Bored out of her mind, Eliya watched the training.
She couldn’t see what was happening from so far away.
She could enhance her vision with mana, but she hadn’t learned how yet.
She didn’t feel the need to learn it.
She had more important magic to master.
Gaston was nowhere to be seen.
There was no concrete evidence to backstab him right now.
“Hermis.”
By her side were Hermis and Ria.
“What do you think? Amazing, right?”
With her enhanced vision, Hermis could see the entire battlefield.
Describing the scene was quite difficult.
It wasn’t just because of the clear defeat of the 13th Room.
What was happening there felt more like violence than a battle.
Eliya’s question had one purpose.
She was curious about Judas.
She didn’t care what happened to the other candidates.
Hermis knew this too well and hesitated to answer.
The situation looked very dire for Judas.
“Well, the 13th Room is in a precarious situation…”
Eliya turned her head before she could finish hearing the answer.
Her notification magic she set up had received a signal.
A hemispherical mana barrier enveloping the entire area.
It was something like a barrier.
She had recently learned it.
Generally, it would be a single layer.
A beginner might only be able to cover an area the size of a small hut, but Eliya’s barrier was significantly larger.
That forest with its dense trees.
A slightly elevated hillside.
Something unusual had intruded from that direction.
It didn’t seem like just a wild animal or a lost traveler.
A strange aura was felt.
That place was also where Gaston had left right after the training started.
‘…A magician?’
Eliya sensed a peculiar flow of mana.
Someone was using magic from that direction.
“Uh…? What’s that right now…?”
Hermis was taken aback.
Envinil was taking out a hidden stone knife.
There was no time for her to alert anyone about this serious matter.
Eliya suddenly grabbed her wrist.
“What?”
As she asked that, the scenery changed.
A hill with a great view overlooking the plain.
The surroundings were dark due to the dense trees.
Hermis stared ahead in a daze.
She came face to face with Gaston, the overseeing supervisor of this training, who looked astonished.
Beside him, there was another magician wearing a similar expression.
“What’s going on?”
Unlike Hermis, Eliya asked casually.
Only then did Hermis realize.
Eliya had teleported her along with her.
The realization sent shivers down her spine.
Teleportation, a high-level magic.
A dangerous spell during the learning process, where many magicians die.
Including moving together with others makes it exponentially harder.
There can be failures where one might end up in a completely wrong location.
There are infamous stories—like the one where a magician accidentally teleported their partner right into the middle of the ocean…
Eliya had just performed that technique as if it were nothing.
Naturally, the magician next to Gaston had realized this too.
‘No way… That kid, who’s only been awakened for a few months…? Wait a minute. How did she figure it out?’
Stunned, they couldn’t utter a word.
Gaston was also silent for a different reason.
He never imagined Eliya would suddenly appear.
Very few people knew she was a user of long-range teleportation.
Eliya’s gentle voice rang out again.
“Should I do you the favor of opening your mouth for you?”
A strange light glimmered in her red eyes.
Like waves trapped in a round bead, orange flames flickered in her irises.
At the center, a clear golden light shone.
It resembled slightly yellowish gold.
A sun-like pupil.
Around it, a circular flame erupted.
The flames soaring into the sky looked like a golden typhoon.
Hermis, who grasped the situation vaguely, drew her sword.
She had to be ready to fight at any moment.
Or protect Eliya.
Gaston’s magician felt a chill down his spine.
A sense of imminent danger standing on the edge of a cliff.
The ground beneath was like a pit of fire.
He had to escape from the death looming before him.
An urge to survive surged within him.
His next actions were merely reflexive.
Unintentionally, he cast magic.
With a quick flick of his staff, several massive ice spikes formed in mid-air.
They rapidly took on the shape of spears.
The fastest and strongest offensive magic he knew, the multi-shot Ice Spear.
The target was Eliya.
“Miss—!”
Hermis gasped and threw herself forward.
Gaston watched the situation closely.
If Eliya got hit like this, he would turn tail and run.
However, Eliya defied everyone’s expectations.
The multiple ice spears were absorbed into her hands.
The massive ice that was absorbed into her small hands disappeared without a trace.
As if blown away by the wind.
“Ah…?”
The magician let out a stunned sound.
A small sun floated in Eliya’s hand.
A small bead-like glow was absorbing the magic.
“Hmm.”
Eliya nonchalantly looked down at her hand and clenched it.
The bead shattered, and light sparkled and scattered.
“Is this all there is to it…?”
Eliya wondered how her level measured against other magicians.
But the level of the opponent seemed utterly pathetic.
Of course, she knew that the magician couldn’t represent the average magician.
“Well, what, um…”
Unlike the nonchalant Eliya, the magician was flabbergasted.
The technique of controlling and absorbing someone else’s magic could only be mastered by a rare few.
So rare that one might have to search through history to find such a prodigy.
Eliya knew her talent was extraordinary.
It was too easy for her to learn any magic.
She just didn’t have the chance to truly feel it.
Eliya didn’t suddenly marvel at her talent.
She simply spoke calmly.
“I wonder whose mouth is lighter.”
In that short moment, Gaston made his judgment.
He immediately drew his sword and rushed towards the magician.
“How dare this suspicious one threaten the lady!”
His voice was genuinely enraged.
A deadly sword swing was coming.
However, it never reached the black magician’s throat.
Hermis had intervened in that split second and parried the sword away.
A quick and precise defense.
Gaston ended up unwittingly dropping his sword.
Hermis pointed her sword at his jaw.
“Your acting is quite clumsy. It’s insufficient to eliminate the evidence.”
Despite the sharp critique, Gaston remained unabashed.
He immediately spread his hands out, showing he meant no harm, and apologized to Eliya.
“I apologize, Miss. I discovered a suspicious individual, and my response was delayed while I tried to interrogate him.”
“Uh, uh…!”
The magician was left speechless from disbelief.
“What kind of nonsense is this crazed fool talking! Don’t believe him! I’ll tell you everything!”
The magician began dumping out everything he had forgotten in his astonishment.
“That scum asked me to take out some guy named Judas! I came here just because this trash told me to!”
“Miss, if you believe the lies spewed in desperation….”
“Be quiet.”
With a single gesture, Eliya silenced the two.
The storm of flames encircling them had diminished.
The raging fire climbed back onto Eliya’s palm.
Looking down at the spinning storm in her palm, she vanished it.
“Since touching my property comes with a heavy price, I should at least hear what you have to say first.”
Eliya instructed another knight and Hermis to imprison both of them in the underground prison.
Even as they left, the magician shot a death glare at Gaston.
“I was just trying to keep an eye on things. I never expected you’d stoop to this level…”
This was more than mere tyranny.
A magical assassination attempt against Judas.
Moreover, the magic had already been used.
“We need to halt the training immediately.”
But it turned out unnecessary.
When Eliya returned to where Ria was, she was met with an unexpected piece of news.
The knight who had been reporting to Ria also conveyed the same message to Eliya.
“The training has concluded with the victory of the 13th Room.”
*
Dike and Argon hurriedly walked.
In his heart, he wanted to run, but he lacked the stamina.
They had fled at full speed to escape.
Argon looked at the flag hanging from Dike’s back.
The drooping black flag.
It almost seemed to symbolize defeat.
Dike asked him, trying to keep his spirits up.
“Those kids… They’ll be okay… right?”
“I hope so.”
The power of the 5th Room had exceeded expectations.
Retreating to protect the flag was the best option at that moment.
It was Dillon’s judgment and order.
However, guilt gnawed at him.
Even if it was the role they were given, the fact remained they left their comrades behind.
“Are there any pursuers?”
“Not visible right now, but… they’ll be following us.”
The moment they fled, the 5th Room dispatched a pursuit team.
Those two were Leo and Cooper.
The fortunate part was that they had lost sight of them.
But they couldn’t relax.
They had now entered the forest.
Visibility was ruined by the trees and grass.
It was hard to distinguish between whether the enemy was still far away or just obscured by the terrain.
“But it feels like we’re going in circles….”
Dike’s mumbling stopped.
Rustling sounds came from the bushes ahead.
The two tensed up and drew their weapons.
Suddenly, two people burst out of the forest.
The pursuers from the 5th Room.
It was Leo and Cooper.
“Uh?”
Their reactions were strange.
Rather than joy, they looked flustered.
With frowns of dismay, they scratched the back of their heads.
“Ah, damn….”
Then they spoke.
“Just go along.”
“What?”
“Just act like you didn’t see anything and hurry up and leave.”
Argon and Dike exchanged puzzled glances.
They couldn’t believe what they were hearing.
“…Why?”
Dike and Argon were incredulous.
They might just stab them in the back after saying they were letting them go.
The response was simple.
“I don’t like what that Salamand jerk is doing.”
Cooper nodded in agreement.
“And that Gaston guy or whatever, seems off. I don’t wanna fight like this either.”
Though they were about to confront Judas together, they had rushed in out of impulse.
From the beginning, that hadn’t been their intention.
They only intended to confirm who Judas was based on the rumors.
They weren’t the kind to judge someone based solely on hearsay and slander.
However, they had sparred, realizing Judas wasn’t the easy mark they anticipated.
In the meantime, they hadn’t crossed paths with Judas again, but they found themselves quite appreciative of his reaction.
A madman without a care.
That’s how a man should be.
Not sneaky like Salaman or Envinil.
The reason it took ten people to collectively bully Dillon was that Leo and Cooper hadn’t participated.
“Sorry, but we prioritize winning over pride, so we’ll gladly take your act of kindness.”
Argon’s words elicited a chuckle from Leo.
“I hope so. Just get out of here before anyone sees you.”
“Absolutely.”
Dike and Argon quickly headed in another direction.
Watching them leave, Leo and Cooper exchanged amused smiles.
It was a refreshing laugh.
*
With his mana unleashed, Judas moved forward.
Step by step.
Towards Salaman.
The members of the 5th Room dared not stand in his way.
Everyone watched.
Witnessing the farcical scene of wooden swords intersecting.
The fallen Zeroblum remained unconscious.
Unhindered, Judas walked on.
Everyone stopped fighting to watch him.
Salaman, with furrowed brows, drew his sword.
“You’re quite bothersome.”
The ominous aura emanating from Judas was unmistakable.
It was not a misconception.
It was pure mana.
Salaman summoned his own mana.
Years of training had made him adept at handling it.
Unlike Judas, Salaman effortlessly unleashed his mana to enhance his physical abilities.
Judas vaguely noticed the changes in him.
‘He seems skilled at unleashing his mana.’
That also meant he was proficient in controlling his enhanced physique.
But that wasn’t a pressing matter for Judas.
He was determined to land at least one blow on Salaman, even if it meant dying here.
“If you had just submitted quietly, you wouldn’t have had to suffer.”
“…….”
“Don’t blame me for the mess you made. You’re the one who asked for it….”
“Shut up.”
Judas interrupted him mid-sentence.
At the same moment, something flew rapidly towards him.
Salaman hastily raised his sword.
A heavy weight pressed down on his arm.
His vision was obscured by a round object.
‘A shield?!’
Judas hurled a shield at him.
Before he could react, his vision turned upside down.
Judas seized the shield and tripped Salaman with it.
Salaman rolled back but got up quickly, only to find another sword strike coming down on him.
‘When the hell did…?!’
Panicking, he raised his sword to block, but it was too late.
Judas pressed forward, with skillful and fluid movements.
Yet the strength and weight behind the sword strikes were rough and violent.
Salaman struggled to defend himself.
Inside, he was aghast.
A mere rookie who had barely trained for six months.
A child, surely weaker than him.
And yet, he was being pushed back.
One of the top performers in the training academy.
‘You’ve gotta be kidding me…!’
Salaman gritted his teeth.
He spotted a gap in Judas’s defense.
As he prepared to strike, he noticed Judas had shifted his grip on the shield.
One hand was pulling the shield close while he got ready to deliver a powerful strike with his sword.
His stance widened indicated he was making a big move.
Salaman seized the moment.
He quickly adjusted his posture to prevent Judas from continuing his offensive.
He couldn’t allow himself to be passive.
Boom!
The two wooden swords clashed with a thud.
Judas’s upper body lifted.
A perfect counter.
In Salaman’s mind, the next scene unfolded.
He would boldly step forward and slice with his sword horizontally.
Judas would fall helplessly under his strike.
He brought his daydream to reality.
As he stepped forward, something snagged him.
“Gah…!”
A heavy pain surged in his abdomen.
Judas extended his legs while Salaman was off balance.
A maneuver he had learned while training with Gawain.
Even though he was lifted due to the rebound effect, it didn’t matter.
The purpose was to disrupt his opponent’s advance.
The shock merely utilized the momentum of Salaman’s approach.
The learned technique from being beaten countless times was successfully executed.
Salaman stumbled, clutching his abdomen.
Judas wasted no time and quickly retreated to catch his breath.
“Not too impressive considering the act.”
Judas remarked casually as he moved his neck to ease its tension.
He hadn’t meant it as a taunt.
It was simply a genuine observation that slipped out.
However, the expression on Salaman’s face had been ridiculous, prompting him to add a few more words.
“Were you hiding behind someone, worried your shortcomings might be exposed? I can understand how you’d want to hide with such mediocre skills. I would’ve done the same.”
“…….”
“But I’m not as weak as you. Hmm.”
An unmistakable provocation.
But it was grounded in truth.
Salaman gritted his teeth, widening his eyes.
He stomped the ground hard.
Soil and grass erupted from where he stepped.
In a single stride, he was in front of Judas.
With all his might, he swung his sword down at him.
Judas aimed to pierce with his sword.
The two swords crossed.
Thud!
There was a crunching sound, and Salaman’s wooden sword snapped.
The wooden fragments scattered into the air.
It was Judas’s sword that had broken.
In that brief moment, Salaman smiled.
He had won.
His eyes gleamed with victorious intent, aiming menacingly at Judas.
Why?
The conclusion came simply.
‘He’s trying to draw me in….’
By the time he realized it, it was too late.
The trajectory of his downward swing cleverly slid along Judas’s shield.
Before he knew it, Judas had grabbed him by the collar.
Instinctive fear triggered memories within him.
The day Galliot had suffered.
The technique that had shocked everyone.
‘No way…!’
Salaman rallied his strength and braced himself.
He maintained his center of gravity.
He was determined not to fall for the same trick twice.
But Judas felt the same.
He gauged that Salaman wasn’t the type to fall for the obvious.
So, he pretended to pull Salaman toward him and slammed him with his shoulder.
He hooked one leg behind Salaman’s knee to trip him.
‘It’s called the leg hook.’
“Huh…!”
Salaman’s vision spun.
The heavy thud to his stomach left him breathless.
As they fell together, Judas slammed his elbow hard into Salaman’s face.
Then he got to his feet quickly.
Recognizing that the disparity in physical strength would work against him, he concluded he should not engage in a direct strength contest.
Using one hand, Judas grabbed Salaman’s sleeve to hold him down.
With the shield in his other hand, he swung with full force.
Targeting Salaman’s wrist.
Crack!
“Ahhh—!”
Salaman screamed in agony as he dropped his sword.
Without a moment’s pause, Judas kicked the weapon far away.
Using the shield like a fist, he brought it crashing down on Salaman’s face.
The heavy sound reverberated through the air.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Salaman struggled to rise, but it was futile.
He couldn’t escape from Judas’s grip.
It wasn’t just about strength; it was skill as well.
Bang! Bang!
With his remaining hand, he attempted to cover his face.
An utterly worthless defense.
His face was crushed along with his hands.
Smash-!
“Hah, hah….”
Panting, Judas finally stopped.
Salaman’s face was soaked in blood.
Only his blue eyes stood out against the chaos.
His expression was twisted with rage as he glared up at Judas.
“Why…! How can this be happening—!”
His indignation erupted.
It was a reality he couldn’t fathom.
No, it was a reality he didn’t want to accept.
Judas had suspected there was something odd about him from the beginning.
But in his mind, he was supposed to emerge victorious.
He believed as surely as his opponent must be extraordinary; he too was not ordinary.
So he clung to that belief.
The young scion of a fallen noble house.
He saw this place as a means to elevate his status.
It wasn’t just about serving as a bodyguard.
He was mindful, even if he was a fallen noble, his personal abilities were quite impressive.
He awakened his mana at a young age.
He hoped Eliya would notice him.
The fact that she was a bastard didn’t bother him.
Even a bastard had a rank.
If she were the direct descendant of the Bevel family, she was of a different caliber.
A fateful meeting between a fallen noble and the bastard of a high noble.
And thus, he’d ascend to a lofty position, becoming a true aristocrat.
As a member of a powerful faction dividing the continent.
A legitimate noble.
His deluded fantasies had solidified into a faith borne of self-assurance.
Judas shattered those beliefs before his eyes.
“I—I’ll—! I’m better than scum like you!”
Frustration surged uncontrollably within him.
But Judas would not permit it.
“What about it?”
Judas dismissed him coolly, swinging the shield down with all his might.
The solid side struck flush against Salaman’s jaw.
Salaman bit his tongue and sealed his lips shut.
“I’m not interested in your sob story.”
Salaman might have had his reasons, whatever they might be.
It no longer mattered.
Only the outcome remained.
Salaman had crossed the line.
He didn’t want to understand or be considerate of his feelings.
“So just shut up.”
Judas swung the shield down once more.
Crack!
Salaman’s consciousness dimmed.
As his mind drifted away, he clung desperately to one remaining thread of hope.
The proposition Gaston had offered.
It must still be valid, right?
He had still done all he could.
At last, he fainted.
Judas checked the surroundings after confirming Salaman was out.
The area around where he and Salaman had fought had shallowly sunk in a circular formation.
It was a phenomenon created when mana users engage in a heated clash.
Beyond this circular zone, the remaining participants existed.
Lost in witness of the fierce battle, they had forgotten they were also engaged in combat.
With each glance Jude cast, mixed expressions alternated.
The 13th Room was smiling while the 5th Room stood petrified in fear.
“It’s time to wrap this up.”
He had taken down Salaman.
But would this training end with a victory?
He couldn’t be certain.
Enemies still remained, and he was ignorant of the fate of his own side’s flag.
They might have lost it by now.
“Draw your weapons or surrender. Hurry and choose or we won’t have time.”
Judas walked forward step by step, murmuring.
His chilling warning set their hearts racing.
The moment the members of the 5th Room began dropping their weapons one by one, someone rushed towards them in a hurry.
He was one of the knights supervising the training.
“Everyone freeze! Stop moving! The training has concluded.”
Everyone turned to him with puzzled expressions.
The knight’s declaration caught everyone off guard.
“The collective combat training for the teams has just ended with the 13th Room’s victory.”
“…….”
The mana that had been keenly sharpened began to rapidly dissipate.
Judas blinked in confusion, then turned to scan the area.
Zeroblum lay before him as he had.
There was no white flag where he should have been.
‘Huh?’
Next, his gaze fell on the remaining members of the 13th Room.
He remembered everyone standing together.
Dike and Argon, along with the other nine.
One person was missing.
Judas immediately recalled the name.
‘…Could it be that guy? When was he here?!’
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