Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: 18-2. What I've Been Hiding is My Trump Card.
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Up until now, Mardol had been defeating her opponents using only swordsmanship, without resorting to magic.
"If I can just strip off that armor, I stand a chance."
Ariel figured she could keep her distance and cast spells to exploit that weakness.
"Chain Fireworks!"
Ariel targeted the area around Pine's feet, chanting her fireworks spell. Linear flames encircled the Glass Knight in a spherical formation, and vertical bursts of fireworks erupted along them, engulfing her.
Boom boom boom! The chain of explosions rocked Pine's body ever so slightly.
"Did that do it...?"
The red-haired mage murmured softly as she watched.
"...No."
But Pine, masquerading as Mardol, ignored the spell entirely and trudged forward, her footsteps echoing steadily as she closed the distance.
At this rate, it would play out just like her match against Windy. The crystal-like glass armor, showing no signs of damage, slowly approached Ariel.
"No good after all, huh... Fine, then I've got something in mind too! Mardol!"
"Fire Ball!"
A sphere of flame formed in her hand. For some reason, she'd abandoned her fireworks spell in favor of basic fire magic.
The most elementary beginner spell, no less. Right after, she muttered something under her breath toward the fireball,
"...What's her angle?"
"Guess!"
Pop. Boom. Pop. She hurled them at her opponent like snowballs, one after another. Pine, taking them head-on, found her movements slowing.
"...This is getting tough."
"Not so easy to get close now, is it, Mardol!"
Pine let out a sigh at her repeatedly blocked path.
Magic circles flickered at Ariel's fingertips, spawning fireballs that poured out like from an automated turret, halting the Glass Knight's advance.
"...Time to use my sword."
Determined to counter immediately, Pine drew the sword from her back and assumed her stance. Focusing to break through the magic, she raised her arm high.
"Granasia Style, Form 4: Grand Impact."
Thud! Steel slammed into the arena floor, shaking the ground like an earthquake. A fan-shaped shockwave cracked the earth and sent debris flying.
"Eek...!"
The vibration threw Ariel off balance, her aimed magic circle tilting downward. Seizing the opening, Pine charged with Wolf Fang.
"Too bad, Ariel."
The Glass Knight clearly held the advantage now. All she had to do was shatter the mana shield.
"S-Sparkler Flare!"
That was when it happened. Though her voice carried a hint of panic, Ariel's eyes showed no sign of giving up. Something was brewing in the red-haired elf as she chanted.
"No use..."
"...You sure about that, Mardol?"
Whoosh. An unexpected turn.
The fireworks spell, which should have misfired in some random direction due to poor aim,
"...Huh?"
detonated inside Pine's glass armor, scorching her from within.
"...I snuck my mana into those fireballs earlier!"
She shouted at her momentarily frozen foe.
"My flames burn mana itself, so once it builds up inside armor like that, there's no escape! Mardol!"
Tiny linear flames leaked from the gaps in the gleaming white crystal heavy armor, like fireworks seeping out.
"It's like pouring oil inside the armor! Hehe, how's it taste?"
Ariel flashed a cat-like grin, delighted at her plan's success.
Once the armor came off, her victory was all but assured.
I shook my head at the sight. From the center of the spectator stands, I felt a pang of guilt for not sharing more info with Ariel.
"...It would've worked under normal circumstances. Too bad."
"What're you talking about, Licht? Doesn't that mean Ariel wins?"
"Against Masterpiece-grade gear, you need equal rank—or Artifact-grade equipment."
Anything short of an ultimate move won't cut it. Gear that blocks Demon King attacks won't fall to something like that. I sighed.
"At best, it'll tie her feet or force the armor off briefly. Though even that might be a stretch."
"I get that, but flames are bursting inside it...?"
"Masterpiece is the dwarves' soul poured into their work."
I bowed my head. Even the restaurant we visited days ago named their dishes after it. The pinnacle of their craft.
"In the game lore, they don't sleep while forging them, then drown in booze and force sleep after. No way a few fire spells faze it."
Pine only stopped because Ariel's mana reserves were so vast. Any other mage would've been crushed like Windy without a fight.
"Its temperament is so finicky you might not realize, but that alone won't guarantee victory."
I pictured the fake holy sword in my mind—my "son," a replica of Artifact-grade on par with Masterpieces.
That could neutralize the glass armor temporarily. As long as my will outshone the armor's.
A conviction born from the Nameless Saintess. I wouldn't lose to anyone.
But why go to such lengths hiding her identity with that armor? A Masterpiece in plain clothes would've sufficed. Spotting the inconsistency,
"..."
Ariel's words nagged at me more. Was it really because she's a girl? Doubts grew,
"Your junior's right. You'd need phoenix flames for real damage."
"Exactly, Senior Nex."
The purple-haired man's folded-arm quip broke my focus. Watching someone I knew engulfed in flames started to feel horrifying.
"This one's kinda scary."
Other spells felt detached, but seeing someone endure flames up close was hard. I squeezed my eyes shut.
Won't get caught if I don't watch—helmet covers me anyway.
How much time passed?
"Wooooaaahhh!!"
Cheers erupted beside me, forcing my eyes open.
I stared at the arena, unable to hide my shock.
"That technique from last time, huh... Mardol."
The blond hero's puzzled mutter widened my eyes. Multiple Ariels, carved from sparkling crystal, stood there.
"She can do that too...?"
White like the Glass Knight, but twin tails and mage robes mirrored perfectly, as if reflected.
She could clone herself and the enemy. My understanding of glass magic deepened. Should've realized when she used it on me.
Guess the crown prince really is the protagonist. Even Ariel from the previous game looked flustered. I pondered how to counter her going forward.
Games boil down to pattern memorization.
Info grants combat edge. Without it, you're at a severe disadvantage,
"Can she only copy magic? No. Laplace implied she can mimic other things too."
That's why I'd hidden my divine sword and magnolia swordsmanship. I narrowed my eyes, focusing intently.
Explosions like fireworks continued inside Pine's armor. Attacks she could've ignored.
"..."
"Mardol, that's why you shouldn't bring armor like that! Let's fight fair and square with pure skill!"
But this was a grade exam. Time-out meant loss. Ariel's mana amplified the blasts, locking her body in place.
"...You're right."
She hung her head, staring at her armor leaking flames. She'd underestimated her foe.
"...I'll pay you proper respect, Ariel."
"What're you—"
Pine lifted her gaze to the red-haired elf. Wolf eyes gleamed inside the helmet, golden irises igniting with battle lust.
"From now on, I'll use my magic too."
Hand to her chest, she summoned a magic circle linking to the armor. Smoke hissed out like a fire extinguisher, snuffing Ariel's fireworks.
"I'll give it my all, Ariel."
"...Right, you're a magic swordsman after all, Mardol!"
That was when it happened. As Ariel geared for her next attack, the Glass Knight reached out.
"...Mirror Shield."
A massive glass wall rose between them like a barrier. One of her prior techniques.
"If it doesn't work, keep trying till it does!"
"Sparkler Flare!"
Targeting Pine beyond the glass, she chanted. Mana saturated the armor—no need to aim precisely,
"...Huh?"
She expected fireworks like before.
"Ah, this is from back then...!"
"Exactly, Ariel. You've seen it."
But her prediction missed. Two crystal Ariels sprang from the glass wall, taking the Sparkler Flare instead.
"Mirror Mirage."
The reason she'd outlasted the hero against Magic Hat.
This cloning spell—of self or foe—had parried the Demon King's attacks, protecting Ariel and Kainel.
"Mardol, isn't this kinda cheating?"
"It is not."
Ariel let out a wry chuckle at the glass magic now turned against her. Perfect replicas mirroring actions like true reflections.
"...Magic I've practiced diligently since childhood, Ariel."
Even so, Pine wore a dissatisfied expression under her helmet. Pressure lingered—she needed to grow stronger.
To defeat Magic Hat and restore Mother to normal.
"I wanted to get stronger."
Pine ended curtly from behind the glass wall. Her two clones then unleashed identical fireworks spells at the red-haired mage.