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chapter 29
When the words of the young genius professor, who had manifested his abilities at the age of three and a half, fell upon the room, the faculty members collectively fell silent. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts about Kanis Escleef.
A manifestation at twenty years old.
That was a whole fifteen years later than the earliest recorded manifestation in history.
At least in theory, she could become a mage far beyond even the archmage who had once reshaped entire mountain ranges.
But… at twenty? Isn’t that far too late? Can she really be placed on the same level as other mages?
Kanis Escleef’s opponent, Marco Krav, was already a hopeless case. He manifested at barely six months old…
Some professors who knew of Kanis Escleef’s life doubted.
Did Kanis Escleef really become an archmage?
In contrast, professors who had shorter tenures or came from abroad felt nothing but academic curiosity and awe.
To witness the debut of the strongest mage in history with my own eyes!
This is indescribable fortune. I feel as if I’m standing in the middle of history itself.
Once the tournament ends, I must write to my country’s association immediately.
And then there was the brilliant but utterly tactless visiting professor, Nikolai…
“Ohh, as expected, Escleef is clearly the top of the class! Such flawless, beautiful mind-attribute magic!”
Leaning forward happily, he shouted toward the arena with a bright smile.
“To have such a student as my disciple—this is a once-in-a-lifetime blessing in my career as a professor!”
At any rate, he alone was purely happy.
“Hey, did you see that?”
“You don’t need to say it. I’m watching just fine.”
Deon Grace replied calmly to Felix’s flippant voice.
But even he was only pretending to remain composed. Inside, he was just as shaken.
So it wasn’t just theory after all.
He had already been impressed by Kanis’s brilliance back in Professor Nikolai’s lectures.
Deon, who usually couldn’t care less about others, had even thought to himself, What a shame she’s a non-mage. She’s a genius among geniuses.
And now that assessment had been overturned.
Deon’s green eyes glittered with curiosity and scholarly passion.
Felix’s reaction wasn’t much different.
“She’s the same attribute as Duke Escleef. The Duke was famous for his martial prowess, wasn’t he?”
As a student of swordsmanship, Felix didn’t know much about the ecology of mages.
But what was certain was this: for someone who loved duels with the strong and his own growth, Kanis Escleef looked like the perfect opponent.
“I definitely want to spar with her at least once!”
“What?”
Deon looked down at Kanis with a smirk on his lips.
“You’d better not. Theoretically speaking, Kanis Escleef is a monster who could control the weather itself.”
“Then that’s even better.”
Felix leaned forward, propping his chin on his hand.
“Because fighting such a monster is my life’s greatest dream.”
The first match of the first preliminary round.
Kanis Escleef versus Marco Krav ended in Kanis Escleef’s overwhelming victory.
The time it took her to bring down Marco Krav was only 0.87 seconds.
What’s more, wrapped in the Duke Escleef’s signature blue lightning, she left an unforgettable image in the minds of every student in the academy.
So it was only natural that the second contestant, Aspodel Luxelroad, drew much less attention in comparison.
After all, everyone had just witnessed, before their very eyes, the awakening of a non-mage into a mage—at the age of twenty.
[Th-the second match is Aspodel Luxelroad versus Ricarrandro! Contestants, please step forward!]
The announcer stumbled over his words, still unable to shake the lingering shock. Not that anyone had the presence of mind to criticize him.
Even Aspodel herself, one of the contestants, was lost in tangled thoughts about Kanis.
What on earth just happened? Why did she…
Kanis Escleef had been a non-mage.
There was no way she could have hidden her manifestation.
At least, every student of the Crocus Empire Academy’s Department of Magic must have been thinking the same as Aspodel.
Bzzzt!
The buzzer sounded, signaling the start of the match.
Aspodel tried to push away her confused thoughts, forcing herself to complete the calculations in her mind.
Her attributes were water and wind.
Most mages spend their whole lives mastering a single attribute.
But occasionally, there are those born with great talent in two. Water and wind, moreover, are an excellent pair for practical use.
Normally, such blessings are reserved for the great mage families who have produced generations of magicians.
That’s why Aspodel, though from a non-mage lineage, became immensely famous upon admission—she was the daughter of the Empire’s most prestigious non-mage ducal family, the Luxelroads.
…Though not as much as Kanis Escleef.
“Phew…”
Aspodel squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t focus at all and only wanted to finish this prelim match as quickly as possible.
Opponent’s coordinates: 67, 35. Approaching at about 9 m/s. Based on the formula for πάγο δόρυ…
A magic circle drawn of numbers and runes appeared, and from her hand, several small ice spears shot forth.
“W-whoa!”
Her opponent cried out in alarm.
The ice spears pierced through his clothes and embedded themselves into the far arena wall—without leaving so much as a scratch on his skin.
Even so, it must have been a chilling experience.
To miss a moving target by mere paper’s thickness with over ten spears was proof of Aspodel’s astounding mana control and calculation speed.
A new blue magic circle flared above her palm.
Panicking, the boy shouted:
“…I-I surrender! I surrender!”
“Good.”
If the disadvantaged contestant yields and the opponent accepts, the match ends immediately.
[Winner: Aspodel Luxelroad!]
Aspodel walked off, unsurprised by the outcome.
If she really is a mage… No, it’s certain. I saw it with my own eyes.
The match she had just won was already forgotten in her mind. Aspodel bit her lip.
Then everything I’ve done until now…
Of course, Aspodel had never actively bullied Kanis.
But she hadn’t helped her either. On the contrary, she had looked away, claiming it pricked her conscience too much to watch.
And now, how could she face Kanis Escleef… or her mother?
What do I even say to Mother?
Aspodel sighed, pressing her hand to her forehead.
At that moment—
“You’re pretty good.”
“…Escleef?”
Aspodel turned and found Kanis leaning casually against the wall, grinning.
“Why are you here…?”
“I was just about to leave, but your match ended so quickly.”
It was true.
Kanis had been in the previous round, and Marco Krav, her opponent, had been rushed to the infirmary right after.
Naturally, she was still in the waiting room, gathering her belongings.
If only the situation had been different.
Normally, she would’ve been the one carried to the infirmary…
Aspodel chewed over that thought. The more she did, the more bitter it felt.
She had deliberately avoided watching Kanis’s matches since their first semester.
But rumors couldn’t be blocked out.
“Well, this feels like fate. Why don’t we try to get along from now on? It won’t do you any harm.”
Kanis spoke lightly, offering her hand.
Aspodel hesitated. Kanis blinked and added:
“We haven’t seen much of each other, but we are cousins, after all.”
“That’s…”
Aspodel knew that fact better than anyone.
Despite the enmity between the Escleef and Luxelroad families, her mother, Duchess Luxelroad, had always cherished Kanis—who reminded her so much of her beloved younger sister.
She had even told her only daughter stories of her niece every night.
“…Sorry. Let’s talk later.”
“Huh?”
Aspodel spun on her heel and hurried away.
Kanis’s startled voice followed, but she couldn’t bear to look back.
If we restore ties with Escleef, the advantage would surely be ours.
Kanis Escleef’s future influence over not only the academy but the entire Empire was beyond measure.
And now that she had manifested as a mage, inheriting the duchy was certain.
What harm could come from being friends with the future Duchess?
Yet Aspodel couldn’t bring herself to take Kanis’s hand. Her pride wouldn’t allow it.
After ignoring her for my own convenience all this time, now that her value has risen I suddenly want to cozy up?
Ha. A self-mocking laugh escaped her.
“Don’t make me laugh.”
That would be far too… despicable.
