. As a result, while fulfilling the role demanded of a ‘Hero’, he also led many as a country’s general, gaining deep trust from those he commanded. That was something Elria had been slightly envious of.
Elria admired him for this. While she excelled in disseminating the technology of magic, she often secluded herself in her research. It was only much later she understood that her admiration had evolved into romantic feelings.
“Speaking of which, Elria.”
“Hyaa!?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve heard that squeal of surprise from you.”
“I-It’s just that you caught me off guard by suddenly calling my name…!”
“I’ve been addressing you by your name as I always do, haven’t I?”
Choosing to ignore Reid’s puzzled look, Elria vigorously shook her head, attempting to dissipate her blushing face.
“S-So, what did you want to say…?”
“I’m rather curious about that little one,” Reid said, directing his gaze to Elria’s lap.
There, a small, pure-white puppy was playfully rolling about. And as Reid observed, it wiggled its tiny legs, revealing its soft white belly. Noticing Reid’s attention, the puppy let out a small whimper.
“Is that the magical beast you’ve summoned?”
“Yes. It’s worked hard for me, and I’ve put it through quite a lot.”
Elria brought her fingertip closer to the puppy, and it playfully nibbled on it.
The last attack had significantly drained Shehri’s ‘soul’. Though ‘drained’ might sound severe, it essentially means the creature had undergone a painful experience and felt discomfort.
As an act of apology, Elria allowed it to take some of her magic power.
If it was left unattended, the magical beast might sever the contract.
“Because a magical beast’s body is composed of magic power, making it small like this is more efficient.”
“It’s so small that it hardly seems majestic…”
Holding Shehri’s paw, Elria stretched it out for Reid to see.
While it retained traces of its original wolf-like appearance, it resembled more of a dog in this reduced size.
“Do you want to pet it, Reid?”
“…Can I? If it detonates because of my magic power, I might be so traumatized that I’d be bedridden for days.”
“It’s okay. While a magical beast’s body is formed from magic power, it turns into matter resembling a real creature. Touching it should feel like touching any ordinary dog.”
“I-In that case, I might try…”
Reid hesitated before slowly extending his hand.
When he felt its soft belly, Shehri wiggled as if tickled.
“I haven’t petted a dog in a while…”
“Do you like dogs, Reid?”
“I’ve always been fond of animals, be it dogs or cats. But they often avoid me or flee when I approach them, making it challenging for me to touch them.”
With his guard dropped, and smiling in a way that was unlike him, Reid continued to pet Shehri’s belly.
“Mm… Then, do you want to try holding it?”
“Would that be alright?”
“Yes, it’s safe. I’ve blunted its fangs and claws for now.”
Elria presented Shehri to Reid. The magical beast wagged its tail energetically while sticking out its tongue. But just as Reid was about to embrace Shehri――it lunged and playfully bit Reid’s face.
“…………………”
Stunned, Reid didn’t react.
After a moment, Shehri yipped, seemingly unimpressed by the taste, and returned to Elria’s embrace.
“It… might be grouchy after the mock battle.”
“Right… I wouldn’t appreciate unfamiliar hands if I felt that way…”
Reid looked crestfallen.
On second thought, the <<Mana-Eater Wolf>> was a magical beast sensitive to magic power. Perhaps it avoided Reid due to his unfamiliar magic power.
“…Maybe animals avoid you because of your magic power, Reid.”
“Could that be the case!?”
“Y-Yes… animals, with their keen senses, can detect magic power through their sense of smell or hearing, and that’s how they gauge the presence of others…”
Reid’s eyes flared with realization, but then he sighed deeply, looking even more dejected.
“Well… I suspected as much… Like, when I was camping, the wild dogs fled upon seeing me, or a bear abandoning its den when I sought shelter. Even magical beasts steer clear when I’m around…!!”
“You lead quite the adventurous life.”
“Haa… If it’s because of my magic power, there’s little I can do…”
Reid slumped on the floor, visibly upset.
What should she do?
This wasn’t a problem Reid could easily overcome. And though Shehri might stay put if Elria asked, Reid could be hurt more if he sensed the creature’s reluctance.
It pained her that he loved animals yet couldn’t interact with them.
Desperate for a solution, Elria delved deep into her thoughts. After all, she was once revered as the ‘Sage’.
Just as she had once revolutionized the world with the technology of magic, she believed she could devise the best solution now.
……………
…………………
“!”
Upon contemplation, an idea struck her.
Gently placing Shehri on the sofa, she quickly cast a spell and then lightly tapped the dejected Reid on the shoulder.
“Reid, Reid.”
“What’s the matter…? I’ve pretty much given up, so if you have comforting words――”
But when Reid glanced up, he froze.
Before him stood Elria, now adorned with white cat ears. Tastefully, she had also sprouted a tail, which she wagged gracefully.
“If you can’t pet animals, then you can pet me.”
With confidence radiating from her face, Elria made her declaration.
Without any hesitation, she proudly showcased her fluttering cat ears and wagging tail.
Upon witnessing this, Reid turned away, struggling to contain his laughter.
“You… Your solution is rather… bold, isn’t it?”
“W-Why are you laughing…!?”
“Well… it’s just so like you to come up with the idea of growing cat ears and a tail, and to then present it with such unabashed confidence…!!”
Reid struggled to stifle his laughter.
Somehow, this was not the reaction Elria had expected. She’d imagined Reid gratefully stroking her head. Disappointed, she puffed out her cheeks.
“……So, are you not going to pet me?”
“I will, I will. You’ve always had a cat-like quality, so this look suits you perfectly.”
Chuckling, Reid tenderly stroked Elria’s head.
Getting the petting she had hoped for, Elria playfully moved her ears.
“So, what should I do now?”
“…Given that I’m now a cat, perhaps I should sit on your lap?”
“Sounds good.”
Reid sat down on the sofa, and Elria promptly positioned herself on his lap. She adjusted slightly to find the most comfortable spot, then nodded in contentment.
“It feels comfortable.”
“Thank you for that.”
“Can Shehri join us?”
“Of course. You’re light, and there’s space for a dog or even more.”
“In that case, come here, Shehri.”
At Elria’s beckoning, Shehri barked softly and joined them on the lap.
“But you know… from the outside, it probably looks kind of stifling…”
“On the contrary, you could say it’s cozy. It’s twice as cozy with both Shehri and me.”
While she nestled into Reid, Elria playfully raised Shehri for him to see.
“You can continue petting me until you’ve had enough.”
“Alright, alright. Thank you.”
With a wry smile, Reid gently stroked Elria’s head. His big hand felt strangely nostalgic. It resembled the hand of her father, who always gently caressed her.
Elria last saw her father when she was heading to the royal capital. Even then… with his usual gentle smile, her father had lovingly stroked her head.
Remembering such a nostalgic image of her father, Elria softly wagged her tail.
Chapter 2 Part 4
◆
Distant sounds of battle had reached their ears. Listening intently to the sounds, Elria nodded slightly.
“Reid seems to be having fun.”
“Um… I can clearly hear some explosive and dangerous-sounding noises, though…?”
“It’s surprising that Reid would willingly take on Lord Welminan.”
“True, he was the one most at odds with Faregh-san.”
“Mm… I think people tend to care more for the troublesome ones.”
Recalling the image of Reid holding a sword and smiling happily, Elria had spoken.
“In his previous life, Reid couldn’t teach anyone his techniques.”
“Is that because Reid-san was unreasonably strong?”
“Yes. I think he taught broader concepts like tactics and strategy, command, and reporting――things beyond combat. But no one could learn how Reid himself ‘fights’.”
Although once called a ‘Hero’, Reid’s feats had been due to his robust physique, making it impossible to pass on his techniques to others. However, nowadays, the world has been filled with ‘Magic’.
While they couldn’t reproduce that ‘power’ itself, with body strengthening magic and magic equipment, it should have been possible to recreate at least the ‘movement’.
“I think Reid sees potential in Faregh.”
said Elria with a slight smile.
“Also, he’s cheeky, so Reid probably wants to straighten him out.”
“That sounds more like Reid-san.”
“My magic equipment probably won’t escape unscathed, either…”
With that, the three nodded in the direction where the explosions were heard.
In any case, Elria was also responsible for the two of them. It wasn’t just for her own examination, but also because she wanted to teach them as much as possible for their future as mages.
“So, let’s confirm your roles again.”
“Yes! I’m in charge of defense, battle support through barriers, and guarding bases!”
“As for me, I’ll use magic equipment for reconnaissance and information gathering. Based on that information, I’ll take command, assess the situation, and participate in the front lines as needed.”
Listening to their answers, Elria nodded approvingly.
In contrast to her usual demeanor, Millis had shown an exceedingly high magic power during the magic power measurement check and had been invited as a scholarship student by the academy.
Having a lot of magic power was simply advantageous. It had allowed her to create stronger offensive magic or protection magic that could block numerous attacks. And it was not only about the amount of magic power, but also the fact that she could handle four different magic power systems.
While using multiple magic power systems had given her an edge in battle, effectively utilizing them required experience and judgment. Still, as a support role, she had been able to adapt easily, using a broad range of magic to handle various situations. And while Millis had rejected the idea, pre-prepared defenses would have given her room to think and make better decisions.
Wiesel could handle two types of magic power systems and had an average amount of magic power. But because he could prepare multiple magic equipment himself, he could perform a wider range of roles than an average mage.
Mages who were skilled in reconnaissance and information gathering had been rare and hence a significant asset in conditional examinations, which were conducted in various situations, and in comprehensive examinations, where the main focus had been on interpersonal combat.
Facing the two of them, after pondering the most effective form of teaching, Elria had concluded――
“Let’s have a mock battle.”
“Ahh… This is the worst part about Elria-sama…!”
“Why are both Reid and Lady Elria so eager for combat…?”
Elria was enthusiastic, but the two looked up to the sky with looks of despair.
This was not their first mock battle with Elria. Having grown accustomed to Alma’s training and found some room to breathe, they had conducted several mock battles during their free time, under Elria’s proposal that “real battle teaches you more”.
Of course, Elria had been using magic restrictions to a significant extent――
“Come to think of it, ever since our mock battles with Lady Elria, the training has felt lax…”
“Yeah… Compared to being tossed around nearly a hundred times without magic…”
The primary focus of their training in the mock battles was on ‘body utilization’.
If they could move their bodies efficiently, the magic power consumed for body strengthening would decrease, which would improve the efficiency of magic usage, quicker movements, and intuitive actions in close-quarters combat.
That was why Elria had been utterly merciless. She had been freely tossing them into the air and slamming them to the ground, using pure martial arts techniques whenever they showed an opening.
“But if it hurts, you’ll never forget, and you’ll learn faster. It’s the most effective and strongest method of learning.”
“Your words sound nothing like the wisdom of a sage. It’s muscle-brained learning at its best…!”
“Just recalling it brings the taste of blood into my mouth…”
“In my time, there was a saying, ‘You’re not a full-fledged adult until you spit blood during training’.“
Before their pale faces, Elria nodded, as if it was only natural.
After all, failing to train as if their lives depended on it during that wartime period could have actually cost them their lives.
To quickly cultivate mages capable of opposing Altein, Elria had them undergo severe training herself. For some reason, only Tiana seemed to be enjoying it.
Once called a ‘Sage’, the core of Elria’s philosophy was militaristic.
“Don’t worry, both of you are getting better. You should be fine with half as much this time.”
“So, we’ll be tossed around fifty times, then.”
“Should we stock up on some poultices before dinner…?”
Just as they were mentally preparing themselves――a large, dark shadow spread over Elria and the others. The moment she saw it, Elria reflexively looked up. There, a massive shadow loomed in the cloudless blue sky. It was――a jet-black dragon with massive wings which soared through the sky.
Elria recognized that dragon.
“――Eh? Where is everyone from my class?”
A red-haired girl peeked out from the back of the dragon with those words. Then, the dragon landed with the earth quaking, and the girl hopped down onto the ground.
“Hey, hey! Which tower’s class do you all belong to?”
“Um, we are from the East Tower class, I believe.”
“Ehhh? That’s the complete opposite of the West Tower class! Rafika said it was definitely this way, so I trusted her!!”
Saying that, the girl patted the black dragon’s leg, and the black dragon let out a groan, lowering its head apologetically. It seemed that ‘Rafika’ was the name of the black dragon.
As she patted the black dragon, the girl suddenly turned her gaze to Elria.
“Ah! It’s the person who took the same examination as me!”
“What, do you know her?”
“I-I know her, but… we’re not acquainted.”
Hiding behind Millis’s back, Elria answered.
She was――Rufus Rylus, the <<Dragon Princess>> of the Serios Federation. The girl who was described by Philia when Elria took the entrance examination with Reid.
Elria had never seen her up close because she was riding a black dragon during the examination, but she looked to be around 12 or 13 years old, not just young but also smaller than Millis.
“Hey, hey. Why is she hiding?”
“Ah, she has a habit of hiding when she sees people she doesn’t know.”
“Heehh! She’s like an animal!”
With her light red eyes sparkling, Rufus started circling around Elria, appearing very interested, which made Elria feel troubled.
“Could it be, are you Elria Caldwen!?”
“Y-Yes… I’m Elria…”
“That’s why you could cast such powerful magic! I’d heard there was someone in Vegalta who was so strong that they were called ‘the Reincarnation of the Sage’ in Vegalta. So, I was looking forward to meeting you!”
“T-Thank you…?”
“Yep, yep!”
Rufus showed a big smile, grabbing Elria’s hand and shaking it enthusiastically. She seemed to be a very friendly girl, and not a bad one at that.
“But you know, I’m just as strong!”
“Right. I’ve heard you’ve contracted with the ‘Guardian Dragons’ of Serios, and I genuinely thought that was amazing.”
Serios Federation was a composite country made up of seven islands to the west.
Although the land was home to numerous magical beasts due to the abundant nature and overflowing magic power, they also possessed a unique language that enabled communication with these magical beasts. After the widespread adoption of magic, the country realized a symbiotic relationship with the magical beasts through specialized summoning magic.
Among them――the four types of dragons called ‘Guardian Dragons’ symbolized the nature of Serios, referring to the dragon species that stood at the pinnacle of numerous magical beasts.
The <<Sky Dragon>> ruled the sky from its stronghold atop steep mountain peaks; the <<Sea Dragon>> governed the seas from the dark depths; the <<Fire Dragon>> claimed volcanic regions as its territory; and the <<Mountain Dragon>> lived in symbiosis with the abundant nature and beasts on the surface.
Through the dominance of these four dragons over the surrounding magical beasts, they maintained the natural order and balance, enabling a symbiotic relationship between the humans living in the Serios Federation and the magical beasts.
The ‘Guardian Dragons’ were a species that stood apart from other magical beasts to such an extent that even as young dragons, they could overpower other magical beasts. By the time they became adult dragons, they gained intelligence equal to or surpassing that of humans.
For this reason, it was nearly impossible for humans to command the ‘Guardian Dragons’. This was because the ‘Guardian Dragons’ considered humans to be inferior beings, just like the other magical beasts.
Summoning magic involved negotiating with magical beasts to be recognized as ‘equal beings’, after which a contract was made. The soul of the contracted magical beast was then bound to a vessel created through magic power, enabling a sort of pseudo-summoning.
In the past, much older than the previous lives of Elria and Reid, dating back to an era of war, there had been records stating that some ‘Guardian Dragons’ had entered into contracts with humans to protect the Seven Islands of Serios. However, there had never been a single person who managed to form contracts with all four ‘Guardian Dragons’.
“I’ve read about ‘Guardian Dragons’ in books but never seen one.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. But I heard they’re commonly seen in Serios.”
“Yep! They fly and hop around freely!”
“That must be enjoyable to watch.”
“It’s really fun! Etankyles naps on the clouds, Marefikams floats with only its head sticking out of the sea, Flamavaits races while gliding on lava, and Magnifimos sunbathes in the forests and plains!”
“Everyone seems more laid-back than I thought.”
Excited that someone had taken an interest in her homeland, Rufus had eagerly talked about the usual behavior of the ‘Guardian Dragons’. The names Rufus mentioned were the scientific names given to the ‘Guardian Dragons’ by the people of Serios.
The fact that she could easily name them showed that, despite being young, she had carefully studied and gained a deep knowledge of magical beasts.
“But…! My absolute favorite is this one!”
Saying this, Rufus pointed to the black dragon standing behind her with a big smile.
“That is… a flying steel dragon, right?”
“You know about it!?”
“Yes. I don’t know their scientific name, though.”
“It’s Volaresferum, a large dragon species of the flying steel dragon genus!”
“You’re quick to answer.”
“But you’re amazing too, Elria-chan! Flying steel dragons have become rare over time!”
“……I happened to read it in a book.”
Confronted by Rufus’s dazzling eyes, Elria looked away slightly.
What Elria had known was that the flying steel dragon had been a magical beast commonly seen a thousand years ago. At that time, they were treated as Serios’s dragon mounts, possessing scales as strong as or stronger than steel due to their unique internal organs, which maintained a robust physique and stamina.
They had great flying capabilities and were proficient in attack methods like fireballs and fire breath. However, their numbers had decreased due to military use back then, making them rare today.
“Rafika has been my friend since childhood! So, for me, Rafika is more important than anyone else!”
As Rufus proudly introduced her friend, the black dragon lowered its head toward Elria as if to bow. It was very well-mannered.
“Hey, hey! What other magic can you use, Elria-chan?”
“Mm… I can also use summoning magic, but…”
As she answered, Elria glanced toward Millis and Wiesel.
After all, she was in the position to teach the two.
Though talking with Rufus had been intriguing, considering her role and duty to teach the two, she needed to wrap up the conversation here. That was what Elria thought, but――
“Ah, it’s okay to forget about the mock battle with us and continue the conversation.”
“Just watching the two of you talk and use magic is educational for us. Please don’t worry about it.”
The two looked relieved, as if they had been saved. It made Elria a bit sad to think that they were that reluctant to have a mock battle.
“Elria-chan, were you about to do a mock battle?”
“Yes, I was planning to toss these two around a lot.”
“Then let’s have a mock battle with me!”
“……With you?”
“Yep! I want to see your magic, too!”
Saying this, Rufus energetically hopped onto the back of the black dragon.
“And besides――Rafika and I won’t lose to anyone.”
Saying so, a smile had spread across her lips.
Feeling something in that smile, Elria responded――
“――Alright. I understand.”
She had deployed her magic equipment, brandished her staff, and driven it into the ground.
“Watching you two makes me want to fight alongside a friend for the first time in a while.”
Forming an image with her magic power, she gripped the staff firmly.
The moment she pulled out the staff, a ‘chain’ was raised from the stone base. A heavy metallic sound rang out as an entity connected to that ‘chain’ emerged from the abyss.
“Come forth――Shehri.”
What had appeared was――a giant wolf with pure white fur.
The giant wolf, adorned in a golden mask and armor, was pulled up to the surface by the ‘chain’. Immediately after, its fearsome fangs had aimed to bite Elria. However, as if she foresaw this, Elria used the ‘chain’ to bind its jaw.
Not only its mouth, but its whole body was tied up and its freedom snatched away. Despite this, the giant wolf tried to bite Elria, gnashing its teeth and clawing at the ground with its front paws. Observing this, Elria nodded in satisfaction.
“Yeah, Shehri is as lively as ever today.”
“L-Lively? It looks like it’s about to eat you at any moment, you know…!?”
“It’s just a mischievous child. Want to pet it, Millis?”
“Sorry, I plan to die of old age in one piece…!!”
Watching the giant wolf gnash its teeth and drool, Millis quickly retreated while sweating bullets. It was a shame; the giant wolf would have enjoyed being petted. However, Rufus narrowed her eyes at the sight of the giant wolf.
“Heehh… A <<Mana-Eater Wolf>>, huh? Bold choice to make a contract with that one.”
That was not just Rufus’s opinion; anyone proficient in summoning magic would say the same.
A <<Mana-Eater Wolf>> was a magical beast that only inhabited Vegalta, known for its ferocity and territorial nature around areas where magic power flowed. And as the name suggested, it was a magical beast that feasted on magic power.
Its aggressive nature had not only targeted other magical beasts but also humans with abundant magic power. It was known to attack indiscriminately and had even been known to devour its own kind.
The aggression of this magical beast was also directed at the mages themselves, and there were anecdotes of them often not listening to commands due to their moody nature. Even Serios’s mages, who could communicate with magical beasts, had given up trying to tame them.
However――
“That’s because this child is really smart.”
said Elria while petting the chained giant wolf.
“――This child understands that it will never be able to defeat me, no matter what.”
Upon hearing this, Rufus smiled gleefully.
“Yep, this is going to be a lot of fun!!”
Saying so, Rufus mounted her black dragon, which then flapped its enormous wings.
Looking up at the black dragon soaring into the sky, Elria lightly swung her staff. And then, she released the ‘chain’ that had bound the giant wolf――
“――Go, Shehri.”
She whispered, and the giant wolf turned its pointed snout toward the black dragon.
With a howl to the heavens, the wolf rushed toward its ‘enemy’. However, the black dragon was already rising into the sky.
No matter how massive the magical beast had been, it could not have reached that distance by leaping. That was why Rufus had chosen to fly in the first place. However, the giant wolf jumped toward the black dragon without a care. Kicking off an invisible foothold, it had risen rapidly into the air.
“Wha――!?”
Seeing the giant wolf gracefully leaping through the air, Rufus looked astonished. However, the surprise was not because a wingless beast was approaching. Even wingless magical beasts could engage in aerial combat through the use of magic barriers and footholds, and the role of summoners was to provide that support.
Though there were minor differences depending on the country, this method of combat had not changed much. Understanding this, Rufus had intended to gain an aerial advantage and had tried to destroy the footholds supporting the giant wolf. However, Elria had anticipated this line of thought.
If the enemy came close by forming barriers and footholds, destroying them in advance would prevent the flying enemy from approaching.
That was why Elria created an ‘invisible foothold’.
Unable to see it, Rufus could not order the black dragon to destroy it.
However――Shehri, the <<Mana-Eater Wolf>>, could see everything. With a keen sense for magic power, Shehri sensed the magic and hopped onto the invisible foothold the moment it was formed.
Even if Rufus tried to read the position where the foothold was formed, Shehri had already completed its movement by then.
Since Rufus, who was giving the instructions, was burdened with the disadvantage of ‘not being able to visually confirm the foothold’, she could not destroy the foothold faster than Shehri, who could see everything.
For this reason, Elria could predict Rufus’s next move――
“Rafika!! Aim your fire breath at its surroundings!!”
The black dragon, which had been retreating from the approaching giant wolf, opened its jaws, and a brilliant light shone from within.
The large area-of-effect fire breath was fired by the flying steel dragon.
If the foothold were invisible, the strategy would be to target the area where it was likely to be. Regardless of the wolf’s massive size, exposure to fire would have led to injuries and hampered its agility. Should it have dodged the flames, the destruction of the foothold would still have impaired its movement.
That was why――
“――Shehri, wait.”
Upon hearing Elria’s command, the giant wolf immediately lain low on the foothold.
The moment the fire breath incinerated the invisible foothold, an explosion resonated.
“――――!?”
The sudden blast caused the black dragon’s massive body to lose balance.
What Elria had formed as an invisible foothold was compressed oxygen reinforced by magic. It had ignited due to the large area-of-effect fire breath, causing an explosion. Moreover, she calculated the explosion’s direction to affect only the black dragon, not Shehri.
And so… due to the explosion, Rufus had completely lost sight of the giant wolf. The white smoke obscuring her vision and the blast affecting her balance worsened the situation.
By creating that situation――
“――Shehri, go ahead. It’s fine now.”
The giant wolf, leaping out from the white smoke, had sunk its teeth into the black dragon’s body.
The sound of grinding steel dragon scales echoed as they were crushed, and the black dragon let out a scream filled with agony.
“…Rafika! Calm down, Rafika!!”
Though Rufus called out, the dragon’s thrashing worsened its balance, leading it to plummet uncontrollably.
Serios’s mages often rode magical beasts. This allowed them to give detailed instructions in the magical beast language, enabling precise and swift evasion and defense. However, when hit, not just the magical beast but also the mage was severely affected.
Due to the explosion earlier, her sense of hearing and sight had been significantly impaired. She could not detect the approaching giant wolf or its presence. Now, with the black dragon running rampant, she could not give accurate instructions.
――With a thunderous impact, the black dragon had crashed into the ground.
Amidst the rising dust, a giant wolf with white fur rushed towards Elria. However, as it tried to bite Elria, it slammed into an invisible wall.
“Good girl, Shehri, even today.”
From behind the wall, while growling and baring its fangs, Elria stroked Shehri’s face after restraining its mouth and body with chains. Feeling satisfied with that, she then turned her gaze towards the dust-filled area. There lay the black dragon, groaning in pain.
“It’s best to send that child back. The wounds inflicted by the <<Mana-Eater Wolf>> drain its magic power, preventing healing. I think it ate a lot of magic power when it bit down.”
For summoned magical beasts, there was no such thing as ‘death’. Their physical forms were just temporary constructs created by mages, animated by the ‘soul’ of the creature’s original form from a distant place.
However… even these temporary forms felt pain when injured. If their internal magic power were exhausted, not only would the temporary form collapse, but the ‘soul’ of the main body would also be affected.
In the worst-case scenario… a mage could lose their contracted magical beast.
The black dragon was clearly no longer fit to fight. Any summoner would understand that it was their defeat.
Or so it seemed.
“――――It’s… not over yet.”
Standing by the black dragon, Rufus’s murmur was heard.
Right after, Shehri started to fiercely struggle, as if about to break its chains.
“There’s no way Rafika could lose――ABSOLUTELY NOT!!“
The moment Rufus shouted with intense emotion――the fallen black dragon raised its head and launched a dazzling fireball. And the giant wolf, Shehri, despite being chained, had lunged in front of Elria, only to be engulfed by flames.
“――SHEHRI!!”
Seeing the giant wolf cry out in pain from the flames, Elria immediately severed its ‘soul’ from the vessel.
Shehri’s body went limp, transformed into particles of light, and disappeared. Simultaneously, the sound of falling metal was heard. Dragon scales, as hard as steel, had been propelled by the fireball’s explosion and pierced through Shehri.
“…I can’t forgive that.”
With eyes filled with rage, she glared at Rufus and the black dragon.
One wrong move and Shehri would have undoubtedly lost its life.
Such actions could be natural if it had been a life-or-death battle. However, what Elria and Rufus were engaged in was a mock battle. Once the outcome was clear, Rufus should have withdrawn the black dragon.
“In mock battles, you shouldn’t take actions that could kill the opponent. Whether it’s against the mage or their summoned magical beast――”
“To me, mock battles and actual battles are no different.”
In her light red eyes, determination floated as Rufus glared at Elria.
“No matter what happens――Rafika and I can’t afford to lose.”
The expression on her face did not reflect her belief in her friend’s victory. Instead, tension, desperation, and impatience were all mingled in her expression.
As if heeding the words of its master, the black dragon slowly rose to its feet. Though bleeding from its wounds and staggering from depleted magic power, it continued to stand, as if to demonstrate that it had not yet been defeated.
Just as Elria was about to speak――sturdy stone pillars rained down from the heavens, encircling the black dragon. And then, the tilted pillars combined to form a ‘cage’.
“――E-Excuse me… may I interrupt for a moment?”
Such a feeble voice could be heard from behind Elria. There――Philia, holding a magic tool, stood with an apologetic wry smile.
“According to the report, it seems you were engaged in a mock battle… Given the dangerous state Rufus-sama’s magical beast could enter if the fight continued, I would like to conclude this mock battle here.”
Rufus was about to say something in response, but upon realizing that Philia was the teacher in charge, she silently nodded.
Teachers in charge had the authority to punish their students if they misused magic, engaged in criminal activities, or took dangerous actions.
Although Rufus was a student in another class and thus not directly under Philia’s authority, failing to comply with her instructions at that moment could have led to later punishment through her own teacher in charge.
“Is it fine with you too, Elria-sama?”
“…………Mm.”
“Y-You don’t have to look so displeased…!”
While Elria was pursing her lips, her head was suddenly struck.
“Don’t make such a sulky face.”
“……Reid?”
“Yes, it’s me. I was training with Kid Faregh when I saw you guys fighting. Since your opponent is the <<Dragon Princess>> from another class, I thought it’d be safe to call Philia-sensei.”
“……What about Faregh?”
“I left him behind because he said he can’t move anymore.”
Reid said it casually, but Faregh had trained in magic combat since childhood. He had probably been pushed too hard or mercilessly beaten up.
“The <<Dragon Princess>> over there, if you want to settle this once and for all, better step back for now. Winning a single mock battle won’t mean anything, you know.”
“…For me, it does mean something.”
“What I’m saying is, try to understand the ‘value of victory’. Creating a risk for your precious dragon to die just for a single win is the least valuable victory there is.”
Saying this, Reid pointed to the black dragon, which was now too exhausted to resist and was trapped in a stone cage.
Rufus seemed about to say something in response, but instead, she silently released her magic.
The black dragon’s body was transformed into particles of light and disappeared.
“Even if there’s no value, we’ll still have to pick it up again another time.”
With a trembling voice, Rufus turned her back to Reid and the others. And so, she walked away, showing them only her small retreating figure.
Chapter 2 Part 3
◇
The Vegalta Royal Magic Academy occupies an expansive piece of land.
Surrounded by high walls resembling a fortress city, the academy’s grounds extend to encompass mountains, valleys, wilderness, seashores, wetlands, forests, abandoned mines, and deserted towns.
The academy has acquired lands that were previously designated as dangerous and repurposed them for training. All of these precautions are taken to prevent the spread of damage caused by magic to the surrounding areas.
While academy students have a certain level of magic skill when they enter the academy, it cannot be guaranteed that there won’t be any outbursts or mishaps. In some cases, trial experiments with new magic may also be conducted.
Hence, basic or simple combat training is carried out using the magic tools created by Elise, a renowned expert in spatial magic and the academy’s headmistress. Large-scale magic combat training makes use of the extensive lands owned by the academy. Naturally, magic tools are required for transporting to these training grounds.
The magic academy itself is located on the outskirts of the royal capital, and its training grounds are situated in rural areas with no villages or towns nearby. Therefore, when transporting to the training grounds, a teleportation tool that only academy members can operate is utilized.
However, there is a lingering concern: Reid’s tendency to damage the teleportation tool itself――
“――Hey, Elria.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve thought about this every time, but do you really need to cling to me like this?”
“Yes.”
With her arms wrapped around Reid’s torso, Elria nodded as if it were a matter of course.
Since all transportation to the training grounds had to be entrusted to Elria, they had to teleport together in this manner every time.
“Holding onto you like this reduces the consumption of magic power.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Teleportation magic involves manipulating and displacing space, so when the designated range is smaller, it requires less magic power and fewer coordinate calculations, making it easier.”
While clinging to Reid, Elria nodded.
Previously, she teleported an entire cave, which was probably because she had to cover a larger area since Millis and others were inside.
“Well, I’ve grown accustomed to seeing these two traveling around like this.”
“Yeah, it’s scary that not only us but the entire class is getting used to it.”
Wiesel and Millis repeatedly nodded as if it were a familiar sight. However――today, there was one more reaction.
“Seriously… It’s incredibly inconvenient not to be able to use magic. Without Caldwen, he wouldn’t even be able to use magic tools, let alone teleport. I could never endure that.”
Faregh crossed his arms, wearing an exasperated expression, but then his expression changed as if he had remembered something.
“I-I mean to say that it’s inevitable if you’re born without the ability to use it!”
“It’s already bothersome, so just be yourself…”
There is a reason Faregh is on the same team as them and has such a peculiar attitude.
First of all, two of his followers took a leave of absence due to the incident last time. Although his followers, Valk and Lucas, weren’t fatally injured, their treatment and recovery took time, so they did not participate in this conditional examination. As a result, the team’s composition changed irregularly for this conditional examination, but apparently, nobody invited him.
Faregh himself seemed to have assumed that someone would approach him due to his skills, but in the meantime, the teams were decided by others. He rushed to ask other teams but was turned down, perhaps due to his daily attitude or the fear associated with his family name, Welminan. Thus, he ended up completely isolated.
Since everyone else had already formed their teams, Alma decided to include Faregh on their team, especially with Elria from the distinguished Caldwen family. The reason for that lies in the content of the conditional examination given to Elria.
“You should get along with Elria more than me. She is your lecturer from today onwards.”
“…I’ll do my best to teach.”
While hiding behind Reid, Elria slightly pokes her head out and bows.
Elria was assigned a role akin to assisting her teammates in surpassing the evaluation criteria.
Her abilities as a mage have already been recognized by the academy as sufficient, and it is almost certain that she will be formally recognized as a mage after spending the required year at the academy. That’s why the academy has reorganized with the goal of nurturing Elria as a special rank mage.
One aspect of this is ‘Teaching’.
This involves not only imparting knowledge of magic theory but also practical techniques, tactics, magic combat, maneuvering in actual battles, and enhancing the abilities of others through training.
It requires not just producing actual results but also the ability to understand others’ magic, propose tactics and improvements based on one’s understanding of magic, and accurately assess others’ abilities while providing realistic solutions. Alma mentioned that the intention is to scrutinize one’s ability in actual battles.
By the way, in Alma’s case, it was noted that Philia, who worked alongside her as a mage, was recognized for her achievements.
In Elria’s case, it seems that the academy’s intention is to determine whether she possesses the qualifications of a special rank mage rather than focusing solely on the success or failure of the examination.
“Hehe… Elria-sama’s teaching methods are strict, you know? It’s worth watching whether a snobby young master can endure them.”
“Hah…! Unlike you commoners, I’m sure I can handle it easily.”
“Alright, I heard that! If you start complaining halfway through, I’ll label you as a whiny snobby brat, lower than commoners!!”
“If I endure it, I’ll call you a country bumpkin, lower than peasants!!”
“That’s too bad! My family loves sheep and cattle; we’re herders!!”
“…Am I going to take the examination sandwiched between these two?”
“…And I have to teach in the midst of that?”
Watching the two squabbling, Wiesel and Elria appeared oddly fatigued. It seems there are various difficulties. And there was one more person――
“――Haaaaa……”
Near Reid, Alma sighed deeply.
While sitting with her knees hugged, she dug the ground with her battle axe.
“It was supposed to be a fun mock battle with His Excellency……”
“The headmistress also told us to be prepared in case of emergencies, and since other classes are also participating this time, unexpected situations are likely to occur…”
In response to Alma, who was slumping in disappointment, Philia patted her shoulder with a wry smile.
This time, the conditions given to Reid were no different from those for other students.
Currently, special rank mages are scattered across various places by royal decree, so those who are available after completing their missions will oversee Reid’s examination. However, since the decision was made hastily and no one was available, and there was also a discussion about Elria’s request in “Let’s split it in half”, it will be a normal examination this time.
With that said, Alma had previously applied for a mock battle under the pretext of assessing Reid’s abilities and uncovering his true character, as he was the subject of surveillance. However, it seems her request was denied, likely due to her reckless actions in the past.
“Haa… I suppose I’ll just watch Philia’s battle then…”
“……Eh, me?”
“Ever since you started working at the academy, you’ve been focused on research and haven’t participated in actual battles. Since I recommended you, I’d like to see your current abilities. Why don’t you engage in a mock battle with a suitable student?”
“N-No… I’m a teacher, and my primary duty is to supervise. Unlike Alma-chan, my magic isn’t suited for battle――Ouch!?“
“Don’t call me ‘Alma-chan’. If you’re spineless, we can have a mock battle until morning.”
“Ugh… The memories of getting beaten up during my student days…!!”
Without giving her a choice, Alma drags Philia away. Although Alma had the authority to move freely, it was a rather pitiable treatment.
As the two leave, Reid turns to the others.
“Well then, shall we get started, too?”
The other teams are already discussing their plans, exchanging information by actually demonstrating their magic.
“Speaking of which, has Elria-sama been restricted again?”
“Yes… Alma-sensei said I can only use magic up to the third tier.”
Elria sadly furrows her brows.
The actual restriction came from Elise, but since she fought toe-to-toe against a special rank mage using nothing but fifth tier magic through ‘Weighted Multiplication Deployment’, further restrictions were already decided for the next examination.
“But Elria, you’ll be fine even with more restrictions, right?”
“Yes.”
“That immediate answer is so like you.”
“But casting magic using ‘Weighted Multiplication Deployment’ from the third tier takes time, so the usable magic and frequency of use are limited. I think it’s a good adjustment because there are many other considerations, such as maintaining the magic without dissipating it by sacrificing magic power consumption.”
Saying so, Elria nods excitedly.
It may seem like an unreasonable limitation for those aspiring to become mages, but for Elria, it appears to be a thrilling challenge. However, upon hearing this, Wiesel furrows his brow and strokes his chin.
“With only up to the third tier, huh…? It seems we’ll be at a disadvantage against other academy students.”
“I know, right… I believe that if you’ve made it into the magic academy, you should have the ability to use at least fourth tier magic.”
In general, everyday life magic and magic tools are classified up to the second tier. From the third tier onward, it’s considered “magic with lethal potential”, typically handled by mages.
Within that, third tier magic is a level that can be used by ordinary people for specific purposes, like pest control. From a mage’s perspective, it’s considered magic with minimal power for “neutralizing the target”.
Even with ‘Weighted Multiplication Deployment’, the situation won’t change significantly with just Elria alone against fellow students. They will need to think of a way to deal with it. Hence, Elria’s role will become more challenging, especially when considering the future.
“There’s a possibility that even Elria-sama’s examinations might change, similar to Reid-san’s situation. So, considering what lies ahead, it would be best for us to clarify our roles now…”
“That’s right. Even if the two were to take the examinations on their own, showcasing their abilities clearly might lead to more opportunities to be recruited by other teams.”
With the exception of special rank mages, most mages operate in units or teams. With that in mind, it’s important for mages to clarify their strengths and roles when operating. However, there are certainly those who do not understand that.
“Haa… I feel sorry for the commoners. If they had a family name as prominent as Welminan and could wield magic of the eighth tier as I do now, they wouldn’t need to worry.”
“But Faregh-san, you’re so isolated that no team will take you in anymore, right?”
“Stop that… those words hurt…!!”
Faregh, who was being haughty, was immediately brought down by Millis’s comment.
Setting aside his reputation and personality, Faregh was born into a distinguished family and has displayed substantial ability since childhood. That is probably why he holds a position that makes it hard for others to approach him.
“Then, why don’t we let Kid Faregh lead the team? If we add the three of us here with the resting Valk and Lucas, we’ll have five, right?”
“I see, so you’re suggesting I should be the leader!”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.”
“…………Eh?”
When Reid affirmed, Faregh’s eyes widened.
“…Wait, am I really doing it?”
“That’s what I said. You’re the leader.”
“So… does that mean everyone will absolutely obey me?”
“No, we won’t simply obey you.”
“Why not!?”
“A leader’s role isn’t to force others to follow but to ‘make decisions’. During the last examination, you showed the ability to decide to ‘escape’ when the Armament Dragon attacked, making the right choice even under pressure and saving two injured people. Your judgment stands out.”
When Reid honestly praised him, Faregh seemed taken aback.
“Additionally, a leader must accurately assess the capabilities of the team members to plan operations or tactics and give instructions while fighting. If this responsibility falls to Kid Faregh, our combat effectiveness will be significantly reduced. So, Wiesel is better suited to issue commands during battle.”
“…So, in other words, Lord Welminan makes decisions on starting battles or retreating, and I, who stay in the rear, give instructions and judgments during battle, right?”
“I-In that case, what am I supposed to do?”
“What do you want to do?”
“Obviously, I want to mow down others with my magic!”
“Then go for it.”
“You’re not just saying this randomly, are you!?”
“Being able to use eighth tier magic means you’re strong, and strong individuals tend to draw attention. If you act as a skirmisher, it will be easier for us to maneuver.”
When Reid explained his intentions, Elria also nodded in agreement.
“Yes, that could work. I was considering placing Millis at the front, but I think it’s also important to consider her wishes.”
“…Eh, why me?”
“Because Millis is skilled in protection and barrier magic, so I thought you could hold your own.”
“Um, what should I do after holding up the defense?”
“Until others can deal with it, endure concentrated enemy fire with determination not to die.”
“Congratulations, Faregh-san, you are the leader.”
“Don’t touch my shoulder with that beaming smile…!!”
Having escaped the role of a shield, Millis was smiling with her hand on Faregh’s shoulder. Elria had also devised a good tactic, but Millis had no desire to be left alone on the frontlines to take a beating.
However, Elria then frowned slightly.
“It might be challenging for Faregh to serve as the vanguard.”
“Is that so?”
“Because those who can use powerful magic usually have little experience in the vanguard.”
“…I see, I understand what you mean.”
This was something that Galleon, Elria’s father, had mentioned before.
In modern magic combat, the primary focus is on medium and long-range attacks. However, if the vanguard is trained for close-quarters combat, the chances of engaging in interpersonal combat increase significantly. This is because, unlike fighting magical beasts, humans can use ‘magic’.
Even if one were to use a wide-range, high-powered magic over a large area, it could be blocked by barrier or protection magic. Using such large-scale magic would also deplete a significant amount of magic power.
This is why, in interpersonal combat, it becomes necessary to limit the range of magic to conserve magic power and prioritize speed to prevent the opponent from mounting a defense.
However… someone like Faregh, who inherently possesses a substantial amount of magic power, can forcibly break through the barrier or protection magic, disregarding the high consumption rate of magic power. In other words, he can overpower his opponents by relying on his vast magic power reserves.
Since he can handle magic from the eighth tier, it’s likely that he underwent combat training with the assumption of using high-powered magic from medium to long range, rather than being in the vanguard.
That means――
“He’s physically the weakest trashy kid among us.”
“Yes, in close-quarters combat, he’s just a weakling who lacks physical strength.”
“Have I done anything to deserve such harsh words from you guys…!?”
Faregh fell to his knees, overwhelmed by their ruthless remarks.
But not only Faregh; very few mages are suited for the vanguard role.
After all, mages primarily fight magical beasts, not other humans, so even first-class mages likely have little experience in close-quarters combat.
In that case――let’s give them a chance to gain experience in close-quarters combat.
“So, Elria, I’ll take care of Kid Faregh, okay?”
“Yes, I think Reid is more qualified.”
“And, Wiesel, can you lend me some magic equipment that I can break?”
“…Reid, do you know how much it costs to make magic equipment?”
“I don’t mean to break it, but if I put my strength and magic power into it, it might break. I just need a shape, preferably something of reasonable length, like a sword.”
“In that case… there was a prototype that didn’t turn out as planned.”
After rummaging through the bag at his waist, Wiesel unfolded the magic equipment he had taken out.
It was a simple longsword-shaped magic equipment.
“When my magic power runs out, the built-in resistances and enhancements will be removed. It’ll become just a lump of iron shaped like a sword after five minutes, so be careful.”
“Got it. I’ll be careful not to break it.”
After receiving the magic equipment, Reid swung the sword in a familiar motion.
It looked like a sword, but it felt more like a wooden training sword, which seemed like it would break easily if Reid applied even a little force.
After making sure everything was alright, he placed his hand on Faregh’s shoulder.
“Let’s begin, Kid.”
“…Begin what? What do you plan to do?”
“It’s settled, isn’t it? I’ll be the one to train you.”
“Train me…? You can’t even use magic. What are you going to teach me?”
“I may not be able to use magic, but I can still teach you how to fight in a similar way.”
Saying that, Reid pointed his sword at Faregh.
“How about a mock battle? If you can land one blow on me, you win. As for me… let’s see, I’ll attack in about a minute, so you can attack me freely until then.”
“…Giving yourself a handicap? You must be quite confident.”
“I don’t feel like losing, at least. If you win, I’ll offer you some sort of reward within my means.”
“…I see. That sounds interesting, so I’ll play along.”
He drew a short sword-shaped magic equipment and faced off against Reid.
“If I win――you will never call me ‘Kid’ again!!”
Immediately after, countless blistering and scorching-hot fireballs formed around Faregh.
“Don’t think that you can extinguish them as easily as before!!”
With that, a swarm of fireballs flew towards Reid. Even if he dodged left or right, completely defending against them would be difficult. That’s why Reid looked straight at them, lowered his stance, and leaped toward the fireballs.
“What――!?”
The astonishment was not because Reid was coming at him head-on.
While maintaining a low position that almost slid across the ground, Reid twisted his body in mid-air, slipping through the narrow gap between the fireballs and the ground.
As the fireballs passed by him, Reid effortlessly regained his balance by grabbing the ground with one hand.
“Whoa, that’s hot. Surrounding me wasn’t a bad idea, but you need to seal those gaps with other magic.”
It would certainly have been an effective move against a mage.
By surrounding them with fireballs, it forces them to defend themselves with protection magic and restricts their movements. This allows the use of a high-powered magic attack that could penetrate their protection. However, it won’t be enough.
“Come on, there’s still time, so keep attacking.”
Smiling cheerfully, Reid leisurely approached Faregh.
Seeing such a relaxed expression, Faregh gritted his teeth and tightly gripped his short sword.
“Then… how about this!?”
He unsheathed his short sword and aimed it at Reid.
At that very moment, as he thrust the short sword forward, flames burst forth, seemingly extending the blade’s reach. A fire spear was shot in a straight line, intent on piercing Reid.
It was a meticulously executed strike, propelled with precise speed.
“However――a fast strike like this is linear and easy to dodge.”
Reid avoided the fire spear by slightly tilting his head.
“But you know that, too. That’s why you use the magic equipment to make me aware of it, to lure me into dodging that strike, and then――”
As he spoke, Reid suddenly leaned his body. Right after, the tip of the fire spear looming behind Reid was cut in half.
“――Using that extended flame, your objective was to stab me from my blind spot.”
Behind Reid, flames loom large like a whip.
Even if the initial fire spear is dodged, this two-stage attack method allows Faregh to exploit the opponent’s blind spot by manipulating flames at hand.
Such surprise attacks are crucial in interpersonal combat.
“The idea itself is not bad, but it doesn’t align well with your magic. Because the flame is bright and conspicuous, one would feel discomfort when the fire spear is dodged and the magic is not dispelled. Moreover, the crackling sound as the flame passes diminishes the effectiveness of a surprise attack.”
Speaking thus, Reid slowly approaches Faregh with an unceasing smile, as if eagerly awaiting the next move.
“Damn it… DAMN IT!!“
Unable to stop Reid’s advance, frustration appeared on Faregh’s face.
“I WAS… I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE STRONGER THAN ANYONE ELSE!!”
Shouting so, Faregh stabs his short sword into the ground.
“DON’T… UNDERESTIMATE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!”
A scream that resembles more of a roar echoes through the air.
In response to it, a crimson pillar of flames erupts from the ground, ascending to the heavens. The rising pillar of flames takes the shape of spinning threads.
Within that mass of flames, a human figure materializes――a body constituted of blazing crimson flames, adorned with black-colored gauntlets on both arms.
Then, the gigantic figure manifests two fire swords while looking down at Reid.
“Stop him――<<Flame Soldier of Destruction>>!!”
At Faregh’s command, the fire giant swings its fire swords at Reid.
It’s a high-level magic, reaching the eighth tier, a strike that would likely engulf an ordinary mage in flames. However, it was a strike Reid could easily defend against.
If his strike can blow away Elria’s tenth tier magic and shatter Alma’s <<Undead Brigade>>, then it can even obliterate the fire giant.
Even so, Reid faces the fire giant head-on.
“I’m not underestimating you.”
He placed the magic equipment on his waist and extended his right arm, focusing on the fire swords. The huge fire swords were then sent high into the sky with a palm strike from Reid. With that single strike, he knocked away the giant’s hand and sent the fire swords flying.
“It’s just that――I do think it’s a shame.”
With fluid motion, he pulled the magic equipment from his waist and slashed upward at the giant’s arm from below, severing it and painting the sky in crimson red.
“Such things, if known, could be handled without consequences.”
These are the skills that, in Reid’s time, would have been trained from childhood, such as knocking away the opponent’s sword by striking the hilt or wrist when it’s raised.
With the rise of the technology known as magic, the focus has shifted from interpersonal combat to combat against magical beasts. Knowledge, skills, and experience in close-quarters combat have been downplayed in modern times.
Even if one can wield powerful magic, without proper knowledge, mages themselves cannot effectively engage in close-quarters combat against someone who excels in it.
Therefore――
“――Well, a minute has passed.”
Facing Faregh, who had exhausted his magic power and was kneeling, Reid pointed his sword at him.
Behind him lay the brutally shattered black armor and the formless mass of flames on the ground.
“How… can you smile like that?”
With his head down, Faregh muttered powerlessly.
“I was supposed to be strong… I had the confidence to silence those who compared me to Caldwen’s daughter by showing my strength…!”
However, that confidence had been shattered all too easily.
“And yet… my legs froze, and I couldn’t move. Instead of protecting the two, I could only watch them get wounded and flee in disgrace…!”
Thus, Faregh became more keenly aware of his own powerlessness than anyone else. And yet again, he had been defeated by Reid, who hadn’t even been serious. However――
“――That’s why you volunteered to join us, didn’t you?”
Reid’s question surprised Faregh.
No matter how problematic his personality and reputation were, it seemed unthinkable that no one would be swayed by the great name and power of ‘Welminan’.
Faregh himself could have used his family name to join a team forcibly. Even so, he had chosen to join Reid’s team of his own volition.
“Even though it was an unforeseen accident, Valk and Lucas are absent from this conditional examination and must face the next comprehensive examination in an imperfect state. That’s why you wanted to learn something from Elria and me, to become strong enough to lead those two, right?”
“How…?”
“It’s because you’re a good-natured person who would think of protecting and escaping with them, rather than abandoning them. Someone like that would likely feel a strong sense of responsibility and think about doing something for their sake, wouldn’t they?”
Reid said it with a smile.
From the beginning, he had noticed Faregh’s intentions. He understood that it was an act for the sake of others, not selfishness. That was why he thought the role of ‘Leader’ would be fitting for Faregh.
“Besides, from what I’ve seen, your sense and thinking don’t seem to be bad. With this, if I teach you a little, you can think and develop on your own.”
In a familiar motion, Reid wielded his sword――
“――If it’s you, I believe I can teach you my ‘swordsmanship’.”
Reid declared it with a confident smile.
Chapter 2 Part 2
◇
After spending a leisurely morning together, they arrived at the classroom with plenty of time to spare than usual, where they found Millis and Wiesel were already chatting with each other.
Upon noticing the presence of Reid and Elria, the two widened their eyes in surprise.
“Elria-sama is… looking so fresh in the morning…!?”
“And not only are her eyes wide open, but her steps are steady, too…!?”
“…I don’t always show up in a lethargic state every day.”
Elria retorted with a hint of dissatisfaction.
This conversation had become a regular part of their daily academy lives.
“I had milk tea brewed by Reid today, so I’ve been wide awake since morning.”
“Reid-san brewed… tea…!?”
“Are you surprised just because I brewed tea?”
“But brewing tea is difficult, you know? If you try to do it with the same feeling as brewing barley tea or roasted tea leaves that you commonly see in the countryside, you’ll mess it up!”
“I see. Is that from your own experience?”
“Yes… I got all excited after coming to the royal capital and impulsively bought a tea that I’d never seen in the countryside. I tried to brew it casually as usual, but ended up with a bitter and astringent liquid…!!”
“Well, I also failed at first, but I had seen how to brew it in my previous life…”
“Ugh… I forgot that Reid-san is an irregular countryman with a seemingly upper-class previous life as a hero…!!”
Perhaps because his attempt to sympathize with the story of failure had backfired, Millis dropped her shoulders in frustration. She really is full of energy, even in the morning.
Ignoring Millis, they took their seats, and Wiesel adjusted his glasses before asking,
“So, Reid, how was the summons from the royal family?”
“I got involved with Her Royal Highness the Princess, attended a party in the castle, received thanks from various people for Elria’s sake, and made some progress regarding our situation.”
“…It seems a lot has happened in the two days you were off.”
“Well, the former just made it easier for me to move as a Caldwen, and the latter just increased the unknowns.”
“I see. I also looked into the history of magic equipment and magic tools, but… there has been no significant progress. All I found out was that ‘the country called Altein has disappeared’.”
Furrowing his brows, Wiesel turned to Elria.
“Lady Elria, what were your thoughts that led to the creation of magic equipment?”
“Mm… At first, I was inspired by Altein’s technology. Although Altein’s territory was fundamentally lacking in magic power and had no sorcery culture, they excelled in crafting weapons and machinery.”
As Elria spoke, she glanced briefly at Reid.
After listening to Elria’s choice of words, Reid let out a small sigh and then――
“――In short, Altein was a country that excelled in warfare and slaughter.”
Reid did not hold back his candid impressions because it was the country where he had lived.
At the time, Altein was a large empire that held more than half of the continent. However… all that was built up through plunder, slaughter, and war.
“Altein was a country with generally low magic power in the land. The climate was unstable, and the land was poor, making it difficult to produce crops. That’s why――they resorted to plundering other regions for resources.”
Magic power is believed to be produced through blood circulation, and――it also exists in the land where humans dwell.
The ‘World’ produces magic power through various means, such as rivers flowing through the land, underground water veins, ocean currents created by seamounts and trenches, the pulsating lava flows inside volcanoes, and wind currents created by steep mountains. The ‘World’ functions properly due to the presence of this magic power.
However, in the land of Altein, the natural production of magic power was scarce. Not only was the production of magic power limited, but randomly produced magic power would interfere with each other and vanish, resulting in many lands experiencing degradation and extreme climate changes.
Thus, the lack of magic power hindered the cultural development of ‘Sorcery’, which was a serious disadvantage. ‘Sorcery’ involves using the magic power produced by the ‘World’ and that within humans to cause specific phenomena under certain conditions. With sorcery, it should have been possible to improve the problems with their land and climate to some extent.
Despite that――Altein became entrenched in a shortsighted approach of plundering. They attacked neighboring countries in search of food and fertile lands, engaged in plunder through war, and when those resources were depleted, they would attack other countries again to sustain themselves. It was a country without a future.
“War drives various technological advancements――by thinking of weapons that can efficiently kill the enemy, creating new technologies and machinery to build those weapons, discovering new laws and phenomena in the process, and applying them to other technologies and weapons.”
The same could be said for ‘Magic’. To defend against the threat of Altein, the people of Vegalta began using the ‘Magic’ of the Sage to counter Altein and further developed magic technology.
“Well, since they lacked magic power, they compensated with abundant mineral resources. They also repurposed the technologies and machinery they developed through killing people to create ‘machines’ that don’t rely on magic power.”
“Machines that don’t rely on magic power, you say…? What exactly are they?”
“I’m not an expert, so I don’t know the details, but… it’s a technology that utilizes forces produced by heat, water flow, or interactions between objects, I think?”
“I see… I’m personally interested in that technology, so please tell me all about it next time.”
Wiesel’s eyes changed color for a moment, but he suppressed his passion as an engineer and redirected the topic of the conversation.
“However, hearing your explanation makes sense. It felt strange that magic equipment was credited to the ‘Sage’ without any existing prototypes before them.”
Saying that, Wiesel took out his own magic equipment.
“Just as people look at birds and think, ‘I want to fly in the sky’, technological development takes inspiration from existing prototypes and evolves from there. Nothing is born out of complete nothingness. Just as magic originated from the concept of sorcery, the mechanisms used in magic tools and magic equipment must have had their prototypes.”
“I see. So, you can also notice discrepancies from that perspective.”
“Mm… I think it’s a very good point.”
Reid is genuinely impressed, and Elria makes a small circle with her hand.
“But… did you even notice issues with the magic power in the land back then, Reid? Without the sorcery culture, understanding the concept of magic power would be difficult, I believe…”
“Well, I knew there were technologies like that, and I had seen them several times on the front lines. But by the time I realized that magic power was related to the land and climate issues, I was already an old man, and I died a few years later, so there was no opportunity to utilize that knowledge.”
From Reid’s perspective, the country of Altein had only a narrow and bleak future. Even if they plundered food and fertile lands from neighboring countries, those resources would not reach the majority of its people. Most of it would be consumed by the rich of the country or sent to the battlefield as provisions, leaving the situation unresolved.
Even if Vegalta had not destroyed Altein, many people would have died from hunger and poverty, and the country would have eventually declined and perished.
That was why Reid established an investigative team to solve fundamental problems like land and climate, and had them study the differences between his own country and other countries. At that time, many people mocked him as an “upstart hero wasting money on unnecessary things”, but now, the resolution of the land’s magic power issue proves that Reid was right. The lands that were once part of Altein have seen remarkable improvements compared to the past.
“If that had been understood more than a thousand years ago… Altein might still be thriving today without incurring resentment from various places.”
Reid murmured, imagining the state of his lost homeland.
Hunger and poverty rob people of their peace of mind, which Reid, who grew up in Altein, understands all too well.
And so, pushed into a desperate situation, Altein relied on the means of war and plunder, ultimately making enemies of many countries and people.
“Well, setting aside the talk about Altein and me, did you find out anything else?”
“Yeah… there’s the draft of the magic equipment that I’ve been thinking about for a while that could work for Reid――”
Just as those words were spoken, Wiesel turned his face as if he had noticed something. Following his lead, Reid and Elria also turned their gaze in the same direction and found Millis with a spaced-out expression, seemingly absent-mindedly listening to the conversation.
“Don’t worry. I have other expectations for Millis.”
“But I haven’t said anything yet!?”
“Having Millis around just makes me feel better.”
“My existence value has been equated with that of an ornament…!?”
Perhaps because of feeling ambiguous about the reason for her existence, Millis shook her hands anxiously. However, she suddenly lifted her head as if she had thought of something.
“W-While it’s important to investigate the past, we also have our duty as students to focus on what’s right in front of us!!”
“Oh, right. We received an explanation about this month’s ‘Conditional Examination’ when you two were on your days off――”
“Wiesel-san, please let me explain that part…!”
“…Since Lady Millis will handle the explanation, please listen to her.”
Overwhelmed by Millis’s desperate demeanor, Wiesel prompted with a slight nod. It seems she really wanted to be of use as well.
“Um… for the ‘Conditional Examination’ this time, Philia-sensei mentioned that it would be similar to the practice for next month’s ‘Comprehensive Examination’.”
At the magic academy, evaluation is conducted through two examinations.
One is the ‘Conditional Examination’ that evaluates individuals, and the other is the ‘Comprehensive Examination’, which is conducted with other magic academies in various regions.
For the ‘Conditional Examination’, the academy sets up situations and conditions related to dealing with magical beasts. On the other hand, the ‘Comprehensive Examination’ has a slightly different nature.
“The ‘Comprehensive Examination’ does not focus on the handling of magical beasts. Instead, it assesses interpersonal combat skills such as coordination, command, and judgment needed to fulfill the duties of a true mage.”
“So, it’s a battle between academy students?”
“Yes, exactly. We were told that there will be a total of four ‘Comprehensive Examinations’, and it seems that the results will affect the academy’s influence and budget for the next academic year. Also, for academy students, it’s said to be quite an intense battle as it relates to their future as mages!”
“Great job with the explanation, Millis.”
“Hehe! With this, I’ve been promoted to an ornament that can explain!!”
Elria, as if praising Millis, gently stroked her head after she finished explaining fluently.
“The classroom lectures in the morning are as usual, but the combat training in the afternoon will be conducted jointly with other classes until the examinations are over.”
“Oh, so we’ll be with students from other classes. We usually only see them in the dining hall or dormitory, and there are limited opportunities for conversation, so I’m looking forward to it.”
At Vegalta Magic Academy, students are assigned to one of four classes upon enrollment. In the first year, they take an examination to assess their current abilities as mages. A secondary placement will occur from the second year onwards, focusing on classes and training that address their weaknesses. They will be eligible for graduation if they are deemed capable enough to act as mages.
And because the classrooms for the first-year students are assigned to each of the four towers surrounding the academy, there are no opportunities to interact with peers from other classes during lessons. This measure is taken due to differences in teaching methods among the magic instructors and to keep tactics used in the comprehensive examination confidential.
Although they may see each other in places like the dining hall or dormitory, they tend to stick to their own class groups, and even the dormitories are grouped by class, so there’s virtually no interaction.
“…Well, the academy probably wants the students to get used to interpersonal combat.”
There was an artificial intrusion that occurred during the last examination. If it was a planned act by criminals, especially considering the deployment of robust security measures and personnel, it could be considered a crime committed by a large organization.
Facing people requires resolve. Because when they understand that their magic has the potential to kill another person, they hesitate to direct their powers toward other people, even in situations where they themselves are in danger.
That is why they likely intend to familiarize students with interpersonal combat beforehand.
Just as Reid was contemplating this, Millis let out a small “Ah!”.
“Speaking of which… the comprehensive examination will be conducted in teams, and for this conditional examination, we have to form a team of five people…”
“So, we’re one person short then?”
“…No, the fifth member has already been decided.”
Saying this, Millis let out a deep sigh for some reason.
As Reid was about to inquire with suspicion about the reason, a voice interrupted――
“――Hey there! What a refreshing morning, everyone!”
Reid heard a familiar voice and reflexively turned his head.
There stood――Faregh, approaching them with a radiant smile and cheerful demeanor.
“Oh, it’s you, Kid Faregh. It’s unusual for you to come here.”
“K-Kid――!? W-Well… the training for the comprehensive examination is starting, so it’s only natural, right?”
With a twitching cheek, Faregh sat down on a nearby seat.
Seeing this, Reid grasped the entire situation.
“Starting today――let’s do our best as a team!”
With a refreshing smile that was almost infuriating, Faregh declared.
Chapter 2 Part 1
The next day, after receiving a summons from Princess Chris, Reid and Elria took a break from the academy to gather information.
First of all… they speculated whether there was a connection between the disappearance of magic power and reincarnation. However, Elria immediately shook her head.
“I can’t say for certain that there’s no connection, but I don’t think my magic power alone could facilitate the reincarnation of both of us.”
Even if she were to use the ‘hole’ Tiana mentioned, there wouldn’t be enough magic power to reincarnate the two. Just like ‘Time Leap’, it was a realm beyond human interference, a form of magic related to the ‘soul’, and Elria believed that even for a single reincarnation, an enormous amount of magic power was needed.
Moreover, Elria had been reincarnated as a different race from her previous life, and the two were reincarnated three years apart instead of at the same time. This meant there were differences from the theoretically conceivable reincarnation magic, leading her to consider the possibility of ‘incomplete reincarnation’.
Regarding Elria’s cause of death, nothing can be said for sure at the moment. If the person who created the ‘hole’ had come from a thousand years before Reid and Elria, then all technologies, including magic, would be considered ‘outdated’ to that person.
Even though it was believed that there were tight security measures at that time, for that third party, breaking through would have been easy. There is a possibility that the culprit directly targeted Elria, or they could have taken her magic power after she fell ill.
However, there were certain things that had become clear.
At the very least――the schemer possessed magic techniques that did not exist in the present. This applied not only to the past when there were the Hero and the Sage but also to the current era with Reid and Elria’s reincarnation.
The possibility even arose that this schemer could be an entity from the ‘future’. How this schemer was involved with Reid and Elria and for what purpose their reincarnation serves remained uncertain. To understand all of this, they concluded that they should continue gathering information.
After a thorough discussion with Elria in that direction――
“――――Mmmn.”
The next morning, Elria was looking quite lively, even in her lethargic state. Specifically, she was kneading and molding her pillow with both hands, or rather, she was earnestly wrestling with the fluffy object, all the while making a serious face.
“…What are you doing, Elria?”
“I’m stretching the pillow… to give them some soft power…”
Still with sleepy half-eyes, Elria replied with incomprehensible words.
When she enters her ‘lethargic’ state, her actions become unpredictable. However, Reid had learned various things from living together with Elria, including the fact that her lethargic state had different degrees.
First of all, this time, Elria was in a state of ‘minor lethargic’.
In the case of a ‘normal lethargic’ state, her responses and thinking were vague, but she could still perform certain actions based on instincts and habits.
Next, in the severe state known as ‘severely lethargic’, she dislikes any action of waking up, and has difficulty thinking and making detailed responses on her own, and performing spontaneous actions.
And now, the current ‘minor lethargic’ state was relatively mild.
Not only was she responding to Reid’s words that indicated she had some thought process, but she was also engaging in actions like pressing the pillow with her hands, which suggested that she would awaken relatively soon.
It is also worth noting that there is no meaning in Elria’s actions and words while she is in the ‘lethargic’ state. What is important is that there are degrees and patterns to her ‘lethargic’ state, and Reid’s role is to encourage her to wake up effectively.
“Reid… soft power is accumulating in the pillow…”
“Yeah, I think it’s becoming an extremely soft pillow.”
Reid replied nonchalantly and led Elria to the living room.
After letting Elria sit on the sofa, who was still kneading and massaging the pillow, Reid entered the kitchen and activated the heat-generating magic tool.
To ensure that Elria wakes up, the most effective method was to get her into the bath. However, getting her into the bath is the most challenging part.
Depending on her mood, Elria might or might not undress herself, and she would often get bored halfway and give up undressing, sometimes even ending up in the bath with her clothes on. In other words… he had to make sure that Elria had completely undressed before guiding her to the bath.
Although Reid was mature enough not to be flustered, it still felt uncomfortable to look at the fully undressed Elria when she was not fully conscious. Even with the blindfold on, he could determine Elria’s state from sounds like her clothes rustling, but it was still precarious. So, the bath was considered a last resort for when she reached a ‘severely lethargic’ state.
The knowledge and deductions from studying Elria’s ‘lethargic’ state led him to this approach――
“Here, at least drink this for now.”
Saying that, Reid handed her a cup of steaming hot milk tea. The aroma wafting with the steam made Elria sniff and show some interest.
With Elria’s favorite drink, Reid had devised a groundbreaking strategy to pique her interest, even in her ‘lethargic’ state, and warm her body to encourage her to wake up. With such a cup in front of her, Elria tilted her head curiously and asked,
“……Is it hot?”
“Just in case, I’ve cooled it down enough to ensure it won’t scald your tongue.”
Hearing that, Elria took the cup into her hands but frowned.
“……It’s still hot.”
“In that case, wait a bit longer before drinking.”
“I want you to blow on it for me.”
“…So, you can’t wait to drink it, huh?”
Reid could not help but smile wryly and then blew a few breaths onto the cup.
“Is this good enough?”
“……Mm.”
Elria accepted the cup and nodded in satisfaction.
With sipping sounds, she quickly drank the milk tea and exhaled with a loud huff, fully opening her eyes.
“……Good morning?”
“Good morning.”
“After waking up, I strangely had the taste of milk tea in my mouth.”
“That’s because you were drinking milk tea right before.”
“Is that so… I’m sorry for being lethargic…”
Elria seemed to grasp her condition from Reid’s words and lowered her head deeply. Her speech was still somewhat slurred, indicating that she was still in the process of waking up. Seeing her like that, Reid gently patted her on the head.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve been enjoying it lately, too.”
“……Really?”
“Yeah. I tried changing the brand of tea leaves, adjusting the ratios of water to milk, varying the initial temperature, and the time it takes to cool down. I ended up having fun experimenting with different combinations.”
“Without me realizing, you had been trying all sorts of things…”
“By the way, the tea that got the best reaction was Ronfeld’s tea leaves. I brewed it with plenty of milk, increased the steeping time to make it slightly stronger, and then added a small amount of honey.”
“It was more than I expected…”
“Making tea is something I’ve done only a handful of times, including in my previous life. If it were just for myself, I would have done it casually, but because it’s for you, I thought I’d make it delicious.”
At first, it was a bit of a struggle, but now, it has become one of his daily routines.
Until now, Reid had never been particular about his meals, and such minor matters were usually taken care of by his servants or the people around him. However, it’s also not a bad thing to act for someone else. And above all else――
“Do you want another cup?”
“Yes, please. This time, I want to savor it slowly.”
“Sure. Then, I’ll have a cup, too.”
Reid brewed two more cups of milk tea, and then both of them sat down on the sofa.
――Spending peaceful days with someone else is truly pleasant.
Chapter 1 Part 6
◆
After Tiana left, Chris regained consciousness as if nothing had happened. It seemed like she had not heard the conversation up until then, but it appeared as though she had heard from Tiana that there was some conversation going on. Curiously, she asked, “Oh, is the conversation over?”.
Later that night――
“――It’s been a while since I’ve had a sleepover with Elria~~!!”
Chris was happily swinging her pillow around on the bed.
“The last sleepover was over a thousand days ago, so we should announce it as a national holiday and share the joy with the people, don’t you think!?”
“Chris, we shouldn’t create national holidays without good reason.”
In contrast to Chris’s excitement, Elria shook her head while hugging a pillow.
For some reason, Chris wanted to turn their personal event into a holiday. Right now, as a princess, it was just silly talk, but if she ascended the throne, she might end up creating a holiday for every single day.
“But, I was surprised to hear that you knew Tiana.”
“I guess calling it ‘knowing her’ is a strange way to put it… To me, she’s like another personality that has been with me since childhood. I never thought she would turn out to be one of my great ancestors.”
Chris smiled with a troubled look.
“Moreover, she understood and supported all my ideas and thoughts about Elria. It felt more like talking to another part of myself rather than a separate personality.”
“…Yeah, I really think you two are very similar.”
Chris not only had a similar magic power presence, but she also behaved similarly to Tiana. She always cared about Elria and had a tendency to look after her like an older sister. That is why Elria did not see her as a complete stranger. She could naturally accept and interact with her as someone she knew.
“The only difference is your manner of speech.”
“Oh, that’s just part of my character.”
“I didn’t expect that answer…”
“Because if I were a ‘quirky’ princess with an odd way of speaking, people wouldn’t mind if I said weird things while talking to Tiana-sama, right?”
After explaining her reasoning, Chris let out a deep sigh.
“Father and Mother never believed me when I told them I was talking to my ‘other self’, and I was so sick and tired of being referred to doctors every day.”
Elria could understand those feelings. When she asked her parents to search for Reid, they were quick to call for a doctor.
She can now understand that it was a natural reaction, but as a result, Elria became more reserved and started pondering about the present era while searching for Reid’s whereabouts on her own.
For Chris, it seemed to be a way of ‘changing her manner of speech’.
“Nowadays, even if I do something strange, everyone perceives it as ‘usual’. Not only within the castle but also the people of the royal capital adore me as a cheerful princess. And even after ascending to the throne, I will have solid popularity among the people, ensuring the stability of the monarchy.”
“It was a surprisingly well-thought-out strategy.”
“As a member of the royal family, if I were to be complacent, the country would decline. It is my duty to protect the country that my ancestors have passed down through generations and as the one standing at its pinnacle, I must make efforts.”
Chris proudly straightened her back while speaking. Despite her eccentric behavior, her earnestness is reflected in her policies, and that is why she is admired by many.
As Elria gazed absentmindedly at Chris, her cheek was suddenly pinched.
“Wh-What is it?”
“…You seem a bit down, don’t you?”
“Mm… Is that so?”
“When someone like me, who has been watching Elria for eighteen years, says so, it must be true.”
“Being watched even before I was born…”
“Jokes aside, was there something during your conversation with Tiana-sama that bothers you?”
“…Yes. There was something that caught my attention.”
It was――of course, about the circumstances of her death. Elria does not remember how she died. She only remembered doing her magic research, taking a break to relax, sipping on her favorite lukewarm milk tea, and then getting up to continue her work.
Her memory ended there, but she did not pay much attention to it. She thought she had pushed herself too hard with her research and unknowingly accumulated fatigue, which led to her collapsing and dying. However… it turned out to be different in reality.
It is not normal for all magic power to be lost. If the amount of magic power drops to a level that affects bodily functions, the body would prioritize the recovery of magic power and enter a state of dormancy, cutting off consciousness. In other words, even if one were to take actions that consume an enormous amount of magic power, they would lose consciousness before being able to activate magic.
Furthermore, it is unlikely that someone else took away her magic power under the circumstances. Elria remembers the state of security at that time and has the confidence to say that not only was it difficult to break in unnoticed, but even if she was fatigued, she would not be easily overtaken. While the cause of her death has been determined, the motive remains unknown.
As Elria ponders over these thoughts, Chris pinches her cheek again.
“See, if you make such a difficult face, it ruins your cuteness, you know?”
“………Nya.”
After gently loosening Elria’s cheeks, Chris changes her expression.
“I won’t ask more than what Tiana-sama has told me. I have a position as a princess to think about, and if I were to learn too much, I’d have to change my attitude.”
Though Tiana said she only told her the bare minimum, Chris probably knows the truth about Elria’s true identity. If Chris were to hear it directly from Elria, she would not be able to remain as a ‘friend’ as she has been until now.
That’s why Chris embraces Elria without asking anything.
“No matter what happens, I will continue to be your friend. Even in your toughest times… I’ll always be by your side as your ally.”
Since childhood, Chris has always embraced Elria like this. Even when she was reincarnated into a world a thousand years later where nobody knew her, in a lonely world where no one could understand her… Chris showed her support by embracing her, assuring her that she had at least one ally.
It was as if――
“――Truly, the two of you are so alike.”
The image of her apprentice, who was always by her side, overlapped in Elria’s mind.
Chapter 1 Part 5
◇
After successfully surviving the entertainment prepared by Princess Chris, Reid and Elria descended to the venue and exchanged greetings with the people attending the party.
“Elria-sama, congratulations on your engagement.”
“Mm… Thank you.”
While responding to the words of congratulations, Elria hid behind Reid’s back as usual. However, she seemed to be more or less acquainted with the people working in the castle, as she was thirty percent more outgoing than usual and without any signs of nervousness.
Those who came to greet her seemed to understand Elria’s disposition, so they tried to keep their greetings brief and considerate. However… there was one thing that everyone mentioned when they saw the current Elria.
“Elria-sama has become much more spirited compared to before.”
“……Is that so?”
“Yes. Even when Her Royal Highness Princess Chris did something reckless like today, Elria-sama used to remain calm, but today you showed various expressions.”
The middle-aged woman spoke with a gentle smile.
“And I heard you mention the names of other people. Are they your classmates?”
“Yes. I’ve become friends with an interesting girl named Millis and a magic equipment engineer named Wiesel.”
“Oh my, I’m glad you’ve made such wonderful friends.”
“Thank you. Both of them are really nice.”
Elria nodded slightly while forming a slight smile in response to the smiling woman.
“We should thank Reid-sama for this.”
“……Me?”
“Yes. When Elria was a little girl, she didn’t interact with anyone other than Princess Chris, and it’s thanks to Reid-sama’s influence that she now shows various expressions like this.”
“No… Elria was already loved by many people. My influence is insignificant compared to the fact that she started to pay attention to those around her.”
“Oh my, there’s no need to be so modest towards us. Just by observing the harmonious relationship between you two had shown us earlier, everyone can see that it’s thanks to Reid-sama.”
Upon hearing those words, Reid gave a wry smile, and the woman let out modest laughter.
“Well then… I hope that both of you will be filled with happiness on the path ahead.”
While still smiling, the woman bowed her head and quietly retreated from Reid and Elria.
Once the people coming to greet them had stopped, Reid let out a sigh.
“At first, I thought we were being dragged into something strange, but… I didn’t expect to be appreciated to this extent.”
“Yeah. I’m very happy that Reid is praised by everyone.”
“And I also learned that everyone was so worried about you.”
“……That was unexpected, too.”
In addition to words of congratulations, almost everyone recounted Elria’s shy episodes in her childhood years and how they had been concerned about it, expressing their gratitude to Reid for bringing about a change.
In social gatherings, Elria had always hidden behind Alicia, only going outside if forced by Princess Chris, getting startled and falling down just from someone her age calling out to her, running away when a soldier approached her, hiding under the bed when a maid entered the room to help her change clothes, and so on.
Even with her exceptional talent, seeing such aspects of Elria on a daily basis, it was understandable that everyone would be concerned.
“If I think about it, you’ve grown quite a bit…”
“Yeah. Now I can walk around the academy properly on my own.”
“That’s right. It’s impressive that you can walk properly now…”
Elria was slightly proud of herself, but it was unfortunate that she lacked any credibility as she still clung to Reid’s sleeve.
While directing a wry smile at Elria, Princess Chris approached them.
“Both of you, well done.”
“We truly appreciate the good opportunity you gave us today. Thank you very much.”
“…To think that you would call it a good opportunity even after being tricked into participating unexpectedly, you truly are a good-natured person.”
Princess Chris wore a look of disbelief, but quickly changed her expression.
“That said… I understand that you are serious about Elria. And it’s clear that Elria trusts you, too.”
With that, Princess Chris smiled as if she had let go of something.
“I’m sure I can entrust Elria to you.”
She conveyed her words as someone who had watched over Elria as her friend for a long time.
“As a member of the Vegalta royal family, I will be occupied with the responsibilities of uniting the country. I can’t just keep chasing after Elria’s figure as I have done in the past.”
Then, after placing her hand on Reid’s shoulder, she handed Reid a magic device with a large lens.
“……What is this?”
“It’s a projection magic device.”
“I can see that by looking at it.”
“With this, you can capture Elria’s appearance at the academy and send it all the way to the royal castle.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t use my own magic power, or the magic device will break.”
“Oh? So, it’s not just magic equipment, but magic devices, too?”
“As for the magic devices, I have Elria pour in her magic power, so maybe she can do the same for this projection magic device――”
“I absolutely refuse.”
“Mmmph… I was going to ask you to capture Elria’s appearance for me…”
Seeing Elria vigorously shaking her head, Princess Chris tossed the projection magic device toward Selvas with a look of regret.
“In that case, it’s fine to report on Elria’s well-being orally when you come to the royal castle regularly. With the Elria-love I have cultivated, I can fill in the gaps with my imagination.”
The wording itself made one question whether it was fitting for a princess to say as such, but it was clear what Princess Chris’s intention was.
“So, is it basically a means for me to go to the royal castle personally?”
“You’re quite perceptive. As someone of commoner origin, there is a possibility of receiving disapproval by other families if you were to go alone, and it wouldn’t be feasible to have a member of the Caldwen family accompany you every time, right?”
Even though Reid had joined the Caldwen family as Elria’s fiancé, his own position remained weak. Since the Caldwen family had the tradition of a female head, outsiders would unlikely treat him on equal terms as the head, even if he was a spouse. However, the situation would change if he were in the position of――‘Princess’s friend’.
If he entered and exited the royal castle regularly, it would make it known that not only Elria but also Reid had a close relationship with the Princess. That way, even in the social circles attended by the upper echelons of society, they could eliminate those who overtly disparage Reid.
“And in my case, it is well-known that I ‘love Elria too much’, so inviting you to the castle wouldn’t raise unnecessary suspicions.”
“It seems to be quite well-known to other families if it has reached that point…”
“That just shows how deep my love for Elria is!!”
Proudly proclaiming that, Princess Chris hugged Elria tightly. Again, Elria wore a resigned look, but she didn’t seem to dislike it.
“Well, originally, I didn’t plan to take care of you both so extensively, but… I was asked to lend a hand to you two.”
“…Asked to lend a hand?”
“Yes. Introducing the two of you to that person is one of the purposes of today.”
After saying that, Princess Chris led Reid and Elria toward the balcony.
The sky was already dyed with ultramarine color, with stars twinkling and the moon hanging in the sky. However, there was no one on the terrace. The only thing visible from there were the lights of the people living in the royal capital below. But――Reid had already guessed.
Elria, even towards her own mother Alicia, would cast a fearful gaze, showing a sensitive reaction to others in her childhood. But from what he had heard from others, Princess Chris was the only one who had spent time with Elria during her childhood.
The reason for that was not hard to imagine. Perhaps… Elria sensed the magic power and presence of someone she was familiar with. That was why Elria was able to trust Princess Chris so quickly.
And when they visited the royal castle, Princess Chris embraced Elria using magic. It was a magic that Reid had seen once before on the battlefield.
It was a power that could not only affect oneself but also interfere with the very principle of the world, stepping into the conceptual realm that could not be touched or manipulated, a power truly befitting the name ‘Magic’.
As far as Reid could remember, there was only one person who used that magic.
The person who, as an apprentice of the ‘Sage’, studied magic by Elria’s side, faithfully inherited the teachings even after the death of her master, and propagated magic technology to the present day, laying the foundation of magic supremacy a thousand years later――
“――You looked like you were enjoying yourself, Hero of Altein.”
The manner of speech was clearly different from that of Princess Chris. That was why Reid responded in the same way as a thousand years ago.
“You don’t have to make such a scary face――Little Tiana.”
A person who, despite being a member of the royal family, went to the battlefield as an apprentice of the ‘Sage’, possessing the magic skills she learned from her master and the unique magic inherited from her lineage. Subsequently, she relinquished her right to the throne and took up the family name of the great sage ‘Caldwen’, establishing the foundation of the present world.
That person was――Tiana von Vegalta.
“It seems you were quite handsome when you were young. When we fought, you looked like a huge, withered old tree, so seeing you like this, I can’t believe you’re the same person.”
“Is that so? I was surprised to see the little girl who used to lose to the old man and cried every time, show up here.”
“…You’re still an irritating man.”
Tiana glared at Reid with half-closed eyes and then let out a sigh in the form of Princess Chris.
“Anyway, I didn’t use Chris as a means to have a casual chat with you.”
“Aren’t you reincarnated?”
“Well. From your perspective, I have sent my consciousness through my own magic from the world of the past――about a thousand years ago, and I’m using Chris’s body as a vessel for this conversation.”
The magic that Tiana was using, Reid called it ‘Time Leap’.
It is a magic that transfers one’s physical body to another realm called ‘time’. Only Tiana could move within this ‘time’, and others could not interfere with it.
And since it was a concept of ‘time’ itself, the passage of time, which should be irreversible, did not exist, allowing for infinite thinking time by simply transferring one’s consciousness.
The latter part was still speculation on Reid’s part, but there were moments when it seemed she could see the future, leading him to be half-convinced. He had vivid memories of how troublesome it was to deal with her.
“I see. To enter ‘time’, you need to transform the physical body itself using magic and consume magic power according to the amount of movement, but if it’s just the consciousness, the consumption can be minimized.”
“…It’s a complex feeling to see you talking so elaborately about magic.”
“Thanks to being reincarnated, I was able to learn magic. And it’s quite relieving to finally understand the reason why you would often collapse from ‘high fuel consumption’.”
“Please stop calling it ‘high fuel consumption’!!”
Tiana glared at Reid with a threatening look, as if something had struck a nerve.
Tiana’s ‘Time Leap’ was difficult for Reid to deal with. Within the ‘time’, moving the physical body consumed an excessive amount of magic power. She could only move for about ten seconds, and with each use, her magic power would be depleted, resulting in sluggish movements. If she used it five times, she would collapse.
There were times when she would confront Reid but collapse due to a lack of magic power. Reid witnessed Elria administering magic power recovery potions to Tiana to revitalize her. It was after witnessing this that Reid started teasing her, calling her a ‘high fuel consumption girl who gulps down magic power’. However, from the way he observed her just now, he seemed a little concerned about her.
“But even if it’s just the consciousness, is it really okay to transfer it a thousand years into the future?”
“Normally, even transferring just the consciousness would consume an enormous amount of magic power, and I would collapse from the exhaustion of magic power while moving within the ‘time’.”
However, Tiana’s expression clouded slightly.
“I’m able to transfer my consciousness because there was a ‘hole’ that led to this world.”
“……A ‘hole’?”
“Yes. Thanks to that, I was able to skip the long journey of a thousand years. Not only can I transfer my consciousness to this world for a short time, but with Chris’s body, whose magic power wavelength is close to mine, I can also borrow her physical body and move.”
“…Could it be that we were the cause of that ‘hole’?”
“That’s a possibility. The details of the reincarnation magic are unknown, but… considering that both Elria-sama and you were reincarnated in the same era, it’s possible that the ‘hole’ had some influence or that the destination of the reincarnation was designated for a thousand years later.”
Two people who lived a thousand years ago reunite in the world a thousand years later. In a sense, it could be considered a coincidence, but there was one thing that was certain.
“In other words――there are others besides you who can move within ‘time’?”
That ‘hole’ had likely existed even before Reid and Elria were reincarnated. If the reason for both of them being reincarnated in the same era were due to the ‘hole’, it would mean that the ‘hole’ had already existed before the activation of the reincarnation magic. Alternatively, a third party might have intentionally created the ‘hole’.
Either way, it meant that they were reincarnated due to the intentions of a third party.
“At the very least, considering that travel was possible within the ‘time’ through the existing ‘hole’… it means that someone, whether through reincarnation or time leaps, had existed a thousand years ago as well.”
“Is it possible for you to create a ‘hole’ like that?”
“No, I cannot. The ‘time’ realm is highly complex, and while I can enter it using magic, interfering with the realm itself and leaping to desired times should be impossible.”
Tiana asserted so.
Even the supposed impossibility is made possible by a third party. Then――a thousand years ago, they performed a time leap and carried out the reincarnation of Reid and Elria. However, the purpose behind it is unknown. If they can perform such extraordinary feats, there should have been no need to reincarnate Reid and Elria.
“Elria, if you’ve come up with anything as well――”
As his thoughts were in a deadlock, he turned his gaze to Elria, who was by his side, hoping to seek her help――but there, Elria was tilting her head with a puzzled expression.
“Is Chris… actually Tiana…?”
Vaguely murmuring only that much, Elria’s eyes were spinning around. Above her head, many question marks seemed to be floating, as if saying, “???”.
Seeing Elria in such a state, Reid looked at Tiana with a puzzled expression.
“…Hey, Little Tiana, haven’t you told Elria about this?”
“Um, no… I can only come here for about ten minutes, and since I don’t know who is involved, I’ve only explained the bare minimum to Chris. Also, as Elria-sama mentioned, I’ve been investigating whether Reid Frieden has also been reincarnated…”
Tiana explains while her gaze wanders, but there is something off about her demeanor.
Observing her behavior, Elria, who is convinced that it was Tiana herself, narrows her eyes quietly.
“Could it be that every time Chris hugged me, it was actually…”
“P-Please wait a minute! Most of the time, it really is Chris herself!! I occasionally asked her to switch with me to enjoy the company of a younger and adorable Elria-sama or to confirm how comforting you feel in my arms, that’s all!!”
“And when we had sleepovers, I remember Chris dressing me up in various outfits.”
“That’s also not what it seems! I just recommended outfits that would suit Elria-sama to Chris, and later, I would see the pictures taken with the projection magic device…!!”
“And even Chris’s manner of speech…?”
“That’s really irrelevant!!”
Tiana becomes visibly flustered and starts confessing one thing after another.
Reid was once an enemy a thousand years ago, so he does not know much about their relationship. However, he can say this with confidence. Chris and Tiana not only had close lineage and magic power, but also shared the same feelings for Elria.
“Tiana, you’re in for a lecture.”
“Sure, I’m happy to!!”
“……Don’t be happy about getting a lecture.”
“But it’s only natural to be happy about it!”
With a smile on her face, Tiana responds.
“Because… I can talk to Elria-sama again…”
Tears overflow from her eyes, streaming down her pale cheeks.
In the world where Tiana existed, Elria had already passed away. They are never able to speak to each other again.
“After the passing of Elria-sama… driven by the sense of loss, I was yearning to catch even a glimpse of your figure and searched for a way to leap into the past using my magic.”
With that desperate desire to seek traces of Elria, Tiana managed to discover the existence of the ‘hole’. And in the world of ‘time’, she found the ‘hole’ and encountered a young girl.
“Seeing a child who resembled Elria-sama… I decided to follow in the footsteps of the Sage, in order to realize that future. I joined forces with the remnants of the Altein Army, which had crumbled after losing its Hero, and together, we destroyed the Altein Empire. Now, I am striving to spread the magic technology created by Elria-sama.”
Undoubtedly, this was partly due to her trust in her master.
By believing in the great ‘Sage’, even if it was through a transcendent method like ‘reincarnation’, it might be possible that she is living in the future.
Believing in that possibility, Tiana exerted herself to realize the world where her beloved master is alive.
“I really wanted to talk to you right away…! Like in the time when Elria-sama was alive ten years ago, I wanted you to call my name and smile at me…!!”
Surely, Tiana would have wanted to speak and confirm things immediately. However, upon learning that someone far surpassing her own skills had been performing ‘Time Leap’ and suspecting that Elria’s death and reincarnation were intentional, she hid her true identity and remained concealed until she could confirm that Reid had also been reincarnated. Nevertheless, she continued to watch over her beloved master through Chris.
“That’s why――”
“I know.”
With just a short response, Elria hugs the sobbing Tiana.
“Thank you for working so hard for my sake――Tiana.”
In a gesture of appreciation for her apprentice’s devoted efforts for her master, Elria gently strokes her head.
“Tiana, you’ve worked really hard.”
“Yes… Yes…!”
“If it has been ten years since my death, you must have grown into a wonderful young lady by now.”
“I’ve already surpassed Elria-sama’s height…”
“In that case, I’m sure you’ve become a very beautiful woman.”
“Yes… I can’t help but feel disappointed that I can’t show it to Elria-sama…”
As they hold each other, they exchange trivial words to fill the time they lost. And then… with red and swollen eyes, Tiana slowly pulls away.
“I’m sorry… but it’s time for me to return there.”
“Alright. When can we meet again?”
“If I gulp down a lot of magic power recovery potions, I’ll be fine even tomorrow…”
“That’s surprisingly fast.”
“However, I need to borrow Chris’s body to have a conversation… So, I’ll ask her about her schedule first, and then we can have a proper meeting to decide on the date…”
“You can even do that?”
“Yes… Perhaps because our magic power wavelengths are similar, conversing doesn’t consume much magic power.”
Perhaps feeling calm after Elria stroked her head, Tiana sniffs softly.
Ideally, Reid would have liked to end the conversation between master and apprentice there. However――he has something that he needs to ask Tiana.
“Tiana, before you go back, let me ask you one thing.”
The information that was originally thought to be lost and given up on, Tiana would be able to answer that.
“Why――did Elria lose her life?”
In response to Reid’s question, Tiana wiped her eyes and looked up. However… her expression was indescribably complex.
“I can’t give a clear answer to that.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I can tell you the cause of Elria-sama’s death, but I don’t know how it happened or whether it was the act of a third party.”
Tiana prefaced her answer and then talked about Elria’s death.
“Elria-sama was found in her laboratory, which she also used as her private room. It was heavily guarded with soldiers and various magic devices, as it housed confidential information such as magic research materials and techniques. However… there were no signs of a struggle inside the room, and there was no indication that any research results had been stolen. Elria-sama was lying in the center of the room as if she were sleeping.”
Recalling the scene from that time, Tiana’s words falter for a moment――
“And――Elria-sama had completely lost all her magic power when she passed away.”
That was the truth about Elria’s death, as revealed by Tiana.
Chapter 1 Part 4
◇
Led by Selvas, Reid and Elria were guided into the castle. There, they entered a magnificent hall adorned with dazzling decorations and designs. It was likely originally used as a place where the upper echelons of society, such as nobles and wealthy merchants, gathered, or as a venue for private celebrations by members of the royal family.
After being solemnly led into such a place――
“――This is the first ‘Battle to Determine Who Loves Elria More’!!”
As Princess Chris declared loudly, the venue erupted with cheers and applause. It was a truly lively scene.
The people gathered in the venue were not dressed in formal attire or courtly garments. Some were even wearing plain clothes, and among them were individuals in work uniforms, such as serving staff. They were probably the people working within the castle.
Most of the castle’s staff and soldiers seemed to have gathered there, as many people in the venue were enjoying themselves with food and drinks in hand. Moreover, an elaborately constructed grandiose tiered gallery was clearly prepared.
While standing on that tiered gallery, Reid spoke to Princess Chris, who was seated next to him.
“…Princess Chris, what is this about?”
“I already mentioned it earlier, didn’t I? It’s the ‘Battle to Determine Who Loves Elria More’.”
“Not that, but why are so many people gathered here?”
“We actually had plans to hold a party for the castle staff as a way to show our appreciation. So, as part of the entertainment, I invited you and Elria and took care of the planning and preparations.”
“…As outsiders, Elria and I are supposed to be part of the entertainment?”
“Yes. Elria has been coming in and out of the royal castle since childhood, and those who have long served within the castle know her well. When someone like Elria suddenly gets engaged, it’s only natural for people to be curious about her fiancé, don’t you think?”
said Princess Chris, surveying the assembled crowd.
Indeed, it seemed that many gazes were directed toward Reid.
“You will also become part of the distinguished Caldwen family from now on. It’s a good opportunity for others to become aware of the character and personality of the person who will stand above them.”
Coming from a rural commoner background, with unclear abilities and an unknown identity, there would undoubtedly be some people who feel uneasy about someone like Reid marrying into the prominent household that has supported the country.
That was why Princess Chris thought it was necessary to make Reid’s character known not only to the people and mages of the academy and a select few from the upper echelons of society but also to the people within the castle who are closer to the general population.
“We have already investigated you. Your behavior and reputation in your hometown and within the academy, your contribution to the village in a way that suits your abilities even with the stigma of being unable to use magic… I am neither young nor foolish enough to claim that you are unsuitable for Elria without considering those results.”
As she evaluated Reid, Princess Chris nodded softly. And her head sank further and further down.
“Well, personally, I feel like Elria has been stolen from me…!!”
“…I apologize for that, in a way.”
“It doesn’t matter. The fact remains that Elria chose you… I have no intention of elevating you in front of everyone or deceiving them with words about testing your love.”
As Princess Chris smiled with a hint of mischief, Selvas, holding a voice amplification magic device, climbed onto the stage and began the proceedings.
“This time, it will be a showdown between Princess Christia, who is famous for her excessive love for Elria-sama and her eccentric behavior, and Reid Frieden-sama, who has become Elria-sama’s fiancé. I, Selvas, will have the honor of serving as the host and moderator.”
“Wait a minute! I sense ill intentions in my introduction!!”
“For those working within the castle, it is a well-known fact. And precisely because everyone knows, there are high expectations for the valiant efforts of Reid-sama.”
Ignoring Princess Chris’s protest, Selvas calmly continued. Judging from his strangely accustomed manner, he must have often served as the host for such events.
“Lastly――the winner can truly be called Elria-sama’s supporter.”
As the audience focused on Reid, the tiered gallery was illuminated by magic lights devices. On top of it was a luxurious chair. And there sat――Elria, her face turning bright red as she lowered her head. Blushing up to her ears, she shrunk herself and trembled.
“T-This is so embarrassing…”
“It’s adorable to see Elria embarrassed!!”
“Princess Chris, please refrain from interrupting the proceedings to cheer for Elria-sama.”
As Princess Chris rushed to Elria’s side, Selvas immediately restrained her with chains created from magic. It was a treatment that seemed far from that of a princess.
“Now, Reid-sama, would you like to share your enthusiasm?”
“Umm… yes. Although I have only recently met Elria, as her fiancé, I will strive not only to meet her expectations but also the expectations of everyone in the audience.”
“Thank you for your wonderful enthusiasm. Now, Princess Chris, please.”
“Hmph! I have been with Elria since childhood! I can answer everything, from her likes and dislikes to the number and brands of teas she spilled during nap time!!”
“I hope that ability can be utilized for the sake of the country in the future.”
Nodding gracefully, Selvas returned to the proceedings.
“The right to answer the questions lies with the magic button device on your seats. The one who lights up the button first will be given the opportunity to answer. And Elria-sama will be in charge of reading the questions and judging the answers.”
“M-Me…? I have to do it?”
“I apologize for the trouble. However, there was a request to hear the gentle voice of quiet Elria-sama, so if you could kindly read the questions and make the judgments, I would appreciate it.”
“G-Got it…”
“And whether the answer is correct or not, please use the buttons in front of you.”
Selvas bowed deeply and handed Elria the prepared questions. However, due to nerves, her eyes were swirling as she glanced over the written questions. Elria then slowly took a deep breath――
“Th… the f-f-first q-question――”
She stuttered, just as expected. Her performance was so impeccable that she could not even reach the content of the question. Upon seeing Elria like that, Princess Chris enthusiastically hit the magic device.
“Elria is so adorableeee!!”
“Princess Chris, the question hasn’t been read out yet.”
“That was my instinct speaking!!”
“I see. However, I will have to revoke your right to answer from now on.”
As the two exchanged such banter, Elria trembled, hiding her bright red face behind the question paper. If this continued, Elria might succumb to her embarrassment and collapse.
“…I’m sorry, can I leave the reading to Selvas-san?”
“Hmm… So, she still finds it difficult to speak in public. In that case, I will handle the reading, and Elria-sama will be in charge of judging the answers.”
Adapting swiftly to the change in plans, Selvas proceeded to read the questions.
“Now, for the first question, Elria-sama’s hob――”
But before he could finish reading, Princess Chris lit up the magic device.
“――――Reading. She enjoys reading not only books but also research papers, primarily on magic.”
As Elria nodded in agreement with the answer, the sound of the correct answer resonated throughout the venue. Amidst the audience’s excitement once again, Princess Chris proudly puffed out her chest.
“Hehe, with questions like this, there’s no need to listen till the end, right?”
“……I suppose so.”
While replying to Princess Chris’s words, Reid felt anxious internally.
What just happened was not a matter of simple knowledge or memory. The questions were not prepared by Elria, so it can be inferred that their contents are understandable to others.
Princess Chris watched Selvas’s mouth movements as he read the question sheet and confirmed the word following ‘hobby’ before answering.
Capturing such subtle movements is possible for Reid as well, but she likely speculates not only from Selvas’s mouth movements but also from his intonations and habits during the reading. And undoubtedly――magic is involved.
When they first met, Princess Chris hugged Elria at an abnormal speed. Reid had witnessed a similar type of magic before. If it is the same type of magic, it would be possible to anticipate the questions based on Selvas’s mouth movements and intonations, and also thoroughly consider the possibilities in advance.
In other words, Princess Chris is genuinely here to win.
“You wouldn’t expect to end up without achieving any results as Elria’s fiancé, would you?”
Princess Chris taunted Reid with a confident smile.
This was not just any event, but a serious match.
Reid was feeling anxious to the point of seriously considering the disparity in their respective strengths and the state of the match.
While pondering on such thoughts, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of the tense atmosphere, knowing that losing this battle was not an option. Because――
“………………..”
Elria, sitting at the top, was staring at Reid intently. Her eyes were filled with sparkling anticipation. She had a look of wanting Reid to answer correctly so badly. Moreover, when their eyes met, she nodded back as if to encourage Reid, “You can do it, Reid”.
However, the match at hand is extremely unfavorable. He could not possibly beat Princess Chris in quick response rounds. And if he pressed the button before the question was confirmed and answered incorrectly, Elria would undoubtedly be disappointed. While pondering such thoughts――
“For the second question, when Elria-sama is sle――”
“Stuffed animals. Her favorite is a big, black dog named Vallee.”
The correct answer sound echoed as Princess Chris continued to answer correctly.
Throughout his countless battles and desperate situations, Reid had never experienced a situation where the path to victory was so elusive. And when he looked at Elria again――
“………………..”
Her expression seemed a little dissatisfied. She pouted slightly. However, upon closer inspection, her gaze was not directed at Reid but at Princess Chris.
Elria probably realized that she was using magic, and from their long-standing relationship, she also noticed that Princess Chris was genuinely here to win.
“…Selvas, can I ask the questions?”
“I don’t mind, but there’s a possibility that Elria-sama might stutter in a cute manner――”
“T-That happened because I was reading the question sheet…! If I just ask the questions that I come up with on the spot, I can ask them without stuttering…!”
“I understand. In that case, let’s have Elria-sama ask the questions.”
As Elria desperately explained herself, the voice amplification magic device was once again handed to her.
“Um… the third question…”
Her voice trembled slightly, but she managed to articulate the question without stuttering.
“What is my favorite seasoning when I’m really tired?”
“…It’s a very specific question, isn’t it?”
“Not really. It just came to my mind.”
Princess Chris seemed to sense something, but Elria vigorously shook her head and insisted. And naturally, Reid noticed it, too. It was obvious to anyone that Elria intended to ask a question that favored Reid.
As proof, she confidently sent him a gaze saying, “This one will be fine!”. The people in the audience who were observing the whole situation also seemed to understand what was happening, showing expressions of realization.
In the midst of all this, Reid reached out with an unusually heavy hand and pressed the button.
“…A salty seasoning with a sprinkle of salt.”
“!”
*Ding-dong, ding-dong*, Elria repeatedly triggered the correct answer sound with a look of immense joy. She then continued to ask more questions.
“For the fourth question, what criteria do I use when choosing a dish at the academy’s dining hall?”
“You choose a different dish from the one I picked. The reason is that we’ll share half of each other’s dishes later.”
“For the fifth question, what do I do after going to the large bath with Millis?”
“You stop by the dining hall and buy ice cream or sweets for both of us, then we eat them together in our room.”
“For the sixth question, what do I do before going to sleep?”
“You roll around on the bed to check the distance where you can toss and turn without hitting me.”
“Ugh…!! They’re using the questions and answers to show off their close relationship…!!”
“And Reid-sama is answering without making any mistakes. It really brings to mind the harmonious atmosphere between the two during their academy life.”
“I’m sure they even say ‘ahh’ to each other when they eat!”
“According to my research, it seems that they do that even in public places like the dining hall.”
“That’s not acceptable!! If people see Elria innocently opening her mouth and courteously moving it after putting the spoon in as she chews, the overwhelming cuteness would make the entire human race faint, you know!?”
“That may be true for Princess Chris, but I’m sure their fellow classmates would also be warmed by it, wouldn’t they?”
Upon hearing such comments from the two, the audience laughed and smiled.
Though Reid usually didn’t care about it, he felt embarrassed in front of a crowd. Sensing his discomfort, Selvas nodded before speaking up.
“Now, we’ll move on to the last question. Reid-sama has already secured victory in terms of the number of correct answers, but since this is a match to show who loves Elria-sama more, let’s aim for as many correct answers as possible.”
After that preface, Selvas prompted Elria for the last question. However… Elria lowered her head slightly, as if contemplating something.
“Elria-sama? Is something the matter?”
“…Mm, I was thinking about what to ask.”
After responding, Elria slowly opened her mouth――
“――What do I like?”
With just that short question, both Reid and Princess Chris were momentarily taken aback. They had assumed it would be a question that only Reid could answer, so their reactions were delayed. But Reid quickly snapped back to his senses and pressed the button――
“――Lukewarm milk tea.”
That was his answer. However… *buzz*, the sound of a wrong answer buzzed for the first time.
“Oh…? It appears Reid-sama has given an incorrect answer. Elria-sama, would you be so kind as to tell us the correct answer?”
When Selvas prompted for the correct answer, Elria softly shook her head.
“I won’t say it.”
“I see. Is it alright if you don’t reveal the correct answer?”
“Yeah, it’s a secret.”
Blushing slightly, Elria covered her mouth with the question sheet. However, her gaze was clearly directed at Reid. And when their eyes met, Elria happily narrowed her eyes and said to Reid once again――
“――――It’s a secret.”
Chapter 1 Part 3
◇
The next day, Reid and Elria headed towards the royal castle, taking a day off from the academy. Inside the magic vehicle, swaying with the light of the setting sun, Reid let out a deep sigh.
“That Alma… I can’t believe she forgot after keeping the invitation…”
“Alma-sensei is quite scatterbrained indeed.”
Elria nodded in agreement.
Alma had received the invitation when the treatment of Reid and Elria was being decided. Thinking that she could give it to them anytime at the academy, she had completely forgotten about it, seemingly at ease.
Then, in a rush, they went to the Caldwens’ mansion, where Alicia, the head of the household, scolded them for not contacting her until the previous day. They busily made preparations, and that brought them to the present moment.
“Well, from what I heard, it was supposed to be a personal summon from the Princess, and we had plenty of time since it was in the evening. That’s the only saving grace…”
“…But I’m not really fond of parties.”
Saying that, Elria puffed up her cheeks.
“If it was a personal summon, I could have just worn my uniform.”
“That’s not possible. The other party is a member of the royal family.”
Elria had been thoroughly dressed up at the Caldwens’ mansion today, wearing a dark blue party dress with a pure white cape, her long silver hair neatly tied up. She gave off a slightly more mature impression than usual. However, due to the unfamiliar attire, Elria seems restless and unable to calm down.
“The dress is restrictive, and I can’t move around without messing up my hair.”
“What do you plan to do at the royal castle?”
“Nothing, but I always maintain a mindset prepared for battle.”
“You had your hair done and made to look cute. It would be a waste to mess it up. Let’s behave calmly today.”
“……In that case, I’ll behave.”
Although Elria was still restless, perhaps her mood improved slightly when she received praise. She blushed faintly and nodded.
While exchanging wry smiles with Elria, the magic vehicle came to a stop in front of the castle gate. As the driver opened the door and they stepped outside, Reid raised his head.
“…I never thought the day would come when I would be here.”
The royal castle, situated in the center of the royal capital, was towering and massive, to the point where one had to look up. It was a castle that symbolized the country called Vegalta, which has remained unchanged for a thousand years. The huge castle was built by carving into and cutting through a small hill.
From anywhere in the royal capital, it could be seen, serving as a symbol of the country for the people, and revealing glimpses of the relationship between the royal family and the people, as the royal family has continued to watch over them.
Reid never thought that he, who had once belonged to an enemy nation, would have the opportunity to set foot in this place that could be called Vegalta’s sanctuary.
As Reid looked up at the sight of the royal castle――
“――We have been expecting you, Elria Caldwen-sama.”
An elderly butler who had been waiting in front of the gate bowed respectfully toward Reid and Elria.
“And you must be Reid Frieden-sama, am I correct?”
“Yes. We have been invited by Her Royal Highness the Princess and have come here.”
“Thank you very much for your courtesy. I am Selvas, the head butler, serving as the personal attendant to Her Royal Highness the Princess. Please remember that from now on.”
Once again, Reid slightly bowed in response to Selvas’s bow. Peeking out from behind Reid’s back, Elria also bowed with only her face showing.
“I am glad to see that Elria-sama has not changed.”
“…………Mm.”
“…I apologize. She tends to be shy around people.”
“Yes, I am aware. Elria-sama has been acquainted with Her Royal Highness since childhood and would always hide behind Alicia-sama whenever she visited.”
Selvas chuckled amicably, but one can easily imagine how many times Alicia, Elria’s mother, felt a chill down her spine seeing her unchanged attitude even towards the royal family, her superiors. Moreover, there was something different about her behavior, unlike her usual shyness.
While tightly holding onto Reid’s sleeve and hiding behind his back, she remained the same, but for some reason, she seemed unusually wary, constantly looking around.
“…Selvas, where is she?”
“Please rest assured. Her Royal Highness is waiting inside the castle.”
“……Really?”
“Yes. I used my magic to personally keep her bound.”
Although Selvas maintained a courteous demeanor and bowed his head, Reid felt like he heard some strange words. However, upon hearing those words, Elria let out a sigh of relief and stood next to Reid.
“…Mm, if it’s Selvas’s magic, I can rest easy.”
“That is an unworthy compliment. I am extremely honored to receive praise for my magic from Elria-sama, who is known as the reincarnation of the Sage and possesses remarkable abilities.”
said Selvas with a cheerful smile, then led the two of them toward the castle gate.
“I will guide you inside the castle. The preparations to welcome both of you have already been completed――”
Just as Selvas spoke those words, the castle gate opened with a resounding sound――
Right next to Reid, something golden passed by.
A moment later, a loud crash was heard from behind.
“……Huh?”
Reid instinctively turned around and found Elria once again hiding behind him as a shield. Moreover, she had a pale expression and was trembling uncontrollably.
“Hey, what’s wrong, Elria?”
“Reid…! Let’s run away right now…!!”
“What? Run away from what?”
Perplexed by Elria’s desperate plea, Reid tilted his head in confusion. However, Selvas rubbed his chin in a troubled manner and narrowed his eyes.
“Hmm… It seems that Her Royal Highness has managed to escape in five minutes and thirty-five seconds this time. That’s a new record.”
“Um… What do you mean by ‘escape’?”
“Of course, it refers to Her Royal Highness the Princess.”
Immediately after Selvas gave his matter-of-fact answer, a figure emerged from the shadows behind them. Her platinum blonde hair shone brilliantly in the evening sun. Her eyebrows, elegantly arched, gave her a lively impression, while her light blue eyes resembled the blue sky.
“――Finally! You’ve arrived, Elria!!”
The girl shouted, placing her hand on her hip.
In this country, there is no one who does not know her appearance and name.
The Kingdom of ‘Vegalta’, named after its reclamation efforts in cultivating virgin land, was established. It grew into a powerful nation through prosperous trade utilizing abundant resources, eventually rivaling the Altein Empire, which occupied over half of the continent. The royal family has continued to rule the country for several generations.
That is why they are allowed to bear the name of the one and only royal family.
The beloved daughter of the current king, who is a part of that great lineage.
The First Princess of the Vegalta Magic Kingdom――Christia von Vegalta.
“I can’t believe it! Even though I have graduated from the academy and are finally free, you never come no matter how many times I call for you!”
While saying that, Princess Christia walked towards them with a pout, clearly angry.
“I really――wanted to see you so muchhhh!!”
Suddenly accelerating her movements, Princess Christia embraced Elria tightly. She then rubbed her cheek against Elria’s, wearing a blissful expression.
“Mmm! This smooth skin! This silky hair! I feel like I’m replenishing three years’ worth of Elria essence that I couldn’t get during my confinement at the academy all at once!”
“Chris… Please stop ingesting mysterious essences from me every time…”
While Princess Christia had a delighted expression, Elria accepted the cheek rubbing with a resigned look on her face. As Reid stood dumbfounded, Selvas lowered his head apologetically.
“I apologize for this unsightly scene. When Princess Christia is in the presence of Elria-sama, she tends to lose herself a little.”
“…Well, from what I gather, it seems like they haven’t seen each other in a while.”
“Yes. She has adored Elria-sama like a younger sister since childhood, and the king strictly ordered me not to allow her to return home until she graduated from the academy, precisely because she loves Elria-sama so much.”
Seeing the princess happily frolicking and giggling, one could easily imagine the kind of relationship the two had built since childhood. While observing the two, the Princess turned her sharp gaze toward Reid.
“So, you’re Reid Frieden, huh!?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess. I recently visited the Caldwen――”
“Skip the formalities, it’s too bothersome!”
“……My apologies. I am Reid Frieden.”
“And if you’re Elria’s fiancé, I permit you to call me Chris, too! So, I’ll address you without honorifics as well!!”
“Thank you for your consideration, Princess Chris.”
“Excellent! Now we can skip the bothersome formalities!”
Princess Chris nodded satisfactorily. Reid had assumed that, being a princess, she would have a reserved and modest image, but she seemed to have a bold personality, much like Alicia.
Just as Reid was thinking that, Princess Chris firmly pointed her finger at him.
“I don’t acknowledge you completely yet, Reid Frieden!!”
“……What do you mean by that?”
“Because if I don’t acknowledge the engagement, Elria will dislike me, you know!?”
“I see. So ‘that’ is doubting my abilities, is that correct?”
Reid preemptively responded, and Chris was slightly surprised before composing her expression.
“Yes. It’s hard for me to believe that you possess abilities comparable to Elria’s, even though you cannot use magic.”
Her words likely stemmed from her perspective as someone who had witnessed Elria’s growth since childhood, rather than just her position as a member of Vegalta’s royal family.
“The testimonies from Alicia, the head of the Caldwen family, as well as your direct confrontation with Galleon, and your bare-handed interception of the magic from Alma Kanos, a special rank mage. Furthermore, the recent incident where you made an entire designated danger zone disappear without using magic… It’s impossible to believe that you achieved all that without magic!”
“To be frank, my honest reaction would be, ‘What nonsense are you talking about?’.”
“Oh, so you’re aware of it?”
“And is it safe to assume that you called us here to assess my abilities?”
“…Hmm, you seem strangely accustomed to this situation.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m accustomed, but I have mentally prepared myself for it, as I anticipate it happening more frequently in the future. After all, it’s an ambiguous power, and those who are knowledgeable about magic are often the most skeptical.”
There are undoubtedly many people, including Princess Chris, who would not be convinced until they see with their own eyes, despite hearing rumors or reports.
Until now, the discussions had been limited to within the academy, but news of the recent incident had spread to the royal family and the Mage’s Association.
In addition to the doubts about Reid, there may also be individuals who consider his abilities as yet unseen magic, triggering their intellectual curiosity and a desire to witness it firsthand.
“Even though my limited knowledge may not suffice, if we have exceptional mages like Elria and the brilliant mages that Vegalta boasts, it is possible that they can unravel this power. Therefore, I thought that by showcasing my abilities, I could be of assistance in furthering the development of magic techniques.”
“I see… You are more capable than I had anticipated.”
“Yes, isn’t he amazing?”
Looking pleased that Reid had been praised, Elria nodded repeatedly. It seemed that she had regained some vitality, which was a relief. However, with Elria in her arms, Princess Chris laughed triumphantly.
“But… my lack of acknowledgement is not only about your abilities.”
“In that case… is it about my origin?”
“No. While it is unprecedented for a branch of the royal family like the Caldwens to marry a commoner, those matters can be resolved by achieving evaluations that overshadow one’s origin. In fact, many people are paying attention to your abilities.”
Then, Princess Chris continued――
“What I am going to test is――your ‘love’ for Elria!!“
She boldly declared it, despite feeling a little embarrassed.