Chapter 6
<I was surprised to hear that the Merchant wasn't selling swordmanship Skills.>
Ethan wanted a Skill that didn't look like magic but could stand up to automatons. However, according to Demi, it seemed that swordmanship in Terra was only used by a minority of people, and the chance of getting it through the Lottery was very low. What he chose out of necessity was the 'Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu' recommended by the Merchant. And that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was a better choice than he expected.
<Because it means I win if I can somehow turn it into a hand-to-hand fight.>
Up to the 'Takedown' for taking down an opponent, it was similar to the war wrestling that knights learned, but the so-called 'ground techniques' after the opponent had fallen were different. This technique of subduing and breaking the opponent's joints was advantageous for gaining superiority when both were unarmed. As far as Ethan knew, if you took down an opponent, you would somehow draw a blade and stab, or at the very least find a rock and strike down, but it was not assumed that people would entangle like snakes and fight.
<The problem was how to take the opponent down.>
If he could make an opponent with a sword drop the sword, he could have an equal fight even without Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. If such a thing were easy, a soldier with a sword on the battlefield wouldn't be so terrifying. Ethan had no choice but to use his wits.
<It seems I managed to do it somehow.>
Ethan drew his dagger and stabbed the automaton's side and neck with one hand as it tried to push him away. Each time he stabbed, the automaton's movements decreased, and finally, it did not budge.
Ethan recovered his dagger and brushed himself off as he got up.
Rinave applauded Ethan.
"Excellent, boy."
"Thank you."
"But joining the Combat Magic Society will be difficult."
Ethan looked at Rinave with a reluctant expression.
"What?"
Rinave seemed embarrassed and couldn't meet Ethan's gaze.
"No, well... the truth is, no student who defeated an automaton with bare hands has ever joined. That's the case in the history of the Combat Magic Society that I know of. I believe there's no such precedent in other magic societies either."
"Then why did you tell me to fight?"
"Because even if it's just in name, I couldn't just reject the application itself. Besides, he's Bien's friend, isn't he? I had to grant the request of a cute junior."
Bien looked at Rinave with a somewhat complicated expression.
"Don't include me in that. You should have explained it to me."
"No, I mean. There's no exact regulation. But even if Ethan joins the Combat Magic Society now, there's nothing he can do. I saw his alchemy. But unless it's a formula from a famous alchemy family and handheld cannons, with those kind of tricks..."
"Well, it's fine. It's better for me if Ethan doesn't join the society anyway."
"Hey kid. There's a limit to being shameless."
As Ethan said that and approached Bien, applause was heard from the railing on the second floor of the Combat Magic Society workshop.
"That was excellent, Ethan."
The three people's gazes turned towards the railing. Standing on the railing was a man with a large build and a grayish beard, Professor Rebilton Fabierre, who was in charge of the Basic Magic Practice lecture.
Ethan said in embarrassment.
"Professor?"
Rebilton vaulted over the railing with one hand and landed lightly three meters below without a front bend.
Rinave explained to Ethan.
"Professor Rebilton is the supervising professor of the Combat Magic Society. He originally majored in Combat magic as well."
Rebilton pointed to the hem of the coat Ethan was wearing. There was a cut mark from the automaton.
Rebilton suddenly asked.
"Where did you learn how to use your coat?"
"...It's nothing to boast about, but I used to wander around the back alleys of Charasen when I was young. I carried a dueling sword in one hand, and usually held a coat, a shield, or a scabbard in the other. I learned it then."
"Is that so? Then, can you use a dueling sword?"
"Yes. A little."
A dueling sword is also called a rapier. Compared to combat swords, commonly called swords or longswords, it has a narrow and light blade and can be used with one hand, and it is advantageous for thrusting attacks, allowing it to be used even in narrow alleys.
"Your magic usage was impressive. It has practicality."
"Ah, thank you."
"And what I'm curious about is the hand-to-hand fighting. Where did you learn that?"
Ethan evaded the question.
"From the ruffians of Charasen."
"Hmm, is it the fighting style of gangs? I've heard that the city of Charasen is dominated by gangs."
Gangs referred to organizations that earned money through various crimes. Even in Yurmus, there were groups like thieves' guilds that raised abandoned or parentless children and taught them begging or pickpocketing skills.
"That's how it is."
Rebilton nodded at Ethan's answer.
"Rinave."
"Yes, Professor."
"Let Ethan join."
"Ah, but there is no such precedent. The mainstream activity of the Combat Magic Society, as you know, is learning combat techniques, and to do that, one must be able to use basic combat magic. There are students who learned alchemy, but in those cases, they had already learned combat techniques within the family..."
"Don't worry, I will personally mentor Ethan."
"Yes? ...Ah. Yes, I understand."
Rinave nodded and then brought the necessary documents for joining the society and handed them to Ethan.
Ethan signed the membership documents and said to Rebilton.
"But Professor, according to my senior, isn't it difficult for me to join?"
"So? Don't you want to?"
"No. It's not that, but I was wondering if there was another reason..."
"I have a plan, so I'll tell you later."
Having said that, Rebilton simply wore a warm smile. On the other hand, Bien, who was looking at Ethan from the side, had a somewhat displeased expression.
Ethan, having finished signing, realized one thing.
<Wait, this...>
∞
That evening, Ethan faced Bien in the dormitory backyard.
"Why did you call me?"
Bien adjusted his glasses and said.
"It seems I underestimated you."
"Is that a compliment?"
"In a way, yes. It's also my mistake."
"Then the conversation is over?"
As Ethan was about to turn around, a scraping sound was heard.
Three crystals were floating above Bien's head. It seemed to be Bien's magic. He had seen Bien attempt to use magic just before killing him before, but this was the first time seeing it actually used. Each crystal was an elongated octahedron, close to a raw stone and opaque. But their tips were ground sharp, allowing their use to be guessed.
"Are you going to kill me?"
Bien said.
"What you saw is not something so trivial. My life is at stake. Therefore, your life was also at stake for having seen it, Ethan."
"If I die, the information I saw will be passed on to someone else."
"Firstly, I have confirmed that you don't have any other people you are particularly associating with. It seems you do not have a very close relationship with your sister. Most importantly, that evidence is no longer there. You wouldn't think that merely seeing the evidence would make you a weakness, would you?"
Ethan gave a wry smile.
"But the witness becomes a weakness, does he?"
"There's no guarantee you won't go around talking about it privately. Merely being a target of suspicion is tiresome."
Ethan pointed out.
"There's more evidence. Isn't there? If an investigation begins, it's unavoidable."
Bien said expressionlessly.
"Think as you like."
"And others might be more involved."
"Is that all you have to say?"
Ethan shrugged his shoulders.
"I know you won't kill me. You must have more you want to hear from me. That's why you're keeping me alive for now. I'll ask you the opposite. What do you want?"
From within the shadow of the forest, a mage wearing a white coat and holding a white staff about waist-high walked out.
"You are a smart student, Ethan Dora Charasen."
Ethan also called out his name in return.
"Vine Wiz Dekarun."
"You should add 'Professor'. Dora people, as expected."
Vine clicked his tongue and said.
"It's me who has something to say, not Bien."
"Is that so?"
"And I won't particularly ask you questions. I know how to get answers without asking questions."
Vine's major was mental magic. It likely wasn't just bluffing.
Vine held out his hand to Ethan.
"Come here, Ethan. If you don't resist, I'll make it painless."
Ethan said.
"Vine, are you also affiliated with the Imperial Inquisition?"
"If so?"
"Why are you operating as an agent of the Empire?"
"That's none of your business."
But soon, Vine added as if intrigued.
"In a strict sense, I am not an Inquisitor. Whether it's the Imperial Inquisition, the Imperial Army, or the Demon King's Castle, even if it's the collective will of the Empire, they are ultimately just the Emperor's guard dogs. We merely share interests with the Empire in a few areas and are cooperating. But not everyone can accept the greater cause."
As Ethan was about to put his hand into his pocket, one of the crystals above Bien's head shot out and embedded itself at Ethan's feet.
-Thump!
Bien said.
"Don't do anything foolish."
Ethan realized that such a thing would happen when he joined the Combat Magic Society.
<I had a Quest to improve my relationship with Bien.>
<But that Quest wasn't successful.>
<It's not just when a Quest is successful that you get a reward. Even when it's unsuccessful, it provides information.>
Ethan said.
"Well, is this foolish?"
Ethan put his hand in his pocket and rolled. He avoided the first crystal, but the second crystal shot towards Ethan's head. However, that crystal did not embed itself in Ethan's head.
-Clang!
A giant figure that appeared out of nowhere deflected the crystal flying towards Ethan with a sword.
Vine spoke that name.
"...Rebilton!"
Rebilton raised his sword with both hands.
"Stop there, Vine."
"Rebilton, how did you... No, never mind."
A translucent blue blade appeared at the tip of Vine's staff. The length of the blade was equal to the length of the staff.
Rebilton said.
"Are you going to fight?"
"I have no interest in Combat magic, but I can defeat someone like you, a half-baked mage. ...Bien. You prepare too."
At those words, Bien withdrew the hand he had directed towards Ethan. Then, the crystals embedded in the ground returned to Bien and floated above his head.
"You wouldn't think you could stop these magics with a single longsword, would you."
Rebilton shook his head.
"Vine, you don't think I came alone, do you? ...Ethan."
As Ethan took something out of his pocket, Vine and Bien watched with tension. However, what Ethan took out was a firework, no different from a trick. Bien, who had already seen the firework, and Vine, who seemed to have heard about it, simply watched as Ethan set off the firework.
-Pop!
"As I heard, it's indeed a trivial trick."
Rebilton said.
"I don't think so."
Vine slowly shifted his gaze to the roofs of the dormitory building and the school building. Mages standing beneath the two moons revealed their presence solely through their shadows.
They were the professors of Yurmus Magic School.