Decoy
In the Hogner Magic Academy’s backyard is a large forest. In this place with a mixture of young trees with abundant green leaves and old trees with plenty of wilted leaves, there resides many plants and animals. Asch deliberately chose this place and assembled the students. With a location they normally can’t step foot in, and the ring of ‘New Magic’, the students’ expressions are vibrant, and their tension is high.
What’s the definition of ‘New Magic’. First thing first, it means a magic that doesn’t exist elsewhere. And then, it means its efficacy is recognised by the Continent Magic Academic Conference. About 154 of Asch’s Dark Magic have been registered by this Continent Magic Academic Conference.
“However, this is not what you should specifically take note of. How many weren’t recognised by the Academic Conference……in other words, how many failed unofficial New Magic of mine do you think there is? Jispa-kun”
“Err……is it about 300?”
“Mira, please give her the correct number”
“It is 3054”
Everybody held their breath at that astonishing number.
“Hmm……well, I guess it’s about 20 per year. It’s not too bad huh. However, there is no shame in failure. That number of failures is precisely what I’m proud of. Don’t you think so, Lily＝Schwarz-kun”
While saying that, he presses onto her head and rubs it. Grind Grind, Grind Grind.
“……yes”
The honour student beautiful young girl, who can’t even make a groan, nods frustratedly. After looking at that expression and feeling satisfied for a bit,
“Let’s leave the chitchat at this, shall we. Well then, every one of you will respectively show me a magic that can go as far as to give me a surprise”
The Dark Magician unusually encourages the student and sends them off.
In the backyard that no longer had anybody, Mira pours coffee into a cup.
“It was an acting I would go as far as to call brilliant. The students will probably pour their heart into the New Magic without even suspecting anything”
“Leaving that aside, how do you think the opponent will come attacking? I wonder if they will target the students. Or, will they target me directly”
Unable to completely suppress his excitement, Asch walks round and round the vicinity.
“I suppose it will depend on the enemy’s character……but if it is your protégé, shouldn’t you know his character very well?”
“He was a guy akin to a lump of righteousness. He seemingly also had a period where he was infatuated with 『turning the continent into a Utopia』 ……but since he’d been spewing tremendously naïve and deluded remarks, I disciplined that attitude of his time after time”
“……”
‘Even if you spew such rotten-to-the-core words, with such innocent eyes’, was the competent butler’s opinion.
“Well, several decades have already gone by. I’ll wager on the fact that his personality has properly changed for the better. He should see that human’s nature is evil, and this world is rotten, exactly as my advice”
“……”
‘Even if you spew such rotten-to-the-core words, with such refreshing voice’, was the butler’s thoughts.
“Hmm……thinking about it like that, depending on what kind of strategy he takes, I’ll understand his creed. I suppose if he recognises my creed, he’ll target the students, and if he still believes in his naïve and deluded remarks, he’ll target me directly”
＊
“――so he says; what are you going to do?”
Two men stand side by side and talk from a location about several kilometres away.
Monitoring Magic(Surveillance). Through the medium known as a crystal ball, their image and sound are being materialised. The ones staring at that are Klose Chivalric Order’s Captain, Raynes, and the individual who made the proposal, Delta＝Laplace.
“He sure is the same as always. The same as always, without any changes”
Delta mutters while smiling awkwardly.
“What a ridiculous fellow”
The knight who boasts to be one of the strongest on the continent gets irritated. For the man who went through stern training and numerous battlefields by himself, he can’t feel more displeased by this Dark Magician’s existence.
“However, he’s a monster. An overwhelming one at that”
“More so than you?”
“……I came today with the intention to surpass him. I have the genius known as you around as well after all”
Delta laughs and smacks Raynes’ shoulder.
“Then, I guess we’ll go from the front. We won’t be able to meet that Dark Magician’s expectation though”
Laughing delightedly, the Chivalric Order’s Captain stands up.
His demeanour was, horribly gallant.
＜＜Bring The Light, That Transcends Even The Skies, Into These Hands＞＞ーーWatchman Of Space-Time(Space・Keeper)
