Chapter 350 - Self-Restraint Is Key... Or So It Was Supposed To Be
"Evil Banshee-sensei, was it? That's quite the name. It is the height of arrogance for a leader with no track record to claim they can win with a mere antique."
If you dish it out, you should expect to take it back. If you make a fool of someone, you'd better be prepared for them to do the same to you. That's just common sense.
But the world is full of irrationality. There are plenty of arrogant people who don't understand that basic truth.
To think he could mock us first and then have the gall to complain. The idiot stomped toward us, his pace quickening with irritation.
"Oh? So you heard me?"
"Don't play coy! It's fine to have groundless confidence, but no matter how an unknown like you uses an antique, there's no way you could win against twenty-five dolls, let alone one-on-one!"
"If you say so. From where I'm standing, twenty-five or two hundred makes little difference. Want to test if I'm just talk? Oh, right. You probably have a lot to lose... pride, confidence, that sort of thing. Don't push yourself. We were just leaving anyway."
If he backed down after being talked to like that by someone he considered an inferior, it would be over for him. A man as proud as this would definitely want to settle the score.
I was the one accepting the fight. Even if a few problems arose, I wanted to make it look like I was just forced into a duel I didn't ask for. Whatever happened next, the responsibility would be entirely his! I just needed to secure that excuse.
However, Parker, his face flushed with rage, seemed unable to find words. Whether it was surprise at my response or pure humiliation, he just stood there. That's when the President stepped forward beside me to deliver the killing blow.
"Natariel Parker-sama. If you face Evil Banshee-sensei, your students might suffer a severe mental shock. Since you have an important practice match tomorrow, I believe it would be wise to avoid such a reckless endeavor."
"You're right, President. I wouldn't want to go all out against students and end up crushing them."
Crushing kids who are just trying to enjoy their club activities is a bit childish, even for me. I can overlook a little cheekiness; I'll just consider it a privilege of youth.
Parker finally seemed to regain his composure. He let out a theatrical sigh and glared at me.
"...Since you've gone that far, why don't you show us how you fight with that wretched antique? No, we're settling this here and now."
Good, good. You picked the fight, and I'm buying. The deal is sealed.
I suppressed the urge to grin, putting on a show of reluctant acceptance.
"If you insists... but it won't be much of a contest against your students. You really should reconsider."
"Planning to run? Even at Saint Emeralda, magic doll combat is a world where skill trumps status. If you flee now, I'll have no choice but to share word of this rudeness with other schools and the Magic Doll Association."
"Hah, I wonder who was rude first... No, wait. President, how do you think we should settle this gracefully?"
Humaira, the sharp and perceptive President, would surely propose a good middle ground. I'd just roll with whatever she suggested.
Accepting the challenge was fine, and winning would be easy. There wasn't a single factor that could lead to my defeat. The problem was how far to take it. If I went too far and lost all my future practice partners, I'd probably regret it.
Right now, I had to act as the advisor for the Saint Emeralda Magic Doll Club. If word of today reached other schools, a short-sighted rampage would only hurt us.
A nice little bit of revenge would be enough. Going overboard was strictly forbidden.
"...Let's see. I believe it would be quite pitiful for the students to face Evil Banshee-sensei given the vast difference in skill. Furthermore, it would be a shock to Glaams Academy if Parker-sama himself were defeated. In that case, why not perform a demonstration? If they can see Sensei's technique, that should be more than enough."
Ho, so that's the angle. I see. A demonstration. A reasonable compromise.
Facing the students would just be bullying the weak, and even this Parker guy, a former MVP, was nothing compared to a powerhouse like me. I could gauge his mana capacity and control just by his movements. I'd admit he had some talent, but compared to me, he was just part of the faceless masses.
Besides, today's goal wasn't to flaunt my power, but to see how much my club members had grown through the matches. That goal had already been met.
Just because I didn't like the MVP's attitude didn't mean I should invite unnecessary bad rumors. To me, a bad reputation is a compliment, but it isn't the same for the students.
If I showed him a demonstration, a former pro would understand the gap in power. The students over there aren't idiots either; they'll realize who's superior.
It was a roundabout way of fighting, but as long as I could pull the rug out from under them, it was fine.
Yes, there was no need to beat them into the dirt. This was a healthy club activity. I should show a little of that thing called self-restraint, like a proper advisor.
"...Alright, let's go with a demonstration. Is that acceptable to you, Parker-san? Don't worry, I won't take much of your time. If you aren't convinced after seeing it, then you and I can have a real match."
Going back and forth here was a waste of time. I ignored Parker as he started to complain and walked toward the stage.
The dolls were still lined up on the platform. I rested my hand on the waist-high stage and took the control device handed to me by the President.
Naturally, all eyes were on me. I hadn't intended for this, but oh well. First, the other dolls were in the way.
"I'm clearing the other dolls off the stage."
Consider this a warm-up. Feast your eyes on the difference in our power.
I instantly permeated the stone stage with my mana, bringing it under my control. The dolls resting upon it were dominated through their contact points in the same breath.
With overwhelming mana and dominance, I seized control of all the magic dolls without even using the controller. Moving over forty dolls simultaneously... both allies and enemies... I swept them off the stage, leaving only the one I intended to use. I couldn't do fine movements like this, and it was sloppy control by my standards, but the impact would be magnificent.
"Wha... Huh?! H-How..."
At this point, they weren't just feeling a difference in skill; they were feeling a difference in dimension. Let them know I wasn't someone just a step or two above them.
I'd already shown off before the demonstration even began, but the real show was just starting. In a space dominated by shock, I would show them isolated power and transcendent technique. I cut all the mana I'd filled the area with and reset it.
"Let's begin."
As I spoke, I crammed mana into the dull white magic doll in a single instant. Beyond just incredible mana output, it was perfect control... no gaps, no unevenness, and not a single leak.
My club members could already understand the state of the doll and how high-level the technique was. And someone of a former MVP's caliber would naturally understand it too. Parker, who had frozen at the sight of my mana capacity and the performance of moving so many dolls, stood there with his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open like a fool.
This was a demonstration. I'd provide a little service so even the slow students on the other side could understand.
I intentionally allowed a tiny, even amount of the mana filling the doll to leak out. I made it look as though the doll was shrouded in a thin aura of mana. It was nothing but a waste of energy, but the visual impact was undeniable.
By letting it glow with the same crimson aura as when I used Body-Shift Magic, the two-generation-old antique suddenly looked incredibly cool.
My own excitement began to rise in response to the stir in the room. Uh oh, this might actually be fun.
I operated the doll, first picking up a spear lying on the floor and swinging it around.
Of course, the spear I picked up was also shrouded in the aura, turning red. It looked like a weapon that had gained some unknown ability. I tested the weight of the spear, spinning it as the doll jumped and bounded around.
Even with random movements, the fluidity was leagues beyond what any student could manage. The speed and sharpness clearly surpassed the latest models. Even without a side-by-side comparison, it was overwhelmingly obvious.
"Not yet, let's take it up a notch!"
The spinning spear accelerated without limit, reaching a realm where the students could no longer track it. The sound of it cutting the air turned into a roar, creating an eerie, terrifying atmosphere that didn't seem possible for a magic doll's weapon.
The sound of the wind raging through the training hall likely carried a terror associated with death. One hit from that and you'd be finished.
The doll's weapon had no blade and was made of a material softer than the doll itself. Magic dolls were also extremely sturdy. I'd heard that it was almost impossible to destroy a doll during a match.
But looking at this, no one would think it was indestructible. The image of it sweeping through and annihilating everything in its path probably flashed through everyone's minds. In reality, the doll, super-charged by my mana, was far removed from its normal state.
With a crimson aura, it didn't matter if it was two generations old or the latest model.
The doll, filled to the brim with dense mana, was now essentially a mass of my mana with a doll as its core. Rather than operating a doll, it was little different from simply moving my own mana. It was a cheat-like technique only possible with an insane mana capacity and mana perception honed to the peak of precision.
I think I'd succeeded in terrifying them just by moving around a bit and swinging the spear, but since I was at it, I decided to end it with a bang.
In the center of the stage, I accelerated the spear's rotation to its absolute peak to maximize the fear, then brought it to a dead stop.
With all eyes on the doll, I had it take a slow, heavy step forward.
The doll's step, wrapped in its crimson aura, was delivered with destructive energy.
Ah, breaking the equipment might be bad. I'll be in trouble if schools stop accepting practice matches because of me. Besides, it's a bit much for an advisor to get this carried away with student club activities...
The common sense that flashed through my mind was quickly stomped out with a smirk. Do it.
I just accepted the fight they picked. It's all their fault. With the authority and power of Saint Emeralda, I'm sure a little bad reputation can be managed!
I let the momentum blow away my concerns and stepped in with destructive energy. I leaped up, shattering the stage beneath the doll's feet.
The doll soared close to the high ceiling, and at the peak where its upward momentum stopped, it leveled the spear. Then, it threw the spear, its crimson glow intensifying, toward the center of the broken stage.
At the same time, I deployed an invisible, web-like physical shield. Even my follow-up was perfect!
The crimson spear struck like a meteor, obliterating the center of the stage that had already been weakened by the doll's step.
The invisible webbed shield caught fragments as small as grains of sand, while allowing the blast wave to dissipate safely. No spectators would be injured, but the sense of presence was top-notch.
I had the doll, still glowing with crimson light, land gracefully in the crater that had been gouged through the stage and into the floor beneath. Only then did I cut the mana.
"Phew. About like that, I suppose."
Yes, yes, a fine demonstration if I do say so myself, right down to the safety measures.
Honestly though, even after such a brilliant and powerful performance, there wasn't a single round of applause.
Well, I'll just take their shocked expressions and the silence as praise.
I handed the controller back to the President, who was standing nearby with sparkling eyes, and called it a day. This should have been more than enough of an impact. Such a disparate level of skill probably felt unreal to them. Some might even think I used some kind of trickery. Well, the idiots can doubt all they want; they can treat it as a dream or an illusion for all I care.
However, in my heart as an instructor leading a magic doll club, I found myself wanting them to grow stronger, even if they were enemies. Get stronger, much stronger. It's boring for me to watch low-level battles.
My kids are definitely going to get stronger from here on out. So, every single one of you had better get stronger too. Otherwise, it won't be any fun.
I glanced at the former MVP through my sunglasses and gave a final greeting. No need for humility anymore.
"You can rest easy. No matter how much I teach them, no student will reach this level. We probably won't meet in practice again, but if we cross paths in the actual tournament, I look forward to it. At the very least, they should be more entertaining than they were today. Right, President?"
"Yes, of course. Parker-sama, everyone from Glaams Academy, thank you for today."
We withdrew as soon as the President finished the closing greeting.
Ignoring the stunned crowd, we collected our magic dolls and left the training hall, squinting in the bright sunlight. It was still summer. A summer of youth for the students.
Looking at the club members' faces, they seemed even more motivated after today's matches. Their training would likely become even more intense.
Winning back what they lost today was something the students had to do themselves. I didn't know if we'd have another chance to face Glaams Academy, but that was how things should be. To reward their hard work and fulfill the goal of a comeback, I'd have to work hard to get those dolls replaced.
Ah, but I really did smash that stage to pieces. Oh well, it'll work out. I'm sure it will. Probably.
The bus ride home was incredibly lively, despite the loss.
They say three women make a crowd, but these girls were beyond a crowd... they were just plain loud.
"Evil Banshee-sensei, what was that just now?"
"Yeah! How do you make the doll glow?"
"I have so many other questions too!"
Making mana glow is something anyone can do regardless of magic aptitude. I could understand being surprised by monstrous mana capacity, but if they were surprised by a little trick like that, the academy's magic education must be incredibly rigid.
"That was just a bluff to scare them. You all should focus on practicing properly and building your fundamental strength."
I spoke from the front seat without even looking back.
A bluff only works once. Since rumors of today would surely spread to other schools, just letting mana leak into an aura wouldn't surprise anyone anymore. That trick only has an effect when used alongside powerful mana. Making things look flashy with pathetic mana is just a waste of energy.
I left the excited club members to themselves and thought about other things.
I wanted to replace the magic dolls as soon as possible. It was about time for the seeds I'd planted regarding the Student Council to sprout. Ideally, I wanted to move in with my threats right when they were at each other's throats over the missing drugs. If they were in-fighting, it would be much easier to find an opening.
Using their self-preservation as bait, I'd surely be able to create a traitor among the Student Council members. If I could do that, requesting a replacement for the magic dolls wouldn't be a difficult demand at all. I could probably get it approved easily.
Once we got back to the academy, I'd check the situation again. If there was no movement, I'd give them a little shake myself. I couldn't wait forever.
"Ah, even though they're so motivated, today is a holiday."
The Student Council members probably weren't at the academy. Oh well, I'd try tomorrow.
I closed my eyes against the noisy chatter behind me as the bus swayed. It was almost noon. I was getting hungry.
"...This is Layla. Chairman, can you hear me?"
The sudden transmission made me open my eyes. I didn't respond immediately. I took off my tracksuit jacket, which still had the bugging device attached, and stuffed it into my bag. This would prevent any problems.
"This is Shinonome. I'll be back soon. Is it something complicated?"
I responded in a whisper. I was probably just barely within communication range of the academy. If it wasn't urgent, I wanted to hear it after I returned.
"I believe this is something you should know immediately. One of the Student Council officers has been kidnapped."
"Kidnapped? Well, that's a sudden development."
The protagonist believes she showed restraint. Her philosophy is that as long as she doesn't beat the opponent to a pulp, it's fine.
Parker-sensei is a prominent figure in the magic doll world, but even he cannot throw a blunt spear and have it pierce the stage. Yukari, who created a crater instead of just piercing it, is an anomaly. Even if others hear about it, they'll likely think it's just a bad joke.
The advisor and students of Glaams Academy, who have suffered a great mental shock, are living through a page of their youth... but that's a separate story. Yukari has absolutely no interest in the stories of others.
Now, as the cliffhanger suggests, we are entering the phase where she'll strike at the Student Council.