Chapter 11 - Winter’s Arrival and Days of Diligence
The cold season was upon us, and the Camp saw a steady stream of new arrivals and departures. Among those who stood out to me personally were the healer group and the adventuring team—Rosabel-san and Ophelia and their companions. They were fortunate enough to return to the outside world before the harsh winter truly set in.
After all, they were travelers, and it was only right that they leave early, considering they had no special reason to be locked away. But their departure still left a void, a sense of loneliness.
"Yukari, you saved my life. I’ll repay that debt someday, I promise! See you later!"
I took Ophelia’s words to heart. She was serious, and I would hold her to that promise. If she doesn’t come back, I might just have to collect the debt myself. Ophelia, the wild elf, the gentle elf, the calm Onee-sama, and the beast girl—five adventurers I won’t forget.
I also made a note to remember the healers, especially Rosabel-san, who I had promised to provide with healing potions. I had a feeling we might cross paths again soon.
My acquaintances were all people I had met at the Camp. Each encounter was precious, and I looked forward to the possibility of reuniting with them once I was free.
By the time the Romariel Mountains were blanketed in snow, the Camp transformed into a silver wonderland. Dozens of women, knee-deep in the thick snow, formed a line and ran back and forth.
"Your pace is slowing down! You’ve barely made it halfway!"
At the front, I pushed through the snow, urging those behind me to keep up. This daily routine had become a staple for most of the inmates. Winter automatically turned our training into a snowy ordeal.
Though we weren’t preparing for mountain climbing or snow marches, the intense physical exertion made it an excellent form of training. The bitter cold only added to the challenge, making it perfect for building resilience.
Beyond physical strength, mental toughness was equally important. In a world where the weak were prey, women needed to be tough.
Participation in the training was voluntary, so no one was forced to join. You could leave midway or skip it entirely, depending on your physical condition and mood. Some participated every day, while others took breaks, but overall, the attendance was surprisingly high.
What drove them, I couldn’t say. But it wasn’t a bad thing, so I didn’t worry about it. Having more people around made it more enjoyable, and that was reason enough.
Once the grueling run was over, we moved on to the next activity. After a brief rest, it was time for a snowball fight!
A snowball fight was exactly what it sounded like—throwing snowballs at each other. The rules I came up with were simple but wildly popular among the women, who were starved for entertainment.
We split into two teams, each tasked with building a large snowman in their territory. The goal was to destroy the enemy’s snowman first. If you were hit by a snowball, you were out, and the referee—me—made the call.
Unfortunately, my throwing skills were too strong, so I couldn’t participate as a player. But that didn’t stop me from enforcing the rules. When someone was hit, I’d toss them out of the game without mercy. There were no gentlemen here, and self-reporting was nonexistent.
By the end of the match, everyone was exhausted but satisfied, regardless of whether they won or lost. Despite the intensity, it was clear they were having fun. Enjoying your training was a good thing.
The losing team faced a penalty—limit push-ups until they reached their limit. Another form of training, though not my idea. It seemed everyone was hooked on the idea of improvement.
After the physical activities, it was time to gather information from newspapers and magazines. The winter season brought no major international developments, but entertainment news was plentiful.
The person I was most interested in was the Fourth Princess of Belliza. Her full-color photograph caught my eye. She looked to be in her late teens, with long, auburn-gold hair and challenging, reddish-purple eyes. Her bold, dark red dress and defiant smile made her stand out in a crowd.
"Articles about the evil princess are becoming more common. I’m actually a big fan."
Frederica was surprisingly into pop culture.
"Really? I’m a fan too. She’s bold and adventurous, which makes her interesting."
The Fourth Princess, known as the "Evil Princess" or "akki" to some, was a rebellious figure who targeted corrupt individuals. Her latest feat involved physically dismantling a criminal syndicate in the Royal Capital of Belliza. While her methods were flashy and often caused collateral damage, the king compensated for the losses, and there were good reasons for the kingdom to let her continue her crusade.
She was a unique figure, a princess who took it upon herself to fight evil. It was a fascinating contrast to the traditional image of a princess. She stood out even in a male-dominated society.
"She might remind you of Yukari a bit."
"Really? Maybe we have similar personalities."
I doubted I’d ever meet a princess, but the idea of visiting Belliza someday was intriguing.
The library was more crowded than ever after dinner. It seemed that more people were taking their studies seriously, in addition to their physical training.
As for me, I spent each day poring over reference materials and encyclopedias, expanding my understanding of magic. With my eventual release in mind, there was much to prepare for.
First, I focused on the highly useful and versatile healing magic. I had already tested and confirmed the effectiveness of healing potions. While I hadn’t tried other healing potions, I was confident in my ability to create them. Rosabel-san’s teachings had solidified my understanding.
However, my magic aptitude was in "healing magic," not "potion creation." This meant I could potentially create other types of potions, not just healing ones. Conversations with healers had never touched on this, and the available resources didn’t cover it, but I couldn’t rule out the possibility of creating entirely new potions.
For example, combining existing healing potions to create a multi-purpose potion or developing powders and tablets instead of liquids could be revolutionary. While it wouldn’t be easy, the potential was there.
I also considered potions that could enhance or reduce specific abilities. Offensive potions were another intriguing possibility. Nitroglycerin, for instance, was both a medicine and an explosive in my old world. If I could create nitroglycerin, other nitro compounds might be possible, leading to powerful explosives for magic combat.
My knowledge of pharmacology was limited, but I knew that imagination was key in magic. Positive visualization could translate into real power, making the research worthwhile.
Poisons and chemical weapons, while not something to use casually, could be useful as trump cards and were worth considering.
Healing magic held many more possibilities, and I couldn’t help but feel excited about the potential.
Mineral magic was equally important. The deeper I delved into it, the more fascinating it became.
I hadn’t forgotten Frederica’s idea of a floating shield. I aimed to make it as concrete as possible. The shield needed to be incredibly durable, quick to form, and able to protect against sudden attacks. A shield that could float constantly would be ideal, but that was probably too energy-intensive. The key was to create it instantly when needed.
The shield’s quality was equally important. It had to be both hard and flexible, much like a tank’s composite armor, capable of withstanding both physical and magical attacks. In a world with magic and superhumans, attacks could be as powerful as armor-piercing rounds or missiles. Magical beasts were also a consideration.
The shield needed to resist slashes, stabs, strikes, and various magical attacks like fire, ice, and lightning. It also had to mitigate shock and blast waves. Various materials, from hardness and flexibility to magnetic properties, could be combined to create the perfect shield. The possibilities were endless and highly motivating.
For the initial prototype, a simple structure seemed best. A single-crystal diamond was easy to visualize and transparent, making it practical. However, diamonds were not resistant to heat and might be insufficient against magical attacks. For optimal defense, I aimed to create an alloy armor.
Starting with a basic composite armor, I envisioned a shield about one meter square, deployable in an instant to handle surprise attacks. The size could vary based on the magic input, allowing for both large and small shields as needed.
Simultaneous deployment of multiple shields was also essential for handling multiple attacks. I considered using friction and piezoelectric effects to create powerful electromagnets from magnetic minerals. These could give me a significant advantage in close combat against enemies with metal weapons and armor.
I also thought about integrating reactive minerals that could create an active armor, which could be interesting if combined with explosive compounds. This could serve as a powerful countermeasure against close-range attacks.
While these ideas would require considerable time and effort, they were exciting to explore. Even if some were impossible, I had plenty of time to experiment.
Additionally, I saw potential in combining physical enhancement magic with throwing techniques. So far, I had only thrown stones, but using blades or variations like curveballs in combat could be effective. If I could create nitro compounds, the possibilities were terrifying.
Improving physical enhancement magic itself was also crucial. Basic skills were essential, especially for close combat, and could be the difference between life and death.
While I indulged in research, speculation, and imagination, I knew that practical experience was key. I had to keep experimenting to see what worked.
Thus, the days passed, filled with mental labor and physical training.