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Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 83

Chapter 83 Strongest Sage, Observes the Rightfulness of His Warning

 

"...Ee. We will now begin the magic test!"

The examiner for magic test declared that after a target mark had been set in front of Iris.
It seemed the principal had warned him beforehand, he sounded tense.
And then the examiner retreated 10 meter back.

"...Um, examiner-san."

"What's wrong? I won't answer questions concerning a way to tackle the test--"

"I think you should get back a bit more...."

"There should be no danger at this distance--well, I guess there's no harm in doing so."

While saying that the examiner retreated another 10 meter back.

"Is this fine?"

"No, please get back three times that distance."

"T-that's quite far...."

Even while saying that, the examiner retreated back again.
The examiner's location isn't written in the rule, it's probably why he can cope with it flexibly.

"You can't be trying to cheat by keeping the examiner away do you?"

The principal talked to me when he saw that.
I see. Cheating is another way to look at it huh.
However, unfortunately, wrong answer.

"No. This is necessary."

"...Can't the girl use magic when there's someone nearby?"

"Nothing like that. This is purely for the sake of the examiner's safety."

Having said that, I get ready to cast a magic.
I look at Iris who shouts out.

"Here I go!"

Iris developed a magic in her hand, pointed her palm at the target and shot it.
The magic Iris shot flew straight--toward us.
Not toward the prepared target.

"Right from the start!"

While shouting, I unfolded the defense magic I had prepared in front of me and the principal.
Iris's magic hit my defensive magic and exploded, creating a crater in front of me.

"I-I'm sorry!"

Iris deployed another magic while apologizing.
This time the magic flew to the sky. Not even a fragment of control.
I guess it's a good thing that it wasn't hitting a building.

In the end, the second magic Iris shot exploded in the air, and dozens of roasted birds fell from the sky.
By the way the target is unscathed.
Since none of Iris's magic has managed to hit it.

"...What is that. A calamity class monster or something?"

"Probably something similar to that."

Iris had a conflicted look on her face while we were being shocked.
And then, she looked determined about something and glared at the target.

"I've got no choice but to do that..."

Iris began to unfold her third magic.
However, this magic seems different than her magic so far.
Its power is higher than the two before.

"What is she trying to do?"

"You'll see."

I taught her to use this tactic in case she failed to do it with normal ones.
As a way to clear the exam for sure even if she has no control.

"Soi!"

Iris squatted down while shouting--and pushed the deployed magic onto the ground.
The next moment, explosions happened on Iris's hands.

""Wha...""

The principal and examiner were surprised when they saw Iris getting swallowed up in the explosions.
The principal froze for an instant, but he immediately pulled himself and tried to run toward Iris.

"This is bad! We have to rescue her quick--"

"There's no need for that."

I held the running principal back while saying that.
The dust of cloud caused by the explosion in front of us cleared--
And Iris showed up from inside of that, unhurt.

"...Wha?"

The principal beside me sounded dumbfounded.

"Finished destroying the target! How was it!"

Iris asked the examiner.

"H-how, you ask..."

The examiner was perplexed at Iris's question.
No surprise there.

The place where Iris was has turned into a crater, the target along with the ground it was on has completely disappeared.
You can't even tell where the target was now.

"No no, this is just weird..."

The principal muttered.

"Well, that's the kind of creature Iris is."

Even the current me would have a hard time firing a magic with that much power.
If we're just talking about firepower, you could even say that she's the school's strongest.
In overall strength, Iris should be right after me.

"...As for the exam result, we can't judge it right now. We'll grade it at a later date. But you most likely won't fail this. ...Ah. The schoolyard..."

The principal muttered listlessly.
I told you. You should have given up the magic exam.














Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 82


Chapter 82 Strongest Sage, Inspecting

 

Next day.
I went to the academy to accompany Iris for her transfer exam.
This might seem too sudden, but this was the schedule we got when I asked for 『Someone as strong as possible』 as the examiner for the swordsmanship test.
By the way, according to the principal, among his acquaintances, I was the strongest one... But since it wasn't right for someone related to Iris to be her examiner, they appointed the next strongest one.

The reason why I asked for someone strong as the examiner is simple.
They'd have died if they were weak.
....I'm also expecting Iris to net a higher score for defeating a strong guy though.

"Principal, I have some questions regarding the exam."

After the exam's explanation, I talked to the principal while Iris was doing the written exam.

Even if these exams aren't hard, it's still unreasonable for Iris who has never assumed human form to suddenly take them on.

Thus, we did a little test at a safe place--
The result of that test was absolutely horrible.
Her damaged magic circuit as a dragon might have an effect on her mana control as a human.

As a result, there needs to be another thing to consult.

"What?"

"Since all details about these exams have been set in the rules, they can't be changed right?"

"Yeah. If you give me some time, I might be able to do something about that by asking the king--"

Asking the king huh.
That's one option, but I'd like to let Iris enroll as soon as possible.
Well, for now, I'll ask the thing I need to ask.

"Does the rules state anything about defensive measures of the exam location--for example, protection from stray shots?"

"The rule doesn't cover that far, but we usually put several layers of barrier magic around the location as a protective wall. At least we did for the past several years."

I see. It's not set in stone huh.
That means...

"Can that barrier be replaced with something else?"

"It's possible. But what are you changing it into?"

"Me."

The only one who can protect the school from Iris's magic is me... or not exactly, but if I do it myself, there will be no need for some bothersome preparations.

"...So Mathias, you're going to replace the barrier?"

"It's just an insurance."

If Iris does it well, I won't have to block her magic.
But there's a high chance of that not happening.

"...I got it. Let's do that. Can you deploy the same barrier we have?"

"No problem."

Looks like the school will get out of this in one piece.



After a bit, Iris's swordsmanship test began.
Giving advices is prohibited, but watching is not.
Since Ruli and Alma had something to do today, I'm here with the principal only.

"...Huh? That examiner seems familiar."

I asked the principal in low voice when I saw Iris's examiner.
Familiar, or rather--

"Yeah. He's your examiner, Knight Commander Gayle."

I thought so.
With his strength, he should be relatively safe against Iris.
If beating him nets 120 point, then Iris should pass with this test.

"Swordsmanship test, begin!"

"Here I go!"

With the examiner's declaration, Iris readied her sword, ran to Gayle and swung it.
It's neither technical nor random, it's simply a swing. You can say that she's a beginner.
Gayle blocks that sword--

"Guh!?"

Not.
Gayle's sword couldn't block Iris's sword and he got pushed back.

Gayle regained his stance as he evaded the sword, and managed to take some distance away.
Iris's sword hit the ground just like that and created a small crater.

"What strength.... Where's that power coming from with that body."

Gayle muttered while resetting his sword.
The sword in his hand is already half-bent.

"...Is that really a girl?"

"As you can see for yourself, she is a girl."

I answered the principal's question.
Well, she's not a human girl though.

While we were having that conversation, Iris hit the knight commander's sword, flinging him to the wall and ending the exam.
Since he was blown away in a way that diminished the damage, and broke his fall, the knight commander seemed fine.

....Thus Iris's swordsmanship test ended.
It's finally time for the magic test.
....I think it's more like the school's disaster than an exam though.
















Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 81

Chapter 81 Strongest Sage, Disguises

 

"Finished!"

"Mathi-kun, you can look now!"

I turned around as told, Iris was already wearing clothes there.
I didn't see them having spare clothes beforehand... Just where did they get it from.
Either way, now no one would get suspicious of Iris when we get to human dwellings.

...Oh, before that.

"Iris lend me your hands for a bit."

"My hands?"

Iris held out both her hands while saying that.
Just as I expected, I found one thing that separated her from humans.

"As I thought, you don't have a Crest."

"...Ah! True!"

"Let's make one. Something like this... okay. Done."

I used a magic and created a fake Magic Crest on the back of Iris's hand.
This kind of disguise magic should have been First Crest's forte, but this much is easy even for the current me.

"He completed a Crest in an instant..."

"He did it so calmly, but isn't that quite amazing...?"

"Even Ruli can do it right now as long as you know the spell. For now, let's leave for the capital."

The day will go down if we dawdle too long.
The capital is far from this mountain after all.

"Yes!"

"Gotcha!"



--Around half a day later.
We arrived at the capital safely.

"I still can't get used to a body that can't fly.... It felt so far even though it really wasn't!"

"It IS far though."

Iris seemed a bit confused at her unfamiliar body.
Yet, she's still faster than Ruli and Alma.
The basic spec of her body is still originally that of a dragon.

The three of us went to the principal office.
To report and ask him about Iris's enrollment.

"Principal, are you in?"

"This voice... Mathias! You're back already, what happened to the demons!?"

"We've subjugated them. This is Elhart's horn."

I took Elhart's horn out of Storage magic while saying that.
It's an easily identifiable proof for when you kill a demon.

"Killing demons that were several thousand kilometers away in mere days.... I will have to report this matter to the king, sooner or later, won't you completely vacate the treasury at this rate?"

"There's not much I want from the treasury, so I'll be asking for something else before that happens.... And also, there was another demon besides Elhart, one that was several ranks higher--"

"Did you fail to kill that one?"

"No. It completely vanished in an explosion, so I couldn't bring back any proof of its defeat."

"...I see. I don't understand. It's true that I can't imagine Mathias failing to defeat his enemy...."

Having completely disintegrated is an unusual case indeed. Normally something will remain.
Since Mist Demons are special, this kind of things happen though.

"Let's put aside the matter about demons.... I'd like to consult to principal."

I cut to the chase about Iris after finishing the report.
If I tell him about the monster great outbreak now, it'll be hard to talk about other things.
It's not like we're particularly in a hurry about the great outbreak anyway.

"What? I don't think I can help you with most things--"

"Please allow this girl to enter the school."

"Wha!"

I pushed Iris, who was behind me, to the front.
When the principal saw her, his face turned complicated.

"...Admission huh. That's quite difficult..."

"Is it?"

"Yeah. It is. The content of the exam is the same as the entrance exam, but the passing mark is far higher. If it's by Mathias's proposal, she might be exempted of the exam by the king's order... but it would take time. If we consider that we also have to persuade people in charge, you'd better off waiting until the enrollment next year even."

"By the way, what's the passing mark?"

"47 point."

"That'd have been the top score if Mathi-kun wasn't present!"

"Mathi-kun is weird in many things after all..."

Alma was surprised to hear the passing mark.
If I'm not mistaken, 50 is the full score... In actuality, you can score higher than perfect in this exam.
In fact, my score is 257, and I think the current Ruli and Alma should be able to score higher than 50.

I have a feeling that Iris is completely clueless in the classroom lecture... But if we consider the power of dragon, she should be able to get 25 on each magic test (full score is 10) and swordsmanship test (full score is 10), thus acing the exam.

"No problem then. ...However, I suggest to either exempt her from target test, or change it to another test. That's too dangerous in Iris's case."

Currently, Iris's controlling ability can't catch up to her output.
If she did the aforementioned test at her condition, the destruction of school grounds wouldn't be comparable to what I did.

No, we'd be lucky if the school grounds are the only victims. Getting the school's walls blown away would be a disaster enough.
Just like how I was exempted from the test in the dungeon exam, they'd better prepare another test for Iris.
I made that proposal with that in mind--

"Changing the content of the exam needs similar procedures to that of exempting her from it. If she wants to enter now, doing that now isn't possible."

Dangit. It was in vain.
Whatever happens, I'm not responsible for it okay.























Previous Chapter

Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku 15-Intermission 10

15-Intermission 10. Ruin Exploration

 

※Not from Satou's POV either this time.
People who aren't familiar with Yasaku the explorer, please look at the afterword.
This turned out oddly longer than planned, please excuse me as this is the last one before Chapter 16.





"Drop dead, you crane fly!"

The arrow I shot hit the enemy right in the forehead.

"Yasaku, harpies aren't bugs y'know."
"To begin wiiith, there's no bug called crane flyyy."

Tan the magic swordsman cuts down the incoming harpy, then priest Kyura's pole mace crushes the fallen harpy's head.

--Seriously?

No, I'm sure it was in the line Ancestor King-sama said when he shot down a flying wyvern in the legend.

"You guys don't know that. Crane fly must exist."

As if reacting to me, several harpies perching on top of the cliff sing all at once.

--LULULRRRUUULU.

"Yasaku, Charm incoming!"
"Ou! <<DISTURB>> Blue Magic Bow."

Blue Magic Bow in my hand shined red, and the arrow shot from it demolished the harpies' charming voice.
Jeez, I ain't gonna fight my charmed friends in this narrow path.

"The ruin should be around here according to the map..."
"Stop fooling around and help, you!"

In this situation where we're being surrounded by a flock of harpies, lightning magician Sheriona nonchalantly unfolds the map.

"Ain't this the best time for your flashy magic to get to work!"
"Ah, no no, baaad. Yasakuuu, you should properly listen to what others are sayiiing."
"We told you that the rocks in this gorge are combustible didn't we."

The two women reproached me.
Felt like even the harpies joined in to ridicule me.

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

I shot down the harpies one after another with superhuman speed.
The flock finally ran away after I routed around 20 harpies.

"Ah, so tired."

I lean my back on the ground, takes the water bag on my waist and moisten my mouth.
Arid wind of the gorge quickly dried my sweat, but it was far from pleasant due to the weird bad odor it carried.

I put my mana into desalinating magic tool and refill the water bag with water.
It's an expensive magic tool (consumable goods), but it's indispensable when exploring desolate places.

"Geez, mr. Kelten sure got us some pesky quest."

I chew the salty hard dried meat, chowing down the dull tasteless meal.
We could have cooked harpy meat, but having a barbecue party at a place like this might invite some strong monster out of nowhere.
Only eccentric nobles and careless beginners would do such a suicidal act.

"You're one to talk."
"Indeed. Yasaku, you were the one who jumped on this quest first thing first weren't you."

I push away my past memory to oblivion and gaze at the magnificent gorge.

This place is a great canyon at the boundary of a territory under direct control of the king, far south-southwest from the Labyrinth City.
We came to this remote place by the request of Marquis Kelten in the Royal Capital.

If we don't get back to the Labyrinth City soon, people might think that we've kicked the bucket in the middle of this journey.

"Weird. The ruin's entrance should be around here according to the map."
"You sure you're not missing any mark?"

Sheriona dropped the bag on her back, took out an ancient document and turned the pages.
I peeked from her side, but since I couldn't read ancient language at all, I only reconfirmed once.





"Did you hear that?"

Tan muttered and dubiously looked around at the surroundings.
I strained my ears and heard a faint goat cry-like sound, "Meeee."

I peeked below the cliff and found a stranded goatling on a ledge far down.

Since the wire I fitted on my arms can't reach it, I take out a rope from my knapsack and tie it to a mountain-side rock.

"What a whimsical guy."
"Ain't it fine, we're free till we find a clue from the ancient document anyway right?"

Besides, if I save it when it's still young, it might come back when it's ripe for eating.
I wind the rope on my waist and get down the cliff.

That happened when I got halfway through.
The rock my right hand was grasping came off with a thud.

"Whoa."

One bad thing after another, right at the same time, the foothold under my left leg collapsed.

I desperately look around while sliding down the steep.
Found a handy-looking dead tree slightly far away.

"There!"

I shoot the wire on my right hand at the dead tree.

--Missed.

"Goddammit!"

I twist my body and shoot the wire on my left hand.

--Missed, again.

The wire passed the dead tree in vain.

"■■■■ Cube"

I heard Tan's voice up above and then a transparent magical pedestal appeared below me.
I landed on the magical pedestal and managed to cling to it somehow.

"You saved my ass, Tan!"
"I can't keep it for long. Find a foothold quick!"

Looks like handsome men are also capable men.
Just like me.

Afterward, I got down the cliff without problem, and reached the panicking goatling.
While taking a deep breath, I roll back the useless wires, and refill the launcher magic tool.

"...Mee"

The goatling got scared when it saw me and edged back while crying feebly.
It's about to fall off the ledge.

"Good boy. Don't move okay."

I approach it with coaxing voice, but there's no effect whatsoever.
Whenever the goatling stepped back, pebbles and soils fell off the ledge.

"It stands to reason, Yasaku's face is that of a carnivore."
"He only ever eats meat in the city after all."

I could hear Tan and priest Kyura's interruption above the cliff.

"Oh shut it!"
"Meeeeee"

I reflexively shouted, the goatling got scared and lost its footing on the ledge.

"Nmeeeee"

The goatling's scream that sounded like its last echoed in the gorge.

"Uh oh!"

I shot the wire on my arm at once.

"--Phew."

Third time's the charm as the wire gets the job done this time.
I reel the wire while being careful not to break it and put the goatling back on top of the ledge.

"...Mee"
"Geez, you're one little trouble."

I lie at the ledge while hugging the trembling goatling.

"The heck's that?"

I felt something odd from the rock face at the back.

"Yasaku! Did you find something!?"
"Wait a sec!"

I approach the rock cliff while holding the goatling.

"Branch growing out of a rock...."

My stretched hand slipped through the rock.

"Whoa"

I pulled it back in a hurry, the hand under the glove was the same as always.

--It's an illusion.

I readied myself and plunged into the rock face first.
There's a shallow cave inside, with a hidden door even.

Looks like this is the entrance we're looking for.
I came back to the ledge and called my friends aloud.





"You think Goatsuke safely got back home to his parents?"

I muttered while shooting down a vampire bat swooping down from the ceiling.
The ruin's ceiling is so high that even Tan's force magic [Magic Lamp]'s light can't reach it.

"He's fiine. We droove away the goat-eaaating harpiees."
"You're right. Goatsuke must be jumping up and down energetically in the mountain now."

When I was talking with priest Kyura while fighting, a point blank electric shock ran through.

"Oy, watch it!"

When I complained to lightning magician Sheriona, she pointed behind me with a nice smile on her face.

"Geh, Wall Slime."
"Jeez, you two aren't beginners, don't lose your focus when exploring."
"I'm ashamed of myself."
"Sorryy."

I took out a molotov out of my bag and hurled it at the slime, burning it.
There's no way one bottle of this is enough to burn the resistant slime down, but as the fire-hating slime gets burned, it runs away into a crack in the wall.

I thoroughly check the narrow passage while surmounting standard traps and poisonous scorpions.

"Suspended ceilings, pitfalls, filling the passage with electricity when you push a button, can't believe this guy put all these."
"It seems like the designer of this place likes to make traps as a hobby."
"There's even chain reaction traps."
"Traps are nothing much. Yasaku will disarm them anyway--"

Like hell they are.

Just how nerve wrecking do you think disarming even one of them is.

"--The real problem is that this magic facility is functioning."
"According to the legend, this should have been a magic facility from 600 years ago. Simply maintaining the fixture magic is one thing, but normally, things that consume mana like electric traps should have been halted."
"It seeems, the monsters invaaaded through the ventilations and settled dooown on their own."

True, the monsters we met so far were all slimes or small ones.

"I can feel magic power from below."
"Tan, use detection magic."
"Acknowledged."

Believing Sheriona's intuition, I asked Tan who could use force magic to inspect it closely.
If there were someone who could use wind magic and the rare space magic, detecting things would be easier, but in a case like this, force magic that can be used to pull in mana isn't inferior to them.

After finishing the chant, Tan concentrated with eyes closed.

"It's quite deep."

Sweat ran down Tan's face.

"Strong magic power."

Tan opened his eyes and wiped the sweat using his sleeve.

"There's a chance that there's a large magic furnace usually used in a fort or a large airship, or perhaps a powerful monster."
"You serious--"

The fact that the ruin hasn't died is a happy miscalculation, but in case of the latter, we might end up having to fight an unbelievably strong monster.

"What should we do, Yasaku? Go back?"
"Pshaw, 'course we're gonna see it to the end."

We wouldn't have been explorers, if we turned tail and ran here.
People like that would have bought a farmland and slaves with money from exploring labyrinths, and lived their life in ease and comfort.

"Umu, let's go. Toward the unknown."

Tan spoke unenthusiastically.
It doesn't sound like a sarcasm when a guy with a good face said that, awesome.

"Theen, leet's gooo. Sherii, which wayyy to the manaaa?"
"That way."

We go toward where the magic power Sheriona sensed.

"It's wide, is that dark place a pitfall?"

While muttering, I put a fire on a torch I took from my waist and throw it at the darkness.
The torch drew an arch, rebounded on the floor once and fell into the deep darkness.

"Seems quite deep. Will the rope be long enough?"
"It appears we don't need it."
"Yasaku, look at that."

Sheriona and Tan pointed at the ceiling, toward an elevator-like thing.

We created footholds to reach the elevator using Tan's force magic [Cube], but for some reason I had to crawl into the elevator along those footholds.
Geez, these guys sure are rough with their leader.

The elevator's lever was a bit rusty, but I managed to make it work by putting a little power into it.
I lower the elevator to where my friends are waiting and descend down while taking turn to operate the handle lever.

"It's clear now that we're down here."
"Yeah, even I know this. This vibration must be magic furnace."

The lowest floor has three passages, we're advancing in one of them.

This passage is also full of traps just like the one above. We're pressing forward with similar hardships like before.
Since it was bothersome, excepts traps that activated by themselves, I only put marks on the places that became the switches for those traps while we passed them.

There were several rooms along the way, but there wasn't even a hint of treasures at all.
We arrived before a huge door before long.

"About time for something to appear."
"Yeah, don't let your guard down."

Just as we had guessed, there was a functioning magic furnace ahead.
The wall on one side has been broken, revealing rocks of the same color as the valley rock's.

Seems like there's no powerful monster we had feared.

"Weird."
"Yea--"

We nodded at Sheriona's word as we looked up at the buzzing magic furnace.
The magic furnace here is a type that has a particularly high output.

That's fine.

Since the majority of magic furnaces are of this type.
However, in order to maintain this type of furnace, it needs to be feed with a large quantity of magic stones.

Even if it has a magic stone silo and an automatic loading function, it isn't something that fits a desolate place old enough to be called ruin.

"It appears that it has only been restarted recently."

Sheriona reported after checking the back of the installation.
The magic stone silo connected to the automatic loading installation is huge, the current scale seems to be enough to operate the furnace for about three months.

Additionally, it seems there's a ladder hidden behind it.
It probably connects to the floor where we found the elevator.

"Then I guess the treasures have been taken away..."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that."

Sheriona spoke full of confidence to reply the dejected me.
She tells me the answer when I look at her.

"The magic stones would have been taken away if that was the case."
"Riiight, that maaany magic stones would have feeetch good money."

Priest Kyura agreed with Sheriona.

After taking a break, we choose the second passage.
This time it's a direction with the lowest concentration of mana.

"It's a miss huh."
"Yeah, I can see that."

There were only debris and junks lying around inside a huge warehouse-like room.
Judging from the neglected foundations, this was probably a port for large airships.

The port gate at the ceiling is grown with tree branch-like things, leaving an impression that it hasn't been opened for a long time.
There's a door for goods transport on the right, but it's warped and can't be opened, and the passage seen from a gap on it is buried with rock and sand.

"Not good. Let's go to the next one."
"Yes."

I call out to my friends while wiping the rust on my hand.

Judging from the direction, that goods transport door should be connected to the last passage.





And at the last passage.

There was a residential area beyond that, with brutal natives lying in wait.

"Kyura!"
"■■ Purification (Turn Undead)!"

The Wraiths inside the room received holy magic from priest Kyura who's holding a holy symbol, and they ascended.
When it's Kyura that does it, the intonation sounds like slow [Tuurn, undeeead].

Can't believe the magic still works.

We've searched more than 30 rooms, but every one of them was littered with undead.
One thing they have in common is the old clothes they're wearing, most are of Skeletons, Ghosts, Wights, Wraiths, and Mummies.

"I raan out of manaaa."
"... ■■ <<Chain Lightning>>"

Sheriona's attack magic smashes a crowd of Wight in the passage.
Tan's force magic isn't well suited against undead, so he's opting to cut them down using a magic edge coated magic sword.

"Yasakuu, any potioon leeeft?"
"I've got one mana recovery potion."

I hand over the last mid-mana recovery potion to her.
I'm also running out of mana, but Kyura's holy magic is our top priority to pass through this den of undead.

Afterward, we passed through 12 rooms, and arrived in a hall with a huge door right when the four of us had run out of mana recovery potion.

"The door screams that the ruin master is waiting inside."
"Yeah, it really does."

I look at my friends faces one by one.

Nice expressions they have there.
No one is thinking of retreating here.

"Let's go! Gimme a hand, Tan."

Tan and I push the huge door.





"--There it is."

That thing is inside a place that's even wider than the warehouse earlier.

"That's the legendary...."

Tan's voice who usually sounds aloof is shaking.

"Holy Living Armor."

Sheriona muttered while looking dumbfounded.
It looks the same as the statue of Ancestor King-sama in the royal capital's plaza.

"It's huuugeee."

Kyura spoke like usual.
This girl might be the real big shot.

"Ah, it's huge alright."

It's 10 times as big as me, three times bigger than the kingdom's giant golem.
In the Ancestor King-sama's legend, it was sometimes depicted to be only twice as big as me, and sometimes it towered over the super huge Heavenly Dragon's head as it commanded the army, deciding which one is true was a source of debate among scholars, but it seems that dispute will be over now.

"I wonder if the magic furnace earlier was for that thing?"
"Yeah, you're probably right."

The Holy Living Armor is surrounded by metal scaffoldings, pulsing pipes clad with mana light coming from the ceilings are attached to the Holy Living Armor.

Kyura's nonchalant voice reached my ears.

"Thaaat's, straange."

Kyura stared at a space on the right side of the Holy Living Armor.

"Yeah, what's that space?"
"It is strange."

Just as Tan and Sheriona said, there's a vacant space where another Holy Living Armor could have been put.
It's as if there was another Holy Living Armor on that place.

"Now then, what to do, Yasaku?"
"Well, not like we have--"

I look at the surroundings to answer Tan.

This huge maintenance warehouse blows through four underground floors, and we're currently on the third floor.
Of course, that Holy Living Armor is on the lowest first floor.

I looked around and found a suspicious protrusion on the second floor.

"Tan, don't you think that magic device over there look suspicious?"
"You're right. That looks like it's asking to be fiddled."

There's a floating light globe, control panels and chairs surround it.
Fortunately, there's no one here.

"Looks like we can get down there. Let's take a look."

We get down the maintenance ladder toward the floor below.

"Don't dawdle and get down."
"Hey! Don't look up!"
"Don't speak like a maiden you!"
"No matter how ooold they are, women are aaall maiden you knooow."
"Don't speak like I'm an elderly!"

We might have been too careless.
With clattering noises, the floorboards in the passage between us and the control panel peeled off and formed into angular crab golems.

"What the heck are those!"
"History book states that Holy Living Armor commanded countless golems."
"Why are you so calm."

As we were joking around, the floorboard golem's number keeps increasing.

"R-Retreat! Like hell we're fighting dozens of golems and increasing."

Sheriona's huge ass obstructed when I tried to climb the ladder.
We should manage to climb the ladder to the end as Tan's force magic Flexible Shield prevented the golems from climbing it.

"Hold it, don't touch my butt."
"Fool! Now's not the time for that!"

I gave up pushing her from behind and decided to support Tan with Blue Magic Bow.

"Tan, make an opening with Flexible Shield--<<DISTURB>> Blue Magic Bow!"

While resounding like a whistling arrow, the arrow shot from the Blue Magic Bow cut across the golems.
Golems whose mana got disturbed from the inside twitched, shook, and fell off the ladder.

"Haha, good things that they were construct-type monsters."
"Yasaku, let's climb up while we can."
"'Course."

It could only buy us some time, but it bought us enough time to flee from the ladder where we couldn't fight freely.





"Yasaku, they're catching up!"
"Geez, stubborn bastards."

They caught up to us as we passed through the undead residential area.
For some reason, the elevator couldn't be used to go up, so we went to the magic furnace room to use the hidden ladder.

"Haaa, haaa, I caaan't."
"Me too, I can't, anymore."

Putting me and Tan aside, Sheriona the magician and Kyura the priest ran out of breath.
If this keeps up, they won't be able to use magic when the golems catch up.

A certain thing caught my eyes at that time.

"--Yasaku?"
"Go ahead of me!"

I urged my friends to go ahead and glared at the clacking incoming wood golems.

"Eat this, damn you!"

I hit the [Mark of Trap] on the wall.
The falling ceilings crush the golems.

"Hmph, don't underestimate human-sama's wis--dom?"

The thick ceiling that hit the floorboard golems shook.
Looks like they aren't broken yet even after getting crushed.

"Are you for real!"

Moreover, the second wave of floorboard golems are coming from the passage.

"Cya!"

I shot a Blue Magic Bow's arrow at the passage and chased after my friends.

"Yasaku! Here!"

I could hear their voice from above the magic furnace room.
They're waving their hands in front of a hidden door above the ladder.

Looks like they're waiting for me above the ladder.

I jump onto the rusted ladder as I desperately run from the floorboard golems.

--Geh.

The ladder cracked and broke right in front of my eyes.
I desperately climbed up as the ladder fell and fire the wire on my hand at the remaining ladder on the wall.

"Aw yeaaaah!"

The wire splendidly entwine the ladder on the wall as the falling ladder hit the wriggling floorboard golems below.
I'm man who can do it at times of need.

"Yasaku, hurry up!"

I looked back as prompted by Tan and saw the floorboard golems climbing up using their selves as the scaffold.
I frantically move my limbs to climb the ladder.

"This is bad, they will catch up to us at this rate."
"Can't you clamp down the door with your force magic, Tan?"
"Bad idea. They'll just destroy the wall with number."
"Oooh nooo."

I look around inside the magic furnace room.
As long as you don't give up, the thing needed to reverse the situation is everywhere.

"Sheri, how about making that magic furnace explode with your magic?
"We'll die too if we do that."
"What if we use Tan's magic to clamp down the hidden door?"
"Won't make it in time."

Then, we should use something to induce secondary explosion--that's it!

"Sheri shoot your magic at the rock!"
"Roock?"
"Yasaku?"

Looks like even the quick-witted guys can't catch on.

"This rock is the same as the valley's rock."
"I see! It's combustible!"
"Yasakuu, you're being unusuallyyy, smaaart."
"Unusually is one word too many!"

After getting it, Sheriona chants an attack magic, Tan also chants force magic and remains on stand by.

"... ■■ <<Chain Lightning>>"

Snake-like lightning falls on the rock.
With a small spark, the magic furnace room is filled with flash and roaring sounds.

I quickly close the hidden door and Tan locked it with Fixture magic.
In addition, Kyura the priest reinforced the hidden door with a strong defensive magic.

Earsplitting thunderous sounds and vibrations assaulted us.
Dust pours down the ceiling, creaking sounds echo from the passage joints.

Intermittent roaring sounds continued on, and just when the ceilings look like they were about to fall down, silence finally came.
Since we couldn't touch the hidden door due to heat, we advanced on the hidden passage and went back to the first floor.

We sent a pigeon golem to Marquis Kelten to report our finding of the ruin, and waited until next morning to recover our mana, afterward, we went inside the ruin once again.





"Amaaazing."
"It's a heap of wreckage."

Since the elevator broke down, we looked for another passage and came to the lowest floor.
Just as magician Sheriona, and priest Kyura said, the underground passage is littered with wreckage of floorboard golems and walls that there's no place to put your foot on.
There were some golems that had little damage among them, so Tan and I broke their limbs just in case.

"Looks like it's fine."
"Seems about right."

We went back to the Holy Living Armor room and went to where the control unit was, it didn't look like there would be any more floorboard golem appearing.
Since the magic furnace is destroyed, the Holy Living Armor and the warehouse automatic defense function probably have been halted.

"So, how are we going to carry the Holy Living Armor out?"

Sheriona points at the ceiling.

"Looks like the ceiling can be opened."
"How?"
"Isn't it working by the mana supplied from the magic furnace?"

--Ah.

I noticed it from that reply.
We had to destroy the magic furnace in order to eliminate the floorboard golems.

"...Checkmate."

We've got no choice but to report to Marquis Kelten and ask him to transport this thing.
We went back to above ground in order to send the spare pigeon golem.

"Meeee"

Goatsuke who was eating grass with his parents on top of the cliff sounded happy when he saw me.
That Goatsuke and his parents suddenly looked up at the sky.

Lured by them, I also looked above, several beautiful sunlights pierced through the thick clouds.

"I wonder what is this sound?"
"It sounds sooo niiice."
"Where is it from?"

We heard mystical bell sounds from the rift between clouds.

<<<TAKE HEED>>>

Overpowering voice fell from the sky.
I instinctively went down on my knees and lowered my head.

Looks like it's not just me, my friends are doing the same too.

I listen carefully to the voice falling from the sky.
It was the voice of god, informing people about the Divine Punishment.

"Looks like the age of turmoil is upon us."
"Yes, that appears to be the case."
"If it uuuss, no matter the plaaace, no matter the aaaage, we will be fiiine."

Looks like the dream of spending the days in ease and comfort at the capital for having discovered Ancestor King-sama's relic has to be postponed.

Really--.

"Geez."

I muttered and released the second pigeon golem into the sky.



















※ Next update is planned for 7/2.
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Starting this week, updates will return to weekly release, chapter 16 will start next week.

【Yasaku's Appearances】
4-Intermission:  A Certain Master and His Vassal's Conversation
8-19. The Battle in the Arena
9-Intermission: The Misfortune of Puta Town [Latter Part]
12-22. Royal Capital Chaos







Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 80

Chapter 80 Strongest Sage, Going to Check it Out

 

"School?"

"Yeah. You can learn things--though probably not much, but if you're in the school, you can be near us. Your treatment will be easier too."

"....I personally don't mind... But I have never assumed human form before, you see? Won't there be problems if I go to school?"

"Yeah. As for human common sense, well just tell them you've been living deep in the mountain."

"There's already someone who doesn't have common sense as a human in the school after all."

"Now that you mention it.... Recently, I've been worrying if I have joined the out of common sense club too before I knew it."

Alma and Ruli followed up to my opinion.
Looks like there's already one person who's like that.
I've never met that common-senseless person myself since my social network isn't that wide. Can't be helped.

"Then I'm gonna go to school!"

Alright. It's a deal.
I've acquired a convenient transport I can use anytime I want.
Though I'd have liked it if it was smaller so it could get close to the city.

"Alright! Then let's get to the school as soon as we arrive at the mountain!"

Distance-wise, going straight to the capital from here is shorter, but Iris's big body will stand out too much.
For now, we can get back to that mountain and run to the capital. Not like it'll take that long anyway.

"Iris-san, are you going to go to the academy right now? Putting aside the question about why you can turn into human, the academy isn't opening its entrance exam for a while is it..."

"Isn't there an exam for transfer students?"

I'm not too familiar with the current school system, but something like that existed in my past life
As for the age, even if Iris doesn't look the same age as us, we can just use magic to falsify the looks.

"That's... I think there is, but I never heard anyone passing that exam."

"I also heard that that that exam is impossible to pass!"

"...Is that right? Well, we'll know for sure once we ask the principal."

A dragon is a dragon even if they assume human form.
Their basic specs are different, though they can't use their unique magic like Breath of course.
Iris should be far stronger than the current students.

Considering the principal puts ability above all else, it won't be strange if he let Iris pass.
He probably won't particularly ask 『Are you human?』 at someone who's trying to enroll at the academy anyway.
I waited until we arrived at the mountain while thinking that.

--Several hours later.
We arrived at the mountain where Iris was.

"...Now then, Iris."

"Yes!"

"Your dragon figure stands out too much when we're moving. Turn into human here."

"I understand! Err, I'm sure it should be like.... this!"

Iris fired itself and then its mana flow suddenly changed.
The flow became closer to that of human than dragon.

Immediately following, Iris's body rapidly shrinks.
After a bit--Iris who's turned into a form that looks no difference than human is standing there.
The age and looks are mostly the same as us.

"...Fumu. Looks like there's no need to adjust the age."

But we can't let our guard down yet.
If there's a part that doesn't look human, though there's nothing that's as obvious as something like demons' horns, we will need too cover it.
For example, the tail--

"Wai-, Mathi-kun, what are you doing!"

For some reason, Ruli blocked my eyes just when I was going to check it.
Since I didn't feel any malicious intent, I didn't stop or counter it, but Ruli seemed to be upset about something.

"...? I can't check it out with my eyes closed."

"What's wrong Ruli-san?"

Ruli replies like she can't believe it at my and Iris's questions.

"Don't 'what's wrong' me! Isn't Iris-san a girl! And nude too!"

Now that she mentions it, the looks are that of a nude girl.
But Iris is a dragon anyway, I don't think there's any need to worry about that.

"Even if she looks human, Iris is a dragon you know? If I don't check her out, we won't know if there's anything that might expose her race."

But the two weren't going to take it.

"We will be the one doing that! Mathi-kun, you go over there!"

Alma turned me to the opposite side with my eyes still being blocked by Ruli.
Apparently, Alma was upset too, though not as bad as Ruli.

Even if dragons are to be treated like humans, I think the one that should be minding it is Iris, not Ruli and Alma.
I wonder what makes these two this upset.
...Umu.
I have no idea.























Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 79


Chapter 79 Strongest Sage, Invites

 

"Swarm of monsters at the capital!? That'll be a catastrophe!"

"We've got to hurry back and evacuate everyone--"

"Hold it there. No need to panic. Its mana has fallen into disorder because of the explosion earlier, and the outbreak location has probably shifted 10 kilometer away from the capital."

I calmed the two who fell into panic when they heard that the outbreak would be at the capital.

"But it's a large swarm of monsters isn't it!? 10 kilometers are virtually nothing! Even if we've put defense around the capital...."

"It might be a swarm, but there won't be that many monsters."

The number of monster appearing from this magic depends on the user's affinity with summoning type magic.
The outbreak magic this time wasn't performed by a strong demon or one with good affinity with summoning magic, thus the scale should be limited.
And I've added several damping on the seal magic I put on it.

"...Is it around 100 monsters?"

"No. That's too few. At the lowest... it'll be around 3000. Well, just think that there will be 5000 dungeon floor 10-class monsters. And also a few bosses."

"Floor 10, 5000! And what are bosses...."

"A boss is like the master of a floor in a dungeon. Their strength differs on a case by case basis, but even the weakest one is floor 20 class."

"And there will be several of that!? The capital is over! Things may be different if there are multiple Mathi-kun with us...."

"Well, there might be only one boss though."

Well, if there's one boss, that doesn't mean it'll be easy to beat.
Rather, if the mana that can be used to create multiple boss is concentrated on one, beating it will be exponentially more difficult.

"It still looks hopeless though... Mathi-kun, why are you so calm?"

"Don't tell me you can split yourselves!?"

"No, I can't do that but I know a way to deal with it."

"Way to deal with it?"

"Yeah. The academy students will have to help, doing so will almost guarantee us to succeed in intercepting the monsters. Rather, it's a chance to collect lots of magic stones."

The monster outbreak will probably happen after we've finished setting up the barrier.
Only the location of the outbreak has changed, the time of it happening is still the same.

"I don't think we can win even if we gather up all the students...."

"That's true for the students as they are now.... But they won't stay that way."

My barrier creation plan might look like it's just using the students as laborers, but in actuality, it's a highly effective method for training.

"I agree that everyone has become far stronger than they ever be ever since they learned through Mathi-kun's method.... But still, can they really win against 5000 floor 10 monsters?"

"They can. I will take care of the boss though."

I get on Iris's back while saying that.

"...Normally this would have sounded absurd, but hearing it from Mathi-kun makes me feel that this will really work, it's so mysterious...."

"I mean, Mathi-kun himself is a lump of absurdity...."

"Well, we'll talk about it again after the barrier is complete. For now, let's go back to the capital!"

"Yes!"

We left for home as we conversed.
Iris speaks out along the way.

"Um, what should I from now on...."

"Now that you mention it, I hadn't thought of it."

Climbing Iris's mountain every time we need to go somewhere far sounds quite troublesome.
Having Iris close to us for its treatment is convenient for Iris too.
But, there would be a huge uproar for sure if Iris landed in the middle of the city....
Right when I thought this far, I recalled a certain special magic that dragons have.

"Iris. If I'm not mistaken, dragons have a magic to turn themselves into a human right? Can you use that at present?"

"I've barely ever used it, but I should be able to! That magic barely uses up mana too!"

"Then you should stay in the capital while pretending to be human by using that... no wait. There's a better way to this."

"...Better way?"

"Yeah. --Iris, won't you go to school?"






















Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 78

Chapter 78 Strongest Sage, Confirms

 

"Let's get back to about the demons for now."

"T-that's right! We saw some kinda huge explosion, what was that!?"

When I said that, Alma recalled something and asked me.

"That was the demon imploding. And of course, I've confirmed that he had died for sure."

Pretending to die in an explosion while actually secretly fleeing the scene is a relatively famous tactic.
You need to keep monitoring the enemy's mana reaction as they're exploding, to prevent yourself from getting tricked.

"Demon, imploding....?"

"Yeah. That's the kind of magic it was. ...But the problem isn't the demon. But what's left of it."

Alma and Ruli look at the surroundings.

"Left... Hm? There's some kind of weird rod sticking out, what's that?"

After a bit, Alma pointed at a broken stake.
Ruli and Iris shifted their glance there.

"It looks similar to the pillar used for making barriers.... It's very big though."

"It does look similar... But isn't that a Dragon Vein Pillar?"

Iris replied to Ruli.

"Iris is correct. That's a Dragon Vein Pillar. A tool to manipulate the mana flow in the Dragon Vein by sticking it into the vein. The problem is its purpose... We defeated a demon called Ashril recently right?"

"Rather than we, it was mostly Mathi-kun alone though."

"At that time, Ashril used a magic to cause a large outbreak of monsters."

"Outbreak of monsters... Is that the same magic that exists in myth? It's said to require your life as compensation..."

That magic was in myth huh.
It should have been a hardly usable minor magic.

"I don't know about myth, but it's true that it requires your life as compensation. I only managed to delay the magic since I had lost most of my mana at that time."

I probably would have been able to stop that magic if I had as much mana as I am now.
...However, even if the monsters are of questionable quality, it'd be a waste to stop them from coming.
I think I probably would've just delayed the activation to after the completion of the capital's barrier even if I had some mana remaining.

"You speak as if you stopped a myth-class magic...."

"It's Mathi-kun.... I mean, Iris is also a mythical creature if it's really the real one...."

"Hm? What about me?"

Iris replied with human language hearing its name got called.

"Ah. They're talking about myth and stuff. I'm not peculiar about myth at all... How about you Iris?"

"Un. Since I have never gone down that mountain, I don't know either...."

Looks like Iris isn't really useful for getting information.
Well, even if Iris is a mythical creature, the thing it has to do won't change.
...But I'm curious if Gods really exist.
I'd like to fight them eventually.

"...And that stake... Does that Dragon Vein Pillar have anything to do with monster outbreak?"

Alma returned to the point.

"Yeah. Judging from the magic carved on it, no mistake about it. Arias and the other demons stayed here in order to control the Dragon Vein below and shift the outbreak location."

I didn't defeat Arias normally and made him implode by using up large amount of mana because I noticed that.
The Dragon Vein Pillar had been set for quite a long time so its effect had solidified... But it should be shifted a bit after breaking it that bad.

"...I've got a bad feeling about this...."

"Me too. ...Mathi-kun. The location of that outbreak is...."

I reply the two's question.
It's probably the worst possible answer they could've guessed.

"--It's at the royal capital."

















Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 77


Chapter 77 Strongest Sage, Gives Present

 

"W-what is this..."

Arias asked me as the surrounding mana converged.

"It's your own body, you know without me telling right?"

"Imploding from mana overload..."

Correct.
The magic I've put inside Arias forces a demon's mana control to run amok and collect excess mana from the surroundings.
The demon that's forced to gather mana will lose control of their mana, running amok--in short, it will implode and die.
...However, looks like Arias is hanging on to it hard.
Were he a lower ranked demon, I wouldn't be surprised if he had already imploded by now.

"I see. A fitting magic for monster. ...But this isn't enough to defeat me see?"

Arias laughed painfully as he said that.
The converging mana began to rapidly decrease.

It's not like my magic is faulty.
The surrounding mana has simply dried up.
Since I had triggered Mana Disaster to materialize Arias, the mana in this vicinity had dried up.

"Right. Looks like it's not enough. Since you seem to be working hard to control your mana... I'll give you a present."

I took out a magic stone from Storage magic.

"Present... Magic stone?"

Arias shifted his attention toward me while controlling the excess mana, looking dubious.

"Yeah. That said, I'm not giving this magic stone as is though."

I answered while putting my mana into the magic stone.
Arias probably realizes what's going to happen after seeing this.
After all, He has seen me crushing magic stones to trigger Mana Disaster.

"St... Stop it! Please stop!"

"Ah, sorry. Too late."

I crushed the magic stone in my hand.
All of the vast amount of mana released from it got sucked into Arias's body.

And, after a moment.

"U, UGAAAAAAAA!"

Arias imploded while screaming, blasting the surroundings.
I wait for the blast to recede while protecting myself with defend magic.

Several seconds later.
The ruined building has disappeared--there's only a crater around where Arias was left.
After confirming that there's a metal stake-like thing in that crater, I send 【Enforced Detection】 toward the sky.
Iris started to descend.


"Mathi-kun!"

Ruli got off Iris and hugged me.

"Why did you suddenly jump off! I was really worried you know!?"

"Aah. I did it to deceive the enemy. It didn't work though."

It's a lie.
I had asked Iris to fly off high above to prevent the two from following me down.

"But...."

"Well, he got off safe anyway, isn't it fine."

"Right right. Mathi-kun is Mathi-kun, of course he's coming back safely!"

Following after Ruli, Iris and Alma stopped.

"But Alma, you were also really anxious until you saw Mathi-kun weren't you!"

....Ruli talked back to Alma.
Having people worrying about me is quite a fresh experience.
There was no one who would do that before I reincarnated.

Setting that aside, Ruli was still hugging me while we were conversing.
Personally, I'm very glad about this, I'd like this to continue a bit more....

"I mean, Ruli, how long you're planning to cling on Mathi-kun!"

"Ah! I...I'm sorry!"

Right when I thought that, Alma pointed that out and Ruli separated herself.
Ruli is looking down with a reddened face.

...The mood turned odd somehow. I should change the topic.
We've got a new problem we need to deal with after all.





















Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 76


Chapter 76 Strongest Sage, Answers Questions

 

"...Then how about this!"

Arias began to compress his mana on his hands.
【Mana Blast】.
Just like 【Magic Circuit Overdrive】, this is one of trump cards demons often use.

I nullify it with a magic I've constructed earlier.

"Then, this one--"

Arias began to converge mana from his body into his palm.
Arias's hand starts to shine white.

I shot a magic I had prepared at that hand... But Arias's hand keeps on shining.
The mana inside it hasn't changed either.

"It appears your magic couldn't erase this one. ...Take this!"

Sure of his victory, Arias laughed and activated the magic in his hand--
My view turned white.
It's dazzling the eyes.

Using this chance, Arias invoked his next magic.
It's a magic called 【Enforced Mistification】.

Normally, Mist Demons cannot turn anyone beside themselves into mist--but this magic can forcefully turn other people into mist.
Against someone who doesn't have the magic to materialize themselves, it's effectively instant death.

It's a magic that rarely emerges among Mist Demons.
There's probably no other Mist Demons besides Arias that can use this magic in this era.

--However, such a thing doesn't affect me.
I stealthily shot a magic I constructed at Arias and interrupted the invocation.

"Wh... How were you able to nullify this magic! Are you telling me you've been using specialized counter-demon magic!"

Ah. I see. That's how he interpreted it huh.
True, magic that demons use have limited pattern.
Therefore, thinking that specialized magic are created to counter them isn't wrong.

"What if I did?"

"I'm the only one that can use this magic in the whole world, furthermore, I have never shown this to anyone before! There's no way you could have created a way to cope with it! It can't be, is it really a general-purpose nullifying magic--"

"Nope, it's a specialized type magic alright. The magic I used to erase 【Magic Circuit Overdrive】 was a specialized one that only worked for it, as is the same with the magic I used to erase 【Enforced Mistification】."

"But you constructed those magic before I used mine! There's no way you could've nullified them!"

"I can do that just fine if I simply guess what you're going to use, yeah?"

The nature of mana gradually changes every time they're used.
That's why it's possible to comprehend your opponent's battle style and magic by analyzing their mana.

It's simple once that's done.
I can easily gain time by readying counter magic for magic that are likely used by the opponent to be their trump cards, and suitably use one that can nullify their magic depending on the situation.
Apart from that, it's easy to predict what magic the opponent likely use from experience.

By the way, I didn't nullify the blinding light since it wouldn't have had any effect on me anyway.
Thus, I'd better off letting the opponent went on with it and only thwarting him when he used his trump card.

"But how--"

"Who knows? Either way, you ran out of time to hear my explanation."

Kindly answering Arias's question was just to buy time.
And that was over just now, so I got no reason to answer him anymore.

"What does that... Guh!?"

Arias who was asking back groaned painfully while holding his chest.
Right after that, the surrounding mana began to converge into Arias at a tremendous speed.
The magic I've put on him has begun to show its true effect.



























Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 75

Chapter 75 Strongest Sage, Nullifying

 

"How rude. I'm a human no matter how you look at it aren't I?"

I swung my left arm around to show him.

Even I couldn't have immediately reattached my arm if it was cut without any preparation.
I had already anticipated that my left arm would get cut in the exchange just now.
That was why I had put two magic into my arm.

One was a magic that made it easy to restore my arm back after getting chopped off.
And the other one was an analyze magic that took in a slight amount of enemy's mana when my arm got cut.
Since the range of the analyze was short, I had to read Arias's movement well and accurately positioned myself to get cut.

There would have been no need to take proper countermeasures if the enemy were only at the same level as Elhart.... However I can't afford to be careless against this demon.
I've got to gather information well right from the start.

"You do look like a human outwardly... Nevertheless, you are still inferior compared to me! Haaaa!"

I parried the swinging sword while activating Physical Reinforcement and Mana Slash, and thrust my sword during that chance.
Since I've finished analyzing Arias, I can predict most of his moves from the mana, so the fight is considerably easier now.

However, demons are sturdy.
I couldn't give a telling blow while my mana kept decreasing.
And after exchanging dozens of slashes, with only half of my mana remaining--Arias suddenly fell on his knee.

"Mu!?"

Arias immediately tried to rebuild his posture, but it didn't go well.
He looks flustered and perplexed to see his body not moving as he wanted.

"...You bastard, what did you do?"

"Nothing?"

Of course it's a lie.
I used the developed version of the tactic Ruli and Alma used against Elhart.

The one used on Elhart is only effective against relatively weak demons.... But this magic works against Arias too.
In exchange, I need to precisely analyze the enemy's mana through methods like earlier.

"You think I'll believe you?"

"You don't have... to!"

I cut down the distance and swung my sword.
Arias blocked my sword.

"It appears you are using some odd magic... But it's nothing once you know it."

Arias attacked back as he said that.
Moving as well as he did in the start of battle.

Just as he said, the movement jamming magic I used on him isn't that special.
If it was Elhart, this magic alone could completely bind him, but against Arias, it can only disarray his sense for a moment at most.

However, the true merit of this magic will take a bit more time to manifest, so this is enough for now.
I just need to buy some time until it show its effect for real.... Doesn't seem like my opponent will quietly let me do that though.
I'm constructing a magic while thinking that.

"It's time to end this fight!"

Arias strengthens the control of the mana inside his body.

Next moment, Arias's mana increased all at once.
【Magic Circuit Overdrive】.
A type of reinforcement magic usable for demons higher than middle rank.

The effect is similar to 【Evilize】 with heavy recoils... But unlike with 【Evilize】, the probability of dying from it is low.
Thus, it was known as one of demons' trump cards in my past life.

Just as I thought, he intends to end this quick.
Even if accumulation-type magic isn't well known in this era, it won't be strange for him to notice the fact that I've been using one.
...But there's no reason for me to play by his rule.

"Hey now, why don't you take it slowly?"

I shot the magic I constructed just now at Arias.
And then Arias's mana rapidly withers--to the level before he used 【Magic Circuit Overdrive】.
I've nullified the activation.

"H-how did you nullify it at this timing! There should be no general-purpose magic that could nullify 【Magic Circuit Overdrive】 even in myth!"

Arias started to get upset after his 【Magic Circuit Overdrive】 got destroyed.
It's only natural.
Because the magic I built looked like it nullified 【Magic Circuit Overdrive】 after it had been activated.

"Who knows? Maybe it was a coincidence?"

I began to construct the next magic as I said that.























Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 74


Chapter 74 Strongest Sage, Regenerates

 

"...One."

I took a moderately sized magic stone out of Storage magic, put my mana on it and crushed it.
However, my objective this time isn't for 【Special Mana Enchant】.
The mana contained within the magic stone gets released into the surroundings without being used at all.

"Two."

While controlling the mana a bit to hold it back from scattering away, I crushed another magic stone.
The mana flow in the surroundings has changed compared to the usual.
A sign that it's only a step away from Mana Disaster.

While monitoring that, I take out another magic stone and crush it.

"Three!"

Right after the magic stone in my hand was smashed, the surrounding air rolls up the mana and creates a whirlpool.
Afterward, the whirlpool that contained a vast amount of mana converged and started to emit light.

It's an occurrence of Mana Disater.
However, it's not like I failed.
On the other hand, I broke the magic stones to bring about this phenomenon.

"Who would have thought that you would forcefully make me materialize from my Mist form... Elhart called you monster... But even 'monster' is too lukewarm to call you."

"Nah, not really. I actually wanted to force you out of hiding with a proper method, but I couldn't use it."

Among the type of Mana Disaster, the most common one is monster outbreak.
Usually an outbreak of a large quantity of monsters would happen--however, there are cases where it doesn't happen depending on the surroundings.

One of those cases is when a 『Mist Demon』 is merged into the surroundings.
If the Mana Disaster is of a small scale, the 『Mist Demon』 will be materialized instead of monster outbreak occurring.
--Well it's quite the brute force of a method, and has a disadvantage.

"However, know that my rank differs from that of Elhart. Moreover, today I'm overflowing with power for some reason. Now that you've summoned me, are you ready to die?"

"I already know that you're of a different rank. I'm not gonna die though."

I probe into Arias's mana while talking to buy some time.
Looks like he really got stronger compared to before materializing.
Overflowing with power doesn't seem to be an exaggeration.

This is the side effect of forcing a 『Mist Demon』 to materialize through Mana Disaster.
Monsters summoned by Mana Disaster are usually powered up by the huge amount of mana.
It's the same for demons.

"...I see. Then you can realize that by dying!"

Arias swung his sharp claws and kicked the ground.
Just as he said, his speed is incomparable to Elhart's.

That's why, I parried the attack without using Physical Reinforcement and 【Mana Slash】, and attacked back.
At the same time, I analyze the enemy's habit, moves and battle style.

And after exchanging a few blows, I got the information I needed.
Now's the time to execute the plan.

"Mu!?"

As I exchanged blows with Arias, I used the recoil and movement magic to retreat close to the wall.
While watching Arias who was surprised at my sudden action, I constructed magic--kicked the wall and closed the distance between us at once, slashing at him with my sword as I passed by.

And right after that my left arm--fell to the ground.
This isn't illusion that I used in the fight against Elhart.
My arm really did get chopped off by Arias.

"This match is over. I'll let you choose how you'll die... How do you wanna die?"

Arias asked me while looking at my fallen arm.
Looks like he's convinced of his victory.

However, of course I don't plan to die.

"Sorry, but I don't plan to die again for at least 1000 years. Think it's too early to choose the way I'm gonna die."

I turn around at Arias while resetting my sword in my right hand.
Looks like the preparation for the real battle is complete.

"You're bluffing. Even if it wasn't your dominant arm, losing one is--"

As he said that while readying his sword, the left arm that Arias cut flew toward me --
The next moment, my arm is reattached back as if nothing happened.

"...You, are you really a human?"























Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 73


Chapter 73 Strongest Sage, Jumps Off

 

"Well, there was a bit of happening... But you've got a passing mark. If you keep at it, you two should be able to beat the weakest demon after some training."

"Eh, without Mathi-kun!?"

"No no, that's impossible... We can't even do a thing if they shoot magic at us...."

It seems like the two aren't convinced they can defeat demons themselves.

I guess it's only natural.
In the fights against two demons they beat so far, they were only buying time as I fought in the front line.

And also, I haven't taught them the magic needed for it.
Well, all of them are magic circles simpler than the 『Magic Poison』 we used in this fight, I'm sure they'll learn it in no time.

"I'll teach you the knack for it next time. For now, let's go back."

I used faint 『Compulsion Detection』 at Iris flying above as I said that.
And then Iris began to descend.

I talk with the two with telepathy magic.

『About the other demon, pretend that you don't know it.』

『Pretend.... So there's really another demon here?』

『It was nowhere to be seen during the fight earlier and I can't detect it Passive Detection at all even now....』

『This demon is hard to detect, you don't have to worry about it at present. We should get on Iris for the time being.』

Because it's a demon that cannot normally be found unless it shows itself.
And its fighting prowess is incomparably higher than Elhart.

『T-that motivates me to find it with instead...』

『Mumu.... Ah over there!』

Alma was concentrating on something with closed eyes, then she suddenly opened her eyes and pointed above.
Toward Iris.

『...Wha, it's just Iris!』

『True, it'd have been a catastrophe if Iris was our enemy...』

"U-umm.... Everyone, did I do something?"

Iris looked perplexed as it was suddenly getting pointed at.
I talk to Iris with Dragon Language.

《Iris. Get only the two on your back and evacuate to the sky.》

《...What happened?》

Even Iris doesn't know huh.
Even if its detection capability has been lowered due to the broken magic circuit.... This demon really is incomparably better in hiding than other demons.

《There's another demon here.》

《Eh, I don't detect anything--is it a Mist Demon?》

《That's right.》

Mist demons.
Just as the name suggests, they can turn their body into mist-like substance, having the ability to melt into the surroundings.

When they turn into mist, they are bound by a some conditions and limitation, they can't move in that state.... But that doesn't change the fact that they're troublesome.
Because, the mist is invisible, and since it's scattered over a vast area, it can't be detected with normal 『Passive Detection』.

With all of those characteristics, I felt that they should have been called 『Air Demon』 instead, but people called them 『Mist Demon』 in my past life.

《Umm, mist demons are best handled by burning them down with my breath....》

And even if you find them, they can't be defeated easily.
In order to do that, you need firepower equaling full power breath of the current Iris.

《No, with the way you are right now, it's dangerous for you to fire a high-powered breath. You wouldn't be able to fly for at least 30 days if you did.》

《30 days will pass by quickly if you just sleep....》

《For you that is, our school will be destroyed in the meantime.》

Forget 30 days, there's a high chance that we'd be out in half the time.
At present state, the Royal Capital can't afford to have us away from it.

《School!? Mathias-sama goes to school!? But there's nothing more you can learn in this world....》

《Yea. Enough about this, just escape with the two. Maintain your altitude at 700 to 800. I'll get on too at first, but I'm gonna jump off midway.》

《U-Understood!》

The two get on Iris.
I also followed afterward, showing many chances on purpose as I got on.... But the demon didn't make a move.

I thought that it would come out to do a surprise attack if I showed it obvious chances.
Apparently this demon Arias has quite the prudent character.
After confirming that I jump off Iris.

"Ah, Mathi-kun!"

"I'll take care of this guy alone! You two, wait in the sky with Iris!"

I got down on the ground as I said that.
I saw Ruli trying to do something, but since Iris raised its altitude at once, her voice couldn't reach me.

Usually, one needs a very high level magic in order to forcefully materialize a demon that has turned into mist.
The current me cannot construct such a magic, therefore I'm substituting it with another mean.
And since that mean brings in danger with it, I let the two get away ahead.

"...Now, shall we begin then."






















Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 72

Chapter 72 Strongest Sage, Inserts Poison

 

"Alma, here's another arrow!"

"Un!"

I continue to parry Elhart's attack while Alma and Ruli shot him with arrows.
Fighting while using as little mana as possible, and being careful not to get shot and get pushed back is unexpectedly tough.

Apparently, being a vanguard in a practice battle isn't easy.
The sole consolation here is the fact that Elhart's brain has been damaged by the traceback, so his magic construction is very coarse and easy to nullify.

However, this tough fight is worth it as the two's prowess clearly rise in the midst of this fight.
Ruli's magic engraving speed becomes remarkably faster and Alma rarely misses her shot now.

The difference in running tension between fighting monsters in a dungeon and fighting a demon is big.

"Kuh... Why's my magic disappearing! My power shouldn't have fallen this much!"

Elhart doesn't notice that I'm nullifying his magic as he keeps trying to use them.
It's true that I've been doing stealthily.... But having it this unnoticed is a problem in itself.

If the situation becomes too stable, the tension decreases and the effectiveness of this battle training turns weak.
If we get another chance, I should get myself wounded on purpose and stir the situation a bit.
....Well, this fight is about to end soon.

『Looks like the effect is starting to manifest.』

I informed the two while continuing the fight.

『...Effect?』

『I feel like my arrows hit easier... or rather, he's slower?』

『Correct.』

The magic circle I gave to Ruli this time is an arrangement of poison magic called 『Magic Poison』 which interferes with demon's mana, stiffening them.
The effect is slow-acting, or rather it will demonstrate itself once the accumulated amount of poison passes a certain mark.

The fact that he's slower now means that the amount of poison Alma shot has passed that mark.
It's only a matter of time before the demon completely loses its ability to move.

"...Nu? Since when did you bastard became faster--No wait! It is I who turn slow!"

After a slight delay, Elhart himself noticed the effect of magic put on him.
However, the pattern he showed afterward is quite an unusual one amongst what I predicted.

"Me, beaten by a sham.... I won't allow thaaaaaaaaaaaaat!"

"Mu? This is...."

Elhart's dull movement suddenly turned fierce unlike what he showed up until now, I immediately activated Physical Reinforcement magic.
However, Elhart's change didn't end with just that.

"Damn you--damnyoudamnyouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

The moment Elhart's speech crumbled, his eyes shined red, and his whole body was wrapped in mana.
It's a phenomenon called 『Evilize』.

"....『Evilize』 huh. Been a while since I saw that."

When a demon is cornered, this situation may happen rarely.
The amount and intensity of mana of demons who have undergone 『Evilize』 increase tremendously, and their physical ability becomes incomparably higher than their usual state as a result.

Demons who undergo 『Evilize』 die at the same time the effect of 『Evilize』 ends.... However, that doesn't change the fact that demons who use 『Evilize』 is a force to be reckoned with.
I'd better stop the practice and deliver the finishing blow here.

"KILL!"

Looks like the 『Evilized』 Elhart is targeting the two behind me.
His evilized feet kicked the floor and he jumped above me.

Seeing that, I constructed a magic while giving order to the two and shot it at Elhart.

『You two, don't move from where you are.』

『I understand!』

『G-gotcha!』

They probably couldn't catch up with the sudden turn of event. The two remained in place as they nodded.
And the two--moved ahead, before the coming Elhart.

"DIE, DIEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Elhart easily caught up with the two who didn't act as ordered.
My magic also missed its target, destroying the ceiling.

And Elhart's sword reached the two--slipping through them.

"...Aa?"

Elhart looked surprised as his sword slipped through nothing.

I had expected this move.
The things Elhart cut just now were illusions I created with magic.

It was an impromptu illusion, I merely hid the two with an extremely simple magic.
If Elhart still retained his sanity, he would have immediately noticed the oddity.

However, Elhart didn't notice it.
Because his awareness was turned at my magic instead of the two slow-moving girls.

"This is how you use camouflage magic."

And it's not just an illusion.
I've put highly concentrated 『Magic Poison』 inside it.

With how much 『Magic Poison』 has accumulated inside his body, even an 『Evilized』 demon can do nothing about it.
As he swings his sword, Elhart hardens--and perish in that position.

























Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 71

Chapter 71 Strongest, Treated Like a Sham

 

『...Huh? The concealment's gone... Can I shoot him?』

Alma who received an arrow from Ruli asked me with a bewildered look when she saw Elhart's concealment magic getting completely removed.

『Yeah. And you'd better do it quick. He might find out that he has lost his concealment magic if you take too much time.』

As we're communicating through telepathy magic, we probably look like we're just standing around and clueless about the enemy from the demons' perspective.
It's only a matter of time before they notice the incongruity and realize their situation.

『Go...Got it!』

Alma set up the arrow and shot it at Elhart.
Seeing that, Elhart collapsed into a strange posture and barely evaded the arrow.
Looks like Alma didn't use the 【Wire-guided Enchant】.

『Even if your enemy looks like a fool, you should always use guided enchant on your arrow. They could evade it like just now.』

『Sorry. I knew that but... What's that?』

Alma turned to look at Elhart with a perplexed expression on her face.
Elhart isn't attempting to attack back as he keeps the posture he took to evade the arrow.

It seems to be a hard posture to maintain, his neck is trembling.
Since his location would get found out by the unnatural movement of the arrow if he touched it.
He's far too late though.

『He's probably trying not to expose himself. Looks, he's being careful not to make a sound with his feet now.』

It appeared that Elhart had reached his limit, he slowly put his hands on the floor and returned his posture.
He probably didn't think in the slightest that his camouflage was already gone, and that Alma only shot the arrow randomly.

『That means, it's the second round!』

『I'll hit him this time!』

The arrow Alma shot homed in Elhart who tried to evade it, hitting him right in the face.

"...How foolish! My camouflage should have been perfect!"

Elhart who was hit by the arrow shouted with a face that looked like he couldn't believe it.

"You're the fool here."

That camouflage vanished around a minute ago.
If this was perfect, just how bad are these demons....
If all demons are all like this, I can understand why humanity hasn't gone extinct yet.

『Huh? It doesn't seem to be working at all...』

True, even though Elhart looked surprised, he didn't seem like the arrow hurt him.
Even with the support of magic, Alma currently lacks the strength needed to break through a demon's defense.
However, that is according to plan.

『There's no problem. It's working alright.』

It would be hard for Alma's arrow to directly shoot through a demon's defense.
We really have to rely on the power of the inserted magic.

"...Mu? Why aren't you attacking?"

Elhart had an inexplicable expression on his face as he looked at me.
And then, that expression suddenly turned into a grin.

"...Oh I see! That's how it is!"

"What're you going on about?"

"If you were the real Mathias I should have died already! However, I'm alive! This can only mean one thing! You aren't that monster Mathias! You're a sham!"

"...Ha?"

This time I'm the one who's bewildered.
What the heck is with that leap of logic.

"Kuku.... I thought it was strange. It's impossible for humans to reach our domain in such a short amount of time. The dragon we detected isn't attacking either, it must be just a sort of illusion magic."

No well, that dragon is currently flying right above this building though....
You can't see it with naked eyes since the ceiling obstructs, but you should know it as soon as you use 【Passive Detection】.

"...There is no reason to hide now we know you're fake. Come out Arias, let's kill this faker together!"

Elhart called out toward thin air but there's no reaction.
Well, the other demon hiding here (apparently called Arias) doesn't seem to be that stupid.
It's exceptionally better at camouflaging than Elhart, and it has a high chance of escaping here without being found out.

"Arias won't show himself? ...I see. I alone is enough huh. That's exactly--true!"

Elhart rushed toward Alma.
I moved before him and blocked his sword.

--Heavy.
Even if he's injured, a demon is still a demon.

It doesn't seem like I can block him easily without Physical Reinforcement.
Well, if I were to completely overwhelm Elhart, this wouldn't serve as a field practice for Alma and Ruli, so this is fine.

『I'll be the vanguard. You two, keep shooting at the demon like earlier.』

『I-I got it!』

『Un!』

"...Tch, my sword got blocked huh. Looks like even a sham is strong enough to act as a substitute of a monster...."

I'm the real one though...


















Previous Chapter

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyou Kenja Chapter 70


Chapter 70 Strongest Sage, Sees Through

 

"Here I go!"

Iris thrust its claw on the demon's den while saying that.
The wall made from earth magic broke without any resistance.

"Well then, I'll be waiting above!"

Iris flew above after it said that.

"...Huh? There's no one inside?"

There's only one room in the demon's den.
And there is no one inside that room... or what it looks like.
Well, in short, it's a concealment magic.

The demon that was outside probably informed them somehow when it saw Iris.
It was far away so I didn't catch communication-magic-kind of mana, but the 【Active Detection】 mana got disordered a bit after all.

『Can you hear me, you two?』

"Uwaa!"

"W-what's this!"

『It's a short-range telepathic magic to protect us against bugs. You can reply by thinking inside your head without letting out your voice.』

『Inside my head....』

『...L-Like this?』

『Ooh! I could hear Ruli's voice even though her mouth isn't moving!』

『Alma's voice too! Magic like this exists too....』

『With my crest, I can only use it at a short distance, like in this situation. To explain this, in short, you can't see the enemy because of concealment.』

『...Concealment?』

『Yeah. It's a magic to hide your form and make it hard to detect mana detection. That said.』

『Which means, with 【Passive Detection】... Un?』

『I can't find it....』

The two immediately concentrated on detection, but they couldn't seem to find the enemy.
Well, these demons might be difficult for their first time.
Particularly the one besides Elhart, they wouldn't have known if I didn't tell them.

『Normally mana reactions are bigger than the surrounding mana.... But the concealment magic they're using is a type that completely erase their mana emission. Don't you feel a place where the mana is thinner instead? ...Ah, we shouldn't let them know that we find them, so don't point your finger if you do find one.』

『Hm.... Ah the corner over there!』

Alma looked toward a corner of the room.

『Correct.』

『True, the mana there feels thinner.... But I can't find the other one... there's two of them right?』

『Yeah. You don't have to worry about that one. It can't be found after all.』

That one must also think that no one can find it.
If we attack Elhart, I'm sure it'll choose to forsake Elhart and continue hiding.
Demons don't risk go out of their way to help another demon weaker than themselves unless doing so benefits them.

『And so, let's count you two as our firepower this time and have you defeat Elhart.』

『...Eh?』

『No no, that's impossible....』

Frankly speaking, I can instantly kill Elhart with 【Special Mana Enchant】 right now.

However, the other demon isn't that easy.
In a normal fight, I'd need quite a lot of mana to kill it.
In consideration of the possibility of surprise attacks on our way back, I'd like to reserve my mana as much as possible.

...Moreover, we have a target practice that's just right here. It's a waste for me to defeat it.

『It's alright. I've given you a new magic circle to make that happens.』

The magic circle I gave them this time is a bit more complex than the last one.
However, Ruli should be able to produce it now.

『Eeh, Mathi-kun knew this would happen before we went inside!?』

『I wasn't 100% sure. Well, I thought this would happen for 80%.』

『....By the way, what's the remaining 20%?』

『They would attack us the moment we stepped inside the room.』

When we see that there's no one inside and go to check it with our guard down, they'd attack us from behind.
It's an effective tactic when the concealment is working right.

『Surprise attack, how can you so calm....』

『It's fine. I planned to kill both of them if that happened.』

Or rather, that'd have made this easier.
There is nothing easier to deal with than an exposed surprise attack.

『Is there a situation where even Mathi-kun can't cope with?』

『There is.』

For example, if the nuclear fusion magic is activated in front of me right now, even I can't stop it.
I can probably barely survive at most.

『...Un. I could somehow sense that you were imagining some unthinkable situation...』

Alma sounded like she couldn't believe it.
There was no sound since it was through transmission magic though.

『There was no surprise attack anyway, all's well... And so, let's do this!』

『Eh, so sudden....』

『It's alright. You've never seen such an easy mark like this before right?』

As I said that, I slipped interference magic into Elharts's concealment magic, tearing it down it little by little.
In just two seconds, the concealment magic was completely torn down, and we could see Elhart with our naked eyes.

....Elhart itself doesn't notice that its concealment magic has been broken, exposing its foolish look to us.























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