<816 – Newbie Reception (15)>
The twisting was actually one of those go-to techniques I always employed.
“When you twist the mana spell like a spring to compress it, the power upon casting skyrockets, you see? So, I always use twisting when casting magic!”
Using a mold of will to twist and compress the spell, then zap it out with a magic launch!
“Are you insane? Is that really possible? Only those with a decent mana purity can pull off such techniques; otherwise, it’s just pathetic!”
“Oh, so you know about that! There’s a side effect where if the spell’s form breaks apart during cast, it cancels the spell, but with high purity, it all unfolds immediately and doesn’t matter!”
But this newbie was surprised at the wrong part.
“If you’ve been doing that since you were little, doesn’t that mean your mana heart has suffered damage again and again before reaching high purity? The heir of the foundation… has endured such pain all their life to reach this point?”
Aha.
I had that back in my noob days, didn’t I?
I suffered quite a bit before boosting my mana purity as a privilege.
But hey, now I’m a veteran player.
Even without privileges, raising attribute mana purity is as easy as pie for me.
“Hehe. That’s all in the past now!”
Suddenly, Jonnas and Reap were on either side, shuddering from the pain and trembling their shoulders.
Guess it was bothering them to waste time on this loser.
Well, sitting around chatting with some stranger while my party was left waiting feels off, doesn’t it?
“So, are you an enemy of Senior Velvet?”
“…As long as she stands in the way of my ambitions, we are foes.”
“What are your ambitions?”
By the look of it, he’s definitely on a different level.
Any other noble from the Seoguyeon main team would have boasted and provoked without even knowing their place, but this newbie has skills, insight, and self-control.
Holding back without jumping straight into battle is proof of that.
“I…”
A flicker in his pupils as he hesitates.
His hesitant gaze turned to the elite soldiers guarding the back of Creamfield.
Despite clearly seeing my superior skills, they stood firm, maintaining their position to guard Creamfield.
“No, we…”
What? This newbie is a lot better than I thought!
He really values his subordinates and has considerable support, huh?
“I aligned with the war instigated by Seoguyeon, but I could not bear to witness the tragedy of the commanders fleeing in terror, thus leading to a military rebellion with the reformist forces.”
“And what’s the goal of those reformist forces?”
“Not allowing the foundation to take our power. Not letting go of the opportunity we have.”
“So, maintaining power is your only purpose? You don’t have anything you want to do with that power?”
“…I have a wish. To protect our territory from the cruel nobles and the invading extraterrestrial species we confronted under the foundation. That is all.”
Creamfield was an ambitious figure.
Yet beneath that ambition lay the will to protect.
For a better tomorrow, for a better future.
Someone who isn’t hesitant to stain their hands with blood.
If he were just a bit younger, he’d be someone worthy of re-enrollment in the Gift Academy.
“If you make just one promise, I might let this slide. How do you feel about that?”
“…If you’re proposing a peace negotiation, I’ll consider it given the conditions.”
“Should you decide to protect, no matter how tough or dire the situation gets, do not give up on the people.”
“……Is that really enough?”
“Would you rather sacrifice a hundred residents daily as offerings and summon the great ones of the Spirit Realm to present them to me?”
I made the joke cheerfully, yet not just Creamfield, but even Jonnas and Reap went stiff and silent.
I thought it would lift the mood, but that failed. It felt as if I had to explain the joke and where the punchline was.
“Does Senior Velvet agree with that negotiation plan?”
“Senior Velvet would propose a non-aggression pact, but you two could easily resolve it with talk instead of fighting, right?”
“I’ll send a messenger right now.”
A venue for the peace negotiations was set up in less than thirty minutes.
Seoguyeon had a sudden generational shift, and instead of an invasion meta, the coalition’s philosophy was renewed towards defense meta.
“Senior Velvet. If you’re alright with it, I’d like to assign you as the sub-leader of the Western Noble Union.”
“…If it can be resolved verbally, I have no reason to refuse. There’s no benefit in Seoguyeon becoming weaker.”
Fortunately, the internal turmoil within the Western Noble Union was resolved peacefully.
“Then from now on, please do your best to survive!”
“What? What do you mean by that…”
Crash!
The moment the combo of [Twisting] + [Ambush] hit, it activated the [Crisis Detection] that only those who have reached a peak in [Vigilance] can realize. I was caught in a sense of impending doom, requiring further mastery to unlock the [Death Instinct].
As expected, this newbie has proven to be better than I anticipated.
“Did you deceive me, Dark Princess?!”
“Deceive you? If we conclude negotiations with all limbs intact, anyone would have to suspect you, right? If you’re already branded with suspicion from the beginning as being on the same side as Senior Velvet and me, someone would surely develop discontent!”
“Damn it, so do you have to cause a ruckus to ease the tension!!”
Creamfield’s twisting brought the entire hideout prepared for peace negotiations into the realm of [Twisting].
Bam!
With a fierce twisting, the hideout was ripped apart, and small whirlwinds combined in midair, charging mercilessly toward us.
“I’ll make sure to torment you just enough that it feels like, ‘Oh, I should negotiate, or I might die!’ Just hang in there with the pain!”
“I won’t just submit!!”
To break through [Creamfield’s Reflective Barrier], I expanded the twisting in the opposite direction, repeatedly launching penetration attacks. Yet when I tried to unleash my attacks to burst open the approaching whirlwinds, I was quite taken aback.
He’s applying the [Chaos Pattern] without getting penetrated after just three attempts at my technique!
Considering how rapid this encounter has progressed, Creamfield is a character that appears after the foundation’s downfall, signifying he’s a clever newbie faithful to being a late-game ambitious character.
You could say a true wolf with wild instincts has appeared among the large dogs.
━━━
[Twisting] + [Acceleration] + [Heating] + [Dispersal] + [Mana Study] + [Automation] + [Rapid Strike]
7-Linked Area Destruction Magic [Creamfield’s Gale Rampage]
━━━
As the whirlwinds approached, Jonnas moved to intervene, but I opened my hand to signal him not to worry.
“We’re just starting to have fun; how can you interrupt that?”
━━━
[Twisting] + [Giantization] + [Swallow] + [Acceleration] + [Mana Study] + [Shield] + [Barrier]
7-Linked Area Counterattack [Whirlwind Swallow]
━━━
I swallowed all the small whirlwinds into the area while thoroughly excluding only our spot from the effects of the rotating power, condensing the rotational force between the shield and barrier.
I even compressed the irregular rotating power of twisting to steer it according to my will.
What will the newbie do, deprived of power in their own territory?
“If you thought you could take it, you’re mistaken. I’ll make you regret that arrogance!”
I abandoned control of the power and let it rampage.
I was genuinely looking forward to it, yet it was wrong.
Thud-thud-thud!
The power that collided and vibrated against the barrier, consumed by the spell, lost its defined shape and was completely dominated by my flow.
“In these moments, you should have penetrated through the barrier’s surface with [Twisting] to escape! Tsk. You’re so pathetic that it’s obvious to anyone. If you had intact limbs, why wouldn’t you…”
Just take something from him and fix it up later!
Whoosh!
Pointing with one hand, I launched the dimension coordinate enveloped by twisting, striking unexpectedly at the moment before Creamfield could counter.
Just then, Jonnas suddenly placed a hand on my shoulder, surprising me to disperse my power into the air and look up.
“Jonnas?”
“Please stop this sort of thing now.”
“Why not? If Creamfield is fine and keeps rolling, the foundation’s factions will doubt the world.”
“If misunderstandings toward Creamfield clear, won’t misunderstandings toward the lady deepen?”
“What misunderstandings am I causing?”
“People misjudge that the lady genuinely dislikes hurting others and cherishes everyone dearly. This is the misunderstanding of her true self.”
Am I really such a good child?
I blink in confusion at my own words, but Jonnas’s eyes were filled with conviction.
Hmm…
I don’t know much about myself…
But Jonnas has a loyalty of 100, right?
A loyalty of 100 means Jonnas wouldn’t say anything wrong.
Then I must be a good child!
“A bit disappointing, but someone who’s just on the brink of dying might have their perception of Creamfield change a bit, right? I’ll let you off with just this today!”
As Creamfield knelt and sighed in relief, Senior Velvet quizzically asked from the desolate plains.
“Is it all over now?”
“Probably? If you also need to shed a bit of blood to feel better like I do, as the good child I am, I can’t do that, so you’ll have to handle it yourself!”
“…I’m not a bad child who would torment a demoralized negotiation partner.”
“At your age, calling yourself a child is a bit much, no?”
“Shut it. I might stomp you down.”
“Eek.”
As I bickered with Senior Velvet, Jonnas and Reap watched warmly.
With that settled, I think I’ll return from this outing with some of the latest women’s attire from the Kingdom of Florence for Sing.
