Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Election for the Student Council President (8)

Crackling, crackling.

In a cabin at the Rameln Mountains, the sound of firewood burning was constant.

The fleece blanket was pulled up just below the nose.

Lucy, who always fell asleep sprawled somewhere around her, rarely wrapped herself in bedding.

However, unusually swaddled in a blanket like this, she was down with a cold.

Destined to become an outstanding prodigy of magic, she was no more than a girl who had just entered puberty now.

It is the same for girls of that age group.

Although one could simply stick to a corner of the cabin when it rained, there were countless times she caught a cold by aimlessly wandering the mountains.

Even though her magic abilities swelled at an unbelievable pace, she was still in a transitional period and couldnt fully protect herself from the surrounding environment.

An old man was stirring the crackling campfire with a poker.

Only his back was visible in the line of sight.

But from the bent back and hunched shoulders, it was clear he was a diminutive old man in the twilight of his life.

He definitely had glorious days in the past, obviously long before Lucy was born.

He roamed the continent researching all kinds of high-tier magic, took in many disciples, started a family with his beloved, made a name in the academic world, became the leading contributor in the subjugation of high-tier magical beasts, and even received accolades from the royal household a number of times.

It had been a life charging full speed on an open road.

He had carved out more achievements than most, simply because he never looked back as he ran forward.

Nevertheless, the days of the great archmage were drawing to a close in a cabin situated on the outskirts of a mountain range that saw few visitors.

What had happened, what he had gone through

Now, alone in the cabin, poking at the fire, with not even his numerous disciples or beloved family by his side

The only tie he had left was a girl who hardly qualified to be called his disciple.

Getting soaked in the rain and rolling around outside, its only natural to get sick.

You, Lucy, will undoubtedly become a magician so strong that others wont be able to follow.

The feeling of being sick will surely become a distant memory of the remote past.

Situations where youre bedridden with a cold, or injured directly, will become increasingly rare.

Its uncertain how deeply nave Lucy understood these words.

Still, Gluckt found meaning in the act of speaking itself.

Due to your innate abilities, life might seem uninteresting, or everything may appear meaningless,

Youll meet plenty of inadequate people those who dedicate all their lives to things that seem too easy or trivial for you.

So, cherish these feelings you have now.

The sensation of being ill will surely turn into a vague memory of a distant past.

Lucy might not fathom the significance of this yet but at least, she could understand that Gluckt wanted to convey something.

After all, these memories had already sedimented into the deep past.

Ssshhh

Spring rain lashes against the skin.

Crossing the rose garden of the Ophelius manor, one finds maids and students petrified, trapped in a time prison, standing in rows like statues.

Lucy, staggering through them, firmly grips her hat and looks up at the sky. The persistent rain heavily weighs her down.

Even if few knew, Lucy, despite her inherent laziness, held respect for those enthusiastic about life. She simply didnt show it or lend a hand, but would never belittle them as insignificant or look down upon criminals.

It goes without saying that this was Gluckts influence.

With half-open, dazed eyes, wandering through the Rameln Mountains, the old mans passion for life had to be watched closely and lived by.

The man, who had let go of all his lifes achievements and had become a meager and ragged old man, alone in the mountains, still strove to live each day with value.

The realization that she harbored more than just affection for Ed, even when cornered, came from an inward acknowledgement of how tenaciously he clung to life.

At the very least, he wasnt a man worthy of a hollow death.

Lying old man.

Had he not said, one day as a powerful magician, pain and hardship would turn into forgotten memories of the distant past?

Yet what rose sharply in her chest was the long-forgotten pain.

The preciousness that becomes greater after loss is what truly holds value.

Lucy knew this fact well through experience.

And she did not wish to experience it again.

The times spent gossiping around the campfire munching on grilled fish, or lying limply on Eds lap while reading a book and aimlessly gazing at the sky, werent anything special.

But she knew they were the truly valuable moments.

How vulnerable are human beings.

Though she was born with the ability to manipulate high-tier magic with the dexterity of her limbs, and her talents made even historical geniuses shake their heads

The irony that the death of just one person could hurt so much.

Boom!

Just then, as Lucy walked resolutely toward the main gate of the Ophelius manor, a massive explosion erupted beneath her feet.Discover new chapters at novelhall.comous smoke billowed, and intense heat enveloped the area, but Lucy cleared all the aftereffects with just a wave of her hand.

That was quite a coup de grace, of sorts.

Merely by walking to the main gate of the Ophelius manor, the people Lucy suppressed became apparent.

Ophelius Hall Head Maid Belle Mayar, 4th year Magic Department top student Patricia Bloomriver, 4th year Alchemy Department top student Dorothy Whitepeltz, 3rd year Combat Department top student Drake Lagers, and even 14 senior maids.

If she dealt with such a force single-handedly without a scratch, at least within these walls, there was no one who could stand against Lucy.

The girl now facing Lucy must also understand that she has no chance of victory.

2nd year Alchemy Department top student, a meddler named Elvira.

Armed with all sorts of magic engineering tools and alchemy potions, basic spells her combat abilities were significantly inferior compared to those of other top students.

I had presumed youd be more rational, Lucy.

Lucys frosty eyes stared silently at Elvira, who stood guarding the doorway.

No, or rather, youre actually still rational to an extent, right?

The magosphere filling the sky above Ophelius manor, maids trapped in the time prison, the rose garden filled with magic formulae bestowed by Lucy.

While it seemed like an absurd chaos had been wrought, there was a clear line to Lucys tantrum.

Unnecessary destruction was somewhat suppressed, and of course, there was no loss of life. She seems capable of demolishing the Ophelius manor if she truly lost her mind, but that was, after all, a last resort.

The students of Ophelius Hall were busy trying to escape. Menial maids were leading the race, sprinting out through the back entrance.

Elvira if she could stop Lucys progress even momentarily, that would be enough.

Move aside.

But perhaps, even that was presumptuous.

As if sweeping away leaves blocking the view in the forest, her motion, just a simple flick of her arm, was all it took.

With that gesture, Elvira was hit with a magnitude of magical power she could not have hoped to withstand.

It wasnt even magic. It was merely a physical force created by materializing and thrusting forth mana.

Yet, Elviras body was flung into the flower bed.

Ah, uh!

She was well aware of the disparity of strength.

Elviras true intention was the array of magic engineering tools she had set near the main entrance.

With the click of a switch, mana began to rise from behind the pillars at the entrance, hidden in a concealed space.

If simple force couldnt defeat Lucy, she had to rely on the laws and principles.

Even Lucy, born with immense power, couldnt escape the providence of the world.

Rain makes you wet, wind makes your clothes flutter, cold lowers the temperature, and boiling water eventually evaporates.

The basic laws that make up the world, no one but a deity is free from them. Even if it is sanctified magic that twists these laws, the basic principles of mana cannot be escaped.

Thus, Elvira decided to evaporate the mana in its entirety.

As the hidden machinery behind the pillars came into view, the various magic engineering tools Elvira had brought from the secret laboratory, filling a large backpack, were revealed to Lucy.

They seemed to number in the dozens. It was impossible to list each by name. The quantity was that vast.

Huff!

Elvira, who had been thrown out, wiped her mouth and stood up, pulling together the smidge of mana she had to manifest a new spell.

She raised her hand towards Lucy and clenched it tight, causing the various magic engineering tools she had installed to begin running amok all at once.

The Crux Mana Separator, the Noise Generator, the Elemental Reversion Stimulator, the Claw Hand, the Wave Orb, the Illusion Disc, the Catlan Mana Purifier

All sorts of magic engineering tools that Elvira had spent her scholarly life researching after joining the Sylvania Academy burst into action.

Each magic engineering tool had a different purpose. There were plenty that didnt fit this situation and were not originally intended for combat.

Fools both this man and that who charged at the great disaster known as Lucy Mayrill despite sensing defeat.

They were all fools who rushed behind the romantic words of duty to protect the students, of justice, and ended up incomplete in their own deaths.

The young alchemist lying behind was no different.

No matter how much she was the second-year alchemy departments chief, she knew well enough that it was impossible to fight such a monster alone.

Yet his feet would not move. They were his legs, yet they refused to listen.

You you cant pass damn bastard.!!

There was no hope of winning from the beginning. However, if he could somehow stall for time, then perhaps.

Clevius screamed and rushed at Lucy with his sword.

His body, soaring like a hawk, headed towards Lucy and with one gesture from her, she completely knocked him away.

Unable to withstand the magical bullet, Cleviuss body received a huge impact and rolled into the flower beds.

Again, the outcome was decided in less than a second.

This stupid Clevius!!

The fallen Elvira clenched her teeth and could only watch the smoke rising from the flower beds.

Lucy let out a small sigh and calmly looked at Elvira, then eventually moved toward the main entrance of Ophelius Hall.

To stand in her way was madness.

Clang! Clang!

Whoosh!

Zix Effelstein was capable of handling almost every type of weapon. He could have enrolled in the combat department without it being strange, given his abilities.

What he swung now was a ceremonial rapier that had been decorated on the fireplace. He mixed in actions from his own interpretation to the ceremonial rapier sword skills hed learned from the Islan household.

Startled by the incoming sword strike, Wade quickly took a defensive stance.

Expecting thrust-focused strikes, Wade found unexpected freedom in Zix moves.

No this is!

To find a gap in Zix ability that wasnt constrained by weapons was tough.

The life of a beast wandering the northern grasslands and the life of a noble learning decorum in the Islan mansion melded together to form his swordsmanship. It was highly practical, yet not isolated completely from theory.

For Wade who had mastered the nobles swordsmanship to the limit, it became a challenge too tough to handle. The level was simply unopposable.

Although Wade himself was a strong enough figure as well, if he were to oppose Zix through swordsmanship, he would need to overturn entirely the ideology of his martial arts.

But its not completely without gaps!

As Wade tried to exploit a gap that momentarily appeared on Zix flank, his sword strike was repelled with a whoosh and a clang.

Wade couldnt understand the situation for a second. Zix should have been in a position that couldnt deflect a sword.

However, realization dawned.

It wasnt Zix sword that had repelled Wades blow it was magic. An air blade summoned by Zix had deflected the attack.

The gap on his side had been deliberately exposed. By the time he realized, he was already struck on the neck with the sword handle.

Gu, hurk!

With that, Zix kicked Wades abdomen. Wade, sent rolling to the corner of the room, coughed violently a few times before barely managing to get up.

Are you done?

Of course not, Senior Zix.

Wade brushed down the corners of his mouth, stood up, and glared at Zix again. And then he recognized the gap in their skills.

A fact so tangible it was strange he had forgotten.

Zix was a magician. Swordsmanship was just secondary.

Upon realizing that, Wade experienced the categorical difference between him and Zix. Still, he smiled.

Do you think Ill give up so easily? Senior Zix.

Heh hehehe heh I take joy in fighting the strong. To have the chance to fight a mighty human from the magic department like Senior Zix, how could I give up so easily.

Wade chuckled as he rose and picked up his sword again.

Please make it a bit more enjoyable for me.

Zix crossed his arms and quietly watched Wade. He then closed his eyes before slowly speaking.

How petty, Wade. You dont enjoy the match; you enjoy victory. I guess you wouldnt have that kind of competitive spirit unless you saw some possibility of winning against those guys.

What are you saying?

Originally youre a small fish. Answer me. If you really wanted to fight a true strong opponent, why specifically challenge me from among all the second-year magic department students?

Zix rapier once again pointed at Wade.

The magic departments second-year chief isnt me; its Lucy Mayrill.

That statement hit the bullseye.

Zix had seen through Wades inner thoughts all along.

Its easier to categorize it as impossible and dismiss it. After all, there indeed seems to be no chance of winning. You couldnt possibly win, can you?

Thats natural

Yes. Thats your capacity.

Zix sword thrust once more against Wades.

Kr, ugh!

Wade was overwhelmed just by defending. Exchanging swords, Zix looked him straight in the eye and said,

Hold your sword tightly. You coward.

It was the first time Wade had seen Zix, usually so earnest, spew curse words. Was that also part of the strategy to unnerve him?

Despite Zix warning, the sword in Wades hand dropped. He had kicked the sword surface squarely during a moment of distraction.

Clang, clang!

Wades sword tumbled through the air a few times before rolling on the floor.

Zix rapier was now aimed straight at Wades throat.

This is

Looking for excuses? Or finding reasons to accept the inevitable defeat?

Wades pupils flickered several times.

There was nothing he could do but indicate surrender. Continuing to resist in such an overwhelmingly unfavorable situation would be madness.

Not that there was no way to resist.

Pretending to be insane by grabbing the sharp rapier blade and throwing himself forward, preparing to be stabbed somewhere while picking up the sword, anyway, as long as hes ready for a fatal wound There were an infinite number of methods.

But Wade knew all too well, from too much experience, that continuing to fight would only increase his injuries.

Unable to overcome that fear, Wade slowly raised both his hands.

Right thats your limit.

Boom!

Rumbling!

That was followed by the sound of collapse from the entrance of Ophelius Hall.

*

It was as if a huge cannonball had hit, not a sword strike.

One could scarcely believe that result came from a single strike.

The columns supporting the entrance of Ophelius Hall were utterly crumbled.

Rumble, thud!

Smoke rose amidst the trickling rain.

The boy, who had somehow emerged from the flower beds, was bleeding profusely from the top of his head.

He stood again in Lucys path, an atmosphere almost inhuman with the sheer ghastliness of his aura.

With hair plastered down by the rain, hiding his expressions and gaze,

he was visibly injured on one leg kneeling on one side in a stooped posture, clutching the sword in its sheath.

Even though he knew he couldnt win.

He would at least stall for time.

There was no guarantee that stalling for time would resolve anything.

Hoping that some superhero on a white horse would appear and set things right, he found such hopes were as empty as they felt.

The unrelenting rain. The Ophelius Halls entrance, now a ruin.

The Sword Demon, drenched in blood and gripping his sword hilt, sat quietly with his head bowed.

Absent his usual barrage of curse words, and the sound of teeth chattering in fear, the silence on this day was chillingly quiet.

In the silence, the Sword Demon seated there seemed as if time itself had stopped around him

And the fallen Elvira momentarily forgot even to breathe.