Chapter 10: Inflated Rumors (2)

“…So, how do you feel, junior?”

“You already know, so why do you keep asking?”

“Well, it’s infuriating to think that the reason you’ve been so reclusive was because of a love triangle.”

“It’s really not like that…”

A day more exhausting than usual.

Everywhere I went, people’s gazes followed me, making it impossible to relax.

By the time I sought refuge in the Miss Yeon Club room, I’d endured countless death glares.

I was drenched in cold sweat.

“You’ve instantly become the academy’s most hated man. It makes sense.”

“Even hearing that is terrifying.”

“That’s why you should’ve behaved better.”

“…I didn’t even do anything.”

“And that’s what’s more infuriating.”

So much had happened in such a short time.

Out of nowhere, a flood of duel challenges came pouring in.

The professors’ mischievous antics didn’t help as they drew more attention to me.

It was probably the most nerve-wracking day since I arrived in this world.

“Anyway, what are you going to do?”

“Well, there’s no choice.”

“…Your opponent is Rasmut, you know.”

“It’s just a duel. I’ll give it a shot.”

Most of the duel requests, of course, were declined.

After all, there was no reason to fight without a good cause.

And most of them weren’t serious challenges, anyway.

Except for one.

Just one guy.

He genuinely seemed intent on killing me.

“The second son of the Marquess’ family…”

That was none other than Rasmut Kairak, the fiancé of Sylvia, the eldest daughter of the Winstred Ducal family.

As the second son of the Marquess’ family, Rasmut was largely overshadowed by his elder brother and wasn’t considered a candidate for succession.

In noble families, marriages aren’t decided by individuals; they’re arranged by the families.

It was probably settled when they were children, and Sylvia likely never gave it much thought.

Or so I assumed.

But perhaps because of the “fiancé” label, as soon as rumors spread, Rasmut threw his glove at me and challenged me to a duel.

“At first, I didn’t even know what was going on.”

He was a minor extra in the scene where Ian and Sylvia shared a moment, who showed up acting cocky, got beaten up, and dropped out.

I barely remembered him and had to wrack my brain to recall.

“Since midterms are coming up soon, I might as well use this as an opportunity to gauge myself.”

In Arcane Academy!,

Knights and mages are roughly equal in terms of strength.

Mages classify their levels through the creation of “circles” near their hearts to optimize mana usage.

Knights, on the other hand, refer to their levels of mana manipulation as “Ranks.”

“In my case, at best, I’m barely at Rank 3.”

I can only cover my body or objects I touch with mana.

Given the average Rank or Circle of Arcane Academy students, Rank 5 is generally considered the norm.

By comparison, I’m far below average.

Outside Arcane, I might be called a prodigy, but…

“That’s meaningless here, where even prodigies get wiped out.”

There was some good news, though.

The effects of the Tears of Brecteia I had consumed earlier.

While I expected most of the mana to dissipate, a portion of the energy that had forcibly expanded my mana circuits remained ingrained in them.

“It’s only about 30%, but it’s better than nothing.”

I hadn’t expected to retain even that much, so it was a relief.

“When’s the duel happening?”

“Hmm… The exact date hasn’t been set, but probably in two days. Since the professor wants to observe, it’ll have to be before the weekend.”

“…I see.”

As the conversation about the duel ended, Rozennia fell into deep thought, her expression grim.

…No way, right?

Rozennia’s serious expression made me feel uneasy. 

Was it just my imagination?

“Come on, she’s a princess. Surely not.”

I wondered if she might harm him, but then again, she wouldn’t make a move just for a mere sparring match.

Even if I am a close junior to her, it’s unlikely that someone like her would act rashly.

“Maybe I’m just overreacting.”

Anyway, she wasn’t the point here.

Kairak might seem ordinary to others, but to me, he’s undoubtedly two levels above in skill.

There’s much I could gain from sparring with him.

It would be great to win, but even if I lose, there’s no real loss—just the sweet reward of a sparring match.

This was an opportunity to objectively evaluate my own skills.

I decided to give it my all this time.

***

“…So boring.”

Sylvia, curled up in her dormitory, wrapped in blankets, felt dissatisfied with the current situation.

-The Marquis of Lasmouth has sent word. Do you really find peace in undermining your father’s dignity?

-I called this for the sake of the family, yet you couldn’t even handle that properly. I am disappointed.

-Dismiss those ridiculous rumors immediately and show a harmonious relationship with Kairak in public.

A fleeting rumor had spread, and soon enough, she received a message from Winstred Duke.

No need to see it to know.

That wild colt, Kairak, must have stirred up trouble again.

“Does this even matter?”

A farcical game of family affection, devoid of any love.

A family that once played a key role in founding the nation?

A lineage that produced the greatest knights in history?

All of it was just past glory.

The current duke was seen as an overly ambitious man, given his limited resources.

He had inherited the title only because the direct line was the only option after a plague struck during the succession process.

If not for that, the man who was mocked as less competent than the collateral branch would never have had the chance.

Even at over 50 years old, he barely managed to maintain his 7th level rank.

In an attempt to restore the crumbling prestige of the duke, he hastily built connections and ventured into business, but that too failed.

His only hope left was selling off his children.

Fortunately, he had one daughter who was both exceptionally talented and strikingly beautiful.

He planned to use her to satisfy his ambitions.

“Foolish man.”

For now, Sylvia played along, as the status of being the duke’s daughter was still useful.

But she was growing weary.

She had debated hundreds of times whether to abandon this charade, but,

“…Sigh, endure. Not yet.”

At least, not until the time she was waiting for arrived.

She had no choice but to continue this revolting act for now.

On the day of the sparring match that drew the attention of Arcane.

Naturally, she attended.

All the complicated backstory was known only to her.

To others, it was simply “two men fighting over a woman,” a sensational topic.

Since she had decided to continue this family farce, she willingly became fodder for their gossip.

“How strange. It’s not entirely unpleasant.”

Though those eyes viewed her as a bird in a cage for their own amusement and curiosity,

Oddly, she didn’t feel entirely bad.

No, maybe she felt confused.

Perhaps it was because, even if through misunderstandings and fabrications, she briefly felt connected to him in such a way.

“I don’t know.”

It might be because this was the first time in her life she’d experienced such feelings.

These warm and overwhelming emotions had never existed in her bleak life before.

“Or maybe they did.”

It was possible she just hadn’t realized it.

In a world filled with despair and tragedy,

Such emotions had been unimaginable to her.

***

“Wow! Awesome, you guys!”

“Fight! Fight!”

“The winner takes it all!”

The audience, shouting without knowing the situation.

‘Ugh, this is nerve-wracking.’

For them, it’s an exciting burst of dopamine in their monotonous lives.

For me, it was pure hell.

‘Why are there so many people here?’

Maybe the rumors spread too far, or perhaps that guy Kairak promoted it.

My expectation that this would happen quietly was completely off.

“Prepare yourself, commoner. I’ll crush that shameless face of yours.”

Kairak, whom I bumped into while pacing in the waiting room.

He glared at me with furrowed brows and a sharp gaze.

“Aren’t you tired of saying the same lines?”

At first, it startled me a little, but after hearing it dozens of times, I’m completely immune now.

“Y-you… how dare a mere commoner look at me like that…”

Of course, I didn’t forget the classic lines spouted by a third-rate extra.

“Just wait! I’ll make it clear that Sylvia belongs to me!”

Fuming with anger, Kairak turned abruptly and stormed off.

‘Still so young.’

To show his emotions so plainly.

Well, I suppose that’s to be expected from someone in their early 20s, full of youthful energy.

As for me, I’m a healthy adult male who’s even served in the military.

I’ve experienced the hellish world of social life too.

No amount of mental attacks can leave a scratch on me.

‘And I’m not particularly afraid of their noble status either.’

I don’t have family ties they can exploit, and there’s nothing they can do to harm me in Arcane anyway.

The war doesn’t start until after I graduate.

As long as I don’t cross the line too much, there’s no need to be scared.

‘Except for that person, of course.’

When I stepped into the dueling arena, I locked eyes with someone in the audience.

There were Rozennia and Sylvia.

“Our dear junior! Don’t worry about losing. You can even just surrender!”

Rozennia cheerfully said something nonsensical with a bright smile.

Sylvia, on the other hand, kept her head down, staring at the floor.

‘Well, that’s understandable.’

I only accepted the duel coming my way, but in Arcane, the rumor spread as if it were a fight between two Romeos for Juliet.

“Just win, whoever you are!”

“I don’t care who wins, just beat someone!”

“Go all out! Don’t hold back!”

“Kyahhh!”

“Did he just look at me?”

“Oh my, this is so fun.”

The male students seemed interested in the fight itself.

The female students seemed more interested in the story behind it.

‘Whatever happens, happens.’

I don’t care what they think.

I’ll worry about cleaning up the mess later.

Right now, the only thing I need to focus on is—

“Hey, commoner. You already look stiff. If you surrender now, you won’t get hurt.”

Giving my all against the opponent standing before me.