The Way to Grip the Sword

A mage fighting without using magic is absurd. Even I know that's an undeniable fact.

If you think within the framework of being a mage, then yeah, what I'm doing right now doesn't make any sense.

"W-Wait a sec…! What the hell?! You're a mage!"

"Not right now, I'm not."

The moment I gripped the sword and mastered aura, I stopped being just a simple mage. I'm not some physically tough mage anymore—I've become a being who wields both magic and aura.

"You think I'm just gonna lose this pathetically?!"

Five circles bloomed behind Belloa Lamier's back. More refined and sharper than when we first met. Not some reckless judgment, but the result of genuine growth as a mage.

I couldn't help but smile at her faster-than-original growth.

"Master. You sure about this? She's still a 5th Circle mage…?"

"Doesn't matter. I've got five talents too."

I took a slow breath and gripped the wooden sword tightly.

Could I block a 5th Circle spell with a wooden sword? If we're being technical, it's damn near impossible. Deflecting magic with a sword is a foreign concept to begin with.

But that doesn't mean I can't do it.

Dragon Slayer Style. Third Form. Ripple Slash.

I paused my breath once, then stabbed a point into the air. Like a water droplet hitting the surface and sending ripples outward.

From point to point, drawing lines—and with that, I swung the sword.

Shhkkk.

With a clean sound, the magic circles that had arrogantly formed moments ago crumbled one by one.

"Looks like I win?"

"P-Please go easy on meee."

As I pointed the wooden sword at Belloa after nullifying her magic, she said that and plopped down onto the floor.

"So you weren't bluffing about fighting without magic…."

Belloa let out a hollow chuckle, looking defeated. Well, I get it. Just two days ago, I didn't even know the basics of the sword.

"Hey, Dante."

Belloa, who had been staring at me blankly, slowly parted her lips. Her eyes were shadowed now, unlike before. A far cry from her usual confident self.

"…Yeah?"

"If I chase after you… can I get stronger?"

Chase after me to get stronger? Totally out of left field.

But that doesn't mean I can't answer.

"Obviously."

At this rate, I'll keep growing fast. Hell, I might hit archmage or grand swordmaster before graduation.

'And talented Belloa chases after me?'

She's got the vessel to become an archmage anyway. With or without me, she'll get strong. Though with me around, maybe even stronger than in the game.

"You think…?"

"Yeah. Aim to surpass me while you're at it."

I'm not the one saving the world anyway—it's Luel and her party. So Belloa, the future mage of the hero party, getting stronger? That's nothing but good for me. I'm not planning to risk my neck saving the world myself.

"Alright…. I will. I'll surpass you."

Life returned to Belloa's shadowed eyes. Back to her usual spark, unlike her dead-fish look from moments ago.

"I want to get stronger. Will you help? Vice-captain."

"I'll train you to the bone. Hit me up anytime."

"I'll get strong. Stronger than you, vice-captain."

"Sure, sure. That's the spirit."

Feels like my sulky cousin perked up. Couldn't help but smile, I guess?

"W-Wait!?"

"Huh? What?"

"…How long were you gonna pet my head?"

"Oh. Sorry."

I'd absentmindedly patted her head because she looked so down. Old habit from my past life with my little sis….

"More importantly, aren't you way ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too obsessed with swordsmanship lately?"

Hiding her flushed face, Belloa casually probed.

Ah… come to think of it, yeah, I've been focusing on sword and aura.

'Magic's already at 5th Circle, so it'll stagnate for a bit anyway.'

It's beyond my expectations already, so I figured I'd let it sit. Goal was adapting to the suddenly strong aura instead.

"…You know there's notes on mana circuits today, right?"

"Ah."

I let out an involuntary groan. Hell, I forgot not just the lecture but the pop quiz too.

"You gonna be okay…? Want my notes?"

She must've read my face—her voice tinged with worry.

Belloa's notes, vice-top of the magic department? No reason to refuse.

"I'd appreciate it."

"Got it. I'll bring 'em later."

"Cool. Thanks."

Crisis averted.

"Master, you're lucky~"

"Huh? Why?"

"Vice-top's handing over her personal notes. Why not make seducing girls your main job?"

Lilia spouting nonsense again. She never misses a chance to say that whenever I'm with a girl.

"What's lucky about it for me?"

"Huh?"

"You're solving everything anyway."

"…………Huh?!"

"Why so surprised? That's what you're here for, slave demon."

Insight lets me do anything, but no way I'm studying Belloa's notes myself. Too much hassle.

"See you later then."

"Yeah. Later."

"You too, Lilia."

"…………Fine."

******

When did it start, I wonder?

Forgetting the nightmares that haunted me every ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠night in my past life.

'I don't remember them, but they always left me in a foul mood.'

Now, I've reached the point where I forget those nightmares entirely. If I had to pick one good thing about this world, this is it.

"Ugh…. What? Exam's already over?"

I lifted my head from the desk and slowly scanned the classroom.

I swear I was taking the pop quiz earlier, but now it's empty like nothing happened. No one woke me?

'Belloa could've been here.'

Unfortunately, the room's too small for the class size, so they split us for the exam. No Belloa—one of my few friends—meant I slept through the end alone.

"Lilia, why do you look so tired?"

"'Cause you dumped everything on me and slept, Master."

"Oh, right."

Lilia's exam method is simple: I sleep, she takes control briefly. Only when I allow it—the perfect strategy.

So I aced the exam without lifting a finger.

"Why do humans study this crap? Can't they just get it?"

"Humans aren't demons. Can't be helped."

Demons, apex of magic, approach it intuitively, not theoretically. Magic's just obvious to them. So Lilia struggling with theory? Natural.

Like studying how to breathe.

"That Bellhalm jerk…. Expanded the exam scope 'cause of him."

"Can't be helped."

Who’s Bellhalm? Academy founder, genius spiritist, continent's hero who stopped calamities. And the unique archmage who first formalized circle theory.

We're studying magic theory because of him. Without him, we'd all be swinging cold weapons.

'Finals are on Bellhalm, right?'

One of his lifetime ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exams, probably. Episode flows naturally, no boss—memory's fuzzy.

"Master, weekend's here. Plans?"

"Dunno."

I don't always plan weekends. Didn't expect Reingardt's sword lessons to end so soon.

Planned to focus solely on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sword for a while, but it wrapped up fast. Now time's dangling.

'Hit the auction like last time?'

Haven't hit the black market in a bit—good time to restock. Grab decent stuff if available. Got money to burn, so….

"Master? What's up?"

"Huh? Just… a weird feeling."

For a split second, my senses sharpened instinctively. Like detecting danger beyond reason. Transcendent intuition or something.

"Lilia, you feel anything?"

"Nah. Just normal?"

"Guess I imagined it…."

If even Lilia says no, it's nothing. Her senses beat mine.

Yeah. Just paranoia.