The Hero King, Reincarnate to Master the Art of War (LN) - Volume 3 - Chapter 1

Chapter I: Inglis, Age 15—Orders to Defend the Hieral Menace (1)

Thanks to an agreement between Principal Miriela and the new Highland ambassador, the hieral menace Ripple would be staying at the knights’ academy for the time being. However, that wasn’t going to put the students’ regular training on hold.

Today, all of the knights and squires had headed to the Flygear dock on the shores of Lake Bolt to train together. And their return trip, as always, was a long run back to the academy.

“Ha ha ha ha! Run, run! Listen up, squire cadets! This is your chance to show off to the knight cadets who make fun of you behind your backs just because you don’t have Runes! Knight cadets, if you lose to the lowly squires, you’ll have no business calling yourselves knights! Everyone, show some backbone!” Instructor Marquez, who was in charge of the squires’ course, led the students from a Flygear.

Rafinha panted, struggling to breathe between her objections. “I don’t like how he says that... That instructor has a bad personality! We don’t make fun of the squire cadets at all!”

“There’s no way we could! After all...!” Leone looked at Instructor Marquez’s Flygear.

Marquez’s Flygear wasn’t actually flying—it was being carried on top of Inglis’s back. Never one to miss an opportunity for a rigorous training session, Inglis had volunteered to carry it while running. This had become a familiar sight for the squire cadets.

“Th-That’s outrageous...but at least in terms of speed, I can compete!” Liselotte determinedly sped up even more. Gasping for breath, she caught up with Inglis and the Flygear.

“Oh. Hi, Liselotte. You’re pretty fast,” Inglis said.

“You’re so nonchalant about this!”

Inglis was sweating a little but not breathing hard at all. “Yeah. I’m pretty used to this.”

Liselotte was still panting. “You mean...it’s tolerable...if you become...accustomed to it?”

“Right. By the way, where are Ban and Ray? I don’t see them around.”

Those two were Liselotte’s retainers. They had both enrolled in the squire program despite having Runes in order to support Liselotte.

“They decided to withdraw from the academy and return home.”

“Huh? Really? Oh, was it because Chancellor Arcia resigned?” Inglis asked.

Ray and Ban were young nobles themselves. With Liselotte no longer being the daughter of the chancellor, they didn’t have a satisfactory reason to be her squires.

“Yes. You seem to have a good grasp of it. My father has resigned his post and returned to his demesne, so...there was no avoiding it. We are, at least, a landed family.”

“You must feel a bit lonely without them.”

“Not at all. In fact, their families instructed them to transfer to the knights’ program and to abandon acting as my retainers. However, they withdrew from the academy, unwilling to make such an about-face. If they truly want to be knights, then I’ll consider them my friends. Someday we may yet fight alongside each other.”

Once Rafinha caught up, she gave Liselotte an encouraging pat on the back. “Exactly! Liselotte, you can use my Flygear too. I’ll let you ride with me later.”

“Oh, thank you...”

“All right!” Rafinha cheered. “Then let’s eat something sweet at the cafeteria when we get back! My treat. In this kind of situation, it’s best to eat a whole lot of sweets and change your mood. Right, Leone?”

Leone had caught up too. “Yeah! I’m a bit worried about gaining weight, but today will be fine.”

“Oh, right, Chris. Why don’t we take the opportunity to invite Ripple too?” Rafinha suggested.

“She’s busy right now,” Inglis replied. “Ambassador Theodore and the principal are doing everything they can to figure out what’s happening to her. When they’re finished, maybe we can invite her?”

“I don’t know much about the circumstances—but I think it’s a great honor to be able to protect a hieral menace!” Liselotte said.

“So you’d be okay with her coming along, Liselotte?” Rafinha asked.

“Yes! A hieral menace is the kind of person every girl looks up to! Once, long ago, one protected me from a magicite beast. If I could, I’d love to befriend one!” Liselotte’s admiration of hieral menaces was clear as day.

“All right, then let’s hurry back! Speeeed up!” Rafinha called.

“Rafinha, wait. I’m at my limit!” Leone protested.

“Any more might be a bit much...” Liselotte agreed.

“Good idea.” Inglis suddenly sped up.

“Hey, wait! Chris!” Rafinha yelled.

“Whaaat?! How can you keep up that pace?!” Leone cried.

“I... I can’t believe it!” Liselotte exclaimed.

Their instructor in the Flygear hadn’t expected such speed either. “Whoooa!” He fell out, shaken about from Inglis’s rapid pace.

“Ah, sorry, Instructor Marquez,” she said.

“P-Pay it no mind! That was some wonderful running— Gah?!” He coughed as the onrushing pack of runners trampled over him. “Ha ha ha! This feels kinda good! It’s just payback for me always hazing people.”

Even Lahti, at the rear leading Pullum along by her hand, stepped on him.

When the group arrived at the academy, it turned out there was no time for sweets. Inglis, Rafinha, Leone, and Liselotte had been summoned. They were going to get their orders concerning the protection of the hieral menace Ripple.

◆◇◆

The four of them were the only first-years summoned to a room at the academy, thanks to already having experience with extracurricular work. Also present were their seniors, older academy students to whom that also seemed to apply.

“Everyone, thank you for gathering here. I have an assignment of note for you today, so please lend me your attention,” Principal Miriela said.

As usual, her phrasing made the matter sound fairly low-key. The students looked underwhelmed until they saw Ambassador Theodore and Ripple appear. The situation no longer appeared to be a trifling matter.

Principal Miriela explained the situation: Ripple’s physical condition was abnormal; her presence was attracting magicite beasts; Ambassador Theodore was lending his aid to analyze and resolve the issue; and finally, Ripple would be staying at the academy until a solution was found.

A boy in a third-year uniform from the knights’ program was the first to speak up. “I see... So we’re to escort Ripple and immediately destroy any magicite beast that appears. And, preferably, avoid damage to the surrounding area?” He had short, almost ash-gray hair, and his glasses gave him the air of a refined and attractive intellectual. From his right hand shined an upper-class Rune—no, it had a distinctly rainbow glimmer, which meant only one thing.

“That’s a special-class Rune...” Inglis said.

Hieral menaces were the ultimate Artifacts. Their true power could be manifested only when transformed into a weapon, which was said to be the one power that could defeat a Prismer, the strongest type of magicite beast. The only people who could control a transformed hieral menace were holy knights with a special-class Rune. This young man was likely a future holy knight, then. He would be a hero tasked with preserving the country, and he would presumably be following in Rafael’s footsteps.

“That’s Silva Ayren, the younger brother of the Royal Guard’s captain, Reddas Ayren. Silva is the only student here with a special-class Rune,” Liselotte explained quietly.

“That would make him the strongest student at the academy, right?” Inglis asked.

“I suppose so.”

“Nice... He seems strong. I hope I can fight him sometime.”

“Is that all you think about?” Liselotte gave her a dismayed stare.

Principal Miriela continued. “Silva is correct. You’re the select members of the first-, second-, and third-years we’re tasking with this. I’d like you to form teams and take turns guarding Ripple. You’re permitted to seek assistance from other students at your discretion. If an emergency occurs and a magicite beast appears, please use the Artifacts we’ll be providing you to immediately ward the area. You must both eliminate the magicite beast and avoid collateral damage.”

The chosen students answered as one. “Understood.”

“And these are those Artifacts,” the principal said. “Each of you, take one. I’d like you to make sure that there is always someone by Lady Ripple’s side to immediately respond to any emergency and set up a ward.”

Ambassador Theodore presented the many Artifacts. There were various types—swords, spears, staffs, and so on.

After some examination of the offerings, Rafinha said, “No bow. There’s nothing I can use.”

“Then I shall take a spear,” Liselotte announced.

“And I’ll take a sword,” Leone said.

The gathered students were each given an Artifact, and yet there were still some left over.

“I guess I should take one too.” Inglis didn’t have a Rune, but a Rune was just something that channeled the flow of mana in a certain way. If she converted aether into mana and let it be channeled, she should be able to use one. And furthermore, if she studied the effect the Artifact created, she could recreate it directly. It would be difficult if it was complex, but she wanted to try.

Inglis stepped forward and reached for an Artifact.

Silva stopped her. “Wait. Cease this foolishness. What are you going to do with one of those?”

“Hmm? Is something the matter?” Inglis asked.

“You know exactly what I’m getting at. There’s no point to you carrying one of those. It’s nothing a Runeless squire cadet could handle. Keep your hands off it,” Silva insisted.

“Understood. I apologize.” Inglis bowed her head politely and quietly stepped back.

“Hey, hold on! That’s rude!” At times like this, Rafinha always spoke her mind.

“It’s okay, Rani. Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to be angry.” Inglis giggled to herself, confusing Rafinha.

“Wh-What are you grinning for, Chris?”

“It’s fine. Let’s let it go. Okay?” Inglis, on the other hand, seemed quite pleased.

It seemed Silva took a dim view of squire cadets. He was short-tempered and rather high-strung. He looked sophisticated, but on the inside, he was emotionally immature. A person like that could be easily provoked into a fight. A holy knight or hieral menace couldn’t be goaded into such emotional displays unless it was already a hostile relationship. But she might just be able to instigate a duel with this boy.

“Now, now, Silva. There are extras, so it should be fine for her to take one,” Principal Miriela said.

Silva protested, “I must disagree, Principal Miriela! If that’s the case, we should keep them in a safe place and use them as spares if any are destroyed. There’s no such thing as an Artifact we can afford to waste.”

“Well, that’s true, but Inglis... Well, Inglis probably won’t waste it. Aha ha ha ha! ♪”

“This is no joking matter! What’s a squire cadet even doing here in the first place? Are you sure there wasn’t a mistake in selecting personnel? This is an important mission, isn’t it? That’s all the more reason to have the most suitable people for it. A Runeless could become a liability. I want her out of here now!”

The room went silent.

This was becoming inconvenient. As Inglis wondered how she could talk him out of it, a girl with shoulder-length hair the color of cherry blossoms raised her hand.

“Yes. Understood.” Judging by her uniform, she was a second-year student. She was extremely cute, but she also had an extremely cold air about her. Her right hand, which she’d raised, had no Rune inscribed on it. It seemed that she too was Runeless. “Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She quickly made for the exit.

“Ahh, hold on a minute! Wait, Yua!” Principal Miriela, flustered, stopped her.

“What is it? I’m tired. I want to sleep.” Yua didn’t even bat an eye.

Even though the situation was an emergency, Yua didn’t seem to have any interest. That in particular made Inglis think this girl wasn’t ordinary.

“Aha ha, well, ah, you heard my explanation, right? We need everyone’s strength,” Principal Miriela insisted—albeit gently.

“Tee hee.” Yua stuck out her tongue, but her expression was otherwise blank.

“Aha ha ha ha...” Miriela was in the habit of covering up inconvenient situations with a giggle, but Yua proved even more elusive, and the principal found herself in a quandary. “Anyway! This is a big deal, and we need your help. You’re the star of the second-years. It would be troublesome without you.”

“But Four-Eyes over there told me to leave... Wait, did I dream that?”

“That’s right! It must have been a daydream! No one said that, right?”

“Then I guess I have to,” Yua said after a pause.

As Yua returned to her seat, Silva raised his voice. “No, I did indeed say that! Cadet squires aren’t up to this task. Stay out of this.”

“Understood. Thank you,” Yua replied simply.

“Ahhhhh, wait! Silva, don’t take us back to square one!” Principal Miriela said.

Liselotte watched them, muttering to her classmates, “I’d always thought the principal was awfully accepting of oddballs like you bunch...but if the senior students are like this, I can see why she acts the way she does.”

“Huh? What do you mean by ‘you bunch’? You’re one of us, and we’re all friends,” Rafinha said.

“F-For better or worse, I suppose,” Liselotte added.

“Aha ha. I think it’s better we’re all friends,” Leone remarked.

“Well, if Leone’s fine with it, I don’t mind,” Liselotte said.

Silva continued his protest. “And not just cadet squires, but a relative of the traitor! She’s the sister of that traitor—Leon! I’ll never trust her!”

“Now hold it right there! Leone isn’t like him! You shouldn’t talk about her that way!” Rafinha insisted.

Liselotte agreed. “Indeed! That’s a shallow, simplistic view. When you get to know her better, you’ll understand!”

The situation was getting complicated, so Inglis tried to push through her demands as if she were an arbitrator. “Now, now. Silva, would you be willing to test our skills to see if we’re worthy of the mission? I don’t see any other way for us to address your concerns, so...”

Silva pondered over that. “Hmm...”

“Hey.” Yua raised her hand.

“Ah, yes, Yua. What is it?” Inglis asked.

“Sounds like a hassle. I don’t wanna.”

Inglis had nothing to say in response.

What was going on? Rafinha, Leone, and Liselotte all had their own personalities, but they were all serious at heart. This Yua girl had a seriously unique temperament. There was something fundamentally different about Yua—different from Inglis too, of course. She’d never call the chance to fight a “hassle.”

Another second-year student said, “But without you, Yua, I don’t know if we’ll be able to do this. We’re supposed to split up by academic year, right? We need your strength.”

There were only three second-years there, one fewer than the first-years.

“Understood. I’ll do it,” Yua agreed.

“Then, Yua, shall we test our skills against Silva?”

Yua shot her down without a moment’s hesitation. “Don’t wanna. It’s the principal who gave the orders, so if someone has a problem with them, they should leave.” She was oddly straightforward now.

“Well, that’s true, but I was going to leave, like Silva said...” Inglis said, suddenly taking on a softer tone.

“Heh heh... Don’t have the guts to face me, huh?” Silva stared the second-year down.

Yua took a moment to choose her words. “We know who would win. I don’t like bullying.”

“What?!” Silva yelled, indignant.

Inglis wondered if Yua and Silva had fought before. Perhaps Yua had won? In that case, Inglis found her extremely fascinating. It wasn’t hard to imagine Silva, with a special-class Rune, having power like a holy knight’s. If Yua was beyond that, Inglis could expect a considerable fight. “Principal...” she began to stealthily ask.

“Yes, Inglis, it’s as you assume. During a mock battle, just once. Since then, those two haven’t gotten along... If you could somehow patch things up between them, I’d be grateful. After all, you are the star of the first-years,” Principal Miriela said.

“I think Rani’s better at interpersonal matters, but if you want me to give them both a beating, I’d be glad to.”

In the first place, it seemed like Silva was trying to pick a fight with Yua. Meanwhile, Yua wasn’t paying him any heed.

“Well...I suppose strength frequently comes to those with a less delicate touch...” Principal Miriela sighed.

Suddenly, everyone heard a loud thud.

“Lady Ripple! Pull yourself together!” Ambassador Theodore responded first. Ripple was seated directly next to him and had collapsed. Her consciousness was already gone, and she was wrapped in a black sphere. Inglis had seen this happen before, back at the palace.

“Theodore! Get away from her—it’s dangerous! I’ll create a ward. Everyone, be on guard!” Principal Miriela waved her Artifact staff, creating a broad barrier covering the area. There was a translucent wall of light that Inglis could see through the window.

A moment later, a spot high on the wall twisted, and magicite beast after magicite beast poured out through the space. They were humanoid, just like at the palace—demihumans, the same as Ripple.

“H-Here they come!” a student yelled. Tension among those gathered rose quickly, but none screamed or tried to flee.

“Principal, which class is on duty today?!” Silva asked in a hurry.

“Huh?” Principal Miriela replied.

“The three teams, split by class year, were supposed to trade off daily, right? Do you mind if we’re the first?”

“No, not at all...”

“All right! Then, no one other than us lay a hand on—”

Bammmmmm!

Inglis had already sent a trio of the magicite beasts flying with one kick. The impact caused the wall to cave in, and the entire room creaked slightly.

“Wh—?! Hey, you! I told you not to lay a hand on them!” Silva snapped.

“Yes. So I used my feet instead,” Inglis answered back, a smile drifting to her face.

The senior students were all amazed.

“Huh?! That girl’s a cadet squire, but she’s crazy strong!”

“Well, if she was called here, that’s to be expected!”

“Sh-She’s like Yua! This is like watching Yua!”

“And she’s absolutely adorable!”

She didn’t mind the compliments, but hearing them shout that last part in unison was a little off-putting.

“This isn’t the time to discuss that! Third-years, give battle! No matter how much of a beating you inflict on it, that won’t do anything to a magicite beast!” As Silva barked orders, he leveled his own Artifact, which took the form of a unique long cylinder—a gun. Highland had developed it as an anti-personnel weapon. It was rare to see them on the surface, but Inglis and Rafinha had seen one in Ymir; Duke Bilford had one.

Gun Artifacts were quite rare. They were a weapon not many on the surface used. Silva, with his rainbow-colored special-class Rune, could use any Artifact. For him to have chosen this one, it must have had an exceptional Gift. A bright-red pattern floated on the gun’s barrel, indicating that it used the fire element.

Let’s see what you’ve got, Inglis thought.

Whoosh!

But before Silva could move, bright white arrows of light had shot past his face. They had been let loose by Rafinha’s bow Artifact. They pierced through the magicite beasts that Inglis had embedded in the wall. Not one, not two, but three arrows. They completely silenced the magicite beasts.

“Rani? He might get mad,” Inglis said.

“Huh? I didn’t use my hands. I used my bow,” Rafinha replied.

“Doesn’t seem like it’ll be a problem, then.”

“Yep, agreed.”

“That’s garbage logic!” Silva yelled, enraged. “I don’t care if you’re Holy Knight Rafael’s little sister, you can’t selfishly—”

“Just who’s being selfish here?!” Rafinha didn’t back down. “Ripple doesn’t want to see anyone here get hurt! So we need to do everything we can to stay safe! We don’t need to fight over who does it! We need to work together. You’re going to be a holy knight, right, Silva? So you should be the one most concerned with Ripple’s feelings! You’re going to be the one fighting alongside a hieral menace!”

“Wh—?! What are you— You don’t even have a special-class Rune, who are you to—”

“I may not have a special-class Rune, but I’ve seen someone who does up close!”

She meant Rafael, of course. Comparing Rafael and Silva, it was impossible not to see Silva as immature. Rafael was older, to begin with, and he had been a well-mannered person even as a child. This was only speaking of this point in time, and Inglis couldn’t deny Silva’s future potential. The qualities of a special-class Rune were well-known. One could develop into whatever one wanted, depending on one’s mindset.

But Inglis knew one thing: she liked Rafinha when she stood up for her ideals and sense of justice. She didn’t usually look so serious, and her effort in keeping her expression stern was cute and very like her.

“Ah?! I swung my spear and hit one!” Liselotte called.

“And I hit one with a sword! Sorry!” Leone followed.

They had also attacked the magicite beasts, hoping to take some of Silva’s ire.

“Yua! You heard him, right?! Be sure not to make him mad! For Ripple’s sake!” Rafinha called out.

“O-Okay! Sorry!” Yua was surprised by Rafinha’s intensity.

Inglis glanced over at Yua, who rushed toward another magicite beast that had just manifested. She resembled a small animal, as if she would be in need of protection. However, with a puff of air, Yua seemed to disappear. She popped back into view in front of the magicite beast that Inglis was rushing toward. She had slipped in between them somehow! Inglis had been able to see the whole thing, but Yua was still absurdly fast.

Thwap!

Yua struck the magicite beast with an ever-so-light karate chop. And yet...

Rrrip-crackkk!

That delicate move brought forth loud destruction. Yua had left marks that dug into the body of the magicite beast.

“Wow! Amazing!” Inglis said with a gasp.

That kind of power from a light attack was impressive. Furthermore, she had approached the magicite beast even faster than Inglis had—though Inglis was under increased gravity.

However, magicite beasts were invulnerable to purely physical attacks, so that attack had been pointless...but not in terms of getting Yua into the fight.

Yua was powerful. Inglis could find nothing to criticize. She’d absolutely have to ask for a sparring match sometime.

“There.” Leaning forward, Yua kicked the magicite beast with her heel.

Whaaack!

The magicite beast flew right in front of Inglis with the force of a bullet.

“Ah, sorry,” Yua apologized.

Inglis reassured her. “It’s fine! Haaaah!”

Baaam!

Inglis delivered a kick directly up. The magicite beast gained even more momentum and plunged headfirst into the ceiling.

“Oh. Not bad.” Yua’s normally blank expression contained just a little bit of awe.

“Thank you. Shall we have a match sometime?”

“I don’t wanna. I don’t want a trial of strength or anything.” As Yua spoke, she kept blows flying at the magicite beasts.

“I insist! Please!”

As Yua and Inglis conversed, they kept the blows coming, matching each other’s same speed.

“Nah.”

“Is there any way to persuade you?”

As they continued their negotiations, Inglis and Yua used their blows to lock down the magicite beasts.

“Amazing, you two! This’ll be easy!” The other students only had to move to finish them off.

“Ugh... Does no one listen to me?!” Silva complained.

“Now, now! Silva! Then, I order everyone, as your principal, to respond! So no one will be doing anything wrong! Keep it up, everyone!” Principal Miriela ordered, flustered.

Even after that, the battle situation wasn’t much different. As new magicite beasts appeared, first Inglis or Yua sent them flying, and then the other students finished them off.

Only elemental attacks affected the magicite beasts; even if their bodies were twisted from physical blows, they would recover. But if Inglis and Yua could create a small opening, that was all the time Rafinha and the others needed.

Furthermore, there was a reason Inglis could take the initiative: she could detect the signs of a magicite beast appearing by the change in the flow of mana. Thus, she could act a step or two ahead of the others.

And Yua was moving in the same way, so she likely sensed the same things. Just what was she? The impression she gave off was different from that of a hieral menace.

A Highlander, maybe? But she had no stigmata.

Was Yua a divine knight like Inglis herself was? Or was her perception more like that of the Steelblood Front’s black-masked man? Inglis sensed no aether from her, but she could be hiding it.

So far, Inglis couldn’t say anything definitive. She simply knew that she didn’t have the answers. That was fascinating, though. She was glad she’d left rural Ymir to come to the capital. There were so many fascinating opponents she wanted to have the pleasure of fighting.

“Everyone, I think it’s fine. The phenomenon has stopped for now,” Ambassador Theodore announced. He had been watching Ripple. The black hemisphere covering her had returned to normal.

“Ripple!” Rafinha was the first to her side.

“If it’s the same as before, she should awaken after a little while...” Leone sounded worried.

“I see. We know what we have to do now. This much should be no problem, Principal Miriela. We third-years, at least, will complete the mission without casualties,” Silva said with confidence.

“Yes. However, this is only a method to prevent any harm to our surroundings, not an ultimate resolution. There is a possibility something else may happen, so please be careful,” Miriela warned.

“Will you have a solution soon?” Silva asked.

“I’m sorry. That will take some time, but we’re hurrying as much as possible. I understand the burden on you, but please bear with us,” Ambassador Theodore replied.

“Yes, that would be quite helpful.” Principal Miriela sighed deeply, her gaze on the room’s ceiling. The harsh impacts of the magicite beasts had left it warped and beaten in places. “If we don’t do something about this soon, it doesn’t seem like there’ll be any trace left of the school building...”

“It’s the fault of these brutes.” Silva looked at Inglis and Yua in turn.

The two tilted their heads in confusion.

“Don’t play dumb! It’s because you were indiscriminately sending the enemies flying!” Silva accused.

Yua replied, “We were still holding back, right? Uhh...”

“My name is Inglis.”

“Umm... Inkle? Inli?”

“Inglis.”

“Hmm...” Yua frowned.

“Yua has a hard time with names,” one of the older students noted.

“Beanpole’s right,” Yua said.

Well, that senior student was slender, but he did also have a full-fledged upper-class Rune.

He playfully faked a sob. “Ahhh... See? A whole year and she’s still like this. By the way, I’m Morris. Pleased to meet you.”

“You too.” Then Inglis turned back to Yua. “Anyway, you can call me whatever you’d like.”

“Hmm... Boobies. You were holding back, weren’t you?” Yua asked.

“Huhhh?! That’s a bit...” Inglis protested.

But Yua didn’t seem to be listening—she had turned to face Silva. “In the first place, if you had been working harder, we wouldn’t have had to go on such a rampage.”

“I was just holding back because I didn’t want to burn the school building down with my Artifact! Think harder when you fight, you two!” Silva barked back.

“Now, now. It’s better than worrying about that and getting hurt,” Principal Miriela stated with a wry smile.

Ambassador Theodore had a similar expression. “Ha ha... Maybe Artifacts that transport you to another dimension, rather than those which cover the area with a ward, would be better.”

“Like the magical spaces created by Highlanders, you mean?” Inglis recalled when the Highlander Fars had sealed her in another dimension. She didn’t know if every Highlander could do that, but it seemed some could. Meaning, he had been quite a powerful magician.

“Correct,” Ambassador Theodore said.

Principal Miriela continued, “The closest is the Labyrinth of Ordeals that you entered the other day. That’s an Artifact based on the Highlanders’ dimensional magic.”

“Ahh, I see...” Inglis replied.

“However, the dimension-shifted can’t be seen by those around them. It would be difficult to know whether to send in reinforcements, making it more dangerous. And I believe there are fewer people who can use that than a warding-type Artifact,” the principal said.

“But it’s true that having both would be good. I’ll prepare those as well,” Theodore offered.

“Well, yes. It depends on the situation. If you’d be so kind, Theodore.”

“Understood.”

Thus, the operation to defend the hieral menace Ripple began in earnest.