The biggest difference between throwing magic and shooting magic lies in the aiming technique used to precisely target an opponent.
If the aiming technique is well-configured, even distant enemies can be hit accurately.
“I’ll give it a try, then.”
“Yes! I’ll be watching closely!”
I launched a fireball toward the eastern sea.
Guided by the aiming technique, the fireball flew in the exact direction and angle I had set, traveling across the water before striking a floating piece of debris.
As the large mass of fire hit the sea, steam rose into the air.
“Ah, that was spot on again!”
Senia, who had been watching from the side, exclaimed in admiration.
“You’ve really perfected shooting magic! Hitting a target that far away with such precision is incredible!”
“Hmm…”
However, I crossed my arms and tilted my head slightly.
“Eriol, is something wrong?”
“I’m just wondering how meaningful it really is to refine shooting magic.”
“Huh?”
“The fireball spells we cast gather energy from the element of fire, condense it, and then launch it. When they hit a target, they explode, causing damage to the surrounding area.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“That makes them area-of-effect spells. Rather than precisely hitting a distant target, their main purpose is to burn down multiple enemies at once.”
“Ah…”
This was something Professor Inies had also mentioned during lectures.
“In the rookie tournament, we’ll be targeting training golems with our spells. The golems won’t be that far away, so whether I use a projectile throw or a direct shot, it won’t make much difference.”
The objective data recorded on the golems would likely be similar either way.
“I’ve already practiced throwing techniques enough, and at this point, there’s nothing more to refine in this approach.”
It had already been a week since I started practicing fireball launches every morning.
But continuing to train this way didn’t seem particularly meaningful.
“I’m sorry… I haven’t been much help.”
“No, you’ve been really helpful.”
With her years of martial arts training, Senia had far better dynamic vision than I did.
She had been closely observing the speed at which my fireballs travelled and whether their trajectory shifted mid-flight.
Her insights had been invaluable in helping me master both throwing and shooting magic.
“No, I’ve just been watching you cast spells. If anything, seeing you in action has helped me improve my own throwing and shooting techniques…”
“In that case… could you help me just a bit more?”
“Huh?”
“It might be a difficult request.”
Hearing my words, Sennia blinked for a moment.
“Would it be too much?”
“N-no, it’s fine! Just tell me what you need!”
She pounded her chest and nodded firmly.
“I owe a lot to you, Eriol! I’ve learned magic so quickly because of you, so I’ll help however I can!”
“Great. Then I just need to confirm something.”
I spoke carefully.
“If I were to cast a spell at you… do you think you could dodge it?”
Senia flinched at my question.
She then stared at me with a serious expression.
“Eriol… Are you being serious?”
“Yeah. So I need an honest answer from you, too.”
“…”
She fell silent for a moment, thinking.
“Eriol, I’ll be straightforward with you.”
“Go ahead.”
“If we were competing in pure magic ability, you’d win every single time. Your talent in magic is just that overwhelming.”
Her voice was firm and sincere.
“But if we were fighting for real… I’m confident I could avoid every one of your spells without getting hit.”
“That’s what I expected.”
Just as I thought.
Even after several days of magic training, Senia still had the upper hand in overall combat ability.
“I’m sorry if that sounded arrogant.”
“No, it’s only natural.”
Senia was from the Artian family, a renowned house of swordsmen. She had been training in martial arts since childhood.
Judging by how she handled the terrorists last time, she was already at a formidable level.
It was only logical that her speed would surpass the velocity of my spells.
“Eriol, you’re asking to cast spells at me because you want to test them against a moving target, right? Instead of a stationary one?”
“Exactly.”
“But… would that really be necessary? The golems in the rookie competition won’t be moving, right?”
“That’s true.”
“Then why—”
“Because this is the fastest way to master what I’m trying to learn.”
“…?”
Neither throwing nor shooting—something different.
To master this third form of attack, I needed Senia’s help.
“Professor Horizon!”
Inside the Elemental Studies department head’s office, Klein raised his voice as he stood before Professor Horizon.
“Is it true that the format of the rookie tournament is changing this year?”
“Why are you shouting, Klein?”
Horizon responded calmly.
“It was officially decided today.”
“How could such a major change happen so suddenly…?”
“It wasn’t sudden at all. The Elemental and Producing departments have been discussing it for quite some time.”
“Ugh…”
The rookie competition was mainly organized by the Elemental and Producing departments, with Professor Horizon overseeing it as the department head.
“If you were interested, you should’ve attended the meetings. The dates and locations were clearly posted on the bulletin board.”
“W-well, still…”
“Frankly, the rookie tournament needed an update. Every year, the top students have nearly identical scores, making it hard to rank them.”
Horizon continued in a leisurely tone.
“We’ll keep the traditional golem-targeting event but introduce a mock battle for the top-ranking students to determine their final placements.”
“But… a mock battle? For students who have only been enrolled for a month?”
“They’ll have to participate in mock battles eventually. There’s even a joint league in the second semester. This will serve as a good practice round.”
“But some of them don’t even know defensive magic yet—it’s too dangerous!”
“We’ll cast protective spells on them. That’ll actually make it safer.”
“That’s…”
That was a fair point.
If the professors applied defensive magic, students could unleash their full power without fear of getting seriously hurt.
“Hmm… Judging by your reaction, you must’ve been planning some extra training for the top-class students, weren’t you?”
“Ugh…”
He had hit the nail on the head.
“Either way, make sure they’re prepared. Professor Inies seems particularly eager about this as well.”
“Wait… was this her idea?”
“I can’t say.”
“…”
“Regardless…”
Horizon turned to look out the window.
“This year’s rookie tournament is going to be very interesting.”
“The approval has been granted, Helios.”
“I see.”
In a secluded corner of the academy.
Helios was working out, using exercise equipment in a training room normally off-limits to freshmen.
“Thank you for accepting my suggestion.”
“No, it was an excellent idea.”
The one speaking in a cold voice while looking at Helios was Inies, the professor in charge of the upper-class students.
“With the previous evaluation method, securing first place with 100% certainty was impossible. But if the final ranking is determined through mock battles…”
“If I take down the top-class students, I can claim first place with absolute certainty.”
Helios set down the exercise equipment and wiped off his sweat.
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. There’s also Charlotte, after all.”
“Even so, I want to be the one to take first place.”
Charlotte, his peer, was training separately elsewhere.
Though Inies regarded Helios and Charlotte as equals, she assigned them different training regimens due to their differing styles.
“Helios, are you confident?”
“Of course.”
Helios responded in a calm voice.
“In a one-on-one match, Eriol Valencia wouldn’t stand a chance against me.”
“You’re speaking quite easily.”
“Before entering the academy, he was just a noble heir enjoying a relaxed life in the countryside, wasn’t he? He’ll be weak in real combat.”
“That’s highly likely.”
“Cain Trigger and Senia Artian are the real threats.”
“You must have done your research.”
“A hunter always gathers information about their prey in advance.”
“As expected from someone from a ranger family.”
Helios came from a lineage of rangers, having ventured into dungeons from a young age and accumulating real-world experience.
He already possessed an official ranger certification.
“As I told you before, I don’t have any personal ties with Kaisel, so I can’t introduce you to him directly. But if you take first place in the freshman competition, I’ll use my connections to set up a meeting.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
“Then… let’s start training more advanced magic.”
Helios wanted to take first place in the freshman competition and catch Professor Kaisel’s attention.
Inies wanted the upper-class students to outperform the top-class students.
Their interests aligned perfectly.
“To defeat Eriol Valencia, you’ll need magic that surpasses the freshman level.”
“So… I’m telling you this in advance before the official announcement.”
After school.
Klein had called me, Cain and Senia to his office.
“Now that the final ranking will be decided through mock battles, relying solely on what’s taught in class might not be enough to achieve a good result.”
Seated on the sofa in his office, Klein spoke in a serious tone.
“I called you here because I believe you three have the highest chances of making it to the top ranks.”
“…….”
“If you’re willing, I’d like to provide special training to prepare you for the competition. What do you think?”
Hearing this, we exchanged glances.
But Cain was the first to speak up.
“I don’t think that’s right, Professor.”
“What?”
“You’re basically saying you’d give us special treatment, aren’t you? I don’t think achieving a high ranking that way would be fair.”
“But Professor Inies is already providing special training to the upper-class students…”
“That’s their business. This is ours.”
Klein’s expression stiffened at Cain’s bold words.
However, Senia also nodded in agreement with Cain.
“I think Cain is right, Professor.”
“Hmm…”
“The freshman competition is meant to evaluate each student’s individual abilities. If professors intervene to boost the rankings of specific students… I believe that would be wrong.”
Klein seemed slightly flustered, as if he hadn’t expected this reaction.
“E-Eriol. Do you think the same?”
“I think they make a valid point.”
“Khmm…”
“But I do agree with you, Professor, that preparation is necessary for the competition.”
Klein looked surprised at my words.
“In fact, I was planning to ask for your help.”
“What is it? If it’s personal tutoring, I’d be happy to—”
“That won’t be necessary.”
I cut him off firmly.
Just as Cain and Senia said, I had no intention of receiving special training from Klein.
Besides, if I stood out too much, I might end up being dragged to the Transcendental Studies department, just as Kaisel had warned.
“Would you be willing to lend me a few books?”
The books available in the library weren’t sufficient for learning practical combat magic.
But as a professor, Klein surely possessed books on real combat magic that freshmen wouldn’t normally have access to.
