Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Chapter 664

"...But Yi-Han, there's a good point too."

Seeing Yi-Han so depressed, Gainando cautiously opened his mouth.

'Is there a good point?'

In the current situation, the only good point seemed to be that Yi-Han was being mistaken for a White Tiger Tower student...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"What is it?"

"They didn't find out you're the skull principal's prized disciple!"

"..."

The friends next to them were shocked by Gainando's words.

"Are you crazy?"

"Have you lost your mind??"

"Yi-Han. The prince Gainando must have meant well! You can't kill him!"

The friends quickly pulled Gainando away before Yi-Han could kill the prince.

To call that a good point!

***

Palga checked the condition of his sword stick.

This weapon, which became a sword when drawn from a staff, was preferred by White Tiger Tower students like Palga.

A weapon that could use both magic as a mage and swordsmanship as a knight.

Of course, an ordinary sword stick couldn't serve as a magic staff. To make this sword stick, Palga had to pour in all the rewards he received from the duel club, mission rewards, and even the pay he got for working at the .

It was truly a painful expense.

To the point where he had to beg his friends for reagents because he had none left for research.

But this sword stick was worth it. Palga stared at Lord Celese.

Today, Palga's opponent was Lord Celese.

'Stay calm.'

Palga tried to forget about Professor Boladi and the fact that Professor Boladi had a disciple.

He couldn't win if he had many distracting thoughts before the duel started.

'...But really, how did someone become Professor Boladi's disciple??'

But distracting thoughts kept creeping up.

He was really curious!

'Stay calm. Stay calm. Lord Celese is a swordsman who uses swift swordsmanship. The moment his boots twist sideways, he dives in to the left as if teleporting. It's a unique footwork, but if I know about it, I can block it. I'll block the left and immediately cast . Then I won't have to worry about defense...'

"Step forward."

The referee came out and called both of them.

Then he briefly explained the rules of the duel club.

They must absolutely not kill each other, the duel would end the moment someone was injured, and honorably...

But neither of them listened to the referee's explanation.

Before a duel starts, only the opponent is visible.

"Begin!"

The moment the handkerchief was thrown, the clash began.

Lord Celese unleashed a series of sharp and deadly sword techniques, and Palga gritted his teeth and blocked them before counterattacking.

The exchange hadn't even lasted a minute, but the number of times they had attacked each other instantly piled up to dozens.

"Ugh!"

"!"

And luck was on Palga's side.

Lord Celese was wounded on the arm and retreated.

'I won!'

"The winner is Palga of the Ukim family!"

Palga unconsciously clenched his fist.

That's how formidable an opponent Lord Celese had been.

The club's mages and alchemists who were on standby immediately rushed over to check their conditions and treat their wounds.

"Amazing, Senior!"

"We're impressed!"

Palga smiled at the voices of his juniors heard amidst the cheers from the spectator seats.

He was always happy to hear cheers after victory, but today was especially meaningful.

'I see. Is it because it's cheers from fellow Einroguard students!'

"Thank you all. I didn't know, but having juniors watch is quite pleasu..."

"Your reaction was slow after the start."

"..."

Professor Boladi coldly spoke to Palga as he was walking towards the spectator seats.

While Yi-Han wasn't particularly surprised, the other friends looked at the back of the professor's head with shocked gazes.

Does this person not have a heart?!

"Lord Celese has two types of footwork. You only grasped one of them. If he had used the other footwork, you would have lost."

"I-is that so?"

Even in his confusion, Palga was surprised.

He thought he had grasped all of Lord Celese's movements, but there was actually one more.

Certainly, while Professor Bagrak was Einroguard's crazy blood-sucking monster, his duel skills were real.

"You cast ."

"Yes. To block attacks and find an opening to strike first..."

"The casting was slow and the effect was weak."

Professor Boladi pointed out the Palga had cast.

Because the casting was slow and the effect was weak, the shock of the opponent's attack went straight through, causing his left arm to be paralyzed.

"Th-that's right."

"If you had been pierced, it would have been over."

"You're right."

Palga readily admitted to the professor's points. After that, Professor Boladi continued to point out the small mistakes Palga had made.

As they were all valid and correct points, Palga marveled anew.

'He's amazing!'

He had always just been afraid, but when talking in an open space where he could escape and many people were watching, Professor Boladi wasn't as scary as he thought.

Rather, his insight as an experienced and excellent duelist was evident.

Palga reflected.

Had he and his duel club friends been too afraid of Professor Boladi just because they had been terribly attacked for three days in an enclosed space?

In fact, Professor Boladi might be sociable enough to treat first-year students to meals.

"...Thank you, Professor."

"I'm not finished."

"Pardon?"

"The you cast at 18 seconds was a mistake."

"...Oh, b-but I was able to block the opponent's attack because of that."

"The opponent pretended his vision was blacked out and lured your attack. If you had fallen for it, you would have been hit."

"I-I see."

"And..."

Professor Boladi started pointing out mistakes one by one from Palga's head to his toes.

At first, Palga's face was satisfied with his victory and grateful for the points, but it turned red and then tears started welling up.

'I'm trash! I won by luck!'

"Sh-shouldn't we stop him?"

"What if he attacks us if we try to stop him?"

"Yi-Han, Yi-Han... Huh, where did Yi-Han go?"

The friends who were about to call Yi-Han realized that Yi-Han had disappeared at some point.

Surprisingly, Yi-Han had gone to the referee and was talking to him.

"Yes. Please start the next duel. Thank you."

Instead of stopping Professor Boladi, it was much more comfortable to just start the next duel.

***

Palga calmed down a bit after drinking the warm tea his juniors brought him.

"...Thank you all. I showed an unsightly display."

"N-no, Senior. Anyone would have cried."

'Except Yi-Han...'

The friends thought simultaneously but didn't say it out loud for Palga's sake.

Fortunately, Professor Boladi had gone down to the duel arena to prepare for his duel.

Palga sniffled, feeling relieved by that fact.

"...Did I look that amateurish?"

"No!"

"You were amazing!"

"I thought White Tiger Tower students were weak because they always get beaten up, but actually... mmph."

"Sigh. That's right. Well, everyone probably looks unsatisfactory in Professor Bagrak's eyes."

'Except Yi-Han...'

The friends thought simultaneously once again.

Palga, whose mind had somewhat returned, asked to resolve the question he had heard earlier.

"Wait. But why is Professor Bagrak participating in duels? Is he trying to practice here?"

"Well... you see..."

"The professor has a hobby of touring duel clubs."

Yonaire spoke on behalf of her friends, phrasing it most appropriately.

Come to think of it, it was a bit of a strange hobby, but Palga accepted it.

Given Professor Boladi's skills, it wasn't strange for him to have such a hobby.

"I suppose. It must be because of that hobby that he's so strong."

'He's touring for money though...'

"Wait. Then was that monster-like new member who came yesterday also the professor?!"

"Probably, don't you think?"

"Why does he fight so much?"

Palga didn't understand.

The reason for dueling was pure combat with an opponent of equal skill.

But given Professor Boladi's skills, it seemed difficult to have a pure fight with an equal opponent, and even more so, there seemed to be no reason to fight so much...

The juniors all closed their mouths at once.

"The winner is Boladi of the Bagrak family!"

Sure enough, Professor Boladi ended it in an instant. Palga became even more puzzled.

Why on earth?

"Gasp!"

"What's wrong, Senior?"

Dolgyu was curious when Palga was startled.

Professor Boladi was already there, how could this senior be even more surprised?

"It's Count Semten!"

"Who is Count Semten? I'm not from around here..."

"Family or territory isn't important in this duel club, junior! Skill is what matters. And as far as I know, Count Semten is the strongest in this club. He doesn't even usually show his face!"

Palga spoke with a heated voice.

In fact, Count Semten was Palga's ultimate goal.

Even if it was impossible this break, he wanted to hone his skills and strategies to defeat Count Semten before graduating.

Count Semten walked across the duel club with dignified movements and spoke to the referee.

Then he muttered something while pointing at Professor Boladi. However, the referee refused as if it was troublesome.

-Why?!-

-Count, your opponent for today has been set as that boy. Even if you're a count, you can't change the schedule that's already been set.-

-What nonsense! I want to face a strong opponent. Do you think that boy is a suitable opponent for me?-

-Count! It's because you came late. Don't be unreasonable!-

-I naturally thought I would be facing him. Why on earth should I face that boy? Surely that boy didn't apply...-

-That boy applied. Now please return to your seat!-

"...Uh..."

Palga felt something was off.

Count Semten's opponent seemed to be the White Tiger Tower junior Yi-Han.

Huh...?

'It must be a misunderstanding?'

The professor had personally decided, and unless the professor was crazy, he wouldn't have matched him against Count Semten.

"Senior. What kind of duelist is Count Semten?"

"Count Semten has a cutlass, ring, and cloak that absorb mana. They're family treasures, I hear."

Palga explained the count's fighting style.

The count was someone who actively used his family treasures to fight.

When he starts, he moves quickly and lightly around his opponent.

This was to absorb the mana in the space. In the case of mages, this blocked their magic.

If they tried to break out, he would block the offensive with his cutlass.

This directly absorbed the opponent's mana. As his defensive swordsmanship was excellent, if one couldn't break through immediately, the opponent would just wither away.

"That's why the count's nickname is vampire... Wait!!! Why is that guy down there?!"

When Yi-Han went down and stood in front of Count Semten, Palga was shocked.

He had thought it couldn't be, but was that junior really the count's duel opponent?

"Oh. So he is."

"I see Yi-Han's opponent was the count."

"Can I have one more sandwich?"

"Stop eating so much, Gainando. Don't say you won't eat dinner when we get back."

"N-no. I can digest it."

"..."

Palga was at a loss for words at the sight of the juniors casually chatting while their friend might get seriously hurt meeting a strong opponent.

These...

These trash!

'These first-years are all evil and vile bastards...!'

"Choi! As a fellow White Tiger Tower student..."

"It's fine, Senior. Haha."

"..."

'Even White Tiger Tower!'

Palga squeezed his eyes shut.

How had White Tiger Tower come to this!

Read up to chapter 814 for just 5$ or up to chapter 1144 for just 10$ on /al_squad 

[Select the $10/month plan or the Foundation Establishment tier to access the chapters]

Hi, if you like the story, please rate and review this novel on novelupdates. Thanks!