Volume 1
Chapter 5: The Fool and the Black Reaper
“All set.”
Glenn kept a wary eye on the unconscious Jin, waiting for his area-wide spell suppression to wear off. He cast Black Magic [Magic Rope] to bind Jin’s limbs seizing his moments, Black Magic [Spell Seal] to block his spellcasting, and layered White Magic [Sleep Sound] for good measure. Then, he stripped Jin naked, tied him in turtle-shell ropes, scrawled humiliating graffiti across his body, and slapped a paper labeled “Impotent” on his groin.
“Phew, completely neutralized. Man, handling mage prisoners is such a hassle.”
Sistine, wondering what the point of all that was, felt a shirt drape over her shoulders.
“Sensei…?”
She turned to see Glenn, now in a tank top, looking away to avoid her exposed state.
“That was scary, huh? You hurt?”
“I’m fine… thanks to you.”
“Good. Glad I made it in time. I’ll undo that [Magic Rope] now.”
Glenn chanted Black Magic [Dispel Force], nullifying the [Magic Rope] and [Spell Seal] binding Sistine.
Freed, she slipped her arms into Glenn’s shirt, buttoning it up.
Glenn avoided her gaze.
“S-Sensei…”
Unable to bear the awkward silence, Sistine spoke.
“Don’t ask. Please,” Glenn cut her off, his tone sheepish.
“I knew it… I’m not cut out to teach anyone. My hands are too dirty to guide anybody…”
“No, that’s not it… Your pants are falling.”
“Huh?!”
Apparently, his belt buckle had snapped during that final roundhouse kick. His pants had slid to his knees, exposing his underwear.
“Damn it! This is why cheap stuff sucks!”
“You’re such a mess, Sensei…”
Sistine could only sigh at his flustered, comical struggle to yank his pants up.
“But… I’m glad you’re alive…”
“Hm? Said something?”
“Nothing.”
Sistine turned away, her expression faintly sour.
“…? Whatever. Alright, White Cat, fill me in. What the hell’s going on?”
“Okay…”
Sistine recounted the events: two self-proclaimed terrorists storming the classroom, the students being bound and locked inside. Glenn seemed relieved, for now, that no students had been harmed. But—
“Rumia was taken?”
“…Yes.”
Sistine’s eyes dropped, filled with regret and sorrow.
“Why her?”
“I don’t know.”
“Got it… Did I jump the gun, then?”
“Sensei?”
“Nah, sorry, just thinking out loud. I saved you, so I’ll call it the right move.”
At that moment, a sharp, metallic resonance echoed through the air.
Sistine tensed, startled, as Glenn frowned and pulled the halved gem from his pocket, pressing it to his ear.
“You, Celica?! About time! What the hell were you doing, you idiot?!”
“Sorry. I was in the middle of a lecture. Had my notifications off.”
Celica’s voice came through, faint from the distant imperial capital.
“This is no time for that!”
“…Something happen?”
The voice hardened.
“Yeah, listen…”
…
“That for real?”
“You think I’d joke about this? It’s not funny.”
Glenn raked a hand through his hair, rapid-firing details.
“Long story short, the culprits are the Researchers of Divine Wisdom. They’ve hijacked the barrier, sealing the academy completely. No one’s getting in or out. About fifty students are hostages, neutralized and locked in a classroom. I’ve rescued one, but another’s been taken to the mastermind.”
“The Researchers of Divine Wisdom, huh? Those depraved bastards crawling out of the woodwork…”
“Confirmed enemies: three so far, at least one more unaccounted for. I’ve neutralized two of the three, but the rest are likely bad news. From the situation, they’re probably not weaker than the ones I took down.”
“Your unique magic, [The Fool’s World], no good?”
“It’s best for surprise attacks. They’re not dumb enough to fall for it a third time.”
“Fair.”
“And here’s the kicker: I know how tight the academy’s magical security is. For them to hijack it this cleanly… there’s a traitor inside.”
“Yeah, I was thinking the same.”
“Celica, any professors or lecturers over there acting shady or missing? Especially full professors or those with equivalent skill.”
“No clue. It’s not a group event here. Checking right away isn’t feasible.”
“Tch… Explain the situation and check! Then get the Imperial Court Mage Corps moving!”
“Not happening. You know the academy’s a bureaucratic nightmare with all the government agencies and their turf wars. Even if I call, it won’t be quick.”
“Are you kidding me?! Students’ lives are on the line! Use your authority!”
“I’m just a private mage now. If people could throw around past titles, the country’d be a mess.”
“Then get back here! There’s a teleportation array in the academy!”
“Calm down. If they’ve locked down the barrier that thoroughly, you think they’d leave the teleportation array active? I’d smash it first thing. I’ll try, but don’t hold your breath.”
“Ugh…”
She was right. Teleportation arrays were both entry and exit points for long-range magic. If the array linking the capital to the academy was active, reinforcements could pour in. Destroying it was standard for a barricaded siege.
Glenn clutched his head, sighing sheepishly.
“…Sorry. Lost my cool.”
“Some things never change, huh? You’re still you. Alright, I’ll handle things here. Don’t do anything reckless. Stay safe with the student you saved and hide.”
“Got it.”
“Cutting off now. …Don’t die, okay?”
“As if I’d kick the bucket here.”
Glenn ended the communication spell and pocketed the gem.
“…What’s up?”
Noticing Sistine’s stare, he raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing… just… surprised.”
“Huh?”
“I thought you were… colder than that.”
Glenn looked away, dismissive.
“That was Professor Arfonia, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Any chance of getting help?”
“You heard that and thought help’s coming?”
Sistine’s shoulders slumped, her gaze dropping in despair.
Then, as if resolving herself, she lifted her head and turned to leave.
“Where do you think you’re going, White Cat?”
Glenn grabbed her arm, stopping her.
“To save Rumia.”
“Stop. You’ll just get yourself killed.”
“But… she protected me…”
“Just stay put, what can you do alone? You know you’re outmatched.”
“But… but…!”
“Stay put.”
Glenn’s cold, unyielding words shut her down.
Sistine’s shoulders began to tremble. The soft patter of tears hitting the floor echoed faintly.
“But… I can’t stand it…!”
“Hey… White Cat…?”
“It’s just… sob… waaah…!”
The emotions she’d suppressed—fear, guilt, helplessness—burst forth, triggered by a moment of relief. Before a speechless Glenn, Sistine cried like a child, her eyes red and swollen.
“You were right, Sensei! Magic’s no good! It’s because of magic… because of this stuff that Rumia… Rumia… sob… ugh…!”
“…Don’t cry, idiot.”
Gently, Glenn placed a hand on her head.
“Sensei…?”
“Magic exists, whether we like it or not. Wishing it didn’t is pointless. What matters is figuring out what to do with it… or so I’ve heard. That’s from your best friend, by the way. Man, I’ve been stuck in a rut for way too long. Getting old, huh?”
His expression, usually sardonic and lazy, was surprisingly soft—almost serene. Sistine could only blink, caught off guard by this unexpected side of him.
“Rumia wants to guide magic’s future, make sure stuff like this doesn’t happen. Crazy, right? But kinda noble.”
“She… said that?”
“Yeah. Can’t let her die. No way in hell.”
Resolve burned in Glenn’s eyes as he declared, “I’m moving. I’ll assume two enemies are left and Kill them. It’s the only way.”
kill. The word, so casually spoken, sent a chill down Sistine’s spine. But more than fear, she felt a pang of sorrow. Glenn’s eyes were cold, resolute, ready to kill… yet somehow, they looked pained.
“Kuha… kuhahahaha…”
A dry, rasping laugh suddenly filled the room.
“…Kill, huh? Kehkeh, didn’t expect that word to slip out so easy… Knew you weren’t ordinary, but damn, you’re one of us, aren’t you? Kuhaha…”
Jin, sprawled on the floor, had regained consciousness. The [Sleep Sound] must’ve been too weak. Glenn glanced at him, clicking his tongue.
“Not denying it. I’m scum, after all.”
“Oh? Not gonna kill me? Or can’t, in front of your cute little student?”
“Don’t lump Sensei in with you!”
Sistine, unable to stomach Jin’s taunts, shouted, shoulders shaking with anger.
“He’s nothing like you! You kill people like it’s nothing, like they’re trash—!”
“Kuhaha! What do you know about him? He’s just some part-time lecturer who showed up recently, right?”
“Tch…”
Sistine faltered. She only knew the Glenn of the past twenty days. A mysterious lecturer brought by Celica. She knew nothing of his past.
“I’ll say it straight, he’s no saint. He’s killed plenty… same as us or probably more. A monster. Those eyes give it away. I can tell.”
Sistine wanted Glenn to deny it, just one word.
But he said nothing. His silence was as good as confirmation.
Then, a sudden surge of mana resonated through the room, and the space around them rippled like water.
“What—?!”
From the distortion, countless forms emerged.
Skeletons. Standing on two legs, armed with swords and shields. Dozens of them. No, their numbers kept growing—
“Finally, you show up! Nice one, Boss Lake!”
Jin’s cheer rang out.
In moments, Glenn and Sistine were surrounded by a horde of skeletons.
“Sensei… these are—”
“Damn it, Bone Golems?! And made from dragon fangs through alchemy, no less? Talk about overkill!”
Summoning [Call Familiar]. Normally a basic spell to summon small familiars like animals, this caster was using it to remotely summon self-crafted golems en masse—an insanely advanced feat. Worse, these golems were forged from dragon fangs, granting them monstrous strength, agility, durability, and resistance to fire, ice, and lightning. No ordinary warrior or mage could handle them.
“What’s with this ridiculous multi-summoning?! This isn’t human!”
There was no time to gape at the caster’s skill.
A Bone Golem raised its sword and lunged at Sistine.
“Kyaa!”
“Stay back!”
Glenn darted in, deflecting the sword with his left hand and slamming a full-force right straight into the golem’s skull—but—
“Tch, tough bastard!”
It staggered slightly, but not a crack. Unfazed.
The golem recovered, slashing again—
“These guys drank too much milk, damn it! Switch to soda or something!”
Physical attacks barely dented dragon-fang golems. Punches, kicks, even basic offensive spells—fire, ice, lightning—were useless.
To destroy them, direct mana interference was needed.
([Weapon Enchant]! Damn, can I make it?!)
Three-phrase chants were a liability in moments like this, making snap reactions near impossible.
Bracing to take a couple hits, Glenn began to chant—
“《Let that blade shine with light》!”
Sistine’s one-phrase Black Magic [Weapon Enchant] completed first.
Glenn’s fists glowed white briefly, imbued with mana.
“Sensei!”
“Thanks, you’re a lifesaver!”
With a quick nod, Glenn stepped forward.
Three flashes of his fists shattered the skulls of golems attacking from front, left, and right to dust.
“《O mighty wind》!”
Sistine chanted Black Magic [Gale Blow].
A ferocious gust roared, blasting the golems blocking the doorway—door and all—out of the way.
It wouldn’t damage them, but it cleared a path.
“Nice! Run, White Cat!”
“Yes!”
Sistine bolted for the exit.
Golems from both sides lunged at her.
“No you don’t!”
Glenn, covering her rear, smashed and swept them away with fists and feet.
They barely escaped the laboratory.
No time to rest, they sprinted down the corridor.
“Sensei, where do we escape to?!”
“Hell if I know!”
Then—
“GYAAAH!”
A scream echoed from behind.
“W-Wait?! Why me… AAAAAH!”
The sickening sound of flesh pierced by sharp metal rang out repeatedly, harmonizing with agonized screams. Sistine paled, covering her mouth, nauseated.
“No obligation to save him. No time either,” Glenn said coldly, as if convincing himself.
“Worry about us. Here they come.”
The golems, having finished Jin, poured out of the room, pursuing them.
Whoosh!
Glenn’s right straight flashed, shattering a Bone Golem’s skull.
“《O mighty wind》!”
Sistine cast [Gale Blow], her gust scattering the golems closing in from behind.
“This way!”
“Right!”
They reached the corridor’s end and raced up the stairs.
The golem horde doggedly followed.
“Damn, we’re losing ground…”
Glenn’s mana-enhanced fists couldn’t handle their numbers. Sistine’s spells bought time but lacked a finishing blow.
Running was their only option.
Sistine’s mana wasn’t infinite. She’d been casting nonstop, and though she hid it well, she had to be nearing her limit. Her mana capacity was exceptional—per her aptitude tests—but continuous casting was grueling.
“Sensei! Golems are magical creatures, right?!”
Sistine panted, trailing Glenn.
“Can’t your unique magic do something?!”
“No dice!”
Glenn shot back instantly.
“My [The Fool’s World] only blocks spell activation. It’s useless against spells already active, like those things!”
He glared at the golems chasing them, frustration evident.
“To stop them, you’d need [Dispel Force]—mana negation magic.”
“I can use that! Should I try?!”
“Whoa, you can?! That’s high-level stuff!”
“Yes. I learned it from my father, not the academy, but…”
“You’re seriously something else… But it’s pointless. Don’t.”
“Why not?!”
“Dispel them, and they just revert to dragon fangs—raw material. The caster can re-infuse mana, and they’ll come right back. It’s a waste of mana.”
“—?!”
“Plus, [Dispel Force]’s mana cost scales with the target’s latent mana. Those things have mana-amplification circuits for semi-autonomy. Dispelling them one by one would drain you dry. I need your spell support right now.”
“Then you use [Dispel Force]! You’ve still got mana!”
“Me? Total waste. Chanting a long-ass spell, which burns a lot of my mana, that to temporarily take out one? Smashing them with enchanted fists is faster—and stops them from being reused!”
“But at this rate—”
They crested the stairs, back in another corridor.
“Sensei?! This way—”
“Yeah, dead end.”
As Sistine realized, the corridor stretched straight ahead to a cul-de-sac.
“What do we do?!”
“I’ll hold them here. You go to the end and… improvise a spell modification.”
“What?!”
“Modify your best spell, [Gale Blow]. Lower its power, widen its range and extend its duration. Keep it within three phrases. Signal me when it’s ready. I’ll handle the rest.”
“B-But…”
Sistine glanced nervously at Glenn’s profile as they ran.
“I don’t know if I can pull off something that advanced…”
“You’ll be fine.”
Glenn’s voice carried an unshakable confidence.
“You’re a cocky brat, but you’re damn good. Cocky, though.”
“Don’t double down on the cocky part!”
“Do it. You’ve grasped everything I’ve taught you lately. You can do this. If you don’t, I’m flunking you.”
“That’s so unfair…”
But Glenn’s usual banter, even in this crisis, eased Sistine’s tension. Whether he meant to or not was anyone’s guess.
“…Alright. I’ll try.”
“Good. Go!”
“Yes!”
Glenn stopped, turning to face the oncoming golem horde.
Sistine ran ahead, leaving him behind.
“RAAAH!”
Glenn’s fist obliterated the lead golem’s skull.
The horde surged toward him relentlessly.
(I can do this. Like I guessed when they went for that thug first, these things are programmed with simple orders: prioritize the nearest target. As long as I’m standing here, they won’t go after White Cat. I’m the wall.)
Glenn retreated slowly, weaving through the flurry of swords with deft footwork.
He struck gaps in their attacks, smashing golems with precise blows.
But the odds were against him. The sheer number overwhelmed him, and stray blades began to nick his body, carving shallow cuts.
(Tch… Minimize damage, avoid fatal hits or incapacitation… Hold out as long as possible… Come on, White Cat!)
At the corridor’s end, Sistine steadied her breathing and began mentally reconstructing Black Magic [Gale Blow]’s formula and chant, diving into spell modification.
Far down the corridor, Glenn fought ferociously, a one-man stand.
“《Wind—silent—》 No, that weakens it too much—《Storm—untamed—》”
Using the magical grammar and formulas Glenn taught her, she calculated the runic shifts in her subconscious, inching toward the desired spell.
But Glenn was being whittled down. Each splash of blood in the air seared Sistine’s heart with urgency. Each stumble as he misjudged a dodge squeezed her chest. He wouldn’t last long like this. The crushing pressure made her want to curl up and clutch her head.
“《Blocking wind—repelling wind—wall of wind》? To extend duration—”
Yet Glenn never turned his back. He kept weaving left and right, deflecting the onslaught to buy every second he could.
Sistine realized his unyielding resolve, his relentless stand, hinged on absolute trust in her. Despite his sarcasm and barbs, Glenn believed in her.
His defiance against despair ignited courage in her.
She couldn’t betray that trust.
“Chant speed drops to twenty-two… tension at forty-five…”
Sistine wasn’t strong. She always put on a brave face to live up to her noble name, but deep down, she was more timid and frail than anyone. She knew it.
(Just this once… I need Rumia’s fearless strength… Sensei’s strength…!)
Rumia and Glenn had saved her. Without them, she wouldn’t be standing here. She’d be dead—or broken.
(So now… it’s my turn to save them!)
Her fragile heart, teetering on panic, steadied at last.
Then—a spark of insight clicked, and she locked in the final rune, completing the modification.
“Sensei, it’s done!”
The moment Sistine shouted, Glenn spun as if he’d been waiting, sprinting toward her.
The golem horde pursued.
“How many phrases?!”
“Three!”
“Good! Start chanting on my signal! Aim for them!”
Glenn ran. Ran.
The golems closed in. Closer.
“Now, do it!”
“《O wall that repels—》”
The distance between Glenn and Sistine shrank.
“《—O storm’s bulwark—》”
Ten paces—five—three—
“《—Grant peace to their stride》!”
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Glenn leapt, rolling past Sistine.
The spell completed. A blast of wind erupted from Sistine’s hands.
Unlike [Gale Blow]’s focused gust, this was a directional storm, filling the entire corridor. A wall of wind roared toward the far end, dubbed Black Magic Modification [Storm Wall].
It slammed into the advancing golems, drastically slowing their march.
But—
“No… it’s not enough… I’m sorry, Sensei…!”
Was it the improvised spell’s lack of power? The golems, fighting the airflow, inched closer bit by bit. It was only a matter of time before they reached them. Cold sweat dripped down Sistine’s brow.
“Nah, that was damn good. Saved my ass.”
Glenn rose, breathing heavily.
With a flick of his thumb, he launched a small crystal into the air, catching it with a deft swipe of his left hand.
Clasping the crystal in his left fist, he slapped his right palm against it with a sharp smack.
“The spell I’m about to cast isn’t something I can pull off half-assed… Hold that wind wall as long as you can.”
After a deep breath, Glenn closed his eyes and began chanting.
“《I am the slayer of gods—》”
Slowly.
“《I am the knower of the primal ancestor and the end—》”
Deliberately slow.
Glenn channeled mana, focusing intently, weaving each phrase with precision.
As he chanted, three ring-shaped magical arrays formed around his left fist—vertical, horizontal, and diagonal—interlocking and spinning, gradually accelerating.
“…No way…?”
Sistine realized what spell he was casting.
“That’s…”
“《Let it return to the cycle of providence—matter born of the five elements shall return to them—bonds weaving form and law shall sunder—let all creation scatter here—》”
Glenn stepped forward, facing the stunned Sistine.
“《—To the distant end of nothingness》!”
A seven-phrase, all-out grand spell completed.
“Go to hell, you trash! Black Magic [Extinction Ray]!”
Glenn thrust his left palm forward.
The spinning ring arrays expanded and dispersed ahead of him.
A massive shockwave of light erupted from his palm, tearing straight through the corridor.
And—annihilation. Everything in its path—Bone Golems, ceiling, walls—was obliterated, consumed by the light wave, reduced to dust in an instant.
Slowly, the blinding glow that had seared their vision faded.
Silence. Stillness. Nothing moved in their sight.
“…What?”
Sistine stood transfixed by the abrupt end. The ceiling was gone, revealing the floor above. The right wall had vanished, exposing the outside. It was as if a colossal cylinder had been carved through the corridor. Only the wind howled through the exposed passage.
“Incredible… such a high-level spell…”
Black Magic Mod [Extinction Ray]. A spell that disintegrates its target into primal elements, no questions asked. Among individually cast spells, it boasts unparalleled destructive power—a near-unique magic devised by Celica Arfonia two hundred years ago during the Magic War to slay the kin of an evil god.
Glenn had used some sort of magical catalyst to cast it, but even so, the feat deserved unreserved awe and admiration.
“Bit of overkill, but it’s all I’ve got… Urgh…!”
Suddenly, Glenn coughed up blood and collapsed.
“Sensei!”
Sistine rushed to his side, touching him. His body was drenched in cold sweat, chillingly clammy to the touch.
“This… Mana Deficiency Shock?!”
Mana Deficiency Shock: a collapse triggered by extreme mana depletion. Mana, the source of magic, is life force. Rapidly burning through it risks death. Magic is a double-edged sword, wielded at the cost of one’s life.
“Well… used a cheat to force a spell way above my paygrade…”
His usual quips were gone. Glenn’s face twisted in pain.
Even beyond the shock, his condition was dire. Bloodied, covered in wounds. None fatal, but numerous. Bleeding out like this was bad news.
“A-Are you okay?!”
“If this looks okay, get your eyes checked…”
Even his snark lacked bite.
“《O merciful angel—grant him peace—extend your healing hand》”
Sistine chanted White Magic [Life Up] to heal Glenn’s wounds. But while she excelled at Black Magic (motion and energy) and Alchemy (matter and elements), White Magic (body and spirit) wasn’t her forte. Healing these wounds would take an unknown amount of time and mana.
“Idiot, no time for that…”
Wiping blood from his mouth, Glenn forced himself up, knees trembling.
“We’re leaving. Now. Find somewhere to hide—”
He stopped, grimacing.
“As if they’d let us off that easy… Damn it.”
Clack.
Footsteps echoed down the scarred corridor.
“To wield [Extinction Ray]… I underestimated you.”
From the corridor’s far end emerged the dark-coated man—Lake.
“—!”
Sistine’s breath caught.
Worst possible timing. Glenn was a wreck.
Behind Lake floated five swords—likely his magical artifacts. Already active, they were immune to Glenn’s [The Fool’s World].
“Ugh, floating swords just scream bad news… Bet they move by your will or have master swordsmen’s skills programmed in, right? Damn it.”
“Glenn Radars. My intel pegged you as a third-rate mage, third-tier at best… Never thought you’d take out two of us. A miscalculation.”
“Don’t pin that on me. You’re the one who finished off one of them.”
"He disobeyed orders, abandoned the mission, and acted on his own. I'm not a saint who shows mercy to a disobedient dog.”
“Harsh, huh?”
Glenn whispered to Sistine.
“Hey, White Cat. Got mana left? Can you dispel those swords?”
Sistine eyed the floating blades. Even from a glance, they brimmed with mana, likely fitted with amplification circuits.
“Even if I used all my remaining mana, it’d probably fall short… And I doubt he’d give me time to chant [Dispel Force].”
“Got it.”
Suddenly, Glenn shoved Sistine sideways.
“…Huh?”
She stumbled into the open space on the right—created by [Extinction Ray]—and out of the building.
“W—KYAAAAH!”
Weightlessness enveloped her as she plummeted from the fourth floor.
Mid-fall, she chanted [Gale Blow], the gust slowing her descent. A roar of wind echoed from outside.
“Hmph. You let her escape.”
“Yeah. No way I can protect her and fight you. So, what’s with the obvious sword artifacts? Countering me?”
“Obviously. You can suppress spell activation, can’t you?”
“Wow, caught that already?”
No need to ask how. Far-seeing magic, familiar vision syncing, residual thought reading—mages had countless ways to gather intel.
“Jin getting one-sidedly crushed only makes sense with that. Plus, you didn’t use it against the Bone Golems. So, it’s a unique spell that blocks spell activation. Simple solution: keep my spells active from the start… Here I come.”
Lake snapped his fingers. The five swords pointed at Glenn.
They shot toward him, lunging straight—
“Figured!”
Whipping his battered body into action, Glenn desperately dodged the blades.
“Ow… Damn it, what’s his deal?!”
Sistine muttered, sprawled on all fours in the academy courtyard.
Thanks to [Gale Blow] slowing her fall, it felt like jumping down five or six steps, but still…
“That’s how you treat a girl?! What if I hadn’t chanted in time?! Ugh!”
She shouted, but her heart sank rapidly.
In truth, she knew Glenn had protected her.
Mass Bone Golem summoning, advanced remote multi-summoning, those sword artifacts—the dark-coated man’s staggering skills dwarfed Jin’s. Against such an overpowered mage, Sistine staying in the fight meant near-certain death. Compared to that, the risk of falling was negligible.
Glenn shoving her without checking meant he trusted her to handle it, but…
“In the end… I’m just a burden…”
True, Glenn had said he needed her spell support.
But wasn’t that only if he had to protect her? Dodging attacks, casting spells, shielding her—drop one, and maybe he’d have been fine. If Glenn were alone, could he have turned that desperate situation around?
Why is he chased by that horde of Bone Golems in the first place?
What got them him by the dark-coated man?
Wasn’t it because Glenn saved her?
And because of that, his trump card—[The Fool’s World]—was exposed to the enemy. All her fault.
“—!”
A clash of metal rang from above. The battle had begun.
There was nothing more Sistine could do.
“All I can do… is follow Sensei’s orders…”
Her shoulders slumped, head bowed, crushed by her own powerlessness. Darkness clouded her vision.
But then, something struck her.
“…Follow… orders?”
The phrase felt off.
Sistine mulled over the nagging sense of wrongness.
Left, right, front—blades closed in.
Slicing air, cutting through vacuum, their tips bore down—
“Hah!”
Glenn parried with his left fist, struck with his right, dodged with footwork.
Three swords from three angles attacked with the speed and precision of a master swordsman, intent on carving him up.
Their movements were mechanical, predictable—barely manageable.
But then, two swords struck from above and behind.
Organic, perfectly timed to exploit his motion’s end.
Twisting, Glenn avoided a fatal hit, but the blades slashed his back.
“Gah!”
Blood sprayed. He’d minimized the damage, but the cuts weren’t shallow.
“Tch—”
Glenn leapt back, pressing against the wall.
The swords hovered, tips trained on him, encircling him.
“Pain in the ass… Both types, huh?”
Exactly. Lake’s five swords were a mix: two controlled by his will, three automated with master swordsmen’s skills.
“Correct. Automated swordplay, no matter how skilled, is lifeless. Five automated swords wouldn’t faze a true master. But if I control all five, I’m just a mage—not enough for a master either. I’ve assassinated dozens of knights and mages, and concluded that three automated and two manual swords are the strongest combination.”
“Damn you…”
Glenn was completely outmaneuvered. The situation was hopelessly against him.
If all five were automated or all manual, he’d have an easier time. But the manual and automated swords covered each other’s weaknesses, leaving no openings.
“You’re not exactly mage-like either.”
The manual swords’ movements weren’t amateur. Not elite, but first-rate. For Lake to manage this remotely, he had to be a skilled swordsman himself. Give him a blade, and he’d cut down most swordsmen instantly.
Mages often scorn physical training, placing it beneath mental mastery of magic. Like Glenn, Lake was an outlier, just in a different way.
“Enough talk.”
Lake waved his arm.
Two manual swords darted in first. Less sharp than the automated ones, but their adaptive, situational strikes toyed with Glenn.
Then—three silver flashes glinted at the edge of his vision.
“Tch!”
The automated swords, monotonous but blisteringly fast and precise, struck from his blind spots.
Reacting, Glenn knocked two away with his hands.
Dodging only fatal hits, he leapt sideways, breaking through the encirclement. The grazing blades left gashes on his body.
Seizing the rare lull, Glenn made a snap judgment.
“《O crimson lion, in your wrath—》”
Landing, he raised his left hand, chanting.
Black Magic [Blaze Burst]. A military-grade spell that launches a sphere of concentrated heat, engulfing its target in explosive flames and pressure.
Caught in its blast, nothing would remain—not even ash.
In this cramped space, dodging the flames was near impossible.
“《—Roar—》”
But before Glenn’s three-phrase chant could finish—
“《Scatter to naught》”
Lake’s finger flicked, his one-phrase chant complete.
Instantly, the fireball forming in Glenn’s palm burst with a pop, dissolving into mana residue.
Black Magic [Tri Vanish]. A counter-spell that forcibly resets fire, ice, or lightning energies in a space to a neutral state, negating them.
“Too slow, magic lecturer.”
“Damn it!”
As Glenn leapt back, cursing, the five swords rained down, stabbing into the floor in pursuit.
“In a spell duel, three-phrase chants can’t beat one-phrase. This is how you cast [Blaze Burst]—”
Lake’s cold eyes tracked Glenn dodging the swords as he chanted.
“《Lion of flame—》”
One-phrase Black Magic [Blaze Burst]. A high-level technique said to let a single mage rival an army.
Having pegged Glenn as a three-phrase-only caster, Lake was half-certain this move would end it.
But—
“!”
As Lake began his chant, Glenn reached into his pocket, charging forward—
“《O fierce thunder emperor, with a spear of auroral light—》”
He started a three-phrase chant, despite being a step behind.
Casting a longer spell after the opponent’s started—an utterly foolish move, defying magical combat logic.
Yet—
“Tch—”
Lake’s assassin instincts instantly saw through Glenn’s ploy.
He canceled his [Blaze Burst], leaping back.
“—Pierce through》!”
Glenn’s chant finished, perfectly timed.
Black Magic [Lightning Pierce]. A bolt of lightning shot from his fingertip, aiming straight for Lake’s chest.
But Lake’s two manual swords barely intercepted, crossing in front of him to deflect it.
“Tch, didn’t get through.”
Glenn clicked his tongue.
Lake snapped his fingers, directing the automated swords.
The three blades, still embedded in the floor, yanked free and lunged at Glenn.
Rolling and leaping back, Glenn evaded their pursuit.
“Those swords even have [Tri Resist] enchanted? Talk about thorough. Hoped to take out at least one.”
“…You.”
Inwardly, Lake was stunned by Glenn’s tactics.
Mana Biorhythm: a measure of a person’s mana state. Neutral (normal), Low (controlled for casting), and Chaos (disrupted post-casting). To cast, a mage must shift their biorhythm from Neutral to Low via focus or breathing. Casting then spikes it past Neutral to Chaos. The spell’s scale affects how far it swings to Chaos, but all spells disrupt it.
In Chaos, even elite mages can’t cast.
That’s magic’s iron rule.
Glenn’s reckless [Lightning Pierce] was a trap. If Lake had completed [Blaze Burst], Glenn likely would’ve unleashed his sealing magic without hesitation, nullifying it.
That would’ve left Lake’s swords—mid-cast, biorhythm in Chaos—momentarily frozen. In that instant, Glenn’s elite combat skills could’ve closed the gap, and—
But if Lake, wary of the seal, focused on the swords, Glenn’s [Lightning Pierce] would’ve hit him. In hindsight, Glenn’s clumsy three-phrase [Blaze Burst] earlier was likely a setup for this bait.
In one moment, Glenn forced a lethal choice, reading Lake’s biorhythm shifts. The nerve and precision to pull it off, despite the risk of total disadvantage—
“Glenn, was it? Who are you?”
No mere lecturer could maneuver like this. This was a seasoned mage’s craft.
Lake had to discard his view of Glenn as a third-rate, three-phrase-only mage. As a mage, he was third-rate, true—but a lethal threat who could turn the tables.
Without [Tri Resist] on the swords, [Lightning Pierce] would’ve pierced them—and Lake would be dead.
“Just a part-time magic lecturer.”
“Sure… Fine. Your ability to choose when to seal spell activation is troublesome.”
“How about it? No clue when I’ll seal, so why not mix in some spells? Military attack spells, highly recommend.”
“Keep joking. I’ll give you credit for your skill, but it won’t work twice.”
“Damn, totally busted. I hate you.”
Glenn pouted, but Lake’s lips curled into an icy smile.
“I respect you. You’re the first to push me this far.”
No kidding, Glenn thought.
Lake’s caution of his sealing magic kept him from going all-out. Against anyone else, Lake could’ve summoned Bone Golems, attacked with these swords, and layered offensive spells. Who knew what other trump cards he hid? If Lake could cast freely, who could stand against him? Glenn knew some monstrous mages, but none came to mind who could beat this guy.
(Maybe only Celica could take him for real?)
He was up against a true monster.
(This is bad… What now?)
Sistine’s [Weapon Enchant] on his fists was fading. The mana infusion let him parry the blade storm. Without it, he’d be overwhelmed. Recasting it was an option, but Lake wouldn’t give him time for a three-phrase chant. That desperate [Lightning Pierce] failing hurt—
(Though, the fact that White Cat’s [Weapon Enchant] is still holding is a miracle… She’s really something. Cocky, but a genius.)
Her natural talent far surpassed his. Still green, but Sistine Fibel was a prodigy.
(Guess it’s time to get serious…)
Glenn took a deep breath, assuming his usual boxing stance.
“Hmph. Planning something?”
Sensing the next clash would be the last, Lake braced, alert.
He raised his hand, and the five swords pointed at Glenn.
The air crackled with tension, as if the temperature had plummeted below zero.
Silence stretched, infinite yet fleeting.
Then—
“Die!”
Lake unleashed the five swords.
“《~~—》!”
Glenn covered his mouth with one hand, starting some chant—simultaneously.
“Fool! Even if that’s one-phrase, I’m faster!”
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As Lake declared, it was over.
Glenn’s three-phrase chants stood no chance.
Five swords streaked like lightning.
Five sharp thunks of metal piercing flesh.
The blades stabbed deep into Glenn’s chest, abdomen, shoulder, leg, and arm. At the last second, he twisted, avoiding vital points—but the fight was decided.
Or so it seemed.
“《—Balance restored, return to zero》!”
Despite the swords impaling him, blood and bile spilling from his mouth, Glenn completed his chant.
The spell—
“What?! [Dispel Force]?!”
Glenn had cast [Dispel Force], a spell to negate and erase a target’s mana.
The swords piercing him clashed with the spell, glowing white-hot—
“Sure, if it worked, my swords would be reduced to mere metal for a moment—”
But it was a bad move. [Dispel Force]’s mana cost scaled with the target’s mana. Meant for dispelling simple enchantments, it demanded astronomical mana to negate artifacts with amplification circuits like Lake’s swords. In magical combat, using [Dispel Force] on an opponent’s artifact was a rookie mistake—common sense.
As expected, Glenn’s [Dispel Force] couldn’t fully negate the swords’ mana. It diminished their power slightly, but their remote control remained intact.
Lake yanked the manual swords from Glenn’s body, poised to behead him with a single stroke—endgame.
“Your struggle’s over. Die—”
Lake raised his hand—then it happened.
“《Let power return to naught》!”
A one-phrase chant rang out from an unexpected direction.
“What—?!”
At the far end of the corridor, a familiar figure stood.
Sistine. Somehow there, she’d timed her all-out [Dispel Force], pouring every ounce of her remaining mana to sync with Glenn’s.
Lake’s miscalculations were twofold. Knowing Sistine’s timidity, he’d assumed she’d fled, overlooking her potential to return. And he’d underestimated her skill and mana capacity.
Glenn and Sistine’s combined [Dispel Force] stripped the five swords tormenting Glenn of their magic, reducing them to mere steel in that instant—
“RAAAAH!”
Without missing a beat, Glenn, still skewered, charged Lake.
“Tch—《Awaken, blades—》”
“Too slow!”
Before Lake could reinfuse mana to reactivate the swords, Glenn drew his Fool’s Arcana.
His unique magic, [The Fool’s World], activated a split-second faster.
All spellcasting in the area was sealed.
“RAAAAAH!”
Glenn tossed the Arcana aside, yanked the sword from his shoulder—
And then.
Silence. Glenn’s thrust sword pierced Lake’s left chest—dead center through a vital point.
Scarlet dripped, splattering the floor.
“…Hmph. Well done.”
Lake didn’t flinch. Standing rigid, he praised the man who’d impaled him.
No complaints about dirty tricks. Mages weren’t knights. In their battles—one-on-two, one-on-three—every tactic, every scheme was fair. The last one standing was justice, the strongest.
“Damn… making me do this shitty thing…”
No trace of victory’s thrill or elation. Glenn grimaced, his expression sour.
“The Fool, huh… I see.”
Glancing at the discarded Arcana, Lake murmured, as if understanding something.
“Until recently, the Imperial Court Mage Corps had a legendary mage-killer. No one knew how, but with a spell to seal magic, he hunted down rogue mages single-handedly. An assassin leashed by the empire.”
“…”
“Active for three years. In that time, he took down twenty-four master-level rogue mages—at least those known. All were titans none could imagine losing. Feared by every underworld mage, his codename… ‘The Fool.’”
“What… are you getting at?”
Glenn’s eyes, dark and cold, met Lake’s question. Lake’s lips curled into a ghastly smile.
“Who knows?”
With those final words, Lake collapsed, lifeless. He was no longer breathing.
“Well… then…”
Confirming Lake’s death, Glenn slumped against the wall, sliding down.
“This… is it… for me…”
His limit reached. Footsteps and a voice calling his name echoed faintly in his fading consciousness—
“What… a lousy… life…”
Glenn’s mind sank into darkness.
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