Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Limitless (2)
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Shirone headed to the joint class training grounds early in the morning. Since their exam prep training was starting today, the class was conducted in a more tense atmosphere than usual.
The exam subjects varied by class. Class Five, which Shirone belonged to, had a targeting test, nicknamed the "Speed Gun."
“Ugh! From today on, it’s nothing but Speed Gun. It’s the subject I’m worst at. The kids who specialize in targeting-type magic have it good. It’s a huge advantage.”
“Not necessarily. Targeting-type is best for handling a small number of elites. The practical exam throws a ton of targets at you. Wouldn't it be better to just switch to offensive-type and blow up whatever comes your way?”
“You’d get tired out first, doing that. Anyway, it’s either offensive or targeting-type. No one would ever use an evasive-type. How could you possibly keep up with that many?”
“Speaking of which, what about Iruki? You think he’ll use his evasive-type again?”
“Haha! No way, unless he’s a total idiot. I’m curious about Shirone, too. He’s strong in real combat. But since he specializes in defensive-type, we’ll have to see what he chooses.”
Iruki’s and Shirone’s names were occasionally mixed into the students’ conversations. While there were students with better grades, the two of them were overwhelmingly expected to show something special at the decisive moment.
But Shirone wanted to cry. Far from being strong in real combat, he still hadn't even succeeded in Photon Output. If he couldn't activate active magic, his practical exam would naturally be a zero.
*‘Ugh! What do I do? I’m really worried.’*
While Shirone was lost in thought, the sharp barks of a dog echoed from the edge of the training grounds. The female students’ interest was piqued first, and the male students ran over.
“What’s this? How did it get in here?”
“Looks like a dog from the mountains. But why is it barking like that?”
As the children crowded around, the dog grew even more wary. It bared its teeth and growled.
Most people thought of dogs as creatures that wagged their tails when they saw humans. But when one showed such aggression, it was hard not to feel unnerved, even if it was just a dog.
“Hey! Get lost! Damn mutt!”
The kids from Class Seven started pelting it with stones. The students from the upper classes were watching, but no one stopped them. They figured if it hated people, it was no different from a wild animal.
But Shirone was different. After listening to the dog’s barking for a while, he realized something and ran over.
“Wait! Stop throwing stones.”
Not long ago, they had been his classmates in Class Seven, but now he was officially their senior, so the kids froze with tense expressions. Mark, the leader of Class Seven, brought the situation under control.
“Hey, hey! Stop it! Senior Shirone said to stop!”
Shirone approached to get a closer look. Startled, Mark followed him in.
“Senior, it’s dangerous. This is a wild dog.”
“Even if it grew up in the wild, a dog won’t bite a person. It’s more likely to run away.”
“But it’s barking like that, isn't it?”
“I think perhaps…”
Shirone fearlessly drew closer. The dog let out a menacing, low growl but didn't dare to lunge.
Shirone stared directly into the dog’s eyes and pushed forward into the forest. Just as he’d expected, a still-growing puppy was lying in the grass, whimpering.
“It’s injured its leg. Poor thing.”
“Huh? You’re right. Hey guys, there’s a puppy over here, a puppy.”
“Don’t call them over yet. Even a dog can turn vicious when its young is in danger.”
“Ah, I see. Hey! Don’t come over, don’t come over!”
“Instead, can you find someone who can use healing magic? It would be great if Senior Seriel could come, but just find someone from Class Five or below.”
“We don’t need to go that far. Maria knows how.”
Having attended the academy since she was young, Maria could use a wide variety of magic. Moreover, since meeting Thadd, she had become more relaxed and got along well with her classmates, so when Mark called her, she came running right away.
“Oh, my goodness! How did it get hurt like this?”
“It probably got bitten during a territory fight. Can you fix it?”
“Yes, Senior. This is simple.”
As Maria cast her healing magic, the puppy’s wound closed. Restored to health, the puppy dashed through the grass with lively energy, as if it had never been hurt. Only then did the mother dog stop barking and lead her pup back into the mountains.
Saving a life was always a heartwarming experience. Even the children who had thrown stones felt a pang in their chests and stared into the forest for a long time.
“That was amazing, Senior. How did you know it had a puppy?”
“Hm? Haha! I used to live in the mountains for a long time.”
Shirone recalled an incident from when he was around eleven, out hunting with his father.
They had been particularly lucky that day, and a red bear, said to be worth a fortune down to its claws, was struggling in a rope trap. A red bear had the strength to snap the rope, so Vincent hastily aimed his arrow.
Shirone waited with a pounding heart. If they caught the red bear, they wouldn’t have to worry about meals for a while.
But the arrow showed no sign of flying. Thinking it strange, he turned his head to see Vincent lowering his bow and preparing to leave.
“Well, I’ll be. Goes to show, too much good luck can be a curse. Let’s head back, Shirone.”
“Huh? Why aren’t you catching it? Mom would be so happy.”
Vincent crouched down and pointed to where the bear was trapped.
“Look over there, Shirone.”
Shirone looked closely. He saw a small bear cub whimpering next to its trapped mother.
“No hunter, no matter who, will catch an animal when it has its young with it. They may be animals, but a parent’s love for its child is the same for humans and beasts.”
“But that means we go home empty-handed. There’s amazing prey right there.”
Vincent stroked Shirone with a warm gaze.
“Just as that bear has its cub, I have you. As a fellow parent, how could I turn a blind eye? Fighting to survive is the same for people and animals. But you shouldn't do it in front of your children. That’s an unwritten rule that applies to all living things.”
That day, Shirone felt Vincent’s fatherly love. Perhaps he hadn't saved the bear, but had been protecting his own child. His father would always protect him. That conviction warmed Shirone’s heart.
The students were moved by the story Shirone told. They didn’t know it was about his father, but the depth of their emotion was no less profound.
“I see. Shirone, you’re really cool.”
“Yeah. Shirone is so kind.”
His classmates began to see Shirone in a new light. They had thought him rigid and obsessed with magic, but the fact that he possessed such a warm heart was an unexpected charm.
“A foolish theory. No hunter would spare a beast for such a reason.”
The students glared back at the one who had thrown cold water on the heartwarming atmosphere. Iruki was standing with his hands behind his back, watching Shirone.
“The reason for not killing a beast with its young is to prevent the young from developing aggression towards humans later on. In biology, this is called the imprinting effect. Once they recognize humans as natural predators, their offspring will inherit that instinct. That makes hunting more difficult. And if you kill the young as well, you’d wipe out the game. You could call it the wisdom of hunters who can only hunt within their own territory.”
Shirone’s anger flared. Of course, Iruki didn't know, but his words were an insult to his father’s love.
“How can you say that? Sure, there might be hunters like that. But most hunters let the animals go out of genuine compassion.”
“Feelings. Emotions. Things like that are easy to dress up. I’m talking about reality. I don’t deceive people with foolish idealism like you do.”
“What! Have you said your piece?”
Shirone shot to his feet and glared at Iruki. It was round two of the argument that had started in the Paranormal Research Society.
The students were dumbfounded. Shirone wasn't the type to fight with anyone, and Iruki didn't get along with anyone. The clash between these two sent the tension soaring several times over.
“What’s with them? Did something happen between those two? It’s like they’ve been fighting for a long time.”
“They’re sizing each other up. After all, those two are definitely candidates for the next promotion.”
Shirone glared, his eyes filled with intensity. Iruki, on the other hand, seemed to have no intention of fighting, looking elsewhere and feigning disinterest.
“Hey, hey! What’s with you two again? It was quiet for a while. The teacher’s coming, so let’s get back for now.”
Thanks to Nade breaking them up, it didn’t escalate into a bigger fight, but Shirone couldn’t help but feel displeased.
He couldn't understand Iruki's way of thinking. From researching equations that could blow up cities to his dismissive attitude towards animal life, there wasn’t a single thing about him he liked.
*‘Hmph, I’m just not going to deal with him from now on.’*
Class began, and Etella walked up the mountain. The students stared blankly at her, struck by her different appearance.
Was it because of the practical exam period? She was wearing a training uniform with short sleeves and a hemline that clearly revealed her thighs, making it easy to move in.
But the most shocking thing was that she wasn't wearing her glasses.
The male students were speechless at the sight of the beautiful woman standing before them. Could a single pair of glasses change a person’s impression so drastically?
“You all know that special training starts today, correct? Due to the training grounds’ schedule, Class Five’s Speed Gun test will be held first. Starting tomorrow, the time slots will be divided by class, so please keep that in mind. Now, today’s class will proceed after a demonstration from the teaching assistant. Sanuel, over here.”
A tall, handsome man with blond hair walked out in front of the students. He looked to be in his early twenties and, unusually for a man, had hair that reached his waist.
“This teaching assistant is Sanuel, who is preparing for graduation from the graduating class. His major is Incantation Magic, and he has come today specifically to demonstrate his magic. This is also related to the Spirit Zone enhancement training, so please pay close attention.”
“Woooooah!”
The female students welcomed Sanuel enthusiastically. After every joint class had been a feast for the boys’ eyes, they couldn’t hide their excitement at the appearance of a handsome man.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. It feels like just yesterday I was taking classes in the advanced course, but time has flown by. My skills are humble, but I’ll do my best in the hopes of contributing to your education.”
Shirone watched Sanuel with interest.
It was a chance to see the skills of a rival from the graduating class, one who was competing with Amy. He was especially curious about the unfamiliar major, Incantation Magic.
Sanuel entered the Image Zone and deployed his Spirit Zone. That alone made the students gasp in admiration. A sphere with a 42-meter diameter, similar in size to Shirone’s, enveloped him.
“Incantation Magic is the art of strengthening magical power through the power of language. First, I will cast Tornado without using an incantation. Tornado.”
As Sanuel raised his hands, a powerful whirlwind whipped up. It wasn't unheard of for students in the advanced course to use Tornado, but he cast it as effortlessly as if it were a basic spell.
“Remember the power of that spell. This time, I will enhance Tornado with Incantation Magic. It literally uses the power of language. By savoring the will contained within words, a mage’s mental strength is fortified.”
Sanuel cleared his throat and began to recite a poem composed of eight phrases.
“O fervent earth, I borrow thy strength, so caress my hand. The heavens look down, and an eternity of history is captured in a moment. When the power of the void settles in my palm…”
Before he had even finished a single phrase, the students’ expressions turned indifferent. Listening to a strange poem with an ambiguous meaning, they were overcome with boredom. A yawn was heard from somewhere, but Sanuel didn't seem offended and finished his recitation. Then, raising his hands again, he cast the spell.
“Tornado.”
BOOOOOOM!
The students froze, battered by a gale so strong it nearly took their breath away as a massive whirlwind shot toward the sky with a tremendous roar. The wind was so powerful that Sanuel’s form wavered like a heat haze.
Sanuel smiled and said.
“This is the power of incantation. Language contains the will of the mage. By savoring that will, you strengthen your magic. To speak, and to reflect. This is the basic system of Incantation Magic. Now, let’s begin in earnest.”