CH 22

It was two days after the day I went to the training grounds.

I had decided to close the library early while I was escorting Lady Sion, so after locking the door, I rode with Lady Sion in the Duke's carriage to the mansion.

The city I could see from outside the window had already fallen into the darkness of night, and moths were swarming around the streetlights. I could see people entering the tavern, chatting with their friends, as if the people walking were just finished with their work.

I wonder if I could recover from the day's fatigue by making conversation.

I quickly closed the curtain and asked Lady Sion, who was sitting across from me.

"Did you make any progress in your studies today?"

"Yes! I was able to learn more about the characteristics and compatibility of different systems. I can't wait to try it out for myself..."

"...The first step is to manipulate the magic power inside the body. It's not like everyone can use magic that easily. If you do it all at once, your body will produce more magic power than it needs, and you will go into a tailspin. It will seriously kill you, okay?"

"That's right... I can't wait to be so good that even my father will be amazed!"

"Don't be in such a hurry, Lady Sion will soon become very strong."

She spent the whole day at her desk today, and her concentration as well as her understanding were amazing. She understood most of what she read the first time, and even when she didn't understand something, she would immediately absorb it by herself after I explained it to her in a few words. This means that I might as well let her learn the second year's content ahead of time and just review the lessons at school.

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask the teachers at the magic school to bite their handkerchiefs as best they can. (TL: Grit their teeth)

"Um, Mr. Serel?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. But there are still about three weeks left until the new semester, so we may as well spend this week in classroom learning, the second week in magic manipulation, and the third week in light practical training. Let's get our skills up before the new semester starts."

"Really!?"

Lady Sion's face instantly lit up.

She's a cash cow, isn't she? Well, it's true that classroom learning alone would become boring and tedious.

You need to let them learn while having fun, and more importantly, without a deadline, there's no sense of tension. Hmm, let's try one more task here.

"Lady Sion. I have a task for you."

"A task?"

"Yes. However, there will be no punishment for not completing it. I'm only doing it to motivate you even more"

"...So, what's the task?"

"It's simple. Before the start of the new school year, you must be able to cast three elementary magic spells flawlessly. It doesn't matter what kind. There may be some compatibility with the grimoire, and we can work together to find that out. However, you will soon find out which systems are compatible, so we'll talk about that then."

Three beginner level magic, three weeks. No, it's effectively one week. If the magic manipulation is over quickly, we can extend the period a little longer.

In any case, I think it is quite difficult. Normally, it takes about a month for a child learning magic for the first time to master elementary magic to the point where they can use it perfectly. But to do it in one week, and with three of them? It may seem like an impossible task, but I think Lady Sion can do it. In the first place, the fact that she could make a contract with the Book of Wisdom is an amazing feat.

A genius, a gifted child should be given appropriate tasks.

"Three in one week?"

"I know I'm being quite harsh, but the faster we grow, the better. Besides, there will be a fitting reward when you achieve it."

"What's the reward?"

"That's for you to decide. Of course, don't forget that there are things you can and cannot do."

"I'll decide the reward... Yeah..."

Sion glances at me with a faint blush on her cheeks.

I'm starting to get a little scared, wondering what on earth she's planning to demand...

In the meantime, we arrived in front of the mansion.

The door opened and a maid greeted me and took care of my luggage.

"Welcome back, Lady Sion. I trust you have not suffered any attacks today?"

"You worry too much. I was in the library the whole time, and Mr. Serel was by my side."

"I didn't see anyone particularly suspicious, so I'm fine."

"I'm glad to hear that..."

She seems to be worried because her master's daughter, whom she serves, is in danger.

But since I started escorting her, I haven't seen anyone suspicious, and we're fine for now.

"I..."

At the edge of the electromagnetic net, there was a faint but magical reaction.

I turned my head toward the west, but of course I couldn't see anything with the naked eye. All I could see was a road leading to a residential area and some buildings.

But I did manage to see it.

"Much faster than I expected. Are they dumber than I thought?"

"Mr. Serel?"

Lady Sion, who was about to enter the mansion, turned around.

I'm sorry, but I can't help you study at the mansion today.

Because...

"Excuse me. I'm going to go do a little cleanup."

"What?"

"Don't worry, I'll be right back...'"

I summoned Ramiel, who was instantly clad in lightning, and without listening to Lady Sion's voice of protest, I ran out and jumped on the roof of a house and ran fast.

I'm sure the other party will see the fact that I'm alone as an opportunity to pursue me.

If I were to suddenly stop and look around while covered in lightning, the other side would probably become wary of me.

With this in mind, I went back to the library, passing through the area where I had seen the magical reaction. I entered through the back door and pretended that I came to get something I had forgotten.

Of course, I didn't forget anything, so after I finished my business, I opened the door and stepped out.

"So, you dare to walk home through a deserted street."

As I walked down the dark alleyway, I looked for the magical response.

Yeah, it's already at close range. The purpose is to assassinate me, who is protecting Lady Sion. As expected, there are mages and knights serving the duke's family in the mansion, so they can't raid it. They must have taken advantage of the fact that I was alone and came to take me out.

It's easy to understand, or maybe it's just a bit typical.

Whatever it is, it's convenient for me too.

"There you are."

I muttered as I walked, and the building in front of me on either side. Two men clad in black jumped down from the roof of the building, swinging their swords at me.

They seemed to be using a magic that gave them covert abilities, and I didn't hear or see any sign of them. From my point of view, the magic power they use to activate the covert magic gives them away, though.

With a lightning-covered and twisted fist, I stabbed them in the neck, knocking them into a coma. Next, I intercepted the knives and ice arrows thrown from the other direction with lightning and wind.

I'm not going to let the two of them be recaptured by the enemy. Of course, I'm not going to let them kill me either.

"Eight... left, huh?"

There are more of them than I thought.

Well, if it was a group of people sent to kill me for sure, it would be too few.

They've all been stopped by my magic and attacks that I've just shown them. You may have thought that you would be defeated by a mere Notensho (Powers), but I've been through a lot of tough times.

How could I lose to a mage who thinks that rank is absolute?

"Yup."

I threw it at them.

About two seconds later, a figure that appeared to be a woman fell to the ground, screaming in agony.

As I had intended, her right leg seemed to have been torn off halfway.

And with that, the attackers who had been hiding came charging towards me.

Each one of them was weaving their magic, picking up their weapons, and scrambling to take my life. There was no room to spare in their movements, and they seemed to be moving in a desperate attempt to kill me.

I ducked, caught them, and counterattacked when I had a chance.

When I had knocked out about three of them, the remaining four began to withdraw in order to escape from me, perhaps realizing the difference in their strength. Each of them dispersed in different directions, going in all directions.

That decision itself is not a mistake. The odds of escaping are better if you disperse than if you escape together.

But...that was already anticipated and countermeasures were already in place.

As proof of this, screams and cries of dismay immediately went up from all over.

It didn't seem to hurt them, but how did I catch them?

"Hmm? Is this all of them? I thought there would be more of them."

The one who showed up with the sound of clacking shoes was Edsel.

As soon as he found me, he slumped his shoulders in disappointment.

I have a pretty good idea why, but I think it's more trouble than it's worth.

"I guess they only prepared this much because my grimoire rank is so low."

"Really? You've beaten most of them... Oh, I was expecting to see someone a little more responsive... What about the others?"

"I've got him in a metal ring. They won't get away."

"You weren't even fighting..."

"'Cause all they seemed to want to do was run."

I think they saw the difference in our abilities. If it had been Edsel, he would have been more merciless. My heart would have broken on the spot.

I'm sure I demonstrated the absolute difference in power.

I think it's generous of me that they still had the strength to fight back.

"I've always been prepared for this since I was asked to after the mock battle..., but I never thought They'd be moving so quickly."

"I'm surprised, too. Normally, I'd give them more time to relax and then surprise me when I'm a little less tense, but their employer is quite stupid. Is that too harsh?"

"No, it doesn't sound too much, does it?"

Holding his mouth, Edsel held back his laughter as he picked up the dagger that had been dropped.

It's nothing, it's just a nondescript dagger... I have to laugh at this one.

"Maybe he really is an idiot."

"But how stupid would you be to use a dagger with your family crest on it in a raid? Kukukuk... you're so dumb it's funny.."

The dagger that Edsel was holding had a crest with a rose clearly engraved on it.

This is a crest that exists within the nobility of the kingdom, and the name of the house is....

"Count Grantz. It's settled."

"...a fool who will be laughed at for the rest of his life."

I didn't expect the attack to come so soon, and I didn't expect to find out who did it so soon either.

Oh no, just because you're a noble doesn't mean you're smart.