Chapter 31

Anti-magic resistance.

It only works against magic that directly affects me, like curses or bindings, but I heard it can’t block damage from direct attack spells like fireballs.

Still, it can definitely sense magical energy.

I could clearly feel multiple strands of magical energy swirling around the male student.

I wonder what kind of magic he’s going to use. Maybe I should wait and see.

It’s my first time facing a magician, after all.

“Ignis Sagitta!”

The male student swung his staff down.

Magical energy swirled in the air, coalescing into four fiery arrows.

What? Just fire arrows, huh?

Still, being able to launch four at once means he’s not half bad.

The arrows roared fiercely, clearly forgetting to control their power.

Well, I guess I can let this slide. He must be scared of me.

The four fiery arrows flew towards me, each on a different trajectory.

If it’s a physical magic, I can probably disperse it with a shockwave.

First, I drew a dagger and threw it at one of the arrows.

The dagger, shot like a bullet, collided with the fiery arrow, shattering it and scattering sparks.

The charred dagger fell helplessly to the ground.

I swung my longsword to cut down another arrow.

With a small explosion, the blade chipped slightly.

…It’s just regular steel, so it can’t withstand much impact.

I swung the sword again, cutting down the third arrow.

The tip of the sword shattered, spitting out fragments of metal.

I charged straight at the male student.

I let the last arrow hit my armor.

The fiery arrow embedded in my shoulder, unable to pierce the armor, dissipated uselessly.

The male student frantically waved his staff.

A flow of magical energy wrapped around me.

The next moment, my body heated up, and the surrounding magical energy scattered.

Is this the feeling of anti-magic resistance activating?

He probably tried to cast some binding spell. Too bad for him.

I grabbed the shocked male student by the collar and slammed him to the ground.

– Thud!

The male student foamed at the mouth, limbs stiff and trembling.

“Next.”

—

The last one to step forward was the magician youth who had been boldly staring at me earlier.

His neatly cut blond hair, parted straight at the shoulder, gleamed as if well-maintained.

With a sharp jawline and keen eyes, his face had a somewhat androgynous look.

His movements as he walked were filled with grace and confidence, and the ruby at the tip of his staff, adorned with gold, glowed red.

Judging by the pressure he exuded, he was somewhere between Milia and Damien in strength.

Given his skills and appearance, he didn’t seem like someone who’d be concerned with petty tuition money.

“Well. You’re quite skilled, barbarian. Worthy of Lady Sigmillus’s recommendation.”

“You’re the one who’s worth selling for pocket change, you parasite.”

Since he started the provocation, I responded in kind.

A faint vein popped on the man’s forehead.

“Do you think I came here to earn pocket money? If it weren’t for Lady Sigmillus’s request, I wouldn’t stoop to grappling with a barbarian like you.”

So, he’s saying Ophelia specifically requested him, huh?

I glanced over at Ophelia.

She looked at me, smiled slyly, and calmly exhaled a puff of smoke.

Hmm. Maybe she wants to test my skills now that we’re partners.

Well, fine. Let’s do this.

“Don’t get distracted, barbarian. Prepare yourself properly. I don’t have time to waste.”

“Ah, right. Once you take a hit, that ‘barbarian’ talk will disappear. I’ll make your face manly enough.”

I growled as I prepared my weapons.

My longsword was broken, and my dagger was half-burned, so I needed new ones.

I requested from Kal-lain and received four daggers and one longsword.

While I was at it, I also got a metal gauntlet for my left hand.

It wouldn’t be useful for slashing or stabbing, but it would be enough for blocking and bashing.

I might get a little hurt too. I can’t go all out, after all.

—

“Then, the final spar will commence. Ha-shal-leur Ai-shan Gi-or, Kenneth Bernstein. Take your positions.”

Standing in the center of the training ground, I faced my opponent.

The three I had fought earlier had already been taken to the infirmary long ago.

…The infirmary staff must be really busy.

Anyway, Kenneth Bernstein, huh? Still an unfamiliar name.

That probably means he’s not an important figure.

I drew my longsword and glared at the enemy before me.

The arrogant magician, pointing his staff at me with a relaxed expression.

The spar began.

—

I kicked off the ground and charged forward.

The ground beneath my feet shattered, scattering fragments.

I had no intention of waiting for him to complete his magic like I did with the previous student.

He didn’t seem like someone I could afford to be that lenient with.

“Hmm, first—”

Kenneth flicked his staff lightly.

Four swirling strands of magical energy wrapped around my limbs.

“Haah!”

The magical energy shattered and scattered. Binding magic doesn’t work on me.

I didn’t stop and kept charging.

Before I knew it, I was within five steps of him.

“Anti-magic resistance, huh… Then.”

– Crack!

A bolt of lightning shot towards me.

Reflexively, I drew a dagger and threw it to the side.

The lightning flowed towards the dagger, its trajectory greatly distorted.

– Roar!

A stream of fire poured from the sky.

I stomped my foot to stop and rolled to the side.

The stream of fire scorched the ground, sending a wave of heat behind me.

I kept moving.

Kicking off the ground, I charged forward once more.

The enemy was right in front of me.

With malice, I swung down the longsword.

Unable to withstand the pressure, the blade bent like a whip.

– Kaaaang!

A densely woven magical barrier blocked the longsword.

The barrier shattered in a single strike, but the longsword’s blade also bent significantly.

I reached out with my left hand like a claw towards Kenneth’s neck.

I’ll crush half of his windpipe like this.

“Back off!”

The magical energy exploded into shockwaves in all directions.

I blocked with both arms, but my body, unable to withstand the pressure, was pushed back.

Before I knew it, we were six steps apart again.

…This opponent was trickier than I thought.

I lost one dagger, and the longsword would break after a few more swings…

I had to minimize damage and find a way to close the distance using these.

– Zzzzzzt!

While I was pondering, ice rose from the ground and trapped my feet.

Anti-magic could block the binding spell itself, but it seemed useless against physical restraints like this.

The ice wasn’t that sturdy, so when I stomped with force, it shattered.

Immediately, three ice spears flew towards me.

I swung my sword to cut through one ice spear and smashed another with my left arm.

The shattered ice fragments reflected sunlight, scattering wildly.

The longsword was almost bent in half.

“Kaaaah!”

I twisted my body to dodge the remaining ice spear and charged again.

Three fireballs flew towards me.

I threw a dagger to neutralize two fireballs and rolled forward to avoid the last one.

A loud explosion echoed behind me, and the wind pressure accelerated my body forward.

“Now I only have one dagger left?”

Kenneth smirked and aimed his staff.

Three bolts of lightning poured from the tip of the staff.

Damn it.

I threw the dagger and longsword. The swords, infused with lightning, sparked and tumbled.

I took the last bolt head-on.

The lightning pierced through me.

“Ugh… Aaaah!”

A burning sensation raced through my nerves.

My vision flashed white, then turned red.

Instinct began to gnash its teeth. Why was I struggling against such a weakling?

It fiercely urged me to tear his throat out with all my strength.

No. Not yet.

Not yet. This isn’t the time to use my power on such a weakling.

I clenched my teeth and endured, charging forward.

My breath smelled of burning.

“You’re still standing…?!”

Did he think it was the finishing blow? Kenneth, shocked, hastily erected a barrier.

I had already dropped both the dagger and longsword, leaving my hands empty.

It didn’t matter.

This was nothing.

“Kaaaaah!”

My outstretched left hand shattered the blue barrier into pieces.

“What the…!”

The gauntlet crumbled, tearing into the back of my hand. It didn’t matter.

My grasping hand reached Kenneth’s collar.

Finally.

“-Got you.”

A surge of euphoria made the corners of my mouth rise.

Because of that.

I couldn’t control the suppressed impulse for a moment.

Half of Kenneth’s shoulder was torn off.

A sticky spray of blood dyed my hair red.

Not yet.

My rising knee dug into his ribs.

Four ribs shattered simultaneously, and Kenneth spat out blood.

Not yet.

My stomping left foot crushed Kenneth’s instep, and the whip-like swing of my right foot shattered his leg bone.

His body collapsed weakly.

Die.

I reached out with my right hand, grabbing Kenneth’s head as he fell, and gradually increased the pressure.

My fingers dug into his skull, slowly crushing it.

Kenneth let out a desperate scream, trembling violently.

“Stop, stop! That’s enough!”

Kal-lain’s urgent voice echoed in my ears.

I numbly released the grip.

—-

I stared blankly at Kenneth being carried away on a stretcher to the infirmary, then turned my gaze around.

Most of them were pale with fear, staring at me drenched in blood.

My soaked hair was annoying, so I shook my head roughly.

Drops of blood scattered everywhere. The surrounding students flinched and backed away.

It was the scene I intended… but I couldn’t help feeling heavy-hearted.

Ophelia was smiling with gleaming eyes.

Yeah. She liked my skills.

Leaving the fearful gazes behind, I returned to my seat.

The students sitting next to me had all moved away.

I took out a cigarette from my pocket and closed my eyes.

The blood-soaked cigarette tasted bitter.