Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Whoa, Don't Come Closer
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Having reached the 7th Circle, I could now perform smooth teleports unlike before.
While teleporting, I sensed that the flow of mana felt somehow different from usual.
Even using just a little mana propelled me forward swiftly, and my mind felt clearer.
It wasn't all good, though. For example, when I stood on tiptoes to grab something, it felt like I'd suddenly jumped high on my ankles alone.
This was something I needed to readjust.
'I should go visit Grandpa.'
He'd probably welcome me with open arms.
Imagining that, I kept teleporting and soon arrived at the Grand Duchy.
"Haa... I want to wash up and rest..."
"Me too..."
"I'm hungry..."
"I'll have the servants prepare something. Everyone... thank you. I won't forget this favor."
We'd saved the Grand Duchy from invasion, so their gratitude was immense.
"I'll inform the vassals of our victory. Rest well for now. Let me know if you need anything."
Handing off the cleanup meant less work for us—perfect.
"Just please attend the victory banquet."
Owen smiled as he looked around at us.
"Heh heh, mind if I wreck the Grand Duchy?"
"We'd have lost everything if we'd been defeated. Empty the coffers if you must—I won't mind."
"Owen! I want meat!"
"Northern livestock is famous for its rich fat. I'll have every kind prepared."
"I've heard northern hides are top-notch. Can I take a look?"
"I'll prepare the finest hides and furs. I'll call all the tanners, so pick whatever you like."
"Owen... shall we talk business later?"
"I want to go to the church! I need to give thanks to the Goddess! Apostle, will you come with me?"
"The Goddess? Of course I will."
"Ehehehe."
I wanted to rush home to my family, but as acting commander, I couldn't yet...
So we decided to eat, drink, and play until the imperial army arrived.
Jenia chattered excitedly about her contract with the northern trading company.
"Wow! Prince, what do you think? Isn't this bed frame made from silver fox tail just too pretty? If I take it to the capital, it'll be an asset... hehehe..."
"It looks even prettier since you're handling it."
"Kyaa! Really?"
She approached with those bewitching eyes, mewling playfully.
Lancelot spent the time sparring intensely with Owen.
"Huh? Owen, how'd you block that?"
"Raktunta! The more nonsense I spout, the clearer my sword path becomes, oddly enough."
"... Should I learn it, just in case...?"
"Nothing I can't teach you."
I hope he doesn't learn it.
It seemed he'd created some kind of trigger phrase while immersed in his act.
Once he got used to it, the nonsense would probably decrease... yeah, probably...
"Apostle! Want to go to the church again today?"
"Veronica, we went yesterday..."
Veronica's face fell noticeably.
"That's why we have to go again today."
"Right! As expected of the Apostle!"
I didn't know why she loved it so much, but the Goddess lulling me to sleep there wasn't bad.
'When else would I nap this much during the day?'
And so, we lounged around lazily.
What's wrong with enjoying ourselves a little?
Time passed...
We got word from the magic communicator that the imperial army would arrive soon.
The palace was busy preparing the triumphal procession. The detachment and I would probably teleport back together.
I sat on the castle balcony, gazing at the sky.
Not just spacing out—I was infusing my will into the mana to adjust my output.
Practicing like that under the sunlight for a while...
-Crash! Hic!
Turning around, I saw the Lady of Arsene staring at me, having dropped her steaming cup.
Her gray hair and black eyes gave a sharp, venomous impression, now pale as she gawked.
I knew she was coming, but the view was too good to vacate.
I spoke to the flustered lady.
"No need to tense up. It was urgent then, but the war's over now."
The lady bowed hastily, realizing her mistake.
"Star of the Empire..."
"Enough. You're Owen's twins' friend, right? See you at the academy."
Her face paled again as she halted mid-bow.
She was so scared, I tossed in a joke to lighten the mood.
"What? Don't want to see me? Too bad—I have every reason to enroll."
"N-No, it's not that..."
"Just kidding."
"..."
'Not this?'
With few people around to read the room, I reconsidered my social skills.
'To get close, smash a window or... no. First meeting with torture calling me Apostle... pass. 'You're great at swordplay'... Dorutto makto? Fuck, that's really not it...'
The former VIP hospital patient grimaced, recalling memories with comrades.
The lady, watching me cautiously, suddenly burst out laughing.
"Oh ho... Ohohohoho! A joke, I see! Ohohoho!"
'Not this either...'
I restored the lady's dropped cup to perfect condition and refilled its contents.
The shattered pieces and liquid rewound through time, fitting neatly back into her hand.
To the stunned lady, I said,
"Frowning wasn't a hint—just complicated memories... Anyway, it's clean now, so drink up."
"Uh... Yes?"
"Hand it over."
I pulled her teacup to my hand and took a sip.
-Slurp!
"There, good?"
-Slide
The cup slid back to her hand once more.
I addressed the lady staring blankly at it.
"So, what brings you here? The view?"
The lady replied,
"To... practice magic..."
'Oh, common ground.'
"Magic, huh... Let me take a look. Show me your best."
Her face brightened unlike before.
"Really?"
"Sure."
"Understood."
As the lady reached toward the sky, a large magic circle appeared, forming a massive ice spear.
"Ice Spear!"
⟨ Ice Spear ⟩
Watching the spear shoot skyward swiftly, I thought,
'Good thing I didn't bring her along.'
As I mentally outlined a 3rd Circle curriculum, the lady watched me tensely.
I opened my mouth.
"Choose: gentle but slow path, or brutal but fast."
"Pardon? Then the brutal path..."
"Hold on—I think you can reach 3rd Circle with effort."
"..."
"Look at my hand, Lady."
I formed a jagged spear with a magic circle in my left hand.
"What does this spear look like?"
"Um... a small Ice Spear?"
"Wrong. It's irregular ice branch trash, not a spear."
"Pardon?"
I conjured a perfect ice spear in my right hand instantly.
"Now?"
"Like... a real spear."
I enlarged both spears to match the size she'd made.
Throwing them into the forest, the left-hand one followed her spear's trajectory exactly, while the right flew farther.
"Same mana output on both. Get it now?"
"Yes, I think so. My spear was somehow sloppy."
"Not just that—casting speed, shape, mana used on launch, accuracy—all problems."
"..."
The lady fiddled with her cup, looking downcast.
'She asked for brutal.'
"Tch, don't worry. Let me show you your casting first."
I summoned another spear.
"Spot the difference?"
"Faster... Was it the mana amount?"
"Same amount. One more time—watch closely."
I summoned again.
'If she notices this, she's not hopeless.'
The lady's eyes widened in realization.
"I gathered mana from one spot, but you drew from multiple!"
She shows some promise.
"Correct. Yours grew from one point, warping the shape. Slow casting needs perfect form, but yours was just an ice lump."
"Oh..."
"Spell shapes boost efficiency, but speed saves lives. Practice this for now."
"How exactly...?"
"Split your outgoing mana into 128 streams, send to spatial coordinates."
"...?"
"Start with 8 for beginners."
"...?"
"Hm?"
"... How do you split during casting...?"
"Why can't you?"
"It's not supposed to be possible..."
"The Magic Tower folks picked it up quick when I taught them?"
"..."
A bit more time passed.
"Ella! Big problem."
"Eek! Yes!"
"I can finally see your magic now."
"Thank you!"
"If I'd seen it sooner, I'd have known your creepy skill level earlier."
"Sorry!"
"I mean creepy like Great Mage Einserz."
"Th-Thank you!"
"Died in mana overload in old age."
"...?"
"Go, Ella!"
"Eek!"
"To the Magic Tower."
"N-Now?"
"If they accept trash like you."
Jenia, who'd watched the lesson, whispered in my ear.
'Prince... aren't you bullying her too much?'
'She asked for hard mode. And she's the villainess, right? Gotta humble her.'
'With teary eyes?'
'Ah, Jenia—that's tears of enlightenment too valuable to flee from. She'll come begging for more. Heh heh heh.'
Jenia gave me a complicated look, but now was mage time!
'Magic? I compromise. Convenience has perks. But practice? No mercy!'
"Want to cry, Ella?!"
"N-No!"
"Cry if you must! Amplify emotions! Hate me if it fuels you! But don't stop the circles!"
"Ack!"
"Good! Mana four-way split drill!"
"Begin!"
Heh heh heh, newbies are cute.
The detachment and imperial army had arrived before we knew it.
The Grand Duchy was in full swing preparing festivals and banquets to stuff and intoxicate them.
I overlooked the jubilant Grand Duchy, buzzing with victory news.
Veronica, whose skin had grown smoother lately, approached me.
"Apostle! What are you doing here?"
"Huh? Oh... just thinking."
Veronica's eyes widened round.
"About what?"
"Just... so many died this time. Seeing everyone so lively feels weird."
This war shouldn't have happened. Changing fates meant the world flowed unpredictably.
I couldn't tell if I'd saved more by purging heretics or if the war killed more.
"Did I save them or doom them? I'm not wrong... but it feels off."
The sin was the heretics'.
But what was I, the one who started the snowball?
As I pondered, Veronica hugged me tight.
"Apostle, I think that sometimes. What if I never met you?"
Still hugging, she quietly but clearly voiced her what-ifs.
"I'd have ended up in a temple or mad, killing people. But in all those lives, none let me smile like this."
She beamed at me.
That smile—simpler than cheers, more genuine—reached me deeply.
Her voice, imagining life without me, held trust affirming I'd protected something.
"I'm so happy now. Jenia too, and everyone around you will be."
I felt rock-solid faith beyond trust.
This was enough for now.
As the Goddess said, build dignity, grow strong, expand my circle gradually.
"Thanks, Veronica."
I hugged back the girl who trusted me endlessly.
Warmth spread, her scent deepening...
'Fuck!'
My mind spun, sharply assessing the situation.
My reconstructed body, never out of control before, disobeyed.
In slowed time, no cause surfaced.
'Did she notice? Please...'
Shock brief—a 7th Circle mage calculated and acted instantly.
"Veronicagotofestivalprepmeeteveryonebelow."
I swiftly detached her and teleported!
Watching Liam vanish to inspect himself, Veronica rubbed her thrilled lower belly.
-Smooch!
Her half-lidded eyes gleamed faintly purple.