Three Seconds
Katrina’s voice echoed in my head.
“Ethan, how on earth are you moving so fast?”
She let out a gasp of pure admiration as she watched me breeze through the traps without a single hitch.
“Intuition.”
“Intuition, huh… I’m starting to feel like my entire existence is pointless.”
“You were helpful. My intuition is just on another level.”
I was just messing with her at this point.
There was nothing complicated about how I cleared the traps so easily.
I could see them. Since magic didn’t work on me, the traps were completely visible. I couldn’t possibly trigger them.
Besides, the traps weren’t even that high-level. They’d clearly been designed with the assumption that the victim wouldn’t be able to see.
“Right side, 45 degrees—two arrows. Pitfall trap three steps ahead. It’s linked with flame magic, so be care—”
I moved before Katrina could even finish speaking.
I snatched both arrows out of the air with my bare hands and deliberately triggered the trap.
The ground gave way as flames erupted upward. I flicked my hand lightly, extinguishing the fire.
“I’m starting to wonder if there’s any point in me talking at all.”
“By the way, how’s the water temperature?”
“It’s warm. Feels like I’m soaking in a nice bath.”
“Sorry, but I’m not the type to enjoy watching someone else hog all the fun.”
You have escaped first.
First place reward. You have acquired 100P.
The world flipped upside down. The moment I closed and opened my eyes, I was back at the same spot where I’d signed up for the event.
The prying gazes I’d felt earlier were long gone.
“Hmm. It was pretty nice, but I’m disappointed.”
Katrina grumbled as she looked at me. Meanwhile, I subtly checked her clothes.
I was wondering if they were wet.
But it seemed she’d cast a waterproofing spell—her outfit was perfectly dry.
What a shame.
“When you said let’s do it together, I thought you had something else in mind. To think you were just using me like this.”
“That’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t expect you to clear it so effortlessly. How did you even do that?”
“I could see everything.”
“...What?”
Katrina frowned, asking again.
“If it’s confirmed that the blackout magic wasn’t applied, they’ll confiscate the points…”
“It’s not that the magic wasn’t cast. It was cast, but I could still see through it.”
“You could see through it even though it was cast? That’s impossible. That magic was created with the combined effort of countless professors from the Magic Department…”
“Well, it worked for me.”
“Hah… I really married someone incredible.”
“I’m not your husband yet.”
Don’t just casually sell me off like that.
“Tsk.”
Katrina clicked her tongue.
“Thank you, Ethan. I’m embarrassed that I couldn’t do anything during the escape, but I think expressing my gratitude should come first.”
“I’m satisfied that you brought me this event. The points were pretty sweet.”
It was also a good way to kill time.
Overall, a very satisfying result.
“I see.”
Katrina nodded slowly. When I looked at her lips, I could see a faint smile lingering there.
“That’s a relief.”
“What event should we do next?”
“No, this is as far as we go together.”
“Do you have prior arrangements?”
“It’s not that. I have to become empress. I can’t rely on my husband’s help for every little thing.”
“If that’s your opinion, I’ll respect it.”
She probably had her pride too. Katrina was one of the most capable people around, so riding on someone’s coattails would definitely rub her the wrong way.
I’d feel the same if I were in her position. People like us tend to have massive egos—we’d rather die than accept a free ride.
“Ethan, I wish you victory.”
“There’s no need to wish for it. It’s already confirmed.”
“I’ve always liked people with big ambitions.”
Katrina let out a small laugh and walked away. As I watched her retreating figure, I spoke.
“Status window.”
I recited the activation word.
No hologram appeared.
Damn it. This isn’t a Korean web novel?
“Status.”
What, not a light novel either?
‘Sigh.’
Feeling like an idiot for talking to myself, I gave up and simply opened the hologram the normal way.
‘What should I do now?’
There wasn’t much time left until the Integrated Tournament. I wouldn’t be able to experience many more events before then.
‘Let’s just do the easy ones.’
And so I picked fun, recreational events and enjoyed myself. Relay races, three-legged races, obstacle courses.
It felt like I’d gone back to my school days and was experiencing a sports festival again after a long time.
‘Hmm, the tournament’s starting soon.’
The most anticipated event of the White Night Festival—the opening of the Integrated Tournament—was right around the corner.
— Participation reward: 500P
※ Must meet participation requirements!
Requires consent from at least 2/3 of the department members and approval from the supervising professor.
— Winning reward: Base 1000P
※ 1st-years: 2x | 2nd-years: 1.5x | 3rd-years: 1.2x | 4th-years: 1x
1st-year Magic Department representative, ‘Ethan,’ confirmed.
Would you like to move to the arena?
Ten people had already gathered. Everyone’s bodies must be itching for a fight.
I felt the same. The weight of the title “representative match” stirred something in my chest.
‘This should be fun.’
I was especially curious about the Northern Grand Duke. I wanted to see just how strong the power was that allowed him to claim the title of ruler of the North at such a young age.
With anticipation, I pressed the accept button.
When I arrived at the arena, I was greeted by ten other students and an endless sea of spectators.
The stands were already packed, as if everyone had been waiting just for this.
Waaaaah—!!!
The match hadn’t even started yet, but the moment I appeared, a thunderous cheer shook the entire arena.
I awkwardly waved to the crowd before heading toward the other students.
“You’re quite the celebrity.”
“The princess’s fiancé! He looks strong!”
A man and woman who looked like a couple approached me.
“I’m the 2nd-year Magic Department representative, Aileen Bernier! And this is—”
“Yubel Herman. 2nd-year Knight Department representative.”
The pair finished their friendly introductions. I gave a light bow and introduced myself as well.
“1st-year Magic Department representative, Ethan…”
Should I add it or not?
I had received the title of viscount this time, so technically I was a noble now.
I didn’t have a family name, though. Usually when the emperor grants a viscount title, they also bestow a family name, but I hadn’t been given one.
When I asked Katrina about it, she told me to choose one myself. I did have something in mind.
“Lukidus.”
It was a word meaning “radiant.” I wasn’t sure how it sounded, but that was the first thing that came to mind.
“Nice. Ethan…”
“Pleasure to meet you.”
Someone cut off Aileen’s words and stepped in front of me. Aileen frowned in displeasure at first, then her eyes widened.
“4th-year Knight Department. Barkan Asrad.”
There he is. The Northern Grand Duke.
I met the grand duke’s eyes and scanned his full power. A savage physique paired with a face of sharp, refined lines.
He had the ideal male appearance typical of romance fantasy male leads. His muscles weren’t overly bulky, but the way his clothes draped over his body gave a perfect sense of his power.
And the most important part—his strength.
‘He’s strong.’
Stronger than Valtterion. Still not at the level of the academy head, though.
‘Analysis complete.’
I win.
If this were me before I grew from the fight with Valtterion, I would have struggled. No, I would have lost outright.
But at my current level, I would win without question. The grand duke was probably hiding some power, but I didn’t think I’d lose.
“Ethan Lukidus.”
I extended my hand as I spoke my name. The grand duke took it, and our eyes met.
A subtle battle of nerves began. Strength flowed into our handshake.
This bastard?
I don’t back down from fights that come to me.
I gripped his hand with full force and raised one corner of my mouth.
“Hoh.”
The grand duke seemed impressed by my strength as well.
“Let’s have a good fight.”
“You took the words right out of my mouth.”
We released our hands at the same time.
“Amazing, Ethan. You didn’t lose an inch of momentum against that guy.”
“Right! It feels like I just witnessed the birth of another championship candidate.”
The couple clapped enthusiastically.
“Is he that strong?”
“Overwhelmingly so. Don’t you know his nickname? The Unbeaten Ruler.”
Yubel answered.
“Who gives themselves such a cringy nickname?”
“He says it himself.”
“Excuse me?”
“He announces that he is the Unbeaten Ruler and the King of the North.”
The man couldn’t live up to his face.
‘He didn’t do that in the original story.’
I guess he only does it when he feels like it.
“But honestly, it’s not exactly wrong. Everyone actually looks forward to hearing him say it. That declaration is like… a compliment he only gives to worthy rivals.”
In other words, it meant that none of the opponents he faced in the original story were worthy of being called his rival.
“Exactly! That’s why people even bet on whether he’ll say it or not! The current bet is heavily in favor of him not saying it. Since all his opponents are just students.”
Aileen chimed in.
“But I’m going to switch to the long shot! After seeing you, I think he’ll say it!”
“I’m thinking the same as Aileen.”
They even bet on something like that?
It was a bit ridiculous, but I figured I should place a bet too.
The way the grand duke looked at me was far from ordinary.
‘Long shot? Time to exploit the money duplication bug.’
I never miss an opportunity to make free money. That’s just who I am.
‘I should tell Linea and Isana about this too.’
I’d only tell those two. If I told others, the odds would shift toward “he will say it,” which would ruin the payout.
“Anyway, we’re counting on y—”
All 16 participants confirmed.
“Ugh!”
Aileen’s words were cut off again.
Generating bracket.
A massive tournament bracket appeared in the air above the arena. I immediately checked my opponent.
Ethan (1st-year Magic Department) VS Jake Magel (3rd-year Clergy Department)
I was up first. I looked away from the bracket.
But both Aileen and Yubel spoke to me, unable to hide their excitement.
“Jackpot! The bracket has you two meeting in the finals!”
“The academy wouldn’t miss something like that. They know who the real favorites are. If I were them, I would’ve set it up the same way.”
I lightly ran my fingers over my lips as I half-listened to their fussing.
‘Clergy Department, huh.’
It was the department with the closest ties to the Holy Empire. Given how much the Holy Empire had been bothering me lately, it was a department I couldn’t look at favorably.
‘This is putting me in a bad mood for no reason.’
It wasn’t like this student from the Clergy Department had done anything wrong. But the fact that he was connected to the Holy Empire—the same one that tormented Seris and practically committed treason—made my blood boil.
The first round will begin shortly.
There wasn’t even any preparation time.
“You’ll win for sure.”
“Crush him! He keeps hitting on me and it’s getting annoying.”
“Understood.”
Receiving their cheers, I took my position. My opponent, Jake, moved to the opposite side.
He was staring at me with clear displeasure.
“So you’re that bastard? The one who dared to seduce Her Highness the Princess and was assigned as the Saintess’s escort…”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“Looking like some pretty-boy gigolo and you think you’re fit to escort the Saintess? Someone like you who has nothing to do with the Holy Empire?”
Aha.
This guy just likes beautiful women.
From what I could tell, he seemed to worship Seris above all.
“Then try to win.”
I decided to drop the polite speech. I wasn’t in the mood for formalities.
“How dare you…!”
Jake ground his teeth, his fists trembling with rage.
Both sides, prepare yourselves.
Jake equipped his holy knight armor, completing his full armament. On the other hand, I tossed my sword sheath aside.
The stands heated up. It was as if they had realized what I was about to do.
“What are you doing?”
“Why should I use a sword?”
“You’re the Magic Department representative, aren’t you?”
“I’m not using magic either.”
My bold statement only drew stronger looks of suspicion. Even the spectators seemed unable to understand why I would abandon both sword and magic.
But why should I have to use either?
I took a martial artist’s stance.
“You’re telling me you’re going to fight me without a sword or magic? Choosing such an inferior method of combat?”
“Even if it’s inferior, I’ll still beat you.”
“You son of a bitch!”
Jake glared furiously and raised his sword high.
“Death to the heretic!”
Light descended upon Jake’s blade.
Match begin.
The moment the announcement rang out, Jake charged forward, wielding a sword that radiated brilliant light.
‘Hmm.’
I clenched my fist. Taking a deep breath, I observed my enemy.
“Die!”
Jake roared as he swung his sword. I threw my punch.
There was no technique. I didn’t even use mana.
I simply drove my fist forward.
BOOOOM!!!
It took a mere three seconds.
That was how long it took for Jake to lose consciousness.