**Chapter 30: The Marchioness Was a Gorilla**
“Well… this is quite something!”
Rest instinctively crossed his arms to brace against Airishu’s strike. Despite layering two enhancement spells, Body Enhancement and Toughness, he was still overwhelmed by an incredible shock. Unable to withstand it, Rest was sent flying backward, landing heavily.
“Hmm… not a bad reaction. Your output and activation speed are impressive. I’m quite impressed that you can perform a Duo at such a young age.”
“T-thank you…”
Airishu, instead of pursuing him, began to stretch her arms. If she were an ordinary warrior or mage, that first strike would have ended the fight.
(I can’t feel my arms… They’re not torn off, are they?)
Though his arms were not broken, they were numb to the point where he couldn’t move them at will. Without dispelling the enhancement spells, he cast Heal to mend the damage to his arms.
“Oh, you can also perform a Trio. Truly remarkable.”
“Then how is it that you can exert such power with just Body Enhancement?”
This was a genuine question. While Rest was casting multiple spells simultaneously, Airishu was relying solely on Body Enhancement. Although Rest could use the same spell, it was clear that there was a vast difference in their abilities.
“I was born with a high magical output. That’s just talent.”
“…Talent, you say?”
“However… I’m not very good at long-range attack spells. It seems that one cannot have it all, after all.”
“……..”
Rest possessed an endless reservoir of magical power, but the amount of magic he could channel into a single spell—his magical output—wasn’t particularly high. It wasn’t low either, but compared to his unique talent of being able to copy spells after seeing them just once, his output seemed rather ordinary.
(I see… It’s true that one cannot have it all.)
“Then… how about this?”
Rest conjured a dozen Fireballs around him and launched them all at Airishu.
“Hah!”
“Hehe… Nice attack. I like it.”
The Fireballs were aimed and timed to make them nearly impossible to dodge, yet Airishu evaded them with graceful steps and incredible agility. Without slowing down, she closed the distance and leaped into Rest’s space.
“Smoke Screen!”
Rest unleashed a cloud of white smoke around them, obscuring both his and Airishu’s forms in a veil of mist.
“Impressive…!”
Airishu’s fist sliced through the air, missing Rest. Thanks to the Enhanced Perception spell, Rest could see her movements even within the smoke. He pressed his palm against her abdomen.
(Here it comes… I’ll hit her hard!)
“Shock Palm!”
“Ugh…!”
Airishu’s body twitched slightly. The spell he cast was designed to incapacitate without killing, a technique he learned from Diable for combat against other people.
“That hurts, you know. But… you underestimate non-lethal magic.”
“……..!? ”
Airishu seized Rest’s arm that was pressed against her abdomen. Despite having landed a solid hit, she managed to restrain him in an instant.
“How naughty of you to touch another woman’s belly when you have Viola and Primula! Time for punishment!”
“Whoa!”
Still holding his arm, she spun Rest around and threw him across the training ground. He bounced several times before rolling to a stop at the edge of the arena.
“Rest-kun!”
“Rest-sama!”
“Are you not coming out? Our fight isn’t over yet!”
Airishu shouted at the girls who rushed toward him in a panic. Just as she said, the battle was far from finished. Rest stood up from the ground, healing himself with Healing magic.
“This is ridiculous… truly…”
The ability to stand again was a testament to Diable’s training. Having grown accustomed to fighting against humans, he managed to minimize the damage by taking the fall properly.
(If she can dodge all those Fireballs, then firing long-range spells is pointless… I’d just end up setting the mansion ablaze with stray shots…)
In that case, he should stack enhancement spells and engage in close combat. Rest grimaced at the thought. If he could use high-level area spells, it would be a different story, but unfortunately, Diable hadn’t taught him that. The fighting techniques he learned were more about creatively using weaker spells rather than focusing on sheer firepower like a typical mage.
“That diverse fighting style using various spells… You’re studying under Diable, aren’t you?”
Airishu inquired. Rest nodded while focusing on his recovery.
“…Yes, I’ve learned a lot from Master Diable.”
“It seems he had other disciples in the past, but none lasted long. He must be quite strict, huh?”
“He’s not exactly gentle. But if you want to grow stronger, that’s only natural.”
“Yes, yes, good mindset.”
Airishu flashed a gentle smile that seemed out of place in the midst of battle.
“His way of using magic is exquisitely skilled, but he lacked the magical power to master high-level spells. I’d love to see how your absurd magical power would complete his fighting style.”
“…Thank you for that.”
Rest clenched and opened his fist. During their conversation, he had completely healed from his injuries. His magical power remained unchanged from its initial state.
(So now we’re back to square one… In fact, it seems like Airishu-sama has lost some of her magical power. I could even say I have the advantage…)
Yet, despite this, he felt no sense of advantage. Instead, he felt increasingly cornered, a cold sweat trickling down his spine.
Having engaged in mock battles with Diable almost daily, he had become capable of fighting favorably in unrestricted battles, even if he couldn’t win. Yet, he felt an insurmountable distance from Airishu. This was the power of someone at the pinnacle of the nation, and it shook him to his core.
(She’s strong… stronger than Master Diable, and certainly stronger than me…!)
“Rest-kun!”
“Rest-sama!”
(Still… I can’t give up. I have the girls cheering for me.)
Viola and Primula shouted, encouraging him. He couldn’t show them a disgraceful side. Though he had said he would borrow their strength, he had to give it his all.
(I’ll go all out… with the intent to truly defeat her…!)
“Ah… it seems you’ve made up your mind. Those are good eyes. Just like my husband in his youth, they’re the eyes I love.”
Airishu’s lips curled into a crescent-shaped smile, filled with amusement.
“Come now, I’ll embrace you.”
“I’m coming…!”
**Body Enhancement**
**Toughness**
**Accelerator**
**Earth Wear**
He activated a Quartet of spells. Coating his entire body in armor made of earth, he took a crouching stance, ready to spring forward.
“A Quartet… impressive!”
“Fire!”
As Airishu praised him, Rest kicked off the ground and charged forward. The speed he exhibited while clad in earth armor was astonishing, akin to a large motorcycle barreling down the road at over a hundred kilometers per hour. He aimed straight for her, intending to deliver a powerful punch to her torso.
“……..!”
“Yes, good. Quite good.”
However… that attack was caught. Airishu had enhanced her body with both Body Enhancement and Toughness. Even with just Body Enhancement, Rest found it difficult to contend with her, and now, facing her reinforced form, his Quartet strike was rendered ineffective.
“This is your reward. As promised, I’ll embrace you.”
“Kah…!”
Airishu’s arms wrapped around Rest, crushing him in a tight embrace. The earth armor shattered with a loud crack, and he was squeezed into a bowing position.
(My waist… it’s breaking…!)
His consciousness faded, and Rest succumbed to the darkness once more.
In the second duel held in the training ground, Rest had once again faced defeat, losing consciousness just as he had in the previous encounter.