“Otsupain, here I come!”
With slightly theatrical flair, Otsupain assumed a stance with his wooden training sword and charged at Hanako, taking the lead.
“Kk, what tremendous pressure.”
“Hmm, it’s not the white thing from Ren.O, nor the red thing that can move at three times the speed.”
Otsupain was overwhelmed by Hanako’s immense magic power, his footing gradually deteriorating until he could no longer move.
“I’m taking Hanako’s magical pressure. Attack now while you can!”
“As expected of the captain. To shield us all yourself, that’s truly amazing. We won’t let your sacrifice be in vain!”
” ” ” Ooh!” ” ”
“Hey, don’t kill me off. I’m perfectly fine.”
While Otsupain single-handedly endured Hanako’s pressure, the other Holy Knights readied their wooden swords and lunged at Hanako.
“Hmm, futile. I can use multiple spells simultaneously.”
“Wha- what?! Uwah!”
“Gyyaa!”
“Guh!”
As Hanako spoke, multiple fireballs and water balls, about the size of tennis balls, appeared and were fired at the charging Holy Knights. They hit one after another, blowing them away.
“We’ve lost over 50% in the first volley. This is annihilation right from the start.”
“Al, if you have time to say that, you should go treat the injured.”
Saying so, Al and Emily immediately began treating the injured.
“Huh? Emily, could you use recovery magic outside the store?”
Kent recalled that Emily’s recovery magic had activation conditions, limiting its use to when injured inside the store. However, the sanctuary was considered outside the store, so the conditions for using recovery magic were not met.
“It seems I’ve been able to use recovery magic even when I’m about 100 meters away from the store for a while now.”
“Oh, is that so? That’s why Catherine told me to help.”
It appeared Emily had powered up further without anyone noticing. Hearing from Catherine that the activation conditions had been relaxed, Kent understood.
“Yes, you’re healed.”
“Ah, thank you. Incredible, the wound has completely closed.”
The Holy Knights were amazed by the power of Al and Emily’s recovery magic.
“Those who have recovered, re-enter the battle. Time is limited. Hurry, hurry.”
“Y-yes!”
Catherine urged the recovered Holy Knights to return to the fight immediately, as if chasing them.
“Uwah!”
“Guh!”
“I will recover you now~”
“I’ll recover you too.”
Al and Emily healed the Holy Knights, who were repeatedly blown away, as if it were simple work. Those whose wounds healed grasped their wooden swords again and charged at Hanako one after another.
“Kya!”
“Otsupain, are you alright?”
“Sorry. I almost hit Kent.”
Suddenly, a girl fell in front of Kent. It was Otsupain, but whether it was from the magic or the impact of hitting the ground, she was bleeding from her forehead. The blood dripped down, staining a part of the white Holy Knight armor. Kent hurriedly helped Otsupain up and asked if she was alright.
“Ah, I’m fine. Injuries are part of training.”
“Hmm, stop fooling around over there, she’s coming at you immediately.”
As Kent and Otsupain gazed at each other, Hanako, uncharacteristically, raised her voice and taunted Otsupain.
“Otsupain, you don’t have to push yourself.”
“I’ll accept your feelings. Uooorrrryaaa!”
Otsupain renewed her fighting spirit and charged at Hanako. However, she was immediately hit by a water ball in the abdomen and sent flying.
“I’ll heal you!”
Hanako, with a pleased look on her face, advanced towards the blown-away Otsupain.
“I’m starting to find this boring just watching. I guess it’s time for me to join in.”
Saying so, Elnet, who had been observing, extended her special police baton and took a stance.
“Well then, Kent. I’m going. When you return safely, it’ll be with me.”
“Elnet, if you say that, you might not be able to come back.”
“Hahaha, just kidding. I’m off then.”
Elnet seemed to know the implications of her words. It was what was commonly called a “flag,” though she wasn’t sure if it existed in this world or if her sister had put it into her head. She laughed it off as a joke and joined the mock battle.
“Hanako, it’s my turn to fight.”
“Hmm, you’re more than enough. Come at me.”
When Hanako and Elnet faced each other, the Holy Knights stopped moving and watched the proceedings.
“Haa, haa, time for a short break.”
“Ah, Otsupain. Good work.”
Panting heavily, Otsupain came to Kent’s side. In the confusion, the Holy Knights had completely stopped for a break.
“No one said you could take a break. Fine, watching is also studying.”
Catherine, with a resigned expression, tacitly allowed the Holy Knights their break.
“Nn, nnn, haaa!”
“Kk, yaa, toyaa!”
“As expected of Elnet-san, deflecting the magic attacks.”
Hanako created multiple fireballs and water balls, previously used against the Holy Knights, and irregularly threw them at Elnet. But Elnet swung her special police baton and deflected them all. Otsupain exclaimed in surprise at the sight.
“Nn, as expected of a weapon that received the Master’s divine power. The attacks aren’t landing well. But!”
As Hanako spoke, the fireballs and water balls doubled in size.
“Nn, here I go!”
“Bring it on!”
Hanako stopped the enlarged fireballs and water balls, as if to show their increased power. Then, she launched them all at Elnet at once.
“Guh, their weight and power are drastically different from before. Each one is completely different!”
Even as she said this, Elnet deflected the attacking fireballs and water balls with her special police baton.
“Nn, how about these?”
“S-surely, with these, it’s my limit. Impossible, Eeeek!”
Hanako further increased the size of the fireballs and water balls and threw them at Elnet. Even Elnet was at her limit for defense, and they hit her body one after another, sending her flying.
“Even Elnet-sama has her limits around here. Well then, I’ll heal you.”
“Al, I’m sorry.”
Al ran towards the blown-away Elnet. He then used his recovery magic to heal her injured body.
“Okay, okay, break time is over. Everyone, go fight!”
“It can’t be helped, everyone, let’s go!”
” ” ” Ooh!” ” ”
When Catherine declared the break over and urged the Holy Knights on, Otsupain gave the order, and they reluctantly resumed training.
“Uwah.”
“Ouch.”
“It hurts.”
A considerable amount of time had passed since the training began. The sun had begun to set, and the sky was turning orange. The training, with Hanako as the instructor, was still ongoing. However, even Elnet and Otsupain had not managed to land a single hit on Hanako yet.
“It’s going pretty well.”
Catherine watched with great satisfaction. Many had been injured, but Al and Emily treated them each time. No one had been withdrawn due to injury, and the intense training, exceeding human limits, continued.
“It just looks like they’re getting beaten to a pulp.”
“Is that how it looks to you, Kent?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
To Kent’s eyes, Elnet and the Holy Knights seemed to be getting thoroughly beaten, but Catherine seemed to have a different perspective.
“Actually, I haven’t changed the strength of the magic Hanako is using at all. But, please observe the state of everyone after the magic hits.”
At Catherine’s words, Kent looked towards the Holy Knights. He happened to spot a Holy Knight about to be hit by a water ball from Hanako and focused on him.
“Kk, nn, guhah.”
“Ah, he’s enduring two hits.”
“That’s right. When we started, everyone was blown away by a single hit, weren’t they? But now, how are they?”
“I see, no one is blown away by a single hit anymore.”
Kent understood what Catherine was getting at.
“Originally, everyone except Elnet-san has magic power. Those with magic power gradually develop magic resistance by
receiving magic attacks multiple times. The purpose of this training was to make you aware of magic’s existence, and this is it.”
Catherine explained the true purpose of the training.
“Then, Elnet won’t develop magic resistance?”
“It’s not that she won’t develop it at all, but I don’t think it will be very effective. However, in Elnet’s case, as you can see, she can eliminate them physically. I think this is a valuable opportunity to gain experience in magic combat.”
Catherine spoke about Elnet, who was outside the scope of the current objective.
“Well, Al and Emily’s magic power is also diminishing, so it’s probably about time. Everyone, stop training and gather.”
As Catherine said this, everyone stopped training and assembled in formation.
“Everyone, thank you for your hard work. I believe this training has been a valuable experience for you all. Now, say your thanks to the instructors who served today.”
” ” ” Thank you very much.” ” ”
“Yes, that was well spoken. Now, I will pass on the continuation to the Captain.”
“Pant, pant, eh?”
Otsupain, still not having recovered her breath after the intense training, was flustered when suddenly called upon.
“Ev-everyone, good work. Today’s training ends here. Everyone, rest your bodies and focus on your next mission.”
” ” ” Yes.” ” ”
“Now, dismissed!”
After everyone saluted, the training ended, and they were dismissed.
“Master! My magic power is about to run out.”
“I’m sorry. I also overdid it. Um, could you please replenish my magic power?”
“Nn, I worked hard too. I want magic replenishment too.”
After dismissal, Al, Emily, and Hanako approached Kent. They all pestered him for magic replenishment.
“Understood. I’ll keep my evening free today.”
” ” ” Yay!” ” ”
As Kent said this, the three fairies clasped hands in joy.
“Seeing as the three of them worked so hard, I’ll yield to them today.”
“You’re giving in so easily.”
Elnet and Catherine, who were watching, spoke while predicting what the four of them would do next.
