Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Public Campsite
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A brief silence soon turned into cheers and wordless gasps of astonishment. Talisman's group didn't move easily. Or, to be more precise, they couldn't approach Talisman because they were watching me so cautiously.
"We won! We actually won...! Mage!"
The one making the biggest fuss over my victory was Zigrat. His face, which had been pale with fear, regained its color, and he stood behind me, looking triumphant as he gazed at Talisman.
"Golden Wind, was it...?"
"But she didn't use wind... She clearly shot out fire."
"I've never heard of that school before..."
"Either way, she beat a Sunken Vein School mage... If she taught a girl that young magic of that level..."
It was a small murmur. Unable to approach Talisman, they whispered among themselves. Even though the fiercely burning flames had completely vanished.
"Take him away."
Even when I told them to take Talisman, they didn't move right away. Shrugging my shoulders, I turned around, and only then did I hear a commotion from behind.
"He's not hurt...?"
"Not a single wound..."
"What kind of magic was that... that even Talisman..."
Durel's reaction was different from everyone else's. Shock and surprise, a faint hint of envy. And fear. It was like the response of someone confronted with an unbelievable reality.
"What... what kind of magic did your master use...?"
"Is it that surprising?"
"...Isn't it obvious? Magic is a discipline that takes a lifetime to build. A mage who wields magic of an entirely different nature like your master... I've never seen anything like it in my life."
"Other mages can't do it?"
"One or two spells, maybe... but that's just a crude imitation at best..."
"I see."
"Master... are you alright? The clash of Erkamon... the distortion of the mental image..."
Instead of answering, I decided to show him with actions. At the same moment my Mana Circle in my heart began to rotate, thin flames rose around my body along with the wind.
"Y-you look fine..."
"Yeah."
He already knew I was a bit different from ordinary mages, but this was the first time I'd seen his reaction through someone else's eyes. It seemed mages in this world couldn't properly accept magic outside what they'd built up themselves.
Maybe it was only natural. When I first learned magic, Raymond had told me to build a windmill in my mental image. To gradually expand the world based on that windmill.
That was a world made solely for Golden Wind School magic. If another world were layered on top, the two would mix and become a mess.
But.
I was different. From the start, I'd created an inner world to accept various magics. Even now, if I closed my eyes, I could see it. The image of a vast library stretching endlessly.
Within it, Golden Wind and the Flames of Agony occupied only a tiny space, no more than a single book.
'I should hold back a bit...'
The gentle breeze felt a little chilly. Brushing back my falling hair, I called out to Zigrat.
"Mr. Zigrat."
"Y-yes!"
"So, no problem if we use this place now, right?"
"Yes! Exactly!"
"Then let's go in. It's a bit cold outside."
"I'll prepare some food that'll warm you right up!"
As expected, Zigrat was quick on the uptake, like a true merchant.
I headed into the tent with Durel.
"Master. That magic you used earlier... which school's is it? It handled hot flames, but the opponent wasn't hurt at all, so it's not 'Dawn's Ash' either..."
"I don't know."
"Pardon...?"
I shrugged. What could I do? I really didn't know. All I knew was that the man who'd used that magic had burns, and there were faint remnants of Erkamon in the spell.
I'd just guessed at the mage's mental image and imitated it as best I could. It was surely different from the real thing.
"I see... Understood..."
Durel nodded, seemingly misunderstanding my response. I didn't bother correcting him.
The next morning, Talisman came to see me. Gone was his initial arrogance; he was now a very polite young man.
"I apologize for my rudeness yesterday."
"Rudeness is a strong word..."
After gaining some insight into what mages in this world were like, I realized Talisman's behavior had probably been natural from a mage's perspective.
"Thank you for your consideration... That magic yesterday..."
"Consideration?"
"I felt it myself. The lightness without depth... You limited the Erkamon to avoid hurting me."
Light without depth. It was true. That spell was just a crude imitation I'd whipped up yesterday. The original magic went beyond mere pain, burning the opponent's mind.
In fact, some of those hit by the flame magic that day had no physical wounds but wasted away and died.
"So why are you here?"
Judging by Talisman's attitude, it didn't seem like he was just here to apologize. When I tilted my head questioningly, he rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a fairly long box, offering it to me.
"Per the rules of mage duels, I've come to give the victor my most valuable possession."
'Was there such a rule...?'
I hadn't heard this from Durel. Glancing at him, he avoided my eyes and pretended not to notice. Apparently, even Durel didn't know.
Opening the box revealed a wooden stick wrapped in fine cloth.
"It's a Warden Stick."
"A Warden Stick...!"
Durel reacted to Talisman's words. He jumped to his feet in surprise and strode over, staring intently at the wooden stick—the Warden Stick—in my hand.
'Like a magic wand?'
I gripped it and swung it lightly.
At that moment, a slight resistance formed at the tip, and a gust of rough wind burst out.
Warden Stick
Principle of Rejection
"Oh?"
"The principle inside is 'rejection.' It's not very powerful, but... it can be useful."
The moment I swung it, I realized this small wooden stick contained magic. The mana flowing from my fingertips finished analyzing its internal structure.
'She engraved a mental image... an inner world?'
Anyone who could handle mana could use it. Just supply mana, and the stick would cast the spell on its own. How had they made it?
'Some unique structure engraved inside... Is this magic too? Magic to create magic...'
At the same time, a question arose. Talisman had such a great item, so why hadn't he used the Warden Stick in the mage duel?
"Why didn't you use something this good?"
"You're teasing me... How could I bring such a thing to a sacred ritual that tests pure magical skill...?"
I see. Nodding, I swung the Warden Stick once more. The position, timing, and power of the spell were determined by the user's skill in wielding it.
Straight ahead. A shockwave erupted about five meters in front of me.
Warden Stick
Rejection Shockwave
The prolonged noise churned up the dirt floor. It wasn't flipping the ground with raw force. The principle in this magic was rejection.
It rejected everything at the spell's location, securing space.
'This...'
Gazing down at the Warden Stick in my hand, I pondered. What if I incorporated this magic into the wind?
A warm wind that protected the body. An unfinished spell without even a name yet. If I infused the principle of rejection into that gentle breeze, it would become an even sturdier shield.
'Can I do it?'
Of course I could. There was no impossible in magic. It was just hard to start.
I raised my other hand, the one not holding the Warden Stick. I'd already analyzed its internal structure. I could even peer into the world it contained.
Mana extended from my fingertips and halted in midair. At that instant.
Gentle Wind: Rejection
Mana-fueled spatial rejection
'So that's how it works...'
"So, what I mean is... an invitation for Lumia to join our school..."
"Be quiet."
I cut off the buzzing from the side. I was concentrating.
I drew out my usable mana to the limit. At the same time, wind gathered in a whirlwind.
A small vortex formed in an instant, pushing away everything around it.
"Wh-whoa...!"
"Magic out of nowhere...?"
Everything within a certain radius, except me, was pushed back.
'Not bad...'
No suitable name for the new magic came to mind right away. Maybe because it still had a long way to develop.
I lightly clenched my outstretched left hand, and the swirling wind scattered in all directions.
"Ah..."
I turned to Talisman belatedly. I'd received an unexpected gift. It was only natural to give thanks for such a favor.
I bowed my head slightly in greeting.
"I'll put it to good use."
"Ah, y-yeah..."
Talisman muttered blankly with a dazed expression.
