Vol 9 Chapter 13: Clash

I deployed the magic I’d been weaving from my staff’s tip.

—At the sepulcher in the Shiei Sea, I touched upon a fragment of humanity’s pinnacle of magical formulas.

Of course, I don’t think I’ve reached anywhere near that level.

The magical formulas of that girl—Rinalia Etherheart, who protected Atra—were refined to the extreme, far beyond what a mage of my caliber could possibly control.

…Probably no one but that girl could’ve managed it.

It was the kind of extreme construct that would detonate and blow you away the moment you made a single mistake.

“Hah!? Why should I, the world’s greatest super-duper-ultra genius, have to create magical formulas for mediocre talents?! …W-Well, if you absolutely insist, I-I suppose I could create one for you. Yes. First, say ‘Rinalia is cute’♪”

…Auditory hallucinations. I must be tired.

Anyway… it’s not a magical formula that can be used properly.

And since I’m mediocre, this is my limit.

—The magical formula finished assembling and completed its deployment, beginning to emit red, purple, blue, and white light.

The spectators held their breath and began erecting countless magical barriers one after another.

Not a single person chose the option to “evacuate.” …The Linstars and their associates are terrifying.

Risa-san narrowed her eyes and called the Head Maid.

“Anna.”

“Yes♪ Mistress, leave it to me. Maximum barrier, prepare!”

“Yes!”

At Anna-san’s command, the maids erected a powerful barrier.

Clearly military-grade. Moreover, strategic magic for city defense. How excessive.

As I felt exhausted, Lidia teased me.

“Hehe♪ To have strategic barriers specially prepared in advance—you’ve gotten somewhere in the world, haven’t you? Thanks to me, right? Right!”

“…You said something to Risa-san and Anna-san, didn’t you?”

“I don’t know~♪”

Lidia laughed cheerfully.

Lily-san chimed in from the side.

“I told them~ ‘Allen-sama will push himself unreasonably for my sake’☆”

“…Can we stop this now?”

“Eh~ No way~♪”

These two!

I sighed and called out to Lady Leticia.

“Sorry for the wait!”

“No matter. I’m used to waiting… ever since that time on the blood river’s bank when that stupid wolf left me behind. Man, show me your power!”

Eight wind-attribute ultimate magic spells, “Storm Dragons,” converged on the spear’s tip.

Emitting jade light, it began affecting the surrounding area, even disturbing the weather above.

—The Lubfera Ducal House’s secret transmission, the “Jade Lance” that pierces all.

I called their names.

“Lidia, Lily-san.”

“No problem!” “We’re fine!”

Strong responses.

Without a trace of worry or fear.

Only pure, strong trust in me.

I closed both eyes—and released the magic.

“♪♪”

Atra and Ria sang, and the magic circle sparkled.

—What manifested was a single “bird.”

Since I’d combined Lidia’s and Lily-san’s magic power, it was based on “Fire Phoenix.”

But… I could hear the murmurs of Tina and the others standing firm in the front row.

“…A body of flame,” “A-And wings of ice!” “And wrapped around the body is—” “Lightning?”

Lady Leticia grinned wickedly, leaned forward—and without any hesitation, began a god-speed charge.

Cries of admiration.

“Splendid! Truly splendid! To combine three ultimate attribute magics! Ha ha ha! Interesting!”

With a joyful expression, she thrust the lethal “Jade Lance” at the “bird,” and they collided violently.

Gales and shockwaves. A massive torrent of magic power.

Cracks appeared throughout the barrier, and a second strategic barrier was erected.

The three of us desperately controlled the magic. The highest difficulty yet.

If I let my guard down even slightly, it would detonate instantly.

With over half the magical formulas simplified, and it’s still like this!

…That genius mage is missing a few screws in her head… Ah, no, she never had any screws to begin with! How inconvenient!

“Hmph! It’s your fault for being incompetent, you weakling. Nyah nyah, weakling~”

Another auditory hallucination.

…I hope she hasn’t forgotten that I can extract only the embarrassing parts of that diary and spread them to the world anytime!

“Nuooooooooooh!”

Lady Leticia’s magic power increased further, the balance collapsed, and we began to be pushed back.

This person too is—a true “Hero.”

I couldn’t help but smile. …Honestly.

What am I even doing against such an extraordinary person?

My shoulders relaxed—and I called their names.

“Atra, Ria.”

“Yes~♪”

“Mm! Wh-What is this!?”

Their singing voices rang out.

The “bird”—the four-attribute composite ultimate magic “Four-Star Bird”—began emitting pure white light.

My eyes met Lady Leticia’s.

A very gentle, peaceful smile, one that couldn’t be happier.

“Mm. Splendid.”

The next moment—the flash of light engulfed the entire training ground.

※※※

“Fuhaha! Man, I nearly died there, you know? Mm mm! That’s what I’m talking about! Risa, won’t you give him to Lubfera? Hm? Hm? Why not! I’ll concede the position of legal wife! As a second wife, I’ll offer our clan’s finest prodigy—”

“…Leti, if you really want to have that conversation, I’ll be your opponent next time. Along with Lidia and Anna.”

“Th-That would easily kill me!”

Risa-san calmly drove the point home to Lady Leticia, whose hands were wrapped in bandages.

…Wait, she’s almost uninjured after taking a direct hit from that magic? Heroes are something else.

I lay sprawled on the sofa prepared in the room, completely exhausted.

Atra and Ria were on my stomach, enjoying moving up and down. “! ♪”

From beside me, Lidia poked my cheek.

“How pathetic! Come on, pull yourself together.”

“…Impossible. Ellie, I’m fine. I’m not injured. Just tired.”

“Y-Yes! B-But just to be sure!”

The maid who’d been worriedly checking my body wouldn’t stop.

Tina and Liene gripped their small hands tightly, deep in serious discussion. “…We still have so far to go.” “…Yes.” There’s no need to rush; they have time ahead of them.

Stella and Karen also wore slightly stern expressions. “We need to work harder.” “Let’s catch up. Together.” These girls have time ahead of them too.

The glasses-wearing girl sitting next to me, who’d thoroughly enjoyed this event, was also exhausted now that the excitement had faded.

“…It was fun, but I’m tired. But now tonight I can be extravagant…”

…”Tonight”?

As I tilted my head, the door opened.

The instigator of this whole affair came bouncing in. Luca Linstar-sama followed behind her.

“Allen-san~♪”

“…”

I raised my hand and nodded respectfully to Luca-sama. I didn’t have the energy to stand up.

With natural movements, Lidia and Ellie blocked her path, with Stella and Karen behind me. Tina and the others were still deep in discussion.

Lily-san tried to approach, but Lidia and Ellie wouldn’t allow it.

My lifelong friend crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, while Ellie desperately protected me.

“Lily, your husband-hunt is over, isn’t it?”

“Th-That’s right! A-Allen-sensei is t-tired!”

“…Yes. I apologize.”

“!”

Lily-san suddenly bowed deeply.

…Really, this person.

I somehow managed to stand up after setting Atra and Ria down, and signaled Lidia and Ellie with my eyes. They reluctantly opened the path forward, so I placed my hand on Lily-san’s shoulder.

“Please stop. I did this of my own accord. There’s no reason to apologize.”

“…Even if I deliberately did this to spread your name?”

“You were genuinely troubled, weren’t you? Besides—”

I wasn’t surprised since I’d suspected as much. Simply mowing them down would’ve been well within this lady’s capabilities.

Lily-san looked up hesitantly, and I asked her:

“You ‘want to become a maid,’ don’t you? —Like Anna-san.”

“!?! A-Allen-san! Th-That’s supposed to be a secret!”

“Was it? I forgot. How careless of me. —So that’s how it is, Anna-san.”

“What a troublesome young lady… However—”

The Head Maid of House Linstar, who’d been standing by Risa-san and Lady Leticia, smiled wryly and happily declared:

“—Lily is a member of the Linstar Ducal House Maid Corps. Not a single person in our maid corps questions that fact!”

“!! H-Head Maid…”