The True Motive Behind the Duel
The academy, which had been thrown into an uproar by Kyle Berwen’s appointment as an Honorary Monk, was once again plunged into chaos. The reason was the news that had begun to spread. The news that Kyle Berwen and Sebastian Ebenros were to duel.
Simply knowing that Kyle Berwen—the academy’s worst problem student and the man currently drawing the entire continent’s attention—was participating in a duel would have been enough to draw crowds. But his opponent was none other than Sebastian Ebenros. The next heir of the great Ebenros family, a man so handsome and kind that it was no exaggeration to say every academy student held him in high regard. That Sebastian.
The academy’s worst troublemaker against its brightest star. A duel between the two was more than enough to set the entire academy ablaze. What’s more, the terms of the match were anything but ordinary.
The stakes were enormous. If Kyle won, Sebastian would fulfill one of his requests with everything he had. If Sebastian won, Kyle would voluntarily withdraw from the academy. It was a shocking, extreme proposal.
Many were stunned by the news, yet they also voiced their doubts. Kyle Berwen accepting such a duel made perfect sense. Winning would mean Sebastian Ebenros—the Sebastian Ebenros—would grant a request “with full effort.” It was a condition that would make anyone salivate. To exaggerate only slightly, it was tantamount to a wish that could accomplish nearly anything within reason. The Kyle of old, before he had been disowned by the Berwen family, might have been different, but the current Kyle was essentially a penniless outcast. It was easy to imagine him, blinded by the reward, seizing the opportunity without hesitation.
What no one could understand was Sebastian’s side. Why would he agree to duel Kyle under these conditions? No one could make sense of it. After all, the clause demanding both sides give their “utmost effort” meant Sebastian would not be able to laugh off a defeat.
“Does he really have that much confidence…?”
“Lord Sebastian’s skills are outstanding, of course, but Kyle Berwen beat Jerim Haluter. I’m not sure this is safe…”
People whispered among themselves. Had it been the old Kyle, they would have understood. Back when he still flaunted the Berwen name, his actual skill had been mediocre at best. Objectively, he had fallen below the academy average.
But recently, the way people evaluated Kyle had completely changed. He had crushed Victor Dilot in a duel and then defeated Jerim Haluter. Even after beating Victor, people had refused to praise him. They claimed Victor’s skills had been overstated or that Kyle must have resorted to some cowardly trick.
Yet when Kyle defeated Jerim, no one could say such things. Everyone knew Jerim Haluter was not an opponent who could be beaten through luck or cheap tactics. Only then were they forced to accept the truth: Kyle Berwen had changed. Despite his personality, his skill was genuine.
Of course, some still questioned the impossible speed of his growth. But regardless of those doubts, the important point remained—Kyle’s strength was not fake.
Everyone knew Sebastian’s abilities were exceptional. His martial prowess already surpassed the academy average, and in magic he stood at the undisputed top tier. Still, it was difficult to claim with absolute certainty that Sebastian clearly outclassed Jerim. Both public opinion and the professors’ assessments agreed on this.
That was why the academy was filled with questions. Just what was Sebastian’s true motive? So many people favored Sebastian that quite a few had moved beyond doubt to outright worry for him. Yet no one dared speak those concerns to his face. They knew it would be rude. Even if meant kindly, such questions could easily be taken as doubting his ability.
However, there was one person who paid no mind to such etiquette.
“Will you be all right?”
Those were the words Ernen spoke the moment he heard the news and sought Sebastian out. He offered no roundabout expressions or unnecessary padding. The reason was simple: Ernen was not in a position where he needed to watch his tongue around Sebastian.
“You must already know that Kyle Berwen defeated Jerim Haluter. And that it wasn’t mere luck.”
When Ernen had first heard the news, he had been delighted. Not at the content of the duel, but at the fact that it had been arranged at all. Ever since Kyle’s appointment as Honorary Monk, Ernen had felt not only deep fury but a faint sense of despair. Kyle had become an existence he could no longer touch easily. Extreme measures would be required, and even then there was no guarantee he wouldn’t be discovered. He had been left stomping his feet in helpless frustration.
Yet Sebastian had dragged that untouchable Kyle onto the stage. If Sebastian simply won the duel, Kyle would be expelled from the academy. How could Ernen not rejoice? It was unfolding exactly as he desired.
Still, as pleased as he was, worry gnawed at him. Could Sebastian truly defeat Kyle safely? Of course Ernen knew Sebastian’s skill well. He was a genius mage overflowing with talent. But his opponent was the same Kyle who had beaten Jerim Haluter. Though the victory had not been overwhelming—more of a narrow win—a win was still a win. Considering Jerim’s strength, Kyle was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
“I am well aware.”
Sebastian nodded without hesitation. How could he not know? In fact, there was probably no one left in the academy who didn’t know. Kyle Berwen was the academy’s greatest—no, its worst celebrity—and the duel with Jerim had shocked everyone.
“Then I take it you’re confident.”
Ernen stared at him intently. Sebastian answered with a smile. Because it was exactly as Ernen said. Why had Sebastian proposed a duel with Kyle Berwen under those specific conditions? Part of it was certainly the desire to separate Kyle from Lana by any means necessary, but above all, it was because he possessed absolute confidence.
Sebastian had reached a conclusion. Even after accounting for Kyle’s victory over Jerim, he could still win with ease.
‘The analysis is already complete.’
It was not widely known, but Sebastian had been present at the site of that duel between Kyle and Jerim. His reason had been simple curiosity. When he heard Kyle was going to fight Jerim, he had gone to watch with great interest. Convinced of Kyle’s defeat and hating him as he did, Sebastian had wanted to witness the wretch’s miserable loss. His prediction had been wrong—Kyle had won in the end—but that no longer mattered. What mattered was that Sebastian had seen the duel with his own eyes.
Though it had been only one match, he had finished his complete analysis of Kyle through it.
“Kyle Berwen has a weakness.”
“A weakness?”
“Yes.”
Sebastian nodded.
“Although he defeated Jerim, he is not a fighter with exceptional physical ability.”
Kyle had indeed won, but the flow of the match had not been overwhelming. If anything, looking only at the momentum, one could say Jerim had been the one driving Kyle back. The cause was simple: a difference in raw specs. Physical ability and mana. In those fundamental areas, Kyle had been far behind Jerim. In the end he had won, but there had clearly been a reason for it.
Sebastian had looked into the matter. At the final moment of the duel, Kyle had gambled. He had deliberately exposed a vital point, forcing Jerim to pull the power from his fist. Of course, it had been Kyle’s own skill that turned that opening into victory, but it was difficult to call it a win created by pure ability alone.
Had it not been a duel but a true fight to the death? The victor would have been Jerim.
Combining all these factors, Sebastian had drawn his conclusion.
“If I deploy defensive magic with full power, he will not be able to break through easily.”
Though he had added the word “probably,” Sebastian was certain. With Kyle’s physical ability and mana reserves, he would not be able to pierce defensive magic cast at full strength. It would be different if Kyle used sword energy, but that technique consumed enormous amounts of mana. The amount Kyle had displayed before would not allow him to maintain it for long. Therefore, if Sebastian entered battle while maintaining solid defensive magic, his odds of victory were overwhelmingly high.
In a duel between warriors, one could compensate for lacking power with technique. But when the opponent was a mage, the story changed completely. From Sebastian’s perspective, Jerim had been the far more difficult opponent.
“Hmm. Is it not possible that Kyle Berwen’s full strength exceeds even your expectations?”
Ernen pointed out coolly. Yet Sebastian’s smile never wavered.
“Of course, that possibility exists as well.”
Sebastian was not an optimistic person. More precisely, he was not someone who viewed situations through rose-colored glasses. He had already considered the chance that Kyle’s true power surpassed all predictions. And even after accounting for that, he remained confident of victory.
The reason was his recent growth. Lately, Sebastian’s abilities had been advancing at a terrifying pace. The catalyst had been “emotion.” The love he felt toward Saintess Lana. It was as if that intense feeling—something he had never experienced before—had stimulated him. His magic had improved at a speed that astonished even himself.
As a result, the current Sebastian was on an entirely different level from the one of only a short while ago. Now he was confident he could defeat even Jerim without much difficulty. And that was not the only source of his pride.
“That is why I have made thorough preparations.”
So saying, Sebastian opened the box he had prepared and showed its contents to Ernen.
“Those are…!”
Ernen’s eyes widened at the sight. Inside were accessories and a staff. Several rings, a bracelet, and above all, a staff embedded with a massive, eye-catching gem.
“…I never imagined you would prepare even these.”
“You recognize them, I see.”
“There are not many nobles who would fail to recognize these items.”
It was exactly as he said. Anyone with proper noble standing would almost certainly know them. They were that famous—famous enough to surprise even Prince Ernen.
For a brief moment Ernen’s face had been colored with astonishment, but soon concern replaced it. Ordinary duels did not permit the use of such auxiliary items.
Sebastian, however, immediately erased that worry with a smile.
“Do not concern yourself. This particular duel places no restrictions on equipment.”
“…Is that true?”
Ernen could not hide his bewilderment. The statement made no sense. A duel without equipment restrictions was obviously advantageous for Sebastian. That was precisely why it was incomprehensible. Why would Kyle accept such terms?
“Yes.”
In truth, it had been unexpected for Sebastian as well. He had thrown the condition out as a test, fully expecting rejection. Yet for some reason Kyle had accepted it without hesitation. Naturally Sebastian had questions, but he did not dwell on them. Whatever the reason, the fact that the conditions had tilted in his favor was welcome. Even if the terms were not entirely honorable, he wanted to secure victory in this duel at all costs.
“Then that is fortunate. In this duel… there is no chance of you losing.”
At last, relief and joy surfaced on Ernen’s face. Sebastian returned the smile.
“Of course.”
Sebastian was certain of his victory.