086 Defense Magic

"Well, seeing is believing, I guess."

We were standing in the sprawling gymnasium of Nobless Academy.

A woman in a white lab coat stood before us looking like she’d rather be anywhere else, a white stick—which looked suspiciously like a cigarette—dangling from her lips. She had a sharp brown bob and a model’s figure; her legs were incredibly long, and she pulled off those tights with effortless style.

By the way, cigarettes don't actually exist in this world. It was literally just a white stick she chewed on for the aesthetic.

Since we were in the dead of winter, the courtyard was basically a frozen wasteland, making it useless for lessons. That was why we’d retreated to this indoor facility. While the interior was mostly wood-based like a standard gym, the place was saturated with specialized enchantments. It wouldn't so much as creak if a stray spell hit the walls.

The reason for that sturdiness? Powerful defensive magic had been baked into the very foundation of the building.

In the world of Noblesse Oblige, most students prioritize flashy sword skills or high-output attack magic. It makes sense, given that the world is crawling with monsters. Monster hunting is fundamentally a game of ambushes; you only fight head-on when you’ve got no other choice. Usually, you're aiming for a one-shot kill from the shadows.

Because of that "offense is the best defense" mentality, everyone tends to neglect actual defensive spells.

However, after the recent Calamity, the Academy Director had grown concerned about future risks and scouted a specialist. This was an alteration that never happened in the Original Story, but I knew exactly who this woman was. I couldn't help but be a little stunned.

"Duke-kun, it’s fine. You don't need to hold back. Give it everything you’ve got."

"E-Err, right! Yes, ma'am!"

At Nobless Academy, once you move up a grade, you get more elective classes to refine your elemental affinities. Of course, the standard lectures and drills don't just disappear, but the focus shifts.

Even though defensive magic can be modified with elements, the core formula remains the same. Whether it’s Dark Defense, Wind Defense, or Fire Defense, they all stem from a single root. In this vast world, a true specialist in defensive magic is a rare breed. Even in the Original Story, I only knew of one.

And against all odds, that legendary figure had shown up here as our teacher.

Her name was Coco. She refused to give us her last name because she said it was "embarrassing." It was never revealed in the Original Story, either.

"Whenever you're ready, hit me with your Real Power."

"Wait, are you sure?! I'm actually pretty strong, you know!"

"Go ahead, go ahead."

"…Fine! [Power Up]!"

Duke’s mana began to surge. Coco’s tone was completely nonchalant, nothing like a typical teacher. If I remember correctly, she was an extreme slacker in the game. She only showed up in the plot because her hometown was under attack and she was forced to act. I really wondered how the Director had managed to talk her into a full-time job.

While the rest of us watched with bated breath, Duke’s mana output continued to climb. Even if he was technically a Lowerclassman, his raw strength was nothing to sneeze at.

In response, Coco quietly chanted a single word.

"[Shield]."

It was the most basic spell imaginable—the very first thing a novice learns. A few students actually started snickering.

I almost joined them. Is she serious? A basic Shield against Duke’s full-power strike?

Naturally, Duke looked just as bewildered as I felt.

"Just do it. Come on, give me your best shot. I—f you manage to break it, I’ll give you a mountain of points."

"…Seriously?! Then I’m coming at you with everything I’ve got!"

With a roar, Duke swung a full-power punch. A thunderous boom echoed through the gym—but the defensive magic didn't even flicker.

I secretly activated [Time Lapse] to analyze the spell, but I didn't see any complex hidden formulas. What the hell is the trick here?

"Okay, thanks for the help."

"M-My right hand… it hurts so bad…"

Duke trudged back, shoulders slumped, while Allen and Shari tried to console him. Poor guy looked like a total jobber. I mean, I guess that was literally his role in this scene, but still.

"How did you do that, Teacher Coco?" I asked.

"Ahaha, 'Teacher.' I like the sound of that. But listen, you can't just ask for the answers to everything. Use those brains of yours."

We all fell into a pensive silence. Was it mana density, like Teacher Milk always talked about? No, I hadn't felt an overwhelming pressure of mana.

"You packed twice as much mana into the frame!" one student guessed.

"Nope! Try again~"

"It’s a special hidden defensive formula!"

"Wrong again!"

Similar guesses flew back and forth, but no one hit the mark. Finally, when the room went quiet, Cecil raised her hand.

"The mana was… polite. It felt like the formula was woven with extreme precision. That’s all I could sense."

The other students tilted their heads, confused, but Coco grinned around her fake cigarette. She fumbled it for a second, nearly dropping it in her excitement, before flashing a thumbs-up. She’s a real free spirit, isn't she?

"Cecil-chan, you got it! Five points for you."

"Thank you very much."

Still, the explanation made zero sense to most of us. To clarify, Coco began tracing a defensive formula in the air with her finger, moving slowly so we could follow along.

"Unlike attacking, defense is much harder than you think. If the shape is even slightly off, the effectiveness is halved—no, it drops even further. The problem is that nobody actually respects the geometry of the spell."

The logic was sound, but it was still hard to wrap my head around. Next, Coco pointed her finger at a specific girl—the one capable of firing the Strongest magic in our year.

"Let’s see… Carta-chan. You’re fine right where you are. Try taking a shot at me. This time, I’ll specialize the barrier for magic defense."

"E-Eh?! H-How much power should I use?"

"Hmm, you can go full power if you want, but I’ve heard the rumors. Why don't we start with fifty percent and see how it goes?"

Carta’s Mana Cannon was legendary. Every Lowerclassman knew its terrifying destructive power. Even at fifty percent, Coco was still planning to use a basic spell. Could a starter spell really hold up?

No one dared to look away. Myself included.

The light in Carta’s eyes changed as she unleashed her magic. It was fast, sharp, and massive. A truly staggering display of power.

But—

DOGOOOON!

The moment the Mana Cannon made contact, it shattered into a million sparkling fragments. The defensive magic hadn't even buckled.

"Whoa! Teacher Coco is incredible!"

"She really blocked that with a starter spell?!"

The shock in the room was even greater than during Duke’s turn. Carta’s Mana Cannon had been a decisive factor against the Dungeon boss Siren and during the Stampede. To see it neutralized by a simple spell…

I have my own Barrier that stays active automatically to protect my body, but that’s more of an emergency measure. It drains a massive amount of mana whenever it’s triggered. But the defensive magic Coco was teaching, because it required a conscious chant and precise construction, could block high-tier attacks with almost zero mana cost.

I see. Meticulous, huh…

The Original Story never delved into these kinds of technical nuances. This was incredibly educational.

For the rest of the class, we practiced tracing the defense formulas with our fingers while chanting. Coco went around firing small bursts of magic at everyone to test their work, and one by one, our shields shattered. She made it sound easy, but "meticulous" meant having zero margin for error—not even a millimeter.

"—Huh. This one is quite clean."

Coco stopped in her tracks when she saw my formula. I’ve been an apprentice under Teacher Milk, after all. As long as I understand the mechanics, I can Copy the execution.

But then—

"Boop."

Coco gathered a tiny spark of mana at her fingertip and poked my shield. It shattered instantly.

"Well, I’d give that a passing grade."

She broke it so easily, though…

As it turned out, I wasn't the student who received the most praise. That honor went to someone else.

"Shari, your formula is absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you so much!"

Magic Enchantment, Shari's specialty, requires an incredibly delicate touch with mana. I shouldn't have been surprised that she’d excel here, but I still felt a little sting of jealousy. I need to stop underestimating her. She works just as hard as I do.

I realized that even with my meta-knowledge of the game, I needed to deepen my understanding of these fundamental mechanics.

"Nope, no good~"

"Guh…"

Apparently, Allen was hopeless at this. Well, 'delicate' isn't exactly a word I’d use to describe that guy.

In the end, Shari and I were the only ones who actually got a compliment before the bell rang.

After school, I stayed behind to use the gymnasium. I wasn't satisfied with how my practice had gone.

"My, my. You’re quite the serious student, aren't you?"

Coco had reappeared. She approached with that same languid gait, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips.

"…I just didn't have anything else to do."

"I see, I see."

Coco hummed to herself, watching me. Then, without warning, she swung a mana-infused fist straight at my head.

My Inviolable Domain (Barrier) reacted instantly. A massive surge of mana leaked out as the field stabilized, and Coco’s eyes widened in genuine shock.

"What was that for—?!"

"…I’m impressed. I thought something felt off about you the moment I saw you, but this is your Original Magic, isn't it?"

"It is, but…"

It was a spell I’d crafted by weaving Darkness and Light together. The mana consumption was horrendous, and I’d been meaning to fix the formula, but I hadn't found the time yet.

"Ahahaha! A serious boy, a genius boy, and a hardworking boy? How many tropes are you going to hoard for yourself? Still… this is strange. I mean—this spell shouldn't even work unless there are Two People inside it, right?"

I felt my heart skip a beat. She’d seen right through it.

"…I don't know what you’re talking about."

"Fufufu, well, whatever. More importantly, want me to help you tune this up a bit?"

"What do you mean?"

"The mana efficiency on this is garbage. Your logic for filtering the intensity of incoming attacks is way too sloppy. It’s great that it stays active permanently, but you need to be more selective about what the mana actually reacts to."

I almost wanted to laugh at her bluntness, but she was absolutely right.

"Blocking both a lethal strike and a light breeze with the same amount of energy is just bad practice. —If you’ve got the motivation, I’m willing to teach you."

"I’d appreciate that, but… is it okay for you to favor one student like this?"

Everyone knew I was Teacher Milk’s apprentice, but Coco was different. The nasty rumors about me hadn't completely vanished from the Academy yet. Surely she knew what people said about me.

But Coco just gave a goofy "nihehe" laugh, completely unbothered.

"Why not? Your magic is just so… Interesting."

"Haha. Well, that’s a reason I can understand."

Now I remember. Coco is a slacker, but she becomes incredibly proactive the moment something piques her interest. In the game, she only got serious after she took an interest in Allen.

"Can I ask you one thing? Why did you decide to become a teacher?"

"Why do you think?"

"I have no idea."

"Fufufu, it’s a secret."

"Oh, come on…"

"Well, everyone has their reasons."

I guess everyone has things they’d rather not talk about. Still, this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

"Anyway, do you want the lesson or not?"

"In that case… yes, please."

"Oka—y! In exchange, you have to teach me that permanent activation formula later. I probably can't use it myself, but I want to have the logic tucked away in my head."

"Wait… aren't I the student here?"

"Don't sweat the small stuff, kid. Now, first, let’s try integrating a power-threshold check into your formula."

I ended up staying in the gym with Coco until sunrise, working tirelessly on the formula. She turned out to be a surprisingly dedicated teacher.

"—Alright, here it goes."

"Ready."

Coco fired a Mana Cannon with her left hand while tossing a small pebble with her right.

The moment they both reached me, my Inviolable Domain (Barrier) flickered into existence. However, it only reacted to the Mana Cannon. The pebble simply bounced off my head with a harmless clink.

The spell had Automatically judged that the pebble was not a Threat. Because the core logic of the formula had been overhauled, my mana consumption had dropped significantly.

I couldn't help but laugh. It was incredible.

"Whoa, it’s perfect. —Wait, now that I think about it, aren't you way too strong, kid?"

"It’s all thanks to you, Teacher Coco."

"Fufufu, you certainly know how to flatter a lady. Alright, now it’s your turn. Teach me that permanent formula."

"Do you have infinite stamina or something…?"

As we sat together, continuing our deep dive into magical theory, Coco spoke up again.

"—About that question from earlier. A friend of mine died. They were killed by a Pseudo-Demon."

"…Oh."

Pseudo-Demons were far more active now than they ever were in the Original Story. I’d heard the rumors reaching Nobless Academy. This wasn't just a plot deviation; the world was becoming objectively worse.

"…I just thought that if my magic could help even a few more people survive, it would be worth it. That’s why I became a teacher."

The reason Noblesse Oblige was such a popular game was because of its cast. You had a protagonist who never stopped looking forward, his loyal companions, the Strongest upperclassmen, and the teachers who supported them all from behind the scenes. Even a small change could ripple out and alter the entire story.

"Weiss Fancent-kun. I know the rumors about you. Not the old ones—the ones they're telling now. —If someone is in trouble, please… help them."

"…I’ll think about it."

"Fufufu. What a cheeky brat."

Yeah, I really do love this game. No—I love this world. I love Noblesse Oblige.