Book 1 Chapter 159

159

"How did it end up like this?"

Standing in the middle of the training ground, Kal looked towards the stands with a bitter expression.

They say the most entertaining thing in the world is watching a fight.

Hearing that a spar was happening, students from classes 1 to 10 rushed out.

"What? Was Kal sparring?"

"Who's his opponent?"

"He looks like an Ecot student."

"Is he being made to spar with an Ecot student because he's looked down upon?"

Disbelieving voices erupted from all around.

"Well, he is Kal."

"Yeah, he's Kal."

But soon, they wore expressions of understanding.

Watching them, Kal protested with an indignant face.

"Hey! You guys! What's wrong with me!"

"You're endlessly frivolous."

"And you're incredibly easygoing."

"Hey! Let's make a bet!"

"Who do you think will win?"

"Oh, that sounds good!"

Kal grabbed the back of his neck.

The first-year students of Lumen, snickering as they made bets, looked on with bewildered expressions at the students from other academies.

'This is much different from what I expected.'

Meanwhile, Kal let out a deep sigh.

"It's no use trying to be friends. Really."

Muttering, Kal glanced at the male student from Ecot standing before him.

"I still don't know your name?"

"It's Rikid Brick."

"The Brick family?"

Kal clicked his tongue.

The Bricks were a family that had traditionally held the position of Commander of the Snow Knights in the Virxen Kingdom.

'He said the heir's name was Rikid, didn't he?'

In other words, the boy before him was the son of a hero.

While Lumen had many descendants of heroic families, actual children of heroes were rare.

"I apologize for the offense caused by the Prince."

"You don't need to apologize. And I'm used to that attitude."

Kal shrugged.

"And even if you apologize, you still intend to spar with me, right?"

Rikid nodded at Kal's question.

"Yes. I understand Lumen is thoroughly focused on practical application. That's why I've wanted to spar with a Lumen magic student for a long time."

A fighting spirit ignited in Rikid's eyes.

'The prince has no manners, but this one is a good person. I guess there are always people like this everywhere.'

Muttering to himself, Kal scratched his head.

'By the way, this guy looks pretty tough too. How should I fight?'

Judging by his appearance, he was a formidable opponent.

In Kal's opinion, Rikid had the skills to easily pass Lumen's entrance exam.

'Moreover, he could even aim for a top-tier ranking.'

Slowly assessing Rikid's abilities, Kal prepared his magic spells.

Habiden, watching the scene, sneered.

"He's going to be humiliated in front of everyone."

The top-tier students of the three renowned academies were superior to the mid-to-lower tier students of Lumen.

However, the general perception was that Lumen students were superior to those of the three renowned academies.

If Kal were to lose to Rikid, an Ecot student, in front of hundreds of people, it would be the ultimate humiliation.

"To push your own classmate to be humiliated like that. Don't you think Senior Leo doesn't really consider Kal your friend?"

"Just watch."

Leo chuckled and said.

Habiden frowned slightly at his relaxed demeanor.

Meanwhile, Kal, having finished preparing for the spar, spoke.

"Shall we begin?"

"Yes."

Kal took out a coin from his pocket.

*Ting-!* *Flippity-floppity-fizz-*!

The clear sound of the coin being flipped echoed.

*Ting-!*

As the coin hit the training ground floor, Rikid drew his weapon from a subspace.

*Whoosh-!*

Seeing Rikid draw a halberd taller than himself and swing it, Kal smirked.

"Spear techniques. Interesting… Huh?"

*Crack-crack-crack-!*

As an aura of ice erupted from the wildly swung halberd, Kal, startled, leaped into the air.

The ground froze solid.

If he had been even a moment slower, his feet would have been trapped, and he would have been defenseless.

"Your casting speed is different from ordinary mages. As expected of Lumen."

Rikid, unfazed by the icy ground, stepped with an aura to close the distance with Kal.

Seeing this, Kal hastily cast his magic.

"Fire Arrow!"

*Fwoosh-!*

A volley of fire arrows materialized in the air.

Rikid marveled at the sight.

'He's on a different level from the other mages his age I've fought.'

To cast such a large number of offensive spells while also deploying flight magic.

'He's definitely adept at combat.'

Moreover, his magical skill was considerable.

'I can't underestimate him just because his mana is insufficient. But that's as far as it goes!'

Rikid, at 14, had been praised since childhood for his exceptional talent.

Of course, all Lumen students had experienced such praise.

However, Rikid was an exceptionally talented prospect among them.

*Thwack-!*

Rikid's eyes gleamed as he gripped his halberd with both hands.

"Avalanche!"

*Whoosh-!*

As he swung his halberd, an aura of snow erupted.

The aura of snow transformed into waves and buried Kal like an avalanche.

"Gasp?!"

Kal cried out.

Kal's piteous screams, buried in snow in the middle of summer, echoed.

"Wow… Amazing!"

"For a knight to unleash such area-of-effect attacks."

"As expected, Ecot can't be underestimated either."

Students from other academies watched Rikid with admiration.

Celia, who was watching the spar from class 1, smirked.

"He's pretty good. He'll pass."

"Yes. His skills are amazing."

Chloe, looking up from her grimoire, glanced towards the training ground and nodded.

"Lumen isn't all that great either."

"If it were me, I would have defended against an attack like that at least once."

Some from Emerald looked disappointed.

At that moment, a commotion arose from the back.

"Hey! How could you all bet on Kal!"

"This makes the bet invalid!"

"It's a crisis! Who dares to bet on the promising Rikid Brick for an upset? Anyone?"

Just as everyone was looking bewildered at the conversation of the first-year Lumen students, a sudden event occurred.

*CRASH-!*

"Ughhh! So c-c-coldddddddd!"

Kal emerged from the snow, shivering and clutching himself.

Rikid, unfazed, assumed a stance.

'As expected, he won't fall with just this.'

Rikid admired him and readjusted his grip on the halberd.

"Sniffle- Why is there a snowstorm in summer? Brrr-!"

Kal shook his body vigorously and looked at Rikid.

"Indeed. I'm no match for him if we go head-to-head."

The difference in capability was significant.

Yet, Kal still smirked.

He then opened a subspace and poured out his weapons.

Rikid, who was about to charge at Kal, paused.

"A mage with weapons?"

"Ooh. I might not be great at much, but as someone who's experienced Lumen before you, I'll give you some advice! That kind of rigid thinking is not good!"

*Groooaaan-*!

Kal generated mana.

Then, the enchanted weapons floated in the air.

Rikid narrowed his eyes at the sight.

"Telekinesis, I see."

*Tap-!*

Rikid, gripping his halberd, lowered his stance.

*Whoosh-!*

Simultaneously, he charged rapidly towards Kal.

'Let's not think of it as simple telekinesis. This person's skill is not to be underestimated.'

He thought about finishing it quickly before any tricks could be played, unleashing his aura throughout his body.

Seeing this, Kal smirked.

"That's why you shouldn't be so rigid."

*Whirrrrrrr-*!

The color of the weapon Kal drew changed.

A longsword, now red, flew towards Rikid.

Rikid swung his halberd, deflecting the longsword.

At that moment.

*BOOM! Fwoosh-fwoosh-fwoosh-!*

The longsword spewed high-temperature flames.

"Magic sword?!"

Rikid's eyes widened as he deployed his aura armor, barely blocking the flames.

"Alchemy is my specialty, so I'm terrible at offensive magic."

Kal drew a one-handed crossbow from his subspace.

"Unlike those monstrous fellows, if they get close, it's game over. Besides, I'm a supporter, not aiming for combat."

*Click-!*

Kal aimed the crossbow at Rikid and smirked.

"I have no choice but to use unconventional tactics."

*CRASH-!*

Kal pulled the trigger, and the crossbow bolt flew.

Rikid easily deflected the arrow.

Instantly-!

*Thwack-!* *Clang. Fizz-*!

"……!"

The arrow transformed into glass, and its contents spilled out.

Rikid's face contorted at the pungent odor that rang in his ears.

"Poison?"

"I can use poison, but it's a bit inappropriate for a spar."

Kal grinned and lowered the crossbow.

"It's oil."

"Why would you suddenly use oil?"

"That's why. You shouldn't be so rigid."

Kal smirked.

"It's a special oil I concocted. It's highly volatile, but it continues to burn when it reacts to mana. Furthermore, the stronger the firepower, the stronger and longer-lasting it burns. It's a very dangerous oil."

Kal waved his hand.

*Fwoosh-fwoosh-!*

The enchanted weapons floating around transformed into magic swords.

"They're disposable, cheap magic swords, but combined with that oil, they'll hurt quite a bit."

"Grrr?!"

Rikid gritted his teeth and glared.

The magic swords, crafted with Kal's enchantment magic, targeted Rikid.

*KABOOOOM-!*

"KRAAAAH!"

Rikid's scream echoed.

Leaving Rikid behind, Kal put his hands in his pockets and smirked.

"End!"

All the other academy students gaped.

Meanwhile, Chloe marveled.

"To develop that magic to such an extent. Kal is amazing too."

"He's the most unpredictable among the first-year mages, constantly using unconventional tactics."

Celia rested her chin on her hand.

"If you know Kal, then even if you're more skilled than him, you'll be caught off guard and suffer if you don't know him well."

Kal's enchantment magic.

After Leo praised him during the field trip, Kal had continued to refine his specialty, enchantment magic.

As a result, he succeeded in arbitrarily turning enchanted weapons into magic swords.

In addition, he also completed a formula that allowed him to freely transmute his enchanted items.

He had succeeded in compensating for his shortcomings by using tools.

Habiden glared.

Kal descended from the training ground and high-fived Chelsea.

"A victory of dishonor!"

"Can't you call it strategy instead of dishonor?"

After a moment of thought at Kal's words, Chelsea smiled broadly.

"A victory of cunning!"

"Hey!"

"Cunning! Cunning!"

The students from class 5 cheered for Kal, chanting "cunning."

"Are you guys serious!"

Kal cried out, grabbing his hair.

Then, seeing Leo watching him with a smile, he grinned.

"How was it?"

"Excellent."

"Heh. It's the result of trying my best to catch up. Thanks to you, Leo."

It was Leo who always gave him endless advice and helped him complete his unique combat style.

"See! This is the strength of Lumen's weakest! You arrogant brat!"

Chelsea taunted Habiden, grinning.

"…Please exclude 'weakest'."

As Kal let out a mournful chuckle, Habiden scoffed.

"I suppose in Lumen, relying on tools is also considered skill?"

"Of course."

Chelsea said proudly, crossing her arms.

"Surviving is strength."

Not only during their academic life but even after graduation, Lumen students are driven into constant competition and battles.

To avoid being eliminated in such an environment, one must mobilize all available means, whether tools or strategies.

Chelsea curved the corners of her mouth.

"Next is us, right? We'll beat you to a pulp."

As the flames dissipated from the training ground, Chelsea ascended.

Habiden, following her, scoffed.

***

"Leo, what do you think will happen?"

"What?"

"This fight."

Kal sat down next to Leo and said.

"I know that guy Habiden has no manners, but his skill is definitely real."

Habiden was renowned throughout the continent, not just in the northern regions.

He was also a young man who was expected to enroll in Lumen this year.

"Well, in a real fight, Chelsea would win easily, but in a spar with limitations, I'm a bit worried."

Chelsea is a Battle Mage.

The biggest characteristic of a Battle Mage is their ability to fight on the front lines like a knight.

However, that applies only in battles against multiple opponents.

In one-on-one combat, where concentration is required on each other, it is difficult to be as effective as in a chaotic battle.

Against a knight with outstanding capabilities, rushing into close combat could be disastrous.

Habiden possessed the skills to rank high in the Knight Department even if he were to enroll in Lumen immediately.

Habiden's arrogance stems from his confidence that his skills are not significantly inferior to those of the students a year his senior.

Leo chuckled at Kal's words.

"Chelsea will win."

"Yes. But the problem is how she wins. If it becomes too close, he might get a boost of confidence."

Chelsea gained worldwide fame for the Gigantes subjugation incident.

Simply fighting evenly with such a famous figure like Chelsea, without even being enrolled in Lumen, could earn a considerable reputation.

Habiden was also calculating this when he decided to spar with Chelsea.

"If that guy ruins the atmosphere of the joint class, it'll be a hassle."

Kal scratched his head.

"Don't worry. Chelsea will win overwhelmingly."

"What?"

"In terms of skill, that Habiden fellow is not insignificant. But overall capability isn't solely determined by skill."

Leo watched Chelsea, who was warming up, counting one, two, three, four.

Then, Chelsea, making eye contact with Leo, waved brightly and waved back.

Leo, waving back at Chelsea, continued.

"Perhaps the knights will have to be nervous."

"Huh?"

Kal's eyes widened at Leo's sudden mention of the Knight Department.

"They'll be quite shocked."

***

"Should I consider it an honor to spar with Chelsea Lewallin, famous for the Gigantes subjugation?"

"Of course. You can proudly tell your mom and dad when you go home."

Chelsea chuckled and readjusted her staff.

Habiden, smirking at Chelsea, unleashed his aura.

At that moment, Chelsea's eyes twitched.

'Spirit power?'

As soon as she thought that, the wind swirled, and a wind spirit was summoned.

The wind spirit soon took the form of a horse.

"Hmm."

Chelsea narrowed her eyes, watching Habiden elegantly mount the wind spirit.

"Using something nice, aren't you?"

"It's an artifact passed down in my royal family."

Habiden curled the corners of his mouth.

An artifact that materializes spirits into specific forms.

It was a very rare and powerful item that assisted the difficult art of spirit summoning.

'Spirit Knight. That's something I didn't know.'

Chelsea, who knew about Habiden, pondered.

"Well then, shall we see your skills? Chelsea Lewallin?"

*Whoosh-!*

Habiden charged towards Chelsea at incredible speed.

Seeing Habiden grip his spear and execute a charging thrust, Chelsea unleashed her mana.

*Whoosh-!*

Habiden thrust his spear at Chelsea with a speed that was almost invisible.

At that moment, Chelsea's body floated in the air like fallen leaves scattered by the wind.

The attack missed.

Habiden, reducing his charging speed, grabbed the reins of the wind spirit and smiled as he watched Chelsea descend from the air.

"As expected, you're quite good. But it's difficult for a mage to properly respond to this speed."

Chelsea, looking at the confidently speaking Habiden, smiled faintly.

Then, she said.

"That's not how you use the wind."