Ch.18Magic Practice (4)

The magicians couldn’t close their gaping mouths in shock.

The wall collapsed?

The Colosseum wall that hadn’t suffered even the slightest scratch for 300 years!

However, Clifford, unlike the others, was filled with rage rather than shock.

“Y-y-you fool! What have you done! Oh my goodness.”

Clifford rushed down from the stands and grabbed the collapsed bricks. They crumbled in his hands. His hands trembled like aspen leaves.

“Three hundred years of history! A historical treasure carefully preserved since my grandfather’s time-!”

Ruide tried to slink away with cat-like stealth.

“Where do you think you’re going, you little rascal!”

Clifford grabbed Ruide by the back of his neck and lifted him up. Compared to the tall Clifford, the much smaller Ruide dangled helplessly as he was dragged before the headmaster’s fierce eyes.

“You insolent brat, do you realize what you’ve done!”

Ruide rolled his eyes around before pulling out his staff from his pocket and twirling it toward the collapsed wall.

“Return.”

But even as time passed, only silence lingered.

‘It doesn’t work after all…?’

Ruide looked at Clifford with an awkward expression.

Clifford put him down on the floor with an incredulous look. Ruide staggered momentarily, losing his balance.

“Did you think that would work? Even if the great mage Dellin were reincarnated, time magic wouldn’t work, you fool!”

Magic couldn’t create or manipulate space-time.

Restoring a collapsed building seemed to fall under time manipulation. He had expected this, but it was still disconcerting when it actually didn’t work.

“Don’t think you’ll get away with this. I’ll be sending a massive bill to House Windsor!”

Ruide nodded obediently. He thought it would be fortunate if that was all, but—as expected, Clifford was no pushover.

“But just because you were born into a good family doesn’t mean you can commit such acts without consequences. I’ll give you an additional punishment.”

‘This is becoming troublesome.’

He was going to be stuck cleaning the headmaster’s office or attending extra classes.

“But before that. Don’t you have something to say?”

Ruide blinked.

“What should I do first when I’ve done something wrong?”

When Clifford’s gaze turned menacing, he flinched.

Putting his hands together, he bowed his head.

“I’m sorry.”

Clifford spoke in a slightly softer tone.

“Good, but next time I won’t let you off so easily. Now I’ll tell you your punishment.”

Clifford spoke with his hands behind his back.

“Your punishment is—to lecture about the magic you just used in front of everyone.”

“…What?”

Ruide’s eyes widened, as the punishment was lighter than he had expected.

Clifford bellowed.

“Didn’t I tell you to hold a magic demonstration! Or would you prefer a spanking instead!”

“N-no! I’m sorry!”

Ruide fled in a hurry. Even a peerless genius like him was afraid of Clifford with his intimidating appearance resembling a retired soldier.

**

When Ruide returned to his seat, he found it surrounded by many people.

They were people interested in the Windsor siblings. Even professors were among them. A hollow-cheeked professor was gesturing wildly while talking.

Amelia, without even turning her head in that direction, spoke expressionlessly. Though the voices were mixed and hard to hear clearly, what was certain was that with just one sentence from her, many people returned to their seats in shock.

“Ah, Rui.”

Amelia waved her hand with a bright smile. Ruide sat down beside her.

“What was that about? There were so many people.”

Amelia’s smiling expression stiffened slightly.

“They had the audacity to ask you to hold a magic demonstration. I was just chasing them away after Hersy said it wasn’t appropriate.”

“Huh?”

“They’re asking you to share the magic formula you just used without any compensation. That’s very rude to a mage.”

Hersy provided a detailed explanation. She looked quite displeased.

‘…So that’s what it was?’

Until just now, he had been grateful for the headmaster’s seemingly lenient punishment. But it wasn’t lenient at all. The image of the headmaster as an excellent educator suddenly shattered.

“I don’t mind.”

“What?”

“Actually, I agreed to give a magic explanation as payment for breaking the Colosseum wall.”

Amelia frowned.

“Rui, I can’t let that comment slide. What did you do wrong?”

“I damaged property, so it’s my fault.”

Amelia opened her eyes lazily, then immediately denied it.

“No? My brother did nothing wrong.”

She stroked Ruide’s head. Amelia was simply proud of Ruide. Far from being wrong, she thought his actions deserved praise. Hadn’t he broken through the great Dellin’s magic?

And if the Academy were to impose any disadvantage on Ruide, she wouldn’t stand for it.

“Lady Amelia is right.”

Hersy chimed in.

“The Colosseum’s defensive magic should protect the audience no matter what happens. The Academy has always boasted about that. If it collapsed, that’s the Academy’s responsibility, not Ruide’s fault.”

-Please come forward in the predetermined order and prepare for the magic duel. We will begin the practice.

The “magic practice” that had been paused due to the brief commotion resumed. The first duel was about to begin. Watching this, Hersy continued.

“There might be a moral responsibility, but that can be addressed by billing for repairs. In fact, the Academy is criticized every year for having ‘excessive magical barriers,’ so this incident might actually benefit them by silencing those criticisms.”

Amelia was impressed. She hadn’t thought that far.

‘She’s smart, probably because she’s Ruide’s friend.’

She was glad Ruide had befriended such a reliable person. Amelia liked Hersy.

“Really…?”

“Yes. So you should reject that proposal. Ruide doesn’t need to hold a magic demonstration and share information.”

Hersy spoke with concern.

“If this happens repeatedly, people will continue to make unreasonable demands of Ruide. And then they’ll be disappointed when things don’t go their way.”

The word “sharing” was inevitably sensitive for mages.

It takes generations of effort to create a complete magic spell.

That’s also why mages were almost exclusively nobles. Magic was an extremely difficult discipline to enter without proper education, and the only magic available to commoners was simple magic that had been made public to everyone.

“That part is fine. Even if I explain it, they won’t be able to replicate it anyway.”

“…What?”

“Well, the magic I used… isn’t particularly efficient.”

‘I should have been more moderate. How embarrassing.’

Ruide was rather ashamed. To use that magic, he had to utter cringe-worthy incantations like “The wind is something…”

And his words meant that even with the genius brain of the “lazy Ruide,” this magic was so difficult that it couldn’t be attempted without proper incantations.

Probably no one would be able to replicate it even if he explained it.

Above all, he wasn’t particularly fond of the magic itself. It wasn’t that impressive, and he would never use it again, even if it hadn’t caused a major accident.

There was no need to be stingy about sharing such disposable magic.

Even if the headmaster thought it was beneficial, it was fine since there was no real harm in it.

“Still, Ruide is too naive, and that’s a problem.”

Amelia nodded in strong agreement.

“That’s right. Rui is too naive, and that’s a problem. How will he survive in this harsh world?”

“The naive one is you, Ame. You got scammed by a carriage dealer and had to sleep outside last time.”

When Ruide immediately refuted, a crease formed between Amelia’s eyebrows.

“…Rui. Didn’t I ask you to keep that a secret?”

“…Did you?”

Amelia whispered with a kind smile.

“If you weren’t born so cute, you would have been hit at least three times a day.”

It sounded sincere enough to be scary. Ruide quietly watched the match.

“Oh, the feather thief.”

Just then, Justin was standing on the field.

‘Right. The protagonist was here.’

He had momentarily forgotten, but today’s main character was Justin.

He had already made a covenant to avoid drawing attention, so unless something truly special happened, he wouldn’t get involved with the protagonist’s group, but—

This time was different. Ruide spoke with a bit of tension.

“Hersy, do you remember what I told you before?”

“Of course. Don’t underestimate my memory.”

Hersy smiled proudly.

“You said you wanted lamb for lunch today, right? I’ve made reservations at a suitable restaurant.”

“…That too, but I also said to do your best if you end up dueling someone weaker.”

Hersy was puzzled but nodded.

“Well… personally, I think weaker opponents should be taught at their level. But yes, if such a situation arises, I’ll crush them.”

Just as Ruide was about to say there was no need to go that far—

Justin approached, glaring in their direction.

“I sense hostility.”

Amelia murmured.

A stubborn gaze and tightly closed lips. Above all, his eyes… were fierce.

‘That’s the expression of someone whose justice radar is activated. Why? Is it me? Is he angry because I broke the wall?’

But that didn’t make sense. The “Vow of Covenant” he had cast using his staff was absolute.

Coincidental encounters like this were fine, but it was impossible for Justin to approach with any intention.

Justin stopped at an appropriate distance. It wasn’t a misunderstanding; he was looking directly at them. And he pointed his finger.

‘How rude to point at people, must be poorly raised…’

Justin’s finger, which Ruide thought would point at Hersy, moved toward Amelia.

Ruide’s expression immediately hardened at this unexpected variable.

“Amelia Windsor.”

Amelia calmly stared at Justin.

“I request a duel.”

A cold silence briefly fell.

Soon after, the hall was filled with the murmurs of students.

-‘Is he crazy?’

-‘He’s finally lost his mind.’

Logically, there was no way Amelia would lose.

Even if she were as careless as Hersy in the original story, even if she fought with one arm tied behind her back, it would still be Amelia’s complete victory.

But.

‘Why do I feel… so uncomfortable?’

“This is ridiculous.”

Hersy stood up abruptly.

“A commoner like you, how dare you point your finger at whom?”

Her voice was completely different from when she spoke to Ruide—cold and harsh.

“Whatever your intention, know that it’s extremely disrespectful. Even making such a proposal is a terrible insult.”

Hersy walked forward confidently, holding her staff.

Justin spoke in a firm voice.

“I understand that for practice, anyone can be an opponent.”

“Heh, how amusing. By your logic, you wouldn’t have any complaints even if I crush you?”

Hersy pointed her staff.

“Pick up your staff, filthy commoner.”

“……”

Justin pulled out his staff with a hardened face.

And at that moment.

-KWANG!

A powerful wind magic struck Justin’s abdomen.

“Kuk-!”

Justin’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed. It happened less than three seconds after the duel began.

The overwhelming difference in skill. Unlike in the original story, Hersy did not lose to Justin.

But Ruide couldn’t smile.

Was it because he had been living as a noble for a year already? Or was it just that he disliked Justin? He wasn’t sure, but…

The fact that this lowly commoner’s finger had pointed at Amelia made him feel utterly disgusted.