Episode 23: Me with a Luck Value of 999…

“【Hesitate not――Scorching Meteor――Incinerate to the Core】――【Little Sun, Little Flare】!”

A massive fireball, surpassing the previous one, shot out from his raised staff.

An intermediate fire-based magic spell――【Little Sun, Little Flare】.

This spell was essentially an upgraded version of the 【Burning Sphere, Flame Sphere】.

Due to its excessively high destructive power, it was usually avoided in mock battles.

Moreover, considering Kaien’s high magical power and being a Red Mage with affinity for fire magic, it wouldn’t be surprising if it possessed an unfair level of potency.

As expected, the large fireball unleashed by Kaien had the size and heat just on the verge of being unfair.

Small gasps arose from the audience. Murmurs spread. Even Professor Rezan from the judging panel leaned forward.

However…

“Alright…”

With a mere wave of my right hand, I effortlessly extinguished the massive fireball.

“What…!?”

Kaien remained frozen, his eyes widened in astonishment, still holding his staff.

He seemed to have considerable confidence in his attack just now, but it was all in vain.

The effect of 【Momentary Peace, Aegis Freeze】 activated just before it could touch me, rendering the magic ineffective.

It was highly unlikely that any magic could break through this protective spell.

With a condition that it only activates once in every hundred thousand attempts, I had flawlessly defended even Mulburry-san’s full-powered strike.

It was inconceivable for someone like him, a mere student, even if he came from a prestigious family of magicians, to be able to overcome it.

“That’s why I told you it’s futile. Well, it seems I can’t just beat you without proper measures,” I remarked.

Step by step, I slowly approached Kaien.

To intentionally instill a sense of despair, I deepened my wicked smile as I drew closer.

“From here to your position, it’s about twenty steps. I won’t do anything during that time, so go ahead and try your best to stop me with your magic,” I taunted.

“Don’t you dare underestimate me, you worthless commoner!” Kaien seethed with anger, swinging his staff as if turning his emotions into flames.

“【Intense Blaze, Karman Vague】!”

A magic that conjured waves of fire.

“【Inferno Vortex, Gruna Tornado】!”

A magic that enclosed in a whirlwind of flames.

“【Twilight Congregation, Torpo Flame】!”

A magic that sent swarms of fiery birds, and so on.

A variety of fire-based magic spells relentlessly unleashed, without giving me a moment’s respite.

However, none of them could touch me, as they were nullified just before making contact.

“Oh dear, are you sure that’s working for you? I’m completely unaffected, you know. Come on, come closer,” I teased.

“Kuh… Damn it…!”

Kaien’s face was filled with humiliation as he distanced himself from me.

The training ground was spacious enough for him to evade if he wished, but perhaps his pride wouldn’t allow him to do so, as he only took a slight step back before coming to a halt.

Retreating any further would result in a clear defeat regardless of the outcome of the mock battle. That must have been his judgment.

While noble arrogance was quite sturdy, there was little chance of the tide turning even if he held out.

Just as I thought that…

“If magic won’t work, how about this?” Kaien said with a triumphant smile.

He raised his staff high towards the sky and began incanting.

“【Manifest――Alluring Undying Phoenix――Incinerate the Entirety of Heaven and Earth】.”

Upon hearing that incantation, Professor Rezan was the first to gasp.

Reflexively, he rose from his seat on the judging panel, as if about to shout.

However, he stopped just before doing so, wearing a conflicted expression and freezing in place.

It seemed he was uncertain about whether his intervention was appropriate.

The reason for his hesitation became apparent shortly after.

“【Annihilating Immortal Phoenix, Flare Phoenix】!”

Once Kaien finished his incantation, a large magic circle unfolded before him.

The magic circle emitted a crimson flash and gathered particles of light at its center.

These particles gradually took shape, eventually forming something resembling a “giant bird.”

It was a bird engulfed in flames, its entire body ablaze. Its head reached the second floor of the audience seats, and standing in front of it was enough to feel an intense heat.

“Kiiii!”

The flaming bird let out a cry that shook the air, causing a commotion in the arena.

It was not merely a fire-based magic spell in the shape of a bird.

It was an actual living being with its own will. There was no doubt about it…

“Oh, summoning magic, huh? Quite reckless of you,” I remarked.

I had learned about it from Mulburry-san.

There was a type of magic called “Summoning Magic,” which involved separating one’s own magical essence to create a pseudo-magical beast.

It was a powerful magic, but it came with significant risks.

Unlike regular magic, it involved detaching one’s magical essence, which could severely damage the user’s magical energy.

It was said that over time, the user’s magical energy would have difficulty recovering, and in the worst case, a large amount of magical energy would become unusable.

There were even magicians who became unable to use magic for their entire lives due to repeatedly using summoning magic.

Such a dangerous magic. However, in this situation, it could be considered the best option.

My 【Momentary Peace, Aegis Freeze】 could only defend against attacks from magic, not physical attacks.

Certainly, if the attack came from the summoned beast, it would pose no problem for me.

He could have chosen to come at me with physical attacks enhanced by body strengthening magic, but he probably chose summoning magic because he feared getting close to me.

Moreover, this summoned beast was quite powerful. It was something rarely seen even in mock battles between students.

Still, Professor Rezan didn’t intervene. Perhaps it was because summoned beasts, unlike regular magical beasts, could be controlled and their power could be adjusted by their master.

Well, considering how this guy had lost himself in anger, it was questionable whether he would exercise any restraint.

“Hah! There’s no way I would lose to a mere commoner! Don’t get carried away, you inferior race! Just because you managed to enter this grade doesn’t mean you can stand on the same stage as me!”

Kaien became quite arrogant in front of the summoned beast.

Regaining his confident smile from before the mock battle, he let out a mocking laugh.

“You, you’re just an unwanted presence in this academy! You’re no different from that pathetic crybaby who sobbed! Crying so pathetically just because a trinket was broken! Weaklings like you have no talent to become a mage! I’ll make sure to drive you out of this academy along with the rest of your kind!”

As if responding to his words, the magnificent flaming bird spread its wings.

Then, with great force, it took off towards the ceiling of the training ground.

Sparks of fire scattered from its wings, eliciting small screams from the students in the audience seats.

While gazing up at the flaming bird, I quietly pondered.

I still believed that Mil’s heart was fragile. It was true that she lacked many qualities as a mage.

However, she possessed extraordinary talent and a kind heart that more than made up for those shortcomings.

To simply judge her as lacking talent without understanding any of that, it showed that this man had no qualities worth mentioning.

Insulting my friend, making her cry in front of everyone—I would make him deeply regret his actions.

“If it’s a magical beast we’re dealing with, then I can use this, right?”

I slowly opened my right hand and directed it towards the flaming bird.

With a gentle smile and the familiar words on my lips, I smoothly recited the incantation.

“【Life or death――Grim Reaper’s Scythe――Reap the enemy’s head in a single thought】.”

The blazing monstrous bird glared at me and swiftly descended with incredible speed.

Kaien wore a triumphant smile.

Professor Rezan widened his eyes.

The students in the audience gasped.

Amidst all this, I remained completely unfazed…

I hung the grim reaper’s scythe around the neck of the monstrous bird.

“【Devil’s Message, Death Notice】.”

A jet-black light flickered from my right hand.

The same colored light enveloped the fiery bird of calamity.

In an instant, the summoned beast, now engulfed in ominous light, thrashed and struggled in the air.

“Kiiiii! Kiiiii!”

Eventually, it seemed to lose its ability to fly and weakly descended to the ground.

Afterward, without uttering a scream, it quietly dissolved into the air as if melting away.

Silence descended upon the training ground.

The students in the audience were left dumbfounded, and even Professor Rezan was at a loss for words.

Kaien stared in disbelief, his gaze fixed on the spot where the summoned beast had vanished.

“W-What… my summoned beast… defeated in a single strike…”

As the summoned beast was merely a pseudo-body created through magic, it was designed not to leave behind any physical remains upon its demise.

Conversely, the disappearance of the summoned beast meant one thing—it had undoubtedly lost its life.

That’s why Kaien was bewildered. He had witnessed a magic he had never seen or heard of before, and his prized summoned beast had been defeated in a single blow.

“W-What the… who the hell are you?”

Kaien, now no longer skeptical but rather filled with awe, directed his gaze at me.

Unperturbed, I approached him.

“【The die is cast――Guidance of the gods――If you have a grudge, blame your own fate】.”

I stopped right in front of him and calmly extended my right hand.

Perhaps recalling the sight of the defeated summoned beast, Kaien trembled, his lips quivering as he let out a shout.

“What the hell are youuuuuuuu!!!”

Without answering, I put an end to it all.

“【Fickle Fate, Forthuna】.”

In an instant, a yellow light flickered from my right hand.

Kaien’s entire body was enveloped in the same colored light, and he collapsed to the ground.

His body convulsed, and he remained motionless, unable to make a single move.

“That’s it, it’s over. Make sure to come and apologize to Mil properly. If not, I’ll make you suffer even more,” I said, lowering my voice, and confidently strode across the silent training ground as if it were mine.

No one said a word. Not a single sound. Only the sound of my footsteps echoed through the air.

As I passed by the judging panel, Professor Rezan finally came to his senses and observed Kaien’s condition.

With Kaien completely immobilized, Professor Rezan proclaimed in a resolute voice, “Th-The winner… Sachi Marmelard!”

At that moment, the students in the audience, albeit belatedly, had a sudden realization.

They alternated their gazes between the fallen Kaien and me, slowly grasping the situation.

Gradually, feeble applause, “Clap… Clap…” filled with exhaustion and hesitation, could be heard sporadically from various places. It seemed like they were finding it difficult to offer straightforward congratulations.

Perhaps it was because I was an unknown commoner.

In a mock battle where everyone expected Kaien to emerge as the clear victor, he was overwhelmingly defeated instead.

Undoubtedly, this had caused confusion among everyone.

Or maybe they were concerned that this would only boost the confidence of a commoner like me, rather than offering praise.

Well, it didn’t really matter. I did it to make Kaien apologize to Mil. I didn’t fight to earn recognition for my abilities.

Besides, through this mock battle, I had come to realize a few things. I was quite strong, for one.

I also had a tendency to be persistent and malicious.

And there were important lessons about how to gauge an opponent and the significance of battles with magicians.

Oh, and well…

I learned that nothing makes me angrier than someone insulting my friend.

With a refreshing feeling, I walked toward the exit where my friend was waiting.

————

T/N: I feel most authors, especially Japanese authors, allow such people to get off easy in their stories. I feel the punishment should be severe for them, for example expulsion or having to remake the necklace by the person that made it and until then you cannot return to the academy which he never can because the person that made this is dead. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me.