How to Dance with the Lonely Princess (2)
The boy named Chrome Midas, as seen through Lyla Everblaze Barhart's eyes, was a very unique individual. For example, even in this class right now.
"Let me ask you a question. What do you think is most important for a mage operating alone?"
At Professor Neville Brix's question, the students of the magic department answered one after another.
"High firepower and a wide attack range. If you're acting alone, you'll often have to face multiple enemies at once."
"I believe it's the speed of spell activation. Without allies to buy you time, acting before your opponent is more important than anything."
"Wouldn't it be abundant mana and support tools? A mage who runs out of resources becomes drastically weaker."
"Hmm, Lyla Everblaze Barhart. What is your opinion?"
Called upon, Lyla stood up and answered.
"May I ask what the purpose of solo operation is?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because the abilities that are prioritized differ depending on the objective."
"Correct."
Neville nodded and addressed the students.
"What you all mentioned earlier is not wrong either. Firepower, speed, sustainability. All of these are important abilities for a mage. However, their priority is not fixed—it changes endlessly depending on the situation. Do not be bound by preconceptions, and cultivate the ability to think about what ability is needed at any given moment."
The students nodded, and some even sent admiring glances toward Lyla. Professor Neville then pointed to Chrome and asked a question.
"Chrome Midas. If you were ordered to take down an enemy leader alone, what would you do?"
At the professor's call, Chrome appeared to ponder for a moment before opening his mouth.
"First, I would reflect on my own conduct. To end up in a situation where a mage has to move alone without any support nearby, I must have managed my personal connections terribly poorly on a regular basis."
A murmur spread through the room. At this answer that bordered on insolence, several students began whispering among themselves, and even Professor Neville wore a wry smile. Chrome's words were essentially a direct rebuttal to the professor's question.
Professor Neville asked, "Did you not hear what I said earlier?"
"I did."
"Magic is an all-purpose profession. Compared to talents specialized in roles like 'combat' or 'support,' it should be the most suited for solo operations."
"Just because there's an all-purpose card in a card game that can substitute for any role doesn't mean you should actually use it at any time. That would be foolish."
Chrome continued his explanation.
"You said it yourself, Professor. The abilities required of a mage change depending on the situation. However, in a situation where ability A is needed, it would be more efficient to deploy someone else who can only do A, while keeping the mage who can do A, B, and C in reserve. That way, you can use them as a backup when necessary. For the same reason, it would be better to have mages operate as part of a group rather than alone. The other members of the group dramatically reduce the consumption of the mage's limited resource—mana—while the members who have obtained the all-purpose card called 'mage' can employ far more versatile tactics."
Professor Neville looked intrigued.
"By the book. But there are unavoidable circumstances in this world. What would you do if you had no choice but to carry out the aforementioned order alone?"
Chrome answered, "I would make the situation as chaotic as possible and increase the variables. It would also be good to mobilize forces hostile to the organization led by the target. Fighting head-on with brute force should be left as a last resort."
"Hmm, good. You may be seated."
Professor Neville neither affirmed nor denied Chrome's opinion, and so the students' reactions were also divided into two camps. Some found it unpleasant, thinking he was cleverly twisting the topic into wordplay, while others highly evaluated it as presenting a fresh perspective. A few even compared Lyla and Chrome, precisely because their answers were so contrasting. Lyla had discussed the optimum within the given conditions, while Chrome had questioned the very premise presented.
Of course, proper evaluations based on solid reasoning were rare. After all, many considered it irreverent to even place Lyla—who was royalty succeeding the name of Barhart and a genius who ranked first in every subject she took—on the same level as Chrome, who, despite drawing some attention, was merely the son of a merchant family. Even those who were restraining her from forming a faction were no different in this regard.
Ironically, the one who contemplated this most seriously was Lyla herself. If Chrome had merely been spouting words, Lyla would have found his opinion somewhat amusing but would not have cared much. However, he had already proven that he was not just an empty braggart. In their previous match, Chrome had declared he would defeat Lyla—and he had actually done so.
It wasn't a one-on-one duel? He had just run away to the goal because he couldn't win in a head-on fight? Nonsense. The match had been a team battle from the start, and Lyla and Chrome had been the leaders of their respective teams. Selecting the team, positioning them to perform at their best—those were their abilities. Moreover, in a fight where the method of victory was clearly defined by the rules, claiming that winning according to those rules was cowardly would only bring shame upon Lyla herself.
'Why did I lose?'
A question she had already repeated to herself several times. It would be a lie to say there was no carelessness. It was also true that she had been somewhat complacent. If she had actively utilized the game's rules to the fullest, focusing solely on collecting tokens and reaching the goal, even Chrome would have had no easy way to respond. If she was going to do it anyway, she had been the one who insisted on the straightforward method, declaring she would crush him head-on without any room for excuses.
But even if she had shown an opening, it would mean nothing if there was no ability to exploit it.
'How on earth did she become that strong?'
Ligret's figure, who had dealt with an attack she had been confident could single-handedly annihilate even the imperial regular army if it was below a certain scale, using only her physical abilities and skill, and who had shattered a defense she had thought unbreakable except by equal-tier high-grade spells or cannons, remained vividly in Lyla's memory.
She acknowledged that Ligret was an outstanding genius. Though their fields differed, in terms of talent alone, she might be on equal footing with Lyla herself. Yes, equal. It was certain that Ligret stood in the same realm as Lyla, but conversely, that also meant she was not in a position to overwhelm Lyla. If they possessed the same potential, what mattered were the starting point and the surrounding environment. The age difference between Lyla and Ligret was two years. In other words, Lyla had two more years of leeway, and it was hard to imagine that she was inferior to Ligret in terms of environment. Yet Lyla had been unable to overwhelm Ligret. There was only one thing that implied.
Something that could bridge that gap. Something that Ligret had, and Lyla did not. And what that something was, was as clear as day.
'Chrome Midas.'
The boy wearing a golden monocle, who casually crossed the line between courtesy and rudeness like a snake slithering over a wall, and who had been the first to teach Lyla Everblaze Barhart the taste of defeat. He was truly the cause of Ligret's extraordinary strength, Lyla realized. Along with the possibility that she, too, might be able to obtain that benefit.
Desire had taken root. She wanted it. The obstacles before Lyla were far too numerous, and the burden she carried was far too heavy. Having repeated her efforts to overcome them, she had instead reached a state of maturity far too early and become stagnant. Before her eyes, as she felt an indescribable frustration, appeared a staircase that seemed as though she could ascend it at any moment. It was certain that Chrome was calling out to Lyla. But it was also clear that he would never extend his hand until she took the first step toward him.
After agonizing, agonizing, and agonizing some more, she reached a conclusion and acted. After class ended. As the students were leaving one by one, Lyla spoke to Chrome.
"Chrome, could you spare me a moment later?"
"If Lady Lyla calls, I would be delighted. But I would like to know the details."
To Chrome, who answered with a sly attitude, Lyla spoke with a serious expression.
"Please help me."
Chrome wiped the smile from his lips and replied, "What is it that you desire?"
Lyla's two eyes stared straight at Chrome.
"Everything."
Facing those eyes that burned like flames, Chrome also answered.
"Welcome to becoming a sincere and consumer-friendly customer of Chrome Trading Company, Lady Lyla."
It was the moment when the Successor of Red and Blue Blood took the hand of the Greedy Prodigal.