RMA 36

chapter 36

The atmosphere in the room had become unbearably awkward.

It was the kind of tense mood that could shatter the moment someone lost their temper.

Even though everyone was smiling, the air around them felt as if they were walking on thin ice.

Unexpectedly, it was Lawrence who broke the tension.

In the preliminary selection, it wasn’t only the heads of the magical towers who had the right to choose.

Sometimes, participating mages or the children of noble families would get to pick a tower first and make a proposal.

“I want to go to the Iron Tower. Is that alright?”

“Haha! If you choose a small outlying tower, I would be honored!”

“Are you really going to choose the Iron Tower?”

The master of the Iron Tower laughed heartily, and Medea asked again.

Lawrence nodded boldly without hesitation.

Medea, who had felt slightly annoyed at first, soon felt relieved.

‘Good. At least I can send him to a remote area. That’s a relief.’

The atmosphere had relaxed considerably, and Lawrence had stepped up himself.

Now, Medea had enough justification. She reluctantly nodded, putting on an act, at least in front of everyone.

“Very well. If that is your wish, so be it. You must not regret it.”

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

Seeing Lawrence smile faintly, Medea felt a strange mix of discomfort and unease.

But she couldn’t ask about it outright here.

For nobles and mages, appearances mattered just as much as ability.

“Also, take your attendant with you.”

“Yes.”

“Apologies for creating such a tense atmosphere. Now, let us proceed with friendly duels with the seniors. Enjoy the talents of these young prodigies—”

At Medea’s words, everyone stood and clapped.

They were eager to see it.

How skilled was Lawrence Montemer?

The boy who had calmly performed magic even under immense pressure—what was he truly capable of?

Gradually, everyone’s eyes turned toward Lawrence with anticipation, much like visitors who had come to see his creations in the old world.

‘You will definitely win, Lawrence.’

Even amidst this, jealousy and envy stirred.

Loras glared at Lawrence as if he were a mortal enemy, ready to kill him with his eyes.

Watching this, someone else found Loras pathetic.

“Hey, do you really want to dominate your little brother like that?”

“…Leave me out of this, sister.”

“This is real!”

“What? You think I’m pathetic because you hang out with that defective brat?”

Roria Montemer, who had come to watch Lawrence’s preliminary match, spoke to Loras.

Strictly speaking, she was humoring her younger brother’s whining.

“Don’t tarnish the Montemer name. Even if you lose, admit it cleanly.”

“……”

Roria didn’t answer directly, but her stance spoke volumes.

Clench—clench.

Loras’ fists made an odd grinding sound.

Seeing this, Roria gave him a look of pure disdain.

She understood exactly why Loras was so furious.

“I don’t understand why you’re jealous of your brother. Can’t you just do better?”

“I’ve already received plenty of mom’s attention, so you wouldn’t understand.”

“Fine, do as you please.”

Roria shook her head and left, her hair briefly revealing strands of silvery-white in the wind.

#2

Lawrence sensed a particularly hostile gaze among those looking at him.

Judging by appearances, it seemed to be Loras…

Old memories surfaced.

<You worthless brat, why can’t you use magic! Huh!?>
<You got me in trouble too!>

Loras reminded him of a crazy senior officer in the army—one who faced no restrictions.

He had tied Lawrence up to test various spells, with a healer standing by.

<Oh, maybe it’s better if I just hit him?>
<The magic hurts, or my fists hurt?>

He had wanted to kill him back then.

Ironically, he had only managed to escape once he began serious research.

He never imagined that the same brat who had mocked him would one day burn with jealousy.

‘You’re about to see what happens when I pay you back.’

That malice would be returned in full.

Time passed, and Medea’s management of the event was top-notch.

During a short break, Lawrence reset his artifacts.

He dispelled the exhausted [Fireball] and prepared the 3rd-circle spell [Ice Blast].

He equipped artifacts obtained from a yeti and a troll, and swapped [Lightning Arrow] for [Haste].

“This should do it. And…”

Sizzle—.

Lawrence drew from extra-dimensional space a piece of troll meat shaped into an artifact.

It looked like a giant tomahawk but was a custom-made weapon.

[Troll Tomahawk]
[Engraving: Indomitable Warrior]
[Indomitable Warrior: 30% chance to block status effect attacks.]
[Grade: 3rd Circle]

It promised to feel exhilarating in hand.

Standing on the training ground, Loras appeared first, beginning his warm-up.

He was muttering something, likely preparing a spell in advance.

Yet Medea didn’t stop him.

Exactly. If he came out so sneakily, it was fine to beat him thoroughly without guilt.

In duels with mages, unless the opponent used [Memorize], preparing spells in advance was standard.

[Memorize] itself was a 6th-circle high-level spell.

‘Doesn’t matter to me.’

Choosing [Haste] had been an excellent decision.

He wanted to test Dragon Scale as well, to see its limits.

How would Loras feel when he charged recklessly even after being hit by magic?

Lawrence’s lips curved into a slight smile.

Armed with a giant chunk of meat, he stood on the training ground.

The judge noticed and asked,

“What will you do with that piece of meat?”

“It’s my weapon. Think of it as a staff.”

“A staff? You brought an ancient artifact?”

“Something like that, yes.”

“……”

Meat… an artifact? Impossible.

The judge shook his head. Artifacts, unless ancient, no longer existed.

Loras, about to cast his spell, spoke.

“What’s that meat? Hah… No mother, I see you completely lack manners.”

“You’re gradually earning your karma.”

Lawrence answered with a serene, almost enlightened patience.

Loras spoke words Lawrence most hated without restraint. To silence him, preheating was necessary.

Loras, unaware of Lawrence’s intent, continued speaking recklessly.

“Today, I’ll make you cry here, you worthless defective brat.”

“Let’s get started then.”

“Does he… disrespect his elder!?”

Crackle—.

Loras’ mana trembled from rage as he prepared a spell.

Roria would be truly disappointed.

Such actions lowered the family’s dignity.

“Now, let’s begin. Since this is a friendly duel, I will intervene once a clear winner emerges.”

“Die—!”

Despite being a friendly duel, Loras unleashed his deadly aura immediately.

Flare—!

The 2nd-circle spell Fire Bolt completed instantly.

“Oh my!”
“Did he prepare a spell in advance?!”
“What an idiot…”

Perhaps the real disgrace of the Montemer family wasn’t Lawrence, but Loras.

This preliminary match revealed many truths: Lawrence, once thought a defective brat, now showed exceptional skill; and Loras, presumed talented, revealed a rotten personality.

[Haste]
[Available Capacity: 11/12]

Lawrence activated Haste and sprinted toward the incoming magic.

Everyone jumped to their feet at the seemingly insane speed.

“That’s—!”
“Hey! What’s he thinking?!”

Before anyone could stop him, it was over in an instant.

With Haste, Lawrence hit the spellhead instantly.

Kraaaang—!

A fiery explosion hit Lawrence, deafeningly loud.

“Hahaha! You idiot! You just ran straight into that!? Relying only on your pitiful skill—!?”

“I told you I won’t go easy just because you’re my brother!”

[Dragon Scale]
[Negates spells of 2nd Circle or lower.]

Dragon scales block weak magic.

Loras’ clumsy magic couldn’t pierce the guardian scales.

Through the smoke, Lawrence appeared, and Loras, startled, began casting frantically.

“M-mana! Receive my—”

“Ice Blast.”

Crrrack—.

The temperature dropped instantly, forming ice across the ground.

A 3rd-circle ice spell, effectively a wide-area debuff.

The sudden cold made Loras’ teeth chatter.

Everyone was stunned.

Not only did Lawrence cast a 3rd-circle spell so fast, but he had also survived direct contact with a 2nd-circle spell unscathed.

The rippling muscles beneath his torn clothes were impressive.

Loras’ eyes trembled violently.

The most effective way to defeat a mage:

<Mages are slow to cast. Charge straight at them and overwhelm!>

An assassin mentor had once advised him.

Lawrence ignored the dodge entirely, but the result was the same.

Mages are slow to cast. Even one soldier charging head-on could overwhelm them.

“Magic Missile!”

“Uwaaaah!?”

Krak—!

Lawrence’s magic (physical) missile exploded.

The giant meat slammed into Loras’ head.

Roria, familiar with the scene, pressed her forehead; others gaped in shock.

They were supposed to be mages—!

The tower heads who had seen this just laughed faintly, enlightened.

Only the Iron Tower head, Iron Hanma, smiled contentedly.

“Indeed, Prince Lawrence is a perfect fit for the Iron Tower!”
“My lord, amazing—!”

Rachel cheered with all her might.

Lawrence’s beatdown didn’t end there.

Would anyone survive a strike from that meat easily? Not really.

Previously, the situation had been special because the meat contained holy magic.

“You dare speak of my deceased mother!?”
“Ugh! Ughhh!”

[Warrior’s Motion]
[Haste]

The red chunk of meat danced in the air.

This was karma from a past life.

And punishment for daring to insult his mother.

“You stupid idiot…”

Medea’s patience burned black again today.