Ch.6161. Class Placement Exam (3)

The professor’s impatience continues unabated. No, perhaps it’s more accurate to say those guys simply provoked the wrong person.

“Are you all out here, you bastards?”

—Yes…

It was obvious where Professor Denis’s sharp tongue was directed.

Not at me, but at those guys. Of course, I don’t know what she’s planning, even though she told me to come along.

‘The location is… the campus grounds.’

As a group of students gathered around, spectators began to congregate in the middle of the campus.

Regardless, Professor Denis borrowed something she had requested from another student.

“A mana badge…?”

“Weapons too? What’s going on?”

These were mana badges and weapons commonly used in duels.

The mana badges are used to prevent fatalities—they change color as they absorb a certain amount of mana, and when they completely lose their light, a defensive barrier activates to protect the wearer’s life.

It’s not particularly surprising. What else could bringing those here mean in this situation?

“You need to prove your skills here first. Choose the thirteen strongest among you.”

“I understand we need to prove our skills through a duel. But why are you making us fight each other?”

“What are you talking about? Your opponent is Junon alone. We need to know properly whether this guy deserves to be in Class A or not, don’t we?”

Thirteen people. A ratio of 13:1 and mana badges instead of Talbert Arcs.

I had my suspicions, but this was essentially a replica of the Phantom Duel.

“The rules match those of the Phantom Duel. Weapons are unrestricted. When Junon defeats one of you, he’ll face the next. Any objections?”

“Wait a minute. Are you saying that guy is the one taking the duel test?”

“That’s right. Why? Any complaints?”

“Haha… No. That’s perfect.”

I can see exactly what you’re thinking, you bastard. You’re probably planning how to take me down.

Professor Denis just snorts at them dismissively.

“But you know what? We should bet on something to prevent anyone from backing out.”

“…What?”

And finally, they crossed the line.

Loud laughter filled the area, audible to all passersby.

I don’t think it was just my imagination that the laughter somehow felt menacing.

“You’re telling me to place a bet now? You want to make a wager?”

“Our honor is at stake too. We should get something in return.”

“Thirteen heads but only this much intelligence… Fine. Let’s make a bet.”

Professor Denis seemed to notice their intentions and immediately tried to set boundaries, with absolute confidence that she wouldn’t lose.

“If I lose, I’ll take responsibility and remove this guy from Class A. And I’ll cancel everything I’ve taught so far. Now, what will you bet?”

“You seem to be pushing yourself too hard for such an obvious outcome.”

“Actually, maybe you’re deliberately taking our side?”

“If we lose, we’ll properly bow and apologize to that guy. Satisfied? Though I don’t think we’ll lose.”

They’re already counting their chickens before they hatch. But they should have been more careful about who they’re challenging.

“No, you little shit.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I’m staking my honor as the Imperial Chief Researcher on teaching this guy. You need to bet something equally significant!”

Although Professor Denis couldn’t directly interfere with school affairs, she had a legitimate reason to be here.

She was staying because she had declared she would select and teach students of her choosing.

Now the guys were finally beginning to realize the gravity of the situation.

“Then what are we supposed to…”

“He’s alone, isn’t he? A representative of commoners. Don’t you get it?”

“Now… surely not…”

“Are you saying we should bow not just to Junon but to all commoners in the academy?!”

“Not just bowing. You should press this properly here.”

Denis’s index finger pokes a student’s forehead, pushing him back.

He might have objected to the unpleasant forehead touch, but the gesture itself was far too explicit.

“You can’t mean we should… to that guy… no, beyond that, to all commoners…”

“You want us to bow our heads?!”

“That’s going too far!!!”

For nobles, even bowing to a mere commoner is considered humiliating.

The higher their rank, the stronger this tendency, and they consider even a single defeat shameful and become objects of ridicule.

For them, bowing their heads is unthinkable. Even with a momentary defeat, they never bow their heads.

Occasionally, they might slightly bend at the waist while gritting their teeth. Why?

Because they’ll soon establish their position firmly by making the other party bow their heads in return through subsequent revenge.

Pretending to acknowledge defeat by bending at the waist is a tacit signal among high nobles that means “I’ll trample you twice as hard later.”

However, being told to press their heads down goes beyond that—it means adopting a posture of submission and surrender, like those beneath them.

“What? Getting cold feet now? It’s fine to pull that guy down from his class, but not okay for you to bow your heads to the commoners you’ve been looking down on?”

“That’s not a fair exchange…!”

“Exactly. This is unreasonable!”

“Cut the crap. You staked your honor, but my disciple, whom I teach under my middle name, was insulted. Where does that leave the honor of my middle name?”

“That’s…”

Of course, they couldn’t answer.

Denis’s middle name, Flobel, is not something to be taken lightly.

It’s a middle name bestowed directly by the Emperor of the Artena Empire.

Even those who bear middle names typically receive them in recognition of great achievements, but names granted by the Empire’s Emperor number fewer than ten.

Archduke Ardelion. The Grand Duchess of Lantana. And others including the foremost scholars and the Imperial Chancellor.

These guys had directly provoked someone who stands shoulder to shoulder with such figures.

“Then just win. Where’s that confidence you were showing earlier?”

“”…””

Do these guys have any sense of reason?

No. If they had even a speck of reason, they would have suppressed their pride.

“Don’t waver. If you don’t want to lose, we just need to win. It’s simple.”

“Right. He’s just one person…”

“No matter what, he’s just one person, and it’s just Junon at that. You just need to win like you always have.”

Have they accepted the spilled milk and decided to deal with it?

They gathered among themselves and began selecting people to participate in the duel.

“My, you’ve set up quite a spectacle.”

“Loudmouths need to be put in their place to come to their senses. But I can’t step in myself.”

“…That would cause an uproar. But I’ve never heard you stake your middle name before.”

“I might get scolded by Muniher later, but I don’t care. Besides, you’re confident you can win this, right?”

“But shouldn’t you give me some rest time? I just got thoroughly worked over by you, Professor.”

“Consider it a handicap, Junon. I don’t think you’ll lose anyway.”

Well, the answer is already determined.

This is a forbidden tower built by the noble alliance and their children to enjoy endless wealth and glory.

This leaning tower must be shaken from the bottom to collapse.

“Please call the kids over. It’s better to have them ready in advance to avoid trouble.”

“Hehe. More spectators are indeed better. Anything else you want?”

“I’m good.”

In the past, I might have hesitated, wondering if there was any need to draw attention to myself.

But now is the time to defend Professor Denis’s honor and continue her teachings.

Plus, it would be even better to break those guys’ momentum.

Finally, it’s also an opportunity to test myself.

***

Thirteen mana badges were attached to the clothes of the thirteen selected individuals.

For him, who had been in Class E, all thirteen were familiar faces.

But they’re not even wearing uniforms or training clothes?

One who claimed such things were unnecessary and that he would finish this in one go was the first to step up, making a throat-slitting gesture with his thumb toward Junon.

The moment he said “Take this!” with a vile smile, his magic pathetically dissipated.

“W-what?”

“What did you do to me earlier? Was it like this?”

As if it required no effort, Junon returned the exact same gesture the opponent had shown him moments ago.

“Y-you bastard, what trick are you pulling…!!”

No matter how many times he tried to draw magical formations, his magic kept dissipating as soon as it was cast.

His panicked face was truly pitiful. Junon approached with a calm expression and delivered a punch straight to his solar plexus.

“Guhk!”

An elemental mage on his knees and a vanguard looking down at him.

Anyone could see which way the situation was tilting.

“You son of a bitch… I can use long-range magic too! No more holding back…!”

Though he seemed to be saying “try it,” once again his magical formation failed to complete.

“I’m the one holding back here. You still don’t understand your position.”

Normally, he knew that twisting the body’s mana using the principles of anti-cast would be enough to end this.

But even though he could easily end it here, he doesn’t.

“Ugh! Urk! Argh!!”

-Thud, thud!

The sound of a thorough beating and an opponent unable to resist.

Among the spectators, only the few who knew his abilities smiled slightly, while the rest were frozen or watched this astonishing scene with stiff expressions and bated breath.

The guy who had underestimated Junon, intending to end it with a one-sided attack, was thoroughly beaten despite his desperate resistance, unable to overcome the difference in ability.

Did he use anti-cast? No.

He fainted from the pain of physical attacks, unable to even make a sound anymore.

More cruelly, more one-sidedly beaten, the face of the nobly raised aristocrat’s son was covered in blood.

After wiping the blood from his fist on the opponent’s expensive clothing, he grabbed the opponent’s collar.

-Thud.

“Next.”

With an expressionless face, he threw the bloodied opponent toward where the remaining twelve stood.

Everyone watching felt chills run down their spines.

Students who had never harbored any hope began to shout at this impossible upset.

—Waaah!!!!!!

A perfect establishment of dominance.

The commoners and lower-class students cheered at this reversal, and even Princess Ophelia, who came as the referee, was secretly smiling inside.

“Normally, after facing one person, there should be a 5-minute rest, but given your level of skill, I don’t need to rest yet.”

Once again, cheers erupted, while the noble faction gritted their teeth and frowned in anger.

This replica duel had clear sides of support, and this vicious performance created stark contrasts of joy and sorrow.

Of course, the opposing side couldn’t just stand by and watch.

“Your little tricks will only work once, you bastard!!”

The second challenger steps up boldly. However, he too is going through the same process as the first.

“…Huh?”

“What are you doing?! Cast your magic!”

“Ah, no… it’s just… drawing the formation is fine, but it seems like something is blocking it when I try to release it…”

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

“Are you not doing it properly?! Are you trying to tarnish noble honor?!”

“There’s a limit to joking around, man!!”

The remaining 11 of the 13 were so frustrated they could go crazy, unable to understand what was happening again.

The second challenger who found his magic suddenly blocked was equally confused.

“Conferring during a duel is prohibited. If this behavior continues, you will receive a penalty.”

When Ophelia stepped in to stop the discussion, they shut their mouths again.

The second was no different from the first. Strangely, their attacks couldn’t be launched at Junon.

After giving him a fierce barrage of punches that left a tangy taste of blood, the guy screamed in terror.

“I-I surrender! I surrender!!”

“What the hell is that crazy bastard saying?!”

“Fight properly! Are you even a noble?”

“The magic won’t come out—what am I supposed to do?! Junon…? I-I’ve lost, so stop hitting me. Okay? I surrender!”

Except for the two who had directly faced Junon, the rest watching from behind could only suppress their anger without saying a word.

Surrender, huh? Acknowledging defeat is convenient and good. However.

“Argh!! Why, why!!”

“How do you not know the rules of dueling?”

“W-what are you saying?! According to duel rules, it ends when the mana badge turns red or when someone declares surrender!”

“Since this duel follows the rules of the Phantom Duel, it ends when the opponent is knocked down, regardless of the mana badge status.”

Princess Ophelia, serving as the referee, kindly explained the duel rules.

That’s right. Since they’re strictly following the Phantom Duel rules, the opponent must be completely knocked out.

Therefore, for the duel participants to achieve victory, they must render their opponent completely immobile.

“You heard that? Time for you to take some hits too.”

“C-crazy… This is nonsense. This is absurd… Eeek!!!”

“Oh. Going for physical attacks?”

Since magic wasn’t working, he desperately lunged forward with his feeble body, throwing a heavy punch.

But after all the training and conditioning, there was no way that pathetic punch would reach Junon.

“Aaaaargh!!!”

He easily grabbed the wrist and tripped the opponent, completely destroying his center of gravity.

Then, with a cracking sound, screams echoed.

From the natural sequence to the clean finishing move.

For the vanguards who had been so despised, this scene of subduing a mage who had never properly used his body with just martial arts was the most satisfying sight.

“Gak! Argh! Agh!”

—Waaah!!!

The cheers grew louder, while those who had sneered and looked down on them gradually fell silent.

Having defeated two people without much effort, Junon still seemed perfectly fine.

After wiping the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand as if it were dirty, he spoke again.

“What are you doing? Did all you cowards who were eager to fight run away?”

Two down miserably. Who would be next? A game of chicken began among those remaining.

Having witnessed two people get brutally beaten until their faces were swollen and bloody, they were even more terrified.

Eventually, they managed to think enough to request a conference time.

The 5-minute break was fairly given to each duelist, so they were trying to buy time with that excuse.

“Ah. Can’t we just get this over with quickly? You’re all going to get beaten the same way anyway.”

“But the big one is coming. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

“I feel like I’ve lived my whole life just to see this today…”

Comments about how boring the waiting time was came from the spectators watching the duel.

For the lower-class vanguard students who had endured so much mistreatment, this duel was pure satisfaction.

However, the duel that had been judging those who had inflicted one-sided violence was interrupted here.

“What do you think you’re doing, barging into a duel, Professor Nevel?”

“As a professor, I’m taking responsibility to reprimand these students who have committed wrongdoings as academy students.”

***

Most students who would want to stop this duel would be from ‘that’ faction—nobles and ranged mages who want to deny their defeat.

However, virtually no student could interrupt during a duel, as Princess Ophelia was mediating as the referee.

Therefore, even though it was a replica, they would try to prevent it somehow if it resulted in a noble defeat.

-Slap! Slap!

“What shameful behavior toward a student in training and Lady Beril! And you call yourselves academy students!”

Professor Nevel mercilessly slaps the remaining eleven duelists. It must be a shallow tactic of matching actions with appearances, employing behaviors he normally wouldn’t.

The fact that someone who normally neglected his professorial duties had stepped in was evidence of how desperate they were.

But on the surface, it couldn’t be stopped. Nominally, his actions weren’t incorrect.

Even though a few people like Princess Ophelia and Professor Denis understood Professor Nevel’s dark intentions, they had reasons not to stop him.

“…With this, the Phantom Duel will be suspended.”

After a brief exchange between Professor Nevel and Princess Ophelia, the duel was finally terminated.

‘This should make it clear. That the vanguards you’ve been looking down on aren’t weak.’

Junon thought it would be enough if those watching could just remember that much.

As soon as the noble faction and their professors retreated, the lower-class students began to reveal their true feelings one by one.

“You were amazing, Junon! It’s a shame it ended, but thanks for avenging me against that guy who messed with me!”

“That was so satisfying. I really liked how you broke the stereotype that vanguards can’t do anything.”

“Thank you, senior, for showing me that what I’ve been learning wasn’t wrong…”

A commoner—and moreover, Junon from Class E, considered the weakest of vanguards—thoroughly defeating two nobles proved that they weren’t wrong.

Some even poured out their pent-up emotions. It would be good to add a word here.

“It’s because you all worked hard that you could survive against that many Osoptera. Keep it up, you bastards.”

The murmuring stopped for a moment, and those who had been overcome with emotion once again showed their joy without hiding it.

There’s nothing more dangerous than those guys losing their fighting spirit, but somehow it seems to have recovered well.

Plus, this should have definitely fulfilled what Silvia wanted.

“Are you satisfied, Professor Denis?”

“You did a proper job, though it’s a bit disappointing that an interferer showed up. Everything else was okay. Good work.”

“Then buy me something delicious since I’ve exerted myself.”

Professor Denis chuckled, asking if he was already thinking about give and take.

“Well. I’d like to since you obediently followed along this time. But I’ll have to treat you next time.”

“Hmm? Why next time?”

Apparently, she had been postponing a summons from Professor Muniher because she was enjoying the spectacle.

Not wanting to take up more of her busy time, I bid farewell to Professor Denis. Today’s lesson is… over, I suppose.

As I left behind the students who had regained their motivation and vitality for their studies, there stood a girl smiling and offering a towel.

“Good job. That was quite satisfying, wasn’t it?”

“Was it?”

“Actually, it would have been more fun if Professor Nevel hadn’t come to interfere.”

It was Silvia, who seemed quite pleased with the situation.

***

“Reverse calculation… is it? No, that’s not it. If it were precisely reverse-calculated, it would just be canceled, but that looked more like it hit something and disappeared…”

He didn’t seem to have played any tricks on the opponent’s magic circle.

“Then perhaps a barrier set up to make it disappear exactly when cast… No, that’s still puzzling. There was even long-range magic among them.”

This appears to be a technique with quite demanding conditions.

Neutralizing the opponent’s magic with the exact amount of mana.

Setting up a barrier so that magic is undetectable.

Up to here was understandable. It could be possible if assumed to be his unique magic.

However, long-range magic is an exception, unless he’s preventing the opponent’s magic from being used at all.

Such a technique could exist. It would be possible by using the repulsive properties between mana or by twisting the opponent’s circuit with mana flow. It would be quite a complex operation, but feasible.

But finally, one more thing creates a contradiction.

“Ah, thinking about it is just giving me a headache.”

Someone who had been closely observing Junon was muttering to themselves.