“The vanguard fights by building up spells based on standard magic patterns, but they can’t use large-scale spells like those in the rear guard. The rear guard has its own advantages, so there’s no need to force yourself to imitate the vanguard.”
As Diana said, the rear guard’s role is likely to build strong and powerful spells while being protected by the vanguard, ultimately delivering the finishing blow.
That is the advantage of the rear guard.
But even so…
“You still want to know some magic that could be useful in close combat, right?”
It was as if she could read my mind.
As I stood there, dumbfounded, she smiled at me.
“You’re wondering how I knew, right? Well, it’s because I’m your mother, after all. I understand you, Nero. Once you decide you want to do something, you don’t give up until you’re satisfied.”
“Well, I guess…”
She had me completely figured out.
Is this what a mother’s intuition is like?
Even though the real me isn’t even blood-related…
“It can’t be helped then. I’ll teach you one spell that might come in handy in a pinch.”
“Wait, there is one!?”
“Of course. Unlike us in the rear guard, we don’t have fixed spells, but we can speed up spell casting by making magic construction routine.”
“Does that mean…?”
“It means memorizing a pre-structured magical pattern—let’s call it a ‘magic formula’—and being able to use it reflexively at any moment.”
Some things can be complex, but if you make them a habit in daily life, you end up doing them unconsciously.
It’s like getting the formula ingrained in your body… I guess if you keep using the same magic over and over, it would eventually become second nature.
“Watch.”
With that, Diana positioned her hands in front of her.
I could see different magical patterns forming in each hand.
“The right hand is the Water Ball formula that I taught you first, Nero. It’s a simple spell, so you should be able to construct it without even thinking about it by now, right?”
The Water Ball is indeed just a spell that adds an element to magic power and releases it.
I’ve already gotten to the point where I can use it as naturally as moving my hands and feet.
However, its simplicity means it’s also easier to break apart.
“And the left hand is the Water Shot formula. It’s a spell that shoots out a burst of water like pellets. It’s not too difficult, so I think you’ll be able to learn it quickly. And if you combine these two…”
She brought her hands together in front of her chest.
And then, something changed.
“!?”
The two formulas merged into a single one, transforming into a completely different pattern while retaining traces of the original formulas.
“This is magic formula synthesis. And what I just created is—”
Diana extended her right hand, now enveloped in a magical pattern.
Five streams of water shot out from her hand.
Each one twisted like a water snake, flying a short distance before dissipating into a spray of mist.
“That was Hydro Serpent. It allows you to manipulate serpentine water columns like extra limbs, which can be very useful in close combat. By synthesizing two simple formulas, you can reduce the casting time, and the result is a stronger spell that’s harder to break apart.”
“Wow, amazing!”
A voice of admiration rang out from a distance.
It was Lux, watching from a bench under the eaves.
To the young boy, the magic used by a magic warrior must have looked incredible.
He clapped his hands, his eyes sparkling.
I was surprised too, but for a different reason.
I had never imagined that something like magic formula synthesis existed.
Combining familiar formulas instead of constructing them from scratch certainly allows for quicker spellcasting.
It’s a perfect technique for situations that require quick decision-making in close combat.
But…
There was a sense of unease.
It reminded me of the time I tried to use Water Bite in the fight against the Earth Spider, but it failed to activate… And there was something more, something fundamental that bothered me…
“If you combine it with body enhancement, it can become a reliable ally in battle. But learning to routinely cast Water Shot and getting the hang of synthesis will take time, so you’ll need to keep at it.”
Just as Diana finished saying this, a surge of determination rose within me.
“Let me try it.”
“Huh…?”
As she looked at me in surprise, I raised my right hand in front of me and focused.
A heptagonal magic pattern formed, and a chain of connections began to spread from there.
I channeled magic power into the constructed pattern and added an element. As soon as I did, it manifested.
From my palm emerged a five-headed serpent—no, it was too small to be called a serpent.
It was more like a five-headed dragon made of water.
You could call it a Hydro Dragon.
“!?”
As Diana stared in shock, the five-headed water dragon slithered along the ground, cutting down weeds as it moved. Then, it abruptly turned and shot upwards.
Releasing the magic at a height of about twenty meters, the water dragon burst into a heavy downpour, drenching the surroundings with large raindrops.
Alright, I did it!
It might have turned out a bit bigger than I intended, but it was within acceptable limits.
Just as I thought!
“Normally, you would need to memorize two magic patterns and then combine them, but I have a convenient ability called the Rupture Eye.
Since I can visually perceive the magic patterns of others, there’s no need for me to go through the process of combining them—I can just copy an already combined magic pattern directly.
This time, I mimicked Diana’s Hydro Serpent exactly, and it worked. I got the idea because it seemed similar to Water Bite, which I had tried before, and I’m glad I realized it.
With this, I can activate magic much faster.
Still…
‘Whoa…’
I muttered, twisting my mouth into a grimace.
My clothes were completely soaked. I reflected on whether there could have been a better way to safely disperse the magic, but at least it was better than breaking the house’s wall like before.
Let’s just go with that for now.
As I was lost in thought, I heard a small clap nearby.
‘Wow, big brother, that one was even bigger than the last one!’
The voice came from Lux, sitting on the bench. He clapped his small hands enthusiastically, expressing his excitement.
Seeing him like that, I felt a little proud of myself.
‘I’m surprised… You’ve already mastered it. But it didn’t look like you did any combining, did you…?’
Diana asked, still in a state of shock.
‘Yeah, I didn’t combine them. I have the Rupture Eye, after all.’
‘Oh, that’s right, Nero, you have that ability… But even so, being able to imitate it right after seeing it once isn’t something that should be so easy…’
‘It seems like I got the hang of it when I watched and imitated Dad’s body enhancement magic.’
As soon as I said that—
‘Nnnngh… How can you be so talented?! You’re just too amazing!!’
Diana hugged me tightly.
I could feel her warm embrace.
It was a comforting feeling, but even though she’s my mother, from my perspective, she’s a stranger. We aren’t that different in age, either.
Thinking about that made me feel a bit conflicted.
But since it didn’t feel bad, I allowed myself to stay in her arms. Soon, I felt her weight pressing more heavily against me.
This might be getting a bit heavy…
Actually, it’s kind of suffocating!
‘Mom…?’
For someone hugging tightly, her behavior seemed a bit odd.
Sensing something was wrong, I glanced up at her.
There, I saw Diana with a vacant look in her eyes, her eyelids slowly closing.
It looked like she was about to pass out.
‘Mom! What’s wrong? Are you okay?!’
I supported her body, but it was difficult to fully support an adult woman’s weight with my small frame.
It seemed like I’d have to use magic to enhance my physical strength.
Just as I thought that—
‘Ugh… Ah! Sorry! Are you okay?’
Diana quickly came to her senses, sitting up and looking at me with concern.
‘I should be the one asking. Are you feeling alright?’
‘…It’s probably because I used magic.’
‘Huh? That means…’
‘Yes, it’s because of the curse.’
She spoke calmly despite the words.
‘I told you before, didn’t I? I can’t use powerful magic anymore. I might have overdone it out of old habit. I need to be more careful…’
I could see a hint of pain in her expression, but she quickly covered it with a cheerful smile.
‘It’s alright. It was just a little dizziness.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, I’m sure.’
‘Please don’t push yourself.’
‘Thank you, Nero. You’re so kind.’
Hearing her say that with a smile made my chest tighten.
I had been learning magic from her for my own strength, but seeing her like this made it difficult to ask for her help so eagerly.
It’s said that using a little magic can be good for rehabilitation, but knowing her, she might end up pushing herself too far beyond what I ask.
I couldn’t afford to let her hurt herself like that.
I resolved to find a different way to learn magic that wouldn’t put a strain on her.
That’s the promise I made to myself.”
