Chapter 3

Somehow, I had always thought that Felis was the type of person who could get things done.

I had never seen Felis win in the defense team's training against anyone. However, no matter who the opponent was, Felis could put up a decent fight. Felis didn't show any signs of regret, and it was clear that he was tackling his challenges in his own way, so I didn't mind that he couldn't win.

People who try various things often take time to produce results. Felis didn't seem to be wasting his time, so I just vaguely supported him. After all, it's not easy for a person before adulthood to achieve results against professionals.

It's fine to take it step by step. There's no need to rush.

—Perhaps I was just concerned about Felis and couldn't do anything for him, and I didn't understand him.

The ceremony is about showing strength, not necessarily winning. Besides, I had doubts about the necessity for aspiring craftsmen to demonstrate martial prowess. Therefore, once Sasset put up a good fight, I intended to stop the match and end it.

But what happened?

The moment Felis took up his own weapon, I unconsciously trembled. It wasn't just the quality of the weapon; his posture revealed the training of a warrior.

Thinking about it, noble-born males have to wear swords at ceremonies, so they must be able to use them to some extent. Felis was just swinging his sword for that reason. If he didn't have the basic skills, it would bring shame to his family.

Once freed from that constraint, Felis's movements were breathtaking.

He easily dispatched Sasset without even breaking a sweat, and his composure in front of Mitz didn't change at all.

Seeing this, I regretted it.

I should have raised my hand to be his opponent.

---

Hmm.

Captain Mitz, huh.

I decided to be her opponent, but she's not an easy one. The two captains don't underestimate their opponents and won't attack simply. Moreover, they will probably come up with some countermeasures based on my previous movements.

For now,

"I don't mind, but please treat Sasset first."

She's in the way in the center. At my voice, the team members came to their senses and carried her away.

Confirming that the field was set, I turned to Mil.

"Is this the final match, then?"

Mil, unusually, didn't answer immediately. After a moment of thought, she gave her answer.

"The conclusion for Felis Crowren's departure will be based on the victory just now. Of course, in the form of your request being granted. No matter what the results of any subsequent matches are, this conclusion will not change."

Yeah, that's only natural.

"And, Mitz. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I won't recognize the match."

"Huh, really no way?"

Captain Mitz voiced her dissatisfaction at the unexpected rejection. I was also surprised that she would reject it.

But Mil's next words stopped our thoughts.

"Yes. I can't go all out against a tired Felis. ...I'll do the final match."

...Huh?

I think I heard something I shouldn't have. Lady Mil, your tone is back to normal, and I don't quite understand what you mean.

"If you're not satisfied, Mitz, do you want to fight me before Felis? That way, both Felis and I will have one match, and it will balance out."

This is bad.

I don't know what about the previous match touched her, but it's clear that Mil is serious. Captain Mitz, sensing this, is hesitating, trying to say something and then stopping.

Come on, Captain, don't lose. My safety depends on you.

"...Alright, I get it. Can I at least watch?"

"Of course."

Too bad, Captain. And Mil is smiling in a way I've never seen before.

Realizing that arguing would be futile, I sighed.

I know Mil from before she became the lord, two years ago. She hasn't had a chance to fight since then, but she has continued to train, and her skills have improved.

Milka Crowren, the treasure of the Degline Kingdom, was ranked eighth in the world as a magician, wasn't she?

I've trained to be able to escape in a one-on-one situation, no matter who the opponent is. But now that my escape is sealed, where is my path to survival?

"...I don't have any room to spare."

"That's good. This might be the last time you'll see Felis at his best."

The rising magic power hit my cheeks. Maybe Mil was pent up from not being able to go to the field.

"Why are you so fixated on my seriousness?"

"...I can't stand it."

"What can't you stand?"

At my question, Mil smiled with a raised lip.

"Various things, I guess. The fact that you're being underestimated and that you're letting it happen. I saw it just now; you can always win, but you haven't. Why you haven't won... well, there must be a reason, but—"

Yeah. I didn't show my strength because it wouldn't have turned out well. And all my training in public was focused on overcoming my weaknesses. Once I could do something, I moved on to the next thing I couldn't do. To others, I might have seemed like someone who gives up on things.

But in the end, I could feel that I could improve in certain skills, and I don't really regret it.

"You're overestimating me. I'm not that great."

"Those words are an insult to Sasset."

"That woman insulted my masterpiece? I get angry too, you know."

Mil's magic power, clinging to my skin, is annoying. She's deliberately provoking me with extremely weak wind magic.

But I can't lose my cool and respond.

"Right. Then, can you understand? I get angry too. Once I became the lord, I couldn't go to the field anymore."

That's—probably my and Jit's fault. A lord gives orders from above and doesn't hunt monsters on the front lines. Mil, despite being an excellent magician, lost most of her opportunities to showcase her skills.

"Besides, everyone is terrible. When I get a little into training, they say it's dangerous for the lord and won't be my opponent. Jit doesn't really cooperate either. So, I want to see your seriousness. And I want to go all out myself."

What Mil has been keeping in her heart... I, along with others around her, have been too inadequate.

Then, accompanying this mess is the minimum I can do.

I took a deep breath.

This time, it's all out.

"I can't guarantee you'll be satisfied, but I'll go along with it."

"Ahaha."

If it's a magic battle, there should be an appropriate distance. We both jumped back and leaned against the wall as agreed.

I glared at Jit. He nodded and took a deep breath.

I shouted.

"I will be the witness to this match! Both sides, state your names!"

"—Lord of the Crowren Viscount's territory, 'Flame Demon' Milka Crowren!"

I hesitated about what to name myself.

Calling myself something I'm not is against the rules of dueling.

But still.

If I'm going to be serious, I should declare something that represents me and what I aim for.

"—Magic Core Craftsman, ...'Freestyle' Felis Crowren!"

A style known only to me and my master.

I'll show you its true worth.

"You roared well! Entertain me!"

Several small light orbs floated around Mil. Her basic tactic is to combine light, fire, and wind magic into light projectiles and heat beams.

It's not impossible to defend against, but once on the defensive, it's hard to recover.

"I said it before, I don't have any room to spare."

So, first, I'll create a mist to block the view. Then, I'll jump to the side with all my might.

A moment later, a light projectile pierced the spot where I had been.

"Don't get hit."

I don't want to die, so I'll dig a hole in the ground and move underground. At the same time, I'll create a water puppet to run around on the surface, making it look like I'm escaping. Since I've hidden my strong attributes so far, my opponent shouldn't know what I can do.

The continuous vibrations tell me that the attacks haven't stopped. It's too scary to come up.

"Shh!"

I know roughly where she is, so I'll attack from underground. I'll create countless stone spears and launch them at her.

"Too weak, too weak, too weak!"

I can feel the magic power dissipating, indicating that the stone spears were melted.

I knew it wouldn't work, but I had to reduce her attacks to start the battle.

The vibrations have decreased compared to before. Has she noticed the decoy? It's tough not being able to see her.

I'll move to the next step. To suppress the heat, I'll launch water orbs into the sky and create a light rain to further obscure her view and scatter the targets.

"Annoying!"

With a loud noise, Mil's magic power exploded. It probably blew everything away. I timed my return to the surface when the sound stopped.

The distance is about half of what it was at the start. At this distance, my partner should work.

"Are you frustrated?"

"Yes. But most people don't even get this far. So... you've lived up to my expectations."

Well, an average person would have died from the first light projectile. I can handle it because I know what to do.

I infused my hands with dark magic to blur the outline of my weapon. Jit might misjudge the distance, but Mil, who doesn't engage in close combat, probably won't understand this action.

Even if it's meaningless, I'll do what I can. It has the effect of reducing light magic.

"Dark magic... it's rare to see someone use it."

"It suits a pariah, doesn't it?"

"Well, it's not a very popular attribute. But before that, there are few people with the aptitude for it. I think you should use what you can."

We catch our breath with small talk. Mil seems to be willing to go along with it.

"...Back then"

"Hmm?"

"I used to think I wanted to master clear and powerful magic like Mil."

From the time I could understand things, Mil was a spellcaster who drew people in. Light and heat would run across the battlefield, and she would destroy monsters that everyone struggled against.

It was bound to be impressive.

But before I was born into this world, I had already been told about my characteristics by the entity that reincarnated me.

"I never told you, but my aptitude for magic is the exact opposite of Mil's. Mil is light, fire, and wind. I'm dark, water, and earth. I admired her, but I could never imitate her."

It's dazzling.

But it's out of my reach.

"So, I stopped being fixated on it."

A famous quote I once heard—play the hand you're dealt.

I stood straight, readjusted my weapon, and activated my abilities to the max. I continued to observe and concentrate on the opponent's movements. I maintained my best condition with health.

It might not be flashy, but I'll steadily do what needs to be done, even if it's dull and hard to understand.

"I don't have the power to charm people or overwhelming strength. But... I think I can do something against Mil."

"—Good eyes."

We laughed. The break is over.

I swung the scythe straight down, launching a water blade. Mil's fire wall easily vaporized it, and a heat beam licked the ground in retaliation.

This time, I moved forward without hiding.

I weakened the fire wall with water scatter shots while spreading poison with dark magic. It's a tactic that isn't used much because it's considered unfair, but it should be hard to deal with.

"Tsk"

"Still more to come."

The true strength of dark magic, and the reason it's disliked, lies in weakening the enemy.

If I can't reach the heights, I'll pull the enemy down.

I'll continue to produce poison with dark magic, more than it can be neutralized by light magic. I'll close the distance while dodging left and right. Mil, with low martial strength, should dislike being approached.

But I don't intend to get too close. The forward-leaning stance is more about applying pressure. The current distance, where neither the scythe nor the staff can reach, is my most advantageous.

—Magic cores can change shape when infused with magic. That's the essence of the Freestyle.

I extended the staff in my hand. Mil jumped to the side, avoiding the strike aimed at her head.

"That's a bad move."

I extended the staff further in the direction she fled. She was hit on the right arm and winced.

The bent staff didn't have much power, but I successfully infused it with dark magic. Her right arm, with reduced strength, dropped.

Without giving her a chance to dispel the curse, I followed up with another attack.

"Guh!?"

A heat wave from outside my field of vision burned my left side. The 'health' I had released beforehand slowly healed the serious burn.

"Good, very good. It's been a while since I felt pain."

Sooner than expected, but did she get into it after taking a hit?

The swirling flames filled the training ground.

"Defense team, fall back! More!"

Jit's worried voice echoed. I must have been burned quite deeply; my left side was tingling.

Still, I can keep fighting.

"Enjoying yourself?"

"Yes, very much. This isn't the end, is it?"

"I have more to show."

"Really, Felis is wonderful."

It's tough.

It's tough, but I got a compliment, so I'll try a bit harder.

That's it for now.

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