Seirei Gensou Ki
/ Seirei Gensou Ki Volume 1 Chapter 6
– Part 1
One day while the outdoor practice was approaching.
Rio was taking a class that could be picked by student in their fifth or sixth year elementary school.
The class's name was 『General Theory of Sorcery』──, the teacher in charge of the class was Celia.
It was a subject that was kept at distance because it was a tortuous study on top of being not practical, but thanks to Celia taking charge of the class this year, the number of participants was unusually a lot.
Celia had become seventeen years old, but her look had stopped growing at the level of middle school student. Her appearance wasn't that different from the students. In addition, coupled with Celia's cute appearance that attracted attention and her friendly character, her popularity was extraordinarily high even among the teachers of the academy.
Therefore, the students who were inside the classroom right now──especially the male students──were there not because of their zealous desire for knowledge, many of them were choosing this class with the reason that Celia was the one teaching this class.
By the way, there were forty people inside the class right now including Rio, but among the female students there were Christina and Roana, and then Flora who was a year below them.
「Can I ask what is the definition of sorcery that everyone know? Let's see, Christinsama. How about it?」
「Yes. Sorcery is a technique to control magic power and magic formula to cause various phenomenon.」
Christina immediately expressed her opinion.
「Oo, I can hear amazing answer right from the start. As expected from her highness.」
「It's my honor.」
Christina acted humbly with a calm face.
「Sorcery is given definition from various view points, but what Christinsama spoke is the definition that is said to be the most generic. By the way, there is also definition that is focusing to the activation process of sorcery, but in the first place what kind of process that is activating sorcery? Stead-kun.」
When Stead was named by Celia, he stood up vigorously.
「Yes. Sorcery is activated by pouring magic power into the magic formula.」
「Almost but not quiet. That answer deserves 80 point I think. What do you think is lacking from your answer?」
「……I don't know.」
Stead was at a loss for words and his face contorted in vexation.
「Then, Rio. What about you?」
「In case the magic formula to control magic power isn't included, there will be a need to control the poured magic power. In case the control failed, the sorcery won't activate.」
「Correct. Full point.」
Celia made a satisfied smile at Rio's smooth answer.
On the other hand, Stead's expression was secretly turning grim.
「Then what is magic formula? Roansan.」
「Yes. It's said that magic formula is a formula to interfere with the world.」
「Correct. As expected from you.」
「I'm honored.」
Roana smiled happily at Celia's praise.
「Sorcery control the magic power inside our body, and it activate by the control of magic formula that is the formula for interfering with the world. It's truly an act that is accomplished by god. Well, magic formula itself was created by the Six Wise Gods, so that statement is not really a mistake.」
The students inside the classroom were listening carefully to Celia's story with rapt attention.
By the way, the matter of Six Wise Gods was something that even Rio knew. Six Wise Gods were deeply related with the development of history and culture in Strahl Region. The people of this region held religious faith toward the multiple gods who were called the Six Wise Gods.
Although, Rio who were born and raised as orphan had extremely thin faith toward the Six Wise Gods.
「I think all of you know already but, magic power control is also greatly related with magic formula contract for learning magic and the application of magic. It's possible to somehow learn and use low level magic using intuition, but in order to learn and use magic with high difficulty, magic control ability with high level is indispensable.」
「Sensei!」
Stead raised his hand in order to ask a question to Celia who was giving explanation smoothly.
「What is it, Stead-kun?」
「About how magic formula contract that is held in order to learn magic is influenced by magic power control, in other words, those with immature magic power control cannot learn magic, is that right?」
Stead was looking at Rio with a mocking grin. Lured by that, the students around were also chuckling. Rio was ignoring them with a calm face.
「That's not true. Because there is also affinity depending on the person for the magic formula contract that is necessary in order to learn magic, no matter how skillful someone's control of their magic power, there will still be magic that they won't be able to learn.」
Celia spoke with a slight frown.
Magic was a technique to take in magic formula into the body, and from there that sorcery could be activated optionally just by chanting the spell that was the sorcery's name in the magic formula that was taken in.
Magic formula contract was a necessary ceremony in order to take in magic formula into the body, the method was extremely simple. Using a special catalyst to draw magic formula for the contract on the ground, and then they would chant on top of that formula and performed control of magic power. If the contract succeeded, the magic formula would be taken into the body, and from then the person would be able to use sorcery only by chanting the spell without even drawing magic formula.
The amount of magic power was easy to inherit from parent to child. It was a fact that there was a great difference in strength between people who could use magic and people who couldn't. Therefore, it was easy for people who could use magic to be placed in the privileged class. The young royalty and nobility tended to think that magic was a special skill that could only be used by the chosen people.
And then, the reason was unknown but, although Rio was judged to possess the necessary magic power to learn magic, he failed all kind of magic formula contract and was unable to learn even a single magic. Rio invoked envy from many people because he could handle anything flawlessly and left behind excellent results, but since he was judged to be unable to learn magic, the jeer he was receiving became focused to that point.
Rio who was unable to use magic was not a chosen person as expected, they said.
「I see. In other words, it's only the chosen people who can learn magic. Thank you very much.」
Regardless of Celia's denial of his own theory, Stead sat down in satisfaction.
「Then, I'll resume the lesson. In the first place──」
Celia made a small sigh and resumed her lecture. After that the lecture progressed smoothly and the end of the class arrived in the blink of eye.
–
And then, after the class ended.
「As expected from Celisensei! The one who is said to be the genius who is going down in the history of the royal academy. I'm really moved by sensei's deep knowledge!」
Stead walked toward Celia and told her his impression of the lecture with a deeply moved expression.
「Ahahah. Thank you.」
Celia said her thanks while smiling wryly.
On the other hand, Rio immediately tidied up his lesson materials and he was going to leave from the classroom, but.
「Ah, Rio──」
「Oi, commoner. Even though you cannot even use magic, why are someone lowly like you taking this class when your selling point is only your lip service and cheap trick?」
When Celia was going to call out to Rio who was leaving, Stead interrupted in displeasure. Rio stopped walking and turned around.
「It's because although I cannot learn magic, but I can use sorcery.」
This kind of trouble was everyday occurrence. Rio was replying indifferently like usual.
「That's not what I'm talking about. It might be dangerous for the ladies in this class when a despicable person like you is in this classroom.」
Stead revealed his indignation.
「I have not the slightest intention to perpetrate anything inappropriate……」
Rio shook his head with clear denial.
Position, lineage, honor, income. All of those were factors that would be pursued in the future by daughters of noble as marriage conditions. After all since their birth they had been given a duty to marry with partner that possessed even more excellence than them socially.
But, even if they were noble, when it came to a twelve year old maiden, it was also a fact that a lot of girls had their interest taken simply by the other party's excellent look rather than those kind of practical requirements.
Rio still had trace of childishness in his look like a young boy, but year by year his natural androgynous appearance was getting polished. When they advanced to the upper grades of the elementary school, some female students were attracted to Rio's look and tried to court him with the feeling of playing with fire, but every time Rio would ignore all of that kind of invitation. The girls would harbor unjustified resentment because of that and spread baseless rumor.
Recently that kind of rumor was dying down, but most likely Stead had completely swallowed the rumor at those days──Rio thought that, but.
「Don't lie. Recently there is rumor that you are seducing a female student in my year.」
Stead was talking about something recent. A question mark floated above Rio's head.
「Seducing, is it? I don't recall anything like that, not at the slightest……」
Rio wondered that perhaps it was about the female student who handed him a letter the other day. But, he didn't do anything like seducing at all. Rio shook his head in denial.
「Hmph, don't get any misunderstanding just because you alone obtained victory at the match the other day against a knight as your opponent. That victory was just a fluke. It wasn't because of your strength.」
Stead flared up at Rio who was warding off the accusation evasively.
In reality, recently in place that Rio didn't know, especially among the girls of the lower grade, Rio's evaluation was increasing slightly. The impetus was the match against the knight the other day.
「I too am heavily aware of that.」
「Then don't get carried away. Especially in front of me. It's an eyesore seeing a commoner getting cocky.」
「Indeed. Then, I will bear in mind to do everything I can to not be an eyesore in class that you are taking.」
Rio was thoroughly abasing himself, but Stead's irritation wouldn't settle down.
「Hmph, then don't come into the class that I'm taking.」
When Stead said that, *shin*, the inside of the classroom fell silent.
「Stead-kun, stop that.」
There, Celia cut in with a voice that was filled with anger. If Celia meddled carelessly, it might left a resentment from here on, but as expected this matter had reached a level that she couldn't overlook.
「Is sensei siding with this man?」
Stead made a sullen expression.
「You are a noble right? Criticizing someone without a definite proof isn't something that can be done. What you are doing right now only looks like a pointless harassment toward someone weaker.」
Celia remonstrated Stead accurately.
「But, it will be too late if something is done only after the damage is done. There is even a rumor that this guy is also making a pass at you.」
Stead doggedly opposed even now.
「There is no such thing like Rio making a pass on me. Even if Rio is actually such a man, as long as I'm alive as a teacher, I won't let anything indecent to happen in this class.」
Celia spoke decisively. Even Stead withdrew reluctantly against that pressure.
「……If that's what you are saying, then I have no choice.」
But, Stead glared at Rio and left behind a word of warning at the end.
「Remember this, commoner. If you do something, my house of Duke Huguenot will become your enemy.」
「I will remember it.」
After Rio replied so, he bowed to Celia and left from there.
–
Part 2The morning of the day of the outdoor practice.
In a mountain forest area that was two hours away at the northeast from the royal capital Beltrand using the flying transport method that was called magic ship, students wearing the uniform of Beltranm Royal Academy were gathering.
「Then, I will inform all of you regarding the subject of the practice.」
The member of a team would be ten people in total. The team Rio belonged to was doing a briefing before the practice.
The team captain who became the commander was Alphonse Rodin. Other than Rio and Alphonse, Christina, Roana, Flora, and Stead were also team members.
「The script of the practice is assuming that there is a situation where enemy country is invading. Our squad that is an elite team that had held back a large enemy force has to cut through this forest mountain in order to retreat from the battlefield. Thus, swiftness and stealthy are required in order to shake off enemy pursuer too.」
Alphonse was explaining while spreading open a map at hand.
「The mission period will be until sunset today. It will be a great reduction in our score if we cannot reach the goal until then. It goes without saying that the faster we arrive, the better it will be.」
The grade from this practice wouldn't influence their graduation itself, but if they obtained good grade here and graduated, it would be really advantageous when finding employment in the military.
「And so, ladies and gentlemen, we will reach the goal at afternoon.」
Alphonse spoke with an expression that was full of confidence.
「Wait a second. That might be possible if we go in a straight line, but this is a forest mountain area. The traveling time will take twice than normal. It's impossible to reach the goal at afternoon.」
Roana objected with a cloudy expression.
「It will be fine, Miss Roana. Because I have grasped the shortest route even including the old road.」
Alphonse's smile didn't crumble and he answered confidently.
「……What's the meaning of that? The exam area was announced only yesterday.」
Roana made a suspicious face. Then,
「A private soldier who served in my house is a former adventurer. It is by chance that he knows the area around here really well. There are several old roads that are effective shortcut and I have told them to Alphonse-senpai.」
Stead who was listing to the talk quietly spoke with a proud look.
「That's why, it's not an exaggeration even if we say that information control everything in war. It's as though we have been promised to obtain good result in this practice.」
Saying that, Alphonse made a pleased smile.
「I'm feeling reluctant instead because this feels like a sneaky method.」
Roana's face still scowled till the end.
「I too think that it's problematic to be over trusting with an information that has no substantiation behind it.」
Christina made her opinion known with a curt tone. Alphonse's expression clouded slightly at the direct opinion of a princess.
「Please don't worry about that. The information that I obtained is written in this map. And when I compared it with this map, the reliability of this information is high.」
Stead answered reassuringly in exchange of Alphonse who was slightly faltering.
「……I think that the risk of encountering monster or fierce animal will increase if we enter an old road though. What do you think about that?」
Christina quietly narrowed her eyes and looked at Alphonse while asking that.
「This area's safety has been confirmed beforehand. Besides, there is a necessity to escape from enemy's tracking in this practice, so choosing to advance using an old road make sense.」
Alphonse answered timidly.
「I see, then it's fine. You are the commander of this squad. I will leave it to you.」
Christina unexpectedly withdrew shortly. Even though she expressed her opinion, in the end she was thinking that the right to decide was in the hand of the commander.
「Please leave it to me. I promise to obtain the highest grade in our year without fail.」
Alphonse sighed in relieve and bowed reverently while declaring that.
After that, they carried out the last check regarding the formation and how to react when encountering monster.
「Oi, Rio. Feel honored. I prepared a job that even a hindrance like you who can't use magic can do. Carry the baggage of our team.」
Saying that, Alphonse sent his gaze toward the baggage that was placed in a slight distance away.
Ahead of his gaze, an extra large backpack and shoulder back that were filled with luggage to the brim were placed there. Most likely all the materials that would be necessary throughout this practice were put in them.
It was an amount that was too much for one person to carry, but it was pointless to object. Rio judged so and,
「Understood.」
He nodded without making any complaint.
He tried carrying the backpack on his back, but he felt that his body would soon reach the limit if he was only using his base physical capability. However, there wouldn't be any problem if he was using physical strengthening.
Rio secretly performed physical strengthening. The magic formula that should arise if it was magic didn't surface. Therefore, there was nobody who noticed Rio doing physical strengthening.
Then, a girl who called out to Rio appeared.
「E, err, are you alright? Isn't it heavy to carry that much luggage alone……」
It was Flora. She belonged to the year below Rio and her big sister Christina, but until now Rio had only talked with her once inside the academy.
One day after several days passed since Flora enrolled into the academy, Flora said her thanks to Rio regarding the kidnapping incident. Since then, Rio felt her gaze toward him several times, but she never called out to him until today.
That was why, it was really something unexpected that Flora called out to him. As expected even Rio slightly widened his eyes in surprise.
「That's, should I also carry a bit of them?」
Flora suggested to help when Rio was troubled of how to reply.
「No, I'm fine. Thank you very much for worrying about me.」
Rio instantly made a smile and gently refused Flora's suggestion.
Surely she wasn't a bad kid. Among the royalty and nobility of Beltram Kingdom that possessed strong discrimination, Flora possessed a character so gentle that it could be called unprecedented.
But, perhaps it was the adverse effect from her sheltered upbringing where she was really treasured, or perhaps it was her inherent nature that was too kind, she seemed to be a bit estranged regarding what kind of effect her act would cause to the surrounding.
In this situation, there was no option for Rio to accept Flora's suggestion. If he did such thing, he would surely get criticized by the surrounding. In the first place this also wasn't a weight that Flora could carry.
Rio only accepted her feeling thankfully. Then, there,
「Florsama, you mustn't talk with such commoner. It will bring a bad influence if you get involved with such worthless existence.」
Alphonse appeared and interrupted by making fun of Rio.
「That's right. As a barbarian strength is the only thing that he has in excess.」
Stead also cut in and made Flora to take distance from Rio.
Rio bowed briefly and left from there, waiting until the time to depart.
–
And then, presently they were marching on an old road that was stretching deep inside the forest.
No matter how far they walked, there were only thick bushes and plants entering their eyes.
Even though the time was still before noon, the place was gloomy with cool air that felt chilly to the skin drifting around. Sometimes, high-pitched cry of bird and beast reverberated from afar, causing Flora to jerk in surprise.
Even though the members of the team were wearing uniform and weapon, Rio was carrying weapon in addition of a backpack and shoulder bag. That burden was incomparable with the other members.
But, the students in the team advanced without paying attention to that. Sometimes Flora would walk at the very back of the line and looked back to Rio in worry, but she couldn't see any sign of fatigue in Rio's face.
「Flora, it's dangerous to look at other place. Please worry about your own stamina.」
Christina warned the fidgety Flora. Although it was only for form's sake, they were in the middle of covert action, because of that her voice's volume was low in consideration of that.
「Bu, but, Onee-sama. Something like this is strange. Why is it only that person that is treated like that?」
Flora spoke with a sad face. The unexpected reaction of her little sister who was timid and never really raised any objection caused Christina to widen her eyes slightly.
「That guy should be wearing an artifact that strengthen his physical ability right now.」
「His magic power and also stamina won't hold if he is strengthening his physical ability continuously. If we don't take more rest or carry the luggage in turn……」
Christina's expression clouded at Flora who was worrying about Rio's burden.
「I told you already before enrolling into the academy not to get involved with that guy. Have you forgotten?」
「……I remember. That's why, I have followed Onee-sama's instruction all this time. But, I don't understand why. Rio-sama, he is always alone.」
「That's right.」
Christina easily agreed.
「Tha, that's right you say……」
Flora was taken by surprise. The expression of Roana who was listening to the conversation right beside them turned troubled.
「Even if we get carelessly involved with him inside the society that is the academy, it won't be good for both our sides. He too shouldn't be wishing for that.」
「Wha, what are you saying, there is no way such thing──」
「That's how it is. Stop the pointless talk here. Right now the setting is that we are in the middle of retreating from battlefield. Besides──」
Christine cut in Flora's remark. Then,
「Monster!」
Suddenly Alphonse yelled. Nervousness ran among the team members.
Monster──, they were anomalous creatures with the particulars of their ecosystem wrapped in mystery.
They possessed a certain degree of intelligence, but they were hostile toward every kind of living thing other than monster. When they died, they would leave behind a stone that was filled with magic power called magic stone, while their body would disappear leaving nothing behind. Those were their traits.
The male students other than Rio simultaneously drew out the sword on their waist and slightly lowered their waist in preparation. The female students vigilantly prepared their rod which was used by magician.
They were in the middle of practice right now, but the battle that would begin after this wasn't practice. It was without a doubt a real battle. But, encountering monster in the middle of practice was also expected, so the students weren't in confusion.
「Everyone don't panic! It's goblin. Their number is also few. The four vanguard raise your physical ability with artifact, and then charge to rout the enemies.」
After Alphonse ordered, the four boys who acted as vanguard chanted simultaneously.
「Enchant Physical AbilityPhysical Ability Strengthening Magic.」
Then, the bracelet the students were wearing under their clothes shined, and the sorcery to increase the wearer's physical ability was activated. Geometrical magic formula floated up with the bracelets that were an artifact as the starting point, enveloping the body of the user students.
Artifact that was used with spell as the activation key was similar in mechanism with magic, but different from magic where the magic formula could be taken into the body as many as one liked as long as their body's affinity matched, magic formula that was sealed into artifact fundamentally was only one. There was the advantage that even people with bad affinity and couldn't succeed in the magic formula contract could use magic through artifact, but there was demerit that the magic could only be activated with an output that had been set up beforehand.
The four boys kicked on the ground as strong as they could and approached the group of monster with the form of small ugly person that was called goblin. And then, they routed the goblins in the blink of eye.
Goblin was an existence that was called the weakest even among the monsters. They weren't a match against the students who although were still twelve years old, but they had received genuine combat training in the academy and had their physical ability strengthened with artifact.
The goblins left behind small magic stones as big as pebble and disappeared without a trace.
「They aren't a big deal. There is nothing to be feared unless it's against tougher monster.」
Stead's mood turned better from the easy victory and he talked proudly.
「As expected from Stead-kun. You are reliable. Compared to you, that commoner there is really useless.」
Alphonse praised Stead in good humor then turned his gaze toward Rio.
But, Rio was staring intently deep inside the forest. He didn't seem to hear Alphonse's words at all. Alphonse was unable to stomach that and,
「Oi, Rio! The battle is over. Don't act absentminded! We'll leave you behind!」
Alphonse yelled angrily.
「My apologizes.」
Rio replied and took off his gaze fromt eh forest. After that they immediately resumed their movement.
And then, deep at the forest where Rio was staring at just now, a single man was hiding behind plants.
It was Reis. His whole body was covered with black robe and he was concealing his presence like the dead.
「That was close. To think that I'm almost noticed at this distance……. That's an unbelievable boy.」
Reis muttered in admiration. Actually he wanted to get a bit closer, but he judged that it was better to not get closer than this.
「Perhaps it was really him who defeated my subordinate five years ago. The spy I inserted into the house of Duke Huguenot also seemed to have done his work nicely, perhaps I should ascertain his true strength while doing this work……」
Reis muttered in delight while putting an eerie smile like a demon on his lips.
–
Part 3The march was going smoothly even after that.
They only encountered goblin and there wasn't any danger that was really dangerous. The male students were competing in exterminating goblins in order to show their cool side as much as possible to the female students.
The information of the surrounding area that Stead provided was actually accurate. It looked like everything was going well that at this rate they might be able to really arrive at their destination in the afternoon.
However, in a place that they couldn't detect, something was waiting to come apart at the seams.
The exhaustion of the students were accumulating with certainty because they were walking around in an unfamiliar mountain forest area. Even the goblin extermination that they carried out with high spirit at the beginning was starting to feel like a clerical work that they were doing dispassionately before long.
But, Rio who originally should be the first one to be tired first kept making a nonchalant face no matter how much time passed, so the male students' sense of rivalry was blazing and they didn't try to make any complain no matter what.
「Goblin again huh. Don't you think their number are a lot since some time ago?」
「It must be just your feeling. So many of this creature exist that it's said there will be thirty of them around if you catch sight of one of them.」
Like that, Stead and Alphonse were making an optimistic talk.
Then when around thirty minutes passed, it happened.
The trees blocking their view suddenly cleared up. Blue sky was spreading out as far as their eyes could see.
But, ahead of the area where the trees cleared out, there was an open space spreading out. Even more forest was spreading ahead of there. No, it was more accurate to express that the forest was spreading right below their sight.
Yes, Rio and others arrived at above a cliff. After they moved near the edge of the cliff in a dumbfounded state, they could see the forest spreading thirty meter below them. If they could descend until the bottom, it would only be a slight distance away until the goal point, but it was only a suicidal act to descend down without any lifeline.
「Oi, this, the information is wrong isn't it……」
「Yeah, what to do now? If we go back through the path we came from, it will be a lot of time loss.」
Two male students muttered while glancing at Stead.
The team was moving based on the information that Stead provided. A thought that their fatigue until now might just be a wasted effort surfaced in their mind. The mood was becoming strangely subdued.
「You want to say something to me?」
Stead asked the students who were whispering to each other with an irritated voice.
「N, no. It's nothing. Right?」「Yeah.」
The students shook their head in panic. These two were sixth year, but they couldn't openly say anything to the fifth year Stead. That was because their house couldn't go against Stead's house of Duke Huguenot.
Dissatisfied gaze naturally moved toward the commander Alphonse. Alphonse's house of Marquis Rodin was also quite a famous house, but it was inferior against Duke Huguenot.
「Wha, what's with those eyes? Say it clearly if you've got any complain.」
Alphonse threatened the students who were looking at him. Then,
「Then, can I say something?」
Christina took the initiative to open her mouth.
「Wha, what could it be?」
Alphonse's expression stiffened at the entrance of the first princess.
「Which way we are heading next? The path is cut off here though.」
Christina was seeking an answer for the problem with the highest priority at the present time. Because Alphonse completely thought that she would deliver complain to him, he was taken by surprise.
But, he soon rethought that perhaps it would be better to get criticized right at his face. After all Alphonse didn't have the slightest idea what he should do to deal with this unforeseen situation.
Or rather, he was only feeling like escaping from his responsibility and had no composure to think.
「About, that……. Err……」
「You are the commander of this squad. And it was you who overly trusted the uncertain information provided by Stead over there and formed a plan based on that, so you must have considered this kind of situation right?」
Christina continued with a bland tone toward Alphonse who was at a loss.
「Sa, saying my information is uncertain……」
「I'm not asking a common soldier like you.」
Stead cut in from the side, but Christina cut him down without a thought.
「The words of the commander are absolute in military. Right now we are in training, but what we are doing the same thing like military. If you the commander says to advance, then we have no choice but to advance. I wish you will understand well that with a single command from you, the worst case might happen toward the squad.」
「Ye, yes.」
Alphonse nodded with a pale face. An unbearable silence was flowing among the team.
Then, it was at that time. A single spear that was made from shaved wood came flying from the forest behind them, piercing the torso of a male student.
「Eh……?」
The student who got his stomach stabbed by spear let out a bewildered voice.
「I, it's orc! There are several others! Defense!」
Roana instantly discovered the enemy and notified the students.
Orc was a brutal monster that was incomparable from goblin. Its height surpassed two meters, its physical strength far surpassed human adult, and sometimes it would also act together with a goblin group.
「Va, vanguard! Ready the shield and block the spear. Rearguard, perform Heal on the injured!」
Alphonse immediately gave instruction.
But, the monsters' additional attack approached faster than the student could start acting. Three spears came flying. One stabbed the ground, while the other one approached Rio.
Rio soundlessly drew out the bastard sword on his waist and instantly cut away the spear. On the other hand, the last one stabbed Stead's torso.
「UWAAaaaa! Pull it out, pull it oooouuut!」
Stead ranted with a loud voice in frenzy. He paid no attention to what others would think. And then, he leaped toward the nearby male students perhaps because of his derangement from the pain.
「Uwaa! Stop!」「O, oi, don't come here!」
The students feared the uniform that was vividly dyed by blood and pushed Stead away. Without stopping Stead collided on Flora hard.
「Kya!」
Flora who was trying to treat the injured male student was sent flying and she fell just right nearby the edge of the cliff. The impact caused the ground of the cliff edge fragilely crumbled.
「Flora!」
Christina was concentrating at the monster before her, but she heard Flora's scream from behind and looked back in panic. At that time, Flora was dragged by the crumbling ground of the cliff edge. She was showing a sacred expression from the terror of the sense of weightlessness of falling.
「Hih, he, lp……」
Flora immediately looked around to try to grab to something. Her gaze met Rio.
For a moment, Rio's expression contorted looking greatly troubled, but he toss away his backpack and shoulder bag roughly and rushed right away.
Flora's body was already falling from the cliff and vanished from view.
'Hurry'──Rio was sprinting with a speed that was hard to believe with only that word in his mind. And then, he reached the cliff edge in the blink of eye and without the slightest hesitation he dived from the cliff.
He stretched out his hand straight away. Rio firmly grabbed the hand of Flora that was reaching out to empty air. If Rio was only running a second later, surely he would not make it in time.
The gaze of Rio and Flora overlapped once more midair. Flora made an expression that was going to cry from relieve. But, it was still too fast to feel relieved.
At this rate the two of them would experience a bungee jump without rope from height of 30 meter together. However, Rio didn't allow that. After all if it was just Flora then she could still be saved.
「Sorry.」
After muttering that, Rio pulled Flora's hand that he grabbed and drew her body closer to him. Without pause his body rotated like a spinning top.
「Kyah」
A cute scream could be heard. Instantly, Rio used the momentum of his body's rotation and fully used the arm strength that deviated from normal people, throwing Flora back on the cliff.
「Kyaa!」
Flora's body fell with a thud on the cliff.
(She will be fine in that position.)
Perhaps she got some scratch from just now, but he couldn't help that.
Thinking that, a smile emerged on Rio's lips with a sigh. But, his relieve was only for a brief moment. The compensation for saving Flora was attacking Rio even now.
Yes, Rio now was falling for thirty meter from the cliff.
–
Part 4Rio saved Flora and then fell to below the cliff. The team members who were seeing that were dumbfounded.
「-, right now the priority is to annihilate the monster! Alphonse!」
Roan came back to her senses early and stimulated Alphonse.
「De, defend! Male vanguards ready your shield and become a wall to protect Christinsama and Florsama! Rearguards, lay out the barrage using attack magic. Roankun, heal the wounded. Form rank!」
Alphonse gave the order and the formation was rebuilt.
The battle from there was a one-sided curbstomp. The vanguards used shield to become wall, the rearguards healed the wounded and used attack magic to kill the monsters.
That was obvious. The attack power of human that could use magic was in a different level.
Even the basic attack magic that children who attended the royal academy learned the very first had a power that was enough to seriously injure human. Even the students here possessed attack power that could one-sidedly suppress a group of goblins alone if they were fighting fair and square.
Therefore, in case sorcerer faced someone that couldn't use magic, the established tactic was to fight by maintaining distance of middle range and further. If the sorcerer could bring such situation, as long as the opponent didn't have mobility or defensive power that could completely block attack magic, the sorcerer wouldn't lose.
「Blitz ShotLightning Bullet Magic」
The lightning attack bullets that Christina fired shot through the body of the goblin that survived till the end. The monster left behind magic stone and then vanished without leaving any trace. The battle was over.
There were two wounded, but because Roana and Flora joined the treatment by Alphonse's command, their life weren't at risk.
The problem was how Flora almost fell from the cliff and now Rio's whereabouts was unknown. The students who had recovered their composure seemed to be conscious of that and an uneasy atmosphere flowed.
「That, why did Florsama fall from the cliff?」
Alphonse awkwardly asked in order to sort out the situation as the commander.
「When I was about to apply Heal to the wounded, someone suddenly collided on me from behind……」
Flora answered with confusion.
「Who was the one colliding on you?」
When Alphonse asked that, one of the female students timidly raised her hand and she began to talk hesitatingly.
「Err, her highness fell because Stead-kun collided on her……. I was right beside Florsama at that time.」
The voice and countenance of the girl weren't good. She must be fearing Stead. Stead who just finished getting healed was glaring at that student with a demonic look.
「Are you saying it was my fault? Even I was pushed away! I'm a victim here!」
Stead yelled with a vigor that believed what he was saying himself from the bottom of his heart without a doubt.
「Ah, no. I'm not saying that Stead-kun was at the wrong or anything.」
The girl shrunk back when Stead glared at her.
「Then who are you saying is at fault?」
「Ah, no, that's……it's the person who pushed Stead-kun?」
「That's right! There was someone who pushed me at that time! That guy is the culprit!」
Stead tried to push the responsibility to other person. But,
「Isn't now not the time to search for the culprit?」
Roana said with an expression that looked fed up by the development of the talk.
Stead looked at Roana with a sullen expression.
「The, then, what are you saying we should do?」
Alphonse asked Roana in panic.
「Should we go save him, or should we go out from this forest. Isn't it one of the two?」
Roana asked with a displeased expression as though to say why he was asking something so obvious.
「De, deciding that with my own discretion is……」
「What are you saying……, a commander exist for this kind of time.」
Alphonse's statement that was unbecoming for a commander made Roana exasperated.
「I, I'm thinking of respecting the team's opinion. Everyone, what do you think?」
Alphonse asked for opinion from the team members.
「Is he even alive in the first place?」
「As expected he is beyond saving isn't it? It's this high. How are we going to go down there?」
「Well, yeah. The risk is too high to purposefully search for a commoner whose life and death is unclear at this situation.」
And so on, negative opinions about Rio's rescue were flying around.
Then, a person who suddenly interrupted appeared.
「Everyone, you see, the person who pushed me. Actually it was that commoner.」
It was Stead. He was making a face that looked strangely serious. The students' attention was gathered on him.
「At that time, that coward seemed to be scared by the battle's atmosphere, and then he pushed me who was wounded with all his strength. Because of that I helplessly collided on Princess Flora……」
Stead talked with a pained expression.
「……In other words, that guy was scared of the sin of killing a royalty and desperately saved Roansama, and in exchange he fell from the cliff? Then, the fault doesn't lie on Stead-kun……」
Alphonse talked with an understanding look. But,
「The, there is no way that's true! That person saved me!」
Flora couldn't accept it and immediately protested.
「However, I was really pushed away by that guy! Isn't that right, you two seniors?」
Stead looked at two male students and asked. They were the students who pushed Stead away before. The two made a shocked expression then,
「Ye, yeah. I certainly saw that.」
「I, I too.」
They consented with slightly high-pitched voice. Stead abruptly smiled.
「You two really witnessed that?」
Christina asked with a deeply quiet voice.
The cold gaze toward them caused Stead and the two boys almost took a step back.
「Ye, yes. There is no mistake.」
Stead was the first one who nodded. The two male students from before also nodded after him.
「……I see. What about everyone else? Is there anyone who saw the situation at that time?」
Christina asked while looking over the surrounding students.
But, the reaction of the team members was dull. They looked at each other's face and fell silent awkwardly.
「At that time everyone was pressed to deal with the monsters……. Elise, did you see anything?」
Roana asked the girl who gave the testimony of Stead colliding on Flora before this.
Stead looked coldly at the girl who was called Elise.
「Eh……, ah, no, I wonder……. I too, didn't look that clearly so……」
Elise was answering with strangely hesitating gesture.
「You are speaking the truth?」
「Ye, yes!」
When Roana pressed her to confirm, Elise twitched and affirmed while trembling.
「Then shouldn't we decide our plan soon? More than this and we will only go around in circles.」
Saying that, Roana looked in displeasure at Alphonse.
「Fo, for now we will escape from this forest. Is that plan alright? As a team that is being entrusted with her highness the princesses' safety, we cannot stay here longer than this.」
Alphonse looked for a decision to Christina with a flustered look. In his true feeling, rather than going to save Rio and completely abandoned the exam, he wanted to abandon Rio by making it like it was Rio getting his just deserts while continuing the exam, so that they could reduce the decrease of their grade as much as possible. In that premise, there was a calculating consideration that if it was Rio who was a commoner that was gone, then it wouldn't develop into a serious matter.
「Can you not check on me for every single thing? After all you are the commander, so progress the talk in your own discretion. You have kept dithering since some time ago.」
Christina scowled in displeasure and spoke without hiding her irritation.
「Ye, yes! Then, we will immediately withdraw from this place and head toward our destination.」
Blood left from Alphonse's face and he gave the conclusion in hurry. But,
「Wait! You are going to abandon that person?」
Flora spoke with a harsh tone.
「We, we are moving with team. There is no way we can move the team and take risk for the sake of a man who fell into a cliff because of his own fault.」
Alphonse was overwhelmed and talked awkwardly.
「Wh, his own fault you say……. Then……, then, I almost fell from the cliff was also my own fault. I'll go save him alone.」
For a moment Flora was speechless, however, she immediately said that with resolve.
「You must not! What are you saying, Florsama.」
Roana remonstrated Flora in panic.
「Roana! Even you……. He might be seriously injured and is waiting for help.」
「……This is a problem of probability and priority. We don't know whether he is safe or not. But, either way the exam is still in progress. We cannot bet on uncertain possibility and completely waste this practice for the sake of a single civilian. That is his judgment as the commander.」
「Tha, that's why, I said I'll go alone……」
Flora faltered from Roana's argument.
「There is no way anyone here can just leave a royalty like you here alone.」
Christina cut in with a voice that was tinged with a bit of exasperation.
「Bu, but!」
「Calm down. We didn't say that we are completely abandoning him.」
「……Eh?」
A question mark floated above Flora.
「When this team's practice is over, we will ask the staffs to form search team immediately. That's why──」
Christina was going to make such proposal. At that time, an abnormality occurred.
「BUMOoooo!」
A terrifying roar came from inside the forest.
Vibration ran through the air and shook the trees. The surprised animals of the forest became noisy right away, and the students' body shook in surprise.
*DON, DON, DON, DON* the sound of something hitting the ground rhythmically reverberated, then a little while later a conspicuously louder sound rang out. It was the sound like something gigantic was running.
Then, a gigantic shadow ferociously leaped out to the sky from inside the forest.
「Wha, what is that?」
Roana yelled while looking above. There was a human shaped gigantic life-form there. Its hand was holding a weapon that was like a sword produced from stone. But, it was obviously not human.
It confirmed the figures of the students in midair and grinned ferociously. Without pause it fell inside the forest once more and landed on the ground. A thunderous sound along with a tremor on the ground rang out.
A shaking like a small earthquake occurred and the tip of the cliff that was becoming brittle crumbled down.
「Th, the cliff is collapsing!」
When Roana yelled that, the students took distance from the cliff edge in panic.
But, they didn't do anything like entering the forest. Because that monster was inside the forest.
「It's heading here. Alphonse! What should we do?」
Roana asked for a direction with a yell, but Alphonse was completely flustered.
「Eh, ah, yo, you are asking me……?」
「Are we fighting or running! Give the order quickly!」
Roana hurried Alphonse impatiently. But, even while they were doing that, the mysterious monster was approaching and its huge silhouette could be glimpsed swaying and moving inside the forest.
「Hih……」
The presence that was just too ominous made the students' face contorted in fear. Their body froze and their legs trembled.
A step, a step, the distance was shrunk with certainty and finally its whole figure became clear.
It was a face that was like a cow that became demon. Sharp and thick horns grew out from its head, its eyes were shining red, and it was containing a ferocious madness inside.
Its height easily reached four meters. Its body surface was covered with hard black skin, its thick muscles were rugged and bulged up, and a long tail stretched out from its butt like a whip.
「Aa……, mo, monster……」
The overwhelming presence caused the students' expression to distort in despair.
But, there was only one person who didn't lose her fighting spirit. It was Christina.
「What are you all being in a daze for! You will get killed!」
Saying that, she held her rod in front of her and chanted her spell.
「Thunder BallLightning Ball Magic」
Then, geometrical pattern emerged on the tip of the rod, and powerful lightning attack that was compressed into ball shot out from there powerfully. The lightning ball that had diameter of one meter shook the air cracklingly while apporahcing the cow headed giant. The students' eyes were lit with light of hope. But,
「BUMOooOOH!」
The cow headed giant raised a war cry and vertically swung the large sword of rock it was holding, hitting the lightning ball. *DoON* Along with such thunderous sound, a cloud of dust was raised and shockwave spread out.
「Wh……」
As expected even Christina turned speechless.
Thunder Ball possessed the strongest class of power from among the attack magic she could use right now. It was blocked extremely easily, so it couldn't be helped that she was astonished. It was too overwhelming.
「Gufufuh」
The cow headed giant looked at the astonished Christina and made an eerie grin.
「Hih……」
Christina's body jerked and trembled.
「Ki, Kill! I, ice element magic! Vanguards, used Enchant Physical Ability and press it back!」
Alphonse yelled in terror. The students were sacred against it that was calmly approaching. They began to chant their spell simultaneously with only the thought of not wanting to die ruling their heart.
「Ice LanceIce Spear Magic」
The rearguards Flora, Roana, and Elise held up their rod and chanted the same magic together. Magic formula floated up at the tip of their rod and sharp ice spear was fired.
「Enchant Physical Ability」
The male students also chanted their spell. Their ring shined and magic formula floated up, strengthening their physical ability. They then charged behind the ice spears right away.
But, the cow headed monster withdrew from that spot with a light movement that didn't suit its large body and dodged all the ice spears. Then it immediately closed the distance from beside a vanguard male student and swung its sword.
Terror surfaced in the student's face at the approaching lump of rock before his gaze. Even so, he immediately reacted using physical ability that surpassed the possible limit of ordinary person by holding up his shield in an attempt of defense.
The result, the male student's body was strongly sent flying horizontally and his back crashed on a tree. 「Gaah……」, blood spilled out from his mouth and then he collapsed on the ground limply.
Seeing that, the other students completely lost their will to fight. Even their feet that were moving forward fiercely halted. They comprehended it. It was impossible, there was no way they could win.
「Re, retreat! Retreat! Run awaaay!」
Alphonse raised a yelling voice that sounded like a scream.
The students scattered to every direction like baby spiders and escaped into the forest.
The cow headed monster laughed out 「GAGAGA」 while slowly chasing behind. It was as though it was having fun seeing the students getting into a panic.
On the other hand, Christina seemed to be still shocked that her lightning ball attack just now was blocked. She was standing still in a dumbfounded state.
「Christinsama, get a hold of yourself!」
Roana noticed Christina's abnormality and shook her body in hurry.
「Ye, yes. Thank you. Where is Flora?」
Christina gasped and asked.
「I don't see her. Most likely she has already escaped. We should also hurry.」
「I understand.」
Christina showed a conflicted expression before she left that place together with Roana.
–
Part 5A little while before that, Rio was falling rapidly toward the forest from the cliff. That height easily reached thirty meters. It was an unpleasant feeling as though his heart was floating. Scary. There was no way it wasn't scary. As long as he didn't make any miss, it was unlikely that he would die, but even though he knew that──.
Rio took a deep breath and ejected the magic power inside his body, then he reinforced his body's strength with full power.
There was no process of chanting spell that should be necessary if it was magic, and there was also no magic formula emerging out as magic circle. It was obvious. Right now it wasn't sorcery that Rio was using.
Physical reinforcement was divided into two types, strengthening physical ability and strengthening body strength, but using magic it was only possible to strengthen physical ability, it was considered impossible to strengthen body's strength using the present sorcery knowledge.
In the case when it was only physical strength that was strengthened, it often happened that the body couldn't keep up with the strengthened physical ability and the body broke down. Because of that various countries were continuing to research to make the strengthening of body strength a reality, but at present not even a single country was able to even grab a foothold to make it a reality.
But, for some unknown reason, Rio using a power that wasn't magic, Rio was able to strengthen not just his physical ability, but also his body's strength. Five years ago, the day when Rio recovered his memory as Amakawa Haruto, the voice of a mysterious girl became the impetus that awakened him to this power.
And then, there were various other things that differentiated Rio from the human of this world.
For example, even though he was able to pour magic power into magic formula to handle sorcery, he was unable to take in magic formula into his body and learned magic.
Another example was how he was able to see pure magic power as a faint light which was normally impossible to confirm by sight.
And then, another example was even though he was unable to take in sorcery into his body using magic formula contract, by imitating the flow of magic power of the magic formula and controlled it, he was able to reproduce pseudo sorcery.
Yes, for example, like this──, Rio pointed both his hands toward the ground.
Right after that, powerful wind gust blew violently from Rio's hands. Then, Rio's falling speed rapidly slowed by the reverse thrust of the wind.
He was unable to completely prevent the falling, but it was enough if he could slow down the speed.
Rio held out his hands and ejected win, adjusted his falling spot, and caught a moderately thick branch of a tree. With that he completely neutralized his falling momentum. His hand let go of the branch and he landed on the ground beautifully.
「-, oops.」
For the time being the danger had past, Rio wondered what he should do while looking up to the cliff.
Honestly speaking, it wasn't that difficult to go back up and rejoined the team. Using physical strengthening, a mere cliff of thirty meter wasn't something that was impossible to be climbed up. There was also no worry of falling and dying.
But, if Rio who was unable to use magic came back above the cliff unwounded, surely other would think it as strange.
That would be a bit troublesome. But, it was necessary to observe the situation above.
「For now let's just climb.」
After muttering that, Rio made a small sigh and began to act.
–
And then, he climbed up the cliff in the blink of eye and hid behind a tree cover while observing the students. The students had just annihilated the monsters who attacked them at that time.
Then, the students were starting to talk to each other about their plan going forward in confusion.
Honestly, it was a conversation with terrible content. The commander Alphonse and also Stead who was pushing Flora to fall only thought of their own wellbeing.
Most of the students had their concentration taken by the surprise attack and didn't properly witness the situation when Flora was falling. Using that, Stead twisted the fact with a lie. Rio couldn't suppress his faint smile when hearing that.
As the result, it ended with the responsibility of Flora falling from the cliff was wholly pushed into Rio.
Flora herself was desperately giving explanation, but Flora herself didn't witness the scene that could overturn Stead's testimony and her argument was overcome.
However, mysteriously no emotion of disappointment and despair welled up inside him. That was because he didn't hold any expectation whatsoever since the beginning.
Rio was living at the base of a society of social status where authority meant everything. Social status itself became authority inside such society of social status. As long as one had tremendous authority, they would be able to have their way in most things, even if it was unreasonable. Because there wasn't any thought of curtailing authority, what could hold back the authority from running wild was only the same authority.
That was why, as long as he was living in a society of social status, Rio who wasn't a noble or anything couldn't oppose the authority. Rio had learned that it was the reality since a long time ago.
He attended the royal academy that was a learning hall for noble even in such situation because there was a lot of things that he had to learn no matter what. He had come to a clear decision that such relationship would be only until he graduated, and his time together with Celia was pleasant, that was why although he thought it was hard he didn't feel it was something unbearable.
But, perhaps this was already the right time. Even if he went back to the academy like this, the possibility was high that he would only get wrongly suspected in regard to the incident where Flora almost fell from cliff and got dragged into troublesome complication. And then, when such thing happened, Rio didn't have the strength to brush away the unreasonable suspicion.
Then, perhaps it would be bitter if he just left the academy like this.
He actually planned to leave the academy after graduation, but in these five years Rio had learned most of what he should learn. That was why there was no more need to continue staying in the academy.
Right now if no one reported that he was still alive here, he would be treated as someone dead. It would be necessary to return to his room in dormitory to dress up himself in minimum, but if he picked up the right time and acted carefully, it shouldn't be impossible to sneak in without anyone noticing.
Suddenly, Celia's face flashed inside Rio's head. But, this was something that he had to decide sooner or later. It was simply that the implementation's time was slightly accelerated. That was why──.
'Let's try it'──Rio decided in the end of his hesitation.
And then, a cow headed giant that was like a demon suddenly appeared at that timing.
The students were instantly panicked. For an instant he pondered whether she should give assistance, but he had no duty at all to proactively help people who were going to abandon him.
Rio stayed hiding behind his cover while observing the situation.
The cow headed giant was really powerful. The possibility of victory for the students fighting it from the front was extremely low.
But, mysteriously Rio didn't think that the enemy was fighting at full power.
After all a body that huge boasted such unusual physical ability. If it felt like it, the monster should be able to close the distance right away and finished the fight.
And yet, it only looked like the monster moved around with showy movement and fanned up the students' terror mischievously. It wasn't like it didn't attack at all, but in spite of that it seemed to be holding back.
In the meantime the students started escaping. The battle line crumbled and they fell into complete panic. They had no composure to care about other people at all. The majority of the students moved their legs while only thinking about their own safety. The cow headed giant was chasing after them from behind leisurely. Rio was thinking that perhaps they might die and his face grimaced slightly, even so Rio continued to stay still.
–
Part 6Flora quickly carried the male student who fainted after receiving the cow headed giant's attack behind the cover of a tree. She laid him down in a comfortable position and applied Heal.
The countenance of the male student that became pale recovered for the better and his condition was already stabilized.
If he was left alone, he would die from the internal damage, but right now he was leaning on the tree with peaceful sleeper's breathing. He would wake up if he was allowed to keep resting like this.
The other students escaped all over the place, and the cow headed giant also laughed eerily while going somewhere. There was no more sound of flurried tumult.
The space with thick trees and shrubs lined up fell into uncanny silence. When the emergency situation reached a point where she could take a pause, this time anxiety suddenly descended on her.
She was worried. About Christina and others who were separated from her. She wondered whether they were able to escape.
And then, Flora thought of Rio. The young boy who was her benefactor, who was scorned as a dunce in Beltram Royal Academy──.
Flora was harboring a feeling of guilt toward Rio. Besides, she was thinking that surely he hated her.
Because surely that was the case.
Flora was unable to pay Rio back at all from five years ago until today.
In the past, Rio was treated as a criminal inside the castle and he was made to feel various bitter experiences.
Furthermore, even though he was enrolled into Beltram Royal Academy under the pretense of giving reward, Rio was despised and insulted as unnecessary by the students in the academy because of the difference in status.
Rio was always alone──when Flora realized that after enrolling into the academy for a while she was shocked.
Many times other people directed malice and hurt him. But, even so, he didn't try to hurt other people on his own accord. He only looked forward and pushed on straight.
She thought he was a really strong person. Unlike her who was only living by observing other people's mood.
Perhaps because of that, when Flora noticed she was admiring Rio. When she caught sight of Rio's figure in the academy, her eyes would chase after him.
The people in the academy made fun of Rio, but it was only her who knew about his good side. She recently heard the female students in her class saying that Rio was cool from his match against a knight. Her feeling turned a bit complicated hearing that, but she also felt a bit proud and happy.
But, Rio was always making a face that looked somewhat lonely. Each time Flora saw that face from the side, Flora would feel a pain in her chest as though her heart was squeezed.
She wanted to try talking with him. There were a lot of things she wanted to talk with him. And then, she wanted to become his friend.
Though perhaps someone like her who was unable to summon courage and only watched from afar had no qualification for that.
Thinking that, Flora's chest felt a prickling pain again.
Just once, she had seen the figure of Rio talking intimately with Celia by coincidence not a long time ago.
It was after school. At that time the two of them were talking to each other really closely. She felt really envious that Rio was showing only Celia an expression that normally he would never make.
That was why, she went against her elder sister's instruction to not interact with Rio. Today she summoned her courage and tried talking to Rio. She felt really nervous and her heart was beating fast, but she wanted to become strong like Rio, so she summoned courage wanting to advance forward even just by a step.
As a result she was able to talk with Rio just for a bit. She felt happy of that and wanted to talk more with him. The remaining time for Rio to stay in the elementary school of the royal academy was short, but she thought to be brave from here on to try to be a bit more proactive. And yet──.
Rio saved Flora and fell from the cliff. Even though everything that she did was only like paying back kindness with evil, he still saved her even then. And yet they wouldn't be able to meet again. She didn't want that.
'That's why, god, please'──Flora muttered inside her heart.
(Please keep that person safe.)
It happened when she was praying like that. Somewhere in the forest, *zun* a sound of impact as though something kicked on the ground reverberated. Flora's body twitched.
「That, monster……?」
This time a thunderous sound as though something with huge mass landed on the ground was resounding. It raised a piercing war cry while rapidly approaching at Flora's direction──.
「I, it's coming back? The monster just now……」
Flora's expression went pale right away.
「I, I have to run……. Ah, no, but……」
There was a fainted male student right beside her. She wanted to run. But, she couldn't leave him alone, and she might get found out if she ran away while carrying him.
She didn't understand at all what she should do. She was scared and couldn't think at all.
It was approaching until very close in the meanwhile. There was no hesitation in the thing's footstep[.
*Zun, zun, zun* the footsteps resounded with fixed rhythm without any disorder.
(Wh, why is it coming here?)
Flora covered her mouth with both hands and pushed down her scream. Flora was holding her breath while trembling.
Its footsteps stopped behind the tree where Flora was hiding. She could hear rough breathing sound.
「Hih……」
No. She didn't want to die. Scary.
「A, au……」
Her body was shivering in terror while she was looking up. Then, the cow headed monster showed its face like a demon. Its left hand reaching out to grab Flora's trembling body.
It was no good already. Tears gathered in her eyes and she closed her eyes. The possibility of death crossed at the back of her mind and her body cowered. The hand that should be approaching didn't come no matter how much time passed. Far from that,
「GAAah!」, she could hear the pained voice of the cow headed giant.
Flora fearfully opened her eyes. Then, the sight of the left arm of the cow headed giant severed with a vertical straight line was reflected in her field of vision. The severed arm fell on the ground and rolled over.
「Eh……?」
Flora opened her mouth in a daze. Right beside her a boy wearing academy uniform was standing. A very familiar boy with black hair carrying a bastard sword──Rio.
「GUah!」
The cow headed giant raised a war cry and leaped.
It took distance from Rio, rotated in the air, and landed along with a tremor. An intense emotion was concealed in its eyes and it glared at Rio in vigilance.
「Carry that person and run away from here quickly.」
Rio observed the cow headed giant without letting his guard down while talking to Flora calmly.
「Eh, ah, that……」
Flora's mouth was opening and closing with a dumbfounded look.
「Quickly!」「Ye, yes!」
When Rio spoke with slightly stronger tone, Flora jerked and replied. She hurriedly held the fainted male student by his shoulder. After confirming that, Rio opened his mouth once more.
「Please go!」
Flora moved away, at the same time Rio charged to in front of the enemy. The enemy swung down its sword to fight back. Rio also matched it by swinging his bastard sword with two hands.
The two swords clashed midair and sparks scattered.
Rio parried the opponent's strength to below and the cow headed giant's sword sunk into the ground. Not letting go of that opening, he slashed his sword from below to diagonally above toward the opponent's torso.
The enemy hurriedly bent backward to dodge the attack, but Rio's sword grazed its torso. Rio was surprised that the enemy's skin was harder than expected. But, it wasn't by any means impossible to cut.
It wasn't a lethal wound, but he was able to inflict damage.
「BU, BUMOooooo!」
The cow headed giant raised an enraged war cry and lifted up its stone sword before wildly mowing to the side.
Rio lightly leaped and dodged the enemy's sword that was passing below him. He twisted his body midair and landed after a full rotation. In that moment he slashed his sword in a low stance to injure the opponent's leg.
The cow headed giant leaped to dodge that and then it used its falling momentum to strike vertically down with its sword. Instant death was unavoidable if the attack hit. Rio dodged it with a side step.
And then, the next moment the gaze of both sides crossed, and a slash that eye couldn't follow flew from both sides. The swords clashed and powerful impact and gale were produced, shaking the surrounding tree.
Because there was overwhelming difference in mass between both swords, Rio's sword might snap right away if they crossed swords normally. In order to not let that happen, a severe parrying technique was demanded from Rio's side.
But, Rio's sword was drawing a trajectory that didn't show the slightest hesitation. The training that was accumulated through long months and years moved the body precisely. The sword showed no sign of snapping.
Although, it was by no means that Rio had any leeway. In front of the countless sword strikes that were filled with thick killing intent where even a single attack might dealt a lethal wound if it hit him, unpleasant chills continued to run through his back without stopping.
He was desperate. He didn't want to die──Rio wielded his sword with only that thought in his heart.
But, if he really didn't want to die, it would be better to escape without challenging the cow headed demon into battle. He didn't have even a speck of dying wish, but when he was challenging this monster into battle, Rio didn't know whether he would be able to win or not.
And yet, Rio was fighting the enemy like this. He was challenging it into a fight when he noticed.
Even he himself didn't understand why.
If he was forced to say, then perhaps it was because there remained a feeling inside him that wanted to help Flora even just for a little as the only one who was trying to act for his sake. Even his reason of saving Flora when she was falling from the cliff was similar. But, perhaps that was nothing more than his hypocrisy.
Even if he got carried away by his feeling and act in a way that he thought was right, it didn't mean that he would be rewarded for it. He understood that. In fact, Rio had experienced a failure by doing that.
But, even so, his body moved following his emotion. Even though he got a rare chance to leave the academy without anyone be the wiser, he wasted it by himself.
But, it couldn't be helped if he was found out. What would be would be──and so on, while thinking of such things as though it wasn't his own problem, Rio was swinging his sword desperately.
Perhaps because his senses were becoming sharper due to the physical strengthening, all of the opponent's movement looked slow.
Mysteriously he didn't feel like he would lose. Rio and the monster were displaying an exchange of sword strikes like a storm for only a few moments but, the moment when the equilibrium crumbled suddenly arrived.
Until then Rio was parrying the enemy's sword with the necessary minimum movement while searching for the chance in order to release a full power attack at the critical timing, then that chance arrived.
「BUMOo!」
The cow headed giant held up its sword in a big way along with a howl. Perhaps it was getting impatient from being unable to finish the fight against an opponent with a body built that was overwhelmingly inferior, its movement was turning rough.
Rio didn't overlook that instantaneous opening. Faster than the enemy could swing down its sword, he quickly swung his sword horizontally toward the enemy's torso. Then, Rio's attack caught the enemy's body.
The splendid clean hit made the giant's face showed an anguished expression. It swung around its sword angrily, but Rio back stepped and retreated to a safe range.
But, he didn't run away by all means. His true aim was to measure the distance in order to land a full power attack. Rio gripped his sword with two hands and kicked on the ground powerfully.
「-AAAAAAAAA!」
Rio raised a high spirited voice while unleashing an attack with all his strength. The cow headed giant also desperately swung down its sword, but its attack missed. Rio used the enemy's body as stepping stone and dashed up right away, then without pause he lopped off its neck resolutely.
The severed neck danced in the air. The giant body that lost its head staggered and fell on its knees on the ground. Light fell off from the crimson eyes that contained fierce glint.
Before long, the cow headed giant's body made a snapping sound and started to crumble rapidly.
It became little pieces in the blink of eye and vanished completely leaving no trace behind.
What remained was only a blue colored large stone──it was a magic stone. Furthermore it was considerably large. It was incomparable with the magic stone that goblin or orc left behind. Rio picked up the magic stone that fell on the ground.
「So it's a monster as I thought……」
Rio stared intently at the fist sized magic stone while letting out a small mutter.
Magic stone was the only thing left behind by dead monster. In other words, for a life-form to leave behind magic stone in its death was the greatest proof that it was a monster.
But, it was very rare for a monster this atrocious to wander around. If there was such a monster here there would be no way this kind of place would be used for practice. He wondered why such monster would appear inside this forest. Did it migrate from somewhere? At that time when Rio was pondering that question──.
「Florsama!」
The tranquil space of the forest was disturbed by a resounding loud voice calling Flora's name from afar. It might be the voice a person coming to search for Flora.
Rio ran his gaze around and surveyed the forest that blocked his field of vision due to the trees. Then, Rio found a squirming silhouette at a position that he could barely confirm by sight. It was Flora. Surely she was worried of Rio and observed the fight from a distance. But, he didn't want to be dragged into troublesome matter even more than this. Thinking so, Rio immediately left from there.
–
Part 7Reis who was wearing a black robe was floating in the air far above. His gaze was directed at Rio who was leaving with a speed that surpassed human limit.
「He's gone. Haha, I was able to see something more interesting than expected. It was worth it to send a minotaur that I deliberately strengthened.」
Chuckle. Reis's lips were carved with a grin that he couldn't hold back.
「From that black hair, is he a descendant from immigrant who drifted here from Yagumo region? Then I can understand how he is able to use spirit magic. But still, what a terrifying kid at that age.」
The man put further consideration toward Rio.
Spirit magic──, that was a secret art that wasn't sorcery which didn't spread at all in Strahl region.
If someone searched the old books they would be able to dig up a bit of record about it, but there would be no hop of knowing the detail. The best they would be able to find was only its common point with sorcery that it was able to cause supernatural phenomenon by using magic power, and that it was an art that was used among elf, dwarf, and beast man who human race called as demi-human with scorn.
But, somehow Reis possessed insight regarding spirit magic that normally would be impossible to learn.
That was why, he was also able to comprehend just how abnormal it was for Rio who was a human race and lived in this Strahl region to be able to use that level of spirit magic in that age.
「Even after approaching this close, I cannot feel the characteristic wavelength of spirit. It doesn't look like he is contracted with spirit. Well, I'll just remember him and leave him to his own devices. That will also suit that person's plan. I too should return to my original duty.」
After saying that, the man glided away to somewhere else.
Chapter end
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