Chapter 287

An AI observer that adjusts the camera based on the participants’ movements predicted through big data, providing appropriate mosaic processing depending on the situation.

Namé’s sudden self-harm evaded even the censorship of an almost prescient AI.

In a brief span of about one second, the scene of shards of glass embedding into her palm was broadcast live.

The reddish hue visible beyond the mosaic stained her arm.

“No, student Noname…! She just… cut her arm! No, even though it’s pain synchronization, this is…!”

The screen quickly turned elsewhere.

But the spectators and commentators who witnessed this on site were all thrown into a panic.

“We’ve just received reports that the Sephyron Operations Committee has raised an objection regarding unauthorized magic usage! Er… it seems that participant Lee Jae-hwan mixing sleeping pills into the ‘Barrier of Redwood’ has become an issue.”

“This is unprecedented, and we are truly at a loss. If this is true, not only will Altear Academy’s junior high division face a forfeit, but I think student Lee Jae-hwan will also face severe punishment. I really hope that’s not the case for Altear Academy…!”

“The observer is currently highlighting the blood spilled by student Noname. It looks like a considerable amount, to the point where we might need to halt the match.”

“Student Noname is recovering her wounds using regenerative magic…! A perfect casting! Thank goodness, really thank goodness!”

Due to the strong determination of the participants remaining in the training hall to continue the match, the analysis of the magical components was put on hold for the time being.

However, the commentators, who were former mages, could not hide their lingering discomfort.

“Although it’s not well-captured on the mana wavelength screen, what we’re feeling at the scene suggests that there is faint mana remaining in the blood that has spilled on the ground. It seems that student Noname has put the Hieronymus treatment method into action.”

“The Hieronymus treatment method?”

“Yes. It’s a way of expelling mana mixed with blood when struck by magic that interferes with the nervous system. Usually, the average neural interference magic can be expelled naturally through salivary or sweat glands within about an hour, but… one can’t just wait if they want to continue the match immediately.”

“But the Hieronymus method is an emergency technique used by special forces… How the heck does student Noname even know about this? It’s filled with questions!”

The pain must have been incomparable to a paper cut or stubbing a toe.

Those who feared blood exited the training hall to catch their breath, and several parents watched her with shocked expressions.

On the other hand, Altear Academy already felt like a funeral parlor.

Especially for the seniors who had already competed and those with upcoming senior competitions.

“Third years are losing? To an 8-year-old?”

The miraculous undefeated quartet from Altear was annihilated by just one girl.

The competition meant to spread Altear’s talents to the world had turned into a venue to announce the name ‘Noname.’

“No matter how much of a genius she is, this is…”

Even if Namé had encountered numerous theoretical magic studies in virtual reality, she had only started moving her body after being rescued from the capsule just 16 months ago.

“This doesn’t make sense…”

The realization of events surpassing understanding sent chills down their spines.

The participants had indeed given their all. No, they had pushed beyond their limits.

Even in junior high, the notorious team of Lee Jae-hwan and Joseon Yeon cast their third-circle magic with the strongest output in this competition.

Until that point, the students anticipated victory. In fact, worry for Namé’s well-being had even outweighed that expectation.

But what is the outcome?

Namé’s barriers still have over half remaining.

“I didn’t missee back then… That is not something you can just learn by witnessing it.”

Suddenly, Shin Yeon-ho of Altear stood up and muttered.

He already sensed the inevitable defeat for Altear.

Sometimes in this world, inexplicable beings emerge.

And while Altear Academy was internally despairing, thinking they were merely facing a genius anomaly.

Boom—!

A tremendous explosion rang, shaking the training hall.

“What the hell!”

Shin Yeon-ho turned in surprise.

Namé’s body was forcefully pushed back into a corner of the training hall.

In the swirling sandstorm, three magic circles formed a triangle aiming at her.

[Co-casting: Opponent Humidity Adjustment]

[Co-casting: Turbulence]

[Cast: Steam Burst]

In the midst of fierce combat, the glasses-wearing Otakjae threw off his broken glasses and drew upon an overwhelming amount of mana to sketch the magic circles.

He implemented complex equations into circuit magic and completed the calculations in a split second, stabilizing the system.

As he set more variables, the magic circles expanded, and the bulging veins on his arms and legs became more pronounced.

Nevertheless, he persevered, filling in the runes one by one, finally completing the essence of ‘co-casting.’

A small wind born in a humid area gathered sparks and grew in intensity.

In an instant, a massive tornado that seemed ready to pierce the sky shot toward Namé with ferocious force.

“Wait, what kind of academy student is triple casting…!”

Shin Yeon-ho shouted, dumbfounded.

“Namé! This is too dangerous!”

“Don’t try to endure it! Run away quickly!”

People in the audience screamed as they searched for Namé.

The overwhelming mana could topple even a sturdy adult male, felt like a shockwave upon their skin.

With a light weight of less than 20 kilograms, even if she tried to increase her weight with aura, she would definitely be sent flying into the air.

“Namé, that’s enough! Noname!”

Professor Cheon yelled, his face twitching as he shouted.

With the emergence of ‘triple casting’ that no one in junior high had yet shown, the Academy Match entered a new phase.

* * *

I stared intently at the flaming tornado, roaring as if it would consume everything.

“Triple casting…”

Double casting lies in the realm of effort.

It’s utilizing extreme practice to draw a square with one hand and a triangle with the other.

But what about triple casting?

It could be likened to drawing a square with the thumb, a triangle with the index finger, and a circle with the middle finger.

A hot draft approached.

“Compared to the seniors who messed with barrier magic, this is way cooler!”

I complimented with a voice filled with joy.

I wondered if my words had carried over the sound of the wind.

Now it was my turn to respond.

Though it had been a while since I used counter-magic, I felt strangely confident I could do it perfectly.

First, I isolated the flammable mixed gas.

The shockwave from the explosion wasn’t as strong considering it was less than 1 atm of pressure.

I reached into the counter-clockwise swirling mass of mana to find the bottleneck of the magic.

“Now!”

[Counter: Steam Burst]

Boom—!

The tornado exploded from within, splitting into three.

However, the raging flames began to subside.

Without delay, I needed to write the counter-magic to normalize the turbulence.

Currently, the turbulence was at severity level 3.

Adjusting the turbulent diffusion rate and the Reynolds number to their normal values would slow the velocity of the fluid by converting kinetic energy into thermal energy.

[Counter: Turbulence]

Lastly, I could adjust the humidity blindly.

Using the thermal energy obtained from the second counter-magic, I would raise the temperature to forcibly increase the saturated vapor amount.

[Counter: Humidity Adjustment]

I compressed the three circuit magic formulas again and shaped them into an arrowhead form.

Just then, the two tornadoes came right up to me.

Boom—!

I launched my body away, avoiding the explosion point, and dashed along the training hall’s outer wall with all my strength.

I sacrificed one of my horns, focusing the extra aura into my legs.

Given my short legs, I had to push harder with my feet.

Although this might have looked humorous while running, I had no time to entertain those thoughts.

[Cast: Counter]

While fiercely running, I pulled out a bow-like weapon from the concrete wall.

I weaved the Arabesque threads into the bowstring at both ends.

I engraved the essence of the counter-spell I had just generated onto the arrowhead.

Whisk—

I raised my knees and lowered my posture, abruptly halting in place.

Tiny grains of sand swirled in the direction I had just run.

I stretched out my arm, tautly pulling back the bowstring against my cheek.

I inhaled and closed one eye.

“Aim… and release.”

Whoosh!

The moment I let go, the arrow left the bowstring.

It struck dead center of the triangle co-casting magic circle, which was spinning in the sky like the moon.

[Co-casting Counter: Steam Burst – Turbulence – Humidity Adjustment]

Clang—!

The magic circle shattered, and the uncast mana flowed like a waterfall.

Satisfied with the result, I tossed the bow into the air and swept back my disheveled hair.

“That was close. I never expected triple casting.”

With a casual remark, Otakjae replied in a calm tone.

“Namé, about our academy friends from earlier. Isn’t it so funny when they see themselves as otaku while being such…?”

“Yeah? Oh, a little.”

“As if they’re proudly using spells that haven’t been taught in the academy at the tournament. They learn all sorts of divine and barrier magic, which no one else knows about, and slap weird names on them. It’s hilarious how they call themselves geniuses while doing that.”

“Is that so?”

“What’s so important about being able to do some calculations quickly? But in the academy, everyone calls such people geniuses. I can’t accept that.”

“Then what do you define as a genius?”

“Something you love for a lifetime. I think someone is a genius only when they ardently love something and fall in love. Feelings of love don’t just arise because we desire them. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I may look like this, but I don’t like Japanese anime. The same goes for idols.”

That was somewhat unexpected.

“Then do you consider yourself a genius?”

“Yeah. I love magic. Even if I’m not ahead of others and nobody recognizes me, I feel like I could live my whole life just focusing on magic. How about you, Noname? Are you really walking this path because you love magic?”

“I see it differently from you. I want to be ahead of others and want someone to acknowledge me. But still, I love magic. That much, I can confidently say is genuine.”

“I knew you’d be different. Real genius, huh?”

“There’s no time, so let’s stop the small talk here. Ah… then where did you learn all these spells?”

Even aside from the triple casting, each of his magic circles was orthodox and flawless.

He raised one eyebrow, as if to question why I was asking such things.

“Of course, I learned from textbooks. Reading them a hundred times brings out realizations.”

Otakjae pulled up his mana. The way his aura heart was shaped indicated that the rising mana was extraordinary.

As I swept away the madness from my gaze, I resolved to pour all my remaining aura into this final attack.

It should be fine to show him a sample since he’s such a brilliant kid.

I tightly gripped the golden aura in my hands.