Chapter 28

Released:

“Go chat with the others waiting for a bit. In the meantime, I’ll start making the sword… ah, no. Wait. I also need to record the staff information. We can’t measure magical power here, so we’ll do it in the clearing out back. Follow me.”

Well, if someone were to use magic in such a cramped space, the shop would likely be destroyed and reduced to rubble several times over.

When I followed the old man out through the back door, we arrived at a clearing equipped with a device specifically designed for measuring magical power.

“Feel free to use magic as you like in there.”

“Are you sure I can really use it freely?”

During the entrance exam, they told me the same thing: “Use it freely.” And so I did, only to later hear that the barrier had broken, and even Iris had to step in to repair it.

“Yeah, the Academy’s barrier is pretty solid.”

Hmm, I’m not convinced. I decided to stick to less destructive spells and started thinking about a few that could amplify their power with the help of a staff.

Ah, I heard that movement magic like teleportation can definitely increase its range if you have a staff. Should I try that first?

“Then, I’ll start with movement magic.”

“Movement magic? Are you saying you can use teleportation?”

“Yes, well, it’s not like I can cover insanely long distances or anything.”

“Amazing… for someone so young to already be able to do that.”

It was true that movement magic, specifically teleportation, was indeed an incredible spell when I thought about it.

Even though I used to dismiss it, thinking it only allowed for short-distance travel, I had come to realize something after acknowledging my abilities. In the actual “Simulation Ruin” Game, the only character described as capable of using movement magic was Estelle.

In other words, it wasn’t a spell that just anyone could casually use.

“But I don’t have a staff I’ve used before. Should I just go without one?”

“If you don’t have one, just go without. It’s not like swordsmanship where a medium is absolutely necessary.”

I nodded my head in understanding as I entered and walked to the far end of the area where the device was installed.

I planned to teleport to the other end, then adjust my strength to launch a Fireball. If the flames seemed too intense or dangerous, I’d extinguish them with Water Shower. Then, I would use Ice Arrows to target the barrier and channel Wind Magic to precisely control the Ice Arrows’ trajectory.

Slowly, I focused my magical power and concentrated on teleporting to the farthest point. When I used the movement spell, I arrived at the intended location with far less dizziness than before.

How should I put it? The more I practiced mana breathing to replenish and stabilize my magical power, the less disoriented I felt when using actual spells.

These days, I made it a habit to practice mana breathing before bed or after meals.

I spent all my spare time focusing my mental energy on mana breathing.

“Fireball.”

But now wasn’t the time to get lost in those thoughts.

To get the staff fitted properly, I had to demonstrate what was necessary. I quickly chanted a simple spell and launched a Fireball.

Fwoosh—! Boom—!

Even though I deliberately aimed toward the barrier instead of the area with the machine, the powerful flames began spreading wildly in every direction.

“What the—! H-How do we stop this…!”

While the old man panicked after witnessing proper magic, I calmly recited the spell for Water Shower, just as I had planned.

“Water Shower!”

Rain poured down from the empty air, and the flames that seemed endless began to die out little by little.

After confirming that the fire was completely extinguished, I moved through the wet area and marked the completion of the first cycle.

“Wow, that’s incredible…!”

I then began setting up a target on one side.

“A target this time? Are you planning to shoot arrows or something…?”

If it had been my first time, he might have mocked me while asking what I was doing. But now, his eyes were filled with eager anticipation.

Honestly, people really were like that.

When I fired the Ice Arrow at the target, it struck almost perfectly in the center, though there was a slight feeling of dissatisfaction.

After confirming the result, I fired another Ice Arrow. This time, I infused the wind with magic to improve the precision just a little more.

“Oh! Perfect…!”

As the old man exclaimed in awe, the arrow pierced straight through the exact center of the target.

Then, the ice spread rapidly outward and started slowly freezing the entire clearing.

“Hmm, Fire Wheel.”

I conjured a small Fire Wheel to melt the ice, then used the soil in the clearing to extinguish the flames. This marked the end of the process.

The magic worked far better than I had anticipated.

At this point, I felt confident I could use teleportation magic to cover distances as far as the dormitories, and my other spells seemed just as good.

It felt like I could achieve much greater efficiency and power.

However, doing that here might end up breaking part of the system I needed to pass through to acquire weapons.

Since I couldn’t let that happen, I had no choice but to exercise as much restraint as possible.

“Now then, I’ll get started on the actual crafting, so go and enjoy a cup of tea with the Crown Princess and the Saintess. It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone so extraordinary. This makes me eager to craft a weapon.”

Seeing the old man brimming with enthusiasm made me feel confident that a great weapon was going to be crafted.

***

“Wow, Sir Theo is really amazing… To think his magic has advanced even further in the meantime.”

Estelle said so after watching Theo’s magic performance in awe.

Iris too knew how to use magic, but in truth, her talents leaned far more toward swordsmanship than magic.

Even so, she could clearly see how extraordinary Theo was.

She remembered clearly how damaged the barrier had been during the academy entrance exam when she had helped repair it. Knowing just how severely it had been broken, she couldn’t help but feel a shiver run through her at the thought of his abilities.

“That’s right. I can’t even begin to fathom where Sir Theo’s limits might lie.”

“Do you think Sir Theo even has limits?”

Estelle had a look on her face as if she were gazing at something utterly mesmerizing.

In reality, if you looked at it objectively, Estelle could still defeat Theo in a head-to-head battle, as long as she focused completely.

After all, she didn’t just wield ordinary magic; she also had divine power. With her ability to heal at the right moment, she was nearly invincible.

A divine power so strong it was said to bring even the dead back to life.

But even that had its constraints, as it depended entirely on the right timing to apply her healing.

Estelle wondered if she could truly match Theo in combat using only normal magic, especially if he came at her relentlessly without giving her a moment to breathe. Her eyes glimmered with a strange sense of fighting spirit.

“Someday, I’d like to spar with Sir Theo.”

“Sparring? Indeed… I’d like to have a sword duel with Sir Theo as well if I ever got the chance.”

Both of them clearly liked Theo.

However, beyond their feelings, they also harbored a profound sense of rivalry toward him.

He couldn’t even sense magical power at first.

For Estelle, this sense of rivalry was particularly unique, as she had been the one to personally teach Theo back when he couldn’t even sense magical power.

She never liked losing to anyone.

But if it’s Sir Theo… I think I wouldn’t mind losing. It would mean being protected by him.

The thought of being protected by someone stirred within her.

The idea of having someone she could always lean on felt warmer and more comforting than she had ever imagined.

“…If Sir Theo were to join the imperial court, perhaps all the things I’ve been hoping for might actually come true.”

But Estelle wasn’t the only one who wished to be protected, to rely on him, and to make him hers.

Iris felt the same way.

It wasn’t that there was no one stronger than her, but her swordsmanship was so exceptional for her age that it wouldn’t have been strange to call her the best in her generation.

But there was someone who surpassed her.

The fact that he had surpassed her so overwhelmingly that the distance between them felt almost unreachable didn’t leave her entirely anxious or uneasy. Perhaps it was because she had a sliver of confidence that he would become hers.

“Oh? Sir Theo will graduate and come with me though.”

But upon seeing Iris’s expression, Estelle’s face hardened slightly in irritation.

“What? Don’t talk nonsense. Sir Theo is from Ermunt. His parents live here, so there’s no way he’d go to the Holy Empire.”

“Well, I’ll make all the preparations so that his entire family can immigrate if they want.”

“Hah! And who’s going to approve that?”

“You think I can’t take him with me?”

Crackle!

A spark of tension ignited between the two as their eyes locked in silent combat.

At that moment—

“Ahem, you two are at it again, aren’t you?”

Theo stepped out from the clearing. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Iris and Estelle.

“N-No? Not at all! Right, Iris?”

“Y-Yes, of course! We’re not fighting! We’re super close!”

The two awkwardly put their arms around each other’s shoulders, forcing smiles that were anything but natural.

It was an undeniably clumsy display, but Theo simply smiled and let it go.

[Achievement: “I’ll Take Him With Me!” has been recorded.]

A system notification appeared in front of him, confirming that he had just averted yet another bad ending.

But what on earth were they trying to take with them for it to lead to a bad ending?

Completely oblivious to the fact that the two women had been fighting over who would take “him”, Theo was just relieved that he had managed to prevent another bad ending.

5 responses to “Chapter 28”

  1. RiamuP Avatar
    RiamuP

    Thanks for the shuraba!

  2. JimmyJohns05 Avatar
    JimmyJohns05

    I long for the day that he isn’t around to fix one of their fights. I want to see how big he can get

    1. JimmyJohns05 Avatar
      JimmyJohns05

      how big it can get**”

      1. ITACHI69999 Avatar
        ITACHI69999

        ahem ahem yes definitely

  3. RKADE 14 Avatar
    RKADE 14

    The bad rnd can come from anywhere, but this was one of the.more predictible ones.

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