Chapter 257: Duels are the Flower of the Academy

“Yes! I am just a plain, inconspicuous, completely ordinary commoner, after all!”

Having obtained an evaluation of mediocrity directly from a noble with an eye for determining a person’s worth, I felt the greatest sense of accomplishment.

I’m so glad I came to the Magic Academy!

“O-Oh… W-Well, as long as you know your place, it is fine.”

Perhaps my plainness had gotten across to him, as he judged there was no need to cause any further trouble and immediately sheathed his sword.

“My name is Bonkran Fucianandes. A man who will inherit the honorable Fucianandes Earldom. If you flatter me now, I might hire you as a servant when you graduate from the academy.”

“Aah!? What did you say, you bastar—mogg!!”

Hm? I feel like I just heard a strange sound. Well, whatever.

“Thank you very much!”

I assume it was just a polite platitude, but since he invited me out of goodwill, I must properly express my gratitude!

“Hahaha, that is how a commoner should be.”

It seems it really was just a polite platitude, as he left without saying anything more.

Yeah, yeah, the fact that he left simply without making any weird sarcastic remarks made him a very likable person.

“Damn it, what’s his deal!? Making fun of Bro by calling him a servant!”

When I turned around at Jairo-kun’s displeased voice, I found him being held in a full nelson by Mina-san, Norb-san, and Meguri-san.

“What are you doing?”

“This idiot was trying to pick a fight with a noble.”

“Eeh!? But why?”

“Because, you know! That guy called you a servant, Bro! You ain’t someone who fits in a box like that!”

I see, Jairo-kun was displeased by that.

“Now, now. Besides, that person was quite a good guy.”

” ” ” ” ” At what point in that conversation did you get that impression!? ” ” ” ” “

Everyone looked surprised, but I rated him highly.

After all, nobles are often troublesome, and many will try to pick a fight even if you try to settle things peacefully, but he left simply after finishing his greeting.

Compared to the nobles from my previous life and the one before that, I could confidently say he was a very rational noble.

“But that surprised me. To think you’d dodge Fucianandes-sama’s provocation like that, you have incredible nerve.”

Sden-kun sighed, looking as if he were truly relieved from the bottom of his heart.

“Eh? Provocation?”

Did he provoke me?

That level of phrasing is common when dealing with nobles, though.

According to the noble conversation guidelines taught to me by a colleague who was a lower-ranking noble in my life before last, that conversation just now was basically, “Hello there. You might be confused since it’s your first time at the academy, but if you have any trouble, feel free to ask me anything.”

Since they apparently have to deliberately use wording that sounds sarcastic or take a domineering tone when speaking to commoners, nobles sure are roundabout, aren’t they.

“Kyukkyuu.”

Huh? Why does even Fluffy have a ‘it can’t be helped’ look on his face?

“Anyway, from that interaction, we now know some troublesome people have their eyes on us.”

Mina-san said, sounding a bit troubled.

“Nn. As transfer students in the middle of the term, we stand out no matter what. There’s no doubt nobles will continue to mess with us from now on.”

Meguri-san also voiced her agreement.

“In that case, should we come up with some countermeasures?”

The actions of malicious nobles are insidious.

Even in my previous life, harassment like forcing a cursed item onto someone as a token of friendship or offering food laced with a hard-to-detect slow-acting poison was an everyday occurrence.

” ” ” ” ” Please, we beg you, do not make this a big deal! ” ” ” ” “

Just as I thought it might be better to devise further countermeasures, everyone immediately told me to hold up.

Ah, they’re trying to say that if we blatantly take countermeasures, we’ll end up showing them an opening to exploit.

That’s true. We’ve already taken the minimum necessary countermeasures, and we can handle mere harassment without any problems, so it’s fine.

“You’re right. Then let’s avoid any actions that stand out so we don’t draw any more glare.”

” ” ” ” ” Eh? ” ” ” ” “

Why is everyone looking at me with such surprised eyes?

◆

“You there, commoner.”

“Yes?”

We had finished our afternoon classes and were about to head home when a single girl stood in our way.

“My name is Mortena Tchoroint. Daughter of the proud Marquis Tchoroint family.”

The girl who suddenly appeared unilaterally declared her name.

“Marquis family!?”

Eh? Wait a minute. We literally just talked about trying not to stand out, so why is someone from a Marquis family suddenly showing up!?

“Ah, they showed up after all.”

“As expected, Bro! You never disappoint!”

“It was bound to happen.”

No, wait a second, everyone! Why am I being treated like the cause even though I haven’t done anything!?

“Y-Yeah, exactly! I might not be her target! If anyone, today’s target should be Mina-san, right!? She’s Nagibelt-san’s granddaughter, and she was the one answering the teacher’s questions.”

Yeah, that’s right. There’s no way she’d have business with me, who hasn’t stood out at all.

Therefore, I shall step back and stand by.

“Why are you trying to step back? I am speaking to you.”

Despite my thoughts, the girl who called herself Mortena pointed at me and said that.

Eeh? Why~?

She lowered her gaze for just an instant before returning it to me.

“You, duel me.”

“Duel?”

Eh? A duel all of a sudden!? Why!?

“I saw your entrance exams. While quite impressive for commoners, many of the magics themselves were mediocre.”

Saying that, Mortena-san looked around at Jairo-kun and the others.

“Hah? If you came to pick a fight, I don’t mind buying it!”

Jairo-kun, thinking they were being mocked, snapped at her, but Mortena-san ignored him and directed her gaze to Mina-san.

“Your magic was magnificent. To be able to handle the high-difficulty Lightning Magic at that age, as expected of the Former Principal’s granddaughter.”

“…I am humbled.”

“However…”

Although she smiled at Mina-san, Mortena-san suddenly glared at me with sharp eyes.

“Your magic! What was that!? I have never seen magic like that!!”

Eh? My magic? You mean the Spatial Magic?

“My Tchoroint family is a distinguished family of mages; having produced many exceptional magic users, we also possess many documents regarding magic. But even in our family’s collection, there was nothing written about your magic! Tell me! What on earth is that magic!?”

“Umm, that is a type of Spatial Magic, and…”

“No, I understand. Even as a commoner, you are a mage. There is no way you would easily teach your own magical techniques.”

No, I really don’t mind teaching it to you, though.

“Therefore, I challenge you to a duel! If I win, you will teach me your magic. Yes, of course, there is a benefit for you as well. It is impossible, but in the unlikely event that you win, I shall grant you a magic book owned by my family. How about it? Not a bad trade, is it?”

“Umm…”

What should I do? I don’t mind teaching her, but she seems to be the type who doesn’t listen to what others say.

Furthermore, going out of her way to challenge me to a duel means she has considerable confidence in her own power.

If I tell someone like that, ‘I’ll teach you even if we don’t duel,’ there’s a high chance she’ll get angry and say I’m running away from a fight.

Yeah, considering that, it seems better to play along with her pace here.

Besides, I’m also curious about the abilities of a mage studying at the current, cutting-edge academy.

…It’s definitely not because I’m curious about the contents of the magic books housed by the Marquis family, okay? Seriously.

“Understood. I accept that challenge.”

When I accepted the duel, Mortena-jou smirked.

“Fufu, you must. Now then, let us head to the training grounds!”

And so, shortly after arriving at the Magic Academy, I ended up accepting a duel.

Wait, isn’t this just like the academy stories I often heard about in my past life!

Hmm, my heart’s pounding a little.

◆ Liliera ◆

When we went outside, a gloomy, overcast sky covered the area.

It was as if hinting at the catastrophe that was about to occur.

And when we arrived at the training grounds, a large crowd of students was waiting.

” ” ” ” ” Uwooooooooooh!! ” ” ” ” “

Seeing us—no, seeing Lexus-san and the others—the students raised a cheer.

“This is…?”

“Fufu, as a member of a Marquis family, I must provide entertainment for the students, after all.”

I see, so this is that young lady’s setup.

Basically, it’s to intimidate us by subjecting us to an ‘away’ atmosphere?

“Heh, so that guy is Mortena-jou’s next prey.”

As the cheers died down, the voices of the students surrounding us could be heard.

“To be targeted by the ‘Magic Hunter’ Mortena-jou, what a pitiful guy.”

Magic Hunter? What does that mean?

“Mortena-jou is a collector of rare magic. She’s a terrifying person who, whenever she sees magic she doesn’t know, challenges the user to a duel at every opportunity to make it her own.”

I see, so that’s why she’s the ‘Magic Hunter’.

“Normally, repeatedly dueling for the sake of magic would be a huge problem, but unfortunately, since Mortena-jou is from a Marquis family, the teachers can’t carelessly scold her.”

“Above all, she herself is a powerhouse whose appointment as a Court Mage after graduation is said to be guaranteed. To be targeted by such a Mortena-jou, he’s a pitiful guy.”

“I understand the situation perfectly, but I wonder why those people went out of their way to explain it even though no one asked them?”

“Ah, that. The guys explaining just now are that young lady’s entourage; they’re advertising to the surroundings how amazing their master is, while simultaneously trying to lower Lexus’s will to fight by making him realize he’s fighting such an amazing person.”

When I wondered about it, Mina told me the reason.

I wondered why they bothered explaining every little detail, but it had that kind of meaning.

However, that in itself makes me worry.

Because…

“I wonder if Lexus-san will overdo it…”

Because, no matter how much she is a student with excellent grades at this academy, she is still ultimately just a student.

In contrast, Lexus-san is a powerhouse who effortlessly defeats not just S-rank monsters but even legendary demons in actual combat.

It’s a scene equivalent to a dragon fighting a baby, let alone an adult fighting a child; we were on pins and needles.

If he were to believe them when they say she’s amazing over and over again…

However, despite our worries, the duel had begun.

“First, a probe. Burn, spear of flame, pierce my enemy: FLAME LANCE!”

The one who took the initiative was the young lady of the Tchoroint family.

She chanted her spell without hesitation and unleashed a magic spear of flame… but I couldn’t help being bothered by the time it took for the magic to activate.

Yeah, that’s normal, but from the perspective of us who take chantless magic for granted, we’ve come to worry, “Won’t the enemy get close while you’re chanting?”

“FLAME LANCE!”

As expected, Lexus-san neutralized the Tchoroint young lady’s magic with the same spell, cast chantlessly.

And Lexus-san’s magic continued on, attacking the Tchoroint young lady.

“…Pierce my enemy: FLAME LANCE!!”

However, as if anticipating that, she further neutralized Lexus-san’s magic with the same spell.

And this time, her magic bared its fangs at Lexus-san.

“I see, so these are the rules.”

I heard Lexus-san mutter quietly.

Hm? I have a bad feeling about this…

“FLAME LANCE!!”

Once again, the magic unleashed by Lexus-san neutralized the Tchoroint young lady’s magic and headed toward her.

“FLAME LANCE!! You’re quite capable!”

After that, an exchange of the same magic continued between Lexus-san and her.

“Hey, what does Lexus-san mean by ‘these are the rules’?”

“That’s a test of skill mages sometimes do in duels. They fire magic at each other, neutralizing the opponent’s magic. It’s a magic rally that continues until someone fails to neutralize it.”

Mina explained the exchange between Lexus-san and her.

“Heeh, so that’s the rule.”

“It’s rare to do it with the exact same magic, though. Incidentally, because they are neutralizing each other without the magic breaking off, even though it’s the same spell, the power is gradually increasing. That’s also quite rare.”

I see, so that’s also a highlight of this duel.

“That being said, it seems she’s approaching her limit.”

Looking at the Tchoroint young lady upon Mina’s words, her face indeed lacked composure, and sweat beaded on her forehead.

“FLAME ARROW!!”

And while she did neutralize Lexus-san’s magic, the spell itself seemed to run out of power and did not head toward Lexus-san.

“She couldn’t keep it up, but what happens now?”

“Normally, when they realize a rally won’t settle things, they move on to deciding the match with their specialty magic.”

“F-Fufu… Y-You’re quite capable. Then I suppose it’s about time I get serious! O dazzling one! O shattering one! O incinerating one!”

Just as Mina said, the chanting of a different incantation began.

“My? This incantation is…”

Mina was the first to react.

Next to react were her entourage.

“I-Is that perhaps the extreme flame magic passed down in the Tchoroint Marquis family!?”

“The legendary magic said to have brought victory in the Great War 120 years ago!?”

Hmm, they’re explaining it kindly as always.

I’m starting to think it’s rather convenient.

However, it was bad that I ended up focusing on chatting with Mina right then.

“Unleash!! FLAME INFE—”

“I see, so this is the flow of a modern noble’s duel. Then it would be boorish of me not to respond in kind. Right, I should answer with a magic that is easy to understand and highly powerful!”

Although we missed hearing Lexus-san’s muttering, we sensed the extraordinary magic power he unleashed and realized the situation had become dangerous.

“Wh-What!?”

Turning around at the magic power that suddenly swelled with a zowa sensation, a heat akin to midsummer filled the surroundings.

Wondering what on earth was happening, not just us, but even the students were shaken.

And the Tchoroint young lady was no exception.

“Tch! O merciful hellfire that burns all equally! Grant that one an equivalent peace! Roar! FLAME INFE—”

However, she immediately brought her consciousness back to the battle and prioritized activating her magic.

It was surely because her instincts told her that if she didn’t settle this quickly, things would get disastrous.

That was the correct judgment.

Provided her opponent wasn’t Lexus-san.

Provided she hadn’t challenged Lexus-san to a duel in the first place.

The moment Lexus-san raised his hand to the heavens, light burst forth from above.

“METEOR SUN FALL!!”

Looking at the heavens, there was a sun.

However, it wasn’t high in the sky. It was right above us.

“…He?”

It wasn’t unreasonable that a sound like air escaping leaked from someone’s mouth.

After all, we didn’t understand what had happened either.

All we knew was the tremendous amount of heat, and the fact that it possessed an enormous amount of magic power.

And, if we took a direct hit from this, we would be burned to nothing, leaving not even dust behind.

“Hahyu…”

Returning my gaze down at the sound of something collapsing with a thud along with that deflating-air sound, the young lady of the Tchoroint family had collapsed to her knees on the ground, a tearful half-smile on her face.

“Hah!!”

Brought back to my senses by that sight, I hurriedly wedged myself between the two of them.

“Stoop! Stop, stop!! That’s enough, Lexus-saaaan!!”

“Yes?”

“You! You surrender, right! You’re not going to fight that, right!”

Shaking her shoulders, I pointed at the sun above.

She then shivered with a bururi and muttered a single word in a small voice.

“I-I churrender…”

“V-Victoryyy!! With the opponent’s surrender, Lexus-san is the winneer!! It’s a victory so hurry up and put that magic away, Lexus-saaan!!”

“Ah, yes.”

Then, as if nothing had been there to begin with, the sun vanished with a fuu.

However, as if to declare that it had by no means been an illusion, a massive hole had opened in the large clouds above, revealing the blue sky through it.

Thus, the duel met its end without a final clash… however…

“O-Onee-shyama…”

For some reason, the young lady was clinging to me, calling me “Onee-sama”…

“A savior!”

“Our savior!!”

” ” ” A goddess!! ” ” “

And for some reason, the students who had been watching were kneeling deeply and bowing their heads to me…

“Wh-Why am I the one standing outttttt!!”