NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14
Terra Cross.
As the Lady’s special magic instructor,
I’ve seen her from afar a few times.
The Lady calls her an old lady, but… she doesn’t look that old, more like early 30s.
Well, considering that high-level aura users or mages tend to look younger than their actual age, the title the Lady uses might be accurate, but at least outwardly, she didn’t seem that old.
“You seem quite skilled with Fleet.”
“Fast like a dog, right?”
“Yeah, I knew you were an aura user, but you’re better than I thought.”
Terra, who was saying this, was still patting my head.
Being patted by a young lady is one thing, but being patted by a beauty who looks like she’s in her early 30s feels weird.
“How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
“What? You look older. I thought you were in your early 20s.”
Terra was so surprised by my age that she took her hand off my head.
Do I really look that old? That’s strange, I don’t think so.
I might look a bit rude, but my appearance is quite decent.
“A slave who can handle aura like that at that age?”
Ah, is that why she thought I was older?
Well, I did learn quickly.
“I train all day, no time to play with the Lady.”
The Lady was a bit snappy about that.
She didn’t seem to like that I was always training.
But what can I do?
Learning aura in this world is thrilling and fun, unlike my past life.
You can move at speeds invisible to the eye, and gain the strength to break bricks with your hands.
Plus, you can create small explosions and thin shields.
Especially in a place with no entertainment, seeing the results of training is my only joy.
“But it’s rare to use it like that at your age…”
But.
Was I too skilled with Fleet?
Terra, the Lady’s magic instructor, looked at me with a strange gaze.
“Not just raising you for nothing, huh?”
A piercing gaze, similar to Lowell’s.
“Kid, how far can you go?”
“….”
I hesitated to answer.
But when those burning red eyes turned to me, I thought I had to say something.
“Don’t bully our dog!”
Swoosh.
The Lady grabbed Terra’s hand, which was patting my head, and pulled it away.
“Oh, what did I do to bully?”
“The dog is uncomfortable.”
…Nice Lady.
Yeah, I’m just a dog, why expect so much?
“Since you’re a dog, I didn’t pay much attention, but you’re interesting.”
But.
No matter how much the Lady tries, Terra is still the teacher.
Tsk.
Terra’s slender hand grabbed my chin and lifted it.
“I like your looks too.”
Her red eyes and hair came closer.
…Up close, it’s hard to believe her age.
“Want to watch a duel?”
“…A duel?”
“You said you only train, but you might be interested in a mage duel.”
“Master?”
The girl next to her was flustered, but… honestly, I am interested.
Where else can you watch a mage duel?
“Our dog seems interested.”
Terra, reading my expression, let go of my chin and smiled slyly.
“Then follow me.”
“Really taking the dog?”
“Yeah, we’re doing it in the training ground anyway.”
And so, somewhat suddenly, I got to observe a magic duel.
…By the way, that girl wasn’t a guest but the Lady’s duel opponent.
The maids who prepared the tea party must be disappointed.
“Hmm, the training ground is spacious and nice.”
The place we moved to was the training ground where I always train.
Looks like the duel will be here.
…This is getting exciting.
A mage duel.
I wonder how it differs from an aura user’s duel.
“Both sides, stand and prepare.”
With that.
At Terra’s word, the Lady and the guest stood on opposite sides.
“Our dog, come here.”
And I was led by Terra to her side.
“Sit.”
“Yep.”
Naturally, she sat me down and patted my head, making me feel like a real dog.
“Do you know what mages and knights have in common in duels?”
But then she talks like this, what kind of treatment is this?
“…What is it?”
“It’s all about the numbers game, you guys do that all day, right?”
…Of course.
The basics of an aura user are all about that numbers game.
Since it’s hard to use techniques multiple times in one battle.
You have to use them wisely to gain an advantage.
“Mages also have limits to the magic they can use, especially when both are novice mages, they have to be very careful.”
Novice mages?
Having seen the Lady’s fireballs, I can’t underestimate her.
A normal person would be taken out in one shot.
Hmm, would an orc go down in one shot too?
I’ve only stabbed with a sword, so I don’t know about magic resistance.
But more importantly….
Pat pat.
How long is she going to keep patting my head?
Starting with the Lady earlier.
Being petted so much, my hair, which the maid had styled, is all messed up now.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…No reason.”
“Ah, does it bother you that I keep touching you? You’re cute though.”
Seeing my gaze, Terra finally took her hand off.
At least she respects me as a dog….
“This keeps happening.”
Swipe swipe.
…Just when I thought she stopped, she started scratching my chin.
“Why are you so quiet? You were a Coliseum champion, right?”
“…You knew?”
“I heard some rumors when you first came.”
Come to think of it, Terra has been the Lady’s teacher for two years.
It’s not strange that she knows about me.
“From what I heard, you were quite rough as a gladiator… why have you become such a tame puppy?”
…She really knows about me.
And she’s petting me like this?
“I just like the life here.”
“Really? You like being treated like a dog?”
“….”
“You’re cute, want to come to our house?”
“…Don’t joke around.”
“Wow, even loyalty.”
Seriously. How far is she going to tease me?
Swipe swipe.
Even now, she’s scratching my chin like a puppy.
“Anyway, it’s about to start, so watch carefully.”
“…Yes.”
“You’re sulking.”
Well, I’m used to being touched anyway.
I focused on the upcoming duel.
Both of them were concentrating and muttering something.
That must be casting.
“Usually, they build up some barriers before starting.”
“I see.”
“Since they have the same time, the one who builds faster and stronger barriers gets the advantage in the duel. Aria seems to have won this part.”
“I can see that too.”
Even at a glance, the Lady’s barrier looked more solid.
It seems quite sturdy, can the guest break it?
“Anyway, watch. It’s starting.”
And so.
While chatting with Terra, who was still scratching my chin, the duel started.
Boom-!
As expected of mages, they started by throwing fireballs at each other.
“Wow…”
The first thing I felt was how flashy it was.
Mages are different from knights who fight in slow motion with Track and Fleet.
“The Lady is amazing, but that guest is impressive too.”
I knew the Lady was a genius, but the guest was also quite skilled.
Her light orange hair fluttered as she used fire magic.
Honestly, the Lady seemed to be at a disadvantage in terms of firepower.
“You don’t know who she is?”
“Who is she?”
“Wow, you don’t know Serina Astel?”
“Astel?”
I don’t know the name, but I’ve heard of the family.
The Astel Count family.
Aren’t they the top magic family in the Adel Kingdom?
They founded and run the Royal Magic School, specializing in fire magic, masters of siege warfare.
I heard from Lowell that they were second only to the Void Family in war contributions.
“Yeah, you know the Astel Count family?”
“…I do.”
“She’s the genius of that family, the Sun of Astel.”
…The Sun?
That seems like an excessive title, but.
Looking at her glowing crimson hair, it does remind me of the sun.
Her magic is also incredible.
Look at the size of that fireball.
Almost as big as the Lady’s body….
“…Isn’t that dangerous?”
Even if the Lady has multiple barriers, it looks dangerous.
“It is, but I’m here.”
“Ah.”
“And Lord Lowell is here too.”
Hmm, very logical.
This mage too.
Most importantly, with Lowell here, the Lady won’t get hurt.
“By the way, if it comes this way, you’ll have to block it. I need to cast spells on our students.”
“…I don’t know how to do that.”
“Don’t you know Rush? Knights use that to break magic.”
Ah, Rush can do that?
…Well, it’s exploding aura.
It should be perfect for breaking mana-based magic.
“Keep that in mind, you might face a mage someday.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
Hearing it from a mage’s perspective makes it easier to understand.
No wonder she’s a teacher.
Anyway.
While I was watching the duel with interest.
Boom-!! Bang!
The two mages continued to clash.
The Lady was at a disadvantage in firepower.
But in speed and the numbers game, she seemed a step ahead.
“Serina is a genius, but Aria is even better.”
“The Lady?”
“Yeah, she’s a talent too good to be stuck in this mansion.”
Hmm, is that so?
The Lady I see is always grumbling.
Ah, but her magic achievements are really fast.
And so.
While I was watching the duel with interest.
“Haap!”
Earlier, they were exchanging small attacks.
But this time, bigger flames clashed.
Wow….
Both being fire mages, it’s definitely a sight to see.
They should have hired mages instead of monsters in the Coliseum.
The difference in spectacle makes me understand why gladiator fights failed.
“Uh, uh….”
“It’s coming this way.”
…The magic clashed, and one of the fireballs bounced towards me and Terra.
“Like I said, I won’t block it.”
But.
Terra said that and only put a barrier on herself.
This woman…!
She was all touchy-feely earlier.
She should take responsibility till the end.
For a moment, I thought of using Fleet to escape…
But then the surroundings would be a mess.
The maids would have to clean up… Ugh.
I stood up using Track.
I think… Rush can block it, right?
Let’s try it.
It might be a good experience.
I won’t use Fleet.
Seeing the slowed-down world, I slowly swung my arm.
And so.
When my hand touched the fireball.
‘Rush.’
I exploded the aura concentrated in my hand.
And then.
Boom-!!
The fireball flying towards me exploded spectacularly in the direction of the Rush.
“Wow.”
Impressive effect.
“What was that…!”
Beyond the exploding afterimage, Serina looked shocked, but I realized my mistake.
But for now, I enjoyed the thrill.