Chapter 328

“…….”

Leo, who was staring with his mouth slightly open, scoffed. Then he knelt on one knee in front of me, cast Sound Insulation Magic, and said.

“Congratulations, Lukas. Just like you.”

“You’re not mad, right?”

At my words thrown half-jokingly, he smiled faintly and retorted in a serious tone.

“Shouldn’t you be a bit more happy instead?”

“I….”

“You’re not.”

Just as I was about to answer that I was happy, I realized on what basis Leo said that. While my gaze was directed toward Leo’s heart, he gestured with his eyes at my clean earlobe without an artifact and continued.

“Asking if I’m mad. If you were connected too, you would know how happy I am right now.”

I looked up at him, forgetting what to say. Perhaps knowing well that this appearance couldn’t be shown by the Mimesis camera, the corners of his mouth were raised under the backlight. Leo placed his hand on my back.

“…!”

Leo’s Magic Power pushed into my body. I clenched my teeth at the pain and reflexively turned my head, but the Magic Power continued to flow in without consideration. I should feel it as an attack, and even though it was indeed an attack, I couldn’t spit out any words.

“…….”

It feels like that Magic Power finally entered where it should be. funny enough, the Magic Power of my core harmonized with Leo’s Magic Power that came in to attack me without even minimal self-defense.

The movement of Magic Power resembles a heartbeat. Leo’s Magic Power, which stayed in the core for a moment and disappeared, was pulsating rapidly. The fact that his emotions were truly heightened even after accepting the result of defeat left me even more speechless.

“It should be this much to be joy.”

“…….”

Just how did my Magic Power beat in Leo’s core?

He gave a soft nod as a goodbye, got up as if nothing happened, and walked out alone. I took a deep breath, organized my disturbed Magic Power, frowned, and looked at him. It didn’t take long to sense something strange.

“Hey!”

You should take me too! I shouted while turning my head as much as possible, but he didn’t look back.

No, this bastard…. I have to return too, so what are you doing leaving me here? After breaking the communication artifact too…!

Is acknowledging the result cleanly separate from wanting to screw me over? That cheerful pulsation might not be from excitement but annoyance. Makes sense.

Around the time all sorts of thoughts crossed my mind, the scenery in front of my eyes changed.

“…….”

I was pressing my face against the cold marble floor. The thing pressing down on my body disappeared, making breathing freer.

Someone’s boots enter my vision. Mecklenburg, who was here first, was looking at me like I was a crazy person, then suddenly snapped out of it, smiled, and offered his hand.

“…You came first. Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

I was worried since the tests continued consecutively, but fortunately, it’s a system that moves us automatically. It seemed to be a waiting room made inside Mimesis.

However, it wasn’t completely kind. Seeing that my hat and communication artifact Leo blew away didn’t return, it seems we move on to the 2nd round maintaining the state as is if lost. The jacket torn by an attack wasn’t restored either, and blood is still flowing from my arm. Not taking big damage in battle is also a strategic ability, huh. I took out a spare communication artifact from my clutch and readjusted the Magic Power of my whole body to flow smoothly again. Mecklenburg sat with his arms crossed and watched me doing that.

“Are you okay?”

“…….”

While putting the artifact on the outside of my ear, he pointed at my wrist. I pulled down my glove as much as possible and answered.

“No. I am not okay.”

Mecklenburg showed a subtle smile, perhaps finding my 100% sincere speech pattern unsatisfactory—if I speak like Adrian Askanian, he would dislike that too, wouldn’t he?—and continued.

“It’s a pity, it would be good if I could bring you medicine or something. Good work.”

“Thank you. We won thanks to Senior calculating quickly.”

At my lightly thrown words, Mecklenburg showed a smile out of courtesy. Strangely, the corners of his mouth were artificial. I could easily feel that his mood wasn’t very good. After all, he must know it wasn’t his credit.

Still, putting everything else aside since we are in a test and judging only ability, Mecklenburg’s choice of warp coordinates was excellent. Even though I set the area in a large chunk, choosing the order to warp within that area was entirely Mecklenburg’s choice.

Rather than that, seeing him have the leeway to pretend to be nice since earlier, he completely returned to his usual self. Doesn’t matter. If he had won by his own merit in the first round, by now he would be strutting around with gained confidence instead of just smiling silently.

So, in terms of recovering the initiative, the upcoming 2nd round is effectively the 1st round for him.

Listening to the test start countdown, Mecklenburg said in a low voice.

“You said you were glad to be with me.”

“Yes.”

“I am also enjoying being with Mr. Askanian. It reminds me of old times too.”

Words he doesn’t mean.

Saying ‘I am overlapping your older brother on you’ so openly like this? Telling me to be nervous too. Even though I don’t respect Adrian Askanian. Whatever he says has no impact at all, so I laughed and shrugged my shoulders.

“I thought you were looking at me now?”

“Please take care of me in the 2nd round too.”

I lightly grabbed the hand he offered. 2nd round. In the 2nd round….

‘…Whew.’

It would be best not to meet Leo somehow. Since Mimesis didn’t turn off, the parts strangled by plants are still numb. It would be fine if it was just that, but the sensation of plants moving and crawling on me still remains vivid, so it feels like plants are alive and wriggling somewhere even now.

‘…Plants shouldn’t actually move like they have a brain.’

Although they move as Leo’s brain directs, seeing it is one thing, but that climbing on my body was something I couldn’t adapt to no matter when I experienced it. Maybe if I went to a place where plant density is a bit less even if enduring it, but a park is the worst. I might really die buried in plants.

[…3, 2, 1.]

BEEP—

Along with the notification sound, the scenery changed. It was indoors just until a moment ago but now it was outside, and we were on top of a wider observation deck than before. Wind hit my face from the side and passed. I just let my hair fly freely. I didn’t even like the pomade I did unavoidably to match regulations.

Mecklenburg opened his mouth first.

“It has started. This time….”

“It seems the practical goal is to deal with the opponent.”

Checking the composition of the materials placed on the desk, I cut him off and looked at the map. Unlike the test earlier which covered parts of Berlin and Brandenburg, a map the size of a district was given here, and there were no contamination status tables or newspaper articles. Essentially telling us to fight to stop the opponent.

Behind me, three Mages wearing Guard Corps uniforms are lined up. All are fakes modeled after real people. I glanced behind and said.

“Together with the assistant Mages I see for the first time.”

It seems they made the 1st round more difficult than the 2nd round rather. Didn’t we confront each other even using strategies to deceive each other after finding the answer anyway in the Berlin-sized test site?

More than that, the problem now lies elsewhere. I swept my face thinking of the opposing base that would be somewhere far away.

‘…Damn it….’

Telling us to fight head-on.

It looks like I’ll be marked by Leo this time too. Not just at the level of being marked, but the declaration to rest in a grass field might be realized in a different way. Even mountains and fields were spread out before my eyes.

Making variables repeatedly like this, I feel the will to pick the guy strongest in strategy as the commander.

This time, Mecklenburg’s expression was also subtle. He must be recalling me commanding the 98th Class Team A, whom I was a complete stranger to, without trouble.

‘First, I have to think of the worst possible world where I get caught by Leo.’

If I get strangled more here, I might really become unable to use my hands. In that situation, the only thing I can do is chatter with my mouth.

‘Can’t that ability copy manifest again?’

I looked down below the observation deck and wiggled my fingers. Naturally, as it has been until now, there was no movement in the grass. It was clear that Leo’s unique ability used in the Extra Chapter could only be used inside the Extra Chapter. Even if I could use it, I absolutely cannot use it openly so… I won’t feel regret for now. I looked down at the map consisting entirely of forests and mountains like the first strategy game I played with Erich Reichenau and said.

“Senior. This time, Senior and I must move together. The three here, please also group together and move. The important thing is that no one should move alone.”

***

Move together. You and me?

Mecklenburg looked at Askanian expressionlessly. Askanian tapped his shirt sleeves and continued speaking.

“As you have seen, Sir Leonard Wittelsbach can utilize his unique ability as a lethal weapon. He will attack us as soon as the test starts.”

Lethal weapon, huh.

Although I had the thought to strive to take the initiative, I needed to share information since we are team members for now. Earlier, Askanian’s wrist had turned dark red from whatever strangled it. Guessing, it must be the result of Wittelsbach trying to block Askanian’s Magic Power. In a situation where we have to run in nature like now, he was an opponent we needed to be sufficiently careful of.

“Thinking a bit deeper like in the 1st round, it is sufficiently possible that he sees through this expectation of ours, gives us a little peaceful time after starting, and raids us around the middle. However, paradoxically, because of this possibility, since we will try not to lower our guard throughout the test, there is a high possibility that Wittelsbach’s choice is set to the option of ‘attack immediately after starting’.”

Obvious words. However, ‘how far should we allow the expectation of expectation’, this is always a dilemma for us, so I could understand. Since the opponent’s level is similar to ours, they will also think naturally enough up to the stage we think. Wasn’t the 1st round test also set in a way that defied expectations repeatedly? But eventually, if you keep flipping it, it’s back to square one. Askanian’s explanation is correct, so first, we can move past this point.

Rather than that, Mecklenburg had no intention of letting Askanian keep talking. As soon as Askanian’s words ended, Mecklenburg immediately picked up the baton and opened his mouth.

“I know. Let’s start with situation analysis. The opponent will try to occupy the river first. To speak precisely, they will block us from approaching the river.”

“They would. Since it came up, I want to ask, how far can you use your unique ability, Senior? I mean the control range.”

At those words, Mecklenburg thrust his Wand forward and pulled it back sharply.

“…!”

Askanian’s expression, which was impassive, distorted for a moment. He opened his mouth with flustered eyes and grabbed his left hand tightly.

“That should be an explanation.”

“…….”

It must have felt like his hand would burst as blood suddenly rushed to it. Askanian massaged his hand with a pale face and scoffed.

“I covet that ability.”

“Naturally, but it is difficult to use on a moving person. It was easily possible because you were standing still in front of my eyes just now.”

“You are humble.”

“…….”

Words thrown one by one scratch my nerves. They are words he doesn’t necessarily have to say, so does he say them to annoy me on purpose? If I ask, it seems he would open his eyes round and ask when he did that, so Mecklenburg tried to say something but held back.

“Now, first, the fact that we have to run and knock on this entire area ourselves does not change. Warp coordinates aren’t even given… I thought about borrowing the power of unique abilities, but the three here don’t have unique abilities either.”

Mecklenburg said while flipping the paper with their personal information written on it. There were mountains and a river in the center of the map, forests and wetlands around them, and each base was at the ends of the map. There was even a cave halfway up the mountain.

“First, since we can be ambushed during the search, it is better to enter the forest later. However, since Sir Wittelsbach aiming for that point might enter the forest first, someone among us must watch Sir Wittelsbach’s movements.”

“Senior, do you use magic well in water too?”

“I want to say I am better than other Mages.”

Mecklenburg retorted briefly and said.

“Entering the trickiest mountain first would be the priority, but Sir Wittelsbach is the problem here too. Therefore, we will not wait for Sir Wittelsbach to come attack us, but go to attack Sir Wittelsbach. The problem at this time is that whether he comes to attack us or we go to attack him, anyway, we have to deal with grass in this nature.”

So what should we do. He waited, but Askanian did not interrupt. Seems he doesn’t have anything particular in mind. Or his thought is the same as mine. Mecklenburg tried to smile but suppressed his expression and spoke.

“Since the opponent has an advantage in this field, the probability is high that they won’t refuse combat. Therefore, we will lure Sir Wittelsbach to the riverside. Since both sides will judge the difficulty of each location similarly, there is no problem with luring. Pretending to aim for the mountain and luring Sir Wittelsbach to the river when he approaches is the first action we must take.”

“Are you finished speaking?”

“…….”

Are you finished, he asks.

Mecklenburg narrowed his brows slightly. Askanian laughed as if pondering what to do, then opened his mouth in a low voice.

“Senior.”

“…….”

“You are very standard.”

***

BANG—!

“You are doing well.”

Mecklenburg looked at me following while holding his arm with a rotten expression. The floor is entirely a sea of water. This field was no longer a field. At this level, it’s a wetland. Well, because we flooded this place with Mecklenburg’s unique ability. Even now, we are dragging water from the river and continuously pouring it on this vast field. We lure Leonard? In a situation with no time, for what?

Rather than that, hindering Leonard’s movement is reasonable. The field where Leo is now must have also turned entirely like this. Indeed. Everywhere except the mountain is a sea of water.

Mecklenburg gritted his teeth and said.

“Don’t hold my arm and unfold a curtain on the floor.”

“If I do that, wouldn’t the situation become the same as the Wittelsbach side.”

Unfolding a curtain, good.

However, that’s not the end. Blocking enemy attacks while maintaining a curtain is difficult. What if the curtain breaks by mistake and we fall below this? No need to even think about how difficult it is to run in a mud field.

On the other hand, Mecklenburg had the ability to run while evaporating only this narrow width of water we are running on. Shouldn’t we utilize this ability properly?

So, I was checking if there was a Pleroma portal in this area while running following behind him….

“…Good. Up to here, at this level, it is good to see that we are a bit ahead.”

Mecklenburg, who stopped in front of the mountain, said in a subsided voice. Seems his mood became bad again having lost the damn initiative this time too.

Anyway, we already examined 2/3 of the fields on the map. Now it was time for the next instruction. Moving to where the three Mages sent to the mountain first are is also a good option, but my thought was a bit different.

“Senior.”

“Speak.”

Mecklenburg said in a voice not different from earlier. I looked around and opened my mouth. No, I intended to.

ROAAAAR—!!

“…?!”

At the roar shaking my whole body, I reflexively covered my ears.

‘…What…?’

What I saw after opening my eyes a moment later was an unexpected sight. The world turned black as if blocking all light. I couldn’t distinguish between beneath my feet and the sky. I frowned and looked around.

“Senior.”

There was no answer.

Mimesis turned off. What does it mean that the world made virtually disappeared from sight?

Mimesis turning off is theoretically possible. If Mimesis turns off, we will open our eyes in the Mimesis-exclusive stadium expanded to thousands of pyeong with Space Magic, and since that stadium is connected to each waiting room, we can follow that path and return to where other Mages are.

But….

Mimesis turned off, but why can’t I see anything? Why didn’t I open my eyes in the stadium? Articles I read in the past week rummaged through my mind. So, is Mimesis turning off everything?

“Senior.”

I called again, but there was no answer returning. Only familiar darkness. I couldn’t know what I was stepping on anymore. The vast darkness where I can’t know where is the floor and where is the sky, the endlessly unfolding void, I….

“…….”

It felt like the sound of my breathing was heard in my ears. Breath rose to the tip of my chin.

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