The world before my eyes was a white sandy expanse that stretched as far as the sight could reach.
The glaring sunlight made the surrounding temperature feel even hotter.
In an environment where one would normally become sluggish from the high temperature, Kousuke was testing the fairies’ power with Mitsuki and Colette.
“Explosion!”
The moment Mitsuki’s voice was heard, a ball of flame was unleashed from her palm.
Just before that ball directly hit the box placed on the sand, Kousuke moved.
“Noel, protect.”
Following that instruction, the next instant Noel appeared, and an explosion resounded around them.
This was the effect caused by the magic Mitsuki had unleashed.
Along with the loud noise, the sand around the point of explosion scattered outwards.
For Mitsuki, the magic used this time was not particularly strong.
However, a radius of about one meter around the explosion site was gouged out by the blast.
But the center remained in its original form as if nothing had happened.
The box that had been placed in the center remained perfectly intact.
This was proof that Noel’s barrier had worked properly.
By the way, the box placed in the center was just a dummy; it contained nothing.
“The effect is sufficient.”
Mitsuki, standing next to Kousuke, said this as she confirmed the remaining box.
Before Kousuke stood Noel, happy that the job was done safely.
While giving Noel a reward of divine power, Kousuke gazed intently at the box.
“The range and power seem to be completely fine. That’s good.”
“You only gave the instruction through imagination?”
“Yes, that’s right. It seems to have been conveyed properly.”
“Normally, you’d give instructions using words, wouldn’t you?”
Colette’s expression turned somewhat astonished.
When using the power of fairies or spirits, you must first convey a proper image.
In order to convey the image more concretely, you need to use incantations or words for instructions.
This is no different from normal magic or divine arts.
With magic and divine arts, there are techniques for shortening incantations and for casting without chanting.
Spirit arts also have these, of course, but in the case of spirit arts, which involve fairies or spirits, incantations are a very important element for properly conveying one’s own image.
It’s impossible to convey an image simply with a single word like Kousuke just did.
“Was it something like ‘just a feeling’?”
Kousuke himself couldn’t explain specifically how he did it.
He simply conveyed the image he conceived to the fairy when giving them divine power.
It’s something he does almost instinctively, so it’s difficult to explain in words.
“That being the case, it’s strange that you can’t use Fairy Language.”
“Ugh…!”
That’s right. Although Kousuke can normally command fairies, he still can’t use Fairy Language.
Even though it’s called Fairy Language, the ability to converse in Fairy Language is with spirits; when dealing with fairies, normal conversation is possible.
In fact, the gnome standing before him could speak normally.
The reason why it’s called Fairy Language instead of Spirit Language is unclear, but the fact that fairies and spirits are generally considered to be not much different also plays a role.
In terms of usable power, fairies are more powerful than spirits, but because there are generally few people who can use fairies, their recognition is low.
Furthermore, even those who can use fairies cannot use particularly powerful fairies.
As a result, the general public is under the mistaken impression that fairies and spirits are not much different.
“Next, I’ll try, so Mitsuki, please.”
“Understood.”
After confirming the results, it was Colette’s turn.
Just like before, Mitsuki used magic, and Colette defended against it using spirit arts.
This time also, the box was properly protected.
However, there was a big difference between the spirit arts Colette used and the instruction Kousuke gave to Noel.
“Do I have to say the incantation that much?”
Kousuke’s instruction, which was completed in a single word, was, in Colette’s case, like a proper incantation.
“Hmm… I don’t feel like I can convey my image properly without saying the incantation.”
“If the incantation doesn’t finish in time, it’s pointless, isn’t it?”
When life is on the line, there’s no room to chant a lengthy incantation, so they are made as short as possible.
Nevertheless, it is undeniable that the time spent chanting is a significant opening.
Moreover, if the incantation doesn’t finish in time, everything becomes void.
“That’s true… but choosing an incantation that finishes in time is also a skill.”
“Ah, I see.”
Incidentally, in both magic and divine arts, it is considered better to be able to use higher-level spells with shortened incantations rather than training for unchanted casting.
This allows one to choose spells with greater effects more quickly.
Of course, there are those who prioritize speed and acquire unchanted casting for low-effect spells, but they are a minority.
It’s not possible to rapidly cast magic silently like Kouhi or Mitsuki can.
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After confirming the difference with Colette, they began serious combat training with Mitsuki.
Of course, at first, both were holding back.
Mainly Mitsuki.
She gradually increased the level of magic used, casting spells while checking Kousuke’s reaction speed.
Colette, watching this, gradually changed her expression to one of astonishment.
At first, she watched with a feeling of “well, that’s possible,” but it gradually became beyond a joke.
The magic unleashed by Mitsuki had already reached a power level that was impossible for an ordinary person.
The magic Mitsuki was unleashing was not some unknown magic.
Among high-level wizards and divine arts users, there might be those who could use it.
However, there would be a condition: if they chanted for a sufficient amount of time.
Or, by working in groups and taking turns, a similar result could be achieved.
If anyone saw this scene and realized it was one person unleashing it, they would likely doubt their eyes.
However, what would make them doubt their eyes even more would be Kousuke’s existence, who was defending against it all.
Kousuke was defending using the power of fairies, but he wasn’t just maintaining an enhanced barrier.
Each time Mitsuki cast a spell, he was re-erecting the barrier.
Colette wondered why he would go to such trouble, but she quickly understood.
The magic Mitsuki was unleashing was incompatible with the barrier Kousuke was maintaining.
If he didn’t erect it properly, it would easily penetrate the barrier.
For this reason, he was specifically giving new instructions to the fairies to re-erect the barrier.
He could probably erect a barrier that would defend against all attacks from the start, but Mitsuki would never give him that opening.
As a result, the exchange of continuously casting magic and defending against it continued.
“Is this about it?”
Mitsuki suddenly stopped casting magic while they still seemed to have some leeway.
“Yes, it is.”
Kousuke nodded in agreement.
“You still seem to have plenty of room!”
Colette tilted her head as the two approached her.
“Of course, we have room, but it’s training. There’s no need to push ourselves to the absolute limit.”
“We’ve also identified our next challenges, so today is enough.”
To Colette, it looked like they were fighting without any gaps, but both Kousuke and Mitsuki seemed to have found their respective issues.
“How strong do you intend to become?” I couldn’t help but sigh.
“And speaking of which, Kousuke, are you only focused on defense?”
In the current training, Mitsuki was the only one attacking, and Kousuke was barely attacking at all.
“Mitsuki would never show an opening for me to attack.”
“Besides, in a pinch, either Kouhi or I will attack. You don’t need to train specifically for that.”
While fairy power could be used for offense, what Kousuke, with Kouhi and Mitsuki by his side, needed most was the power to protect his life.
At present, there was no particular need to enhance his offensive power.
The three, having tried various things and identified their respective challenges, would strive for further improvement based on today’s results.
This chapter intentionally does not specify when it takes place.
It is left to the readers’ imagination.
