Chapter 101.4 - The Second Year at the Academy - [Lanain] (4)
The involved parties’ mindset didn’t matter, and the mock battle was about to begin.
Jonas, full of enthusiasm, and the overly cheerful Ted and Jema.
What am I doing today?
Perplexed, Nails whispered to me quietly.
“It’s Kudulga.”
“Kudulga? What happened to that snake?”
“Even Alter-sama suffered such serious injuries. That’s why I think he wants to fight as a magician.”
Finally, the story became clear.
At the banquet, I spoke extensively about the terror of magic.
As an adventurer, someday you’ll have to fight a magician.
Jonas is a perfect match for that.
However, while I understand the sentiment, it’s quite dangerous.
Magic is difficult to hold back.
And if you want to fight a mage, I’ll gladly be your opponent as much as you want. Holding back is a piece of cake.
Well, maybe he refrained. I’ve been busier lately than before.
From the weapons for the mock battle, Jonas chose a staff.
He may not have learned close combat skills, but his stance looks decent.
He doesn’t seem to be a complete amateur.
To avoid unnecessary conflicts, I step between the glaring Ted and Jonas.
“Jonas, reduce the power of magic in the mock battle.”
“What!? Reducing the power is a blasphemy against magic!”
To Jonas, who is disgruntled, I inadvertently press my temples.
So it’s come to this. How much has this guy said twisted things?
“Listen, magic is no different from a blade. Ted has a wooden sword.”
I cast [Water Bolt] at Jonas’s face.
“Cold!?”
“Reduce the power to that extent. If you can’t do it, you won’t participate in the mock battle.”
Jonas wiped his face with his sleeve, wearing an expression of dissatisfaction.
I taught him how to use magic, though. It dries quickly without a catalyst.
Regardless of his personality, Jonas, recruited by Elliot, was a talented individual.
[Water Magic 1], [Fire Magic 1], [Neutral Magic 1], [Alchemy 1]—quite skilled, and he has mastered spells like [Water Bolt], [Fire Bolt], [Magic Blow], [Water Shield].
While you can’t directly compare a mage to a warrior, he easily surpasses Lambert and Felix from the beginning of enrollment. As for the elf mage Elphimia—let’s not go there. It’s pitiful.
After hearing our conversation, Ted chimes in from the side.
“Hey, it’s okay to use serious magic, right?”
“Stop it. Bolt spells are no different from bows and arrows. Too dangerous. Besides, if you reduce the power, you can save on magical energy consumption, increasing the number of uses.”
“Oh!”
Ted, and even Jema from a distance, are delighted.
In the end, albeit reluctantly, Jonas agreed.
“It’s very reluctantly, but I’ll reduce the power. If I hit, consider it a serious spell.”
“If you can hit.”
Suppressing Jonas’s discontent, we confirm the rules, and the mock battle begins.
Even with my command, Ted doesn’t move.
He’s in a stance prioritizing evasion.
He must have thought he could dodge a carelessly approaching first-timer magician.
Understanding that, Jonas also stands calmly.
“Do you give the initiative to a mage? Well, I’ll take it without reservation for the sake of our happiness—die!”
Contrary to the ominous remark, a restrained [Water Bolt] is unleashed.
Ted dodges by twisting his body.
The speed doesn’t change even if you reduce the power. Nicely avoided.
The follow-up [Water Bolt] also doesn’t hit Ted.
“Sneaky…!”
He tries to counterattack, but it doesn’t even graze Ted.
Jonas continues to concentrate, but suddenly, Ted shifts to the offensive.
Faster than the magic is constructed, he steps in and swings the wooden sword down.
Although he tries to stop it with the staff, he loses strength and staggers.
Ted continues to pursue.
However, Jonas is not losing either.
Rather than retreating, he counters with the staff.
Unexpectedly, or perhaps not, Ted turns into a defensive position against the consecutive thrusts.
Quite a remarkable boy.
Mages are fragile when approached. Therefore, he intentionally stepped forward.
In addition to his remarkable decisiveness, he has undergone proper training.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to wield the staff like that.
While attacking, Jonas concentrates. When Ted realizes, a water arrow is about to be born in front of him.
Trying to create distance, Ted jumps, but he trips and loses his balance.
From point-blank range, [Water Bolt] is released.
Jonas is convinced of victory.
However, his expression distorts in astonishment.
Suddenly, Ted’s body sinks, easily avoiding the water arrow.
Using that as a springboard, he kicks the ground.
He took advantage of the vulnerability after Jonas cast the magic. The staff won’t make it in time.
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