“Oh ho… It’s that impressive?” asked Mira, who’d only received the text after asking for it on a whim.
To Mira, the text simply felt like an introduction to basic military tactics. Her first thought had been that if she knew the basics, she might be able to operate her forces like a standard military force.
However, considering Bruce’s reaction to it, it seemed like the text went far beyond just the basics.
Feeling deeply grateful, Mira resumed her discussion of how she’d split up her troops between the seven sisters. Behind her, figuring that he might be able to use some of what was being discussed, Bruce began taking notes along with Helknae and her sisters.
Morning came, and with it, the time for training. This particular day would be the first installment of their new tactics lessons, though it was to take place during the latter half of the training session. The first half of training began just like usual. Thanks to what Mira had said, their basic drills had been scaled back somewhat. Even though these drills weren’t on quite the same level as the ones the seven sisters did, Helknae and her sisters still seemed to be struggling quit a bit.
Meanwhile, Mira was examining just how much Bruce had improved after his training the day before. His assignment had been to take on one of her ashen knights using only partial evocation. Ultimately, he hadn’t managed to defeat it, but since he’d made it through the entire training session, Bruce’s skills had visibly improved. It must’ve been quite the desperate fight; in particular, his shield partial invocation had improved so much that it almost looked like someone else’s.
“Fantastic, you could definitely use that in actual combat,” Mira said, complimenting Bruce after he perfectly blocked a strike from her dark knight. And yet, while he’d gotten quite a bit faster using the sword partial evocation, it still wasn’t on the level which would allow him to use it in combat.
Therefore, Mira told him she’d be working with him specifically on this, starting that day. Then she summoned an ashen knight.
Bruce’s spirits, which had been sky-high after earning Mira’s praise, plummeted. Having most likely remembered what’d happened the day before, he followed her with his face white as a sheet. And so, with this unforgiving signal that training was to begin, Bruce would once more spend the entire day training to use partial evocations until he was utterly wiped out.
Once late afternoon arrived, their battlefield tactics training finally began. Since it might be useful to them in the tournament, in addition to helping them improve their leadership skills, Bruce and Helknae participated as well.
They begin with small squads.
Alfina and her sisters acted as the captains, while their squads were made up of dark knights. Helknae and her sisters had yet to learn even the basics of commanding troops, and so while they couldn’t do so very effectively, they were still able to more or less form their squads.
Additionally, they’d decided on who the captains of the newly created squads would be. Elezina would be in charge of the bow division, Charwiena would handle the spear division, and Selestina would lead the battle-axe division.
Those three in particular had a lot to remember, and so they had a greater share of bookwork. However, that work would be done with the time they had left over from their now-reduced basic training, which meant the three didn’t seem too distraught about having to study. If anything, they seemed happy to take it on, knowing that it’d help out Mira.
And so, their days of training were over in a flash. Before Mira knew it, her week in Valhalla was over, and it was finally time to return to the surface.
Quite a bit had happened since they began their training. After dinner every night, the sisters would end up congregating in Mira’s room, where they’d have a study session in which they learned about various battlefield tactics which they then shared their thoughts and opinions on.
Bruce’s special training was progressing smoothly as well, such that he’d finally succeeded in his task of defeating an ashen knight using only partial evocation. And, exactly as Mira had promised, he’d reached the next level in just that week.
And, though thoroughly burnt out by the end of each day, Helknae and her sisters completed Alfina and her sisters’ training. They’d certainly strengthened their bodies, but most importantly, they’d strengthened their grit and determination.
Additionally, they’d studied tactics alongside Bruce. Even if they couldn’t lead a large fighting force, they’d learned enough that they could make use of small squads.
But, most significantly, Alfina and her sisters were already beginning to get the hang of operating forces which incorporated the newly developed divisions.
Having previously been in charge of commanding her forces, they picked all this up quickly. Of note was the simultaneous arrow volley of Elezina’s bow division, which was particularly impressive.
It was the morning of the day when Mira would be returning to the surface. Having gone to the lowermost island that contained the entrance to Valhalla, Mira was speaking to Alfina and her sisters, who’d come to send her off.
“I’m happy to see how hard you’re all working, but make sure that you don’t overdo it.”
“Yes…Master. You honor us with your praise…” Alfina answered, overwhelmed with emotion and at the same time feeling reluctant to see her go.
The week Mira had spent there had been like a dream to her.
“Please come back anytime, Master,” Christina said cheerfully.
Then, saying a quiet thanks for helping them get their training toned down, she smiled happily.
Mira then went and said goodbye to each of the sisters individually.
Elezina passionately told Mira that she would study how to let her arrow squad use arrows imbued with magical buffs as well. She said that was why she hoped Mira would summon her whenever she was free, so she could test this out.
Elezina was quite enterprising when it came to magic. However, as soon as Mira agreed to her proposal, all the other sisters began peppering her with requests as well, and they only settled down once Mira agreed to summon each of them once a week.
Floedina had apparently planted the seeds that Mira had given her. What’s more, she said they had already sprouted, and she seemed truly excited to let Mira know how they would grow in the future.
Charwiena had apparently read all of the manga that Mira had lent her earlier, and so she begged Mira with puppy dog eyes to let her know if she came across any new books.
On that note, she’d also finished reading through the book on tactics from Solomon and had memorized everything within it. And so, from there on out, they’d be using her as their strategist.
Meanwhile, Elievina reported to Mira that she’d been making good progress on their new gambesons.
The cloth that she’d woven with the materials Mira had given her earlier was not only flexible, but also heat-resistant, durable, and blade-resistant. As such, it far exceeded her expectations.
Appearing to be in thoroughly good spirits, she told Mira that she thought she’d be able to make the ultimate gambesons.
Hardly able to catch her breath, Selestina spoke of the progress she’d made coming up with her special technique. She continued that she was sure she could debut it very soon, and she’d show Mira that it could take down even the strongest of foes.
And so, while Mira said her goodbyes to each of the seven sisters, Bruce, Helknae, and her sisters spoke with each other.
Having endured spending the same amount of time training in the same place under the same incredible type of mentor, they seemed to have forged an even stronger bond with each other, and they were all united in their desire to keep getting stronger together.
“All right, then I’ll see you in a week.”
“Thank you for everything.”
That was what Mira and Bruce said in parting while they passed through the gate out of Valhalla. And, having both had a very fulfilling time there, they returned to the surface.
After returning from Valhalla, Mira and Bruce took off from Filz Isle and headed straight for Nirvana.
Now, as they sailed through the sky on their way back…
“Listen, there’s no way of knowing who you’ll be up against in the open division, so we need to come up with a strategy,” Mira said nonchalantly, while they were waiting to arrive back in the city.
Taken aback when he heard her say this so casually, Bruce answered, “Huh…? Ah! Y-yes… Of course!”
He was so surprised because he’d anticipated entering into the mage division.
Since he was a tower mage, he was undoubtedly a top-level mage, and so he’d likely been aiming at getting the gold in that division.
However, this would not be the case for the open division, in which mages, warriors, and anyone else would be competing. Unlike Mira, a normal summoner like himself was at a disadvantage going up against warrior-class contestants who were skilled at close-range combat. Sailor Guardian…or rather, the Wise Man Meilin, would be competing in that division as well. Because of that, getting first place was more or less impossible.
But that was when Bruce finally realized something. The reason Mira had prioritized the shield partial evocation during his training wasn’t so that he could take on necromancers’ golems, sages, demonologists, or other mages who specialized in close-range combat, but so that he could withstand blows from warrior-class opponents who fought at close range.
Having figured out at the very last second that he’d be competing in the open division, Bruce absent-mindedly listened to Mira prattling on about her dream of evocation once more being restored to its former glory while he looked away toward the rapidly approaching land beneath them.