A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 38. Training! (4)

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Steel met steel.
Keirah and Fram were locked in near-perfect equilibrium.
Brilliant offense and defense, dazzling footwork, the infinite arc of blades traced in a single breath—watching two Knight-class combatants spar felt like witnessing a meticulously choreographed dance.
Keirah withdrew his blade, then exploded forward in a sweeping arc.
The shockwave of air tore across the training ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
His sword was brutally destructive, wildly aggressive—the kind of strike that, even blocked, would hammer the body with accumulated force as though a raging lion had thrown its full weight behind each swing.
‘Then I won’t meet him head-on.’
Fram deflected the blade with a flowing motion, closed the gap, and attacked without pause.
Strike. Strike, strike.
A torrent of speed. The air sang with wind. Keirah could no longer afford the luxury of heavy, committed swings.
Clang!
All he could do was clash blades to break the rhythm.
“You’ve grown, certainly. But…”
Keirah bellowed, pushing the crossed blades apart with force.
As Fram retreated, Keirah’s blade descended not with that raging brutality, but soft as a willow bending in the wind.
The sword seemed to come from the left, then mid-stroke changed course and rose. It rose, then suddenly plunged downward.
‘The Variable Sword Technique!’
Fram had never faced this style of swordplay in all his duels with Keirah before.
Scrape-clash!
His technique was truly protean.
Fram’s blade grew rigid, predictable, losing all sense of flow. It was dying. He was utterly on the defensive now, barely holding on, and time was running out.
‘I can’t win this…’
Keirah had encountered countless sword techniques, absorbed and applied them, and could adapt to any situation.
No matter how Fram attacked, Keirah always found the upper hand.
‘Damn.’
He couldn’t keep this up forever.
Fram stepped back two paces. As though anticipating this, magic unfurled before Keirah.

Ground Hole.

The earth beneath Fram’s feet collapsed, binding his ankle.
In the same instant, Keirah launched himself forward.
“It’s over.”
His wooden sword was about to strike home—
Crack.
The ground beneath Fram’s feet shattered. A sharp, piercing sound split the air. The instant Keirah’s blade swung, Fram’s silhouette vanished before his eyes!
Fram had simply disappeared right in front of him!
“What—!”
Snap!
A heartbeat too late, Keirah spun to find Fram behind him. At the same moment, his shoulder guard flew off.
Too fast to track with the eye. The speed was that extreme.
“Did you intentionally let yourself be caught, lure me into overcommitting?”
Fram scratched the back of his neck, looking sheepish.
“It just… happened to work out.”
“No. That wasn’t luck. That final strike was genuinely brilliant. I’ve never seen a technique like that before.”
“I was thinking about how to evade and attack at the same time, so I tried it. I haven’t really named it yet.”
And then it came.
“You won.”
Fram turned toward the voice. There, seated on a bench, was Dezir Armang.
Color bloomed across Fram’s face.
“Dezir!”
Fram trotted toward him eagerly.
“In the end, I managed to beat Keirah!”
As he spoke, he thrust his head forward.
“I know. I was watching.”
Dezir Armang stroked his head. Fram closed his eyes and surrendered to the touch.
“Hehe.”
Dezir thought he had truly done something remarkable.
‘I figured a draw would be a blessing, but to think he’d actually win.’
Under Dezir Armang’s guidance, Fram was developing at remarkable speed.
‘In terms of raw ability, he’s now among the elite of Knight-class fighters.’
It was growth far beyond anything from his previous life.
“Well, it looks like training is finished then.”
It was Keirah.
“Thank you for all your hard work, Keirah.”
“Haha, no, no. It was good practice for me too. I’ve still got a long way to go myself, it seems.”
He bowed his head toward Fram in apology.
“Well done, boy. I owe you an apology for being harsh with my words during that first provocation. Can you forgive me?”
“Of course. Provocation during combat is only natural. I can forgive you.”
“Then I’m grateful. But there’s one thing I must ask… Boy, you’re truly… well… actually male, aren’t you?”
“…….”

* * *

July 17th.
Three days before the Shadow World manifested.
An announcement blared across the entire academy.

—Current time: July 17th, 6:20 AM. A Shadow Transition Phenomenon has been detected. The expected emergence of the Shadow World is projected for three days from now.

—Effective immediately, Hebrion Academy is entering Wartime System. In accordance with Academy Statute 21, all Parties are mobilized, and you are to proceed under your Party leader’s direction.

—All class schedules are postponed one week. During this period, you will receive training in preparation for deployment to the Shadow World.

—Additionally, Closerine will be issued. First-year students who have not yet received Closerine are to collect yours immediately. Distribution will be made on a Party basis.

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Dezir Armang entered the office carrying three sets of clothing.
Closerine. Magical equipment enchanted with defensive magic to protect students from magical and physical damage. Essential gear for anyone participating in the Shadow World.
It took the form of an elegant coat overall. A badge set with blue gems gleamed crisply atop the finished collar.
Dezir Armang distributed each person’s share to Fram and Romantica.
“This is Single Ranker-class Closerine. The defensive power itself is no different from what other students wear, but the noteworthy aspect of the Closerine distributed to us this time is that the previous shortcomings have been addressed.”
Dezir Armang brought an egg from the kitchen and covered it with his Closerine.
“The existing Closerine couldn’t protect against simultaneous physical and magical damage—due to the nature of Mana Stones, it was forced to yield to one or the other.”
Dezir Armang deployed a Fire Ball while simultaneously driving his fist down onto the Closerine.
Whoosh!
A defensive spell unfolded from the Closerine.
“This new Closerine, developed and manufactured by the Magic Tower using fresh technology, protects against both magical and physical strikes simultaneously. Unless the impact exceeds the Mana Stone Output itself and shatters the defensive spell outright, you’re safe.”
Dezir Armang removed the Closerine and pulled out the egg, unmarked and unbroken.
“Behold: the 2nd Generation Closerine.”
“That’s incredible, Dezir!”
Fram applauded enthusiastically.
“Fram, put that on and draw a sword.”
Fram donned the Closerine Dezir Armang offered and drew his blade.
“Picture it in your mind—the sword being stored away.”
Swoosh.
The moment Fram imagined it as instructed, the sword vanished in an instant, leaving only a faint shimmer of light.
“Dezir!?”
“I’ve embedded a Subspace Bracelet into the Closerine. That’s where the sword is. To retrieve it, simply visualize drawing it out.”
Light gathered again, and Fram’s Three Swords materialized back in his hand.
“The Blangssum Sword barely feels heavy, but the scabbard’s weight still matters. To maximize your strength—your speed—you should shed every ounce of weight you can afford to. This Subspace Bracelet will be invaluable for that.”
Fram opened a subspace and stored the sword inside it, then turned to Dezir Armang. “I really love it, Dezir!”

Next came Romantica’s turn. Once she had equipped all the Closerine, Dezir Armang spoke. “Imagine taking it out.”

In that instant, Romantica’s badge emitted a blue radiance. A soft glow gathered in her hands, and a strange iron rod materialized.
“What is this?”
“It’s called a Sniper Rifle.”
It was the weapon she had used in the Shadow Labyrinth. Since Dezir Armang knew its structure, he had commissioned the Magic Tower Master to craft it specially.
‘Compared to the weapon she wielded in her past life, which ran on 2nd-class Mana Stones as its power source, this lacks considerable force. But first, she needs to grow accustomed to the rifle’s mechanics…….’
A rifle was a tool that unlocked the tremendous advantage of a sniper. Dezir Armang explained the rifle to Romantica step by step.
He divided his explanation into three main categories: which end should face the enemy, which should be braced against oneself, and what posture one should adopt when using the weapon.
“It operates in conjunction with the Mana Stone in the Closerine. Its primary functions are amplifying magical power and extending detection magic. If you deploy magic using this, you’ll be able to produce power equal to a 4th Circle mage.”
‘Power capable of raising one’s Circle by a whole tier?’
Romantica stared at the rifle, her expression one of disbelief.
“Combined with your spellcasting speed and your ability to deploy magic through Voiceless Casting, the effect will be absolutely extraordinary, won’t it?”
“Th-thank you.”
“As the Party leader, I’ve simply equipped my Party members. There’s no reason for thanks.”
The performance of the magical equipment Jord had provided was extraordinary. He had delivered items of far superior quality to what had originally been requested.
‘Genius truly is genius.’
Dezir Armang silently thanked Jord and surveyed his surroundings. Fram and Romantica stood before him, both now equipped with their Closerine.
He smiled softly and spoke. “Well then, all that remains now is to conquer the Shadow World.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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