Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Wall

“Heuheu······.”

At Gilbert continuously flowing laughter beside Tom felt a slightly worried heart.

“Is there something good?”

“Ah, I hung everything.”

“Everything you say?”

“Yes, heuheu—. I am rich now.”

Gilbert flowed a low laugh again.

At the appearance of fully excited Gilbert Tom swallowed dry saliva.

“I will buy a very pretty and well-made sword.”

“······By any chance where did you hang?”

“Asking a stupid question, of course I hung on the captain.”

Gilbert answered while clicking his tongue.

“The captain who even burns the demon race, if that opponent is a mage there is no way he loses. Although the odds being low is a bit regrettable, instead I hung the stake full.”

Gilbert said logically unlike matching.

At that Tom was more anxious.

Tom also naturally was certain of Galahad’s victory. From the beginning Galahad losing was not imaginable.

Then, Galahad went up to the arena. Galahad was in a neat suit attire after taking off the coat Tom made.

“Why didn’t you wear the magic beast coat? That one doesn’t magic work.”

“Ah, they say empire style magic duel has quite many conditions. The attire is set, and since there is no magic beast coat there it would be.”

“How do you Tom know that?”

“Because it is the captain’s duel I looked into a bit.”

“I see, but there are many rules. As expected mages are really bothersome guys. If picking up the sword just the strong guy wins though.”

At Gilbert’s muttering Tom laughed awkwardly.

Then, the knight beside raised a salute to Gilbert.

Gilbert received the salute with a cold face.

That was the front line Gilbert Tom heard as rumor.

“Ahem, so did the captain hang this time too?”

Of course, soon returned to the Special Mission Unit’s Gilbert.

“That is a bit strange. This time he said not to hang.”

It was Galahad who hit the match two times consecutively. Yet he asked not to hang on his own match.

“···Yes?”

Gilbert’s face became subtle.

Is he feeling something wrong now—.

“Heuheu, he was thinking of eating alone. Can’t deceive my eyes!”

At Gilbert laughing sinisterly Tom slightly shook his head.

Just in time the mage wearing a white robe came up to the arena.

****

‘Became more stinging.’

Galahad muttered while shaking the tingling hand.

The pill of pain nodded violently. The pill of pain was tightly shrunken.

Adrianne’s nature of burning mana became stronger the stronger the opponent.

When the pill of pain’s rank rose by one, pain hard to even compare with before came.

To the extent Galahad almost screamed.

At the nonsensical pain the mind flashed.

If holding a bit more one might really die.

Instead, whether the price of that Adrianne’s nature appeared even more distinctly.

‘Compatibility.’

Galahad muttered the dry word.

About Adrianne’s nature it seemed he was gradually knowing.

Thump! Thump! The pill of pain violently protested. It seemed scolding why he did such a crazy act.

‘Because necessary.’

Galahad brushed the disheveled hair back. He turned his gaze and looked at the upper left.

There the princess was sitting obliquely.

The princess’s eyes were drawing a pleasant arc.

If losing in the duel would the princess obediently step back? There was no way.

The princess was a viciously crazy woman.

The reason such a princess stepped back neatly in the duel was one.

‘It would be that she will entrust to my hand.’

It is waiting for Galahad’s judgment.

Truly a vicious woman.

If Galahad wins here—.

‘That cannot be reversed.’

It was clear a terrible result would occur.

Even if handing the princess it was not the end. The empire would pull down the princess with that as a pretext, and at the same time it was clear they would pressure the North.

The princess was a card related to the imperial family.

One could not discard.

Yet one could not lose either.

Because the Grand Duke was looking at Galahad with fierce eyes.

It seemed the Grand Duke and the princess were aiming at the neck.

Whichever of the two one chooses it was the worst.

Galahad tidied the cool neck.

“Is there no staff either?”

At the pointed voice Galahad’s thoughts broke. Contempt was full on Bunch’s face.

From the beginning the opponent was also an upper mage of the White Magic Tower. A skilled one who quite made a name in the capital.

Not a guy one could handle as one pleased.

“Sorry but, because the two feet are still fine. The staff is not needed.”

“What—. This stupid guy is still acting tough.”

At Bunch’s pointed counter Galahad laughed with a keul keul.

Those guys called nobles were really childish.

To the extent of doing low level bullying because a guy much younger than oneself entered the Academy—.

Then, the soldier beside blew the horn trumpet.

“I will fix the habit! Land of Fire!”

Huge fire spewed from the end of Bunch’s staff. That fire spread all around as if eating the land.

‘Ah, it was fire type.’

Galahad recalled Bunch’s characteristic.

Bunch was a mage specialized in fire.

‘Land of Fire. Was he chanting the formula in advance.’

Land of Fire was an area magic that fills the surroundings with fire.

If laying Land of Fire, unfolding fire magic was much easier and that power was also strengthened. It was a magic with strong auxiliary character.

‘Quite.’

Not attacking while excited, but building the foundation first, it was clear a guy quite familiar with mage duels.

Since Land of Fire was the guy’s magic, the same fire magic was rather easy to receive interference.

And—.

‘Because it has to be as flashy as possible.’

As expected ice was the orthodox for fire.

Galahad raised the corners of his mouth and flicked his hand.

“Frozen Land.”

After a long time mana largely drained. Cool chill spread around Galahad.

The roughly blazing fire was pushed by the chill.

Galahad gauged that speed.

Bunch pointed at Galahad with the staff and shouted.

“Burning Snake—.”

A thick fire stream surged from the end of the staff. When sticky fire as if kneading lava came out, the fire laid around stuck as if quickly.

The snake’s size instantly swelled. A fire form closer to a dragon than a snake looked down at Galahad.

‘Burning Snake.’

Galahad felt subtle interest and flicked his finger.

“Frozen Snake.”

Frost clustered and swelled the size.

At some point a snake carved from ice was standing behind Galahad.

Cheers burst from around.

Then, Gwen was seen between the spectator seats. Gwen was looking at the magic with blank eyes and opening her mouth with a jjeok—.

Gwen’s eyes were hazy.

“A good opportunity. Look well.”

The large snake made of fire charged toward Galahad.

Galahad raised the corners of his mouth and shook his finger.

Fire and ice collided in the middle. The fire largely undulated and instantly swelled the size. Fragments bounced behind the ice and cool energy spread.

Kwaang! A heavy sound burst.

‘This—.’

The form of the fire dragon was disturbed.

The level was lower than expected.

No—.

‘My level rose excessively.’

It was a calculation error. Galahad’s eyes furrowed.

He hurriedly pushed the magic. The ice dragon advanced while pushing the fire dragon.

When the fire dragon was pushed to Land of Fire the momentum changed. The ice dragon weakened in Land of Fire, and the fire dragon grew the size.

Galahad narrowed his eyes and examined the magic. He compared the amount of mana entering.

‘The difference is large.’

There was a need to actively consume mana.

“Explosive Fireball—!”

“Ice Spear.”

This time he raised the magic’s speed more. The two magics collided in Land of Fire.

The explosive fireball scattered. The ice spear advanced piercing that and melted.

Still overflowing. Galahad precisely adjusted mana. He lowered the density and increased the amount. He deliberately swelled the size.

Then, eyes met with Bunch.

The guy’s face was fully furrowed.

‘The sense is fast side.’

However, there was nothing the guy could do.

Because the calculation was already after finished.

Galahad’s calculation was accurate.

****

‘Crazy—.’

Bunch tightly bit his lips.

At first he thought a stupid guy.

When Bunch cast Land of Fire, the guy followed and cast Frozen Land. This was the most stupid response.

Bunch was a fire specialized mage. He entered the White Magic Tower with fire magic, and was a mage who devoted his lifetime to the fire type.

To think of rushing with compatibility to such Bunch—.

The worst number.

Yet the guy’s Frozen Land pushed Land of Fire.

As the competition continued the strangeness became even larger.

The guy quietly stared at Bunch.

Exactly—.

‘Waiting for my magic.’

Bunch clenched his teeth and cast magic consecutively.

Every time he did that the guy countered with the same rank ice attribute.

Accurately without even an inch of error—.

The competition part gradually approached the guy.

Bunch thought he was pushing the guy.

However, even if chanting the formula more and pouring mana more the place the magic disappears did not change.

The part where the areas overlap, there the magic accurately disappeared.

Only then Bunch realized.

That the guy is accurately matching his own magic.

“Damn! Magic is amazing!”

“Wow—. It seems the two’s levels are the same! Such a cool match—.”

At the magic bursting consecutively cheers poured from all around.

Continuously magic entangled and burst out.

To them it would look like a tight fight.

Bunch knew that was not it.

No, he was feeling.

When magics collided, the reaction was largely three types.

Eating, or being eaten, or conflicting and disappearing—.

Most ate or were eaten.

That was also so because to conflict the mana that entered the two magics had to be the same.

That was a really uncommon matter.

Yet now it continuously conflicted and disappeared.

Is it simply because the two’s mana is the same.

‘No, the guy is accurately matching my mana.’

Bunch shook his head and folded the bizarre question.

‘Don’t bullshit—. I am Bunch of the White Magic Tower!’

He clenched his teeth and poured mana.

However, the result was the same.

The two’s magic accurately breaking between the areas—.

Why is he causing such an act.

If going to win just winning neatly would do—.

To think of giving this humiliation unnecessarily.

Then, Bunch felt stiffness around the heart.

It was the signal that mana was bottoming.

‘Surely—.’

“Frozen Spear.”

A spear made of ice aimed at Bunch.

Exactly the head.

If spitting other words not the formula it was clear the glabella would be pierced.

Bunch urgently chanted the formula.

The magic accurately broke at the boundary of the area.

After a moment of breathing time the ice spear shot again—.

The guy was considering even until Bunch’s magic casting.

Exactly like a teacher competing matching the level—.

‘Daring against me! No way.’

Bunch tightly gripped the staff.

Then, this time the guy opened his mouth first.

“It is Frozen Spear.”

He recited the formula kindly as if informing his own magic.

A thick ice spear aimed at Bunch. Bunch had no choice but to recite the formula.

The two magics collided again, and disappeared stylishly.

To the extent the ones looking could not hide admiration.

The problem started from then.

“Hmm, Frozen Cannon would be good.”

“Frozen Arrow. Ten.”

“With Ice Wall one has to catch breath a bit for a moment.”

The guy started attaching afterthoughts to the formula.

Although like monologue, that was words to Bunch.

Informing the number so do not miss and follow well—.

He informed one by one exactly like a very kind teacher.

Only then Bunch grasped the guy’s intention.

The guy was playing with Bunch.

It was clear he was trying to take revenge of Academy days.

‘Daring! Daring!!’

In Academy days it was a kid who could not even meet eyes with himself.

To think such a kid is playing with himself—.

One could not tolerate.

‘I am Bunch of the White Magic Tower!’

Bunch clenched his teeth.

However, excitement was a curse to a mage.

Bunch maintained coolness and prepared one number.

‘Daring to act arrogant.’

If predicting his own mana and matching that, it was a matter of breaking.

Bunch had the ability to do so.

Bunch adjusted the staff and chanted the formula.

Very quietly so the guy does not hear—.

And from the staff he sprinkled a very basic magic fireball.

He intended to draw the guy’s attention with the fireball, and deliver a counterattack.

‘He wouldn’t have predicted double formula—.’

Double formula was the hidden dagger Bunch hid.

‘Your arrogance is holding your neck.’

When the guy flew an ice arrow toward the fireball, Bunch’s mouth opened.

“Fire that Melts Everything—.”

A huge fire stream shot from Bunch’s staff.

It was the magic among the magics Bunch possessed that was the fastest while the power was decent.

There was no way the guy whose attention was drawn to the fireball could block.

‘···Laughing?’

At the guy’s raised corners of the mouth Bunch felt subtle coolness.

Then—.

“Flower that Freezes Everything.”

The guy flicked his finger.

The ice flower that bloomed from the guy ate the fireball, and collided with the fire stream.

A huge explosion occurred—.

The fire stream and flower disappeared at the same time.

It meant that in that moment he calculated the mana of the fireball and fire stream, and constructed the magic with the mana combining the two.

Unbelievable.

There was no way such a thing is possible.

However, the guy’s raised corners of the mouth proved that.

“Fun. Come, this time it is ice arrow.”

Bunch felt a vicious wall one could not resist.

****

‘Surely—.’

The princess’s knight Devan opened his eyes wide.

Magic was shot and broke and shot again and broke again.

The arena already lost its form.

Fire fully blazed, and conversely frost raged.

A dragon made of fire rose, and at that a dragon made of ice opened its mouth with a jjeok—.

At that duel that made one hold sweat in the hand crazy cheers poured.

A tight match without even an inch of retreat continued.

Although Bunch was an upper mage of the White Magic Tower, that opponent was Galahad. As long as a mage there was no way one could win against Galahad.

Yet such a fierce duel—.

Devan could not understand at all.

‘Was Bunch a strong one to that degree?’

Actually the visible power was also strong.

Then, the princess stood from the seat. Tears were full in those eyes.

“Ah······.”

Hot crying burst from the princess’s mouth. Tears flowed long around those eyes.

‘Why?’

To think of rejoicing so at the situation Galahad is struggling—.

Then—.

“Daring—! Me—! What do you think!”

Bunch spat blood from his mouth and swung the staff.

Riding that staff a small fireball rose.

That was a much smaller size than the previous ones, but that presence was different.

The remaining fire around was sucked in an instant.

“Agui Fire.”

Huge fire settled on Bunch’s staff. How hot that heat was the ground below melted to the extent.

At that Galahad flicked his finger. Clean ice like crystal rose.

The frost around was sucked in. Soon large size ice settled.

“Don’t bullshit!”

Bunch swore roughly and swung the staff.

Then Galahad shook his finger.

The two huge magics collided in the center.

Kwaaaang!

A roar burst a little later. The arena roughly shook. Broken ice fragments bounced all around, and fire roughly fluttered.

It was a huge explosion to the extent Devan blocked in front of the princess in surprise. At that several soldiers flew back.

Soon thick smoke settled on the arena.

Heavy silence settled. There was no cheer.

“Tch.”

The Grand Duke swung his huge hand.

Then the wind pushed the fog.

The appearance seen between the fog was miserable.

On the arena that became a mess Bunch was standing leaning on the staff.

Blood vessels were fully risen on Bunch’s face. Whether all capillaries burst the eyes were red. Blood flowed with a tok tok around the eyes. The body roughly shook.

‘Mana exhaustion—.’

It was the symptom called the mage’s death penalty. That pain was famous as comparable to falling into hell.

‘Then Galahad—.’

Galahad’s state was also the same. Capillaries fully risen on the red pupils, the body trembling with a dal dal unable to overcome the pain—. Although standing dignified, it was clear mana exhaustion.

Then, Bunch and Galahad collapsed.

Simultaneous without even an inch of error.

Thud.

A weak sound hard to compare with the previous roars announced the end.

‘What on earth is this—.’

Is this a matter that can occur?

“You are really driving me crazy.”

At the princess’s muttering mixed with crying Devan realized the situation.

‘He made a draw?’

Unlike a knight’s duel in a mage’s duel there existed a draw.

If both fall into mana exhaustion state it was a draw.

However, from the beginning the mana amount could not be the same, and even if the same the mana distributed to each magic was different.

Along with that mana exhaustion had high notoriety. To the extent the orthodox was that rather than experiencing mana exhaustion one would forfeit.

Because of that a draw was hard to come out once in a thousand duels.

Yet to think of making a draw—.

It was the story of willingly taking on that notorious mana exhaustion.

“Draw··· it is a draw.”

The referee belatedly announced the result.

Then, the princess kicked the chair.

At some point the princess was up on the arena.

Right in front of that Adrianne was there.

Facing Adrianne and the princess with Galahad in between.

Although Adrianne arrived first, she could not extend her hand.

Because there was no gauntlet, one could not touch.

Looking at such Adrianne the princess embraced Galahad with both hands.

And as if boasting she embraced Galahad even deeper.

Adrianne’s eyebrows roughly rose.

At the unbelievable result heavy silence settled.

When everyone carefully even breathing and examining the mood—.

Someone screamed loudly.

“Uaaaaak! I am ruined!”

It was Gilbert.