Chapter 44: The Exiled Marquise-sama and the Demon Realm 7
There are several differences between Syllable Magic and common magic. It requires incantations using a special vocalization method, it needs an activation incantation called a Key Utterance to invoke the magic, and unlike common magic where the Magic Circle is constructed inside the body, Syllable Magic forms it in the space outside the body. For me, someone who can see Magicka, this last point could be called the biggest difference.
I followed the spear of light launched from the huge Magic Circle constructed ten-odd meters above Shara’s head with my eyes.
All Syllable Magic boasts ridiculous power.
Among them, Lux Lance is quite something in terms of its penetrating power and destructive force within its effective range.
Even among the people of the Church, who revere learning the Divine Techniques, most only learn about it as knowledge. You could probably count the number of people capable of using it at a proficient speed on one hand, even if you searched the entire Church.
In the first place, a member of the Healer Faction being able to use Syllable Magic is strange.
After all—
It has this kind of power.
The spear of light struck the Forest Dragon head-on, piercing its head. It stopped moving for just a moment, then in the next instant, its whole body trembled, and it vanished with a dry pop sound.
Along with half of the Forest Dragon’s body.
No matter how you look at it, this isn’t the kind of magic someone from the Healer Faction, whose goal is to heal people with Healing Magic, would learn.
What on earth was Shara thinking, learning magic like this?
I looked at the self-proclaimed Healer Faction Sister.
Shara sat slumped on the ground as if her legs had given out, breathing heavily with her shoulders heaving.
Her Magicka must be temporarily depleted, leaving her overcome with fatigue; her breathing was ragged.
But her face looked satisfied.
“Shin.”
At Erica’s voice, I turned back to face forward.
“It’s still getting up?”
Useless words unintentionally slipped from my mouth.
The remains—rather than the body—of the Forest Dragon, which had lost not just its head but half its body, were bubbling as its flesh tried to regenerate.
Not being able to defeat it even after blowing away half its body was unexpected. They say not to let your guard down even after cutting off the head when dealing with Dragonkin, but this is just too tough, no matter how you slice it.
We need to retreat.
Before I could make that decision, Erica moved.
“I have learned how to control the heat, you see.”
Saying that, Erica smiled at me and swiftly swung her Sword like a conductor’s baton.
With a roar, the Forest Dragon was enveloped in Pillars of Flame.
“As long as it doesn’t burn the Magic Stone, it should be fine, right?”
Erica said, smiling proudly.
“Even for a Monster, I can’t help but feel sympathy seeing it meet such an end.”
Shara, who said that, was standing steadily, perhaps having recovered her Magicka.
I couldn’t tell if the expression on her face was one of exasperation or simply fatigue.
“It didn’t have a head, so I doubt it felt anything.”
Erica, who said that, showed no signs of fatigue despite having continuously burned the regenerating Forest Dragon with Pillars of Flame for several minutes.
Just how much Magicka did she have inside her? As expected of someone called the Child of Sword and Magic.
Although half of it had been blown away, I was having trouble with the task of digging the Magic Stone out from the Magic Stone Fragments of the Forest Dragon, which had originally been the size of a house.
The Magic Stone was buried, and I couldn’t find it.
“Shin, shall I help?”
It was Erica who offered.
“No, Erica, please keep watch on our surroundings. I think we’re fine for now, but the master of this area is gone. Other Monsters might return.”
Well, we could probably handle them even if they did return, but it’s always better to be cautious.
Oh, found it.
I dug the Magic Stone out from the pile of Magic Stone Fragments and held it up.
Complex patterns like leaf veins floated on its purple surface.
Holding it—about the size of a human head—above my head, I signaled to the two of them that I had found it.
Shara wore a complex expression, as if wanting to say she still couldn’t believe this was real, while Erica nodded with satisfaction, as if this outcome was perfectly natural.
Now then, I wonder what kind of expression I was making?
At the very least, I probably had the look on my face that said this wasn’t the kind of Monster you just casually subjugate on a whim.