New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (1/1 chapter)
Silent Killing Intent*
Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)
An elderly man was organizing materials in his study. He was the magician Gwayne Alberti, who had mastered various fields at the Magic University. This was his personal room, located on the grounds of the magic school he operated. In other words, it was the principal’s office.
“…Hmm, Aria Free, huh.” (Gwayne)
Right now, he was looking over the report card of a female student who had only recently enrolled.
He had been a man with a strong sense of responsibility since long ago. In his younger days, due to that sense of responsibility, he had conflicts with various factions in the Magic Guild and Magic University. Alberti, who had been slandered, was only given the position in the “Classical Magic and Folklore Research Laboratory” at the Magic University. Originally, if one were an excellent magician, they should have been granted a position in an organization that directly researched magic. However, due to his personality, which easily made enemies, he lacked the “flattery” necessary to climb up to such a position.
Even so, he faithfully carried out his duties as a professor there and accumulated numerous discoveries that made great contributions to human history. The discovery of the sacred scripture “Akasha’s Lineage” was the representative one. However, there were many factions that did not look favorably upon such achievements. Tired of such factional struggles and corrupt organizations, Alberti thus fled to the countryside and dedicated himself to the education of children. The distress he now felt was the reality that each of these children’s talents was being disregarded in society.
In this magic-supremacist society, it was no exaggeration to say that an individual’s mana could determine their future. Based on the mana examined during childhood, as well as other abilities, the superiority or inferiority of whether one would advance on the elite path or fall into unfortunate circumstances was decided. The cause of this lay in the widespread use of the simplified magical power measuring device, Managram.
Managram was a magical tool imbued with the power of “Appraisal Magic”, one of the new types of magic alongside teleportation and gravity. Appraisal Magic was a very peculiar power. Magic, by definition, was a supernatural force that acts upon the external world. This applies to the five basic attribute magics, sealing magic, teleportation magic, and gravity magic.
However, Appraisal Magic was the complete opposite. Instead of acting upon the external world, it was closer to “Enhancement Magic” that maximized the amount of information obtained from the external world. For that reason, when this magic was first proposed, it gained significant attention. And it ended up establishing the standards of this world.
If one possessed superior mana, they were deemed good. If their mana was scarce, they were deemed bad.
Alberti felt doubt about such a world. He wondered whether there were limits to Appraisal Magic. Even when observing the children attending the magic school, he felt the same way. Rinalee, who had recently enrolled, was assessed by Managram as having below-average mana. However, in reality, she possessed a hidden ability that allowed her to unleash and control quasi-divine-level magic.
Perhaps there had been other children like her in the past as well. Even if they were measured as having zero mana, was it not possible that they had remarkable latent abilities?
That would mean the worst decline in the history of human magic. As one who had taken on the mission of a magician, he had to correct this vicious cycle. Perhaps due to his sense of responsibility, Alberti was considering directly negotiating with the Magic Guild and the Magic University soon. However, Alberti, who had fled to the countryside, was too powerless. If only he could borrow the strength of a renowned magician—.
—
“Phew…” (Gwayne)
After finishing reviewing the students’ report cards, Principal Alberti decided to open the window to ventilate the room. Just by opening the entrance door slightly, the autumn night wind swept through.
He, too, had grown old. Once, like his son Dwayne, he could shut himself in a room all night, immersed in research, without feeling even the slightest fatigue. The days when time passed in the blink of an eye while mastering magic felt nostalgic. In fact, his son, Dwayne Alberti, was still engaged in suspicious magic in the practice room of this school building. His research subject was dark magic. In the past, there was an era when magicians who comprehensively handled all forms of magic were considered superior. Nowadays, it seemed that those who specialized in a specific field were regarded as more exceptional.
He looked down at the schoolyard from the window. This was the principal’s office, located on the third and highest floor of the school building. Because of its height, he could see everything—the schoolyard, the practice building, the training hall, and the great library.
“Hmm…? Something…” (Gwayne)
Gwayne Alberti noticed that sense of discomfort. The eyes of his Mind’s Eye Skill, which discerns the principles of things, had not dulled in the slightest. That black magical power blending into the dark night. Something wrapped in it was flickering. It was on the roof of the Great Library.
That black heat haze was a killing intent that blended into the silent dark night.
The moment he confirmed its presence, he hurriedly moved to eliminate the anomaly. Throwing on his cloak and neglecting to properly lock up, he rushed out of the room. There was only one reason for Gwayne Alberti’s urgency. Within the Great Library, sacred relics designated for sealing by the Church were strictly stored.
—
Gwayne Alberti was not the only one who sensed that killing intent. His son, Dwayne, possessed a Magic Detection Skill. Being a short sleeper, Dwayne spent his nights researching dark magic in the practice building, while simultaneously keeping that skill active to serve as a guard for the magic school.
Even though this was a rural magic school, many thieves set their sights on the valuable documents and magic tools stored within. The worst cases were when magicians targeted it. Barbaric magicians who grew up without a proper education had no restraint. Out of frustration from failures in adventurer parties, they would attack the school, or they would ransack the library and steal materials to improve their magic. It was truly despicable acts.
Dwayne immediately rushed to the library. The thief this time was clearly targeting the library. Moreover, whether they had no intention of hiding it or whether it was leaking despite their efforts, they were shamelessly radiating a powerful black magical aura.
Exiting the practice building into the schoolyard, crossing the yard, he arrived in front of the large doors of the Great Library. The presence was definitely coming from here. Regulating his breathing, Dwayne scanned his surroundings.
Could they have already infiltrated the library?
At that instant, he sensed a quiet killing intent descending from above.
“…!” (Gwayne)
He leaped backward from the spot. With just a step, he dodged it with a graceful motion. However, his expression showed no sign of composure.
“Heh… This time, we have quite an unusual guest.” (Dwayne)
Though he wore a grimace as if biting down on something bitter, he lined up words of apparent ease.
“…” (??)
The one that had landed said nothing. As if words were unnecessary as a response, that person drew a long sword with a single motion and held it with both hands. Had Dwayne lacked agility, the downward strike from above would have impaled him.
It was a black haze. A massive black mana completely enshrouded its body. Judging from the barely discernible body lines, it appeared to be a tall, long-haired man. A visor-like, defenseless-looking helm covered his eyes, making it impossible to discern his features. The only visible part of his face was his mouth, tightly shut in a straight line. There was neither madness nor cruelty in that expression.
“If this is a costume party, it looks like you’ve got the wrong venue.” (Dwayne)
He tried provoking it with a joke, but there was no reaction. In the first place, it was questionable whether this was even human. It was more like a humanoid golem crafted from a mass of magical power.
“I see. In that case… let’s do this…!” (Dwayne)
Dwayne extended his left hand forward and fired a single Bullet Spell. A sacred attribute light magic projectile. The enemy’s true nature was unclear, but its aura was black mana. The color of magic often represented its attribute. If it was black, it was natural to assume it was dark magic. Thus, he chose its weakness, light magic.
Even if it was just a test shot, it was fired at high speed. At the very least, he thought it would serve well enough as a deterrent.
—The black knight effortlessly cut it down.
He had expected it to be deflected. However, even for Dwayne, who was a seasoned adventurer, just keeping up with that counter-slash with his eyes was the best he could do. He felt unease at the speed of that movement. It seemed that the one being kept in check was Dwayne. Witnessing that scene, he no longer had the composure to make light remarks.
“……” (??)
And then, the black knight rushed in with godspeed.
“―Kuh.” (Dwayne)
To deal with that swift attack, Dwayne thought he had no choice but to borrow the power of Eastern-style magic. Eastern-style, which pursued practicality, was convenient for instant activation.
“Chant(Start) Eiswand(Barrier)! ―――Reflector!” (Dwayne)
There was no time for chanting. Western-style magic was originally designed for great wars. It specialized in extreme firepower for flashy combat. It was magic that excelled in dungeon conquest, anti-army, and anti-formation combat. Thus, it had a strong purpose of intimidating the opponent with its overwhelming power. However, it was not suited for one-on-one combat against an enemy with overwhelming strength.
Dwayne deployed ice magic in front of him as a protective barrier, and in addition, he generated a reflection wall for anti-magic purposes. It was a formation with consideration for both anti-physical and anti-magic defenses.
However, that too was in vain. Before the black warrior, it was pierced through and shattered. Receiving the impact, Dwayne backflipped to create distance. Before he knew it, the schoolyard of the magic school had turned into a battlefield.
It was completely unclear whether this black haze figure had a will or not. The purpose was unknown. Dwayne had no reason to be attacked. He could not help but feel fear at its indiscriminate nature.
“I guess I have no choice but to fight too, huh?” (Dwayne)
Saying such a thing in an absurdly laid-back manner, he sighed. Even in that moment, the black warrior had its sword tip positioned horizontally, preparing for its next step. That was a middle stance. A stance used to instantly close the gap on a distant enemy shadow. It had a wide reach, and when swinging, the sword tip was extended forward with a leaning posture.
The swordsmanship of the black warrior was imprinted into its body from the time when it was still a proper warrior.
“Guess it’s about time for me to go too――――Starkung (Enhancement) Anfang(Start)……einen Windstoß (Gouging Whirlwind)!” (Dwayne)
With Dwayne’s chant, that white mana wrapped around his fists and legs. It was enhancement magic. Gouging Whirlwind was a whirlwind. Using it for enhancement was to prioritize defense and speed. He was not fighting to defeat the enemy but to drive it away. That was why he prioritized self-defense.
“…” (??)
The black haze surged forward like a wavering mirage. It appeared sluggish, yet in reality, it was instant acceleration. If one let their guard down, they would be cut down by that long sword.
Dwayne blocked all of those sword strikes with his fists and legs. His enhanced limbs would not be damaged by mere attacks. The benefit of enhancement magic was even greater than Dwayne’s own well-trained physique.
With every clash, white mana and black mana burst against each other. The schoolyard of the magic school, late at night, was lit up with scattering flashes as if struck by lightning. Black metal and white muscle clashed in a struggle of swordsmanship and martial arts, letting out shrieks.
That scattering flash revealed glimpses through the black veil.
“……Dwa……yne……” (??)
For the first time, the lips of the black knight moved. The very person being called did not miss hearing that voice. Through the flashes that pierced the black magical mask, for a brief moment, he thought he saw a familiar face.
“–!” (Dwayne)
A shocked Dwayne leaped backward, once again adjusting his stance. While still confused, he gazed at the black warrior.
Even looking again, all that was there was black haze. There was no way it could be a former comrade. However, those countless sword strokes he had deflected—Dwayne could not deny that they were techniques he knew well.
The haze then lowered the tip of its sword, assuming a low stance. Both the previous stance and the current one, that swordsmanship too. The black warrior then lowered its posture even further. Lowering its hips, twisting its arms.
“…Oo…” (??)
He was putting strength into it. He knew that technique as well. Among assassins, it was called the secret sword, the godspeed ultimate technique, Sonic Eye. In one-on-one swordsmanship, it was said to be a “fatal” sword due to its speed. If pressed by that, no matter how much his body was enhanced with magic, it might not be possible to block it.
The moment Dwayne prepared for death.
“―Bury the remains of the living who block my path! Come forth, Intense Ray!” (Gwayne)
From the direction of the school building, the sound of a chant reached his ears. At the same time, six light spheres were shot from the caster’s location. The light orbs, considered to be of spiritual origin, accelerated rapidly as they homed in on the black warrior.
“…!…” (??)
The black haze, noticing this, leaped and distanced itself from the spot. From the schoolyard to the wall of the practice building, and from the wall of the practice building to the roof. With that inhumanly fast leap, Dwayne realized that the enemy he had just fought was not an ordinary being.
“Are you alright!?” (Gwayne)
Then, his father, Gwayne, ran toward him. Despite already being retired, he was still doing quite well as a magician, and Dwayne felt gratitude toward his father. Upon closer inspection, his arms and legs were covered in cuts and blood. Though the enhancement magic prevented deep wounds, it seemed even that had been pierced, and he had suffered damage. Leaning on his father’s shoulder, Dwayne rested.
“What was that?” (Gwayne)
“I don’t know…” (Dwayne)
Dwayne had an inkling. Though he didn’t want to believe it, that was a transformed former comrade. A companion with whom he had raced through various dungeons and battlefields.
“…Tristan, why are you…” (Dwayne)
Dwayne muttered under his breath in frustration.
Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)
Please consider supporting Bayabusco Translation @
bayabuscotranslation 