Chapter 46
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Evaluation Preparation (3)
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What is this? A max-level scarecrow?
That thought briefly crossed my mind, but I confirmed that the magic barrier I deployed had been completely shattered.
For now, the first thing I could confirm was that the magic barrier had definitely functioned properly.
It seems it successfully blocked Lieutenant Debra’s Solar Prominence, but was completely annihilated without a trace from the aftermath.
Otherwise, there’s no way that scarecrow would still be intact.
Still, how it managed to block it remained a mystery.
“Platoon Leader Enok! Did you use some kind of magic trick?”
“Isn’t the one using magic supposed to be you, Director?”
“No, this makes no sense! A mere 4th-grade magic barrier absorbed the impact of Solar Prominence?”
Debra Bennett hurriedly ran toward the scarecrow.
After closely inspecting both the scarecrow and the surrounding ground, she made a startled expression before returning to me.
“Hmm, it is a 3rd-grade barrier… The shape was extremely unstable, but the density definitely matches a 3rd-grade level.
You really are a genius, aren’t you?”
“Even if it turns out to be a 3rd-grade barrier, does that really matter in this situation?”
“Of course it does.
A 4th-grade magic barrier can never block advanced magic.
Even a 3rd-grade can barely manage it.”
Then what exactly is this situation?
An incomplete 3rd-grade barrier neutralized Solar Prominence, an advanced red magic spell?
The reason I clearly remembered ‘Solar Prominence’ among countless spells wasn’t anything special.
It was simply because it was one of the most cost-efficient offensive spells in Hearts of General.
No matter the unit type, war and operations always require resources.
Infantry consume food to supply energy for combat, as well as ammunition and gunpowder.
Cavalry, on top of that, require feed for their horses and various riding equipment.
Artillery is no different.
Gunpowder and shells cannot be reused.
And magic troops also consume resources in their operation.
That resource is mana.
Without mana generated from the Mana Core, magic troops are nothing more than frail infantry.
In fact, from a tactical standpoint, they could be considered even more flawed than regular infantry.
It’s not like mages have nothing better to do than run mountain drills or dig trenches.
Even just looking at our battalion, compared to the K-military lifestyle, this place is practically paradise.
It gives off a sweet smell just by getting close—something even KATUSA soldiers stationed in Pyeongtaek or Osan probably wouldn’t enjoy to this extent.
Manual labor is handled by regular conscripts, and maintenance is done instantly with magic.
If there are no specific duties, magic troops usually stay inside their rooms sleeping or focusing on research.
Even the battalion commander’s daily routine is just decorating the unit or visiting other units to socialize.
Shooting training?
That only happens during certain periods.
Individuals can train as much as they want, but only if they want to.
If not, they might only use a gun once a year.
If actual combat breaks out and they run out of mana, they’re basically just civilians holding guns.
That’s why mana is a resource even more valuable than bullets for magic troops.
It’s practically their lifeline.
Among those, Solar Prominence, as expected of red magic, boasts tremendous firepower while not consuming that much mana.
It compresses mana at high output into a sphere, launches it, and upon reaching the target, creates a fierce explosion of flames.
A single-target fire-type spell.
That’s why, from early to late game, it’s one of the most commonly used spells among magic troops, regarded as a standard and efficient offensive magic.
“But it’s still strange. The angle was definitely tilted, right? And the upper part wasn’t even properly formed.”
Debra Bennett couldn’t easily accept what had just happened.
I was just as confused.
‘Is it just an issue with my Mana Core constitution like Edward mentioned last time?’
He said my Mana Core was extremely inefficient.
It holds a massive amount of mana, but since I can’t control it properly, I lose control quickly and use it recklessly.
But if that were the case, after deploying a 3rd-grade barrier just now, my body should already be showing signs of instability.
Yet I’m completely fine.
What the hell is going on?
As neither Debra, I, nor the platoon members watching could come up with an answer—
The one who had been silently observing with his arms crossed finally spoke.
Sergeant Claude Rain.
“It’s the angle.”
“Pardon?”
“The barrier was tilted at 45 degrees just now.
And Solar Prominence is a direct-fire spell.”
“Ah…!”
‘Sloped armor.’
Sloped armor.
A structure used in tanks, aircraft, and vehicles where armor is angled to maximize defense against direct attacks.
And now you’re telling me that applies to magic too?
“There was a similar case in the Quornen War.
Thanks to that, I managed to survive the shamans of Azov.”
Claude spoke in a distant tone, as if recalling the past.
“Lightning and fire-type magic are mostly fired in straight lines.
So if you deploy the barrier at an angle, the mana density naturally increases.”
After hearing Claude’s explanation, Debra let out a sigh.
“Then why hasn’t this kind of doctrine appeared until now?”
“How would I know?
Maybe all the veterans from the Quornen War died.
Or the military killed them.”
Claude replied bluntly.
Just when I thought he was being helpful, he was back to his usual self.
Still, the Quornen War…?
I felt like I had heard that name before.
After thinking for a moment, I recalled that Quornen was a region in southern Ukran, bordering the inland sea known as the Red Sea.
If there was a war, then it must have been a conflict with the natives of the Red Sea.
There was also a city-state called Azov.
As a maritime trade city, it granted naval and trade bonuses if conquered or allied with.
It was a faction that often got conquered early or joined alliances.
‘So Claude was a war hero from the conflict between the Ukran Duchy and Azov.’
It felt like the veil over his past was slowly being lifted.
Then that means this war happened before the game timeline began.
Separate from that, I was once again reminded just how weak this country was.
They couldn’t even properly win against a city-state?
How reassuring—Ukran!
Of course, there are various geopolitical factors to consider, but still…
At that moment, as I was lost in thoughts about this pathetic nation—
“Platoon Leader Enok!”
Lieutenant Debra Bennett suddenly grabbed my shoulder tightly.
Her topaz-like yellow eyes were filled with curiosity and excitement.
“You, let’s work on something together!”
***
“What do you mean?”
When Enok asked in confusion, Debra Bennett stomped her feet excitedly as she answered.
“You guys have a company evaluation coming up, right?
You know evaluators from higher command will come, right?”
“I’m aware.”
Higher command meant the superior unit’s superior.
In other words, above a company is a battalion, and above that is a regiment or brigade.
For the 3rd Battalion they belonged to, it would be the Northern Corps.
The Northern Corps.
Since a corps-level unit conducts the evaluation, someone of higher rank than Lieutenant Colonel Rockheart Cromwell would be dispatched.
Debra was certain that Colonel Viktor Zelensky, the Corps Magic Staff Officer, would come.
He had personally attended last month’s evaluation of the 2nd Battalion and harshly criticized the officers.
And Colonel Viktor Zelensky had a strong interest in “unique and practical” things.
‘To catch someone like that’s attention, ordinary methods won’t cut it.’
Although Debra wasn’t directly involved in the evaluation, she still wanted to get involved somehow.
Even if her promotion to captain was almost guaranteed, getting assigned to an important position was another matter.
If she got sent to some rear unit or coastal defense, her elite path would be over.
‘That absolutely cannot happen.’
Debra was ambitious about achievements.
If she was going to be a military mage, she wanted at least three chrysanthemum insignias.
To do that, she needed connections.
Just like the second lieutenant in front of her, who had Colonel Sonny Zeppelin backing him.
“As you know, the 5th Platoon’s evaluation record is terrible.
Even if things improved after you came, the evaluators won’t see it that way.”
Debra continued logically.
“You need impact.
Something that can wipe out all those past records in one shot.”
“I agree… but may I ask what your main point is?”
“That defensive magic you showed earlier.
We refine it and present it during the evaluation.”
Her eyes gleamed.
“I’ll help you.
You just need to show it on evaluation day and say it was jointly developed with me.”
Honestly, there was no reason for Enok to refuse.
The idea was his, but it was still unstable.
It needed refinement and restructuring.
On top of that, he had to train his squad and prepare for evaluation.
Even for a genius officer, that wouldn’t be easy.
“Leave the development to me.
You just help a little.”
She was even offering to invest time and effort.
It was a win-win.
Enok Levandel thought for a moment.
He seemed to understand her intentions.
After a short silence—
Debra swallowed nervously.
And his answer was—
“Alright. Let’s give it a shot.”
“Yesssss!!!”
Debra Bennett shouted, raising both hands high.