Chapter 24: Gamble and Match
"Firestorm!"
As Talcott shouted, a whirlwind of flames rose in the center of the group. Screams erupted from the surrounding area.
Firestorm was a magic spell with vague directionality and relatively difficult to control. It was said to be unsuitable for chaotic battles.
However, the whirlwind remained stationary in the center.
Indeed. As the name suggests, it seems that he can control it. I had planned to activate another wide-area water magic as a countermeasure if the damage became significant, even if it meant causing a few injuries... But for now, it should be fine.
"How about that, guys? Take a look! I don't need something as simple as household magic!" Talcott said, his face filled with pride. The flames flickered in response to his laughter. Quite reckless. If he's not calm, he should focus.
If I were to sever his own consciousness, I wouldn't be confident in how the flames would move. But if I leave it as it is, I don't know how long he can maintain the whirlwind in that position.
When I let go of control, there's no guarantee that the Firestorm won't come towards me. First, I need to extinguish this flame to prevent any accidents.
I push aside the students in front of me and extend my hand to activate the magic I had kept prepared.
"Flame Absorb."
The flames were drawn into the dark sphere released from my hand. If someone were in a straight line connecting the flame and the sphere, they would be caught in the fire. It can also absorb ignited flames, but if you touch the flames before absorption, you'll get burned.
That's why it was necessary to get close before using magic towards the pillar of flames.
Only the heat remained. Everything disappeared cleanly.
"What...?"
Talcott opens his eyes wide and looks at me. It's not the reaction of someone who is enraged and about to attack.
"What kind of magic did you just use?"
It seems Talcott doesn't know about Flame Absorb.
As for Travis... Ah, no good. He's backing off.
He's a tower mage specializing in household magic. He definitely doesn't seem like someone involved in combat. It would have been great if Travis could firmly assert the importance of household magic while taking control of Talcott, but if it's impossible, there's nothing I can do. Since I jumped in, I'm already involved. Now, what should I do?
"...It's a counter magic against flames. Why would you do something so foolish?"
I spread out the Magic Seals of Magic Shield in my left hand and Air Bullet in my right hand, gripping them in a ready-to-activate state as I spoke.
Well, personally, I think severing his consciousness without any questions asked would be the optimal solution. But I can't help but feel that Talcott himself lacks the consciousness of "going wild."
He has been doing such reckless things that it piques my curiosity in a reverse sense. It's beyond the scope of my thought process.
For example, perhaps because Ashley was taking care of the kennel, she didn't hear many rumors about him... Bad reputations tend to stand out, after all.
I've heard various stories about this guy and the Cardiff Earl's family.
They say he uses magic to injure servants and residents.
They say his father made a mistake in farming, causing the residents to flee to neighboring areas and reducing tax revenue.
I do hear rumors indeed. On the contrary, I only know about this guy through gossip.
He thinks so differently from me... I thought it wouldn't be fair to judge him based solely on hearsay if the information was distorted. There is definitely a sense of disgust that comes before observing my half-brother, though.
He says that his fiancée's injury wasn't a big deal... But what if he's blaming himself for hurting her?
"Huh? Are you an idiot? Couldn't you understand my words? Why the hell are you getting in my way? Depending on your response, you'll experience pain!"
That's what I thought.
Talcott seems pleased that his power has been proven. There's no sense of desperation or self-reproach about possibly hurting others. He seems strangely curious.
He's probably always pushing his own opinions like this... Doesn't he know what would happen if he did it outside?
In that case, the dissatisfaction I expressed earlier was probably about being dissatisfied with being seen as less competent and protesting being told to control myself.
It may have been unintentional to cause an accident and injuries... That is, he's more displeased with accidentally causing the explosion rather than with causing injuries. He wanted to do something flashy to redeem himself.
According to rumors, he's a talented magician and a rough person. From the people in his territory, he's certainly not a guard dog... Oh, I remember now. He's known as the "Cardiff's Ferocious Dog," the second son.
"I don't know the extent of your control ability."
"What did you say?"
Talcott blushes. Ah, it's not wrong to suspect his control ability. Before he takes any impulsive actions again, let's guide him a bit. There are even smaller children around. It would be troublesome if he starts rampaging.
"In other words, you think that those who are skilled in magic are superior, don't you?"
"Of course, isn't that obvious? Even that old man over there had a high and mighty face, but look at him now. I've always done things this way."
Not a guard dog, but a fierce dog.
Its purpose is to incite. In other words, it is expected to fulfill the role of a convenient violent device for suppressing the citizens through force, as demanded by his father. Well, I suppose I can understand that to some extent.
Well, if you only know about your home and territory, it's no wonder you turn out like this. As long as you can use magic, people will lift you up. As for this guy... well, I can't really defend Count Maurice.
It's a bit frustrating to hear all these stories, but maybe I still have an excessive fantasy about nobility. The concept of Noblesse Oblige is just idealistic. ...Well, I, who primarily acts for my own sake, shouldn't be talking about nobles anyway.
Termwills is a land of martial prowess. The prevailing belief and values that those who are skilled in times of crisis are right... well, that's certainly true. Count Maurice was probably a martial magician in his youth... but that's not the case with Talcott.
But well, if that's the case, the story is simple. In a way, it's relatively easy to understand his way of thinking.
He seems to think that my use of Flame Absorb makes me worth listening to.
Since I have to convince him anyway, and if he operates on the logic of power, it would be better to establish a clear power relationship to avoid any lingering issues.
"...Understood. Shall we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"Have a match with me. If you lose... regardless of how you are treated by the academy, you will study nobility education and academic subjects seriously. And in that case, you must not voice any complaints or grievances like earlier. However, if you win..."
"If I win?"
"I will teach you this."
With a meaningful smile, I spread a magic circle on the palm of my hand.
Even without waiting for a response, I could tell from his expression that he was interested. If he envisions using magic for rough work, it must be quite appealing. It would eliminate the need for incantations even for intermediate magic and enhance control abilities.
Well, that's assuming he can defeat me. Either way, Talcott will receive some kind of punishment.
The fact that he can control to some extent. The absence of actual harm. Talcott's age. His status as a member of the earl's family. The atmosphere in Termwills and the expectations for his future as a martial magician.
Considering all these factors... it's a bit difficult to predict the extent of his punishment. Well, it would depend on the perspective of those who will decide the punishment, so I can't rely on that.
However, gambling and punishment are not closely related.
Studying can be done anywhere if you have the motivation. It's simply a matter of whether Talcott can fulfill the promise he made based on his own pride.
"...It's not like we can kill each other in the terms of this bet. Advanced magic is rather a hindrance, that's the point. In other words..."
"It will mainly be a clash of low-level magic without incantations. It's a match, after all."
In a normal magical battle, that would be the case. If it's low-level magic, it's slightly faster without the magic circle, and even that level of magic can sufficiently deprive someone of their combat ability if it directly hits. So, in a situation where magicians face each other one-on-one, it's basically advantageous to be quick on the draw.
Using the magic circle as the prize for the bet, there's also that aspect of using it to win.
"Therefore, we won't use the circle this time. Let's make it so that the opponent admits defeat. Of course, fainting or fleeing counts as a loss."
"Very well."
A smile appeared on Tarucotte's lips. It seems he's confident in a clash without incantations.
"Theodore-sama, is this...!"
Whether they heard the commotion or not, people started gathering. Grace was among them.
"We'll be fine. It's just a match. However, both of you should watch out for stray shots."
"Understood. We'll leave it to you."
Grace nodded. Just a little, the outline of her shadow trembled.
"If someone gets injured... I believe I can also help."
Ashley placed her hand on her chest and said. I nodded at Ashley and then turned to Tarucotte.
We moved to a place just a little away and faced each other.
Tarucotte drew his staff and took a half-ready stance. But still, non-lethal clashes of magic without incantations, huh? It reminds me of the early days of PvP in BFO.
"You're going without a staff... Are you underestimating me?"
"No need to worry."
I don't have a magic staff... Bringing a long object would only get in the way at the academy.
Also, the focus this time is on control ability. So instead of crushing it with staff techniques... it would be easier for Tarucotte to understand if I show him tactics that can be achieved by firmly training control ability.
Tarucotte gritted his teeth, and the tip of his magic staff glowed, leaving a pale blue magic sphere in place, running counterclockwise around me.
Magic Slave. By stagnating and leaving a mass of one's own magical power, it can be used as a remote-controlled magic firing turret. It's a technique that every combat magician should learn since it can simply increase the number of attacks.
I can also use it as long as I don't enter a cyclic state... but as a Battle Mage, I excel in close combat as a magician. I make up for the number of attacks in a different way.
"Air Bullet!"
From Talcott's staff, a bullet-like projectile made of white mist was released.
Well, it's a correct non-lethal means of attack against humans. Because it's hard to see. But...
"Air Bullet!"
I read the approximate trajectory of the consecutive wind bullets fired, based on their movements and timing, and retaliated with the same magic to shoot them down. The residual effects of my magic reached the other side, causing Talcott's hair and clothes to flutter in the strong wind.
"What!?"
Talcott widened his eyes. It was clear that my Air Bullet was more powerful. My magic had a short range, and its power diminished faster than regular magic when a certain distance was reached... especially in interception.
Since wind magic is somewhat difficult to see, it must be avoided with a certain margin. It's easier to directly defend or shoot down. And if the opponent runs around for a shootout, I simply close the distance in a straight line and deliver effective blows.
"Kuh!"
Because I recklessly closed the distance, Talcott must have thought I had a wide range of close combat techniques. While running to maintain distance, he continuously fired Air Bullets at me.
In a shooting battle using low-level magic without incantation, the basic approach is to repeatedly fire the same magic unless countermeasures are devised. Switching magic without incantation requires concentration for control each time. In that regard, if it's the same magic, you can fire continuously while maintaining a certain sense.
I shot them down, as if synchronizing my breathing. Magic trajectory reading and neutralization. I had repeated this countless times in PvP.
While Talcott was firing magic at me, his gaze was wandering.
If you direct your gaze, your aim and timing become obvious.
I unleashed a Class 1 fire magic, Cracker Bomb, towards the Magic Slave that he had suspended in mid-air. The wind bullets approaching from the Slave clashed with the red magical projectile I fired and exploded. I also shot down the magic coming from the front with Air Bullet.
"A double spell!?"
With non-incantation, you can fire a certain type of magic continuously. That's just the basics.
Just like driving a car while having a conversation. Just like playing the piano with different movements in each hand. It's nothing when you get used to performing different tasks simultaneously. Manipulating magical power is the same.
Consciously manipulating one magic and simultaneously manipulating another magic, just like breathing. ...Come to think of it, if it's everyday magic, training for double spells is perfect.
From the right hand, an air bullet. From the left hand, a cracker bomb. The number of moves in my hands simply doubled.
Unable to offset the approaching red bullets, Talcott rolled on the ground, unable to avoid them.
"Ugh!"
The air bullet hit directly, causing Talcott's body to roll on the ground.
At least, I should have continued to counterattack while evading. If I don't shoot magic to focus on evasion, it means I won't be able to offset the magic either.
All that's left is deviation shooting—to cross my arms and predict Talcott's next move, then shoot him down with wind magic.
Taking advantage of the moment when the counterattack completely ceased, I kicked the ground and closed the distance.
I grabbed Talcott's back as he tried to get up, and entwined my arm around his neck, crossing it over. It's not a BFO martial technique, just a simple sleeper hold.
Perhaps he didn't anticipate close combat at all, as Talcott couldn't react properly and had his carotid artery cut off.
"What!?"
Without enough time for an incantation, he couldn't concentrate without chanting after being hit by the air bullet. Especially in a situation where his neck was being strangled.
If he collapses, he won't be able to think, so naturally, there will be no magical counterattack, and it perfectly aligns with the victory condition of the match.
"Go to sleep."
It's easy to overpower with his weak childlike arms. In just a few seconds, all the strength drained from Talcott's body. Well, that's about it.
Talcott is almost unharmed. The academy will probably provide a suitable place for him to recover... He's with Earl Maurice, so who knows what will happen.