Chapter 3: Battlefield (2)

Duchess Kadia put me in her direct unit.

The role of the ‘White Wolf Brigade’, Duchess Kadia Malibes’ direct unit, was to move to various locations on the northern front and assist in battles that needed help.

In other words, it meant constantly rolling through battlefields like crazy, without a single day of rest.

However, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

As the unit that undertook the most dangerous and arduous tasks on the battlefield, the reputation of the White Wolf Brigade was immense.

It was safe to say that no one in the northern Empire didn’t know the name White Wolf Brigade.

Wherever they went, they were welcomed by civilians and cheered by soldiers.

Because they were the ones who entered the most dangerous places, their honor was also the greatest.

Not only that, but I also had another gain.

“Your magic seems to improve every time I see it.”

At Duchess Kadia’s words, as she sat next to me at the encampment, I let out a chuckle and said,

“Is that so?”

“Yes. From the start, the intensity of the intent that forms your magic is different.

If it weren’t for the war, I would have wanted to experience the magic you wield with my own body.”

At her words, I snapped my fingers, causing a flame to ignite.

The basic magic that I barely managed to use by concentrating my mind in the past could now be activated just by breathing.

What the battlefield as part of the White Wolf Brigade brought me was not only honor and reputation but also the advancement of my magic.

As a result, my mana capacity and mana control are now incomparably higher than in the past.

I was the type of ‘mage who develops in real combat’ that my master had told me about.

It was almost frustrating that the magic, which had hardly developed during years spent in the Magic Tower, was improving day by day on the battlefield, but I forced myself to focus and raised my head.

Duchess Kadia’s gray eyes gleamed as she asked me,

“Do you know what they’re calling you these days?”

“Pardon?”

“They say ‘Flame Star’. Meaning a burning star.”

“What did I do to deserve such a name….”

At my words, Duchess Kadia let out a hearty laugh.

“Every battlefield you appear on is scorched earth, with no enemies left alive.

What are you talking about?”

Indeed, sweeping away enemies with large-scale magic was the most efficient method, so I had been using it extensively.

These days, I don’t use large-scale magic as much because the enemies are dispersed instead of concentrated.

“To be honest, I feel grateful to you.”

“…I merely fulfilled my duty as a soldier.”

“No, since you appeared, the endless fighting has gradually begun to tilt in our favor.

Most of the mages from the Magic Tower would trust only themselves and quickly die, but I never knew a mage could be such a formidable being.”

At her words, I offered a wry smile.

If those mages were sent by the Magic Tower to the northern front, they must have been combat mages far stronger than my past self.

However, they died and were disrespected, while I, who was expelled from the Magic Tower, had developed to the point of even getting a nickname.

A strange feeling came over me at that fact.

“It’s coming soon.

We’ll be able to kill the king of those barbarians in just a little while.”

“I hope so.”

I quietly looked up at the night sky.

The stars in the dark sky seemed to shine exceptionally brightly.

And, before long, I looked at Duchess Kadia.

“Commander.”

“Yes, I know.”

She stood up, brushed off her backside, and shouted,

“Prepare for battle!”

I stood up and looked into the darkness.

No, to be precise, I looked at the enemies hidden within it.

The members of the White Wolf Brigade instantly grabbed their armor and swords and took a defensive stance.

I drew upon my mana and said,

“Come out.”

“Damn it, we’re exposed! Everyone, charge!”

The barbarian warriors instantly surrounded us and began to rush forward.

Stripped to the waist and revealing grotesque tattoos, they immediately swung axes and swords.

“Can we deal with them with magic?”

“Large-scale magic is difficult.

This area is surrounded by forest, so we might all burn to death if I’m not careful.”

“So they aimed for that.”

Duchess Kadia said that and charged at the enemies with her sword.

I supported her by casting spells alone.

And, a fireball I shot was blocked by a sphere of dark shadow.

I looked at the one who cast the darkness.

A robed man holding a grotesque staff made of animal vertebrae.

He was the barbarians’ dark mage.

“Heh, I’ll be your opponent.”

I silently drew upon my mana.

“I already know about you.

They call you Flame Star Kyle, don’t they… They say your specialty is slaughtering people en masse with large-scale combat magic.

But this place is surrounded by forest.

If you misuse large-scale magic, your own allies will die.”

“So?”

“If you can’t display your full power, I can take you on easily.”

At his words, I let out an involuntary chuckle.

“…Laughing? Do you think you can use that boasted large-scale combat magic in a one-on-one fight?!”

Upon hearing the dark mage’s voice, I shook my head and said,

“No, that’s not it.”

“What…?”

“It’s just funny that you thought someone like you could stop me just because I can’t use large-scale magic.”

With those words, a light arrow I shot pierced through the dark mage’s torso.

The dark mage, belatedly realizing his body had been pierced, spoke with fearful eyes,

“I had a barrier up… How….”

“Its intensity was quite weak.

A barrier weaker than glass, I can shatter it hundreds of times over.”

“This, this is impossible! You were clearly a mage skilled in large-scale magic… Without a vanguard, alone like this!”

I took a step and opened my mouth.

“Your downfall was thinking I was an idiot who could only use large-scale magic.”

From the beginning, my development wasn’t limited to casting large-scale magic.

Small-scale magic had also become much more potent as my mana control increased.

After confirming the dark mage had fallen dead, I immediately ran to where our allies were fighting.

The battle situation was quite unfavorable.

Not only had we been ambushed, but with warriors in numbers incomparable to the White Wolf Brigade pouring in, it was difficult for a small group to contend.

No matter how elite, combat power tends to plummet in an unprepared battlefield.

Nevertheless, the White Wolf Brigade was barely holding on, felling enemies.

I began to help the White Wolf Brigade by shooting multiple light arrows.

I saw warriors, busy dealing with soldiers, suddenly pierced through the neck and dying.

“Kyle! The Commander is in danger!”

My comrade, Loeb, who was simultaneously fighting three barbarian warriors, said.

I furrowed my brows at his words.

“The Commander?”

“She charged into the enemy lines alone to reduce our burden.

At this rate, she’ll be surrounded…!”

“Alright.

I’ll go.”

I used acceleration magic to dash quickly into the heart of the enemy.

There, I saw Duchess Kadia furiously slaughtering barbarian warriors.

“Damn it… How can she still move like that after taking several dark mage curses?!”

“Keep attacking! There has to be a limit eventually!”

Duchess Kadia was breathing heavily, blood and sweat mixed, presumably affected by curses.

She spat out some blood and charged again.

Even as she slaughtered multiple warriors at once, the enemies continued to charge as if they had forgotten fear.

In contrast, Duchess Kadia’s stamina was visibly dwindling due to the curse’s effect.

At that moment, I spotted an arrow flying towards her that she hadn’t noticed.

And burning it away, I arrived by her side.

“You…!”

Duchess Kadia’s eyes widened as she belatedly realized she had almost been hit by an arrow, then changed to a smile upon seeing me, who had blocked it.

“Did you come to help?”

“Yes.

I couldn’t just leave you to fight alone.”

“If you’re a mage, you should stay in the back.

Why come out here, where it’s dangerous?”

Even as she chided me, seeing Duchess Kadia’s smiling face, I said,

“Let’s finish this quickly.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

I began to conjure a vortex of flames around us both.

“It’s dangerous to use large-scale magic, but this much doesn’t really matter.”

I noticed the enemies’ expressions instantly turning pale upon seeing me.

“F-Flame Star…!”

“Damn it!”

“…It seems they fear you more than me, doesn’t it?”

Along with Duchess Kadia’s pouty voice, I began to sweep away the enemies.

And before long, the enemies who had targeted the White Wolf Brigade were annihilated.