「Normally, if we wanted to show something really magical, the captain would be much clearer and better… but she’s not around right now」
Frea-san called one of her subordinates over… and for some reason they brought back two logs.
Why are things like that even here?
「We usually use them for archery practice」
「If it’s Lutte, she prefers moving target?」
「That kid’s bow is in a class of its own… she doesn’t need practice at all. Right now, we’re having her split firewood and do chores to build strength」
Hmm? Someone’s name I don’t know popped up.
「Who’s Lutte?」
「An apprentice knight who mostly cleans up after Mische right now」
「…That sounds like a really tough job」
「Yes」
I already felt sorry for someone I’ve never met.
「Anyway, these logs… well, both are completely ordinary. Want to check?」
「No, I’m good」
「Then Halfren-sama. Please slice that one cleanly」
Huh?
「What a pain」
My brother lazily drew the sword at his waist and with a casual 「here goes」 swung it sideways, neatly cutting the log in half.
「Good enough?」
「As impressive as always」
「……」
I think I’ll give up on punching him. I picked the wrong guy to fight.
「As you can see, a normal log gets cut like this」
Even if you say it like a shopping channel host, I’m pretty sure normal people couldn’t do that?
「Now I’ll use magic on the remaining log」
She whispered something under her breath, and her right hand glowed faintly.
When she touched the log, the wood itself started glowing softly too.
「Halfren-sama, if you please」
「Yeah, yeah」
His sword flashed. The log got knocked away and rolled across the ground.
The soldiers quickly retrieved it.
It wasn’t cut at all.
「This log had my magic 『reinforce』 cast on it. The defense was strengthened, so it couldn’t be sliced」
「Wow～」
「Did you understand?」
「Yeah」
I thought magic would be flashier, but this is still pretty amazing.
「So what happens if you use that reinforce on a weapon?」
「Yes. It increases hardness, so the weapon becomes very hard to break」
「I see」
That’s awesome. If we had this… hmm?
I noticed my idiot aniki grinning at me and quickly shook my head.
Saying something weird could cause big trouble. No flaunting Earth knowledge.
「So, what kind of magic does my wife use?」
「The captain’s magic is…」
Why hesitate? Why look at my brother like you need help? Why can’t you say your superior’s magic!
「That’s… probably magic」
My brother’s attempt to bail Frea-san out was already sinking fast.
Probably magic? What does that even mean?
「There are two ways to use magic. Chant a spell to activate it. What Frea did earlier is that type. The other is writing circle spells to trigger. Engrave magic patterns on platinum plates. The one used for your treatment was this kind. Called large-scale ceremonial magic, done jointly by multiple mages. As for Noie… hers doesn’t fit either」
「Then it’s not magic?」
「No. It’s classified as magic. The premise is that magic uses something called magic power. Truth is, magic power is a mysterious force without fixed shape. It can become anything, which is why magic activates. In Noie’s case… she attacks directly with the magic power itself」
「Huh?」
For some reason, a bad feeling crept in.
「In other words, Noie gathers magic power in her hands and punches dragons down. Sometimes she pulls it from inside her body, forms pure lumps of magic power, and hurls them for massive destruction spells」
My brother scratched his head roughly.
「She beats dragons without using spells…just raw magic power. That’s why the nobles and generals fear and hate her barbaric, incomprehensible fighting style」
I see. That’s why Noie always tears dragons apart with her hands.
Her own two hands… her whole body is the ultimate weapon.
「Don’t casually ask Noie to 『show me some magic』, okay?」
「I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry about my wife.」
「No, it’s fine. I’d just be happy if you could do something about it even a little.」
My brother patted my shoulder lightly. I bowed to Frea-san too, who was giving a polite smile.
The idiot crawling toward us on the ground got picked up without hesitation by the subordinates and carried away.
「By the way, the air feels kinda weird since earlier?」
「Yes?」
『Coming from the west～』
Whose voice?
But Frea-san reacted instantly.
「Everyone assemble! Enemy dragons approaching from the west!」
Her voice, sharp and clear unlike our earlier chat, rang through the area.
「Come on, useless. Stay by me」
「Nii-san, you’d be useless against dragons too, right?」
「Ha! Even without Noie, this country’s heavy infantry is strong」
The subordinates who had been carrying the idiot all readied long spears and shields, facing west.
A winged, snake-like creature slipped through the trees and burst out.
「Watch closely. This is real combat」
I swallowed hard without thinking and stared intently.
Several shields met the charging dragon head-on, while the rest thrust their long spears.
The skin must be tough, the spear tips didn’t pierce.
Even so, they blocked attacks with shields and kept thrusting spears.
I could clearly see the dragon’s motivation fading bit by bit.
After a while, it flapped its wings hard and rose into the sky.
It glanced at us a few times, shook its head… then wobbled off unsteadily toward somewhere else.
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