Proof (2)

Proof (2)

“How about you judge for yourself by having me compete against the magicians or knights within the Per family?”

The moment I suggested showing a competition, his expression slightly distorted.

It seems that despite trying to persuade him with all sorts of explanations to let it pass smoothly, he wasn’t listening at all.

Looking at him, I continued speaking in a calm voice.

“I will prove it.”

“……”

At those words of proof, he covered his forehead with his hand, sighed,

Then, squeezing his eyes shut, he spoke to me.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll do it. However, considering this is a place for proof, I plan to assign personnel without taking into account that you’re an Academy student. Is that alright?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Very well. Then come to the dueling grounds. Sien, go and relay this message to the magicians and knights within the family.”

“… Pardon? Lord Deren, is that really necessary? Surely there must be a more peaceful method.”

I shook my head as I looked at the flustered Sien.

“Please.”

“… Sigh. Lord Deren.”

Sien, seemingly finding it difficult to refuse at this point, silently looked at me.

Then, as if giving up, she stood up and said.

“… I’ll relay the message for now.”

Perhaps because she knew my personality, Sien gave up on further persuasion and turned away.

As I watched Sien leave, I began to contemplate how to proceed with the duel.

* * *

No matter how much Lercier blood runs through my veins.

For a youngster who hasn’t even graduated from the Academy to claim they will ‘prove their abilities’ against socially recognized magicians.

Sien told me that the knights and magicians of the Fer family were quite eager to face me.

“Of course, given Lord Deren’s social position and status as an important guest of the Fer family, they won’t cross any lines… but given the nature of duels, you could get hurt. If it seems dangerous, I hope you’ll stop.”

I looked at Sien, who was endlessly worried about me by my side, and waved my hand as I spoke.

“There’s no need to worry. I have my ways.”

“That’s reassuring, but… as your fiancée, I can’t help but feel anxious.”

I looked at Sien, pondered for a moment, and then grinned as I pinched her cheek.

“Huh…?”

Sien looked at me with a confused expression as her cheeks suddenly stretched.

I shrugged my shoulders towards Sien and continued speaking.

“And above all, if you think I’m in danger, can’t you protect me, Sien?”

At those words, Sien seemed to realize something and nodded quickly, saying to me.

“… I think you’re right!”

Whether it’s because she’s a knight or because it’s a relatively understandable alternative, I’m not sure.

Sien easily accepts it and tells me.

“If I think Deren is in danger during the duel, I’ll rush to you anytime, so please don’t worry!”

At times like this, she really does seem like a knight.

As I’m telling Sien that I ‘expect’ her to do so.

I notice a magician walking out from one side.

‘It seems that guy is going to be my first opponent.’

Looking at the opponent who seemed somewhat serious, I said to Sien.

“Well then, I’ll be going now, so wait here.”

Thinking that Sien’s quick nodding looks like a puppy, I patted her head once again.

*

What kind of magic should I show and how should I deal with the opponent to convince the head of the Fer family?

Knowing that it would be impossible to convince them with ordinary methods, I was planning to conduct the duel more spectacularly.

‘Of course, I can’t seriously injure or kill them.’

I should proceed by reducing the power a bit.

As I moved forward with that in mind, the magician who walked up to the dueling ground spoke to me with a somewhat arrogant expression.

“There’s one thing I’ve learned from seeing countless adventurers, magicians, and knights. If you don’t accurately gauge your own limits, you die early…”

Judging by how long-winded he became as soon as he stepped onto the dueling ground, it seemed the purpose of this duel was focused more on education rather than the duel itself.

‘Well, I suppose that’s to be expected.’

From their perspective, I must look like a young upstart relying solely on the power of my family.

The duel I requested probably seemed like a provocation from a yapping puppy with no fear.

So from their standpoint, they probably wanted to just sneer and ignore me.

‘But since I’m the youngest son of the Lercier Family, an important guest of the family, and Sien’s fiancé to boot.’

It seemed they came up to the dueling ground to offer some advice rather than outright rejecting me.

In fact, seeing the magician smile and say, ‘I’ll go easy on Miss Sien, so don’t worry too much.’

It was clear he didn’t even consider this a real duel.

“I’ll show you that there’s always a higher sky above. This will be quite helpful for you too.”

He seems extremely pleased with himself for saying such things, adding arrogance upon arrogance.

If I were an ordinary magician, hearing such words from my opponent might have been helpful, but…

Someone weaker than me is saying such things, so I’m not particularly inclined to listen.

Thinking this was a good opportunity to properly express Deren’s personality after a long time, I acted out a voice full of mockery and replied briefly.

“Shut your mouth and just come at me.”

“…Hah.”

It seems my arrogant response irritated him, when he was just trying to offer some advice.

As I watched his expression harden, I felt satisfied.

The knight who came up to mediate the confrontation waved a flag and said,

“The duel will begin shortly, so please take your positions!”

As I heard that voice echoing loudly, I stepped onto the designated spot, and the voice announcing the start of the duel was heard.

To make the impact of the duel stronger, I deliberately waited without using magic.

I could see the opponent casting to manifest electric magic.

The waves of mana spreading quite intensely.

Thinking that as a high-ranking family, the level of resident magicians in the family seemed quite excellent,

I slowly reached out and grasped the ownership of that magic.

– Crack.

If I had used penetration magic, it would have been even easier to steal it.

But that would have lessened the impact, so deliberately, I ‘grabbed and forcibly tore away’ the ownership of that magic, as if ripping it off with my hands.

“… This is crazy!”

Stealing the ownership of magic means that one’s magical skills are far superior to the opponent’s.

There’s no way the opponent wouldn’t know this, so they started glaring at me with an expression mixed with shock and anger.

Looking at them, I returned the stolen magic and set it off.

– Crackle!

“Ugh!”

Judging by the power, it seems they were manifesting the magic with just enough force to end at a slightly painful level.

As I frowned, watching the opponent belatedly pushing away the electric magic, I unconsciously tried to use point explosion,

‘Ah. Right.’

Killing them outright would have been possible, but I held back and manifested a different spell.

“Lightning Strike.”

It’s relatively weaker compared to a point explosion.

In reality, through numerous modifications, its power had reached a considerable level, so I deliberately lowered its intensity.

I fired it just enough to knock out the opponent and hit their body directly.

“Arghhhh!”

The magician, who had come up so arrogantly, showed a pathetically miserable defeat and collapsed on the floor.

Looking at the fallen opponent, I waved my hand and called for the next challenger.

“Next?”

Only then did the knights and magicians of the Fer family seem to realize that this situation was not just some ‘ignorant youngster’ rushing in.

They looked at each other with hardened expressions and somewhat serious faces.

Looking at them, I felt that this wasn’t impactful enough, so I decided to fight all of those gathered there and manifested a spell.

‘Spatial Expansion Magic.’

Since it’s powerful enough to destroy the mansion, I had to avoid that, so I expanded the space itself to prevent the mansion from being damaged.

Voices of astonishment could be heard from all around.

“… Artificially expanding such a vast space? And without incantation? Is that even possible?”

“I’ve never seen such a beautiful spell before.”

“Wait, how did he break through our magic resistance and expand the space?”

It seems that being magicians and knights of a certain caliber, they immediately grasped the level of my magic.

I extended my hand towards them, preparing another lightning strike.

‘Now I just need to knock them all down.’

Once I defeat them all, they’ll have no choice but to acknowledge me, even if they don’t want to.

I decided to end the demonstration by unleashing lightning upon them.