Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 1 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 5===
The following oral examination was also passed successfully without any problems occurring. The key point was, of course, for Miu and Akatsuki to take the examiner’s inquiry together. Since they had returned from the same alternative world, and the two of them were in a brother and sister relationship, Akatsuki’s specifically made a proposal and asked the examiner to make a joint interview, which resulted in the examiner accepting it. [[File:HYnA vol 01 006.jpg|thumbnail]]
 


Although joint interviews are a rare situation, it does not mean there isn’t a precedent. When Miu did not know how to reply, Akatsuki would take responsibility and round things up in a timely manner. This was one of the reasons the two passed successfully.


 
Now both of them appeared in the arena’s stage.
 
“This is the last stage, allow me to see your strengths.”
 
A male who was approaching his forties said to them.
 
He was the combat skills instructor responsible for testing out Miu and Akatsuki.
 
“There is a variety of weapons here that you two are free to select. Some of the weapons might not be as finesse, but please first deal with it. After you are formally accepted, the school will provide the best weapons based on each individual’s needs. Also, this examination does not restrict the usage of magic, it is fine for you two to use magic to decide the victory. In short, select your most skillful, your most powerful way to display your strength.”

As the combat skill instructor said, the walls were covered with a variety of strange weapons. Miu, following the order one by one, was deciding while at the same time contemplating carefully within her heart.
 
...The opponent utilizes the halberd which is strong against long range attacks, so…
 
Among all the weapons, Miu picked the single-handed short sword. She was a magician, not a warrior. Before activating magic, it required some time to concentrate. In order to avoid the opponent’s attacking while chanting, a small weapon was necessary for defense.
 
As for Akatsuki, he casually put his hands behind his head.
 
“Ah, I do not require weapons.”
 
“Quite confident huh, are you sure? I was taken back during the Norn Screening when a <True Hero> appeared, but only to find out that you can’t even use magic.”
 
After saying this, the combat skills instructor laughed.
 
“—— It can’t be that you don’t even know how to use a sword right?”
 
“That’s not it. During the time at that world, I was basically fighting with a sword.”
 
“Well, you decide then, just don’t overdo it. But the results of your combat abilities are related to your placement after admission, so deliberately hiding your strength will be your loss.”
 
“Didn’t you want us to show off our strength? That’s why this is enough.”
 
“Well, it is your choice. Once you’re ready, let’s begin. Having both of you come at me together is fine too, please bring out your real strength.”
 
The combat instructor lifted up the halberd.
 
“HeyHeyHey, that isn’t good right?”
 
Akatsuki’s face suddenly showed a smile filled with confidence.
 
“What if you get instantaneously killed by me, I can’t let you lose all your pride right?”
 
“Youuu...You should say less words, okay?”
 
Akatsuki’s plea was honestly too intense, so Miu quickly tried to diffuse the situation. However, the combat skills instructor seemed to be infuriated.
 
“This you don’t have to worry about. I have been an examiner for many years, I have confidence in my own strength. In the past, I have almost never been beaten by the new students.  And even if I am not as skilled as the others, your attacks won’t damage me.”
 

Why?

 
“Babel school’s campus is enclosed within a special barrier, any physical or magic attack will only affect the opponent’s mental status and cannot harm the opponent’s body. That said, I will still feel pain and may even lose consciousness, but within the effects of the barrier, that is the biggest amount of damage that can be done, so you guys can safely attack.”
 
This should be a measure to prevent trespassing students and teaching staff members from having personal fights. An alternative world returnee is like a powerful time bomb; in case of a conflict with each other, there is no guarantee that it will not cause any unnecessary casualties. To reduce this sort of loss, the school set a strong defense barrier within the Babel school campus.
 
“Well then, there is no problem.”
 
Akatsuki gently stroked his chin.
 
“Miu, you’ll start first.”
 
“Huh? But the instructor wants us together...”
 
“It does not matter, the instructor also did not say it must be together — right?”
 
Akatsuki looked at the combat skills instructor in front of him. The two of them were separated by Miu.
 
The combat skills instructed nodded.
 
“Ah, that’s okay too, you guys can decide.”
 
“See.”
 
Akatsuki said while smiling.
 
“That’s right, ears over here.”
 
After Miu followed the orders and lifted her right ear, Akatsuki whispered beside her ear.
 
“—— How’s that, no problem right?”
 
“It is not a problem, But… are you really sure you want to do this?”
 
“If there’s no problem, then just go ahead.”
 
Akatsuki gently pushed Miu shoulders and brought her in front of the combat skills instructor.
 
“Is your fighting style using weapon or magic?”
 
“It’s magic, the short sword is only a weapon used for defense...”
 
Miu’s eyes fell to the short sword in her hand. After the instructor saw this, he could not help but smile.
 
“You can rest assured about this point. My goal is to test your strength; I will not initiate the attack. Since it is the use of magic, you can begin the chant now.”
 
“Yes... uhh, pleased to meet you.”
 
After bowing down, Miu began to concentrate. Just seeing a magic circle expanding by her side, bursting with a dazzling light, it turned into a defensive effect barrier.
 
“Hmm...”
 
The combat skill instructor expression changed and he took a battle posture. The more powerful the magic, the stronger the barrier needed to avoid suffering from attacks during the chanting phase. Miu made an abnormally strong defensive barrier, which meant that the magic she was about to cast had a considerable degree of power. Miu, entering the chanting phase, could clearly see the combat skills instructor calculating the time.  The defensive barrier, used for the chant, must be cancelled the instant before activating the magic. Otherwise, the magic will hit the defensive barrier and the power will decrease significantly. Thus, the defensive barrier will disappear at some point of time. It is a very important signal during a magical battle.
 

...Do I really have to do this?

 
The moment Miu activated her magic, she felt some guilt.
 
Because she did not cancel the defensive barrier.
 
“Ah——!”
 
The combat skills instructor was deeply surprised.
 
After a burst of strong wind, a tornado surfaced in mid-air. The tornado did not rise from the ground to the skies, but rather from Miu to the instructor in front, directly hitting the target.
 
The unprepared instructor’s entire body flew off and heavily hit the arena walls.
 
“Guuu...!”
 
After standing up steadily with difficulty, the instructor took a deep breath and raised his head.
 
A dazzling light followed by an explosive noise came towards and impartially hit the instructor.
 
During the emergency, the combat skills instructor adopted a magical defense, but the magic power of Miu far exceeded the instructor’s mental strength. This time, the instructor could not stand it any longer and powerlessly lay on the floor.
 
Although it will produce a protective barrier during the chanting process of performing magic, a high class magician can cancel the generation of the barrier. Because he was blindly calculating the activation timing of magic, the other side undoubtedly gained control. But then again, the protective barrier is only one method of deception in magical combat; just cancelling the barrier is not enough for experienced instructors to fall into the trap.
 
In truth, Miu’s defensive barrier was just a cover up. She first pretended to activate the barrier and then took the opportunity to activate magic. This is a highly skilled magician’s preferred high class skill. While chanting magic and cancelling the defensive barrier then activate a disguised barrier, at first glance it may only seem like three steps. But, in fact, it's necessary to maintain a high degree of balance between each action. If one of the steps failed, the magic will not activate.
 
Therefore, this technique is not applicable during the ever-changing battlefield. This time it was just a simple test, plus the other side stood motionless, which led to Miu succeeding easily.
 
“HeyHeyHey, is that really true? You are quite powerful.”
 
Akatsuki could not help but compliment Miu’s performance. Defeating an enemy who stood motionlessly is not rare, the rare sight was that in addition to the tornado, Miu actually even added lightning magic afterwards. In truth, Akatsuki only made the suggestion for cancelling the defensive barrier and activating a disguised barrier, but he could not believe that Miu’s performance was beyond his imagination. Of course, chanting two magics together is not as difficult as it seems; however, the chanting of the two types of magic, and at the same time, cancelling a defensive barrier, and adding a disguised barrier, this is not something every magician can do. According to Akatsuki, probably only Listy, Loutier and Galious, etc, a few dozen magicians had this capability. This meant that Miu’s strength was definitely in the ranks of a master mage. Being the demon king’s daughter wasn’t just for show. After the other staff members performed first aid on the combat instructor, Miu returned to Akatsuki’s side.
 
“I don’t like this sort of underhanded tricks.”
 
“It does not matter. The combat instructor cast a magical barrier in time, so the damage should be reduced. Besides, no matter how serious the injury, at most, it is only a temporary concussion and is not life-threatening. The only loss I see is that his clothes turned into charcoal.”
 
Laughing at the same time, Akatsuki twisted his shoulders.
 
“Then next, it’s my turn. Instructors, can you hurry up? Your body is unwell but there is no damage right?”
 
“Please...Please...wait for a moment...”
 
The instructor, who was checking for injuries on the combat skills instructor, seemed to be hesitating.
 
“The damage is more serious than expected, I am afraid he will awake after two or three days. It looks like he is unable to act as your opponent.”
 
“Then what do I do? Being admitted without being tested in combat?”
 
“T...That is obviously impossible.”
 
“Are there no other combat skill instructors?”
 
“There is some, but in order to change the entrance examination examiner, we must obtain permission from the high level executives such as the headmaster. The other combat skill instructors also need time to be prepared.”
 
“——That being said, why don’t I temporarily act as the examiner.”
 


A voice came from the arena’s entrance, and everyone on the scene turned and looked at the rear.