Please, Just Read It

Please, just read this.

Chapter 37

Their Circumstances (6)

A surprising attack.

If Riley hadn’t cast Dispel at just the right moment, our lives would surely have been in danger.

[What is this…？]

It was just a single exchange, but I immediately realized.

It’s dangerous.

This was the highest-level opponent we had encountered so far among all the challengers.

The cohesion of mana, the speed of casting, the precision of the trajectory—everything was overwhelmingly superior to Riley’s level.

‘Magician.’

Did Riley sense this too?

With her numb hands still tingling from the backlash of Dispel, she conveyed her thoughts to me.

‘Can you feel it? It’s a familiar mana.’

[…Yeah.]

I could feel it.

It was a familiar mana.

Of course, it was tinged with a somewhat strange scent, but the familiar energy was predominant.

[…Maybe.]

It was truly a sinister hypothesis, but the person attacking us right now…

“What’s that?”

It was then that Becky, who had been asleep, opened her eyes.

Judging by her vigilant voice, it seemed she had awakened from the strong surge of mana.

“Hey, Riley. You didn’t mention anyone was coming.”

“My Passfinding didn’t detect any signs.”

“…What?”

Becky replied incredulously.

“Stop joking. You couldn’t sense the approach of other challengers? Is that even possible?”

Becky had been glued to Riley for nearly 20 hours.

Because of that, she knew how outstanding Riley’s mana affinity was.

Riley’s affinity for mana was unparalleled.

From identifying traps meticulously hidden by the Five Great Towers to easily executing Passfinding even in the ruins filled with all kinds of “mana interference”—her skills were remarkable.

From Becky’s perspective, it was hard to believe that someone like Riley couldn’t sense the approach of other challengers.

In fact, I didn’t get it either.

[I can’t see how that’s possible unless they’re wrapped in dragon hide…]

I thought to myself while staring into the darkness ahead.

“…”

“…”

A dim alley barely illuminated by light.

At a distance of about ten steps.

Thud, thud—

Three robed magicians, their faces covered, appeared.

They were all clad in leather dripping with a blue liquid, and we instantly recognized the material.

The inner skin of a Golden Golem.

Dragon hide.

[Whoa.]

“…”

[Seriously, they’re going all out.]

To evade the mana detection of other challengers, they had skinned a Golden Golem and draped it over themselves.

‘The fact that they secured the hide means they must have found a Golden Golem already, right?’

[Yeah.]

‘Then why are they attacking us?’

I had no idea.

Various hypotheses flashed through my mind, but they remained mere uncertain speculations.

“Ha!”

“…”

“What a bunch of clowns, honestly.”

Just then, Becky, spotting the opponents, scoffed, clearly unimpressed.

With the sticky bodily fluids alongside a disgusting stench wafting from them, the opponents draped in Golem hide looked utterly ridiculous.

But despite Becky’s mockery, there was no response.

Only heavy silence hung in the air.

Woom—

Suddenly, a small surge of mana arose.

It was happening simultaneously from both sides.

Mana threads began to stretch out from the bodies of the opposing magicians.

A reconnaissance.

A cold war commenced, using subtle mana to gauge the opponent’s level.

Swish, swish──!

The mana threads twisted and intertwined.

As the tension in the air heightened, neither side showed any sign of ceasing their scouting.

Depending on the type of magic deployed by the user, the mana generated its unique wavelength.

A magician pursuing rapid spells emits a swift mana flow.

A magician leaning towards destructive spells gives off a violent aura.

A magician pursuing intricate spells exudes a refined energy, while a death-calling magician emanates a thick murderous intent.

Just by that, one could predict the opponent’s upcoming attacks and speculate on their compatibility with oneself.

Thus, mapping out the potential courses of battle one by one—this was reconnaissance.

“…”

“…”

The world turned black.

In silence and stillness, I tried to grasp the opponent’s tendencies. Focusing intensely, I analyzed the patterns of their mana and estimated the battles ahead.

Amidst the black backdrop, only the sound of intertwined mana threads resounded.

Among the countless guesses, predictions, and silent scouting…

“It’s been a while.”

One of them finally spoke up.

Thud, thud—

The sound of blue blood dripping to the floor.

The intricately twisted mana threads began to snap one by one, causing cracks to form in the heightened reality.

Returning to the real world, I glanced straight ahead.

It was a familiar voice.

Associated with a familiar mana, it belonged to someone too well-known to me.

[…Yeah.]

I could now be sure.

Amazingly, we had met the worst possible opponent.

“I didn’t expect to meet you like this.”

Riley replied.

Hearing her words, the opponent smirked and slowly removed the hood of his robe.

Grey hair.

Though aged, he bore an impressive aura.

And held in his left hand, the oh-so-familiar wooden staff.

“It’s unfortunate that things have turned out this way.”

Garon Edward von Theobalt.

He greeted us with a bittersweet smile.

*

[…]
I stared at Theobalt with blank eyes.

Why.

Why in the world was he attacking us?

“…Did you come to take the core?”

“No. I have a core of my own.”

Garon Theobalt lifted his robe slightly to reveal a silhouette of a golden sphere vaguely visible in his pocket.

“Then why…”

“Riley.”

He cut off Riley’s words, speaking in a low, deliberate voice.

“Didn’t I mention before?”

“…”

“The selection trials attract magicians with all sorts of motives. Among them are lunatics who view the trials as a legal way to commit murder.”

He lifted his eyes to look at Becky.

“It’s the same for me. I too entered this trial with a specific purpose.”

I scrutinized Garon Theobalt carefully.

More precisely, I examined the shape of the mana he possessed.

[…]
Didn’t I just say?

The type of magic deployed by the user shapes the unique wavelength of their mana.

The mana that Garon Theobalt previously possessed was heavily defensive.

This was understandable, considering his life experiences.

Commander of the magical unit on the western front.

Having dedicated his life to defending against demon invasions, Garon Theobalt naturally harbored “defensive mana.”

Woom—

However…

“Personally, I hold a grudge against that murderous lunatic named Rebecca Duncan.”

Currently, Garon Theobalt was channeling a deep murderous mana.

“Grudge?”

“Yes. A very personal grudge.”

Hearing that, Riley questioned.

“Are you going to kill Becky?”

“…Becky?”

“Rebecca Duncan.”

“Oh.”

He nodded slightly.

“It can’t be helped. If I leave her alive, the magical realm will face greater turmoil.”

“Then I’d be eliminated too.”

“That’s why I said it’s unfortunate that things have come to this.”

The usually gentle old man’s demeanor had vanished long ago.

Garon Theobalt’s eyes were now colored with scarlet madness.

“Hey, Riley.”

Observing him quietly, Becky whispered cautiously.

“I’ll take care of that old man.”

“…What?”

“I’ll take on Garon Theobalt. After all, we have unresolved issues to settle.”

“That’s…”

Just then, as Riley was about to retort, I quickly interjected.

[Riley, Becky’s right.]

“…”

[We can’t face Garon Theobalt. It’s better to deal with those two over there instead.]

Riley could not win against Garon Theobalt.

And this wasn’t just due to a mere difference in skill.

[It’s because of compatibility.]

“…”

Riley employed an unorthodox combat style.

Using “Magic Missile,” which alters speed and trajectory, she attacks the opponent’s vulnerabilities through “Dispel.”

Perhaps one could say she was an opportunist, capitalizing on others’ mistakes and pouncing like a wild dog.

In contrast…

Garon Theobalt pursued a thoroughly defensive style of magic.

A practitioner of an impregnable defense, he would never reveal a single weakness to others.

Thus, Garon Theobalt could be seen as our worst possible adversary.

Riley’s fighting style, which relies entirely on exploiting errors and vulnerabilities, would not work against him.

“…”

Perhaps because of the last duel we experienced, had this realization struck me deeply?

Riley did not further question it.

Keeping her gaze fixed on Garon Theobalt, she spoke to Becky.

“This will be tough, Becky. Lord Theobalt has reached a high rank…”

“Yeah, I know.”

Becky smiled.

“But Riley.”

“…”

“I told you before, I only fight opponents of my level. I seek battles where romance blooms in my heart.”

Her gaze remained locked on Garon Theobalt.

“There’s a perfect opponent right there; there’s no reason for me to decline this battle.”

Even under the threat of facing a high-ranking magician, her eyes sparkled with excitement.

That competitive spirit.

The smile brimming with determination that we had first seen when we met Becky adorned her face.

*

‘So, it has come to this.’

Garon Theobalt smiled bitterly.

Riley showed no intention of avoiding the battle.

From the very start, that girl had always tackled situations that seemed impossible.

‘The goddess of fate truly is merciless.’

Why.

Why had she ended up on the same team as that Rebecca Duncan?

“…”

Garon Theobalt, who gazed back and forth between Riley and Rebecca Duncan with a troubled expression, quietly murmured to his party.

“Miss Dorothy, be careful.”

“…Huh?”

“The magician you have to face is certainly no walk in the park.”

“Really?”

Dorothy flicked her eyes toward the magicians she was supposed to face.

“Hm…”

One of them was trembling in a corner.

From what I heard… they were said to be from the Blaze Arcane Academy.

There was no need to worry about a fool who only learned ancient magic.

Moreover, if they were already in a panic before the actual fight started, even better.

“The other one…”

As she muttered to herself, Dorothy glanced sideways.

There was a young girl with a mysterious appearance. Platinum hair and golden eyes. Yes, she was strikingly beautiful, but…

“…Huh?”

That wasn’t the important part.

“Old man.”

“…”

“Am I seeing things wrong? That kid looks like a mere low rank.”

Garon Theobalt nodded.

“Indeed, she’s a low rank.”

“What? Seriously a low rank? How dare someone who hasn’t even reached middle rank come to take the selection trials?”

“That’s your problem, Dorothy. Don’t judge an opponent hastily by their rank alone.”

Dorothy frowned.

“Even so! She’s a low rank! A low rank! Not even close to middle rank! Does that make sense?”

“…Arpel. You take good care of Miss Dorothy.”

“Understood.”

Arpel Stingswood nodded.

Regardless, Dorothy continued to wear an expression of distrust.

“Anyway, we just need to take down those two over there, right?”

“Be careful. Never underestimate them.”

“Got it, got it. I’ll give it my all, so don’t worry, old man.”

WHOOSH─!

As soon as she finished answering, shadows erupted from beneath Dorothy’s feet.

In an instant, a rounded dome formed, engulfing everyone.

Darkness Attribute magic, “Shadow Movement.”

As soon as I felt my body being pulled and my vision darkened…

“…”

When Garon Theobalt opened his eyes again, he found himself in a completely different space within the ruins.

“Looks like it’s just the two of us now.”

And right in front of him stood…

Rebecca Duncan, wearing a relaxed expression.

“It’s an honor, really. To face you, the famous Garon Theobalt, one-on-one.”

She spoke in a soft voice.

“Do you know how much Sharon has talked about you?”

“…”

“Though this is our first real meeting, because Sharon has mentioned you so often, I feel an inner sense of familiarity…”

“Rebecca Duncan.”

CRUNCH─.

Garon Theobalt’s teeth ground together with a chilling sound.

His gaze bore more weight than ever before.

“Do not dare utter my granddaughter’s name from your filthy mouth.”

“…”

Becky didn’t reply.

She merely wore a bright smile.