First, let me review what I know about magic. It feels strange that my first real battle was against a magician. To be honest, I'd imagined fighting demons and fallen angels in my head a few times, but I never thought I'd end up facing off against a stray magician.
This world is overflowing with enemies I might actually have to fight.
For now, based on what I know from the original story and the book my master bought me about magic in this world, here are the basics: Magic is a supernatural phenomenon created by humans with great precision to fulfill wishes like "I want to do this" or "I wish that were possible."
Magic apparently reproduces the miracles or supernatural phenomena caused by demons or gods, using unique theories and equations to the greatest extent possible. Every phenomenon follows certain laws, and the power derived from measuring and calculating those laws is what constitutes magic. The "magic circle," a familiar concept from the original work, is supposedly the solution to the calculations needed to create such supernatural phenomena—a unique formula made manifest.
This is confusing stuff.
Some fallen angel leader was researching anti-magic, but all they came up with was "Magic is just overwhelming physical attacks!"—which is completely useless. Actually, in the original work, almost everyone relied on brute force or their own unique abilities to get by. There are too many examples that are useless for ordinary people like me, you power-type characters from the original work.
Well, anyway.
In other words, I was all fired up and ready to go, but in the end, this is how it turned out.
"Hahahaha, what's wrong? It seems your bravado is all talk, boy."
"Shut up! I don't want to hear that from someone who can only use their voice against a helpless kid!"
Damn, not again! I kicked off the ground and threw myself into the next alley. At that moment, an explosion thundered behind me, and part of the wall was charred black. My mouth twisted, and sweat poured down like a waterfall, but I quickly gathered my strength and started running again.
However, no matter how much I ran, there was no sign of reaching the main street. Even when I hid behind something, I was immediately spotted. From this, I concluded that my opponent had cast some kind of magic on me.
I might be able to nullify the effect with my divine artifact, but my partner is my greatest trump card. I can't afford to activate it carelessly. My divine artifact has the effect of "annihilation," so I thought of countermeasures like that high school student who shouts "Such misfortune!" or the lancer wielding the Red Rose Spear that nullifies magic—but I can't do the same as them. First, my divine artifact is influenced by my own power.
After observing the enemy's magic several times, my partner mentally informed me that we could probably nullify a few spells. However, if the power increases or the number of spells rises, I'll be in trouble. It's obvious that the enemy isn't taking this seriously yet.
"Continuing to nullify spells will likely drain my stamina. Stealth is also ineffective when the enemy can see me, and if they realize I have a divine artifact, they might take this seriously."
I can't let the enemy, who still underestimates me as just a child, grow any more cautious. A divine artifact has that much presence. If I'm going to use it, it should be when I can finish them off with one blow or create an opening to escape. Until then, I'll keep the power of the divine artifact hidden as much as possible. I'll only use it sparingly to eliminate impacts or enhance my movement.
A head-on battle is too risky. So, to look for an opening to escape, I ran at full speed, dodging around. Attacking suddenly with the sacred treasure was out of the question—the enemy's strength was too unknown. Above all, time was on my side. After shouting, "I'm coming!" I sprinted at full speed into another alley. I smiled briefly at the enemy's stunned face, but of course, I had no time to spare.
I couldn't let myself be captured and taken to Lavinia. I didn't know if she could handle two stray mages on her own, and I couldn't risk her being forced into a two-on-one fight with me as a liability. So, I planned to keep running, looking for an opening, then escape to the main street to call for help. If I caused a commotion, someone from the association would come to my aid.
However, it seemed that my opponent had seen through my shallow plan. The fact that I couldn't get out of the back alley meant that I was probably trapped by some kind of spell.
"A barrier or a suggestion spell? In this case, a barrier spell to prevent me from leaving is the most likely option. My location is probably being tracked by a detection spell."
If it's detection or suggestion, I can neutralize it by casting "Magic Effect Nullification" on myself.
But a barrier is troublesome. Unless I can touch the barrier directly with my spear, I can't get out of here. I want to head toward the center of the barrier, but it's too dangerous to go straight there with magic lightning falling all around me. Even if I try to hide my presence, I'll have to move based on predictions or they'll notice me.
"Hmm, you're pretty quick. Maybe I should consider adding a tracking function next time."
"...Hey, you hate wasting time, don't you? Instead of chasing me around, why don't you do something more meaningful?"
"Hahahaha, you sound desperate. Of course, I don't plan on spending that much time on this, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to experiment with my magic. Besides, I thought it might be more effective if the hostage was injured to some extent."
"You...!"
He's just playing around. Using his strength against a weaker opponent to feel superior—what kind of person is he? Out of anger, I picked up a stone at my feet and threw it at the magician. The stone, which would have definitely injured him if it had hit, was deflected by a defensive magic array that appeared in front of him. The array's pattern shifted slightly, and lightning struck toward me again.
I quickly rolled to the ground, kicked a nearby box toward the lightning, and managed to neutralize it. Then, sliding my body, I jumped into another alley.
"Attacks are blocked by defensive magic. My partner might be able to dispel the defensive magic, but the opportunity will likely only come once. I don't have the stamina to dispel something imbued with magic multiple times. Plus, once I show the effect of the sacred artifact, they'll probably defend against it with maximum power next time..."
I've dispelled a stray demon's barrier before, so I have a rough idea of how much stamina it takes. If I get close, the enemy will cast lightning magic like before and use defensive magic. In other words, I have to charge through the rain of magic, break through the defensive magic, and defeat that mage. This is way too harsh for a complete novice in combat.
I could use the sacred treasure's effect to hide my form and presence, but I'd still be trapped inside the barrier. The enemy would surely grow suspicious, so I wouldn't be able to hide for long.
"For now, maybe I can somehow avoid detection without the sacred treasure."
I took out the magical tool my master had bought for me from my backpack.
It's a powder in a bag. Made from plants found in the underworld, this powder is said to disrupt magical power and magic in the surrounding area. In other words, it makes it harder for them to detect my location.
I also tried using a communication talisman, but it didn't connect to the outside, so communication is likely being blocked. I made a face like I'd swallowed something bitter, then sprinkled the powder over my head and started running around the alleyways.
Then, the sensation of being watched that I had been feeling earlier seemed to fade. Did it work?
"I see, a tool to block detection. It's surprisingly effective."
I jerked my shoulders and immediately looked up at the sky where the voice had come from. There, a large magic circle had been created, covering the alley. It was probably a spell with a sound amplification effect.
From the irritated tone of his voice, I could tell that my location had become unclear. I realized this was my chance to escape, so I used the divine artifact to erase my presence and magical effects. I immediately began running toward the end of the alley to search for the starting point of the barrier.
There was no doubt that this was my best chance while the opponent hadn't caught me yet. Even if I couldn't find the barrier, I should be able to hide for a while. That's what I was thinking.
Still, somewhere in the back of my mind, I hadn't fully grasped the true power of this stray wizard.
"This is getting tiresome. You're right—wasting any more time here is not a good idea with the Ice Princess and the other members of the association around. Therefore, I will show you a glimpse of the essence of our wizardry."
"What?"
At the same time as his ominous voice reached my ears, the sky above me lit up brightly. From the large magic circle, sparks began to fly, and the moment I saw them, a chill ran through my entire body. The sacred artifact in my hand pulsed repeatedly, warning of danger.
I must not activate it recklessly. But to destroy the magic circle in the sky, I had no choice but to fly there in zero gravity and attack it with all my strength. But up there, even if I could destroy the magic circle, I wouldn't be able to avoid the enemy's attacks.
What should I do? Instinctively, I raised my spear toward the sky and thrust it straight toward the magic circle above me. Of course, since there was no long-range attack, nothing happened. But something inside me told me that this was the only way to stop it. And a few seconds later, I would learn the truth of that instinct the hard way.
"It seems you're trying to escape the barrier, so I'll tell you. The space you're in is like a labyrinth made by connecting alleys, and it's actually not that large. It's a simple barrier, but since you're not a magician, you probably can't find the core of the barrier."
Thanks for the exposition, you bastard! If the alleys are connected, that means it's a subspace barrier. So, if I don't find the core of the barrier, I can't escape from here. Don't mess with me. That means I was as good as trapped the moment this thing spotted me!
"I could search every inch, but finding you with your detection-blocking magic will take some effort. So, how can we make this quick? Simple. Just make the entire area where you are the attack range. You're trapped inside the barrier, after all."
Ah, I see. That's effective. No matter how much I hide my form or presence, the attacks won't miss—I'm still here, after all. The magical power I feel from the magic circle makes my skin crawl, and my teeth chatter instinctively, warning me of danger. I can't escape, and I can't stop it from activating. All I can do is defend myself.
"I focused the power on area coverage rather than concentrated strength, so you should survive. I'll pray to the gods that you don't die. Now, take the full force of my magic on your puny body!"
Amidst the wizard's laughter, I trusted my partner and gripped the sacred weapon tightly. Then, the sky flashed, and purple lightning rained down on the entire alley where I stood.
"Huh, I thought you were just a boy, but it seems my eyes were a little clouded. I never thought you'd come out unscathed from that magic. I underestimated you."
"I'd appreciate it if you kept underestimating me."
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that. I can't let my guard down against someone with that."
"I knew it," I spat out, breathing heavily and clicking my tongue. The eyes peeking out from under the hood were clearly focused on me, and I knew there was no way he would let his guard down now.
Though it was unavoidable to defend myself, I had shown my greatest trump card—my only chance for a comeback—to the enemy.
Against that area magic's purple lightning, my action was simply "magic elimination." However, if I had just swung my spear around randomly, I would likely have been hit. The fact that I could block it without injury was thanks to the enemy's magic having lightning elements. By thrusting my spear toward the sky, it acted as a lightning rod, diverting the thunderbolts away from me. As the magic reached the tip of the divine weapon, I continued to dispel it with all my strength until the attack ceased. I was utterly exhausted, but I was able to stand here unscathed thanks to my partner.
To be honest, the enemy was far too powerful for me. The labyrinthine barrier and everything else had easily surpassed my expectations. What's more, even after unleashing such a wide-ranging spell, he hasn't even broken a sweat.
I've exhausted both my physical and mental strength, but even in this state, my opponent's arrogance has disappeared. He's narrowing his eyes at my exhausted appearance, so he may still be letting his guard down to some degree. Even so, I don't want to imagine facing an opponent of his caliber who has become truly wary of me.
"Hey, you just wanted me as a hostage for Lavinia, didn't you? I'm a weapon bearer, as you can see. That spell was pretty powerful, so there's a chance the others outside noticed. You probably intended to finish me off with that one blow, but I'm not even injured. Even if I just keep defending and hiding like this, I still have a chance to win. If we fight here, there's a high chance we'll be captured by the association."
It's painful that the enemy knows about the weapon, but escaping from this guy is the priority right now.
The person I thought was an ordinary human was hiding an unimaginable weapon. Normally, one would retreat to regroup. I dropped the polite language I had been using out of respect for his age and adopted a bold tone. Even if it's just bravado, I have to make him think that fighting me here is disadvantageous. My physical and mental strength are nearing their limits. Even though I had only been running around, this first real battle had left me exhausted.
My mental strength was especially depleted; I was barely standing on willpower alone. So I desperately tried to suppress the urge to say, "Just go home already!"
However, this world was not kind to mob characters.
"You have a point. But my goal has changed at this moment. Your sacred treasure looks quite interesting. I think it would be more meaningful to give up the fight against the Ice Princess and take you with me. I'd like to study that power and gain a glimpse of new magic!"
"What?! Hey, if you give up the fight, what about your comrades? You took hostages for this!"
"Comrades? Yeah, we were allies. But that's all. I'm here for myself, to gain the mysteries of magic and pursue the path of a wizard! This was just a warm-up for that, and a warning to the association that expelled someone with my potential. So if you think of it as a stepping stone for me to gain a glimpse of new power, then my comrades' lives won't have been wasted."
"You're insane."
I can't understand him. This isn't a matter of discussion. His way of thinking is so alien that it feels like I'm talking to an extraterrestrial from another planet. He really only cares about himself.
He doesn't care about others' feelings at all—he doesn't even consider them. He tried to take me hostage, use me as research material, and abandon his comrades without a second thought. To him, everyone around him is just a tool. If I fall into his hands, I'll lose myself. He'll probably start messing with my mind. He won't care about human rights or emotions at all. Maybe he'll brainwash me and make me fight against Lavinia.
Because of me, research might be carried out that involves hurting ordinary people like my family and Kei-san. Once the research is complete, I might be killed or sold somewhere.
No, I don't want that.
"Well, shall we go together?"
A sticky gaze sends shivers running through my body. The emotion that had been dominating me until a moment ago was not anger, but fear. It was like encountering an unknown creature. I never knew that not understanding something could be so terrifying.
In this world, I now understood, at least in part, the thoughts of those who feared and sought to eliminate children with sacred artifacts and powerful abilities. I still think what they did was terrible, but I now strongly understand their rejection of something they couldn't comprehend.
Seeing that I was paralyzed with fear, the stray wizard spread a magic circle in front of me and fired purple lightning at me again. I reflexively thrust my right hand forward with the spear and canceled out the magic that flew toward me.
"Hmm, it seems you are canceling out magic. Does that mean that if the tip of that spear hits something, it will cause it to disappear?"
Muttering to himself, he released a spell that was many times more powerful than the purple lightning from before. Once again, I could only thrust the tip of the divine weapon forward, and the magic and spear collided. The residual force from the collision that couldn't be completely neutralized blew my body backward, slamming me violently into the wall. The pain running through my body from the impact, the burns from the magic that hadn't completely vanished, and the agony from both left me gasping for breath.
"I see, so there's a limit to how much power can be used for elimination. Can only magic be destroyed, or can other substances be eliminated as well? Hahahaha, the tools created by the gods are amazing! I never expected this to be so fascinating!"
"Who the hell are you, some kind of researcher?" I muttered sarcastically, but despite the shock of being blown away, my body, which had been immobilized moments ago, could now move again. It might have been a form of physical shock therapy. I certainly don't want to experience that again.
"Ow!"
I have to escape somehow. I tried to move my right foot, but a sharp pain shot through it, and I couldn't stand up. I cautiously turned my gaze and saw blood flowing from my right foot, which was bent in an odd direction. The sight filled me with despair. I couldn't escape like this. The impact from the previous blow had broken it. There was no way a human child's body could withstand that.
This is definitely a desperate situation. Even if I can move a little, my body is still trembling. His magic is too powerful, and even if I try to get closer, I won't be able to withstand being hit by that spell multiple times. Plus, even if I get close, his defensive magic will stop me. Once he realizes there's a limit to my elimination ability, he'll definitely cast his strongest magical barrier to block me.
Even if I try to escape, I can't run with this leg. The enemy will also take measures to prevent me from escaping. If I disappear, they might cast that area-of-effect magic again. If that happens, I have no way to block it twice. The core of the barrier hasn't even been found yet.
I want to wait for Lavinia and the association's help, but will they arrive in time? He probably knows the situation better than I do. How long do I have to hold on? How much longer do I have to endure before help arrives? In the first place, will help really come for me?
If help doesn't arrive in time, will I just become this guy's toy?
"I can't let that happen."
The words slipped out unconsciously, strengthening my grip on the sacred treasure. Yes, that's right. I absolutely refuse to accept such a future. I haven't accomplished anything yet. I haven't left anything behind. I don't want to die. Above all, I don't want to give up here.
If help doesn't come, is it over? No, that's not right. Even if help doesn't come, it can't be the end! Keep fighting until the end! Face it head-on! Don't give up here!! Isn't that what you promised her?!
If you hate that future, if you don't want your precious things trampled on, if there's something you want to protect, then you have to win it with your own hands!!
Gah! I thrust the sacred artifact into the ground to support my collapsing body and stood up, using it as a crutch. My battered body screamed in pain. The sensation in my right leg was almost gone. Fear still lurked within me. But a stronger determination drove me forward.
Even in this state, my mind felt strangely clear. A powerful, hot rush of energy was flowing through my body. My clear mind began to greedily search for a way to survive.
The difference in strength—desperate. I couldn't win if I fought head-on. Then I wouldn't fight a fair fight. I didn't need to stay on the same level as my opponent. I would just drag him down to my level.
The state of my injuries—desperate. I can't move a single step properly. My right leg is especially bad, and even walking is difficult. But so what? I still have my hands. I still have my left leg. My limbs aren't severed. Above all, I'm still alive. And there was one method I could think of. A chance for a comeback. Then I'll use my injuries to my advantage. I'll endure any pain.
"Huh, I'm surprised. You're still standing? You're tougher than I thought. But with those injuries, there's nothing you can do. If you agree to my plan, I'll stop hurting you. Swear to become my ally right here and now."
"Who would swear to that? It's worthless."
"But then what will you do? You can't do anything with those injuries. You're like a foolish child. You have no choice but to rely on me."
"Rely on you? No way. I have someone I trust more than anyone else always by my side. That person has seen all my weaknesses, my foolishness, and even the times I've had to bow my head and beg for mercy. Yet, they still refuse to abandon me and are willing to fight alongside me until the very end. That's why all I can do is keep pushing forward and do my best."
The wizard raised an eyebrow at my words.
I laughed it off, pulled the red spear out of the ground, and propped my right foot on nearby debris. Come on, partner. My legs are shaking with fear, but I believe in your strength more than anyone else. So show me your power. Let's show them the true strength of us cowards who refuse to give up.
"Hey... you said something earlier. You said I couldn't do anything anymore. But too bad. There's one thing I can do to get back at you."
"What?"
"Your goal is my sacred treasure. But you know, sacred treasures disappear along with their hosts unless a special method is used. You know that, right?"
He must be trying to figure out what I'm planning and what I'm trying to say. You think you know the full extent of my sacred treasure's power, but unfortunately, that's not all. There's one more ace up my sleeve that I've kept hidden from you until now. He doesn't know about it, so he'll definitely fall for it. This is my last and only chance.
"Also, Lavinia was hoping I'd be safe. If she finds out I died because of you, she might feel responsible and come after you relentlessly."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Don't you get it? If I die here now, you're finished."
Master, am I smiling right now? Looking at his expression, it seems my face is doing its job properly. My master told me to keep a poker face so the enemy wouldn't guess my intentions, but I guess I'm not good at keeping a straight face. Well, then, I'll just smile. If I'm going to laugh, I'll do it well.
I pointed the tip of the red spear in my right hand toward myself. Finally realizing my true intentions, the wizard showed a look of panic for the first time and tried to activate a magic circle. But it's too late. With a resolute expression, I thrust the sacred weapon into my own abdomen with all my strength.
The sensation of piercing flesh. Ah, damn, it hurts. My thoughts flicker like a dying light. But I won't let my consciousness fade. I have to do this to outsmart him. So please, partner. I trust you more than that scum or any help that might come from nowhere.
And I sank into the pool of blood.
***
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