22 – True Education(2) (Seria Illustration)
And so the semi-final came to an end.
Naturally, Seria also advanced to the final.
Well, she is a member of the Hero Party, after all.
Getting eliminated in a tournament where such so-and-so’s participate would be unthinkable.
‘Hmm, I certainly didn’t expect to really end up fighting Seria.’
Her, who always stayed in the rear shooting arrows during our time in the Hero Party.
There was absolutely nothing she couldn’t hit with her superb archery skills.
‘I don’t know about the rest, but her archery skills were definitely real.’
That’s how exceptional her skills were.
Enough to amaze someone like me who knows nothing about archery.
– Ah, ah. Would contestants Kail and Seria please come onto the stage!
Just then, the loudspeaker spell in the waiting room rang out.
I heard that and left the waiting room.
Soon after, as I stepped onto the stage,
‘Haah. Why is she still here?’
Naturally, it was Meria, who had become the referee.
She was grinning and waving at me.
‘No, why is the host serving as the referee?’
There was a lot I wanted to say, but since I’m lying low, I just kept quiet.
So as Seria and I faced off, Meria began to explain the rules.
“The condition for victory remains the same— it ends when one surrenders or faints! But before we begin, let me clarify, you are not permitted to kill your opponent, understand?”
With that said, Meria gave a stern warning.
Upon hearing this, Seria nodded reluctantly.
“There won’t be any need for that, don’t worry.”
It seems like she misunderstood the warning on herself.
In reality, the warning wasn’t meant for Seria.
The only reason Meria issued such a warning was simple.
She worried that I might kill Seria due to the events of the past.
In response, I chose to nod instead of verbalizing my agreement.
Seeing this, Meria broke into a smile and exclaimed,
“Then, let the final match commence!”
That marked the beginning of the final match.
***
Seria stared at the man before her.
He wore a perception obstructing mask, making it impossible to recognize his face.
Yet, why did it seem so…
“It feels weirdly familiar.”
There was a vibe about him that was strangely familiar.
Why does such a familiarity emanate from the man in front of her? As she wondered this,
-Roar.
The man let out a burst of magic.
Upon witnessing his power, Seria shook her head in forced concentration.
‘Let’s focus on this duel for now.’
No matter who the man was, it was clear that he was a formidable opponent.
Swiftly, Seria pulled out her bow.
And then, infused it with her magic to create an arrow.
-oooh.
A blue arrow materialized in front of her.
Seria loaded this arrow into her bow.
-Whoooosh!!
Without hesitation, she shot at the man right in front of her.
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An arrow of magic, tearing through the air.
So far, none of the participants had been able to dodge this attack.
All were blasted away with a single strike.
But, would he be any different?
-Thunk!
He casually caught her magical arrow.
However, this was also something she had anticipated.
-Groan.
Vibrations arose from the magical arrow she had created.
And then…
-Kaboom!!
The magical arrow exploded like a bomb.
A cloud of dust arose from where he had been standing.
‘We shouldn’t be taking such hits if we’re to join our party…’
Seriya watched him with narrowed eyes.
As the dust completely cleared…
‘As expected…’
He was perfectly fine, no different than before.
He dusted off his clothes.
Soon, Karei looked at Seriya and thought to himself.
‘She definitely became stronger than before.’
Her shooting skills were indeed outstanding.
Even more so than anyone they had seen before.
However, she was somewhat clumsy when it came to handling magic.
Hadn’t he even taught her how to handle magic once before?
‘I didn’t expect she’d hide her skills like this.’
Karei thought for a moment.
-Hwoooooooong!!
Five more magical arrows were pouring towards them.
Each one held a different, significant force.
Cael flicked his fingers.
The next moment.
– Wooom.
A barrier unfolded around him.
– Tiiiing!!
The magic arrow reflected back towards her.
Seria’s eyes bulged in surprise at the unexpected counterattack.
Quickly, she dodged all of them with agile footwork.
‘Not only her physical abilities but also her magic are excellent.’
However, that does not mean there is no way to break that barrier.
It was undeniable that it was an outstanding defense mechanism.
But, everything has its weakness, no matter what.
Seria fired a volley of arrows at him, who had cast the magical barrier.
– Kwaaang!!
Cael squinted at Seria, who concentrated her attack on one point.
Attacking one single point was not a bad strategy.
If any other magician had created that barrier, it would have shattered by now.
But.
“What?”
The barrier he created could regenerate itself.
Therefore, regardless of her concentrated attacks, not much was changing.
‘Should I attack then?’
This time, Cael infused the ground with magical energy.
The next moment.
-Kuugugguung!!
An earthquake began to shake the interior of the stage.
Seria was taken aback by the sudden turn of events.
However, at that moment.
-Woong!
A blade made of magic surged up from the stage.
Selia quickly retreated.
If she’d been a bit slower, her foot would have been pierced.
‘Does such magic exist?’
Selia wore an expression of disbelief at the unexpected magic.
But, she’s misunderstanding right now.
In fact, the magic isn’t over.
It’s just the beginning.
The next moment.
-Kwagwagwag!
“What?”
Countless blades of magic sprouted from below the stage.
Taken aback, Selia continued to run.
Blades kept springing up where she stood.
Selia frowned at the sight of the rising blades.
‘How much magic is there that it keeps coming out?’
No matter how superior magic is, its power diminishes when there’s little magic left.
But, the magical blades kept springing up.
If it continues like this, even she would be defeated.
‘I have no choice.’
Selia emitted her magic with all her might.
The next moment.
-Woong.
A magical circuit appeared in front of her.
It was the magic that Kael had told her in the past.
She barely used it because thinking of him used to upset her, but if she doesn’t, defeat is certain.
-It’s been a while.
In an instant, a tiny figure that stirred the wind from the magical circuit appeared.
In front of her stood none other than the spirit of the wind, Silpheed.
Seria immediately asked something of Silpheed.
“Silpheed. Lift me off the ground.”
Nodding, wind emerged from under her feet.
Thanks to Silpheed’s wind, she was effortlessly suspended in midair.
But that was not all.
– Hmm.
Silpheed lent power to the magic arrow that she had made.
Seria shot the magical arrow into the magical barrier.
Then.
– Crack!
For the first time, a crack started to form in the barrier that had been untouched until now.
Cael showed a subtly startled expression as he watched this.
‘She managed to crack it?’
Though he had been regulating his strength, he hadn’t expected a crack in the barrier he created.
No wonder they’re called the Hero party.
‘It should be okay to use about half my power now.’
Cael quietly began to sketch his magic circuit.
A magical line being drawn out of thin air.
Seria could not take her eyes off his magic line.
She had never before seen one so beautiful in a lifetime of observing circuits.
And so, Cael completed his entire magic circuit.
– Spirit Summon.
From the circuit Cael created, a petite woman emerged.
A dignified woman who appeared outwardly frail.
The audience tilted their heads in confusion as they saw the spirit he summoned.
– Could that really be a spirit?
– Does it seem quite weak?
– Right?
However, unlike the audience, Meria watched the spirit summoned right before her eyes and smirked.
“What on earth, he’s calling forth even the Spirit King?!”
The spirit appeared fragile on the surface.
However, Meria, who had faced them in the past, knew better.
She knew how terrifying the spirit was.
And there was someone who knew that spirit more than anyone else.
None other than,
-“Q, Queen?!”
It was Silpheed, summoned by Seria.
At her appearance, Silpheed bowed without hesitation.
Hearing Silpheed’s words, Seria was taken aback.
‘Spirit King?’
The Spirit King, only known through legends.
To think that it was summoned by the man standing right before her.
But, the Spirit King ignored everyone’s reactions and clung to Kael.
Then, he looked up with a blissful smile on his face.
-Why did you call me? You normally wouldn’t.
“Stay back.”
Kael drove the clinging Spirit King away.
Then, with the same emotionless voice as always, he said,
“I had to summon you, because powerful enemies appeared.”
Hearing these words, the Spirit King looked at the woman in front of him.
Then, with a slightly surprised face, he whispered to Kael alone.
-Eh? Isn’t she the one who banished the woman contractor?
“…”
Normally, no one should have heard that voice.
However, unlike others, Seria’s hearing was exceptional.
She realized the identity of the man before her.
He was none other than Kael.