NOVEL NEXT Chapter 57
Chapter 57: Graduation War (2)
The last night at Torze Officer Academy came to mind.
The cadets stayed awake all night.
It was a short time, if short, and long, if long—a month-long period.
They experienced and learned many things.
That long journey would end tomorrow.
...Yet, the mountain to overcome was far greater.
With that anticipation, worry, and fear, the cadets couldn’t sleep.
“...Beatrice.”
Argos was no exception.
Argos wiped the sweat running down his face with a towel and looked at Beatrice.
Beatrice leaned against a spot well-lit by the moonlight.
She casually spoke.
“Still not asleep?”
“...What about you?”
“I took too many naps during the day. I just can’t fall asleep.”
That was half true and half false.
‘To think he’d train even today.’
After handing over the role of leader to Gareth, Argos had been training alone daily.
Beatrice occasionally watched his training.
But she hadn’t expected him to train even today. Wasn’t there something important tomorrow?
On a day like this, resting and preserving his condition would’ve been the best choice.
Surely Argos knew that as well.
“...Is that so?”
Argos turned his head away again.
He soon resumed his posture and began punching the air.
He infused mana into his punches.
The occasional red sparks proved he was utilizing the power of the Spirit.
He was training.
‘He’s trying hard.’
[Why not encourage him?]
‘Encouragement? That’s embarrassing. Besides, training is natural. I don’t praise people for doing what’s natural.’
[For someone who says that, you’re spending quite a bit of time watching him.]
‘...I’m just curious.’
Solid chuckled as if amused.
Beatrice crouched in a secluded spot, quietly watching Argos’s training.
“That’s...”
[That’s something familiar, isn’t it?]
Argos was fighting an imaginary opponent.
It was a common practice.
One of the most effective ways to train in swordsmanship was through image training against imaginary foes.
However, there was a reason Beatrice was surprised.
“...That’s me, isn’t it?”
She realized who Argos’s imaginary opponent was.
His movements, his targeting aimed at a smaller opponent—it all resembled her.
Though somewhat clumsy, it was unmistakably her. Argos’s imaginary opponent was Beatrice.
[Indeed, that’s the movement of young Beatrice.]
‘So that’s what he’s been training every night.’
She had already wondered why a mage would bother with such exhaustive imaginary combat.
Mages were all about mana, after all.
Even so, Argos had spent countless nights shadowboxing like a boxer instead of focusing on mana training.
Now, she finally understood.
Beatrice felt a twinge of guilt for not noticing earlier.
‘I should’ve helped. Practicing against a real person would’ve been much more effective.’
[Young Beatrice,]
Solid spoke with a hint of reproach.
[It’s not too late.]
-Beatrice smirked faintly.
Then she slowly approached Argos.
“...?”
Argos, focused on his training, was startled by the approaching presence.
In the dark night, standing in a spot where the moonlight didn’t reach, Beatrice’s golden eyes glowed sharply.
-Gulp.
Argos swallowed nervously.
He had an odd instinctual feeling.
It was as if Beatrice might charge at him any moment.
He assumed a tense stance, positioning one hand near his solar plexus and the other shielding his face.
It was a peculiar posture—a fundamental stance passed down through the Argos family.
Arthantium, a blend of magic and martial arts, was their family’s secret technique, known for its elaborate flair.
Beatrice let out a faint smirk.
‘That technique has been bothering me for a while.’
Argos’s primary technique involved wrapping his arms in flames and using a strange martial art.
The Arthantium, which resembled close-quarter combat styles from her previous life, had numerous flaws in her eyes.
It was flashy but impractical.
‘I’ll teach him.’
She clenched her fist and assumed a stance.
It was...
A boxing stance.
That’s right. Beatrice intended to teach Argos.
Boxing, the one practical martial art that had survived in a world overrun by magical beasts in the 21st century.
-Thud.
Beatrice kicked off the ground and darted toward Argos.
“...!”
-Bam!
A straightforward straight punch.
Infused with mana, the simple strike was anything but simple.
The air seemed to burst with sound.
Beatrice’s small fist brushed past Argos’s ear.
Although he instinctively dodged,
-Drip.
A drop of blood formed on his cheek.
“W-What?”
“You have time to talk?”
-Whoosh!
Argos dodged sideways.
His eyes trembled.
He couldn’t track Beatrice’s movements with his own eyes.
She was too fast and too strong.
‘I can’t lose in martial arts, not when it’s not even swordsmanship.’
At that moment, Argos’s eyes grew determined.
For the past week, he had spent countless hours training against an imaginary Beatrice.
That Beatrice wielded a sword, always glaring at him menacingly.
He had reached a point where he believed he could last two minutes against her swordsmanship.
If lucky, he even thought he might win.
But...
Lose to fists, not a sword?
His pride couldn’t accept it.
Argos stopped dodging and threw punches instead—short, quick strikes characteristic of Arthantium.
However.
“That’s ticklish.”
“H-How...!”
Argos’s eyes widened in disbelief.
It wasn’t as if he hadn’t landed a hit. He had.
Yet, it felt as though he was punching underwater. His blows lacked any real impact.
He was thoroughly shaken by the bizarre phenomenon.
“Don’t let your guard down.”
-Whoosh!
Beatrice swung her fist powerfully. Argos bent his back, barely avoiding it.
‘As I thought, such a useless martial art.’
In truth, Beatrice hadn’t done much.
She had simply used a fundamental boxing technique known as the "shoulder roll."
She became certain after trading punches herself.
The martial art called Arthantium, passed down through the Argos family,
was nothing more than beautiful garbage.
She couldn’t comprehend how such a ridiculous martial art could exist in a place with monsters, not a peaceful era.
Perhaps it was because of the sorcery known as magic.
Additionally, the existence of Spirits likely diminished the importance of pure human abilities.
-Thud!
Perhaps due to being flustered,
Argos ended up allowing the first hit.
He slightly opened his mouth and widened his eyes.
Unfortunately, it struck him squarely in the solar plexus, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Beatrice didn’t press further and stepped back.
This wasn’t a duel but a lesson.
“Breathing must be hard.”
“Haah, haah.”
“Even if you look fine on the outside, your internal organs must be pretty damaged.”
Boxing was originally a combat sport that targeted internal damage.
And with the world going mad and the concept of mana being introduced,
its power had grown even greater.
It was effective even against monsters.
“H-How...”
“It’s a technique called a body blow.”
“...!”
Argos widened his eyes in shock.
Beatrice slowly assumed the basic boxing stance.
Even though his martial art was lousy, he had learned a fighting style that relied heavily on fists.
If he saw it once, he’d likely be able to imitate it easily.
“This is a jab. A fundamental move in boxing.”
Argos hurriedly dodged and countered.
Beatrice easily evaded and smirked.
“That wasn’t bad. It’s the most practical technique in your lousy martial art.”
“W-What?”
“That beautiful garbage, I mean.”
“......”
Argos’s eyes grew fierce.
“Don’t insult the glorious Arthantium!”
“If you’re mad, then beat me.”
“Damn it!”
He gritted his teeth and swung his fist.
Beatrice ducked and instead stepped forward.
“This is ducking.”
At the same time, she delivered a hook to Argos’s ribs.
“Gah-!”
“This is a hook.”
Before he could even process the pain, Argos prepared to counterattack by summoning flames around his fists.
It was the unique power granted by his Spirit.
However, Beatrice didn’t even flinch.
“And this is...”
“Don’t underestimate me, Beatrice!”
“An uppercut.”
-Crack!
A chilling sound echoed.
-Thud.
Argos collapsed flat on his back.
His eyes rolled back into his head.
He even started foaming at the mouth.
It was a perfect K.O. victory, but Beatrice couldn’t bring herself to laugh.
“...He probably didn’t catch that last part.”
[Do you call that education? It’s just stress relief!]
“......”
Beatrice awkwardly scratched her head.
She thought to herself that she should go wake Seria.
**
At the same time,
on the summit of the Alps overlooking Britain, the capital of Krapos,
an elf wearing a black robe was admiring the scenery.
At that moment,
someone suddenly appeared and approached, speaking.
“It’s almost time for the great event. We should get going.”
The elf abruptly brought up an enigmatic topic.
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
“...Are you talking about Krapos?”
“Yes. As a nation founded after the Age of Magic, it still retains the beautiful architecture of that era.”
Indeed, Britain’s capital was renowned for its beauty.
This was due to its architecture, reflecting the flourishing civilization of the Age of Magic.
Although traces of that style existed in other nations,
only Krapos prominently retained the Age of Magic’s influence in its buildings and roads.
“That’s true.”
The mysterious man nodded with a sales-like smile, radiating kindness.
“Did everything go well?”
“Yes. All preparations are complete. According to the information obtained,
a major heir of a Krapos family and the Crown Prince are gathered in one place.”
“That’s a rare occurrence.”
“...Indeed. And it’s the perfect opportunity.”
“What’s the reason for their gathering?”
The man let out a sly laugh.
“They’re conducting unified training in preparation for an invasion by the Holy Central Empire.
This is the final stage, which is why they’ve gathered.”
“...How unfortunate.”
“Pardon?”
The elf appeared genuinely sorrowful.
Though he didn’t shed tears, his expression looked as if he were crying.
“The fact that I won’t be able to gaze upon the beautiful Britain anymore.”
“Haha! Don’t worry. Britain is highly valuable.
We plan to take it with minimal damage.”
The elf clasped his hands behind his back and looked away.
Although his face was mostly concealed by his robe, his elegant features were faintly visible.
“Is everything ready?”
“Of course. Control devices have been set up around the target location.
Once activated, no one will be able to use mana or their Spirits.”
“‘No one?’”
The elf scoffed as if amused.
The man quickly bowed repeatedly, realizing his mistake.
“My apologies. Naturally, the Supreme Being, Lord La-Getia, is excluded.”
“...One can never be too sure.”
The elf’s tone softened slightly as he murmured.
“There might be a Master there.”
“That’s an amusing joke. Unfortunately,
the only Master in Krapos, Arvanceco, has already returned to their family.”
“Are you certain of that?”
“Of course. Even Arvanceco isn’t beyond the ears of Holy Central.”
“Hmm, a spy monitoring a Master, is it? That person must be highly skilled.”
-Flinch.
The man’s expression froze, his pupils trembling.
However, the elf raised a hand, signaling it was fine.
“Well...”
The elf smiled faintly.
“It doesn’t matter even if there is.”