Chapter 201: Now This Is Magic (2)
Chapter 201: Now This Is Magic (2)
Kwaaaa—!
A whirlwind surged from the distance. It was Sharpness Hurricane, a spell that dragged in everything in the vicinity and shredded whatever it touched to ribbons.
Watching it erase the densely packed slimes was like rubbing an eraser over a notebook filled with scribbles—it was incredibly cathartic.
Yeah… this is what magic is all about.
I tried to subtly aim my staff to cast the next spell, but…
“…Brother?”
I had to lower my arm again because Helena had noticed with ghost-like intuition.
“Oh boy… why does my arm hurt so much today…?”
“I shall cast a Heal on you.”
Helena asked as she tapped my shoulder with hands emitting a pure white light.
“Shall we go together?”
“Um… no. I have a few things to prepare, so you go ahead. I’m not used to this yet, so it’ll take some time.”
“Understood. Then please follow at your own pace.”
Helena nodded with a bright smile. With a heavy mace in one hand and a thick bible in the other, she ran forward with light steps.
Tap, tap, tap.
Her single-braided blonde hair fluttered in the wind, and her loose nun’s habit clung to her body due to the wind pressure. And then—
Trusting in the divine arts enveloping her body, she slammed directly into the swarm of slimes.
K-Boom!
A thunderous roar erupted, sounding like a massive traffic accident. Having burrowed into the middle of the slimes, Helena swung her mace.
Pow!
This time, the slimes exploded all at once as if a bomb had gone off.
They were supposed to have a certain degree of resistance to physical attacks, but it felt like they were being pulverized by a force that simply transcended that resistance.
Even though the mace didn't directly touch the glowing cores in their centers, they were being shattered by the sheer wind pressure.
It was nothing short of an overwhelming massacre.
Was Helena always this strong at this point in time…?
Even considering her opponents were slimes, she seemed to be fighting a bit too well.
…Well, whatever. Helena was wearing a look of pure bliss while drenched in slime fluids, so that was good enough.
With a smirk, I prepared to join in.
“Ssshp…”
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs. I concentrated my mind on my heart, located right in the center, and drew up my mana.
Thump.
Instead of spreading out into the mana circuits, the mana erupting from the core sank heavily.
The mana pooled toward the heart directly beneath it. Just as my heart was completely dyed in mana and the blood passing through it began to carry that power—
I quietly recited the incantation.
“Flowing flame. Unquenchable furnace. Circulate, Blood Force.”
Whoosh!
The moment I uttered the activation words, my blood heated up intensely.
Starting from the heart, the heat spread in all directions, filling my entire body. Vitality began to boil within me.
Since I hadn't fully mastered it yet, only my endurance among my physical attributes was enhanced.
But that alone was enough. My base stats had already grown significantly, and hadn't I received Helena’s buffs as well?
Besides, the opponents were just slimes. Even now, my specs were practically overkill.
I cracked my neck from side to side to loosen up, then pulled the corners of my mouth into a grin.
“Alright, shall we?”
Even though I only lightly kicked off the ground, the scenery blurred past me.
Watching the slime swarm draw closer, I aimed my staff.
Let’s see… what magic would be good?
Excluding high-firepower spells, I suppose something with a high rate of fire would be best.
Since I also wanted to show off a bit to Helena, I should use light-attribute magic if possible.
…Come to think of it, there was one perfect spell.
I adjusted my grip on the staff and drew up my mana once more.
“O Light. Light that shines even into the darkest places. Pierce incessantly. Light Bullet Rapid Fire.”
Wung.
With a short resonant hum, spheres of light rose above the staff.
However, unlike a normal Light Bullet where multiple spheres would be arranged haphazardly, these were lined up in a straight, orderly row as if waiting for their turn.
Magic is divided into ranks, but there are many spells that are difficult to categorize strictly.
Light Bullet Rapid Fire was one of them.
It was a modification of the ordinary low-grade spell, Light Bullet, turning it from a single-shot spell into a channeled one.
It was a spell that automatically drew mana to fire light bullets until the caster canceled the manifestation.
The power was merely that of firing several low-grade spells, but because it required creating an automated system, the difficulty was slightly below that of intermediate magic.
For that reason, it might be interesting academically, but it lacked practical utility…
However, the bored stagnant waters of H&A had created their own content using this.
“An FPS in a fantasy RPG? I can’t pass this up.”
I aimed my staff at the nearest slime… and fired.
Shoo… Bang!
The rapidly flying light bullet didn't just sear the core of the targeted slime; it instantly evaporated its fluids.
The power was stronger than expected. It was likely because my Sun God's Blessing had grown. There was a significant difference between a 10% buff and a 25% buff.
Of course, it felt great to fire, so I wasn't complaining.
“Hup!”
I held my breath for a moment and rapidly fired three light bullets.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Two bullets pierced their cores accurately, but the last one missed slightly.
I quickly ran over, stabbed the exposed core with my dagger, and stood next to Helena, who was busy crushing slimes along with the ground they stood on.
“Light Almighty! Brother! What on earth is that magic? It looks so cool!”
“…Ho. So you recognize the style, Lady Helena?”
“Yes! Of course! It looks like it would be so much fun to aim and hit the monsters as they swarm in one by one.”
“Kuu… right? This has a different flavor compared to ordinary magic, you know?”
It felt like playing a zombie game. Dropping one big bomb is nice, but there’s a certain catharsis in just spraying and praying.
After that, we chatted amiably while bursting every slime in sight.
Mostly, it was me bragging and Helena being envious.
…This is actually pretty fun.
Unlike recent battles where I always had to fight from a disadvantage, this was a fight where I held the overwhelming upper hand.
It was a battle that felt more like a hunt. Magic used for the sake of interest. And a companion I could talk to comfortably.
Since I felt no danger, I began to enjoy all of this.
It felt exactly like the feeling of playing a game back on Earth.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I fired repeatedly at the same spot to clear a path, then made a suggestion to Helena, who was busy stomping on the slimes at her feet.
“Lady Helena. Why don’t we have a bet to see who can catch more? I’ll adjust my firing speed accordingly.”
“That… sounds fun! Very well, Brother. But if it’s a bet, shouldn't there be stakes?”
“Hmm… true. If I win, will you guide us once we reach the Main Chapter?”
“Deal. In exchange, if I win, you have to attend services with me every day until we reach the Main Chapter. How about it?”
“Uh.”
That sounds a bit tedious.
But well… I just have to win, right?
“Alright. Let’s start right now!”
As soon as I said that, I made a preemptive dash and scattered light bullets in all directions.
“Ah! That’s cheating, Brother! Running off on your own like that!”
“It’s not cheating, it’s strategy! I’m going ahead!”
“Eek…!”
I heard Helena make a frustrated sound behind me, but I let it go in one ear and out the other as I threw myself into the wave of slimes.
*
“Hmm. He looks like he’s having fun.”
“I know, right? I didn't know he could be that happy.”
At Iris and Iona’s words, Fay concentrated mana into her eyes.
There was Yandel, laughing like a mischievous boy while firing off low-grade magic as if playing a prank.
He was already younger than her, but seeing that smile made him look like an even younger boy, and Fay found herself nodding unconsciously.
“Wow… you’re right. I guess Junior could smile like that too….”
Was it because Fay’s voice sounded enchanted or full of admiration?
Carla and Elisha, who had just gained some breathing room after firing off an intermediate spell, also glanced back.
There, they saw Yandel and Helena grinding through slimes while laughing together harmoniously.
“Playing with Master… I’m so jealous….”
“Still, it’s a relief that everything seems to be going according to plan.”
Carla pouted her lips, while Elisha brushed back her ringlet hair and nodded calmly.
Carla’s cheeks puffed out at Elisha’s unusually composed reaction.
“Wh-what’s with that look? Even if you act all cute, someone like you doesn't bother me at all! …Besides, Carla, didn't you hear the general situation from Yandel too?”
“I heard that Master would intentionally hang out with Priestess Helena to get close to her… but it doesn't look like he’s just humoring her; it looks like he’s genuinely enjoying himself.”
“…Oh? Now that you mention it, you’re right.”
A refreshing smile that lacked any of his usual suspiciousness or intimidation.
Elisha let out a short, hollow laugh at the sight of him truly enjoying the moment.
“He’s always telling me not to lump him in with those fanatics of the Righteous Light, and yet look at him….”
To anyone watching, he was enjoying himself just as much as Helena, if not more.
“He might become close enough that he won’t even need to ask me for help.”
“Oh? Oh? Then does that mean Student Helena might also…?”
Iona tilted her head as she overheard Elisha’s muttering, but the other four denied it firmly.
““““That’s not it.””””
“Huh? R-really?”
As Iona looked bewildered, Iris puffed out her flat chest and declared with certainty.
“It seems you don’t know him well yet, so let me tell you. Master is a man who only takes a woman as his own if she has fallen!”
Indeed. Surely nothing would happen to the Church of the Righteous Light, the most powerful and rigid sect within the Union of Good Gods.
…Right?
Iris’s brow furrowed slightly.