Isekai Mahou wa Okureteru! (LN) - Volume 1 - Chapter SS2

Felmenia Side Story 2 

“Well, it’s slow.” 

“It’s… slow?” 

In the dead of the night and the dead calm of the empty training grounds of Royal Castle Camellia, Suimei and Felmenia were looking at the aftereffects of the magic she’d fired off. That’s what Suimei had referred to as slow. And having her magic so mercilessly evaluated, Felmenia lowered her gaze with a grim expression and groaned. Hardly knowing what to say in return, Suimei called out to her. 

“Well, that’s probably not your fault. Don’t let it get to you too much.” 

“Not my fault, you say?” 

Seeing Felmenia cutely tilt her head to the side in puzzlement, Suimei expressed what he was considering. 

“Yeah. You likely don’t have a categorization for anything outrageously fast in this world. Or rather, because people here have never even considered such a thing, my definition of fast and your definition of fast are pretty different.” 

“Ah…” 

She didn’t seem to fully grasp what he was saying. Suimei had asked Felmenia to show him her best magic, but the invocation time and the speed of the spell itself were—in his eyes—slow. 

“What I’m saying is that what you consider a fast projectile in this world would be something like an arrow, a rock from a sling, or whatever it is that monsters fire out, right? That’s why we have different conceptions of speed, and I guess that’s even reflected in the magic…” 

“Certainly, when I think of high speeds, generally such things are what comes to mind.” 

Hearing Felmenia agree with him, Suimei gave a single nod. Because the people of this world didn’t get many opportunities to witness anything faster than that, it had an effect on their magic. 

“…So that really is it, huh?” 

“In your world, Suimei-dono, um… are there objects that can fly at outrageous speeds?” 

“Well, yeah. There’s all sorts of things like cruise missiles, fighter jets, and rifle bullets, but… even if I say that, you probably don’t get it, huh?” 

“I’m afraid not…” 

There was no way Felmenia had any idea what those things were. If he looked hard enough, he very well may have been able to find a gun in this world, but as long as there was a substitute like magic for the power of firearms, it would be a very primitive one at best, if it even existed at all. Pondering a better example, Suimei thought of something fast that even this would should have. 

“Well, what about lightning?” 

“Magic with the lightning attribute? Would you like me to show you some?” 

“If you can, be my guest.” 

Felmenia nodded in response to Suimei’s request and began incanting a spell. 

“Oh Lightning. Thou who art the incarnation of that shining power, emulate this sharp will of mine and pierce through in an instant. Blitz Shot.” 

As Felmenia’s chant and keywords dissipated into the air, the magic began to crackle as a pale violet light formed in her palm. Then, perhaps bending to her will, it let out a thunderous roar and went flying like a bolt of lightning. She then promptly started her next chant. 

“I’m starting the next one now. Oh Lightning. Thou art my subordinate. Follow my will and surge forth, so reducing what lay in thy path to ashes. Dancing Lights.” 

Electricity once more collected in the air, but this time it looked like a technique that could be manipulated. The sparks followed Felmenia’s gaze, and she moved them around here and there to show them off. Compared to her previous spell, however, it was slow. The stage show eventually came to an end, and as the smell of burnt earth filled the air, Felmenia turned to Suimei. 

“How was that?” 

“I think I see… Just from manipulating it, it becomes slow, huh? Well, since the movements aren’t established, that’s only natural, I guess.” 

The speed of her first spell was comparable to actual lightning, but because she was manipulating the movement of the second spell, it was relatively slow. As expected, when magic was being manipulated by its caster’s will, it was fettered by the caster’s consciousness. The meager information they could process with their own eyes hung over their casting ability like a shadow. 

“Then I guess I’ll give it a go too.” 

“You’re going to use a magicka of your own, Suimei-dono?” 

“Well, this isn’t something I created, but… Well, whatever. Ready?” 

Seeing Felmenia nod, Suimei began his chant. 

“Quod is venerabatur est in Zarathustrae aureum mysterio. Confitetor ignem. Nos consequimur directionem es significatur ex Astorius.” 

[That which is revered is within Zarathustra’s golden secret. Praise be to the fire. The righteousness that we aim for is signified by Astorius.] 

By the power of Suimei’s chant, the portent of the manifestation of his magicka encroached in the air like a hazy wave of heat. 

“Ardvahist!” 

[The guidance of the fire that pierces the rule of heaven.] 

As Suimei unleashed his keyword, a magicka circle formed in his outstretched palm and hailed fire. 

“Bwuh?” 

Meanwhile, however, the observing mage girl hadn’t seemed to expect such power to manifest. As the built-up energy abruptly burst into the air with a strong burning smell, the training grounds were instantly filled to capacity by the magickal flames as if there had been a shockwave of fire. The magicka circle he deployed manifested a flame that emitted no heat, and only created a visual blaze with no form. And then… 

“M-Myaaaaaaaah!” 

Along with a shriek from Felmenia that almost sounded like a screeching cat, a bundle of crimson light and heat gathered in a form that far surpassed an 800 millimeter shell. It had a diameter of a full meter and let out a thunderous roar as it rocketed off into the darkness of the night sky. After seeing it off, Suimei turned around and saw that Felmenia had fallen to the ground in shock. 

“…Didn’t your own spell make a bunch of noise just a minute ago?” 

“I-I was the one controlling the lightning, so I knew it was coming… But the magicka you just used was fire. For that to fly out so fast that it would let out a roar like that is…” 

The scale of his magicka had far exceeded what she’d expected. But how could she have known better? It wasn’t like Suimei had announced what he was going to do. 

“This might be putting it a little harshly, but there’s nothing to talk about if you can’t do at least this much. As you are right now, Menia, you’re not even treading upon the same ground I’m walking.” 

“Suimei-dono…” 

Being told that so frankly, Felmenia slumped her shoulders. And if her posture was dejected, her expression was miserable. Seeing that, Suimei started to panic, thinking maybe he’d gone too far, and tried to backpedal a bit. 

“N-No, well… maybe that isn’t entirely the case? You understood the stuff about the activation of magicka circles and liturgical reduction, so it won’t be right away, but you’ll likely be able to do this kinda thing too, Menia.” 

Perhaps because she was happy at the recognition, an exuberant smile bloomed on her face once more. 

“I will try my best!” 

“Yeah.” 

Suimei nodded with a satisfied look on his face. He was sure she’d be fine. One of the things he’d learned from their exchanges over the past few days was that she was much more of a hard worker than he’d originally suspected. 

“Then, Suimei-dono, thank you very much for once more lending me your valuable time today. I’ll take my leave now.” 

“You bet. Take care.” 

As Felmenia turned to go, Suimei bid her farewell and waved. Watching her walk off, he started to wonder about her magic, 

“She needs to work on the speed of the invocation and the speed of the spell itself. Other than that, the main point is the violent emotions of the flames… Well, she’s trying. If all goes well, her Truth Flare will likely get stronger right away.” 

Regarding Felmenia’s potential, Suimei though that she had remarkably good instincts. As long as she wasn’t negligent in her training and studies, she might indeed soon become the most powerful mage in this world. 

“Well, in any event, it can’t really be called the truth of flames anymore, now can it?” 

It was the spell she’d personally named after believing she’d arrived at the truth of flames. But that moniker was already passé. Suimei slowly closed his eyes. He thought for a long moment and then once more opened them. 

“Velut ventus aeturnus adfert, fluctuatem flammae mittet Deus. Audito mea vox. Tu es album Ishim. Audito mea vox. Tu es sanctum Ishim.” 

[Just as the eternal wind conveys, send the shining and swaying flames to His side. Hear my voice. Thou art the Ishim dyed in white. Hear my voice. Thou art the Ishim that shakes off all calamity.] 

Truth Flare. 

“White Flame Hyacinth.” 

Suimei fired out what looked just like a blooming white hyacinth, but what appeared was not a flame. It was a veil of plasma giving off a white glow, and as if to burn the night air into nothingness, it dyed the starry sky brighter and brighter. The shades of the evening were swallowed up by the light, temporarily transforming the scenery into a white night.