Chapter 117

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 117

Chapter Title: As Expected of the President

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"What kind of shameless..."

Having roughly figured out the true nature of [Zzzzt-Zzzzt and Pssshhh Explosion-!],

Harisha merely halted her calculations once more and glared at me.

It was the kind of expression that would have had Gonnick Orgasm yelling "Uwoooooh!" in excitement if he'd seen it.

"Why did you stop your calculations?"

"Are you going easy on me?"

"Wasn't that a Rank 1 spell just now? Is that first-year messing around?"

The onlookers were buzzing about the unfolding situation.

To those unaware of the details, it looked like Harisha had deliberately paused her magic.

I ignored them and kept spamming Rank 1 attacks.

The more I did, the more troubled Harisha's expression grew.

The spectators were starting to sense something off, and even I began having thoughts I shouldn't.

But I shook my head to dismiss them quickly.

It was a shameless disruption attack using Gonnick Orgasm's magic,

but this was just a strategy to win the duel, nothing more.

Of course, it wouldn't be enough on its own.

I kept disrupting Harisha.

I needed to create a big opening before the duration of [Zzzzt-Zzzzt and Pssshhh Explosion-!] ran out.

"Junior Ian...!"

However, Harisha's mental fortitude was far stronger than I'd anticipated.

Even after another volley of dozens of [Static Electricity] spells, she showed no signs of stopping her calculations this time.

She seemed ready to endure the pleasure and compute her next spell.

"Ugh...!"

Realizing this level of stimulation wouldn't cut it, I switched tactics.

The next one was surely a powerful Rank 4 attack spell.

I began calculating a defensive spell.

I drew a massive rectangle.

Then, behind it in a three-dimensional layout, I propped up a tall cylindrical structure.

A shield shaped like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a towering tower.

In front of it, I drew another thick-lined rectangle.

Overlapping shields forming a sturdy outer wall.

Finally, behind the entire structure, I sketched a massive pressure explosion.

As if thrusting the shield forward to shove the enemy ahead.

The shield could block attacks on its own,

but it could also push back foes.

If I made it big and thick enough to enable that,

A colossal rectangular shield materialized.

Thankfully, I finished the calculation just in time.

Harisha's spell came flying in perfectly on cue, only for the Tower Shield to thrust forward with a pang, deflecting it.

"That first-year's calculations are faster than I thought?"

"Isn't the president going easy on him?"

"Why doesn't she just end it? She's had plenty of openings."

I ignored the spectators' chatter and picked my next spell.

I had no spare attention for that noise.

I'd blocked once, but Harisha was already calculating something else.

Our calculation speeds differed.

I didn't have many options left.

Instead of Rank 1, I switched to a Rank 3 advance spell.

If a stronger pleasure disruption could...

"Quite the clever strategy, Junior Ian."

But I immediately abandoned it.

Harisha had wrapped herself in some defensive magic in the interim.

It looked like Rank 3, probably blocking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only electric damage.

She'd caught on to my plan for low-rank lightning disruptions.

She intended to nullify them and land a decisive blow in the gap.

She chose a Rank 3 defense because it calculated quickly.

I'd planned quick pleasure disruptions with low-rank lightning too.

If I tried a Rank 4 lightning attack,

Harisha's other Rank 4 would hit me first.

She'd read all my moves in an instant.

Even though this was her first time facing Gonnick Orgasm's magic.

"More than that, Junior Ian, your mana capacity seems way higher than expected. Have you been diligently cultivating?"

Harisha casually chatted while calculating her spell.

I was calculating too, at a similar speed.

For her to match me even after deploying a Rank 3 defense and starting the next,

meant her calculation speed was overwhelmingly superior.

No choice but a head-on clash now.

Based on the spell formula for the Rank 1 [Razor Wind], I drew multiple connected gusts.

Then, on both sides, reverse-curving lines bending repeatedly.

Random razor winds waver upon meeting others.

And in front of those three ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠components, I drew soft curves utterly unlike razor winds.

The erratic razor winds step along that path.

It aimed to become a gently swaying breeze,

but the razor winds' ferocity wasn't fully tamed—an awkward dance.

With a shraaa-zzt, irregular razor winds slashed through space.

But Harisha had finished her calculation too,

and her four fire orbs collided with them.

Whoosh-

The blazing orbs scattered amid the razor gale, spraying heat and embers everywhere.

Scorching winds washed over my face,

and the heat incinerated my fine hairs and threads.

"Ugh..."

After that, I couldn't launch any more attacks.

Harisha's calculation speed accelerated, leaving me scrambling with defenses.

.

.

.

.

.

Consecutive defensive spells.

My mana was being whittled away.

But with my 90,000 mana pool, I still had half left despite all that casting.

"That first-year's holding out longer than expected?"

"But now the president's serious, and he's doing nothing."

"Still weird though. Sure, calculation speed's no contest, but what's with that first-year's mana pool? He's spamming defenses like that and hasn't collapsed yet?"

.

.

.

.

.

The prolonged duel amplified the spectators' murmurs.

And those noises faded from my ears.

My mind focused solely on calculating defenses.

My pupils dilated, vision narrowing.

In the tunnel-like view, only Harisha's spells were visible.

Spells seemed to fly from all directions.

Sudden bursts, defend, defend again—endless.

My heart pounded faster.

Harisha's spells assaulted mercilessly, intent on killing.

Sharp enough to instinctively terrify,

despite knowing the system's protection spells, I defended desperately.

The skill gap was vast.

Harisha wore her usual subtle smile.

I glimpsed the sadism hidden behind it.

She was a leader, but twist those qualities, and she became a predator.

Before this predator, writhing desperately, I had to choose.

Be devoured, or pluck one last thorn.

I knew pure defense would end in defeat anyway.

So, attempt one final attack before then.

Calming the fear her sadistic onslaught had stirred,

reminding myself this was a non-lethal duel.

Using the brief mental leeway for thought.

Which thorn to pluck last.

I'd have to abandon defense then; failure meant instant loss.

But her sadism only fueled my resistance stronger.

It felt like she'd forcibly reignited my complacency post-taboo mage incident with this crisis.

Had she proposed this duel intending exactly that?

Another of Harisha's spells incoming.

Amid the fierce snow flurry, I shielded with [Tetrahedral Pyramid].

Then immediately calculated [Tower Shield Attack].

The next attack was surely following.

So, plan beyond that.

Abandon all further defense for a final do-or-die attack.

A suitable spell came to mind.

Not sure if truly suitable, but nothing else fit.

After blocking another clash with Tower Shield,

I focused entirely on that spell.

As if it were my last.

Visualizing the prey's mindset moments before devouring.

I drew the predator's gaping maw as a sharp parabola.

Beneath, the trembling prey.

The prey's mouth, smaller and gentler curve, on the verge.

Around the prey's formula, thin trembling lines.

But even the devoured has teeth.

The prey bares them at death's door.

Adding sharp fangs to the prey's formula completes the spell.

But if just that,

one fang ends as cute flailing.

Having teeth means potential predator.

It's how you hone them.

Herbivore fangs for grass—prey.

Rough fangs for flesh—carnivore.

That's omnivore duality.

Snarling, biting the predator's nape even then.

Grasping true 'omnivore' meaning,

I felt the visualization explode in scale.

Not frail prey struggle,

but a dagger aimed at the giant predator's throat.

With a crack, the tiny beast gaped its maw impossibly wide.

It dwarfed my usual [Omnivore's Fang].

Utmost terror as prey, overcome—leading to internalization.

Kwajik-

The merciless fang lunged at Harisha.

Her face flashed panic at its size,

and faint gasps rose from the crowd.

Never dreamed I'd internalize here.

Seeing the massive fang, victory hope bloomed.

But,

Kaduduk-

Harisha gritted her molars and kept calculating.

Her defenses shattered sequentially against the giant fang.

Molars ground down bit by bit, but two or three blocks couldn't fully stop it.

Yet she didn't halt,

and soon unleashed an explosion spell.

Peoverbung-

Smoke billowed with the blast,

and I kept calculating my next without pause.

Whatever lay beyond the smoke, no system victory chime meant no win.

I calculated another attack,

and as it finished, ice trident spears pierced the haze toward me.

Kagang-!

It canceled with my spell and scattered; I calculated again.

Harisha had blocked the internalized spell after all.

Horror-struck, I couldn't stop.

No second internalization,

and Harisha relentlessly chased turns, pressuring me anew.

Beeeep-

"Whoa..."

"Insane."

"That was... internalization, right?"

"Blocked an internalization and still won... As expected of the president..."

"No, how did a first-year even internalize?"

"Different spell?"

"No way that's real internalization, fuck. Never seen it before junior year."

"First time seeing it myself..."

The grueling exchange ended in my defeat.

The internalization delayed her with chained defenses.

Even blocked, the turn gain could've won it.

But Harisha mixed defense and attack tenaciously, then overtook with raw speed.

Another internalization would've clinched it,

but failing that, I lost.

"Hah... huff..."

Dust settled thickly.

As duel traces faded, Harisha emerged.

She panted raggedly, in a state I'd never seen.

The poised president had dueled to exhaustion.

Impressive feat, but defeat left lingering regret.

Was this her true level?

Or did the duel push her to limits too?

Either way, I'd lost.

Without internalization, it'd been a rout.

Urgency to raise ranks hit hard again.

Higher like Rank 5 or 6, she'd crush easier.

Resolved: Rank 5 practice starting tomorrow.

"Whew... Good work, Junior Ian. Never thought you'd push me this far. Haven't focused like this in ages. Great experience, thanks to you."

"Thank you. Learned a ton."

"Not too humble? Few cadets could do this against me."

"It was Rank 4 duel. Higher rank, I'd have been crushed."

"Impressive for a first-year at Rank 4. Internalizing too, yet so modest—growing on me more, Junior Ian."

Harisha smiled brightly, brushing dirt from my cheek.

Of course, internalization's impossible for cadets.

Proof: spectators still gawked in disbelief.

Beyond shock, most refused to believe.

First time seeing it for most.

Unexpected even for me, bit flustered.

This duel would spark talk.

Trouble brewing.

Wish they don't believe the internalization rumor.

"Well, time to grant that wish?"

That aside, defeat meant fulfilling the unknown wish.

Harisha beamed.