Editor : Amethyst00



Lumene First-Year Combat Studies Class

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

Atop the dueling platform stood Veto Inteum, ranked first in the first-year Magic Department, and Zerev Tailum, ranked tenth.

Waves rippled around Veto.

Specializing in water magic, Veto was a magician known for his solid defense.

Circling him swiftly was Zerev, who wielded wind magic.

Zerev moved at an incredible speed, disrupting Veto's line of sight.

'A wind-element battle mage.'

The most famous wind-element battle mage at Lumene was Chelsea, a third-year student.

Of course, even if two magicians share the same element and combat style, their fighting methods can be entirely different.

Chelsea was famous for her speed across the entire academy, but she wasn't the type to pressure her opponent with speed alone.

Her preferred fighting method involved dominating close-quarters combat through high-speed spellcasting and excellent melee prowess before overwhelming her opponent.

It was thanks to these strengths that she could hold off the fierce charges of the third-year Knight Department's monstrous trio: Celia, Duran, and Chen Xia.

On the contrary, Zerev preferred to disrupt his opponent's focus with sheer speed and then strike a fatal blow in a single moment.

He would also adjust his tactics depending on the opponent's class.

Defensively against knights.

Aggressively against mages or summoners.

Chelsea was the outlier—Zerev's approach was closer to a typical battle mage.

'But even so, he's different from the usual battle mage.'

Unlike most battle mages who defend the frontlines and assist nearby allies, Zerev focused purely on defeating the opponent.

That made him all the more difficult to deal with.

'In fact… in one-on-one combat among first-year mages, Zerev is number one!'

Veto broke into a cold sweat as Zerev's wind magic slashed behind him.

He managed to block it with the water-protection spell Aqua Armor, but he hadn't even seen the attack coming.

'If this keeps up, I'll just drain my mana trying to defend again.'

Recalling his past bouts with Zerev, Veto began to draw out more mana.

Wuuuung—!

The rippling waves responded to his power.

The waves around him surged with even greater force, radiating outward.

"I didn't just play around during summer break! I thought of countermeasures against you, Zerev!"

Zerev flinched at the force of Veto's spell.

Then, with a hardened expression, he lowered his stance.

Crash—!

Like an arrow of wind, Zerev shot forth, piercing through the incoming tidal wave.

"……!"

Shocked, Veto funneled mana into his Aqua Armor.

Smack—!

But Zerev's staff tip tore through the armor and reached Veto's neck first.

Watching from the sidelines, Combat Studies professor Albi spoke up.

"Veto Inteum, victory."

"What?! Isn't this Zerev's win?"

A confused student from the Knight Department asked aloud.

Albi responded indifferently.

"Zerev Tailum's arm broke while piercing the wave. His magic dissipated before reaching the neck. He no longer has the capacity to continue fighting."

Zerev nodded at Albi's cool judgment.

"Yes, Professor Albi is right. Veto, you win."

Zerev smiled and congratulated Veto.

"…Thanks."

But Veto's expression was far from triumphant.

"Return to your seats."

As Albi recorded the result, the two headed back to their places.

"Albi! You finally beat Zerev!"

"Zerev's only good at one-on-one duels anyway! You're definitely the top of the Magic Department now!"

"……"

Several first-year mages who usually hung around Veto praised him.

Watching the scene, Mylia muttered quietly.

"Can we really say Veto won that duel?"

At those words from Mylia, the top student in the Knight Department, the mage students bristled.

"What's your problem?"

"Looking to pick a fight?"

"Taking Zerev's side just 'cause you're both commoners?"

Mylia, regardless of department, looked out for fellow commoners and often challenged nobles who looked down on them.

This made many noble students resent her.

Yet Mylia remained unbothered.

"If it had been real combat, would Veto have really won?"

"What?"

"If it had been real, Zerev would've brought his actual combat staff."

"……"

Indeed, Zerev normally used a spike-like staff specialized for thrusts.

Because this was a mock duel, it had been substituted with a wooden one.

Even if his arm was broken and mana depleted, in a real fight, Zerev could have ended Veto.

Veto understood that too—hence his sour expression.

"I still have a long way to go."

Veto muttered bitterly.

He was the undeniable top student in the Magic Department.

Though he trailed Zerev in one-on-one duels, he vastly outperformed him in all other areas.

Considering a mage's role on the battlefield isn't centered on duels, there wasn't a first-year who surpassed Veto overall.

Even so, Veto focused on beating Zerev in duels to become the perfect number one.

Mylia was staring quietly at Veto when—

"Mylia Rola of the Knight Department. And…"

Albi called out to Mylia, then glanced toward a girl from the Summoning Department who was filing her nails.

"Freyna Hergin."

"Gasp! A big match!"

"Freyna had the upper hand in the first semester—how will things go in the second?"

Excited chatter spread as students eagerly watched.

Mylia strapped on a quiver at her waist, carrying both a large bow with high power and a shortbow with rapid fire, and glanced at Freyna.

'Freyna, younger sister of Eliza-sunbae.'

And the unchallenged top representative of the first-years.

Since claiming that spot during entrance, Freyna had never relinquished it to either Mylia or Veto.

You could argue it was still early in their first year, but to Mylia, the gap felt overwhelming.

'How much closer have I gotten?'

As she thought that, Mylia's gaze lingered on a shadow behind Freyna.

'Eliza-sunbae.'

The sister of the girl dating Carl—the upperclassman Mylia admired, respected, and liked.

Of course, there was nothing special between Carl and Mylia.

To him, she was just another underclassman from a different department.

They had grown close through their shared merchant club activities, but that was all.

A friendly senior-junior relationship. Supporting his relationship was the right thing.

But for a girl going through her first love, it wasn't so simple.

It wasn't easy to just cheer them on with a smile.

'Not as bad as what happened to Juen-sunbae, though.'

She recalled Juen weeping in the empty ballroom after the dance party, having skipped class for nearly a week afterward.

"……"

Mylia looked at Freyna.

She didn't want to associate her with Carl and Eliza, but it was hard not to.

Even after stepping into the arena, Freyna kept filing her nails.

Something she hadn't done in the first semester.

Mylia immediately knew who she was mimicking.

"Ow!"

Freyna let out a small yelp, having nicked her finger while walking and filing.

Watching that, Mylia spoke.

"Eliza-sunbae doesn't file her nails while walking."

At those words, Freyna glared daggers at her.

Mylia stared back, expressionless.

Freyna scoffed, pulled out a whip, and raised her chin haughtily—another Eliza imitation.

"That doesn't suit you at all."

It was true.

Eliza's condescending gaze came with both dignity and intimidation.

Freyna just looked cute trying to copy her.

"What's your problem?"

Freyna snapped.

She was offended—she was only trying to imitate her respected sister, and Mylia kept mocking her.

Mylia responded by silently drawing her shortbow and notching an arrow.

Yet Freyna stood there with a smug expression, whip in hand, clearly underestimating Mylia.

She had the skill to justify that confidence.

"Aren't you underestimating me a bit too much?"

"Hmph."

Freyna responded with a smirk, mimicking Eliza again—but it didn't suit her.

Some students even snickered at the poor imitation.

Still, Mylia was clearly annoyed.

Albi, watching the tension, announced:

"Begin."

Mylia immediately drew her bow.

Creek! Whap—!

The arrow flew straight for Freyna's head.

Whoosh! Smack—!

Freyna whipped it aside.

A scowl appeared on her face.

"What's your problem? Trying to provoke me?"

It's more efficient to aim for the body than the head due to surface area.

Yet Mylia had aimed for the head.

"Be serious. And stop poorly imitating Eliza-sunbae."

Infuriated, Freyna extended her hands.

Wuuuung—!

Summoning circles lit up at her fingertips.

Fwoosh! Crackle—!

Long whips formed in her hands—one flaming, one crackling with lightning.

Shhhhaaaaaa!

The summoned beasts roared like snakes.

Freyna had summoned spirit beasts.

The mid-tier Flame Snake and high-tier lightning-spitting Golden Gorgon—both serpentine.

She lashed out with the Flame Snake.

Fwoosh!

It flew like a whip, aiming for Mylia's neck.

Flash—!

Mylia quickly leapt back.

But the Flame Snake's body extended, grown by Freyna's summoning art.

Mylia caught the end of her shortbow and loosed the string.

Thwack—!

The bow rebounded, smacking the Flame Snake.

Kyaaaaaa!

It screeched.

Mylia then pulled a massive longbow from her side and nocked an arrow.

Creeeeak—!

The string screamed under tension.

The force was immense.

Fwoosh—!

The arrow, infused with aura, flew faster than the eye could see.

The Golden Gorgon caught the arrow in its jaws.

It couldn't fully block the force, but it slowed it just enough for Freyna to barely dodge.

She did so for one reason:

To give Mylia no time.

She immediately closed the distance and counterattacked.

Mylia tried to notch another arrow, but Freyna moved faster.

Whoosh—!

The Golden Gorgon wrapped around Mylia.

Crackkleklekle—!

"……!"

Electricity surged through Mylia, and she collapsed.

"Freyna Hergin, victory."

"Hmph."

Freyna dismissed the Golden Gorgon with a smirk.

"Mylia Rola. You fought far too emotionally. That's not like you."

Mylia bowed her head.

"I'm sorry."

"Return to your seat."

The quick end left the first-years disappointed.

As Mylia returned, Summoning Department students swarmed around Freyna.

"You were amazing!"

"You've secured top spot again this semester!"

Freyna puffed up with pride.

"Hmph."

Seeing her Eliza-like smile, Mylia muttered:

"That really doesn't suit you."

"What's your problem?! Why are you picking fights today?!"

Freyna stormed toward her.

"Who gave you permission to cause a ruckus?"

"Eek!"

"Mylia Rola. You've been provoking Freyna Hergin far too much today."

"……"

"Freyna Hergin. You too—stop looking down on your classmates."

"But… I was just copying my sister…"

Albi responded coldly.

"Eliza Hergin never looked down on others like you do."

"Ugh!"

"And it doesn't suit you, either."

Freyna slumped her shoulders.

"You both will clean the restrooms after class and submit a written reflection by tomorrow."

"Yes."

"…Yes."

Mylia replied calmly. Freyna answered while glaring at her.