A Talentless Mage Devours a Disaster-Class Future - Chapter 44

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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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Chapter 44

In the second-floor observation deck, a breathless silence hung over the crowd as the massive display screen broadcast the shocking footage. It was then that Marcel broke the quiet.

“Did you see that?”

His gaze turned toward Leonhardt, seated beside him.

“Leonhardt?”

Leonhardt, who had been replaying the scenes broadcast on the display screen in his mind while stroking his chin, finally tore his eyes away just long enough to answer briefly.

“Yeah. I saw it.”

Deep interest and surprise flickered in Leonhardt’s otherwise relaxed eyes.

“It was a completely unexpected strike. Quite impressive, actually.”

Upon hearing that murmur, Marcel chimed in with confident enthusiasm.

“Exactly! Aria did it! Though she may not rival that beautiful face of hers, she certainly wields some formidable magic!”
“…?”

In an instant, the heads of the students gathered around Marcel turned toward him as one. Their eyes all held expressions of disbelief. Perplexed by the strange gazes fixed upon him, Marcel stammered in protest.

“Huh? …Why? Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“Marcel, I had no expectations from the start, but your eye for talent really is hopeless, isn’t it?”

One of the seniors in Leonhardt’s year let out a laugh. Marcel’s brow furrowed in complaint.

“What does that mean? Are you saying I’m just making stuff up?”
“Do you really think Hugo, that Rook from the Mark Kingdom, withdrew because of Aria?”
“…Of course?”

At Marcel’s confident reply, the senior gestured toward the display screen with his chin.

“You know the logs from the display screen can be extracted and recreated as a hologram of the actual battlefield, right? Watch it again.”

Stung by the senior’s mockery, Marcel pouted and reached his hand into empty air.

He manipulated a terminal enhanced with magitech, projecting the battlefield from moments earlier as a hologram before his eyes.

Whirrrr—

That same scene from the display screen. Marcel narrowed his eyes and began scrutinizing the situation in detail.

“Clearly, Aria’s powerful sound magic, Forte, was supposed to….”

In the hologram, the immense dust and deafening explosion unleashed by Aria. But as Marcel advanced through the frames that followed, his fingertips came to an abrupt halt.

Gares’s perfectly executed third-tier defensive magic intercepted Aria’s fierce assault with such precision that every detail was captured on record.

“…!”
“See now?”

Marcel’s jaw dropped.

“Wait, just a moment… So you’re saying this wasn’t Aria’s doing, but Aion’s?”

He hurriedly expanded the hologram’s viewpoint, trying to gauge the position of Aion hiding in the blind spot of forest and Hugo’s location in the Mark Kingdom camp.

“This is insane…… even on a reduced battlefield like this, that distance has to be several hundred meters at least…….”

Marcel replayed the situation slowly, unable to believe what he was seeing.

The moment Gares’s barrier unfurled across the front, something shot from the forest and aimed at the undefended flank of the camp, and as a result, Hugo’s head shattered into pieces.

“……A snipe.”
“Yes, I’d say this qualifies as an ultra-long-range assassination, no exaggeration.”
At his senior’s confirmation, Marcel cried out in a voice tinged with shock.

“That doesn’t make sense, does it? It’s already strange that he can manipulate a projectile at such a distance, but to take off the head flawlessly in one shot? This is…… completely abnormal.”

Leonhardt chuckled immediately in response.

“Abnormal it is. And how did you evaluate Aion a little while ago?”
“……I said he was an abnormal guy.”

That bizarre junior who had fused the impact-absorption panels in the measurement chamber of Arcane Hall despite being only a first-year.
Leonhardt interjected with a knowing smile at Marcel’s dazed reply, his gaze still fixed on the straight trajectory remaining in the hologram.

“How does a first-year cast magic like that…… what was the projectile?”
“I’m not sure…… given the water vapor dispersing, it was probably a water-stream type.”

His senior, tracking the white trajectory dispersing across the hologram, soon spoke with a look of interest, crossing his arms.

“Either way, impressive. One Rook from the Mark Kingdom is already eliminated right at the start. At this rate, the Cassius Kingdom will cruise to victory, won’t it?”

Numerical disadvantage. On top of that, the psychological shock from an unexpected snipe attack.

To anyone watching, the tide had clearly shifted in favor of the Cassius Kingdom. Marcel was just about to nod in agreement when——

“……I don’t think so.”

Leonhardt, chin cupped in his hand as he surveyed the battlefield, murmured quietly.
A strange chill ran through his otherwise composed voice.

Marcel asked, puzzled.

“……What? You don’t think so? But we just saw a perfect opening move.”

Leonhardt read the situation without lifting his gaze from the hologram panel, his tone calm and certain.

“Right now, it’s 8 to 2.”
“Right, that’s what I was saying.”

Marcel chuckled as the tension eased, offering agreement.

“Yeah, that’s exactly my point. 8 to 2 means the Cassius Kingdom has the overwhelming advantage…….”
“Mark Kingdom has 8.”
“……Pardon?”

Marcel’s mouth fell open stupidly.
Even his senior, who had just been marveling at Aion’s incredible snipe alongside him, now furrowed his brow in confusion.

“Leonhardt. What are you saying? We’re outnumbered, and even though you deployed a barrier, we lost a Rook——how can Mark Kingdom have 8?”

Where Leonhardt’s gaze remained fixed.

In the center of the plain, Gares stood laughing.

“Losing Rook stings, I won’t lie. But… Gares is still here.”

Leonhardt’s eyes gleamed with sharp intensity.

“I’m not just watching Aion.”
“So you’ve marked Gares too? Spreading your attention everywhere like that—but what difference does it make if he’s there? What changes?”

Leonhardt answered his friend’s question with firm resolve.

“If Gares doesn’t fall, the Cassius Kingdom cannot win.”

***

Once more, the illusory Bosco Plain.

“We’re at a disadvantage like this! We lost the opening strike and lost Rook—we can’t just keep taking hits!”

Renar’s voice split sharp and high with urgency.
Unlike the students in the viewing stands who could see the entire battlefield through the display screen, those fighting on the field couldn’t fully comprehend the true nature of the magic that had taken Hugo’s head.

Mark too furrowed his brow, biting his lip hard.

“First…”

That’s when it happened.

“Calm yourselves.”

Gares spoke slowly.

“If you’re panicking over something like this, you were soft to begin with, weren’t you?”

He shrugged his shoulders and raised his index finger languidly toward the sky.

“You have me. A true king—myself.”
“…Don’t say such nonsense! Mark is the king!”
“Loyal, aren’t you? But it’ll become clear soon enough who truly deserves the crown.”
“What do you—”

Flash!

Brilliant light erupted from his fingertips in a blinding torrent.
That radiance shot skyward like a fountain’s spray, spreading outward in all directions before instantly forming an enormous hemispherical Reverse Field that engulfed the entire Mark Kingdom team.

A dome.

“As long as you don’t step outside this barrier, your inexperienced friend won’t have his skull crushed. Save your thanks—what I grant you isn’t kindness. It is the guidance of a leader.”
“You…”

Mark stepped between Renar and Gares, holding back his fuming companion.

“Enough, Renar.”
“But this bastard—”
“Gares is useful. For now, focus on your own role.”
“…Tch.”

There was one thing he needed to confirm with Gares.

“Can this magic stop the previous attack?”
“Of course. As long as I’m prepared, there’s no way it’ll get through.”
“…Then that’s good. I’ll take the offensive now.”

A soft whisper—

Mark drew something from within his robes.

Small black shapes began to spill from his fingertips.
One, then two. In moments their numbers multiplied beyond counting, spreading into the air and taking flight—swift, low, and silent.

“…Wasps?”
“Hgh… Mark’s wasps aren’t ordinary insects!”

Nischt Twin Wasp.

Creatures classified as monsters, dwelling in the deep mountain regions of Nischt in the continent’s heart.

Nearly twice the size of common wasps, yet their wingbeats produce almost no sound.

By the time one becomes aware of their presence, one has already been stung.

But the venom is what truly turns them lethal.

Upon envenomation, the senses are immediately thrown into chaos.
Control of Mana becomes impossible, and the heart stops—in as little as one minute, or at most five.

“That’s quite the peculiar magic to summon.”

Gares scratched at his ear as he spoke.

“Go on then, fight well. I’ll just watch from here.”
“This bastard….”
“I’m a Rook. The only thing I can do is protect you from crude magic. Anyway, do your best~.”

And so the two groups on the plain faced each other.

Naturally, everyone moved to action at once.

Whoooosh—!

Gust.

As Cassius swept his arm, the very air of the battlefield inverted.

Dust from the plain transformed into a spinning vortex, rising up and rushing toward the dome.

Crash—!

The dome’s boundary trembled for an instant. But that was all. The vortex scattered uselessly against the barrier.

“…So even wind cannot strip the wanderer’s cloak.”

As Cassius clicked his tongue, spells erupted from all directions.

Swelling Guardian.

Crackle-crackle-crack—!

The bear doll growing larger.

Wind Edge.

Shrieeeeek!

The blades of wind sliced through the bear doll’s body in great chunks, yet they could not inflict harm upon Cassius and his company.

Whoooosh…

A violent surge of mana emanating from within the dome.

“Sh-Sh-Sh-Shield!”

Sh-Sh-Sh-Shield.

Four barriers manifesting in the air.

Screeeeeeee!

Renar’s flames were utterly contained by the defensive magic Darren had unleashed.

“I-I-I-I’m barely holding!”
“Darren! Focus!”
“…What?”

The moment Darren turned his head, he found himself face to face with hundreds of wasps approaching silently from his flank.

Resonance.

Boooooom!

Aria’s magic detonated instantly in midair, its shockwave rippling across the battlefield.

The Mark Kingdom’s swarm bore the brunt of it.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

More than half the swarm plummeted from the sky.

“That was inspired strategy, Aria!”

Magic employed not for offense but for defense.

Yet because it was undeniably an offensive spell, it violated no rule.

“Leave the rest to me!”

Whooooosh!

As he swept his hand, a savage gust erupted and crashed against the swarm.

Booooom!

Thud-thud-thud-thud…

The wasps struck by the windstorm fell away in scattered streams.

Confirming that no flying units remained, Cassius gestured forward and spoke.

“Listen, the enemy’s defense is better than we anticipated—no, far better than expected. For now, we hold the line as long as we can. An opening will come, I’m certain of it!”
“Got it!”
“Understood!”

The back-and-forth continued. Renar’s flames erupted once more, and Vera’s bear guardian spread wide to intercept them.

The Nischt Twin Wasp manifested again from Mark’s side, and Aria warped its trajectory with a sonic spell.

The pattern repeated several times over. One might call it tedious offense and defense, but defensive strategy was the foundation of magical combat.

Yet something felt wrong.

Strike at an opening, defend against counterattack—a rhythm that cycled endlessly.

For several rounds of this battlefield dance, nothing seemed amiss.

And yet.

Cassius’s brow furrowed, barely perceptible.

Sensing something wrong, Cassius called out.

“Darren—has your Mana already run out?”

Darren’s shield was growing thinner by the moment. The rate at which his Mana was being consumed was far too rapid.

Nothing like this had ever happened in their practice sessions.

“…Darren, are you all right?”

It was the instant Cassius turned his head.

Drip…

Drip…

Blood began pouring from Darren’s nose.

“Wh—what…?”

Confusion spread across the faces of everyone from the Cassius Kingdom.

Why?
They should have destroyed every Nischt Twin Wasp aimed at Darren.

When had it—

“…Darren.”

Darren’s face had gone deathly pale. Tears streaming down it spoke to the self-recrimination he felt.

“I’m s-s-sorry…”
“This was not your fault. It seems our preparation was simply insufficient.”

The Cassius Kingdom still had no idea what magic Mark was using.

Vera’s gaze turned toward Darren, etched with worry.

Darren bowed his head, looking every inch the guilty party.

Click—

Cassius placed a hand on Darren’s shoulder with a smile.

“Leave the rest to me. You fought well.”
“……Y-yes. Please….”

Thump.

Darren’s body crumpled helplessly, his pupils losing their light.

『Darren’s Avatar has been destroyed.』

Phhhhhhh…

His poisoned body disintegrated into scattered fragments.

“Pffft… Puhahahahahaha!”

Renar doubled over at the sight, clutching his sides with raucous laughter.

“Now we’re tied, yeah? You’re all going to meet the same end real soon—watch how spectacularly you die, just like that bastard!”
“That bastard….”

While Vera ground her teeth, Cassius responded with unflappable composure.

“Looks like we’ll need to adjust our strategy. It’s a bit early, but I’m afraid we’ll have to increase output.”

Whoooooosh…

The wind grew steadily fiercer around him.

“Vera, from now on, protect yourself and Aria.”
“…Right!”
“I shall seize the flow of battle.”

Gares’s brow furrowed as he observed the shift.

“So he’s willing to cut his losses….”
“…What do you mean?”
“Sometimes it’s wise to discard useless resources. He may pivot to all-out assault, so we need to prepare. You there—set fire to the forest.”

Renar immediately pushed back against Gares’s order.

“Who do you think you are—”
“Renar. Do as he says.”
“But—!”
“Now. Victory matters more.”

At Mark’s words, Renar’s expression turned aggrieved, but he and his unit shifted slowly toward the forest while maintaining formation.

“Why burn the forest? We’re practically winning already! If we just keep hammering them, we’ll win for sure!”
“You’re not thinking clearly. If Cassius—our most dangerous opponent—switches to offense at the same time that girl who decapitated Rook attacks, things will get complicated.”
“Hmph. So your defensive magic isn’t invincible after all?”
“No such thing as invincible defense exists anywhere. But….”

Tap-tap—

Gares tapped his temple with his forefinger as he spoke.

“If you don’t stop thinking, you might approach the realm of invincibility. Though with your limited mind, you’ll never understand it.”
“You….”
“Don’t bare your fangs at me like some mindless dog. You just do as you’re told. It suits you better.”
“I….”

Renar was on the verge of explosion.
Here was Gares, not even a nobleman—merely a fellow student—trampling his pride into the ground.

When he turned his silent protest toward Mark, Mark turned away from him.

“……Ha.”

Renar closed his mouth at that sight. He no longer wanted to say anything at all.

Whoooosh…

And the moment he set fire to the forest.

Shrieeeeeeek—!

“…It comes.”

Crash-crash-crash—!

Before Renar’s eyes, the Reverse Field appeared, fractures spreading across its surface.

“Even with preparation, to think it has this much destructive force… Well, it won’t be able to hide much longer. Its backside is burning hot now—it’ll reveal itself before long. As for any frontal assault, I can deflect it all.”

Gares spoke while watching the forest burn.

“You’ll never penetrate my magic now.”

Though invisible to him, Aion, concealed in the smoke, was muttering something at the same time.

“I’ll breach it. Definitely.”

To breach or be breached.
The rhythm of the battlefield was quickening by the moment.

The Talentless Mage Devours a Calamitous Future — Chapter 44

Author
Wang Mozhi
Publisher
Daon Creative
Planning / Editing / Production
Yeon
Cover Design
Dali

UCI
G720:N+A036-20260706063.0044

ⓒ2026, Wang Mozhi

※ This e-book is a work protected by the copyright law of the Republic of Korea.
No part or all of this work may be reprocessed in any form without the permission of the author and publisher.

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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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