Book 1 Chapter 637
637.
Kyle’s strategy was extremely simple.
“It’s guerrilla warfare. The terrain itself is perfect for it.”
A vast forest.
This alone gave Kyle a huge geographical advantage.
“First, there are many places to run or hide.”
It’s basically a terrain with many covers, making it easy to hide and escape.
“And the freshmen have no information about this island at all, which is also an advantageous condition for me.”
All the islands in Lake Rumeria are used for student practical training.
Kyle had also come to this Island No. 1 countless times.
As such, he knew the geography like the back of his hand.
Kyle opened his sub-dimension and checked the potions in his pocket.
Besides healing potions, it was full of various attack and defense potions Kyle had made.
These were items Kyle had improved on his own by studying Dweno’s alchemy book.
“Should I start with preparations first?”
Kyle armed himself so he could use the potions immediately.
‘First, the very center of the island.’
Kyle busily moved around, starting to set traps in suitable places.
‘It will take time for the first-years to search all the way here.’
Pak-pak-!
Kyle dug a hole with a shovel taken from his sub-dimension and laid a magic mine inside.
And in another spot, he created a tripwire using a wire.
A troublesome task to the extreme.
However, without these preparations, Kyle couldn’t face 500 people.
At first glance, it seemed like an unfair fight, but Professor Rumerin definitely gave Kyle a loophole.
That was this preparation time.
Whether he would be senselessly caught by the first-years or not depended on how effectively he used this preparation time.
Kyle, who had prepared not only potions but also trap magic, went to a small cave far away, took out a magic potion, gulped it down, and wiped his mouth.
“I’ve roughly set up a base for now.”
Kyle arranged the potions he would use for battle in the cave.
About an hour had already passed.
Unless the first-years were fools, they would search cautiously.
No matter what anyone said, Kyle was a hero whose name was on the Hero Record.
Charging at such a person just relying on numbers is usually suicide.
‘It’s fortunate for me. Honestly, if they rush in without thinking, it’ll be difficult in many ways!’
“Alright, now that preparations are finished.”
Kyle exited the cave.
“Shall I go meet the first-years?”
A wizard’s abilities are maximized at their base.
But Kyle had no intention of just waiting for the first-years to come here.
‘Besides, it’s a makeshift base to begin with. And if 500 people rush in at once, there’s no answer.’
Therefore, Kyle decided to expose himself to the first-years first.
Pak! Papabat-!
Kyle, running through the forest at high speed, hid behind a tree after a moment, sensing the presence of first-years in the distance.
There, dozens of first-years, in parties, were searching the surroundings.
‘There must be other parties not far away, right?’
Thinking so, Kyle chanted a magic spell.
“Fireball.”
Magic representing the fire attribute.
Like the fire attribute, it is a very flashy magic with strong destructive power.
Kyle, who had created a sphere of flame on his palm, floated a fireball into the air.
“Magic reaction ahead!”
“Piiii-!”
At that moment, one of the mage students shouted, and a sharp whistle sounded.
Kyle fled from his spot, chanting a spell.
“Fireball!”
“Aqua Wall.”
Chwarureuk-!
The fireball that left Kyle’s hand flew towards the first-years.
But before that, Kyle’s magic was blocked by someone.
Seeing that, Kyle clicked his tongue.
“There’s one troublesome guy mixed in.”
Vito Ingteum, from the Eastern Continent’s Magic Tower.
He was from a renowned magical family in the Eastern Continent.
‘They said he was rivals with Betty, the second-highest in the second-year magic department, back in the Eastern Magic Tower days, didn’t they?’
That is to say, if only magical skill is considered, he is the top among the first-year freshmen.
‘He’s actually the top student in the magic department too.’
The knight department students chased after Kyle.
Kwaang-!
Then, when they reached where Kyle had been hiding, a fireball Kyle had hidden exploded, engulfing them.
“Kkuek~”
“It’s a trap!”
Screams erupted.
“You should’ve been more careful.”
As Kyle chuckled.
Water droplets began to form in front of him, then transformed into a giant mass of water, changing into the form of a first-year.
It was none other than Vito.
“Oh. Is that unique magic?”
Kyle stopped in his tracks, admiring.
“It is an honor to face you, Senior Kyle, who has ascended to the position of a hero.”
Vito exaggeratedly bowed to Kyle in greeting, then pulled out his magic staff.
“I hope I can surpass Senior Kyle’s strategy and tactics.”
Vito’s eyes settled coldly.
Looking at Vito, Kyle clicked his tongue.
‘Oh dear. He’s coming at me seriously from the start.’
Vito, reflected in Kyle’s eyes, was different from ordinary freshmen.
‘This guy. He definitely seems to have finished his research on me.’
In a pure magic duel, Vito would probably have the upper hand.
But even so, Kyle didn’t let his guard down.
‘He said he was wary of my strategy and tactics, right?’
Kyle poured out countless weapons from his sub-dimension.
And he used Enchant magic.
It was one of Kyle’s specialties.
Sharp weapons aimed at Vito.
Seeing Kyle’s magic, Vito stirred his magic power.
Chwaak-!
Hundreds of ropes extended and wrapped around the enchanted weapons.
Kwak-! Cheolpeok-!
A giant axe cut through the water ropes.
Water poured out, thoroughly wetting the ground.
But the number of ropes was endless.
Vito admired and watched Kyle, who was standing in place, scattering magic power and chanting spells.
‘Indeed, it’s amazing magic.’
Just as Kyle confidently called it his bread and butter.
The Enchant magic was impressive enough for Vito to admire.
‘No matter if he’s the weakest among third-years, a third-year is still a third-year. I can’t let my guard down. If I attack rashly, I’ll be the one to get hurt.’
Thinking that, Vito established an even firmer defensive strategy.
Looking at Vito, Kyle shook his head.
‘Even though it’s estimated that he has a good chance of winning in a head-on confrontation with me, he’s solidifying his defense?’
Beyond being cautious, Vito’s judgment was extremely cold.
Time was on Vito’s side anyway.
Once the first-years swarmed in, Kyle would be finished.
‘If it were any other first-year, they would have rushed at me to show off.’
Kyle took out a potion from his pocket.
‘That’s why someone decisive is sometimes easier to deal with than someone who keeps changing their mind! It’s exactly as the information said!’
Pong-!
Kyle opened the potion bottle.
As Vito became wary of Kyle’s potion, Kyle grinned and gulped it down.
Just as Vito had investigated Kyle.
Kyle had also investigated Vito.
In fact, there wasn’t much to investigate.
Last year, during the preparation for the Hero’s Festival.
Kyle simultaneously managed the entrance exam preparations for freshmen.
In doing so, he naturally absorbed all the information about this year’s freshmen into his mind.
And Kyle had seen through that if he were to fight Vito, Vito would engage in a delaying tactic against him.
Indeed, Vito only showed defensive actions against Kyle.
Even when Kyle used magic power and cast spells, Vito only thought Kyle was using Enchant magic.
He couldn’t help but think that.
Because the information Vito had about Kyle wouldn’t include powerful high-level magic.
He judged that his own magic would be sufficient to defend against Kyle’s magic.
Goo-ooo-ooo-ooo-!
Immense magic power began to pour from Kyle’s body.
Seeing that, Vito flinched.
“No? This much magic power?!”
“It’s true that I can’t use high-level magic with my pure strength. But there’s a method called doping, you see?”
Kyle said, shaking the empty bottle gently.
“It’s a potion that refined my magic power. It temporarily boosts magic power. Well, after one use, I can’t use magic for a while, and I have to suffer muscle pain for a week, but.”
Kyle smiled broadly.
“Still, it allows me to use powerful magic for just one shot!”
The spell Kyle had been chanting was ‘Fire Explosion’ magic.
It was a spell that wouldn’t activate even if the incantation was completed due to insufficient magic power.
But now, at the moment his magic power was amplified.
He was able to complete the spell.
“Fire Explosion!”
A massive explosion of flames engulfed Vito.
Kwagagagagang-! Hwarureureuk-!
The surrounding area was blown away, and Vito plopped down on his knees.
But he wasn’t judged to be out of commission.
“Ugh! Not yet… not yet! If you can’t use magic now, it’s my victory….”
“I can use magic?”
“Huh? Just now, you clearly said you couldn’t use magic…”
“Didn’t you come to our school last year for the Hero’s Festival and get beaten by the second-years?”
Vito’s face stiffened slightly as he recalled getting beaten up by the then first-year magic students for trying to flirt with Chloe.
“Why are you suddenly bringing that up…”
“Didn’t those guys use physical magic back then?”
Kyle ran at full speed towards Vito.
His whole body screamed with muscle pain, but if he couldn’t endure even this much muscle pain, he wouldn’t survive in Rumerin.
Vito shouted, looking at Kyle who was making a cool jump towards him.
“Why do all you mages rely on vulgar violence!”
“You try being in Rumerin. Do you think a mage can get by without using their body! Physical Magic! Magical Dropkick!”
Beok-!
When Kyle delivered the dropkick, which Chelsea often threw at him when bored, to Vito’s face, Vito was immediately judged out of commission and warped away.
“Over here! An explosion happened here!”
“Oops!”
Kyle donned his invisible cloak and lay flat on the ground.
“…Incredible. Such magic.”
“Is it just a rumor that Senior Kyle can’t use high-level magic?”
The freshmen passed by with serious expressions.
Once the rear students passed, Kyle pulled back his invisible cloak and stood up.
Then he took out a crossbow from his pocket and aimed at an undefended mage.
“Aha! Where’s the carelessness!”
“Eh?”
Kwak-!
“Ack?!”
“You should’ve watched your back!”
A magic department student, senselessly judged out of commission, was immediately warped away.
“Gasp! There he is!”
“He’s here!”
Pabat-!
Kyle immediately ran out.
A student of massive build blocked Kyle’s path.
The student, who appeared to be from the knight department, clenched his fist and swung it at Kyle.
Beo-eok-!
“Keok?!”
Kyle’s body flew high into the air.
Kyle, who had soared to the top of a tree, gritted his teeth.
‘This hurts like hell!’
The student who sent Kyle flying was Grants.
He was a martial arts-oriented knight department student who fought with his fists.
His academic rank was second in the knight department.
Kyle, who had flown high into the sky, fell back down according to the law of gravity.
At that moment.
He spotted a student sitting on the highest treetop in the vicinity, looking at him through a telescope.
‘Oh? Is she laughing at me?’
That female student was Millia Rolla, who had surpassed Grants, the knight department’s second-highest, who had just sent Kyle flying, to become the top student in the knight department.
‘Target of caution number 1.’
The successor to the great Southern trading company, the Rolla Merchant Guild, a student Kyle had marked as a person of interest, was watching Kyle with a twisted smile.
‘Hmph, these show-offs.’
Kyle clicked his tongue and crashed to the ground, reducing the impact using a breakfall.
And then began to run at full speed.
The faces of the freshmen, who had been watching Kyle with nervous expressions, instantly turned blank.
“If he used that much magic, he wouldn’t need to run, would he?”
“Why is he running?”
The first-years looked at each other.
“Could it be… that he’s out of magic power?”
At that thought, greed welled up in the eyes of the first-years.
If they succeeded in taking a key from Kyle, it would surely attract attention immediately.
The moment they thought that, the first-years began to chase Kyle like unbridled foals.
And…
Kwagagagangg-!
“It’s a trap!!”
“Kkuaaaak!”
They began to be toyed with by Kyle.
“Hahahaha! Easy! Easy!”
Kyle burst into laughter and began to roam through the forest.
***
“Idiots.”
Millia, looking down at her classmates from a high vantage point, snorted.
No matter if he couldn’t use magic, her classmates charging thoughtlessly at a hero were pathetic.
“By the way.”
Millia looked back towards Kyle through the telescope.
Seeing Kyle toying with the first-years with a relaxed demeanor, Millia’s lips twisted again.
A moment later, Millia took her eyes from the telescope and murmured, cupping her cheeks.
“Haa… Senior Kyle… he’s so cool…”
Her twisted lips had already widened into a goofy smile.
Millia, with a dazed expression, flinched and covered her mouth.
Taking a deep breath, Millia jumped down from the tree and began to chase Kyle.
Then she stopped abruptly at the spot where Kyle had defeated Vito.
She suddenly knelt on the ground and turned her head sharply, beginning to search for something.
A moment later, Millia found an empty potion bottle rolling on the ground and put it in her pocket.
“Wait for me, I’m coming to meet you now.”
And then she began to run in the direction Kyle had gone.