Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Parallel Chanting
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What's with you guys?
「Parallel Chanting」
Just as the name suggests, it's chanting spells while performing other actions simultaneously. Normally, spells won't manifest unless you concentrate fully on the chant.
If even a single incantation step goes wrong or your pronunciation slurs, either a different spell deploys instead of the one you intended, or in the worst cases, it explodes.
That's why a mage's job is to stand still and chant their spells. But in real combat, you never know what might happen.
You could get ambushed from behind, or your allies might all get wiped out, leaving you alone.
In other words, Parallel Chanting is a technique that lets a mage pull their weight solo even in those situations.
Chant while fleeing, chant while swinging your sword. It's a skill even ordinary heroes struggle to acquire without a dedicated ability.
So what about the other technique, 「Chant Cancellation」?
This one's even harder.
「Parallel Chanting」 just means casting spells while moving around, but 「Chant Cancellation」 literally skips the chanting process altogether.
It's several levels above Parallel Chanting. Of course, the moment you cancel, the power drops sharply—but instantly firing a mid-tier 6th-circle spell without chanting is nothing short of catastrophic.
Normally, only heroes in the 1000s ranking can pull off 「Chant Cancellation」. It's that difficult.
In short, no student could ever manage it.
"You can really do it?!"
"You think I'd lie?"
"No... I thought it was a lie..."
Isia's eyes had gone perfectly round. Her already big eyes looked even larger, like she was the heroine from a shoujo manga.
Well, can you blame her? Faced with a sight like that, anyone would cover their mouth and make a shoujo heroine face.
"Huh? Did I do something wrong?"
"No. You did great."
Sophia, who had been tilting her head, flashed a relieved smile at my words. Her hair swayed in that instant, creating a pictorial-level shot.
This is kinda unfair. Just a smile and she pulls off a scene like that.
"Didn't that just look like a photoshoot?"
"You felt it too?"
"Yeah. But it's not that surprising. I look like a photoshoot even without smiling. Right? Hey. Why aren't you answering? You should at least frown here so I don't feel awkward, right? Hey? Isia, say something too?!"
Raphael Countermeasure No. 1: Ignore her. I disregarded the damned blonde shaking my body beside me, begging for attention, and turned to Isia.
"I-I-I-Isia. C-C-Can you d-d-do i-i-it?"
Ah. She shook me so much my words came out weird. Stop shaking, I'm gonna puke.
"Think you can pull it off?"
Of course not. What Sophia just demonstrated was beyond reason.
Casting a spell with 「Chant Cancellation」 in one hand while performing 「Parallel Chanting」 with the other. No student could ever achieve that.
Yet she did it casually, making me think she truly was a pureblood vampire.
"This feels kinda weird. Am I the strange one? I've lived my life hearing I'm a genius, but lately watching you two makes me feel a bit dim."
No. You are a genius. She's the freak. Born fundamentally different from humans.
Anyway, the reason I showed this to Isia was specific. If she could copy it on sight, she'd have learned it from her dad already. First, make her know her place.
So she could follow the methods I'd teach her from now on.
"Isia. How much weaker are you than Lucy?"
"...Why?"
"Power analysis is basic."
She pouted, clearly displeased, and stared at me for a long while before finally speaking.
"A lot. A whole lot. We used to be evenly matched, but at some point she pulled way ahead, and since she was 13, I've never beaten her once."
She said it without fixing her pout, hanging her head. Guess she finds herself pathetic too.
"Hm. Really? Feels like you could win."
"What makes you say that?"
"I've seen what you've got."
Isia practically put an exclamation mark over her head at that. What's with that reaction? Kinda funny.
"Do exactly as I say from now on, and you can win. Wanna try?"
"...Yeah, I do."
There we go. I grinned happily, but Isia seemed to take it differently—her face went pale.
Like she'd regret it the moment she agreed.
Raphael beside me was muttering something like, "Tsk tsk. She's doomed."
What's with you guys?
"I knew I shouldn't have agreed."
Isia swallowed her resentment and slowly climbed onto the sparring arena. Her reason for being here was simple.
Lee Seong-hoon.
—First, ditch the idea that you're a mage. Know why mage vs. mage fights are boring?
—They're chanting all day without moving, just trading spells in a numbers game. It's dull for spectators. Frustratingly boring.
—The reason you keep losing is you get outgunned. She preps more spells than you do. You know that much.
—Countermeasure's simple: Don't play the numbers game. Hit her blind spots. Fight in ways she can't imagine. Drop rigid thoughts like 'I'm a mage.' That was 「Parallel Chanting」 and 「Chant Cancellation」. If you can't do those, listen closely to what I say now.
"I really hate this."
Isia sniffled as she stepped up to the spectators. Cheers erupted ahead of her. And there he was. The guy.
A man smirking like he was amused, shrugging as if to say, "Why'd you challenge me?"
Blonde hair sticking out every which way like he'd been struck by lightning, unreadable sunglasses, rings on every finger joint, piercings everywhere.
A total thug-faced guy announcing "I'm a delinquent."
"Whoa. Isia challenging me? Never saw that coming. I was bummed after losing to Kim Tae-hyun yesterday anyway. This'll be fun."
Ranking 2nd. Park Ho-soo.
He slung his billiards cue over his shoulder, loosening up lightly for the fight. Isia took a deep breath and raised her staff—
Then tossed it out of the arena.
"Huh?"
She heard Park Ho-soo's startled voice, but Isia entered combat stance and glared at him.
—Don't use your staff either. Just fight. For anything 2nd circle or higher, attempt 「Parallel Chanting」 while fighting. If it fails, fine. Just take it. You won't die.
—Think of it as close-quarters practice. Buff yourself with one spell first, then fight using close-range magic. Hm. Top close-combat guys are probably Kim Tae-hyun and Park Ho-soo. No way you match Tae-hyun, so against Ho-soo— Why are you glaring like that?!
[Uh, no need to pick it up?]
She nodded at the voice, and a flustered countdown began.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The whistle blew, and Isia charged first. Park Ho-soo was still stunned.
"《O Darkness》"
1st-circle chant. But since she used it while moving, did that count as parallel? Who knows. Isia felt darkness cling to her body as she rushed in.
"What is this? A surprise attack?"
Park Ho-soo laughed hollowly. The Isia he knew was the typical ranking 12th mage—hanging back, directing from afar, deploying spells safely.
Not someone who'd charge straight at him. Who put this crazy idea in her head? No idea. But...
"Fun."
His sharp fangs glinted.
Crackle—
Lightning sparked along his cue as he prepared to counter, but then he saw something unbelievable.
"Parallel Chanting?!"
Isia, now right in his face, had a magic circle drawn in her hand. Honestly, shocking. A mage in-fighting.
Mages never step forward. Too risky if spells fail. They could backfire completely, or worse, explode and take you with them.
Yet this girl was trying close combat while casting.
If this wasn't fun, were you even human? Park Ho-soo twisted his lips and circulated his mana.
One more time: Failed spells can self-destruct. A spell swap is minor.
"Huh?"
Isia's magic circle made a weird noise. Like psshhhhhh—.
Ominous. Her pupils shook, and his sunglasses slipped down.
"Crazy bitch."
Those words were the trigger—
BOOM—!!!!!!
A massive explosion rocked the arena. Park Ho-soo hastily deployed a mana shield and took minimal damage, but the girl in front of him?
Not a scratch.
'That spell from earlier.'
The darkness she'd absorbed into her body. Used for defense. Revolutionary combat. Intentionally failing a spell to trigger explosion damage.
"Fun. Do more."
Something even better coming? Park Ho-soo grinned fiercely as Isia coughed and made a miserable face.
Lee Seong-hoon watched it all with a grin. Eyes saying, "Just as planned!"
"But is it okay showing all this? That Violet guy's watching too."
"Yeah. Showing him on purpose. He's a natural mage, can't do stuff like this. Mages counter close combat with fitting prep. But no matter what he readies, Isia'll dodge all day—and she'll grow each fight. How's he keeping up?"
Raphael eyed Lee Seong-hoon pitifully as he bragged like "I'm a genius!!" How could he talk so carelessly when it wasn't his fight?
'Still.'
It is entertaining. Raphael grinned too, watching Isia's struggle.
"Did she get something on you?"
"No, I don't know why she's acting like this."
Sophia was frowning now. She usually wandered with a carefree smile, but she couldn't hide her irritation at this situation.
Even after she'd told him no yesterday, this guy kept hounding her relentlessly. Acting like he was her boyfriend, interfering and suspecting Lee Seong-hoon at every turn.
Sure, he had a weakness on her, but she'd chosen to trust him. It annoyed her that this nobody kept clinging just because he'd done decently once.
"Call me for crap like this again, and I'll ignore you."
"No, that's not—!!"
Sophia said it and turned back toward where Lee Seong-hoon was. No more point engaging.
"Wait!!"
She ignored him and kept walking.
The man stared at her retreating figure, reaching out dazedly before dropping his hand.
"Lee Seong-hoon."
He definitely had something on her. Why else would someone like Sophia stick with a guy like that? He needed to do something. For her sake— But then,
'With what power?'
His thoughts halted. What was he to her? Did he have the strength? Against a 700s ranker? Gloomy thoughts dominated his mind. He shook his head,
And spotted something approaching.
Red hair. Red eyes. An elegant gait fitting her pitiful beauty.
"You're troubled too, huh."
She smiled sweetly. A smile that could steal hearts. Staring blankly, his eyes met hers. Beautiful.
Like looking into Sophia's eyes. His movements froze.
His body wouldn't move.
"Want me to teach you how to claim love?"
Click. Click.
She approached slowly. The sharp heel sounds pierced his heart. It pounded wildly.
"Subjugate. Get stronger. Stronger than him."
How? As if answering, she smiled sweetly.
"Transcend humanity."
She drew closer. Her lips parted, revealing sharp fangs gleaming.
Crunch—!!
Dizzying pain, a fountain of blood blurring his vision. The man collapsed.
Pain or blood loss, he didn't know, but his body moved. He could only curl up like a shrimp from the agony, but it moved.
Blood surged backward through his body. Like becoming something new, it roiled within him. Every cell screamed.
"Mmm. Beautiful. Thrashing for love!!"
The woman chuckled. When the man's convulsions ended and he opened his eyes again.
They already glowed red.
"Congrats on your rebirth. Go claim your love right now!!"
At her words, the man trudged forward. Toward one place.
Only one.