Episode 50: What Are You Doing Here? [End]

What the hell.

‘Why is the protagonist here?’

When I looked at Yu Eun-ha with eyes demanding an explanation, she sighed while clutching her head.

“I… guess she saw me texting. Sorry, unnie…”

“It’s fine. More people means more fun.”

Though she said it was fine, Yu Eun-ha looked at Seo Jian with an extremely annoyed expression.

For a moment, she blocked Seo Jian’s path to me before attempting introductions, but…

“Seo Jian, this is Se-ah unnie I mentioned. Don’t suddenly rush at her like…”

“President! Nice to meet you!”

-Clasp!

Seo Jian immediately broke through Yu Eun-ha’s block and dashed toward me. After shaking my hands at inhuman speed, she was promptly restrained by Eun-ha.

“Unnie’s still a patient. Behave yourself.”

“Aw, but she’s crazy strong! Just the mana flowing through her body is insane! President, are you an attack-type Magician? Like Arin?”

“I’ll gratefully accept the compliment.”

‘Let’s see…’

Baek Si-ah seemed to have gone down to prepare for today’s match, leaving only Sakura and Ecclesia present.

‘Two empty seats with popcorn set up… must mean they’re coming soon. That’s Seong Arin’s favorite cushion.’

The two empty seats clearly meant Seong Arin and Baek Si-ah would come here after finishing their matches… Wait, no. This was the part where the protagonist and Baek Si-ah start developing chemistry, but they probably weren’t close yet.

Then whose seats were those?

“Unnie, sit here.”

“Thank you.”

Oh, it was my seat.

As I sat on the meticulously cleaned chair, nearby first-years turned to stare.

-Why is Eun-ha yang with the student council president…?

-No idea. Trying to recruit her to the council?

-Should I ask to join too?

‘…Annoying.’

Just as I wondered if I should say something, Yu Eun-ha unleashed a momentary wave of murderous intent toward the first-years.

‘Oh.’

Cowed by the pressure, the first-years quickly averted their eyes, allowing us to comfortably watch the match.

With Eun-ha and Seo Jian seated beside me – Eun-ha ready to restrain Seo Jian whenever she clung to me – things were manageable.

‘By the way, where’s Nayubin?’

She’d submitted her application but I had no idea what she was up to…

[“Now! This match features… Hong Biyun, 2nd year Class A ranked 50th, versus… Seong Arin, top scorer in the entrance exam and current second place!”]

-Woooooah!!

-Arin, fighting!

Watching from the stands felt like viewing an entertainment show.

Like boxers emerging from corners, Hong Biyun and Seong Arin walked out from the academy’s signature gold and azure pillars.

Seong Arin lazily drew her staff without even looking at Biyun, while Hong Biyun stared at her with complex emotions as she readied her own.

“First time seeing a Magician vs Magician match!”

“Usually fights between Magicians…”

“Typically depend on mana control,” Ecclesia interjected. “That’s why the vice president and third-year top student could exchange blows earlier. But mage duels often end anticlimactically, especially with large power gaps.”

Her judgment was accurate.

Seong Arin wielded the academy’s low-quality practice staff, while Hong Biyun’s mithril staff clearly had superior performance.

‘Just judging by equipment… Hong Biyun should dominate.’

“That senior’s gear looks incredible…”

“Don’t worry, Arin’s su~per strong.”

When Sakura expressed concern, Seo Jian dismissed any doubts about Arin’s victory.

“President, who do you think will win? 50th place… she’s in your class, right?”

“Hmm… personally I’d like to support Biyun yang since we’re classmates.”

Well, the match’s outcome was painfully obvious.

Hong Biyun, who couldn’t properly cast a single spell in this match, would suffer the ultimate humiliation as a mage – being defeated by her own reversed spells.

And not even against Seong Arin using her orichalcum entrance exam staff, but the academy’s free rental junk.

‘Arin probably thought she was being considerate…’

Ironically, this would become the catalyst for Hong Biyun’s inferiority complex exploding, leading her to illegally ingest drugs and go berserk.

“…Personally, I dislike people who hold back in battles.”

“………!”

My obvious frown made the first-years flinch and avert their eyes.

“I understand though. Crushing opponents with overwhelming power… removes the fun. And Biyun yang might get seriously hurt if hit by Arin’s attacks. There must be consideration in that.”

I sipped my cola while watching Hong Biyun get devastated by her own magic.

[“…The match is over! Seong Arin defeats Hong Biyun using only Biyun’s own spells, advancing to the top 128!”]

[“This… seems psychologically devastating.”]

[“As you all know, magic involves weaving spell formulas with mana before releasing them with magical power, correct?”]

[“Reverse Calculation completely analyzes and alters the spell formula’s structure – literally destroying the opponent’s magic. But Seong Arin…”]

[“…Redirected the reversed spells back at Hong Biyun. Using Reverse Calculation – typically for destruction or redirection – as direct offense…”]

[“Is essentially treating the mage as utterly insignificant.”]

“I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”

I stood quickly. The reason was simple.

‘The contact should happen now.’

I needed to ensure Hong Biyun wouldn’t drink that drug and could take a better path.

…

…

…

I lost.

-Crash!

Overwhelmingly.

“…Damn it, DAMN IT ALL!!!!”

Despite being toyed with, she was 2nd year 50th rank – a Class A student.

Yet she’d been utterly crushed.

‘As if your pathetic fireballs could touch me’ – Seong Arin reversed her spells with mere flicks of a wrist, not even looking at her.

She could endure it. Her pride as a mage had been shattered long before entering the academy.

She could endure the humiliation of being defeated by her own reversed spells.

She could understand why Arin used the academy’s worst staff instead of her master’s gift.

But one thing was unbearable.

Her master’s disappointed face upon seeing her. And…

“She never looked at me once during the fight.”

Even while reversing her magic, Seong Arin never once made eye contact.

The pitying gaze when offering a hand after the match.

“GAAAAAH!”

She hated it.

-Thud! Thump! Bang!

Crimson blood now stained the walls. The liquid dripping from her head was undoubtedly blood.

When someone approached and threw her a handkerchief, Hong Biyun glared with eyes full of stress and irritation.

She assumed they were Class A students coming to mock her humiliating loss to a first-year.

But…

“Don’t you want revenge on Seong Arin?”

Hearing this from a shadowy figure holding a black liquid, Hong Biyun’s hope-blinded eyes ignored his warnings about losing her humanity.

No – she heard him.

But her already broken psyche, shattered by comparisons to Arin and classmates’ ridicule, couldn’t care less about side effects.

“Usage is simple. Just drink it.”

“What do you want? Money? I can pay any…”

“No payment needed. We’re just testing our newly developed drug.”

With those words, the shadowy figure disappeared. Hong Biyun reached out but grasped nothing.

“With this… I can kill that bitch.”

They said effects were immediate. Thinking this was her chance to slaughter that contemptible girl and the trash who mocked her while her mana was depleted, Hong Biyun raised the black potion to her lips.

“That’s far enough.”

“…Yun Se-ah?!”

Just before psychokinesis restrained her.