Konbini Ossan Volume 16 Chapter 3 — The Court Mage Corps
The first to respond to the General Douki that appeared were the Court Mage Corps led by Shuri-kun.
They moved to destroy the three Douki Generals that had made it through the rain of artillery and bombardment.
“Alriiight, everyone, fire away~!”
At Shuri-kun’s signal, the Court Mage Corps activated the magic they had prepared.
It was a powerful debuff spell Shuri-kun had discovered while researching enchantment magic optimization together with me.
Put simply, it was magic that hindered actions by applying something akin to a skill that imposed disadvantageous effects upon the target.
With cutting-edge technology drastically reducing the cost of enchantment magic, and with the required mana now able to be supplied externally, it had become feasible.
Unlike ordinary debuffs, resistance through skills or magic was ineffective. The only way to avoid it was to actively emit mana powerful enough to outright repel the enchantment itself.
The moment the three Douki Generals were struck by that magic, their movements immediately worsened.
“Hmm, hmm. If enchantment magic can actually slow them down, then maybe they really are more like magical lifeforms than attack magic, something like intangible homunculi?”
While musing like that, Shuri-kun swiftly drew a magic circle in midair.
It was a state-of-the-art magical 3D pen, a masterpiece whose writing feel and even line precision could be adjusted. Equipment developed exclusively for Shuri-kun.
“In that case, they should be weak to something like this, right~?”
Grinning, Shuri-kun activated an improvised spell.
At once, the bodies of the Douki Generals unraveled as though threads were coming undone, collapsing and vanishing.
“Yup, yup. Looks like separating the mana needed to maintain their existence does the trick.”
Apparently pleased that his hypothesis had been correct, Shuri-kun nodded repeatedly.
“See? Now we know Douki Generals can be beaten, so make sure you pin down the next ones properly too~!”
As Shuri-kun said that, two more Douki Generals approached from the direction he pointed.
To hold them in place, the Court Mage Corps once again activated their debuff enchantment magic.
“Well, even if I say we can beat them, the cost on our side is pretty huge, and I have to carefully unravel their mana, so we still need them immobilized. Not exactly a practical strategy, though~”
Sounding somewhat regretful, he cast the spell once more.
Just like before, the Douki General vanished.
From a distant location, I monitored the battle situation through footage from aerial drone cameras.
One of those feeds was the very scene I had just been watching, the Court Mage Corps led by Shuri-kun defeating the Douki General.
“A-amazing... to think they can defeat Douki this easily...”
Kanehama, who was watching the footage with me, let out a stunned voice.
Only the Mediterranean assault team was here.
Myself, the three members of the Hero Party led by Kanehama, Marceline, Yairo, and Vladgaria, making a total of seven.
We were on standby, monitoring the battlefield so we could move immediately once the route to the Mediterranean was opened.
“Against endlessly spawning Douki, they’re only barely managing to repel them by immobilizing them while even using external mana tanks. Looking only at the result makes it seem easy, but reality is different.”
“I... see.”
The hope that Kanehama had glimpsed, that perhaps Douki could be easily defeated, faded as he lowered his head.
Unfortunately, with Shuri-kun’s method, they could only defeat individual Douki. It could not be said to be a viable way to repel all of them.
More importantly, that magic circle was something Shuri-kun had adjusted and drawn on the spot through improvisation.
To generalize it and refine it into magic anyone could use anywhere would require enormous time and trial and error.
Even with «Calculator», it likely could not be improved that quickly.
“However, the fact that they can be repelled is a favorable sign. If things continue smoothly, a path for us to enter the Mediterranean will absolutely open.”
When I said that, Kanehama seemed to regain his resolve and nodded.
“Understood. When that time comes, we’ll definitely end this battle ourselves.”
“Yes. I’m counting on you, Kanehama-kun.”
After exchanging those words, we once more turned our eyes toward the footage being sent by the drones.
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E/N:
Shuri-kun wasn't a Sage for nothing! What a strange existence these Douki are…
Stay tuned!
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