Chapter 56 - Chapter 54: The Magic Otaku is Startled
Even after departing the city of Meirave, our journey as a group of first-year Academy students proceeded at explosive speed. The line of carriages, buffeted by Haste and Air Screen, pressed relentlessly northward along the highway, entering a town in the late afternoon to take lodging. It seemed arrangements had been made in advance, allowing us to stay at solid inns every time.
During the journey, we basically spent our time listening to lectures from the professors traveling with us. Occasionally interspersed with questions and answers, we engaged in lively debates inside the carriages. The topics ranged widely, from the imagery required when chanting spells to the geography and history of the Kingdom, and the creatures of this world, all of which greatly satisfied my intellectual curiosity.
Among them, the discussion regarding the difference between ordinary animals and so-called Magical Beasts was particularly interesting. Magical Beasts in this world are fundamentally terrifying entities; it seems that once they appear near human settlements, the Knights or Mages are dispatched to deal with them. But how does that differ from dangerous animals like bears or wolves? To my question, Professor Azadh replied thus:
"A Magical Beast is a 'living creature that causes supernatural phenomena through its own magical power.' These Magical Beasts breathe fire from their mouths, fly through the air despite having no wings, and render their own forms invisible. Recent academic theories suggest that, much like when we wield spells, they are utilizing their own magical power."
Oh, I see. In gaming terms, a Magical Beast is a "dangerous animal possessing special abilities that seem to ignore the laws of physics," while a beast is one that fights using only its physical capabilities. Hmm, if that's the case...
"Professor, wouldn't that mean humans are also a type of Magical Beast?"
At my question, Professor Azadh stiffened for an instant as if caught off guard, but then, stroking his beard and tilting his head, he replied.
"Saki, you have an interesting way of thinking. However, humans cannot use magical power unless they form a Sigil and chant the spell name. In contrast, Magical Beasts can exercise these abilities instantly without any restrictions as an innate power. Therefore, humans and Magical Beasts should still be considered separate entities."
I see, there is some truth to what the professor says. Indeed, the image of a dragon chanting a spell before breathing fire doesn't quite fit.
Wait a minute. I succeeded in activating spells by omitting the motion of drawing a Sigil in the air. So, if I can also omit the chanting of the spell name, I would be able to do essentially the same things as a Magical Beast, wouldn't I? Or rather, isn't it possible that Magical Beasts activate their special abilities in just that manner (though they might be doing it unconsciously)?
This is getting interesting. It seems that with magic, it's not just about omitting motions; omitting the "spell name" might also be possible. If that's the case, it would be a complete no-chant. While there is the limitation of magical capacity, if one can activate spells one after another at super speed, the advantage over mages who activate spells in the conventional manner would be immeasurable.
However, in that case, a problem would arise regarding how to distinguish between the same spell with different tiers, such as Armor and Shield, when both the tier and the Sigil are identical. The completed image of the spell? Can one activate and distinguish spells using only information within the brain? I wouldn't know until I try it.
As I began to sink into the sea of thought, muttering to myself in a low voice, Ruria silently clung to my arm and watched me, while Noam, Devora, and Eli-san watched over the scene with warm eyes. And Professor Azadh closed his eyes and silently shook his head from side to side.
"Alright, let's try a light outdoor training session here today."
It was the fourth day since departing the Academy. After lunch at a rest stop along the highway, which we had repeated for the past three days, Professor Hazza, who was having lunch with the students of Squad One, suddenly said that.
The rest stop was established adjacent to the highway, a plaza-like area created by clearing away underbrush and obstructive trees. A small stream often flowed nearby to allow for water supply, and a forest was frequently left standing as a windbreak. However, the place where we were resting now was a grassy plain with no undulations stretching as far as the eye could see, with no obstacles in the surroundings, offering excellent visibility.
It must be that if we practiced magic somewhat scattered here, there would be few instances of students getting lost or being attacked by danger. Looking around, other squads had also finished lunch and, under the guidance of their professors, were beginning to move away from the rest stop in various directions.
"Yes, yes, this training is also an evaluation item for determining whether a squad is excellent, so don't slack off."
Scratching his usual messy red hair, Professor Hazza added. That's right. The carriage journey was so stimulating that I had completely forgotten, but this extracurricular activity also served the purpose of evaluating whether students were excellent. We exchanged glances and followed behind Professor Hazza, who was walking at the front. Eventually, at a point quite far from the original rest stop and from the other squads, the professor stopped and announced to us:
"Hmm, this should be about right. Alright everyone, line up in a single row."
Professor Hazza clapped his hands and gave the instruction. We lined up as told, with Ruria and Devora to my left, and Noam and Eli-san to my right. It took a little effort to tell Ruria to move a bit away since she was clinging too tightly to me.
"Alright, the practice we are about to do is simultaneous spell activation. Not everyone will necessarily join the army in the future, but I think there will be times when you go into battle with other mages, so it won't be a loss to practice this. Does everyone remember Magic Missile?"
Then, Eli-san raised her hand timidly and said:
"Um, I only know the Light spell..."
"I see. The rest of you, Light... it seems everyone knows it. Then let's use Light instead of Magic Missile. What we are about to do is training to chant a spell simultaneously with five people. However, that doesn't mean you just chant all at once. You must synchronize the activation of the spell with everyone. This is surprisingly difficult, you know?"
Ah, simultaneous activation. That's a tactic my grandmother brought to war. The reason Professor Hazza tried to make us chant Magic Missile first is that this tactic is premised on operating a mage unit on the battlefield. Naturally, the spells used would be attack magic.
"Everyone may end up joining the army and going to the battlefield in the future. Especially in the Kingdom Magic Corps, this simultaneous activation is a skill that is always drilled. No matter which unit you are assigned to, you must be able to activate spells in sync with those around you."
"Yes," we replied, but the timing and volume of our voices were all over the place. About one person didn't even make a sound. This is military training, so I think you have to make your voice and actions uniform.
"Alright, then let's decide who will give the command. Who would be good?"
The moment Professor Hazza said that, everyone in Squad One except me looked this way. Yes, yes, I understand. I have no choice but to do it.
"Understood. I will do it."
Saying that, I walked three steps forward, turned around, and looked over the other squad members.
"First, let's try chanting the spell normally. On my cue, everyone will chant Light simultaneously. Is that okay?"
Confirming that everyone nodded, I returned to the center position of the row. As I silently extended my hand forward and prepared, everyone entered the chanting posture in unison.
"Three, two, one, Fire!"
Simultaneously with shouting the command, I drew an equilateral triangle with my fingertips, and at the same time, I visualized an orange line of light tracing that trajectory to form a shape. Without a moment's pause, I chanted "Light" and imagined a sphere of light being born from my fingertips. A faint light of magical power within my body flowed slightly to my fingertips, leaked out, and formed a sphere of light.
Without fully checking the results, I turned my gaze to the left and right. Ruria, to my left, was as expected; she seemed to have activated Light at the same timing as me. However, Devora beyond her and Noam to my right had just finished forming the Sigil. One beat later, the two chanted "Light" and spheres of light were born. Eli-san at the far right was even slower; she activated Light after a full two beats had passed since the other two finished chanting their spells.
Confirming that the five of us had five spheres of light floating in the air, Professor Hazza began his instruction while scratching his head.
"Everyone, you were able to activate the spells properly. However, I think you noticed that there was quite a difference in the time it took to chant. This time, since it is Light, which is simple even for the first tier, the difference isn't something to worry about, but if this were a second-tier spell, a considerable difference would appear. Still, the army trains to be able to chant simultaneously."
Leaving his hand on his head, the professor turned toward me and asked:
"Saki-kun, do you understand why it is important for everyone to activate the spell in unison?"
Professor Hazza, you too? Professor Azadh and this person, are they designating me because it's troublesome for them to explain?
"Even if Magic Missile is chanted separately, it is an attack of 'points.' However, if everyone chants simultaneously, it becomes an attack of a 'surface,' allowing you to shock the enemy and stop their advancing momentum."
Sighing in my heart, I answered that. This is knowledge I learned when chatting with Nathan-san of the Magic Corps during the trip to Arcalai Village earlier. Or rather, I was surprised that a concept similar to volley fire from my past life had been discovered in this world.
Professor Hazza crossed his arms and grunted in reply.
"U-uh, yes, that's right. It is more effective to chant simultaneously than for each person to chant individually. Well then, after a short break, let's try again while thinking about how to make it possible to activate simultaneously."
Something about the professor's reaction was strange, but I immediately called the squad together, sat down on the grass, and devised a countermeasure. Since the chanting time differed for each person, the only way to activate simultaneously was to stagger the timing of the start of the chant. I explained a specific method for how to execute this, and furthermore, I whispered a special instruction just to Ruria.
"Eli-san, is your magical power okay? Can you do it again?"
"Y-yes. It's fine, Saki-sama."
"What about Noam and Devora?"
"No problem." "Ready anytime."
The break ended, and all of Squad One lined up in a row again. As I checked the remaining amount of magical power, the three of them gave their respective replies. I didn't ask anything of the remaining Ruria. For her, the Light spell was a level of consumption that wouldn't be a problem even if chanted a hundred times.
With Professor Hazza watching, I gave the command again.
"As I said before, Noam and Devora, start chanting after counting two from when Eli-san begins chanting. The rest, I and Ruria will synchronize. Alright then, three, two, one, Fire!"
Simultaneously with my cue, Eli-san began drawing the Sigil with her extended finger. After waiting two seconds, Noam and Devora began to form the Sigil. While confirming that scene out of the corner of my eye, Ruria and I also began chanting.
After finishing forming the Sigil, Ruria and I exchanged a glance for an instant. The other three had not yet reached activation. Maintaining the image of activating Light in my brain, I waited, inching through a time that didn't even fill a second. Then, at the perfect timing, I raised my voice.
"Light"
The voices of the five of us harmonized, and five spheres of light appeared in the air almost simultaneously. It seems it worked. Along with a feeling of relief, I slowly and quietly exhaled the breath I had been holding.
With a clapping sound, Professor Hazza approached while clapping his hands. Scratching his usual messy red hair, he looked over the five of us and said:
"My, my, that's quite something. To synchronize the breathing of five people so quickly. Everyone in this squad is excellent."
"Really?"
"We did it!"
At the professor's words of praise, the two younger ones raised voices of joy. Eli-san stood a little apart, watching them with a smile. As for me, I gently pulled Ruria closer and whispered in a lowered voice.
"Thank you, Ruria. You synchronized properly."
"Mm."
Ruria nodded slightly, took my arm, and rubbed her face against it. Stroking her head, I looked back on the simultaneous chanting from before.
Noam, Devora, and Eli-san were so busy chanting the spell that they couldn't possibly be skillful enough to synchronize with others. From the state of the first time we chanted with five people, I saw that there was roughly a two-beat difference in the chanting speed between Eli-san and the two of them. So I instructed Noam and Devora to start themselves after counting two from when Eli-san began chanting.
And Ruria and I had a chanting speed that was far too fast compared to the three. So we started chanting with considerable margin, and moreover, even after finishing drawing the Sigil, I instructed only Ruria not to activate immediately as usual, but to chant the spell name at a timing that matched the surroundings. I thought it would be fine as long as we could maintain the image of the spell being completed, but it seems it worked well.
"Hmm, I see. That's an interesting way to activate."
"Whoa!"
A voice suddenly came from behind, and I turned around with a loud cry while holding Ruria. Standing there was the middle-aged professor I had spoken to during the lunch break the other day. Wasn't that Professor Neri? Don't scare me! Well, I didn't say it out loud.
"I apologize, Professor."
"No, no, it was my fault for speaking to you suddenly. Please don't mind it. Rather, the activation of Light by Saki-kun and Ruria-san just now was truly interesting."
To my words of apology, Professor Neri replied with a generous attitude. The lines were gentle, but his eyes were sharp, staring at me and Ruria. Is this it? The gaze of a researcher?
"Not activating immediately after forming the Sigil, but holding it to synchronize chanting with others. Does House Arcalai teach such things as well?"
"Ah, no. This is..."
I couldn't say that I had just thought of it a moment ago, and as I stumbled for words, a lifeline came from the side.
"What is it, Professor Neri? You should have been instructing another squad, shouldn't you?"
"Ah, Professor Hazza. I apologize for the intrusion. Actually, a student seemed about to run out of magical power. I ordered a break and thought I would go around to check on the other squads. I happened to pass by, but I was shown something quite interesting."
"Is that so. However, isn't it bad to leave students alone without a professor's supervision? I think it would be better to do it in moderation."
Hmm. Both of them are talking with smiles, but their eyes aren't smiling at all. Anyway, it seems better to get away from here. I took Ruria's hand and moved toward the squad members who were watching us from a distance.
Judging from Professor Hazza's alertness, it seems Professor Neri is also very interested in the secrets of the Arcalai Faction (us). I personally think it wouldn't be bad to spread it, but my father and grandmother have hammered it into me with everything they've got that I absolutely must not do it. If we consider the development of the entire mage industry, I think sharing things like spell motion omission would definitely be a plus.
Well, I still don't understand complicated things like the power balance within the Kingdom. I have no choice but to leave those judgments to my father and the others. What a troublesome thing, I thought, looking at the two professors who were still arguing.
I apologize for the delay. Not only did we miss the February 25th release date, but we couldn't even make it within February. This is the fifty-fourth chapter. Moreover, this time, it is shorter than usual. I am truly sorry.