Chapter 252: Father-In-Law (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 252: Father-In-Law (3)
It hadn't been difficult to find out about the duel between Isaac and Gerald.
Princess Snow White and Merlin Astrea hurried toward the dueling grounds. Despite it being the vacation period, the stands were packed with students who had remained at the academy and faculty members who had stepped away from their duties to witness the spectacle.
“What in the world is this…?”
Unlike White, who was buzzing with excitement over what she called the 'duel of the century,' Merlin was utterly bewildered.
Why are Isaac and Gerald fighting?
And why was Kaya watching the match with such a grim, serious expression?
Whatever the reason, it was clear that the situation was far from ordinary.
“The duel between Isaac and Duke Gerald Astrea has been sanctioned. Isaac’s objective is to earn the Duke’s approval. The Duke’s objective is to test Isaac. Any objections?”
In response to the judge’s question, Isaac removed his glasses and replied, “None.” Gerald Astrea simply nodded in agreement.
The notion of an Elemental King dueling for someone’s approval seemed like a contradiction in terms. But this duel was different. Kaya Astrea was at the heart of it.
Isaac was prepared to leverage the logic of power even before the Emperor if it served his mission to defeat the Evil God. However, he had no intention of disregarding Kaya’s family or bringing them humiliation by simply taking her away. He sought Gerald’s blessing.
Consequently, Gerald naturally held the upper hand as Kaya’s father—and Isaac's potential father-in-law.
On the other hand, Gerald couldn't simply let the matter slide once he confirmed Isaac’s intentions. If this man was involved with his daughter, a firm stance was mandatory. This was the man who would take care of her; the man who would be responsible for her life.
Even if his opponent was an Elemental King, Gerald was determined to ruthlessly assess the man’s character.
“Well then, prepare yourselves… Begin!”
As the official stepped back, the duel erupted.
A bone-chilling cold surged from Isaac’s entire body. The raw frost exuding from him was so intense it created a shimmering haze in the air.
His opponent was the Sword Saint of the Empire. To even cross blades with such a man was considered a supreme honor. Gaining experience from this encounter was an invaluable opportunity.
Isaac was determined to land at least one solid hit on his future father-in-law.
With that resolve, Isaac lunged forward.
Swoosh!
He moved straight and fast.
“Hmm?”
Gerald felt a flicker of puzzlement. A wizard attempting close-quarters combat right from the start—and against him, of all people?
The boy's athleticism was excellent. Judging by his movements alone, one would mistake him for a top-tier student from the Academy’s Knight Department. However, Gerald’s experienced eyes saw deeper.
Though agile, Isaac was expending more energy than necessary. It was this inefficiency that made his movements feel like those of a mere honor student in Gerald's eyes.
Whoooosh!
In Isaac’s right hand, frigid mana swirled into a sphere, followed by the manifestation of a pale blue magic circle. It was the formula for the 5-star ice spell, [Frost Explosion].
The faint chill radiating from Isaac’s body condensed into a heavy torrent of ice mana. To the average student, the change was imperceptible due to Isaac’s speed, but Gerald noticed the peculiar flow of cold air gathering in the boy's right arm.
Is he using the ambient chill to amplify the power of [Frost Explosion]?
There was no time for further thought. Isaac was closing in.
“You’ve underestimated me.”
Gerald had no intention of taking the attack head-on. He held the absolute advantage in speed.
With a deft sidestep, Gerald vanished from Isaac's line of sight. It was a movement so precise it bordered on teleportation.
In that heartbeat, Isaac’s keen hearing caught a sharp whistle of air.
It was behind him.
Slaaash!
A blade swept menacingly toward the back of his head in a horizontal arc. The swordsman who had been right in front of him a second ago was now behind him, attacking from a completely unconventional angle.
If Gerald’s movements could be explained by simple logic, he would never have reached the pinnacle of the Sword Saint in the first place.
Now, what will you do?
Gerald had slipped behind Isaac specifically to see how he would handle an attack from his blind spot. He wanted to understand the reasoning behind a wizard’s attempt at melee combat.
In that instant, the audience in the stands couldn't even track the exchange. But a strange sense of pressure triggered Gerald’s instincts.
This boy…?
Isaac clearly couldn't keep up with Gerald’s physical speed. Yet, his right hand, brimming with concentrated frost mana, was already positioned behind his own back.
Gerald couldn't immediately discern the exact trajectory of Isaac’s hand; it was masked by the dense chill swirling around his arm. It was a deliberate tactic—Isaac had flooded the area with cold air specifically to hide his hand movements.
Whoosh!
The concentrated ice mana detonated.
Kwaaaaaa!
A pale blue radiance tore through the mist. A brilliant blast of ice, accompanied by a violent shockwave, engulfed Gerald.
Sasasak!
Gerald’s reaction was instantaneous. His sword shifted trajectory mid-swing, and his coiled legs snapped straight, generating a burst of explosive energy.
Sharp rays of light flickered. In a flash, several sword strikes were unleashed, slicing and splitting the overwhelming blast of ice. Chunks of frozen mana shattered and scattered in every direction.
Gerald retreated to create distance, moving faster than the naked eye could follow. He casually brushed the frost and mana residue from his shoulders, looking entirely unruffled.
“What did I just see…?”
“Is it actually possible to cut through [Frost Explosion]…?”
The students were reeling, unable to grasp the speed of the exchange. One thing was certain: Gerald had demonstrated god-like skill by neutralizing a 5-star spell with nothing but a wooden practice sword.
The sword Gerald had chosen was thick and blunt, designed to be nearly impossible to cut with. Yet, in the hands of the Sword Saint, any tool became a peerless weapon.
Isaac turned to face Gerald, his murky red eyes locking onto the Duke.
Impressive.
Gerald was genuinely struck. Usually, one could infer an opponent’s next move from their gaze and posture. He had confirmed that Isaac couldn't physically track him.
But the moment Gerald had vanished, Isaac had already moved his hand to his rear. In other words, Isaac hadn't reacted to Gerald’s movement.
He predicted it…
Gerald realized that Isaac wasn't just relying on magic for close combat.
“Was that foresight a skill of an Archwizard?”
“…No. It was just a hunch.”
Isaac was deliberately avoiding reading Gerald’s psychology. His future enemies wouldn't reveal their intentions so easily, and he knew he couldn't rely on [Psychological Insight] forever. This was a chance for his enhanced combat senses to shine. He focused entirely on his five senses.
Gerald felt a tingling sensation of excitement in his chest. “Are you displeased?”
“Quite the opposite. I respect it. Every warrior has a style that suits them. However, I do have a question.” Gerald composed himself. “I know you enrolled in the academy to protect it from demons. But why are you still here? With your level of skill, isn't seeking an education here a waste of your time?”
“Learning never ends. I am still learning a great deal here.”
“Is that a platitude?”
“Think what you will. I am simply stating what I see and feel.”
Isaac drew Zhonya’s Staff from his magic pouch. Gerald’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second before his expression smoothed out. Zhonya’s Staff was a treasure of the Astrea Duchy. Since it had been passed down to Kaya, it wasn't surprising she would entrust it to the man she loved.
“Beyond that, I stay to protect the academy from potential threats. There is still an unknown danger I am wary of. I plan to remain until my role is fulfilled.”
The young man before him was an Archwizard; his intentions were beyond the comprehension of ordinary men. Isaac had resolved numerous bizarre incidents and prevented countless casualties as if he could see the future. If such a man insisted on staying at the academy, there had to be a reason. The Imperial Court had reached the same conclusion.
Then, a thought occurred to Gerald. As one of the Empire’s pillars of power, he was privy to the threats the Empire deemed significant. One of those was the prophesied return of the Evil God Nephid.
Isaac had revealed his plan to the Empire to hunt the Evil God, claiming he could foresee the moment of its resurrection. This was undoubtedly why he remained at the academy.
“You speak as if you were a messenger of the gods.” Gerald steadied his stance once more. “I acknowledge your abilities. Even so, isn't your attitude excessively arrogant, Isaac?”
“…Is that so?”
Boooooo!
Isaac released a dense wave of frost and cast the 2-star spell, [Snow Pellets].
Back when he was weak, he had to rely on water magic scrolls to create deceptive fogs. But not anymore. Isaac’s mana density was now so high that he could manifest a thick, suffocating mist at will.
The chill billowed out like steam, filling the arena. The [Snow Pellets] clattered onto the floor, creating a cacophony of distractions.
“A petty trick.”
Gerald braced himself for the coming assault.
Whoosh!
Rumble!
Pillars of jagged rock erupted from the ground, aiming for Gerald, but he deftly wove through the magic. The thick mist obstructed his vision, and the constant pattering of the pellets masked the sound of Isaac’s movements. The 4-star [Rock Avalanche] forced Gerald to focus entirely on sensing mana.
It was a tactic designed to exploit the slightest distraction.
Swish!
A silver arc cut through Gerald's blind spot.
Clang!
Without even looking, Gerald blocked Isaac’s strike with his practice sword. Isaac was wielding a dagger, bracing it against Zhonya’s Staff to add leverage to the blow.
He doesn't fight like an Archwizard.
Gerald hadn't expected a dagger. Isaac didn't fit the mold of a Magic Knight, either. He was an anomaly.
Gerald met Isaac’s cold gaze. The core of Isaac's strategy was to deliver physical strikes backed by his superior physical stats. If Gerald had dispelled the chill from the start, he might have broken the rhythm, but Isaac had likely prepared for that. Moreover, for anyone with lower mana density than Isaac, dispelling such high-density frost was nearly impossible.
What an interesting fellow.
Even after only two exchanges, Gerald was impressed. This supposed Elemental King used the tactics of the weak. He didn't blindly trust his power; he used it cautiously to corner his opponent. Gerald found the contradiction fascinating.
Unfortunately, such tricks wouldn't work on him. Gerald was a master of presence-sensing; he didn't need mana detection. He could have blocked Isaac’s attack with his eyes closed.
It was a brilliant tactic… for anyone but a Sword Saint.
“So what if I’m arrogant?” Isaac asked, his dagger and the practice sword grinding against each other. “I’m just trying to protect what I love while living my life. 'Archwizard'… what a joke. Strip away the titles, and I’m just a man. I'm struggling to stay alive, fortunate enough to have luck on my side, but still just an ordinary man.”
Those words carried a heavy weight. Gerald found them intriguing. Despite his youth, Isaac was a figure of global renown. No one knew what trials he had endured to reach such heights. But the words he just spoke were laden with the grit of someone who had mastered the ways of the weak.
Gerald’s curiosity deepened. Swordsmen understood one another through the clash of blades. Even if his opponent was an Archwizard, the fact that he held a blade changed the nature of the conversation.
Ssssss!
A surge of intense cold flowed from Isaac’s hand. The condensed chill exploded, lunging at Gerald like a wild beast.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Gerald wasn't about to be overwhelmed. He deflected Isaac’s dagger with a sharp sideways swipe and launched a graceful counter. Isaac didn't falter; he swung his dagger again, clashing with Gerald.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Isaac retreated while parrying Gerald’s sword, counterattacking with bursts of ice and rock magic. He repeatedly condensed ice mana at the tip of his dagger to trigger micro-explosions—a technique far beyond the reach of any student, showcasing terrifying mana control and calculation speed.
Even while swinging his sword, Gerald had to dodge the magic to prevent his wooden blade from being destroyed. He could have avoided the melee entirely, but he chose to stay in close. He wanted to see more of Isaac.
“Did you just say being an Archwizard is a joke?”
Gerald’s movements accelerated. He drove Isaac back with a relentless flurry of strikes, dodging or deflecting elemental magic without leaving a single opening. Sparks flew as the practice sword cut through the freezing air. Every time Isaac tried to retreat or block, Gerald’s sword pursued him like a magnet.
Kwagagang!
Sureung!
“Did you say you are just an ordinary man when stripped of your titles?”
Gerald instinctively identified and sliced through the tiny gaps in Isaac’s spellcasting. As the saying went, a master never blamed his tools. Gerald proved this with a simple practice sword. He was the pinnacle of the blade—the Sword Saint.
The air screamed with the sound of sliced wind and mana explosions. Sparks showered the ground as their weapons collided amidst the frost.
“Did you dismiss your uniqueness as mere luck?”
Gerald’s strikes were efficient, experienced, and hauntingly beautiful. Isaac found that simple defensive magic wasn't enough; he had to use Zhonya’s Staff as a physical shield to block the incoming blows. Each clash sent a biting chill through the air, slowly clearing Gerald’s field of vision.
“Many struggle to survive, working until their skin peels away, but only a handful achieve greatness!”
Boooom!
A powerful strike sent Isaac reeling. He caught the blow by bracing his dagger hand with the staff.
Boooong!
The sheer air pressure from Gerald’s swing blew away the remaining mist. Gerald had swung with deliberate, overwhelming force. Isaac skidded across the dueling ground, manifesting an ice wall behind him to arrest his momentum.
Leaning on Zhonya’s Staff, Isaac showed no signs of exhaustion.
And then…
Crack.
Crackle!
Gerald’s sword shattered.
Each clash had incrementally compromised the wood, and Isaac’s precise mana explosions had finally finished it. Gerald didn't even look down at the hilt in his hand; he had expected this. Despite his best efforts to protect the tool, a practice sword had its limits.
The audience—students, faculty, White, and Merlin—sat in stunned silence.
“That isn't luck. It is the result of your effort,” Gerald said firmly. “If you are to be the man who takes my daughter, throw away that self-deprecating attitude.”
Gerald didn't know about status windows, systems, or Isaac’s past life. But objectively, Isaac had achieved legendary feats and was now the Lord of Düpfendorf. Despite this, Isaac still hadn't fully accepted his own status. His inner thoughts had slipped out during the heat of battle.
As a prospective father-in-law, Gerald had to correct him.
Don’t diminish your achievements as luck.
Understand exactly where you stand.
An Elemental King, the Lord of Düpfendorf, and the man who would protect his daughter…
…There are other things to be humble about, aren't there?
“…I will keep that in mind,” Isaac replied, his voice quiet and respectful.
Gerald took a deep breath and spoke clearly.
“…It is my loss.”
The moment the words left Gerald’s mouth, a slow ripple of applause began. Soon, the entire arena was erupting in cheers and standing ovations.
“Merlin?”
White, happily clapping along, looked at Merlin with a puzzled expression.
Merlin’s face had gone completely pale.