Heavenly Castle - Chapter 56

Chapter 56 – Aifa’s strength

Don’t want to. I don’t like fighting.」

When I said that, feeling like an ordinary person who got picked off by hooligans, Aifa waved his long hair.

「Using force is also an option.」

「No, there is no such option.」

When I give an answer with a full-blown frown on my face Violette turned to Aifa with an annoyed look.

「…What’s wrong Aifa. You sound unusually coercive. Even if you want to use a high-handed means, the situation is not in our favor…」

For the first time since coming here Violette’s expression darkened, but Aifa raised one hand and stopped her from speaking.

「This is my own notion. It won’t inconvenience general Violette. Besides, it’s not like I’m seeking bloodshed. As soon as either party admits defeat, it will be all over.」

While saying that, Aifa’s gaze did not move from me at all.

At this rate, I can’t expect him to back down.

Somehow, I thought, looking at his eyes.

I breathed a long sigh and nodded.

「… Understood. Let’s do it.」

Everyone’s eyes went round when I agreed.

「Taiki-sama will fight with magic?」

「O-Ooh…! Finally, we can witness a fraction of that power…!」

Contrary to surprised Ayla, Yuri, and Ditzen, Aifa and Violette were staring at me with stern expressions.

Looking at the two directly in front of me, I raised my index finger.

「But first, I will have you fight my vanguard. If you triumph splendidly, then I will get serious as well.」

When I announce that, Aifa silently nodded.

「…Top magician of this country? Just as I’d wish.」

I shook head looking at Aifa, who was pumping with enthusiasm.

「No, it’s my best friend named A1.」

Going outside, we all move together to the north heated pool. A large pool would have little to no obstacles, and even if a fire were to be used, there is nothing to burn.

The multi-layered heated pool had wide passages at every boundary between the layers. Aifa and A1 stood in the middle of one such passage.

We were observing them from the highest layer. While vigilant to the other robots around, Violette looked at me, furrowing her eyebrows.

「…If you think of us as the same as those Fleida’s Magicians, I’ll have to say that it’s very naive. On a battlefield, a golem certainly equals a thousand soldiers. However, the story is different when you are dealing with top-class magicians. Golems that boast unparalleled strength in open fields and siege battles are awfully incompatible with magicians, who are capable of swift movement and possess devastating attacks.」

Hearing Violette’s explanation, Ayla’s expression turned grim.

「Taiki-sama, being a Grand Wizard is well aware of that. You as well, you will regret it if you consider Taiki-sama’s golem the same as your usual golem.」

Violette gave a scornful look to Ayla, who turned away after saying this. Meantime, Yuri and Ditzen secretly whispered to each other, frightened by that exchange.

「Atmosphere feels kind of tense.」

「Let’s keep quiet. We are unrelated to this… I’m more interested in the fight of the Empire’s Court Magician and Taiki-sama’s golem.」

And among such chatter from the onlookers, I coughed once, cleaning my throat, and started speaking.

「Now, let’s start already I guess, are you fine with your positions? I think moving further away might be to your advantage.」

A1 and Aifa were facing each other at a distance of roughly 3 meters. Therefore I made a suggestion to Aifa, who was capable of ranged attacks, but he denied it without changing his expression in the slightest.

「No problem.」

Looks like this is fine with him. Further unwanted comments might hurt his pride, so there is nothing I can do.

At most, I can pray that Aifa won’t get killed instantly.

While thinking that I raised my hand and swung it down.

「Then… Begin!」

The instant I gave the signal, Aifa quickly moved. Seeing him soar high into the air, I involuntarily muttered in amazement.

「Ooh… He jumped way too high.」

I was quite surprised to see Aifa jump higher than even a pole jumper would, but tried not to show it on my face.

However, Yuri and Ditzen weren’t that impressed.

「Ooh, just when did he activate flying magic…」

「The activation of magic was very natural. Using magic comes to him with the same ease as breathing.」

Hearing their impressions I grasped what happened. So it wasn’t a normal jump after all. Well, he is a magician.

「Crush huge but sluggish golem from above. The conventional tactic, isn’t it?」

Violette said with the triumphant face.

On the other hand, I ask a simple question.

「I don’t understand what kind of advantage is there from being in the air…」

When asked, Violette pointed in front of her with a speechless face.

「Can’t you see it? And to think you would boast of such outrageous title as Great Sorcerer…… Golems can’t fly. It’s common sense.」

「…Ehm, do you remember how you came to this country?」

When I reply with another question, Violette froze for a full second or two.

Then she hurriedly turned to Aifa.

「Aifa! That golem can fly!」

To such late advice, Aifa, who was floating in the air and seemed to have finished casting something, replied in a small voice.

「I know.」

The moment Aifa said that, small balls of fire appeared in both of his hands.

Dark purple flames were wavering, scattering sparks around.

Looking back as if to confirm the position of A1, who was looking up, Aifa swings his arms down. Leaving short purple trails, two flames head for A1 on different trajectories.

The balls of fire that flew at an arrow-like speed, exploded before they hit A1 and spread out as smaller flame fragments.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of flame fragments approached A1, but A1 did not move.

The moment they seem to come in contact with A1 upper body, they scatter into even smaller flame fragments and disperse.

As the sounds of consecutive explosions from the fire fragments, that come in contact with water, resounded, A1 slowly began to float up into the air.

A huge shadow of A1 war projected on the large mass of water vapor.

「Phew.」

With a sound of quick exhale, Aifa moved swiftly through the air. Then, Aifa, who flew in an arc, finished casting another spell and deployed it.

He slightly moved his lips and the water vapor, surrounding A1 instantly froze turning the water in the pool into a giant ice pillar.

More than a dozen ice pillars, shaped like fangs of a vicious predator, manifested, bent on stabbing A1.

However, all of the icicles shattered into innumerable pieces and dispersed. Seeing that, Aifa raised one hand.

And after a short interval, A1 dashed forwards through the thick vapor that appeared once again. Rapidly, making all of his previous movements looks like a sham, A1 was approaching Aifa, to which he clicked his tongue and shot fire and ice spells while moving in zig-zag.

As Aifa was nimbly running away while firing magic at A1, A1 was following Aifa as if he was tracing him. But most fearsome was how he was using both of his hands to destroy all incoming spells.

The shock of impact travels through the air and echoes throughout the body repeatedly as flames and ice burst loudly and disappear. It’s almost like a firework show.

「Oh, how beautiful.」

I comment with a laugh and look back at Ayla.

There, not only Ayla but Violette and Ditzen also were staring at me. Only Yuri replied「Truly so」with a smile, but the other three are looking at me like they see something unbelievable.

As expected, their common sense of golems was destroyed by the way A1 is fighting.

Well, it’s a gift from an angel, so that was within my expectations.

On the contrary, I think Aifa is the strange one here, being able to fight, though for a short period of time, with such a mythic grade weapon.

And while I was thinking that, Aifa got caught by A1 and was dropped into the heated pool like a fly hit by a bug swatter.

「Over! A1 stop!」

When I hurriedly shouted, A1 stood upright in the air and completely froze, while looking down at Aifa.

Cold sweat naturally flowed down my brows seeing Aifa, who was floating on the water surface without the slightest movement.