192-Episode 178: A Sage's Fellow Cooperates




 The story goes back to a few months ago.

 Vael had come to Branch 5, accompanied by Lucian.
 At the time, Vael had not yet been appointed head of school, and he hadn't visited the schoolhouse in a long time.
 Ostensibly, the inspection was for the purpose of becoming the next headmaster of the school, but Vael had other purposes.

 Vael activates his magic.

 [Spatial Rupture]

 A quick cleave of his magic-laden hand.
 For a moment, the world itself shifted, but it quickly returned to normal.
 [Spatial Rupture] is a magic that can cut through an object regardless of the distance or the nature of the object, and the part it cuts can be specified at will.

 Seeing that, Lucien gasped.

''A 【Mage(Wizard)】 spatial interference system magic........ I didn't expect you to have mastered the attribute magic that is said to be super advanced. As expected of you, Vael-sama.

 After graduating, Vael worked as a daughter of the Duke of Rivild's family.
 She was recognized for the development of the duke's family and became the head of the family.
 Hence, she keeps herself quite busy.

 Nevertheless, she never forgets her quest for strength.
 Whenever he had a little time, he would train, gain skill points, and improve himself.
 He never said why, but he was certain that there was still one man living inside Vael.

''Hm. It's not this much of a contrivance. More than that, look, Lucien........''

 Vael pointed at his own feet.

 While most of the space had returned to normal after being cut off, only his feet hadn't returned to normal.
 It was a dark hole of sorts.

'Let's jump in.'

Yes?

 Vael had jumped in when Lucien's eyebrows pinged and bounced.
 In a hurry, Lucien followed.

 As he slipped down into the hole, there was a darkness in the air.
 However, it wasn't just the bottom of a hole.
 Looking up at the sky, there was the twinkling of the stars and the flow of the atmosphere.
 A clear stream was flowing at my side.

'I see. So this is the place where Lacelle is training?

'He could create a different space on such a large scale,'

 Lucien froze with his mouth open.
 Vael, on the other hand, was smiling.
 It was as if he was proud of his junior colleague.

I'm sure he would do this. More importantly, is Lucien aware of this?

Yes, sir?

 Then Vael put his hand on his neck.

'The air is slightly thin here. It's not a problem when you're doing normal things, but if you do some strenuous exercise, you'll notice that. Probably thin on magic, too. You'll need some efficient magic manipulation to activate the magic.

In one moment...

Again, I'm just guessing, but I'm guessing that the passage of time is different too.

 Vael looked up at the night sky.
 It was daylight outside when they entered.
 There is a discrepancy in time.

''As expected of Vael-sama. I didn't expect you to notice that...''

'So the praise goes to the guy who created this bullshit world. But it's just fine with me.

What do you mean by "just right"?

 Vael did not answer Lucien's question.
 Instead, the corners of his mouth twisted and he returned the question with a question.

'By the way, Lucien. How much time do you have before your next appointment?

'As you said, I've had to fill out my schedule. Nothing is planned after this visit until tomorrow morning...

'I see. You have more than half a day.

Yes, sir.

Well, we'll stay here until then.

'What? But--

'Don't worry. Probably half a day outside is like six months in here. That's enough to get you acclimated.

'No way! Are you planning to train yourself here?

Half a day ... no, six months would be enough.


 I'll catch up with you, Lacelle Gryll Stark!


 ◆◇◇◇◇◇


"(wow...)

 In her mind, Sarasa roared.
 She gently used [Appraisal] against Vael and Lucian, but they were so strong that they looked different.
 The busyness of the two of them could be seen from the fact that Sarasa herself was also an officer of the student council.
 Being the head of a school is quite a busy profession.
 On top of that, Vael also has a job at home.
 It goes without saying that being strong is a difficult thing to do.

 But Vael didn't take a step back against strength.
 That's how strong Lacelle must still be shining in the headmaster's mind.

''(I can't lose either...!)

 Sarasa looked forward, too.
 Then, she met eyes with Vael.
 Before she knew it, she was looking back.

'Sarasa Vogard........ You have good eyes.''

'Ha, yes. I've been working on my [future vision].

'Not so. It means I'm getting better prepared as a human being and as a woman.

Oh, thank you.

Hmm. Let's go, Salatha. I need your help.

'Yes, sir. Chairman (sic)!

I'm telling you. I'm the head of the school.

'S-Sorry. It just feels better that way.

'Well, good. I'm going to fight like I'm back in student government for the first time in a long time. Hey, Lucien.

'Yes! Chairman!

 Lucien also composed himself.

 Vael and Sarasa followed suit.

 Seeing them, 24 cowered his shoulders.

Oh dear. You still feel like a student, 26, 29. Show them what a professional fight looks like.

"Yea!

 26 and 29 run out.

 At that moment, Vael also moved.
 Activating the [Mage (Wizard)] magic.

 [Frozen Prison]!

 It is the 18th of the [Frozen Dog Witch].
 When it touches the ground, the cobblestone pavement of the Sow Trading Country instantly freezes over.

''26! 29! Evade! Don't touch that ice!

 24 instructions fly.
 He must have read it in [future vision].
 But Vael didn't just freeze the ground.

 Ta-da!

 It was Lucian who had slid across the ice.

 However, 26 and 29 had already taken off into the sky.
 Even if Lucian slid on the ice and accelerated, it was impossible to catch up with him.
 Moreover, flying on the ice was difficult, unlike the normal ground.

 It just passed underneath the two of them.

''Hahahaha! What's with the dumb attacks?
Students! I guess it was a spur of the moment thing.

 29 and 26 laugh.

 But it was 24 who contorted his face.
 He realized what was going to happen next with [Future Vision].

''Fool! Behind you!

 Vael laughed when he heard the panic in his voice.
 He poured more magic power into the hand he placed on the ground.
 In a moment, the ice that had been freezing the ground in a straight line bent.
 It warped back towards the sky and created a slope like a great wave.

 Lucian ascended the slope up that hill.
 When he came to the top of the hill, he flew level with the ground.
 A moment later, he took up the rear of 26, 29.

''Heeee!''

 The screams of the two demons overlap.

 Lucian activates his magic.

 [Dragon Power]

 It was one of the advanced magic that 【Warrior(Warrior)】 could use.
 It was a magic that was said to be twice as effective as other strengthening magic and could even lift a dragon.

''Gooooooooooooooo!

 Lucian howled like a very dragon.

 The twin swords in his hand were spread out like dragon wings.

 Zashu!

 He successfully sliced through the two demons.
 Fresh blood gushed forth.

"But...
It's still shallow!

 Twenty-six and twenty-nine are pinned down.
 Once they landed on the ground, they quickly changed their stance and took a stance.

''Fool! The ground is--

 24 screamed, but it was too late.

 The soles of 26 and 29's feet were already on the ground.
 It was the coldest ice in the world.
 Immediately, 26 and 29 were covered in ice.

''This much!''
We're the ones!

 Quickly, the two of them activated the [Mage (Wizard)] magic.
 Using the magic of the flame attribute, they tried to melt the ice.
 But--.

''What! I won't melt!

The ice is eroding too fast!

Then increase the magic.

 29 raises his magic to fire magic.

 It was 24 who realized it was a bad move.

''Don't! Any more than that and you'll have to turn up the flame!

 BOHHHHHH!

 The flames immediately went up.
 The 29's fire-attribute magic was ignited by its own hand.
 The 29 immediately turned into a fireball.

''Gyaaahhhh!

 I slumped on the cold ice.
 Vael raised the corners of his mouth.
 At this time, he had already loosened the effect of 【Frozen Prison】 against 29.
 He aimed for the moment when 29 amplified his magic power and made the ice draw.

 29 was in the form of being hit by his own flames.

''Kuu, that's right.......''

 On the other hand, 26 was struggling.

 If he raised his magic power, he would be caught in his own flames, just like 29.
 But if he didn't extinguish the ice, he would be iced out.
 As he continued to go back and forth, his magic power eventually began to run out.

''It's strange..... We're demons. Our magic power must be higher than that of ordinary people. And the amount too! And quality! And yet, why should I lose to an ordinary - and why should I lose to this little girl! Funny! I'm sorry.

 The area around the 26's mouth is covered in ice.
 By that time, he was already unconscious.
 It was as if the rock hid his figure, and 26 was covered by the ice.

 The demon's icy immersion was complete.

''Ridiculous........''

 24 gasped.
 I could only gulp.
 I should have been reading it with [Future Vision].
 So why.........

 It was that time.
 Reacting to the [Future Vision] of 24 [Future Vision].

 I avoided the arrow that flew at me.
 It's Sarasa.
 It seems that she immediately aimed at the upset 24.

''d*mn it! You little girl! That's quite a little thing to do!

 24 turns red in the head.
 But it was the next moment.

''Ouch!''

 Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder mouth.
 When I looked, I saw that an arrow had pierced through 24's white coat and stabbed deep into it.

''Why! I thought I dodged it earlier!

'I suppose. But it would be in [future vision].

 Sarasa's cold voice rang out.
 24 pulled out the arrow stuck in his shoulder mouth while exhaling roughly.

''Inside the [Future Vision]?''

'The weakness of [futuristic vision] is that it shows you a future perspective (sic). You can't see what you can't see.

What! No way is that a hidden arrow!

 It is an advanced shooting technique that hides an arrow behind an arrow.

 As Sarasa said, 【Future Vision】 can only see what you see in the future.
 Hence, it is difficult to know what is hidden from your vision.

"d*mn it!

 24 gets on his knees.
 Apparently, the poison was applied to him.
 It's not a very deadly drug, just enough to make him lose consciousness.

'You have lost. Please surrender quietly.''

"d*mn it! The little girl aaaaaaaaaaah!

 Instantly, 24's condition changed.
 He spat out a pop of flame from his mouth.