[EN] Episode 3 - Berett Piashtone

The research progressed day by day.
I decided to finally tackle the part where I had been using a slightly modified version of the mana concentrator my father had made for his staff.


The problem was that the mana concentrator was one of the most advanced pieces of Magitech equipment, something that couldn't even be attempted with ordinary Magitech knowledge.


Grandfather had left behind numerous blueprints in the research materials for an ultra-lightweight mana concentrator, designed to be extremely small for easy use with the Beret Staff.


“Guhhhhh...”
But the research on the concentrator proved difficult.
Even after months of work, there were no noticeable results.


The slightest mistake in the manufacturing process would render it useless or cause it to explode spectacularly the moment it was activated.
After experiencing several dangerous situations, he even began to worry whether it was safe to continue this research alone.


As he browsed the academy's library stacks, searching for helpful research books, his usual companions quietly approached him.


“Hey! Half-penny!”
“......”
“Hey! Ignoring us?”
“I'm a bit busy right now. Can't we talk later?”
“Huh?”


They were stunned.
The usually docile guy was suddenly ignoring them?
Kicking a nearby chair for no reason, they started picking a fight.
“Hey. Do I look like a pushover to you? Get over here and sit down right now.”
“...I can't help it. It's something the professor asked me to do. We'll talk later.”
“......”


When Wingester tried to skillfully pass the buck to the professor, they hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave, only to pause abruptly.


“Wait a minute. Which professor are you talking about?”
“……!”
Wingester's spine felt chilled.
He thought they'd just let it slide, but those guys...
“...Professor Koch. You know who I mean.”
“Ugh.”


Though generally easygoing, Professor Koch had a strict side that showed no mercy when he deemed something wrong. At the mention of his name, the children's expressions twisted as if they'd bitten into something bitter.


“Hmph. We'll see you later. You.”
“…….”
Wingester chuckled inwardly and began flipping through the books again.
His body was covered in various defensive magical devices, crafted through years of research.


If that gang had kept pushing, he'd have been ready to test them out.
Their surprisingly quick surrender was probably a good thing for them, though.
“Huh...”


Swish.


After a long while, he finally found the book he wanted and pulled it out.
The cover of the slightly worn, thick book, seemingly unread for ages, bore the title ‘The Origin and Structure of Focusing Devices’ engraved in neat, elegant lettering.
“…….”


Wingester settled into his seat and began reading, so engrossed in the book he didn't even hear the dismissal bell ring.


Clatter.


“Hey! What are you doing over there!?”
“…….”
“Hey!!”
The gang waiting at the school gate had finally grown tired of waiting and returned.


Convinced Wingester had lied, they stormed over, faces flushed with rage, and kicked the table he sat at violently.


Wingester, interrupted from his deep concentration, his expression hardened.
“Oh? Looks like you need another lesson, huh? Right?”
“...That's enough.”
“That much... What?! You little brat!”


Finally, the leader of the angry mob grabbed Wingester's collar.
“Come with us. We've got a good place to teach you a lesson.”
“...I actually need to be heading home now.”
“...Seriously!”


Wingester's eyes turned cold as he sensed the other was about to cast a spell.
“You'd better stop. Casting spells on the street? You haven't forgotten the basics of being a mage, have you?”
“Ha! Against a half-wit like you, such basics...!”


“…….”
Wingester closed his eyes tightly, unwilling to witness what was about to unfold.
Thinking he was scared, the boy raised his fist, ready to strike the magic directly. In that instant, Wingester activated the bracelet-shaped defensive device on his wrist.


Whoosh-.


It was a dangerous magical device that, when activated, interfered with and distorted magical maneuvers within a radius of several meters, inflicting damage on the caster.


Its drawback was the need to get close to the opposing mage, and since the user was also within range, they couldn't perform magical maneuvers themselves.
Furthermore, if the spell being used was 6th circle or higher, it only suppressed the incantation, slowing the casting speed. This made it a device long abandoned among mages.


However, it would be perfectly effective against the low-level students of the academy. Wingester had recognized this and, finding the blueprints in an old book, had crafted it long ago.


“Gah!?”
Watching his opponent stagger and bleed from the nose due to the shock of the mana backflow, Wingester felt a quiet relief.
Had the spell been even slightly higher level, the shock of the mana backflow would have been stronger, potentially causing shock.


“...I suppose I can leave now?”
“Cough! You...!”
The opponent, now coughing up a little blood, tried to say something in panic, but it was drowned out by their coughing.


“It's best you don't come near me anymore. Half my magical artifacts were made specifically to kill mages.”
“......!”
“Well then.”


Leaving the children behind, Wingester gathered his books and left the academy.
He had no intention of enduring discrimination from such greenhorns any longer.


Grandfather had clearly researched magical tools for Wingester and others with low magical aptitude.
As his grandson, it was unacceptable for him to continue bowing to such discrimination.


The next day, he was summoned to the student council room.
He was interrogated about using a dangerous magic tool.
But Wingester responded with a sly, knowing smile.
“How could a lowly student like me possibly create or obtain such a high-level magic tool?”


“The student who was harmed by you…!”
“They'll fabricate it as always. You all know those kids are always picking on me.”
“……!”
“Well then, I'll be going.”


He heard voices calling after him, but he didn't need to listen.
There was little reason left for him to stay at the academy.
He had gained most of what he sought and learned most of what he needed to learn.


For someone lacking the typical talent of a mage, the upper-level curriculum focused on advanced magic was meaningless.
What mattered to Wingester was completing his grandfather's legacy as soon as possible.
“The book I need to find today...”


As Wingester headed to the library as usual to work on developing his Barrett Staff, an unpleasant sight caught his eye.
Several female students who appeared to be upperclassmen, similar to Wingester, had cornered another girl who seemed a year or two younger against a wall and were bullying her.


Such discrimination and bullying ran rampant beneath the surface of this academy—no, this entire kingdom.
Wingester gritted his teeth as he passed them by.




He managed to obtain several specialized texts through Professor Koch.
They detailed simplified magic formulas designed for combat mages, capable of compressing existing complex magic formulas to an astonishing degree.


Satisfied after devouring them, he began full-scale development of an ultra-lightweight mana concentrator for the Barrett Staff.


He planned to utilize the knowledge from the simplified magic formula books to the fullest, designing a rod-shaped concentrator roughly the thickness of Wingester's wrist, to be sleekly mounted on the Barrett Staff.


One day after becoming a third-year.
While walking down the hallway to ask the Magitech professor about the magic circuit, he spotted the back of the same girl being dragged behind the old building.


Compared to last time, two more girls had joined in harassing her. Five girls now held her by both sides, practically dragging her along.
The problem was that a male student was following right behind them.
“……!”


Wingester's teeth ground together as he stopped in his tracks.
A problem between female students wasn't something Wingester could handle.
But this was clearly not a situation he could just let pass.
“Those bastards…!”


He immediately strode purposefully down the path they had taken.
A male student following them could never mean anything good.
He quickened his pace toward the spot, and sure enough, the scene he feared was unfolding before him.


“Come on! Take it off faster!”
“Hey, hey, be gentle. She's about to cry, you know?”
“Who cares? You're just some inferior species!”
Wingester, gritting his teeth, checked his magic tools and quickly approached them.


“...That's enough. Indecent acts in broad daylight? Are you trying to tarnish your fine family's honor?”
“What?!”
“Who's there?!”
Startled by Wingester's sneer, the group thought perhaps a professor had arrived. Spotting him, they chuckled.


“What is it? An inferior species male. Why? You wanna join in too?”
“Hey, hey, that's a bit much. That girl today...”


He punched the male student who stepped forward to block him in the stomach.
The shockwave from the enchanted ring struck his abdomen mercilessly, sending him flying up to the second floor before crashing flat onto the floor.


“You, you! You're that arrogant inferior species from the rumors?!”
“Step back if you don't want to get hurt.”
“Hmph! You can't even cast a proper spell...!”
He strode up to her as she tried to cast something, grabbed her by the collar, and activated the magic device on his wrist.


Whoosh-.


“This will roast you... Ugh?!”
She collapsed, blood pouring from her eyes and nose, likely from attempting a powerful spell.
Seeing her collapse, vomiting blood from mana backflow, the other girls tensed sharply.


“This is your final warning. Take the injured girls and back off. And don't you dare touch me or that girl again.”
“Who do you think you are...!”
“Feel free to complain about me to the student council or professors. In that case, I'll also report what you tried to do today to the entire academy—or even the newspaper.”
“……!”


Utterly cowed by Wingester's unexpectedly hardline stance and sneer, they hastily gathered the injured students and fled.


Wingester, watching them with an air of contempt, approached the female student cowering and trembling in the corner.
“Are you okay?”
“…….”


Startled by her trembling like a small bird, he cautiously reached out a hand and helped her up.
“Anywhere hurt…?”
“N-no….”
“...That's a relief. From now on...”


Wingester paused, then snapped his fingers as if remembering something. He removed the magic device from his wrist and handed it to her.


“This.”
“Huh…?”
“This magic tool activates when you twist this split part slightly.”
“Oh….”
“The effect is what you just saw. It distorts all mana within a two-meter radius, making anyone trying to cast magic vomit it up.”
“……!”


The girl stared fearfully at the pool of blood left on the floor.


“So, if those kids try to bully you again, lure them into using magic, activate this, and stick to them.”
“…….”
“Alright.”


Seeing she didn't appear to be in significant pain, Wingester immediately turned to leave.
This was all he could do for her.


“Wait, just a moment!”
“…….”


Wingester paused at her call and turned back.


“Y-your name! Please tell me your name!”
“……Ah.”


Wingester scratched the back of his head awkwardly, seeming to hesitate. She spoke first.


“I'm Berett! Berett Piashtone!”
“…Wingester. Wingester Mustang.”


-To be continued-