[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
Chapter 155
The highlight of the Academy’s Autumn festival was the massive magical fireworks display that took place every evening.
The colorful paints that decorated the dark sky like a canvas were so impressive that there was even a saying that if you weren’t amazed by it, you weren’t an Academy student.
Precisely because of that, because of its grand splendor, the magic was not easily prepared.
Only for this day, the members of the Academy’s magic department spent an entire month, even staying up nights, preparing and preparing again.
“…Excuse me?”
Therefore, it was only natural for the magic department students to be flustered by a sudden proposal.
“Um, Senior Karl. We think we misheard you, so could you please repeat that one more time…”
“It’s not difficult. That firework magic. Could you modify it and shoot it at me?”
[TL/N: This mf crazy asf]
“…”
Karl Adelheit.
The undisputed war hero of the empire.
Just a moment ago, the Emperor personally awarded him medals and officially declared, ‘There is no one more outstanding than this young man.’
Naturally, all the students of the Academy cheered his name.
The fact that he was a student like them, a kind of academic connection, further fueled their admiration.
There were many high-ranking officials in the empire who graduated from the Academy, but Karl was the best senior among them all.
Perhaps everyone would consider him the greatest graduate.
But that’s one thing, and this is another.
If someone could remain calm after hearing such nonsense, wouldn’t they be an inanimate object rather than a person?
‘Senior, have you lost your mind?’
These words lingered on the lips and in the minds of the magic department students.
Fortunately, they weren’t all that impatient, so there was no idiot who blurted those words out.
“Senior Karl, we’d like to hear the reason why you’re asking this.”
“It’s nothing much. I just want to try nullify some magic.”
“…”
They must think I’m crazy.
What kind of person casually says, ‘I’ll just nullify some magic,’ and acts like it’s no big deal?
“Um… Senior Karl, I’m really sorry, but—”
“Of course, this is entirely my decision and judgment, so I’ll take full responsibility. Your department won’t be involved in any trouble.”
“But still…”
“If you’re worried about the professors, that’s fine too. I’ll talk to them.”
“But—”
“And I’ll be the first to help you get additional funding for your magic department research.”
“How can we help you, Senior?”
If other departments saw this scene, they might say, ‘You guys have no pride! You’re being swayed by money!’ But the magic department would proudly answer, ‘Yes!’
Magic is ultimately a form of money burning.
All the materials, time, and labor costs involved in research… it’s all money in the end. If someone offers to fund that, they’ll do anything.
“So, first, if we cast the magic like this—”
“Our magic focuses on range for visual appeal. It would be better to modify it a bit, right?”
“Probably.”
“How do you intend to mitigate the risks involved?”
“Magic is activated only when the formula and mana are perfectly intertwined, right? So, we can either destroy the formula beforehand or cut the magic circuit that supplies mana.”
The magic department students agreed with Karl’s opinion, acknowledging its validity.
At the same time, they were curious. He knew not only the principles of magic but also how to destroy it. As far as they knew, Karl didn’t take any lectures on magic.
Then how did Karl know so much about magic?
‘I’ve been hit by it so many times before. One time, I almost died.’
That’s right. Karl learned by simply getting hit.
In doing so, he figured out how to dodge, and while dodging, he came to the conclusion, ‘Hey? If I do this right, I can deflect it midway and neutralize it with minimal damage.’
Of course, this was all just theory.
In reality, if you were even a little late or did it wrong, the magic would explode right in your face.
If that happened, with luck, you’d die cleanly and painlessly in one shot.
If you were unlucky, half of your body would be sizzling and you’d die slowly in agony from the burns.
‘Are we really doing this? Even if Senior Karl takes responsibility, we can’t escape blame if there’s an accident.’
‘Senior, I trust you. But if you get hurt, our department is doomed…’
‘The research funds… the research funds…! If it weren’t for those damn research funds!’
But they couldn’t stop. It was too late to turn back now. The water had already been spilled, so to speak.
Besides, the magic department members were also a little curious.
If a magic spell was precisely disrupted by some physical force before it reached its intended target, would it really just be dispelled without any chain reaction?
The theory said so, but was it actually possible? Was there really no one brave enough to demonstrate it?
“Don’t worry. Really. I’ve even nullified bullets a few times.”
In that sense, Karl was truly the perfect test subject.
* * *
“…”
“Ahem.”
“Ahem.”
“Hmm.”
Something felt strange. And quite uncomfortable.
The representatives from the Holy See, Hyzens, Lasker, and even Avileshti, each representing their own nation or group, were sitting there, clearing their throats.
They had come to the Academy festival under the pretense of enjoying the festivities and using Karl as an excuse to gauge the atmosphere in the empire and see if they could establish closer ties.
It would be even better if they could show Karl the positive aspects of their country or group.
But then the Emperor suddenly appeared in the middle of the festival. It was the first time in the history of the empire.
He even personally awarded medals and declared Karl a hero in front of everyone.
The students went wild.
They rejoiced as if it were their own achievement that a fellow student was receiving the highest honor.
And the foreign guests also went wild, but in a different way.
“Don’t give my kid any false hopes. He’ll really die.”
“This friend is a noble of our empire. Don’t even try to bid on him.”
Yes, that’s what the Emperor wanted to say. This wasn’t just bragging. It was a warning.
If anyone dared to cross the line and ignore this, it was a hint that the empire could do anything under the pretext of insulting the empire.
Those who had been trying to cling to Karl and pick up scraps, hoping to benefit from the miracle he had received from the Goddess, were now in a very difficult situation. This was especially true for Lasker and Hyzens.
As a result, the unofficial delegations from those two countries were struggling, the priests from the Holy See were wondering what was going on, and Avileshti, who had no particular thoughts, was also feeling tense.
“Esteemed guests.”
The devil’s whisper reached them.
“If it’s not too much trouble, there’s a good spectacle to see. Would you like to come with me?”
The tension in the air was palpable. Karl’s invitation offered a welcome distraction, and they readily agreed.
So the guests from each country moved to a place where Karl was holding a greatsword and staring straight ahead.
“What’s going on all of a sudden…?”
The mages from Avileshti were the first to notice the change.
As those sensitive to the flow of mana, they turned their heads, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Meanwhile, up ahead, the ‘Academy Magic Department’s Special Flame Magic,’ which had undergone some modifications, began to fly towards Karl.
“Whoa, whoa!”
“What’s happening?! Why is he just standing there…?”
Just as the mages and priests were about to stop him in surprise…
—Shatter!
An ominous sound.
Sparks and mana scattered in all directions.
The guests, who had been murmuring, stared blankly at Karl.
“Next.”
Another spell flew in.
It wasn’t a massively destructive spell, but it still had enough power to kill.
One wrong move, and someone could be turned into a well-lit bonfire in an instant.
Shatter!—
Karl sliced it in half with his greatsword as if he were cutting an apple.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
As expected, as expected of the Blessed One. You are truly amazing! This was the sentiment of the priests from the Holy See.
What is this? Is it a warning? Are you telling us to hurry up and finish off the remaining Luzernes remnants? If we don’t finish them off quickly, will you cut us down too? The elves from Hyzens worried.
This is crazy. Baba Yaga seemed to be retiring, but the empire is showing us that there’s an even bigger monster. As expected, the Emperor is a terrifying figure! The knights from Lasker were shocked.
Is this the empire’s proclamation that the end of the age of magic is near? Not only guns and gunpowder, but now they can nullify magic with a single greatsword? The mages from Avileshti were also greatly shocked.
And finally, Selena and Lefia, who were watching the scene…
“That’s so cool!”
“It’s amazing!”
It seemed that they had developed a tolerance after experiencing so many strange things.
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
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