Chapter 84 – Field Training to Decide the Winner (2)

“All magic is based on the principle of arranging techniques within a realm based on the three original principles. In the case of the most representative elemental magic, we deploy Fraum Mobile and Terraria depending on its characteristics.”

It was almost the end of the first semester. Adella, who was taking a basic magic class, had somewhat complicated feelings about people’s recently changed views on Lewis.

The most worrying problem is that the standards of those who are interested in him, especially women, are not low at all. ‘That woman’ is the senior of the grade that you can’t help but admit even if you don’t like it, and the senior she met at the dinner yesterday as well as the last time was the lord of Farencia.

“All phenomena that occur within this algebraic and at the same time irreversible field must be thoroughly controlled by the magician’s calculations. “You have learned the most basic principles of magic throughout this semester.”

On the other hand, he is a half-baked wizard who still cannot use his unique magic properly. Rochear’s glory had already been digested along with the bread I ate yesterday.

“From now on, it will be about the second semester. The last of the three originals, the Tree of Sephiroth, represents the caster himself. In fact, magic is not activated through calculation alone. “There are times when more primal emotions bring out greater power.”

Professor Roylen’s explanation didn’t really make sense to me. I kept thinking about the proposal that Lewis received from Darling yesterday.
It was more of an official request than just an invitation to a ball or a salon, but it was the same thing to have Louis taken away.
She nodded her head in disapproval when he asked her to look after the store for a while during dinner time.

“In cases like this, it is important to control your emotions, but you can also use them in reverse to pioneer new territory. Miss Adela?”
“Yes, yes!?”
“Would you like to give an example of the person who identified the Tree of Sephiroth that I just mentioned?”
“Oh, that’s… !”

Adela was unable to properly answer the questions the professor asked after seeing Adela unable to concentrate at all in her class.
Roylen tapped the podium with her cane as if she was troubled and pointed at another student.

“Knife?”
“Yes. One of the saints who emphasized the expression of magic performed by emotion, that is, the will of the caster, rather than intentional calculation based on the innate mana sensitivity, is Oliver Scarlett, the Five-Colored Duke, the owner of the Dube Magic Tower.”
“That’s accurate. He is a master of elemental magic, but at the same time he said that magic is never a realm of complete calculation.”

The most important thing in basic magic was the fact that magic never works in just one way.
In particular, the usefulness of magic that can be cast without drawing a diagram of the sky above your head or the ground on which you stand has been maximized in practice.

“The reason we’re covering this in class today is because the test for you is about to start.”
“A test?”
“Yes. “In the next four days, the entire first year class will undergo field training in the western forest.”

Field training. It was the finale of the first semester where I had to go into the forest and face monsters. It was the most important class that replaced the final evaluation, and at the same time, it was also a dangerous stage where injuries occurred one after another for the first time.

“Starting today, we will form a team, so make sure everyone gets together with like-minded people.”

Roylen gave advice while looking at several students, especially Adela, who had a puzzled expression on her face because she didn’t know anything yet.

“Because he is the only colleague who will watch your back outside.”

***

The task that Darling asked me to do was to prepare the western forest in advance for field training for first graders.
If you start from the central square of Parenzia and go out to the west gate, the farther you get from the city, the more tunnels appear.
These were traces left by monsters retreating during the monster wave that occurred 7 years ago.
Their sizes vary greatly, and some of the larger tunnels become dungeons over time.
It is a dangerous place where monsters continue to breed and adventurers must be dispatched to exterminate them.

Also, when a monster is contaminated with karma, it becomes a demon. Monsters that have evolved into magical beasts become ferocious, have stronger muscles, and even spit out dangerous substances such as poison.
It was rare in a natural state, but that did not mean that the monster was weak at all.
Since anything could happen in actual combat, the dungeon in the western forest was investigated in advance every year.

“Oh, I really want to die…”
“It’s been a while since I last saw you, but why are you so upset? What’s going on?”

The evening when the sun begins to set. When we arrived in front of the torch-lit west gate, the academy’s guard captain, Mark, was muttering in confusion.

“Put yourself in my shoes. After being beaten by a knight of the Roshoard family, I came back suffering and found that my pay was mixed with sand. So, I got up and was suddenly taken to a temple and investigated as a reactionary, and I was also sent to explore the western forest this year, so I suffered like this at night… Ha.”

Come to think of it, it must have been an eventful year for the guards at Parenzia Academy.

“You don’t know how I feel, Louis.”
“You wouldn’t know, Mark.”

But is it just me? Just a week ago, I was fighting a dragon in the Ravier Mountains.

After a while, preparations for departure were completed, and the guards and Parencia soldiers lined up together. As I was wondering if I should stand in the same line as them, a young servant came up to me and asked.

“Are you by any chance Louis?”
“Huh? That’s right.”
“The lord is calling. “I guess you’re going to travel by carriage.”
“Hmm…”

I noticed and avoided the gaze of Mark, who was giving me an envious look next to me. Well then. There must be a reason why Darling called me.
Since it’s to fill Bill’s position, it’s probably just a matter of managing them.

“Ha, some people suffer like this even after receiving a medal, but some people rely on their faces and are chosen by noble ladies to suck at honey…”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Louis.”

Widely.

“I thought you were a colleague.”

Feeling unreasonable envy and jealousy, I left the ranks and saw a carriage arriving in front of the castle gate. When the servant knocked on the door, it opened and four folding stairs came down.
Darling, who was sitting inside, scolded me with a disapproving expression when my gaze turned towards the stairs.

“What are you looking at? Not riding fast.”
“…”
“Store owner.”
“Yes?”
“If you have added even one centimeter to your height, tell me right now. If not, just close the door.”

I quietly got into the carriage and closed the door. Like most people, Darling did not like discussing his height.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the seat in her carriage had a thick cushion only where she was sitting.

As I headed to the opposite direction, Darling patted his side.

“Come this way.”
“You weren’t calling me instead of Bill, were you?”
“Bill always sits next to me, so come this way.”

Really?
Well, since he must have served Darling for a long time, he may have been somewhat informal.
As I came up next to her, she gently leaned into her body. Her white-gloved hands fell next to her knees.

“Hmm… “I’m tired. Wake me up when we arrive.”
“Then wouldn’t it be okay if we just send the soldiers?”
“It’s absolutely impossible. “Everything that happens there must be done under your supervision.”

Because the remains of my parents may be discovered. Having completed her duties as a lord and lord, plus her academy routine, that was why she boarded her carriage at this late hour.

***

There were quite a few people gathered in the forest. Soldiers directly under the lord, academy guards, and additionally recruited adventurers.
Professor Marco, who was in charge of managing this field training, explained to them what they had to do.

“Hmm! We will each enter the dungeon located in the area marked on the map under the direction of our superiors. Objects that adventurers have classified as dangerous pose a threat to students and must be killed. Also, if a monster colony is discovered nearby, please report it to the command center. “My lord?”
“Well, let’s begin.”

To ensure safety, the forest where field training takes place becomes a kind of controlled area.
As the soldiers slowly advanced, I also grabbed a nearby torch to light the way forward.

The reason I got on the carriage wasn’t just to fulfill Darling’s request. Originally from the western forest, I would regularly procure the materials needed to run the store.
A representative example is a cane made of metallurgical wood.
In addition, things like magic stones and leather found on monster corpses were all useful.

I was hoping that I would be able to use this opportunity to introduce new items into the store, but suddenly Darling grabbed me from next to me.

“Where are you going?”
“That’s right, in the dungeon…”
“It’s ridiculous for a butler to go into a dungeon and leave his master behind. “Come here.”

The place she brought me in was a small building within the outpost exploring the western forest. As if I stopped by often, there was a luxurious sofa and a half-drinked glass of wine.
The cool forest night air came in through the window. Darling held up a glass and gestured at me.

“Follow.”
“…”
“Store owner?”

I lightly crushed the top of Darling’s head with the bottom of the wine bottle.

“Oh ah —!? “Don’t press your head!”
“Who said you were there to serve me? “I thought I needed some help again.”
“Oh, I understand, so don’t press your head! “Height, I’m getting shorter!”

Either that or not.

“What about the carriage?”
“I already sent you away.”
“You are thorough. “Why did I call you?”
“That…”

— My lord!!

Just as I was about to get up from my seat with an annoyed remark, I heard a call for Darling from outside.

— My lord! Can I come in!?

Probably because she is the general commander here. But there was no answer from the seat next to her.

“What are you doing? “I didn’t answer.”
“…”
“Viscount?”

I slowly put the wine bottle away to see what was going on, and saw Darling with his hands clasped together with a tired look on his face.
The corners of his mouth were shaking, as if he was afraid to hear news from beyond.

“What’s going on out there!?”
— Oh, that’s… Sir Mark Botterval said he had a bad stomach ache and wanted to rest in the rear…
“Fuck it and tell him to go to work!”
— Yes, old! All right!

Ha.
A small sigh of relief escapes from beneath his head. I roughly pulled the cork out with my mouth and put my arm on Darling’s shoulder.

“Scary? “Seeing with your own eyes what you’ve been looking for?”
“… “It’s not like that.”
“Is it true that Bill was always with you?”
“… “I see.”

It’s almost like I’m getting sick. He wasn’t scolding me for no reason.
I leaned back on the sofa and took a drink. Then Darling looked relieved.

“How long do I have to stay?”
“The work will be completed in a few days. “Field training will begin soon.”
“Thank god.”
“When I get a call from Pecda Magic Tower, I will withdraw at that time, so it won’t take long.”
“Pecda Magic Tower? “Why are you there all of a sudden?”
“You didn’t know?”

Darling, who had found some stability, explained to me the rules of the field training, saying that he had tried it last year.

“First-year students go through the forest to find and explore a small dungeon prepared by the organizer. “If you work as a team to defeat the monsters inside and retrieve the token at the end of the dungeon, you will pass.”

But there are more than just monsters in front of them. The most important thing in practice is adaptability to unfamiliar environments and hunting methods of animals that only know their instincts.
And–

“Those who keep the sign are selected from the second year. Most of them have already returned from magic training, so their assignments have been completed. The only place where the return is being delayed is the Pekda Magic Tower…”

Person-to-person combat. Similar to a battle against magic.

“I guess it will arrive soon.”

Darling’s words reminded me of Liv, who would soon come to visit me from the Mage Tower. And Adela, who will be waiting for me at the canteen.
No way. What is the probability that the two will encounter each other in the same dungeon?

“Store owner?”
“No, it’s nothing.”

It won’t be high.