Chapter 46 - How to Deny Predestined Harmony (1)
The late-night training group I ford with Khan, Yuna, and Serene was quite beneficial.
Well, training itself is inherently beneficial, but… it felt more effective than other training sessions.
Considering the mbers of this group, it might be a given.
They were all ambitious and persistent, the so-called protagonists of the story.
‘Seeing how hard the others are working, I wonder if we’ve had a positive influence on each other.’
Originally, I created this group for the 『Prelude to Ruin』 story.
The intention was to secure a justification for bringing them to the scene when the incident occurred… but I even started to think it would be fine to continue it beyond that.
And that sentint continued until today, exactly two weeks after the late-night training session was created, the day the 『Prelude to Ruin』 story began.
“Hmph-!”
During the spar, Yuna took the offensive against a retreating Serene. She was pressing her with a training sword as soon as the spar began.
Clang-!
Of course, Serene blocked it lightly with her spear.
‘A good choice. She must have learned from a week of sparring that dragging it out is pointless.’
It went without saying, but the difference in skill between Serene and Yuna was overwhelming.
Although Yuna’s growth had been accelerated, at this point, she was the weakest among the playable characters.
Because of this, the most important thing for Yuna was to take the initiative.
I wasn't sure if Yuna was consciously thinking about this, but it was a good thing that she had at least learned it instinctively.
“She won’t even budge……!!”
“Ahaha…….”
……Though I did wonder about her making such groaning noises during a spar.
At that reaction, Serene also showed an awkward smile.
“Mr. Rain.”
As I was watching the spar, I heard a man’s voice from the side.
And when I turned my head in that direction, the face of Khan, a handso man with an impressive large scar on his face, ca into view.
I had an idea of what he wanted.
“I request a match.”
“Today as well?”
Since we started training together. No, even if that wasn't the case, Khan had consistently requested a spar with since the beginning of the sester.
What was it he said? Sothing about his combat style being the complete opposite of mine, so there was sothing to learn… he said sothing like that.
As I usually did, I picked up a training sword and stepped onto the training ground.
Then Khan also followed, holding a training axe with a blunted edge.
“Will you be alright without your bow?”
I asked, seeing only the axe in Khan’s hand.
In , Khan’s main weapon was the bow, and the guy I had seen so far was the sa.
“I will only use the axe today. Close-quarters combat proficiency is also important.”
“I see.”
After that short exchange, the spar began imdiately. He wasn't a talkative person by nature, and for so reason, I also beca less talkative after becoming Rain Enlight.
Anyway, the spar began like that.
Clang-!
‘I feel this every day, but… does this guy know how to hold back……!’
As usual, Khan ca at with his full strength, even though it was a spar.
Although hand-to-hand combat wasn't his specialty, he had high physical abilities, so Khan had the overall initiative in the fight.
As I recalled, Khan’s strength, agility, and stamina were all around B at this point, whereas mine were D, C , and D…….
But.
Clang-!
If Khan was the type to compete with his unique, unpredictable wildness and physical ability, I was the type who focused on technique.
Kagagagak-.
I was sohow deflecting his attacks as much as possible, looking for an opportunity, and so we were in the middle of a decent exchange.
‘It feels strange to be trading blows so evenly with a main character from .’
Compared to when I first dropped into the Enlight duchy, it was truly a remarkable improvent.
Of course, if he were to use his specialties, archery and spirit arts, it wouldn't even be a fight…….
‘Well, it's not like I've shown my full power either.’
And around the ti such an exchange was continuing.
“Trading blows is good, but skills truly improve at the decisive mont, wouldn’t you say?”
Khan said, montarily creating so distance from .
“I agree.”
I replied. That probably ant… he was coming in with one big move to end the spar.
Most of the spars I had with Khan so far had followed this pattern, so I was almost certain.
I raised my sword and corrected my stance. Khan would probably try to crush my technique by taking advantage of his superior physical ability, so if I could parry that, it would be my victory.
My eyes t Khan’s. They were wild eyes that seed as if they would devour their opponent.
It probably wasn't intentional, but if I wasn't used to it, my tempo would have been stolen.
A brief silence flowed. And, at the mont we were about to leap and clash simultaneously-.
“……!”
I montarily stopped my leap, halted in place, and turned my head in another direction.
“……Mr. Rain?”
Khan’s bewildernt was palpable. This had never happened before, so it was a natural reaction.
But, I had a good reason for it.
Because I had instinctively felt that the first event, 『Prelude to Ruin』, had begun.
***
Hearing the story overview of 『Prelude to Ruin』, one might feel a certain way.
‘No, they call it the best academy on the continent, but they allow intruders that easily? And they didn't even notice them coming in?’
Well, of course, the existence of intruders was undeniably the academy’s fault, but… there was a part that was unfair from the academy's perspective.
‘There was no problem with the academy’s security system at all.’
Not with the academy’s magitech sensors that detect physical access, nor with the artifacts that detect the use of mana within the academy, nor with the mana detection abilities of each faculty mber.
Then why did Archenia Academy allow the intruders to enter, and why did they not notice it?
The answer was simple.
Because the enemy had invaded using a magic that is normally undetectable—one of the Origin Magics, 『Teleport - Origin』.
had such a setting.
The use of Origin Magic can only be detected by other Origin Magic users.
Detecting mana is said to be like sensing with sensory organs, especially tasting with the mouth.
‘Does the mana one possesses itself act as a sensory organ?’
Except for Origin Magic, general magics may have different thods of use, but the mana itself used is the sa.
Because of this, no matter what magic is used, since it is used with the sa mana—the sa organ—mana perception itself is possible.
Like various branches extending, but the root is the sa.
However, in the case of Origin Magic, the mana used itself is different from general magic, so people who do not have the mana of Origin Magic cannot perceive it.
Like not having a mouth to taste, or ears to hear.
“……Mr. Rain?”
“……Soone has used a rather large-scale Origin Magic on campus.”
I replied to Khan, who had raised a question.
The use of Origin Magic can only be noticed by other Origin Magic users.
And now. I could feel that soone had used Origin Magic on campus. And on a very considerable scale.
That was, as I had ntioned before, the signal flare announcing the start of the main story, 『Prelude to Ruin』.
Imdiately after, I called over Yuna and Serene who were training and explained the situation.
As it was a pre-planned situation, I had already told Serene and Yuna about Origin Magic beforehand, so there was no need to explain from the beginning that only users can feel Origin Magic and so on.
“Then, that, was it Arien? According to what you said last ti, she's the only one who can use it.”
After hearing my words, Yuna asked back. I knew she would say that.
Since the only known Origin Magic users so far were and Arien, if it wasn't , attention would naturally turn to Arien.
“That is highly probable, but… I think I’ll be more at ease if I check the situation. Even if Miss Arien used it, that in itself could be a problem.”
“True.”
I gave a vague answer and hurriedly grabbed the sword I had placed on the chair I was sitting on.
From now on, I couldn't afford a single mont of leisure.
“Let's end the practice here. It seems I have to go and check.”
And at my words…….
“Just a mont, Mr. Rain. I don't think there can be intruders on campus, but… if it’s true, it could be dangerous. Let's go together.”
“Well. Honestly, I think it’s just needless worry too, but if we’re going, let’s go together! We can just think of it as a walk.”
Serene first suggested accompanying , and Yuna chid in.
“It’s a pity the spar ended on an unsatisfactory note, but… then I shall go as well.”
And finally, Khan agreed too.
The first button was fastened very well.
‘It would be nice if Arien joined too.’
Arien must have also felt the Origin Magic that was just cast, and I wondered if she would co.
In the original , Arien’s path to participating in 『Prelude to Ruin』 was also in that direction. She feels a sudden interest in the abruptly cast Origin Magic and approaches Ailton Hall.
‘Well, the chances are fifty-fifty.’
That also ans that in other characters’ routes, she felt the cast Origin Magic but did not join. So I couldn't be certain she would co.
But it wasn't a big problem even if she didn't co. The current forces were more than enough if it ca down to it…….
“Let’s go.”
Anyway, I left the training ground with the group and headed for Ailton Hall.
***
Elwin Van Cardenas getting caught up in this commotion was purely a coincidence.
The reason he had co to Ailton Hall at this late hour was because he had left sothing behind during the 'Understanding of Basic Magic' class in the afternoon.
‘To think I would leave my sword behind.’
The Cardenas family, one of the Three Founding Families, known as the family of the sword.
For its heir to leave his sword behind after attending a magic lecture. If his father heard, he would have been furious.
Elwin didn't know, but considering it was a holy sword entrusted to him in advance after recognizing his talent, his father would have jumped out of his skin.
Elwin was about to leave Ailton Hall, thankful that this fact hadn't been relayed to anyone.
After offering a word of thanks to the guard who was working hard until late… he was about to.
But the guard, who had been on duty perfectly fine when he entered Ailton Hall, had a completely different appearance by the ti Elwin was about to leave.
“……!”
To be precise, he had turned into a corpse, pouring blood from his chest, kneeling with his head cut off.
The body was in the middle of the lobby of Ailton Hall's south gate. The placent was so malicious and deliberate it seed as if soone had put the body on display.
Instead of approaching to examine the body’s condition, Elwin instinctively drew his sword.
He couldn't understand the reason himself. It was just an impulse from his intuition that it would be better not to approach that body.
“Good instincts.”
The voice that ca in that situation was that of a middle-aged man.
‘Killing intent……!’
And with the killing intent he felt along with it, Elwin reflexively drew his sword and responded.
Clang-!
Elwin’s sword and a suddenly flying sword—an old executioner’s sword with a squared-off tip—clashed.
A hair’s breadth. Elwin could feel that if he had been even a little late, his own head would not have been on his shoulders.
“Hoo……”
In contrast to Elwin, who was breathing heavily, the disheveled middle-aged man before him had a completely relaxed expression.
“This is surprising. I swung with the clear intention to kill… but to think a re cadet brat would block it.”
Clang-!
Despite the remark that clearly showed interest, the man did not hold back in his subsequent attack.
The killing intent to take a life was clearly revealed in his sword strike.
But.
Clang-!
Elwin’s sword flashed, and the sword drawn from its sheath headed for the middle-aged man’s shoulder.
The middle-aged man, as if repeating the previous situation in reverse, blocked it by a hair’s breadth.
“Calling a cadet brat is quite insulting……!”
Who was Elwin Van Cardenas? A genius called the incarnation of the First Sword Saint, a great contributor to the birth of the empire.
It was a killing intent that could make one flinch, but he was not overwheld by the montum and crushed.
“……Hoh.”
However, it was certain that the opponent was not easy either. Even against Elwin’s sharp sword strike, his reaction remained at the stage of interest.
And after that probing exchange, a fierce battle ensued.
This was the opening of ’s first event, 『Prelude to Ruin』.
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