Although Hogwarts had become extremely lively because of Draco's disappearance and the infiltration of a certain Chosen One.
It seemed as if everyone had come running to Hogwarts to join in the excitement.
None of that, however, affected the daily training within Draco Constellation.
As the saying went, strategy could influence the direction of victory or defeat.
But most of the time, what truly decided victory was still one's own hard strength.
Everything returned to strength.
As long as one was strong enough, one could at least remain undefeated.
Because they understood this, Draco and the others attached great importance to daily training and had no intention of setting it aside.
Even with the lower-year students, Draco had no intention of relaxing his standards.
And just as he had said and taught before, compared with having everyone take the elite route, Draco hoped Goyle and Crabbe would work toward group coordination instead.
That was also the goal they were striving for.
Today, Draco brought Hermione to the outer area of the Draco Constellation base to watch Goyle and Crabbe's practical combat training.
And the Magical Creatures engaging them in this practical exercise were Mountain Trolls, massive in size yet slow in movement, slowly walking out from the forest.
Just as everyone knew.
The ones currently fighting the wizard unit led by Goyle and Crabbe were several Mountain Trolls with bald, oversized heads, thick feet, and pale gray skin.
As for these Mountain Trolls, Hermione was not unfamiliar with them at all.
Strictly speaking, these Mountain Trolls were the matchmakers who had brought her and Draco together.
If they had not encountered the Troll back then, perhaps there would never have been the story that followed between her and Draco.
"What are you doing here?"
The first to notice Draco and Hermione was Penelope, who was responsible for ensuring that the practical training would not have any accidents, along with several fairly capable wizards who were standing ready.
In addition, medical staff with healing potions prepared were waiting at the rear.
Just in case, during every practical combat training session, Penelope would bring a few wizards to stand nearby, all so that if anything unexpected happened, they could intervene at the right moment and with precision.
"Mm... it looks pretty good."
"Yes. Compared with the chaos at the beginning, they really have improved a lot."
Aside from Hermione, who was so busy she barely had time to rest, this was not Draco's first time coming here to watch Goyle and Crabbe conduct practical combat training.
From their panic and confusion at the start.
To their current calm response.
Now, even when facing more than three Mountain Trolls at once, they seemed capable of confronting them head-on.
...
Roar!
Along with the Mountain Trolls' furious roar came a great tree they had pulled straight out of the soil. It was also the weapon Mountain Trolls liked best.
A whistling sound.
The ground shook.
The instant he saw the huge object swinging toward them, Goyle, who stood at the center of the wizard formation, calmly gave the order.
"Defense!"
The glow of magic lit up.
Powerful magical fluctuations stirred up a beautiful sight.
The strength of one person might be insignificant, but once the strength of many was gathered together, almost any difficulty could be overcome.
Boom!
Explosion.
Rebound.
Then.
As the three Mountain Trolls swung their huge clubs, intending to smash flat the little ants before them who had dared to provoke them, a tremendous roar rang beside their ears.
After swaying for a moment.
The Trolls' large but unintelligent heads suddenly could not understand the situation before them.
Because the weapons in their hands had not struck the ground, nor had they landed on any wizard. Instead, they had been stopped halfway by a translucent magical barrier.
Not only that.
Looking at the broken clubs in their hands, or at their slightly trembling palms, these not-so-bright Mountain Trolls directly showed blank expressions, completely unable to understand what had just happened.
Only Draco and the others knew what had happened.
It was Protego.
Aside from the Killing Curse, which could not be blocked, this was a useful Charm capable of defending against most magical and physical attacks. It was also a spell every wizard had to master.
Because of that.
If nothing else, when it came to using Protego, Goyle and Crabbe's group were all very skilled.
That was why they could block an attack from Mountain Trolls so easily.
"Protego was used well."
"Mm... there wasn't much wrong with the timing either."
"It really is surprising that Goyle has grown this much."
It was no wonder Hermione said that.
Aside from the fact that Hermione had not paid attention to this side of things for a long time, it was also because the impression Goyle had given people before had been far too strong.
Most people's impression of Goyle was.
A gorilla with nothing but muscles in his head.
An idiot who saw only food and pumpkin pie.
Though it did not sound very nice, that was indeed the Goyle in Hermione's eyes.
But she had not expected that in such a short time, he would make her change her opinion of him so much.
One could see that Goyle, standing at the center of the formation with such an easy, composed manner, was completely different from the Goyle she knew.
And just as Hermione widened her eyes.
The Mountain Trolls, who were not good at thinking, struggled for a moment before lifting their huge feet again and stomping toward the wizards in front of them.
This was probably what it meant to stop thinking if they could not figure it out.
...
Just when Hermione thought.
That Goyle would continue giving orders.
Crabbe at the side suddenly took over his position, raised his wand, and shouted, "Everyone, Fire-Making Charm, ready!"
"Fire-Making Charm, ready!"
"Fire-Making Charm, ready!"
"Fire-Making Charm, ready!"
At the tip of every wizard's wand, a dangerous yet beautiful red light shone.
Although those huge feet had already reached overhead, every wizard's arm still pointed steadily at their target. None of them fired the prepared Charms because of the threat about to fall upon them.
Although there were still some flaws, this level of discipline was already astonishing.
And in the next second.
Crabbe shouted with full force, "Fire-Making Charm, attack!"
"Attack!"
"Attack!"
Unlike when they used Protego earlier.
Once they entered attack mode, Crabbe and the others shouted together, making them look truly imposing.
Especially when the Fire-Making Charms they launched together gathered into a sea of fire.
Hermione's small face was lit red by the glow, and her adorable eyes widened in disbelief.
What was this?
The temperature rose sharply.
The grass withered and yellowed in an instant.
What appeared before everyone was a great wave made of flames.
This scene reminded one of Draco's performance when he had fought the Thunderbird.
Seeing this, Hermione turned sharply to look at Draco. Her slightly parted lips seemed to be asking him.
Could magic still be used like this?
This could almost be called an entirely new magical system, couldn't it?
And could this be called... Battlefield Magic?
Magic used specifically on the battlefield.