Ch.31Won’t You… Call Me the Mage Slayer?

Mana resistance, huh.

I’d heard it only works against magic that directly affects me, like curses or bindings, but doesn’t block damage from direct attack spells like fireballs.

But it seems I can definitely sense the mana itself.

I could clearly feel several streams of mana circling around the male student.

Since I’m curious what spell he’ll use, maybe I’ll wait and see.

It’s also my first time facing a mage.

“Ignis Sagitta!”

The male student swung his staff downward.

Mana swirled and condensed in the air, revealing four arrows of fire.

What? Just fire arrows after all.

Still, he’s capable enough to cast four simultaneously.

The arrows blazed fiercely with a whooshing sound, clearly showing no attempt at controlling their power.

Right. I should be generous about this. He must be scared of me.

The four fire arrows flew toward me along different trajectories.

If it’s magic with physical form, I can probably disperse it with impact, right?

First, I drew a dagger and threw it at one of the fire arrows.

The dagger, shot like a bullet, collided with the fire arrow, which burst into scattered sparks.

The blackened dagger fell limply to the ground.

I swung my longsword to cut down another one.

With a small explosion, the blade cracked slightly.

…Plain steel seems to be reaching its limit against these impacts.

I swung my sword again to cut down the third arrow.

The sword tip shattered, spewing metal fragments.

I charged straight at the male student.

I took the last arrow directly on my armor.

The fire arrow that hit my shoulder dispersed pathetically without penetrating the armor.

The male student frantically waved his staff.

I felt mana flow wrapping around me.

The next moment my body heated up, and the surrounding mana scattered.

So this is what it feels like when mana resistance activates?

He probably tried to cast some binding spell. Too bad.

I grabbed the collar of the male student, who had frozen in shock, and slammed him to the ground.

*Thud!*

The male student foamed at the mouth, stretched out his limbs, and trembled.

“Next.”

—-

The last man to step forward was the mage youth who had been staring at me confidently earlier.

His straight-cut golden hair at shoulder length gleamed as if well-maintained.

His sharp jawline and keen eyes gave him somewhat of an androgynous appearance.

His walking posture was full of elegance and confidence, and the ruby decorated with gold at the tip of his staff emitted a red light.

Judging by the pressure he exudes, he’s probably above Millia but below Demian.

Given his skills and appearance, he doesn’t seem like someone who would care about mere tuition money.

“Well. You have some skill, barbarian. Worthy of Lady Sigmillus’s recommendation.”

“And you’re worth selling yourself for pocket change, parasite.”

Since he picked a fight out of nowhere, I responded in kind.

A faint vein bulged on his forehead.

“Do you think I’m here for mere pocket money? If it weren’t for Lady Sigmillus’s request, why would I lower myself to brawl with a barbarian like you?”

So he’s saying Ophelia specifically requested him?

I glanced briefly toward Ophelia.

She looked at me with a slight smile and calmly exhaled cigarette smoke.

Hmm. Now that we’re partners, is she trying to properly assess my abilities?

Well, fine. Let’s see what happens.

“Stop looking away and prepare properly, barbarian. I don’t want to waste time.”

“Ah, right. After taking one hit, you’ll never call me barbarian again. I’ll reshape your face into something more manly.”

I growled as I prepared my weapons.

Since my longsword was broken and my dagger half-burned, I needed new weapons.

I requested from Carlain and received four daggers and one longsword.

While at it, I also got a metal gauntlet and put it on my left hand.

It wouldn’t be useful for slashing or stabbing like Frosting, but it should be enough for blocking and pummeling.

I’ll probably get a bit injured. Since I can’t use my full power.

—-

“Now for the final match. Haschal Aishan-Gioro, Kenneth Bernstein. Take your positions.”

Standing in the center of the training ground, I faced my opponent.

The three I had fought earlier had long since been carried to the infirmary.

…The infirmary staff must be very busy.

Anyway, Kenneth Bernstein. Another name I don’t recognize.

That probably means he’s not an important figure.

I drew my longsword and glared at the enemy before me.

The arrogant mage pointing his staff at me with a face full of confidence.

The match began.

—-

I kicked off the ground and charged forward.

The ground beneath my feet cracked, scattering fragments.

I had no intention of waiting for him to complete his spell like the previous student.

He didn’t seem like someone I could afford to be that leisurely with.

“Hmm, first—”

Kenneth flicked his staff lightly.

Four swirling streams of mana wrapped around my limbs.

“Haaah!”

The mana shattered and dispersed. Binding magic doesn’t work on me.

I continued charging without stopping.

I had closed to within five paces.

“Indeed, mana resistance… then.”

*Crash!*

With a thunderous roar, a bolt of lightning flew at me.

Reflexively, I drew a dagger and threw it to the side.

The lightning flowed toward the dagger, its trajectory greatly distorted.

*Whoosh!*

A stream of fire poured down from the air.

I stomped hard to stop and rolled to the side.

The fire stream scorched the ground, sending a wave of heat against my back.

I kicked off the ground again and charged once more.

The enemy was right in front of me.

I swung my longsword down with hostility.

Unable to withstand the pressure, the blade bent like a whip.

*Clang!*

A barrier woven with dense mana blocked my sword.

The barrier shattered in a single blow, but the sword blade was severely bent.

I extended my left hand like a claw toward Kenneth’s throat.

I’ll half-crush that windpipe.

“Get away!”

Mana burst outward as a shockwave in all directions.

I blocked with both arms, but my body was pushed back by the pressure.

Suddenly I was six paces away again.

…He was a tougher opponent than I expected.

One dagger lost, and the longsword would break after three or four more swings…

I guess I’ll have to try to approach while avoiding damage and making the most of these weapons.

*Crack!*

While I was pondering, ice sprouted from the ground and seized my feet.

So mana resistance blocks binding magic itself, but is useless against physical restraints like this?

The restraint wasn’t particularly sturdy; when I stomped down with force, the ice shattered.

Immediately after, three ice spears flew at me.

I swung my sword to cut one spear in half, and smashed another with my left arm.

The shattered ice fragments scattered chaotically, reflecting sunlight.

The longsword was nearly bent in half.

“Haaah!”

I twisted my body to avoid the remaining ice spear and charged again.

Three fireballs came flying.

I threw a dagger to neutralize two of the fireballs, and simply rolled forward to avoid the last one.

An explosion echoed behind me, the pressure accelerating my body forward.

“Only one dagger left, I see?”

Kenneth grinned as he pointed his staff.

Three lightning bolts poured from the staff tip.

Damn it.

I threw both my dagger and longsword. The weapons absorbed the lightning and tumbled to the ground, sparking.

The last bolt I just endured with my body.

The lightning passed through me.

“Guh…aaaaargh!”

A burning sensation raced through all my nerves.

My vision flashed white, then turned red.

My instinct began to gnash its teeth. Why am I struggling against someone like this?

It fiercely urged me to use my full power and tear out his throat.

No. Not yet.

Not yet. This isn’t an opponent worth using that power on.

I endured and charged forward.

My breath smelled of burning.

“You withstood it…?!”

Perhaps he thought it would be the finishing blow. The shocked Kenneth hastily formed a barrier.

Having discarded both dagger and longsword, my hands were now empty.

It doesn’t matter.

This much is nothing.

“Aaaaargh!”

The blue barrier shattered into pieces against my left hand.

“What…!”

The gauntlet crumpled, tearing into the back of my hand. It doesn’t matter.

Kenneth’s collar touched my outstretched hand.

Finally.

“—Got you.”

My mouth corners rose in exhilaration.

Because of that.

For a moment, I couldn’t control the suppressed impulse.

Kenneth’s shoulder was half torn off.

A thick spray of blood gushed out, dyeing my hair red.

Not yet.

My knee drove into his ribs.

Four ribs broke simultaneously as Kenneth coughed blood.

Not yet.

My left foot crushed Kenneth’s instep, and my right foot, swung like a whip, shattered his leg bone.

His body collapsed limply.

Die.

I stretched out my right hand to grab the falling Kenneth’s head, and gradually increased the pressure.

My fingers dug into his head, slowly crushing his skull.

Kenneth screamed in agony and trembled violently.

“Stop, stop! That’s enough!”

Carlain’s urgent voice reached my ears.

I dazedly released my grip.

—-

I stared blankly at Kenneth being carried to the infirmary on a stretcher, then looked around.

Most of them were staring at my blood-soaked figure with pale, terrified expressions.

Annoyed by my drenched hair, I shook my head roughly.

Droplets of blood scattered in all directions. The surrounding students recoiled in horror.

It was an intentional display, but… I still couldn’t help feeling heavy-hearted.

I saw Ophelia smiling with gleaming eyes.

Right. She was pleased with my abilities.

Leaving behind the fearful gazes, I returned to my seat.

The students sitting nearby had all moved far away.

I took out a cigarette from my pocket, put it in my mouth, and closed my eyes.

The blood-soaked cigarette tasted bitter.