The Holy Spirit Descends (1)
She is the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive her because it neither sees her nor knows her. But you know her, for she lives with you and will be in you.
"Luke. Hang in there."
"Uh… Luke, fighting! You got this! You're a Perseino, after all!"
Sunny and Andre cheering me on.
Haa. Of all the luck, getting matched against Cronia's golem on my very first day.
Weeeeng.
As I stepped down from my seat in the classroom and approached the podium, the room began to transform.
"Whoa?"
"The seats are moving!"
The podium sank into the floor below, while the students' seats rearranged into a circular arena surrounding it.
I see. So that's how the classrooms in Deus ex Machina turned into battle spaces for duels. Clever mechanism.
This is magitech. Technology that rivals the cutting-edge science of my past life.
"Perseino. You've only just enrolled, so the academy's duel format must be unfamiliar to you."
Once the room had fully shifted into a complete coliseum, Cronia spoke up.
"These duels are for educational purposes. We go to extreme lengths to avoid injuries that could ruin a student's future. So if you're in danger, shout surrender. The match will stop immediately. Top-tier healers stand ready for every duel. I'll also moderate my power. Show me your full strength without fear."
Wooong.
As she finished speaking, her golem clenched its fist and assumed a combat stance.
"I'll yield the first move."
Yield the first strike, huh…
I've been wrestling with this for a while now.
My true power, which no one's seen yet. When should I reveal it at the academy?
I had no intention of hiding it forever like some power-hoarding protagonist from a story.
But unleashing it recklessly wouldn't create much impact.
I wanted to etch myself into the minds of the academy's key players with something huge.
If I beat that golem here… it might stick in the students' heads, but…
It's not quite the vibe I was going for.
Playing a bit incompetent at first, then suddenly going god-mode—that's how you look cooler and grab attention.
Something… feels off about it. A bit lacking.
"Heh… Are you scared?"
Cronia, standing behind the golem, flashed me a sly grin.
"Can't blame you. That golem before you is the pinnacle of magitech, forged from lost arts. Crude swordplay or base battle magic won't breach it easily. Come now, young Perseino. What will you show us?!"
Damn, she's subtly annoying. That smug assumption I'll be no match. Confidence overflowing. Well, for an average academy student, facing it would be a nightmare…
But I'm a transmigrator. I just took down the first arc's final boss with some luck not long ago. Losing to what amounts to a tutorial boss this early? Bruises my pride.
Ugh. What a dilemma.
What do I do?
"What? Why isn't he doing anything?"
"He's chickened out. Could you stay cool in front of that golem?"
"Well… yeah, but he's a Perseino! Siren and Meiru's little brother. Makes no sense he'd cower from a single golem."
"Not every Perseino's a monster. I hear the third one's famous for avoiding public activities. Probably weak compared to his sisters."
"Poor guy… What rotten luck."
Just lose? Just win? Losing would make me look pathetic. And that fist would hurt like hell.
Hmm…
"…Not coming at me? Disappointing, even for a green rookie. I thought a Perseino would be different, but you're just like the rabble. Born of noble blood yet unable to wield it—you're no better than the lowly."
Thud.
The golem before me lowered its fist.
"You're not worth the effort. Head back up. I'll find a new opponent."
What? Just go back like this?
Without even exchanging a single blow?
"No."
…Haa. Yeah. I've been overthinking this.
What? Build up for bigger impact later?
Opportunities like this to show my power don't come often—backing out because it's not 'planned' is stupid.
Close call on a dumb choice.
If I tuck tail and run now, Cronia will think I'm worthless.
I could make her see me later, but I couldn't bear the people I like looking down on me.
"Hm…? What was that?"
"Fleeing? Odd choice of words. I'm just shocked that this 'pinnacle of magitech' looks so pathetic. This scrap heap is the best? Hah. Should've skipped this class if I'd known magitech peaked this low."
Decision made. No more hesitation. I'll pull her aggro and burn myself into her mind.
"Oh? You called my 'magitech' meager? A true Perseino after all."
The ambient mana density spiked instantly.
Weeeeeeng.
The golem's gears whirred furiously.
…Uh. Did I provoke her too hard? Right, Cronia's family pride in their inherited magitech runs deep.
Mistake on my part.
"Confident in your skills, eh? Just like that sister of yours. Fine. I'll show you the power of the 'magitech' you dared belittle!"
No sooner had Cronia spoken than the golem lunged right in front of me.
Incredible speed for its size!
Kwaaaang!
Its fist slammed down from above.
Through the spherical shield enveloping me, I saw the golem's fist descending.
I deployed the shield in time to block, but…
Without it, I'd be flat as a pancake, right? Cronia, isn't this a bit much for a student?
Weeeeng.
The fist pressing against my shield began rotating while pinned.
Crack. Craaack.
Hastily erected, the shield's durability faltered, cracking under the spinning blow.
That shield… it reflects a portion of incoming damage. But no sign of harm on the golem.
Probably its trait: immune to low-level physical damage. A nightmare for civilians, specialized for crowd control.
Without overwhelming power or magic, it's a tough matchup. I lack both sword mastery and spells to beat it normally.
Craaack. Shatter!
The shield finally gave way under the relentless fist.
The punch drew ever closer.
But I, bereft of talent in sword or spell, had found my own way.
"Summon. Salamander."
A small portal opened above my head, and flames erupted.
Engulfing the golem entirely.
Spirit arts.
Spirits, the purest beings in this world, can't oppose Chaos. But against anything else—mortals of this realm—they hold utter dominance. My most versatile power.
I couldn't use it on Saula early on, but now? No issues.
Cronia's golem melted under the Salamander's blaze.
…Melted? Wait, what?
It really did. Completely liquefied.
Weird. Salamander's flames aren't that hot.
I just meant to neutralize the fist—how'd it melt the whole thing?
Luke! Long time no see! I did good, right!
—You did great, Salamander. Sorry for summoning you late—past our promised time. How've you been?
No one knows I contracted with Salamander. Not Father, Mother, sisters, not even Hanna.
Saved it for dramatic moments.
Only the contractor sees a spirit's form. But summoning conjures intense flames, impossible to hide.
So I held off—except when alone.
Traveling with Hanna and the knights, then Io at the academy—no chances.
First summon since leaving home, and… why's she so much stronger?
Hm…? Her form looks off too. Last time, a tiny axolotl-like thing…
Enhancing my sight with mana, peering through the flames—a small girl's shape emerged.
Why… did she turn humanoid?
"Impossible! Melting my golem in one shot! No trace of magic! What trick did you pull?!"
Ah, Cronia. Got sidetracked by Salamander's change.
Spirits are forgotten lore now. Aside from me… one's around, but rare. No records left, so no one'll peg it as spirit arts. Contractors alone see them anyway.
"…A Perseino through and through. That wench's brother? Fine. Didn't expect to pull this out twice against a student."
Wooong wooong.
A massive subspace portal yawned behind Cronia—five stories tall.
Thud.
A colossal hand emerged, filling the rift.
She's pulling that out?
Cronia's trump card. Model Divine Soldier.
She didn't even use it against Dia in Deus ex Machina—now here?
Did I provoke that hard? Or is it Siren again?
Salamander got way stronger than expected, but… that's a problem.
Kuuguuguung.
The thing's so huge the classroom walls are cracking!
This mad professor! Unleashing a war machine on a student?!
"Come on, Perseino! This is magitech!"
Forget magitech—the building's collapsing, you lunatic!
Tick.
In that instant, Cronia toppled like a puppet with cut strings.
…Huh?
The rift and golem behind her dissolved into smoke.
A pint-sized girl appeared.
"Phew. Nearly had to rebuild the school again like last time."
Headmaster Wakpa Hucknockjuke.
I felt it clearly. That power.
The flame of the Holy Spirit.
The moment I sensed His presence nearby, I forgot my communion with the emperor and chased it.
At the scene: Professor Cronia rampaging, just like with student Siren.
To prevent another building collapse, I knocked her out first.
And the boy facing her.
The one from the entrance ceremony?
Beside him, invisible yet faintly felt.
Amid the sacred, blazing flames.
The Holy Spirit of the Savior.