Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Shocking Defense
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Zzzzt zzzzt and pshhhut, it went off-!
I have a method. From now on, just do exactly as I say.
What the hell is up with this guy?
You're not Orgasm.
This isn't the time to mess around.
First time seeing this guy talk like this.
Even in this dire situation, Orgasm's suddenly changed tone left me dumbfounded.
It stood out even more because his usual speech was so crass.
The other gallery users were just as baffled as I was.
First, ask the professor right now if he can use a high-circle lightning spell.
But Orgasm ignored the other users' chatter and pressed on with his instructions.
I had to follow his lead.
The other high-nics had gone quiet, so it should be fine.
From what I'd seen so far, these archmages never steered us wrong.
If he was speaking with this much conviction, it meant his method was definitely better than the others'.
"Professor! Do you have a high-circle lightning spell you can cast right now?"
"I know a relatively easy one from the 6th circle. It's not my specialty, though—"
He says he can use a simple 6th-circle one. Not his specialty.
That should work. It's actually perfect. Ask the professor to buy us 1-2 minutes. Also, there should be a low-circle spell among electric magics that can amplify it—like a catalyst. Pick any and cover the space with it as a catalyst.
Wait, no way you're thinking...
No, that's basically the same as using a bracelet destruction spell! Destroying the space would hurt Kim Muggle inside too!
The other archmages fiercely objected to Orgasm's comment.
But Orgasm didn't post again. He seemed to be preparing something else.
I could guess what he was planning.
But could I survive it?
I didn't have time for second thoughts. Either way, hesitation meant death.
"Hold on for just 2 minutes!"
I relayed Orgasm's instructions and began my calculations.
I already knew a spell that could act as an amplifier for lightning magic.
It wasn't something I'd normally use, but it had come up on a calculation exam, so I'd memorized it. Who knew it'd save us here?
[Cumulus Cloud Ignition]
2nd Circle Magic
[Cumulus Cloud Ignition]
2nd Circle Magic
[Cumulus Cloud Ignition]
2nd Circle Magic
The 2nd-circle magic [Cumulus Cloud Ignition].
Faintly sparking cumulus clouds began spreading thickly through the pitch-black space.
Being 2nd circle, it was easy enough to blanket the area quickly.
After about a minute and a half of repeating the process, my mana was down to half.
Right on cue, Orgasm posted his next comment.
About 15 casts of 2nd-circle or 10 of 3rd-circle should suffice. Next, cast this on everyone. Think of it as a defensive spell that blocks lightning damage. (Photo of mysterious 4th-circle magic formula)
First time seeing this spell. What is it?
I'm not the only one thinking that, right?
The shape looks kinda...
Cast the defensive spell on me, Chayuri, and the professor.
It was a 4th-circle formula, but each component was fairly simple.
Individually, it wasn't something I could cast on the spot.
But seeing the whole picture, its meaning was so obvious that I could form the imagery right away.
Once I visualized it, I knew I could pull it off.
The issue was... the overall shape of the formula looked weird.
The first component rose tall like a pillar in the center.
The second was laid flat beneath it like an infinity symbol—or no, more like two eggs stuck together.
The third burst out from the top of the pillar like a fountain of chaotic lines.
The final fourth component was a massive lightning bolt encompassing the whole thing.
No matter how you look at it, this is the squirting gif, right?
Yeah. Try as I might to think otherwise, that's exactly what it was.
I was embarrassed, but it didn't change the fact that this was our only option.
It's a reliable defensive spell... or whatever. Trust me. Once all three have the defense up, tell the professor to cast the 6th-circle lightning spell. While the professor calculates, Kim Muggle has to hold off the taboo mage somehow. Buy time at all costs.
Orgasm spoke with unwavering confidence.
I didn't fully trust the guy, but he was still a high-nic.
This had to work if we did it right.
Got it.
Pshhhut, it went off!!!
I fired off a quick thanks in 0.1 seconds and focused on the defensive spell calculations.
No time to check the gallery now.
But that last glimpse of Orgasm's true colors gave me conviction.
I began calculating the 4th-circle spell.
A towering pillar, two eggs below, something erupting from the top—all enveloped by a massive lightning bolt.
Its meaning was crystal clear, yet impossible to describe.
The moment I cast it, a strangely comfortable, sticky sensation enveloped my body.
Zzzzt zzzzt and pshhhut, it went off-!
Zzzzt zzzzt and pshhhut, it went off-!
Zzzzt zzzzt and pshhhut, it went off-!
I successfully applied the defensive spell to all three of us.
Now, all that was left was buying time while Professor Juri calculated her 6th-circle lightning spell.
"Professor! Now!"
"But casting lightning in this state will—"
"It's fine! This spell will protect us! Trust me! I'll handle that guy somehow!"
At my desperate shout, Professor Juri ground her teeth and began calculating.
She wasn't in good shape. The taboo magic had already frayed her mind.
And not knowing it came from an archmage, she must have felt like she was committing suicide.
Especially with [Cumulus Cloud Ignition] blanketing the area—she'd fry us all in the electric surge.
Professor Juri knew it, yet calculated with eyes rolled back in determination.
Like someone who'd been through this before.
As an academy professor, she'd probably seen it all.
But now wasn't the time to worry about her.
Screee—
A whistling scythe sliced through the darkness.
Not physically thrown—a spell he'd calculated. A scythe-flinging spell? Unique taste.
'Can I block this with my magic? No, I have to.'
The scythe hurtled straight at me.
What defense could stop it? In that split second.
No, no spell I knew could fully block it.
Then spam low-circle ones to minimize damage.
[Overlapping Square Shield]
[Overlapping Square Shield]
[Overlapping Square Shield]
[Overlapping Square Shield]
I spam-calculated as many [Overlapping Square Shields] as I could in an instant.
Kakakakakakakak—
The spinning scythe shredded dozens of square shields as it burrowed through.
It wasn't useless—its spin slowed slightly with each one.
Pfshk—
Still, it didn't fully stop.
The remaining momentum sliced my arm.
But it was bearable. No amputation, no bone showing.
-Hmph, hmph, hmph. What. Crude. Hmph, hmph. Unexpected. Hmph. Hmph.
The taboo mage's voice echoed from the darkness.
His constant throat-clearing confirmed he wasn't right in the head.
I cast acceleration magic and charged toward the voice.
I had to disrupt him so Professor Juri could finish.
Screee—
Another scythe incoming.
And again, straight at me.
'Guided missile, huh.'
I didn't know if he had no other spells or if taboo backlash limited him.
But he'd only flung these scythes so far.
And now it was clear: homing. Locked on me.
Plenty of ways to stall, then.
I bolted like mad.
'Can't waste more mana.'
About 300 left.
The clouds were fine.
But Orgasm's spell guzzled 697.4 mana each—three casts and I was hurting.
"Come on, you bastard! Even mages need to run!"
I lured the scythe toward where I'd heard the voice.
Dodging it while running, a figure emerged from the dark.
A grotesque taboo mage with his left face crumpled, head half-turned.
"Hmph, hmph. What is this."
"Did the chancellor send you?!"
"Hmph. Right up close. Thank you. Hmph. Hmph."
The throat-clearing taboo mage started a new calculation.
That's when it hit me.
Why he'd stuck to homing scythes.
Not because he couldn't do more—the darkness blinded him too.
So he used guided spells. But I'd run right to him—
We're screwed. No way to tank his attack this close.
I sensed disaster and spun to retreat—
Pzzt—
The endless darkness sparked—the cumulus clouds crackling bigger.
Professor Juri had finished.
"Hmph?"
Holy shit, I'm alive, I thought, as the mage grunted.
"You're roast now."
I flashed a triumphant grin at the panicking bastard.
The brief spark ignited into massive friction,
Pajajajak—and huge lightning surged everywhere.
Kwajijijijijik—!
Vision whited out in blinding bolts as his death scream burned away.
And just as Orgasm said, thanks to the defense spell, I felt no pain at all—
"Hut—?!"
No, wait. Not no pain—this was—
"Hooooooonggooooongook—!?"