New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (2/2 chapters)
Special appreciation to my Ko-fi donator:
D Vang
Special appreciation to my Patreon supporters:
Life
Cathe, Joao
Choog
Isaac, Micaiah, Shawn
PS1: If you like my work, I really appreciate if you can support it through Patreon, Ko-fi, or Paypal. Any amount of donation is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
PS2: Click links here to read today’s chapter releases; Nameless Hero 82 and Incompetent Bratty Prince 267.
Aria Free
Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)
The place that was guided was a separate building’s training facility. It seemed to be called the training building. Until arriving there, walking through corridors and connecting corridors, I saw various buildings. The number of buildings itself was many, but looking at it as a whole, it had a simple structure and seemed easy to grasp.
The training building used an entire separate structure.
Unlike the wooden “dojo” that was in the Stride Household, it was a sturdy building made of stone. The ceiling was also high, and from the walls, there were several places where something like footholds protruded. I wondered what they were used for. Moreover, perhaps due to aging, there were deep scars here and there, and the footholds were also chipped. If renovation work didn’t take place, it seemed like it could collapse.
While I was gazing around the hall, Lindsay noticed the black scorch marks on the wall and ran up to them.
“Ah, nostalgic. This is from when Alfie failed at magic control.” (Lindsay)
The black scorch marks are spread over quite a wide area. Lindsay stroked the marks with the palm of her hand.
“No, no, that’s from when Lindsay messed up.” (Dwayne)
“Huh? Was it me?” (Lindsay)
“…Fred must be having a hard time with an absentminded wife.” (Dwayne)
“Dwayne, what do you mean by that?” (Lindsay)
“Haha, nothing at all.” (Dwayne)
The two were blooming into nostalgic recollections.
Listening in on the conversation, I once again felt deeply that the five of Liberta had grown up here.
“Dwayne, do you remember the time when you were a student here?” (Jack)
“Hmm? Yeah, well… I’m sorry if it makes you feel bad, but as I said earlier, only the memory of you being in Liberta is something I just can’t seem to recall. While being in the magic school and the hideout, I’ve gradually started remembering other things, though…” (Dwayne)
He can’t remember only about me? That seems somewhat intentional… Well, whatever.
Maybe he will remember while interacting with me, and even if he doesn’t, it’s just a matter of becoming friends again from here on. Though, the feeling of alienation is a fact.
If I had classmates or something, every time I returned to my alma mater like this, I would be able to enjoy reminiscing too. But, unfortunately, I have already surpassed the age of 15. Once winter comes, I will be 16. It’s not the age to be attending magic school.
To begin with, I can’t even use general magic. If I had to say, the Great Labyrinth is my alma mater, and my classmates would be Shia, Yustin, Alba-san, and Taurus. Although, that “alma mater” has already collapsed and no longer exists.
Maybe I really have no choice but to live as an adventurer from now on. I said I would find a job, but will I be okay? Thanks to the benefits of the Aldridge Library, I can read and write, but I never had the opportunity to learn arithmetic and such, so I can’t do it at all. And I can’t use magic either.
Thinking that way, I started to envy Rinalee, who was next to me, with her eyes sparkling in her new environment.
This child will now study at the academy, compete with her peers, hone her magic skills, and surely walk a good life with her excellent fire magic abilities. Being skilled in fire magic is highly convenient. Fire is necessary in all aspects of life, and whether in military or vocational work, she can choose any way of life.
A magic supremacy society… When reconsidering my own future, I keenly feel it. The children who will enroll in this school from now on must also be entering with dreams of a bright future in mind. Ah, magic… Again, magic, huh. How nice would it be if such a thing didn’t exist in this world?
Huh? Now that I think about it, there don’t seem to be any other new students besides Rinalee. Moreover, this building is clearly not suitable for guidance. There aren’t even any chairs to sit on, and I had the image that guidance included explanations of school rules and curriculum, but is that not the case?
“By the way, Dwayne, are there a lot of new students?” (Jack)
“No? This year, about eight, I think.” (Dwayne)
“Eh… Eight…?” (Jack)
It’s not a lot. I thought that if they were gathering in such a spacious place, at least 50 students would be enrolling at the same time.
Seeing me look around after hearing that answer, Dwayne seemed to have realized.
“Ah, no, we’re planning to do something a little different here. Rinalee-chan will undergo a special practical magic power measurement.” (Dwayne)
“Practical mana measurement?” (Jack)
“Yes. If it’s just a simple mana measurement, we can quantify it using a Managram. But in this child’s case―――” (Dwayne)
Reacting to the sharp gaze Dwayne threw, Rinalee trembled playfully and clung to Lindsay’s leg.
I wonder if she’s bad with Dwayne.
“About Rinalee… what was it?” (Jack)
“That is, you see…” (Lindsay)
“Jack, this is Riny’s Managram, but…” (Lindsay)
It seemed that “Riny” was a nickname for Rinalee. Lindsay held out a Managram with a brand-new gloss to me. Had it only been measured when bought new? The Managram, which had not yet been worn out, clearly displayed its ability values.
Now that I thought about it, I had never seen Rinalee wearing a Managram on her arm.
For such a promising child, what kind of measurement results would she have shown since she was five years old? There must have been excellent status values displayed.
While driven by feelings of jealousy, I peered at the numbers. It would have been nice if she could share some with me, who still had mana of 0.
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Race: Human
Age: 5 years 5 months
Life: 18/18
Mana: 24/24
Strength: G
Agility: F
Abilities
Hand-to-Hand G
Flame Magic F
Mana Release E
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
…It feels strangely low. Because she is five years old? No, if that were the case, then how is she producing that flame magic?
“Jack-kun, what do you think?” (Lindsay)
“What do I think… I don’t know the standard, but it’s lower than I expected.” (Jack)
At my honest impression, Rinalee stuck out her tongue and added an insult, saying, “I don’t want to hear that from Panzer Onii-chan.” Her innocent green eyes glared at me. She looked displeased.
“Yes, that impression is correct. This result is about average… no, below average for her age. But this child’s actual magic possesses tremendous firepower and transformation properties beyond the measured values.” (Dwayne)
“…Wasn’t the Managram defective?” (Jack)
“This is the third one, but they all showed the same result.” (Lindsay)
As expected of a scholar. It seems they left no room for error in that verification.
“But Jack-kun’s reasoning may not be entirely off. Rather, both my father and I are considering ‘that possibility.'” (Dwayne)
“‘That possibility’? Even though you tested three devices and all three were defective?” (Jack)
“That’s not it. We magicians evaluate abilities based on the Managram, but what if that itself was wrong?” (Dwayne)
Dwayne returned the Managram to Lindsay and then rolled up the sleeve that had been hanging down again.
“It’s not just Rinalee-chan. Among the students here, there are also a very small number of children who use magic that seems vastly different from the measured values, to the point where you’d think the Managram was broken. Maybe the ‘lens’ that is the Managram itself isn’t correct.” (Dwayne)
Nowadays, the Managram is the foundation of daily life. There must be people who decide their future based on the results it measures. Even within the adventurers’ guild, there are parties that determine whether one can join based on these values. And that was wrong? That can’t be.
As I was feeling doubtful, Dwayne said with a confident look.
“Jack-kun, you might be the same.” (Dwayne)
“Me?” (Jack)
“I hear that your Managram displays your mana as 0?” (Dwayne)
Dwayne glanced at the Managram on my left arm.
My current ability values haven’t changed much since my time in the labyrinth city.
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Race: Human (Demon)
Age: 15 years 11 months
Life: 4811/4811
Mana: 0/0
Strength B
Agility A
Abilities
Intuition: A
Hand-to-Hand: A
Swordsmanship: B
Mana Release: S
Mental Image Extraction: S+
Mana Coating: S+
Time Control: A
Stealth: F
Self-Repair: C
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
I don’t pay much attention to it, but there might be some minor changes… My Stealth skill, for example, has dropped in rank due to lack of training. I think it was rank E before. When playing around with Justin, I sometimes try sneaking up to test it, but lately, I keep failing at knee-kicking him from behind.
“From what I’ve heard, you can nullify magic. If so, that in itself could be considered a type of magic, don’t you think? However, it seems that the current Managram does not count such special magic. Without samples, measurement devices can’t be created.” (Dwayne)
So, both Rinalee and I possess magic different from ordinary people, and since it’s rare, the Managram can’t measure it? If that were the case, then what was I to Aldridge, who disowned me for having no mana? Would that mean I was abandoned due to a misunderstanding? If so, clearing up that misunderstanding might give me a chance to return home.
As Dwayne and I were having our discussion, an older man slowly appeared from behind. It seemed he was the principal of this magic school. He showed no signs of urgency, opened and closed the door quietly, and his breathing was steady.
“Sorry, I have been late.” (Gwayne)
The old man who had hair color like a white croissant, but if said, was a person who seemed to have aged Dwayne. His facial features were similar. Small wrinkles also appeared on his face, and he seemed to have aged quite a lot.
“Lindsay, the other day, sorry for making you go all the way to Barwitch. That the day would come where you bring your daughter to the school like this is also a mysterious feeling. To me, she would become like a granddaughter, huh. I also have aged.” (Gwayne)
“Alberti-sensei, you have always had nothing but wrinkles on your brow since long ago.” (Lindsay)
Lindsay said so as if teasing. From what I heard, Alberti-sensei and Lindsay seemed to have a mentor-protector relationship, but judging by the current exchange, it seemed to be a more frank relationship than I had thought.
“Let me introduce myself. I am the principal of Barwitch Magic School, Gwayne Alberti. Nice to meet you, Rinalee. Nice to meet you.” (Gwayne)
Gwayne-sensei shook hands in order with Rinalee and me and greeted each. Rinalee timidly grasped that big and dry hand and immediately let go.
Is she a personality that was quite shy? Or is she scared by the dignity of Gwayne-sensei?
“Hm… You are…?” (Gwayne)
When I shook hands back, Gwayne-sensei started staring intently at my right hand. Father and son were having the same reaction and were comical.
“Father, he is that Jack-kun. The incident with that orchestra—” (Dwayne)
“Oh, you are…? Hm, I see. A quite brave boy, huh.” (Gwayne)
As he stared at my appearance up and down, he furrowed his brows suspiciously.
Is he a personality that spoke after thinking in his head?
After a short silence, he relaxed those furrows and now changed into a cheerful expression.
“The students here also at that time, a few had been kidnapped, you see. That they returned safely, as the principal, I am grateful. That you at that time were still a child, but, a wonderful talent.” (Gwayne)
“Ah, thank you very much…” (Jack)
He was a dignified person. As expected of the principal-sensei.
“Have you, in the past, met me somewhere?” (Gwayne)
“Eh… No, I think not, but.” (Jack)
“Hm, I see.” (Gwayne)
The principal-sensei, what he was thinking, I did not understand well.
I was asked by various people, “Have we met somewhere before?”, but did that mean I had a face that seemed familiar to everyone?
“Then, because the other new students will also soon come, let’s right away have Rinalee’s magic be observed.” (Gwayne)
—
Gwayne-sensei took Rinalee to the center of indoors, and behind, Lindsay also followed. Dwayne, with arms crossed, was observing that situation from afar. I also decided to stand next to him and observe.
“First, from the basics, but, it was that you are skilled in flame magic, huh. Then, let’s have that be observed.” (Gwayne)
Gwayne-sensei only stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Particularly, he did not take out a staff, and he told that to the five-year-old before him.
“Riny, can you do it?” (Lindsay)
“…U, un…” (Rinalee)
Rinalee also properly seemed to have understood what to do, and as if scooping water, she placed both hands together at her chest. And particularly without incantation, she poured mana into those hands. After small sparks scattered, above that, a flame began to light.
“Good. The basic ‘fire lighting’ has no problem, huh. Then, make that flame big, or small, adjust the mana and try.” (Gwayne)
Hearing that, Rinalee began to focus on the flame that lit in both hands. The flame that gradually increased in firepower, but it was slightly different from what was expected. The skill of magic manipulation, as seen in Soltaire. If it was such a Rinalee, from both hands, strengthening the flame or weakening it, I thought that would be a specialty, but it did not seem to be so.
Rinalee had a difficult-looking face, and the flame also, becoming strong or weak, seemed unstable.
“Good. Hm…” (Gwayne)
Seeing that situation, Gwayne-sensei also stopped. Placing a hand on his chin, he was thinking about something.
“Alberti-sensei, how is it?” (Lindsay)
“Altogether, skill appropriate for age, but… Hm, then, how about magic other than flame? Can ice or thunder be made?” (Gwayne)
“…Uu…” (Rinalee)
Rinalee let out a groaning-like voice and began to fiddle with the short-length skirt, glaring at Gwayne-sensei. This reaction was, in other words, that she could not do it.
“V-very well… You are still too young. That there are many things you cannot do is inevitable. Stop directing such a resentful face at people…” (Gwayne)
To that reaction, Gwayne-sensei also answered as if troubled. It was as if he was saying, “Another troublesome child has enrolled”.
“Personality is exactly like Alfred… It is as if I am remembering that guy at that time, and somehow, I feel nostalgic.” (Gwayne)
Come to think of it, I had heard before that Alfred was also an orphan. His hometown village was burned down in a fire, and only Alfred, who had high fire resistance, survived. The one who saved him at that time was certainly the magic school principal, meaning Gwayne-sensei. To Alfred as well, was Gwayne-sensei a benefactor, I wondered.
After that, various practical tests were conducted regarding Rinalee’s magic, but as far as mana was concerned, it was that of an ordinary girl. Ice magic and thunder magic could not be used, and furthermore, light and dark magic were also unusable. Needless to say, teleportation, gravity, time, and such special magic were out of the question.
Only being able to use flame magic a little, it was not particularly remarkable.
The kind of quasi-divine level magic shown in Soltaire was not displayed. Rather, after being made to try various magic, as if she had exhausted her mana, she was completely worn out, and her complexion had also slightly turned pale.
“—Then, lastly, show the magic you are skilled at.” (Gwayne)
“Skilled at? Anything is fine?” (Rinalee)
“Ah, rather, I want you to show that. It is almost as if we came here today for that reason.” (Gwayne)
The moment she heard those words, Rinalee’s expression suddenly brightened. Perhaps feeling freed from the practical tests she had been dragged into while looking bored, she smirked smugly. Gwayne-sensei also, reassured by the practical tests so far, seemed to have lowered his guard.
“Then, here I go!” (Rinalee)
Rinalee, as if hopping, jumped backward and then raised both hands to the sky.
“The power of Kano… Um… The crimson flame pours down! The instant blaze! —Fireball!” (Rinalee)
Again, with a lisping incantation, she uttered the name of that magic. That, I knew well. It was intermediate magic, “Fireball”. But, was the incantation that short? I felt like it was longer.
“Hm?!” (Dwayne)
Dwayne, who had been leaning against the wall next to me and watching boredly, for the first time, separated his back from the wall and stared at that scene. That reaction was not just from Dwayne. His father, Gwayne-sensei, reacted almost the same way and braced himself.
Then, above Rinalee’s head, red mana swirled and condensed, and in an instant, a rotating sphere of flame was formed. It was a gigantic mass of flame.
Is that Fireball…?
“What is it, Dwayne?” (Jack)
“That is not Fireball.” (Dwayne)
“Eh?” (Jack)
I looked at Rinalee once more. The mass of flame floating above her head was the grotesque magic that had been chasing down Dire Wolves.
“But just now, Rinalee said Fireball.” (Jack)
“That is not an incantation! It is just an imitation. If such a sloppy incantation could work—” (Dwayne)
The moment Dwayne was about to say that, the gigantic fireball struck the floor. No, it “landed”. The moment it made contact, legs sprouted from the sphere. And then, as it trembled its “torso,” cracks appeared in the fireball, splitting into a mouth that opened wide. When it was seen from a distance, it looked more like a monster than magic.
“What is this…?” (Gwayne)
Gwayne-sensei also widened his eyes in sheer astonishment. Looking from afar, it could be understood that it was large enough that a person could easily be swallowed whole.
“Go—! Fireball!” (Rinalee)
Rinalee, without caring about such surrounding astonishment, began to operate the self-proclaimed “Fireball” that she had created. As if responding to that call, that giant body began to charge forward. Gwayne-sensei, who was in front, barely avoided it with a sideways leap and saw off that monster.
The “monster” reached the facility wall, then started climbing along the wall, ascending to the ceiling with tremendous force. After climbing, flames sprang up. While clinging to the ceiling, it let out a flame-blazing roar toward the me below, Dwayne, and Lindsay.
And then, the moment it floated gently from the ceiling, it changed form. Its hands and feet withdrew, and after seemingly returning to just a gigantic sphere, its shape transformed into something long and thin, turning into the form of a great serpent, just like the advanced magic “Blaze Gust”. That coiled and descended vertically at high speed. The force and speed were tremendous, and no one present could react.
That great serpent headed toward its caster, Rinalee. Just like that, with the sound of intense flames, it “bit down” on Rinalee on the ground. Seeing that, her mother Lindsay also turned pale.
“Riny!!” (Lindsay)
At the moment of impact, a fiery wind spread around.
“Dangerous! Reflector deployment!” (Dwayne)
Dwayne stepped in front of me and Lindsay, deploying some kind of magic. He created something like a wall of light in front of us, protecting us from the flames. Gwayne-sensei also deployed similar magic in front of himself for defense.
“Rinalee?!” (Jack)
The center of the impact site was burning intensely. The surrounding area had been charred black in a radial pattern by that single strike, reaching even the walls. Some of the protruding footholds from the walls had collapsed and fallen to the floor. Even as we ran toward the explosion’s epicenter, the intensity of the flames made it difficult to approach.
“This is… tremendous…” (Gwayne)
Gwayne-sensei brushed off the ash and coughed as he looked around at the devastation.
“Ahaha! So fun!” (Rinalee)
While we were stunned, Rinalee was hopping around in the very center of the explosion site.
Even though her clothes were scorched here and there, she herself had taken no damage at all. Perhaps for a child, it didn’t matter what happened to her clothes, but still, this was overdoing it.
“…” (Gwayne)
Without any regard for appearances anymore, Rinalee suddenly shouted “Barbario Flame” and, just like when she attacked me, clad her hands and feet in flames, then started demonstrating martial arts such as spinning kicks, flying kicks, and uppercuts, which she likely learned from Alfred.
“Father, that is—” (Dwayne)
“Ah… aria-free. That child is not chanting at all.” (Gwayne)
“As expected. Good grief, yet another exceptional problem child has appeared…” (Dwayne)
“She is the thoroughbred of those two problem children. I expected it.” (Gwayne)
Seeing the father and son shrug their shoulders, I also felt heavy-hearted, realizing that from now on, I would have to escort such a dangerous individual every day.
—
The training building was temporarily sealed off. It seemed it would be renovated and made usable again.
After that, when eight new students had gathered, Lindsay and Rinalee headed to the classroom, leaving only me waiting in the schoolyard. So, I didn’t hear what life at the magic school was like, but I could mostly guess.
That emotionally unstable young girl who unleashes such dangerous magic was about to start communal life… Just imagining it makes me incredibly worried. Even as we returned to Soltaire together with Lindsay and Rinalee, while Rinalee looked cheerful, Lindsay had a troubled expression. She is surely thinking the same things I am.
“Well, since I’m nearby, it’ll be fine. During the day, I’m in Barwitch.” (Jack)
“Yeah, thank you… Sorry for the trouble.” (Lindsay)
I said that to cheer Lindsay up, but her reaction was not favorable.
For Lindsay’s sake, I thought maybe I should stay near the magic school during the day as much as possible.
Mothers sure have it tough.
Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)
Please consider supporting Bayabusco Translation @
bayabuscotranslation 