Book 1 Chapter 130

130.

Watching an identical clone of herself, Iliana wore a wary expression.

'Is it Professor Albi's magic?'

It was a well-known fact that Albi could use fairy magic with the power of his Demonic Eye.

Even the combative Iliana couldn't rashly attack in front of magic she'd never seen before.

As Iliana remained wary, her clone curled the corners of its mouth.

"Did it laugh at me? This clone just laughed at me!"

An incensed Iliana pointed her finger.

But watching her clone generate magic, she was flustered and prepared to counter the spell.

Flash-!

"Huh?"

Seeing the activated magic, Iliana was astonished.

What the clone used was none other than Iliana's signature magic, 'Shining Blade'.

Iliana, momentarily flustered by the showering blades of light, grinned.

"Is it imitating a mirror?"

Iliana likewise activated a Shining Blade, neutralizing the clone's attack.

"It looks like illusion magic, but that won't work on me!"

Iliana, shouting with a confident face, deployed her magic.

Before long, the duel setup had become Iliana vs. Iliana.

The students watched the duel with excited expressions.

In truth, a duel between Albi and Iliana would have been utterly uninteresting.

Because it was, quite literally, a fight with an obvious outcome.

However, when Albi used unknown magic to create a clone identical to Iliana, the outcome became unpredictable.

Dazzling light magic adorned the dueling arena.

The two Ilianas moved swiftly, casting spells at each other.

A short while later, the magic department students wore bewildered expressions.

"Which one is the real Iliana?"

Albi's magic was astonishing.

As if mocking the idea that it was merely high-level illusion magic, it used the exact same amount of magic power and the exact same spells as Iliana.

It was enough to make them believe there were two real Ilianas.

Amidst this, Karl muttered.

"Isn't the prettier one the clone?"

"Indeed!"

"Then that one's the real one!"

"Hey! Do you want to die?! How can one be prettier when they look exactly the same!"

Seeing her classmates accurately identify the fake, Iliana flared up.

"You fools! Don't mind the kids, focus on the duel!"

"Oops!"

Iliana, startled, concentrated on the fight.

The clone was becoming increasingly difficult to deal with.

'It's using the same magic as me, so why is there such a difference? Is it stronger than me because Professor Albi created it?'

Such thoughts came to her naturally.

At that moment.

The clone activated a certain spell.

Iliana was astonished to see the magic pouring down on her.

'Shining Rain?!'

It was a unique magic that Iliana had perfected during the vacation.

As the magic rained down on her, Iliana squeezed her eyes shut.

As she braced for impact, the clone and the magic vanished simultaneously.

With the outcome decided, the drained Iliana sank to the ground.

"Excellent."

Albi said indifferently.

But Iliana, knowing it was high praise, blushed slightly and wore an embarrassed expression.

"Th-thank you."

"Next person, come up."

Iliana descended from the dueling arena.

Afterward, the magic department students followed the same process as Iliana.

As students' defeats repeated, the first one to win against the clone was none other than Chelsea.

"That's amazing. Even using the same magic as us, it felt like its overall specs were higher."

"Huh? What are you talking about? It had the same power as me."

Chelsea made a puzzled face at Karl's words.

Seeing such a Chelsea, the surrounding students were bewildered.

Most students thought Albi's clone was stronger than them.

Meanwhile, Chloe and Abbad successively defeated Albi's clones.

Watching that, the magic department students gasped in admiration.

"They're winning more easily than Chelsea."

"They call Celia, Sia, and Duran the 'Monster Trio' in the Knight Department, shouldn't we call them that too?"

The students whispered.

"Ugh!"

Meanwhile, sparks flew from the eyes of Emio, who had ranked 3rd in the Magic Department up to the first semester's midterm exams.

'What exactly is the difference between them and me?!'

All students except one had finished their duels.

The last remaining student, Leo, climbed onto the dueling arena, receiving the students' gazes.

"How will the class president do?"

At Iliana's murmur, Chelsea wore an expression of course.

"Of course, Leo oppa will win! He's the only one who passed the Vice Principal's magic during the opening ceremony, right?"

"That's true."

As Chelsea and Iliana chattered, Emio, who was listening nearby, snorted.

"Don't you know Leo Plov's true abilities are revealed when he's 'All-Class'? In this duel where most magic department students have been eliminated, there's no way Leo Plov can purely win against Professor Albi's clone with only magic combat."

Chelsea frowned.

"Leo oppa is incredibly skilled in magic duels, you know? And you lost terribly to Leo oppa in the flying magic contest in the first semester."

"That was a test of flying magic. Although there was a physical clash, he even used aura."

Emio stated definitively.

"I won't lose to him in a pure magic duel."

Seeing Emio's strong confidence, Chelsea made a pathetic expression.

'What's there to be proud of winning a pure magic duel against Leo oppa, who isn't even a pure mage… And I think Leo oppa would win in a pure magic duel anyway.'

As the students each predicted the outcome, Ren straightened his posture and focused on Leo.

'Shall I see how much he's grown over the break?'

Anna, seeing that, let out a deep sigh.

'Professor Ren's obsession with Leo has deepened over the break.'

During the break, Ren and Anna stayed at school, preparing lessons that could convert Leo to the Magic Department.

Anna, who couldn't return home and was held captive by Ren, once again realized how much of a genius Ren was.

The second-semester lesson Ren prepared during the break was a magic combat class.

Of course, it wasn't just a simple magic combat class.

'A class teaching how to defeat knights and summoners with magic.'

It was, quite literally, a class meant to definitively showcase the superiority of magic, and in the context of Leo, it was tantamount to the Magic Department declaring war on other departments.

When she first heard Ren's plan, her head spun.

She tried to persuade him somehow, but Ren wouldn't listen.

'I have no intention of belittling Leo's 'All-Class' talent! No! Rather, I completely misjudged Leo's talent throughout the first semester!'

It was truly remarkable that Ren, who never compromised when it came to magic, acknowledged other talents and took a step back.

'However, my belief that magic suits Leo best remains unchanged! No! After the first semester, I became even more convinced! Only magic can make Leo Plov a complete student! Therefore, Leo's primary focus must be magic!'

Even when Ren, a theoretical professor, was preparing practical magic combat studies, Anna doubted whether the lessons could truly entice Leo.

Because if theory was the main focus, practical application would naturally be somewhat lacking.

But her mind changed after seeing Ren's preparation process.

'Even I, a mage, was tempted. Professor Ren really is a genius.'

Ren's thorough class preparations continued throughout the break.

The problem arose about a month after the break began.

Anna shuddered, recalling that time.

***

That day, as usual, Anna stopped by the department office before heading to Ren's office and found a letter addressed to Ren, the professor in charge of first-year magic students.

"Where did it come from?"

Anna, holding the letter with a puzzled face, checked the sender.

"Seirun Academy?"

Anna, with a surprised expression, headed to Ren's office.

"Welcome, Associate Professor Anna. Are you cheerfully preparing for class today as well……"

"Do you think preparing for class when I can't even go back home would be enjoyable?"

"Huhu. You're not being honest. I already know that you enjoy helping me prepare for class, Associate Professor Anna. You're a mage through and through, aren't you?"

Seeing the boastful Ren, Anna couldn't deny it and, sighing deeply, handed him the letter.

"A letter arrived."

"Where is it from?"

"From Seirun Academy."

"Seirun?"

When a letter came from Seirun, which could be called a rival school, Ren wore a puzzled expression.

And after reading the letter, he burst into laughter! Hahahahaha!

'Why is this man acting like this again?'

"As expected, Leo is a person suited to be a mage! Look at this, Associate Professor Anna! This is a letter from Seirun acknowledging and praising Leo's magical talent! It says we should properly teach a student who will become a great mage in the future! Hahahahaha! As expected of our rival, Lumerne! They certainly have an eye for talent!"

"Well, Leo did interpret the magic of the Nebula's progenitor."

Although no formal announcement had been made yet, the magic of Luna that Leo restored was creating a huge stir in the Elven magic world.

Anna read the letter Ren handed her with admiration.

And after checking the latter part that Ren hadn't seen, her face turned pale.

"Hahaha! I'm curious about what's next. Associate Professor Anna, give me the letter."

"P-Professor. It's better not to read this… It's not particularly important… Th-that is! Class preparation! Let's prepare for class! Okay?"

Anna struggled with all her might to prevent Ren from seeing the letter.

"What's in it that makes you so flustered?"

"Oh, no! Professor! You mustn't see it!"

Anna desperately shook her head.

But the letter ultimately ended up in Ren's hands, and Anna, seeing this, covered her face with both hands.

As Ren read the letter with his face, his expression gradually disappeared.

Ren, having read to the end, burst into a 'huhu' laugh.

Whoosh-!

The letter in his hand burned away to nothing.

"Have these pointy-eared bastards gone mad?"

Harsh words, unimaginable coming from Ren, who was famously gentle, escaped his lips.

He was someone who never lost his composure.

But the content of the letter was enough to enrage him.

Anna trembled, shivering from the killing intent emanating from Ren's eyes.

The content of the letter was simple.

It was an invitation for Leo Plov to be an exchange student at Seirun.

The problem was the duration.

At least one semester.

In other words, it meant having him study at Seirun for half of his first year.

If one were to study an entire semester at a different school, the pace of lessons would change completely.

Furthermore, the letter stated, 'Student Leo Plov possesses an outstanding understanding of Star Magic, and only by studying at Seirun can his magical abilities be truly unleashed.'

"So what? Are they telling me to transfer him? Hahaha. Interesting. Very interesting."

"P-Professor. Calm down. Calm down."

Anna tried somehow to appease Ren's anger.

Ren was the type who didn't express his anger outwardly even when there was cause for it.

But once his lid was off, he saw nothing.

The rude demand to give up the student he considered his greatest treasure was enough to drive his anger to its peak.

"Don't worry, Associate Professor Anna. I am extremely calm, you see. Hahaha."

But for some reason, Ren was composed.

"Isn't all of this happening simply because Leo is too outstanding? Hahaha, Seirun certainly has an eye for talent."

Ren, who had been smiling, said coldly.

"I'll change the class content. The internal enemy isn't important right now. In this Luse-Seirun match, I'll absolutely crush those Seirun bastards."

Ren, with veins throbbing on his forehead, showed a chilling smile.

This was not merely a matter of losing a beloved student.

It was, quite literally, Seirun issuing a challenge to Lumerne.

For Ren, who had strong pride as a Lumerne graduate, it was absolutely unacceptable.

In that case, shouldn't he respond properly?

"Hahaha. I'll turn the faces of those Seirun magic teachers into ground-up slime."

***

Recalling the events of the break, Anna let out a deep sigh.

'Later, when there was a request from Azonia for Leo to transfer, he really did smash up the entire office.'

While Anna was recalling the events of the break.

Leo stood silently, facing Albi.

It was then that the other students made puzzled expressions, seeing such a Leo.

As Albi's Demonic Eye gleamed, Mirror Force was activated.

'Mirror Force. Magic that creates an identical clone of the opponent.'

It is considered the strongest among illusion-type magic.

Of course, it's a spell that doesn't activate if the target is an existence far surpassing the caster's power.

'But against a weaker opponent, it creates an exact replica of oneself. Just like a mirror.'

And Mirror Force draws out the cloned target's power to its limit.

That's why most first-years were defeated by their own clones.

Because the clone was better at utilizing abilities than the 'real' one.

It is magic that exhibits nearly invincible power against opponents weaker than oneself.

Leo's completed clone generated magic power.

Flash-!

The students were horrified to see the magical array embroidered in the air.

"That's… Star Magic?"

"Wait! Can Leo use Star Magic so skillfully?"

Ignoring the students' horror, the Star Magic poured down on Leo.

Leo chuckled, seeing the magic engulfing him.

Ziiing-!

CRACKLE-!

The sound of the magic array being destroyed echoed loudly.

The magic that had reached Leo's nose was instantly dispelled.

"How did he block it?"

"He didn't seem to use any magic."

The students murmured.

"What? Leo, how did you do that?"

As Karl panicked, Chelsea wore an incredulous expression.

"He dispelled the magic."

"What?"

Karl made a horrified expression.

Abbad and Chloe also looked at Leo with surprised eyes.

'Senior Albi's Mirror Force is magic that replicates a target. The magic used by the replica is ultimately one's own magic. Therefore, it can be dispelled so easily.'

It's a technique any skilled mage can perform.

The problem is that the standard for 'skilled mage' applies only to professor-level mages, that is, mages of Ren's or Albi's caliber.

And a mere first-year, Leo, is accomplishing that.

'Ah… it's somewhat natural for Seirun to target Leo. He's so outstanding that anyone would drool over him!'

Ren's body trembled with ecstasy.

'Leo will go down in history as the greatest mage in Lumerne Magic Department's history! I'll make it so! Whether it's Seirun or Azonia, I will never let him be taken!'