Chapter 109
The Faculty Tournament.
As one of the regularly held events at the academy, it was also a spectacle counted among the top three most popular every year.
It was an opportunity to experience the faculty members' skills with one's own eyes.
It motivates the internal students and shows off the competence of each faculty member to the outside.
In short, it was close to a place to prove the best name.
Perhaps because it was an event to take pride in, it was a heated topic among the children.
As one, those belonging to Galimar had their blood boiling.
"This year seems like it'll be fun too."
"The practical exam was certainly tough... but I endured it just thinking about watching this."
"It's a chance to see a battle on a completely different level, right? You can't find an opportunity like this even if you search the whole continent!"
"There will certainly be new realizations just from watching."
"I wish it would start soon!"
"By the way... have you all heard? Some first year caused trouble."
"Everyone's in an uproar because of that guy these days."
The heat was particularly intense this year.
The first year head student who issued a declaration of war to a professor. Thanks to that, the interestingly formed confrontation structure caught attention.
Related stories endlessly rose and fell on the students' lips.
"You're the challenger."
The snake who made that declaration to a professor.
After the provocation last time.
The academy's reaction was largely divided into two.
One side had the opinion that his boldly daring appearance was refreshing, while the other side expressed displeasure saying he was overstepping his bounds.
Perhaps due to the extremeness of his statement, it was inevitable to face backlash.
"He seems to look down on professors too much."
"He'll properly get his due this time."
"Still, I like his spirit at least. Isn't it better to charge in boldly rather than just backing down?"
"If you like it so much, why don't you bet on that idiot for this match too."
"Of course that's out of the question."
Predictions about the outcome were overwhelmingly biased.
Most predicted the snake's defeat.
Perhaps it was a natural result.
If his opponents until now had been students, this time it was faculty who couldn't be discussed on the same level.
It's already a gathering of only those counted as the best on the continent.
No matter how outstanding a student's talent, it was common sense that it was impossible to defeat professors walking above the sky.
It was natural to be inferior in all aspects including skill and experience.
"Besides, the opponent is Professor Cardel."
Cardel Evans.
A legend who reached the pinnacle of magic at the youngest age in history, and a person who suddenly resigned his position saying he was tired and took up a professorship.
Currently he was also a person who had established himself as a core among the faculty.
"Not just any professor... how could he think of charging at that man?"
"I wonder if he can even leave a scratch."
"Does the title of professor look easy? He'll be pinned to the ground with one gesture."
"So the undefeated streak ends after all... I expected it from when he went around picking fights here and there."
"Let him feel the wall this time."
"I didn't like how he always went around surrounded by women."
"Isn't that just jealousy?"
Students took this opportunity to envy.
As he had built up a brilliant record over the past few months, there were also children here and there in the academy who were jealous of the snake.
As their voices mixed, the atmosphere seemed to overheat.
Of course.
It wasn't that only negative opinions continued.
Rather, those slandering were in the minority.
Most were just watching with interest.
Outstanding talent naturally invites others' admiration. Students who were captivated by his activities so far and cheered for him also appeared.
The children's eyes sparkled expecting an exciting match.
"At least it doesn't seem like he'll be one-sidedly pushed back."
"He crushed the second year head student with one gesture last time, right? Though winning is difficult of course, doesn't it seem possible for him to at least hold his own?"
"He's already far beyond the student level."
"Though he's a bit loose in the head, he's an interesting guy."
"I decided to cheer for the head student this time. I bet all of this month's living expenses."
"Crazy reverse bet bastard."
Students talking about the topic here and there.
There was no doubt that right after the practical exam ended, he had drawn all the academy's floating attention.
And
《The match will begin!》
The tournament began amid such hot interest.
Magic collided fiercely from the start.
One side was a sword sharply drawn from shadows, while the other was arrows shot by compressing water to the limit.
Shockwaves are transmitted to the surrounding barrier along with a terrible roar.
Kuuuung-!
A clash far transcending class.
The barrier surrounding the spectator seats shook precariously.
That breathtaking scene was enough to make the students cheer.
The match continues with an unstoppable flow.
Unlike many people's predictions, the match maintains a tense atmosphere circling tightly.
Rough noises ring out every time they clash.
Clang! Crunch...!
"He's holding up quite well?"
"How is that just holding up? He's not being pushed back at all against a professor!"
"They're both so fast I can't follow with my eyes...!"
Admiration flowing from here and there.
The students are absorbed in the match.
On the stage that swallowed even the hot fervor, the golden boa snake was smiling while swinging shadows.
With an elephant clearly showing signs of bewilderment before his eyes.
***
Shweeek-!
A sound fiercely piercing the air.
Following that, a volley of arrows rushes in.
It was an attack shot straight.
Though it was a strike that came in aiming for a gap in posture, I calmly rotated my wrist without being flustered.
The sword tip that was drawing a circle soon accurately blocks the sharp arrowhead.
Kagugeuk-!
Right after, an arrow roughly scraped the sword's surface.
A heavy recoil remains in my palm.
As I shake off the needlessly numb impact, thorns pour down as if not giving time to rest.
I defend by spreading shadows above my head.
Tudududuk-!
The noise hitting a tent resembles summer rain.
However, the current water is neither cool nor soft.
It only drew sharp solid lines with momentum to cut everything it touched.
"This is... annoying."
By now 10 minutes had passed since the match began.
The match was a fierce battle.
Though it was a downpour embroidering the sky with monstrous momentum, I was calmly unraveling the situation.
While repairing the sword that had lost its teeth, I casually spoke.
"Aren't you attacking too viciously?"
Looking up.
Professor Cardel was visible between the rippling raindrops.
He was floating as if levitating in the air.
A foothold made by thinly compressing water. By stepping on that, he could fly in the sky.
The professor was furrowing his brow as if something was bothering him.
"...This is unexpected. I didn't think I'd have 10 minutes of my time taken."
"May I take that as praise?"
"Of course."
Cardel poured down arrows while answering like that.
I avoid attacks flying from all directions while taking elegant steps as if dancing.
I swing my sword amid solid lines narrowly missing.
Clang-!
The shadows roughly collide and create an opening.
A hole forms in the sky embroidered by arrows. Not missing that gap, I shoot a bullet woven from pitch black.
The momentary surprise attack directly strikes the opponent's forehead.
Pak-!
"Kuh...?!"
The professor's head bent backward greatly.
Perhaps because he was careless.
Though he hurriedly deployed a curtain for defense, it seemed he couldn't completely block it due to the late timing.
Only a red mark remained largely on the young man's forehead.
"Huhu... doesn't that wake you up?"
I calmly sneer.
A tone subtly scratching his insides.
The opponent reacts with a frown.
It seemed his pride was scratched.
"Hoping your boredom was broken."
"Ha."
Cardel bursts into a hollow laugh.
It was enough to be annoyed at struggling against a student, so it was understandable for his reason to waver with pointless provocations coming.
His characteristically overbearing personality couldn't endure being made light of.
Finally, the young man who had been gathering mana explodes energy with both hands just like that.
"You little brat...!"
Kwaaaang-!!
A magic roar ringing loudly.
It seemed to be starting in earnest.
I block the falling magical spectacle with my sword's back while feeling the clearly changed power.
Cracks gradually start forming in the precarious composition.
'He's strong indeed.'
I thought inwardly.
Is this what's different about a professor counted as the best in the academy?
He was the most outstanding opponent among those I've faced recently.
'This level would be similar to Lena.'
A considerably strong person even looking at the whole continent.
An ordinary student would have been knocked out, unable to endure 3 seconds.
I even had thoughts of trying to recruit him to the organization as a joke.
It seemed there was some basis for that overbearing personality.
The professor deflected the shadows flying at him, then speaks while brushing off his sleeve with black stains.
Irritation was settled in his gaze.
"Not bad... no, quite excellent."
"Thank you."
"Shall we see if you can block this too!"
Cardel swung his hand.
Right after, water fills the arena floor, then sharp waves rush toward this side.
I create a thin board with shadows and get on top of it.
I escape the attack by riding the waves as if surfing.
At the same time, I mutter.
"This time I'll come from this side."
Tak-!
I kick off the board and leaped.
Quickly narrowing the distance.
If it's difficult to hit attacks because he's floating in the sky, this side can also rise to the same height.
I shoot toward the opponent while raising my pitch black sword tip.
Shweeek-!
An orbit advancing straight like an arrow.
Wind brushes past.
By now the gap between the two is close within five spans.
Like that.
As I was swinging my sword.
"Your trajectory is simple."
Cardel who had been still mutters.
A slightly twitching finger.
At the same time, a stream of water springing from the side strikes my body.
Beoeoek-!
"Kuhak...?!"
The snake flying away with an intense impact sound.
Stuck into the arena floor just like that.
Looking down at the scene of dust rising, the professor smiles as if ridiculous.
Mana overflows in the hand that is struck emotionally.
"There's no way I'd allow such a one-dimensional attack..."
"Is that so?"
But
That was a doppelganger woven with illusions.
"Then how about this?"
"...?!"
The real one was behind.
Wavering gaze.
I was pressing my palm against Cardel's back.
He belatedly noticed he was deceived and turned around, but the game was over from the point he had already given distance.
I gather mana at my fingertips.
"Shatter."
A single phrase uttered intently.
The magic that had been around reversed in the blink of an eye.
I didn't even give time to resist separately.
Mana that lost meaning scatters like smoke.
The barrier protecting the surroundings also loses strength, and even the board he was stepping on in midair breaks into water.
I push the young man's back in that state.
"It's time for you to go down."
"You damn...!"
Cardel falls without even finishing his words.
Looking down at the face growing distant.
This time I show a bright smile from this side.
I greet you lightly.
"Farewell."
And
Kwaaaang-!!
The professor stuck into the ground with a terrifying noise.
It wasn't simply receiving the force of gravity, but as he was struck down with a bit of 'lying', the impact seemed considerable.
The young man was unable to easily raise his body and was rolling on the ground.
"Ugh, kuhak...!"
"Huhu."
The snake lands lightly.
While tidying the coat tails fluttering in the wind, the ominous narrowed eyes were examining the professor collapsed before him.
The boy asks with a body without even a scratch.
"Do you perhaps intend to continue?"
The watching spectators couldn't make any sound.
An atmosphere frozen by the shocking scene.
The students were all staring at the arena with blank expressions.