NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24
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Chapter 24
Arkadia (3)
“By the way, why does your expression look so rigid?”
“I’m embarrassed.”
To be honest, the offer of three chances to attack felt like an underestimate of Riley.
No matter how high-ranking the opponent was, such an attitude from an elder was enough to bruise Riley’s pride.
“Umm…”
However, upon hearing Riley’s words, the elder swallowed hard with a complex expression.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he opened his mouth.
“So, you want me to duel under equal conditions? No restrictions at all?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
After a moment of silence, the elder shook his head and spoke.
“…You really have no idea who you’re up against.”
His face looked pitiful, like he was watching a child’s bravado. He let out a deep sigh and slowly glanced around before stopping.
“Oh, right. This is here.”
[…What the, why are you taking our book?]
The elder suddenly reached for the book that was placed in front of us.
It was a book about the modern and contemporary history of magicians that Riley had borrowed from the “Bronze·Silver” value.
Garon Theobalt, who took the book, chuckled as he looked at the title on the cover.
“One Hundred Great Figures Who Shone in the Empire’s Modern Era… It’s quite a good book. There’s not much distortion of historical facts.”
“…”
Muttering to himself, the elder flipped through the pages until he discovered something and suddenly froze.
Swish─.
He handed the book back to us and said,
“Take a look.”
I couldn’t quite grasp why he was suddenly recommending reading.
Grumbling, I started to read along with Riley, examining the pages he had opened.
< 67. Garon Edward von Theobalt Garon Theobalt, who served as the leader of the magical battalion on the western front, is famous for single-handedly holding back hundreds of demon beasts. This incident is known as the "Battle of Haslpart Mountains." The Emperor highly valued the achievements of Garon Edward von Theobalt and enshrined his name in the Hall of Fame…. >
[…Huh?]
I momentarily found myself at a loss for words.
Directly beneath the passage was a familiar portrait of the elder.
I turned my gaze forward. The figure in the book was casually looking at Riley.
[Oh, so…]
That elder’s name is Garon Edward von Theobalt?
He was a war hero who once saved the Empire?
[…He wasn’t just some high-ranking magician.]
Not all high-ranking magicians possess the same skills just because they’re the same rank.
While some may isolate themselves in a room solely to raise their rank, others fight furiously on the battlefield to elevate their skills.
Garon Theobalt could be considered a prominent figure among such high-ranking magicians.
A veteran who honed his skills through decades of battles against demons.
His experiences, cultivated in the life-and-death struggle of the battlefield, were not something Riley’s talent could simply rival.
‘Did I overstep my bounds?’
[It seems that way.]
No matter how much training Riley had received with Rich, taking on the full powers of Garon Theobalt, who had devoted his entire life to combat, would prove daunting.
“Um, Grandpa… No, Lord Garon Theobalt.”
“What is it?”
Riley cautiously closed the book and asked.
“Three times is a bit too few. Perhaps, could we increase the number of attack opportunities to five?”
“…Do you have no sense of shame?”
“Just kidding.”
It was Garon Theobalt who was unexpectedly resolute.
Rejected so bluntly, Riley awkwardly cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, this doesn’t seem like an appropriate place for a duel.”
Riley was right.
This was the library.
It felt a bit inappropriate to hurl magic around in a room filled with bookshelves, desks, and chairs.
It seemed we needed to find another space for a smooth duel.
However, disregarding our worries, Garon Theobalt calmly responded.
“Don’t worry about that.”
Snap─!
He snapped his fingers.
Suddenly, a strong wind rushed in.
Woosh──!
This was supposedly a windowless room, yet winds were swirling in from all directions.
The curtain of wind formed a small arena around Riley and Garon Theobalt.
Boom─!
Crash──!
“…….”
[……]
The strong wind caused all the desks and chairs around to be pushed back.
Even amidst that, Riley remained unaffected by the strong wind. Not a single hair was out of place.
In the midst of it, she finely adjusted her magical energy.
Riley made sure not to be influenced by the magic.
[…A monster.]
A monster.
She truly was a monster.
Her magical prowess befitted her status as a high-ranking magician.
It was obvious that Garon Theobalt had already displayed near-complete mastery, as expected of a veteran who had spent decades in the field.
“Is this space enough?”
Garon Theobalt said with a relaxed smile.
“Oh, and there’s no need to worry that your magic might damage the library. Your magic won’t leak outside this barrier.”
“And if it does leak?”
“Well, even then, it’s fine. The facilities in the Platinum value are all anti-magic treated.”
I was already aware that important facilities in Arkadia were anti-magic treated, thanks to the librarian’s explanation.
Moreover, since Riley didn’t fight by unleashing high-output destructive spells, there was no need to worry about the library being destroyed.
[Then, Riley.]
‘Yes.’
[Let’s give it a shot.]
It was a perfect opportunity to safely gauge how far Riley’s attack could go against a high-ranking veteran.
Oh, of course, if she couldn’t land a hit, one of her legs might end up broken, but…
[Let’s make that yandere grandpa eat dust.]
…We’re not that pathetic that we can’t land a single hit, right?
*
Garon Theobalt gazed at the girl before him, deep in thought.
‘…She really is impressive.’
She looked like a child at first glance.
Just the fact that this young girl had already achieved the rank of ‘Novice’ was astonishing.
‘Usually, magicians who reach the low-ranking tier before the age of 20 are called geniuses.’
All magicians undergo two awakenings throughout their lives.
The first awakening occurs at the age of 10.
At that time, a child blessed with “mana” takes their first steps as a magician.
Those who instinctively understand the truths about magical power, magic, and sorcery are called apprentices, undergoing rigorous training to build their foundation as magicians.
The second awakening occurs when these apprentices reach adulthood.
At that point, they earn the formal qualification of a “magician.”
The dormant “elemental seed” within the mana heart blossoms, granting them their own attributes, enabling them to perform more intricate and powerful magic.
From that point onwards, as they grow accustomed to magical power infused with elements, they exit the apprentice stage and enter the low-ranking tier.
‘…The criteria for classifying these ranks are quite simple.’
It’s how much magical power one can handle.
That’s all there is to it.
However, just that single factor results in a significant disparity among magicians.
The more magical power one uses, the stronger their mana heart must be, their operational skills must be more meticulous, and their casting speed must be quicker.
In other words, the differences in the size of this “vessel” clearly classify the ranks of magicians.
‘…It’s precisely because of this that the abilities of adult magicians multiply exponentially.’
Once they undergo their second awakening, magicians become able to contain more magical power, and through elemental blossoming, the potency of that power also increases.
Therefore, it’s natural for adult magicians to become stronger.
The fact that many apprentices reach the low-ranking tier around the age of 20 is all due to this reason.
‘But spoken conversely…’
Before experiencing the second awakening.
In other words, a magician who has already surpassed the low-ranking tier before reaching adulthood…
‘…That just means they’re a monster.’
Garon Theobalt had lived for nearly 70 years.
But even he could count on one hand the number of magicians he had seen who reached the low-ranking tier before their second awakening.
‘Most of them had grown into towering giants that formed the backbone of the magical community.’
To be honest, he was immensely curious.
Riley, how strong would she become once she undergoes her second awakening?
Perhaps she might surpass the high-ranking tier and grow into another great magician?
‘I want to see that girl’s future.’
But because of that, Riley must not be allowed to take the Selection Test.
If she were to take that test, the magical realm would lose another potential talent.
‘Therefore, this time…’
No matter what it takes.
‘…I must change this girl’s mind.’
Clenching his fist tightly, Garon Theobalt faced the genius standing before him.
Despite the complex emotions within him, he spoke in a calm voice.
“As I said before, I will concede three attacks total. If I move even a single step during that time, it will be your victory.”
The purpose of this duel was simple.
To break Riley’s will to continue participating in the Selection Test.
To achieve that, there was only one thing he had to do.
‘Show her an overwhelming gap. Make her feel enough fear to give up on the test.’
It was a cruel method, but it was the only way to save that girl.
“Let’s begin.”
“Understood.”
Woosh─!
As soon as the answer finished, magical energy began to stir from all directions.
Swoosh──!
The sharp sound cutting through the wind.
Magic arrows made of magical power rapidly flew towards Garon Theobalt’s vital points.
‘…That’s fast.’
It was an astonishing speed.
For a magician lacking experience, such speed could easily result in losing their life without a chance to react.
But…
‘…That’s all there is to it.’
The attack was not heavy, laden with vast magical power.
Nor was it a tricky attack with rotations or twisted trajectories.
It was merely a shabby attack with speed.
Garon Theobald calmly cast a defensive spell in response.
Although the barrier he created was just a basic form of “Mana Shield” with no attributes, it was still more than enough to block such an honest attack.
‘As expected.’
He thought to himself.
‘If I had let her take the Selection Test under these circumstances, that child wouldn’t have lasted long and would have died…’
Just at that moment.
A chilling shiver ran down his spine.
“…!”
Garon Theobald could instantly feel his body freezing.
‘…Paralyze?’
No.
This wasn’t the effect of magic.
It was the fear felt at the threshold of death.
That fear, in turn, froze his body.
Like an animal standing before a predator.
‘What…’