Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Impact of a Battle-Capable Mage on the North (1)
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[Imperial Academy History Department, 1st-Year Classroom]
Clap clap.
The classroom's murmurs died down at the sound of applause.
As the students' eyes turned toward him, the elderly professor slowly opened his mouth to speak.
"Alright then, continuing from last time, let's take a closer look at Sir Daniel Norman Carta, the protagonist who accomplished the 'Miracle of Kazan.'"
The professor manipulated his magic wand, and a map of the northern region from 200 years ago appeared on the blackboard.
The students' eyes sparkled as they focused intently on the lecture.
"As you may recall, after defending Kazan, Sir Daniel launched an expedition into the Carhu region. There, he led 300 ironclad troops handed over by Viscount Caron into battle against the barbarians. You know the outcome. It was a resounding victory."
"Ooooh."
Exclamations of awe erupted here and there.
Some began jotting notes, while others eagerly awaited the professor's next words.
"A mage who toyed with thousands of Highland Tribe warriors using just 300 soldiers and recaptured the Carhu region. Even scouring history, you won't find many heroes like him. That's why we're studying this."
"It's still hard to believe, even hearing it again. How was that even possible?"
The professor smiled at the student's question.
"Excellent question. The outcome of a battle is determined by a complex mix of factors. For the details, you'd need to refer to specialized papers, but today, I'll simplify it into three points at your level."
The professor held up three fingers.
"First: the Highland Tribe's complacency."
"Complacency?"
"Yes. Students, does anyone know why the northerners focused solely on defense against the Highland Tribe?"
The professor posed the question.
One of the whispering students raised a hand.
"Because defense is their specialty?"
"Not wrong, but not the answer. You there?"
"Because they're scared?"
"Nah, no way."
"That's correct."
"Huh?"
"Really?"
The students reacted with surprise.
"To avoid misunderstanding, this doesn't mean the northerners are cowards by any means."
"Think about it. The Highland Tribe were professionals at slaughter—descending every winter season to pillage, burn, and kill. If you were a northerner, how would they seem to you?"
"...Like monsters or ghosts?"
"Exactly. To northerners, the Highland Tribe weren't even human. They were symbols of terror, like ghosts or demons. Proof? There's not a single ghost story common in northern regions."
"...?"
"Why would they need ghost stories? Just recounting what the Highland Tribe did was terror enough."
"Whoa."
The elderly professor smiled, pleased with the reaction he'd drawn.
"The enemy was that terrifying. If it were you, would you want to march out and fight them?"
"No."
The students answered in unison.
"That's how the northerners felt. And the Highland Tribe knew it too. So they reached the same conclusion: we don't need to worry about field battles, just sieges. That complacency became their fatal weakness. Because they made zero preparations for field engagements or raids."
At the professor's cue, the prepared teaching assistant spoke up.
"To confirm the professor's point, the ironclad troops' logs from that time contain astonishing records. Sir Daniel night-raided barbarian camps in the Carhu region a whopping eight times. And he wasn't detected once."
"What? Not even once?"
"Yes. Not even once."
The students buzzed with excitement.
"How is that possible? What were the sentries doing?"
"Because of their complacency, as the professor said. They did post sentries, but the average number was only around ten."
"For camps housing hundreds?"
"Yes. Naturally, there were gaping holes everywhere for infiltration. Now, a quick question: what was Sir Daniel's historically recorded specialty and claim to fame from last lecture? Anyone remember?"
"Imp bombing!"
"Aerial reconnaissance with Imps!"
"Yes, exactly right."
The teaching assistant praised the students.
"As the pioneer of what are now standard magical observation units in every army, Sir Daniel made masterful use of Imps. He turned them into aerial scouts, mapping out enemy troop deployments, warehouse locations, optimal infiltration points, and even command tents down to the last detail."
"Whoa."
"That's why all eight raids succeeded. Each time, supplies were looted, and command structures were obliterated. If you were a Highland Tribesman, how would Daniel appear to you?"
The answer was obvious.
"Sir Daniel became known as the Black Sorcerer to the Highland Tribe—a symbol of terror. The roles reversed: the tribe that terrified northerners now trembled in fear themselves."
"Amazing. Like a hero from legend."
"He was a hero. One man changed the war and northern history."
Comments like "He's no joke" and "Incredible" poured from the students' mouths without end.
Watching the engrossed students, the professor and teaching assistant couldn't hide their smiles.
"Now, moving on to the second point."
The professor folded down his second finger.
"Lack of experience. Specifically, absence of combat experience against mages in large-scale magic battles."
The students listened intently.
"The north hasn't entirely avoided sending troops into field battles. They have deployed them. But results were always lackluster. A few engagements, and casualties and injuries would cripple the army. Records of mages being deployed are especially rare."
"Why? Wouldn't having a mage make battles more advantageous?"
The professor chuckled at the question.
"I love that question. It teaches you an important lesson, students."
"...?"
"The world doesn't run on a single logic."
The teaching assistant took over again.
"To answer first: the reason is simple. Mages were—and still are—extremely precious assets."
The teaching assistant pulled out a binder of documents and placed it on the desk.
"Imperial records reveal nicknames for mages. Among them is a derogatory term universally used across fields."
The students' expectant gazes poured in.
"What is it?"
"Money pits."
"Pfft!"
Laughter burst out everywhere.
"Note that this is my sanitized version. Can't use crude language in an educational setting."
One student, barely containing his laughter, raised his hand.
"Ahem, question. Do mages really cost that much?"
The mage professor nodded.
"Yes. A lot. It's not something I should say to students, but magehood is a profession you can't pursue without serious money."
The professor grew serious.
"Mana talent is innate luck. But studying to become a mage? That can't be solved with luck. It devours an astronomical amount of money."
"How much exactly?"
"To help you understand, here's a record left by a clerk from a renowned knightly house."
"Whoa."
"Only the truly wealthy can afford it."
"Yes. There's a reason mages are so few."
The professor returned to the main topic.
"In short, mages are precious. Even so-called half-baked mercenary or adventurer mages were elites raised on gold coins. And they knew it."
The professor pointed at one student.
"Question: if you're an elite, would you agree to join a field unit where one skirmish means a trail of dead and wounded?"
The student answered without hesitation.
"Me? This? Why?"
The classroom erupted in laughter once more.
"Perfect analogy. Spot on. That's exactly how it was. Lords and nobles rarely sent them out either. Mages are the best for city defense. And this backfired on the Highland Tribe. They knew how to counter magic in sieges. But in field battles? No clue. They'd never fought any."
The students nodded.
"Plus, their opponent? The mage who pioneered Imp reconnaissance and tactical bombing. A battle-hardened veteran at that. They'd never faced even a regular mage—against this one? Total annihilation. That's why they got raided eight times."
"I see."
The students nodded in admiration, grasping the strategic backdrop behind Daniel's feats.