After being teased by Reines, Lorelei felt that if she stayed any longer, her worldview might be in jeopardy. So, while maintaining politeness, she casually responded with a few remarks, quickly finished her tea, and used the excuse of an important matter to discuss to call Shinji out.
The moment they stepped out of the rental house, Shinji could feel that Lorelei's footsteps were lighter and her breathing wasn't as heavy. He couldn't help but jokingly remark, "Are you not accustomed to this kind of interaction?"
"Yes," Lorelei admitted frankly, "It's completely different from the environment I'm used to and the education I've received. It feels... a bit too casual. Is that how it is with El-Melloi?"
"Of course not," Shinji shook his head, "Lord El-Melloi is like what you've seen, a typical noble and a traditional magus. Most of the people in his family are like that too. Waver's side is more like a concentration camp for heretics, a center for problem children. Miss Reines was probably thrown to Waver for guidance due to her personality issues."
"What about you?"
Lorelei looked meaningfully at Shinji, and he didn't shy away, speaking honestly.
"I'm also a heretic. I love magecraft, but I don't like the values of traditional magus. When I came to the Clock Tower this time, Lord El-Melloi wanted to arrange for me to stay near the Archibald family under the pretext of studying abroad, but I refused. Most of the people there are magus like him, and I would suffocate being around them. It's better to live with Weber for more freedom and ease."
"Lord El-Melloi also proposed the idea of me joining the Basic Training Course for Study Abroad, but I didn't agree. Instead of wasting time there, it's better to have Waver serve as my guide. So, I haven't completed the study abroad procedures yet. I only obtained a temporary residence permit under the pretext of visiting."
"I see," Lorelei nodded thoughtfully.
Although Shinji's response was unorthodox, it didn't make Lorelei feel displeased.
Firstly, someone who can greet her with a hand kiss and dare to say that they would knock her unconscious cannot be judged by common sense.
Secondly, Lorelei herself was someone who disliked lying and valued commitments. Rather than insincere flattery and pretenses, she preferred someone like Shinji who spoke straightforwardly and honestly.
Perhaps realizing that he might have gone a bit too far, Shinji scratched his head and sheepishly said, "I might have said something a bit unpleasant. If you're angry, you can use the miniature storm you just conjured to hit me a few times."
After all, his clothes were already ruined, and a few more hits wouldn't make much of a difference. It's good to have high magical resistance.
Lorelei shook her head. "I'm not angry."
"Oh, I see. Then I'll go change my clothes," Shinji said, pointing to the rental house next to Waver's. That was his room. Although he only slept there every day, most of the time, he was in Waver's room playing games together.
"Wait, put on your combat attire."
"Huh?" Shinji tilted his head, indicating his confusion.
"It's unrelated to what just happened. I just feel that what we're about to discuss is more suited for a conversation while fighting."
"Understood." Shinji made an "OK" gesture and walked into his dwelling.
When he emerged, he was wearing a cloak, holding a slingshot, and had rune pouches strapped to his waist and thighs, indicating his preparedness for battle.
"The nearest suitable place for combat is the Modern Magecraft Theory Department, the affiliated experimental field of the El-Melloi Classroom. There are no classes today, so nobody will disturb us. How about going there?"
Shinji spent most of his free time playing games with Waver, and when Waver was working, he would use the classroom's experimental field to train his physical skills and magecraft. As a result, he obtained the key to the experimental field from Waver, but in return, he was responsible for cleaning and maintaining the field.
"Okay."
Lorelei readily agreed to this proposal.
...
Half an hour later, a storm raged inside the experimental field.
Lorelei floated in the center of the arena, surrounded by ceaseless turbulent air currents. Even a slightly weaker magus would struggle to approach her, let alone maintain their balance.
This was the terrifying power of the Barthomeloi family's secret magecraft. It didn't require rare attributes or extraordinary abilities. It relied on the accumulation of magic circuits over a long period and a profound understanding of magecraft, allowing it to possess a strength that surpassed the entire magical world.
Lorelei gently raised her empty left hand, conjuring a whirlwind that connected the ground to the ceiling.
The whirlwind advanced, its target being the figure of Shinji, obscured by the sand and dust.
Despite the interference of several air currents, Shinji's footsteps remained steady, not much different from his usual walking. Whether it was Chinese martial arts or martial techniques inherited from other countries, maintaining a stable stance was a fundamental skill. Shinji, who had been taught by Scáthach herself, had ingrained this skill into his combat posture. Even facing Lorelei's artificial whirlwind, let alone a typhoon along the coastal regions in summer, no matter how weak the wind was, it couldn't shake Shinji's steps.
He let the fierce wind brush against his face, unmoving and unwavering. With a slingshot in his left hand and silver bullets in his right, he launched a beautiful triple shot.
At the same time, he didn't forget to speak: "Are you saying that you want to formally invite me to join your Brigade squad? And that the reason for our battle is to determine my role?"
Lorelei cracked her whip, her body swiftly moving through the air, evading the barrage of silver bullets.
"Yes, so you must perform well and not disappoint me."
"As you wish, but please, Milady, take note—"
His words came to a halt as a visible surge of magic power overflowed from under Shinji's cloak. The powerful magic caused even the howling winds around them to momentarily cease. Vast amounts of magic gathered beneath Shinji's feet and erupted in an instant, resembling the flames emitted from a missile upon launch.
And Shinji himself became the missile, launched with great force.
This is one of the most practical skills bestowed by Scáthach through the "Wisdom of Dún Scáith" - Mana Burst. By instantly releasing magic, unexpected effects can be achieved.
This previously unused skill exceeded Lorelei's calculations. By the time she reacted and tried to change positions in mid-air, Shinji's left-handed bow blade was already coming towards her. Helplessly, Lorelei swung her whip to block Shinji's magical blade.
The power of the blade, amplified by the Mana Burst, was extraordinarily strong. If Lorelei hadn't constantly maintained her magically enhanced body, she would have already been defeated by Shinji.
Even with the strength enhanced by magecraft, she barely managed to block this long-planned strike, only to be pushed to the ceiling by Shinji.
"—Don't disappoint me. If you don't meet the standards, be careful, I won't follow your commands."
Shinji raised his disheveled deep blue curls and spoke unfinished words.
Gazing into his pair of blue eyes devoid of any trace of jest, a confident smile bloomed on Lorelei's lips.
"You won't have that opportunity."
The next moment, the air between the two of them erupted with a booming sound.
PS: Many readers didn't like the fact that Bajiquan is portrayed as Chinese. Why? Bajiquan is cool. I've already removed and edited many of the author's personal biases and stereotypes, except for the Bajiquan and Wuxia reference jokes, which I love.
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