I’m Not Becoming a Graduate Student! – Chapter 26

The first duel of the magic combat practice class.

The first to step forward were Serenne Camileya and Hegen Brental.

‘Hegen Brental? That’s a name I don’t recognize.’

I might have seen him in passing, but this was the first time I had associated a name with a face. He seemed to exude a noble air from his features and adornments. A slightly chubby but not overweight male student.

“Both sides, please head up to the arena.”

At Professor Mehden Demurniza’s command, the two students ascended to the circular arena. Serenne wore her usual sleepy expression, making it hard to tell what thoughts she harbored. On the contrary, Hegen had a rather tense look on his face.

“Hegen! You can do it! Show them what you’ve got!”

“Don’t freeze up!”

“Don’t panic just because she’s the top student!”

The students cheered on, with a group of nobles clustered around Estroja. Perhaps Hegen was from Estroja’s noble faction among the first-year students?

“Then… let’s begin!”

With Professor Mehden’s signal, the match started. Hegen was the first to make a move.

“Fire, the ancient power and authority! Reveal yourself—”

Swish!

With his palm extended forward, Hegen Brental began his incantation. A textbook move for combat magic.

‘Sounds like he’s rapping.’

Even for a first circle spell, the incantation length couldn’t be ignored. His pronunciation and speed showed he had practiced for a long time.

Just when I thought he would cast the 1st Circle elemental magic, “Fire,” the moment came.

“—Let the fire burn.”

The words came out almost as a whisper, yet they were clearly heard by everyone. Just two words, but they unmistakably constituted an ‘incantation.’

As evidence of that—

Whoosh!

A flame erupted from Serenne’s small palm.

“Gah!!”

Hegen immediately halted his incantation, shielding his face and leaping sideways. His speed of incantation wasn’t slow, really; he just had an unfavorable opponent.

“Earth, rise up.”

“Water, flow away.”

“Wind, sweep it all!”

“…!!!”

Just the two-word incantations were enough for Serenne to corner Hegen effectively. Despite his efforts to hold his ground on the arena, he ultimately fell out after being struck by the wind.

“Hegen Brental, disqualified. Serenne Camileya, victory.”

Clap, clap, clap–!!

With Professor Mehden’s announcement, applause erupted.

“Of course, the top student is different.”

“Wow, Hegen wasn’t bad for our league!”

“He just had bad luck facing her… I’m glad I didn’t draw that lot.”

“Well fought!”

Half praises towards Serenne and half consolation for Hegen. The two descended from the arena in an unexpectedly warm atmosphere.

As everyone praised Serenne’s prowess, Sion couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

‘…What the?’

Though they agreed to use only first-circle magic, wasn’t this just too easy?

‘Didn’t I use first-circle spells even against goblins?’

The wide-spreading Fire Breath, the Rock Shot firing at supersonic speed, and the wind blades that sliced through goblin bones. Everything was Sion’s creation of ‘first-circle magic.’

But why were they showcasing such a ‘simple and weak’ battle?

The strange occurrences didn’t stop there.

‘Serenne seems… off.’

Taking advantage of everyone’s attention on Hegen, Serenne was coming down from the arena. Her expression appeared as sleepy as before, yet she kept rubbing her right arm.

It was like when Sion had previously ‘overused his mana.’

‘Didn’t she use just a few first-circle spells?’

There were two possibilities.

Either she didn’t have much mana in her heart.

Or her arm was too slender to withstand the passage of mana.

Both possibilities were valid.

But if his speculation were true, how had she entered as the top student?

He wasn’t sure how the entrance exam at the academy worked, but it couldn’t have been passed just by having speedy incantation.

Sion’s thoughts didn’t linger long.

“The second match will be Sion, and Estroja Perrawell.”

“…!”

At Professor Mehden’s call, Sion blinked in surprise. He hadn’t even prepared himself mentally, and here he was, up next. Eyes turned towards him in the surroundings.

“That’s him. I wonder how he’ll fare in combat?”

“He doesn’t seem to know Barrier Magic. He’ll just throw up barriers and get knocked out, right?”

“Still, his class wasn’t half bad…”

“Just don’t go using a wooden sword because you think you’ll lose!”

Ha ha ha!

With someone’s words, laughter erupted around him. Had his past actions been too noticeable? Stares felt hot on his back.

It wasn’t hard to understand why.

‘Yeah, I did cause a bit of a ruckus.’

Sion had done everything from using magic, filling in for professors, to getting into trouble with noble students like Clif. Ask who caused the most trouble among the first-year students in the Magic Department, and everyone would answer, ‘Sion.’

And he was just a commoner, so it made sense that the stares wouldn’t be friendly.

‘University life isn’t easy…’

With a grim expression, Sion walked onto the arena.

Reacting to them was likely what they wanted, so he decided to ignore them entirely.

After all, there was no reason to care about people who didn’t like him.

Just caring for the people around him was enough.

“Sion, do well. If the reputation of the Perrawell family is true, it may be tough, but you might just… manage.”

“Thanks.”

At the foot of the stairs leading to the arena, Patrick approached and offered his encouragement.

…Was it encouragement, though?

“Hmm! How tragic for team members to have to clash like this! But perhaps this is where bonds are forged amidst the magical exchanges! Ha ha ha!”

“…Geivolg.”

“Ah, right. Also, the Perrawell family is one of the three famous houses in the Empire. They consistently produce court magicians, claiming many elite ladies and gentlemen raised through elite education.”

“………….”

“You should be able to learn a lot. Ha ha ha!”

Geivolg raised a finger and smiled brightly.

…Yeah, these guys aren’t really encouraging me.

They’ve already assumed I’m going to lose and are just offering comforting words.

“Gah… I’m off.”

“Don’t be nervous! Just show your skills!”

“Don’t worry! Losing to a strong opponent isn’t a shame!”

Ignoring the two’s comments, Sion climbed up to the arena.

‘Like Serenne, I was going to take it easy… but no way.’

His eyes burned with fierce determination.

Facing the subtle disdain from noble students, along with his close friend’s encouragement, if he didn’t take the duel seriously, that would be even weirder.

*

‘Sion, right?’

Just before the second week of classes started, Professor Mehden Demurniza reviewed the student list for his class. Among the first-year students in the Magic Department, Sion stood out the most.

He had only been enrolled for about a week, but the rumors surrounding him were quite something.

—He splashed water on Professor Ronda Magret.


—He’s on friendly terms with Professor Lunia.


—He was seen flirting with a girl from the Adventurer’s Guild.


—He displayed amazing sword skills in Professor Heruj’s swordsmanship class.

All unbelievable stories.

Especially since Professor Ronda Magret was notorious for being strict and prickly among the faculty… how was it that he had managed to live to tell the tale after splashing her?

The same went for Professor Lunia.

While Professor Ronda Magret was known for her fierce temper, Professor Lunia was famous for her extreme introversion throughout the Magic Department.

Even professors who disliked attending external events rarely made an appearance at regular faculty meetings or various events.

Currently a hot topic among first-year students in the Magic Department, Sion.

Professor Mehden’s assessment of him was…

‘Typically, geniuses stand out. So do troublemakers.’

His eyes narrowed as he glanced at the student list.

Sion. There was no family name following that. It meant he was a commoner.

Just that alone made it possible to discern whether he was a genius or a troublemaker.

Turning the page on the student list, he found students’ peculiarities or past records recorded there.

Specifically, it was the admission application submitted when applying to the Magic Department of this Byzantium Academy.

As Mehden flipped through the pages, he eventually halted.

‘Sion… this application is quite sparse.’

Sion’s application.

Unlike other students, there were many blank fields in the documentation.

The most conspicuous was at the bottom of the document: “Recommender.”

The name written there was one that even Mehden Demurniza was well aware of.

“Noias Beitan….”

The lead professor of the Magic Department at Byzantium Academy this year, Noias Beitan.

He had recommended Sion for admission to the Magic Department.

To manage astronomical donations, pay the first-semester tuition, and endure the scorn of those around him just to get Sion into the Magic Department, what was the reason behind it?

‘What could a commoner possibly achieve?’

Mehden’s eyes grew cold.

If asked where he stood between the commoners and nobility, he was 100% on the noble side.

He was from the Demurniza family, after all.

A house with blood of the great dragon mixed in, belonging to one of the ‘three great magical families’ of the Empire.

He had walked the elite course and took on a teaching position at Byzantium Academy at a young age.

‘Well, I’ll find out firsthand. Class starts soon.’

As Mehden entered the coliseum-style arena, students looked at him with a mixture of tension and anticipation.

It was the second session of his ‘magic combat practice’ class.

“…I will call the roll. Gagarin.”

“Yes!”

The roll call began unexpectedly, with an air of calmness washing over the room.

The atmosphere maintained its serenity up until—

“Sion.”

“Yes!”

“You didn’t come out during the orientation last time. Am I correct?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Mehden glared at Sion.

He resented him for being commoner, and it irritated him that there were rumors about his mischief, but more so, how could he skip his class during orientation?

‘There really isn’t a single thing I like about him.’

His pretty boyish looks that were less than masculine were also a minus in his eyes.

He smacked his tongue internally before moving on.

“As previously announced, we will dive straight into practice starting today.”

As he infused mana into the orb located on the wall of the Coliseum, the sound of rumbling filled the air as the circular arena emerged.

A magic circle was installed for the students’ safety.

True to its name, ‘magic combat practice’ began straight in reality.

“The first match will be… Serenne Camileya and Hegen Brental.”

Calling the top student first on purpose, he aimed to evaluate her skills, but also to elevate the students’ anxiety levels.

Typically, young people tend to feel competitive spirit when they see their peers excel.

“Then… let’s begin!”

Just as predicted, the academy’s top student Serenne Camileya displayed overwhelming combat prowess.

‘To think she can cast with just two words… Shortening incantations like that is hard even at a higher year. Truly the top student.’

Shortening incantations.

It’s something every magician longs for, and one of the most critical elements in actual combat.

Magicians struggle to reduce even a single syllable.

If she managed to cut down the incantation to just two words at that age, she might even reach the point of casting without incantation by the time she graduates.

‘If such a talent becomes a court magician, it would be wonderful. As for that fellow Hegen… well, I suppose he’s adequately average.’

He couldn’t care less about anyone but Serenne.

Those with low grades didn’t even register.

What he noticed was only the elite.

That’s why, even with a lineup of ‘elites’ and ‘troublemakers’ on his second match, was so curious.

“The second match will be Sion and Estroja Perrawell.”

A troublemaker like Sion, pitted against a third noble house’s representative like Estroja.

This would allow him to gauge Estroja’s combat abilities.

The likelihood of Sion winning, not being from a prestigious family, was—

‘Zero percent. Commoners simply can’t learn magic.’

Why do nobles excel in magic? Simple. They train and learn for years from early childhood.

Nobles buy tomes worth astronomical amounts and hire tutors at prices that could support a commoner’s family for months.

Growing up with elite education naturally means they accumulate more mana in their hearts and master magic quite effectively.

And what about commoners?

They can’t afford to buy magic books and lack even the funds to rent them.

Rather than having a tutor, they must settle for a flunky magician’s chaotic teachings.

With such menial jobs, finding time to practice magic is almost impossible, so of course, they won’t store mana in their hearts.

Furthermore, finding a proper master is akin to reaching for the stars.

In reality, to say a commoner has become a magician means that they were never truly a proper magician in the first place.

‘Let’s see if I can get a glimpse of Estroja’s prowess.’

Sion didn’t even enter Mehden’s sight.

He simply selected Sion to be Estroja’s ‘punching bag.’

A supporting character sacrificed for the protagonist… No, even worse than that, Sion was chosen as an extra.

‘Even though she’s from a branch, she indeed comes from the Perrawell family.’

Mehden recalled the contents of Estroja’s admission application.

She was a branch of the Perrawell family.

Even so, she was quite renowned for her magic in the social circles since childhood.

Having gained admission to Byzantium Academy, there were high expectations on her.

‘I hope she soon shatters Sion into pieces.’

The thought that Sion had been paired with her for a hidden agenda to teach that insufferable commoner a lesson brought a smirk to Mehden’s lips.

He looked forward to a scene where Sion would be utterly defeated by Estroja.

But then…

“—Fire.”

As Sion extended his right hand and murmured, a single word of magic rippled through the air.

Normally, nothing should happen just from saying the name of the spell—

Whoosh!

Flames erupted across the entirety of the circular arena.

“What…?”

Professor Mehden’s eyes widened as if they would pop out of his head.