Ch.104104. Infiltrating the Octagon (6)

In a split second, she subdued the two guards. Such a display of skill was more than enough as a performance.

“Here you go. Twenty-five thousand alte as the advance payment.”

When she had asked for cash, she thought it might take some time, but that wasn’t the case.

He seemed to have sent some people to prepare the cash right away.

“Would you mind if I count it? I’m a bit of a penny-pincher, you see.”

“Do as you wish. There might be more than agreed, but certainly not less.”

That seems to be the case. How overflowing with money must he be to not even bother counting it again?

Of course, if he’s giving extra, that’s a big thank you from me.

“Looks like you’re done checking? Then it’s time for you to fulfill our request.”

The man who smelled the money raised the corner of his mouth and gestured with his chin toward the octagon behind him. It meant for her to go up.

“Understood. Please take good care of this in the meantime.”

“Hehe. Given the hefty price, I’ll personally look after it. But more importantly…”

“I’ll handle it cleanly, without disappointing you. Much neater than that Cain fellow.”

“Haha! Unlike that stiff guy, you’re easy to talk to, which I really like. Good. I’m looking forward to your flashy debut.”

Now, what kind of performance will she show once she steps into the octagon?

And how will she make an impression on the nobles as a new face?

The anticipation is endless. The image of Junon confidently subduing the two guards and boldly demanding money was not easily forgotten.

Soon after her appearance in the octagon was announced—

—Ooooh!!

“That’s right. That’s how it should be.”

The result justified the 25,000 alte advance payment she had demanded.

One thing was certain: whether small or large, a wave of change was sweeping through this gambling den.

***

Magic is a truly fascinating field of study with no end to its depths.

Just as each person has a different face and personality, the magical power each individual possesses is also unique.

Even the basic fire magic spell “Fireball” that people cast every day shows subtle differences depending on the quality and amount of magical power invested.

Not everyone can perfectly replicate the same thing when asked to do so. That’s why the birth of new magic is rare.

The process of researching and creating new magic inevitably involves the incorporation of new techniques in using magical power.

This time, her attention was drawn to a technique recently used by a student.

As Denis’s magical power flowed in, the mana doll, which served as an experimental dummy, stopped glowing as its magical flow was halted.

“…This is strange in many ways.”

The technique involves injecting magical power but in a reverse direction to disrupt the opponent’s magical circulation, simultaneously breaking any magic circles being deployed.

It was a valid and useful technique that could be devastatingly effective against magic-focused mages or magical beasts that incorporate magic formulas into their bodies.

It could rightfully be called the closest thing to a groundbreaking new technique based on solid theory.

It made perfect sense why Muniher had openly named it “Anti-Cast.”

However, what was puzzling was how smoothly all of this was achieved.

“It’s clear. This isn’t something an ordinary student should be able to use.”

Junon herself doesn’t know exactly how she came to master this technique called Anti-Cast.

However, Denis was certain that applying such solid theory to practical use must have consumed considerable time.

Especially considering that she had attempted to use this during her instructional duel with Muniher…

“Sis, you called for me, so I’m here.”

“You came?”

Her sister Dalia had arrived just in time. It was an opportunity to confirm whether she wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

“Dalia, listen carefully to my explanation.”

“Hm? Okay.”

After a round of explanation, following the theory, Dalia demonstrated the same technique on the mana doll that Denis had just performed.

“Ugh. Are you trying to develop another magic with this?”

“…”

“Sis?”

Even Dalia took time with it.

Considering that her sister was a doctor in the medical field with considerable knowledge of magical power control, it still took her quite a long time.

“Dalia, how many people in the empire do you think could grasp and use this technique just from hearing the theory as I explained it to you?”

“Are you suddenly bragging? Geez.”

“That’s not it, just answer quickly.”

“Hmm… If I had to say who could definitely use it, probably your husband, my husband, His Grace the Grand Duke, and a very small number of students. It’s much more difficult than it looks.”

“…That’s what I thought.”

Muniher had directly sensed and responded to the magical power flowing through his body, but this isn’t something easily mastered through theory alone.

Even he would likely have spent considerable time if he had started with the theory, just like Dalia.

The mention of “a very small number of students” was truly literal.

‘Lenias. Ronellion. These two for sure… and perhaps Princess Ophelia might barely manage?’

Excluding the two exceptional members of the Arcab Party, even using Ophelia as a benchmark, the difficulty of this technique is so high that ordinary students couldn’t even attempt it.

Even Denis would need several days of practice to confidently use it against magical beasts.

When faced with an actual situation, she might instinctively resort to deploying a known complex spell or formula instead.

Indeed, as can be seen in such technical areas, Denis’s conclusion that magical power indices are useless proves correct once again.

Optimization, connectivity, applicability—these detailed aspects cannot be identified by the surface-level magical power indices alone.

Ironically, for this very reason, the Anti-Cast technique was perfectly suited to Junon’s circumstances.

“…Don’t you think it’s strange, sis?”

“What?”

“When we brought you back while you were motion sick, my husband told us about this technique. He said Junon was using it.”

“…”

As Dalia pointed out, Denis also felt something was off.

A technique with such difficulty that even other professors would struggle to attempt it. And the first person to demonstrate it was…

‘No, that’s not right.’

She needed to correct herself.

If it were truly a first attempt, it would show signs of incompleteness and clumsiness—merely showing potential for development. But the Anti-Cast that Junon used wasn’t just a demonstration of what could be done with magical power; it was a fully completed technique.

In other words, Junon had not only perfected this high-difficulty technique to suit herself but had also mastered it completely.

“What am I saying? Sorry, sis. I think I’ve been on edge lately. Let’s drop this—”

“You’re not wrong, Dalia. That kid is strange in every way.”

“…Sis?”

Strange, she had said? The elder sister, Denis, agreed with her sibling’s assessment.

Indeed, Junon was not ordinary.

“Anti-Cast. You tried it yourself. While countering the flow of magical power isn’t too difficult if you understand the theory, how was it when you used it on that doll?”

“Well…”

“Extremely difficult, right? To the point where just knowing the theory isn’t enough. But Junon was already using this as a completed technique.”

“She was already using it as a completed technique?”

“Yes. By my estimation, this would be most effective against humans with magic formulas and magical circuits. Unless someone is exceptionally well-versed in magic, they wouldn’t even be able to identify what’s happening. Using her unique magic, the magical veil, as a distraction, opponents wouldn’t know what hit them.”

Techniques related to magical power control generally boast considerable difficulty, which is why few talents can handle them.

Dalia couldn’t help but be shocked at the statement that Junon wasn’t just demonstrating this technique but had completed and was using it.

Because the same thing had happened before.

She suddenly remembered how Junon, who hadn’t even attended alchemy lectures, had synthesized artificial magic stones as if it were child’s play.

She had thought it might be just a coincidence. Or perhaps Junon had a genuine aptitude for alchemy.

But what about her lack of reaction during emergency surgery? Was that also a coincidence? Did she have aptitude there too? Should this instance also be dismissed as mere chance? That’s nonsense.

This was the third time. Three instances couldn’t be dismissed as coincidental.

“Sis.”

“Tell me. What did you see?”

Denis was already waiting.

Swallowing hard, Dalia began to share what she had witnessed, despite the chills running down her spine.

***

“How is this… even possible…”

“Shut up. Just go to sleep.”

Thud.

This collapse marks another contestant’s defeat, unable to stand against the hooded boy.

“Another contestant has fallen, unable to match the hooded boy’s prowess!”

The enthusiastic voices don’t subside. Unlike Cain who maintained boundaries, the boy’s merciless takedowns of his opponents provided entertainment to the guests.

Of course, since Cain’s appearance, the octagon had attracted participants beyond mere slaves.

The hurdles to victory kept getting higher.

Nevertheless, Junon cleared these hurdles with ease.

Her movements honed by long training, her intense focus, and her unique sense always shone through, never allowing a single defeat.

“The winner is the boy in the black hood!!!”

All matches were concluded. Outside the octagon’s bars, the satisfied voices of spectators continued for a while, indicating that a clear impression had been made.

As Junon descended from the octagon, under the perception-inhibiting effect, she briefly glanced at a particular spot.

She was checking for the presence of someone who had entered the gambling den wearing that mask again today.

Then, shaking her head, she continued down the stairs.

After all, it was none of her business.