Now, how about this...

　I muttered.
　Activate the magic.

　[Dragon Emperor Great Fire]!

　More layers of magic.
　I had already performed a thirteenfold activation.
　A single thirteenfold activation of advanced magic.
　It was no longer fire or anything else.

　It was an approaching pyroclastic flow.

''Ooohhhhhh!

　It was the audience that shouted.
　Even though they were protected by the [Warding], a hot wind fanned the audience.
　Dust, ashes, or even stones were being played, making a sound.

　The scene I suddenly looked down at from the spectator seats was like a crater dyed in red lilies.

　Releasing magic power.
　I kept one hand raised in front of me, staring in the direction of my target.
　The half-soot-stained arm speaks to the awfulness of the flames.

''Wow....''
Thirteen activations?
How much magic can you multiply?
You're over inflated!
Hey. Wait a minute...

Look at that!

　The crowd shouted.
　All of them looked in one direction at once.
　I found myself gasping for breath.

　I chuckle at that, too.

　A mass of flames like sludge.
　It melts away like a robe.
　What appears is a glowing shield.

　And it was a boy with a thick eyebrow.
　There is not a speck of soot on the uniform he wears.
　Naturally, there was no damage from the flames.

　In other words, it's unharmed.

　A lineage of brave men - Grand Duke Diriban.
　His heir, Iolada, finally opened his tightly knotted mouth.

''It's useless. No matter how many times you try to activate it, you can't defeat the [Heavy Armored Iron Rider]. In the first place, this magic is--

It's not defensive magic, is it?

Huh?

　If we dare to categorize [Heavy Armed Iron Horseman], it can be said to be a magic interference type magic.
　It uses not a specific attribute, but magic power itself (although most of the magic of [Warrior (Warrior)] relies solely on magic power).

　The magic itself vibrates high, and crushes regardless of matter or magic power.
　Of course, if a human touches it, rather than being played, they will be taken away with their flesh.

　But I held up one finger.
　I hold up a finger to Iolada.

''One finger........ With one finger, I'll attack your [Heavy Armed Iron Rider].

Are you kidding me?

I'm so serious...

Okay. All right, then. Well, I'm happy to do it. But I sincerely hope so. So...


　Run away.........


　Iolada charged at me with her 【Heavy Iron Horseman】 activated.
　It comes straight at me while bouncing off the surrounding rocks and dirt.
　Just as the name implies.

　I draw Iolada to me.
　I dodge to the side, looking out of magic range.
　But the descendants of the brave follow.
　He stretches out his fist at me.

　Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　Crush the rock that was on the side.
　It shattered into small pieces as if I had crushed it with a mortar.
　Apparently, the hero-sama has decided to show no mercy to me.

　It had to be so.

　I smiled nii.
　I stopped my feet and intercepted him.

''I warned you, Racel!　Run!

　Iolada exclaims.
　The warning would also be his kindness.
　At the same time, it's also sweetness.

　I stuck out one finger as a warning.

　It extends into the range of the [Heavy Armed Iron Horseman].
　For a moment, the screams of the crowd hit my earbuds.
　What would happen if they did that?
　The spectators who have seen the power of the [Heavy Armed Iron Horseman] so far can understand.

　What I would do was tantamount to suicide.

　But--.

　Kyuinnnnnn!

　A strange sound echoed.
　A moment later, it was played.

　It's not my finger.

　It was the [Heavy Armed Iron Rider].

'Nonsense!　My [Heavy Armored Iron Rider]!

　A shout mingled with the cheers of the crowd.

　Instantly, a shock of repulsive magic hit Iolada.
　As if he had been poked in the chest with a don, the brave offspring staggered.
　Iolada's sweet mask twisted.
　Before I could comprehend what had happened, I noticed the red lotus reflected in her azure eyes.

　In my hand was a superb flame blade in my hand.

　Iolada hurriedly reactivated the [Heavy Armored Iron Rider].
　However, no matter how much I was used to activating it, it was too slow to respond.

　[Dragon Emperor Great Fire]

　Advanced magic pierced Iolada.
　Flames struck like a dragon and enveloped Iolada.
　In an instant, it engulfed the descendants of the brave.

''Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

　Iolada's screams echoed.

　The high defense that the Adventurer's School uniform has.
　The 【Body Defense】 【Resistance Defense】 that was activated beforehand.
　Due to that, it won't be blown away by flames.

　But it should have taken heavy damage.

　The flames stop.
　Iolada collapsed.
　Still, it stops just to poke her knees.

　She was covered in soot.
　Her skin was red and there were burns all over the place.
　He looked like a miserable, brave man.

　However, the will to fight had not fallen.
　I drew my sword and stood up, using it as a staff.
　The azure eyes glaring at me have not diminished in the slightest, even if you think about it since the beginning.

''I can't afford to lose.''

'Is it for the parents? Or is it for the school?　Is it for your people?

'Maybe that too. But....

　Iolada wipes the soot from her mouth.
　She stared at me with a sharp glare and confessed.

'Because I want to be stronger than you!

　............

　Huh.........!

　I thought you were a little boy.
　What.
　You can make a face like that too.

　All right.
　Then--

Then... "I'm not gonna let you down, either!

　Iolada grabs her sword and then runs.
　She doesn't seem to be using the [Heavy Armed Iron Horseman].
　It's probably quite intense pain.
　She doesn't have the strength to concentrate and knead her magic power.
　Even just 【Heavy Armored Iron Horseman】 is difficult to control the magic power.
　I chose the one with high execution power over such an uncertain one.

　I too draw my sword and intercept.

　Iolada comes into close contact with the enemy while holding a position in the middle.
　I predicted that she would move straight into a thrust.
　I lower my stance a little.
　I thought about cutting up and playing.

　But the next moment Iolada raised his sword.
　I held it in the upper stance and swung it down.

　Good.........

　And fast!

　I don't go around to receive it.
　I cut off my waist and dodge.
　But soon the second sword came.
　Quickly, Iolada cleaves away.

　That's the readings.

　I flick the root area of Iolada's sword from below.
　With a clunk, the hero's sword is blown away.
　The azure eyes are colored with surprise.

　Still, Iolada doesn't stop attacking.
　She activates her magic.
　But my sword is faster.

　Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinng!

　Slashing through the air, my sword stopped just short of Iolada's neck.

'I didn't expect you to be familiar with the sword as well as magic.

　Iolada finally weakens.
　Her eyes, which had been glowing like fire, fell down once.

''Tell me. How did you defeat the [Heavy Armored Iron Horseman]? And that too with a single finger.''

It's not that hard to understand.

What?

　【Heavy Duty Iron Horseman】 is a magic that causes magic power to vibrate high.
　It requires precise control.

''I was just interrupting there.

The interruption...?

　The magic is tightly controlled and slowed down for a moment by my magic.
　Then, what happens?
　There is a slight lag in the regular movement of the magic, causing a chain reaction that causes a breakdown in the magic power.

I'm not sure if I've ever heard of this before. It's similar to that.

Well, it's not that simple...

''Ah. It's such a simple thing to break [Heavy Armored Iron Horseman].

　Iolada let out a sigh.
　The expression on the young man's face was somewhat radiant as he scrawled and scratched his red habit hair.

'I surrender. I thought there was no greater genius than Canal. But there's an upside to that. Racel Singh Stark, I think you are also a genius.

Aren't you?

'I don't think so. At least, I can't think of any ideas like the ones I have now.

　The descendants of the brave are discouraged.

　Then I showed him my arm.
　Blood is soaked in a cut on one of the articles.

''You're the second person to give me a wound. If you say you're not a genius, then you should be proud of yourself for giving a wound to a man who admits to being a genius.

'That..... Is that a compliment?

A lot.

　Pfft, Iolada laughs.
　I nod my head, not knowing what's funny.
　Iolada laughed again when she saw the look on the man who was my enemy.

'I have a feeling you and I will be good friends.

We will not be friends.

That's too bad.

　He was disappointed.
　He looked deeply disappointed.
　I looked at it and spun the words out.

"But I suppose we could be rivals.

!

Be strong, Iolada. You will be stronger.

　And let me enjoy myself.
　I'm going to be strong, and I'm going to beat you, and I'm going to be strong.

　The winner is called up.

　At that moment, the winner of the party battle was decided.
　The winner of Chapter 5.
　Apparently, the rest of my friends also won.

　I didn't show it on my face, but I was relieved.

　I put my sword away.
　I applied 【Great Recovery】 towards Iolada.
　It was my way of thanking her for entertaining me.
　Looking at her healed body, Iolada smiles again.

''You're a strange person, aren't you? When I look at you, I feel like I need to be stronger than the fact that I lost.

You'll learn a lot from the defeat.

Have you ever lost before?

I always lose.

?

　Iolada blinked, unsure of the meaning.

　'Yes.
　I'm always losing.
　My ideal self.
　The best I could be.

　But one day you will win.

　I'm going to master all the magic and surpass myself.

　With thunderous applause and the blessings of my friends, I vowed to myself.