"Parallel construction, you said?"
My lecture for Sophia was still going strong. I was currently in the middle of teaching her Parallel Construction, a technique that wouldn't be an exaggeration to call essential for any A-Rank mage.
"That's right. It’s exactly what it sounds like: the technique of constructing two or more spell formulas simultaneously."
"Two or more at once...? Is that even possible? It sounds incredibly difficult..."
She wasn't wrong; parallel construction was famously difficult. It was often cited as one of the primary hurdles where aspiring mages hit a wall and give up.
Spell construction requires performing an immense volume of calculations within one's mind. To process multiple strings of those calculations at the same time takes significant practice.
"You'll be able to handle two at once once you get the hang of it. I’ve even heard of people who can construct dozens of spells simultaneously."
"Dozens...? That would be impossible for me. But why is it considered such an essential technique? I feel like as long as I can use special-grade magic, I should be fine."
Attack magic is categorized into four tiers: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and special-grade.
As the grade increases, the spell becomes more powerful and covers a wider area. Naturally, however, the complexity of the formula increases as well, meaning it takes much longer to construct.
"When you’re dealing with magic beasts in the lower floors, it’s rare to finish them off in a single hit, even with special-grade magic. You know how there’s an 'interval'—that cooldown period between when a mage activates one spell and when they can start the next? Most mages are completely vulnerable during that window. That’s where parallel construction comes in. The basic application is to start building your second spell when the first is about halfway finished. By doing that, you effectively cut your interval time in half."
"I-I see. Reducing the time I'm left helpless definitely sounds appealing. And... I guess the beasts in the lower floors really are that strong, if even special-grade magic can't stop them..."
"It’s not just a matter of spamming high-powered spells, either. Even A-Rank mages use intermediate magic quite often. Though, admittedly, almost no one uses beginner magic at that level anymore. It’s all about how you use the tools you have. Special-grade magic is powerful, but its area of effect is massive. If you aren't careful, you’ll catch your own front-line allies in the blast. The standard tactic for an A-Rank mage is to open with a special-grade spell and then transition into intermediate or advanced magic to coordinate with the rest of the party."
"That’s so informative! I thought I just needed to learn special-grade magic as fast as possible. But I see now that a mage can't rely on that alone. I’ll work hard and master parallel construction!"
"Glad to hear it. You already have the ability to fight in the middle floors, Sophia. That’s why you should start practicing parallel construction now, so you’ll be ready for the lower floors later. Fortunately, you have plenty of senior members in the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky to learn from. Just ask them. I’m sure Selma-san would be more than happy to teach you."
Given how much Selma-san clearly doted on her sister back at the pub, I didn't have a single doubt about that.
"I understand. B-But... if I’m going to be taught, I’d rather it be you, Orun-san... not my sister..."
Sophia whispered the words in a tiny voice, her face turning beet-red as she looked down at the ground. Her voice was so quiet I nearly missed it.
"...Me?"
"Y-Yes. Is that... not okay?"
Sophia looked up at me with moist, upturned eyes.
To be honest, she was adorable.
Wait, she isn't doing this on purpose, is she?
Regardless, she wanted me to teach her. I was capable of it, certainly, but was it really appropriate for an outsider like me to be the one doing it? The Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky surely had its own training curriculum. Maybe I should check with Selma-san first?
...No, somehow, that felt like it would lead to a massive headache.
Then again, I wanted to respect the courage this girl showed by asking me directly.
I suppose if Selma-san gave me the okay, I could do it, even if it did turn into a "troublesome development" later.
"If Selma-san says it's okay, then I'm fine with it. I can't exactly go around providing instruction to another clan's member without permission."
"Really?! Oh, my sister is a total softie when it comes to me, so it'll be fine! Thank you so much!"
Selma-san, it looks like your little sister has you figured out...
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