New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (2/3 chapters)
Great Mage of Justice
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(POV switch – Yustin)
I was called a “genius” by the time I was three years old.
The Schwarzschild Household had been a lineage of magicians practicing Eastern-style magic since the time when the world was still divided into East and West, waging war. Born into the main branch of that family, I was expected to possess outstanding talent in magic.
Occasionally, there were those within the family who were born as failures. I had heard stories that such individuals are disowned from an early age, but in my case, I demonstrated an extraordinary talent even compared to the successive heads of the family. Therefore, I was treated with great respect instead.
Eastern-style magic emphasized actual combat power. The key was how efficiently one could use magical power and how tactically one could handle magic. For this reason, Eastern-style magic, in contrast to Western-style magic, did not incorporate long chants when manifesting magic. It was structured in single phrases, with incantations completed using the minimum necessary words. However, shortening the incantation was not so simple.
There was a fixed formula to the incantation, and unless each phrase was recited to give the appropriate command, the magic couldn’t be successfully manifested. For example, the following incantation…
“Chant (Incantation) Start (Begin) Eis Spear (Ice Spear)” (Gina)
With these three words, Gina created an ice spear.
The first word, “Chant,” represented the type of magic. From the four types, “Chant (Release),” “Behandlung (Repair),” “Starkung (Enhancement),” and “Veranderung (Transformation)”—one must declare what command it was. The second word conveyed the progress of the magic being manifested, such as “Start (Begin),” “Ende (End),” “Stopp (Pause),” or “fortsetzen (Resume)”. From the third word onward, the specific magic name, target, number of repetitions, and other details were combined.
By following this script, Eastern-style magic could be activated with greater certainty and reproducibility. How much one could omit from the script beyond the third word was the mark of skill as an Eastern mage. Generally, a mage was considered competent if they could manifest magic with a four-word phrase or perform both manifestation and practical control with a five-word phrase.
Gina, who could manifest magic and handle it in practical combat with a three-word phrase, was exceptionally talented. It went without saying that her reputation in the Magic University and the Magic Guild was remarkable. However, when it comes to Tou-sama, Anfan Schwarzschild, he surpassed that level entirely. Not to mention his overwhelming mana, he was able to use release-type magic with a single phrase, omitting the first word, which should be necessary for the equation, as well as the second word indicating progress.
That talent was beyond what could be called elite. By some twist of fate, that talent was also firmly inherited by me.
—
I had an older sister. When I was five years old, my sister was already 16. As expected, my sister was also outstanding, skipping grades and graduating from the Magic University at 15. After graduating from university, she became a teacher, and by 17, she had been appointed as a “Court Tutor”.
This “Court Tutor” position was a very rare profession. It was not a job that can be done by simply being an excellent magician. In my sister’s case, her ability as a magician was complemented by a special skillset that made her well-suited for the teaching profession, allowing her to demonstrate her talent to the fullest. Court Tutors were also given a privileged status. Because they were rare, nobles offered them high wages, and occasionally, they were requested to work short-term as personal “home tutors” as a side job.
In the summer when I turned five, Nee-sama was scheduled to return home from the palace on a temporary leave. However, due to an unexpected high-paying request from a noble, she had to take on a tutoring job during the summer vacation. I had been looking forward to my sister’s return, so I was very disappointed.
On one such summer day, I was playing in the mansion’s garden using teleportation magic. I created a portal in front of a little bird that had come to the garden, trapping it in an infinite loop as it tried to escape.
Teleportation magic required precise magical control, including the width of the portal and the spatial coordinates of the destination, making it much more difficult than other basic magic. But I had understood it intuitively since I was very young. That was why I could open space-to-space connections as easily as opening my palm.
I found it fun to observe small animals panicking in confusion. At the time, I did not realize the cruelty of what I was doing. It was at that moment, when I was absorbed in my game…
“―――’*******'” (??)
At the sound of that clear voice, I gasped and turned around.
The little bird that should have been trapped in an infinite loop vanished in an instant. Moments later, the bird was in the hand of a suddenly appearing figure, flapping its wings energetically before flying away.
“Hey, you mustn’t play with living things like that.” (??)
Near the entrance gate of the mansion, standing there with a large square leather bag in her right hand, the figure placed her left hand on her hip as if exasperated. It was my beloved Nee-sama.
She had the same silver-blond hair as me. Her heterochromatic eyes, one purple and one green, looked at me in exasperation.
“Nee-sama…!” (Yustin)
Overjoyed, I leaped into her arms. I had heard that she wouldn’t be able to come home this summer because of her tutoring job.
“Did your work get canceled?” (Yustin)
“Ahh… the home tutoring job… Ahaha… It seems there was a problem with my ‘student’ this time. I wonder if that child will be okay…” (Nee-sama)
“……?” (Yustin)
It seemed that the child she had been hired to tutor lacked the ability to learn magic.
“Whose child was it?” (Yustin)
“That’s a matter of privacy, so I can’t say.” (Nee-sama)
Sister-sama had a distant look in her eyes. Apparently, it was common for tutoring jobs with nobles to fall apart halfway through. Nobles, eager to believe in their child’s talent, would hire a home tutor, but the moment it became clear that the child had no magical potential, they would be dismissed immediately. Nee-sama had come to accept this, knowing that nobles, including our own family, were arrogant.
“By the way, Yuu, it seems you’ve made considerable progress with your Teleportation Magic (Portal Site).” (Nee-sama)
That was right. I had plenty of time to train in magic. Father had given me permission to experiment with different kinds of magic in the garden of the mansion.
“But soon, Yuu, you also need to study not just magic, but how to use magic.” (Nee-sama)
“How to use magic? I’m doing my best! Just now, I even―――” (Yustin)
“What you just did was a ‘wrong way to use magic.'” (Nee-sama)
A wrong way to use magic…
I was shocked to be denied by Nee-sama. At that time, I could not understand what I had done wrong. I believed that I had perfectly executed the single-phrase magic, the portal’s width, and its placement. I had ensured its repeatability as well. I could not comprehend what was different.
“Hmm…” (Nee-sama)
Nee-sama placed one hand on her hip and let out a sigh.
She seemed to be contemplating her words.
“Yuu, I want you to become the Great Mage of Justice.” (Nee-sama)
“The Great Mage… of Justice…?” (Yustin)
I was fascinated by those words. It was my beloved Sister-sama’s wish. Within me, that “Great Mage of Justice” became an ideal.
—
What is justice? The justice that I should strive for…
“Lost… Shia…” (Yustin)
“Yuu, let’s go. There’s no time.” (Anfan)
My friends are collapsed there. They are lying on the soft soil of the forest, Lost and Shia both covered in mud. Their appearance was miserable to behold. To save my friends is justice… If it were Nee-sama, which me would Nee-sama praise? But, no matter the reason, Lost and Shia tried to kill my Tou-sama. To protect Tou-sama is my justice.
While I hesitated, Tou-sama and Giovanni continued their conversation.
“Anfan, with this, the Volga is now four in total, but―――” (Giovanni)
“That’s right. What should we do about the Volcanic Volga? I didn’t want him to witness the ambush in this forest, but… To think he would suddenly appear along with Gnome…” (Anfan)
Tou-sama looked down at the mud-covered Lost. In his eyes, there was not a shred of emotion. The gaze he directed at someone who had traveled together through the Nihilo Desert and saved him in a crisis at the Baira Volcano was unfeeling.
“With this, using Lost-kun will also be difficult.” (Anfan)
“Hmm… This beast, even if captured, does not seem like one that could be subdued by force like Gnome.” (Giovanni)
While Tou-sama and Giovanni were speaking, Lizbeth returned from the large tree. In her right hand, she grasped something thick, like a branch. It was a cylindrical object made of wood.
“Anfan, I found it. This is likely the Aerial――――” (Lizbeth)
But when she took in the scene before her, Lizbeth opened her eyes wide and became agitated.
“Jack! Why are you here?! Shia-chan too…!” (Lizbeth)
She rushed over and checked their condition. Her manner of staying close was exactly like that of a companion.
I had heard that Lizbeth had been a companion of Lost when he was still small. Due to memory loss, they had been apart, but now Lost had regained his memories. I remember how excited he had been, saying that he was looking forward to reminiscing.
“Anfan… you…!” (Lizbeth)
She directed a hostile gaze. Since being scolded over the Volcanic Volga incident, Lizbeth had seemingly set her mindset to properly follow the policies of the Magic Guild and the orders of Tou-sama Anfan… But in the end, her old companions took precedence.
“Liz… It seems you are not suited for our Magic Guild after all.” (Anfan)
“Suited? That doesn’t matter! A child is collapsed like this! How heartless…!” (Lizbeth)
In Lizbeth’s words, an emotion unlike before could be read.
“If they’re in the way, I don’t care if they’re old or young, male or female.” (Anfan)
“…Ahh~, enough! A crazy guild like this, I’m done with it! I’m quitting!” (Lizbeth)
“I see. Losing a talented subordinate is unfortunate for us as well, but it can’t be helped.” (Anfan)
Seeing that, Tou-sama also declared Lizbeth’s dismissal. Shrugging his shoulders, his cold eyes looked down at Lizbeth, who was crouching to protect Lost and Shia.
“Then, hand over that Aerial Volga quietly. If you do, I’ll overlook this now as a favor to an ex-colleague. However, if you still resist, I will respond with full force.” (Anfan)
“….” (Lizbeth)
At Tou-sama’s warning, Lizbeth seemed to judge that she was at a disadvantage and fell silent. Though her sharp eyes glared at Tou-sama, she showed no signs of resisting. Then, she threw the wooden cylinder, which was presumably the Aerial Volga, at Tou-sama’s feet.
“Hmm, if you had been a slightly more incompetent subordinate, I might have been able to enjoy another fight… Well, fine. Do as you please now. I am not one to chase after those who leave.” (Anfan)
Tou-sama continued staring at Lizbeth until he finished speaking. Then, turning his face away, he turned around and began walking slowly into the depths of the forest. The destination was the Dwarf Street. From there, he would head to the labyrinth city Azarigrad. Giovanni followed after him.
“Yuu, let’s go.” (Anfan)
Even now, I was still hesitating.
Lost and Shia, I thought of them as precious friends. But before I knew it, they had become enemies of Tou-sama. I had desperately protected Tou-sama, but I didn’t understand why those two had bared their fangs against him.
Normally, I would have been able to assess the situation and instantly form several hypotheses, but this time, I was confused, and my mind wasn’t working.
“I will show you real magic. You want to become the Great Magician of Justice, don’t you?” (Anfan)
“What Great Mage of Justice! Even when your friends are like this, you’re just obeying your father?! Fathers can be wrong too!” (Lizbeth)
Lizbeth opened her mouth wide and criticized me. Her words seemed to carry the weight of her own experiences. But now that things had come to this, I had no choice but to trust Tou-sama and follow him.
“…” (Yustin)
I chased after Tou-sama’s back. Once, I had fought against this back. I couldn’t forgive Tou-sama for always treating me like a child. When I had embarrassingly spoken about my dream of becoming the Great Magician of Justice, I couldn’t forgive this adult who mocked me.
But now, he had acknowledged me. He had acknowledged me. All that was left was to aim for that ideal…
Just aim for the ideal? What is that ideal?
I felt like an empty shell. But there was no turning back now. Lost had taken an arrow directly, and Shia had been struck head-on by Father-sama’s fire magic.
Did they die…? Because of me…? I don’t know. I have understood all fundamental magic, dimensional magic, chanting formulas, and control of magical coordinates. But now, for the first time, I encounter something I couldn’t understand. I don’t know what justice was.
After returning to the labyrinth city, we immediately took action. Tou-sama also seemed to be in a hurry. Listening to Giovanni’s conversation, it seemed that considering Gnome’s escape from Tower Lodge, the spirits might take countermeasures. Therefore, we couldn’t afford to take our time.
Tou-sama, Giovanni, and I infiltrated the labyrinth city. We ran through the caves and forests (1st layer to 30th layer) in one go. Tou-sama and Giovanni straddled the Arsenal Volga together, and I ran through by making use of the wave riding of the Aquaram Volga.
After several hours, we arrived at Azalea Castle, and after taking a few breaks, we steadily reached the pedestal chamber of the Volga. The corridors of the labyrinth, lined with candlesticks and the armor of Black Corps, the twisted passage, had already become a familiar sight.
I remembered the days when I first got lost in this corridor. It was when I got lost in this labyrinth together with Lost, Taurus, Alba, and Shia. Those days were fun. Even I was fully recognized for my talent as a magician by those four. When I was feeling self-deprecating, those admiring gazes really saved me.
I wished those days could last forever… But now, two of them are no longer here…
We arrived at the pedestal engraved with the statue of Sylphid, and I inserted the wooden cylinder, Aerial Volga, into the hole of the pedestal. This pedestal chamber was also a place we first arrived at when we challenged it as a party of five.
Nostalgic.
When I inserted the Aerial Volga, the pedestal began to emit a bluish-white light in response. At the same time, Azalea Ancient Castle began to shake greatly.
“As expected, the seal of the royal castle seems to be easily broken.” (Anfan)
Tou-sama nodded in satisfaction at that sight.
Seeing that sinister smile, my anxiety only grew stronger. After that, we inserted the remaining three Volgas into their respective spirit pedestal chambers. Even though, as five children, we got so lost in the twisted passages, Tou-sama advanced without hesitation and moved back and forth between the pedestal chambers.
The fourth one, we arrived at a similar pedestal chamber with the statue of Undine.
“Yuu, you already understand, don’t you? Insert the Aquaram Volga into that pedestal hole.” (Anfan)
“…” (Yustin)
As I was told, I stepped toward that pedestal. In my right hand, I gripped a blue glass cylinder.
If I insert this, what will happen?
“There is no time. Do it quickly.” (Anfan)
“…” (Yustin)
I mustered my courage. I took that blue glass cylinder, Aquaram Volga, and inserted it into the pedestal.
―――That just now, was the “wrong way to use it.”
The voice of my beloved Nee-sama suddenly crossed my mind.
If Nee-sama were here, what would she have done? But I no longer have the ability to think. I love my family. I love my excellent Tou-sama and Nee-sama.
“Good, well done.” (Anfan)
That voice was like a guarantee of reassurance.
Being praised by Tou-sama, I felt assured that what I did was not wrong. In response to the insertion of Aquaram Volga, the pedestal began to glow with a bluish-white light. Immediately after that, Azalea Castle shook violently, and finally, I felt as if the very floor itself was rising.
“Oh, it is like a banquet celebrating the revival of the castle.” (Giovanni)
Giovanni, without even being disturbed by the vibration, was rather delighted.
He closed his eyes, looked up at the ceiling, and seemed to be enjoying himself. It seemed that the castle had finally hit the “ceiling”. The cave covering the floors began to collapse, and the Great Labyrinth of Azarigrad was no longer a labyrinth.
“Giovanni, Yuu, let’s go to the balcony of the castle. Let us witness this ‘dawn’.” (Anfan)
Azalea Castle crawled up to the surface.
The forcibly rising castle and the surrounding forest destroyed the Adventurer Guild and the surrounding facilities, causing massive fissures. The uplifted ground formed a great canyon. Though the valley became a boundary between the city and the castle, in some parts, they merged, and the ground stretched across as a bridge connecting the city and the castle.
It was the same as Undine’s Ice Castle and the ice bridge connecting it. Looking down at that bridge from the balcony, I saw the Black Knights, Black Corps, and Giant Guardians that had inhabited the 30th layer of the labyrinth, as well as the Giant Sarracenia and Grizzlies that had lived in the forest, crawling out into the city, attacking the people of Azarigrad.
“Tou-sama! The people of the city…!” (Yuu)
Unable to bear it, I looked up at Tou-sama.
Aren’t we going to help them?
The people who had simply been living peacefully in the city were being mercilessly shot down by the crossbows of the black skeletal knights. The novice adventurers were also being devoured by the giant cockroaches and giant carnivorous plants.
“………” (Anfan)
Father-sama looked down at it all with an indifferent expression.
“Hmm, this will be good feed for ‘him.'” (Anfan)
“Tou-sama…?!” (Yuu)
Him? Who is he talking about? And feed… Seeing the people of the city being slaughtered so cruelly, how could he remain so calm?
“Magic was originally a tool of war. The magic you are using now is also built upon countless corpses as its price.” (Tou-sama)
Unusually, Tou-sama began to lecture.
The Tou-sama who had never even taught me a single thing about magic.
“The miracle we are about to create also required an equivalent price. You should simply think of it that way.” (Father-sama)
“Miracle? Tou-sama, what are you planning to do…?” (Yuu)
The hellscape of the city spread out before me as I watched from the balcony.
The screams of the people reached our ears. It was extremely unpleasant. The longer I kept silent and watched, the heavier my head became. But Tou-sama simply brushed off those screams with a wicked smile.
“Rhizomata Volga is a disc (chakram) that rewrites causality. If one possesses it, they can freely rewrite all magical laws. No, not just magic. It can change the entire world.” (Anfan)
Most of what Tou-sama was saying did not even enter my ears.
The countless screams rising from below clung to my ears, refusing to let go.
―――Yuu, I want you to become the Great Mage of Justice. (Nee-sama)
Sister-sama, what should I do…?
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