Chapter 290
- The Stories of Others (3)
#4 Their Circumstances: Aria El Nermia’s Circumstances
“Attack!”
As soon as I gave the order, thousands of spells rained down to the ground.
Innumerable spells falling from the sky.
No matter how resistant the army of evil god is to magic, they can’t withstand such numbers.
Creak!
Of course there are exceptions.
Beings with inherently tough bodies from birth.
For those who cannot perfectly wield swords, like the ogres or drake descendants called the offspring of dragons, whose firm scales protect their bodies, even wounds cannot be inflicted.
And a being who faces such an existence,
“Burn them, Surtur.”
Uoo!
The fire giant Surtur engages them.
“As you all know, please focus on using flame magic.”
“Understood.”
The magicians in the Magic Tower use flame magic.
Surtur is the legendary great devil who destroyed the world.
The flames humans use have no effect whatsoever on Surtur, who burned down an entire world.
Unless it’s the flames of at least the fire elemental king or a flame related to a god close to that level, Surtur likely can’t be damaged.
Well, he still can’t beat a single wooden bat.
– What about the Master?
– That’s true.
Just thinking about the terrifying wooden and metal bats makes my body tremble.
It’s better to fight the Demon King than face those.
And that’s why I’m fighting the evil god troops right now.
“So I have to try hard.”
There was no need for me to personally use magic.
Simply increasing the amount of magic supplied to Surtur was enough.
The flames gradually intensify.
From red to blue, from blue to white!
The moment Surtur’s sword swept around, enveloped in fresh white flames, the evil god troops disappeared from sight.
“Phew…”
Feeling the magic drain out in an instant, I drink a magic recovery potion.
Sensing my magic recovering quickly, I appropriately adjust Surtur’s magic.
Regulating the magic usage.
Among the words of the Magic Tower Master, my grandfather, was this.
The difference between a high-ranking magician and an archmage is whether they can distribute magic or not.
Even if a magician can use magic at a level close to an archmage, if they cannot distribute magic, they can never be called an archmage.
Summoning is the same.
Even contracting a very excellent summoned being, if the magic distributed to that summoned being is low, it cannot properly use its abilities.
However, if too much magic is used, there may not be enough magic left to sustain the summoned being, causing it to quickly unsummon.
The ability to adjust that is the summoner’s skill.
No matter how powerful the summoned beings.
No matter the number of summoned beings under contract.
If the summoner cannot distribute magic, the summoned beings cannot use their full power, which is why a summoner’s ability is considered as important as the summoned beings’ abilities.
A prime example was Nerkia, called the Elemental Legion.
When I entered Yugrasia, he had already graduated, but his name is still mentioned at Yugrasia, showing what an outstanding summoner he was.
Before meeting the Instructor, he had already made a name for himself with his excellent summoned beings. He utilized all elementals he was capable of using.
Normally after contracting low and mid-ranked elementals, once certain conditions are met, one proceeds to contract high-ranked elementals.
And the moment a high-ranked elemental is contracted, low and mid-ranked elementals are no longer used, only the high-ranked ones.
Why?
Because the difference between mid and high-ranked elementals cannot even be compared.
But Nerkia was different.
He mainly used mid-ranked elementals, and depending on the situation utilized high or even low ranked ones.
Suitable summoning abilities for each situation, long term battles through perfect magic distribution.
Seeing him operate as if commanding an army, people called him the ‘Elemental Legion’.
Well… Now he’s living as a slave thanks to meeting the wrong person.
“Was it too harsh?”
Thinking of my pitiful seniors, peers, and juniors, I seemed to have overused magic for a moment there.
Thanks to the excessive magic usage making Surtur leap greatly, most of the evil god troops were struck down, so this much should be fine.
“Phew…”
Feeling slightly dizzy from using up almost all my magic, I held my forehead.
Well, I’ve done enough of my share.
I’ll leave the rest to others.
“Please clean up.”
“Understood.”
The former Mercenary King and hero, yet also my senior, who had been waiting beside me steps forward.
“Let’s go!”
As he shouts while riding his horse and drawing his sword, numerous mercenaries follow behind him.
Apart from the people in the front lines who can use magic, the rest just make up the numbers, but didn’t Instructor say.
Quantity is originally the truth. There is business in numbers.
No matter how strong, getting hit by many people is bound to hurt.
It’s the same with those mercenaries.
Having already been struck by the magicians’ bombardment and Surtur’s attacks
And about to be wounded by the mercenaries at the front, the evil god army will be beaten up by those mercenaries.
It’s not an exaggeration. They are literally getting beaten up.
Bringing down his sword on writhing ogres whose arms and legs have been severed.
They use the swords more like blunt weapons since they don’t even contain magic.
Thwack!
“Ouch, where did this smelly snout pop out from!”
Thwack!
Getting continuously hit like that has got to hurt.
– To me it looks like they’re dying from being unable to hold in their anger?
– Dead is still dead, right?
While cavorting at the front and violently assaulting their own bodies, the evil tainted ogres bellow as if filled with rage.
No matter how fast the recovery ability of the evil god troops were, crawling around violently while bleeding profusely from severed limbs, even trolls would be unable to recover unless they are wood trolls.
Monsters that couldn’t be distinguished between whether they died from the beating or died from excessive bleeding began to pile up one by one, and the battle ended in our victory.
Of course,
“There were more casualties than expected.”
There were bound to be casualties.
“Is that so?”
No matter how much they’re all dying, the opponents are still an army of the evil god.
Since they are beings who do not value their own lives and only seek to destroy everything, it was common for them to drag away several mercenary companions.
Even so, the reason why the number of mercenaries doesn’t decrease is…
“Please confirm and make a name list. The Nature Religion will provide compensation.”
…Because exorbitant rewards are offered by the Nature Religion.
These mercenaries who fight with their lives on the line.
For them, who earn money for themselves, friends, lovers or family, the greatest value was money.
As long as there is money, the mercenaries will continue to follow me and their numbers will be replenished.
Indeed, money was the best as Instructor said!
…Well, it’s not my money though.
“It’ll be fine as usual right?”
At my senior’s words, I nodded my head.
If I take the contract with Swin’s guarantee as usual, the Nature Religion will have no choice but to pay out. Since Swin is currently making the name of the Nature Religion well known throughout the world.
Since Swin has staked the Goddess’ name, they have to honor that guarantee.
“Yes. Also please replenish more mercenaries.”
And I just have to keep getting mercenaries based on that money.
“Yeah. Should replace as many as those who died right?”
“Yes. That’s just the right amount.”
“Got it. I’ll take care of it.”
My senior who finished speaking left.
As expected of my senior who was taught by Instructor, he really tidied up that task cleanly.
Well of course as Instructor’s disciple, padding the name list to claim more compensation is basic.
But since it’s not my money, there was no need for me to care about such things.
If I had time to care about those things it’d be better to rest a little.
But…
“You worked hard.”
“No, Grandfather.”
I couldn’t rest at all with Magic Tower Master Grandfather taking his place.
“There were no magician casualties. I suppose the mercenaries took quite some damage?”
“Yes. It was an inevitable sacrifice.”
Actually it wasn’t really an inevitable sacrifice.
If we utilized troops just a little safer, many more could have been saved.
However, safer troop utilization would only delay time.
Neither I who want my freedom as soon as possible, nor my impatient senior would choose that.
-Wicked Master…
-Should the great devil really say that?
Also through this, many can be saved.
The same number as troops saved, means people dying elsewhere.
So!
“These people chose to fight, staking their lives to earn money. If through their sacrifice, more people can be saved… I can carry that sacrifice no matter what.”
“Aria…”
My chest hurt a little at Grandfather’s gaze filled with complex emotions.
-That’s the tiny bit of conscience the Master has left. Cherish it.
-Noisy.
There wasn’t a shred of falsehood in my words.
If I can defeat the evil god troops here one day sooner and move on to defeat the troops in another kingdom, I can save countless people!
-But your purposes are different.
-I said noisy!
Usually just taking hits here and there in my place, maybe because recently he has been sweeping away evil god troops, becoming a subject of fear and admiration for many, Surtur has been nagging me more lately.
I want to let him know what contract he’s under, but…
“I didn’t think my cute little granddaughter would grow up like this…”
With Grandfather grabbing my hand while looking at me with moist eyes, I had no choice but to endure.
“I’m not a little kid anymore, Grandfather.”
“Ah, that’s right. You’ve all grown up now. It’s been years since your older sister got married even.”
“Ah…”
I’m reminded of my sister who, despite being an outstanding magician, left the family by political marriage.
She only learned magic in the family and didn’t even enter the Magic Tower or enroll into Marcis, just went straight into marriage. It was political but they were in love.
She already has two sons and a daughter right…? Or something like that?
“Rien already has four sons and two daughters, living well.”
“I see…”
Sorry, sister. It seems your luck is better than I thought.
“Aria, after this war ends for you too…”
“Grandfather… I think we can talk about that later.”
Grandfather’s words contained extremely important content.
Which was ‘after this war ends…’!
During my Howling days, Instructor talked about the situation that must absolutely be upheld while carrying out missions.
If a comrade carrying out a mission starts saying things like ‘after this mission ends, I’ll confess to you…’ or ‘when this mission ends, let’s marry…’, I must stop them even if I have to smack them upside the head.
And also to throw away things like pendants showing pictures from far away.
That behavior could lead the speaker and people nearby to death!
I still don’t understand what nonsense it was thinking back then, but since it was Instructor’s words, there was no harm in listening.
-Anyway, Master doesn’t have anyone to marry.
-I’ll probably need to have a very long talk with you after Grandfather passes away…
“If you don’t have anyone, I can introduce some good people.”
-See, Master. Your grandfather thinks the same as me!
-Noisy!
“Ah, no need for that. I’m fine.”
After quite the bout of quarreling, seeing Grandfather off, I let out a small sigh.
“Tiring…”
I’ve been running and running every day to defeat the evil god army faster.
Continuing the battles day after day, clearing the vicinity, already passing through 6 countries.
Tiring. But it’s not over yet.
“If only the Demon King dies for real…”
I should be able to rest for around a year without people.
-I heard Master was dreaming an impossible dream.
“It is possible though?”
It really is possible.
…Probably.
