Chapter 79
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Magic Combat
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(3)
4.
Magic Combat.
This course literally taught how to fight a mage on the battlefield.
The main techniques covered were as follows.
Methods to disrupt an enemy mage's concentration.
Ways to observe their spell formula and identify the type of magic to prepare countermeasures.
Techniques to shatter their composure just before the spell activated, creating an opening, and so on.
These were skills that would prove useful someday once learned. That was why Magic Combat had been one of Arsen Academy's flagship popular lectures.
'Until exactly six years ago.'
The professor in charge of Magic Combat, Parco Delma, gave a wry smile.
About six years ago now.
The war in the western empire had finally ended.
The end of that long conflict, which had dragged on for over a decade, was certainly good news. But to Professor Parco, it felt more like bad news.
After the western war concluded, all the related large and small conflicts came to a halt as well.
As a result, battlefields vanished rapidly.
Opportunities to fight mages dwindled accordingly, and Magic Combat's popularity faded with them.
'Well, it's understandable.'
If there were no mages to face, there was no need to learn such grueling techniques.
Of course, that was a complacent way of thinking.
As long as the empire harbored ambitions of territorial expansion, war would break out again someday.
'But the students thought differently.'
They preferred lectures that offered immediate benefits over preparing for hypothetical wars that might never happen.
And the result?
Magic Combat, once a hallmark of Arsen Academy, had fallen into obscurity. Now, it struggled just to meet enrollment quotas.
Amid this stress, he'd encountered something irritating at dawn today.
The Military Studies Department had summoned him early in the morning. Fine, he could let that slide with some leeway.
But the problem came after.
'......Berje Erkajan.'
The key figure who ended the western war and the dean of the Military Studies Department. He'd dragged Parco out at the crack of dawn and bluntly said:
"One of the students in your class missed the exam due to official duties. I'm giving him a chance to retake it, so schedule a time for the test."
This was a blatant order.
And an incredibly rude one at that.
Even as dean, issuing commands without so much as asking permission?
'Is he looking down on it because it's an unpopular lecture?'
The thought made Parco seethe. So he shot back:
"I'm sorry, but the only time I have free is this afternoon due to my schedule. If that's okay, I'll set it up."
This was petty spite.
A retaliation to the rude notice.
Meanwhile, Dean Berje seemed momentarily flustered but accepted.
And just like that, the exam was scheduled for the same day.
'Sorry for the examinee, but......'
No, correction.
On second thought, he wasn't sorry at all.
The student taking the exam today had only attended four days of class.
Even if it was due to a suspension for causing trouble, that wasn't Parco's concern.
Whatever the reason.
He hadn't attended, and that was a fact.
As these recollections ended.
Thud. Thud!
Footsteps approached from afar. A massive man striding over, his upper body bare.
The moment he spotted him.
Parco's eyes narrowed.
'Ullan Bator.'
The first barbarian to enroll in Arsen Academy and the top admittee. Also the terrorist who'd injured multiple people at the entrance ceremony, and so on.
The center of all sorts of rumors.
One rumor even claimed:
'He's definitely an Expert-level powerhouse, right?'
Stronger than most professors.
But Parco didn't believe it.
If he were truly an Expert, there'd be no reason to enroll in the academy. He dismissed it as exaggerated nonsense.
Then.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, someone caught Parco's eye. A woman with green hair appearing alongside Ullan.
"You......"
"Ahaha, hello, Professor."
The woman greeted him with an awkward smile.
It was Stella Natalia, the professor for Practical Hunting.
And over a decade ago, one of Parco's students. He asked pleasantly:
"What brings you here?"
"I'm here as the proctor."
"Proctor?"
"Yes. Even with special circumstances, this is a retake, after all."
All retakes required a proctor.
To prevent cheating.
Recalling this forgotten detail, Parco nodded in understanding.
'But......'
One thing puzzled him.
Proctors were usually handled by inspectors. There was no reason for a professor to volunteer.
But the doubt didn't linger.
It wasn't important right now.
"I'll be in your care."
Ullan bowed his head stiffly.
A barbarian, but he'd learned basic manners, it seemed. Parco nodded in response, then moved his lips.
To get to the main point.
"Today's exam has two parts."
"Two?"
"One written quiz and one practical. You missed the written one during your absences."
Of course, it weighed little in the grading.
Magic Combat emphasized fighting mages, so practicals mattered far more than theory.
"I can't use the exact same questions from before, so I'll substitute with simple ones."
Reusing questions could lead to complaints from other students.
And he didn't want to waste time on a full quiz anyway, so Parco spoke up immediately.
"First question, then. Assume you've encountered a mage on the battlefield. What would you do first?"
"Encountered a mage......"
Ullan's gaze steadied calmly.
He didn't ponder long.
"First, I'd cleave their head with my axe."
"......What?"
Parco blinked in confusion.
The result might be correct in a simplistic sense, but it wasn't the answer he wanted. Frowning, he shook his head.
"No, explain the process to reach that outcome. How you'd close in, how you'd disrupt their magic."
"Ah, got it."
Seemingly understanding now.
Ullan revised his answer.
"Simple. Rush in fast and cleave their head before they cast."
"......"
No different from the first answer.
Parco clamped his mouth shut.
Moments later, a headache throbbed as he spoke.
"......Moving to the second question."
"Ask away."
"Suppose you face a mage who's just completed their formula and started chanting. How would you stop the spell?"
"With this."
His axe again.
"Be specific......"
"Close the distance, then cleave their head faster than the spell activates."
Enough with the head-cleaving already!
At his limit, Parco scowled. With strained patience, he retorted:
"That's not as easy as it sounds."
"It is for me."
"Listen! I'm not in the mood to joke around......!"
"Don't believe me? Watch."
Crimson eyes gleamed coldly.
The intimidating gaze made his shoulders twitch. But only briefly—Parco sighed indifferently.
"Fine. No point in more questions. Let's move to the practical."
He had more prepared, but it was pointless.
Every answer would be "cleave the head with the axe." Turning, Parco headed to the exam arena.
"This practical tests how you'd subdue an opponent in a one-on-one against a mage on the battlefield."
All techniques were taught in class.
Using them properly would subdue the opponent easily.
'Whereas this barbarian......'
He'd learned nothing.
Only four days attended, after all.
And from his quiz answers, the outcome was predictable.
Then.
"One question?"
Ullan raised his hand. As Parco nodded, the question came.
"How do I subdue them?"
"Simple. Break this orb."
The familiar blue orb.
This time, on a necklace.
"You'll wear one too. Must be around your neck—no hiding it, or if it breaks, you're disqualified."
"Got it."
Ullan nodded again.
Next, Parco pointed to the arena map, marking positions for examinee and mage.
"The exam starts at set intervals. Roughly thirty paces apart."
"Closer than expected."
"You might think so, but it'll feel farther. Mages aren't trees."
They moved and fought. Longer distances favored mages.
"Now, evaluation criteria."
A brief cough.
Parco continued.
"Magic Combat aims to subdue the enemy mage as quickly as possible, so shorter times yield higher scores."
"What deducts points?"
"Number of spells the enemy casts. Disrupt them to prevent casting while subduing quickly for top scores."
In short: subdue before they cast, and fast.
Ullan nodded.
As if he understood.
"Note: Fail to subdue after ten spells, and it's disqualification."
"Understood."
"Good. Take your positions."
As Parco finished, Ullan moved to his spot. Or tried to, then turned back with a question.
"Where's my opponent?"
"Right in front of you."
"In front......"
"I'll be your opponent."
Parco replied flatly. Silent Stella interjected.
"Um, Professor Parco?"
"Yes?"
"I heard TAs handled the opponent role last week."
"Ah, yes. They did."
Slow nod.
Then Parco's eyes sharpened.
"But not today. Rushed schedule left no time to call TAs."
His voice emphasized "rushed."
"I know it's unfair, so to balance it, we'll start twenty paces apart."
"Twenty?"
"Agreed?"
Ullan nodded silently.
Straightforward answer. Parco turned to Stella.
"And you?"
"I have to agree. Proctor can't intervene if the examinee consents. But......"
"But?"
As Parco asked, Stella approached briskly and gripped his hand, eyes worried.
"Please be careful."
"......What?"
"Don't let your guard down. No holding back—fight with everything. Treat him like a monster."
Odd reaction.
Rooting for the professor, not the examinee.
Parco looked stunned briefly, then chuckled.
"Don't worry. No holding back."
Parco was an advanced mage.
Aged and declining, but not to worry him.
Turning, he took position twenty paces from Ullan.
Gazing at the boulder- and tree-filled arena, he spoke.
"Use terrain and objects to disrupt my magic and subdue me. Anything in the arena is fair game as a weapon."
"Noted."
"Also, the whole exam is recorded, so no hiding the orb or cheating. Caught, and you're out."
Ullan nodded wordlessly.
As if saying, "Explanations done—start."
"I'll leave the start signal to you."
"Yes. Be careful."
Stella fretted to the end.
She soon left for the platform.
Simultaneously, Parco gathered mana.
Spell formula completed swiftly. He envisioned the fight ahead.
'First move is obvious.'
He'd charge to close distance.
Not wrong.
Closing in was textbook in Magic Combat.
'But......'
Blind rushing meant certain defeat.
Ullan should observe his spell formula, gauge the magic, and prepare.
'Start with swamp zone.'
3-circle earth magic: Swamp Zone.
It created sticky mire to hinder movement.
Once his feet were stuck.
Space leap to widen gap, then unleash attacks—that was the plan.
'If he'd attended, he'd know how to handle swamps, but......'
Ullan wouldn't.
Time to make him pay for skipping class.
Parco's eyes gleamed fiercely.
Then.
"The exam will begin soon! Whistle blow starts it!"
Stella waved the whistle.
Parco glared at Ullan ahead.
To teach this young, hot-blooded barbarian the essence of Magic Combat.
And that instant.
Tweeeeeet!
The whistle blew.
Parco's eyes widened.
"......!?"
Sudden pain in his chest.
Breath choked off. Like immense force crushing his lungs.
'What the......'
Vision blurring.
Unable to breathe properly.
His gaze drifted to his chest.
Something appeared.
'......A pebble?'
A small stone.
Common on the arena floor, it had pierced his orb and embedded in his solar plexus.
With that sight as the last.
Parco lost consciousness.
21. Lightning Strike