Chapter 43 - What's With You All?

"Parallel Chanting"

Literally doing other actions while chanting magic. Originally, magic won't manifest without concentration.

The moment a magic formula goes wrong or pronunciation slurs, either a different magic from what was being deployed comes out, or in severe cases, even explosions occur.

That's why magicians' job is to stand still while chanting magic. But in real combat, you never know what might happen.

Surprise attacks could come from behind, or allies could be wiped out leaving you alone.

Meaning, Parallel Chanting is a technique that lets magicians handle their part alone even in such situations.

Chanting magic while running away, chanting magic while swinging a sword. It's a technique hard to even learn unless normal heroes have it as a skill.

Then what about the other technique, "Magic Chant Breaking"?

This is even harder.

"Parallel Chanting" is just using magic while moving, but "Magic Chant Breaking" literally breaks the chant.

It skips the process of chanting itself, meaning it's a technique several levels above "Parallel Chanting".

Of course the power drops dramatically when broken, but using 6-line intermediate magic without the chanting process is nothing short of disaster.

Usually "Magic Chant Breaking" is a technique so difficult only heroes ranked in the 1000s can use it.

Meaning, it's absolutely impossible at student level, but.

"You really can do it?!"

"Would I lie about that?"

"No. I thought it was a lie..."

Ishia's eyes became round. Her already big eyes grew even bigger making her look like a shoujo manga protagonist.

Well, seeing such a sight would make you like that. You'd cover your mouth with your hand and make a shoujo manga protagonist face.

"Hm? Did I do something wrong?"

"No. You did well."

Sophia who was tilting her head smiled in relief at my words. For a moment her hair swayed creating a photo shoot-like scene.

This is a bit unfair. Getting such a scene just from smiling.

"Didn't that just look like a photo shoot?"

"You felt it too?"

"Yes. But it's not that surprising. I'm photo shoot material even without smiling. Right? Hey. Why aren't you answering? Shouldn't you frown or something here so I don't feel awkward? Hey? Ishia say something too?!"

Raphael Counter Method #1. Don't give attention. I ignored the damn blonde shaking my body begging for attention and spoke to Ishia.

"I-I-Ishia. Ca-can you do-do it?"

Ah. Got shaken so much my words came out weird. Stop shaking me I feel like throwing up.

"Can I do it?"

Well of course not. What Sophia showed was ridiculous.

The technique of manifesting "Magic Chant Breaking" with one hand while doing "Parallel Chanting" with the other. Something absolutely impossible at student level.

Yet seeing her do it effortlessly really made you think she's a true ancestor vampire.

"This feels a bit strange. Is something wrong with me? I've been called a genius all my life, but seeing you all recently makes me wonder if I'm somewhat lacking."

No. You are a genius. They're the weird ones. They're beings different from humans from birth.

Anyway, I had a different reason for showing this to Ishia. If she could copy it right away she would have already learned it from her father. First was to make her know her place.

So she could follow the method I'm about to teach.

"Ishia. How much weaker are you than Lucy?"

"...Why?"

"Power analysis is basic."

Though seeming displeased she pouted and looked at me for a while, then finally opened her mouth.

"Quite a lot. A lot of difference. We used to be similar but at some point she suddenly shot ahead and I haven't won once since age 13."

After saying that she lowered her head without unpursing her lips. Seems she finds herself pathetic too.

"Hmm. Really? I think you can win."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because I've seen things."

At those words Ishia displayed an exclamation mark above her head. What's with that reaction. Kind of funny.

"If you do exactly as I say from now on you can win. Want to or not?"

"....I want to."

That's how you should respond. I smiled happily, but Ishia seemed to take it differently as her face turned pale.

An expression like 'Shouldn't have said I would!'

Even Raphael beside me was saying things like 'tsk tsk. She's done for.'

What's with you all?

***

"Shouldn't have said I would."

Ishia swallowed her frustration while slowly climbing onto the arena. The reason for being here was simple.

Because of Lee Seonghoon.

─First throw away your fixed idea of being a magician. Know why fights between magicians are boring?

─Because they just chant all day. Not moving and just having magic chant battles, it's boring for viewers. Really not fun.

─The reason you kept losing is just getting pushed back in chant battles. She just had more prepared counters against you. You know this much right?

─The solution is simple. Don't have chant battles. Strike unexpectedly. Fight in ways your opponent can't imagine. Throw away rigid thoughts like 'I am a magician.' That's what "Parallel Chanting" and "Magic Chant Breaking" were about. If you can't do those, listen well to what I say now.

"I really hate this."

Ishia came out before the audience while sniffling. Looking ahead while hearing the erupting cheers. There's a man.

A man raising the corner of his mouth like it's fun. Rolling his shoulders with a face like 'why did you challenge me?'

Lightning-like spiky blonde hair, sunglasses hiding his expression, rings on every finger joint and piercings here and there.

A man with looks saying 'I'm a thug'.

"Wow. Ishia challenging me. Never expected this. Was feeling down after losing to Kim Taehyun yesterday. This'll be fun."

Rank 2. Park Hosoo.

With a pool cue on his shoulder, he lightly stretched and prepared for battle. Ishia also took a deep breath and the staff she brought as a weapon─

Threw it outside the arena.

"Huh?"

Though Park Hosoo's surprised voice was heard, Ishia took a battle stance and glared at him.

─Don't use the staff either. Just fight. Try "Parallel Chanting" for any chants above 2 lines while fighting. It's okay if you fail. Just take the hits. You won't die.

─Think of it as close combat practice. First cast one buff magic, then fight using magic in close range. Hmm. The top close combat fighters are probably Kim Taehyun and Park Hosoo. You'd be no match for Kim Taehyun so with Park Hosoo─ Why are you glaring like that?!

[Ah, you don't need to pick it up?]

She nodded at the voice, and a confused countdown was heard.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

With the whistle, Ishia charged first. Park Hosoo was still standing there shocked.

"《Darkness》"

1-line chant. But using it while moving so maybe it counts as parallel. Not sure. Ishia felt darkness sticking to her body as she charged.

"What's this? A surprise?"

Park Hosoo laughed helplessly. Well the Ishia he knew was rank 12's typical magician. A typical magician who gives advice from behind while deploying magic.

Not someone who would charge in like this. Who could have put such ideas in her head? He didn't know. But.

"This is fun."

Sharp teeth flash.

Crackle─

As lightning arose on his pool cue and Park Hosoo tried to counter, he saw something unbelievable.

"Parallel Chanting?!"

A magic circle was drawn on Ishia's hand that had somehow reached right in front of him. Honestly surprising. A magician doing infighting.

Magicians usually never come forward. Because the risk when magic fails is too high. The magic could completely change, or in severe cases even explode involving themselves.

But this woman is now trying to use magic while engaging him in close combat.

If this isn't fun what is? Park Hosoo twisted his lips while rotating magic power.

To say again here, when magic fails it can become self-destruction. Magic changing is getting off easy.

"Oh?"

The magic circle before his eyes makes a strange sound. Something like pshhhhh─

An ominous sound. Ishia's pupils shake, and Park Hosoo's sunglasses slide down.

"Crazy bitch."

As if those words were a trigger

BOOM─!!!!!!

An enormous explosion occurred with a roar. Though Park Hosoo who hurriedly deployed a mana shield escaped with minimal damage, the woman before him was different.

Not a single wound.

'The magic from earlier?'

The darkness absorbed into her body. Seems she defended with that. It was an innovative battle. Deliberately failing magic to deal explosion damage.

"Fun. Do more."

There must be more fun things? Park Hosoo smiled fiercely, and Ishia coughed while making a crying face.

Lee Seonghoon was smiling while taking in that scene. With eyes saying according to plan!

"But is it okay to show everything? That Violet person will see it all too?"

"Yeah. We're showing her on purpose. She's a magician by nature so she can't do this. Magicians bring counters matching when opponents do close combat. But no matter what counters she prepares, Ishia is going to roll around all day today, how can she keep up with growth from each fight."

Raphael looked pitifully at Lee Seonghoon laughing while saying things like I'm a genius!! How can he talk so recklessly like it's not his business.

'But well.'

It is fun. Raphael also grinned while watching Ishia's struggle.

***

"Did he get some weakness on you?"

"I told you no, I don't know why you keep doing this."

Sophia is currently frowning. Though she usually wears a meaningless smile, she couldn't hide her annoyance at the current situation.

This man who keeps following and questioning persistently even though she clearly said no yesterday. Interfering in everything and doubting Lee Seonghoon as if he's her boyfriend.

Though it's true he has a weakness on her, trusting him was her will. This insignificant human. She was getting annoyed at him constantly clinging due to misunderstanding from just being treated a bit nicely.

"If you call me for something like this one more time, I'll just ignore you."

"No. That─!!"

Sophia said that then turned around to walk toward where Lee Seonghoon was. Because there was no value in dealing with him anymore.

"Wait!!"

She just walked ignoring the words heard.

The man watching her back. He reached out helplessly then lowered his hand.

"Lee Seonghoon."

He must have gotten some weakness on her. Otherwise why would someone like Sophia stick with such a person. He should do something. For her─ while having such thoughts

'How?'

He soon stopped thinking. What am I to her? Do I have such power? To someone ranked 700s? Such thoughts dominated his brain. While shaking his head feeling depressed,

He saw something walking this way.

Red hair. Red eyes. Elegant walking matching her pitiful appearance.

"You're troubled too."

She smiles sweetly. A smile that could steal hearts. When he blankly stared their eyes met. She was beautiful.

Looking at eyes that seemed like looking at Sophia. Movement stops.

His body won't move.

"Shall I teach you how to win love?"

Click. Click.

Walking closer and closer this way. The sharp heel sounds touch his heart. His heart beat madly.

"Subjugate them. Just become stronger. Than that person."

How? As if answering that question the woman smiled sweetly.

"Transcend humanity."

Coming even closer. Sharp fangs flashed when she opened her mouth.

Crunch─!!

Along with dizzying pain, a fountain of blood blocks his vision. The man collapsed.

Whether from pain or blood loss he's not sure but his body moved. Though he could only curl up like a shrimp from pain, still he moved.

Feels like all the blood in his body is flowing backward. Like becoming something new, blood ravages his whole body. Each cell screams.

"Hmm. Beautiful. Struggling for love!!"

The woman snickered. When the man's convulsions ended and he opened his eyes again.

His eyes were already shining red.

"Congratulations on being reborn. Now go claim love right away!!"

Following those words the man walked heavily. Heading to one place.

Only one place.