412.
Thump- Thump- Thump-
The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway leading to the arena.
Juen encountered Luke, the victor, in the hallway.
“You did great in the match, it was impressive.”
Juen winked.
Luke smiled at Juen’s expression.
“I gave it my all.”
“You did more than just give it your all. What’s your secret?”
“Perhaps you could call it hellish training.”
Luke gazed into the distance.
‘Everyone says how harsh Senior Leo’s training regimen is, but it seems it’s even worse than I thought.’
“Still, how long do you plan to keep speaking so formally to a peer like me?”
“Huh? But Juen, you are the daughter of the Southern Magic Tower’s master.”
“Considering we’re in the same school, what’s the point? It shouldn’t matter.”
With a light snort, Juen replied.
“After all, we’ve been classmates for so long, ever since we entered school. Let’s not overcomplicate it.”
“Then from now on, I’ll speak more casually.”
“About time.”
At Luke’s words, Juen nodded in satisfaction.
“Perfect.”
“Yeah. Of course, but I’ll do my best to win.”
With a sly smile, Juen walked towards the end of the hallway.
A moment later.
Standing before the brightly-lit arena, Juen took a deep breath.
After doing a deep sigh, Juen slapped her cheeks.
‘Don’t get nervous, Juen Thorbina. This isn’t like you.’
Ever since entering school, Juen had been the indisputable number one in the Department of Magic.
However, when considering the entire first year, she had no choice but to concede the top spot.
Because Aina Baydena, the unquestionable strongest of the first year, existed.
The great-granddaughter of the legendary Sword Sage, born into an exceptional lineage.
Moreover, Juen was a traditional wizard, and in a one-on-one battle, Aina, being a knight, had the advantage.
In that sense, this was the ultimate matchup in this exam.
Nevertheless, very few believed Juen could emerge victorious.
Such was the overwhelming superiority of Aina.
The normally confident Juen felt sweat forming in her palms due to the tension.
After taking a deep breath, she walked towards the entrance.
-Juen Thorbina is entering! Let’s give her a warm applause!
Hooaaaaahh-!
“Fight your best, Miss!”
“Go, Juen!”
Cheering erupted from all around.
Among them, the senior students from the Department of Magic, particularly those from the Southern Magic Tower, vigorously supported Juen.
Seeing them, Juen flashed a smile as she moved toward the arena.
On the arena stage, Aina already stood with her usual emotionless expression, eyes closed.
As Juen made her way to the arena, she felt her legs trembling.
When Aina was chosen as Juen’s first-round opponent, Juen confidently declared victory, yet inside, she felt the weight of the pressure.
Juen knew better than anyone that she had a disadvantage in a one-on-one match.
Despite that, she maintained her confidence, convincing herself she could win and preparing thoroughly.
Yet, standing face-to-face, the tension made her heart feel as if it might burst.
‘I can do this, Juen Thorbina. I can definitely do this.’
Clenching and unclenching her fists, Juen took another deep breath.
Just then, as cold sweat trickled down her back, a familiar voice called out.
“Juen!”
Turning her head, she saw Kal, who was selling items nearby.
Kal, having moved to the front row of the audience, shouted with all his might.
“Don’t be nervous! You can do it!”
“…Senior.”
Juen gave a slight smile.
“Not only that! You’re going to win! You have to! Since all my earnings from this tournament are on you winning! If you lose, I’m done for!”
Juen’s face, initially touched, turned cold.
Taking a large breath, Juen spoke.
“If I win, you’re really going to buy me something expensive, right?”
“Of course!”
Kal grinned and raised his thumb.
Juen then sharply turned her head away from Kal and walked onto the arena. Her tension had disappeared.
A faint smile was etched on her face.
‘That’s right. I can win. I’ve prepared for this very reason.’
Juen’s brown eyes sparkled.
Chk-
Juen stood in front of Aina.
Aina, who had been standing with her eyes closed, now opened them to look at Juen.
The two girls’ gazes became entangled in midair.
-And here we have the match everyone was waiting for in the first round! Or better yet, it might be the biggest matchup of the entire tournament!
Runba started the commentary excitedly.
-The top student from the Department of Knights in the first year, and class representative, Aina Baydena, versus the top student from the Department of Magic, Juen Thorbina! Oh! Either way, it’s beneficial for the Department of Summoning! Hohoho!
-Runba Tes, did anyone say it’s okay to interweave biased commentary based on departments while performing commentary?
-Kiyiiiik?!
A chilling voice from Halind was heard.
In response, Sedgen, always eager to contribute, quickly seized the microphone.
-A biased commentary like this simply cannot be permitted! It lacks elegance! Therefore, I, henceforth, shall takeover this commentary. Everyone should now enjoy my elegant commentary…!
-Drag him away.
-Yes! Yes! Yes!
There was no way Halind would allow a second-year overall professor to intervene in a first-year event.
After dragging Sedgen away and receiving a warning, Runba barely managed to resume the commentary.
After a brief commotion, Mel approached the arena.
“I hope both of you give it your all without regrets.”
After explaining the rules, Mel stepped back.
Juen, crossing her arms, inhaled deeply.
“Havidden Bursen! Shasha Ciene Rodren! And Luke Eldar!”
Her sudden shout quieted the bustling audience.
“Wait!”
Juen pointed a finger at Aina.
“You’re next!”
-Ooooh! The first-year Juen Thorbina has just thrown down a public challenge to her rivals!
Startled by the unexpected situation, Runba shouted excitedly.
“I’m aiming to take the class representative position! And I’ll also become the next Student Council President!”
Juen boldly declared, pointing the end of her wand at Aina. Cheers erupted around at her audacious statement.
“Ooooh!”
“Cool!”
“I’m rooting for you, Juen!”
In response to this sudden proclamation, Aina looked at Juen with her usual doll-like expression.
To Aina, Juen declared loudly.
“Get ready!”
“I don’t care.”
“What?”
“Whether it’s the class representative or the Student Council President spot, I have no interest.”
Aina unsheathed her sword with her emotionless voice.
“If you’re an obstacle, I’ll simply knock you down. That’s all.”
At Aina’s words, Juen grit her teeth.
“I dislike you, Aina Baydena.”
Mel placed the coin on her finger.
“The way you ignore everyone’s desires!”
Chiiing! Whirrrrr!
“The way you speak as if no one else matters!”
The spinning coin cut through the air.
“I really don’t like you!”
Ting!
The moment the coin hit the ground, a golden flash bolted toward Juen.
In that instant.
Whoosh!
Juen’s figure disappeared.
‘Stasis magic.’
Aina’s sharp senses instantly covered the entire arena.
Aina was well-aware that one of Juen’s strengths was her stasis magic; it was extremely sophisticated and tricky to deal with.
Once hidden by the stasis magic, Juen was nearly impossible for even Aina to pinpoint.
‘But that is only if the stasis magic is cast beforehand.’
Aina’s golden eyes quickly scanned the entire arena.
The difference between perceiving and not perceiving something is significant.
With her sharpened senses, Juen’s position was swiftly detected.
Swoosh!
The moment Aina’s sword slashed through the air.
Flash! KABOOM!
A tremendous explosion occurred.
“What do you think of this match?”
Upon Chloe’s question, Chen Sia responded.
“Juen might have difficulty winning, I suppose.”
Chen Sia calmly stated.
A one-on-one combat between a traditional wizard and a knight.
Under the assumption that both skills are comparable, the knight class has an overwhelmingly advantageous position.
Moreover, Aina was recognized as the strongest of the first-year students.
This battle was extremely unfavorable for Juen.
Chloe watched her struggling first-year junior.
Though not a direct mentee, she was still from a year below, and Chloe kept her eyes on Juen.
‘Remember, she challenged me during the entrance exam.’
Chloe recognized Juen’s incredible abilities.
Yet even Chloe believed Juen’s victory would not be easy.
“Leo, what do you think?”
“Judging by objective strength, Aina’s victory seems almost certain.”
Leo calmly stated.
“However, in a one-on-one battle, variables are diverse. Especially since Juen’s mentor is Kal; it’s improbable that he hasn’t prepared anything against Aina.”
“True, Juen does have Kal.”
Although Kal’s magic skills might be lacking, his talent in analyzing opponents and formulating strategies is exceptional.
It’s been a key factor in Kal’s survival up to this point.
“Kal truly specializes in catching his opponents off-guard.”
Chen Sia nodded, recalling Kal.
“Besides Kal, there’s also an issue with Aina herself.”
“Aina’s issue?”
Chloe tilted her head in inquiry.
However, Chen Sia nodded as if she understood.
“Indeed, Aina’s issue could be the most fatal.”
“What do you mean?”
Chen Sia smiled faintly at Chloe’s question.
“If she properly observed Juen as she is, Aina might have trouble winning.”
At Chen Sia’s words, Chloe fell into thought, then her face lit up in recognition.
Recalling her earlier conversation with her close friend Selia about her mentee.
‘She didn’t seem to care much about other first-years, did she?’
While Juen spent the entire first semester preparing to overthrow Aina, Aina did not engage in similar preparation.
Such differences certainly had significance.
At that moment.
Flash! BOOM!
A massive flash accompanied a ground-shaking explosion.
The arena was covered in ice.
Chen Sia looked interested.
“What kind of magic is that?”
“Combining Ice Magic with Explosion Magic.”
Chloe immediately recognized the magic.
‘Ice Clones.’
One of her own special abilities.
‘She fused three spells. No, four of them.’
Chloe was impressed.
Magic Fusion.
A form of magic enhancement where multiple spells are fused to maximize their effects.
Leo smirked faintly.
‘Up to two can somehow be achieved with enough effort. But the issue arises at three.’
‘Three onward requires talent and an intuitive understanding.’
Leo’s limit was three.
The top records, even from the second-year Department of Magic students, such as Chloe and Abad, also capped at three.
Chelsea, who lacked natural talent in fusion magic, reached only two.
‘Though it should be noted that Chloe, Abad, and Chelsea have development potential.’
For reference, Luna had once fused seven spells.
‘Then again, that girl is a magic prodigy with monstrous power.’
Being a first-year student, Juen managed to fuse four.
“Fusion seems to be her specialty. I didn’t know.”
Chloe marveled, her eyes sparkling.
‘How will you handle this, Aina Baydena?’
Leaning against the railing, Leo observed the arena thoughtfully.
‘To truly win, you must properly acknowledge your opponent.’
Clang-clangg-
Aina shook off the ice that had clung to her body.
Despite being caught in the powerful ice explosion, she seemed unscathed.
Aina’s senses detected the presence of multiple figures.
‘All Juen Thorbina.’
Swoosh-!
Aina tightened her grip on her sword.
“Is this it?”
“No.”
Juen’s voice replied from an unseen location.
“I’ve prepared a lot to defeat you.”
Juen grit her teeth.
“This is only the beginning! You can look forward to it.”
With fiery determination, Juen shouted.
“I’ll put everything I have into taking you down!”
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
