Game Opportunities Become Reality Episode 52
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Game Opportunities Become Reality Episode 52
16. Real Combat (3)
In the magic world, the '5th Circle' is said to be the limit of an ordinary person reachable through effort.
From the '6th Circle' onward is the realm of talent, and the '7th Circle' is the realm of transcendence that only a handful of geniuses can achieve.
Therefore, mages who reach the 7th Circle are granted the title of Grand Mage (Wizard), carrying the meaning of pioneer.
That is how special a 7th Circle Grand Mage is.
'Ten 5th Circle mages can defeat one 6th Circle mage, but.'
'Even a hundred 6th Circle mages cannot handle a single 7th Circle mage.'
In magic, the largest gap between consecutive ranks is precisely the 7th Circle.
'Memorize Magic,' which allows ten spells to be pre-cast and used instantly like hotkeys.
'Recovery Magic,' which can heal almost all injuries, diseases, and poisons.
'Teleport Magic,' which moves one to the opposite side of the world in an instant.
'Pocket Dimension Magic,' which creates one's own independent dimension, and so on.
The moment one reaches the 7th Circle, a mage becomes a new being beyond existing limits.
Because of this, in the past, 7th Circle Grand Mages were called 'one-man armies' trump cards that could overturn the tide of battle at any moment.
A Grand Mage who could teleport and annihilate enemy forces with wide-area magic was an object of fear, reigning for ages as both the victor of battlefields and a deterrent.
'Well, that's a thing of the past now.'
But as time passed and technology advanced, mass production of artifacts became possible, and an era opened where equipment performance took precedence over individual ability changing this trend.
Spatial Teleportation Interference Magic became the basic standard on battlefields, and today's battles see Vanguards firing ranged attacks wildly without any casting.
Moreover, unlike Aura Masters who can be equipped with Vanguard gear, a Grand Mage's combat power hasn't changed much, so it was only natural their standing on the battlefield narrowed.
Because of this, modern mages have a stronger image of technicians rather than combat personnel like Knights.
Unlike Knights, they don't risk their lives on the battlefield, and can earn large sums just by sitting in a laboratory, so one could say their circumstances have become more stable, but....
What mage would want to stay cooped up in a lab their whole life?
'Even if restrictions have increased, a Grand Mage's combat ability still holds up in modern times.'
Most of the magic they've spent their lives learning is for combat.
Yet, due to the flow of the times, even though they can fight well enough, they are excluded under the pretext of protection.
-BOOM! BANG!
In that sense, the combat Adrian displayed completely shattered the common sense of mages.
A Grand Mage fighting on the front lines against dozens of Vanguards.
Given the importance of Grand Mages in the Age of Magic, it was a reckless, risk-filled action with no plan.
"Dangerous!"
"Hup!"
"Phew..."
But strangely, that reckless behavior made onlookers clench their fists in excitement.
Perhaps that was because Duke Olivia Riverdale and Count Stella Elfried were Grand Mages just like Adrian.
"Fighting with such nerve-wracking intensity."
"Oh?"
Before they knew it, the two had forgotten their dignity and were cheering for Adrian, who as a fellow Grand Mage was overwhelming the Vanguards.
When had they ever seen a mage fight so boldly?
They had assumed Adrian would take to the field but surely in a support role, so this was a huge shock and seeing him break the mage stereotype felt exhilarating.
It was as if he were advertising, 'This is what a Grand Mage can do when they put their mind to fighting.'
"Amazing."
"There's nothing but admiration."
And when he finally forced the enemy to surrender, the two let out cries of admiration and applauded.
The biggest reason mage performance is limited on modern battlefields is not their compatibility with Vanguards.
It's because teleportation their escape method is blocked.
A mage's greatest weakness is casting (incantation), but not all magic requires casting.
A 7th Circle mage's casting time for 6th Circle magic is halved, and spells of the 5th Circle or below can be cast instantly without any incantation.
Because of that, a Grand Mage could fight by spamming Blink (short-range teleportation magic) of the 5th Circle, which could be called the ultimate evasion technique but Spatial Teleportation Interference Magic made that impossible.
Yet Adrian's combat seemed to argue to mages that if you can't teleport, you can just dodge directly.
"Count Elfried, are you capable of fighting like that?"
"Even slathered in support magic, it doesn't look easy. That requires abundant combat experience, a trained body, and battle sense."
"That's true."
The disappointing part was that although Adrian's combat suggested a new direction, it was difficult to imitate.
Moreover, he had the best partner in the form of an Aura Master by his side.
"But..."
"Hmm..."
Yet even so, the two sank into thought with their chins resting on their hands.
Because while Adrian's fighting style couldn't be copied directly, it seemed viable enough to utilize with a few modifications.
They had originally watched this Domain War out of interest in the man named Adrian, but because of it, their preconceptions were shattered and they gained unexpected insights.
"But it seems the Marquis Adrian really is of the Riverdale School."
At Count Elfried's words, Duke Riverdale, who had been lost in thought, narrowed his brow and lifted his head.
"What did I tell you?"
"Indeed. My apologies."
Duke Olivia Riverdale was putting on a displeased front, but inwardly she was relieved.
Adrian had come at her with multiple pieces of evidence, but she hadn't completely trusted him.
However, in this battle, she spotted several Riverdale School habits unique to Adrian.
Thanks to that, she was able to cast aside her suspicions of him.
"He's a likeable figure in many ways."
"Excessive interest in my disciple is not welcome."
But the two didn't know.
Though they thought they were hiding well, a black eagle soaring high in the sky had already spotted them long ago.
"Are you planning to stay?"
"No. I think I've seen enough. The outcome of the Domain War is obvious, so I'll be heading back."
The two kept up their mutual wariness and mental sparring to the end, yet they didn't seem to be in a bad mood.
* * *
Using both clairvoyance and far-sight, subsidiary functions of the Myriad Mirror, I breathed a sigh of relief once the two women disappeared from view.
They were the people I needed to be most wary of right now.
One was the Intelligence Chief of the great empire Briem, who would surely turn hostile the moment she discovered I held an Opportunity, and the other was the head of the Riverdale family, who guaranteed my status as a mage.
'Who would have thought this Domain War would draw so much attention.'
Fortunately, their emotions were marked as favorable, so it seemed I had fooled them well.
'I've gained an unexpected profit.'
The Riverdale family's traits revealed during spellcasting were something I had already identified long ago.
I had used one of my five Chance cards to ask Chester, the Opportunity Manager, to make me a disciple of the previous Duke Riverdale.
In response, Chester not only falsified the data but also taught me the magical traits of the Riverdale School a natural measure.
After all, when meeting Duke Olivia Riverdale, she might have tested me to use magic in the Riverdale style to see if I could be acknowledged as part of the same school.
'With this, I can shake off any unnecessary suspicion about me.'
Having solidified my position as a figure of the Riverdale School, no one will think to associate me with Grand Duke Lucas anymore.
With my mood improved, I strode lightly through the lord's castle of the Parma Viscounty.
"Gasp!"
Naturally, the hired retainers who saw me, their enemy, striding through the castle all turned pale.
Watching the Knight Captain up ahead guide me and Arcia with a thoroughly servile expression, anyone with common sense could tell what was happening.
They all worried about their own futures.
"Th-this is the place."
I stopped before a massive door that seemed to lead to the lord's office.
How would a villain make an entrance at a time like this?
My chosen method of entrance was an explosion.
-BAAAAM!
"KYAAAH!"
"UGH!"
With just a snap of my fingers, the sturdy door exploded, and I stepped inside through the smoke.
There, I spotted Viscount Parma and his family, whom I had seen at the victory celebration party.
Inside, numerous knights were huddled around the Vanguard, but no one dared to charge at me.
Even a viscount, if he's a lord, is essentially a dictator of his own region.
Just from a quick glance, selling off the ornaments decorating this office alone would net nearly a hundred billion.
I spoke with a satisfied expression.
"I'll give you three seconds. After that, if you're still holding a sword, I'll judge you as an enemy and eliminate you."
I warned the tense knights.
Naturally, Arcia already had her Force Sword drawn, and I twirled the Magic Staff in my hand, acting as if I was about to swing it at any moment.
Knights are supposed to devote their loyalty to their lord, but as the world developed, the old romantic ideals became hard to find.
Since they knew better than anyone how precious their own lives were, they quickly put down their swords at my warning.
Thanks to that, by the time three seconds passed, no knight was holding a sword.
"You bastards, how dare you!"
At that, Viscount Parma grew agitated and berated the knights, but none of them moved.
Of course.
Viscount Parma's authority had already fallen to the ground, practically speaking.
Even if they charged in now, wouldn't it just be a pointless death?
All the knights could do was avoid earning the ire of me, the victor.
"D-don't come closer."
I strode toward the viscount.
He stumbled back onto his rear, and I planted my Magic Staff with a thud between the thighs of Viscount Parma, who was old enough to be my father.
"You'll sign the surrender document, won't you?"
"Hng..."
Viscount Parma clenched his lips tightly, his face turning bright red with rage.
But perhaps thanks to his years of political experience, he steadied his emotions with a deep breath.
"What do you intend to do with me... no, with my entire family?"
"Don't worry. I won't kill anyone except the one who caused this. Instead, you'll become ruined nobles stripped of your wealth and title."
"Ha."
I sat him down at the table, looking utterly deflated, and handed him paper and a pen.
"Or would you rather die?"
"..."
Even if he didn't want to, there was no choice.
This wasn't a negotiation it was a matter of life and death.
"Hic."
In the end, the middle-aged viscount and his family, having raised one bad child, had to sign the humiliating documents with tears streaming down their faces.
I consider myself a compassionate person, in my own way.
But that compassion doesn't extend to those designated as enemies.
Because through past experience, I've learned that thoroughly eliminating enemies or those who might become enemies is the only way to live a comfortable life.
* * *
The moment Viscounty Parma fell in the war between Marquis Lawrence's territory and the four viscounties, the war was as good as over.
Once the main force of the Marquis' army, now occupying Viscounty Parma, began to move, the remaining three viscounties couldn't avoid being crushed one by one.
"The main force of Marquis Lawrence's army, which has taken Viscounty Parma, is now heading toward our territory!"
The lord's castle of Viscounty Dougherty.
Amid the constant explosions and tremors, Viscount Dougherty shouted as if in desperation.
"No, wait! Marquis Lawrence and Count Klein might have already arrived! We're barely holding on as it is if those two, who are said to have overwhelmed 40 Vanguards alone, come charging in, our defense line will collapse in an instant!"
The detachment of Marquis Lawrence's army that had struck at the start of the war held about 30% greater combat power compared to Viscounty Dougherty's forces.
It was only because Marquis Lawrence's army was a hastily assembled unit lacking coordination that they were holding on; if both sides had been on equal footing, Viscount Dougherty's army would have been pushed back long ago.
And now, with the main force charging in on top of all that, it was only natural that Viscount Dougherty fell into a panic.
"Don't you forget if I fall, you're next!"
[Damn it! We know!]
Viscount Karma and Viscount Rognier, in much the same position as Viscount Dougherty, could only heave deep sighs during the video conference.
To them, it felt like being trapped in a swamp with no way out.
How were they supposed to end this unwinnable war?
[Why not just hand over the children?]
At that, the cold-headed Viscount Karma stepped forward to propose to the two of them.
It meant offering the sons and daughters who had caused this crisis to Adrian for the sake of their houses.
Viscount Dougherty fell into thought, but Viscount Rognier shook her head and refused.
[It's useless. They say Marquis Lawrence subdued Young Master Parma, with whom he had bad blood, and entered the ducal seat without even looking back.]
"What does that mean?"
[From the very beginning, revenge was nothing more than a justification for war!]
[....]
"...."
[It's obvious he wants to fill the coffers he emptied building his army! Marquis Lawrence intends to dump the receipts from his military supply shopping spree on us!]
Viscount Rognier, who could be called the epitome of a noblewoman, was always a figure who exuded intellect and composure.
When a rage-filled shout burst from her lips, Viscount Dougherty and Viscount Karma flinched and had no choice but to fall silent.
Her administrative and political abilities could be said to be superior to those of the other three viscounts.
But there was one thing.
She was the same in that she hadn't paid much attention to her children.
Who would have ever thought a house would topple because of their children?
For her, this entire situation could only feel like a nightmare.
"Th-That's an even bigger problem, isn't it? What on earth are we supposed to do...."
As Viscount Dougherty stamped his feet in agitation, Viscount Rognier spoke with a chilling expression.
[Since we can no longer win through conventional combat, we must change our methods. We need to twist the tide of battle and buy time.]
[You have a way?]
[First, we must gather our forces together.]
[Wait! Are you saying we should empty our domains!?]
[Either way, facing Marquis Lawrence on our own land means certain defeat! This is the only way!]
[Ugh... Tell me the plan.]
Though they knew there was no choice, it was a harsh decision for those whose domains were everything to them.
The cool-headed Viscount Rognier stated her plan with resolve.
[We gather our forces and strike the Marquis's domain.]
"Ah...."
[We seize the Marquis's domain and hold it hostage. No matter how much of an eccentric he is, he wouldn't want to become the master of a ruin, would he?]
[Right. The Marquis's domain should be completely empty right now.]
That was the best choice they could make.
Though it was a somewhat underhanded method, Adrian's move of mobilizing troops before the Domain War even began was hardly honorable either.
So there was no need to discuss morality now.
[Since the war is happening on our lands, the domain's residents in the Marquis's territory probably haven't evacuated either.]
[You mean we can take the residents hostage along with the city's facilities?]
"A perfectly workable plan! As expected of Viscount Rognier! Brilliant!"
[That's not exactly welcome praise. Having to resort to such an indecent plan only fills me with lament.]
And so, the opinions of Viscount Dougherty, Viscount Rognier, and Viscount Karma converged into one.