Chapter 137

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 137

Chapter Title: Imperial Mages Get Owned

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"...Hmm?"

The captain, who had been grumbling "Rotten... rotten..." in anger, turned his gaze toward me.

Captain Grandpa alternated his gaze between me, Yuna, and Kim Chur in his beast form.

"Greetings to the Fourth Princess."

"Nice to meet you, Howard Max. It seems there's been a hitch in the preparations for the eve festival."

The captain approached us and first bowed to Yuna in greeting.

"Some idiot apprentice made a moronic mistake. Come to think of it, Your Highness the Fourth Princess is currently a second-year at Merhen Academy, aren't you?"

"That's right."

"Hmm... If it's not too rude, what is your circle...?"

The captain narrowed his eyes and asked Yuna.

Is this old man thinking of putting Yuna in the empty spot?

Yuna, suddenly hit with "What's your circle?", visibly panicked.

"5th circle, early stage... or something like that. No, very early stage..."

"Oh dear, what rotten luck... Oh. Just an old man's mutterings. Most second-years at this time are around that level."

"R-right. I'm in A-Class too."

"As expected of Her Highness."

The captain said that, but his irritable expression hadn't changed a bit.

Is being the Imperial Magic Corps Captain such a high position that he doesn't even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠need to watch his manners in front of a princess?

Or maybe he's just a grumpy bastard.

"And this one is...?"

"Ah, sorry for the late introduction. This is Ian Isaac. My underclassman."

Yuna introduced me to the captain.

The captain's name was Howard Max Haim.

"Ah, hello."

"Ah... The one that His Highness the Crown Prince invited?"

"Yes."

"Hoo... Hmm... That familiar looks pretty rare..."

"Don't touch it carelessly, or you'll get hurt."

"I'm not so ill-mannered as to touch someone else's familiar, you brat. Tsk..."

Damn. He'd been extremely polite to Yuna.

But the moment I said something, Captain Howard Max clicked his tongue at me.

More importantly, he was about to touch it just now, that old geezer.

"If he's an underclassman, then first-year. What's your circle?"

Howard Max pulled the same move on me.

After some thought, I decided to answer honestly.

"I can handle up to the 5th circle proficiently."

"Hm?"

"Really, Ian?"

"Yeah, somehow..."

Howard Max's wrinkled eyes snapped wide open.

Yuna hadn't seen my grown strength yet either, so she was surprised along with him.

But then,

"You insolent brat! Who do you think you're fooling with that circle nonsense?!"

Whack!

Howard Max smacked my head with the staff in his hand.

"Why'd you hit me?!"

"A first-year at 5th circle peak? Don't talk nonsense, you punk!"

"It's true!"

"Don't use informal speech, you ill-mannered brat!"

Whack!

Damn, another hit.

Who does he think he is, hitting me like this?

Not that I'm a noble or anything.

"Agh, I told you it's true! Do I have to show you to make you believe?!"

"Fine, looks like I need to teach this insolent punk a lesson. Giggs!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

Howard Max called over one of his squad members.

It was that apprentice who'd made the mistake earlier.

"How did you manage your underclassmen that a first-year is brazenly lying about his circle, you rotten punk?!"

"S-sorry!"

"Discipline him properly. Tsk."

"Wait a minute. Suddenly a duel...?"

"This guy's a useless graduate from this year's academy class. Still stuck at 5th circle, so if you're really 5th circle, it'll be a fair match."

"W-well, I did manage one 6th circle recently, Captain..."

"Does one lucky success count as your magic, you idiot?!"

"Ow, ow ow! Sorry!"

Giggs got smacked around by Howard Max again.

Guess I shouldn't join the Imperial Magic Corps after graduating.

More importantly, a sudden duel?

I glanced at Yuna, who gave a wry smile and nodded.

No helping it. Time to show them a bit of my power.

Can't just let them walk all over me.

"Understood. I'll make you regret this."

"Regret? You rotten... "

The duel arena was quickly set up.

Word spread that a first-year from the academy was dueling, and the squad members gathered around with excited expressions.

"A first-year at 5th circle? What nonsense..."

"He told the captain that? He picked the wrong guy."

"Back in my day as a first-year, I was like that too..."

"More importantly, why's a first-year here?"

"Crown Prince invited him?"

The squad members' murmurs reached my ears.

All academy grads, looking at me like I was cute.

Time to show these seniors how scary a chick can be.

"Hey, first-year! These days' first-years are fu... Without guys like me, the academy's gone to shit?"

"Pardon?"

"When I was at the academy, first-years polished their seniors' shoes to learn even one more thing. Coming to the palace and lying about circles... You'll regret it after graduation. Magic society is small; rumors spread, and even small guilds won't take you. Got it?"

"..."

What the hell is with this guy.

Giggs, my duel opponent, had instantly puffed up after cowering in front of Howard Max.

More than that, didn't you just graduate this year?

Probably nothing special.

I felt a bit sorry about dueling an innocent guy,

but seeing his attitude, no need for pity.

"Hey. Hey! You listening? These days' first-years have no manners."

"Ah, yes?"

I'd been scrolling the gallery because Giggs's nonsense was annoying, and he snapped his fingers to call me.

What's with this fresh grad being so chatty.

"Ready to duel now?"

"This... yeah. Needs a beating to straighten him out. Kids these days weren't beaten enough."

"You're a kid these days too."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Thank goodness Giggs graduated this year.

If he'd been my senior, it'd have been a real headache.

"You rotten punks... Enough chit-chat, fight! Giggs! Lose here and you're out, punk!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

Howard Max spat as he yelled.

The duel arena had a system similar to the academy's.

Should be able to go all out.

This duel limited to 5th circle.

Means no Thought Acceleration from SubsidyRiceEater.

Actually, good experience.

I'd mostly fought using it so far.

Should practice normal thought speed for unexpected situations.

Beep!

Soon the countdown rang, and the duel began.

"Can't impersonate 5th circle carelessly, underclassman!"

Giggs started computing a 5th circle attack spell right away.

Everyone here thinks I can't use 5th circle.

They expect one spell to take me out.

Giggs looked very relaxed.

A typical first-year wouldn't have the capacity to block 5th circle magic.

I decided to show some skill first.

Annoying as he is, Giggs is a graduate who passed into the Imperial Magic Corps.

His combat experience should differ from a student's.

Better to gauge his level first.

My first spell: Guardian of the Lonely Star Unaffiliated with Any Constellation.

A wave ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of starlight draped over me, shielding my surroundings.

In response, Giggs finished his computation.

A standard first 5th circle attack spell.

Blue flames bared their maw and charged at me.

Whoosh!

Giggs's blue flames shattered against the starlight.

Beyond the dispersing flames, Giggs's shocked face was visible.

"That was..."

"Did I see that right?"

"A first-year used real 5th circle magic...?"

"He's not a first-year?"

"He's my underclassman, everyone."

—...!

The watching Imperial Mages swallowed their shock at Yuna's confirmation.

Even Howard Max's previously venomous face grew grave.

"M-maybe he learned a defense spell or two?"

Giggs, forcing down his fluster, computed his next spell.

I could gauge his level roughly, but decided to watch one more.

Giggs finished computing, and a massive iron orb accelerated toward me.

I timed my defense spell accordingly.

Honestly, I even had leisure in computation.

Plate Armor of the Last Royal Knight Order.

A dull impact thudded, denting the plate armor.

A slight vibration, but that was it.

The plate armor fulfilled its role and vanished with the iron orb.

"Wha... wha...?"

The Imperial Mages all wore expressions like Giggs.

Assessment complete.

"Guess you slacked off at the academy."

Not terrible enough to say "pathetic."

Imagery precise, output solid.

Compared to second- or third-years' 5th circle computation speed, definitely fast.

But still felt a bit slow to me.

Maybe from using SubsidyRiceEater's Thought Acceleration, my thought speed got buffed.

Won't lose to Giggs in computation speed.

Duel banned specialties, no more factors.

No need to drag it out.

Five Rays of Brilliant Flash

Five Rays of Brilliant Flash

I hurled my most familiar 5th circle spell like probing shots.

Lacks destructive power compared to others.

But so familiar it's like an extension of my hand—computed twice in succession instantly.

"What spell is this...!"

Giggs panicked at the ten incoming light bolts but hastily computed a defense.

Rat-tat-tat—rat-tat-tat! With explosive sounds, he blocked with minimal damage.

Definitely low power.

But just probing.

Apprentice Dragon Knight's Javelin Throw

Apprentice Dragon Knight's Javelin Throw

Immediately hurling dragon knight spears sky-high.

Not as fast to compute as Five Rays, but I chained without thinking next turn.

Giggs was already tied up from the first attack.

"Ugh, ugh...! Damn it!"

His computation didn't falter in the pinch—commendable.

Not just lucky to join the Corps.

"This can't be!"

"Princess, is he really a first-year?"

"Computing 5th circle that fast as a first-year? Impossible!"

"...I can't believe it either."

The spectators' shock faintly reached my ears.

I kept attacking relentlessly.

Dragon-flame spears rained on Giggs.

Apprentice Dragon Knight's Javelin Throw was single-target; he somehow blocked.

But his turns were getting pushed back,

meaning time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to end it.

Five Elements of Dust Explosion

Explosion spread instantly along the scattered dust.

Giggs, struggling with javelins, had no capacity for omni-defense.

Boom! The duel system's protection triggered.

"Arghhh!"

By the time Giggs let out an ugly scream, the duel was over.

Only his scream echoed in the arena.

Everyone gaped in disbelief, jaws on the floor.

Howard Max's wrinkles trembled.

Winner's routine is set.

"Guess that's why he's just an apprentice? Way too easy~ Hahaha. Was worried about the Imperial Magic Corps, but by graduation, I'll own you all? Hahaha, ah~ But if this is the level even after graduation, maybe no need to join? Hohohoho!"

"Hah... First-year lost his mind..."

"But Giggs couldn't even fight back, right...?"

"Dunno what 'own' means, but it pisses me off...!"

Hehehehehe.

Wanted to screenshot the faces of Giggs and the Imperial Mages including Howard Max for the gallery,

but couldn't violate portrait rights, so held back.

"Ahem. Captain, what now? Imperial mages worse than academy first-years? Hope you're not that bad. Need better management? Hahaha!"

For a moment, I flinched at Howard Max's menacing glare, but didn't stop provoking.

Mage world speaks with strength.

Howard Max dismissed me with strength; backing down now would mean abandoning mage pride myself.

Thus, the Imperial Mages endured my shit-talking for a while.

At first wondered if this was okay against the Corps,

but their reactions were so juicy I couldn't stop.

"Enough! Stop it, you rotten punk!"

"Hehehe... That'll do, I'll let it slide."

"Your Highness. Is he really a first-year?"

"Yes, Howard Max. I didn't know he was this outstanding either."

"Should've noticed from the unusual familiar... I apologize. I was rude."

Howard Max even stood and bowed.

His sincerity caught me off guard.

"Ah, it's fine."

"Unacceptable disregard between mages. But a first-year wielding 5th circle at this level defies common sense, so some leeway."

"If you put it that way, I'll forgive specially."

"You rotten punk..."

Almost wanted to keep going from the head smacks,

but seeing his bald spot from the bow, I forgave.

Apologizing sincerely at his rank means he'd conceded a lot.

Grumpy, but a proper mage.

"...Separately, vice-captain. Retrain that rotten punk Giggs."

"Yes."

"W-wait, Captain! Spare me!"

Giggs was dragged off pathetically by the vice-captain.

Dunno what'll happen, but felt a bit sorry.

Thought the incident was over, but Howard Max dropped an unexpected bombshell.

"Not the time, but Ian Isaac, right?"

"Yes."

"Empty spot in this eve festival ceremony. Can you fill in?"

"...Pardon?"

"Generous compensation, no worries. Includes apology for earlier—I'll open the Imperial Second Vault for you."