DPAA 38

I had been about to casually brush off Luna’s words when her question hit me again — and I froze.

That was not something I’d expected to hear at this timing.

‘Why is she suddenly bringing up the dark attribute?’

In both my first and second matches, I had only shown electric magic.

Coincidentally, Duke Escliff also used the same element.

And since most mages specialized in just one or two attributes, I was known publicly as a pure lightning-type mage.

I had never bothered to correct that misunderstanding. After all, even in martial arts novels, they say to hide at least thirty percent of your power.

In my case, I was hiding closer to half.

So, even if people found out I could use another attribute, it didn’t really matter.

It wasn’t like anyone could imagine a mage who could control every element.

Still, there was a big difference between “it’s fine if they find out” and “I want them to find out.”
That was why I suddenly became curious about the girl standing before me.

‘I need to hear how she figured it out.’

Maybe there was some kind of common knowledge I wasn’t aware of.

Even if my brain worked well thanks to my skills, I was still a foreigner in this world — missing a few bits of context was only natural.

Having reached that conclusion, I asked calmly,

“Why do you think that?”

“You came to see Mei before the tournament, didn’t you?”

“Mm.”

That was true.

As I thought back to that day, realization hit me.

“Wait… you saw that time?”

“Yes. I thought I must’ve seen wrong, but after the tournament, I realized I hadn’t.”

“That’s impressive.”

My teleportation skill came with built-in perception interference magic.
For her to see through it and realize that I had disappeared — that was definitely not something an ordinary person could do.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“I have a request.”

Uh… what?

When I saw Luna’s violet eyes gleam, I almost took a step back.

So that’s what quiet madness looks like.

“Please accept me as your disciple!”

“No.”

Her eyes widened at my flat rejection.

“Why not?”

“What do you mean, why not—”

Who in their right mind accepts a total stranger who suddenly comes up and asks to be taken as a disciple?

When I told her that, Luna nodded seriously.

“Then I just need to stop being a stranger, right?”

“Why is this conversation heading in that direction?”

“You just said you’re rejecting me because we don’t know each other. If I become someone you do know, that means it’s possible, right?”

That was… an extremely logical kind of nonsense.

At first, I thought she was joking, but her expression was deadly serious — not even a hint of humor.

I sighed.

“That was just a figure of speech. I don’t plan on taking any disciples, period.”

I had no intention of going through all that hassle just to help someone else.

Even back when I was Chae Ji-woo, I died after doing nothing but favors for other people.
Now, I wanted to live for myself.

“I see…”

She nodded quietly at my firm refusal.

Her dejected look tugged at me a little, but at least this conversation was finally—

“Then I’ll just become someone you’d want to teach, even if it’s a hassle!”

“No, I said no.”

Please. Just. Go. Away.

I finally managed to escape from her — barely before class time.

‘What a mess.’

I hadn’t imagined she’d noticed my teleportation back then.

Of course Luna would be interested in me.

No matter how similar her and Mei’s attributes were, I used the exact same dark magic — something even Mei couldn’t fully replicate.

But from my perspective, there was no benefit in this at all.

Luna was the third daughter of the Marquis of Ainser.

Talented as a mage, sure, but destined to be sidelined in the political sphere.

Her family was famous for being neutral — they’d never involve themselves in the Escliff succession.
That meant they weren’t enemies, but there was no reason to make them close allies either.

If anything, someone like Claire, Mei’s friend “B,” would be far more useful as a connection.

The Barony of Rex served under House Escliff.
As the future head, Claire would, of course, serve under me once I became the Duke. Maintaining good relations was essential.

I couldn’t just purge every noble under me in the name of “restructuring.”

I wasn’t that kind of tyrant.

As I was mulling that over and walking down the fourth-year hallway, a familiar figure caught my eye.

‘Claude Escliff.’

He lifted his head, and our gazes locked naturally — his pitch-black eyes glaring as if to pierce through me.

“……”

“……”

A cold silence stretched between us.
He glared with a sharp, hateful look before finally speaking.

“Have you seen the match bracket?”

“?”

What bracket?

“You’re set to face my sister in the semifinals — assuming she wins all her matches, of course.”

He gave a short, bitter laugh.

“Ha. Can’t believe I’m talking to you about this.”

…What’s wrong with this guy’s personality?

‘Seriously, how does someone have no sense of boundaries?’

From his point of view, I was older, a direct descendant, and his senior at the academy.

Even if he despised me, common courtesy would require at least some restraint.
But he didn’t seem to possess that concept at all.

“……”

I ignored him completely and walked past.

Sure, I could teleport away or use telekinesis to knock him over, but that would go against my plan.

Claude still didn’t know that I could use dark magic, and I intended to keep it that way.

So, the smartest thing to do right now was to just—

“You’re ignoring me now?!”

The moment he grabbed my shoulder, the last thread of my patience snapped.

[Current (A)]

The skill’s name was “Current,” but with a bit of creativity, it let me manipulate electrons themselves.

Charging my body with high voltage, like right now, was easy.

In other words—

“……!”

—Static electricity.

Not the weak, everyday kind, though.

Unfortunately for Claude, he released his hand just before the current flowed — but not fast enough to avoid the shock completely. His fingers trembled, numb from the jolt.

A faint grinding sound came from his teeth. Rage burned in his eyes.

When he began tracing a fire magic circle in the air, I spoke coldly.

“We’re indoors.”

“So what? Scared the fire might spread?”

Idiot.

I smirked and touched the wall beside me.

“The academy’s buildings are reinforced with steel frames. You really think you can take me on here? Seriously?”

He frowned — clearly not understanding what I meant.

In that case, it was best to show him.

[Current (A) – Magnetism (A)]

“?!”

Claude’s arm rose against his will.

He tried desperately to control it, but the magnetic force won out — and he was yanked toward the wall.

I looked at him, pinned there, and smirked.

“Be grateful I’m letting you live.”

“You…!”

“Don’t waste your life chasing dreams beyond your reach.”

I ignored his shouting and turned the corner.

If he stayed stuck there for five minutes or so, maybe that would knock some sense into him.

Once again, I found myself admiring the original heroine who somehow managed to “recycle” this human trash.

Feeling refreshed after putting the not-brother in his place, I entered the lecture hall.

“You’re late.”

Professor Selina Remembral, who taught biological magic, fixed me with a frosty glare.

“Miss Kanis Escliff. See me in my office after class.”

“……”

…And just like that, things took a turn.