Chapter 36 (1/2)

Chapter 36: Young Boys and Girls

I, Yahman, Griad, and 18 young boys and girls are currently on a military training ground that is merely an empty piece of land with a surface hardened by frequent usage.

The magic soldier trainees had just finished an intense session of training, so this is after they have had a break.

At my suggestion, the trainees are equipped with the spear and armor actually in use by full-fledged magic soldiers.

Almost all of their faces are filled with unease and fear. Except for one…… the black-haired young boy at the front, the one who was pointed out to be the most outstanding of the batch. Log, I think it was? His eyes are only filled with challenge.

“Actually creating anki would be……” (Griad)

“Shh! He’ll hear you! Well, we can just watch……” (Yahman)

While ignoring the two ossan magicians behind me who are furiously whispering to each other, I proceed to stand in front of the trainees.

(T/N: Ossan: uncle / middle-aged men)

“......!”

I can see all of them stiffening with nervousness. Goodness, what kind of introduction was given about me?

Back in j.a.pan, I’ve stood on a stage in front of new hires going through their induction training…… if only those guys had been this serious.

“Ahem…… I am the wizard Gio Margils. I think of you all as nakama that share my desire to protect people from anki.”

As I say this while lowering my head, their eyes all grow round with surprise. A buzz of whispering among themselves springs up, but I quieten it by slightly raising my staff. As expected of those who’ve received military training—the buzz immediately dies.

“I fully understand how seriously you all have taken your training. As such, though it may be presumptuous of me, I have taken it upon myself to provide all of you with the opportunity for live practice against existences that possess roughly the same strength as anki.”

“.......?”

Beginning with Log, several of the boys—and girls too—sharpen their eyes. The other trainees also begin to fidget around. It seems that they think I’m belittling them. I can also feel Griad’s cold gaze boring into my back.

“By means of this spell, may 18 goblins and 1 ogre be created and be under my control for 10 minutes. [Create Monster].”

The moment my chanting ends, a crowd of goblins, which possess the characteristic small horns and large ears, and an ogre appear, tearing apart the uncomfortable silence.

♥♦♣♠

“......That’s enough.”

The training itself ended very quickly.

Upon merely laying eyes on the goblins and ogre, a majority of the trainees fell into panic, and Griad just fainted. It turned into quite a commotion.

It probably needn’t be said that not much proper fighting took place. Unlike [Create Ogre Platoon], [Create Monster] can create almost any monster without a special ability. In exchange for the versatility, however, the duration is only 10 minutes. I was slightly worried as to whether a conclusion would be reached in that time, but the trainees ended up not lasting even 5 minutes, with the goblins and ogre pinning down every single one of them.

The goblins and ogre were all bare-handed (of course, I also instructed them to hold back), but aside from Log and the blond girl from earlier taking out one goblin each with their magic, I saw nothing else that could actually be called ‘fighting.’

I command the monsters holding them down to step back, then I approach them.

“Is anyone injured? Please tell me, there’s no need to be reserved.”

“...... I’m sorry, it seems that this guy hit his head.”

“Is that so. Sorry about that.”

It was Log who spoke up, while holding in his arms another trainee who is cradling his own head and groaning. As I feed that trainee a serving of Healing Potion, the blond girl, whose name is Daya, glares at me.

“...... I-, it’s because all of them are still in the training stage. There’s no way they can actually fight against such anki. In the first place……”

Griad, who has woken up but still looks ashen, calls out to me, but I shake my head to cut him off.

“In any event, I have seen enough of the Magician Guild’s boasted-of ‘magic soldiers.’ I shall convey my decision to Heldol-s.h.i.+ at a later date. I’m sorry, but can the two of you make your way back first? I wish to speak to the trainees.”

♥♦♣♠

To be honest, there’s no justification for my rejection of the Magician Guild and magic soldier trainees. It is completely uncalled for.

These people are simply trying to stand up against the absurdity that is anki, using what they know within the boundaries of their reality. As such, even when death or tragedy occurs as a consequence, that too is simply another part of that reality.

If my eloquent lip service turns out to be enough, then great. But what I am prepared to do is a method that will fully utilize the absurd power and a.s.sets of the being called Gio Margils.

If it comes to that, then that’s fine too.

Pus.h.i.+ng through the impossible and forcing reality to swallow it is the duty of absurd existences such as myself.

♥♦♣♠

I walk towards the trainees, who are mostly still sprawled on the ground, then sit down on the ground.