Frondier sighed.
'It's not like I don't understand how you feel. That's what makes this more difficult.'
Glaucus's strength was undeniably astonishing. It was enough to send Pielott flying even when he tried to receive it head-on.
But thinking about it from another angle, Glaucus was able to achieve that speed precisely because he was 'going to charge at full speed regardless of what the opponent did.'
If he started overthinking, his speed would decrease, and his strength would likely diminish as well. While others grew stronger through such trial and error, Glaucus's exceptional physical abilities had allowed him to reach this point effortlessly.
If he tried to change now, it would take him several times longer than others.
'...No, that's not the problem right now.'
"Glaucus."
"Yes?"
"Actually, that's not the issue. Well, it is, but there's a more serious problem."
"Wh-what is it?"
"You brought up rock-paper-scissors, so let's use that as an example."
In the rules of rock-paper-scissors, playing late means losing. Therefore, playing first guarantees a win.
It was an absurdly aggressive line of thought, but even if it were to hold true, a problem remained.
"I was faster."
"What?"
"If you think of our spar as rock-paper-scissors, my play was already faster than yours."
Glaucus's jaw dropped.
"Th-that's impossible! My speed clearly surpassed yours!"
"Yes, you were faster. It wouldn't be easy for me to match your speed."
"It's not just not easy, it's impossible!"
Actually, it was possible. If he used Obsidian's Wings.
However, Glaucus's charging speed seemed to be his greatest source of pride, so Frondier decided to refrain from crushing that as well. He pitied the boy.
"...Right. It's impossible. Even so, I was faster. So, according to your rules, it's only natural that you lost."
"How could that be? I was clearly faster. I used all my strength, my full speed."
"At full speed, you threw a punch at my hand, which was already out, in the shape of paper."
"...!"
"Figure out the rest yourself."
And finally, Frondier approached Basileo.
Knowing it was his turn, Basileo waited with a pounding heart.
"Lastly, Basileo."
"Yes, sir!"
"It seems like you're trying to increase your casting speed to overcome the limitations of a mage."
"…! That's right! You noticed!"
Basileo nodded excitedly, a look of admiration on his face.
Frondier returned the nod and said,
"Stop it."
"What?!"
"It doesn't suit you."
Basileo's mouth gaped open at Frondier's calm words.
Frondier had spoken with Elodie after observing Basileo's last problem-solving attempt.
To be precise, it had started with Elodie's observation.
"Speaking of which, that boy seemed quite interested in high-speed casting."
"...Ah, that. I noticed it too."
Basileo had persistently questioned Elodie about simplifying spell formulas, and had even challenged Frondier, showcasing his magic and asking if he could cast it faster.
"He must have quickly realized the limitations of a mage within the environment of Atlas and is trying to find a solution."
"That's commendable. In fact, almost all veteran mages in the Falind continent use high-speed casting."
Despite her words, Elodie's expression remained unconvinced.
Frondier inquired,
"You seem to have some concerns."
"...Basileo is a pure mage, right?"
"That's right. On this continent, all mages are pure mages."
In the Falind continent, even if they weren't specifically referred to as "magic swordsmen," there were cases where mages focused solely on magic and cases where they didn't.
For instance, Elodie had learned self-defense techniques in addition to high-speed casting.
The reason was that 'ordinary magic was too powerful.' She could already cast simple spells at a speed comparable to throwing a straight punch, but there was a risk of killing her opponent.
Since her control over her power was poor, it was safer to use her fists and feet.
On the other hand, Lunia was a pure mage who assumed there would always be a vanguard. She focused on the variety and accuracy of her spells rather than casting speed.
This was the classical and traditional concept of a mage, and all mages on the Agoris continent followed this path.
"...I don't think high-speed casting will be easy for that child."
"Why?"
"High-speed casting is a concept where intuition far surpasses theory. While it looks cool, honestly, the most important things are 'approximation,' 'roughness,' and 'getting it done.' It's something you get a feel for."
"...All those keywords don't suit Basileo at all."
"Exactly. That boy seems even more pedantic than Lunia. He's the type who can't move on without scrutinizing every single formula."
Frondier recalled the image of Basileo's soul form.
It was like a textbook brought to life. If it were allowed, he would have loved to record Basileo's casting process and make every novice mage watch it as a learning tool. There wasn't a single bad habit, and his formulas and chanting were flawless.
However, this was precisely why his casting speed didn't increase. He couldn't overlook a single detail. This had led to his high grades and current magical proficiency, but at this point, it became a hindrance.
"This is troublesome. That boy seems to really want to achieve high-speed casting."
Frondier rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.
When it came to magic, he almost entirely relied on Elodie. His own knowledge in the field was still lacking, while Elodie was a top-tier mage, the complete opposite of him. If Elodie judged it to be difficult, then it was difficult. He had that much trust in her.
"What Basileo truly desires is to break through the limitations of a lone mage, right?"
"Well, that's right. A mage who can excel without needing a vanguard. That's what Basileo wants. I'm sure of it."
As Frondier agreed, Elodie gave a sly grin.
As a mage, Elodie resembled a witch when she smiled like that. It was a thought that always crossed Frondier's mind, though he never dared to voice it.
"Then there's a way."
"A way?"
"Yes. A method possible only for a genius who can't overlook any detail in formulas, chanting, or activation, a genius who memorizes every process but whose spells remain perfectly formed even when shifted, blurred, or expanded."
Elodie raised a finger.
"The absolute domain of a pure mage, something I could never achieve."
Elodie declared.
She called it a domain she couldn't reach.
But Basileo, she believed, could.
Did such a thing exist? Frondier pondered, awaiting Elodie's next words.
Elodie spoke,
"'Reservation.'"
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I just noticed, I can’t find chapters 455-456 at all…
ReplyDeleteIs it your first time here? Just wait for a few days and it'll update
DeleteNo, he was talking about them not being visible in premium tiers. Before this premium chapters directly jumped from 454 to 457
Delete