Kays Translations

Chapter 418: Lightning Magic

Lightning magic could conveniently be activated at a distance, so there was little risk of catching the surrounding knights. Using my Search skill, I confirmed the Big Apes’ positions and set the spell’s effective range to strike them all at once.

“Julius-sama, what are you planning to do?”

“Of course, I’m going to defeat the Big Apes.”

Caro had noticed the faint release of my mana. As expected of someone with the Mana Detection skill. Ijidol also stared at me wide-eyed, perhaps sensing something himself.

While I wondered about their reactions, the Big Apes entered the effective range one after another. Now!

“Lightning Shot!”

A cracking flash streaked through the forest, homing in on one Big Ape after another. Lightning Shot excelled against groups because the discharge chained between nearby targets.

Several Big Apes survived the initial strike but crashed to the ground twitching, paralysed and unable to move. Now was the time to finish them.

“Take down the fallen Big Apes! There aren’t any left in the trees!”

The knights sprang into action as though the shout had jolted them awake. Axel was missing from their ranks because he was in the same predicament as me—Caro had seized his arm and would not let him move.

That could become a problem. If Fabienne grabbed my arm whenever danger appeared, I would be unable to fight properly. I would have to address it later.

The immobilised Big Apes were quickly finished off and turned into magic stones.

“Julius-sama, what was that magic just now?”

“Julius, what was that spell?”

Fabienne and Ijidol asked almost simultaneously. Their curiosity was natural, and there was no point concealing the answer now. The moment I explained that it was lightning magic, murmurs spread through the group.

Before I knew it, everyone was staring at me. Had I caused another major incident?

“I’ve never heard of lightning magic before. Do you think I could use it too?”

“If you practice, you might be able to.”

I did not know whether Ijidol could truly learn it, but if he did, lightning magic would no longer seem unique to me. That would be ideal. He needed to work hard.

Ijidol burned with enthusiasm, while Axel—apparently understanding my ulterior motive—looked at him with pity.

Several other mages also wanted to learn. Once we returned to House Mulan, I would teach them together. If nobody else could reproduce the spell, I would stand out far too much.

“Julius-sama, we’ve finished collecting the magic stones. We’re ready to depart at any time.”

“I see. Then let’s hurry back. If other monsters head this way, things will get troublesome again.”

Somehow, I had taken command of the group. House Mulan’s knight commander had led us at first, so how had this happened?

Once we returned to the Heine Margraviate, this would probably become yet another heroic tale. The thought alone made me sigh.

We reached House Mulan’s estate without further incident. Although we had taken the shortest route and spent little time in the forest, it had been an intense excursion.

Waiting to greet us at the mansion was the Marchioness of Mulan.

“It looks like everyone made it back safely. I’m so relieved. I was worried something might have happened.”

The Marchioness was relieved to see everyone return apparently unharmed. Unfortunately, a great deal had happened.

Surely I did not have to report everything myself. Caro or House Mulan’s knight commander should handle that.

When I looked at Caro, she was staring back at me. Why?

The Marchioness tilted her head, sensing something was off from our silence. This was bad. If we wanted to avoid this conversation, we needed to leave right now.

Of course, escape proved impossible. Unable to endure the silence—or perhaps feeling responsible—House Mulan’s knight commander reported the monster attack.

As expected, the Marchioness was speechless. Without delay, we were sent to the infirmary.

Caro insisted that no one was hurt, but the Marchioness was too shaken to accept that without examination. As guests, we had no choice but to comply.

“Hey, I’m completely fine, so how long do I have to stay in bed?”

“I’d like to know that too. I need to plant these seedlings in the herb garden soon. Freshness is crucial… Freshness!”

“I never expected this to happen. But after seeing how pale the Marchioness was, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse her…”

Axel trailed off. She was his prospective mother-in-law, so he understandably did not wish to criticise her. He already seemed entirely prepared to marry Caro, which would mean she married into his family.

His family held a knightly title and served in the Royal Knight Order, so the difference in status should not be insurmountable. Probably. I was not certain.

After repeated examinations, we were finally released. By then, night had fallen and my plans were in ruins.

The Marchioness apologised and thanked us repeatedly until I began to feel guilty. Even when I assured her that it was no trouble, she remained shaken. I needed to reassure her somehow.

But before that—

“Nero, how long until dinner?”

“About an hour.”

“Alright, if we rush, we can make it.”

“Rush? Don’t tell me, Julius-sama…”

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