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Chapter 69

Not long before the duel was to begin.

“It\'s been a while since I\'ve come to watch something like this.”

“I heard the dean put up a legendary artifact as a prize?”

“What? Legendary grade?”

The empty seats gradually filled up as students entered the auditorium one by one.

“But who\'s the duel with?”

“I don\'t know, some guy named Thompson. I heard he\'s an outsider.”

“An outsider? Huh, since when did our academy become a place to duel with outsiders? How embarrassing.”

I unintentionally overheard them, and the reactions weren\'t exactly positive.

It seemed they weren\'t too happy about a student from a prestigious academy having a duel with someone they didn\'t even know.

No matter how much Asion Academy revolved around merit, it seemed this kind of exclusionary attitude inevitably remained.

Well, that\'s human nature, after all.

As long as we don\'t mind it, it\'s fine.

Tap, tap.

“But… who\'s that over there? I think it\'s the first time I\'ve seen that face.”

A guy tapped me on the shoulder from behind and spoke to me.

It was the student who had been noisily chattering on and on about reputation and honor earlier.

“Me? An outsider.”

“…”

At the word "outsider," the very word they had been disparaging, the chatter finally stopped.

I thought I could finally watch in peace.

“Oh?”

This time, someone coming from a different direction spoke to me.

“You\'re Yuhan, right?”

I turned around to see one of the students who had pretended to be friendly with me after I succeeded in attribute combination back in the academy.

So…the name was…

“It\'s me, Jensen Ville. Remember?”

Right, Jensen Ville.

I remembered it because it was an unusual name.

Well, it\'s a very common name in this world, though.

And for the record, she\'s a girl.

“Oh, I remember.”

“I heard you enrolled in our academy, but this is the first time I\'ve seen you? Why haven\'t you come out all this time?”

“I\'ve been training while hunting down some devils.”

“Pfft, you\'re joking.”

Jensen Ville, who took my words as a joke, let out a cartoonish laugh and sat down next to me.

I wondered why she chose to sit here out of all the many seats, but I didn\'t bother asking.

I\'m not some naive guy who reads meaning into every little thing just because she\'s a bit pretty.

Even if I look like this, I\'m a K-Korean in my 30s.

I\'ve had countless experiences talking to women in my work life.

Of course, I\'ve never been in a relationship, though.

I\'m someone who dedicated his life to gaming.

Anyway.

“By the way… are you here to watch the duel as soon as you arrive? There are many other students in the student waiting room over there, so it would be easy to make friends.”

“I\'m not really interested in that. And the person in today\'s duel is an acquaintance of mine.”

“Oh, really? Who is it? I know most of the students in the academy.”

“They’re not a student here.”

“Ah… then I don’t know.”

Around the time we were having that conversation, someone else approached me.

This time, it wasn\'t a pretty girl like Jensen Ville.

Rather, it was the complete opposite—a middle-aged man with a bushy beard, Dean Asion Gale.

Screech—.

“…”

As he gracefully pulled out a chair and sat down, the students who had been chattering around him quieted down.

It seemed everyone was being cautious because the dean was nearby.

“Why are you sitting here? I believe there’s a separate seat for the dean.”

“Well, I want to share my impressions of this duel with you, Yuhan.”

“It seems like the other students are uncomfortable, though?”

At those words, the dean looked around.

The students subtly averted their gazes whenever they met his eyes.

However, Asion Gale didn’t seem to mind at all.

“It doesn’t matter. As long as you’re not uncomfortable, Yuhan. Are you uncomfortable, by any chance?”

“No, not really.”

If that was the reason, I welcomed it.

It was an opportunity to share insights with a mage who had reached the 8th circle.

It could also be helpful in improving my skills.

“Then I’ll just stay here.”

Was that really his purpose?

Asion Gale didn’t say another word after that, and as we waited in silence, the duel soon began.

Thompson and the unknown student entered the open space between them.

Then, the first thing I heard was…

Waaaa—!

The roar of the crowd that packed the audience.

And…

“But why does that person look like that…?”

“Y-yeah? Is he a beggar…?”

“No, what, did they bring in a homeless person from Sector 7 as a duel opponent?!”

“Boooo!”

They were criticizing Thompson.

They booed enthusiastically, as if they had forgotten that the dean was nearby.

But neither I nor the dean could step forward.

Well, to be honest… he did look like a beggar.

His hair was sticking out in all directions as if he had been electrocuted (which he had been).

There were bruises here and there, and his robe was tattered like rags.

On top of that, he had a vacant look in his eyes.

Now that I was seeing the results with the other students, I felt a sense of guilt that I hadn’t felt before.

‘…Did I go too far?’

I had been pushing him incredibly hard to make sure he was thoroughly prepared for the duel, but it seemed the process had been too harsh.

The dean must have felt the same way, because he spoke for the first time.

“…Did you make him roll around in the sewers or something?”

“…Not the sewers, but he did roll around.”

“I see.”

On the other hand, the opponent, as befitting a student of a prestigious academy, was very neatly dressed.

A robe and staff that looked quite expensive at first glance.

And a mysterious book in his left hand.

Just by looking at it, it seemed to be an artifact that aided in casting magic…

"The participating student is Yuri Sendia. He\'s a student whose strength is his skillful use of ice magic."

"What about his circle?"

"I hear he\'s just about to reach the 4th circle?"

Ice attribute at the end of the 3rd circle.

He was slightly disadvantaged in terms of elemental affinity, but his skill was almost the same as Thompson\'s.

That is, if it weren\'t for the two weeks of hunting and the dozens of practice duels they had just had.

"It probably won\'t be easy for Thompson to face him."

"Well, we\'ll have to wait and see."

"You seem confident?"

Of course.

It wasn\'t just confidence, it was certainty.

Thompson had now stably entered the 4th circle.

Besides.

\'The difference in practical experience is too great.\'

Thompson had already won by a landslide in the life he had lived.

\'Would that nerdy-looking guy even know the unpleasantness of being covered in purple blood?\'

While I was thinking that, a woman stepped between Thompson and the student.

A middle-aged woman with white hair and a benevolent impression. It was a familiar face.

"It\'s Professor Ziren."

[TL/N: Jyren→Ziren (same pronunciation, easy spell)]

"You remember her. She will mediate today\'s duel."

"I see. But how do you know I met her?"

"...I\'m looking forward to seeing who the winner will be."

Asion Gale pretended not to hear and looked away.

It seemed he knew that I had observed Professor Ziren\'s class before…

\'Was I being followed?\'

I didn\'t know for sure, but it was revealed when I made a slip of the tongue.

He was more careless than I expected for a dean.

Well, it didn\'t really matter whether I was followed or he received a report from someone.

I already knew he didn\'t have any ill intentions towards me.

I just assumed he was curious about how I observed the class and moved on.

"Duelists, please stand at the line at the back."

Step, step.

Under Professor Ziren\'s guidance, Thompson and Yuri Sendia took their positions.

It seemed the duel was about to begin.

"The rules are simple. Any kind of attack using mana is allowed. You can try to subdue your opponent moderately, or you can use magic with the intention to kill. You won\'t be in any danger, so. However, forbidden magic is not allowed."

Forbidden magic.

It referred to black magic that eroded the caster\'s mind or ancient magic that had been erased from records.

Even after 100 years, it seemed they still strictly prohibited those two.

\'Simple and good.\'

As Ziren said, the rules of the duel were really simple.

The explanation was long, but to summarize, it meant that everything except forbidden magic was allowed.

However, there was one thing that bothered me.

"Is that alright?"

Just a slight concern that it might be a bit dangerous.

"No need to worry. If something unexpected happens, Professor Ziren will intervene directly."

"Professor Ziren? Isn\'t she a theoretical professor?"

"That\'s right. But just because she specializes in theory doesn\'t mean she\'s weak in practice. Despite her appearance, Professor Ziren is a 7th circle mage."

7th circle.

One circle lower than Asion Gale, but still, the 7th circle is a tremendous level.

Enough to claim the position of Master of a small magic tower.

In fact, most of the elders of the Aldeon Magic Tower were below the 7th circle.

That meant...

"It was an unnecessary worry."

There was no need to worry at all.

In the eyes of a 7th circle mage, this duel would probably look like a fight between little kids.

"Are you ready?"

"Rea...dy."

"Yes, Professor."

Bang!

As soon as the two nodded, a small explosion occurred at the tip of Professor Ziren\'s finger.

It was a signal flare announcing the start of the duel.

And at that moment.

"Spread, O frost-!"

Swoosh!

The student slammed his staff down, and at the same time, the floor of the auditorium froze over.

It was as if he had turned the entire auditorium into his domain.

\'Ice Field.\'

It was a technique I knew.

In the game, it was one of the essential skills that every frost mage had to have.

Its effects were continuous slowing, +30% to ice magic effects, and temporary restraint.

As if to prove it, Thompson\'s legs were frozen solid as soon as [Ice Field] was cast.

His strength was his skillful use of ice magic, was it?

\'He certainly seems that way.\'

His casting speed was fast, and there was no unnecessary waste of mana.

It was a clean spell cast without any frills.

Of course, we had to take into account the effect of the book he was holding in his left hand, the artifact, but still, it was impressive.

\'...If only it weren\'t for that chuunibyou-like chant.\'

Thinking that, I shifted my gaze.

Thompson\'s legs were bound by ice, but I wasn\'t too worried.

With that man\'s leg muscles, the ice would easily shatter with just a little force.

However.

Stagger. Stagger.

"Huh?"

Something was strange with Thompson\'s condition.

Far from breaking the ice, he couldn\'t even control his own body and was staggering.

Everyone, including myself, saw it, and they all started clicking their tongues.

"Tsk tsk, it\'s already over. Yuri\'s victory."

"What? He\'s done in by just one [Ice Field]?"

"He didn\'t look well from the start. Managing your condition is also a skill."

"Does he even know how to use magic...?"

"Ah, this is boring."

They seemed frustrated that the duel ended without any tension.

In fact, even the opponent student looked like he didn\'t know what to do.

How long did we wait?

Everyone assumed Thompson\'s defeat, and some students were about to get up from their seats when...

Crack!

Suddenly, a stone pillar sprang up from where the student was standing, and the impact sent the student flying into the air.

"Whoa, whoa...?"

He couldn\'t react to the sudden change.

At the same time.

Whoosh!

Thompson jumped high towards the same target.

Ignoring the ice that was holding his ankles.

His body was instantly covered in rock.

And a familiar voice rang out.

"Ham… Burger-!"

Only then did I remember the winning strategy I had taught Thompson.

-Winning strategy #1.

-Induce your opponent\'s carelessness.

Right, I definitely said that.

I almost fell for it myself.