Chapter 105

Episode 105. Interlude – Brain God

A translucent sphere tore through a wall of lightning and shot forward.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

Boom!

Rios’s body, hit by the Magic Power Orb, floated into the air and slammed violently against the wall.

Screeeech!

[Warning.]

[The shock mitigation barrier has malfunctioned. Please halt the duel.]

With the alarm, red lights flashed inside the Training Grounds.

“Ugh, ughhhhhh!”

Rios, collapsed on the floor, writhed like a worm, vomiting.

“…Ah.”

Berald looked at the fallen Rios with a bewildered expression.

He had only used the ‘Martial Arts’ he learned from Dale, thinking he needed to shoot the Magic Power Orb as hard as possible, but the result far exceeded his expectations.

“Huh.”

It wasn’t just Berald who was surprised.

Even I, who was watching the duel, couldn’t help but gasp at Berald’s strike.

‘It wasn’t just a simple hard hit with the Magic Power Orb.’

True to Berald Martial Arts, which requires harmony with magic to reach the ‘extreme,’ a strange phenomenon occurred the moment the Magic Power Orb and Berald’s fist connected.

‘The Magic Power Orb was enveloped in aura.’

Of course, it’s a given.

Aura, which primarily draws power from the ‘inner realm,’ couldn’t be wrapped around magic that releases power from the ‘outer realm.’

‘But Berald succeeded in wrapping aura around magic.’

Recalling Berald’s strike, I clenched my fist.

Outer realm and inner realm.

Magic and martial arts.

A martial art that combines two completely unrelated domains.

‘So this was the path you wanted to take, Berald.’

The idea of wrapping aura around magic was something I had never thought of before.

‘If you can wrap aura around magic…’

Feeling a thirst that tickled my throat, I ignited a small ‘Ash Fire.’

‘It means Ash Fire can also be used by wrapping it around magic.’

The moment I realized that.

A thrilling shiver ran down my spine.

A feeling similar to when Yurina told me my swordsmanship was ‘inefficient.’

A lightning-like realization struck my head.

“…Ha.”

Just like with Yurina.

‘Are you still trying to guide me?’

I thought in this life, I would only guide them.

But before I knew it, they were standing in front of me, reaching out their hands.

This path.

There’s a new landscape here that you haven’t seen.

“Huh.”

Suppressing the shiver that heated my entire body, I turned my head toward Berald and Rios.

Thinking about the new realization could wait.

Now was the time to focus on their duel.

‘Well, the result seems already decided.’

I looked at Rios, who was lying on the Training Grounds floor, vomiting.

“Huff, huff, huff!”

After vomiting profusely, Rios exhaled roughly and struggled to get up.

“You, this bastard… Ugh!”

Rios, glaring at Berald with fierce eyes, collapsed onto his own vomit as his legs gave out.

“Are you okay?”

“Shut, up…!”

Rios, with a face twisted in shame, bit his lip.

The pain felt like his entire insides were twisting, making it impossible to even get up.

“I… I lost to that lunatic bastard…”

Rios trembled slightly, as if he couldn’t believe his own defeat.

Berald approached Rios and asked.

“I trust you’ll keep your promise.”

“Promise…? Ha, what nonsense are you spouting?”

Rios gritted his teeth and raised his head.

“I clearly told you to beat me with ‘magic’!”

“So I didn’t use magic?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! How is that magic?”

A magic that slams a Magic Power Orb with a fist and launches it like a cannonball.

He had never heard of such a thing anywhere on the continent.

“I can’t accept that as magic!”

“…Senior.”

Just as Berald’s expression began to harden.

“Enough.”

A man entered the Training Grounds with a low voice.

Hair half black and half blue.

Eyes that exuded experience despite his youthful appearance.

The current principal of Reynaldo Hero School and the hero ranked 3rd in the Three Kingdoms Hero Ranking.

‘Brain God’ Raonel Liu.

“Ha, how did you get here, old man…?”

Rios opened his eyes wide as if he had seen a ghost.

Raonel, walking slowly to the center of the Training Grounds, channeled magic into the Hero Watch on his wrist.

“Berald sent me this picture.”

A screen floating in the air showed Rios and Berald fighting.

“W-when did you…!”

“…No way.”

Berald’s gaze turned toward me.

I shrugged my shoulders, shaking the Hero Watch Berald had given me before entering the Training Grounds.

“So… what were you two doing here?”

The Brain God’s cold gaze turned toward Rios.

“Ha, old man, that’s…”

“I distinctly remember telling you two to get along.”

“D-duel! We were having a duel! To teach Berald some magic…”

Rios pointed at Berald and shouted.

“Hoh. A duel, you say.”

Raonel narrowed his eyes and scanned the Training Grounds.

Traces of battle scattered throughout.

For such traces to remain in the Training Grounds, which had a shock mitigation barrier, they must have used quite powerful magic.

Magic that could easily lead to serious injury.

“From what this old man sees, there was no intention of teaching magic…”

“T-that’s…”

“Or are my old eyes deceiving me?”

“……”

Rios avoided eye contact, sweating profusely.

“Berald.”

“Y-yes, Grandfather!”

Berald stood at attention with a stiff expression.

Raonel frowned as he looked at Berald.

“Grandfather? Didn’t I tell you to call me ‘old man’ comfortably?”

“T-that… but…”

“Even if you’re from a branch family, don’t forget we’re both members of the ‘Liu’ family.”

“Ah, understood, Grand… old man.”

A faint smile appeared on Raonel’s lips.

“So… when are you going to tell me what happened between you two?”

“That’s…”

Berald and Rios exchanged glances.

Rios, pale-faced, signaled Berald with his eyes, ‘Don’t say anything.’

“May I explain instead?”

“You are…”

“Third-year Warrior Department Candidate Dale Han. I’m close with Berald as seniors and juniors.”

“Ah, you’re the candidate Professor Elisha mentioned.”

Huh?

“Professor Elisha talked about me?”

“Hohoho. She said you’ve already made a name for yourself, so don’t overstep.”

“What.”

What on earth is that woman saying to the school principal?

“Anyway… did you send the picture?”

Principal Raonel glanced at the Hero Watch in my hand.

“Yes.”

“Can you tell me what happened?”

I nodded and explained the events to Principal Raonel.

“Sigh… cutting off the support funds for the branch family.”

Principal Raonel sighed and frowned.

“Rios.”

“Y-yes!”

“Since when did you have the authority to decide whether to give or cut off support funds?”

“T-that’s… well…”

“The support funds for the branch family are money I specifically allocated. You decided to cut it off on your own?”

“N-no, it’s a misunderstanding!”

Rios, pale-faced, continued.

“I just… wanted to scare him a bit… for educational purposes…”

“Education? Education?”

Principal Raonel chuckled.

“What could Berald possibly learn from a fool like you?”

“……”

“Pathetic.”

Principal Raonel glared and continued.

“Didn’t I repeatedly say it’s not about how fast you go, but about not stopping?”

“…That’s…”

Rios seemed to have something to say but hesitated.

Principal Raonel clicked his tongue and spoke.

“What? Do you think it’s just the ramblings of an old man?”

“N-no! I would never think that…!”

“Remember, brat.”

Lightly, one step.

Boom!

Rios, who had struggled to get up, collapsed back onto his vomit.

“Ugh, ah, ugh, ah.”

A terrifying magic power pressed down on him.

He didn’t use magic or the power of ‘Blessings.’

Just pure magic release.

That alone made Rios crawl on the floor like a crushed bug.

“Remember who your grandfather is.”

Brain God Raonel Liu.

A powerful hero ranked 3rd among thousands of heroes.

One unique aspect of his past is that he entered the rankings ‘the latest.’

He barely entered the top 100 in his 40s and rose to 3rd place in just five years.

A hero who walked later than anyone but climbed higher than anyone.

That’s Brain God Raonel Liu.

“S-sorry… I’m sorry…”

Rios, crushed by the magic power, could barely breathe.

“Hmm.”

“Haa, haa, haa!”

As Principal Raonel withdrew his magic power, Rios finally gasped for breath.

“For the time being, your allowance will be added to the branch family’s support funds. Understand?”

“…Yes.”

“If you dare to spout nonsense to Berald again regarding this matter… I won’t stand idly by.”

“I-I’ll keep that in mind.”

Rios nodded repeatedly, sniffling.

“And Berald.”

“Y-yes!”

Principal Raonel patted Berald’s shoulder and sighed.

“Sorry for telling you to get along. I just thought it would be nice if you kids, with little age difference, got along well…”

“N-no! It’s my fault for being rude to my senior!”

“Tsk, you brat. Trying to fool this old man when there’s no one else to fool?”

Principal Raonel chuckled and turned his head.

He looked at the dented Training Grounds wall and asked.

“By the way… did you do that?”

“Ah… y-yes.”

“Hmm. What magic did you use to destroy the shock mitigation barrier?”

“That’s…”

Berald scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.

“M-magic power orb.”

“Magic power orb? How with a magic power orb…?”

“I tried combining the martial arts I learned from Dale with magic.”

“…Martial arts?”

Principal Raonel’s expression stiffened for a moment.

He seemed deep in thought, then shook his head.

“Surely not… it can’t be.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind, don’t worry about it.”

Principal Raonel turned and approached me.

“Candidate Dale.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Thank you for looking after Berald.”

“No, well… I’ve been helped by him too.”

It’s not a lie.

I actually gained new insights thanks to Berald this time.

“Chuckle. Still, it’d be nice if you kept up your grades while hanging out.”

“Gasp.”

Why bring up grades all of a sudden?

“Hahaha! Just kidding.”

Principal Raonel laughed heartily (his laugh was identical to Berald’s) and left the Training Grounds.

“Ugh.”

As I watched Principal Raonel’s retreating figure, swallowing my saliva, Berald approached me.

“Dale! Did you see the end? Just slamming the magic power orb with my fist, boom!”

“Yeah. Well done, man.”

“Hehehe. If it weren’t for the martial arts you taught me, I would’ve never succeeded!”

Berald, with an excited voice, then spoke with a calmer expression.

“…Dale.”

“Huh? Why the sudden serious tone?”

“Thank you.”

Berald bowed respectfully.

“You’re my benefactor.”

“Benefactor, my foot.”

I lightly punched Berald’s head, who was making an unusually serious face.

“Companion is better than a benefactor, man.”

“Companion… companion… Hehe, got it.”

Berald nodded with a grin.

“Ah, and one more thing.”

“Huh? What else is there?”

“Your father. You said he’s showing signs of dementia due to combat aftereffects, right?”

“Ah… yes.”

“Once the semester ends and things calm down, I’ll ask Iris to visit your house.”

Even if it’s Iris, it’s uncertain if she can cure dementia.

“But as a saint blessed by the seven gods, there might be a different outcome, right?”

“…Dale.”

Berald looked at me with reddened eyes.

“Daaaaaaaaaale!!!”

“Ah! What, what are you doing, you crazy bastard!”

Berald hugged me tightly with his muscular arms, tears streaming down.

“You’re truly my benefactor!!!”

“Ah! Hey, you crazy! You’re sweating, man!”

“This Berald! I’ll follow you for life!”

The muscles in Berald’s arms bulged as if they would burst.

Crack.

A sound that shouldn’t come from a body echoed.

“Ahhh! It’s breaking! My bones are breaking, you bastard!”

Snap.

“Ah.”