Book 1 Chapter 916

916.

Lumen Academy's first-year Combat Studies class.

Today was the day for one-on-one mock duels between first-year students.

On the dueling grounds, Vito Inteum, the top-ranked student in the Magic Department's first year, and Jerev Tailum, ranked tenth in the Magic Department, were engaged in a duel.

Waves were surging around Vito.

Vito, who primarily used the water element, was a mage with solid defensive capabilities.

Jerev, who manipulated the wind element, moved quickly around Vito.

Jerev's incredible speed was confusing Vito's vision.

'A wind-element Battle Mage.'

The most famous wind-element Battle Mage at Lumen was Celsia, a third-year student.

Of course, even mages of the same element and style had completely different combat methods.

Celsia was famous for her speed throughout Lumen, but she wasn't the type to pressure opponents with speed in combat.

She preferred to gain an advantage in close combat based on high-speed incantations and excellent close-quarters combat skills, then subdue her opponents.

Based on those strengths, she could halt the charge of Celia, Duran, and Chen Xia, who were known as the "Monster Trio" of the Knight Department in the same grade.

But unlike Celsia, Jerev preferred a combat style that confused the opponent's eyes with pure speed and then created an opening to deliver a fatal blow.

And he adapted his tactics based on the opponent's class.

Defensive when facing knights.

Offensive when facing mages or summoners.

Celsia was abnormal; the combat of a typical Battle Mage was similar to Jerev's.

'But even so, he's different from ordinary Battle Mages.'

Unlike Battle Mages who defended the front lines and assisted allies, Jerev focused on subduing his opponent.

That's why he was more troublesome.

'In fact… Jerev is actually the number one in one-on-one combat among first-year Magic Department students!'

Vito broke out in a cold sweat from Jerev's attack, which had sliced through his back with wind magic.

He had managed to block the attack with "Aqua Armor," a water-element protective magic, but he couldn't even perceive the attack coming.

'If I'm cornered like this, I'll just end up depleting my mana defending.'

Recalling the flow of his previous battles with Jerev, Vito raised his mana.

Woong-!

The surging waves began to react to his mana.

Vito's waves, now more ferocious, spread out in all directions.

"I wasn't just playing around during the summer break! I've thought about your countermeasures! Jerev!"

Jerev flinched at Vito's magical attack.

Then, his face hardened, and he lowered his stance.

Kwak-!

Jerev shot forward like a wind arrow, piercing through the waves that were crashing like a tsunami.

"……!"

Vito, startled, poured mana into his Aqua Armor.

Kwak-!

But Jerev's staff tip was faster, tearing through the Aqua Armor and touching Vito's neck.

Albiss, the professor in charge of Combat Studies, who had been watching, spoke.

"Vito Inteum, win."

"Huh?! Isn't this Jerev's victory?"

A student from the Knight Department asked in bewilderment.

Albiss replied calmly,

"While piercing through the waves, Jerev Tailum's arm was broken. His magic also dissipated before it reached your neck. Jerev Tailum no longer has the ability to continue the combat."

Jerev nodded at Albiss's cold words.

"Yes, it's as Professor Albiss said. Vito, you won."

Jerev smiled and congratulated Vito on his victory.

"…Thank you."

Vito's expression wasn't very pleasant.

"Return to your seats," Albiss said as he recorded the results, and the two returned to their respective spots.

"Albiss! You finally beat Jerev!"

"That Jerev guy! He's only specialized in one-on-one duels! Now you're definitely the number one in the Magic Department!"

"……."

The first-year Magic Department students who usually associated with Vito praised him.

Milia, watching this, muttered,

"Can this duel really be called a victory for Vito?"

The Magic Department students bristled at the words of Milia, the top student in the Knight Department.

"What was that?"

"Why are you picking a fight?"

"Are you taking Jerev's side just because he's also a commoner?"

Regardless of their departments, Milia took good care of her fellow commoner students and kept the noble students who looked down on commoners in check.

As a result, many students of noble birth held strong resentment towards Milia.

However, Milia remained unfazed by their reactions.

"In a real fight, would Vito have really won?"

"What?"

"In a real fight, Jerev would have definitely brought his real combat staff."

"……."

As stated, Jerev uses a staff with a spike-like tip specialized for thrusting.

For the duel, it was replaced with a wooden staff.

Even with a broken arm and depleted mana, in the situation that just occurred, Jerev could have ended Vito's life in a real fight.

Vito knew this fact too, which is why his expression was not good.

"I still have a long way to go," Vito muttered with a resentful expression.

He was the undisputed top student in the first-year Magic Department.

In one-on-one duels, he was always second to Jerev, but in other areas, he vastly surpassed Jerev as a mage.

Considering that a mage's primary role on the battlefield is not one-on-one combat, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that there was no student among the first-year Magic Department students who surpassed Vito.

Despite this, Vito was concerned about his one-on-one duels with Jerev to become absolutely number one.

It was at this moment that Milia was gazing at Vito.

"Milia Rola of the Knight Department. And…"

After calling Milia's name, Albiss glanced at a female student in the Summoning Department, who was filing her nails.

"Perena Hergin."

"Whoa! A big match!"

"Perena had the upper hand in the first semester, but what about the second semester?"

The students' eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Milia, who had brought a powerful large bow and a short bow with relatively weaker power but good rate of fire, strapped her quiver to her waist and glanced at Perena.

'Perena, Elissa-senpai's sister.'

And the undisputed first-year representative.

Since taking the freshman representative position upon enrollment, Perena had never yielded the first-year representative position to Milia or Vito.

While one could say she was still only a first-year, in Milia's view, the difference was overwhelming.

'How much has she caught up?'

As she thought this, Milia bit her lip slightly at the shadow of someone visible behind Perena.

'Elissa-senpai.'

The sister of Elissa, who is dating Cal, the senior Milia admired, respected, and liked.

Of course, there was nothing special between Cal and Milia.

To Cal, Milia was just a junior from another department.

They had become quite close through their shared Merchant Club activities, but that was about it.

It was merely a relationship of close seniors and juniors, so cheering for Cal's relationship was the right thing to do.

However, for an adolescent girl, the feelings of first love were not that simple.

It was difficult to watch with the sole wish that everything would go well.

'It's not as bad as Juen-senpai.'

Milia recalled Juen, whom she had accidentally seen that day.

Juen, who had cried profusely in the party hall after the dance party ended, with everyone gone.

She had even missed classes for about a week.

'…….'

Milia looked at Perena.

While looking at her, she wanted to avoid thinking about Cal and Elissa, but it wasn't easy.

Even though she had come up to the dueling grounds, Perena hadn't stopped filing her nails.

An action she hadn't done in the first semester.

Milia could easily tell who Perena was imitating.

"Ow!"

As Perena walked and filed her nails, she pricked her finger and let out a small cry.

Seeing this, Milia said,

"Elissa-senpai doesn't file her nails while walking."

At those words, Perena glared at Milia, her eyes sharp.

Milia met Perena's gaze with a blank expression.

Perena scoffed, pulled out her whip, and arrogantly tilted her chin.

This was also an action imitating Elissa.

"It doesn't suit you at all."

That was the truth.

Elissa had an intimidating aura and elegance even when she looked down on others.

But Perena just looked cute.

"Why are you like this from before?"

Perena's expression turned slightly indignant.

She was upset because Milia kept finding fault with her, even though she was just imitating her respected elder sister.

Milia silently picked up her short bow, looking at Perena.

And took out an arrow, nocking it.

Even so, Perena maintained a confident expression and relaxed her grip on the whip.

She underestimated Milia with the confidence of having superior skill.

Of course, it was true that Perena had the upper hand in skill.

"Aren't you underestimating me too much?"

"Hmph."

To Milia's question, Perena smiled condescendingly, imitating Elissa.

It was an ill-fitting smile.

Some students even snickered at Perena's behavior.

But Milia felt offended.

Albiss, who had been observing the situation, spoke.

"Begin."

At those words, Milia drew her bowstring.

Kkriik! Paak-!

An arrow flew swiftly, aiming for Perena's head.

Hwiik! Paak-!

Perena swung her whip, blocking Milia's arrow.

Annoyance flickered across Perena's face.

"What are you? Are you picking a fight right now?"

It's more efficient to aim for the body, which has a larger surface area, rather than the head.

Despite this, Milia aimed for the head.

"Be serious. Stop imitating Elissa-senpai, which doesn't suit you."

Feeling her anger rising at Milia's words, Perena reached out her hand.

Woong-!

A summoning circle activated at the fingertips of both of Perena's hands.

Hwaryureuk! Pajijijik-!

Long whips appeared in both of Perena's hands.

Flames blazed, and lightning crackled.

Shaaaaaa-!

At that moment, the whips hissed menacingly like snakes.

What Perena summoned was a mystical beast.

A mid-level mystical beast, the Flame Snake, with a burning body, and a high-level mystical beast, the Golden Gorgon, that emitted lightning.

Both were snake-shaped mystical beasts.

Perena swung the Flame Snake held in her left hand.

Hwaryureuk-!

The Flame Snake, flying like a whip, aimed for Milia's neck.

Paaat-!

Milia quickly widened the distance.

But at that moment, the Flame Snake's body stretched.

She had grown her mystical beast's body using a mystical beast technique.

Milia held the tip of her short bow and released the bowstring.

Paeng-!

As the bowstring was released, the bent bow straightened out.

The recoil struck the Flame Snake.

Peok-!

Kyaaaaaaah!

The Flame Snake let out a frustrated shriek.

Milia widened the distance further and took out a large longbow from her quiver, drawing the string.

Kkiriiriririik-!

The longbow let out an unusual cry.

Tremendous force concentrated on the tip of the arrow attached to the bowstring.

Piing-!

In an instant, an aura-laden arrow split the space at unseen speed.

The Golden Gorgon held in Perena's right hand quickly snapped at the incoming arrow.

Of course, it was insufficient to block the power contained within the arrow.

However, it was enough to slightly reduce the arrow's speed and force, allowing Perena to narrowly dodge the arrow in that gap.

There was only one reason Perena narrowly dodged the attack.

It was to deny Milia time.

Perena immediately closed the distance and launched a counterattack.

Milia placed her short bow on the ground and bent it to quickly string her bow.

But Perena's rush was faster.

Hwaak-!

The Golden Gorgon wrapped around Milia's body.

Pajijijijik-!

"……!"

As it emitted intense lightning, Milia's body was electrocuted.

"Hmph."

"……!"

As it emitted intense lightning, Milia's body was electrocuted and she collapsed.

"Perena Hergin, win."

"Hmph."

At Albiss's declaration, Perena scoffed and recalled the Golden Gorgon.

"Milia Rola. You fought with excessive emotion. It was uncharacteristic of you."

Milia bowed her head deeply at Albiss's remark.

"I apologize."

"Return to your seats."

The first-year students looked disappointed by the surprisingly anticlimactic duel.

As they returned to their seats, a crowd of Summoning Department students swarmed around Perena.

"Perena! That was amazing!"

"You've secured the grade representative position in the second semester too!"

As the first-years praised her, Perena showed a smug expression.

"Heh."

Milia muttered at Perena's smile, which resembled Elissa's.

"It really doesn't suit you."

"What are you? Why are you picking on me from before!"

Perena's eyes widened, and she lunged at Milia.

"With whose permission are you causing a disturbance?"

"Ugh!"

"Milia Rola. You have been provoking Perena Hergin excessively since a while ago."

"……."

"Perena Hergin. You, too, refrain from excessively looking down on your fellow students."

"B-but I was just imitating my sister…"

As Perena protested, Albiss said coldly,

"Eliza Hergin did not look down on her fellow students the way you do."

"Ugh!"

"And it doesn't suit you."

At Albiss's pointed remark, Perena's shoulders drooped.

"As punishment for causing a disturbance during class, both of you will clean the restrooms after school and submit a letter of reflection by tomorrow."

"Yes."

"……Yes."

Milia replied calmly, while Perena replied, glaring at Milia.