The Catastrophe-Class Mage's First Magic Duel (1)
The first inter-grade magic duel between the first-year freshmen had erupted!
The rumor had spread like wildfire in an instant.
Within moments, a vast crowd of spectators had converged on the academy sparring grounds.
Their appearances were as varied as the people themselves.
Some of them looked like upperclassmen—second- and third-years wearing neckties in the distinctive yellow-green color reserved for other grades.
Others were clearly academy instructors.
That even the instructors had taken notice of the incident involving the first-years was itself proof of its significance.
"Hoh? The first-year student there. Isn't that Rekas? From the Buster family."
"Indeed. Who would have guessed that Rekas from the Buster family would be the one who submitted an application for this magic duel?"
The Buster family.
An old, noble house whose name was known throughout the history of the Orwen Empire—a major ducal house among the elite.
Rekas was a member of that lineage, its sole male heir and successor.
"Hah hah. I once heard that Rekas's older sister, who is a year older than him, went to study in the Arhen Empire long ago."
"Speaking of which, such a tale does exist. A girl with exceptional talent that even the Buster family once speculated might become the first female head of the house."
"But that was impossible. The Buster family has always been an aristocratic house of renown. They only accepted male successors to lead the family, no matter how striking the talent."
"The ancient policies passed down through history are not so easily overturned, no matter how outstanding the talent."
"In any case, who is the opponent on the other side? The student I've never seen before."
"Ah! Perhaps you haven't heard, as you're responsible for the second-years. The student who transferred from the Arhen Empire to our nation this year. Her name is, ah—"
The young instructor clapped his palm against his fist, as if remembering the name just in time.
"Ah! Free von Betelgeuse. I do recall that name."
"Free von Betelgeuse... an unfamiliar name, yet somehow familiar."
"That's right. I remember now. The Betelgeuse name is the only family name and surname that differs from the main house in the Arhen Empire. Given its renown, our empire also imports and exports numerous specialty goods from there through trade routes."
"Hoh hoh hoh. Speaking of which, the teacup I use is one of their exported goods. It has quite a refined design, which is why I've come to favor it lately."
The Phoenix family was one of the wealthiest noble houses with extensive trade connections across the kingdoms, known for their goods.
The marks and names of the exporting nations were usually engraved subtly on the base of the items they produced—something that blended into the background.
That was why, like the teacup in question, one might not realize it had originated from another country.
"Um, it seems the match is about to begin."
"Right. No matter what, the sole heir of the Buster family should win, right?"
"That's hard to say. Nobles don't throw around victory predictions so lightly."
"Still, it looks like a trade family with outstanding merchants on that side. How can they possibly defeat Rekas, who comes from a ducal house?"
"Hoh. You seem to know one thing and miss another. Don't be so quick to judge. You were the one who mentioned it yourself earlier—that we have a trade route capable of exporting goods of that caliber."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Tsk tsk. So you still have much to learn as an instructor. Are you planning to say such foolish things to your students as well?"
"...I listen attentively. Please broaden my junior instructor's limited perspective."
"Hmm, understood. I'll buy you dinner once this is over."
"Didn't I get it last time...?"
"That's one thing, and this is another. Hoh hoh hoh!"
The senior instructor, who appeared to be an older colleague, shook his head with a long sigh at the young male instructor's response.
From the way they interacted, it was clear they were on friendly terms, bantering back and forth as if it were nothing.
"Whatever. So? What connection could the capable trader have with that Free boy?"
"Hmm, it's not that complicated. The boy simply comes from a family like that, so he probably grew up in a financially comfortable life."
"So what?"
"Then what happens? He may have acquired every magic item that money can buy. And he may have also mastered quite impressive grimoires."
"Um, now that you mention it, that does make sense. But aren't artifacts that enhance magic usually restricted from entering the academy when students arrive?"
"Well, that's true, but anything's possible."
"Really?"
"The Free boy has been reading and learning from the family's various grimoires since he was little. Moreover, he seems to have more talent than expected, so it's possible he possesses quite outstanding magical abilities. That's why Rekas, as a student from another country, would submit a magic duel challenge against him. I don't know the exact reason, but..."
"...Is that even possible?"
"The match has started! Let's watch and see!"
"..."
The senior instructor, who had brushed off the conversation with vague words, abruptly ended the dialogue before the young instructor could press further and turned his full attention back to the duel.
The magic duel for the lower grades had begun, with each side's grimoire limited in scope.
"...What are you doing? You."
Standing on the sparring grounds, Rekas stared in disbelief at the first-year as the match began. Free showed no preparation or response whatsoever—simply standing motionless in his spot.
"What? You. Are you trying to mock me?"
"Mistake. I have no such intention. Because the gap between us is so vast, as a senior, I decided to yield the first move."
"...You're calling me a mockery! You rotten bastard!"
Rekas, infuriated by the light provocation, lunged forward.
In reality, it had been exactly Free's intention.
*Mages should control their emotions better. To get hooked on such a simple provocation already... he's still far too immature.*
He watched as Rekas extended a safe distance and, without any chant, drew his grimoire in a crimson hue, gathered his mana, and fired a salvo of flame orbs in a single breath toward Free.
"Die! You insolent brat—!"
"..."
However,
Whoosh!
"...What!?"
The flame orbs Rekas had fired forward never reached Free's clothes. They vanished in an instant right before his nose, as if they had never existed.
"W-what...!?"
The look of utter bewilderment on Rekas's face.
Free simply raised one hand in front of him and extended it forward toward Rekas.
And then, in front of his open palm, his magic unfolded.
The front of the spread palm was filled with the same low-level magic as the one Rekas had used—fire orbs.
The problem was that unlike the small, children's playground-sized spheres that had vanished earlier, these were steadily growing in size until they formed massive, roaring flames that blazed outward like a raging inferno.
"It seems you were trying to probe me. Using such low-level magic as your first move is, in fact, your decisive factor in defeat."
"...!"
Free was proficient in the flame attribute system. With that knowledge.
Because the Phoenix family, to which he belonged, was one that primarily focused on the fire attribute system.
"Don't worry. Even if you land a hit on this magic, the Life Protector enchantment here means you won't die in one blow."
"You insolent brat...!!"
Flame—!
Finally, Free's massive flame orb spell shot forward from his open palm.
Rekas, receiving the magic, instantly pulled back all his mana and expanded a semi-transparent shield spell forward.
And then the collision occurred.
Kwaaang—!
A thunderous boom erupted as Free's first spell slammed into Rekas's shield.
All the students had watched the sequence of events unfold in an instant.
Even Aina, sitting in the spectator stands with her eyes wide open, could not stay silent.
The instructors were even more shocked than the other students in the crowd.
Because the spell Free had fired at Rekas was classified in the exact same low tier as the one Rekas had used against him—Flame Ball.
Yet the size was worlds apart.
The magic school students and instructors, along with Aina, were the only ones not missing the reason.
*'With silent casting, it achieved a size and power level approaching full chant!'*
That's right.
Free had fired the exact same low-tier magic as the Flame Ball that Rekas had used, but with silent casting it had reached a power and form nearly equivalent to a full chant.
In the unreasonable magical common sense,
As if complaining or protesting,
Free, standing in the hazy smoke that slowly cleared, spoke quietly to the scarred, bitter-faced Rekas.
"Already over?"
As if the match hadn't even begun.
Free hadn't taken a single step away from his spot since the duel started.
And now,
A complex blue magic circle began to form and rise in Free's left eye.
The fight was far from over.