Mentee Magic Duel (5)
I released Concealment as the time limit hit. Lowering my voice to exude the master's aura, I said, "Long time no see."
An empty clearing. Just Siel and me.
"Siel—"
A fierce wind battered my long robe. Even I had to admit it looked cool. But there was a problem.
It's too damn cold... freezing.
Id been waiting here for an hour. Spring still had a chill in the air, and the wind cut right through. My thin black camouflage robe offered no protection whatsoever. No matter what you wear, an hour in this breeze renders it pointless.
Every gust made my body twitch reflexively. Meanwhile, cold sweat had soaked my back, turning it icy.
The moment I accidentally leaned against that ice wall... my skin would feel like it was touching a block of ice.
Anything but that...
Straightening my back, I fixed my gaze on Siel. She was lost in thought, wondering what to say.
I decided. Hand over the gift quick and bail...!
Since the duel time had passed, she was forfeit anyway.
As I rummaged in my pocket for the gift, Siel spoke first.
"I... want to talk."
"......"
I stared at her, my eyes flickering with surprise. What could she possibly have to discuss with her master? Wasnt she just after the gift?
I had no idea what she was getting at. I pulled up her status window.
Wants to know about you. I wasnt dumb enough to miss the meaning.
"What about."
"Your true name as master... and just stories about you. I want to hear them."
The master's true name. And stories about me, beyond the master title.
Let's break it down. A master's true name refers to their epithet and actual name. The seven masters' true names are Artisan, Sword Saint, Sage, Heavenly Bow, Saintess, Dark Shadow, and Unknown. Some names are unknown, while others like the widely known Sword Saint Atus are public.
She wants to know who I am. I could keep hiding, but with so few masters, the possibilities narrow to two: Dark Shadow or Unknown.
Siel probably suspects me as one of them. Better to clarify now—lest she mistakes me for Dark Shadow later and ends up dead on sight.
In the original story, Unknown never appears even by the ending, their tale unresolved.
"Unknown. And."
I tossed that out there. My thoughts shifted immediately.
No matter how I spun it, her words and actions screamed rational affection toward me, not the master.
The original had routes with Siel, but raising her affection was tough. A grand noble, near-perfect human without flaws.
Ways to win her favor: overwhelming strength or gifts elevating her toward master level. Nothing else.
Wait... didnt I nail both?
I looked at Siel. She awaited my next words, her focused, sparkling eyes adorable.
In the end, I said, "I'm exterminating demons—."
"......!"
Siel's pupils dilated. Then a hint of disappointment crossed her eyes.
"I see......"
She mustve wanted personal info like my name or home. Sorry, but I havent fleshed out that concept.
Still, it wasnt a lie. Id shown her me slaying demons before.
I pulled out the gift. Time to head back to the Magic Tower. Too cold.
"Siel, take this."
"This is...?"
"Ive been watching your growth. That ice wall—not bad."
"Th-thank you for the praise... And the gift, too......"
Siel clutched the box preciously and bowed deeply. The ice princess acting like this? Good enough reaction.
Rien's duel awaited. Didnt want to cause a disaster by being late, so I turned to go.
"I'll be off—"
As I moved to activate Concealment,
"W-wait—!"
Siel grabbed my robe hem. Instantly, the camouflage fabric contracted, the cold cloth slapping against my back.
Gah—!
Cold. Insanely cold...!
Swallowing a scream, I turned to stare at her. Her slender fingers gripped lightly, but her icy eyes burned with resolve for an answer.
"At least... your name......"
My name. Seemed she wouldnt let go till she heard it.
"Kim Yi-hyun."
I borrowed my past life's name.
"Kim... Yi-hyun......"
Siel savored it, then released her hand. Hurriedly, she asked,
"Wh-when can I see you next......?"
To that, I replied, "Where demons appear, there I am—."
Then activated Concealment.
We'd meet again soon, probably.
Leaving Catholic Hall, I hurried to the Magic Tower. Siel stood motionless until I exited.
"Kim... Yi-hyun......"
Siel lingered in Catholic Hall, repeating the three syllables endlessly. Surname first, then name alone—each utterance felt fresh.
And knowing she alone held the master Yi-hyun's name filled her with immense joy.
Just a name, yet her heart raced inexplicably.
Only I can call it...
She stood lost in thoughts of her master for a while. Knowing his true name only deepened them.
Unknown, Kim Yi-hyun...
The master unsolved for centuries was him. And his goal: demon extermination.
He operated on a different plane from Siel. Ordinary mages avoided demons as a given—without holy elements or church buffs, slaying them was near impossible.
Without light, demons regenerated infinitely, rampaging. Their essence was grudge, not flesh or water.
Thus, Siel's magic barely worked on beasts either—they were lesser kin to demons.
Yet master Yi-hyun hunted them solo. His power overwhelmed their regen with room to spare.
"I'm still far off."
Siel clenched her fist. She wanted to stand at his level, aid him.
"I need to get stronger."
The Dunhart family would send customary gifts and greetings for her growth, but it wasnt enough.
She wouldnt settle for this. She craved the might he'd shown...
With that resolve, she remembered something forgotten.
"Ah, the gift."
Only then did Siel glance at the gift against her chest. A present from master—to preserve eternally.
"I wonder what's inside...?"
Siel untied the box. Inside: a snowflower.
"Hm......?!"
Precisely, a crystal orb wand with a preserved snowflower. Worlds apart from her family's wand.
Exquisite globe ornament, vivid wood grain on the shaft. The orb captured that snowy landscape eternally.
So she could see it anytime...
The perfect gift. Siel handled the wand delicately, lest it scratch.
Holding it alone felt good.
"Shall I practice?"
As she raised it,
KAAAAAW—!
A massive scream echoed from the Magic Tower. Siel's gaze snapped there.
Multiple screams from the Magic Tower.
"Master...?"
Demons mightve appeared, so she started toward it. Master was where demons appeared, after all.
Rien vs. Kyle—!
Back in normal clothes after changing out of the camouflage, I stood on the arena.
"Finally, we meet. After that humiliation last time, you mustve steeled yourself, Kyle."
Across from me: a tawny-haired boy. Rien glared, face twisted in a sneer.
Since our clash, hed been petty. Spreading rumors via his faction, picking fights when with Caitlin. Solid disposable villain arc.
"Yeah. Rien."
Not much to say to him. Hed crossed too many lines already.
Demon power wasnt free contract—demanded a price. Unimaginable sacrifice.
Leagues beyond petty bullying.
Ding—!
The duel began. Act 3, Scene 1. The finale of the mentee magic duel episode.
Rien floated dozens of magic circles in the air, laughing maniacally. The crowd buzzed at his deployment speed.
"Kuhaha—! You know what? Duels can leave you crippled from unavoidable injuries...! Ill shatter every mana circuit in you!"
Rien vented his pent-up rage. His element: fire. Mid-tier fire spells packed serious punch.
With Caitlin secretly doping him with mana boosters, one slip and I might really lose circuits.
But my response to his taunt stayed the same.
"With that pathetic demon power? Bring it."
"Wh-what—!"
I aimed my barrel at him. Rien flinched at "demon power."
Phase 1 begins now.
Fireballs rained from above.