Episode 19: Barbat’s Misunderstanding
It’s said that love doesn’t exist among nobles.
That’s because it’s considered normal for parents to decide on their children’s fiancés, and for them to comply.
However, this creates a significant contradiction.
Nobles are born with immense Magical Power, often Stella-Class, so they harbor a simple thought: “Why should someone else decide for me when I’m also Stella-Class?”
To put it nicely, they’re cheerful and audacious; to put it badly, they’re arrogant and insolent.
Because of such thinking, nobles tend to develop an obsessive mindset, loving only one person.
I don’t know what kind of relationship Barbat had with his fiancée, but having her run away is not normal.
The shock to Barbat, who lived for obsessive love, must have been considerable.
I don’t intend to sympathize, but I wonder if he awakened to a fondness for young girls because he sought someone who wouldn’t defy him.
Scandals like Barbat’s are scattered all over noble society.
The saying “love affairs are only temporary” doesn’t apply to nobles.
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“Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill…”
Barbat spewed curses while rapidly building up Magical Power within his body, but he was exposing a clear weakness.
(Now, what should I do?)
I couldn’t decide whether to instantly kill Barbat or not.
I was still concerned about the other Stella-Class I sensed to the south.
If they intended to observe us, I didn’t want to reveal too much of my hand.
But even if I thought about it, the enemy wouldn’t wait.
(Damn it, no time to think.)
While I was pondering, Barbat’s hair began to shine emerald green.
When Stella-Class individuals go into berserk battle mode, their body hair changes color to match the attribute of their magic.
Barbat was now extending his right hand, about to unleash magic.
“Minashiro-sama, what’s wrong?!”
Perhaps suspicious of my unexpected movements, Getrude called out to me.
“…Getrude, I’m changing the plan slightly. I’m sorry, but trust me and follow my instructions.”
“…Hmm, you have something in mind. Understood, I trust Minashiro-sama.”
“Ah, that helps! …Everyone, wind magic is coming! Scatter it with Magical Power ‘Shields’!”
I was glad Getrude was by my side after all.
I immediately gave instructions to everyone.
The military officers began to gather Magical Power, channeling it into the bayonets they held.
The blades of the bayonets glowed, and a thin film of Magical Power spread from their tips.
The “Shield” is a technique to create a thin shield to deflect magic.
I, too, channeled Magical Power into my pipe and created a “Shield.”
“Vanish, you Ortenos trash!”
What Barbat unleashed from his right hand was a slash of invisible wind blades.
The wide-range magic scattered immense destruction across the ground and trees as it approached.
(This is the firepower of a normal Stella-Class.)
Seeing Barbat’s magic, I determined that he wasn’t the same kind of being as me.
This eliminated the only possibility of me losing to Barbat.
Seeing Stella-Class magic in actual combat for the first time through the Magical Power “Shield.”
The way it gouged the ground with a roar was like a bombing.
“Fuhahaha! Die, die, die, die!”
Barbat kept firing wind magic like a broken record.
If it hit directly, even I would have taken some damage, but deflecting it with Magical Power was no problem.
“Everyone, keep enduring for now! It shouldn’t last long!”
“Ooooh!”
I was a little worried about the military officers, but in their “Maten (Doping)” state, they were able to deflect the attacks without much damage.
After a while, Barbat’s attacks stopped.
“Don’t move, stay alert for a follow-up attack!”
Dust billowed, obscuring our vision, so I urged the military officers to be cautious.
I was tracking Barbat with “Magical Power Detection,” but he wasn’t doing anything.
After a while, the dust settled.
“Hah? You deflected all my wind magic?! …No, I see, you put up a ‘Magical Barrier’!”
“Huh?”
Barbat, who had revealed himself, seemed shocked by our lack of damage, but then he seemed to have an idea and began to speak triumphantly.
I tilted my head, not understanding what Barbat was saying.
A “Magical Barrier” is a magic that creates a transparent barrier that completely nullifies magical attacks.
Its defensive performance is excellent, but it consumes a lot of Magical Power, so I don’t use it.
I have enough Magical Power, but I try to conserve it as much as possible, so I don’t usually use it.
“Fuhahaha! There are always fools like you who care too much about their subordinates, waste their magic, and become Magic Power deficient!”
“…”
What on earth is Barbat talking about?
My Magical Power is overflowing, and if anything, I’ve been strict with my subordinates.
“I’ll commend you for destroying the ten thousand I left behind. But it looks like you put too much Magical Power into your ‘Maten.’ It’s your bad luck that you came to the battlefield before you could even control your Magical Power.”
“…Ah.”
I see, it seems Barbat judged me to be a kid with poor Magical Power control because of my abnormal “Maten.”
I don’t understand why he tries to see things so conveniently, but I don’t mind if he misunderstands.