novelraw Chapter 22 : Chapter 22
Chapter 22 : Chapter 22
Chapter 22: Trigger
"What? Hahahaha...!"
Spark burst into a fit of laughter.
The sound of his laughter seemed unstable.
As if it might shatter at any moment.
Bending his waist like a shrimp, the face of the guy who had been clutching his belly for a long while distorted abruptly.
"You arrogant brat!!"
He charged at Lensis with explosive momentum.
Every time his feet struck the earth, the ground shattered.
In contrast, Lensis was like a calm sea.
His eyes were sunken and still.
Extremely serene, without even a hint of a flicker.
Whoosh—
Spark's swollen right arm swung down as if to crush Lensis.
Boom!
The innocent floor split and scattered into the air.
Spark's attacks repeatedly sliced through empty space.
Every time, the sound of air exploding spread out.
"Why you...!"
Spark's face turned beet red with rage.
Lensis did not allow even a touch.
Superior dynamic visual acuity and reflexes.
Even without using the Red Magic Stone, he was practically animalistic.
That was merely a part of Lensis's innate talent.
Even while dodging every offensive, Lensis maneuvered his twin swords, digging into minute gaps.
Ting.
The transformed hide of Spark was hard.
It was at a level where it only took scratches even after receiving Lensis's twin swords.
'The damage is not non-existent.'
I narrowed my eyes.
The scratches that were insignificant at first gradually began to widen.
Scale fragments fell off one by one.
'He's tenaciously aiming for only one spot.'
At that moment, Lensis's eyes flashed for an instant.
Pushing away the straight punch Spark threw with the flat of his left sword, he dug into the opening and fiercely thrust the sword held in his right hand.
Crunch!
The scales could no longer hold out and were completely shattered.
The sharp sword pierced deep into Spark's soft flesh.
"Aaaaaagh!!"
Spark screamed.
Fresh blood poured down from the guy's pierced right arm.
"Since I've severed the tendon, you won't be able to use your right arm for a while."
Lensis, who uttered a single word nonchalantly, suddenly looked back at me.
"Is this enough to consider your humiliation repaid?"
His gaze was fixed on my injured right arm.
"Why are you repaying my humiliation without even my permission?"
I furrowed my brows.
As expected, he's a guy I don't like.
'So he persistently aimed for the guy's right arm on purpose?'
At any rate, Spark had suffered a heavy wound.
Lensis suppressed him easily.
Without a Red Magic Stone, solely with his own abilities.
"I certainly have a good guard."
Marcus laughed contentedly.
"I heard Lensis was recognized as an out-of-spec talent even at Redstone?"
"...That is correct."
I replied reluctantly.
I hated to admit it, but it was the truth.
There was no way I could belittle his guard, Lensis, in front of the Prince.
"Ered. It's thanks to you that Lensis was able to reach a conclusion quickly. Because we didn't know that fellow was hiding another ability besides discharging electricity."
Even in that moment, Marcus was praising my contribution.
"I know your achievements so far are not few. I heard you played a big role on the front lines? Today is the same. You successfully uncovered the main culprits who ruined the garden. Thank you for keeping your promise."
"You flatter me."
I politely accepted Marcus's praise.
'Is it a simple formality? Or does it mean I am at a level that can catch the Prince's eye?'
It would be a lie to say I wasn't looking forward to it at all.
"The match is decided? Bullshit!"
Spark glared sharply at Marcus and then shouted as if having a fit.
"It's not over yet! I won't lose!"
Spark's entire body began to wriggle.
As if there were bugs inside his body.
The scale skin damaged during the battle fell off on its own.
New scales sprouted over it.
Thicker tendons erupted all over his body.
It seemed he intended to use every last bit of his strength.
"...Ugh!?"
During that, a look of bewilderment passed over Spark.
"N-No."
He convulsed and groaned in pain.
'Is it a side effect?'
The abilities of the Unnormal do not use mana.
'I should consider it to be in the category of superpowers.'
It seemed that even if it's a superpower, that strength isn't infinite.
Spark's taut muscles were rapidly deflating like a balloon losing air.
"No matter how much you struggle, a bug is just a bug."
Lensis approached him with his twin swords lowered.
He seemed to intend to finish things soon.
Crash—!
At that moment, one side of the ceiling collapsed with a thud.
Through that gap, soldiers in black uniforms jumped down all at once.
It was Obsidian.
"I apologize for being late."
I could spot Isel's figure mixed among them.
"Damn it! Don't interfere!!"
Spark was indignant as he looked at the crowd.
Surrounded on all sides.
There was no place for him to run.
The guy's shaking eyes suddenly landed on one spot.
Not toward Lensis, but beyond him.
I soon realized.
What the guy's aim was.
Spark alone could neither defeat nor evade Lensis and Obsidian.
If so, the final means remaining for him was...
"Kraaaa!!"
Spark let out a roar and kicked off the ground.
He intended to settle the match before completely losing his strength.
Spark was aiming for Marcus.
Taking a member of the Imperial family hostage was the only way for him to escape the crisis.
Lensis also realized the guy's intention soon.
He tried to intercept Spark.
Obsidian also narrowed the gap to protect Marcus, not to be outdone.
"Leave him be."
However, Marcus actually restrained them.
"Your Highness the Prince?"
I called out in worry, but Marcus only shook his head silently.
"He seems to have underestimated me quite rudely. I cannot tolerate that. For the sake of my honor as well."
Marcus walked out leisurely toward the rushing Spark.
With his bare hands, without any weapon.
"How fearless!"
Spark triumphantly extended his left hand.
Marcus twisted his body and lightly parried it.
"...Eh?"
Confusion surfaced from Spark.
Marcus firmly grabbed the guy's right collar with his left hand.
Pulling it toward himself, he tucked his right arm into the guy's armpit.
Using his advanced right foot as an axis, Marcus rotated his body and turned his back to the opponent.
Spark's body was flipped high in the air.
Thud!
A perfect one-arm shoulder throw.
Spark was slammed onto the floor.
In an instant, the air vibrated heavily and the surroundings became quiet for a moment.
The technique landed properly.
Since he collided with the ground defenselessly, either his waist or ribs would not be intact.
"Do not look down on me. Idiot."
Marcus lightly brushed his hands and looked down at the fallen Spark.
If a Prominence is a human weapon specialized for combat, a member of the Imperial family is a superior human.
The best talent who inherited superior genetic traits through generations and received high-level education in various fields for a long period.
'If we only consider ability, no matter which of the Emperor's children ascends to the throne, there would be no lack of qualification.'
The same was true in the field of combat.
They are as strong as the Prominence who grind and polish their combat abilities for a lifetime.
The members of the Imperial family have sufficient ability to protect themselves.
They only carry guards to prepare for contingencies since they are fundamentally precious bodies.
Certainly, Spark underestimated Marcus.
And that was why he was completely defeated.
He must have regarded him as a weak existence hiding behind the Royal Guard.
It was understandable to underestimate him.
Because cases where the noble Imperial family personally steps forward to exercise their skills are extremely rare.
"Honorable Prince. We will take this person into custody."
Isel paid her respects to Marcus politely.
Then she signaled to her subordinates.
Spark would be imprisoned in a correctional facility.
"P-Please spare me!"
"I was wrong...!"
The students who had followed Spark were also bound one by one.
Not only them, but even the families they belonged to would not be able to avoid extermination.
"This is just the beginning. It's not over yet."
Even while being bound, Spark did not stop wagging his tongue.
It was regarded as the desperate struggle of a cornered rat.
'Sorry, but there won't be a next time for you, Spark.'
***
Exiting the musty underground training hall, I could realize the preciousness of the outside air once again.
As expected, people should live with their feet on the ground.
A tree that grows looking at the sun is bound to be sturdy.
The red light returned to my sealed Red Magic Stone.
Only then could I activate the mana circuit to recover the injured parts.
"Ered."
While Obsidian was cleaning up the scene of the incident, Marcus approached me.
"Did you know about the existences called Unnormal even before infiltrating Neustadt Academy?"
"That is not the case. I only knew the fact that a group following the Republic's magic was within the academy."
"Is that so."
Marcus stroked his chin.
Wrinkles formed on his fine brow.
"Spark said the Unnormal are beings created by the Empire, just like the Prominence."
"The Empire has repeated new attempts from long ago. Because it is a few special beings who lead the nation. Prominence is a rare success case among them. Unnormal must be one of the countless failures."
Even Marcus seemed not to know much about the Unnormal.
I thought a member of the Imperial family, the ruling class of the Empire, would naturally know.
Because the Unnormal were just insignificant failures?
Did it not reach Marcus's ears because they weren't worth that much?
'However, the Unnormal are quite capable for failures.'
It wasn't just Spark.
Even the guys I met in the garden possessed useful abilities.
Even if they weren't Prominence-level, they were sufficient to be employed.
Why were they abandoned by the Empire?
"It keeps bothering me."
Marcus's remark cut through my thoughts.
"An Anti-Magic Field. Furthermore, a scale comparable to a playground. It must have cost an unimaginably large sum. Isn't it strange? There's no way a ragtag group would have the ability to move such a large amount of money."
I agreed with his reasoning.
Marcus spoke again with a cautious voice.
"This is not the end. Something bigger is behind this."
Marcus, who was lost in his own thoughts, exhaled a long breath and opened his closed eyes.
"Anyway, the incident has reached a conclusion, so I should withdraw for today."
"It was an honor to meet you."
Marcus nodded his head, expressing his farewell to me.
Before leaving, he laughed significantly.
"I feel like I will meet you again soon. I have such an intuition."
***
"Good work."
When I returned to the Obsidian headquarters, Jinfre greeted me.
"It seems you struggled quite a bit."
Jinfre scanned me from top to bottom.
Since I returned in a mess, it was understandable for him to show such a reaction.
"Well, it's a difficult thing to be active in an Anti-Magic Field."
"I tried to utilize Double Time, but perhaps because it was right after suffering a fatal injury, I couldn't focus well."
I was seized by an embarrassed feeling.
Because after speaking the words, they felt like an excuse.
"If so, it must be the point where a 'trigger' is needed."
Jinfre snapped his fingers instead of an answer.
Snap.
With the sound, his gaze changed in an instant.
'Did he activate Double Time? In this short time?'
I could tell just by Jinfre's changed expression.
"If you only think with your head, there are often cases where the activation of Double Time is late or concentration is disrupted."
When Jinfre snapped his fingers again, he returned to his usual leisurely atmosphere.
"To solve this, I repeated training to implant an automatic response in the body. It's about repeatedly imprinting a specific action or word when entering Double Time."
"You're utilizing a reflex action."
"That's right. At first, I recommend training with a specific shout. For example, intuitive words like 'Now' or 'Go' would be good. Once you pass this stage, you'll later be able to enter Double Time with just a simple movement."
This seems like it will be really useful.
I received a useful teaching I hadn't thought of.
"Anyway, I've heard the reports so far. Did you call them Unnormal? And even a student who manifested red mana."
Jinfre moved to the main point.
Within Neustadt Academy, more problems than imagined were lurking.
The academy's honor must have been quite tarnished.
Since the truth that it was a den of subversives was revealed, they wouldn't be able to avoid a scandal.
"Did you call it an awakening method using the fight-or-flight response?"
"Yes. I saw it clearly with my own eyes."
I nodded.
Unfortunately, the only witness was me.
Marcus and Lensis intruded after that.
"I've read a theory that mana is manifested through a wizard's conviction or emotions. It's called the 'Theory of Mana Emotion'."
"...Is that so?"
It was the first I had heard of it.
The magic used by the Republic's wizards was thoroughly dissected by the Empire through repeated wars, but almost nothing was known about the basis of magic itself.
"Until now, the Theory of Mana Emotion was considered a mere rumor. To draw out mana with just something like emotions. It was a preposterous story. But I can no longer deny it."
An ordinary student momentarily released mana.
This was an event that could never be ignored.
"According to the theory that mana is manifested by emotions, namely the 'Theory of Mana Emotion', I heard that the types of emotions through which magic is manifested are different for each person."
Facts I didn't know continued to flow out through Jinfre's mouth.
"You mean the fight-or-flight response isn't the only answer."
"Yes. The emotion that becomes the fuse for mana manifestation could be pain and anger like that student, or perhaps a strong conviction or sense of justice."
Anyway, does it mean the scale of the emotion must be intense?
Enough to be counted among the top few in one's life?
"The most intense emotion dwelling in the heart varies from person to person. Therefore, they say the color of mana is also different for each."
I internally agreed with Jinfre's words.
Come to think of it, the mana of the wizards I had met until now was all different.
The wizard I assassinated on the front lines was white, and Urik, who was an Obsidian spy, was blue light.
"As you know, general magic stones, excluding the Red Magic Stone, do not have a color themselves."
It was as Jinfre said.
Magic stones are transparent.
Just like quartz.
It must be because the mana dwelling inside is transparent.
If the Theory of Mana Emotion is true, the reason why mana is transparent is also explained.
It would mean it is transparent because it's not mana generated by human emotions.
"But why does the Red Magic Stone have a color? Why is it specifically red?"
Jinfre's remark was regarded as significant.
I had also been bothered by that point all along.
"Perhaps the truth is unexpectedly in a nearby place."
Jinfre was lost in thought while gazing somewhere on the ceiling.
It was an expression where it was difficult to read his inner thoughts.
The mission was completed, but unresolved questions swirled in my head.
***
"...Gasp!"
I woke up with a start.
My whole body was drenched in sweat.
I had a nightmare.
It was a dream where I was engulfed in flames and burning alive.
'It must have been influenced by the scene I witnessed at the academy.'
I recalled the figure of the student who endured whipping to open his eyes to magic.
I raised my body from the bed.
Because my mind was restless due to the nightmare, I didn't think I could fall back asleep.
After the mission at Neustadt Academy ended, a three-day leave was given.
Sufficient time to recover the accumulated fatigue.
I didn't just idle around.
I focused on honing the trigger that Jinfre had told me about.
'I must make that mine quickly.'
It was late evening on the last day of leave when my quiet communicator rang.
-Ered.
It's Isel.
-I apologize for disturbing your leave.
"It must mean it's an urgent matter. What's going on?"
-I have two pieces of news.
"Go ahead."
In the next moment, the news I heard through her far exceeded my expectations.
-Spark has disappeared.
"...What did you say?"
Sleep vanished instantly.
'If it's Spark, he should have been imprisoned in the jail immediately?'
He escaped?
In just three days?
"What's the second piece of news?"
-Joffrey Wiga and his grandfather, Chief Justice Ivad Wiga, have been found dead.