Survival 104

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“Who do you think will win?”

“Well, probably Lady Caspera, right? She is from a count’s family, after all… Usually, the higher the title, the greater the difference in mana.”

“That’s uncertain. Despite appearances, he was third in the entrance exams. He might be hiding some tricks we don’t know about.”

In the dueling arena observed by everyone.

The strategist Riu, dragged into the sunlight by my hand, furrowed her beautiful face fiercely.

“Interesting, Hans Byron. I never thought you’d call me out.”

“We owe each other debts, don’t we? I’ve just provided an opportunity to repay them, Lady Caspera.”

I glanced slyly at her.

At her wrist, which had been threatened and grasped during our scuffle.

Feeling my gaze,

Riu flinched and soon glared at me with a menacing air.

“Shameless. Are you aware of what you’ve done? It’s unbecoming of a gentleman to lay hands so carelessly on a lady of the count’s family.”

“Haha, before I am a gentleman, I am merely a servant.”

“If that’s the case, such rudeness is even less excusable!”

“A servant shouldn’t be scared by a dog that bites its master; otherwise, I wouldn’t be of any use… to have to explain such a simple thing.”

As if whispering silently, ‘The heir of the Caspera family still has much to learn,’

her face turned bright red.

The humiliation of being at a loss for words.

Moreover, the anger for being compared to a dog and for daring to mention her family and its heir.

“You little…!”

Unable to hide her emotions, Riu soon raised her staff.

“Phew, good spirit. But aren’t you a bit delusional?”

In the blink of an eye, the wind began to howl.

A training dummy on one side of the arena toppled over, unable to withstand the fierce storm of magic.

Riu twisted her mouth confidently.

“Acting as if you’ve already won, that attitude is utterly arrogant.”

“…Wow, this is an unexpected level of magic?”

“Hmph, as the heir to a count’s family, this is basic.”

-Thump.

As she slammed her staff on the ground, the swirl of her magic menacingly flickered around me.

“A mere mercenary who climbed up by hiring others. You’re too arrogant for someone who will soon lose their position. Well, I’ll just have to educate you properly now.”

Beneath her feet, a wall of ice soared.

Fed by her magic, the ice grew larger, reaching a height so vast it was dizzying to look up.

-Wow… Is this that ice magic?

Indeed. She was marked as an heir from an early age, wasn’t she? Amid the noise coming from outside the dueling arena. It seemed like Riu was saying that. There is an insurmountable gap between you and me. Whether it’s mana or status.

“Didn’t I tell you before? There are no distinctions of status here, you’re just slow to accept it.”

But so what?

Riu’s combat style, you could tell at a glance.

‘Exactly, I’ve had her pegged in my previous life.’

[What? Could this cheeky sister also be included in our ally formation?]

[At first, the way she talked was a bit off-putting, but once included, she’s been great. Whether it’s the older or the younger sister.]

[Nobles are mostly useful. It’s actually the commoners who are more often the problem.]

[It’s like a real group project – you have to work together whether you like it or not.]

The game system rotates randomly. Incredibly, Riu was also part of the pool of comrades that the original protagonist could work with in a project called a group task.

Of course, she could only be used until she got entangled with Luciana and was expelled.

[Anyone used Riu? She’s better than expected, is there no way to keep using her?]

[Share the tip if you succeed.]

[It’s the main scenario, there’s no way, just give up.]

Riu Caspera.

She was rated as a ‘classic ice element specialist mage.’

I knew her weaknesses and even more advanced aspects of her very well.

-Ho, leaving aside the level of magic, the way she uses it is truly that of a mature mage. She understands the basics of magic perfectly.

As if to prove it, the great mage Bathory’s admiration was directed at the high ice wall she had created.

-It seems you will also have quite a struggle.

-Certainly, if it goes up that high, there’s nothing I can do.

Compared to aura users who can immediately unleash powerful firepower, mages are weaker in close combat.

However, the situation changes when there is some distance.

In relatively medium to long ranges, mages can fully utilize their firepower without any restrictions.

Thus, the most basic in a fight between a mage and a warrior is distance control.

Riu was faithfully executing that basic.

-So, what are you going to do? Destroying the ice wall outright is the most standard method of breaking through.

-You jest. You know very well that I don’t have such firepower.

-You speak so casually of having no sharp plan.

A message tinged with worry.

But then.

-Shall I help? It’s nothing for me to disrupt that presumptuous girl’s spellcasting.

-Oh dear. What if the dean finds out?

An unexpected proposal came flying in. Bathory is truly a joker card for me. It seemed too precious to use just for a duel with Riu.

-Hmm, you worry too much.

I was concerned that, driven by emotion, she might act rashly beyond my control.

Thinking that I needed to keep a close watch on her in the future.

-Just because you’re in a maid’s uniform doesn’t mean Lady Bathory’s dignity is diminished. You need to recognize your own value more. Dealing directly with such riffraff will only dirty your hands. Leave it entirely to me. There’s no need for you to step in.

Bathory showed the expected response to my carefully wrapped words.

-Value, huh… Kehm. So, you think of me in such terms.

-Of course. So trust your servant and watch over me.

-Hmm. How could I not trust you? I always rely on you.

Fortunately, it seems to have worked perfectly.

Thanks to my flattery, her voice became quite proud as it flowed into my mind.

The higher one’s status, the sweeter flattery feels, and her proud and arrogant nature was helpful in this instance.

-Well, even without Lady Bathory’s help, pulling the haughty lady by her hair and dragging her to the ground is easy. Don’t worry too much.

-Right. I will observe the exploits of my kin.

With Bathory’s assurance, I also smiled faintly and stepped toward the huge ice wall where Riu was.

I don’t have a ruthless aura like Luciana, nor do I possess vast mana like Bathory.

Therefore, I couldn’t completely shatter that solid ice.

“But I have my own way.”

-Crack.

The sharp ice, which would surely cause injuries if touched, poured down from the sky as if to welcome me.

However, I could see it all.

‘It’s too textbook, almost boringly so.’

Ice magic is always like this.

Its projectiles are slower compared to lightning elements and more straightforward than fire elements.

If hit properly, it can certainly tear a person apart.

But on the other hand, if it misses—

“Wow, look at that!”

“What a trick… To dodge the magic by such a narrow margin.”

‘-This way, it ends up causing no damage at all.’

Unless it’s Riu, who has been maximally developed through strenuous training.

The current novice can easily be dealt with.

Step by step, I brushed aside the obvious obstructions of ice magic.

I approached the high wall she had erected.

“I admit, you’re indeed the winner of the Northern Martial Arts Tournament. The reports that you dodged every attack with miraculous movements were true.”

When I reached the ice wall after dodging all the falling ice shards.

From above, Riu’s voice came down coldly.

“You’ve done quite a thorough background check.”

“Of course. You need to know your enemy to devise a victory.”

-Crack.

Even amid the thunderous sound of ice hitting the ground, the grinding of her teeth was clearly audible.

“So what are you trying to say, Hans Byron? I will never lose.”

Her right hand, trembling as she gripped the staff, was firmly grasped by her other hand.

It was the wrist I had gripped hard when I had threatened her.

Pleased that it had left a significant impression, I thought,

“A noble from a mere baron’s family like you cannot defeat me, the heir of the traditional and central Caspera family. It’s not just for me, but to correct the order among nobility.”

“Order, you say?”

“Yes. Impudent ones who don’t know their place, like you, should be educated in advance.”

Riu recited bitterly with a voice filled with chill.

Oh, it seems that the statement ‘There is no distinction of status at the academy’ really bothered her.

“Did I decide that? It’s a principle that has been handed down since the founding of the academy.”

“…It’s all just for show. Except for you, that is. That’s why I have to win here.”

I understand. If she loses this public duel, not only would her power crumble, but she would also bear the dishonor of losing to a lower noble like me.

My skills, which earned me the third rank, and the reputation I’ve built up would be useless against those hyena-like people.

But what am I supposed to do about it?

This is the one who bared her teeth at Luciana.

If not handled properly, a second and third Riu opposing her could emerge in the future.

So, I had to make an example of her here.

To show that anyone who dares to oppose will not escape this fate.

And,

‘Watching her downfall would be quite an entertainment.’

Additionally, the much-desired twin discipline I’ve been yearning for since my past life.

“And your defeat is a foregone conclusion.”

“Huh. Quite confident, aren’t you?”

“Bluster. I’ve heard it all. About the hidden physical and mana issues behind that pathetic evasion.”

She smiled faintly, a sense of ease the only thing remaining after washing away the emotions from earlier.

“You don’t have the power to break this ice wall. I just have to wait for you to run out of stamina right here.”

-Smart judgment, indeed precise.

Bathory’s guess was quite accurate.

With such intelligence, it might be the head of a thieves’ guild, probably not from Wolbaek, maybe someone who observed directly from the North at the Colosseum.

“You’re quite mistaken.”

Chuckling, I pulled several throwing knives from my pocket.

Not relics or anything significant, just literal emergency weapons.

I threw them one by one at Riu’s ice wall.

“Ha! You think you can break my ice magic with those mere daggers?”

“Of course not. Even I have a conscience. I don’t think it’s possible with just throwing without any aura.”

However, those throwing knives would serve as excellent stepping stones.

“What?!”

Shock mixed into Riu’s usually calm voice.

-You always use such extraordinary methods. Using something like this.

It’s an application of rock climbing.

Normally, you would climb by alternately placing pitons, but I’ve simply replaced the pitons with daggers, stepping on the handles of the knives stuck in the ice instead of climbing laboriously.

“Tch…! Attack, biting wind!”

The attacks that poured down in the process were not a problem.

Sometimes leaping into the air to dodge.

Other times, knocking them away with the Raven claws.

Using the handles of the daggers as supports, I leaped again.

“Get off! How can you dodge all of this?!”

Riu’s face, filled with impatience, got closer and closer.

And finally.

“Huff, huff…”

I was able to confront Riu, whose complexion looked worse for wear from firing off so much magic.

She was barely holding herself up with her staff.

“It, it can’t be… the intelligence clearly said that poor stamina was your weakness…!”

‘Well, he’s capable, but it seems he hasn’t gotten his hands on the latest information.’

Considering my abilities were just updated yesterday, it would be strange if he knew, but there was no reason to tell her the truth.

Humming in response, I glanced at the pitch-black dagger in my hand.

[Avoidance restores a small amount of mana and aura]

This effect, a result of Opharun’s weapon enhancement, was surprisingly well-suited to me.

‘Normally, I would have felt exhausted from the head down if I had dodged this much.’

Without a doubt, equipment enhancement is incredible. Enhancement is divine.

“Kuk! Do you think I’ll give up?!”

Gritting her teeth, Riu surrounded her staff with mana and grasped an ice spear.

However, for a mage.

Especially for a conventional mage like Riu, allowing a warrior to close in meant definite defeat.

“Kyaa!”

“Haha. If you’re going to be like that, I just want to completely break you.”

Finally.

It was time for the long-awaited real education.

Look at that face, trying to mask her fear with resolve!

“Then, I should strip away that pretense.”

Like the professor did with Laura, there’s no need to use mana to silence her.

The worry about the collapse of her power and the upheaval by a lower noble.

And because of her pride.

She would never admit defeat.

***

“What’s going on?”

“I’m not sure. The ice wall is so high, we need to actually see what’s happening.”

Students stared endlessly at the summit of the iceberg, the results still not apparent.

Most were driven by curiosity, but there were certainly other reasons.

Some were worried about the twin sister, while others had expectations for the baronial heir.

Or perhaps, they wanted to thoroughly witness the dismal fall of a noble.

But the ice wall was very high.

Only one person could truly see what was happening at the summit.

‘…A rather morbid curiosity.’

The one who had evolved his aura.

Professor Marks could see the scene with far better vision than others.

-Thump.

In a way, it was more severe than the ‘education’ he had given to Laura.

Thorough yet cruel manipulation.

Hidden areas that are not visible.

Yet, places where he could inflict pain, like solid bones or vital points.

He was selectively targeting these areas in a ‘beating’ disguised as a duel.

‘Should I stop this?’

For a moment, he considered it, as the outcome was as good as decided.

But there was one reason he hesitated.

It was the persistent ice wall.

The reason she was still maintaining the ice wall despite being beaten was…

‘The sister’s venom is not to be underestimated. Her mindset is that of a great warrior. Or perhaps, it’s just the vain pride of a noble.’

If the students hadn’t settled it among themselves, it would be awkward for him to intervene.

‘…Let’s see this through to the end.’

In the end, Professor Marks chose to observe.

After all, both sides were nobles.

Why intervene in a fight they were having among themselves?

Taking this opportunity to carefully observe Hans Byron’s demeanor, he etched the scene of the beating into his memory.

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