Mentee Magic Duel (8)
“Aaaargh—!”
“Get out, everyone get out!”
“We need to call the professor!”
The spectator stands were pure pandemonium. After the ominous red barrier engulfed the arena, students started bolting out of the Magic Tower.
Terrified screams filled the tower to the brim.
“Please—!”
But Ibel and Kathleen were arguing in the hallway connecting the waiting room to the arena.
Right in front of the hallway stood the arena, sealed off by a reddish barrier. Ibel pounded on it.
Thung—! Thung—! Thung—!
“What the hell is this—! Open up right now!? Kathleen, do something!”
“N-no! I didn’t do it, I swear! I don’t know what’s going on either!”
“Then what do we do? We can’t just stand here! Help me out! Or should I start by blowing your head off?”
“O-okay…!”
Ibel pressed her palms together. She gathered mana from her entire body and designed a high-level wind spell. Then she gritted her teeth.
Damn it, if I’d known this would happen, I should’ve filed a formal complaint ahead of time!Believing in Kathleen was my mistake. Idiot.
“This has to do it……!”
It wasn’t something she could spam like Siel, but it was the most powerful offensive spell in Ibel’s arsenal. This might just rescue Kyle.
“No matter what you did in the past, I never wanted you dead—!”
Just as she bared her true feelings and prepared to unleash the massive blast—
Kwaaaa—!
A preemptive strike hit first. Clack— clack—
A pink-haired girl approached down the hallway. Lumina.
Usually bubbly, but right now her aura was more menacing than ever.
“Seniors, mind stepping aside for a sec……?”
Lumina flashed a smile as she asked Ibel and Kathleen to move. Overwhelmed by the inexplicable pressure, they stepped back, and Lumina placed a hand on the tiger beside her—the size of a small mountain.
“Time to repay that favor……”
She whispered to the spirit with lifeless eyes.
“Rip it apart.”
Whoosh—!
At Lumina’s command, the tiger charged. Its claws extended, ready to pulverize everything in front as it slammed into the barrier.
Kwaaaaaang—!
But the barrier held firm. Still, Gail unleashed relentless gusts of wind, clawing at it like it might explode at any moment.
“Lumina—! We’ll join in!”
“M-mine’s ready too!”
Whiiiiiing—! Shwaaaaa—!
Ibel’s Eye of the Storm and Kathleen’s Abyssal Torpedo joined the fray. Water droplets shattered and sprayed everywhere in the combined assault.
After the storm subsided and their mana was nearly depleted, they barely lifted their heads to check the barrier.
It remained unscratched.
“Stop.”
Before they could try more, Professor Mason appeared in an instant. He approached the barrier, removed his glove, and placed a hand on it.
Mason’s face twisted.
“This barrier is made of demonic energy……”
“What does that mean!? Professor!”
Ibel shouted at him, ready to tank the academic fallout. To her, Mason was both her supervising professor and a higher-up in administration.
“It won’t break…… until the caster’s will fades. It’s infused with such overwhelming power and demonic energy……”
No one could shatter it—not even if the entire academy showed up. Unless the Magic Tower’s top authority, the now-missing Tower Lord Lumenes, appeared……
Even calling in holy knights from the Church would take time, and who knew what might happen to Kyle inside by then.
From the academy’s perspective, the financial losses would be immense.
It had already been several minutes. Inside were the magic department’s lowest-ranked freshman and a demon.
More than enough time to kill.
“What kind of filthy scum……”
Mason clicked his tongue, the situation having gone completely sideways.
“Don’t worry. Your mentee might be a lost cause, but the demon will face severe judgment.”
Silence.
Lumina reacted first.
“No way…… Kyle’s going to die……?”
Those words sealing Kyle’s fate made Lumina slump against the wall and slide to the floor.
Kathleen clutched her head, muttering that she hadn’t done it.
Ibel, watching it all, couldn’t comprehend it. The almighty Artina Academy, helpless. And her own powerlessness stung the most.
You……
It had been years since she’d last seen Kyle. The trauma he’d unconsciously inflicted still repulsed her, but if they could just maintain a good relationship going forward, things might improve……
She’d seen his genuine two-week effort, which had shifted her thinking.
I can’t just stand here.
Ibel walked toward the barrier.
“If the chairman were here, maybe he’d have some trick up his sleeve……”
Mason sighed, propping his chin.
Ibel passed him and pounded the barrier.
Thung—!Thung—!
“Please—!”
Thung—!
“Open up—!”
“Ibel, stop……”
Kathleen tried to intervene, glancing nervously. The rumor that Kyle and Ibel Adford were family was widespread.
She understood Ibel’s feelings. But stepping in felt shameless……
Crack—
“It’d be better if you……”
Then, the barrier cracked.
It shattered completely, revealing the scene inside.
Whoosh—
Flames roared across the scorched earth, bloodstains splattered on the floor. Searing heat washed over the hallway.
At the center lay Kyle, collapsed.
His condition was dire at a glance—burns crushing his body, skin torn and charred, swollen bright red.
But what stood out most were the claw marks scorched across his upper body.
Ibel rushed to his corpse-like form.
“Oppa──!”
A title she hadn’t used in years. For some reason, her eyes were wet. Something was falling.
“Wh-what are you doing in this state! Get up! Get up, I said!”
Ibel burst into tears, manifesting cold water to cool his body.
“Kyle—! Kyle──! J-just hold on a little longer, please…!”
Lumina, who’d rushed over, summoned her sub-spirit and began healing.
Faster! Faster! Do something!
Soon, arriving priests and medics carried him to the infirmary, ending the first day of the long mentee magic duel.
“Another demon…… appeared.”
Meanwhile, Siel had just arrived at the Magic Tower.
Demonic energy rippled through the arena.
Having encountered demons multiple times, she could now sense it instinctively.
Entering the arena, she surveyed the scene from the spectator stands above.
The demon’s appearance had ended long ago. A fallen boy, a white-haired girl sobbing, and a pink-haired one.
Did Master already come and go?Then I’m too late……
Siel swallowed her regret and looked at the boy. He seemed familiar.
“Kyle……?”
The one who’d relayed Master’s words to her appeared to be a victim of the demon.
He survived meeting a demon.
Like during the entrance exam, he had incredible luck.
Siel turned to leave. That’s when a chill ran through her mind.
Survived another demon?
Entrance exam: just a beast, but he was there. Probably at the entrance ceremony too, and he’d been on her team for the beast combat practical.
And now, the third demon sighting…… he was involved again.
“This is weird……”
Suspicious, but no concrete evidence.
To Siel, who’d never considered anyone but Master, Kyle was now etched in her mind. Master 99%, Kyle 1%.
“……”
Siel watched Kyle intently before turning away.
If it happened one more time, she could make a firm decision then.
Siel headed to the training room.
The wand Master gave me…… nice……
The precious wand tucked in her bosom. She wanted to test it right away.
“Here……”
I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. Recalling my last memory: getting hit by Louin.
I’d asked him to hit me once…… He obliged, but the bleeding was worse than expected, and I passed out. That’s how this happened.
“That bastard Louin……”
What if something had gone wrong? I’d trusted my crisis detection since there was no killing intent.
I survived, so whatever. Louin seemed to have vanished as planned.
I tried sitting up without my shirt. Pain exploded through my body.
“Kuh—!”
I lay back down. Right, I was injured. I’d need a few days to recover.
Lots of bandages wrapped around me too.
How long had it been since the mentee duel? And my camp—left alone for days.
Lately Ibel’s been bringing academy meals, so food’s fine……
No worries there. But without cleaning, dust and bugs would pile up…… Couldn’t help it. I’d tackle it all later.
Dried meat on the rack should be good, and the fish in the bucket probably still alive……?
As I sorted my thoughts—
Creak—
The infirmary door opened, and a woman in a doctor’s coat entered. Purple hair swept to one side.
She saw me and gasped.
“Y-you’re okay? You’re awake. The infirmary staff did everything we could.”
“How many days?”
“Don’t worry. Just one day.”
Phew, good.
One day wasn’t too bad. Semester’s end approaching—time to prep for finals. Not too late if I started now. I’d reviewed consistently.
I wanted out fast. Minimal movement was enough for academy life.
“When can I be discharged?”
“Depends on your condition…… You’ve got some tankiness, huh. Ah! Sorry! Your recovery’s great, so tomorrow should be fine. Or rest longer till you’re good.”
As expected, the Iron Man trait. It’d been lurking, but now it shone. Never injured before—perks of a sniper.
“Thank you.”
“Rest well~”
The nurse left. I resolved to focus on recovery.
As I sank into thought again—
Footsteps approached. Thud thud thud thud— Why running in the infirmary……?
“Y-you—! You okay!?”
“Kyle!! I was so worried! Anywhere hurt??”
Ibel and Lumina burst through the door. Then Rien followed lightly behind.
I got Lumina and Ibel, but why Rien……? Checking on her debtor in case she wouldn’t get paid……?
“Ahem, yeah. I’m fine.”
I gave them a curt greeting.
“What happened? What went down in there?”
Lumina asked immediately. I answered.
“Well, you see……”
And so, I spent the day chatting boisterously with them. When investigators came, I spilled about Louin, mixing in a lie about some unknown man beating him to death.
One odd thing: Ibel’s eyes were super puffy.
I pointed it out.
“Wh-what’re you saying! It’s just fatigue, okay?! Do you know how little I slept worrying about you? If my mentee screws up, what am I supposed to do! I didn’t cry! Got it? Answer me! Answer—ek!”
She was so desperate, I just went along with it……