Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: A Duel of Mages
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"You should probably learn how to hold your sword again."
"Wh-what!"
The man's longsword floated between them, refusing to fall.
A strange standoff.
The one who intervened in this unexpected situation was the proctor, who had been watching silently from the side of the testing ground.
"Will you continue?"
It was a question asking if he would admit defeat, now that his weapon was taken.
The man's face flushed red with shame and anger.
Having been toyed with in so many ways by a mere child, he couldn't just let it go.
"Of course."
The moment the man finished speaking, Loan slightly moved the hand he had raised.
The man, who had lunged forward with a fearsome punch, had his face contort with a dull thud.
The floating longsword had slammed hilt-first into his face, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Loan is the victor. Step down and prepare for your next match."
Loan gave a silent nod to the proctor and stepped down, where a flood of praise awaited him.
Most of the onlookers were skilled fighters, so no one thought it was a dull match.
"That was a match that reminds one of the fundamentals."
"I can't even begin to guess how he's manipulating his mana."
"If I get the chance, I'd like to face that technique myself."
Sophie and Lucas, who had come to cheer him on even though they had no matches that day, were as happy as if it were their own victory.
Loan responded with a familiar smile before watching the subsequent matches.
The powerful contenders gathered from all over used a variety of weapons.
Longswords were the most common, but there were also spears, axes, hammers, and even whips. However, not a single one used magic.
He had hoped to gain some insight by observing, which made it quite disappointing.
But unexpectedly, an opportunity presented itself directly to Loan.
"Loan, it is your second match. Ascend to the stage."
Loan, who went up first again, waited for his opponent while observing the increased number of scars on the floor and the bloodstains scattered upon them.
Soon, a name was called.
"Reinhold Dierk of Schwerin. You will face Loan."
A man with his face hidden by a muffler-robe characteristic of Schwerin.
He slowly took his place on the stage and lowered the muffler below his chin.
The middle-aged man, whose pale skin complemented his sharp facial features, kept his sharp gaze fixed on Loan.
Loan, too, did not avert his gaze and studied him.
'His mana flow is incredibly powerful and fluid.'
He could see the disposition of a powerful mage in the man, who was filled with dense mana.
At the same time, the sound of murmuring filled the air.
"Someone from Schwerin, who are indifferent to worldly affairs, at the entrance exam. How unusual."
"I've heard that name before. He's a high-ranking mage who is said to have mastered elemental magic."
"They've set up an interesting match. A duel between mages—isn't that a rare sight?"
Loan also heard the whispers.
A mage from Schwerin, the home of magic.
It had been a long time since the last exchange, so he was glad to meet one.
Reinhold was the first to greet Loan.
"I heard my disciple was indebted to you, which made me very curious. It was hard to believe from the records alone, and I'm still not sure even seeing you in person. Your magic is simply impressive, junior."
"Pardon?"
"Uli. He participated in the exchange a few years ago."
"Ah..."
The one whose nose bled.
But he probably wasn't standing here out of personal vengeance.
Reinhold said.
"Let's put the past aside. Have you continued to practice manipulation-type magic?"
It was nice that there was no tedious small talk. His opponent was a mage interested only in magic itself.
"Yes. I have a great interest in harmony and manipulation."
"I heard you were the valedictorian. You must be at least 3rd-Circle. A remarkable achievement for your age."
"Ah... yes. Thank you for your kind words."
Loan didn't bother to correct him.
With his current mana, the limit of what Loan could properly cast was 2nd-Circle magic. Any more powerful magic would lack the mana and be a mere imitation.
To borrow Professor Arthur's words, it would remain that way unless he had a fortuitous encounter or used a powerful magical artifact.
"I will be using elemental magic. I look forward to this match."
"I will learn from you gratefully."
"Shall we begin, then?"
After those words, which felt incredibly heavy, Reinhold's mana began to seethe.
Watching him gather his mana—
Loan gave a silent nod and increased the circulation speed of his mana, refining his Convection until it was thicker.
In that moment, Reinhold extended a hand toward Loan.
*Vwooom—*
He wove his hands as if forming a hand seal.
A complex formula drawn in the light of mana quickly formed in the air.
Soon, a sudden blast of intense heat could be felt.
A fireball the size of a grown man's head appeared, blazing as if about to explode, then shot toward Loan even faster than it had appeared.
With an intent that seemed to kill.
*Kwagagagaga—BOOM!*
A series of tremendous explosions was followed by a raging hot wind.
The spectators, while protecting themselves in their own ways, narrowed their eyes, curious about Loan who had taken a direct hit, and waited for the smoke to clear.
Suddenly, Reinhold, his eyes wide with astonishment, asked.
"...Unbelievable. How did you do that?"
Amidst the formidable heat, Loan stood calmly, just as he had at the start, without a single hair on his head singed.
The crowd murmured, close to an uproar.
Those who understood Loan's magic couldn't hide their feelings of more than just surprise, just like Reinhold.
"Headmaster Arthur, what just happened?"
"What did you see, Mr. Diego?"
"That the fireball disintegrated in front of Loan and its parts collided with each other to explode?"
"You saw correctly. That's all there is to it."
"Then what magic did Loan..."
"Hmm, it seems to be a mix of about twelve 1st-Circle spells."
"That's 1st-Circle magic? No, more importantly, in that brief moment?"
Diego counted on his fingers as he stared at Loan.
Just then, Loan opened his mouth.
"That was a magnificent fireball. I can only imagine the great effort you must have put into it, senior."
It was a very polite compliment.
Reinhold's expression softened for a moment.
"There's no need for modesty after you dismantled my magic in an instant. Perhaps you could teach me a strand of your formula?"
A strange situation, asking an opponent a question mid-duel.
But Loan, the one asked, opened his mouth with a very pleased expression.
As if he had been waiting for it.
"As you know, a fireball is a mass of high-temperature gas held together in a condensed form..."
"Hmm? Y-yes, that's one way to see it."
"To neutralize the fireball itself, you need a formula that breaks its internal bonds. In short, by considering the mana's size and density, the strength of its bonds, the complexity of its structure, and so on."
"Are you saying you analyzed the fire-attribute magic itself, junior?"
"Yes. As I mentioned, I'm very interested in harmony and manipulation."
"So what you showed at the exchange wasn't just theory..."
Most of those listening below the stage couldn't understand a word, but even Reinhold, who was close to 4th-Circle, couldn't hide his bewilderment.
It was an approach he had never considered.
He stared blankly into the distance and nodded weakly.
"So... it can be done that way."
"Senior, your mana capacity is outstanding and your instincts are excellent. If you slightly reinforce the bonds of the fire's structure and add magic to prevent interference with its trajectory, I believe you could create a far more powerful fireball than your current one."
He was receiving advice on magic from a boy young enough to be his son, yet he didn't dislike it.
On the contrary, it came as a great realization.
Reinhold straightened his back and gave a gentle smile.
"I lost, but I feel as if I've received a great gift. The knot in my heart is completely gone. I have learned a great deal."
"Thank you for your words, senior."
"I am endlessly lacking, so I must return to the Mage Tower. I wish you success."
With a very relieved expression, Reinhold turned and walked a few steps, then stopped and looked back at Loan.
"Ah, and I thank you for yielding the first move, despite having such skill. You will be rewarded for that respect someday. The doors of Schwerin's Mage Tower will always be open to you."
And with that, he left the stage, officially conceding his defeat.
As Loan mulled over Reinhold's words, the proctor spoke to him.
"Loan, get your registration slip confirmed and return."
"Huh? Aren't there three matches?"
"You could be a valuable asset. It would be best not to show any more."
Not just the Union, but all those who passed the first test were watching Loan intently. No, it would be better to say they were now scrutinizing him.
The proctor's wariness of them was as good as acknowledging Loan as a fellow member of the Union.
Loan was bewildered by the immense praise.
"Then I..."
"Have passed."
As soon as the proctor finished speaking, an urgent discussion broke out among the Union members.
"An incredible kid has appeared. Just fifteen, and he beat a high-ranking mage..."
"He's incomparable to how he was at the Schwerin exchange. It was the same during the first test. Loan's magic is on a completely different level from conventional magic."
"As long as his character is sound, isn't he skilled enough to be an active member right away?"
"He's still a mage. Don't forget that real combat is different from a duel."
"Hearing you say that, I take it the Practical Division isn't interested in the boy. Understood."
"No, that's not it..."
Amidst the flood of attention, Loan approached his friends.
Sophie, Lucas, and his school friends who were preparing for their matches rejoiced at Loan's success as if it were their own.
Sophie said.
"Don't go too far ahead on your own."
"You'll have your match tomorrow and catch up right away. I'm not worried."
Lucas said.
"I really wanted to have a proper match with you, Loan, but it looks like I won't get the chance."
"Oh, really? Then maybe I should ask the proctor..."
"No, what a horrible thing to say."
Watching Lucas wave his hands dismissively and back away, Loan burst into a bright laugh for the first time in a while.
* * *
Loan walked alone along a quiet forest path, slowly gathering his thoughts.
His thoughts lingered for a long time on what Reinhold, his opponent from the duel, had said.
'It's not that I yielded the first move.'
He did have a strong desire to observe a proper attack from a mage.
But more than that, Loan's magic was better optimized for dismantling an opponent's attack or using it to turn the tables, rather than taking the initiative.
He had sublimated his weakness into a strength—
'Being misunderstood isn't necessarily bad, but I can't keep relying on this pattern.'
Come to think of it, it had always been this way.
When he faced Baldur around the time he first saw mana, and when he faced Blake.
'I need to be able to attack first or second freely. Once I'm in the Union, there must be something I can learn.'
After pondering for a while, Loan quickly shook his head to clear it.
In any case, it was okay to be happy for now.
It meant that his five years of hard work had been recognized.
Just then.
Two small, three-toed footprints appeared one after another on the ground, and suddenly, a small bird revealed itself with a *swoosh*.
"Aul?"
The owl, without a single flap of its wings, hopped on its long legs and leaped onto Loan's shoulder.
Then it busied itself rubbing its face and beak against Loan's cheek.
"Are you congratulating me, too?"
"Aul!"
After awakening from the Stone of Goetia, Aul would leave small footprints somewhere and vanish, only to reappear abruptly like this when Loan was alone.
The strange thing was that when it disappeared after leaving footprints, its mana couldn't be sensed anywhere.
As if it had gone to another world.
"Where do you go? Or are you always by my side?"
"Aul?"
A strange owl whose only discernible traits were its ability to appear and disappear and to say "Aul."
"You must be frustrated, too. Just wait a little. I have a bit of a talent for languages. Once I become a member of the Union, I'll find a way to talk with you."
"Aul!"
As if it understood the sentiment, it tilted its head from side to side, looking very cute.
Loan stroked the feathers sticking out like a crown, momentarily soothing his empty heart.
A moment later.
"Aul?"
The creature stretched its neck, stared in one direction, then left a footprint on his shoulder and vanished in an instant.
As expected, a familiar mana began to appear from beyond the bushes.
"Loan! It's time! Let's go to the interview!"
Lucas and Sophie called out to Loan, their faces flushed with excitement.