Chapter 55

As we flew toward the rooftop of the White Goat Inn, the adventurers who had come out to intercept us began to launch attack spells and projectile weapons at us one after another.

"Exactly as 'that person' said! We can't dodge while in the air, launch a full attack!"

"Fireball!"

"Ice Spear!"

The fireballs and ice spears flying at us. Although the attributes were not unified, the attack spells equivalent to S-rank power would cause some damage if we took them without any countermeasures.

However, Miralca, who was in my arms, analyzed all the enemy attacks with just a glance and, before they could get close to us, made them disintegrate and disappear at a certain distance.

-- 'Limited Annihilation Type 91st Absolute Domain Array' --

There were only up to the 80s in the Limited Annihilation Type, but the 90s have been added. There are other arrays that can be used for defense, but this one blocks both magic and projectile weapons.

(That's impressive. If something like this is used, even an entire country's army wouldn't be scary.)

We couldn't afford to chat during the battle, so I conveyed my will through the magic earring.

(All known skills can be defended against. To save the effort of analyzing them on the spot, I've pre-programmed all attack patterns into the magic array. It takes about 0.3 seconds longer to deploy compared to previous defense arrays, but it has been verified to be practical.)

By communicating through thoughts, I could clearly see how fast Miralca's mind worked. Otherwise, it would be impossible to memorize hundreds of magic arrays and deploy them according to the situation.

"What is that... the magic isn't reaching and it's disappearing...!?"

"Impossible... We should be on par with S-rank adventurers! This must be a mistake!"

Their words, which did not even consider the possibility of SSS-rank adventurers attacking, made me realize the effectiveness of my efforts to remain inconspicuous in the capital.

-- However, in front of their panic, I noticed something abnormal.

Would 'she' just let the guild members intercept us as we came from the sky?

(Dick, the enemy... it's not good!)

I immediately understood what Miralca was trying to say. The enemy mages would attempt a second wave of interception without letting us land -- but the amount of magic power they were converging was completely different from the first time.

(Unknown skill... besides spirit magic, there's something else hidden... No, that's not it...!)

-- That's borrowed power. 'Proxy Activation'...!

I didn't need to see her directly. She was provoking me.

Proxy Activation is a spell my master used to bring out my latent ability to use magic, which I couldn't do at first.

Not knowing how to release the excess magic power, I often went out of control and caused trouble for others. This spell changed my life. The first magic I learned was by having my master's magical knowledge directly infused into my body -- by proxy activation, I learned it through my body.

However, the guild members' capacity cannot withstand proxy activation. Even if they are strengthened, using SSS-rank magic with only S-rank power would cause not just magic exhaustion, but a 'self-destruction' due to the reversal of the magic power level -- the magic would absorb the magic power of those around to make up for the lack, putting their lives at risk.

Upon closer inspection, all the guild members who came out to intercept us were wearing collars. With these, they cannot disobey orders even if it means their death.

(You won't let me, because I didn't return to you.)

(...Dick...?)

In any case, they cannot activate the magic. There are three enemy mages, and the only way is to cut off the magic power connection that is controlling their actions.

Without drawing my sword, I released a blade of magic power -- but it was still too slow. I conveyed my will to Miralca, and she deployed the magic array without hesitation, targeting the three guild members.

-- (Make it in time!)

-- 'Limited Annihilation Type 66th Particle Disruption Array' --

Miralca deployed the magic array from the air, targeting only the collars. She perfectly timed it to prevent the magic from being activated.

Immediately after, I landed on the rooftop with Miralca, set her down, and swung my magic-enhanced sword like a gust of wind. This time, it wasn't 'Slash Enhancement,' but 'Silent Mark' was added to the sword. This would temporarily seal the magic power of the attacked, preventing it from interfering with the outside. The effect is shorter than directly carving magic runes with a strike, but a few hours would be enough.

"Ugh..."

"Ugh..."

The guild members, with their collars destroyed and the magic power connection severed, collapsed.

"Miralca, thanks. We couldn't let them activate the magic."

"Yes... I was surprised when they suddenly used an unknown magic. It was 'Silent Sword,' wasn't it? It's useful in situations like this."

After saying that, she seemed to want to say something more. Before she could ask, I answered.

"The person we're about to fight is the one who taught me magic."

"Why would someone like that cause chaos in the guild?"

"Perhaps she saw what I'm doing as the guild master now."

"...If she's upset about it and is trying to take over the guild to do evil, that's just a tantrum."

Miralca's reaction is normal, and she's not wrong.

However, conventional thinking doesn't apply to her. She, like me, is an existence that defies common sense, being called a once-in-a-thousand-years talent.

"Don't say it so badly. I just 'came back' to this guild."

"...!?"

The voice came from 'behind' us.

To get to the rooftop from inside the building, one must use the stairs in front of us.

-- Then how did they get behind us?

Without using a transfer magic array, she accomplished the transfer on her own. She could do it -- when we first met, she appeared suddenly and smiled mischievously.

She hasn't changed much from the past. She claimed to be immortal, and after five years, she embodied it.

Under the sky so blue it seemed to draw you in, her long silver hair rippled in the light. Her entire body seemed to glow -- but it was different from Yuma's sacred light.

Her radiance was cold, inorganic, and a barrier that blocked others' understanding. That's why I never knew her name and only called her 'master.'

"Did you imagine I would come with 'The Adorable Calamity'? Did you think you couldn't handle it alone? Even though you've grown so much, your heart is still the same as when you were little."

Her smile was playful, yet devoid of any malice, evoking conflicting emotions.

-- It's terribly, heart-wrenchingly nostalgic.

When I was a child, she seemed so grown-up that I felt I could never catch up. But now that I've surpassed her in height, I don't think I can never catch up.

However, even if I can close the distance in an instant, I can't get close. She seems very far away.

"Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to be called a child forever."

"You don't have to be strong. When you saw me, you felt nostalgic, didn't you? No matter how ruthless I am, you think it's okay because it's me, right? That's because you're trying to accept me, Dick."

"...You talk as if you can say whatever you want. Even if you were Dick's master, what you did can't be overlooked. What do you intend to do by causing chaos in the capital?"

Miralca's question didn't cloud her master's smile. She approached us step by step, unguarded.

"Don't come any closer. If you exceed a certain distance, I'll attack."

"If you're a spatial magic user, you should be able to use a transfer magic array eventually. Want me to teach you how? I think Dick can use it now, so I'll teach him like I did in the past. Otherwise, there's no way you can beat me."

She was full of confidence, backed by an overwhelming power -- and she was always kind to me.

She used to say, "When I want it, you'll properly kill me," as if it were a curse.

"...Why did your heart break? I didn't try to understand it back then, and I didn't have the right to, being weak. But now, it's different."

"Is it really? You can't even ask my name, yet you say something has changed?"

Her eyes, which saw through everything, and her mouth, which showed a hint of malice only when teasing me, were intensely disliked.

Wearing a cape that made her look like a celestial being, her eyes held a true darkness that seemed to draw you in. And, shockingly, she wore a collar around her neck -- a magic item for control, corresponding to the collars of subjugation.

If asked about the meaning of its shape, she might say, "Control means you're also bound."

"Haha... I see. Since you don't have a magic connection, it seems Dick couldn't forget about me. You remembered what I said I would give you."

In front of Miralca, she ruthlessly dug into my old wounds.

When I thought I was strong and unbeatable. It was she who corrected that misconception.

-- By forcefully subduing me and teaching me the most beautiful and the ugliest parts of humanity.

I don't remember what I said to be released. My memories with my master are all things I don't want to remember.

Miralca looked at me with concern. It was embarrassing to make her look like that -- but I wasn't just going to take it.

"...I had forgotten until now. I'm living my life in my own way."

"I haven't forgotten. Since I haven't forgotten, Dick shouldn't either. That's what I taught you."

"Dick, there's no need to talk anymore. It doesn't matter what kind of relationship you have with this person."

Miralca's magic converged, ready to deploy a magic array at any time. Whether it was annihilation or destruction, her master showed no sign of being affected.

"Dick isn't your possession. Do you still think you control him? I'm sorry, but this person isn't weak enough to listen to anyone."

"Nobody can come between Dick and me. Because Dick is still using the magic I taught him."

"So what? A student surpassing their teacher isn't a given, but it's not impossible."

"Miralca, it's fine. I'm not shaken at all."

"...Dick."

I readied my unsheathed sword. Seeing this, my master drew the sword at her waist. She has always used a slender sword, even though she can achieve sufficient destructive power without a heavy one.

A 'Fairy Sword,' made of rare materials, with excellent compatibility with magical enhancements. It is, to my knowledge, the most powerful weapon a mage can use.

I once sought an equivalent, but eventually realized it was unnecessary. Because what can be done with a Fairy Sword