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Translator: Xini
Proofreader: Silavin
The concept of strength is different for everyone.
It can be martial or strategic prowess, positional or physical power.
Those who consider themselves strong would never let their weaknesses dictate their life and are therefore strong; those who consider themselves weak are capable of discerning the strength in others and are therefore strong; is something I read in my previous life and it made me ponder. In short, strength means something different for different people.
“Did you say, your name was Apricot? You shall learn just how sinful words that aren’t backed by merit are.”
“Right back at you. Have you come up with what excuses to say to the children you’re supposed to protect when you lose? Something like you lost the battle but you will win the war because you shall protect them, maybe.”
“You’d better not moan that you lost because your weapon was no good.”
“Hmph. I’ll take you up on that.”
“Hmph. Bring it on.”
That said, the reason behind this display of strength is a little complicated. I agree that willfulness is often rooted in strength but I’d rather they didn’t flex their strength in the weirdest of places. I’ll take you up on that, my ass. Bring it on, my ass.
I swear these guys had this all set up in advance. That can be the only reason why they are so in tandem.
“Care to explain, Baron Heartfield?”
Ash joined us when the two were about to go at it and demanded an explanation as he narrowed his eyes at me.
Please don’t look at me that way. This is the decision they reached after a compromise. It’s not my fault they look so fired up.
“It’s a long story.”
“In a word?”
“Fight.”
“Alright.”
Ash cut down my attempt at smoothing things over with his forceful yet curt words.
I look pretty pathetic. I’d rather Lady Violet didn’t see me right now.
One would normally expect Ash to intervene and put a stop to the fight, but perhaps he knew there was no stopping Chartreuse when he got this way, for he sighed and turned to me.
“That young lady called Apricot, how strong would you say she is?”
From Ash’s point of view, Apricot is probably just a weird girl who speaks nonsense. Her appearance does give her the flair of a witch, but it can also be quite hard to see past it.
That said, if I were to comment on her abilities…
“Just in terms of magical power, she’s the best in all of Shiki.”
Yeah, only in terms of power. Enough to be Gray’s master, a boy who is so talented that I ran out of things to teach very quickly.
“She could easily be the top student at the Academy.”
“…You don’t say.”
Apricot’s abilities are exceptional.
“—Let’s go!”
A wooden sword on one side, a staff on the other.
The match kicked off with each armed with a self-defense charm capable of absorbing a portion of damage from attacks.
By controlling the amount of mana that goes into the charm, its damage absorption capacity can be loosely modulated. It’s also reusable. As to its effectiveness, I hear it’s an absolutely essential item in any fight, but that’s up for debate.
The simple reasons being, its effect is short-lived, imbuing the charm with mana is not a quick process and less though it may be, it transmits some damage to the user resulting in some pain. As such, it can only be used in mock battles like these.
“Enhance leg strength, Enhance arm strength, Enhance vision, Enhance hearing, Enhance senses – Commence.”
Despite it only being a mock battle, rapid casting of magic buffs could be heard as soon as the match commenced. The speed at which the buffs were cast and time it took for it to take effect would leave any onlookers flabbergasted.
In fact, certain Azalea academy students, who witnessed the magic, looked completely spellbound. Ash was one of them and though he looked worried for Apricot until then, his expression changed to one of caution the instant he saw her magic.
“—Rapid!”
However, Chartreuse didn’t falter and stepped forward, closing the distance in a flash and swinging his sword without hesitation.
“Ouch- hh…!”
The sword that aimed to the left of her torso, didn’t quite fully connect and grazed Apricot as she jumped back, her face distorting in pain.
…So he is fast enough for her to feel pain from just a graze.
Not to mention, it was done with a wooden sword and to an opponent armed with a number of buffs.
Chartreuse is still a fledgling, both mentally and ability wise and as such isn’t able to match up to his parents who are both Knight Captains themselves, but his strength is evident.
… Does that mean, he’s in the route intended for the Chartreuse in the game? If I’m not wrong, the way he holds his sword is reminiscent of something Nephrite recklessly unleashed when backed to a corner and later converted into a move. …This won’t do. I need to stop thinking about the game.
“Slow.”
Chartreuse didn’t ease up, he held the wooden sword in both hands, fixed his stance and followed up with a thrust. His movements were seamless, unfaltering and were truly like the wind.
“Slow indeed.”
However, Apricot predicted his move and dodged it by letting the sword slide in the gap between her body and left arm. She would normally be unable to dodge an attack that fast, but likely from the buffs she cast on herself earlier, Apricot was easily able to react to his current level of speed.
Before he could draw the sword out, she clamped on it using her enhanced strength. Once he tried and failed to retrieve it, she aimed her staff at him.
So she intends to unleash her magic at point-blank-range.
“Naïve.”
Regardless, Chartreuse dealt with the situation calmly.
Faced with the threat of an imminent, close range magic attack, rather than trying in vain to pull out the sword that was stuck in place, or try to dodge the attack, he simply let go of the sword and stepped forward.
There’s a small delay between cast and activation with offensive magic. Using that loophole, if one can be faster than the spell, they can make one’s opponent lose focus thereby dispersing the magic before it’s cast. Meaning, if something can’t be solved with your sword, then just use your fist. Chartreuse eyed Apricot’s abdomen and let his fist loose.
“Right back at you.”
Apricot didn’t lose control of her magic, rather she smiled as if she’d expected him to do just that. Chartreuse reacted with surprise at her words, but it was already too late and the magic circle setup in advance on her abdomen which activated upon contact was triggered.
… So she threw in a magic circle disguised as a buff.
“Concerto”
A coordinated attack from the magic circle and her staff.
The magic struck the Chartreuse who had become defenseless after being caught off guard.
“Shield!!”
Just before it hit him, he chanted a defensive spell to reduce some of the damage taken and while the smoke from the magic engulfed the air, he stepped back to regain his footing. At the same time, making use of her loosened grip due to the recoil from the magic, he retrieved his sword and armed once again, he got ready to respond to his opponent’s attacks as he jumped back and landed on his feet. However, that’s exactly what Apricot wanted.
“Circle A, Circle Alpha, Circle B, Commence”
“… I get it. You’re not all talk.”
Upon witnessing her magic, Chartreuse acknowledged Apricot’s strength, albeit a little.
Multiple red and purple magic circles emerged behind Apricot. Each strong enough to easily kill a D-Class monster, and all of them aimed at Chartreuse.
Back during the Fenrir attack, if not for the unfavorable location, or having to protect two people, or Fenrir’s high resistance to magic and its tough body, it would have been all too easy for her to deal with it.
“…”
However, the same could be said for Chartreuse.
His ancestors were not only master swordsmen but also archwizards, and he has still yet to reach his potential in both. He’s still in the process of honing his skills.
“Enchant”
He got into his stance.
He aimed at the point that would help him cut through the gaps in the magic.
It was the duty of a knight to pave the way to survivability.
“System Labyrinth”
“Flash”
Both of their attacks clashed with one another.
It made me realize… that those two live in a totally different genre from me.
Frankly, I felt envious. Even the onlookers were watching them with bated breath.
Battling using magic is something that can only be enjoyed in a world with magic.
“Even I have once wanted to wake up with a demon’s eye or unleash super flashy magic.”
Spectating their battle involving the free use of magic, I recalled a somewhat dark past of mine and it made me envious.
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