Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Volume 2  Chapter 38   The scene where a middle-aged man appears wearing a girl’s tracksuit bottoms and being shirtless –> Settlement.

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…I’m glad I made it in time.

After escaping from confinement, I rushed towards the direction where I sensed a dangerous magical energy, sounds, and impacts. But when I arrived, Nina was about to cast a spell towards Miyano, and I was quite panicked.

As soon as I witnessed that scene, I took immediate action and disrupted Nina’s magic.

You might wonder if that’s even possible. Well, it is.

Nina may have the brute force to overcome situations, but fundamentally, she properly follows the principles of magic based on theory.

Magic may seem like something impressive that happens instantly to those who don’t understand it, but in reality, it involves a series of systematic steps.

Selection, evocation, radiation, designation, construction, comprehension, infusion, and execution.

These are the steps involved in using magic.

First, you choose the magic to use, then evoke the magical energy within your body. You radiate the magical energy outward to prepare the environment, designate the target of the spell, construct the spell step by step, comprehend the state of the completed magic, infuse the magic with the necessary energy, and finally, the magic is activated.

However, using magic quickly enough to be effective during combat is not possible with that approach.

Therefore, most spellcasters tend to cut corners during battles, and Nina is no exception.

So, where does she cut corners? It’s in the “construction” phase.

This is the most crucial part of using magic, but it’s also the easiest to take shortcuts on.

To put it simply, it’s like sloppy handwriting in simplified characters. You can understand it, and others might get the gist of it too.

However, just because you can read it doesn’t mean it’s correct. In a test, it would be considered a deduction or even a penalty.

Nevertheless, the magic still activates, but the fact remains that it’s not done correctly — there are vulnerabilities.

By forcefully colliding my concentrated magical energy with the flaws in the simplified magic’s construction and disrupting the “environment” and “structure,” it naturally breaks down.

“Um, excuse me… Why are you naked?”

So, I successfully disrupted Nina’s magic by directing my concentrated magical energy into the right spot. After saving Miyano in this manner, she looks at me with wide eyes, completely diffusing the tense atmosphere from moments ago.

Her gaze quickly averted… Well, I guess it’s a natural reaction when a naked middle-aged man suddenly appears.

“Oh, um, I’m glad you’re safe.”

From the questioning tone at the end, I can tell what she’s thinking about me, but there’s a reason for this.

“So, um… What’s with your outfit?”

“They confiscated my gear when they captured me. I wanted to retrieve it, but I have no idea where it is, and there seems to be some dangerously strong magical energy going wild. So, I gave up on retrieving it and came here for now.”

Currently, I’m shirtless with tight-fitting sweatpants, but the truth is, I didn’t even have these sweatpants to begin with.

I only realized this after leaving the room where I was held captive.

It didn’t bother me while I was inside the room, given the circumstances, I had forgotten about it. But when I suddenly felt a chill, I remembered that I wasn’t wearing any clothes.

Fortunately, they hadn’t taken my underwear, but still, walking around the school in just my underwear is not ideal.

So, although it took some time, I made a detour and borrowed what seemed to be a student’s tracksuit from the remains of a collapsed school building nearby.

However, a new problem arose here.

It turned out that the tracksuit I borrowed without permission was apparently a girl’s, and it didn’t fit me properly.

I contemplated whether it was appropriate to wear a girl’s gym uniform, but given the lack of time, I ended up wearing the pants and nothing on top.

I considered using a curtain as a makeshift cloak or even covering my face to hide the fact that I’m a naked middle-aged man, but I decided against it because it would only increase the creepiness factor.

Compared to those options, the current situation seems relatively better.

Well, I mean, even though it’s “better,” considering the current circumstances, it’s still pretty messed up.

“I-I see…”

“Well, more importantly…”

To prevent any further probing, I shifted my gaze towards Nina. It seemed like Miyano understood what I was trying to convey without saying anything and slowly stood up, facing Nina.

Her leg was not fully healed yet, but it seemed to have recovered enough for her to stand.

Even though it’s not her specialty, she manages to treat her injuries… sigh. It’s truly envy-inducing.

“Not yet. I can still fight.”

“You can still fight? You…”

“If it’s just one final strike, I can do it. So please, let me finish it. I said I would survive, I said I would be by your side.”

Even if she claims her injuries have healed enough to stand, there must still be pain. Probably, it’s the kind of pain that makes standing unbearable.

“I should really stop her…”

Miyano, determined to fight even at the risk of her own well-being.

As an instructor, it’s my role to stop her from such recklessness.

“Don’t die, alright?”

However, I still didn’t stop her.

After letting out a sigh, I spoke those words, and Miyano lightly chuckled before returning her gaze to Nina.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. It’ll be just one more time, but shall we play a little longer?”

“…Yes.”

Let’s play, huh?

Certainly, looking at Nina’s expression, there’s a hint of enjoyment. I wonder if Miyano is aware of that… Well, she probably is.

And so, they both construct their magic, releasing an aura befitting of the highest ranks.

“Haaaaaa… Aaaaaaaaahhh!!”

Somehow, an incredibly thick laser, almost beyond the description of electricity, is unleashed towards Nina. In return, a large white flame sphere is released from Nina towards Miyano.

Realizing the danger, I instinctively move behind Miyano and discreetly erect a protective barrier, making sure it doesn’t get noticed by either of them.

It may have a weak effect since it’s not my specialty, but it’s better than nothing when considering what comes next.

The immensely powerful lightning and flames collide, exactly as anticipated, wreaking havoc in the surroundings.

The impact is so intense that both Miyano and I are blown away. However, seeing that Miyano has clearly exhausted her strength, I judge that she won’t be able to take a proper defensive stance. In that moment, I quickly reach out and catch Miyano, preventing her from taking the full impact.

As we tumble together, it at least serves as some cushioning.

When the rolling comes to a stop, I quickly stand up and assess the situation. The white flame unleashed towards Miyano has completely disappeared. It seems they managed to cancel each other out.

Relieved by this realization, I step away from Miyano, who remains in a fallen position, her hands on the ground as she raises her head to look at Nina.

“This is… how is it? I’m alive… by your side.”

“To call it an equal footing would be far from accurate. While it’s true that you’ve managed to survive, you’re already on the brink of death. I can’t even say if it’s enough to be by my side, considering the state you’re in. It’s lacking to say the least.”

Still, I think it’s impressive just to be alive. After all, I’ve never directly taken a hit from Nina’s attacks.

I can survive fighting against Nina, but I’m always just evading until she tires out. I’ve never confronted her head-on like Miyano did this time.

So, this might be the first time Nina has actually landed a decent hit, right?

“…I see… What a shame.”

Miyano said only that before losing consciousness.

“But…”

Nina murmured softly while looking at the palm of her hand, gripping it tightly.

There’s probably something in her clenched hand.

However, I won’t ask what it is. I somehow understand, and besides… wouldn’t it be impolite?

“Are you satisfied now?”

That’s why I ask a different question.

Perhaps because she saw Miyano lose consciousness or because Asada and the others, who should have been at a distance, rushed over to Miyano, I leave them to it and approach Nina, speaking to her.

“No.”

“I see…”

I couldn’t help but feel disappointed by Nina’s response, as I had a slight hope that I could become something ‘important’ to her besides myself.

“But…”

However, Nina doesn’t utter any further words. Yet, her expression is that of a child, appropriately joyful and smiling.

“Just a little longer… Please, just a little more time to play.”