” (Suimei)The finishing blow is delivered. Upon that word, light emitted is from the magic circles. The magic power and stars light mixes with one another to create a sky filled with dazzling lights in a multi directional manner. Just like a falling star, a teardrop falls from the sky with a thunderous roar. It silenced all other noise and destroyed all within its range.
This is magic of starry sky, Falling Star. Befitting of the term Ens Astral(エンスアストラーレ), this is one of Suimei Yakagi’s biggest spells. Not long after the falling star took place, what left is the original White Garden. It’s like all the destruction until now was a dream. There was Suimei Yakagi with his black suit and Felmenia with her tattered white robe.
He proceeded to Felmenia who was unable to move, and put his sword to her neck.
“It’s my win, is there any problem with that?” ( Suimei)
When asked about the result, she said with trembling voice.
“Yo-You Monster.. That kind of power! Who said that you can’t fight? Why you reject to slay the demon lord? If you go, even the Demon Lord…” (Felmenia)
“Can be defeated? That’s stupid. The numbers are not a joke. The history is the proof. No matter how strong you are, you can’t win against the overwhelming number. There’s no need to try. No matter how good the fighter is, it’s nothing against the numberous. I’m just one human.” (Suimei)
Feeling as though he hasn’t said enough, Suimei opened his mouth again.
“If I listen to your request, the one that I have to fight is not only the demon lord Nakushathra or something (ナクシャトラ). There’s his subordinate army of demons too. That Barcodohage (バーコードハゲ) already destroyed country Noshast (ノーシアス) using one million troops; however, if we think about it, what if they gathered their forces? Two times larger? Three times? It’s already stupid to tell me to face those one million troops. Even if you select your few best, there’s no chance to win against that unusual number you know? Whatever I do, there’s no why I can win, d.a.m.n it.” (Suimei)
“What are you talking about? War is a battle of personal power. If you have that much power, you can’t be defeated!” (Felmenia)
“Are you idiot? I’m saying that quality and quant.i.ty is different. Quality isn’t any guarantee to win against quant.i.ty.” (Suimei)
“A mage li-….A mage as powerful as you b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you still say that?” (Felmenia)
“Hah ? Me ? I’m not a first cla.s.s mage. Well, I have a bit of talent, but, in my world I’m at best only average. That’s right.. If it’s the top’s top, he might be able to laugh this off. But, that’s doesn’t matter here.” (Suimei)
“……” (Felmenia)
Now, it’s Felmenia’s turn to lose words. Whether it’s because of Suimei’s abnormally terrifying world, of if it’s because of Suimei exaggerated things, it’s certain that she unable to say a thing because of the overwhelming difference.
“Well, I already knew it from the start. This world’s magic is far too left behind. Honestly, our fight wasn’t even that fun. Or, maybe that’s just because of your harsh remarks.” (Suimei)
That’s right, right now Suimei is saying his honest feelings. His delight is of seeing new mystery; a fight with another mage, for him, is a way to see unknown magic. To figure out that magic is the purpose of the battle. However, in this fight, there wasn’t even a single bit of magic worth looking at.
Unexpected, surprised, and easy destruction. “A fight beyond understanding”, that’s why he won; of course, he felt no delight in it.
As it was already bound to happen, he forced the results upon Felmenia.
“Well then, now. Let’s put an end to our play, magician.” (Suimei)
She felt cold upon hearing it. He changed his tone; it was as if his heart suddenly went cold. Felmenia couldn’t even stand up. She couldn’t do anything about it. It was as if she will meet her end, alone. She became pale.
“Ar-Are you going to kill me?” (Felmenia)
“Hmm, that’s right.. How do you think I will end this?” (Suimei)
“Pl-Please ! Do anything but that!” (Felmenia)
Felmenia discarded her pride and prostrated to Suimei. Help me. Overlook me. She swore not to go against him, but his appearance didn’t change.
But, Suimei snorted and with evil intention, saying..
“Oh my, oh my! you came at me with the intention to kill, but you are pleading for your life?” (Suimei)
“N-No ! I have no intention to kill you from the start! I just wanted to correct you…” (Felmenia)
Felmenia shook her head violently. He stared at her with no interest and doubting eyes. In a fight with lives at stake, it’s not a reason to plead. He already prepared for this. He intends to destroy the opponent and at worst get destroyed instead; however, he never considered that this unsightly view is the price she would pay.
I have heard about story of n.o.ble princesses. For better or worse, her personality might get affected.
Then, Suimei asked the true meaning of the statement from before.
“Is it true that you had no intention to kill me?” (Suimei)
“It’s true! I swear to G.o.ddess Alshuna, it’s not a lie!” (Felmenia)
“Though I don’t know the weight of your G.o.ddess’s name, as a person from other world, a j.a.panese, I’m not going to get involved. ” (Suimei)
With a clink, the f.l.a.n.g.eless katana made a sound that a katana with a f.l.a.n.g.e would. (f.l.a.n.g.e is the katana’s guard that separates the blade and the hold.) Felmenia, who is not j.a.panese, doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but she can feel instinctively that her life is getting shorter; her attempt at getting Suimei to spare her life became a pathetic appeal.
“Please! I beg you! I don’t want to die yet! I don’t want to die.. Please.. I beg you…” (Felmenia)
It looks like he bullied her too much. If she already faltered this much, it’s probably fine to enter the real thing. Suimei thought that, and he then stopped his bullying act.
He said, as if bored, “Then, as exchange of letting you live, I have terms you must follow.” (Suimei)
“T-Terms?” (Felmenia)
“Yeah, first, don’t ever tell anyone about what happened today. Second, don’t ever tell anyone about my ident.i.ty as mage. Especially to Reiji and Mizuki. Got it?” (Suimei)
He gave a sharp look. But, Felmenia shook her head with all of her might.
“W-Wait. I haven’t told anything to Reiji-dono or Mizuki-dono, but the king already knows. Th-Then..” (Felmenia)
“Heh..That’s surprising. An overconfident person like you told someone else? That’s surprising. I thought you would have kept it to yourself since you thought you would definitely win. Well, I don’t mind that much. After all, you won’t be able to speak of the details now.” (Suimei)
Since she already avoided the danger from the first term, Felmenia relieved. Seeing this, Suimei stated the last and most important term.
“And third, you will have to sign this doc.u.ment.” (Suimei)
Suimei made a gesture as if drawing something from void; a paper with a pen appeared. He always brings his pen and paper. There’s a list written in a foreign language.
Of course, Felmenia doesn’t understand what is written there.
“Wh-What is this?” (Felmenia)
“What, it’s just a contract. So that you won’t go against the terms I stated before. You can do this much right?” (Suimei)
“I-I understand, I’ll sign it.” (Felmenia)
Felmenia is a bit suspicious but agreed. Even if she doesn’t understand clearly, she has no choice anyway.
After she finished signing, she stamped it with her blood. Since Suimei watched until the end, he said it plainly.
“Ah, I forgot to tell you, if you break it, you’ll die.” (Suimei)
“Wh-What !?” (Felmenia)
“Yup. If you intend to explain the majority of things that happened here tonight to the king, I want you to know that that is not allowed. I don’t want things to get any more complicated than this already has.” (Suimei)
“Wait. There’s no way that’s possible-“ (Felmenia)
“There’s nothing impossible for a mage.” (Suimei)
As expected, this wasn’t out of scorn for her, though. To felmenia, that ask this dubiously, this is the most effective answer. Suimei let go of his mercury-katana and use his finger that is filled with magic power to poke the contract. Suddenly, Felmenia can feel something gripping her heart.
“That’s Stup-, Gu, Guahhh!” (Felmenia)
“By the way, it’s just like this. You can feel the force gripping your heart right?” (Suimei)
He removed his finger from the contract. Felmenia was released from the grip, and she was faintly breathing. Then, she complained faintly.
“Gu.Ha.. I-I never heard of something like that, before.” (Felmenia)
“Even if you know, you have no choice anyway. What? It’s not that hard. I just don’t want you to tell anyone about me. It’s more honest than the folklore of defeating demon lord right?” (Suimei)
“a..u..u…” (Felmenia)
She didn’t respond, and she hung her head in defeat.
(Ara.. Did I overdid it?) (Suimei)
Looks like, she’s spectacularly broken. Felmenia have tears in her eyes; she was dumbfounded and sobbing.
Shown this much, even the culprit, Suimei Yakagi, couldn’t help but to show mercy.
Let’s end this huh? As expected, he’s not that cruel. He’s impatiently says to Felmenia.
“We-Well. That’s why I want you to be sure to protect your promise, ok? Even me, I don’t want to kill pointlessly; it would make me feel bad.” (Suimei)
Somehow, it’s a bit softer than before. Is it because of sympathy? Felmenia’s still sobbing; it’s unknown whether she listened or not. It’s a bit different from his prediction, he’s scratching his head. Then, he decided that he probably won’t do anything more than this. He left the White Garden.
Even though he finished this, this wasn’t exactly what he imagined would happen.
A fight between mages is by no means a life and death fight. Actually, it’s rare for a mage to take another mage’s life. It’s true that he won’t forgive someone that entered his workshop without his permissions; however, other than that, everyone respected each other. A brotherhood that must take each other’s hand.
Recently, Magic is paused by science. A brake is applied to non-stop development. That’s why, those who pursue magic, even then, is valuable. That’s why, in order to preserve magic, there’s a rule preventing one from killing another mage even if the magic lineage is different. For that reason, that contract from back then is often used. For sparing their life, they must not be able to do any harm more than this. This way, the mage can still live, and magic users won’t go extinct.
Though, he omit some exception, therefore a mage fight is not something to take each other’s life, but to compete with each other. In short, precision, power, and technique’s complexity, the cla.s.s of magic, theory, special characteristic, it is a fight to make them accept each other.
Then, what about this fight? There’s no exceptional magic, so there’s no need to dwell in victory.
That’s why; he can only feel like this.
“Really, they are so far behind..” (Suimei)
At the words he told Felmenia before, he’s now worried. From now on, he would have to live here. He wondered if there’s any mystery that can make him excited.