Chapter 7: "The Remnant Flames of the Six Stars‚ Design Completed"
The tactical design room at the Crimson Lotus Kingdom's frontline base.
A magic formula and tactical map spread across the entire wall.
The air was tense‚ but a somehow soft tension drifted through it.
Yug Sarion was opening a poetry collection and spreading out his notebook.
His stomach pain was grinding as usual‚ but today even that felt like part of the tactic.
「……This is the completed form.
The remnant flames of the six stars. Narration · Scent · Shadow · Light · Sword · Delusion.
The six elements will shake the battlefield」
His voice was quietly answered by his comrades.
Serina Noctia smiled with her scent ring in hand‚ and Lumina Valtia nodded in silence.
Vald Greia was sharpening his sword while silently adjusting his stance.
And in the corner of the room — farther away than anyone else — was Illmina Ferna.
She was adjusting coordinates with trembling fingertips in front of the light magic formula diagram.
She made eye contact with no one‚ spoke to no one‚ and simply faced the magic formula.
Her figure was timid like a small animal‚ yet the precision of the magic formula was extraordinarily beautiful.
「……Illmina‚ are you ready?」
When Yug called out to her‚ her shoulders jumped with a start.
Her face turned red as she gave a small nod.
No voice came out. But the magic formula was perfect.
「Light magic‚ afterimage interference formula…… coordinates fixed…… energy distribution‚ complete……」
Her voice was hoarse‚ but the formula diagram did not waver.
Formulas floated in the space‚ and light began to trace the outline of the narration.
Serina whispered softly.
「……That girl is working harder than anyone.
Yesterday too‚ she was rewriting the magic formula over a hundred times in an empty room」
Lumina said quietly.
「Perfectionism. She’s turning a voice that only she can reach into magic」
Yug gazed at Illmina’s back.
She spoke to no one‚ relied on no one‚ and simply faced the magic formula.
Yet her concentration was extraordinary.
「……Illmina. Without your light‚ the narration cannot reach.
Thank you」
At his words‚ Illmina trembled slightly.
Then‚ for just a brief moment‚ she looked toward Yug.
Their eyes met.
She immediately looked away‚ but a definite light dwelled in her eyes.
「……I will draw the outline of the narration.
The afterimage…… so that it remains in memory…… I will adjust it」
Her voice was trembling‚ but the magic formula did not waver.
Light spread through the space‚ and the stage of the narration was visualized.
Yug opened the poetry collection.
The narration shook the air.
「Life is not something to be protected by the sword.
Life is something to be chosen by narration.
What do you want to protect with your heart?
What do you want to leave behind with your memory?」
Spirits dwelled in the narration‚ scent swayed‚ shadow sank‚ sword trembled‚ and delusion burned.
And Illmina’s light drew the outline of the narration.
The afterimage remained in the space‚ and the words were engraved in memory.
Lumina quietly announced.
「Tactic established. The remnant flames of the six stars can now be deployed in actual combat」
Yug looked around at his comrades.
Serina’s scent‚ Lumina’s silence‚ Vald’s sword‚ Illmina’s light.
The fire of narration dwelled within them.
Illmina was staring at the magic formula in the corner of the room.
She sought no praise from anyone and was simply confirming the beauty of the formula.
Yet a definite pride dwelled in her back.
Yug quietly approached her and lowered his voice.
「……Illmina. Your light will become the memory of the narration.
Thank you. Truly」
She lifted her face for just a brief moment.
And she smiled faintly.
It was a smile so small that no one could see it‚ yet it was warmer than the fire of narration.
｜The remnant flames of the six stars‚ design completed.
｜Narration and spirits and silence and scent and sword and delusion‚ and light‚ became the fire that reaches life.
｜The small mage was quietly preparing‚ more quietly than anyone‚ to illuminate the battlefield.
｜Still‚ no one knows yet.
｜The day will come when this fire chooses destruction.
Chapter 8: "Battlefield‚ Where Narration and Spirits Intersect"
When the morning mist still lingered on the ground‚ the Crimson Lotus Kingdom’s frontline base was quietly holding its breath.
Beyond the hill‚ the Imperial Army’s formation was ready. Flags swayed in the wind‚ soldiers polished their swords‚ and waited for orders.
Yug Sarion stood at the front of the battlefield.
He held the poetry collection to his chest‚ endured his stomach pain‚ and was surrounded by spirits.
Invisible wind spirits drifted around him.
The fire of narration was still shaking the air before it became words.
「……The spirits are gathering. Your narration really is special」
Serina Noctia had finished her ritual with the scent ring in hand.
Spirits emitting a faint light danced around her.
Wind‚ scent‚ light — they were waiting for Yug’s narration in response to her call.
「Preparations are complete. The spirit field is stable too. It’s all up to your narration now」
Yug nodded.
He closed the poetry collection and took a deep breath.
His stomach groaned. Delusion stirred. But that too was part of the tactic.
「Then let’s begin. Remnant flames of the six stars — First configuration‚ activate」
His voice was not a shout.
It was narration.
The words shook the air‚ and the spirits resonated with that tremor.
「Light‚ shake the enemy’s field of vision. Shadow‚ make their footing vague. Scent‚ awaken their memories. Sword‚ intimidate without swinging. Delusion‚ ignite fire in the enemy’s heart. And — narration‚ reach their lives」
The spirits moved all at once.
Wind swirled‚ and mist rose over the Imperial soldiers’ formation.
Shadows at their feet swayed‚ making the ground look unstable.
Scent drifted‚ calling forth the soldiers’ memories — family‚ hometown‚ things they had lost.
「Wh-what is this feeling……!」
「Draw your swords! No‚ wait…… why am I crying……!」
The Imperial soldiers fell into confusion.
Yug’s narration was reaching their hearts.
Their fighting spirit crumbled‚ and the hands gripping their swords trembled.
At that moment‚ Illmina Ferna moved.
She stood at the edge of the tactical array‚ deploying the magic formula so that no one would notice.
Her fingertips trembled‚ but the coordinates of light were precise.
Formulas floated in the space‚ and the afterimage of the narration was burned into their vision.
「……Light interference‚ commencing. Afterimage…… so that it remains in memory……」
Her voice was hoarse‚ but the magic did not waver.
Yug’s narration was engraved as an afterimage in the Imperial soldiers’ field of vision.
The words took on the outline of light and burned themselves into memory.
「……That voice is reaching into my heart…… something got through……」
「It’s the smell of my mother’s field. Why‚ on the battlefield……?」
Serina quietly drew near to Yug.
「……Your narration made the spirits happy.
But I think they were crying a little too」
Yug lowered his eyes.
「Narration is fire. Whether it reaches life or burns it away — that depends on the other party」
Lumina quietly announced from behind.
「Unrecordable. The Empire has begun calling you the ‘Nightmare of Ancient Legend’」
Yug smiled bitterly.
「A nightmare is fine. As long as lives remain‚ that’s enough」
At that moment‚ Illmina closed the magic formula.
She tried to quietly retreat so that no one would see her.
But Yug called out to her.
「……Illmina. Your light turned the narration into memory.
Thank you」
Her shoulders jumped with a start.
Her face turned red as she gave a small nod.
Then‚ for just a brief moment‚ she looked toward Yug.
A definite light dwelled in her eyes.
｜The battlefield where narration and spirits intersected.
｜The fire reached them‚ and lives remained.
｜The small mage was quietly illuminating the battlefield‚ more quietly than anyone.
｜But the day when that fire chooses destruction is not far off.
Chapter 9: "Side Effects: Stomach Pain‚ Tears‚ and Smiles"
After the battlefield fell silent‚ a strange aftertaste lingered at the Crimson Lotus Kingdom’s frontline base.
No one had died‚ no one was wounded; only the fire of narration had burned the soldiers’ hearts.
Its reverberation still drifted in the air.
Yug Sarion was slumped in a chair in the corner of the operations room.
The poetry collection was closed‚ and the notebook remained spread open on the desk.
His hand pressed against his stomach‚ and his face was pale.
「……My stomach feels like it’s going to explode」
Serina Noctia approached with a steaming cup in hand.
The scent was sweet and gentle‚ easing Yug’s stomach pain just a little.
「Side effects. The fire of narration was too strong.
The spirits were also overreacting to your narration」
Yug accepted the cup with a bitter smile.
「I’m happy the spirits are pleased‚ but my internal organs are screaming」
「But it was a success.
The Imperial soldiers discarded their swords. The narration reached them.
Your ideal came true‚ didn’t it?」
Yug stared at the cup.
The steam was swaying.
That swaying felt like the aftertaste of the narration.
「……It wasn’t just the narration that reached them.
Spirits‚ scent‚ light‚ shadow‚ sword‚ delusion too.
Everything reached their lives.
But that scares me」
Serina sat down in the chair.
「Scares you?」
「When narration reaches too deeply‚ it burns life.
I only meant to light a fire.
But when I saw those soldiers’ eyes……
the narration was burning their memories」
Serina quietly nodded.
「Even so‚ lives remained.
What was burned was their fighting spirit.
Your fire was selective」
At that moment‚ the door opened quietly.
Illmina Ferna entered‚ holding recording sheets of the magic formula.
She made eye contact with no one and quietly sat in the corner of the room.
When Yug noticed her‚ Illmina’s shoulders jumped with a start.
Her face turned red as she held out the recording sheets.
「……Light magic interference‚ successful.
Afterimage…… fixed in the enemy soldiers’ memory.
I was able to visually…… supplement the outline of the narration」
Yug accepted the papers and smiled.
「Thank you‚ Illmina.
Your light turned the narration into memory」
Illmina gave a small nod.
Then‚ for just a brief moment‚ she looked toward Yug.
A definite light dwelled in her eyes.
「……But I……
might have burned the enemy soldiers’ memories.
That scares me」
Yug lowered his eyes at her words.
「I’m scared too.
I’m happy when the narration reaches them.
But when it reaches too deeply‚ it burns life.
That’s the true nature of fire」
Serina slipped a word in between the two.
「But the fire you two create is gentle.
It doesn’t burn — it illuminates.
The spirits said so too」
Illmina lowered her face and murmured softly.
「……If it was able to illuminate‚ then I’m glad」
At that moment‚ Lumina Valtia entered quietly.
「The Empire has classified the record of the narration as ‘unrecordable.’
Yug Sarion has begun to be called the ‘Nightmare of Ancient Legend’」
Yug smiled bitterly.
「A nightmare is fine. As long as lives remain‚ that’s enough」
Serina held out the cup.
「Then here’s another cup to heal the nightmare’s stomach」
Yug accepted it and smiled.
That smile held a quiet color of peace that he never showed on the battlefield.
Illmina saw that smile and let the corners of her mouth relax just a little.
It was a smile so small that no one noticed‚ yet it was warmer than the fire of narration.
｜Side effects: stomach pain‚ tears‚ and smiles.
｜The fire of narration reached life‚ shook hearts‚ and lit the bond between comrades.
｜The small mage was quietly illuminating the battlefield‚ more quietly than anyone.
｜Still‚ no one knows yet.
｜The day will come when this fire chooses destruction.
Chapter 10: "The Empire Classifies the Nightmare as Unrecordable"
Imperial Army Headquarters‚ Black Steel Citadel.
Silence filled the tactical records room.
Among the battle reports lining the walls‚ there was only one — left blank and classified as unrecordable.
「……Battle spirit of soldiers collapsed through narration.
Zero deaths. No clash of swords.
Tactical defeat. Unrecordable」
Adjutant Schvil Kainess was trembling as he held the report.
Nothing was written on the paper — no structure of the tactic‚ no enemy formation.
Only one line: “Burned by narration.”
General Leonis Valhardt glared at the report.
「Unrecordable? Don’t screw with me.
Tactics have structure. There is no such thing as a tactic that cannot be recorded」
Staff Officer Mirfi Elna carefully chose her words and spoke.
「However‚ General. The soldiers testified that ‘the voice reached their hearts.’
The narration shook their memories and stole their fighting spirit.
Interference from spirits has also been confirmed」
Leonis slammed his fist on the desk.
「Spirits? Narration? That’s all fantasy.
The soldiers were frightened because they are weak.
But the word ‘unrecordable’ — it means the army’s defeat」
Mirfi quietly held out the report.
「The soldiers have begun calling Yug Sarion the ‘Nightmare of Ancient Legend.’
The moment the narration reached them‚ they apparently mistook the battlefield for a ‘mythical stage’」
Leonis tore up the report and threw it away.
「Myths are unnecessary.
The battlefield is reality. An army that yields to fantasy is no Empire」
At that moment‚ the door to the records room opened quietly.
A young soldier held out a single sheet of paper with trembling hands.
「……General. This is what I saw.
The afterimage of the narration was burned into my vision……
Even now‚ when I close my eyes‚ that voice echoes」
Leonis accepted the paper.
A light magic formula was drawn on it.
Afterimage interference — a technique to engrave the outline of narration visually.
It was the trace of Illmina Ferna‚ the light mage of the Crimson Lotus Kingdom.
「……Visual interference‚ huh.
Magic that burns narration into memory.
Then narration is not fire — it is poison」
Mirfi nodded quietly.
「Not poison — a reverberation.
Narration turns the battlefield into fantasy.
The soldiers were drawn not into tactics‚ but into a ‘story’」
Leonis stood up.
「Then we will cut the story short.
Before the narration reaches them‚ we will silence the narrator.
Yug Sarion — we will crush that fire with a swift strike」
The records room fell silent.
No one objected.
That was how the Empire fought.
That night‚ Leonis walked alone through the training ground.
The soldiers continued training to block emotions.
They sealed their memories and forged hearts that would not react to narration.
「A heart that can be reached by narration is unnecessary on the battlefield.
To defeat fantasy‚ all we can do is thrust reality at it」
He looked up at the sky.
No stars were visible.
Unlike the sky of the Crimson Lotus Kingdom‚ the Empire’s sky was always cloudy.
At that moment‚ the wind blew.
A faint scent drifted.
Wisteria and yuzu.
It was the scent used by the spirit mages of the Crimson Lotus Kingdom.
Leonis frowned.
「……Even the scent is reaching us.
Does the reverberation of narration ride the wind?」
He drew his sword.
He slashed the air.
The scent vanished.
Yet a faint tremor remained deep in his heart.
「Ridiculous. It’s fantasy.
I win with speed」
He sheathed his sword and left the training ground.
Raising soldiers who could not be reached by narration.
That was the Empire’s answer.
｜The Empire classifies the nightmare as unrecordable.
｜The fire of narration burned the records‚ remained in memory‚ and became myth.
｜The small mage’s light drew the outline of the narration and engraved afterimages in the soldiers’ hearts.
｜Still‚ no one knows yet.
｜The day will come when this fire chooses destruction.
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