Chapter 45
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Evaluation Preparation (2)
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"That's not the case."
Even I wouldn't go as far as dropping a Meteor. Conditions and people capable of using it are extremely limited to begin with.
As I clarified this, Lieutenant Debra responded with a tone of disbelief.
"Then why do you need five targets? If you cast defensive magic on each target, they'll overlap, making them harder to penetrate."
"I want to gauge the appropriate output for each squad member."
I recalled the titles of each squad member listed in my status window. Aside from Claude, Lumia, Bell, and even Roxana were all classified as 1st-class Mages.
1st-class Mages.
While they may not be Grand Mages, in terms of pure firepower, they were individuals capable of unleashing firepower equivalent to an entire squad—or depending on their capability, at least a company.
Considering that one Mage Company typically supports one Infantry Battalion...
Setting aside all their flaws, it meant that our 5th Platoon alone could provide firepower support equivalent to four Infantry Battalions, or one full Infantry Regiment.
'This is insane.'
A platoon composed entirely of hopeless cases—too valuable to discharge, yet too difficult to manage if scattered.
If used correctly, they had the potential to support not just our attached 2nd Company, but the entire 3rd Battalion.
"Most of the magic we've used so far has been for suppression or support. However, what we will use primarily in wartime is offensive magic."
I turned my back to Debra Bennett and addressed the squad members.
"Once Lieutenant Debra Bennett has engraved the defensive barrier, you must use your maximum capacity magic. Only then can I accurately assess your combat capabilities."
Evaluations depend heavily on how well a commander understands the members of their organization.
However, right now, I knew absolutely nothing about the squad members' capabilities.
All I knew were minor details about their personalities and pasts—and even that wasn't fully accurate.
I had never asked Lumia Blue about her past, nor had I brought it up separately.
Even if we had built up enough mutual trust, there was no need to dig into parts that might make the other person uncomfortable just to satisfy my curiosity.
I only had a vague sense of what they were like.
That was sufficient for running the squad and empathizing with Lumia.
However, skill is a completely separate issue from knowing a squad member's past or personality.
Just how capable is Lumia Blue, who proudly bears the title of 1st-class Mage?
How far can Bell Mayer go, who supposedly wipes out an entire battalion when she goes on a Mana Rampage?
What happens when Claude, with his 90 Combat stat, goes all out?
......And regarding Roxana, while she is dangerous...
Since I now fully accept her as a squad member, I need to determine exactly where her safe zone is—where she can use magic without triggering a Mana Break.
Who knows what might happen?
Life is unpredictable, especially in Hearts of General.
A war might break out in five years, but depending on the situation, it could start even earlier.
The deadline might be delayed, but in return, we might face a much stronger army.
There are countless scenarios: we push the front line back, only for a coup to break out in the rear; or we stabilize the rear, only for the front to be completely overrun and the capital to fall.
War is just like that.
Life is just like that too.
As long as the fog obscures the path ahead, making it impossible to predict even a single step, I must witness the maximum combat capabilities of my squad members with my own two eyes.
"Wait, hold on. Why are you talking so solemnly? I haven't agreed to this yet."
"You said you would do it earlier."
"That was only for you! I don't have enough mana to deploy defensive magic either!"
"Is that so...?"
I glanced at Bell Mayer. However, she nodded in agreement with Debra.
"That's right, Platoon Leader. While Lieutenant Debra handles 2nd-grade Mage barriers well, casting five of them simultaneously would be difficult."
"Hmm..."
If even Bell was saying that, I had nothing to say. Was defensive magic really that difficult to handle?
"Then how about just two..."
"No, wait. How about this, Platoon Leader Enok?"
Lieutenant Debra Bennett snapped her fingers, as if a brilliant idea had struck her.
"You cast the defensive magic."
"Pardon? Me?"
"Yes. You're doing this to gauge your squad members' skills, right? You can't always rely on me."
Listening to her, it did make sense.
Training must be sustainable. You can't just do it once and say, "All done!" and finish.
Especially if we are preparing for the upcoming war, I needed to be able to create my own training curriculum.
The military doctrine currently held by the Ukran Army was outdated garbage.
"That sounds like a good idea."
"I'm more interested this way. I am the Red Mage, but I'm much more confident in defensive magic."
Debra Bennett added with a smirk.
"At least, if you can successfully deploy a 3rd-grade Mage barrier on your first try, that alone would mean you're a freaking genius."
It was true. The very concept of defensive magic is designed to effectively neutralize enemy Mage attacks.
Even a 3rd-grade barrier, which is considered a standard Mage barrier, must be able to easily block at least intermediate-level attack magic.
Depending on the conditions, it must even be able to block advanced magic.
And this is 2nd-grade we're talking about. It wouldn't be breached even by taking one or two hits from advanced magic.
"And according to what you just said, you don't necessarily need to use a 2nd-grade barrier. If you can just break a 3rd-grade barrier, it's considered to have tremendous lethal power."
"I know that all squad members are capable of handling advanced magic to some extent."
"Of course they should be. But just because it's advanced magic doesn't mean they can just smash through a 3rd-grade barrier whenever they want, right?"
Debra Bennett argued strongly.
In the end, defensive magic is a spell and tactic that I, as a Mage Officer, must learn.
Furthermore, the wider and sturdier the barrier I build, the higher my value as a military mage rises.
"Can you really teach me?"
"Of course. Watch closely."
Debra slowly approached the target and reached out. Mana infused the bark covering the tree, and a red magic circle was deployed on top of it.
The mana spreading from her fingertips piled up densely on the deployed magic circle.
In the blink of an eye, a defensive barrier enveloped the scarecrow.
It was a barrier of such high density that even someone with no knowledge of magic could easily feel its form.
Since the purity of the mana was so high, I could feel the burning mana rippling through the air.
"This is a 2nd-grade Mage barrier..."
Now that I had at least some knowledge of magic, I clearly recognized just how amazing this capability was.
Even in Hearts of General, Mage barriers are one of the most important spells.
They are essential for protecting facilities and allies from enemy Mage precision bombardments and infiltration operations.
Even in the late game, where the prestige of the Mage unit itself declines due to technological advances surpassing Mage firepower, defensive magic remains useful.
Currently, due to various limitations, it cannot resist bullets, but as you steadily climb the research tree, defensive magic capable of blocking the physical force of bullets and artillery shells appears.
"Do you understand the mana structure?"
As I stared blankly at the barrier, Lieutenant Debra, who had finished deploying it, asked.
"Yes, I got it."
"For a target like a scarecrow, you could probably make a 4th or 3rd-grade barrier. Give it a try."
I began to adjust my mana just as Lieutenant Debra Bennett had shown me moments ago.
The red mana flowing from my Mana Core.
I picked up one of the targets I had stacked nearby and set it up at a slight distance from Debra Bennett's barrier.
I did this to minimize any interference I might feel.
After creating a suitable distance...
I closed my eyes and focused my senses. Since the unrest in Cherno City, I had often come out to this open ground alone to practice magic.
I inhaled the thin air covering the entire space and calmly adjusted my mana.
Thanks to Edward's diagnosis and medication, and Roxana Elim's quick emergency treatment, my Mana Core's condition had stabilized quickly.
At this level, I should be able to construct a 2nd-grade Mage barrier.
'Visualize a sturdy wall, keep the magic circle small, and pack the mana density as tightly as possible.'
Magic is like programming. You arrange the mana arrays quickly and immediately run the calculation.
When you have a reference like this, the processing speed becomes much more efficient.
"Protection."
As I finished my incantation, a defensive barrier I created appeared above the scarecrow.
Unlike Debra's, which wrapped around the body like armor, mine was tilted at a 45-degree angle, forming a tray shape to defend the head and body.
Since it was the first time I had used this spell, the perfection level was noticeably low.
"Well... this isn't bad. 3rd or 4th-grade barriers usually look like this."
Lieutenant Debra shrugged and said.
"But I'm a little disappointed. Maybe it's because it's twisted at a 45-degree angle, but the mana density is uneven."
"It couldn't be helped. It's my first time deploying a Mage barrier."
"I said that knowing that. Don't worry. For a first try, you made it excessively well. Most people fail."
Debra offered a belated compliment to keep my spirits up, but it felt like a backhanded compliment.
I could only smack my lips bitterly.
"Then shall I try to break it? It looks like it can only block intermediate magic, but..."
Whoosh.
With a casual wave of Debra's hand, a thick fire arrow rose into the air and flew swiftly toward the Mage barrier.
Intermediate Red Magic, Blaze Ballista.
Instead of exploding, it maximized penetration power and was often used as a counter to Mage barriers.
Since Debra Bennett was at least a 2nd-grade Mage, she should have been able to easily smash my incomplete barrier.
Kaga-kak, Kiing!
Instead of the sound of shattering glass, the impact of the magic bouncing off the barrier rang in my ears.
"......Huh?"
The Blaze Ballista failed to penetrate the barrier and dissipated into the air.
"Wow... it's surprisingly sturdy despite how it looks? Is it because your talent is just that good?"
Debra looked slightly surprised, but she brushed it off as if it wasn't a big deal and immediately prepared the next spell.
"Let's try something a bit bigger this time!"
Unlike the Blaze Ballista, which she could cast just by waving her hand lightly, the scattered mana now gathered around the Lieutenant.
'Solar Prominence!'
I easily recognized what spell she was preparing.
It was a spell with the power of a solar explosion that engulfs the entire area in a massive inferno the moment it hits.
It was the same spell Bell Mayer had mistaken my Flare for last time.
Indeed, the visual effect of Solar Prominence felt like throwing the sun itself.
Among advanced Red Magic, it was considered to have exceptionally high destructive power.
Even I thought this one would be impossible to block. Since I had already deflected the Blaze Ballista once, my mana density must have been significantly disrupted.
"Hup!"
With a shout from Debra Bennett, a highly compressed crystal of fire poured down onto the Mage barrier.
KWAAAA-!!!!
As it struck, the ground shook, and a thick cloud of dust shot into the air. The power was immense.
Through the thick dust, I saw a hellish inferno raging fiercely.
It had been broken after all.
It was to be expected, but a part of me felt regret. Even with MAX stats, there are things that just can't be done.
But then.
"Wh-what???"
Debra Bennett shouted in surprise. Bell and Lumia, who had been watching the outcome, also looked at me with faces full of shock.
Could it be?
I turned my head to look at the target, and the sight revealed was...
The scarecrow, standing firm in the center of the flames that had devoured the ground.