“It’s not like I have anything particular in mind, you know?”
“What—?”
“Doing things like this will let me avoid quite the hassle is all.”
“Now that you say that…”
Enmarph expressed understanding. A high rank would lead to no small trouble, something he well understood as a senior of the guild. Moreover, just as he was currently witnessing, this was even worse for someone who had no intention of letting himself draw attention.
“What I need is to accumulate a lot more experience battling the people of this world.”
” ‘The people of this world…?’ ”
“That’s nothing you need concern yourself with.”
It didn’t matter who, there wasn’t a single native of this world who would simply let his words just now pass unanswered. Suimei didn’t bother to answer, though. It wasn’t anything a stranger need concern himself with.
Enmarph was again filled with anxiety.
“Even if you erase our memories of what happened here, it’s useless. What you did outside won’t disappear. Dorothea told us what you did.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like anyone’s going to investigate too thoroughly, right? This test will be the standard for assessing my strength, and the stuff that happened outside happens every now and again, right? Humans are the kind of creature that delights in looking down on others, and in the absence of undeniable evidence, would prefer to believe others weaker than themselves, rather than stronger.”
“…”
Enmarph did not speak. More correctly, he couldn’t speak. As if the words had been stolen straight out of his mouth.
All he did was stare fretfully at the monster before him.
The words just now had perfectly mirrored his own sentiments, evoking the shocked stare he displayed now.
“On that note, don’t you think everyone would have a much easier time accepting things if they felt that I was just a bumbling braggart of a mage? Especially for those confident in their own ability.”
“…Why would you intentionally hurt your own ability to accept commissions? Even if commissions from the Twilight Pavilion are many, but the ones appropriate to you—”
“It’s not like they necessarily exist. Definitely. Anyway, I have already provided for such a circumstance. There are countless jobs in need of a mage capable of working restorative magic. The ability to heal wounds is an ability where demand outstrips supply no matter where you are, particularly if the restorative magics you’re capable of are especially rare.”
As Suimei spoke, he advanced.
In Enmarph’s eyes, it was as though the Devil himself were approaching.
“Hmph. I’m a mage, how could I possibly be done in so easily— Ugh?!”
As he shifted into a combat ready stance, he suddenly noticed. In his current state, he was helpless to offer any resistance whatsoever. The reason?
“And the trap snaps shut. Your magic’s all gone, right? Kalavinka’s Sweet Voice is just this kind of magic.”
“Ah—”
…All magicians possessed the ability to resist magic. Using one’s own mana, a mage was able to repel the effects of magic. As a magician, coming under the effect of another’s magic was to be expected, and carefully studying methods for opposing their magic was a necessity.
However, one’s defensive capabilities were naturally inextricably tied with the condition of one’s body and mind.
What did this imply for Enmarph, drained dry as he was?
“It’s just a forceful suggestion, really. Don’t worry, there aren’t any side effects. You’ll just go to sleep, and when you awake, it’ll all be as I just declared. I have no plans on hurting any of you.”
…Suimei was a magician. As such, were he to battle the mages of this world, it would inevitably become a contest of magic. However, as someone who both wished to disguise himself as someone normal, all the while obtaining an accurate measure of his strength, he’d found himself in something of a conundrum.
However, were he to avoid magic battles, and restrict himself to fighting warriors only, then he’d lose the opportunity to learn about their world’s magic.
For this purpose, once the battle was over, he needed a way to keep their mouths shut. Instead, draining the mana that provided a mage an opportunity to resist provided the perfect opportunity.