Published at 5th of December 2025 10:36 am

Chapter 134

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The next day was the first school day after the exam.

Of course, that was only for me; the other students were already on their second day.

But the school still hadn't escaped the aftermath of the results.

That was only natural. With so many media outlets, including the Imperial Newspaper, still putting my article on the front page, how could the students be any different?

[Lucas Askanian, The Return of the First Askanian Mage]

[Joshua Kreis, Honorary Professor of Magic at the Imperial First Academy, "The Best Light in Askanian History"]

[[Editorial] Not Only the Best in Askanian History, but the Best in Imperial History Would Have Become the Empire's Greatest Mage if Educated]

According to Elias, this was the article that came out today.

The reason I'm saying this is that Elias read the title loudly in the hallway, not because I read it myself.

"Analysis of the video shows a total of 36 types of Magic Power used... eugh?"

"Stop reading."

I hit Elias in the mouth and quickly entered the classroom.

I think I aged about a year more trying to stop that bastard's mouth.

"It's good to analyze the problems that will arise in the future, but you need to read articles like this. And so do the other bastards."

Elias followed me into the class, rolling his eyes.

Still, negative reactions weren't dominant.

The reason I know this is because my Favorability has already hit +80 without me doing anything. Just now, pop-ups were popping up one by one in the direction where there were no people. They must be in the building across or in the next class.

Unlike Elias and Leo, who were getting heated up, the group who attributed my score to Magic Power was only a minority.

It was a characteristic that only appeared in the group with ambiguous scores, and the group that had been filling their self-esteem by looking down on other students little by little.

'I have to be careful because those bastards are stirring up trouble.'

I looked around the suddenly quiet classroom and sat down.

The students who had talked to Leo yesterday were gathered together.

Immediately after experiencing some kind of shock, they just waste time being embarrassed, and then the stage of denying and doubting what they saw follows.

And if you make them realize the reality a few more times, they finally accept it.

It's natural for this atmosphere to continue until they realize again that what they saw wasn't an illusion.

And now the time has come to realize it.

Coincidentally, even though I didn't step forward, a student came to me on his own.

"Lucas, do you want to practice with us after regular class today?"

"."

I smiled, looking at them.

I remember that he's a friend who is always pushed out of the top 10 in the department, although his Impression is quite blurry. The students next to him were the same.

"Hans Fritzi, right? Sorry, it's a bit difficult because I already have a partner."

"Partner?"

"Yeah. I decided to take the exam with Yulia, so I don't think I can train separately."

The students' faces hardened slightly at those words.

Someone erased his embarrassment and opened his mouth.

"Well, actually, it's the first time I've seen you use magic, and we've been sparring partners with each other since the first grade, but we've never done that with you. Would you like to do it with us once?"

"Hmm."

I hesitated for a moment and nodded.

"Okay. It'll be okay if it's just for a little while. Then tell me where to spar."

***

Lucas Askanian accepted our request.

After the first class in the morning, when it was break time, Hans looked back at his friend, cast a soundproofing spell, and muttered.

"It's the first time I've talked to him."

"Me too. But seeing that he accepted so readily, he probably doesn't know yet?"

"He shouldn't."

How can I reveal that I'm sparring to verify his true skills?

In fact, I know that Askanian is outstanding.

"."

Hans Fritzi lowered his head and stared at Lucas's competition screen, which was on the front page of the Imperial Newspaper.

The entire empire is going wild over that 58-second video.

The Imperial Newspaper released an article celebrating its highest sales ever.

No matter which newspaper you open, red Magic Power decorates the front page, and no matter which page you open, there are two or three articles with his name on it.

The public is reacting more explosively than ever to the return of an incompetent cripple who has the qualifications to become a monarch.

I admit it.

I envy the shining talent that is impossible to catch up with.

I envy his innate genius that captivated the public in less than a minute.

His colorful and diverse Magic Power, which is the essence of Askanian, his ability to instantly embody theory, his eloquence that is more like a member of the ruling family than anyone else, and even being the younger brother of Adrian Askanian, are now so enviable that my mouth feels bitter.

'Still.'

Still, having talent is different from being able to receive a 1+ score at once.

Even if I admit the other things cleanly, I can't admit this much because I've seen it myself.

Hans muttered.

"Yulia said she's his partner, right?"

Yulia and Leonard Wittelsbach have been famous friends since the Third Academy. First of all, they were both descendants of the ruling family, and as such, they were excellent in Magic Power from an early age thanks to being educated by the best mages in the empire.

Both of them had lukewarm reactions, but now one of them has even become Askanian's partner.

His friend spat out a curse and replied.

"That's right. I don't understand why those two are together."

Hans himself didn't understand either.

Why bother?

Let's exclude the fact that you can handle time quickly if you push through with Magic Power.

No matter how I look at it, there was nothing special about the raw incantation, the basic amplification formula, or anything else.

What did he do other than just 'push through indiscriminately' from beginning to end?

It was difficult to admit even 1+. Maybe 2+ like himself.

If I don't say anything about this ambiguous grade evaluation, I don't know how the student military selection after that, and the mid-term and final grade evaluation after that will go.

If you can get 1+ with such a simple movement of pushing through with power, there's no point in learning Skills. With that kind of evaluation, we should also be able to go up to 1+, or at least the 1st grade range.

'By the way, I wish students who received the same grade as Askanian, like Leo or Yulia, would step forward.'

Still, even tough he slipped this time, Hans himself usually receives 1st grade in practical skills, so he won't be an opponent that he can't compete with at all.

Hans thought, hardening his will in his own way.

***

'Ask if I can spar?'

Of course, I can.

I have to sweep up Favorability.

In fact, I'm curious to know what will change if I upgrade not only the charm but also the retry Trait by one level.

'And I have to end the kids' games quickly.'

The place they called out was the 2nd grade common training ground.

In fact, it's too wide to use when sparring individually. It was natural because it's usually a place where 50 people enter at once.

But individual training grounds or gyms wouldn't have been suitable. It's indoors, so people can't easily watch.

When I went out to the common training ground at the appointed time, I doubted my eyes.

'As expected.'

I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

'How many people is this? Are this many people gathered for sparring between students?'

It hasn't been half a day, but the rumors must have spread a lot, as dozens of people were gathered here. If it's like this without even starting, I think it will soon reach 100 people.

'They've gathered in various ways.'

There's no department distinction either.

They must have been curious about what my skills are like.

The students here must have been curious about my magic, and they must have gathered because they were curious about whether I was truly a person who had the skills to receive a 1+ grade.

In the first place, it's not just these three bastards who are raising objections to my score.

These three are just standing out in front, but there are more students who agree with that bastard.

And seeing that they left this many people to watch, their mindset is obvious.

'They must be confident in their Skills.'

Of course, I'm grateful.

I'll take the Favorability well in advance.

I smiled, putting on a Magic Power restraint device that I had prepared in advance on one hand.

***

'Hmm?'

What is that bastard putting on his hand now?

Hans, who had arrived at the training ground, squinted and looked far away.

'Is he cheating like this in broad daylight?'

That bastard probably hasn't sparred before. If he has, it's only once or twice.

Even though he confidently accepted, he might have felt a little anxious about this situation of sparring with me.

'Is he trying to win with an Artifact?'

Surely not.

No matter how much, he's not that sly, is he?

Hans called out to Lucas and waved his hand.

"Lucas."

"Hmm, you're here?"

Lucas replied with a soft smile.

'Why is he smiling?'

Hans felt uneasy instinctively.

Usually, this kind of reaction is either an attempt to create an image or because he's really nice and welcomes people well, but for some reason, he felt an ominous feeling other than that.

As he was thinking that, a look of having seen through me briefly flashed across Lucas's face, and Hans stood there in a daze.

Then Hans's friend pointed to Lucas's wrist.

"What's that, Lucas?"

"Ah, this."

Lucas showed the bracelet he was wearing on his wrist and then flicked his hand. Unlike the ominous fire he had seen before, a weak flame briefly rose and disappeared.

"Magic Power restraint device."

At those words, Hans had to think again about what he had heard.

'Hmm.'

Magic Power restraint device.

Magic Power.

'.'

What is he wearing now that we're sparring?

"Wait a minute. What are you talking about? Can I try it on?"

"Well, go ahead."

Lucas pulled out the bracelet and handed it over.

When I put the bracelet on my hand, I felt like the blood vessels in that area were being strangled and drying up.

I've never been taken into custody in my life, so I haven't used it before, but judging from its function, it was definitely a Magic Power restraint device.

Hans frowned instinctively and pulled out the bracelet, and the students who were watching buzzed. They also had the same embarrassment and questions that Hans had.

Lucas, who had been watching them quietly, snickered.

"Ah, just a moment before we start."

Lucas shouted to the people who were watching from afar.

"Elias."

As soon as those words fell, Elias, who was standing far away, threw a thin bracelet-like thing.

Lucas snatched it and put it on his left wrist. Then, he shook the wand a few times and smiled.

"Okay, it fits perfectly."

"That's why I told you to take two~"

"."

The students paused.

Hans frowned, trying to figure out what was going on.

Lucas watched Hans's face for a long time and then opened his mouth.

"I heard that I received the highest score only with Magic Power. I understand. It's easy to be misunderstood. It's true that there are so many people who think that you're only skilled if you wield a sword perfectly or use a special ability for sure."

"."

"Coincidentally, you, Hans, are always in the top ranks in practical skills. Except for this 1-1st, you've never missed the 1st grade range. Right?"

"Right."

Hans replied, narrowing his brow.

"I wanted to try it once when I had the opportunity to spar with a friend as outstanding as you. I need to find out if I really received the highest score only with Magic Power or not, don't I? It would be better to limit Magic Power to find that out."

Lucas's tone was kind from beginning to end.

But I could tell right away.

'He noticed.'

He deliberately accepted the sparring.

Even though I brought up the common training ground, he couldn't have not known about the school facilities, but he readily accepted.

I didn't think deeply about it at the time, but now I know.

Lucas Askanian came to deny the suspicion I raised head-on.

He even got a restraint device from somewhere for that.

'Does that mean he can win against someone like me even while using this?'

Hans's eyes sank low.

If it comes to this, things will change.

I was going to test him only enough to raise objections, considering that he had never learned magic, but I don't have to do that.

We welcome it.

Because Askanian's skills will be revealed completely, as is.

'It's a bit unnerving that he's so calm even though there are so many people.'

Why? I keep seeing Lucas's soft smile.

I can't shake the feeling that I'm stepping into the wrng path.

'No.'

It's an opportunity. An opportunity to verify Lucas's true skills.

Hans put strength into the hand holding the wand and nodded.

"Okay, shall we start?"

Hans stepped back and continued.

"Start first, Lucas."

"Hmm, no. You go first."

"."

Is he giving up the chance to attack first like this?

It's ridiculous that someone who has learned for a few days is giving me this opportunity.

Hans erased his expression and took a posture.

Then Lucas unfolded the Askanian family's posture, which was not from the Imperial Second Academy.

As his posture ended, Hans drew Magic Power from his core.

Fortunately, his condition was good today, so he felt Magic Power flowing more smoothly through his blood vessels to the wand than usual.

'Good.'

I will pour out the skills I have learned over the past 15 years in this place.

Hans now enjoyed the tension in his own way and changed the wand into a staff. And slammed it down on the floor.

Kug!

At that moment, Lucas opened his mouth at the same time as the explosion.

Kwaaaang!

[Be the rock where I always hide from giving.]

Hans tightly closed his eyes.

The light and noise from the impact with the barrier scattered his senses.

'It was a barrier spell just now.'

It would be meaningless to defend.

Beginners only think of attacks that push forward when they slam the staff down. In fact, that's the most common way to use it. Naturally, the defense is bound to be focused on the front.

And the attack I used was an attack aimed at that convention.

If you overlap stealth magic, you can buy time for Magic Power to scatter around the target.

Kwagwagwang Kwang!

Even though the color of Magic Power was not visible, explosions sounded from all directions with subtle time differences. Hans pushed the attack to not give Lucas any breathing room.

'But.'

It's strangely unresponsive?

As soon as I thought that, Hans hurriedly swung his arm.

Kwang!

A bright light that was so bright that it stung my eyes flashed, and bright red flames burst out.

'!'

My face could have been blown away if I was not careful. It would have happened if I had been even a second late in setting up the barrier.

As I reflexively stepped back from the barrier, I heard a crackling sound.

It was the sound of cracks forming in the barrier.

The impact sound I heard just now was short. It meant that Lucas had launched the attack lightly without putting in much effort.

Wasn't he controlling Magic Power?

'Then, does that mean my barrier was broken with the Magic Power reduced by the restraint device now?'

I was so dumbfounded that my head wasn't turning quickly.

Askanian's calm voice was heard in the noise.

"Is that applied magic taught at the Imperial Third Academy? You must have memorized the stealth magic combination formula."

"!"

Hans violently threw out the wand, dismantled the barrier, and launched Magic Power. In the middle of the secured vision, Lucas was unharmed.

'I don't know how a friend who didn't even graduate from the Third Academy knows that.'

I don't have the mind to talk.

Hans hardened his face, put strength into the wand, and threw his arm as if he was punching. His dark green Magic Power flew quickly. Just before Magic Power reached Lucas's nose, Hans closed his eyes and when he opened them, a flash occurred.

Kwang!

"."

Lucas was still standing in that spot, lightly extending the wand with one arm.

There was no shaking in his barrier. As if his barrier had absorbed Magic Power, the green Magic Power disappeared without a trace in an instant.

He tilted his head with a puzzled look, as if he was experiencing this kind of sparring for the first time.

"...Hmm, it's unexpected. It wouldn't be fun if I just kept blocking like this."

Lucas wiggled his other hand as if telling him to come. As if he was going to respond in a different way now, playfulness was subtly seeping in.

Hans's eyes momentarily gained strength.

'If the barrier is this strong, the best thing to do is to simply push through with quantity like that bastard did.'

It's not easy to go out like that when I've been criticizing that until now, but when you think about it, the situation is different. There's no choice but to use a quantitative attack strategically now because of the situation.

Also, the people who know that are not actually in this place. It would be better to feint as if I'm pouring out with quantity for a while and launch attacks from all directions.

The student finished thinking and gathered Magic Power into the wand.

***

That bastard once again concentrated Magic Power on the wand and threw it out as if punching.

Kwang! Kwang!

Instead of setting up a barrier, I stirred the wand along the attack route that bastard was launching.

The students who were watching flinched slightly at the explosions that burst every time my Magic Power touched.

That being said.

'Is this sparring?'

I feel both gratitude and absurdity towards Leo at the same time.

So this is what you call sparring.

If this is sparring, I feel like I've just been unilaterally beaten by Leo all along.

'Leo, that bastard, really.'

I'm even starting to suspect that he didn't tell me to spar with Elias alone because he was afraid I'd find out the truth and tried to make the three of us do it together.

Of course, there were also advantages to this.

1st grade is by no means lacking in skills.

Getting 1st grade in practical skills every mid-term and final at the Imperial Second Academy means that you can now freely choose what you want among imperial employment or escalating to the Imperial First Academy upon graduation.

There was a clear basis for the confidence that bastard had in coming out to face me.

But I feel more than ridiculous at that bastard's movements now.

"Your movements seem big. How about reducing them a little?"

As if he thought I was giving unnecessary advice without knowing his intentions, that bastard stirred the wand with an unpleasant look.

I continued.

"I guess you're thinking of distracting my attention with big movements. And."

I was looking at the mass of Magic Power that had flown to my nose, and I felt an attack with guidance magic bearing down from behind me after making a sharp turn. I took a step to the side, put strength on the heel of my shoe, and quickly turned my body.

Kwang!

When I hit that bastard's attack with the staff, the green Magic Power disappeared without a trace.

I slammed the staff on the floor, scattering the remaining attacks into the air, and opened my mouth again.

"And you wereplanning to launch a real attack when I blocked that bait attack, right?"

"!"

That bastard flinched for a moment and then quickly pretended to be calm. Even if he did, embarrassment was dripping from all of that bastard's attacks, so it was meaningless.

Anyway, seeing this, I know why Leo was angry.

That bastard's movements must have been a skill of his own, but I didn't know this was a proper skill.

'Leo seems to have made me do this on the first day of training.'

Whether Leo, who made me do this when I hadn't even held a wand properly, is crazy or that friend's level is low.

It's probably both.

And there's something to think about now.

That bastard's main weapon is not the wand. That bastard was in the top ranks in the magic swordsmanship subject.

So, that bastard will now draw his sword to completely defeat me. It's not bad to take care of the technical justification as well.

Of course, because of that point, that bastard was the best person to build my position in the school.

There will be bastards who doubt or test my skills in many more subjects in the future, but thanks to fighting with that bastard now, I can finish swordsmanship at once.

'I shouldn't be tired until then.'

Not me, but that bastard.

I deflected that bastard's attack and said softly.

"Calm down, Hans."

Share