Chapter 401

The middle school students are the strongest group among all grades in terms of ego.

The elementary school students are like flowers in a greenhouse, while the high school students feel the high walls of reality.

The representatives of middle school, standing atop the peak of ignorance, consider themselves the best in the world.

Though they haven’t been subjected to strict judging yet, they have been pointed out for their bad habits that will eventually eat away at them.

“Kim Chang-hyun breaks free from Gawonuri’s barrier using electromagnetic interference magic!”

“That’s definitely not a good habit, is it?”

“Why not? Is there a reason I can’t disable an electromagnetic barrier with electromagnetic interference?”

“To escape before the barrier stabilizes, you need to perform the disentanglement formula correctly. It’s like claiming you’ve been making left turns at a red light with no problem.”

“Hahaha.”

“What do they think ‘no protection’ means? Speeding without protection, wrong-way driving without protection, drunk driving without protection — it gives no legitimacy to actions that shouldn’t be done.”

“Thanks to Commissioner Name, today, Kim Chang-hyun will gain some proper knowledge of traffic regulations!”

Though it’s not yet taboo, once you reach the adult level, such behavior becomes close to being forbidden.

Magical duels are, on a macro level, battles that follow a turn-based concept.

Just like soccer has offense and defense, or chess has turns for each player.

If an action is taken, there must come a moment where it is countered in return.

The act of indiscriminately breaking the barrier to avoid being outmatched for even a moment was quite annoying.

Moreover, had there been a trick left in the barrier, the magic circle could have exploded.

Unfortunately, my concerns tragically became reality.

The students from Altear Academy handling the barrier were top-notch.

It seemed they added an inductor filter circuit to Gawonuri’s barrier. It can shield against EMP magic.

Kim Chang-hyun, refusing to be rescued by his teammates outside, tried to escape on his own and ended up completing a self-destructive array.

Boom-!

50% of the notoriously solid mana wall was blown away, immediately taking Kim Chang-hyun out of the battle.

I smacked my lips bitterly.

“This is how dangerous a car accident can be.”

* * *

Name wasn’t just wielding a whip with the mouth of hell.

Whether from Seviron or Altear, every player’s strengths were clearly pointed out, while the points to improve were communicated briefly and directly.

However, generally, bad remarks stick in memory longer than good ones.

With each match, Name’s quotes continuously accumulated.

[Collection of Name’s Quotes]

– It’s not that I was late, I was just keeping Korean time.

– Don’t make left turns without protection at a red light.

– Love or money may come late, but casting must never be delayed.

– Your posture seems weird. It’s like your underwear is stuck in your butt.

– You should deceive your opponent, but you deceived yourself instead.

– To hear you are a genius means you have to work hard enough to win.

– (new!) One double casting by a single person can never exceed two single castings.

[Comments]

– Today’s form is insane haha!

– When talking about posture, I thought I was going to burst out laughing haha!

└ It’s a bit awkward, but I haven’t heard a more accurate explanation haha!

└ Hahaha, the moment he fixed his posture in the second half, his performance went up.

– They now have autonomous driving, but there are still fools making left turns without protection?

└ Surprisingly, that happens daily in Busan.

└ Incheon too.

└ Someone even came to the garage saying their autonomous driving malfunctioned because they didn’t make left turns (a touching true story).

– Why did the Korean time comment come up?

└ Because the teammates insist on the same strategy even though they are clearly late with casting.

└ Can’t stand Korean time haha!

└ Where are you? I’m almost there (just leaving now). Oh, me too (still at home).

└ Hahaha!

Many people thought that magical duels pose a high entry barrier.

They believe that to accurately understand the flow of duels, you’d need to learn all types of magic.

However, Name confidently clarified the flow of every match and the superiority of each side with just a few principles and concepts.

[Interesting points when listening to Name’s commentary]

Before I knew it, I found myself channeling Name, evaluating who would win.

And when that almost turned out to be precisely correct, it gave me goosebumps.

Maybe it’s because I’m easily swayed, but when Name praises, those young kids seem incredibly impressive, and suddenly when she starts pointing out flaws, I wonder why they can’t even do that.

[Comments]

– He was just saying obvious things, right? I could say the faster casting side would win.

└ Do you think he made it that simple?

└ Of course haha! The words of a couch critic are more accurate than this year’s underdog champion!

– The last comment was super relatable haha!

└ Seriously, why do they all manage to use the difficult Maxwell circuit, but they keep skipping the amplification runes? So frustrating…

– It’s really impressive to articulate what was unconsciously understood.

– Watching the game with such eyes must be so fun.

└ Wouldn’t it actually be less fun? It’s obvious who would win.

└ No, in Name’s eyes, there are continuous comeback angles, so it’s valid to say she doesn’t always know who will win.

Moreover, the intermissions filled with casual conversation were a delicacy of sorts.

With Yoon Geon the caster, who rarely stops smiling, and Choi Woo-joo the commentator,

“Since Name is still young, she’s a bit short, isn’t she? If she grows, how tall would she want to be?”

“I’d like to reach 176cm if possible.”

“Wow 176? Then you should drink a lot of milk from now on!”

“I know it’s an impossible wish.”

“Hahaha, no, you can grow! I grew 10 centimeters during summer vacation!”

“I wonder since when Name has had such a cold look.”

“Well, I was in a capsule that was too cold, maybe?”

“…!!!”

The two middle-aged men gasped in shock with their mouths agape.

Momentarily, the camera’s focus wobbled as well.

The extreme cold caused by Name spread beyond the commentators to the PD and cameraman.

Everyone here knows what the capsule signifies for noname.

It was an event that made noname known nationwide.

While we all watched the cinematic flashbacks like a panorama, Name covered her mouth and laughed, saying,

“Hehe, just kidding. My eyelids are long, causing me to look fierce. But I’m trying to smile often.”

“Phew, it was a joke… That’s the most fortunate news I’ve heard today.”

“Wow… Wowww…! The harbinger of doom in my broadcasting life is still lingering before my eyes!”

[Q Twish / Live Chat]

– Noname capsule joke was insane, I almost dropped my heart!!!

– Did she really go crazy haha!

– Controversy was just a joke.

– Seeing an assassination angle on a public broadcast live is completely absurd haha!

– The girl destined to kill…

– The only one in the world who can make that joke is noname ㄷㄷ.

– It took exactly 3 seconds for me to understand haha!

– Do you need this much bravery to challenge for the championship?

There were minor broadcasting mishaps, but Name glossed over them playfully.

The finale of the Academy Duel was about to feature the second-year students of high school.

Seviron Academy was given the options of winning or drawing, while Altear Academy could only choose between loss or draw.

It was the moment where Name’s true strength as a commentator would shine.

* * *

The last match was declared to be played in my style without caring about the viewers.

It was a feasible claim for a minor broadcasting station like Q Twish.

Yoon Geon and Choi Woo-joo also promised to thoroughly support.

The members of high school did not change much from last year.

“It seems Altear Academy is still ahead.”

But the victories taken by the second-year elementary and first-year middle school students were invaluable results.

It meant that the skills of the newcomers had improved from previous years.

Though Seviron might be slightly struggling now, they would soon start to dominate Altear Academy day by day.

At the beginning of the match, Yoon Geon caster explained the magic used by the students with precise diction.

It was an extremely simple opening that didn’t need much explanation.

I only naturally added commentary when there were gaps in the audio.

“This is the modified Graphix Ion Trap that gained attention at the national exchange event this year. It looks like it summons 16 chains to effectively restrict the caster’s movements.”

In the early stages, while the mana wall was abundant, anything would be correct.

Here, the role of the commentators is to guess why the participants considered their actions to be correct.

Then comes the mid-game when the outcome of all battles is determined.

It refers to when the susceptibility of subatomic or macroscopic barriers drops below 50%.

From this point, the competitors will meticulously target weaknesses with just one strategy and a Plan B.

At this point, many commentators would still cover for the participants’ actions like in the early game, but I had no intention of doing so.

The representatives of second-year high school mostly thought of magical dueling as their job.

Instead of warm words, I decided to show meticulous analysis and cold judgment.

[Formation: Fix User Coordinate System]

[Casting: Adjust Drag Coefficient]

[Joint Casting: Ventus Aerofoil]

The surrounding air compressed and spun rapidly like helicopter blades.

“Shin Asha player casts Ventus Aerofoil with a double casting!”

“The casting was late! If the symmetry of the aerofoil collapses, the magic circle will consume unnecessary mana!”

The tempo of attacks being exchanged was swift.

Before the commentary finished, the results immediately sprang forth.

A player from Altear Academy wrapped his arm in numerous gloves through an exterior manifestation.

Boom-!

The third-circle Ventus Aerofoil transformed into a punch.

As the mana storm sucked air inwards, a small tornado was formed for five seconds.

“Shin Asha player is still delayed in judgment. It seems discarding the already irreversible magic circle and using a localized low pressure with Ignis Plata would be better -”

[Cast: Arc Discharge]

What a mess. The player’s habitual conduct had come forth.

Can he just stop using that Arc Discharge! Everyone from elementary to high school is using just that!

“Shin Asha player is countering with Arc Discharge magic!”

“Altear’s Song Seung-bin maintains the exterior manifestation! This player has guts, not backing down even to the Arc Discharge!”

In the first place, the student named Song Seung-bin perfectly understands the power and synergy of Arc Discharge.

And rather than facing it head-on, he receives the grounding magic circle from his teammate and charges forward.

However, the power of Arc Discharge remains strong.

“Indeed, Song Seung-bin’s positioning and aura utilization are excellent. While he could engage directly, if he decides to yield for a moment and let the attack flow -”

Whoosh—

Like a tiger pawing at its prey, Shin Asha player leaped high and swung his arm.

Crackle-!

Five bolts of lightning shot from his fingers, tearing through the space and leaving blue traces.

But it was anticipated.

Every attack becomes meaningless if it doesn’t land.

Dodging just barely, Song Seung-bin smirked and said,

“There are no more variables left.”

With a perfect counter hook, he struck Shin Asha’s temple.

Boom-!

Cheers erupted from the Altear Academy side.

* * *

Seviron Academy.

2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade of elementary. 1st and 3rd grade of middle school victoried.

Altear Academy.

4th and 6th grade of elementary. 2nd grade of middle school. 1st and 2nd grade of high school victoried.

5 to 5 draw.

However, this year Seviron Academy’s evaluation improved by hundreds of times compared to previous years.

Seviron has achieved such great growth that the superiority of the two academies can no longer be determined.

Even the matches that were won were barely by a hair, and the ones lost were also regrettable by a hair.

With the cameras turned off, I watched the award ceremony from the highest point of the training hall, satiating my hunger with chicken tenders.

[Next is the Academy Duel MVP award ceremony.]

When there’s a draw, the MVP usually goes to the student who led the second year’s high school match to victory.

This year, Altear Academy’s Song Seung-bin will probably be selected.

[Oh, before the MVP award ceremony, we will conduct a special award ceremony jointly presented by the six principals of the Seoul region academies.]

I had never heard of a special award before.

Is one given to one side, and then they give another to the other to avoid complaints?

“Nyaam.”

I stuffed my oily chicken tenders into my mouth with my bare hands.

At that moment, my image of chomping down on the stuffed chicken tenders was captured on the big screen.

‘What’s this, why am I on screen?’

[The special award is presented to the person who made significant contributions to the promotion and marketing of the Seoul region Academy Duel. The recipient is Noname student from the 3rd grade of Seviron Academy. Congratulations.]

This isn’t some public execution, what is happening?

I felt like I’d die from embarrassment.