Black Clover: Nah I'd Lose (UPDATED)

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Why are his gains compounding over time?

This is because of two reasons.

The first is that it takes a person a certain amount of time to reach approximately 90 percent of their focus.

If they are distracted in this state, their focus will decrease.

Let us consider a scenario where they are distracted for one minute before returning to their task.

If their focus drops to 60 percent of their maximum, returning to 90 percent would require considerable time.

Therefore, when comparing this to an instance where the person remained undistracted, they lost valuable time in their near-peak focus (equivalent to the duration required to progress from 60 to 90 percent, which is substantial).

{A/N - If you are interested in this concept, search for "Cognitive Switching Penalty." This is not fictional.}

Simply being able to reach that state instantly helps increase the time spent in that state compared to normal circumstances, as achieving flow typically requires even more time.

The second reason is...

The other three understood this and shared the same line of thought.

"Hehe, you guys are close, but no. I am in a state beyond flow; I call it Immersion," Akeru dropped the revelation.

"Wait, so you are fully immersed in the task? Isn't that just flow?"

"Hmm, I don't know the difference yet as I have only tried it once, but it's definitely different from flow," Akeru had experienced flow countless times throughout his life.

In fact, the number of times he entered flow state in a day nearly reached double digits.

So, this was truly a pleasant surprise for him.

"I am looking forward to seeing how you develop this magic," Mimosa said with a smile.

"Hehe, me too," Akeru said.

If these were just basic spells, then he really couldn't imagine the advanced spells of this magic.

***

"So, where are we exactly going?" Akeru asked with an unsure expression.

"Grand Magic Zone! Jeez, I told you multiple times. I am going there to train, and you are going there to learn healing magic from me," Mimosa said.

"Right. So, why is he coming?" Akeru pointed his finger at the man with Vermillion hair who looked similar to Mimosa.

"You really are uncouth. I told you, I am going there to investigate a group of misfits. This beautiful one was the one who gave her the idea," Kirsch said.

"Right," Akeru said while looking at Kirsch suspiciously.

'Why do I feel like something is off?' Akeru wondered for a moment but let it go.

They were currently traveling through the air toward this mana zone.

Akeru and Kirsch were flying directly while Mimosa was using a broom.

A royal broom, to be more precise.

"Still, I am really surprised at your combat prowess. I instinctively could feel danger from you," Kirsch said seriously for a moment.

'Yup, with my upgraded spells, I am already at First Class Senior Knight or Stage 1,' Akeru thought smugly.

Even though there might only seem to be two class differences between the First and Third classes, there was a massive gap between each class at the Senior Level.

This might not be obvious in canon with anti-magic as our perspective, as before it, all magics are equivalent.

"Still, you are not as beautiful as me," In the next instant, his attitude returned to normal.

Akeru and Mimosa shared a sweat drop.

'It's around 5-6 months until the magic knight entrance test begins and the canon starts,' Akeru looked into the distance.

The scenery had already changed to a forest as they approached the grand magic zone.

'Not like I would need to take that boring exam,' Akeru thought about the black bull robes he possessed.

Within a few minutes, they entered the grand magic zone.

A few minutes inside it, Mimosa started losing control of her broom and began falling.

"Wahhh..."

A water bubble surrounded her and halted her descent.

"Woah, that was really a loud cry," Akeru teased her.

"Ahem, I was just caught off-guard. I was already preparing to use one of my spells to soften my landing," she said, embarrassed.

"Yeah, I know," Akeru had already noticed her grimoire out and its pages flipping previously.

"Mana fluctuations really are interfering with my hair," Kirsch said while applying a mana skin to prevent his hair from becoming disorderly any further.

"Where are we going to camp?" Akeru asked.

"Hmm, in that direction, there should be a hill," Kirsch said while consulting a map.

They headed in that direction.

Upon reaching the hill, they landed on the ground with Akeru gently dispersing the water ball into mist.

The animals, or more specifically mana beasts, on this hill quickly fled.

This was because, unlike Akeru, Kirsch hadn't bothered to deliberately conceal his mana.

Every mana beast possessed some form of self-preservation and a greater degree of subconscious Ki sensing compared to humans.

This could be roughly translated as beast instincts.

"What's the plan?" Akeru asked.

"We will be camping first. This forest is fortunate to be graced with my beautiful presence," Kirsch said without an ounce of shame.

"Cool," Akeru said.

...

After a few moments of silence, Akeru noticed that Kirsch and Mimosa were looking at him.

"What?"

"So, don't you know how to camp? You have spent a long time in the wild, haven't you?" Mimosa asked.

Akeru looked incredulously at the siblings.

"Wait, don't tell me that you came here without knowing how to camp?"

"Hehe, I let my beautiful subordinates, who are not as beautiful as me, handle such tasks."

"Well, where are those guys?" Akeru asked with a deadpan expression.

"Unfortunately, due to the location of this area, along with manpower issues, this beautiful being had to come alone," Kirsch said with a twinge of regret.

"Well, I don't know how to camp," Akeru admitted honestly.

"Huh?" Mimosa asked, shocked.

"How did you spend your time in the wild?" She quickly asked.

"I used to just sleep on the branches or near the bushes. Though it seems very uncomfortable, which it is, you will soon get used to it," Akeru shrugged.

"..."

"..."

"Anyway, you guys should have the materials to camp, right? It probably won't take too long to set up a camp of our own. How hard could it be?" Akeru decided to take matters into his hands.

A few hours later.

"It's not going in," Mimosa said.

"You need to enlarge the hole," Akeru said.

They were currently connecting the parts of the tent pillars.

Without a guidebook, which typically accompanies the materials, they had to determine the purpose of each part independently.

Mimosa and Akeru were handling this task.

Kirsch, with his beautiful clones, had scattered across the area to find his target.

However, before Mimosa and Akeru could complete the camp, Kirsch reappeared.

"I have found my target. Though I could easily handle them, it would be better for you to take care of it and gain some experience," Kirsch said nonchalantly.

He spoke while looking specifically at his sister.

"Well, sure, let's go," Akeru was happy to do anything other than trying to fit the parts to form the tent.

He had seriously questioned why they hadn't purchased a ready-made tent or some magical item.

Mimosa mentioned something about royalty and true elegance, though even she couldn't fully recall the explanation.

Let alone Akeru, who had only half-listened to her partially remembered explanations.

This time they traveled on the ground rather than through the air to avoid alerting their quarry to their pursuit.

However, Akeru's group wasn't walking.

They were running while enhancing their bodies with magic.

Their speed was sufficient to reach their target quickly.

While running, Akeru asked Kirsch, "So, what is the crime of this group?"

"These barbaric people have been kidnapping children for unknown purposes. They have been active for a while, and one of our knights obtained a lead, so I was sent to ensure everything proceeds correctly."

"These people are insufferable," Mimosa said with a gasp.

"The kids, are they commoners?" Akeru ignored her and instead asked the question on his mind.

"Yes, they are mostly commoners, though some noble children were also captured."

'Heh, no wonder a Vice-Captain was sent. Bet they wouldn't have dispatched someone of this rank for commoner children alone,' Akeru joked to himself.

He knew that matters weren't as simple as they appeared, but he could jest, couldn't he?

Their target - a man sitting in the front seat of a nearby caravan - soon came into their sight, and Akeru's eyes widened as he estimated his strength.

***

Next Chapter - 36. You are strong. Unfortunately for you, I am your opponent

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