Chapter 49

"Isn't that polar bear glaring at Kousuke pretty intensely?"

Not only Takigawa, but also Ishida and Aihara seemed to have noticed the unusual killing intent emanating from the polar bear.

"Yuki, you're the type that animals like, huh? That's so cool~"

Only the class representative hadn't noticed.

"Grumble grumble grumble..."

There's a deep moat between the polar bear and us, so it can't come over here, but the killing intent is intense. I can't take my eyes off it.

"Wow, it's so intense! But, it feels kind of strange..."

"Uru!?"

I was surprised when Uru suddenly spoke, but what she said is even more concerning.

"Strange feeling?"

"Yeah. It feels like it's being controlled by magic. There's something on the bear's neck."

I squinted and looked at the polar bear's neck, and I could see a faint magical collar.

"This is the magic controlling the polar bear..."

"The Army of Fools." A magic that places animals or objects with reduced cognitive abilities under control. The more subjects under control, the worse the control becomes, and only simple commands can be executed. Conversely, if controlling a single subject, complex commands and shared consciousness are possible.

I see, I understand. And I've learned it at the same time.

Following the museum, I've unexpectedly gained something at the zoo too.

"Maybe the bear is being controlled to attack its master."

"I don't remember doing anything to be attacked..."

...But I have. The people who stole the 'Fairy Seed' are likely trying to get it back by attacking me.

"What should we do? It's tough to keep staring at the polar bear."

"If you can use a similar magic, you might be able to overwrite it."

"Overwrite?"

"Yeah. When the same effect of magic overlaps, the stronger one wins!"

I see!

"'The Army of Fools'..."

I quietly activate the magic. Normally, a long incantation would be required, but using magic through Uru allows me to activate it without an incantation. It's convenient.

"Uru, you can use similar magic!? That's amazing! How? Why!?"

"Alright, it seems to have worked."

Ignoring Uru, I checked the result of the magic, and it seems to have been successful.

The polar bear's eyes changed from hostility to respect.

"Um, sit down."

"Roar."

Reacting to my words, the polar bear sat down on the spot.

"Cute!!"

The class representative is almost going crazy at the sight of the obedient polar bear.

"Wow, it's well-trained."

"Bears are smart, huh?"

"They are cute."

Takigawa and the others are surprised by the well-trained polar bear.

The activation of the magic was so quick that Auru and Juna haven't realized it was a magical phenomenon.

"Anyway, it's settled."

I muttered quietly, and the visit to Asahiyama Zoo ended successfully.

◇

"My 'Army of Fools'... was broken!?"

Ioh was shocked that the connection with the polar bear, which she had controlled to gauge Kousuke's strength, had been severed, and that her magic had been broken.

"Ioh's magic... being broken... I've never seen it before."

Ferm, who usually doesn't show much emotion, couldn't hide her surprise.

Ioh is a magician and also a rank C 'Hypnosis' ability user.

Normally, ability users cannot use magic, but her magic organization, 'The Twilight and Dawn Group,' discovered a special spell that allows the simultaneous use of magic and abilities of the same type, and applied it to Ioh.

The fusion spell that enables the simultaneous use of abilities and magic. Through this, Ioh's 'Fool's Swarm' has been elevated to a higher-dimensional brainwashing magic, 'The Army of Fools.'

"If there is an ability or spell that can break 'The Army of Fools'... I won't be useful in this operation."

The fusion spell that skips the incantation, reduces the consumption of magic power, and amplifies the effect several times. This spell has many benefits, but it also has a significant drawback.

That is, it can only use one magic spell completed by the fusion spell.

In Ioh's case, she can no longer use any magic other than 'The Army of Fools' created by the fusion spell.

"It's okay... I... am here."

Ferm, who also has the fusion spell inscribed in her body, whispered, swaying her black robe mysteriously.

"Right. I'll ask you then. Still, where has that idiot Chrom gone? I told him to disguise himself and keep an eye on the target..."

Ioh continued speaking, puzzled by Chrom's disappearance.

"Never mind. If it comes to it, we can just retrieve the 'Fairy Seed' on our own."

Ioh muttered and began to plan the next strategy.