Chapter 65
Ian Ternado.
Currently the leader heading the second year as the top student, and the head teaching assistant working directly under Cardel.
He disliked the boy called Yuda.
-Have you been well, Senior Ian?
It was his unique atmosphere, you could say.
His relaxed impression was irritating.
For a greenhorn who hadn't even been admitted for a few months, it felt like he was putting on airs.
From the start, he had thoughts of wanting to trample him.
-Did you all hear? They say an unprecedented new student has entered.
-If it's that... You mean Young Lord Snakers, right?
-I saw his duel last time, and his skills were really fierce.
-As expected, there's a reason the professors are going after him with fire in their eyes.
The students chattering stupidly were annoying too.
He was just a first-year cadet.
What was so special about him that they were making such a fuss?
Whenever he heard rumors praising Yuda, his mood would twist without him realizing.
Perhaps it was an inferiority complex.
'What's so great about this bastard.'
Ian would sneer at the rumors each time.
Unable to accept the fact that talent superior to his own existed, he would disparage the other without hesitation.
He thought he was just a nobody getting cocky.
No matter how outstanding Yuda's skills were, he thought it was obvious he would be no match for himself, the top student of the second year.
Because in Galimar, the difference in school years was like an enormous wall.
'Tch... What does the professor like about this bastard.'
He only felt more and more disgusted as days passed.
Especially after Cardel started showing interest in Yuda, that degree noticeably worsened.
Because he was in danger of losing his position right away.
The head teaching assistant position was too much for a greenhorn to take on.
But more than such a shocking recruitment offer, what made Ian's eyes roll was...
-Well, I'm not particularly inclined.
-I appreciate the offer for now.
-Let me think about it. I'll visit you later.
The guy's indifferent reaction.
Yuda would postpone his answer to recruitment each time, and dangle the possibility before their eyes as if testing them.
Towards Cardel, who was counted among the top professors at Galimar, no less.
He seemed to lack awareness of his position.
He wanted to throw a glove in his face, but if he rashly issued a duel challenge, he didn't know what reaction would come back.
The picture of a senior trampling a junior wouldn't be very beautiful.
"Be thankful you're a junior. If we were in the same year, duel requests would have flown several times already."
Ian had to cool his anger alone.
But.
"That's a good idea indeed."
"What...?"
"A duel, I mean."
A completely unexpected situation unfolded.
Yuda suddenly holding a bright smile.
He took off the glove he was wearing, then threw it at Ian without any hesitation.
Thud-!
"I, Yuda Snakers, challenge Ian Ternado to a duel in the name of honor and order."
A single impact sound hitting his chest.
The voice rang clearly in his ears.
As he stood frozen blankly, suddenly his gaze met slit eyes smiling broadly.
The snake flicked his tongue.
"I trust you won't run away."
Ian ended up receiving a duel challenge inadvertently.
***
Talk of the duel spread quickly.
Perhaps due to the empty schedule until the school trip, students rushed in going crazy over the dopamine-bursting news.
The academy's interest quickly focused on this.
-I accept the duel.
-The price of defeat... shall be granting one wish of the victor.
-The date will be two days from now.
Ian seemed somewhat flustered, but as he had been itching for this, he agreed to the duel.
It seemed he had gotten a bit heated at the thought of being looked down upon.
His face had been flushing red and pale for a while.
The sight of him glaring with wide eyes and panting was quite a spectacle.
Anyway.
News of the duel between the two struck the academy.
Students were busy chattering about this stimulating topic, and despite the short period of just two days, its ripple effect couldn't be ignored.
When passing through the corridors, over half the conversations heard were about the duel.
-Who do you think will win?
-Obviously Senior Ian, right?
-There's a reason he's mentioned as a candidate for next year's student council president.
-Really? I think Young Lord has quite good odds too.
-Though Young Lord is certainly an outstanding new student... wouldn't it be difficult against Senior Ian?
-Well, that's true.
Opinions divided differently among each person.
The overall atmosphere seemed to predict Ian's victory.
Of course, there were children taking my side, but most predicted I wouldn't be able to overcome the difference in school years.
They said Young Lord Snakers was still unripe or something.
In fact, I understood to some extent.
The opponent was Ian Ternado.
Currently the leader heading the second year, and the head teaching assistant working directly under Cardel.
Talent evaluated as the best when it came to lightning magic.
He received no small admiration from students, and was a name that never failed to come up whenever discussing candidates for next year's student council president.
In short, he could be called the epitome of an elite.
'Besides, the students don't know my full strength.'
At most, the previous duel.
That was the only time students had properly witnessed me fighting.
Of course, I had shown an unforgettable performance, but if asked whether it had enough explosive power to overwhelm Ian, it was questionable.
Thanks to that, such calculations came out.
That Young Lord Snakers wouldn't be able to reach Ian Ternado.
-I'll bet on Senior Ian winning too.
-Honestly, I think Young Lord would easily win a year later... but there's still the difference in experience for now.
-Senior Ian definitely feels like he's on a different level.
This reaction was the same even among our main characters.
As I was quietly filling in assignments in the library, Regia sitting beside me asked in a whisper.
"Y-Young Master... Are you really alright?"
"Of course I'm fine, Miss Regia."
"But I heard the opponent is an extremely strong person. O-Of course I'm cheering for Young Master, but......"
"You mean you're worried about a worst-case scenario?"
"I-I think so."
"How admirable. As expected, only Miss Regia thinks of me."
"Uu, uugh..."
The pink life form melted following the stroking hand.
It seemed she was worrying about me.
The feeling of being worried about by the protagonist was the best.
It really felt like we had become best friends, so I felt proud for no reason.
As I was smiling gently like that.
"Not a chance."
Someone peeking around from nearby cut in.
Blue hair.
It was none other than Emilia's younger brother, Rusca Beniti.
The boy who had come looking for his sister saying he had something to discuss had sat down on a nearby seat.
Rusca subtly added words to the conversation.
"Because Senior Ian is strong. It will be difficult to handle him this time."
When had he been pretending to be taciturn and acting heavy, now that a topic he knew came up, it seemed his mouth was itching.
He was an ardent follower of Ian after all.
"Though you may be overwhelming in the first year... there's always a sky above the sky."
"R-Really? Is he that amazing?"
"Commoner, stay out of this."
"......"
"Anyway, you'd better prepare for defeat."
Rusca snorting alone.
As expected of someone from the same bloodline as the villainess young lady, he also exuded a strong third-rate villain vibe.
I just nodded my head, feeling too lazy to answer.
It was noisy on both sides.
One worrying, one sneering, they were doing everything themselves.
In such a situation, the only one keeping her mouth shut was Emilia.
"......"
As she had seen my true nature, she seemed to think the result was obvious.
The villainess quietly approaching.
The girl whispered softly in my ear.
"...Don't kill him."
It seemed she was concerned about a completely different case.
I smiled briefly.
"Of course I don't intend to."
I didn't lie.
Even though it was a duel, it wasn't good to shed blood unnecessarily.
I added to mean don't worry.
"I don't intend to treat him harshly. I won't play with him like last time either."
I am a gentlemanly person.
-Ding!
[A small amount of lies has been recovered.]
[Current remaining output: 96.4%]
Of course.
Sometimes exceptions exist.
***
Like that, the day of the duel dawned.
The location was the public training ground again this time.
It was a scene I had faced several times already.
As I set foot on the wide circular arena, numerous spectator seats surrounding the area came into view.
Every seat was packed full.
"Huhu."
Was I getting used to it?
The scale of the training ground that had been burdensome at first was now familiar enough to laugh off.
I prepared for the match with light stretching.
"Young Yuda."
Selena was standing beside me.
She had rushed over after hearing news of this duel.
The woman who had been silently staring this way soon took the liquor bottle from her mouth and asked.
Her question was full of alcohol scent.
"Phew... Will you really be alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"The duel. If you want, I can still stop it now. I still have enough leeway to cover this up."
"I'll just accept your words."
"I thought you disliked getting involved in troublesome things."
"But I like interesting things."
"You're really hard to understand."
Selena exhaled once more.
"I don't think you'll lose, but I'll be cheering for you anyway."
"You can look forward to it, Master."
"Hmm."
Red eyes twinkling with interest.
I advanced towards the stage where the duel was about to unfold, with her gaze following behind.
Someone was already standing at the center of the arena.
"So you came."
It was none other than Ian.
He had been waiting for me to come with his arms folded solemnly.
The two of us facing each other.
The opponent opened his mouth as if sneering.
"I didn't think you'd really show up."
"Running away isn't my style."
"I don't know what you were thinking challenging me to a duel. Surely you don't think you can beat me?"
"That's unknown, isn't it?"
"This isn't even funny."
He burst into a hollow laugh as if it was ridiculous.
Ian who had been rotating his wrist for a moment soon dyed his gaze coldly and glared this way.
"I've been itching for this. I'll take this opportunity to trample you."
Crackle-!
Tiny sparks flew into the air.
Lightning magic known to be Ian's specialty.
The boy was loading lightning at his fingertips. The lightning roared raging fiercely.
It was an ominous aura just from gathering mana.
"I'll sear that pale face of yours."
Crackle-!
Was it to gain the initiative?
It looked like nothing but cheap provocation.
The snake showed no signs of shrinking back.
Rather, he only smiled coldly. As if this whole situation was enjoyable.
"Don't use such strong words."
He flicked his tongue.
"You look weak."
"What...?"
Shudder-.
A chilling sensation brushed past his spine.
"...?!"
An unknown chill.
As he trembled at the alien sensation, before long the announcer's voice was heard.
The duel was beginning.
Ian took his stance while flinching.
《Combatants, please stand by at your positions.》
《The duel will proceed as a match. The duel ends when one opponent is subdued or incapacitated.》
《Additionally, the duel ends if one side forfeits.》
The rules were the same as the last duel.
Before long, the center referee flipped a coin into the air.
The golden afterimage hit the ground.
Clang-!
The signal announcing the start of the duel rang out.
Right after.
"Hup!"
Ian leaped with a single breath.
The boy's body that had been flashing as if teleporting soon rushed towards this side at high speed.
Lightning spread in all directions.
Crackle-!
It seemed he was trying to induce electric shock.
The distance closing in an instant.
I stared at the moment flowing slowly and recited the lie hanging between my lips.
The resonance spread calmly.
"Shatter."
Illusion magic.
The world flipped.