The first half of this chapter is from Rain’s perspective; the second half shifts to Orun’s.
◇ ◇ ◇
I remember this sensation. It’s been a long time.
As I toyed with the White Snake using 【Space Leap】, I was struck by a wave of nostalgia.
It was the feeling of perceiving every inch of the surrounding space—a sense of omnipotence so total it was easy to fall into the delusion that everything moved according to my whim. It was an emotion I should have loathed, yet it inevitably welled up from the depths of my heart.
Vivid memories I wanted to erase—yet knew I must never forget—surfaced in my mind.
I was born in the Hitia Duchy, a magical powerhouse in the center of the continent. There were several reasons for the country's reputation, but the primary factor was the existence of "Academies." These were magical educational institutions similar to the Noble Academy here in the Nohitant Kingdom.
Any citizen five years or older could enroll, though high tuition meant not everyone did. At most, only about forty percent of the population attended, with the majority entering in their early teens. Even then, most students left as soon as they fulfilled the graduation requirements: mastering the basic theory of magic and learning at least one special-grade spell or its equivalent in support or recovery magic. Naturally, those who found they had no aptitude for magic gave up early and dropped out. Very few remained in the Academies once they reached adulthood.
Fortunately, my family never struggled for money. I was enrolled as soon as I turned five. Back then, no one knew I was a "Singular Mage," but even as a young child, the theories of magic clicked for me instantly. Activating spells was effortless.
By the time I’d spent a few years there, I could cast special-grade magic of every attribute. The adults and teachers hailed me as a once-in-a-century prodigy. My reputation was solidified when I began studying 【Space Leap】, the pinnacle of all magic.
The moment I laid eyes on the basic formula, I understood everything. I didn't even need to spend time on spell construction; I activated it immediately. That was when I learned I was an existence known as a Singular Mage.
Being called a genius every day and knowing I possessed a unique talent made me conceited. I truly believed I was special.
But I’m okay now.
The current me understands that I’m just an ordinary person who happens to be a little better at magic than most. After the many twists and turns that led me to the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky, I’d experienced enough regret to shed my arrogance. Still, I’d maintained a certain level of pride as a Singular Mage and a graduate of the Academies.
That pride, however, had recently been shattered—by Orun-kun.
His learning capacity was simply ghoulish. If I had to use a word for it, I suppose it would be "genius," though I’ve grown to dislike that term.
Spell construction—the step before activation—involves adding "additional settings" to a spell’s basic formula. The reason 【Space Leap】 is considered the highest peak of magic is that the settings required are incomparably more detailed than any other spell. Many spells can be cast through intuition alone, but 【Space Leap】 absolutely cannot. Being able to use it at all is proof of one's profound mastery over the foundations of magic.
Because the spell is so complex, "activation standby"—holding a completed formula to trigger later—is impossible. The sheer volume of data required means that incorporating it into "parallel construction" places a burden on the brain that defies comparison. It isn't a spell to be used lightly.
The same should have applied to Orun-kun. I’d heard that back when he was the Enchanter for Golden Dawn, he could use 【Space Leap】, but he couldn't manage it within a parallel construction.
And yet, after joining us and hearing my explanation of the spell, his understanding deepened at a terrifying rate. During this very battle with the White Snake, he had initially activated four instances of 【Space Leap】 simultaneously to teleport the rest of us to different positions.
That was supposed to be my specialty. To be blunt, it was something no one but a Singular Mage like me should have been able to do. But Orun-kun had already reached that level.
The more time I spent with him, the more I was forced to realize that our strengths were not on the same plane. Selma and I had even discussed the possibility that he might eventually leave us to aim for even greater heights.
I am truly grateful Orun-kun joined our clan. At the same time, I know we can’t just rely on him for everything. I intend to keep pushing myself so I can truly be called his comrade. If the day comes where he chooses to leave us for a higher path, I’ll be sad, but I want to be able to send him off with a smile.
Until then, I’ll keep helping him in any way I can.
After all, I’m the big sister.
"Everyone, prepare to attack!"
Shaking off the stray thoughts of the past, I called out to the team via telepathy. I blinked through another of the snake’s attacks using 【Space Leap】. Seizing the opening, we hammered yet another coordinated volley into the beast.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Orun, how are we looking?”
Selma’s voice rang in my head after our latest volley. I had been watching for any signs of change in the boss, and I immediately shared my findings.
“Good. I’m seeing a change, however slight. If we keep buying time, victory is ours.”
A collective sigh of relief and excitement rippled through the telepathic link.
“If it’s only slight, then we still have a long way to go. Everyone, stay sharp. Let’s end this without taking a single hit!”
“You bet! If anyone does get a scratch, I’ll patch them right up. Nobody’s going down on my watch!”
“Wil, we’re sticking to support for the rearguard! I’ll call the timing, but the finish is on you!”
“I’m ready! I’m gonna be the one to put this snake down for good!”
With the finish line in sight, we buoyed each other's spirits.
“Rain, how’s your head holding up?”
“I’m fine, Orun. To me, 【Space Leap】 is as natural as breathing.”
◇
The battle continued with Rain-san keeping the White Snake dancing, creating openings for us to strike. Occasionally, the boss’s "hate" would shift to the rest of us. If it targeted Wil or me, we evaded or parried, mirroring Rain-san’s evasive tactics. If it went for Selma or Lucre, I’d intervene with 【Reflective Wall】 or 【Gravity Manipulation】, or Wil would intercept them after being teleported into position by Selma’s own 【Space Leap】.
Hours passed. Fatigue was beginning to weigh heavily on everyone when the moment we’d been waiting for finally arrived.
“—!”
Rain-san avoided an attack with a leap, leaving the White Snake momentarily overextended. I lunged in and swung my magic sword. My blade actually bit into the scales.
“The slash went through!”
Under normal circumstances, the White Snake’s scales were so soft and flexible that they were virtually impossible to cut. When we’d defeated it back in Golden Dawn, we’d relied on Anneri’s massive magical output, Oliver’s Heavenly Flash boosted by my 【Impact】, and the desperate cooperation of the wind Seirei Sylph and Luna’s Pixie friend.
With our current unit, even combining Rain-san’s superior attack magic with my 【Impact】 hadn't been enough to deliver a finishing blow. That was why we had pivoted to the freezing strategy. We couldn't kill it through the cold alone once it adapted, but we wanted to see if prolonged exposure would change the physical properties of its scales.
The snake’s scales had turned blue, and after several more rounds of attacks, we’d seen the first hairline fractures. We’d doubled down on the cold then, periodically driving my White Daggers into the floor to keep the arena near zero degrees.
Finally, my sword had tasted blood.
“About time! I’ve been waiting for this!”
The team shifted. Everyone except Rain-san moved into their pre-arranged positions. Rain-san drew the beast's focus one last time, baiting it into a heavy headbutt. She blinked away with a 【Space Leap】, reappearing in the center of our group.
“...Phew. Sorry to keep you waiting. He’s all yours, Orun-kun, Wil!”
Even Rain-san looked drained. She’d probably used 【Space Leap】 over a hundred times by now.
“Yeah, we’ve got it!”
With the five of us bunched together, the White Snake locked onto us.
“—【Destruction】.”
I activated the spell I’d been prepping since the moment I’d dropped from 【Culmination】 to 【Restoration: Quintuple】. A massive magic circle erupted on the floor. A mass of pitch-black mana surged up from its center.
When Wil grabbed it, the black mass formed into a magic sword that vibrated with such pressure it seemed to rattle the very air. Wary of its wounded body and the menacing sword in Wil’s hand, the White Snake coiled into a tight defensive ball. It conjured a forest of massive trees between us to block our path.
But the outcome was already written.
“Wil, charge the snake! I’ll clear the way! 【Sixth Form: Mont Sechs】!”
As I shouted, I transformed Schwarzhase into its bow form. I drew the string, nocking an arrow of pure, condensed mana.
“—Shinten.”
I took aim and released the obsidian arrow.
Empowered by gravity waves from 【Gravity Manipulation】, the arrow shrieked forward, pulverizing every tree in its path as it streaked toward the boss. Upon impact, the arrow triggered a massive mana diffusion similar to Heavenly Flash, slamming the White Snake with a titanic shockwave.
Simultaneously, I centered a heavy gravity field directly above the boss.
The White Snake, its resistance crumbled by the shockwave and hours of accumulated damage, couldn't fight the pull. Its defensive coil was forcibly unwound, exposing its soft underbelly.
Wil was already there, sprinting through the clearing I’d made. The snake tried to twist away, but it was too slow.
“Raaaaaaagh!”
Wil’s magic sword carved into the beast’s torso. I layered a perfectly timed 【Impact】 onto the strike. The blade swept through the White Snake’s body in a single, devastating arc, leaving a trail of black light in its wake.