I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

35.

It’s something I heard somewhere.

It was said that doing your best in the given trial and giving it your all isn’t limited to grades.

In other words, it applies to first-year students as well.

Like the seven stars of the Big Dipper shining in their positions in the night sky.

If not all of them shine at the same time, it’s meaningless.

The seniors will all shine brightly, so those following them must shine too.

1st Year Magic Department Classroom.

With a firm determination in her heart, there was a girl sitting in the classroom chair, watching everything.

In front of the girl, a duel was in full swing.

“Take this, [Low-level Fire Element Magic: Fireball]!”

“No way! [Low-level Water Element Magic: Water Create]!”

In an instant, the soaring fireball was engulfed by a bead made of water.

The student on the platform gritted their teeth and counterattacked.

“[Low-level Lightning Element Magic: Sermon Lightning]!”

“Ha! [Low-level Earth Element Magic: Ground Rock]!”

A bolt of lightning shot above the bead, blocked by a rock rising from the ground.

A showdown where the attention of the entire 1st Year Magic Department was focused.

The two students standing on the platform exchanged compliments with smiles intact.

“Not bad, over there!”

“Ha, you’re the one who truly fits to be my opponent! Come on, let’s finish this!”

Low-level magics were flying around.

But no matter how low-level they were, this was Salenium.

Even as 1st years, their skills were nothing to be underestimated in the eyes of others.

Each student’s abilities were at a level that should never be belittled.

However.

“Hah, this isn’t even amusing. What on earth is that? Are they treating magic like child’s play?”

“Nero.”

“But, sis, you also think the same way, don’t you?”

Upon receiving the telepathic message from the spirit, Millige had no choice but to nod along.

Magic is about ‘affinity’.

It’s a well-known fact even a child understands, like fire being weak against water and lightning being weak against earth.

However, they were intentionally using magic that countered each other’s attributes, and in doing so, eventually…

“It’ll just end up being a contest of who has more magical power, won’t it?”

“…True.”

Knowing that the spirit had a better understanding of magical power and magic, Millige nodded.

“Next is your turn, sis. What will you do?”

“Spirits can’t be used in battle.”

“That damn Repelheight told me to keep my existence a secret, so…”

“Instead.”

Nero looked at Millige clenching her fist and staring at the platform.

“I can share the spirit’s magical power with you. It’s the spirit’s specialty.”

“If I use my power, I might erode your magical power.”

“There’s no way that will happen.”

At Nero’s reassuring smile, the cat turned its head as if annoyed.

For the past few days, Millige had thought she had become quite close with this dark spirit.

Initially cautious, the spirit, who had realized that “I can never win,” began to listen obediently.

“Heh, trying to drain my sister’s magic won’t get you anything. No, that would really get you killed by Repelheight.”

“That’s the deal. Besides, I never engage in such games.”

I see.

Such games are the epitome of inefficiency.

Everything should be like real combat.

I wonder what Senior Adrian would say if he saw.

Back then, the magic Senior showed in the western forest was no child’s play.

“The winner is decided! Now, next is Milige Haleo student. Please step forward!”

“Watch from there, Nero.”

The brown-haired girl gazed at the stage with unwavering eyes.

“I’ll finish it in one go and come back.”

With confident steps, Milige approached, drew a piece of paper.

Addressing her opponent, standing on the elevated platform, Milige looked at the student across from her.

“I was greatly inspired by the previous battle. Let’s have a beautiful and fair match!”

The unnamed male student waved his wand and said so.

Milige stared at him with an expressionless face.

A beautiful match?

Who do you think you are?

Don’t block my way.

“I’m coming through.”

And at that moment, the match began.

“[Low-level Fire Element Magic: Fireball], [Low-level Water Element Magic: Water Create], [Low-level Lightning Element Magic: Seamon Lightning], [Low-level Earth Element Magic: Ground Rock], [Low-level Wind Element Magic: Wind Blade].”

Behind her, five magic circles emerged all at once.

An ordinary person using magic in this way would experience a backlash and faint immediately.

But with her connection to Nero, Milige’s magic power had increased dramatically.

Thus, despite simultaneously using multiple spells, Milige looked at her opponent with unwavering eyes.

“What, what is that!”

Someone exclaimed in astonishment.

“Is, is that possible? Isn’t it dangerous?”

Someone worried.

“Eek!”

Someone foresaw what would happen to them and screamed.

Among them all.

Only one person is different.

‘Senior.’

The five elemental magics rushed towards the male student in front of her.

‘I will definitely move forward.’

Kwagwagwagwag!

“aaah!”

The booming loud explosion, and screams.

Milleje’s beige hair fluttering in the aftermath.

“So, please wait.”

The girl’s advance continues……

* * *

“Huh? What’s wrong? Adrian?”

“No, just got goosebumps all over my body.”

“Is that so? Something must be up.”

Opposite.

Seeing Reyna smiling with a wand, I let out a deep sigh.

How did it come to this?

“Reyna, even now……”

“I’m looking forward to it. What kind of ace in the hole does Adrian have to beat me?”

Her eyes sparkled uncomfortably.

Hmm.

If I say that, I can’t just raise my hands and give up, can I?

Actually, I have no intention of doing so.

As long as the opponent is the opponent, I am fully determined to win.

“Even though you’re my fiancé, I won’t go easy. I’ll give it my all.”

“Even better. Come in, Adrian.”

“Well…… then, get ready in your positions……”

With Melwood’s tired voice, Reyna raised her wand.

I held the branch of the spirit tree, which I always carry, in my left hand instead of my right.

“Adrian, it’s our first magic battle! I’ll go all out from the start too!”

Reyna’s power.

Her elemental affinity is nothing but lightning and fire.

The lightning element significantly increases critical damage when the magic hits.

Furthermore, the fire element increases the base damage.

In other words, Reyna’s magic, though simple, is a crazy blade with additional base and critical damage.

“One hit and you’re done.”

It’s the attack of the Magic Department’s top student.

But if there’s no way out, I won’t be a pushover.

“Begin.”

Who am I.

A body that will eventually become a stepping stone.

To leave behind the recognition that ‘that reckless Adrian was actually a remarkable skillful person.’

Today’s duel will be the cornerstone for that time.

So.

Shall we give it a try here.

If you can’t avoid it, just enjoy it.

“I’ll go right away! 【Intermediate Lightning Element Magic: Lightning Arrow……】Huh?”

“What’s going on, Reyna von Wolfang.”

“The magic isn’t manifesting? No, 【Intermediate Lightning Element Magic: Lightning Arrow……】Huh, huh?”

She looked at her wand in great confusion.

Watching her, I conjured a ‘Sphere of Blue Wind’ above my hand.

─What’s happening right now?

Murmurs of students around.

Ignoring those voices, I spoke up.

“【Low-Level Wind Element Magic: Wind Blade】.”

Hair swaying, uniform fluttering.

Though it’s low-level, it’s a low-level magic that has reached its highest level.

It shouldn’t be completely dismissible.

“It seems the magic isn’t working, Reyna.”

“…….”

“Are you just going to take it quietly? Or will you find another way.”

No time for a response.

I clenched the sphere and burst it, creating dozens of wind blades to hurl at him.

“Ah, Adrian?!”

This is quite a simple trick.

The process of magic manifestation is broadly divided into three stages.

Decide which magic to use.

Design the spell.

Infuse it with magical power to manifest.

The ‘Invocation’ is the stage where ‘spell design and magical power infusion’ happen together.

So, here, the ‘Invocation’ stage.

Therefore, if I forcibly twist my magical power between the ‘spell design and magical power infusion,’ what will happen.

Naturally.

“【Intermediate Wind Magic: Wind’s Pr……】Huh? Huh……?”

“It turns out like this.”

In that brief moment, I flicked my finger, redirecting all the rushing wind blades from all directions to avoid touching Reyna directly.

To summarize.

In the ‘Lightning Arrow’ spell, ‘Lightning’ forms the spell design, and ‘Arrow’ part receives the magical power infusion.

So, when Reyna was about to say ‘Arrow,’ she unknowingly shot a handful of magical power from the wand in her left hand to disrupt it.

In a duel where magical powers clash, disrupting one’s invocation with just a handful of magical power would never have crossed her mind.

No matter how weak the attack, once it lands properly, it’s a clean hit.

Similarly, ‘Wind’s Protection’ also disrupted at the ‘Protection’ part by shooting magical power.

How did I distinguish between spell design and magical power infusion?

Naturally, based on the original information.

Reyna had a trait of taking a breath before infusing magical power in the next spell.

This technique is also a ‘Magical Pairing,’ often used by Ernan, a character from the original Magic Department.

“What have you done? Why on earth did this happen?!”

“It’s a trade secret.”

I see.

But if you don’t get the judgment right, the magic could explode or flow back in reverse, leading to a catastrophic ending.

After repeating it thousands of times, I got the hang of it.

Rayna would cast a spell, and I would interfere.

After several similar exchanges, Rayna finally spoke up.

“Oh… using such tactics. I see the method now. Quite clever. It won’t work on me anymore.”

“Indeed, will it not?”

“Yes, overcoming trials is the key, so let’s continue!”

With every barrage of magic, I would counter or attack in reverse.

Each time, wayward magic would explode, mana would scatter, screams would fill the air, and the classroom enclosed in a barrier would tremble.

Even Professor Walnut, who usually never looked up from his book, seemed taken aback.

“It seems it’s not working anymore.”

Magical pairing.

Once Rayna grasped the principle, she completely changed the design of the spell and mana infusion, not giving me any openings.

She would discover flaws, improve, and advance as soon as I found a loophole.

Undoubtedly, she was an incredible genius.

However…

Just because she “concealed” it doesn’t mean I can’t do it.

I just need to find a momentary gap in her spell design and mana infusion to interfere with mana.

Of course, the difficulty level at this point skyrocketed.

Unless you meld minds with someone else, reading their thought process perfectly and finding openings is no easy task.

If I fail, I go down.

The chances of success are slim.

It’s a gamble close to self-destruction.

So…

“Rayna.”

“Yes, Adrian.”

“I like you.”

“Wh-what?!”

Magic begins to swirl.

Now is the time.

As I ‘manifest magic,’ I continue the conversation simultaneously.

“It’s not common to find someone who can compete with me in magic.”

“Oh, um, what? [Intermediate Fire Element…].”

There it was, the opening.

Firing mana with my left hand.

This time, unleashing a synergistic magic of Fireball and Wind Blade with full force from my right hand.

The target, of course, is Rayna.

“Adrian, wait a moment! Just a moment!”

I’m sorry, but victory must be taken.

Kwaaang!

A huge explosion erupted.

In the now silent classroom, only the students’ murmurs could be heard.

– What is this…?

– Is that the Adrian I knew?

– Adrian… defeated Reyna von Wolfgang in a magic duel?

– And he won overwhelmingly.

I stood still, gazing into the smoke on the other side.

“Insane! This is too much! Suddenly saying such things! If you do this, you can only lose, you know! Please hang out with me for a day instead!”

A voice full of petulance came from the thick smoke.

For some reason, I started to chuckle.

Well.

Of course, I’ll do that much.