Knight Class vs. Magic Class (2)
Irina couldn't believe the result of the first match.
The magic class student's tactics had been excellent, true enough. Heightening the senses, then knocking the opponent out with a sonic assault—as a coordinated attack, it was superb. But the problem was that it had taken down a knight class student.
Knights were beings called superhumans. They were accustomed to most forms of magic and sensory attacks. Moreover, because they constantly circulated mana both inside and outside their bodies, their magic resistance was exceptionally high.
And yet, even against such a knight—though dozens of magic circles had been used—a simple sensory enhancement spell had been cast and a sonic attack had gotten through. That was impossible unless the magic's output was extraordinarily high.
What's more, before the midterms the knight class had trained by enduring various forms of grand magic firsthand under Department Head Durum. Did that mean even the lowest-ranked magic class student could now produce grand-magic-level output?
The durability of the magic circles was absurd as well. From Irina's perspective, Ryu had given it everything he had—and yet he hadn't broken a single circle. Magic circles were delicate constructs made of countless circuits, and their strength was necessarily proportional to that delicacy; they should have been fragile. And yet they had withstood attacks that could split steel?
If they couldn't unravel the secret of those magic circles, victory for the knight class would remain a distant dream!
Irina desperately hoped the other students had realized this too—that it wasn't mere luck, that this was something they needed to find a solution for at all costs. Unfortunately, the first-year knight class were the sort who preferred using their bodies over their heads. Tactics and liberal arts only started being taught in the second year.
And so, from the next match with Taraes all the way through the tenth match with Hudis, every single one of them failed to break even a single magic trap and were eliminated. The only consolation was that they had forced the use of dozens of magic traps.
The eleventh match. Elena Rotnil stepped forward for the magic class, and Hubert Cross for the knight class.
Hubert steeled himself at the sight of Irina's dejected face, then clicked his tongue at the classmates who had gone before him.
I need to unravel the secret of the magic circles first.
Fortunately, Hubert was one of the few students who actually knew how to use his head.
Even so, it's strange that they won't break. There has to be something protecting the magic circles. I need to find that first. And if I can't…
Hubert narrowed his already thin eyes even further. Up ahead, Elena was watching him with a confident expression.
I'll have to break through wisely.
"Eleventh match, begin!"
At Department Head Alketo's declaration, Hubert charged in.
Perhaps because the previous knight class students had charged straight into the magic circles, Elena had laid hers out in plain sight. Feeling her heart pound, she watched Hubert's movements.
The results of my training are in those magic circles!
She thought back on the past few days. They had truly been hellish. That damned illusion magic had been so realistic she could still vividly remember the sensation of her severed neck, her pierced chest, her lower half blown away.
To survive, she'd had to fight like hell—and she'd also learned that fighting like hell alone wasn't enough. She'd had to scheme somehow, and for the sake of survival she'd begun imagining everything imaginable.
Through solitary brainstorming, she had become creative. She had endlessly devised magic combinations that would never—and should never—be used in reality, and repeated actions that defied cause and effect. In the process, Elena had felt it: at some point, the amount of mana circulating through her body had increased. She'd also discovered that there were gaps somewhere when magic was fired. If she could seal all those gaps, the power of her magic would improve dramatically. That was the premonition she'd had.
I'm not the person I used to be!
Elena was no longer the Academy's underachiever. The true worth of her efforts would be proven right here, right now!
Whoosh!
"Huh?"
"Are you an idiot? I have no obligation to step on magic traps sitting out in plain sight."
"Whaaat?!"
Hubert approached Elena while deftly dodging the magic traps. Aaron, watching his girlfriend's match, smacked his forehead.
"I figured someone would start doing that eventually. Of all people, it had to be on Elena's turn."
Right. The reason the knight class students had charged into the obvious magic circles until now wasn't because they were stupid. It was purely out of pride. A knight was someone who could handle magic with ease—dodging it was no different from failing to demonstrate one's ability!
But that pride only held if you could actually dismantle the magic to some degree. After ten people in a row had completely failed to break through or even advance, it was no longer time to be clinging to pride.
Hubert ran, skillfully avoiding the magic circles. Only ten left ahead of him! Considering that the previous knight class students had withstood at least thirty, even if he triggered all of these it wouldn't be a problem.
Leaping over the ten magic circles, Hubert brought his sword down on Elena.
"This is the end!"
BOOM!
Crackling.
"Huh?"
"You're the idiot here."
Elena wiped the startled look from her face and smiled. Hubert's sword stopped right in front of her nose—and a hidden magic circle revealed itself.
"A mage is a profession that uses their head. Did you really think I wouldn't anticipate you coming while dodging? Insurance is basic."
"Even so, one magic circle won't stop me!"
"Who said it was just one?"
"What?"
A chill ran down Hubert's spine. He felt heat rising across his back. Turning around without thinking, he let his sword droop in despair.
"Damn it."
Every single magic circle he had passed was glowing. Each one was connected by lines flowing out from the transparent magic circle he had just struck.
Elena smiled brightly.
"Bye-bye~"
BOOOOOOM!
A shockwave more intense than any explosion that had occurred during these midterms swept in every direction. Water, fire, lightning, earth, and more chaotically blanketed the testing grounds.
Zzzzt. Crackling.
Hubert convulsed on the ground, having taken the full assault of roughly a hundred magic circles. Had Department Head Alketo not cast a protective spell, he would certainly have been seriously injured.
"Eleventh match: Elena Rotnil wins."
"Yay! Aaron! I won!"
"I'm so proud of you, Eli!"
Ever since Frey had caught them last time, Aaron and Elena had been flirting completely out in the open.
With Hubert's defeat, silence fell over the knight class. Eleven consecutive losses. Something that couldn't—and shouldn't—happen was unfolding right before their eyes.
Irina glared at Frey with a face flushed red with fury. No matter how she thought about it, Frey had pulled some kind of trick. Otherwise there was no way the magic class's level could have improved this dramatically in such a short time. Originally, even being generous, the magic class should have scraped out maybe two wins. And now they had eleven straight victories?
She needed to do something. At this rate, a nightmare future where all fifty-two knight class students lost would arrive in an instant.
Then someone raised a hand.
"Department Head. My apologies."
"What is it? Ahmed?"
It was Ahmed Redburn. He sought permission from Alketo and Department Head Durum.
"I'm sorry, but may I go next?"
"The reason?"
"My stomach hurts and I need to use the restroom. I've been so nervous that I don't think I can go until after my match is over. If I wait until my turn like this, the severe stomach pain will ruin my condition."
"Seek permission from your opponent, Airen."
Department Head Durum said it with a fierce expression, angered by the knight class's successive defeats. Ahmed avoided his gaze, then spoke to Airen.
"Your Highness. Would that be all right?"
"I don't mind. Actually, I have a question of my own."
The words that followed made Ahmed's face—and those of the other knight class students—go rigid.
"I'm going to neutralize you with just three. Will the knight class's morale be okay?"
It was an outrageous statement. Neutralize the second-ranked knight class student with just three?
"Haha, Your Highness."
Ahmed laughed, then spoke sharply.
"That arrogance will make you the first to lose."
"I like that attitude. Fine. Just wait a moment."
Airen came down to the sparring grounds. Ahmed silently put on a blindfold and sat in a chair.
Irina understood. Ahmed had volunteered to go first because he had an ulterior motive.
He's trying to find the answer, isn't he? To unravel the secret of the magic class's magic circles!
If it was Ahmed, ranked second in the knight class, even if he couldn't win he should be able to uncover the secret. And if they learned that secret, the subsequent knight class students would have at least some chance of victory.
But Irina was anxious. What if Ahmed went out there and still couldn't solve it? Then the knight class would have no hope left—because she had a feeling that her own opponent, Frey, had only one magic circle. She needed to find the answer from Airen, who had prepared three, for there to be any real chance.
While Irina trembled with anxiety, Frey's expression had also hardened.
Airen prepared the same number of magic circles as me.
Not the power—the number. Frey had also prepared three. He could swallow Irina whole with just one if he wanted, but then output control would become difficult. There was a real possibility of seriously injuring her before the department heads even had a chance to intervene. So, taking safety into account, he had prepared three. And Airen had also prepared three?
Frey hoped Ahmed's skill wasn't too far below Irina's. If Ahmed was much weaker, Airen would neutralize him even faster—which would automatically lead to Frey's own defeat. Frey intended to find out Airen's residence this time. He absolutely had to win this match.
Should I try casting a secret enhancement spell on him?
Just as Frey was entertaining that forbidden thought, Airen smiled and declared:
"Ready. Come at me."
"Here I come!"
Ahmed drew his sword. The match began.