Published: July 3, 2025
It was as if time had stopped.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The Southern Army's front line forces had halted in response to the enemy’s barrage, with some even collapsing in shock.
It was understandable.
At the moment they thought it was all over, an invisible wall of ice appeared before them, deflecting all the magic cannon fire.
The mages from the imperial mage brigade were also silent, but internally they were shocked.
Their attacks had been repelled by a single wall of ice.
Of course, there were about four individuals who were not surprised.
Breaking this stifling silence was the sound of multiple footsteps approaching from behind Ryo.
And then, a voice.
"Is that Baron Hagen Benda's [Teleportation]?"
"Most likely. However, our clan's intelligence network has never reported anything about group teleportation. As expected of the Empire. They had thoroughly concealed their information."
It was a conversation between Abel and Phelps.
As they were engaged in this conversation, they stood alongside Ryo.
Baron Hagen Benda.
A rather peculiar individual holding the title of 'Baron Attached to the Imperial Army.'
The only man in the Central Nations capable of using what is known as 'time-space magic.'
The recognized spells are [Infinite Storage] and [Teleportation].
Both are extremely useful spells for an army, so he is "always" acting alongside the Imperial Army.
The uniqueness of his 'time-space magic' lies in the circumstances under which he became capable of using it.
His father, the previous Baron Benda, was also able to use 'time-space magic.'
While the former baron could use time-space magic, the current Baron Hagen Benda could not.
And the moment the previous baron died, Hagen Benda was able to use time-space magic… as if he had inherited the curse of his clan.
As Abel and Phelps discussed this, two figures stepped forward from the imperial mage brigade.
Of course, they were Princess Fiona, the leader, and Oscar, the vice-leader known as the 'blazing flame mage.'
"Is that... the representative battle?"
"That seems to be the case."
Ryo asked, and Abel replied.
"But dealing with those two will be tough..."
As Abel frowned and said this, Phelps added, "The blazing flame mage is said to possess unparalleled strength in close combat. He has left results in the Empire's martial arts tournament. Furthermore, Princess Fiona is reputed to wield the Treasure Sword Raven better than anyone in history."
"Are there really that many mages who are strong in close combat...?"
Abel sighed softly, expressing his disbelief.
"Of course. If you say you can’t win once they get close, that’s just turning romance into folly."
"Yeah, I really don’t understand what you’re saying."
Ryo’s words were entirely dismissed by Abel.
"Well, setting jokes aside. Before being a mage or anything, as a human, it's necessary to handle close combat as a means of self-defense… that’s just what I think."
"... I’d like other mages to hear that."
"Lin has Warren, and Rhea has Abel, right? They're watching over them well."
"As for Ryo… it’s Sera, isn’t it?"
"No, I want to be able to protect Sera."
"I see... So you want to surpass Sera in close combat...?"
It was a level of conversation that Abel could hardly imagine...
Ryo stepped forward and chanted.
"[Avatar]"
A clone appeared.
As expected, the sight surprised even the imperial duo.
Ryo could almost hear the sound of their gasps.
Speaking loudly so that the two could hear, he declared, "Dealing with those two is more than enough for me alone."
"Wait, Ryo."
Abel likely sensed that this was a bad idea and tried to stop Ryo.
"Wouldn’t it be inappropriate for you to step in? What if you accidentally defeated them...?"
"I’m an A-rank swordsman, after all. In this situation, it’s inevitable that I will be the one to step in. It’s a fitting match, a princess against a new king."
His majesty the king was filled with determination.
After all, before being a king, he was an adventurer and a swordsman at the same time.
Ryo released the [Avatar] and Abel stood next to him.