Chapter 19: The most dangerous thing in life is to be too careful

“So, we will now begin Charlotte Luna Meyers’ practical test: ──── 《Soil Attack》.”

With the starting announcement, the teacher deployed earth magic and a ball of earth appeared.

‘Is it still the same elementary magic?’ While analyzing the situation, I activated barrier magic with word art.

The semi-transparent barriers around me easily blocked the flying ball of earth. Then, I immediately released the barrier.

Now, what will happen next?

<<Wind Cutter>>

While I was on guard, the teacher fired a blade of wind directly at me.

It was a little more powerful than usual as it came straight at me.

<<Soil Wall>>

Without any distraction, I deployed earth magic, and the earth beneath my feet began to move.

Like a sprouting plant, the soil rose upward and eventually became a large rectangular wall.

The wall of soil collapsed with a crack, as if it had been hit by the blade of wind that the teacher had released.

Coughing up a cloud of dust, I looked forward──── but there was no sign of the teacher…….

What? That ……! The teacher is ……! She was there a moment ago. ……! Where the hell did she go!

As I scurried around, I reflected, “It was indeed foolish to block my vision”.

I was in such a hurry that I was losing my cool, and I looked back. There, I saw the teacher with her palm pointing toward ──── me.

When did she …… behind me?

<<Water Arrow>>

<<Protection!>>

We activated our magic almost simultaneously, manifesting a water arrow and a translucent wall, respectively.

The water arrows shot at close range were bounced off the barriers and fell to the ground.

And when it was out of the teacher’s control, it became just water, moistening the soil.

That was a little close. …… I’m glad I noticed it before the teacher invoked her magic. But it’s a bit tricky. Considering that she moved immediately after I invoked the earth magic, it seems like her attack speed was unusually slow…… I wonder if the move took a lot of time ……

Tilting my head, I release the barrier magic that is in effect and look for the teacher’s location.

While I held my palms out in front of me, ready to defend myself at any time, the teacher unexpectedly put her hands on the ground.

In front of me with my guard up, the teacher puts strength into her hands and feet.

Hmm? I just saw what looked like white lines on the teacher’s hand for a moment, was it my imagination? Could it be gray hair ……?

As I secretly admire her daily hard work, she jumps up, her whole body springing to life.

With a pounce, she leaped over my head and landed with a flourish as she returned to the side of the school building.

《《Rock Attack》.

The teacher deployed an earth-based elementary magic, causing small pointed stones to appear around her.

It was shaped similar to an arrowhead or a crescent of a bow and arrow and it came straight at me.

The fourth shot didn’t change much in the way of testing. If I had to say, I would say that the teacher’s movements became a little more active. …… Was I mistaken?

Tilting my head at the deceptively unchanged practical test, I look firmly ahead.

<< Wind Mentor>>

Facing the flying stones, I deployed wind magic and created a wild wind.

I let the wind blow in a circle around me to fortify my defense.

I created an improvised wind barrier. It was excellent both offensively and defensively, but was quite difficult to control.

While I was struggling to maintain the wind barrier, the flying stones were easily bounced off as they fell to the ground.

I looked at the stones that fell to the ground and smiled, thinking , “This is so disappointing,” and let the wind barrier dissipate.

The next attack will be the last. Let’s get this over with and give the floor to His Highness Grayson.

<<Protection!>>

I deployed my barrier magic as if I was the first to do so, and I surrounded the area with a translucent wall.

With this, it doesn’t matter where the attack comes from. I could prevent as many attacks as I wanted with elementary magic.

The teacher silently pointed her palm toward me──── and for some reason snapped her fingers.

……Eh? A feint?

My eyes black and white at the mysterious finger snap, I look at the teacher in bewilderment.

Unable to read the intention of the action, I was perplexed when unexpectedly, a white light was emitted from my feet.

Reflexively, I looked down and was immensely surprised by the sight that met my eyes. Because there is a magic circle glowing white at my feet.

What? No way! When did she start a magic circle? No way, when she went behind me, this is ……! so this is the reason why her attack speed was slow ……! Then that white line I saw for a moment was a thread of magic!

“I thought you had gray hair!” And as I worried about unimportant things, I became impatient with the battle situation that had changed in an instant.

I desperately tried to gather my wits in front of the magic circle just before it was about to be activated.

This magic circle is within the barrier, so the barrier in effect will not be able to stop it……! There’s an option to avoid it, but that could violate the rules! The ideal solution would be to deploy new barriers, but the word art won’t activate them in time!

I narrowed my eyes at the sight that felt somewhat like deja vu as I reflected on the fact that I had let my guard down in my confidence of victory.

Although the method is somewhat different, this is very similar to the strategy I used on Nigel-Sensei during the ability test.

Bianca-sensei! Grudgingly, I decided to take the final step.

As a ball of flame popped out of the glowing white magic circle, I activated the freezing magic with my ──── prayer technique.

The temperature around me dropped in accordance with my will and I was hit with a winter-like chill.

The cold air, glistening like diamond dust, envelops the flying ball of flame and extinguishes it in an instant.

It’s more like offsetting than defending, but it’s probably not against the rules.

Hah …… even though it was the only way, I used the prayer technique. I tried to avoid using it as much as possible….. but now I understand how Nigel-sensei feels. It’s pretty heartbreaking to be forced to use hidden techniques in a situation that could have been handled normally if I hadn’t let my guard down……. What a feeling of regret I can’t bear.

I slump my shoulders in a gaping depression and say to myself, ‘Be wary of your opponent only when you are sure of victory’.

As I was secretly reflecting on the situation with a dark aura of gloom, I suddenly heard cheers from the people around me.

“Hey, did you see that? That was the prayer technique!”

“So that’s it! I’ve never actually seen it before! I couldn’t watch the finals in the magic division for some reason!”

“I didn’t know prayer could prevent magic from being invoked at point-blank range! That’s great!”

“That match showed how important the speed of magic activation is! After all, Charlotte-san is awesome!”

They are very excited about the use of the prayer technique and call it great.

The magical science test venue, which had become completely festive, was noisy for a while.

Hmm……I didn’t want to use it because of this…… Well, I’m honestly glad to hear the compliment. But it’s still a little embarrassing.

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