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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 70
Kwaaaang!
Watching Thompson collide head-on with the student without mercy, I thought,
'Mister... maybe you have a talent for acting, not magic?'
It was definitely a performance that would make you think that.
Everyone here, including myself, was fooled.
Even Asion Gale nodded as he watched the scene.
"A prepared mage must always be ready for variables. Thompson used his head well in this."
As expected of an 8th circle mage's assessment.
His perspective was different from the students around him who were shouting that it was cowardly.
It meant that not just anyone could be the dean.
"Moreover, to lure the opponent to the desired location and then attack with his body... The application is excellent, and his magic control is skillful."
He had noticed even the smallest details, and his face showed a hint of surprise.
Indeed, he probably didn't expect Thompson, who came from the streets, to be able to use magic to this extent.
But it was still too early to evaluate Thompson's skills.
His attack didn't end there.
Shuuuuu-
I turned my gaze forward again.
"Ugh...!"
The student was flying far away from the impact of the collision with Thompson.
'He reacted well, too.'
The moment they collided, he quickly used ice magic to withstand Thompson's body slam.
A quick response befitting an academy student.
But there was nothing he could do about being blown back from the huge impact, and that gave Thompson another chance to attack.
Ddd!
Thompson, his body covered in layers of rock magic, descended vertically.
Kooong!
He used his weight to land before the student.
"Huu."
He exhaled once and immediately placed his hand on the ground.
Then.
Dddddd!
Sharp stone thorns sprouted from the ground.
The location was exactly where the student was falling.
"Hmm...?"
Professor Ziren, who had been reading a book while glancing at the duel, got up from her seat.
The calmness she had maintained since the beginning of the duel was gone.
She must have realized it too.
That if this continued, the student wouldn't be able to avoid looking like a sponge full of holes.
It also meant that Thompson's magic was very threatening.
'Yes, well done.'
Is this what it feels like to watch your well-raised child? A deep sense of pride welled up inside me.
Of course, it wasn't just Thompson who had grown well.
"Where do you think you're going...!"
Swoosh!
The student, who still had some strength left, released cold air in mid-air, and a flat ice sheet formed over Thompson's stone thorns.
The student landed softly on the ice ground he had created.
Exclamations flowed from the students who witnessed it.
"Ooh..."
"As expected of Yuri."
"How dare you with such a weak spell!"
"But that homeless guy is pretty good too, huh?"
Professor Ziren sat down again and opened her book.
It seemed she judged that there was no more danger.
It was then that the student launched his attack.
"Die, outsider!"
Shwaaaack!
Dozens of icicles that appeared around the student flew towards Thompson.
[Icicle Volley].
This was also one of the standard skills of a frost mage, and the student still used magic cleanly.
One unfortunate thing was that he chose the wrong skill.
A magic spell that increased range instead of power like that had no effect on Thompson.
Pabababak!
Knowing this, Thompson didn't even try to dodge, standing still and taking all the flying icicles with his body.
And then he threw out a line.
"...That tickles."
-Winning strategy #2.
Break the opponent's spirit.
"Grrr...!"
Perhaps that strategy worked, because the student's expression became fiercely distorted.
Soon, the student abruptly drew up his mana.
He didn't charge at him like a warrior, though...
'He's already been caught.'
His mana was showing an unstable flow, unlike before.
"Oh dear, Yuri's magic has become unstable."
"He's still young. He's easily shaken by a little provocation."
"That's true. ...Hmm?"
The dean, who was nodding, looked at me with a strange expression.
To translate it literally, it would be something like, 'Are you any different?'
I didn't bother reacting and concentrated on the duel.
"...This time it will hurt a bit!"
The student shouted confidently as he increased his mana.
It seemed to be quite a powerful spell, as the mysterious book he was holding fluttered and turned over.
And a sharp ice spear was revealed.
That, also called [Ice Spear], was a magic spell familiar to us.
That was the magic that Roan mainly used.
However, it was different from Roan's ice spear.
In a bad way.
The mana contained in the spear, its sturdiness, sharpness, size, and everything else were inferior to Roan's ice spear.
As a result.
Kakakang!
Thompson, once again, didn't avoid the student's magic and took it head-on.
He struck it down with his right arm, thickly covered in rock magic.
Of course, it wouldn't be completely without impact, unlike the icicles from before.
Indeed, Thompson's right arm, which had taken the ice spear, was trembling slightly.
However.
"...How weak!"
Thompson said without changing his expression.
No, he even had a faint smile on his face.
This was also for winning strategy #2.
Break the opponent's spirit.
That strategy worked perfectly.
"H-how..."
The student, his spirit completely broken, flinched and stumbled back as if terrified.
His face was already pale.
It was at that moment that Thompson charged.
Ddddd!
"Woooh!"
Thompson, his arms crossed in an X, covered himself in rock magic and ran like a madman.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
A tremendous rush.
It was like watching a bull charging at a bullfighter.
"...Eek!"
The student, panicked, fired off ice magic indiscriminately.
Shwaack! Shwaack! Shwaaaack!
Unstable icicles flying endlessly.
Crack! Crackle!
They all crashed against Thompson's body, only to shatter into small fragments.
When the distance was halved, even that unstable magic was gone.
He was just trembling and terrified.
Was there really no way for him to stop Thompson's charge?
'No.'
He could have erected an ice wall, or layered slow effects on the opponent, or temporarily frozen the surroundings...
In fact, for a frost mage of that level, there were countless ways to stop Thompson's charge.
If only he had stayed calm.
He had already sensed his defeat, and because of that, he couldn't make the right choices, and his magic couldn't demonstrate its power.
That was the student's biggest mistake.
'Even if he lost, he shouldn't have given up until the end.'
When only about ten steps remained between Thompson and the student.
Whoosh!
A crimson pillar of fire soared between Thompson and the student.
A pillar of fire much larger, more beautiful, and more powerful than the ones Kayla or I cast.
Chwaaaack!
Thompson stretched out his legs as if to stop suddenly, slowing down, and the student collapsed as if his legs had lost their strength.
Tap, tap.
A middle-aged woman with an indifferent face stepped between them.
The 7th circle mage, Professor Ziren.
"Hmm, it seems the match is decided."
She abruptly approached Thompson and grabbed his right hand, raising it.
"Thompson is the winner."
"..."
Those words were followed by a brief silence.
Clap clap clap clap—!
The silence quickly turned into applause.
"That homeless guy! He's pretty good!"
"He didn't participate in the duel for nothing."
"I heard he gets to enroll if he wins here... So does that mean that guy becomes our classmate now?"
"He's definitely skilled enough."
Oh, and when did they stop badmouthing him so enthusiastically?
That thought crossed my mind, but the dean quelled it.
"Didn't I say? Our academy is merit-based."
He said with a sly smile.
I didn't like that smile, but...
"...You're right."
I couldn't help but agree.
***
"Haa, haa..."
After the duel, I headed straight to the waiting room and found Thompson there, gasping for breath.
It seemed like it had been quite a tough fight, as his whole body was drenched in sweat.
"Here."
I handed him a dry towel.
"Good work, mister."
"Ah, Mr. First Place."
"How was it? Actually experiencing the duel."
Thompson wiped his face with the towel and said,
"Well, it wasn't much, really. I was nervous because he was an academy student."
To be precise, it wasn't that the student was lacking, but rather that Thompson was outstanding.
Especially in terms of experience.
No matter how much of an academy student he was, he was just a child in front of Thompson, who had gone through all sorts of hardships.
"But why are you sweating so much? Are you sure it wasn't much?"
"Hmm?"
Thompson narrowed his eyes at my question.
He had an expression that clearly showed discontent.
"Are you really asking because you don't know why?"
"...Yes. Why are you like this?"
"This is all because Mr. First Place pushed me so hard! Even walking a little now feels like my lungs are going to burst!"
"Ah."
Come to think of it, I had forgotten that Thompson was extremely exhausted.
Well, it was fine as long as he won.
As I was thinking that,
"But Mr. First Place. By any chance..."
Thompson asked with a serious look on his face.
"What about enrolling in that academy...?"
After all that talk, it was about enrolling.
"The dean said he would allow it."
"R-really?"
"Yes, you won. You proved your skills sufficiently."
"Oh, oh my...!"
Thompson jumped up from his seat and stretched out his hands towards the ceiling.
Was this his own personal celebration?
He seemed quite emotional.
"Heh, wow... This is happening! You never know what life will bring, do you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Who would have thought that at this age, I'd be attending an academy? And Asion Academy, no less!"
"Hmm."
Come to think of it, it was quite amazing.
A third-rate mage who learned magic for over a decade and barely reached the 3rd circle.
And now he had mastered light magic and even passed the Asion Academy entrance exam.
How often did this happen?
Moreover.
"The dean asked me to ask you something."
"T-the dean? What is it?"
"He asked if you'd be interested in learning body transformation magic from him. Something about liking the way you handle magic..."
[TL/N: Flesh Transformation magic→Body Transformation magic]
"Wha-what?!"
He even had the chance to learn magic from the dean.
I didn't know for sure, but I wondered if this was what a late bloomer's life was like.
Well, all of this was possible because of Thompson's efforts.
"Would you like to learn it?"
"Of course! I have to!"
Thompson nodded repeatedly as if there was nothing to think about.
"Then I'll let him know."
"Whoa... Body transformation magic. Body transformation magic! Hahaha!"
Was it really that great?
As I was feeling happy for him,
Waaaa—!
A loud cheer came from outside the waiting room.
It seemed Kayla's duel had begun...
"Why is it so loud...?"
The atmosphere was completely different from when Thompson's duel started.
"I know, right? Did a popular student come to fight against the young lady?"
Thompson also found it strange.
With our curiosity piqued, we peeked our heads out of the waiting room.
And.
"That's..."
We spotted a familiar figure standing opposite Kayla.
Bright golden hair and sky blue eyes.
A luxurious robe that suited him.
The atmosphere felt a bit different, but I was sure.
The top student of Asion Academy.
"Roan?"
It was Roan.
He was Kayla's opponent in the duel.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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