kscans

Chapter 248 - Episode 31: Beyond Victory

"That really made my ears ring."

Maytyl came up the slope, shaking her head and pressing one ear. In her hand was a purple laser magic staff, letting off smoke. It seemed the magic catalyst used in its circuitry could not hold up. Just how in the world did she use it.

"I explained it beforehand, didn't I. Did you not take cover?"

"I had no choice. The workshop was in danger."

Maytyl pointed down with the tube in her hand. Following her gaze, I saw the massive carcass of a Magic Insect near the workshop. She said they had taken down the last remaining king. They apparently killed the Magic Insect after it descended to the ground to attack the workshop by targeting its eyes from both sides. Deep behind an insect's eyes is a large nerve cluster called the optic lobe, which protrudes from the cerebrum.

It seemed that not only Vinaldira and the others, but also Dalgan's group from the warehouse had barricaded themselves inside the workshop. I looked where Maytyl was pointing and saw a familiar group of faces cleaning up in front of the building.

"You reckless fool. But, I'm truly grateful. Thank you, Maytyl."

I instinctively grasped Maytyl's free hand. She had protected everyone I brought to this battlefield. I could not thank her enough.

"W, well, if that place got hit, this whole victory would have been for nothing. I also think their skills are invaluable."

Maytyl said this while swinging the magic staff, which had been reduced to a mere stick. The crimson magic still lingered in the Blood Mountains. If the cartridge supply were interrupted for even a few days, a small swarm could be enough to turn the tables on us.

"That aside, it was even more incredible than I imagined."

When I let go of her hand, Maytyl looked at the tube jutting out from the observatory.

"A magic shockwave? As usual, it was knowledge I had never even heard of."

"Well, you know. The principle behind it is simple, just as I explained."

The final weapon, as always, was an application of knowledge from my past life.

A shockwave is generated when the speed of an object producing sound exceeds the speed of sound itself. A classic example is a plane breaking the sound barrier. The waves of air, unable to escape the plane, accumulate and create a powerful destructive force.

A similar phenomenon with the wave we call light is Cherenkov radiation, the pale blue glow seen in nuclear reactors and other places. Light is faster than anything, so normally a light shockwave cannot be formed. However, the speed of light changes depending on the medium it passes through. In water or glass, its speed drops to about sixty percent of its speed in a vacuum, and in diamond, it falls to less than half.

In fact, it is possible for the speed of charged particles that produce light, such as electrons, to exceed the speed of light in water. The light shockwave produced at that moment is Cherenkov radiation. Incidentally, the Kamiokande in my past life in Japan detected celestial neutrinos by detecting the Cherenkov radiation produced when an electron, knocked out of a water molecule by a neutrino collision, traveled faster than light through the water.

And what determines the speed of light in a medium is its refractive index. The higher the refractive index, the slower the speed of light.

Similarly, if magic particles that emit magic travel faster than the magic itself, a magic shockwave should be created. In this case, magic particles were sucked from the crystal toward the negative magic crystal at high speed. All while traveling through the "yellow magic catalyst" placed between them.

The yellow magic catalyst boasts a magic refractive index even higher than dragon crystal. This means the speed of the magic produced by the magic particles from the crystal slows down.

As a result, the speed of the magic particles surpasses the speed of the magic. A magic shockwave is formed. In fact, the surface of the negative magic crystal was made with tiny bumps, causing the magic particles to release magic within the catalyst. We then fired that magic shockwave through the tube.

That was the secret weapon, the Magic Shockwave Cannon. Just like the magic laser, it used magic itself for the attack.

The magic shockwave slammed into the magic-clad insects. Even if their exoskeletons, reinforced by magic, could withstand it, their joints and insides were rattled by the instantaneous impact. If anything, the very sturdiness of their exoskeletons worked against them, preventing them from dispersing the force. It was like they were beaten with a duster made of magic.

It was something we absolutely could not have made without Noel's magic metal design skills, Maytyl's magic knowledge, and Mea's mathematical ability, which she used to create the cannon's basic design from the magic refractive index.

Of course, it was also thanks to Vinaldira and the others, who prepared the necessary high purity magic catalysts.

When Maytyl and I arrived at the observatory, everyone from inside came out to the entrance. The members of Central Garden came up from below as well. Claudia was also returning. It seemed no one was injured.

All right, now for the last problem...

"Ricardo-kun."

Alfina emerged from the observatory. She had drawn the great swarm of Magic Insects to herself while exposed to the purple magic, and then delivered the final blow. She was truly a goddess of victory. But her expression held a slight hint of guilt.

And in her hands, she cradled a cracked crystal.

"If we couldn't beat the king, it would have all been over anyway. I guess we had no choice."

I said. An ancient dragon eye versus an ancient dragon eye. It was a magnificent mutual takedown.

Using the crystal was not for personal reasons. It was for the overwhelming amount of magic particles and the sheer pressure needed to push them over the long distance to the negative magic crystal. The red and crimson magic crystals were only a few millimeters long at best. While they could break thin glass through the applied magic catalyst, they were nowhere near enough to form a shockwave to attack a distant enemy.

"Ye say 'no choice,' but what's with that look of relief?"

"I, I was just following Ricardo's orders. The crystal had to be held firmly in place, so it couldn't be helped that it couldn't absorb the shock."

Fulsy and Noel spoke up. I had given permission for its use, including ways that might destroy it. It was not an arbitrary decision. Though I cannot say personal feelings were not involved at all.

"It feels like the Empire, the Kingdom, and even the Calamity, all of it was used by Ricardo."

Maytyl said sarcastically. Even though she was so eager to help when I told her about the shockwave.

"Well, it belonged to the Kingdom, so I guess it's fine. But what are you going to do from now on? The Calamity isn't over."

Maytyl asked the obvious question. Whether the decision to sacrifice the prophetic crystal was correct will now be put to the test. With this magic age, not unlike an ice age, set to continue for decades, there is a risk of new magical disasters unlike any we have seen before. The Magic Insects we exterminated this time will likely reappear by next year at the latest. There is also the possibility that magical creatures even stronger than the insects could be revived.

And the crystal that could foretell such events was lost.

"I intend to think of a way to deal with things without prophecies."

I said.

"Even without the crystal, I will face the Calamity. Together with Ricardo-kun."

Alfina came to my side and said so. Freeing her from the crystal does not free her from dealing with the Calamity. I am a terrible fiancé, but that is exactly why having Alfina's help is worth a hundred people. Still...

"Can you two do it alone?"

Mea said in a calm voice. Alfina and I both flinched.

"N, no, well, that is..."

What we must do about the Calamity from now on is the same as before. We will gather information, form hypotheses, test them, and devise countermeasures. I plan to make this place, Central Garden City, our base. But to do that, no matter how I think about it...

"I do not think we can manage without everyone's continued cooperation."

Silence fell over the area. The allies before me had stuck with me, constantly putting their lives in danger until this very moment. Especially the members of Central Garden, who were civilians. I know it is an unbelievably selfish request. But we absolutely cannot do it alone.

"Ahem. Researchin' the magic age is my duty as a great sage. And it serves as an excuse to get away from the Royal Capital."

"I knew I'd continue to be worked to the bone. I'm not exactly comfortable in the Royal Capital either..."

Fulsy and Noel spoke up. For some reason, it sounded like the latter half of their statements carried more weight.

"Whatever you call it, this is about making this place bigger, right. Leave it to me."

"It can't be helped. It would be a problem if I could no longer get my hands on that precious Cacaulus."

"I need to see what happens with the wheat futures market from the closest possible vantage point. If I don't, Kenwell Company might go under on my watch."

Dalgan, Plural, and Jean followed. Is money all they can talk about. Honestly, their business spirit is a little too strong...

"I won't let Mea and Alfina-sama bear the burden of being pushed around by Vinder alone."

"I knew it would come to this. I was never optimistic enough to think I would be free. No."

"My business is practically all about magic catalysts now anyway."

"If I can introduce red bean paste to the people coming to this new city, then in the Kingdom, in the Empire... My dreams will expand."

Rilka, Shelly, Vinaldira, and Natalie also agreed. Girls need to value themselves more.

"Well, I can't leave this just to the people of the Kingdom. The Calamity, and Ricardo too."

"You promised you wouldn't leave me behind when you cross the great river. Right, Senpai?"

Maytyl and Mea said, for some reason looking toward Alfina as they spoke.

It seems everyone is willing to help. Even though the risks of what lies ahead are immeasurable.

Honestly, do they all have a weak sense of self-preservation?

"Whatever the next Calamity is, it's no match for us."

I said, looking at the Blood Mountains towering in the far distance. If someone told me to conquer them, I feel like I could actually do it.

Well, that means my own self-preservation will have to wait, though.