Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Thompson's Victory
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Kwaaang!
Watching Thompson mercilessly collide head-on with the student, I think to myself.
‘Mister... maybe you’ve got a talent for acting rather than magic?’
It was certainly an act convincing enough to make one think that.
Everyone here, including me, had fallen for it.
Asion Gail nodded at the sight.
“A prepared mage must always be ready for variables. Thompson did well to use his head.”
A fitting assessment from an 8th-circle mage.
His perspective was worlds apart from the students around him complaining about it being cowardly.
That’s probably what it means to be the academy president—not just anyone can do it.
“Moreover, luring the opponent to the position he wanted before slamming into them with his body... It’s highly adaptable, and his mana control is impressive.”
He had noticed even the finer details, his face showing a hint of surprise.
Of course, he wouldn’t have expected someone from the streets like Thompson to wield magic to this degree.
But it was still too early to fully judge Thompson’s skill.
His assault didn’t end there.
Shuuu—
I turn my gaze forward again.
“Ugh...!”
The student, sent flying far back from the impact of the collision with Thompson.
‘He handled it well, too.’
At the moment of impact, he swiftly cast an ice spell to cushion Thompson’s body slam.
A quick response befitting an academy student.
But he couldn’t do anything about the massive shock sending him flying backward, which handed Thompson yet another opening.
Drdrdr!
Thompson, now wrapped in multiple layers of rock magic over his body, plummets vertically.
Kung!
Using his weight to land before the student.
“Fuu.”
He exhales once, then immediately slams his hand to the ground.
Then.
Drdrdrdr!
Sharp stone spikes erupt from the floor.
Their position: exactly where the student is falling.
“Hm...?”
Professor Zairen, who had been peeking at the duel while reading her book, stands up.
The leisure she had at the start of the duel is gone.
She must have realized it, too.
If things continued like this, the student would end up like a sponge full of holes.
Which also meant Thompson’s magic was extremely threatening.
‘Nice, he’s doing great.’
Is this the feeling of pride from watching someone you raised well? Satisfaction wells up from deep inside.
Of course, it wasn’t just Thompson who had grown strong.
“Where do you think you’re going...!”
Swish.
The student, still with some strength left, releases cold air into the air mid-flight, creating a flat sheet of ice over Thompson’s stone spikes.
He lands lightly on the ice platform he made himself.
Exclamations ripple through the watching students.
“Ooh...”
“As expected of Yuri.”
“Trying to hit him with that level of magic!”
“But that homeless guy’s pretty good, huh?”
Professor Zairen sits back down and opens her book again.
She must have judged the danger passed.
That’s when the student launches his counterattack.
“Die, outsider!”
Shhaaaak!
Dozens of icicles rise around the student and fly toward Thompson.
[Icicle Barrage].
This was another textbook skill for ice mages, executed cleanly by the student.
One drawback: poor skill selection.
A spell emphasizing range over power had no effect on Thompson.
Pababak!
Knowing this, Thompson stands there without dodging, taking all the incoming icicles on his body.
And tosses out a single line.
“...It tickles.”
Surefire strategy number two.
Break the opponent’s momentum.
“Eek...!”
Whether it worked or not, the student’s face twists viciously.
Soon after, he abruptly surges his mana.
He’s not charging like a warrior, but still...
‘He’s already fallen for it.’
His mana flow is unstable compared to before.
“Oh dear, Yuri’s magic is faltering.”
“He’s still young. He gets shaken by even small provocations.”
“True. ...Hm?”
The academy president, nodding along, suddenly gives me a strange look.
If I translated it literally, it’d be something like, ‘What makes you different?’
I ignore it and focus on the duel.
“...This one’s gonna hurt!”
The student shouts confidently, steadily building his mana.
It must be quite a powerful spell, as the mysterious book he’s holding flutters and flips pages.
Revealing a sharp, bluish ice spear.
Known as [Ice Spear], it was a familiar spell to us.
After all, it’s what Roan mainly uses.
However, its trajectory is off.
In a bad way.
The power, solidity, sharpness, size—everything pales compared to Roan’s ice spear.
The result.
Kakakang!
Thompson doesn’t dodge this time either, blocking it with his right arm thickly coated in rock magic.
Of course, unlike the icicles earlier, it wasn’t entirely harmless.
In fact, Thompson’s right arm trembles faintly after blocking the ice spear.
However.
“...Light.”
Thompson says without changing expression.
No, he even wears a faint smile.
This, too, is surefire strategy number two.
Break the opponent’s momentum.
It works perfectly.
“H-How...”
The student, his momentum completely broken, stumbles back in fear.
His face already pale.
That’s when Thompson charges.
Drdrdrdr!
“Uoooo!”
Arms crossed in an X, Thompson coats his entire body in rock magic and charges like a madman.
Kung! Kung! Kung! Kung!
An insane speed rush.
It’s like watching a bull charging at a matador.
“...Hiiik!”
The student panics, firing ice magic wildly.
Shak! Shak! Shhaaaak—!
Unstable icicles fly nonstop.
Pak! Pasak!
They all shatter into fragments against Thompson’s body.
By the time the distance closes halfway, even those unstable spells stop.
He just trembles in terror.
Was there truly no way for him to block Thompson’s charge?
‘No.’
He could’ve raised an ice wall, stacked slows on the opponent, or frozen the area temporarily...
A frost mage of that level had countless ways to stop Thompson’s rush.
If only he’d stayed calm.
But he’d already sensed his defeat, so he couldn’t make the right choices, and his magic lost its power.
That was the student’s fatal mistake.
‘Even in defeat, he shouldn’t have given up until the end.’
By the time the distance between Thompson and the student shrinks to about ten steps.
Fwoosh!
A massive crimson pillar of fire erupts between Thompson and the student.
Far larger, more beautiful, and powerful than any Kayla or I could cast.
Shwaaak!
Thompson skids to a halt, thrusting his foot out to brake.
The student collapses, legs giving out.
Clack, clack.
A composed middle-aged woman steps between them.
7th-circle mage, Professor Zairen.
“Hm, the match is decided.”
She approaches Thompson directly and grabs his right hand, raising it.
“Victory to Thompson.”
“...”
A brief silence follows her words.
Clap clap clap clap—!
Soon replaced by applause.
“That homeless mister! He’s pretty good!”
“He didn’t join the duel for nothing.”
“He said if he wins here, he gets admitted... So does that mean that mister’s our classmate now?”
“His skill’s more than enough.”
Well, well, where did all that trash talk go?
I think that, but the academy president chimes in.
“Didn’t I tell you? Our academy values skill above all.”
He says it with a sly smile.
I don’t like that smile much, but...
“...You did.”
I have to admit it.
***
“Hoo, hoo...”
After the duel ends, I head straight to the waiting room and find Thompson there, gasping for breath.
It must’ve been a tough fight—his whole body’s drenched in sweat.
“Here.”
I hand him a dry towel.
“Good work, mister.”
“Oh, top ranker.”
“How was it? Facing him for real.”
Thompson wipes his face with the towel and says.
“Well, not as big a deal as I thought. I was tense ‘cause he’s an academy student and all.”
To be precise, it wasn’t that the student was weak—it’s that Thompson excelled.
Especially in experience.
No matter how academy-trained, he was just a kid compared to Thompson, who’d been through it all.
“But why are you sweating so much? Wasn’t it no big deal?”
“Huh?”
At my question, Thompson narrows his eyes.
Looking almost offended.
“You really don’t know why and you’re asking?”
“...Yeah. Why?”
“It’s all ‘cause the top ranker worked me to the bone! Even walking a bit feels like my lungs are ripping!”
“Oh.”
Come to think of it, I forgot Thompson was already exhausted.
Well, a win’s a win.
As I’m thinking that.
“But top ranker. Speaking of...”
Thompson asks with a serious face.
“What about academy admission...?”
Of course, it was about enrollment.
“The president said he’d approve it.”
“R-Really?”
“Yeah, you won. You proved your skill plenty.”
“O-Ohh...!”
Thompson jumps up, stretching both arms toward the ceiling.
Is this his personal celebration?
He looks deeply moved.
“Ha, wow... Who’d have thought this’d happen at my age? Me, attending the academy—Asion Academy, no less!”
“Hm.”
Thinking about it, it is amazing.
A third-rate mage who barely reached 3rd circle after over a decade of study.
Now mastering light attribute magic and getting into Asion Academy.
How many cases like this are there?
And.
“The president asked me to pass something on.”
“H-The president? What?”
“He wants to know if you’d like to learn body transformation magic from him. Said he likes your way of handling magic or something...”
“W-What?!”
Even a chance to learn directly from the president.
Guess this is what a late-blooming life looks like.
Of course, it’s all thanks to Thompson’s hard work.
“Wanna give it a try?”
“Of course! Absolutely!”
Thompson nods vigorously, no hesitation.
“Got it, I’ll tell him.”
“Man... Body transformation magic. Body transformation magic! Haha!”
Is it that good?
Seeing him so happy makes me smile too.
That’s when.
Waaah—!
A roaring cheer erupts from outside the waiting room.
Sounds like Kayla’s duel has started...
“Why’s it so loud...?”
The atmosphere’s completely different from Thompson’s duel earlier.
“Right? Maybe a popular student’s up against the lady?”
Thompson finds it odd too.
Curiosity piqued, we poke our heads out of the waiting room.
And.
“That’s...”
We spot a familiar figure standing opposite Kayla.
Bright yellow blond hair, sky-blue eyes.
A luxurious robe to match.
The vibe’s a bit different somehow, but no doubt about it.
Asion Academy’s top student.
“Roan?”
It’s Roan.
He’s Kayla’s duel opponent.