I'm Going to Hit You. Hard.
I was going to hit you. Hard.
Noticing that I was simply watching the situation unfold, Eisen’s brow furrowed. He clearly didn’t like that I was observing instead of cowering or running away.
“Lady Elteumia. As I already explained, the reason I’m giving Eros this advice is…”
“I understand what you’re saying. But aren’t you ashamed? No matter how you heard it… Eros can use Moving Casting, but only to the extent of taking a single step.”
“…Pardon?”
“When two mages duel, it’s enough to call that genius. But do you truly believe it holds any real value against a swordsman? At best, it’s just a wooden puppet that managed one step against you.”
“….”
“Even knowing that, you’re still not embarrassed?”
“….”
Eisen didn’t answer.
He had probably rushed over the moment he heard that Moving Casting was possible. And after listening to Elteumia, he must have realized just how unreasonable he was being.
“…Eros Brioche. Is what she said true?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Then I offer my sincere apology. Without Lady Elteumia’s intervention, I might have committed a serious rudeness.”
“Is that how you apologize?”
Ah, so that’s it. You came here fully intending to beat me senseless, but after hearing Elteumia you decided challenging a mage was too much? How convenient.
…It was starting to piss me off.
“…What?”
“A proper apology requires lowering your head and speaking from the heart. And I have no intention of accepting yours.”
“What… did you just say?”
“It would be convenient for you if I accepted, wouldn’t it? But I, Eisen, will not be accepting your apology.”
The eyes that had begun to soften narrowed once more, shooting daggers at me.
What? Did you honestly think I’d roll over the moment you apologized?
“Eros, stop this. Just… back down for now.”
“Lady Elteumia. There’s something that’s been bothering me. Why do you keep taking that guy’s side? Unless you have some sort of…”
“…Eisen.”
“My apologies. I have overstepped.”
Unlike the half-hearted apology he’d given me, Eisen bowed deeply to Elteumia, showing genuine respect.
But Elteumia completely ignored him and turned to face me instead.
“I know you’re reckless. But a human who isn’t dragonkin cannot possibly fight a swordsman.”
I knew that already. In this world, mages were beings who maintained a fixed position, calculating and manifesting spells through casting and incantation.
That meant they were fundamentally vulnerable to knights, swordsmen, spearmen, martial artists—every kind of close-combat fighter.
Only the dragonkin could overcome that weakness. They were born with powerful bodies and the mental fortitude to keep chanting even while taking hits.
Everyone watching seemed to share that belief; their eyes were filled with a mix of worry and ridicule.
Wait a minute.
Why was I assuming I would lose?
Suddenly I remembered the bizarre properties of my own body. I felt pathetic for trapping myself inside the narrow frame of “mage.”
I knew exactly how to use this ability.
The moment that thought clicked, it was like adrenaline flooded my veins. Confidence surged through me, and a cold smile slowly spread across my lips.
“Ha… haha.”
“You’re laughing? Now?”
“Yeah. It’s funny, so I’m laughing.”
“Eros…!”
“Move.”
Elteumia stared up at me with wide eyes, clearly bewildered.
She probably thought she was protecting me. She had no idea that her “goodwill” wasn’t necessarily doing me any favors.
I simply shrugged and walked past her.
“So, what exactly do you want from me?”
“What?”
“I asked what you wanted. You came all the way here, didn’t you?”
“….”
“You came for a duel, right? Then let’s just do it. All this talking is getting repetitive.”
“…You.”
My mocking provocation made the students crowding the corridor suck in sharp breaths.
They had probably expected Elteumia to mediate and end things peacefully.
But backing down now felt far too unsatisfying.
“Don’t be so arrogant.”
“I’m not sure who’s calling whom arrogant.”
“What did you say?”
“The person who challenged a mage to a frontal fight—who was that again? Honestly it makes me nauseous, and my pride won’t let me just walk away.”
I rubbed the back of my neck as if exhausted, then fixed Eisen with the most arrogant stare I could muster.
“If you’re that confident…”
“…Hey, Eros!”
Elteumia looked like she’d realized what I was about to say and was panicking.
“Yes. Let’s have a match.”
“…You’re serious.”
“Since you said it’s an unfavorable fight for me, let’s decide the rules.”
“Speak. Any kind of duel is fine with me.”
“Really…?”
Eisen spread both arms wide, radiating confidence as if to say do whatever you want.
It was the look of someone who believed there was no possible way I could win.
Seeing that expression made me want to punch him in the face more than anything.
“Then please yield the first move to me.”
“….”
“And if either of us leaves the training ground, that person loses immediately.”
“Fine. We’ll do it that way.”
The moment Eisen nodded, murmurs erupted from the students surrounding us.
Elteumia grabbed my shoulder in a panic and whispered urgently.
“You really…! What the hell are you doing?!”
“I don’t like backing down without even trying to clash.”
“There are things in this world you can understand without clashing! This is exactly one of those situations!”
“Who says so?”
“…Stop being so stubborn!”
“If you don’t believe me, just watch.”
I pushed her aside again and took another step toward Eisen. Meeting his arrogant gaze, I spoke.
“So, what condition shall we set?”
“Condition?”
“You came here because you want something from me, didn’t you?”
“That’s right.”
“What is it?”
“If you lose, kneel before Lady Elteumia and apologize. And release Lise freely…”
“Wow, so you are interested in Lise. You keep bringing her up.”
“….”
Not denying it, huh? Wow, you really are greedy.
“Fine. If I lose, I’ll do exactly that.”
Honestly, it wasn’t a bad deal. If I lost and had to free Lise, it would give me a natural excuse to distance myself from her.
…Not that I had any intention of losing.
“What is your condition?”
“You’ll really grant me anything?”
“Ha, yes. Anything at all.”
“Then I’ll tell you after I win.”
“…Ha! Do as you like. The outcome is already decided anyway.”
Eisen gripped the hilt of his sword and strode forward as if ready to draw it at any second. He swept his gaze across the crowd and declared,
“Let’s move to the training ground.”
A short while later, I stood facing Eisen in the first training ground.
He drew the practice wooden sword from his waist slowly, elegantly, with perfect composure. He inspected it with familiar motions, making light, practiced gestures.
Countless students surrounded the training area. I even spotted Professor Errington among them. His eyes gleamed with clear anticipation—the desire to watch me pay the price for my arrogance.
When I tapped my foot, dry dust swirled into the air on the breeze.
I turned my head. Elteumia and Lise stood at the side. Elteumia’s legs were trembling with worry, her eyes full of anxiety.
And Lise was…
No different from usual.
She was simply watching in silence. Well, of course. No matter how this ended, she wouldn’t lose anything. If anything, my defeat would grant her freedom.
I let out a small sigh and turned back to Eisen.
If I start chanting, he’ll dodge it easily and charge right in.
It was obvious. That was the standard, sure-win tactic knights used against mages—the established formula. He had no reason to deviate from it.
I took a slow, deep breath.
This was the first time I would use it in actual combat. Tension rose naturally.
Magic? Chanting? Moving Casting?
Of course those were my primary weapons as a mage—my strongest tools. But nothing said I had to use them.
Come to think of it, this is already my second duel.
“The duel will follow the academy’s rules. Inflicting fatal wounds or killing is strictly forbidden. Both sides, prepare!”
The assistant instructor serving as referee shouted. I gripped my staff tightly with both hands.
The moment his hand dropped—
“Hoo…!”
I aimed the head of the staff directly at my own heart and yanked it toward me with everything I had. I squeezed so hard it felt like my heart might be crushed.
“W-what is that guy doing?!”
“Why is he pressing his own chest…!”
“No way!”
The crowd erupted in confusion. It was only natural to panic when someone in the middle of a duel suddenly started crushing their own heart with a staff. Even Eisen looked visibly shaken.
Ugh…!
When I judged it was enough, I released the pressure.
At that instant, my blood flow began to accelerate violently.
Thump! Thump!
My heart raced. Blood surged through every vessel in my body. My skin flushed red, and my mind grew crystal clear.
I stared at the still-flustered Eisen and spoke.
“…All right. Let’s go.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I kicked off the ground and sprinted straight at him, pouring every ounce of strength into a single purpose.
In the blink of an eye I was right in front of his nose. He still hadn’t processed what was happening.
Got you.
I gripped the staff with both hands, ready to deliver a mage’s strike to this arrogant knight.