To put it simply, the fight between Nils and Laura was a battle with a predetermined outcome.
Nils managed to move his head slightly amidst the spasms and jerks, just enough to look up ahead.
“Gasp…! Hah…!”
Due to continuous hits from ice-elemental magic, Nils’ limbs had turned icy blue, frostbite evident on his skin. Naturally, he felt no sensation in his fingertips, and frozen breath escaped from between his pale lips.
“Ugh…!”
Nils shut his eyes tightly. It was a series of humiliating defeats, and he would not be mistaken if he described it as being toyed with.
Armor-piercing rounds, explosives, scatter shots, and even the magical bullets he had been saving for a critical moment.
Nils had certainly done his best against Laura von Adelheit, who stood before him unscathed. He had employed all offensive means at his disposal, and the rapid-fire capabilities he took pride in were indeed noteworthy.
However, in the end, that was all it was. Nils’ attacks couldn’t break through Laura’s magical barrier, and instead, he merely accumulated minor wounds from the reflected attacks of her barrier.
‘What kind of monster is this…!’
As a member of Class A in the Combat Studies Department, Nils Chamber unleashed every means available and attacked Laura, yet her magical defense remained unbroken.
That was the conclusion.
Struggling to accept this fact, Nils glared at the girl before him, his organs frozen due to the magic.
Typically, magicians use a spell called magical defense. Although it has the drawback of only being able to defend in one direction, concentrating the magical shield in one area allows for outstanding defense.
In contrast, magical protection spreads the magic evenly in all directions, making it weaker against concentrated attacks.
Consequently, magical protection is useful in chaotic situations. Generally, that is the case. Yet…
“How thick is that magical defense…!”
It was unreasonable. No, it was nonsensical.
Nils had indeed attacked one specific point. The trajectories of the bullets were precise, and his aim moved in tandem with Laura’s movements.
Yet, it ended with just a slight crack? What’s more, it deflected nearly half of his attacks?
How was that possible?
“Are you feeling quite flustered?”
As the dust settled, Nils saw Laura, who had approached with a flag in hand.
“Flustered, you ask…?”
“Yes. It is understandable, given that none of your attacks worked, right? How unfortunate. You initiated the first attack, didn’t you?”
“…!”
That smug smile. Laura von Adelheit’s signature haughty smirk, as if looking down on him. It infuriated Nils.
While making everyone else a scapegoat, she brazenly flaunted her noble lineage!
“You…!”
Nils Chamber ground his teeth. He clenched his jaw so tightly that the sound of grinding teeth reached Laura’s ears.
Laura regarded Nils, wiping the slight smile from her lips to display a truly pitying expression.
“Nevertheless, you put up a decent fight. For your magical defense to crack…you really are a student of Class A.”
“Ugh, shut up…!”
“How lowly your words are. Am I not complimenting you? Please don’t misunderstand.”
“That’s a compliment…!”
“Yes. That’s as far as I’ll go.”
Nils’ struggling ceased at Laura’s gentle words. She lifted her staff and began to inscribe a magic circle gracefully in the air.
“Inhale, compress, maintain form, simplify.”
The size of the magic circle shrank, expanding over Laura’s right hand. Nils stared blankly at the sight.
“I’m afraid we have a time limit. To avoid leaving future trouble, it would be better to take care of you quickly.”
Laura extended her index and middle fingers while raising her folded ring and pinky fingers. The spinning magic circle hovered at the center of Nils’ forehead.
It resembled the shape of a handgun. Nils couldn’t contain the rage surging within him at the way she taunted him with her hand.
“…You bastard—!”
“Trigger (κρούση).”
– Boom!
Hit directly by compressed air, Nils’ final vision as darkness enveloped him was—
“Alright…! That was good…!”
Laura’s back as she dashed toward the center of the practice field with the flag firmly in her grasp.
– Laura von Adelheit! Winning overwhelmingly against Nils Chamber in their duel, she claims the final flag!! Truly, the prowess of Class A students is not to be underestimated!
Professor Andres shouted energetically. His astonished expression indicated he was also surprised by Laura’s skill.
– Wow—!!
The audience’s cheers were overwhelming, clearly amplifying the scale compared to previous duels.
It was a truly stunning and spectacular duel, emphasized by the high level of the A class students from the Caldera Imperial Academy.
– With the last flag arriving at the center of the practice field, the flag-snatching event for first-year students has concluded! A total of 64 students have passed this duel!
Professor Andres announced loudly, his booming voice almost painful to the ears.
“Indeed, the Adelheit student is overwhelmingly impressive…”
Professor Esther, who was with me watching, uttered in awe. I merely watched silently as Laura ran with the flag.
My feelings were complicated. While I knew Laura would win the fight, it was still…
“…Laura von Adelheit.”
Adelheit. The weight of those five letters did not diminish. It was a match that made me acutely aware of the continued strength of a prestigious magic family.
I felt strange. Even though the students I taught confidently showcased their skills, I couldn’t bring myself to smile.
These were the students I was meant to guide. Students I had to lead in place of Helena.
Therefore, I should be happy for their accomplishments. I should commend them. I should show them a smile. Yes, I ought to do that, but…
“…”
What is this unsettling feeling?
Inside me, two emotions divided. One genuinely delighted at the achievements of Class A students, and the other, an ugly animosity emerging subtly towards Laura’s success.
That confusion left me at a loss. I didn’t know what expression I should wear.
My tightly closed lips trembled. I pressed my mouth shut with more force.
Laura von Adelheit. I hadn’t particularly liked her in the early classes, but as time went on, I was able to let go of my narrow viewpoint.
Therefore, I thought. I would no longer be bound by the past. Just as I vowed not to hate the children of my enemies, I would not treat Laura von Adelheit as the same person as her father.
‘What a ridiculous notion.’
Indeed, it was a ridiculous notion. It was solely because I hadn’t witnessed Laura using magic that I thought differently, not because I had abandoned my narrow-minded thinking.
Look at me now. Observe how I project her father’s image onto Laura whenever she uses magic.
Even though the students I teach are proudly displaying their skills, I cannot celebrate or be happy for them. How pitiful is that?
Adelheit. Am I unable to rejoice in such moments purely because of those five letters? Just because of that?
It was hard to accept, but it was the truth. I could see no other explanation for my feelings.
– Ah! The first-year students are just coming out now! Please welcome them with a round of applause!
At that moment, the first-year students who had finished their duel began to exit the practice field. Their wounds had miraculously healed, leaving them completely unscathed.
“I mixed in some healing magic. I helped a little. Hehe…”
Professor Esther scratched her head and smiled, but I couldn’t muster a smile in return.
The procession of first-year students exiting the practice field. Leading the way were the students of Class A.
And regrettably, where I stood was directly in line with the exit of the practice field, connecting to the waiting room and infirmary.
Standing proudly at the forefront with a face soaked in joy and confidence, Laura radiated the triumph of victory and her usual haughty demeanor.
As Laura exited, she kept looking around, seemingly searching for someone, her expression full of anticipation.
Who was she looking for? Did the Duke of Adelheid come to watch?
At that moment, Laura’s eyes alighted upon me.
“Ah…!”
Letting out a short gasp, she quickly composed her expression and started walking toward me. I silently watched her approach.
When Laura was finally at my side, she placed her hands on her hips, beaming with confidence as she spoke.
“Professor Antorelli, how did I do?”
“…”
– Priest Antorelli. Don’t blame me too much. I only chose the best path for the future of the Empire.
Her shameless expression, her blusterful demeanor and speech, and the way she completely treated me as inferior were all parallel to the image of her.
– Sacrifice is, after all, the foundation for victory in war. The Empire will firmly establish itself thanks to them, so rather than calling it a wasted death… let’s say it is a noble sacrifice.
All of that seemed to align perfectly with the current image of Laura.
“…That was truly an excellent duel.”
I had no choice but to deceive myself.
…What a spineless person I was.
That was exactly who I am.
In the dormitory bathroom.
Laura, submerged in a hot tub full of steaming water, wore a relaxed expression.
“Ahhh…”
Drops of water formed in her white hair, soon falling into the tub. Soaking in the warm water, she felt all the fatigue wash away at once.
After the first day of duels was over, Laura quickly had dinner and returned to the dormitory.
She felt significantly wearier than usual. Part of it came from wandering through a maze, but the student she had faced in her final duel, Nils Chamber, was indeed a strong opponent.
For her magical protection to be cracked was an unprecedented occurrence, and to decisively finish off Nils, Laura had pushed herself a little too much. She replayed the battle that she had witnessed firsthand.
“Hmmm…”
The duels of the upperclassmen left a strong impression on her. Their battles, which unfolded after the first-year students’, were certainly worth observing.
However, what mattered most to Laura at the moment was none of that.
– That was truly an excellent duel.
“Hehe…!”
She stifled a laugh, splashing in the hot water with joy.
The praise and recognition from Professor Antorelli. It was one of the few exhilarating experiences Laura had encountered.
“With this, it’s the second time…”
Once during the evaluation of her assignment, and now this was the second.
Revisiting those memories, Laura began to imagine a future filled with even more praise.
Thus, the first night of the grade-by-grade duel deepened.
