Is This the First Time You've Seen Something Like This?
At the academy festival, if I had to pick a highlight, it would be the massive magic fireworks that happen every evening.
The vibrant colors painted across the darkened sky like a canvas. Anyone who doesn't gasp at that sight isn't even an academy student.
That's why, with such grandeur, that magic is never prepared easily.
Only for today, the academy's magic department students have been preparing and preparing without sleep for a month.
“...Huh?”
So, it was only natural that the magic students were taken aback by the sudden proposal that flew in.
“Um, um, I think we might have misheard you just now, so could you repeat that one more time...?”
“It’s not hard. That firework magic. Could you modify it a bit and shoot it at me?”
“...”
Karl Adelheit. The Empire's war hero in name and reality. Just a moment ago, the Emperor personally awarded him the medal and officially declared that there was no one better than this guy.
Of course, all the academy students had called his name. The fact that they were the same students as him stimulated a sense of camaraderie and made them follow him even more.
Among the empire's high-ranking officials who graduated from the academy, there are many, but among them, Karl is the best senior that can never be replaced. Perhaps everyone could even call him the best graduate.
But that's that, and this is this. If someone can hear something unbelievable and still be fine, then that person isn't a human but an inorganic being, right?
“Senior. Are you out of your mind?”
That thought lingered in the mouths and minds of the magic students.
The fortunate thing was that they all had very little patience, and there was no fool who spat that out in front of others.
“Um, Karl-senior. I want to hear the reason why you're doing this.”
“It's nothing special. I just wanted to test out the magic flying.”
“...”
Well, it seems like he's gone crazy. What kind of human can casually say 'I'm going to cut some magic' and then say it's no big deal.
“Um... Karl-senior. I'm really sorry, but―”
“It's obvious, but this is all my judgment and decision, so I'll take full responsibility. There's no way this will cause any trouble in your department.”
“But...”
“If the professors are worried, that's fine too. I'll explain everything.”
“But―”
“And I'll be the first to lead and help get more research funds for the magic department.”
“How can we help, senior?”
If someone from another department saw this, they might say 'What shameless people! Have they fallen for the money?!' But from the magic department's perspective, they would proudly answer 'Yes!'
Magic is, after all, a kind of money-grubbing. All the materials, time, and labor costs involved in research are money. If you're going to support that money, you can do anything.
“Then, first, this magic―”
“Our magic is mainly focused on range for the sake of splendor. It would be better to change this a bit, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“What about safety issues?”
“After all, magic only activates when the incantation and mana perfectly match. So, if the incantation is destroyed before that, or if the mana circuit that supplies the mana is cut, it should work, right?”
The magic students clearly agreed with Karl's opinion.
At the same time, they were curious. They know how to destroy magic, not just the principles. According to them, Karl doesn't take magic lectures.
Then how does Karl know so much about magic?
“I got hit a lot before. Even one blow was enough to almost kill me with a near-death experience.”
That's right. Karl learned just by getting hit. So, he learned how to avoid it, and by avoiding it, he reached the conclusion that 'Hey, if I do it well, I can intercept it in the middle and eliminate it with minimal damage?'
Of course, this is only theory. In reality, if I'm a little late or cut it wrong, the magic will explode in front of me.
If that happens, if I'm lucky, I'll die cleanly without pain in one shot, and if unlucky, half my body will be burned and I'll suffer from burns before slowly dying.
“Is this really it? If something happens, no matter what Karl-senior says, we can't be held responsible.”
“Senior. I believe you. If anything happens to senior's body, our department will really die...”
“Research funds. Research funds...! If it weren't for that damn research funds!”
But I can't stop. It's too late to turn back now. It's spilled water, literally.
Moreover, the magic students were actually a little curious.
Would the magic be destroyed by some physical force before reaching the expected point? Would it just be dispelled without any chain reaction?
Theory says so, but is it actually possible? Is there really no one with the courage to demonstrate it?
“Don't worry. Really. I've sliced bullets a few times.”
In that sense, Karl was really the best experimental subject.
“...”
“Hah.”
“Hmph.”
“Hum.”
Something, something is quite strange. And quite uncomfortable.
Each one representing the Holy See, Heigens, Lasquer, and Abillesti. These people who came out to represent their countries and groups were just sitting there yawning.
At first, using the academy festival as an excuse, and using Karl as the reason, to check if we can build a closer relationship by observing the empire's atmosphere.
And incidentally, showing our country or our positive aspects to Karl would be even better.
But suddenly, the Emperor appeared in the middle of the festival. It was the first time in imperial history.
Even personally awarding the medal and declaring Karl a hero right in front of everyone.
The students were in an uproar. Since a returning student like them was enjoying the highest honor, they were happy as if it was their own achievement.
And the guests from other countries were also in an uproar, but in a different way.
“Don't put any bad ideas in our kid. You'll really die.”
“This friend is an empire noble. Don't even think about bidding on him.”
Yes. The Emperor wanted to say exactly that. It's not simple bragging. It's a warning.
If anyone ignores this and oversteps, it implies the possibility that anything can be done with the excuse of insulting the empire.
These people who were trying to stick around and pick up crumbs after receiving the miracle of the gods became quite troubled. Especially Lasquer and Heigens had more of that part.
Thanks to that, the unofficial envoys of those two countries were grumbling, the priestly group from the Holy See was wondering why this was happening, and finally Abillesti, who had no thought, was also tense in a strange situation.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our guests.”
The devil's whisper reached them.
“If it doesn't cause any trouble, there's a good sight to see. Would you like to come along?”
Being together is uncomfortable for each other. In the middle of that, they nodded their heads.
So, where the guests from each country moved their feet, there was a situation where Karl was staring at the front with a sword in his hand.
“Suddenly, what is this―”
The ones who noticed the abnormality were the Abillesti side mages. As people sensitive to mana changes, they turned their heads with questioning light in their eyes.
Meanwhile, in front, several modified 'academy magic department special firework magic' started flying towards Karl.
“Eh, eh, eh!”
“What, what are you doing right now?! Why is the distinguished guest over there―”
At the moment when the mages and priests tried to stop them in surprise.
―Kwa-jik!
An unusual sound. And the fireworks and mana scattered everywhere. The guests who were doing 'eh' stared blankly at Karl.
“Next.”
Again, magic flew in. It's not a magic with tremendous destructive power, but it has enough lethality.
If you miss even a little, you can turn a random person into a burning log in an instant.
Kwa-jak!―
That, Karl is cutting with a single sword like cutting an apple.
“...”
“...”
“...”
“...”
As expected, as expected, you are a distinguished guest. You are truly amazing! This is the Holy See's priests.
What's this. Is this a warning? Aren't you done cleaning up the remaining Luzens trash? If you don't finish it quickly, we'll cut you too, right? The Heigens elves were worried about that.
I'm going crazy. Baba Yaga seemed to have retired from the front lines, and the empire told us there's an even bigger monster. As expected, the empire's emperor is a terrifying guy! The ones in shock were the Lasquer knights.
Is this the empire's proclamation that the end of the magic era is coming soon? With guns and gunpowder not enough, can we cut magic like this with a sword? The Abillesti mages were also shocked by the big impact.
Finally, Selena and Lepia who were watching that scene...
“Awesome!”
“Amazing!”
Now, because of so many things that happened, they had become impervious without realizing it.