“Not bad.”
Vasak wielded a heavy greatsword, using a style that leveraged its weight to pin down opponents.
“…Crazy bastard.”
Ian deflected or dodged all of Vasak’s heavy blows, easily securing victory.
“Wow…”
“He’s moving completely differently than when he faced Kunbero.”
“Right? Back then, he was clearly clumsy.”
While it was true his skills had improved significantly in a short period, his movements now were on a different level compared to his duel with Kunbero.
‘Why did I even lose back then?’
Was it just a bad day, or was there another issue at play?
Who knows—he’s a hard guy to figure out.
“Theo, are you going to keep watching?”
“Yeah, just a little longer.”
“Alright, then. I’m heading off; I’ve got things to do.”
After watching Ian’s first duel, Sylvia excused herself, saying she had tasks to attend to.
‘I need to get ready. It’s tomorrow, after all.’
After the first-year students, it’s our turn as second-years.
If it weren’t for Ian, I’d probably be practicing right now.
‘So hurry up and finish already, man.’
I need to wrap up my final preparations, after all.
.
.
.
.
.
Ian’s duels concluded without incident.
Living up to his top-ranked title, he confidently achieved six straight victories.
After that, no one dared to challenge him, and the test ended.
Many who watched him today likely saw him in a new light.
‘This is good enough for me.’
The attention he didn’t get during his duel with Kunbero was drawn through this test.
While it might have come a bit late, it was still the early stages, so it was meaningful enough.
‘Not that it affects my own priorities.’
I had prepared carefully curated feedback for him—thorough and packed so tightly that there was no room for gaps.
‘Just don’t tear it up without reading it.’
At first, I didn’t care if he looked at it or not.
But since I poured my efforts into it, at the very least, I hoped he wouldn’t discard it outright.
“Guess I should start my preparations too.”
There’s nothing particularly impressive about it.
Just a bit of warm-up to maintain the sensations I felt when I reached the fourth tier.
It’s better than doing nothing.
So, the moment Ian’s duel ended, I hurried out of the test venue.
* * *
The next day, during the practical exam
“Duel over! Theonar wins!”
I continued facing challengers who had chosen me as their opponent.
Most of them were below me in rank, aiming to improve their scores.
‘It’s not scary dealing with those ranked below me.’
Given that my theory scores inflated my rank a bit, most of the challengers beneath me chose to target me.
However, after achieving the fourth tier, those ranked below the top 1,000 weren’t much of a challenge.
‘It’s satisfying to see the results of my training.’
Taking Isabel’s punches and drooling all over myself had felt like pure hell.
But being the one dishing out the hits instead was incredibly satisfying.
‘Is this why people love punching sandbags?’
With plenty of mana left, I figured I could handle one or two more duels.
‘Let’s see… Is that guy done yet?’
I scanned the ongoing duels, looking for someone I had been keeping an eye on.
‘Oh, there he is.’
Still not finished, he was preparing for his next match.
I immediately approached a nearby professor.
“Professor, I’d like to use my nomination rights.”
“Hmm, Theonar. Who will you be nominating? Let me know their rank or name.”
“The person I’ll be nominating is…”
.
.
.
.
“..Are you crazy?”
“Huh?”
“It seems like you’re under a misunderstanding. You’re not that good.”
“No, I am that good.”
“Hah, right…”
The opponent I chose was Roxanne, a student ranked 376th.
Like me, she’s a commoner, but her backing is entirely different.
She’s a talent whose abilities have blossomed early thanks to a patron.
“Just don’t regret it.”
“No chance of that, so climb up here quickly.”
She’s a mage.
Not the kind who focuses on research, but a battle mage who steps into the frontlines to fight.
Her fighting style involves swift casting and agile movements to overwhelm opponents, making her a nightmare for sword-wielders.
‘A mage who can endure close combat is tough to deal with.’
Even so, I chose her.
There are many reasons, but if I had to pick just one:
‘I know how to counter her.’
Mages who pride themselves on fast casting usually favor easy-to-use spells.
Even if they gain access to more spells as their circle level increases, there’s only a limited number of short-cast spells they can rely on.
Currently, there are many like Roxanne, but as time passes, those who rely on rapid-casting low-circle spells will decrease.
That’s because of the emergence of a countermeasure: the technique of reverse calculation.
Reverse calculation allows one to analyze a magic circle and inject an inverted formula into its core components before the magic is activated, nullifying it.
This was why Rozennia, despite hiding her identity as a princess, gained sudden attention at Arcane in the original story.
‘Because she was the one who discovered reverse calculation.’
In the mid-story, there’s a scene where Rozennia teaches Ian how to use reverse calculation.
It wasn’t just a simple “chant, prepare, fire” explanation.
Instead, it detailed the intricate process, and I often re-read it for immersion.
‘Of course, without a circle, the mana consumption is insane.’
That’s why I studied Roxanne’s commonly used spells in advance.
I frequented the library to read books on magic, and if there was anything I didn’t understand, I asked Rozennia for an interpretation.
‘Though she grilled me on what I intended to use it for, making me sweat.’
Naturally, I’ve never used it in actual combat.
‘If it works, great. If not, oh well.’
The gap between our ranks is like heaven and earth.
Even if I lose miserably, it won’t hurt me.
“Hiding behind someone’s coattails and acting so cocky.”
“Well, it’s comfortable. If you’re jealous, grab yourself a sponsor and cling to their waistband too.”
“…You’re dead.”
Once Roxanne and I finished preparing,
The duel began under the professor’s supervision.
“You know the rules, right? Wear the provided protective magic equipment, and start when the signal is given.”
The professor stepped out of the arena.
Flutter!
As the flag fell to signal the start:
[Ice Spear]
Roxanne immediately began chanting and launched her attack.
‘Look at her rushing in.’
From her perspective, she probably wanted to end this quickly.
Beating me wouldn’t change her grades much, and dragging things out would only leave a bad impression.
“Where’s that overconfidence you had earlier?”
As I kept dodging, Roxanne taunted me, trying to provoke me.
‘She’s so full of herself.’
Of course, she wouldn’t even entertain the idea of losing.
After all, there’s a massive rank gap between us.
“Tsk, what a waste of time.”
A flurry of spells rained down on me again.
Razor-sharp mana constructs came hurtling toward me.
“Tsk.”
Even though I have reverse calculation as a countermeasure, I can’t overuse it.
Without a circle, my mana consumption is absurd.
And since reverse calculation forcibly dismantles the components of a magic formula, it takes a massive toll on my focus.
If I overdo it, my brain might melt.
‘A short wand in my left hand, and a dagger in my right…’
A wizard adept at close combat.
It was definitely difficult to create an opening against someone like her for the first time.
As I struggled to fend off her attacks multiple times, there came a moment.
‘Now!’
Confident I wouldn’t close the distance, she let her guard down, relaxed her body, and began chanting a spell.
I seized that opportunity.
Clang!
“What in the…?”
Right after I threw my sword.
“What else, idiot? It’s a throwing technique.”
I quickly charged forward.
Though she began chanting once more,
“You’re too late.”
Crack.
The magic circle, which was brimming with blue light and preparing to manifest, broke apart.
Eventually, it shattered into countless pieces.
“W-why is this happening?”
She hesitated, a look of confusion crossing her face.
Raising her dagger in a rush, she swung it at me as I charged forward.
But,
‘Once magic is gone, it’s useless against a knight.’
Crunch!
The blade of her dagger, shattered by my reinforced fist, and through that opening,
I landed a straight punch directly onto her face.
‘I’ve repeated close combat so many times that it’s second nature now.’
Thanks to the special training-well, more like being beaten by Isabel-
The swordsmanship of a mere wizard, not even a knight, was something I could easily handle.
“Kyaaaaa!”
Roxanne, with blood from her shattered nose spraying everywhere, flew back helplessly.
Even after losing consciousness from her broken nose,
The look of disbelief etched on her face did not fade.
* * *
“Whew, that was close.”
After defeating Roxanne and completing my fifth duel, I immediately ended the test.
If I had more time, it wouldn’t have been bad to assess her a bit further,
But,
“My brain feels like it’s on fire right now…”
The aftereffects of reversal magic hit me hard.
“I really don’t know how anyone can keep doing this kind of thing all the time.”
Rozennia, on her journey against the demon god, performed reversal magic dozens of times a day at the least, and hundreds at most.
Considering she often cast high-level spells in the process,
In a way, she might be even more monstrous than Ian.
“Let’s call it a day since we have the beast hunt coming up.”
Today, the second-year duels took place.
In about two days, the beast hunt would begin.
After that, there would be an event match of sorts.
‘Well, that doesn’t concern me.’
Feeling relieved from the pressure of the practical test, I planned to watch Sylvia’s dual finish,
Then head back to the dormitory to rest.
At least, that was the plan.
“Excuse me, excuse me.”
Until she poked at my waist while wearing a black robe pulled tightly over her head.
‘…Ah, damn it.’