[V5C9] The First Casualty
Translated by Jodas 5: The Magic Battle— What tools should we make to prepare us for the magic battle?
When Wren posited that question during their discussions, Sevil excitedly jumped out of her chair to speak.
“Hahaha, the time has come for me to reveal the ultimate secret weapon I have devised! A high-firepower, long-ranged, high-precision, and high-mobility magical battle chariot!”
“Yep, denied.”
Wren shot her idea down on the spot with an exasperated expression. Next, it was Oliver who rose his hand.
“Then I shall reveal the strongest spear I can envision. First, it must be two and a half times my height, and…”
“Denied! That’s enough of a child’s idea of the strongest weapon, you guys!”
Wren shouted angrily, prompting Sevil and Oliver to reply in all seriousness.
“What are you talking about, Wren? My heart is always filled with forward-facing ambition!”
“Indeed. My strongest spear is the product of constant revisions and improvements.”
Both adults were entirely serious, and Wren could only reply by covering his face with both hands and falling to his knees.
To Wren’s side, Ella tried to mediate.
“Let’s focus on things we can realistically make, okay? Rukiye already has her hands full working to improve the Magical Flying Device and the curved sword, so…”
Rukiye nodded solemnly to Ella’s words.
“There’s a limit to the materials I can use. If you can bring your own materials like Sevil, then of course it would be a different story.”
Among the Apprentice Mages, the only one who had studied magical device production was Rukiye.
Gerald and Finn often went in and out of the Management Office, but they only performed basic errands, so it would be hard to claim they actually have any experience making magical devices.
Gerald considered.
(… Do we really need something so complicated?)
Even an ordinary rock could be an invaluable throwing weapon on the battlefield.
Gerald wasn’t very familiar with magical devices, so he would have issues handling a weapon that was too complicated.
When it came to battle, he didn’t want to say too much, but here Gerald felt he had to speak up.
“Um…”
Everyone turned to look at him.
Gerald shrunk in his seat and blocked the gazes with his long bangs. Then, he continued to speak.
“I’m not really good at using very complex things…”
“Me too. I don’t think I’ll be able to use a tool that amazing…”
Finn reluctantly agreed with Gerald’s words. Julius then cackled as he stroked the wring on his finger.
“Kuku. Just like Agniol, too much power can be a burden in its own right.”
A voice shouted “That’s rude, young master!” But Julius did not dignify it with a response.
For a while afterwards, the conversation drifted away from the ‘strongest weapon,’ but ultimately the consensus landed on Wren’s concept of the tubes and drawing boards.
The tubes would protect the inscription magic paper, and had the bonus of making them easier to throw at the enemy.
Then, there were the drawing boards. These had the benefit of serving as simple shields in a pinch. Even though such thin drawing boards ordinarily wouldn’t be any use as shields, because the magic battle took place within a barrier that had the effect of nullifying physical attacks, even thin boards could serve as excellent shields.
Then, to add an additional twist, Rukiye suggested tuning up the drawing boards with a simple magical device.
“We’ll attach supporting metal brackets on the four corners of the drawing board. If we embed tiny stones in these metal brackets and turn them into basic magical devices, you’ll be able to pour mana into the edges of the drawing board. This would let us make the most of our limited supplies.”
They could pour mana into the edge of their drawing boards. That really was all this magical device let them do.
Regardless, by coating it in mana, it could be useful as a weapon in the magic battle.
Gerald considered Rukiye’s suggestion and raised a question.
“Would you not be able to pour mana onto the faces of the drawing board too?”
“It’s possible, but the mana density would thin out. If you hit someone with that, it wouldn’t do a whole lot of damage.”
What they would turn into a weapon would be the sides of the drawing boards — just a thin edge. It was a strict restriction.
It didn’t sound very useable against Frederik, a master of the spear.
(Still…)
He didn’t think he would be able to stand toe-to-toe with Frederik.
Regardless, when push came to shove, he could use it to at least buy some time.
With that in mind, Gerald made a request.
“Please make a board like that for me.”
“HAAAHHHH!”
Gerald parried Frederik’s spear with his shield, then twisted his body to slam the side of his shield into Frederik.
However, just as the drawing board made contact, Frederik twisted his body and jumped up with flight magic.
(When up against a spear, close the distance. Get up in their face.)
Gerald jumped up and swung his drawing board horizontally. Frederik caught it with the shaft of his spear.
“You’ve got good movements.”
Murmuring, Frederik backed off. To keep the right distance for his spear.
The weakness of a spear user shows when their enemy is directly in their face. However, Frederik could use flight magic to rapidly move as if sliding across the ground. He had no difficulty keeping his distance.
Gerald muttered weakly.
“I thought you’d back off.”
As Frederik eyed Gerald cautiously, he slid back with his flight magic.
Behind him, Sevil swung with her curved sword.
Her sword let off a faint blue glow. She’d activated her ice magic sword. With the work that had been done to her hand guard, the cold would no longer spread to freeze Sevil’s hand.
“Hyah!”
With a ripping shout of exertion, Sevil brought down her curved sword.
Rose would use his defensive barriers to guard them against long-range attacks.
If Frederik decided to close the distance and attack them directly, then it was up to Gerald and Sevil, who were the most skilled at close-quarters combat, to deal with him.
That was the plan they’d decided on in advance. To that end, Gerald and Sevil had practiced their coordinated attacks.
Gerald would stand in front, with Sevil in the back.
Sandwiched between them, Frederik should be in serious danger. However, just before the curved sword could make contact, Frederik bent his body dramatically to the side and spun his spear around.
Such a movement would ordinarily be impossible and would only lead to him tripping and falling. However, since Frederik had mastered flight magic, he was able to bring his spear to bear without losing his balance or falling over.
Gerald leaned back to dodge it — or, he intended to.
At that point, he felt a pain as if his chest had been sliced open. At the same time, Sevil screamed in pain, holding her shoulder.
(It’s like I was cut by an invisible blade… Wind!?)
Sevil, with her large mana reserves, was far from being knocked out.
On the other hand, Gerald felt the sensation of his mana being drained to the absolute limit. He probably wouldn’t withstand another attack.
Frederik didn’t stop at that. He accelerated with his flight magic and lunged at Gerald.
Desperately, Gerald tried to block the attack with his drawing board.
(…What inhuman movements.)
No matter how much of a master you are, if your center of gravity reached a certain point, you’d fall over.
However, Frederik’s flight magic allowed him to make movements that would otherwise be impossible for a human.
When he dodged their attacks, he flapped around like a ribbon waving in the breeze. Then, when he made attacks himself, he seemed to turn entirely into a spear flying at them, his spindly limbs and all.
(I’ve fought spear wielders before… but this is the first time I’ve ever seen someone who blended it so seamlessly with flight magic.)
Flight magic was an incredibly difficult form of magecraft to utilize.
Just getting to the point where you could fly was a challenge in itself, but combining it so well with a weapon required untold talent and training.
Compared to Gerald, who ran away, the difference with someone who continued to devote himself to his training was clear.
“Are you not going to use your sword?”
While swinging his spear, Frederik asked him. His voice sounded more pitying than anything.
Gerald’s hands, gripping the drawing board, shook imperceptibly.
“I don’t know why a kid like you came to the Wedge Tower, but…”
Frederik’s spear became wreathed in wind, and the howling of that wind echoed out.
A big attack was coming.
“If you aren’t willing to take up your weapon, then don’t come to the Extermination Office.”
The moment Frederik moved to fire the wind out of his spear, Sevil once again swung at Frederik’s back with her curved sword.
Frederik jumped high, dodging Sevil’s attack.
“Ngh…”
Sevil grunted, and stopped her movements. If she kept following through with her curved sword, she realized it would end up cutting right into Gerald.
Frederik wouldn’t allow that opening to go unpunished. He aimed the point of his spear at Sevil.
(Shoot! If she gets knocked out, our chances of winning are…!)
What can he do? As his mind scrambled to find an answer, Gerald saw something. Wren had poured mana into a tube and was throwing it towards them.
It was futile to hope that a thrown tube would have a chance of hitting Frederik as he casually flew around with flight magic. The tube passed right by Frederik.
Then, something tiny jumped out. The smallest among the Apprentices: the slowest runner, Finn.
“YAAAHHHH!!”
Finn desperately ran and jumped with his drawing board as a shield.
Then, he swatted the tube back towards Frederik with that drawing board.
A ball of lightning emerged from the tube and sparkled in the space between Finn and Frederik.
“Finn!”
Gerald shouted just as Finn was hit by a ball of wind that sent him rolling across the ground.
Frederik withstood the ball of lighting while sending a ball of wind at Finn. As he rolled across the ground, Finn’s eyes spun.
The bracelet on Finn’s wrist flickered.
“Finn Nohl, knocked out. Please leave the arena immediately.”
They heard Röhm’s voice boom from the skies, announcing Finn’s defeat.