Chapter 74

<Chapter 76: The Battle with the Class President>

“So you wanted to have a sparring match?”

Yu-jin was loosening up in the training room.

Even in the house he lived in, which belonged to Hwagcheon, there was a dedicated training room.

It wasn’t just spacious; the facilities were on par with the Academy’s.

Though Yu-jin had never used it because he didn’t feel like practicing at home…

“Yeah, I’ve been feeling my skills are lacking lately.”

The class president nodded with a wry smile.

Of course, if his goal was to be an average hero, his current abilities would suffice.

But the class president wasn’t satisfied with just that.

Getting recognized by Yu-jin before graduation was his primary objective.

Defeating even Young-hee wouldn’t cut it.

“Thanks for sparing with me.”

“Eh, it’s not like it’s a big deal or anything.”

Anyway, he was stuck hanging out with the class president on Rime’s orders.

There wasn’t much to talk about with someone like him anyway…

Yu-jin was secretly grateful that the guy took the initiative.

“With a place to spar and time to spare, and since you’re here too, I thought I’d give it a shot.”

“I’m not really the best opponent though.”

Yu-jin was your typical martial artist.

He hadn’t even properly learned magic, let alone used it.

With Rime always around to explain things, he never felt the need to bother with magical knowledge.

As a sparring partner for magic practice, he was pretty useless.

“It’s fine. I just want anyone to be my opponent.”

To be honest, there was also the desire to make a direct impression on Yu-jin during this opportunity…

But that’s something he could never admit, even if his mouth tore apart.

“Then please take care of me.”

The class president bowed deeply.

This caught Yu-jin slightly off guard.

Most of Yu-jin’s previous sparring partners had been Chul-soo, and they certainly weren’t on polite terms to exchange greetings.

Is it normal for mages to bow before dueling?

‘Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve seen a proper mage fight.’

During the survival test, the class president had focused on supporting from behind.

Because of that, he’d had fewer chances to step forward compared to Yu-jin and Chul-soo.

This would be Yu-jin’s first time witnessing a mage’s “combat.”

‘Hmm, will there be fireballs or ice blasts? Or maybe some abracadabra stuff?’

He knew the magic in this world wasn’t ordinary.

He’d learned its dangers firsthand from the Young-hee incident.

What kind of battle would the class president, a mage, show him?

Yu-jin got into position.

At the same time,

A semi-transparent shockwave came flying from the side and hit him directly on the head.

‘Wha…?’

The moment he thought that, it exploded.

BOOM!

He stumbled back a couple of steps from the impact.

He was more surprised than hurt.

“Whoa, sneaky.”

Was this the class president’s magic?

Invisible and fast enough that he couldn’t react properly.

This would definitely be dangerous.

If he were an ordinary person, he would’ve fallen from that alone.

‘This guy is impressive.’

Yu-jin thought as he looked ahead.

But the class president wasn’t there.

He noticed the president diving from below at the last second.

“Huh? Do mages usually get this close?”

As he mentioned earlier, he didn’t know much about mage combat.

If that attack had come from this distance earlier…

It might have actually hurt a bit more.

Yu-jin extended his arms forward in a guarding stance.

At the same time, the class president disappeared.

-Low-rank Magic: Pixie’s Trickery

He sensed movement from behind.

He realized a split second later that the previous figure had been an illusion.

BOOM!

A gust of wind struck his back.

Yu-jin’s balance, which had been focused only on the front, was slightly disrupted.

“I’m going!”

The president’s hand spun.

Simultaneously, the wind changed direction.

Caught off guard by the sudden gale, Yu-jin’s body swayed.

The class president didn’t miss this chance.

-Low-rank Magic: Sharp Blade

-Low-rank Magic: Imp’s Fireplay

-Low-rank Magic: Wind Sickle

-Low-rank Magic: Shadow Hand

Magic blades flew, flames engulfed, wind sickles slashed, and dark fists struck.

How many students could unleash so many spells so quickly and accurately?

A storm of magic attacks came from all sides.

All of them struck Yu-jin directly.

“…This is getting hectic.”

The class president continued casting spells nonstop.

Faster and stronger than before!

This time, Yu-jin didn’t just block.

He simply clenched his fist and swung it.

-PUNCH! PUNCH! CRACK!

That was all he could do, but…

It was more than enough.

The magic spells shattered under sheer force.

“Where is the class president now?”

After deflecting the last strange orb, Yu-jin looked around.

There was no sign of the class president within 180 degrees.

Not only had he been attacked invisibly, but he’d also fallen for an illusion.

There was no way to predict when or where he would appear next.

This uncertainty slowed down Yu-jin’s thinking.

“The advantage of mid-rank mages or higher is their ability to use space three-dimensionally.”

He finally noticed the movement above his head.

By the time he realized, the class president had already prepared a spell directly above him.

-Mid-rank Magic: Heavy Air

The surrounding magical power shifted, pressing against Yu-jin from all sides.

A spell that completely sealed the opponent’s movement.

Even the rampaging Young-hee had been neutralized by this spell before.

Surely…

“Haha, you’re just casually breaking through it.”

The class president watched in amazement.

Yu-jin hadn’t put any particular effort into it.

He had simply “moved.”

Just a little harder to maintain balance than usual.

He tensed his arms and legs.

With just that, he broke through the mid-rank magic’s restraint.

Exactly how large was the gap between himself and Yu-jin?

“He effortlessly blocked all those spells earlier too.”

Even the deceptive ones had considerable power.

Yet he seemed unaffected after taking all those hits.

If this were a real enemy he had to fight, he would have fallen into despair by now.

“How can I possibly surprise Yu-jin?”

But the class president’s goal wasn’t to defeat Yu-jin.

Honestly speaking, that was impossible.

All he needed to accomplish was to have a somewhat successful fight with Yu-jin.

‘I need to show what I, as a girl, can do!’

The class president spread his arms wide in mid-air.

-Low-rank Magic: Water Shining

Water sprays surged around Yu-jin.

The water droplets that enveloped him instantly froze.

Property conversion.

Using magical power to suddenly change temperature turned water into ice particles.

Frost clung to Yu-jin’s body.

“Gah!”

Following that, Young-hee landed on the ground and raised both hands.

-Mid-rank Magic: Thunder Spike

A rapidly advancing lightning bolt shot straight toward Yu-jin.

Yu-jin tried to deflect it with a punch like earlier.

However, the lightning split into several branches at that moment.

Surrounding him, using the ice particles as lightning rods.

-Advanced Magic (Modified): Chain Lightning (Sustained)

Originally, Chain Lightning would have temporary effects.

By linking it with water magic, the duration was forcibly extended.

It surrounded Yu-jin like a prison of lightning.

Of course, there were limits to this.

Before the lightning dissipated, the class president initiated a new spell.

-Advanced Magic: Super Gravity

“Ugh!”

Yu-jin’s knees buckled slightly.

This was different from what Young-hee had used before.

Instead of compressing the power for a single strike, it was designed to reliably crush the opponent.

Ensuring that the opponent wouldn’t be pushed back.

‘This is still preparation to restrict Yu-jin’s movement.’

While deploying the magic, the class president began chanting another spell.

Triple casting.

“Urgh!”

He could feel bile rising in his throat.

Naturally.

It was already difficult to use advanced magic twice in succession,

And he was attempting double casting as well.

Any decent guild master watching would have drooled,

And senior mages would have praised him as a genius without hesitation.

But it wasn’t enough.

He still hadn’t managed to land a single hit on Yu-jin.

Enduring the headache that felt like his brain would explode,

The class president continued casting spells.

-Advanced Magic: Explosion

A magic that directly converts the user’s magical power into an explosion.

Its power is proportional to the caster’s magical power.

It’s essentially the ultimate technique for mages, putting everything on the line.

‘Pouring all my magical power into this -!’

The class president slammed down a giant fireball.

Surrounded by lightning.

Crushed by gravity.

In an unavoidable state, taking the maximum magical power attack.

This should leave at least some injuries!

-CRACK!

That was when Yu-jin threw a punch skyward.

There was no special technique involved.

He simply swung his fist at the incoming fireball.

Just that was enough to shatter the lightning prison.

The fireball was crushed under the pressure and nullified.

Staring blankly at the overwhelming sight.

‘…This is too much.’

Her legs gave out as she collapsed, thinking that.

This was her maximum power.

How many mages in the world could use advanced magic with triple casting?

She believed she had every right to feel confident.

She was certain that it would be enough to make a strong impression.

But to Yu-jin, none of that mattered.

To him, who simply crushed everything with overwhelming strength,

Her magic was utterly meaningless.

“Ahh, what an idiot.”

Slumping down, the class president lowered her face.

She might start crying any moment now.

She had come here wanting to change her weak self,

To move forward even just a little.

But all she could do was become increasingly aware of her own inadequacies.

“Woah, that was quite a surprise.”

Yu-jin slowly approached the fallen class president.

He extended his hand toward her.

“Sorry, I panicked and countered seriously. Was that advanced magic earlier?”

“Yeah, uh-huh.”

“Amazing. There are plenty of people who can’t even use mid-rank magic, let alone advanced.”

The class president smiled through her tears.

Ah, if only Yu-jin had scolded her.

If he had called her trash and useless…

Could she have given up easily then?

‘…I’m such an easy girl.’

Yet, she found so much comfort in Yu-jin’s simple words.

His light praise tasted so sweet…

She couldn’t bring herself to give up.

“Are you okay? Didn’t you get hurt anywhere?”

“…Yeah, I’m fine.”

The class president grabbed Yu-jin’s hand and stood up.

She brushed off the dust from her body and looked at Yu-jin, who was looking at the battle scars while turning his head.

She had no intention of giving up.

But the gap between them felt impossibly far.

She hesitated to even reach out unconsciously.

“Over there, I want to rest a bit, so I’ll go first?”

“Would you mind waiting?”

“I just need some time alone to think.”

Yu-jin lightly nodded in understanding and left the training room.

As soon as he disappeared, she slumped down again.

She sat cross-legged.

CRUNCH.

She started biting her nails.

Everything around her felt oppressive.

Anxiety settled in her heart.

Her feelings for Yu-jin kept growing stronger.

But she felt so pitiful about herself.

‘What exactly do you expect me to do…?’

Alone in the training room,

The class president just kept biting her nails.

CRUNCH, CRUNCH.

She didn’t even notice the sound getting louder.

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