Man-Killing Magic

Shinshi Era, year 27.

Gräser Forest, Central Countries.

Rienta was studying a grimoire nearby.

Ever since their last conversation, Frieren had been giving Fern special training in defensive magic.

Rienta, meanwhile, was already proficient in defensive magic and had no need for further practice.

Listening to the continuous rumbling, Rienta silently prayed for Fern for a second.

Then he went back to reading the grimoire in his hands.

Projection magic had been inspired by Shirou Emiya and Flower field magic.

Of course, part of the reason was that he had no money to forge weapons.

Near noon, Frieren's voice called out to him.

"Rienta, practice is over. Let's rest for a while, then set out."

After putting the book into his Personal Space, Rienta headed for the training ground.

When he arrived, he found Fern's mana almost depleted. She was slumped on the only patch of ground that was still relatively intact.

The ground around her was riddled with craters caused by "ordinary offensive magic."

Even though he had seen this sight several times, it was still hard to believe that so-called "ordinary offensive magic" had caused it.

Rienta asked Frieren, "Lady Frieren, how is Fern's training going?"

Frieren put away her staff and replied as she walked toward Fern:

"She's already quite proficient. All she lacks is practical application."

Looking at Fern, who had risen to her feet, Frieren said:

"Defensive magic is powerful, but it also puts a heavy strain on your mana."

"If you cast it over a wide area, you'll run out of mana quickly."

Fern raised a hand and summoned a small patch of defensive magic, saying thoughtfully:

"So casting it over a small area the moment an attack gets close is the best choice."

Rienta smiled at Fern. "Fern, with your mana control and casting speed, you'll pick it up quickly."

"That's right." Frieren nodded in agreement with Rienta.

Seeing that Fern had recovered somewhat, Frieren said, "Then let's go. We're almost at our destination."

Fern paused. "Are we collecting strange magic again?"

Frieren picked up her suitcase and said seriously, "No, this time is different."

"This time, it's for Qual the Elder Sage of Corruption."

Frieren offered no detailed explanation and continued on the road with the two of them.

Rienta followed behind them, recalling what the history of magic said about Qual the Elder Sage of Corruption.

The precursor to "ordinary offensive magic" was called Zoltraak. It had been created by Qual, a genius mage in the Demon King's Army, and was the first piercing magic in history.

It was a kind of magic that attacked the body directly, and human defensive magic and equipment had been completely unable to stop it.

It was said that among the forces fighting that part of the Demon King's Army at the time, forty percent of the adventurers and as many as seventy percent of the mages had died to Zoltraak.

In the end, he had been defeated by the hero Himmel and his party.

After that, mages across the continent had devoted themselves to researching and analyzing Zoltraak.

In just a few years, they had successfully incorporated Zoltraak into their own systems of magic.

That was what was now known as ordinary offensive magic, and corresponding defensive magic had also been developed.

Rienta didn't dare say it aloud. Frieren certainly knew, since she was the one who had defeated Qual the Elder Sage of Corruption.

But Rienta didn't dare gamble on whether Fern had actually read that book on the history of magic.

Soon, a village came into view before the three of them.

Frieren walked straight toward a group of people talking nearby.

An old man wearing a straw hat recognized the white-haired elf and asked:

"Are you Lady Frieren?"

Frieren stopped in front of him and asked in confusion, "How did you know?"

The old man didn't answer. He stood up and said, "You're looking for the place where Qual is sealed, aren't you?"

"I'll show you the way." With that, he led the three of them into the forest.

Frieren followed behind the old man and asked curiously, "How did you know about that?"

"I don't remember telling anyone."

Without breaking stride, the old man said, "Until about thirty years ago,

"Lord Himmel came every year to check on the seal."

"I see. It was that old softie Himmel," Frieren said in realization.

The old man continued, "The hero mentioned you, Lady Frieren.

"He also said it was heartless of you not to come and visit."

"I'm very sorry," Frieren said.

The old man paused, then said, "But Lord Himmel also said

"that you would never stand by and watch the village die."

"Is that so?" No emotion could be heard in Frieren's voice.

They stopped talking and walked quietly through the forest.

It was almost evening by the time the group reached the sealed site.

A huge stone statue stood on the ground. Frieren stepped forward to examine it, then turned back and said:

"The seal is already very unstable.

"Tomorrow, we'll undo the seal and deal with Qual."

The three of them had been traveling all day and needed to rest.

The old man arranged a place for Rienta and the others to stay in the village.

After dinner, Rienta asked Frieren, who was drinking tea:

"Lady Frieren, didn't the history of magic say Lord Himmel defeated the Elder Sage of Corruption?"

Frieren stopped drinking her tea and said:

"No. Qual was strong. We couldn't kill him.

"We could only seal him."

Rienta nodded and asked nothing more.

After finishing his tea, Rienta cleared away the dishes and returned to his room.

He lay on his bed, thinking over a plan to deal with Qual tomorrow.

His projection magic was still a little short of completion.

Whether in "ordinary offensive magic" or "defensive magic," Fern's mastery had already caught up to his.

On top of that, Fern had her absurd mana control and casting speed.

In terms of talent as a mage, she had already completely outclassed Rienta.

"So this is a genius?" Rienta murmured with some feeling.

Frieren would most likely still be the main force against Qual tomorrow.

He and Fern would probably assist her from the side.

Still.

Rienta felt that Frieren should have no trouble soloing the Elder Sage of Corruption.

After all, he had been sealed for nearly eighty years and could no longer keep up with the times.

Besides, Frieren had already mastered the same piercing magic, as well as defensive magic that countered it.

She was most likely doing it to train him and Fern.

Having worked out Frieren's purpose, Rienta slowly drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, in another room.

Frieren looked at Fern somewhat helplessly and said:

"As I thought, I should have read it to you before bed."

She had just talked to Fern about Qual.

But Fern didn't know a thing about him.

Fern curled up on the bed, somewhat embarrassed, and said cautiously:

"Sorry, Lady Frieren. I'll read it now."

Frieren sighed, put away the grimoire in her hand, and said:

"Never mind. Getting a good night's sleep is more important.

"You'll find out when we fight him tomorrow."