*

　January, 43rd year of the Imperial calendar.
　At night, Verna secretly slipped out of her bed in the Recruit Training Center the barracks.
　The barracks was a single wooden house.
　There are no partitions and crude bunk beds are arranged at equal intervals.
　Verna stared at the elf who was sleeping peacefully on the bed next to her.
　The elves, who were said to have come from the Marquis of Erakis, had gone through more than three months of basic strength enhancement training and had become Verna's synchronized.
　Basic Strengthening Training is designed to make those who are useless as soldiers usable.
　Even so, if they were deemed useless, they would be thrown out.
　As far as Verna was concerned, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before the elves were kicked out.
　But as soon as the elves got hold of their bows and arrows, they stopped falling and spilling.
　I finally understood why elves and half-elves became archers.
　Even if there are exceptions, the elves are racially skilled archers.
　Other sub-humans also have their tribal strengths.
　Minotaurs and Lizardmen, for example, are staggeringly tough.
　They don't get spooked by Verna's attacks.
　On the contrary, opponents can cripple Verna with a single shot.
　The same is true of beastmen, who are not much taller than humans.
　It's not just their muscle power, but their reaction speed is different as well.
　Verna's attacks cut through the sky.
　The only time it hits properly is when you feint.
　Even that doesn't get through after the second time.
　If Verna uses her head, her opponent will also use her head.
　In other words, that's how it is.
　At the very least, if I had a talent for swordsmanship or spearmanship, I would be able to fight evenly, but in the past five months, I've realized that I have no talent.
　d*mn it, Verna grabbed her wooden sword and walked out of the quarters.
　It wasn't to escape.
　It was to train alone.
　He had to return to the Marquis of Erakis at the end of February.
　At that time, it would be too shameful to be in the same condition as when I left.
　Fortunately, or should I say, the new training camp is loosely monitored.
　This is probably due to the fact that the training camp is outside the walls that surround the imperial capital.
　If you intend to flee to the imperial capital, you'll have to pass through the city gates, and if you intend to escape to another city, you'll have to walk a considerable distance.
　Verna grips the wooden sword and holds it in the pattern she was taught.
　She swings the wooden sword mindlessly.
　She becomes sweaty while waving the wooden sword.

''What are you doing?''

　Verna was called out to her, and she reflexively turned around.
　Then, there was a young man bent over.
　He was a man wearing a white military uniform, the sign of a knight of the Kingsguard.
　His slightly long hair was gray, and his eyes were the same color.
　Her face is reasonably well-defined, but she still retains her youthfulness.
　Maybe he's younger than Verna in age.
　He has a smile on his face, but it has a strange scent to it.

''It's a training in swordsmanship. It's a good thing that you've got a good idea of what you're doing.
I'm a drill sergeant.
'Don't you dare tell me a lie that's easy to find out!
What makes you think I'm lying?
Clothes, clothes, clothes!　White military uniforms are a sign of a Kingsguard knight, aren't they!

　Verna shouted at the young man, who gave her a surprising look.

'Well, yes,'
So, who are you?
I'm née...

　The young man fell silent midway through and picked at his own bangs.

'I'm grey ... is grey too twisted? Then ash would be safe?　Is your last name Kira, Kiral, Kill, or Murder?　Oh, I'm Ash Kilmer.
It's a f*cking fake name!
Rude!

　With that, the young man Ash Kilmer stood up.

'I've been gash, gash, since I was a little boy.
'Don't forget the pseudonym you just gave yourself!　Ash, right?　Ash Kilmer!
Oh, yeah. I'm Ash Kilmer.

　Ash puffed his chest out proudly.

'So, what's your name?'
....

　Verna hesitated to say her name.
　'I don't want anything to do with this man,' she thought seriously.

'It's Verna, Verna,'
'Ah!　You're Verna, aren't you? When I was little, Verna, you were big brother Ash, big brother Ash.
You can't even fabricate my past!
'What?　Verna, you don't remember me?

　Verna was asked back with a straight face and was at a loss for words.
　As far as I remember, this should be the first time I've met this man.......

''Oh, maybe that's what happened...''
'No, you can deny it there. We've never met, we've never met.
I knew it! You're lying!

　Verna slammed her fist into Ash's side, and Ash was blown up as if he had been hit by a large sub-human blow.
　He spun around several times and finally stopped moving.

'You're kidding?'

　Verna looked at her fist and Ash in turn.
　Surely, Ash had jumped from himself.
　Otherwise, there was no way to explain it.
　After all, he hadn't felt the hit.

'Well, that's a lie,'

　Ash stood up vigorously and approached Verna as if nothing had happened.

'By the way, I heard that you were training in swordsmanship, but if it's okay with me, I'd be happy to discuss it with you.
I don't know what's going on here.

　Verna scratched her head and decided to tell the story of how she had come to be.
　How she met Crono, how she was taken away by a nobleman to the Marquess of Erakis, and how she became a maid there.
　That I made friends with a nobleman.
　That I wanted to become a soldier and help Crono.

'I understand. So, in short, you want to be strong.
Yeah, well, yeah.

　There's a better way to say it, Verna blurted out in her mind.

'Verna, how was your magic?'
'Oh!　I've mastered the magic bullet system up to four different types!
What?　Is it a magic bullet?

　Ash said with a frown.

''It was unattributed, so I don't blame you!

　Verna shouted unbearably.
　Magic bullets are a lower-grade magic technique that releases gravels of magic power from the tips of one's fingers.
　It was explained to me that it was the basis for all kinds of magic, but I could only think of it as a sloppy name.
　While the attribute magic is named 'x-mai' or 'x-randomly', the magic bullets only increase in number from 2-type magic bullets, to 3-type magic bullets, to 4-type magic bullets.
　The magic bullets are capable of piercing a hole in a thick oak board more than ten meters away.
　The two types of bullets release 30 times in a row while counting two or three.
　The SAMURAI magic bullets are a magic technique to scatter small magic particles.
　Its effective range is extremely short, and its power decreases the further away you are from it.
　The four-type magic bullets are powerful enough to break a log, but they are slow and have a short range.

"I wish I could have learned a more powerful magic, too, but...
''There are only a limited number of magic techniques that can be used to attack without attributes. We can't afford to have our new recruits learn special magic, either.

　Ash said sincerely.

How's my swordsmanship, from your point of view?
That's pretty good.
Oh, yeah?

　Verna scratched her head in embarrassment.
　Wait, I remind myself.
　I know my inexperience better than anyone else.

'Really?'
I hope I don't die in my first battle.

　Ash said with a somewhat distant look in his eyes.

'Not at all!
Even if you make good grades at boot camp and military school, it doesn't mean you'll be able to succeed in battle. Those are the kind of people who die easily on their first battlefield.
You're just plain stupid.

　Verna spat and resumed her bare body.

'Why do you keep swinging?'
It may not make sense, but you have to try.

　Whoa,'' said Ash, his eyes widening lightly.

''Speaking of which, Verna-san was working for the Marquis of Erakis, wasn't she?
That's right.

　Ash was mumbling something to himself, but

If you're willing, Mr. Verna, I can give you a hand.　What is it, your eyes? I genuinely want to help you, Verna, and yet.
You can see the ulterior motive in his eyes!

　Verna stopped pretending and shouted.

'And that's, well, I'm telling you so you'll understand,'
You don't deny it!
I'm not going to make a move on you unless I have an ulterior motive.
Oh, my God, it pisses me off.

　Verna was irritated by Ash's tone.

'So what kind of ulterior motive could you possibly have to teach me?
In my business, I would like to get to know the Marquis of Erakis.
Yeah, you're a Kingsguard. So you want me to be the go-between.
Yes,

　Verna agreed.
　'I don't know what Ash's position is, but I don't know why he wants to sell his face.

'So what are you going to teach me?'
If I had to pick one thing, it would be body language.　I'll show you how to put it into practice, so please fire a double magic bullet at me from about ten paces away.
You could get hurt, and I wouldn't even know it.

　Verna did as she was told and distanced herself from Ash.

'Are you sure you're okay?'
Yeah, go ahead.
Are you sure, are you sure you're okay?　I don't want to believe you said it was okay and I shot him and he died, okay?
Don't worry so much,
Of course I will. If you die and say you did it because you said it was okay to shoot me, no one will believe you. Murdering a nobleman is a sure-fire way to die.
You're not worried about me for a second.
I'm not surprised.
If you're so worried about it, why don't you just go for the legs?
Oh, I don't have to die on my feet.

　Verna pointed her fingertips at Ash's shins.

''Type-2 magic bullet!''

　
　Chu, tut tut!　There was a continuous sound like drops of water dripping onto a hot frying pan.
　It's the sound of the magic gravel popping.
　The magic conglomerate flashed without touching Ash, as if it was blocked by an invisible wall.

''How is it?''
That's just too good to be true.

　But I've seen it somewhere, Verna tilted her head inwardly.

'It's not just about preventing magic. It can do a lot of other things too.''
Oh, you're going to tell me that?
Yes, if you practice for five years.
Five years!

　Verna couldn't help but exclaim.

'Oh, come on, did you listen to me?　I want to be strong by the time I get out of boot camp!
'Hmmm, well, there are ways to make it work right away?
That's it, that's it.
I don't recommend it, but if Miss Verna wants it.

　Ash walked over to Verna and stopped about half a step away.
　Then he poked Verna's forehead with his fingertips.
　Hey, what the hell are you doing!　And just as Verna opened her mouth to yell at him, the heat blew out.
　Every pore in her body opened up and heat blew out of it.
　Heat is power.
　It's full of power.
　Compared to this sensation, I had been asleep.
　Huh?　And Verna felt dizzy and knelt there.
　The power is full, but it is only superficial.
　You are dripping something that shouldn't be dripping.
　Such a sense of urgency arises.

''What ... what have you done to me?''
Magic is the art of transforming the innate power of a living organism... from magical power into physical phenomena.

　Ash began to lecture as he made his way around Verna.
　Meanwhile, the outflow of power continued.
　I am lazy.
　I can't even stand up.

'The wall of magic power earlier... well, that's not the essence of the technology I was trying to teach you just because you can use it that way, but you have to perceive it in order to manipulate magic power. If you're not aware of the tool's existence, there's no way to use it.

　'So,' Ash smirked, 'I'm not going to be able to do that.

'I drilled a hole so you can perceive the magic power. Now you just need to learn how to plug the hole before your magic power is depleted and you die.
What are you doing?
What?

　Ash cowered his shoulders.

'Teh, man, you can be the first to tell me.
'I've warned you, haven't I?　To begin with, it takes the same amount of time to learn a skill that someone else took five or ten years to learn. If you want to learn it in a short period of time, though, I think you have to take the right risks.
Help, help...

　Verna looked at Ash and realized the folly of asking for help.
　Ash kept his smile on his face.
　It wasn't a smile of satisfaction that his scheme had worked, nor was it a smile that he liked to see others suffer.
　It's a fake smile, like a mask.
　Maybe Ash will look elsewhere if Verna dies.
　Without feeling guilty for killing someone.
　The weariness had grown irresistibly strong.
　Sleepy.
　I can't even keep my eyes open.
　The fact that he was dripping with power barely kept Verna's consciousness connected to reality.
　What's that?　Verna looked at Ash with her eyes.
　A black, disastrous haze swirled around Ash.
　Surely, that was what prevented the Type II magic bullet.

''.........ku, soh,''

　It doesn't matter if I know that, the plug, the force, the stifling....

...

　You are in the dark, dark darkness.
　No, you just think you're in the dark.
　With just a little bit of awareness, I can feel the flow of power.
　Magic power is circulating through Verna.
　If you turn your consciousness outward, you can perceive the magic power other than yourself.
　The flow of magic power appears to be chaotic, but if you turn your consciousness outward even more.......

''........You won't be able to go back any further, will you?''

　Hmm?　Verna opened her eyes.
　It was a dingy room with only a bed in it.
　Her body was lazy, but it was nothing compared to the emptiness and weariness she felt at that moment.
　She moved her gaze only to look next to her and saw Ash Kilmer sitting by the bed.

...here?
Are you sure you want to go to the infirmary?

　Anger rose in Ash's tone as he blurted out.

'You're a liar, you're a liar.
I could see through the lies and that's why I'm alive.

　Tsk, Verna clicked her tongue.
　She said that Ash Kilmer had made a hole, but the facts were different.
　Ash Kilmer only manipulated the flow of magic power.
　If you are aware of your base point, the magic power will return to its original flow.

What is that thing I've got on me?　Isn't that different from the Marking Technique?
You're very knowledgeable, Verna.

　When Ash popped the two magic bullets, I felt like I had seen it somewhere.
　That's also true.
　It's because it looked exactly like the 'field' of the imprinting art.

''The Divine Authority Technique is a technique of communicating with the Six Pillar God and borrowing power, and the Marking Technique is a technique of synchronizing with the Six Colored Spirits... although they may be the same entity as the Six Pillar God, it is a technique of synchronizing with the Six Pillar God. As a side effect, your physical abilities are strengthened, and you can create a 'field' with the magic power released from it.
The Marking technique is better.
Whoever developed this technology must not have thought of it that way.

　Ash sat back in his chair.

'Then what were you thinking?'
I heard he was trying to be more than human.
You're an idiot!

　Verna spat, and Ash's smile deepened.

''That's a cultural difference there. I heard that this technology came from the far east.''
I haven't seen one that works for that.
'I wouldn't say I didn't intend to spread the word, or that it was the wrong person to patronize.

　Ash crossed his arms and hung his head.

'I've made a crime syndicate into a patron. Probably started out as a bouncer or something...'
But what?
It's an assassin's organization that's gone rogue.

　Hahaha, Ash laughed.

'This isn't a laughing matter!　For a guy who says he's more than human, he's a bouncer and uses that technology to assassinate people, and that's a good place to be a snob!
Well, you can't live off the haze, and your aspirations won't necessarily be passed on to the next generation.
'Oh, so the next generation means decades?'
That's what I mean.

　Ash nodded.
　The story can be summed up like this.
　A few decades ago, a man drifted into the Cepheus Empire.
　He was hired as a bouncer by a city's criminal organization.
　The organization treated the man well.
　It wasn't just the armchair, but the man's knowledge proved beneficial to the organization.
　Eventually, the man fathered a child with the woman of the organization.
　Both the man and the organization were afraid of the disconnect between skill and knowledge.
　The child born aspired to the same heights as the man, but the grandchild preferred to be a member of the organization rather than aspire to the heights.
　From this time on, the organization became less of a crime group and more of an assassination group.
　In the generation of his great-grandson, the organization changed its name to "Arm of Death".
　His great-grandson, who became the head of the Arm of Death, efficiently increased the number of assassins.
　Sometimes he bought children, sometimes he kidnapped them, and he sorted out those who were well educated and those who weren't.
　His method was the same as Verna's he only raised those who survived by stirring up the flow of magic power.
　No, maybe we should call it culling.
　Even those who were considered to have the ability to do so lost their lives one after another in training and in actual battle.
　The Arm of Death grew in strength and was destroyed by the betrayal of an assassin.
　He spent a decade building up his ranks and revolting.
　He says that the 'Arm of Death', having lost its leader and executives, is now divided into four quarters and is now unable to work together.

''Well back to your first question, this is a world-creating technology. That is, of course, if you can master it.
What can I do now?
Is it enough to diminish the power of your magic, or increase your reaction time or athletic ability?
You almost died and that's it?

　Verna let out a sigh as she looked up at the ceiling.

'Verna, have you forgotten about that?'
What?
'I promise to give you a move. I'll spend the next month hammering out the basics for you.

　Ash smiled at her.
　Verna had a ridiculously bad feeling about this, but she could only nod.