Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: If You Lose to Me, Do the Grand Prostration
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Elrim Shuskalra loved making bets.
For mages, competing in something was pretty common, but Elrim's case was a bit special.
Elrim had been born with good blood, showing talent for magic from a young age.
But it wasn't the absolute best—just solidly in the upper ranks.
It was what people called "vaguely good talent."
Normally, with that kind of talent, adding effort could make someone the best.
But if they got complacent from easy gains and slacked off, they'd stagnate forever in promising-prodigy territory. The infamous "talent swamp."
Elrim's situation was ambiguous.
From childhood, she'd loved the thrill of recognition from her talent.
She put in moderate effort too—not enough to fall behind, but nothing extreme.
But that effort wasn't aimed at becoming the greatest mage.
Elrim just enjoyed beating others with minimal work.
That upbringing, combined with her aggressive personality, led to some odd results.
Elrim often provoked people around her level.
It usually escalated quickly into duels or bets. "I can beat a scrub like you~" "No way, I can beat you~"
And Elrim kept winning.
She loved crushing guys who got pissed and charged in after her taunts.
Winning felt great; losing did not.
So Elrim only provoked opponents she was sure she could beat.
As time passed, her taunting skills—what some called "scratching"—got sharper.
The more riled up she got her target, the better it felt when she won the bet.
She scratched just enough to piss them off without causing real trouble.
Rewards were secondary; Elrim loved rubbing it in after beating a thoroughly provoked foe.
Just imagining sneering, "Pfft, that was nothing," at a seething loser spiked her dopamine.
Yes. Elrim was a dopamine addict.
She'd scratch someone until they snapped into a bet out of rage.
The harder they got scratched, the bigger the pleasure rush from victory.
She was hooked on the habit.
'What the hell is this guy? Total pushover.'
The academy was Elrim's dopamine paradise.
Her laser-focused gaze scanned the entrance exam line from the start.
Luckily, the guy right in front of her looked bug-level weak.
Weak enough that failing the exam seemed guaranteed.
Elrim started provoking him immediately.
Lightly, since it was her first time. Drawing too much attention before enrollment wasn't ideal.
Big dopamine hits upfront led to quick boredom.
Tap.
"Hey. Move up a bit."
She tapped his back just annoyingly enough, using a snide tone.
To others, it might seem normal. But it wasn't.
Years of perfecting provocations: pain-free, maximum irritation in force and voice.
"...Ah."
But the guy didn't bite, just shuffled forward meekly.
Tch. Lame. Elrim clicked her tongue and scanned for new targets.
She passed the entrance exam and lingered at the academy.
With classes still days away, there were no good provocation targets.
Then, the day before term started, cadets flooded the dorms.
Finally, to recharge her dopamine, Elrim headed to the training hall.
Anyone obsessed enough to train the day before classes would bite her bait easily.
But there he was again.
The guy from the exam line.
'What? How'd he pass?'
He clearly lacked the skill.
Morning training, maybe? He was focused on basic breathing.
One more scratch? Perfect—spectators were gathering.
He'd improved a bit from diligent practice, but she could still win.
Elrim grinned and power-walked to Ian.
This time, heavier scratch—dropping all politeness.
Fellow freshmen, so no issues.
"Hi?"
"We've met before, right? You looked like total trash—how'd a loser like you pass?"
What the fuck is this bitch's deal? Honestly, posting to the gallery was pure panic.
I'm human; I can respond to a greeting.
But that only went as far as "hi."
Straight-up provocation? No clue how to handle this.
"Uh, uhhuuh..."
I awkwardly twisted my face muscles, eyes flicking to the gallery window.
Fuck, someone comment quick.
Just answer? What if it turns into a real fight?
Her expression is seriously pissing me off, though.
Why does she look more infuriating by the second? Dying to snap.
Luckily, comments started rolling in before things escalated.
Emergency! The academy's hottest redhead beauty suddenly picks a fight with me—what do I do?
Help plz it's urgent fr
lol wtf is this real
If real, this is legend. So you're gallery-posting right in front of her? LMAO
Said hi then suddenly picks fight? What'd you do?
No, she's the girl behind me in the entrance exam line. She told me to hurry up back then. Just now she said "how'd trash like you pass?" I'm pissed
Just ignore lol
Just smash her. Why cower if you did nothing wrong
Posting to gallery in front of her is kinda wrong. Maybe she got mad cuz you ignored her greeting and went to gallery
Is that it? Did I piss her off by not responding to the greeting?
But I posted after she approached for like 3 seconds.
Provoking over 3 seconds of silence? Nah, intentional.
Fuck it, smashing her
Do it Kim Muggle! Show us!
Lmao smashing is peak Muggle
She just didn't like your face lol
Go off…!
I closed the gallery and stared at the redhead.
Why cower when I did nothing wrong?
Buoyed by the archmages' encouragement, I shouted confidently.
"You talking to me right now?"
Who am I? Commoner Ian Isaac (Gallery holder).
Basement-dwelling nerd? Doesn't mean I bow my head at the academy.
What? Hell if I know. But I won't just take being ignored.
"Yeah. You. Thought you'd flop, but you passed? Impressive. Lucky matchup? If I'd been your opponent, you'd have flunked. Congrats~ You owe your spot to dodging me. Let's get along?"
"Wha—what?"
Damn, this redhead's scratching skills are no joke. Gallery time?
The crowd started murmuring. Fight-about-to-break-out vibes.
I'd tried emotion control, but my irritation showed.
'But she is right about the luck. Gallery luck, not matchup.'
Thinking again, yeah. I'd have failed solo.
But that insults my opponent, Hisenna. "Passed cuz it was Hisenna."
Fuck that. I can take insults to me, but not to Lady Hisenna!
"...Fuck. I can take anything but this. What'd you say?"
"Heh heh! That you lucked into the academy. You'd be gone if I'd faced you. Why? Think not? You think you could beat me now?"
Redhead crosses the line.
Fine. Let's do this. See who wins.
"Ha! Obviously. You're one-shot material."
"Yeah? Wanna bet?"
"Bet!"
Yeah! I'll defend Lady Hisenna's honor!
One-shot? Hisenna was too.
Bet made in seconds; we activated the duel system.
Like the exam, it auto-protects cadets in danger.
No system? I'd have Five Rays of Brilliant Flashed her. Lucky you.
Duel confirmed; spectators crept closer.
But their chatter sounded ominous.
"Ooh, duel over there."
"Before classes even? Isn't that Elrim? That guy's screwed."
"Picked Elrim? Doomed. Bad luck day one."
"That guy looks familiar though..."
Redhead's name: Elrim, apparently.
Everyone talks like I'm fucked.
Is she a hidden munchkin?
No. Don't get fooled.
Teacher Rice's magic will win!
"Alright. Duel rules: 2nd-circle magic only?"
"Huh? What? No thanks."
Did she read my mind?
Elrim throws out a bullshit condition.
I hadn't practiced 2nd-circle yet.
Nothing but reasons to refuse.
"Hah. You not asking to limit to 1st-circle, right?"
"What're you on about?"
"I'm stronger, so handicap. Can't use 2nd-circle?"
Elrim looked genuinely puzzled now, not scratching.
Standard rule: same-circle duels?
Spectators eyed me weird; I yanked open the gallery.
Guys real emergency. Do duels normally restrict to same-circle magic?
Ended up in 1v1 soul duel with redhead. She says 2nd-circle only—is that normal?
Wtf lmao what situation is this
What the hell happened
How'd it turn into soul duel??
Explain the situation first, don't just spam posts
I said she picked fight outta nowhere. Dunno why. Got scratched and now it's duel. Was gonna school her with 5th-circle I learned, but she wants 2nd only
Lol scratched?
Kim Muggle got scratched lol
Classic rash Muggle
What do I do ffs duel starting now super urgent
These guys, give useful advice. Feels like there's something, but...
Salvation comment drops.
Got the gist. Why fighting aside, 2nd-circle only is normal. Combat's different, but mage duels test 'magic' skill. Same-circle precision contests are standard for practice.
Where's that? Knowing higher-circle means better magic.
Obviously. But your basics suck, so exception. Point is, why duel with circle gap? Teaching maybe, but inefficient otherwise.
Ah, so similar levels duel. Exam didn't restrict tho
Exam opponents random, so go all-out. More real combat than practice.
Got it
Got it. Mages like efficiency wouldn't duel needlessly.
Dueling means similar skill. Restrict circle to test precision...
Even knowing 5th-circle, don't cheese. Build basics. Skipping low-circles for high draws suspicion.
Suspicion? What kind
"Really can't do 2nd-circle? I could teach you. How'd you pass the exam~?"
Too quiet; Elrim spoke again.
Dunno the suspicion, but Environmentalist's right.
I'd suspect a muggle pulling 5th-circle too. No need for scrutiny.
No choice. 2nd-circle it is.
2nd-circle summary post up; gotta check it.
She's rushing hard. Kinda get it. 2nd-circle duel it is. Cheer me on archmage bros!
?? Has he even tried 2nd-circle?
Hasn't practiced yet right?
Now dueling with untested magic lol
Posted the guide but; compute on sight?
2nd-circle's tough to mimic instantly, not even 1st.
Five Rays of Brilliant Flash has same calc speed, but others don't. Hard to intuit.
Archmages fretting, but I ignored and closed the window.
Opened the 2nd-circle summary instead. Never used, but read-and-apply is best.
"Fine? 2nd-circle it is. Could do 5th, but I'll humor you."
No way I'd surrender to this redhead.
Can't stomach no schooling.
"Pfft. 5th-circle? Bluff much. Let's see if you say that after. Bet terms?"
"If I win, do Grand Prostration before me and Lady Hisenna."
"Grand Prostration? Fine. Dunno what, but I'll win anyway. If I win, you're my dog. Act like a dog around me always."
"...Hah. Deal."
Dog? Hesitated, but no backing out.
Confident though. Can draw two constructs.
Key's calc speed control. Not hard.
Plus, I can draw from the formula directly. Gallery cheating viable.
Moments later, the duel began.