Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Christa vs. Lillian
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After my first-round match with Nora concluded, there were six more magic duels.
They were all contestants who had advanced from Groups B, C, D, E, and F. Excluding two disciples from the Sixteen Academies, they were mostly from mid-tier or smaller academies and magic schools.
The matches for the vice-top student and the rest of the cadets were scheduled for tomorrow morning.
"The Lu rune... As expected from Melev Academy, one of the Eight Great Academies. They sure use some interesting runes."
I sprawled out on my bed, seriously reviewing my fight with Nora. The dim early summer twilight filtered eerily through the window.
'It's a secret rune, so I can't replicate it exactly, but I could search for a rune with similar properties and mimic it.'
I wanted to dive into research right away, but with my stamina completely drained, sleepiness was crashing over me.
Because of the match with Nora?
No.
It was because of that demon named Seri... Out of nowhere, she threw a tantrum about wanting to sleep over in the dorms together?
- She sang a whole song about missing you. Just indulge her this once.
Mom didn't try to stop her—in fact, she backed her up.
And the one who ultimately repelled Seri when she barged into the dorm was... Pipi, the mascot from our hero party days.
- So cuuuute...!
Seri lost all judgment the instant she saw Pipi and fell head over heels. Sending her packing was a breeze after that.
- Peach wanted some fresh air. Wouldn't it be great if you took her out?
- No, no, no. Pipi likes indoor air, Pipi likes indoor... Pipiiii!
I shed a single tear as I remembered our comrade Pipi, who had sacrificed herself in vain for an old teammate.
'I'll give you double the corn when I get back...'
My eyelids grew heavy in the languid early summer night air, but suddenly, that guy popped into my head.
Valencidis.
And the one who came looking for him... the guy with Lin's face. My drowsiness vanished in an instant.
'Why the hell did he show up?'
Does he know I took down Ribeni? But that doesn't add up. If so, why didn't he attack sooner?
'With Valencidis's skills, if he'd ambushed me right after returning from [Reda Cable], I would've been done for without a chance.'
And today, the perfect opportunity— if those two had suddenly rushed me... Just thinking about it was horrifying.
"Ah, this feels all sticky."
It'd be nice if nothing came of it, but based on experience, getting tangled with those black mages never ended simply.
'Or should I strike first and take out Valencidis to even the odds?'
The problem is, if Valencidis slips away, I could end up looking like the crazy one.
And even by Lin's standards, he's no pushover.
'Then...'
I'd been curious from the start anyway. Who the hell is this guy messing around with my face? Is he a vessel for my soul or what...?
'If Valencidis is off-limits, I could track down that guy first and interrogate him.'
Might as well look into it if the chance comes up.
Assuming he's still at the school.
'No need to hunt him down? If he has business with me, he'll come knocking.'
But it turned out I didn't need to rack my brains that night. The next day, 'that guy' showed up on his own.
* * *
The Dragon Hole Field stands were packed again the next day.
Traditionally, the top cadet opened the first round, so the vice-top closed it out.
"Is it the once-in-a-generation genius Christa Warden versus Lillian Carline, blessed by fire?!"
"A clash between genius and monster— this is gonna be good!"
The stands buzzed with talk of the two even before their turn came, and when it finally did, the excitement boiled over uncontrollably.
[Entering from the east gate is Christa Warden, who claimed the vice-top spot in the midterms.]
From the opposite west gate, Lillian Carline strode out, her red hair flowing. Christa, reaching the midpoint first, crossed her arms arrogantly.
"I told you before. We Wards don't live with debts."
"......?"
"I'll make you pay dearly for tormenting my cute attendant. Get ready."
Even Senior Professor Marhena seemed intrigued, resting her chin on her laced fingers as she spoke.
"Warden and Carline. Different elements, but both summoners."
"Yes, Master. On matchup alone, Cadet Christa has the edge."
From the opposite stands, Professor Owen hummed, glancing at the Rivendel Academy onlookers as he pondered the same topic.
"But will standard matchups even work against that damn Flame Python?"
Earth held an elemental advantage over fire, sure.
But even Gertrude Fenton, a supreme water specialist, had been helpless once the Flame Python appeared.
"Lillian's gotta win, right?"
Ilin from Chaihak whispered, and Logan closed his eyes grimly.
"Hmm, back in the day, I'd have said Lillian wins hands down..."
"Not anymore?"
"Well, she's been off lately."
More precisely, since the midterms ended. Losing both top and vice-top spots—must've been a shock. She seemed kinda out of it.
"You're not thinking the young lady might lose, are you, Young Master?"
Gertrude eyed him probingly. Rain, mid-yawn, shrugged lightly.
"Who knows."
In a normal scenario, it'd be Lillian's overwhelming victory.
Just remembering how she'd barely erased Rivendel's divine beast, the Flame Python, with Bell Quirius made his eyes ache like they might pop.
But with this opponent, even he couldn't predict the outcome.
"Who knows?"
"?"
"Oh dear, oh dear! The young lady's always cheered you on no matter what... Sniff, she's so pitiful it brings tears!"
Gertrude fake-cried playfully, catching Lillian's eye from the field. Her tightly shut lips parted slightly.
"...Annoying."
"What?"
"Only you noble brats can study magic so carefree."
Hmph. Christa lifted her chin as if daring her to keep talking.
"Magic is power, and school is just the place to prove it. No time for nauseating crap like 'friends.'"
Right, no friends.
Just competitors to devour.
"Greenhouse flowers wouldn't get it even if they died."
Lillian glared murderously, but oddly, Christa nodded as if impressed.
"Preach. I agree."
"Agree? Hilarious. Coming from someone who plays house with that heavenly disaster 'Young Master' every single day?"
"Plays house?! Screw you!!! That guy's my rival! What we do is rival stuff... no, rival training!!!"
Rain scratched his head as Christa ranted excitedly on the arena's clairvoyance feed.
"Why's she getting all hyped before the match even starts?"
Mages should always stay calm.
But the playful vibe shifted in an instant as Vice-Top Professor Kyle's command boomed.
[The final match of the tournament preliminaries begins now!]
Lillian moved first, fingers flashing to her waist. Three talismans were suddenly in her grasp.
"Three 2-star talismans!"
"Going for a quick finish!"
Talismans were Rivendel Academy's hallmark—practical, battle-focused like the northerners. A Remidier-type combat enhancer.
"Unlike standard Remidier, which needs mana injection into a grimoire, you can use or fling them on the move."
Even in the civil war 300 years ago, Rivendel mages were clutch. Those talismans let anyone wield versatile magic in battle...
As Rain recalled, Lillian hurled her talismans in the arena.
Left, right, up—three directions. Red glows emanated, birthing fierce flame butterflies that swarmed Christa.
'I won't lose. To anyone...'
For her mother, who endured her trash father's indiscriminate violence while caring for her.
- It's okay, Lillian.
Just for having red hair, her mom was used as a mere broodmare to birth a child blessed by fire.
- Mom's fine.
To oust the trash elders and father and claim the academy, she needed power to convince her peers. Proof of that power.
'To do that, I have to graduate top of <Delaiten>. And for that, I need the top spot in this exam.'
An obsession bordering on madness, an unyielding will that whipped her forward... Christa yelled at such a Lillian.
"Hey, where you looking?!"
Mana torrents swirled fiercely around Christa. Rays of light wove intricately in her palm, forming a beautiful glow.
"Th-that's...?!"
"High-speed calculation for a 3-star spell...?!"
Screams like praise erupted from the stands. Only Rain let out a hollow chuckle, surprised.
"Not just any 3-star."
It rivaled 4-star—call it 3.5-star. Because it used the Su rune.
A dual rune: 'kneading' and 'wetting.' Pure earth magic array would've made the equation absurdly complex...
"She grew from that experience."
One array was circular, not square. A dual earth-water spell.
'This is an application of what Rain Ludwig showed on his first day.'
If a rune is complex, pair it with a compatible array to simplify the math.
Everyone makes mistakes.
That's not wrong. Leaving the mistake as is? That's the error. Right, Professor Carolline?
───Grooooar!
A quake like an earthquake shook even the stands, the air roiling.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the arena floor. Boom—a massive summon burst from the earth.
The Warden family's famed bloodline summon: the Sandstone Colossus, Sandstone Monster God.
Overwhelming presence, ironclad durability. Lillian's flame butterflies were mere sparks before the monolith.
"Beautiful..."
Professor Carolline gazed at the Sandstone Colossus with teary eyes.
Unlike the one she'd summoned against Rain Ludwig in the entrance exam. This version fixed all those flaws.
Blending water magic and Su rune boosted the golem's strength. An impregnable shield against any attack.
"Fire those junk spells all day every day—you ain't piercing my Sandstone."
"......!"
"Stop probing like a noob and bring out that Flame Python or whatever! Time to teach you proper. For messing with someone you shouldn't last time."
.