Ch.17Magic Practice (3)

The “Meeting Colosseum,” the most intricate arena in the Empire, was located at the center of the Academy.

A structure with four levels of arches and maze-like stairs and passages. The thick walls of the Colosseum were engraved with complex magical formulas.

Befitting a space where the finest talents fought, it was protected by defensive magic barriers similar in strength to those of the Imperial outer walls.

How solid was it? The last time these Colosseum walls had suffered even the slightest scratch was 300 years ago, when the “Great Mage Dellin” fought against the “Witch of Destruction.”

“So there’s something like that inside the walls. I don’t really feel anything though.”

“Do you believe in the legend of Dellin, Ruide?”

“Yes. I do.”

There was no question of believing or not. The “Great Mage Dellin” was the most important character in the story.

Hersy said playfully:

“As expected of Dellin’s fairy.”

“I told you to stop with that fairy thing.”

“Ahaha, I’m sorry.”

Ruide headed to the waiting room with Hersy for the upcoming demonstration match. Amelia would be there.

They moved several times through the complex passages of the Colosseum. Hersy seemed familiar with the place and navigated easily. When Ruide asked out of curiosity, Hersy replied:

“I memorized the entire Colosseum map because I was personally interested.”

‘Who memorizes maps out of interest?’

Ruide sometimes thought that Hersy might be the real genius. Upon reaching the waiting room, Ruide opened the door first.

The Colosseum was originally a place where gladiators fought duels. Most waiting rooms were for commoners, but the Academy was mostly populated by nobles.

The waiting room was very spacious and pleasant. In the center stood Amelia with her arms crossed.

Amelia, who approached with angry strides, gave Hersy a gentle smile and a brief nod before glaring at Ruide.

“Rui, where did you go yesterday?”

“Yesterday?”

Ruide briefly recalled yesterday. Hersy offered advice:

“You said you wanted to see horses and slept in the hay, remember?”

“Ah. Hay. I slept there.”

Though he spent most of his time at Dellin’s Lake, he wasn’t always there. Even Ruide got bored sometimes.

“Why would you sleep in hay… when you have a perfectly good mansion.”

Amelia muttered with a sigh. She had spent quite some time looking for Ruide yesterday.

‘Is something wrong?’

Amelia’s attitude was a bit different from usual.

“Ruide. Did you properly hear what was said?”

“Yes. They said I should duel with you, sister.”

Amelia took Ruide’s hand. Then, with intensity in her eyes, she said:

“I cannot fight you.”

“…Huh?”

“My sword exists for you. Even if it’s just a duel, I cannot point my blade at you, not even for a moment.”

Amelia was resolute as she spoke. Hersy was moved.

‘This is chivalry…! So this is what honor means.’

She made a mental note. To use on Ruide later. Hersy was the type who was greatly influenced by those around her.

“But at this rate, there will be gossip. I don’t care about myself, but I would be very angry if someone spoke ill of you.”

Amelia spoke seriously and gestured behind her.

“So I prepared this.”

“?”

Ruide blinked.

This was because in the original novel, the scene where Ruide and Amelia fought was described quite impactfully. He never imagined Amelia would react like this.

‘Is the current Amelia different from then…? Could it be because of me…?’

But Ruide hadn’t really done anything.

Before entering the Academy, he had just slept for a year. And then what appeared next left him dumbfounded.

Thump, thump.

The waiting room shook.

That meant the opponent was large.

Clank.

Massive chains were wrapped around its neck and arms. Amelia tapped the arm of “it” with a bright smile.

Kuooooo-!

At the ferocious howl, Hersy’s expression, which had been smiling warmly at the atmosphere, froze.

‘……White Bearwolf.’

A massive bear with white fur.

Among the highest-ranked magical beasts, its nickname was “the beast among beasts.”

And it was here.

‘I-I’d much rather have Amelia step in!’

Hersy could only scream internally.

“It’s quite a suitable opponent for Ruide’s playtime.”

Amelia smiled with satisfaction.

**

The habitat of Bearwolves was at the northernmost part of the North. They could occasionally be seen in cold regions, but basically, they were magical beasts more famous by name than by sight.

However, in the Windsor family located in the North, they were quite commonly seen magical beasts.

Amelia had occasionally brought them because she wanted to smell the scent of the North. She never expected to use it like this.

So naturally.

-Kuooooo!

“B-Bearwolf.”

“Is that real…?”

“What else would it be, fake?!”

For the Imperial Academy students, it was their first time seeing such a magical beast.

“S-so, the demonstration match will be… between student Ruide Christopher and the White Bearwolf.”

Students who had been disappointed by Sword Dancer Amelia’s declaration not to duel were now struck dumb.

Of course, Amelia was stronger than the Bearwolf. But humans could never ignore the visual impact.

Amelia was a graceful young lady. The pressure exerted by the Bearwolf was greater than that of the blonde girl.

Moreover, the contrast with the already small Ruide made the difference seem even greater.

Hersy’s pupils were shaking.

“Will it be… alright?”

Amelia, who was standing next to her, asked with puzzled eyes.

“Is there a problem?”

“The problem is…”

‘Of course there is!’

But she couldn’t bring herself to say that to Amelia. Hersy cleared her throat softly and said:

“There isn’t, but… even for Ruide, a legendary magical beast like the White Bearwolf seems a bit… much, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm? Legendary magical beast?”

“…It’s called the pinnacle among all magical beasts, isn’t it?”

Amelia looked at Hersy with clear blue eyes.

“That’s not the case, Lady Hersy. Bearwolves are considered common magical beasts in the North. I don’t know why such rumors exist.”

“W-what?”

Hersy was quite taken aback. After all, it was a White Bearwolf. Called the king of magical beasts. And she was calling such a beast a common magical beast?

“When I said it was a playmate, it wasn’t an exaggeration. In fact, Ruide often plays with White Bearwolves when he’s bored.”

‘The Windsor family is really…’

She knew they were extraordinary, but each time she heard about their reality, she couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Well, I did use that perception, to be honest.”

“Used it…?”

“If we had skipped the duel entirely, there would have been gossip. Starting with rumors that Ruide’s magical abilities were just bluffs… So in terms of cost-effectiveness, the White Bearwolf is a good way to silence rumors.”

That’s right. Amelia hadn’t thoughtlessly pitted Ruide against the Bearwolf. She had chosen the best method for her brother. From Ruide’s perspective too, the Bearwolf was truly an insignificant beast.

Hersy’s eyes widened. She had been so shocked that she hadn’t thought of that aspect.

‘…What would I have done?’

If she had been Ruide’s sister, what method would she have chosen?

Not having been in that situation, she couldn’t know, but she probably would have just avoided the duel or chosen to lose.

‘Indeed, they’re different. The Windsor family.’

Hersy bowed her head.

Once again, she felt that walking alongside geniuses was not an easy path.

Hersy keenly felt her own limitations and lack of ability.

But soon, she raised her head firmly.

‘I need to work harder!’

“By the way, I’m curious. What magic will Ruide use?”

Amelia said.

“I’m curious too. Everyone is probably expecting it. What amazing magic Ruide will showcase. Do you have any guesses, Lady Amelia?”

Hersy asked expectantly, as Amelia had seen him most frequently and for the longest time.

Amelia shook her head.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never seen Ruide use the same magic twice. So, I can’t predict either.”

“What?!”

Amelia gazed at Ruide with fondness.

“Ruide’s magic is creative, after all.”

**

‘No matter how many times I see it… it’s scary but cute.’

That was exactly Ruide’s impression of the White Bearwolf.

A large star-shaped mark on its chest. The scar slashed across its right eye, a symbol of bear beasts.

Above all, its massive size that required one to look all the way up to see its face. But its fluffy fur and cute black nose gave it a pettable quality.

-Kuooooooo!

Rattling its chains and howling with all its might, the Bearwolf’s eyes were filled with madness, as if it desperately wanted to tear humans apart.

“W-we’ll break the chains at your signal.”

There was no need to hesitate. It was a familiar friend, after all. Ruide nodded.

-Grr.

The Bearwolf, which had been howling as if it would charge immediately, now circled around Ruide, keeping its distance.

It knew instinctively. What would happen if it charged straight in.

Ruide pondered.

‘What magic should I use?’

Amelia’s intention was clear. She didn’t want him to get caught up in unnecessary gossip. Ruide agreed with that thought. There’s nothing more annoying than having someone you don’t even know badmouthing you. He wanted to make sure such troublesome things wouldn’t happen again.

For that, he needed to showcase an impressive magic. A magnificent magic that no one could approach.

‘…Should I use “kang” one more time?’

Certainly, using that in front of all these people would be effective.

But, he didn’t feel like it.

That was just imitation. He had tried it once out of curiosity, but it wasn’t something to rely on as a main skill.

‘Then.’

Original. It was about time he created a signature move.

Ruide first extended his hand. The Bearwolf sensed the magical power and immediately charged.

To Ruide, its movement seemed very slow. Not because time was actually slowing down, but due to his concentration.

‘Magic is all about explosions, after all.’

The idea came to him quickly. Explosion. Put something in and make it explode. Just like in the modern world, humanity’s strongest weapons have always been about making things explode.

Ignoring the approaching Bearwolf, Ruide moved a massive amount of mana.

Immediately, numerous magic circles appeared around Ruide’s body from various angles.

‘This is a bit difficult.’

Indeed, using magic for the first time was challenging. Ruide chanted to make the magic easier to cast.

“Mana, take the energy of the earth, the flow of water, the burning flame, and the whirlwind of air.”

The four elements intertwined at the center of the Colosseum. The number of magic circles doubled. The continuously added magic circles soon covered the sky above the Colosseum.

Ruide clenched his fist.

“And overlap.”

Kwarluk-!

With a sound of space being torn, the summoned magic circles of the four elements distorted.

As all elemental energies concentrated in one place, a massive vortex formed.

‘Phew.’

As the sphere of the four elements was completed, Ruide felt relieved. Then, time flowed normally again.

“——!”

The White Bearwolf was broken down to particle level and absorbed into the elemental sphere. Ruide’s eyes widened.

‘It shouldn’t go there!’

He couldn’t let all this hard work end in just a preparatory move. He needed to make it explode quickly.

Ruide urgently shouted. The name of this precious magic he had created with sweat and effort—

“Elemental Explosion—!”

Ruide cut off the magical power being supplied to the magic circle. The energy that had been densely packed into a sphere no bigger than a palm was released in an instant.

Ruide watched it brightly. The elemental sphere, which had been black due to excessive concentration, emitted colorful light as it was released.

It was beautiful, just like fireworks. But—.

‘Isn’t this too powerful??’

Action was faster than judgment. Ruide quickly cast a barrier before the explosion could reach the outer wall, like a dog with its tail on fire.

Boom—!

“—!”

A shock that felt like his heart would jump out was transmitted. One wasn’t enough. He added 10 more barriers.

Crack, crack—!

‘C-crazy.’

The exploded elements were struggling to break through the barrier somehow.

Ruide gritted his teeth and extended his hand. He clenched his fist. The size of the overlapping barriers decreased, and the explosion seemed to subside.

But it was still too much. At this rate, the elements gathered at the point would explode again. Ruide created a hole in the barrier to provide an escape route.

Pyung—!

Like a laser, a five-colored light escaped and struck the wall.

Fortunately, Ruide’s “Elemental Explosion” magic subsided, but.

Rumble-!

…A catastrophe occurred as one side of the Colosseum’s outer wall collapsed.

The pride of the Academy, which hadn’t even been scratched for 300 years, had collapsed.

‘…I should seal this one away.’

Seeing the Chancellor extending his hand with an expression as if the sky had fallen, Ruide broke into a cold sweat.

There was no doubt that when the wall collapsed, the Chancellor’s heart collapsed with it.