Chapter 34
Chapter 34
The One Who Was Turned Into an Assistant Instructor
While an assistant instructor attached herself to Marie and taught her shield magic, Larkias continued the class.
“…Now then, since the remaining one is being handled by the assistant instructor, I’ll explain magical duels. Clarice!”
“Yes!”
A female assistant instructor called Clarice shuffled her way forward.
Dark circles hung beneath her eyes, and her messy hair was loosely tied to the side as if hastily gathered, but she must have originally been quite a beauty.
Yet, as she stepped forward, she hesitated.
“Me? You want me to duel a freshman, Professor? That’s a bit….”
“If you win, I’ll allow you to take tomorrow off for a nap. Flesh.”
“Oh, if that’s the case….”
Suddenly, the assistant instructor became motivated.
“A nap tomorrow. Is being allowed to sleep during the day considered a reward? What kind of life does an assistant instructor live?”
Idnia watched the assistant instructor and felt puzzled.
“And from the Zephyrus dormitory on the west side, which has the largest population, let one person step forward.”
“…….”
All the students froze for a moment.
Was he really asking them to duel an assistant instructor?
Those who had taken lessons from the assistant instructors all knew that they were highly experienced individuals far beyond the students.
“Don’t hesitate. Some of you have done prior study, haven’t you?
There must be someone who sincerely believes they are a genius of magic.
Come forward.
If you defeat the assistant instructor, you will receive 2 shop points.
If no one volunteers, the dormitory leader will receive a penalty point.”
Then Isolde stepped forward.
“I shall do it.”
“Good. Flesh. I like that confident attitude of yours.”
As Isolde stepped forward, a platform rose beneath her and the assistant instructor.
It was the magical stage previously used for duels between spirits.
A transparent barrier of power surrounded it.
And beneath both Isolde and Assistant Instructor Clarice, a magical circle was drawn.
“Anyone who steps outside this circle loses. Surrender also counts as defeat. Otherwise you are free to act, but due to the difference in skill, restrictions will be imposed.
Assistant instructor. You are only to use level 0 spells where the projectiles are clearly visible.
And for every three spells cast by the freshman, you may attack only once.
Defensive spells may be used at any time, but only shield spells are permitted.”
“…….”
All the students listening were shocked.
Imposing restrictions on the assistant instructor was expected, but the severity of those restrictions was excessive.
It was like playing a game of chess after removing most of your pieces.
“What is this? They’ve completely bound her hands and feet before striking her.”
“How is she supposed to fight like that?”
“Even if the assistant instructor is impressive, isn’t Isolde Polchen no easy opponent either? Is it really okay for her to only use a level 0 spell once for every three attacks?”
However, Assistant Instructor Clarice wore a composed smile.
“Now, let the duel begin!”
At the professor’s shout, the duel began.
As the duel began, the assistant instructor brought her magic wand to her chest and declared.
“Glory to the god of magic, Trismegistus!”
“Glory to the god of magic, Trismegistus!”
Isolde made the same declaration and quickly summoned a fire spirit.
The flame butterfly she had seen in Magram Professor’s class appeared.
In Magram’s class, the presence of the flame demon made it easy for everyone to summon fire spirits, but Isolde was able to summon a lowest-grade fire spirit on her own without Magram’s blessing.
“Oh… a splendid spirit.”
“I’m coming! Be careful!”
Isolde warned and raised her wand.
Fire Arrow!
A fire arrow floated around her wand.
“Hmm.”
Assistant Instructor Clarice cast a shield spell.
At the same time, Isolde launched her attack.
Fire Arrow Stacked Explosion!
Surprisingly, Isolde directed her fire arrow at the spirit she had summoned, the flame butterfly.
As the fire arrow was absorbed into the flame butterfly, a magical formation formed from its antennae and transformed into a powerful heat beam that was unleashed.
It was faster and stronger than the heat beam that had appeared during Magram Professor’s class.
“Wow!”
As Assistant Instructor Clarice swung her wand, a rotating shield of light appeared before her and blocked the heat beam.
Seeing that the beam had nearly pierced through the shield, Clarice let out a whistle.
“Wow, for a freshman, that’s impressive.”
Yet the smile never left her face.
“Alright, that’s one.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve used one attack already, correct? Ah, of course, you might argue that attacks by spirits don’t count. Will you make that argument?”
“No.”
Isolde, watching Clarice’s composed demeanor, cast another spell.
This time, it was an ice arrow spell.
“Hmm? You’re using an ice arrow while keeping a fire spirit out?”
Clarice paused, unable to read Isolde’s intention.
“I’m coming.”
Instead of the ice arrow, Isolde sent the flame butterfly forward.
Then she fired the ice arrow low, aiming at Clarice’s knee level.
At the same time, she cast another spell.
Flame Butterfly! Wings of Fire!
The flame wings of the butterfly surged violently, and the butterfly spun at incredible speed, transforming into a massive blade of fire.
The low-flying ice arrow struck the flaming blade and evaporated into steam, while the fiery blade swept in from all directions toward Clarice.
Everyone watching was stunned.
Isolde’s skill was at this level? Was the assistant instructor not in danger?!
However….
Shield Magic Attribute Conversion: Repulsive Force!
Shield Magic Twin Spell!
Three shields appeared, rotating and deflecting all incoming attacks.
In fact, part of the reflected fiery blades flew back toward Isolde, forcing her to cast a shield spell.
“Ugh….”
The flames that seeped through Isolde’s shield magic brushed against the hem of her clothing.
“Alright, that makes three attacks. Shall we continue? Even now, you may surrender.”
Assistant Instructor Clarice looked at Isolde as if she were having fun.
“…….”
Isolde was shocked.
Not only her—every student watching was shocked.
“What… this… Isolde…?”
“She’s not even close.”
“The professor must have known this would happen when he sent her out….”
All the students trembled.
They had all believed Isolde was the most talented among them… yet she could not even come close to the assistant instructor.
“I will not back down. Please teach me.”
Isolde refused to retreat, her pride wounded.
“Ah, I see. In that case….”
Assistant Instructor Clarice smiled and cast a spell.
Level 0 Magic, Static Spark….
A faint electric spark, only slightly tingling, began to appear around her wand in the air.
But then….
Spell Overcharge!
Energy beyond the spell’s limits was injected.
And then….
Spell Amplification!
The erratic lightning sparks became clearly visible.
Twin Spell!
And now the lightning split into two streams.
“W-what? Didn’t she say only one spell for every three attacks?”
“Isn’t this a rule violation?”
The other students were astonished, but Crown Prince Rudolf recognized the technique and shook his head.
“That is spell transformation. It is not a violation. She has truly only cast a single spell. But to think she could do that… even most archmages couldn’t achieve that level….”
Having seen many court mages, Crown Prince Rudolf was himself shocked.
By then, the magic surrounding Assistant Instructor Clarice had transformed into something far beyond what could be called a level 0 spell.
“Now then, here I come! For my sweet nap!”
With a light swing of her staff, Clarice unleashed the lightning, instantly shattering Isolde’s flame butterfly and striking toward Isolde herself.
Isolde used a shield spell, but her shield was torn apart instantly, and the lightning deliberately struck the ground nearby instead.
Crackle!
A shockwave spread as the ground was scorched.
Isolde staggered backward and fell onto her backside. The attack that could have killed her had intentionally struck the ground nearby.
From the beginning, the assistant instructor had not even considered Isolde a worthy opponent.
She believed that striking the ground near Isolde, rather than directly hitting her, was more than enough to win.
“Ah, how improper of me in front of a junior. To think I went and faced a freshman. Still, a nap tomorrow is on the line… ah, sweet sleep.”
Clarice genuinely rejoiced in her victory. Larkias, watching her, was also pleased.
“Well done, Clarice. Seeing you happy brings me joy as well.
As promised, I’ll assign you today’s lab duty.”
“Eh? Wait a moment. The promise was clearly….”
“If you take today’s lab duty, tomorrow’s nap will be yours. Correct?”
“…….”
In other words, if she stayed up all night handling duties today, she would be allowed to sleep during the day tomorrow. It was not a lie.
The students watching were stunned.
The assistant instructor’s magical ability surpassed any mage they had seen outside, yet such a talent was being toyed with by professors like this?
“Now, this is how duels are done. Isolde Polchen, was it? You stepped forward and set an example for all students. For your courage, you are awarded 1 shop point.”
Although Isolde lost the duel, Larkias still granted her a point.
From the beginning, Larkias had not expected Isolde to win.
“In the future, any disputes between students should be resolved through duels like this.
Students of Dunaise Academy should resolve matters through magical duels. Of course, treating injuries sustained in duels will require Aka coins, but for those without Aka coins, I will personally heal you. My lovely fleshlings.”
As Larkias spoke, several students were once again entranced and began to walk forward on their own.
The assistant instructors quickly stopped them.
“Be careful. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up like Clarice.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“It’s hard for us to explain… but Clarice is currently stronger than most court mages. Do you know why she’s still an assistant instructor? Because she simply cannot leave Professor Larkias.”
“Why not?”
“Did she fall in love?”
“Well… something like that, but to explain…”
“Some students, while attending Professor Larkias’s combat magic class, became enamored with him. And when they regained their senses… they had already drunk Professor Larkias’s blood.”
“…Pardon?”
“Drank his blood?”
“…After that, those who drank Professor Larkias’s blood gained tremendous magical power, but were unable to leave the academy and became assistant instructors forever.”
“Eek….”
“So… the shop sells something called a Pendant of Anti-Fallen Angel. If you’re not confident, buy one and wear it during Professor Larkias’s classes.”
“Avoid taking Professor Larkias’s classes except for required subjects.”
“Try to avoid his classes as much as possible. They are usually scheduled during daylight with large groups, but schedules may change during the term, so do not attend classes at dusk. This is genuine advice.”
“So, Isolde Polchen… don’t be too discouraged just because you lost. Clarice is… a pitiful soul.”
Listening to the assistant instructors’ life-risking warnings, all the students realized that the permanent professors of Dunaise Academy—the Five Prisoners of the Empire—were truly dangerous beings.
And they resolved that they must never become assistant instructors at the academy.