Laurentz’s seemingly short-sighted answer was correct. By directing the released magic power towards his own head, his body became lighter.
“How absurd—but, I commend you. You saw through my invisible wind well.”
Even if the invisible pressure wasn’t wind, he reasoned that by releasing magic upwards, it could either cancel out or hold back the downward force. He slowly stood up and ceased using magic. The invisible pressure was gone. It seemed he had dispelled it upon having his magic revealed.
Given the constant burden, the man must also have been using magic similarly. Needless to say, the strain must have been considerable. Glancing back with only his eyes, Michaela was already gone.
“If you wish to pursue Michaela, you’ll have to defeat me first.”
“I have one question to ask you.”
“Speak.”
“Do you—or rather, do you all—truly understand what it means to target Lars?”
Laurentz’s resolve would be solidified by the answer to this question.
“Of course, we understand. We came to the Academy today with full comprehension. It’s not something you should be asking now.”
“Is that so—Then, I will hold back no longer. Not as a member of the Herring Count Family of the Wethered Kingdom, but as a friend, I will protect them.”
“Brave words. I admire your feelings for your friend, but I am not so weak as to be defeated by some sheltered noble.”
The two glared at each other.
“I will defeat you and protect my friend.”
“Very well. Vice Commander Assistant of the Royal Mage Corps, Trois Heerlen. That is the name of the one who will kill you. Do remember it.”
“My name is Laurentz Herring—Just a magician.”
The moment the two declared their names, their released magic clashed.
“Nngh!”
“—k!”
“Wonderful! As expected of a Court Mage Candidate!”
While receiving Trois’s praise, Laurentz unleashed one spell after another without incantation. Numerous stone spears materialized and surged towards his adversary, the assistant deputy commander, as if to impale him. However, with a short incantation, he unleashed blades of wind that shattered the stone spears.
The shattered stone spears destroyed the corridor with a deafening roar, but the target remained unscathed. Instead of incantations, he raised his arms overhead and drew a small circle. Then, he began to write a simplified magic circle within the circle, using ancient magical language that has been passed down to the present day. In a mere few seconds, he completed the magic circle and poured magic into it.
“This is, could it be—”
“It’s a simplified combat magic formula, a specialty of Adelina Bischof!”
This was an original magic technique by Court Mage Adelina Bischof, created to facilitate the frequent use of powerful magic on the battlefield, surpassing even incantationless spells. Although not a formal disciple, Laurentz’s talent in technical aspects was recognized, and she passed it on to him. While it consumed a few seconds, unlike incantationless magic, he had learned through practical experience that he could buy time by first unleashing an incantationless spell as a feint.
The simplified combat magic formula, devised by Adelina—who struggled with offense among Court Mages—to compensate with a high volume of attacks, was a perfect match for Laurentz. Moreover, the ability to unleash multiple spells with minimal magic consumption was highly desirable and appreciated. Stone blades were unleashed one after another from the magic circle, assailing the opposing Trois.
“Ggu—Ngaaaaaaaaah!”
The wind attempted to defend him and block the attacks, but the stone blades, gushing like a torrent from the magic circle, killed the wind and wounded Trois. The attacks of an Earth Elemental Mage were simple: to create weapons that could injure the opponent as imagined. Simple, yet among elemental magic, its offensive power was the greatest.
Even if it couldn’t burn vast areas like Fire Attribute Magic, or attack freely like Water Attribute Magic, it could reliably inflict damage regardless of the opponent. It was a pragmatic thought, unbefitting of a magician, but Laurentz had learned through training with two Court Mages that magic wasn’t everything on the battlefield. He had also learned, all too well, the reason his friend carried a knife. It was always human hands that took lives. There was no need for reasons like “because it’s magic” or “because it’s a weapon.” And no need to categorize. He hadn’t lost his pride as a magician. Quite the opposite—He learned and understood that if he willed it, he could perform far more attacks in an instant than a knight, shoot from further distances than an archer, and traverse the battlefield faster than a spearfighter.
“Now, I have something I need to ask you.”
Laurentz stopped his attacks, dispelled the magic circle, and spoke quietly. The Vice Commander Assistant, who had been preparing to fight with confidence, was now a shadow of his former self, defeated. His body was torn apart by countless blades, and he lay bleeding, not only unable to move under the crushing weight of the stone but also groaning.
“Impossible… that I, a mere student…”
“This is a battlefield. You should not have been arrogant, even if your opponent was as inexperienced as I am.”
He approached the man who was spitting blood and asked, “What are you planning? As far as I know, Leonard Gallagher was a respected individual who worked for the country.”
“Hah—Naïve, boy. You wouldn’t understand Lord Leonard’s intentions.”
“I know you are trying to gather personnel. You are luring students into the Royal Mage Corps with persuasive words, preparing for some kind of battle. I wondered why students, but there are few places that gather aspiring magicians as well as the Academy.”
If they wanted capable magicians, even students from the Royal Academy would be insufficient. However, if they simply needed pawns for battle, there was no better place to gather them. It was easy to understand how simple it would be to manipulate teenagers who harbored dissatisfaction and resentment. Laurentz himself still remembered his immaturity when he was swayed by unconfirmed rumors. It was easy to imagine that students who had never experienced hardship would readily follow if they were given sweet promises that dismissed their grievances by someone they admired. But—for what purpose were they gathering students and stockpiling forces to such an extent? That remained unclear.
“If you continue to be stubborn, your situation won’t improve. It’s not too late yet. Provide information and atone for your sins.”
“Foolish—!”
“—What did you say?”
Laurentz’s eyes widened. Trois, who should have no longer been able to move, had blasted wind at the stones that were restraining his body. It was fortunate he felt the surge of magic power and distanced himself; otherwise, Laurentz’s body could have been torn apart.
“What do you intend—”
Spitting cold sweat, he glared at the man, cautious of his movements. The attempt to forcefully escape the restraint had increased the bleeding. Despite being wounded everywhere, to the point where it was a miracle he was standing, Trois’s eyes glinted, and his fighting spirit remained undimmed.
“Laurentz Herring… I admit it. You deserve to be chosen as a Court Mage Candidate. I never dreamed you would use the magic of a Court Mage. But I cannot lose. I swore to repay Lord Leonard along with Michaela!”
“You…”
“And I swore to make this country better, to live proudly as magicians, and to fight until my dying breath, no matter the sacrifice, even if it meant my own life. Therefore—no matter how much stronger you are than me, I cannot back down. Much less hand over information!”
Invisible wind gouged Laurentz’s left shoulder. Fresh blood spurted out, staining his face red.
“For the wonderful future Lord Leonard envisions, I will kill anyone—even you children, nobles, or even royalty.”
“—Then, I have no choice but to defeat you.”
Placing his right hand on his bleeding shoulder, Laurentz scooped up some of his blood. He sprinkled his own blood at the feet of Trois, who was gathering magic power for his next attack.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but a single gust of wind will tear you to shreds. I will take your life!”
What Wind Attribute Magic excelled over other elemental magic was its speed. That was an undeniable fact. However, “Unfortunately, I can’t afford to lose either. I will defeat you to save my friend.” As long as he didn’t let him cast magic, there was nothing to fear. Clenching his blood-stained right hand into a fist, Laurentz swung it as if to punch the air. In an instant— “Guaaah! Ahhhh!?” Trois, who was about to unleash magic, was sent flying by a colossal fist. “Wh-What?” Trois, slammed into the ground repeatedly, managed to lift his head and gasped. A massive fist floated beside Laurentz. “The secret art of golems, lost in modern times—I can’t quite restore it, but this is an application of my skill, as I was originally able to use earth dolls. By using blood as a medium, though inferior to golems, I can manipulate it into an immediate weapon.” The colossal fist was a mass of earth and stone created by magic. It was also composed of all the scattered stone fragments from his previous attacks in the corridor, compressed together. Unlike self-sufficient golems, it required him to infuse it with his blood and control it through magic power, but it was excellent for surprising the opponent. More importantly, to counter the speed-oriented Wind Attribute Magic, the only way was to create a giant fist right next to Trois, using the surrounding stones and soil fragments. It was a gamble, but he exhaled in relief at its success. “I-It’s not… over… with this much…” “You’re still getting up? I am in awe of that willpower, which I myself do not possess.” Laurentz felt a sense of reverence towards the enemy who, despite his injuries, stood up with a faint surge of magic power. He intended to match the spirit of the opponent who fought with conviction, raising his magic power and swinging the giant fist, a magical creation taller than himself, that floated beside him. “—Titan’s Fist Impact.” With a deafening roar, the corridor shook, and the walls crumbled. In the dust-filled vision, there was no sign of anyone standing. “Wait for me, Lars, Crysta.” Not even stopping the bleeding from his shoulder to save his friend, Laurentz advanced.
