The Water Magician

Cleric Graham was biting his lip in frustration.

(I never expected it to be this overwhelming. A magical brigade capable of such powerful close combat doesn’t exist in the Western Nations... no, almost none do. It’s understandable that scout Maurice wouldn’t deliver a decisive blow, but for Ashkan not to break through... No, it’s even more troubling that he can hold his own against Roman... What’s going on with that princess? Is she actually a swordsman and not a mage...? Well, as the commander, that can’t be ruled out. But now that I think about it, she’s using magic even during the sword fight, so she must be a mage after all... I never thought Roman would lose, but everything seems to be at a stalemate...)

For Graham, this situation was a first.

(Should I have gone to the front lines myself...? But if the healer suddenly steps into the fray and gets taken down, there would be numerous problems... However, I can’t just sit here in this situation. I need to support someone. But where should I go? Jumping into the sword fight between Roman and the princess would be insane. I’d be sliced apart before I could do anything. On the other hand, it’s also tricky to go to the ambiguous close combat with Maurice, where the strong wind is blowing... I can’t think of a good way to get past that wind. So, by process of elimination, it must be to Ashkan and his aide, Jurgen...)

While Graham was lost in thought, the situation was moving.

Ashkan had realized.

The [Party Haste] he cast right after the battle began had worn off due to the passage of time.

[Party Haste] is a spell that grants haste effects to allies within a five-meter radius of Ashkan.

Once cast, the haste state persists for a certain time even if one moves outside that five-meter radius.

However, at present, there were no allies within Ashkan's five meters.

The magic-attack specialists engaged in artillery combat likely had no need for it now.

He wanted to cast it on Roman, who was fighting the princess, but getting closer would be too reckless.

Maurice, who appeared to be doing nothing in front of the storm, likely wouldn’t benefit much from haste either.

That left Ashkan as the only one who needed it.

But... the swordsman in front of him, yes, it was hard to believe he was just a mage, he was an astonishing swordsman.

The man was said to be the aide to the blazing flame mage, and he was not someone to let down his guard against.

Moreover, he seemed to be targeting something.

There was a palpable atmosphere of intent.

Ashkan couldn’t tell what he was aiming for, but he felt it from the movement of the man’s eyes.

(I want to recast haste on myself somewhere, but... if that appears to be an opening, he could release magic at that moment... or use projectile weapons... I don't know, but I’ll keep that in mind.)

Then, an opportune situation arose.

The moment Jurgen took a back step, he slipped just a little.

(This is it!)

In response, Ashkan also jumped back significantly to create distance and cast haste before landing.

“[Haste]”

“[Mud]”

At that timing, Jurgen also unleashed his spell.

Just as Ashkan had predicted.

If he casts haste in mid-air and lands, he would be able to launch a counterattack immediately. That’s what he thought.

However, the spell cast by Jurgen, a mage of the earth attribute, was not an attacking spell...

Thud.

The moment he landed, the ground turned to mud.

Both of his legs sank into the mud up to his thighs.

“What...”

At this point, escaping was not easy.

As expected, Jurgen, who created this situation, came right in front of Ashkan and pressed a sword against his neck.

“I... I lost.”

Ashkan acknowledged his defeat.

Just as Graham was about to rush in to assist, Ashkan got stuck in the mud and lost.

“Unbelievable...”

Graham had seen the entire moment because he was about to assist.

Ashkan jumped back significantly, and just before landing, a high-speed line ran from Jurgen’s feet, bursting small at Ashkan's landing point.

And a small mud patch formed there...