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Chapter 30. Toshi-nii's Feelings

"However, even though it's training, Toshi-nii, you pushed the students quite hard."

"Experiencing extreme battlefield conditions in simulation is a valuable opportunity, don't you think?"

After the training session, many students were completely exhausted both mentally and physically, collapsing onto the ground.

Having plenty of energy left, I didn't miss the familiar figure slipping away to the smoking area.

As I sat on the bench lighting a cigarette, Toshi-nii gave me a slightly disapproving look upon seeing me.

It's a rare opportunity, Toshi-nii, don't let it slip away.

"Where did you get an Automata violating the treaty?"

"It's from an old connection. You know who I'm talking about, that machine geek."

"Oh, that person."

I remember we were together during the operation to infiltrate the enemy capital, an unforgettable individual despite meeting only a few times.

"With their Soul Armor ability, they can reprogram Automata for simulation battles. I borrowed a captured Automata for simulation use. Soon, they'll be officially deployed for training at various military facilities."

"But facing Automata nearly unarmed must have been quite a shock for the elementary school kids. Some in my unit, like Kagami, were literally in tears."

"Even in such extreme conditions, our students tried to do what they must, right?"

"Well, yeah."

At that time, the two elementary school students immediately decided to sacrifice themselves as decoys against the Automata, preparing for their own deaths.

I was most surprised by their resolve to make such a harsh decision on the spot, despite being children just like us.

"We've been drilling this into their heads day in and day out. In case of emergency, letting Soul Armor users escape is the top priority for ordinary soldiers."

This mindset carries over to the battlefield as well.

Losing an irreplaceable Soul Armor user is a national loss, so they receive special treatment.

This inevitably creates a psychological gap between Soul Armor soldiers and regular troops.

"We were taught in elementary school that all lives are equal."

"But if you're going to risk your life anyway, wouldn't it be more satisfying in the afterlife to prioritize practicality over dubious morals? That's what I'm teaching."

Stubbing out the cigarette in the ashtray, Toshi-nii gazes up at the sky.

"In this training, I wanted the academy students to understand that ordinary soldiers endure rigorous training daily and won't hesitate to shield themselves when necessary. As for the elementary school students, they may dislike Soul Armor soldiers, but they needed to understand that there's no one more reliable on the battlefield."

"Isn't it a bit much to explain the intent of the training to me, a student?"

"It's fine because it's you."

Being told that makes me feel a bit ticklish.

It's as if I'm being treated specially, and it makes me smile involuntarily.

Really, why can't Toshi-nii use this kind of technique to charm women?

"Yuu-kun, help me!"

Suddenly called out, I turned to see Mina coming towards us unsteadily, hiding behind my back as she walked.

Perhaps due to the earlier march or maybe out of fear, Mina's legs tremble slightly as she approaches.

"What's wrong, Mina?"

"T-that guy..."

"Wait a moment, Private Kohou! This is purely a benevolent act without any ill intentions!"

Coming up behind Mina, Kagami was making excuses as he approached.

"What are you doing?"

"Just trying to massage the fatigued legs of the esteemed Private Kohou, our battlefield goddess."

In Kagami's hand was a stick with various protrusions for stimulating pressure points.

Approaching a woman with such a stick in hand was frankly inappropriate.

"Stop it, Kagami. Geez, you're really susceptible to the atmosphere."

With an exasperated expression, Toshi-nii intervenes between Kagami and Mina to calm things down.

"Sorry about that. It's quite common for ordinary soldiers on the battlefield to be mesmerized by the overwhelming power of Soul Armor users. Like him here."

Despite being lightly tapped on the head by Toshi-nii, Kagami continues to gaze straight at Mina.

Meanwhile, Mina remains scared and continues to hide behind my back.

"Mina's appearance and abilities might make things tough on the actual battlefield."

Mina's Soul Armor ability, [Roaring Tiger], directly attacks opponents, so she'll likely get deployed in active combat units.

With the ability to single-handedly dominate enemy squads hidden in jungles, her allies would have great trust in her.

On top of that, she's exceptionally beautiful. She's bound to become the princess of the battlefield.

"Maybe I should reconsider joining the military."

Mina murmurs softly.

Peeking out from the shadows of the smoking area, it seems like a similar situation is causing a ruckus.

Oh, Vice President Nase is sandwiching a young student from the elementary school who is loudly confessing what sounds like love declarations to her, using barriers.

And beyond that, Kotomi is paralyzing the elementary school students with paralysis poison.

In the end, it seems like the student council members on patrol here are also getting involved.

"Hey, Toshi-nii. Can we really call this exchange program a success?"

"Hmm, maybe exposing these impressionable kids to such stimulating experiences wasn't a good idea."

Scratching his head thoughtfully, Toshi-nii, as the responsible person, grumbled.ere the ones who defeated the monsters. Analyzing the magical remains of that corpse would serve as evidence. It's only logical—"

"Enough! Stop your incessant babbling! A defective young lady like you has no right to talk back to me!!"

Finally, the Count becomes enraged and simultaneously enhances his own magic.

"'Gather, southern wind Notos; Tear, northern wind Boreas; Reach the godless wind's end.' Bloodline Magic—[Aiolos]!"

Activating his Bloodline Magic.

Instantly, a great storm rises around the Count. Indeed, Hermes surmised, it's a decently strong Bloodline Magic.

"Behold, this is true Bloodline Magic! The privilege of the chosen ones!"

The Count flaunts the storm, brimming with superiority with a triumphant voice.

"Listen, magic is everything in this country! Meaning worthless heiresses like you, who can't even properly use magic, are at the bottom. You have no right to say anything! No one will listen to you! Just daring to defy me is a sin in itself!!"

"..."

"Evidence from the corpse? Then I shall tear apart, crush, and scatter that corpse with my storm. This is a remote mountain labyrinth. There are no other witnesses here! Besides, the fact that you defeated monsters is suspicious in itself! Either you were too weak, or surely used some cowardly tactic!"

"Hmph, I withdraw. This monster was of dragon descent, and the one who dealt the final blow was unmistakably Herm, using the magic Herm himself has accumulated!"

"Hah, so it wasn't you after all! Relying on the power of your servant is pitiful!"

The Count, feeling victorious. But unable to refute the truth, now silences Katia with his arguments.

"If you're so regretful, then show me your magic too! You heard me? A magic that desecrates the corpses of the dead, and calls it Bloodline Magic is almost insulting! Feel crushed by the difference between my splendid magic and yours!"

"Urgh!"

"If your magic were even one in a million times better than mine, I would acknowledge your argument and withdraw! Well, it's impossible, though, hahaha!"

The Count laughs loudly as if proclaiming himself to be righteous.

However, unable to ignore such provocation, Katia, with more than half of her resignation, steps forward to activate her magic.

"Katia-sama."

There, Hermes calls out to her.

"...Herm, please don't stop me. I must do this myself—"

"Yes, I understand."

As she's getting provoked to show her own magic, she won't act rashly and step forward.

"I have just one thing to say. Please remember what I said earlier, Katia-sama."

"Ah..."

"It's alright. Your magic is wonderful. It shouldn't be inferior to such brute force. What are you thinking when you use that magic now?"

Hermes recalls the nature of the magic he told Katia about earlier. It's about,

"Magic often depends on the emotions of its caster."

"The caster's emotions...?"

"Yes. And Katia-sama's [Steria Tryvia] is especially prone to that. It might be one of the reasons you struggle with magic. Your emotions affecting how you handle magic are disturbed."

"B-but! I always activate my magic with sincerity!"

"Sincerity is important, but it's slightly different from putting emotions into it."

"...What do you mean?"

"What matters is the 'purity' of your feelings. Surprisingly, people often fail to grasp their own emotions properly. They get caught up in their facade, or too trapped by their ideals."

That's why he's asking such people once again.

Pure feelings. In other words, 'What do you think when you use that magic?' And then, Katia asks herself.

(For what reason am I using this magic right now?)

Probably, the past her would have answered immediately.

'Because I was provoked by Count Eldridge. To stop the count's tyranny.'

And then she'd smile bitterly.

(That's right. It's just a facade.)

Then, 'To not tolerate insults to my subordinates' or 'To be right as a noble.'.

None of them are lies. But, if asked if they're the emotions of this moment, they might feel different.

And then, more pure, more simply put.

(Ah, I see.)

Indeed, she might have been suppressing these feelings.

It's extremely personal, selfish ones.

But certainly pure, her current feelings. They are—

"It's infuriating."

The atmosphere shifted.

"You waltz in here and act as you please without knowing how much effort we put into defeating that creature." 

Katia's voice was quiet yet seething with intense magic from within.

"And on top of that, you try to snatch the credit without lifting a finger. Do you have no pride?" 

Her pressure was overwhelming, leaving the Count speechless despite his attempts to retaliate.

"—Don't you dare mock Herm and the rest of us! Learn some shame, Eldridge!!"

And she announced with a resolute declaration.

"'Sing peace on the eve of the apocalypse, where dawn shall never come again. The era of salvation hides behind the facade of reality'. Blood Magic—[Steria Tryvia]!"

She's manifesting a horde of spirits. But there was a significant difference from before.

"W-What kind of magic is that...?" 

The quality of the souls was different.

It wasn't the usual chaotic mass; every bit of it got directed towards the Count with the overwhelming force of 'anger'.

Her magic was about summoning undead spirits through attachments to this world—a manifestation of strong emotions. 

By giving a certain direction to those emotions, souls could resonate and get summoned more powerfully and abundantly.

A swarm of enraged spirits filled the hall. In their presence, the Count's storm seemed feeble.

With control over them, Katia exuded an aura akin to the Underworld Queen.

"And so, you said if my magic proved superior, you would acknowledge it and back down, right, Count?"

"Y-You're just bluffing! You're just putting on a facade and trying to deceive me! I won't get fooled by your tricks!"

Despite the Count's resistance, he faltered.

"Or, do you intend to attack me with that magic!? That would be a grave mistake! Your already low esteem will plummet, leading to excommunication! Are you prepared for that!?"

He even resorted to such arguments to prevent her from using her now obviously stronger magic.

He had used his superior magic to bully others, yet now that the tables had turned, he clung to rules.

And it was time to end this.

"If no one finds out, it's fine, right?"

Katia and the Count's confrontation got settled. Hermes intervened, confident there would be no issues even if he stepped in.

"W-What are you doing, you insolent brats—!?"

The Count cornered and called for help from his knights.

"Apologies to the Count's knights! We bear no grudge against you. But we are also angered by the disrespect towards our lord!"

All of the Count's knights had already been subdued by Katia's knights. The disparity in their skills was evident from the entrance to the labyrinth; this was the expected outcome.

Finally, with no allies left, the Count bowed his head, acknowledging his wrongdoing and conceding to the reward. He fled in haste.

"...Now, then."

Katia, releasing her magic, stared at her palm in disbelief.

"H-Herm, did you do something just now?"

"No, it was undoubtedly your power. Just as I saw before, it was beautiful magic."

Such instances were abundant in the capital now.

Those who couldn't grasp the true value of their magic or understand its worth.

Hermes could see that. And he could guide them in the right direction.

"It's so easy for magic to become stronger..."

"It's because you continued your training diligently. But let's not say 'It's nothing'. You understand that, don't you?"

"...Yes. Although it was powerful just now. As an heirloom of the ducal family, it's still lacking."

She looked up at Hermes.

"Can you bring that out too?"

"I'm confident I can. I'd love to try. It's a personal wish of mine to use your splendid magic as well."

In fact, that was his main goal. For him, analyzing magic was synonymous with acquiring it.

He was extremely greedy when it came to magic.

"...Alright. If that's the reward, it's a small price to pay, and there's no need to hold back."

With a wry smile, Katia agreed.

And thus, another magic was added to Hermes's repertoire since his arrival in the capital.

The tumultuous conquest of the labyrinth had finally come to an end.