<Ethan had been taken aback when he heard that the merchant wasn’t selling swordsmanship skills.>
Ethan wanted a skill that, while not resembling magic, could still stand against the puppet automaton. However, according to Demi, swordsmanship in Terra seemed to be something only a selected few practiced, and obtaining it through the lottery was highly unlikely. Left with no choice, he opted for the “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” that the merchant recommended. And as it turned out, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was a better choice than he had expected.
<If I can somehow force the fight into a hand-to-hand struggle, I can win.>
The “takedown” technique was similar to the wrestling techniques knights learned for war, but the “ground techniques” that followed were different. These techniques, which controlled and broke the opponent’s joints, were advantageous when both fighters were unarmed.
From what Ethan knew, once an opponent was taken down, people would typically try to stab them with a blade or at least find a rock to smash them with—grappling like intertwined snakes was rarely considered an option.
<The problem is how to bring them down.>
If he could make an armed opponent drop their weapon, he could level the playing field even without Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But if that were easy, soldiers wielding swords wouldn’t be so fearsome on the battlefield. Ethan had no choice but to get creative.
<Well, I managed somehow.>
Ethan drew his dagger and stabbed the automaton in the ribs and neck as it struggled to push him away. With each stab, its movements slowed until it stopped entirely.
Ethan retrieved his dagger, dusted himself off, and stood up.
Linav clapped his hands in appreciation.
“Impressive, kid.”
“Thank you.”
“But I’m afraid joining the Combat Magic Society is going to be difficult.”
Ethan frowned at him.
“Excuse me?”
Linav, looking troubled, avoided meeting Ethan’s gaze.
“Well, it’s just… no student has ever joined after defeating an automaton with their bare hands. At least, not in the history of the Combat Magic Society as I know it. I don’t think there’s instance for it in any other magic society either.”
“Then why did you make me fight?”
“Because we can’t outright refuse an application. And besides, you’re Bohn’s friend, aren’t you? I had to help out my adorable junior.”
Bohn gave Linav a slightly irritated look.
“Don’t drag me into this. You should have explained things to me first.”
“Well, you see, there aren’t any strict regulations. But even if you join the Combat Magic Society, there won’t be much you can do here. Your alchemy was impressive, sure. But unless you have a famous alchemical lineage or a hand cannon, little tricks like that won’t cut it…”
“Fine. I prefer it this way.” Bohn retorted
“Hey, don’t you think that’s a bit shameless ?”
As Ethan muttered this and approached Bohn, a round of applause echoed from the second-floor railing of the Combat Magic Society’s workshop.
“Well done, Ethan.”
All three of them turned their gazes toward the source of the voice. Standing there was a large man with a gray beard—Professor Ribbelton Favier, who taught Practical Magic Basics.
Ethan looked flustered.
“Professor?”
With one hand, Ribbelton jumped over the railing and landed lightly from a three-meter drop without so much as a stumble.
Linav turned to Ethan.
“Professor Ribbelton is the faculty advisor for the Combat Magic Society. He specializes in combat magic.”
Ribbelton pointed at the edge of Ethan’s coat, where a cut from the automaton’s blade remained.
“Where did you learn to fight with your coat?”
“…It’s not really something to brag about, but I used to roam the back alleys of Charasen when I was young. I’d carry a dueling sword in one hand and usually hold a coat, a shield, or a scabbard in the other. That’s how I picked it up.”
“Really? So you know how to use a dueling sword?”
“Yes. A little.”
Dueling swords, also called rapiers, were thinner and lighter than traditional longswords, making them easy to wield with one hand. They were ideal for thrusting attacks, which made them effective even in narrow alleyways.
“Your use of magic was impressive—very practical.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“But what I’m most curious about is your unarmed combat. Where did you learn it?”
Ethan gave a vague answer.
“From the thugs in Charasen.”
“Hmm. Gang fighting techniques? I’ve heard Charasen’s inner city is ruled by gangs.”
Gangs were organizations that made money through various illegal activities. Some took in orphans and street kids, training them in begging or pickpocketing—just like the thieves’ guilds in Yurmuth.
“Something like that.”
Ribbelton nodded at Ethan’s reply.
“Linav.”
“Yes, Professor?”
“Approve Ethan’s membership.”
“Ah, but… there’s no precedent for this. As you know, the main activities of the Combat Magic Society revolves around learning combat techniques, which require fundamental combat magic skills. Some students with alchemy backgrounds have joined, but only because their families had already trained them in combat techniques…”
“I will personally mentor Ethan. No need to worry.”
“Ah… I see. Understood.”
Linav nodded and fetched the membership application papers, handing them to Ethan.
As Ethan signed the form, he glanced at Ribbelton.
“But Professor, if what Linav says is true, wouldn’t my membership be a problem?”
“So what? Do you not want to join?”
“No, that’s not it. I just wondered if you had a reason for this.”
“I have my plans. I’ll tell you later.”
Ribbelton simply smiled warmly, offering no further explanation.
Meanwhile, beside them, Bohn watched Ethan with a somewhat displeased expression.
As Ethan finished signing, a realization dawned on him.
<Wait a minute, this…>
That evening, Ethan stood in the dormitory courtyard, facing Bohn.
“Why did you call me out?”
Bohn adjusted his glasses and spoke “I think I underestimated you.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“In some ways, yes. Though it’s also my mistake.”
“Then our conversation is over, isn’t it?”
As Ethan turned to leave, a sharp hum echoed. Three crystals floated above Bohn’s head. It seemed to be his magic. Ethan had seen Bohn attempt to use magic before, just before he almost killed him, but this was his first time witnessing it in action. Each crystal was an elongated dice shaped, unpolished and murky, resembling raw gemstones. However, their sharpened tips hinted at their intended use.
“Are you trying to kill me?”
“What you saw isn’t something trivial. My life is at stake. That means, Ethan, your life was at stake the moment you saw it too.”
“If I die, the information I saw will be passed on to someone else.”
“I’ve already confirmed that you don’t have any close associates. You don’t seem particularly close to your sister either. And most importantly, the evidence is no longer there. You don’t actually believe that just seeing it would be enough to make you a threat, do you?”
Ethan smirked.
“But a witness can be a liability, right?”
“There’s no guarantee you won’t go around talking. Even being a suspect is a hassle.”
Ethan pointed out, “Then there must be more evidence. Am I right? If someone starts digging, there’s no avoiding it.”
Bohn, expressionless, replied, “Think whatever you want.”
“And maybe more people are involved, too.”
“Are you done talking?”
Ethan shrugged. “I know you won’t kill me. There’s still something you want to hear from me. That’s why I’m still alive. So let me turn the question around—what do you want?”
From the shadows of the forest, a mage stepped forward, dressed in a white coat and holding a white staff at waist height.
“A sharp student indeed, Ethan Dora Charasen.”
Ethan responded in kind, calling out his name.
“Vine Wiz Decarun.”
“You should add ‘Professor’ to that. Hmph, Dora brats.” Vine clicked his tongue.
“It’s not Bohn who has business with you. It’s me.”
“Is that so?”
“And I’m not here to ask questions. I know how to get answers without them.”
Vine’s specialty was mental magic. He wasn’t bluffing. He stretched his hand toward Ethan.
“Come here, Ethan. If you don’t resist, it won’t hurt.”
Ethan asked, “Are you also part of the Inquisition?”
“What if I am?”
“Then why are you working as an agent for the Empire?”
“That’s not something you need to know.”
But then, Vine added with amusement, “Technically speaking, I’m not an inquisitor. The Inquisition, the Imperial Army, the Demon King’s Castle—it doesn’t matter. Even if I serve the Empire, I’m still just a hound of the Emperor. We simply have mutual interests for now and are cooperating. But not everyone can embrace the grand cause.”
As Ethan reached into his coat, one of Bohn’s floating crystals shot toward his feet.
—Thunk!
Bohn warned, “Don’t do anything foolish.”
Ethan had expected this when he joined the Combat Magic Society.
<I had a quest to deepen my relationship with Bohn.>
<But I failed that quest.>
<A quest isn’t only valuable when completed. Even failure gives you information.>
Ethan said, “Well, is this really foolish?”
He rolled to the side as he pulled something from his coat. The first crystal missed, but the second one flew straight for his head.
However, it never struck him.
—Clang!
A towering figure appeared out of nowhere, striking down the crystal with a sword.
Vine called out his name.
“…Ribbelton!”
Ribbelton raised his sword with both hands.
“That’s enough, Vine.”
“Ribbelton… How did you—? No, never mind.”
At the tip of Vine’s staff, a translucent blue blade extended, matching the length of the staff itself.
Ribbelton asked, “Are you going to fight?”
“I have no interest in combat magic, but a half-baked mage like you is no match for me. …Bohn, get ready.”
At his words, Bon withdrew his hand from Ethan. The crystals embedded in the ground lifted and floated back above his head.
“You don’t actually think you can block magic like this with just a longsword, do you?”
Ribbelton shook his head.
“Vine, do you really think I came alone? …Ethan.”
As Ethan pulled something from his coat, Vine and Bohn tensed.
But what Ethan revealed was nothing more than a firecracker—practically a parlor trick.
Bohn, having seen it before, and Vine, who had likely heard about it, simply watched as Ethan lit the fuse.
—Bang!
Vine scoffed. “As expected, just a petty trick.”
But Ribbelton disagreed. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
Vine slowly shifted his gaze to the rooftops of the dormitory and academy buildings. Under the two moons, shadowy figures stood, their presence noticeable even in the darkness.
They were the professors of Yurmuth Magic Academy.
TL : I will use Yurmus instead of Yurmuth going forth. so don’t get confused
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