EP.176 Sign Here, Battle Mage! (2)
How to Assassinate a Wizard.
It is the root, the origin, and the essence. When it comes to discussing the root, I have no hesitation whatsoever.
‘How do we kill a wizard?’
In other words, it’s like asking me how to smash the skull of the ancient lich Skebal into pieces.
The answer to that question is not difficult.
I’ve already laid it all out exhaustively. I’ve proven it with my own hands time and again. The skulls of Skebal that I’ve gathered deep within my room stand as evidence.
“Wizard hunting.”
Something I already know.
Something I can be sure of.
“How to blow a wizard’s head apart.”
With a swoosh, I pulled on my gloves.
“From now on, I will begin the lecture.”
Listen closely, you lot.
I’m going to talk about the root (根本) from now on.
2.
A special lecture for Battle Magic Department students.
Understanding Battle Mages.
The students sitting in the classroom where this lesson was taking place focused on the words of the professor standing at the podium. The professor’s voice was filled with enthusiasm.
“First of all, as you all know, the Battle Mage is a class developed by the esteemed Ashen Mage. It was born on the battlefield, you see.”
This was in stark contrast to Professor Rania’s usual calm demeanor. The nightmare that responded calmly and coolly in any situation was nowhere to be seen today.
“You will hear the secrets of the class that she wrung her head to create right here. Isn’t that quite the honor? Consider it an honor.”
The students wore expressions of mixed awe and trepidation.
Well, it is an honor. It really is…
‘Is Professor Rania always like this?’
There was a strange sense of dissonance. She seemed unusually tense in her lecturing today. As the students pondered this, plausible speculations began to take shape.
‘Is it because Professor Rania has an older brother?’
‘Yeah, considering their relationship…’
Ashen Mage Raniel van Trias.
Rania van Trias, being from the same family.
In that order, Raniel is the older brother, and Rania is the younger sister. Could it be that the younger sister reveres her older brother? The students stole glances at Rania.
Thud!
She banged on the blackboard, glaring with wide eyes.
At that sight, the students instinctively pulled back slightly. It was far too intense to simply call it ‘admiration’—a fierce determination shimmered in her blue eyes.
They wanted a bit of distance from her. Really.
Keeping their distance, the students thought to themselves.
‘Yeah, she really respects him…’
‘If it’s Ashen Mage level, well…’
What kind of existence is the Ashen Mage?
A figure who has become an idol among all mages. If one had an older brother of such caliber, would that not naturally breed such a degree of respect?
‘No, at this point, it’s not respect…’
It’s obsession.
A desperation to prove oneself.
Where that fierce obsession comes from was an unfathomable mystery to the students.
Except for two.
“…”
Belnoa discreetly wiped his eyes.
He knew that Professor Rania was the Ashen Mage. With that knowledge, Belnoa could feel his own face turning hot.
‘How embarrassing, truly embarrassing.’
What is wrong with Professor Rania?
When she pronounced the name ‘esteemed’ Ashen Mage, Belnoa unconsciously lowered his head. He couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze.
She praises her own achievements.
While hiding her true identity.
And in front of students younger than herself.
‘How ugly…!’
Such thoughts slipped out unawares.
In a truly blasphemous way, Belnoa found the creator of his own class to be ‘ugly.’
“Oh.”
At the voice that came from beside him, Belnoa turned his head. There sat another student. Someone who looked like they would just drift through life, thoughtlessly.
“How insightful.”
Lac von Grace.
He nodded along, looking as if he were genuinely impressed. Belnoa shot Lac a dismayed look.
‘He’s likely not aware of her true identity.’
It was a misconception.
Lac also knew Rania’s identity. Yet, even knowing that, he felt no special way about it. Most people do not take others’ words at face value. They are aware of the speaker’s existence and look for hidden meanings behind the words.
‘Surely, the professor is a remarkable person.’
But not Lac.
Lac accepted everything just as it was. Especially if it’s from a professor he trusts. He nodded repeatedly, focusing intently on Rania’s lecture.
“…Hoo.”
“Oh—”
The two students exhaled and gasped in their own separate thoughts as Rania’s lesson continued.
*
“To crush someone, it is essential to understand the opponent well. Battle Mages specialize in combating wizards.”
Wizards.
The first class.
“What are the characteristics of the Wizard Class?”
Rania spread her fingers wide.
“Among all spells, when considering sheer power alone, there’s nothing quite like elemental spells. The Wizard Class handles these elemental spells while using various others to assist them.”
She delivered a heavy blow.
Setting traps and buying time with a variety of spells—that was the basic combat method of the Wizard Class.
“Thus, if you keep your distance, it becomes troublesome. The more time you give, the further away you keep them, the exponentially stronger they become. That is the Wizard class.”
Therefore, they hide behind their frontlines.
Even that efficiency is surpassed by the time the frontline buys.
“Furthermore, they have a high understanding of circuits. As those who pursue the extremes of spells, they generally have a good understanding of spells. Just by looking at the tips of the circuits, they can predict the next possible moves.”
And what happens if you can predict?
“They will respond. By casting complementary spells or coming up with defensive spells. Of course, wizards of significant skill can do this.”
Rania pointed at one of the students sitting in the front row.
“Would you draw any circuit for me?”
The student nodded and began to draw a circuit. As Rania watched the circuit being drawn, she extended her arm.
“Intermediate spell, Shock-wave.”
She saw through the spell.
Then, she inserted her finger into the circuit the student was defining. Her finger wedged between the lines drew the student’s wide-eyed gaze.
Creeeak!
She wiggled her finger on the circuit.
With that alone, control of the circuit was overturned. A new circuit formed over Rania’s finger.
“It’s circuit theft. By understanding what the opponent is drawing and grasping its center, this is a skill that can be wielded. It’s not an easy task.”
It is akin to predicting what a single stroke might represent, what kind of word it may turn into.
“It’s not easy, but if successful, it can completely change the flow of the battle. Most wizards on the front lines know how to perform circuit theft. Of course, it may not work against opponents of a higher level than themselves.”
Rania waved her hand, erasing the circuit.
“Thus, the characteristics of the wizard are broadly summarized in three main points.”
First, primarily handles elemental spells.
Second, becomes stronger the more distance and time are given.
Third, gains the upper hand in magical battles based on their understanding of circuits.
“Let’s tackle these points in order.”
Rania clapped her hands.
Pointing to the first characteristic written on the blackboard, she continued.
“The way to counter elemental spells is fundamentally to use ‘attributes.’ However, this does not apply universally to all wizards. The higher the level of the wizard, the better they know how to overcome their attributes.”
Like Kelharlem, who uses spells effectively.
Or if not…
“Exemplifying the ancient lich, Skebal, he can handle all elemental spells to their extremes. Trying to beat him at his own elemental game is quite difficult.”
Those who’ve reached the realm of superhuman possibilities or can handle all attributes have means to overcome their weaknesses. It’s not something that was forged overnight.
Their lives.
The fortress walls they built solidly.
To pierce through that, Rania realized they needed other means.
“So, let’s shift our approach.”
As Rania said this, she snapped her fingers.
“That method, you all already know.”
Smite!
A beam of light shot through the air.
Pointing at the striking physical attack spell, Rania spoke.
“We’ll use striking spells that don’t have attributes. Striking spells inflict physical shocks. Thus, you’ll utilize martial arts.”
Reinforcing the body.
Approaching and delivering striking spells.
Rania explained why the basic format of the Battle Mage class takes that form.
“This is akin to countering the second characteristic. Wizards grow stronger the more time is given. The more distance is opened, the more of a hassle they become. So let’s close that distance. Reinforcing the body allows us to drive into close combat.”
She paused for a moment.
“Of course, there’s a foundational spell for this, but… that might be somewhat difficult for you now. We plan to cover this in the senior curriculum.”
Delaying the explanation on the transformation through balance, she continued.
“Having tackled the two, one last thing remains.”
Gaining the upper hand in magical battles.
The theft of spells and retaliation.
“I believe you know this better than anyone.”
The students nodded their heads.
They looked at the backs of their hands. The spells stocked there were the means to counter her points.
“Stored spells already in an activated state cannot be stolen without a moment’s gap. Variables create openings.”
She tapped lightly at her side hair with her finger.
“And once an opening is made, it’s over. Victory and defeat hinge on a mere instant. Create those openings and puncture them. Creating spells originates from the mind. If the mind is blown, one can’t cast spells, can they?”
The students gasped in shock.
Realizing that her choice of words was rather extreme, Rania cleared her throat a few times.
“Anyway, I believe you now understand.”
She lightly tapped the blackboard with the back of her hand.
“This is the essence of the Battle Mage.”
Practicality and flexibility.
Such things are of secondary nature.
“Everything about the Battle Mage is designed to hunt wizards. Everything you’ve learned is a means to kill a wizard.”
The foundation (基原).
“If a wizard is a cannon hiding behind solid castle walls, a Battle Mage is a spear. A spear that pierces through those walls and strikes at the cannons hidden inside.”
Hero, Kyle Toven.
A class with a similar fighting style.
“For the next two weeks, your spearheads will become sharper. So sharp they’ll pierce through everything.”
How will that be made possible?
With a bright smile, Rania stepped down from the platform. Creak, she opened the door to the classroom and beckoned the students to follow her with a gesture.
“Follow me.”
The students felt a sense of foreboding.
They hesitated but followed Rania nonetheless. They walked down the hallway and descended the stairs. After quite some time of walking, they arrived at a certain location.
[Training Room]
A gym prepared for the Battle Magic Department.
A place they frequented during classes with Professor Mackhart. However, when the door to the gym swung open…
The students’ eyes widened in shock.
“The Sword Master, Kuntel, once said this.”
Through the open door of the gym.
Standing in front of the entrance to what looked like a magical realm was the professor, wearing a bright smile. That smile was extraordinarily beautiful.
“There’s nothing better than real combat.”
She gestured into the gym.
“Let’s get to it. Real combat.”
The students’ faces went pale.
“Professor Mackhart and I will do our utmost to assist your growth.”
The moment they wondered why Professor Rania was in workout clothes, her hair neatly arranged, the mystery came crashing down. As the trembling students looked up, Rania spoke.
“When two weeks have passed, you will be bona fide Battle Mages.”
Her smile was devoid of all malice.
There was no hint of any evil to be found. In her genuine desire for the growth of her students… the students inadvertently recalled a saying.
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
The students head toward hell.
Accompanied by Rania’s beautiful smile.
3.
Special reinforcement week for the Battle Magic Department.
Though the wails of the Battle Magic students echoed, Apuria continued its daily life, just like any other day.
Yesterday’s today.
Today’s tomorrow.
As life went on peacefully, those aware of Kelharlem’s visit, including the Hounds, harbored one question.
‘Why on earth did Kelharlem visit Apuria?’
It was a natural question, yet one that remained unanswered.
Kelharlem was merely attending classes quietly. Even the Hounds monitoring him were beginning to let their guard down.
“There must be something going on.”
Kalt tapped the table lightly.
Various documents about Kelharlem were spread across the table. Looking over the gathered data on the Braver’s past and activities, Kalt muttered.
“Kelharlem was the headmaster of the academic city Artiya. A respected figure and a competent educator.”
Tap.
“He has produced numerous talented mages, but among them, one person stands out.”
Tap.
“Celestia von Arta.”
Kalt’s finger tapping the table came to a halt as he saw a record on one individual.
“The greatest summoner who could command the top five elemental spirits simultaneously, born with the greatest talent.”
But Kalt had never known the name of that mage until now. Despite being a figure from a century ago, someone with such talent surely must have left some achievements behind, right?
Why, then, was he hearing her name only now?
The reason was stated at the very end of the record.
“Died on graduation day.”
With her death, Artiya had fallen.
Yet, there was no explanation as to why.
How exactly did it fall, and what connection did her death hold with Artiya’s collapse… none of the records contained that information.
‘Only that it was related to the traitor.’
Kalt fiddled with his chin.
“But where have I seen this face before?”
Lavender-colored hair.
Lavender-colored eyes.
In the portrait of her recorded, Kalt felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu. An involuntary ah escaped his lips.
“Resti Elenoa.”
