Could an elementary school student, with their bare hands, fight and win against a martial arts champion? No. That's a matter of course. But if that elementary school student were holding a pistol—and knew how to use it properly, and had enough distance— If you add these various assumptions, the story changes.
I added them. Dersia cannot use magic of 2-Star or higher and cannot move from her spot. Since she hasn't Fallen, she is, in truth, under even greater restrictions than the conditions above.
If there is a problem, it's that the difference isn't like that between an elementary school student and a martial artist. To be precise, it's more like the difference between a human and a fighter jet.
"A clever person such as yourself would not have been unaware."
Dersia gestured lightly, and the sky collapsed. A wall of wind. If I stood still, I would be crushed to death.
I fired the Thunder Wind I had aimed at Dersia toward the sky, creating a small space for myself. -Kwoong...! Every area except for the narrow spot where I stood was pressed down as if squeezed by a compressor. That didn't mean it was safe.
Before I could even catch my breath, the ground shook. -Kwajik! I quickly pulled back, but my robe was slightly cut. If not for Tide Sense, my body might have been sliced in half.
From within the earth, rocks in the shape of swords shot up, blocking the space where I would have been. In the spot where I threw my body to evade, there was a sharpened spear of wind.
"!"
I forced my body to twist. My training with Brimdal was a great help. As I raised my head, feeling the pain of a sprained back~ "...
Heh."
Front, back, left, and right, within ten centimeters. Swords made of stone were aimed at me. Swords that would stab me through if I moved even a little.
To anyone watching, it was the end of the battle, a one-sided defeat. The time elapsed was twenty seconds. And so it was.
"You were fully aware that you could not expect any other outcome, were you not?"
I glanced around. About thirty crude swords made of stone, were pressing in, preventing me from moving at all. Usually, a situation like this is called defeat.
Dersia was not pleased; she just looked at me as if the natural course of events had occurred.
"Therefore, this is not my victory. It is a sort of contract where we shared appropriate conditions and each obtained what we wanted."
"You are correct."
In her mind, I wasn't aiming for victory. Because in her common sense, the restrictions placed on her were meaningless. A mere 2-Star, a mere lack of movement.
With such things, no matter what the child before her did, he couldn't even reach her. Since I was bound to lose, I had hoped for the conditions of defeat. I hadn't paid much mind to the conditions of victory.
Regardless of how great a risk it carried. Because from the beginning, both my opponent and I were aware that such a thing would not happen.
"Shall we end it soon? Or shall we proceed a little further?"
"However, there is one thing you misunderstand."
"?"
Looking at her as she tilted her head ever so slightly, I quietly declared.
"The me you know now, Lady Dersia, is the me from a few months ago, is it not?"
"That is so."
"I haven't just been playing around all this time, you see."
"Yes. I suppose so?"
Dersia agreed as if I was stating the obvious.
"I understand that you have made an effort. You even became a knight's squire in the meantime. However, I am not sure if that was the right direction."
"Of course, I'm sure you wouldn't have done such a thing without any thought..."
"Would you like to see for yourself?"
"... Next time. We will see, in due time."
"You should see now."
Her brow furrowed slightly. Along with her clenched fist, the stone swords gradually drew closer. It was a silent protest, asking, don't you know what situation you're in?
It also seemed to contain the meaning, stop fooling around and admit your defeat. But—they did not touch my skin.
"...?"
Dersia's face became puzzled, but the swords, though trembling, still did not advance. Only then did her eyes widen as if she had realized something.
"... Oh-ho."
"Are you pleased?"
"Before, if you used water pressure in such a way, you wouldn't have even been able to speak."
"I don't know what method you used, but you have succeeded in reducing the burden."
"Yes."
She marveled as she saw me holding back her magic with water pressure. -She doesn't know. She couldn't find the connection between me becoming a 2-Star and me having reduced the burden. I slowly backed away from their range.
All the while, Dersia tried to keep the swords moving, but. With the output of a 2-Star, I can overcome it. The Star restriction was for this very purpose.
Dersia nodded her head in understanding.
"Indeed... the spells I passed on to you were all ones that could only be used when your water pressure and currents reached a certain level. What trick did you use?"
"I have my own way."
"Lift with strength, I see."
Thump!
Dersia tapped her foot, and sharp stones shot up into the sky.
Very high.
Realizing what was about to happen, I gritted my teeth.
"A simple lack of power can be easily dealt with. Like this."
A rain of swords fell. However, those raindrops pursued me. By the time they entered the range of my Tide Sense, they were already at an unavoidable speed.
It would have been so, for the me that Dersia knew. My range and precision were already on a different level than before.
"Hmm..." -Kwang!
Kwakwang!
While forcing myself to evade the guided swords, I charged a Thunder Wind. Since I was in the middle of escaping, its power wasn't that great, but it was definitely aimed at Dersia's torso. She paid it no mind.
She watched me with curiosity as I evaded the rain of swords with all my might and manifested my magic, then fell into thought.
"Could it be, Jern, you..."
While she stroked her chin, pondering something, the Thunder Wind was aimed precisely. A direct hit. This will definitely land!
"... It can't be, but no, if it isn't that, then I don't understand..."
But the Thunder Wind split into two paths midway. To say it was disassembled would be more accurate. Despite flying at that speed, it was divided and unraveled into wind and power.
The power created wind again, and a strong gale blew around them. Dersia's robe fluttered. And then, she looked at me with a face of disbelief.
"Truly. From the very beginning, were you genuinely thinking of defeating me?"
"Yes."
If the Thunder Wind was blocked, I aim for the next measure. I drew my sword and charged. Seeing my determined gaze, Dersia shook her head as if dumbfounded.
"No, why would you make such a choice... You know me, do you not? These restrictions have no meaning. Because~" "Even right now, I can create any number of spells to kill you with ease... you see!"
"... You know." -Shuk!
Whatever she was muttering, I twisted and threw a shortsword. I aimed for her head, but it lodged in a tree. With a clenched fist, I threw a sincere punch at her face.
Honestly, I really wanted to hit her just once.
"If you know, why are you doing this."
"... Kuh."
My fist stopped, close enough to feel the heat from her skin. It didn't move an inch. It wasn't a problem of output.
It felt as if it were tied down tightly with ropes. It was control nearing perfection. A wind pressure so strong it felt like telekinesis did not allow any further advance.
Dersia didn't even blink. It seemed she hadn't expected this to happen at all. As I struggled to pull my hand back, she murmured quietly.
"This is not a proper battle."
"... It is. Because I am alive right now."
"That's—" "Of course, I know I've been shown mercy. But would you truly kill me, Lady Dersia...?"
"You were counting on that?"
There was no way Dersia would actually kill me. Dersia, who had been looking at me with a slightly dazed face, soon shook her head.
"What do you think about the fact that I can easily incapacitate you without killing you?"
"-Keo, keoheok...!"
The wind pressure began to choke my body. I, too, tried to resist with water pressure or currents, but. It was of little use.
Dersia could perfectly defend her body with just 2-Star magic. If, by some chance, she didn't know about my water pressure or currents, then perhaps I might have had a sliver of a chance. But as long as she knew, she would not tolerate any force being exerted on her.
Dersia was a mage capable of such a thing. As my vision grew dim, I focused all my strength into my fingers.
I know.
The magic-reinforced body I learned is an ability meant for enduring the Deep Sea. Because I am within the Deep Sea. Even if the world struggles to save me, that fact alone does not change.
But now, my world has also broadened. Just a little—in a place not contained by the Deep Sea, I might also be able to grow a magic-reinforced body that can resist the magic of the physical-realm, not the heart-realm. Just like this. -Tok.
"?"
Just once, I extended a finger and lightly touched Dersia's forehead. A gentle flick, without any impact. But it seemed that was something she had not expected.
The wind pressure from the startled woman wavered, and using that opening, I managed to barely pull my body free.
"Keok, keoheok... hyuu."
While I caught my breath, Dersia rubbed her forehead with a blank expression. Her eyes were full of disbelief at what had just happened. It would have been good if she moved in surprise.
As I was feeling it was a pity, suddenly, the debris on the ground began to move on its own. The scale was different from before. Pebbles, leaves, broken roots—all of it swirled.
Isn't this breaking the rules? I grew anxious and asked again.
"Uh, um. Lady Dersia? This is 2-Star, right?"
"—I see. So you have grown."
"Yep."
"Then I, too, must face you a little more seriously."
She's angry.
Her expression is the same as usual, but I can feel the rage boiling beneath her weary smile. Unconsciously, no. I could just tell for sure. From now on, Dersia has no intention of holding back.
That means I can't even use my final resort of inducing carelessness. Even if she was angry, it didn't seem to be directed at me. She nodded her head as if surprised and acknowledged it.
"I will not deny that your growth is astonishing. After all, you laid a hand on me despite these restrictions."
"No, well. It was close to luck."
"It is not luck. I made no error, which means you resisted the magic, and that in turn means you have learned the knight's magic-reinforced body."
"I was worried you had been wasting your time learning the sword, but..." -Hwiiing!
A great typhoon mixed with all the debris raged around Dersia. It would not take even a few seconds for this to grow into a storm where even the leaves become blades.
"You have advanced to 2-Star, learned high-level magic, reduced the burden, and trained your magic-reinforced body."
"Excellent. It surely means you have advanced diligently even in my absence..."
"Ah, yes. Of course, it would have been impossible without your teachings, Lady Dersia."
"—This is what you wanted to show me."
When I shut my mouth firmly, Dersia, with a look of approval, continued.
"I have grown. Even without using such a method, I can advance sufficiently on my own. Is that not what you wish to say?"
"Perhaps."
She hit the mark. I replied with a bitter smile.
"I know that I am still far from enough. Even if I have advanced, it is but one step, and the mountain I must cross is enormous."
"I also understand that you are trying to create a much easier shortcut to save me, Lady Dersia."
"Perhaps one day, my mind will change. I might become the kind of person who clings to anything, be it another person or whatever, just to live, and make it my goal to survive by entering the Red Lotus or anywhere else."
"Then—" "Not yet."
I looked up at Dersia with my fists clenched tightly. There was still a height difference between the two of us.
"Not yet. It's not yet to the point where I must resort to such means."
"I think I can manage."
Even if my body freezes, is crushed to death, and monsters that seek to kill me lie in wait no matter where in the world I hide. I am different from the me of one year ago, who knew nothing. I may not know if it is the right path, but I am moving forward.
"... Is that so."
Dersia nodded her head slightly, as if she understood. But her magic did not stop. The expression on her face after she closed her eyes for a few seconds and opened them again was close to resolution.
"In that case, prove it."
"I understand that you have grown beyond my expectations in my absence. But having my expectations shattered is something that has always happened."
"What must I do for you to believe me?"
"Show me a result that surpasses not just expectation, but imagination."
"... Are you serious?"
"I understand what it is you wish to say. I understand. However, that would be to break my will."
"It's not as grand as a will..."
"You must show me."
I relaxed my shoulders and let out a sigh. It was hopeless. I had already used every means at my disposal.
In a few more seconds, my body would be torn to shreds. The storm, which had paused during our conversation, began to vibrate again. I sighed and muttered.
"There are two things I have to say."
"What are they?"
"First, I have not yet been defeated."
I ignored Dersia's gaze, which seemed to say, Still saying such things? and continued.
"Last time, that thing approached first. For one second, or even less. I don't know if it will be the same this time, but it's worth a try."
"...?"
"Now, you see. I think I can endure for much longer. I have a premonition. I think it will probably be similar this time as well."
"... I do not know what you are talking about."
Looking at the puzzled Dersia, I steeled my resolve. Last time, I saw a flame. But, now, such a process is not necessary.
Because I have realized what kind of place this is.
"It is nothing much. I just thought you should know. What it means to be standing in the same space as me."
It is cold, dark, narrow, and heavy. In a word. Watching her eyes gradually widen, I proclaimed.
"Right now, you are inside my heart-realm."