At the same time, in the same place.
"Spectacular."
Flames roared into the air.
Storms swept across the sandy beach.
Lightning cracked down from the sky.
The surroundings froze over.
And then miasma spread over everything.
"No matter how many times I see it, a magus who can use multiple spells of every attribute, and always show us something new, is truly terrifying."
"I agree. If he ever goes so far as to pull off simultaneous multi-casting or something, then in a different sense from Riveria, I'd say he'd be a one-man magus corps without exaggeration."
"Do you think our guy might actually be able to do it?"
"...I'd like to believe not. At least for now."
At Gareth's question, Finn broke into a slight cold sweat and tried hard to deny the possibility.
But what if it really did happen?
And what if, when that time came, he stood on the opposite side from them?
"The best outcome would be for that to never happen, of course..."
Still, if the worst should come to pass.
It was the captain's role to foresee and prepare for the kind of thing nobody wanted to think about.
But at least for now, there was no need to worry about it.
"So what kind of scheming are you up to now, Finn?"
"Hey, Riveria. How's your body? You don't exactly look... okay."
"Yes, as you can see. If possible, I'd like to lie down again immediately."
"I heard this time you worked together with our guy? You must have pushed yourself pretty hard."
"Explaining it in a way even a stupid dwarf could understand would be difficult, since I don't know the details myself."
With Gareth's question, Riveria let out a deep sigh and continued.
"After experiencing it this time, I know for certain. A magus's magic, Magecraft, does not suit us. No, it's worse than not suiting us. It's dangerous."
"Dangerous? How?"
"Well, hmm... the most fitting way to put it would be that it is almost completely incompatible on a bodily level. Even if one can learn the knowledge of that so-called Magecraft, read it, and use it, I can't predict the aftereffects. But in all likelihood, it will act in a harmful way on the body."
"Is that so? But he already has Lili as a disciple. What about her? Surely she didn't know all that and do it anyway."
"This is only my guess, but... I suspect the magus may have done something separate to her [Falna]. She didn't seem to be resisting anything in particular. While helping him this time, all of us magi, myself included, ended up with one common symptom: severe burns on our backs, or damage to bones and muscles. I suspect it was the result of a rejection reaction from the [Falna] itself."
Well, this time the main cause of their collapse was probably that they'd overstrained themselves by forcing magic beyond their capacity, but still.
At her explanation, Finn fell into thought for a moment.
The alien nature of a magus's power was something that hardly needed to be said again.
But if it was that dangerous...
"Then what about his tools? Would using the magical tools he made be the same?"
At his question, asked while briefly revisiting the uneasy thought from earlier, Riveria firmly shook her head.
"No, I don't think so. Perhaps because the objects themselves don't have a [Falna] like ours. Or maybe these aftereffects only apply to living beings. In any case, I don't think there's any particular problem with the magical tools themselves. They don't seem to affect the lifespan of the item either, like Tiona's or Tione's."
"That's good news."
"You seem awfully fond of that spear."
"Hmm, jealous?"
"...Not particularly."
"Ahem! I'm quite jealous, though."
Wasn't there another magic sword like yesterday's one?
Recalling once more the heavy-handed impact of that giant from the commotion the day before yesterday, Gareth clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Leaving him behind, Finn and Riveria continued their conversation.
It was already a thing of the past, but that only made the cleanup afterward all the more important.
"Then, Riveria. What were the results of the examination for our magi, including you? Surely that aftereffect isn't going to become a bigger problem than expected, right?"
"I am not Amid, but... speaking purely as one humble magus, I don't think it will be a major issue. The rejection reaction has mostly subsided by now, and the rest can be handled simply by properly treating the body that was pushed too far and letting it rest."
Riveria let out a sigh of relief, saying that if anything, this incident might even bring a somewhat positive change to their mana levels.
Overexertion beyond one's limits was certainly dangerous, but if one somehow got through it safely, it could become something like a growing pain.
"That's a relief."
"But."
Lefiya was different.
At Riveria's grim expression and cool, flat declaration, Finn and Gareth, who had been listening, also hardened their expressions.
Seeing their natural reaction, she let out another sigh.
That was how serious, how troublesome, Lefiya's condition was.
"I wasn't at the scene myself, so I can't speak in detail... but it seems Lefiya saw something she should not have seen."
"Something she should not have seen?"
"I don't know what it was. It's outside my knowledge. There are always things I don't know. But Lefiya's current condition suggests that something harmful entered through her eyes and contaminated her magical energy. In other words, she can only be said to have seen something she should not have."
Among magi, the eyes are often said to be the part of the human body most closely connected to the world as a conduit of magical energy.
Most of today's magic "users," who gain magic through the [Falna] and use it instinctively, would probably wonder what on earth that meant. But aside from the [Falna], true magi who approach magecraft through knowledge and experience generally sympathize with that idea.
Unlike ordinary users, they learn magic as knowledge, master it through experience and sensation, and through repeated attempts and research, they dig into the very essence of magic itself and the truth of the world by seeing and confirming it with their own eyes.
For magi, sight is one of the most important senses.
And precisely because of that, the eyes are also one of the most sensitive and dangerous parts for those who seek the knowledge of magecraft.
"That said, this is mostly just an old-fashioned saying by now."
"Why?"
"Because the [Falna], a blessing from the gods, is the power that raises humanity's potential, and at the same time the greatest barrier protecting both body and mind. In other words, most vile things are filtered out by that wall and sieve called the [Falna], and can't easily exert their power."
"Hmm, is that so? I don't really get it. Could you give me a simple example?"
"Gareth, among adventurers, have you ever seen someone suffer from something like a common cold or a mild stomach bug? Unless it's a serious illness or a rare disease, that is."
"That... is almost never the case."
"Exactly. Unless they're especially frail, like that woman from the Hera Familia in the past, most adventurers don't suffer from those little illnesses unless it's something severe, like a major disease, a poison, or a curse. It's not for nothing that ordinary people outside Orario admire and envy adventurers. It's not just because they get stronger."
"Huh. I've never thought about it from that angle."
"In most cases like that, Lefiya would have been fine without a problem. That girl is, after all, a level 3 second-class adventurer and a magus blessed with talent. But this time..."
In fact, it was precisely that blessed talent that had become the problem.
That was why, unlike the other magi who had also seen the vile thing but were not greatly affected, Lefiya's condition was so critical.
With faint groans, the three of them silently spat out the despair inside them.
"Riveria, just in case, but. Surely..."
"Rest assured, Finn. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be that bad yet."
However, if they simply left it alone like this, that "surely" might become reality.
At Riveria's worried words, Finn and Gareth also frowned.
In the worst case, even if Lefiya survived, her life as an adventurer might be over.
The three of them thought of that possibility in their heads and did not voice it aloud.
It wasn't because they were worried that speaking it might somehow fix that still-unseen, unsettling future in place.
They were simply putting aside their needless worries for the sake of the children around them, who were probably worrying about Lefiya without even realizing it.
"And yet, after going out of his way to force himself to his feet and come here because of that, what on earth is that idiot doing, Finn?"
"Uh, um, a love quarrel? No, a love confession?"
"Why are two words that are related yet opposite in meaning coming up here?"
"Because both are technically true?"
"Ugh, my head..."
"Kahahahaha! No need to think so hard about it, Riveria. Just think of it as a simple bet, or a duel."
If Tiona wins, marriage is settled.
If the magus wins, the marriage is put on hold.
At Gareth's explanation, which was simple to the point of being the essence itself, Riveria's headache only worsened.
No, why were they doing such pointless nonsense in the first place?
If the two of them liked each other, couldn't they just start dating right away?
If not, then a polite refusal would be enough.
At Riveria's confusion, Finn and Gareth explained a little more, saying they understood.
"He's uselessly earnest, that guy."
"And at the same time, he wants to enjoy life a little more."
"I see, I understand. So in the end, he's a child of two minds."
And once again, Riveria let out a deep sigh.
At the exchange among the three, several of the nearby members who had been quietly eavesdropping on the conversation couldn't help but wonder inwardly.
What in the world are they talking about?!
"Hm?"
"That is...? Huh."
"N-no!?"
It was then.
"W-what the hell is that idiot doing right nowwww!"
Riveria's scream rang out in utter shock.
There were no shrieks, but everyone's expression was the same.
At the same time.
Pukak!
Blood burst from the magus's body like a fountain.
Like a flower blooming red.
Carrying the thick stench of blood.
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