You Want to Duel With Magic?
“The main gates will now open! Please enter in an orderly fashion!”
The security team's announcement boomed across the grounds through amplification magic. The crowds that had gathered from every corner of the continent, waiting since the early hours, began streaming into the Academy.
The Silver-Blue Festival had begun.
For the next three days, every corner of the Academy grounds and Academy Territory would be open to the public, with only the more dangerous and classified areas kept off-limits.
Strangely enough, the seasons of Academy Territory were as precisely delineated as if drawn with a ruler, and starting exactly today, the silver-blue flowers would burst into full bloom.
Viewed from the high spires, the Academy grounds and the surrounding forests were a breathtaking spectacle, pale blue petals swirling through the air in their thousands.
A pleasantly warm spring breeze drifted gently across the land, caressing everything in its path.
The snow-capped mountains, the deserts, and the waterfalls remained unchanged as ever, preserving the fantastical atmosphere of the territory.
There was just one problem: this was hardly an occasion for enjoying the natural scenery in peace.
“Doesn't the mood feel a lot bloodier than last year! Mr. Principal, is this truly a festival?”
Vande voiced his doubts. Just as he said, security guards had been stationed across the entire Academy at triple the usual numbers.
From atop the walls to every hidden corner of the facilities, they watched the tourists with unrelenting vigilance. The barriers had been layered as well—physical defense, magical defense, detection, and more.
“We had that incident during the entrance ceremony, so we're simply being a little more careful. The Sword Saint has also reported sightings of dark mages during her recent patrols. These are entirely reasonable measures.”
“Won't the students be anxious! How are they supposed to perform at their best during the presentations like this?”
“If your skills falter over something this minor, you never had them to begin with. Quiet down. Shh.”
Phelia complained.
“I understand this could be a valuable opportunity for the students. It is also a venue where their talents are scouted and invested in across any number of stages.”
The Silver-Blue Festival drew not just ordinary tourists, but nobles and magnates from across the entire continent.
Their purpose was to observe the students' presentations and make early contact with the promising ones before the semester got into full swing.
The scouts could secure raw gems at bargain prices, and students in need of backing or connections got their situations improved—a win-win for everyone.
Of course, once you reached hero-candidate status, every nation wanted you, but that made things politically complicated, so nobody made reckless offers, and the candidates themselves almost never accepted.
“Professor Alencia, let me confirm this in advance—Mr. Kulan's presentation is prohibited.”
“I know. How many times do I have to say it? There isn't a single second-rate brat in the Hall of Water who'd go flashing their talents around to begin with.”
The Principal had issued the notice to Phelia as a precaution—needlessly provoking a hero candidate could ruffle the feathers of entire nations.
“Hey, slave merchant. Your student Testia's presenting too, right? At the showcase?”
“Of course. Though even if investment offers come in, we have no intention of accepting them.”
“Ha! Save yourself the trouble and toss the girl in a trash can. If they catch a glimpse of her, the Magic Tower will dig out their entire forbidden archive and lay it at her feet?”
“Testia already has me as her investor. She needs nothing else.”
“That's absurd.”
Phelia ground her teeth. I added:
“Besides, the Magic Tower won't be coveting anything. The subject Testia will be presenting is Culinary Arts.”
“What? Are you actually insane?!”
Phelia leapt up onto the table. Even so, her eyeline was still below mine.
“Culinary arts? You're going to have a girl who can cast 1st Tier spells... wait, no—make her cook?”
“She wanted to.”
“Wow. You really have no idea what anything means, do you? Hey. You. Do the showcase with me.”
Thud. Phelia slammed her tiny palm down on the table. It wasn't particularly threatening.
“Hee hee, here we go again.”
Mulan, who had been half-unconscious in the corner of the reception room receiving a blood transfusion, apparently under the weather, perked up with interest.
“A presentation, you say? Professor Alencia, are you suggesting you'll be delivering a research lecture yourself?”
“Yeah. Me and him, public lectures, head to head—winner takes Testia! I can't stand this!”
Phelia dug in her heels. Vande crossed his arms and let out a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha! Halfling, what chance do you have against Professor Phedia?! You're practically digging your own grave!”
“Shut your mouth, you pathetic housecat who can't even guard his own den! I'm doing it. You hear me?”
Phelia's attitude was thoroughly emotional.
The situation was different from the one with Vande. Back then, the festival had been organized with the side purpose of keeping the Emperor in check while we prepared for the entrance ceremony.
Right now, I wanted nothing from Phelia. There wasn't a single reason for me to accept this conditional trade.
Tia unquestionably possessed more colossal magical talent than anyone on the continent, and since she was the Lich in the original story, her rise to greatness as a mage was all but certain.
But the Tia of today had no desire to learn more magic. Judging by the spells she could already cast, she had reached a considerable level of mastery anyway.
Tia had told me she wanted to learn cooking. Having accepted her request, I intended to honor it with everything I had.
“I refuse. Testia's passion lies in culinary arts, not magic. Respect her will.”
“Can a person really live doing only what they want to do? Is that how you live?”
“I can't. Which is exactly why I intend to make it possible for my students.”
“Why, you…!”
As our argument heated up, the Principal stepped in.
“Now, now, both of you, calm yourselves. Professor Alencia, I trust you understand how outrageous your demand is? Above all, I've heard that Testia has no intention of transferring to the Hall of Water.”
“That's….”
Phelia shut her mouth, visibly frustrated.
“It's only natural that Professor Phedia has no reason to accept such terms. But still, Professor Phedia.”
“Yes.”
The Principal smiled and drew me aside, beginning a private word with me. He intended to negotiate.
“It is also true that Professor Alencia has never once lectured the public on her own research since taking her post. This, my friend, could fetch quite a handsome price.”
The Principal's voice was brimming with anticipation. So that was his angle.
“Whatever her manner, Professor Alencia is one of only two Sages on the continent, alongside the Magic Tower Master. Every coin on the continent will come flooding in to buy recordings of her lecture. Specifically, something like this.”
The Principal spread out his fingers. It was certainly a substantial sum.
The Academy was always in need of funding. The Goddess didn't mint gold coins for anyone, so raising money fell squarely on the Principal's shoulders. It was a tempting offer.
“Hmm.”
“How about it? If you'd accept the contest even with softened conditions, I could offer you a tenth of the proceeds.”
Even a tenth would be an astronomical figure. But.
“There's nothing in it for me if I win.”
“How about I handle it quietly, like with Professor Vande? Frankly, that suits me better too.”
“I have no wish to interfere with Testia's wishes over so trivial a reason.”
“Hmm... fair enough, I suppose.”
“Besides, you're already operating under the assumption that I can't win, aren't you? In a lecture duel, Professor Alencia's research would carry far more value than a newly appointed professor like me.”
“Haha. I remember the sword aura you displayed at the entrance ceremony. And above all, you are the teacher of our Heroes, are you not?”
The Principal spoke with considerable warmth. It seemed at least partly sincere.
I hadn't been persuaded by the Principal, though.
Perhaps I had simply grown a little emotional.
I decided to put a weight on the scales.
“First, give me thirty percent of the sales.”
“You've changed your mind! Though money, is it? I didn't take you for a man who thought much of wealth.”
“I have plenty to spend on myself. But lately I've found more and more things I'd like to spend on my students.”
“Couldn't you just file it as expenses?”
“It's personal enough that I can't.”
Working out my curriculum lately, I'd found myself wanting to allocate a bigger budget for the students.
But if I submitted an itemized report, others might read it and assume I was playing favorites with Luca, Tia, and Yuri—so it would have to come out of my own pocket.
I was playing favorites, after all.
“And I'm going to win. My lecture will sell for more, so it's only right that I take the larger share.”
“That's our Professor Phedia! I take it you've thought of what to demand from Professor Alencia as well.”
“Yes.”
I turned and stood before Phelia. The Principal mediated between us.
“Professor Alencia, I have negotiated with Professor Phedia. He accepts your contest. Tomorrow afternoon, the two of you will deliver research-achievement lectures in the arena.”
“Tch, now you're talking!”
“Three non-duplicable crystal recordings of each lecture will be produced and immediately auctioned. The side whose recording sells at the higher price wins.”
“Nothing to even think about. Go sell your slave-picking tricks as well as you can.”
“Don't worry about the subject.”
I cut in.
“You're not planning to lecture on magic, are you.”
“Obviously I am!”
“Same subject makes it possible for the audience to judge. I'll be lecturing on magic too.”
“Huh? What nonsense is this? You're a mage? What Tier have you even reached?”
“1st Tier Magic User.”
“This guy, right until the end…!”
“Professor Phedia. Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Very well. Next, the conditions. If Professor Alencia wins, Testia will be required to attend Professor Alencia's lecture once a week from then on.”
“Great. I like it. See you tomorrow.”
“And if Professor Phedia wins—.”
“Don't even need to hear it!”
“You will hear it, Professor Alencia.”
I warned her in a low voice.
“Ugh, what now!”
My heavy boot heels rang against the floor as I stepped in front of her.
“If I win, I take command authority over your students as Head Chair Professor.”
“Same demand as with him. Fine, do as you like.”
“Professor Mulan, any objections?”
“Do whatever you want. This is fun.”
Mulan nodded at the Principal's question with tired eyes.
“One more thing.”
I added, sharp as a blade.
“I'll be taking twenty percent of your magic circuit.”
“...What?”
CRASH!
Unable to contain her fury at my words, Phelia detonated her mana. Unrefined embers, not yet distilled into proper flame, blazed up around the two of us.
“Do you even understand what you just said?”
“Perfectly. Mana, the fundamental force you just converted into magic—the thing that stores it is the magic circuit. I meant twenty percent of yours.”
“You're going to strip away the foundation I've spent my whole life forging as a mage?”
“Yes.”
I leaned forward, bringing my face close enough to Phelia's to hold her gaze.
“You should never have touched our Tia.”
Not a single blink. Not a single breath released.
A glare as if time itself had frozen.
I was quite furious right now.
She had been treating Tia like an object all this time—bargaining chip, throwaway stake, a tool for advancing magical research—and it had made me absolutely livid.
Judging by her attitude, she intended to keep being a nuisance, so I decided to crush her thoroughly while I had the chance.
How dare she.
Phelia glared at me for a long moment, then whipped her body around.
“I'm making sure you can't cheat!”
And with that, Phelia hurried out of the reception room.
By this point, accepting the contest was a losing proposition from her perspective, but it seemed her pride, once wounded, was something she couldn't endure.
“The contest is established. I expect magnificent lectures from you both.”
The Principal closed out the affair.
My demand for Phelia's magic circuit wasn't made for some petty reason.
It was because every time I had tried to use Tia's high-tier magic through Slave Exploitation, the casting had failed.
In my first lecture, if Tia hadn't caught on immediately and helped me, I'd have been left hovering a lone main magic circle with nothing to show for it.
I judged it to be a phenomenon arising from being able to trigger the spell but lacking the foundation to sustain the casting, so I planned to wrest the magic circuit from Phelia.
Twenty percent of a Sage's magic circuit. An enormous quantity. Mages never, under any circumstances, transfer their magic circuit to another—unless it's their own child.
And even to their children, only at the moment of death, and only if that child possessed the talent and the qualification.
A rigorously strict breed, mages, one way or another.
The magic circuit is something no outsider can comprehend the structure of, let alone seize by force, unless the mage personally consents to transfer and graft it.
With it, I'd be able to use magic at a considerable level going forward.
Of course—all of this assuming I win the contest.
Unlike with Vande, I laid no traps this time.
This round was lecture versus lecture.
I intended to face her head-on.