I Already Know My Magic Power Is Ridiculously High! Now I Just Need a Cute Wife... - Episode 96

The Nevrim Baron Household.

It was my mother’s family home, and during the Ortenos Kingdom era, it was the Nevrim Viscount Household – one of the hangers-on of the Ranecki Marquis Household.

Being a relatively young family historically, they didn’t possess orthodox engraved magic formulas like Mithril Ray. However, it was a rare household originating from an assassin who made killing their profession.

Thus, my mother’s attire was fundamentally black, clad in combat gear resembling that of a ninja.

“Lady Elmia, I shall test the extent of your resolve. Should you lose, you will sever ties with Shalka and relinquish your position as heir. Be prepared for that.”

“Fine. But in return, Camilla, if you lose, you will never again interfere in my relationship with Shalka. This is an order from the next head of the Ortenos Marquis Household.”

The implication was clear – from now on, she would recognize Elmia as the next head and keep her own family quiet.

Elmia wore white-based combat attire.

A practical miniskirt paired with a sacred robe like that of a saint.

In her hand, she gripped a staff.

“…Very well.”

“Just out of curiosity, Camilla, why do you interfere in my relationship with Shalka?”

“There’s no way I could entrust my precious Shalka to a brat like you who’s all talk.”

“Then all I need to do is prove I’m more than just talk.”

Elmia and my mother readied their astral tools.

“…Then, begin!”

At my father’s signal, given with a complicated expression, both began channeling their magical energy.

Elmia was more of a long-range type.

In contrast, my mother was a hardcore physical attacker who closed in with body enhancement.

“Perish, Camilla!”

Elmia’s magic completed first.

Mithril Ray.

But Elmia’s version was slightly different from a laser beam.

As she swung her staff, seven orbs of light floated around her.

(I see, she plans to overwhelm with numbers.)

From the seven orbs, thin, penetrating Mithril Ray bullets were fired.

Each orb reloaded at about one-second intervals, allowing her to fire seven Mithril Rays per second.

Elmia’s original magic was like a gatling gun.

“Quite skilled with magic. As expected of Lady Elmia.”

“Fufu, how long will that composure last?”

My mother ran about wildly.

But dodging every bullet from the relentless barrage was nearly impossible.

Unable to avoid them all, Elmia’s light bullets eventually caught her.

“Got you.”

Elmia was certain she’d hit.

But my mother manifested a magic shield, deflecting them with minimal movement.

The deflected bullets struck the ground uselessly, creating craters.

“Wha—that’s Shalka’s! How do you know that technique?!”

Long ago, I had Elmia help me with defense training.

Elated at my request, Elmia happily obliged, saying “Fufun, I suppose I have no choice,” and fired the same gatling magic at me.

What I showed her then was the technique of deflecting with a shield.

Deflecting high-speed light bullets was like successfully performing a just guard in a game every single time.

Even I couldn’t do it consecutively.

Yet my mother demonstrated it effortlessly.

Elmia’s eyes widened in shock at my mother’s skill.

“Why the surprised face, Lady Elmia? After all, who do you think taught Shalka his combat skills—it was me.”

“…!”

Elmia continued firing light bullets.

But my mother deflected every single one.

Few nobles could perform this feat.

It was a dangerous technique where mistiming by even a fraction meant instant death.

“Lady Elmia, are you underestimating me?”

My mother stopped and began speaking.

Seeing this, Elmia temporarily halted her attacks.

“Shalka is currently being targeted by the Judiciary behind the scenes. Even the Ranecki family can no longer ignore Shalka, who proved himself in his debut and the ceasefire negotiations. They will likely attempt some interference just before you leave for the academy.”

“N-no way…!”

In Elmia’s plan, once we reached the academy, we’d be beyond their reach.

When we spoke in Bangwall, she intended to resolve the legitimacy issue with Ranecki using external forces.

I agreed then, but after the Judiciary’s attack in Bangwall, I’ve since decided to dismantle the Judiciary by force.

“I, of course, intend to protect Shalka. But what about you? You speak as if everything will be resolved once you’re in charge, but in truth, you’re so lovestruck you haven’t considered anything concrete, have you?”

“…!”

Elmia was visibly shaken by my mother’s accurate jab.

Honestly, it was obvious Elmia was a lovestruck airhead who only thought of getting lovey-dovey with me at the academy.

From my perspective, crushing Ranecki was the simplest and best solution.

“That part of you is just like the late Elena. If you continue like this, you’ll surely meet the same tragic end as Elena.”

My mother smiled coldly, looking down on Elmia.

“Wha—! How dare you insult my mother…!”

Strong emotions surged from Elmia, disrupting her magical energy.

My mother didn’t miss this opening.

She channeled her magic and fired a rapid barrage of magical bullets.

This was an inferior version of Elmia’s gatling magic.

Elmia belatedly began countering, but this was a mistake.

My mother’s barrage was a feint to divert her attention.

The real threat was close combat.

Seizing Elmia’s opening, my mother closed the distance.

“Haa!”

“Guh! Fast!”

My mother thrust her spear in one fluid motion.

Elmia had no time to enhance her body.

She barely deflected it with her staff.

My mother’s astral tool was a peculiar spear with a twisted bud-like tip.

“Too naive, Lady Elmia.”

My mother channeled magic into her astral tool.

The twisted bud at the tip bloomed.

Her spear transformed into a sinister astral tool sprouting numerous protrusions.

“Eh? …Kyaa!”

The protrusions from the spear she thought she’d deflected tore into her side.

Bl00d dripped down.

“Haah… haah…”

“Lady Elmia, why not surrender? You stand no chance now.”

“Haah… haah… Who would surrender?”

Elmia was forced into pure defense with no chance to use healing magic.

Even if she parried the thrusts, she couldn’t fully guard against the freely moving protrusions.

“You’ve always been like this. Making that miserly face, crying to make Shalka worry, thinking it would get his attention.”

“…”

“Let me be clear, you’re just being spoiled by Shalka. Someone like you becoming head and taking Shalka as your husband? Don’t make me laugh!”

The difference in combat experience showed.

My mother knocked aside Elmia’s staff guard with her spear.

Elmia was left completely defenseless.

“It’s over, Lady Elmia.”

As my mother moved to deliver the final blow, her spear wouldn’t budge.

Why?

Looking at the spear’s tip, she saw the protrusions entangled in the decorative head of Elmia’s staff.

“It’s you who’s finished, Camilla.”

“You planned this?”

Seven orbs of light floated behind Elmia.

“You’ve been so annoying, you hag! But I love Shalka! So don’t get in my way!”

Then, at point-blank range, she fired the light bullets at Camilla.

Camilla hastily created a shield, but at such close range, deflecting was impossible, and the magic struck directly.

A deafening roar and a cloud of dust rose.

As the dust settled…

“…I did it… I won!”

“…Haah, haah. This is why you’re too careless.”

A voice came from behind.

“Guh—!”

Battered but still standing, Camilla had circled behind Elmia.

She immediately applied a chokehold.

Elmia struggled, but pinned by my mother’s legs, she couldn’t break free.

“Carelessness on the battlefield leads directly to death. Lady Elmia, you lose.”

Drool dripped from Elmia’s mouth.

Her eyes glazed over, seemingly at her limit until…

“No… I won’t lose! I don’t want Shalka to think I’m weak!”

“What?!”

Drawing on desperate strength, Elmia forced herself up.

Her body was enveloped in a divine white aura.

This was Elmia’s last stand.

“Raaaah!”

Using a shoulder throw, Elmia slammed both herself and my mother into the ground.

—With a thunderous crash, dust billowed violently.

The force, surpassing star-level body enhancement, created a massive crater.

Neither moved.

“Both unconscious. This match is a draw!”

My father’s voice echoed through the training ground.

Thus, their fierce battle came to a close.

——

Elmia’s bedroom.

“Ugh…”

“Elmia, are you awake?”

Elmia opened her eyes.

“Brother, What happened?”

“Don’t push yourself. Can you drink water?”

“Y-yes.”

I tilted the pitcher to let her drink.

“Brother, the duel’s result?”

“A draw. You showed real grit against Mother, Elmia. That last hit was incredible.”

“Ufufu, was it?! But…”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

Elmia’s face brightened momentarily before clouding over again.

It’d been a while since I’d seen her so downcast.

“Camilla was right about everything. I’ve been too spoiled by you, Brother…”

“That’s not true. You’ve been handling yourself well as the next head.”

“No, Brother. I… I wasn’t thinking at all. All I cared about was being with you. I didn’t realize until Camilla pointed it out.”

She’d gained some self-awareness.

But this felt like defeat, a loss of confidence.

Not a positive emotion.

“Elmia…”

“I can’t stay like this. As I am now, I can’t even protect you from Ranecki…”

Elmia’s voice trembled with frustration.

“Elmia, I’ll—no, never mind.”

I almost said “I’ll protect you,” but that felt wrong.

Elmia was confronting her own shortcomings and overconfidence.

I didn’t want to dismiss her feelings.

“I need to get stronger. Otherwise, I…”

“Yes, Lady Elmia, you must become stronger.”

“…! Camilla.”

My mother suddenly appeared in Elmia’s bedroom.

“I didn’t expect you to get up at that stage. I’m impressed, Lady Elmia. I might acknowledge you just a little.”

“Then…!”

Elmia looked up at my mother’s words.

“But the fact remains you didn’t defeat me. I still don’t believe you’re fit to lead the Ortenos family or that you’re worthy of Shalka.”

“I see…”

Her face fell again.

She was too easily swayed by my mother’s words.

“I said ‘yet,’ Lady Elmia. You have room to grow. If you reach the standard I expect, I might approve of your relationship with Shalka.”

“…What should I do?”

“Lady Elmia, become my disciple. I’ll personally train you to a level worthy of leading the Ortenos family.”

People believe convenient words when they’re vulnerable.

I could tell Elmia was in that state now.

My mother’s face looked like that of a con artist.

“Mother, what’s this about?”

I confronted her.

I couldn’t believe she’d accept Elmia so easily.

If she planned something, I’d oppose her even if she was my mother.

“Shalka, that glare hurts your mother’s feelings. Lady Elmia, you’re truly blessed to have Shalka care for you so much. That’s precisely why you can’t remain as you are.”

“Mother, don’t change the subject—”

“Shalka, this is between women. Stay out of it.”

“…”

I was effectively silenced.

Such is the plight of men when told this.

“Well then, Lady Elmia. Your answer?”

“…I accept.”

Only then did my mother smile.

“Good, good! I knew you’d say that, Lady Elmia. Then, in the short time before you leave for the academy, let’s work hard together.”

“Yes, please guide me.”

They shook hands.

I could only watch.

Elmia wasn’t in the best state.

What was my mother’s true intention behind this?

Her smiling facade hid something I couldn’t discern.

(I’ll need to keep a close eye on them both.)

Even as my sister grew, a brother’s worries never ceased.