Chapter 6
Magic ain't that special.
"I can't accept that." Isana ground her teeth, recalling Ethan's words. Come at me together? To her, the Sibtant duke's daughter, a mere commoner dares? Uncontrollable rage boiled up inside her.
Nothing pleased her.
Making Linea a slave. Getting into the continent's top academy. And not only refusing to yield, but acting without any dignity. It was more loathsome than the pitiful Lechel.
"Commoner. Don't act so disgracefully."
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
She snapped at the trembling Lechel. Why was she so scared of a mere commoner? Isana clicked her tongue and averted her gaze. Instead, she glared at the nonchalant Ethan.
I need to teach that insolent face a lesson.
At first, she'd wanted to refuse the duel. Holding hands with a commoner? Facing off against one? Unthinkable for Isana. But too much was at stake for her.
The liberation of Linea, her understanding ally and savior. It was her absolute mission to make it happen.
Getting cocky on baseless rumors won't help you.
The absurd tale that Ethan had single-handedly wiped out the Rosianne family. Isana had checked the rumors herself.
But they weren't reliable. The source was unclear, and the info was full of holes.
Obviously just nonsense. It was common for nasty-tempered nobles to spread malicious rumors about commoners for fun—Ethan was probably just another victim.
As Isana mulled over her thoughts on Ethan, the professor chuckled and spoke up.
"Never thought I'd live to see someone bring a sword into the magic department's arena."
"I came to learn magic, but I don't know a damn thing. So yeah, might as well pick up a sword, right?"
Ethan smirked. He remembered that professor's face.
One of the ones who'd looked at him with disdain during the entrance exam.
"You came to Rozril Academy because you know nothing about magic? If you wanted basics from scratch, why not head to the Magic Tower? They'd teach you plenty with that fancy sword of yours."
Snickers erupted from the cadets at the professor's sarcasm.
"Typical commoner—short on learning."
"Limitations of birth. What can you do when heaven itself has forsaken you?"
Such words didn't faze him. Being born a commoner meant scorn was inevitable.
But those who'd dismissed Ethan were in for a rude awakening.
This'll be fun.
Ethan revised his plan. No sword.
Not that he planned to go bare-handed, of course. Punching it out would just get him called a barbarian.
"M-Master..."
Linea spoke up worriedly.
"Don't worry. I'll win. You know that better than anyone."
Ethan thumped his chest in response. Since it was a practical duel class, talking to Linea was allowed.
"I know that, but..."
Linea wasn't worried about Ethan. She'd witnessed his power firsthand.
Storming into her family alone. Wielding a single sword to annihilate them.
And the Rosianne family had delved into black magic, gaining unnatural strength at the time.
Yet he'd crushed them effortlessly, without even drawing his full power. So Linea had no doubts about Ethan's strength.
She couldn't doubt it. Still, her worry stemmed from the cadets' reactions.
Ethan was a bomb. A time bomb that could go off any second.
And only Linea knew it. That's why they were defusing the bomb without realizing its true nature.
What if it exploded? What if he decided to kill every cadet there? What if he touched a royal?
The whole academy would turn on him. Even the infamous dean would join in.
Ethan would end up executed for treason. And then Linea would be in danger.
A master's crimes fell on the slave too.
Already humiliated as a commoner's slave. And thanks to that damned slave seal, she couldn't even end her own life.
If Ethan committed a crime, her execution was a foregone conclusion.
Linea Rosianne, executed?
There could be nothing more dishonorable.
"Please, hold back your anger."
"I'm not particularly angry."
"Let me take responsibility instead..."
Ethan shook his head at Linea's sudden outburst.
"No idea what you're imagining, but I don't care. Honestly, this is fun."
Ethan grinned and shifted his gaze. There, the A-class #1 prince and #2 princess were gearing up for their duel.
Practical duel class worked like this: #1 picks an opponent. Once done, the next rank chooses, and so on.
Right now, #1 and #2 were dueling, so as #3, Isana's turn came next—meaning Ethan's duel was after that. Plenty of time to watch.
Let's see how they fight.
Ethan observed closely. Ignoring the attacks and spells.
Focusing solely on the mana flow.
Similar, huh?
Sword and magic both relied on mana. Swordplay had forms, but it all boiled down to wielding mana.
Ethan was a pro at that. So what if he applied that mana manipulation to magic?
It just might work. He lacked magic knowledge, so it'd be pure mimicry.
But for now, it seemed plenty effective.
"Winner: Cadet Kalian Aurel Romanheim."
The duel ended with the prince's victory. The princess returned to her spot, radiating icy frustration.
She's a pro at acting.
Throwing the fight on purpose and pretending to be pissed. Ethan stared at the princess for a moment before looking away.
The prince, Kalian, was glaring daggers at him. Ever since he'd dragged Lechel into it.
He'd probably pick a blatant fight after this. Not that Ethan was scared.
He could take a truckload of that guy. The power-packed princess was the real threat.
Ignoring the heavy stare, Ethan replayed the duel in his mind.
"Cadet Isana. Who will you call?"
"I'll call Ethan."
Isana had already prepared.
Ceremony matters in these things.
Clang!
Ethan tossed his sheathed sword to the ground. Hands in pockets, he sauntered into position.
"Cadet Ethan. What do you think you're doing?"
"Didn't you say you'd never seen anyone bring a sword to the magic arena? So I won't use one either."
"Didn't you say you've never studied magic?"
"Felt like it'd work."
The professor scowled at Ethan's nonsense.
"This is practical dueling, Cadet Ethan—not a game. If you're planning to forfeit midway, I suggest you quit now."
"Why would I forfeit?"
He'd committed fully. Ethan was dead certain, that's why he'd ditched the sword.
If Isana were a master, maybe not—but she was just a first-year. He could beat her with eyeball-trained magic.
"Bear responsibility for your choices."
"Got it. But I have one proposal."
"You said you'd take responsibility—end of story. Changed your mind mid-sentence?"
"No. I want Cadet Lechel to join this duel."
The professor's face hardened at Ethan's words.
"Practical duels are strictly one-on-one."
"It's agreed with my opponent, Isana."
The professor glanced at her. Isana bit her lip hard but nodded stiffly.
"Cadet Isana. You're serious?"
Practical duels ran in the first semester too, so the professor knew Isana a bit.
Knew she'd never accept such a proposal.
"Yes. It's agreed."
"Hoo. Cadet Lechel."
Lechel jumped at the professor's heavy sigh.
"Y-yes!"
"The cadets agree too?"
"Uh... yes."
"Normally, this would never be allowed."
The professor eyed Lechel blending into the arena.
"But since it's agreed, I'll make an exception. However, all cadets' scores will be docked regardless of win or loss. Lose, and it's extra penalty."
The professor sighed again and stepped back.
"Duel starts on mana signal."
He snapped his fingers. A transparent barrier expanded around the arena.
Ethan watched it unfold.
I can mimic it.
He didn't grasp the principles, so true mastery was impossible. Hell, he hadn't even started learning magic.
"Commoner. What gives you that confidence?"
"Gut feeling. No way I'm losing."
"So you have studied magic? That was a lie?"
"Nah. Dead serious."
Ethan turned from Isana to face Lechel. Still felt off. Couldn't read what hid behind that innocent face. That's why he'd called her in.
Maybe seeing her lose would reveal something.
"Enough chit-chat."
Recalling the earlier duel. The prince's flashy magic.
Ignored it. No substance.
Instead, the princess's magic. She'd dialed back to lose, but it was closer to the essence.
How'd she do it?
The difference between sword and magic? Simple, to Ethan. Sword mana focused on containing it.
Sword aura from mastering the blade. Drawing it out was containing mana.
So magic? Ethan didn't know the definition.
Never learned how it manifested. But from analyzing the duel, magic emphasized circulating mana.
Circulation between the mana core near the heart and the circuits. And imagination of the spell via that flow.
That had to be it. Ethan placed a hand on his heart, answering his own question inwardly.
Pulses throbbed beyond. Mana coursed through circuits across his body.
Princess's mana was purple.
An ominous hue unfit for her radiant golden blonde.
The spells amplified the menace. Not brute force, but spreading like shadows, clinging stickily.
He pictured it.
"I won't let you stand there!"
"M-me too!"
The scheming pair spread out. Ethan lifted his hand from his heart and stepped forward.
Shadows stretched from his footprint in an instant. Viscous tendrils snaked out, seizing Isana and Lechel in one go.
The princess watching from the stands flashed wide eyes. He felt her stare boring into his back but ignored it.
It works. Just like I thought.
Magic? No big deal.