36 - Duel (2)
Gailon Sharptee was utterly convinced of his victory. There was no need for the saying that you have to compare long and short to know which is better. He was the third son of the Sharptee family, renowned even among elven archer clans. In contrast, Lev Denek was an ordinary human—not from an archer family, not even a hunter's son. The assessment of him fit perfectly as a spoiled punk strutting around without any real ability. How a non-archer had passed the entrance exam was a mystery, but he'd gone and touched something he shouldn't have: Selena, whom Gailon considered his property, not long from now.
What Gailon couldn't comprehend even more was the fact that Selena was helping Lev Denek with his training.
"Selena? What are you doing with that guy right now? He's my opponent?"
"There's no need for you to concern yourself with me."
"Haha... I know you're kind, but no need to waste sympathy on trash. Once you graduate from this academy, you'll be..."
"I'll be going ahead."
Selena's cold tone and gaze followed. Back when she was at his family estate instead of the academy, she'd silently obey if Gailon ordered her to smile. But since coming to Clarice Academy, she'd started acting on her own will.
Mine! She's mine!
There was a reason for his obsession. Selena's talent as an archer rivaled that of pureblood elves—no, it surpassed them. That's why, despite being half-elf, the Sharptee family had personally taken her in and raised her.
Ungrateful bitch...
If she'd just played the role of concubine and baby-making machine, he'd have spoiled her plenty. But now she was helping some outsider.
Damn it, is she telling me to be jealous?
She'd never once smiled for him. Yet during training with that guy, she'd shown faint smiles, even seemed to enjoy it. To vent his rage at this reality... there was only one way: beat Lev Denek senseless and make Selena submit.
But...
As the duel began—
Pi-bi-bi-bi-bi-bbit!!
What... the hell...?!
Gailon, who prided himself on his knowledge of Wind Archery, faced a form he'd never seen before. The first arrow and the last didn't follow sequence. The laws of the world twisted, every arrow claiming to be the first as they curved independently toward one target: him. The last thing he saw was a web of blue enclosing him.
...
When Gailon opened his eyes again, the match was already decided.
"The winner is first-year Grade B, Lev Denek."
"Wh-what... kghk!"
He wanted to protest the result, but no words came. Arrows from all directions had struck his body.
I lost... in rapid fire...?
He'd figured the guy could fire a crossbow bolt fast enough for the first shot, but nothing to rival Wind Archery. The spectators were just as baffled.
...
Instructor Sylvester, watching alongside Professor McLeed, could scarcely believe the duel had ended in one exchange.
"Wind Archery, is it...?"
A human—not an elf—using Wind Archery was unprecedented outside of legends. Professor McLeed asked in a somewhat serious tone.
"What do you make of it?"
"In my view... yes, Wind Archery. If not..."
"If not?"
"Then he received an inherited ability from someone even we don't know about."
Sylvester judged that if this fell under raw talent, it was surely the devil's own gift. He and McLeed alone had noticed amid the confused cadets: Lev Denek's Wind Archery wasn't overwhelmingly powerful. Partly due to practice bolts and protective gear, but mainly because he'd infused not even a trace of mana into each arrow.
"If he'd held even a shred of killing intent, the outcome might've been gruesome."
Even Professor McLeed, who doted on his students, felt chills at the scene after so long. With mage potential, he could've manipulated mana easily—best case, precise control; worst case, he went easy on his foe.
"Moreover, what he used was clearly a basic form of Wind Archery..."
No enhancements, just fundamentals—and he'd disabled an upperclassman in one blow.
"How long until the grade matches?"
"After the dungeon survey practicum, so about a month."
Guilds, knight orders, mage societies, even the imperial court flocked to the grade matches where cadets vied for rank—to scout promising talents for post-graduation recruitment.
"Best assign him a dedicated professor until then."
"Understood."
"You're right—far from ordinary. We'll watch closely... maybe even catch a good show before I retire."
McLeed, a veteran respected for his skill at Clarice Academy, gave such high praise. This piqued Sylvester's curiosity about Lev Denek even more. His actions, skills, speech—all felt alien, like a different person entirely. Strangest was how few inside or outside the academy truly grasped him.
Interesting...
A slight exaggeration, but the imperial court itself might take notice—not some mid-tier guild.
* * *
The duel with Gailon... ended anticlimactically. Mostly his arrogance, of course.
Even I felt like I'd cheated. I'd just mashed Q, W, E randomly, but rapid fire, volley, and arcing shots synergized into a combo attack. No way a cocky bastard could block that.
"I-I was careless! I'm fine... kgh... restart the duel...!"
He thrashed, clearly eager to continue, but—
"No takebacks on a decided match. You were clearly knocked down; can't proceed further."
Bella terminated it ironclad.
"Per mutual agreement, all penalties for this dispute fall on Gailon Sharptee."
His collapse to the floor—that was the end of third-rate villain Gailon Sharptee. Probably too embarrassed to show his face for a while.
Charang!
Supporting Role Achievement: Duel
Reward: 50 Supporting Role Points
Supporting Role Points acquired.
"Tch, cheap. Whatever, Wind Archery."
To allocate points, I popped up the Wind Archery skill.
Charang!
Lv. 1 (Passive)
Technique enabled by contract with the Wind Spirit King, Ariel. Higher levels unlock new forms.
Currently Acquired Forms: First Form - Wind Bolt
Exp: (Requires 2 Awakening Essences)
If the first form performs like this, I can't imagine forms two or three. Definitely prioritize leveling Wind Archery...
But the exp bar looked weird.
"Awakening Essences 2..."
Agh. That damn close beta version. In close beta, signature skills for key characters leveled only via trials—Awakening Essences from monsters. Meaning no point allocation.
[Wind-attuned monster, Sinatis, begins to follow you]
That's why that message popped yesterday. Wait—actually, jackpot? Dribs of points get spread thin anyway; better to grind physically.
"Good. Next goal: trials."
No Clarice freshman had entered yet. Evolution Chamber Trial 2—split in two parts, brutal difficulty. Awakening Essences 2 probably from there. Need more growth first...
"Right, time to bump mana a bit."
As Lev Denek with Circle Magic access, couldn't ignore it. Higher mana means self-enchanting weapons and massive Wind Archery boosts.
Lots to do...
Chapter 2 events were piling up: dungeon survey practicum, grade matches, blackening characters mid-arc, demon raids... And my main rival, Kaeran, would appear too...
I shook my head.
"For now, dine out for once."
Yeriel's cooking was great, but in a fantasy world, had to hit the spots. Street food looked tasty at the black market last time.
As I sorted my thoughts, a familiar face appeared in the distance. Silver hair tinged light purple, azure eyes. Expressionless. Aria, desperately searching for someone.
* * *
Aria rushed to the Yeogudi Green Pavilion after tea with Melissa. Past noon already. Still so many questions about him. And Andras's whereabouts. If he got expelled, it was all for naught.
Truth be told, worry dominated her thoughts. Gailon's personality meant he wouldn't let a punk like Lev Denek off easy.
What was he thinking, accepting that duel...!
Since the Ebembahu incident, she couldn't leave him be. Despite knowing he had family and a house, she'd sensed it: the same emptiness, loneliness—as if abandoned alone in this world.
Here...!
Many had already left the Yeogudi arena.
The observing cadets all said much the same: over quick. Winner's hot... Anticlimax.
"..."
From this, sadly, it seemed Gailon won easily.
How badly hurt is he?
Most spectators had cheered for Gailon. Bitter, heartbreaking. As if her worry reached him—
"?!"
She spotted Lev Denek effortlessly.
"Lev."
"What brings you here?"
"Well."
Casually asking, surprisingly unscathed—must've surrendered right at the start.
"The duel, naturally. No injuries, I see."
"None."
"As expected... you surrendered?"
"...?"
"If you were just going to give up immediately, why accept the duel...! Even surrendering incurs loser's penalties..."
"I won."
"...Pardon?"
"I won."
"......"
Aria, scanning him for wounds, fixed on his face at "won."
"......You won?"
"Eaten?"
Won? Against an upperclassman, head of the archery club no less? And this vibe—was he always like this? His jawline and nose suddenly seemed sharp. Bad-boy style—not quite enough to open her heart, but no longer off-putting like before.
"Food."
"...Yes?"
"Have you eaten?"
"Not yet...?"
"You helped too. Let's grab a bite."
"...With me? Why would I..."
Always composed, Aria still couldn't process his victory. How? Another cheat? But good—he avoided expulsion.
Need to ask about Andras too.
Her mind swirled. Lev said matter-of-factly:
"You're tailing me to surveil anyway, right?"
"Tail...?"
Tail... Muttering the word, she snapped back.
"Not tailing...! Absolutely not."
"Fine. Watch properly this time."
"......"
And so Aria reluctantly trailed the briskly walking Lev.