Magical Machine

“The Flash Mage is having a duel?”

“Yes. It will take place in Experimental Ground #1 in 15 minutes, so spread the word.”

“Goodness! A duel with one of the Eleven Hatchlings! Who’s the opponent?”

“The Divine Mage Baek Jun-woo.”

“Divine… Mage? That title is too…”

“Hehe, it is indeed. That’s why the Flash Mage wants to teach him a lesson himself. It’s a senior’s duty to correct an arrogant young mage.”

“Ah! Like trimming the vine of a flower grape until it bears the finest fruit?”

“You… you’ve learned well. Keep up that enthusiasm and you too could become an excellent mage.”

“Heeh… thank you! I’ll see you later then!”

“Yes, see you later.”

Principal Ruttle of Solas Magic School watched with satisfaction as the excited young mage hurried away.

“Was that boy about the same age as that ‘Divine’ brat?”

Students born in the Tower of Covenant, receiving elite education from an early age thanks to their accomplished mage parents. At fourteen, they typically reached 1st Circle, and if exceptionally talented, might grow to 2nd Circle.

But the white-haired young mage from the wilderness had reached 3rd Circle on his own.

“Certainly… remarkable talent, but…”

Ruttle glanced up at the principal’s office where Baek Jun-woo and Pan-Dalus were. He had already heard in detail from Lytol himself how the “Divine” brat had ended up in a duel with him.

“Why does Pan-Dalus favor that brat so much…”

Ruttle pondered briefly, then shook his head as if dismissing an impossible thought.

“Divine Mage… ridiculous.”

+ – + – +

Experimental Ground #1, where the duel would take place, had more ambiance than expected.

Originally designed for magical experiments, it was wide open like a training yard and well-equipped with various protective spells.

Location-wise, it was on the rooftop.

Being at the highest point of Ganda’s Stairs, clouds filled the view ahead while a vast panorama spread out below.

Throughout the walk to the experimental ground for the duel, Pan-Dalus kept his wrinkled face rigid.

Though Pan-Dalus was able to see beyond Circle stereotypes and evaluate me as I was, even he didn’t seem to believe I could defeat Lytol without Saíl(射日). Though he kept quiet, his thoughts were clearly revealed in his expression.

‘He might be regretting his promise to support me by now.’

I had made a covenant with Lytol. If I lost, I would leave; if I won, he would become my subordinate.

Once covenanted, it must be upheld. To avoid losing the trust of magical power and wasting years like Teacher Sena had, that is.

Pan-Dalus might think everything was already ruined.

‘He might see me as just a reckless youngster.’

Recklessness.

For mages who live on thin ice, repeatedly making covenants and challenges, recklessness is considered the worst vice.

As a mere 3rd Circle accepting a duel with a 4th Circle, I was the very embodiment of recklessness.

So I could fully understand this hostile atmosphere.

“What? He’s way too young!”

“That little kid is challenging the Flash Mage, one of the Eleven Hatchlings?”

“Tsk tsk. At that age, being 3rd Circle would make him a genius… but his recklessness is excessive. Another young mage ruining himself.”

“What’s his title?”

“Ahem… Divine Mage… or something.”

“Pfft? Is that for real? Wow… I can’t believe such a title actually exists. There should be limits to recklessness.”

“That kid is awful. I felt a bit sorry for him earlier, but now I don’t feel sorry at all.”

“Hahaha. He calls himself a divine mage. Pfahah. More like a ‘idiot mage’!”

“Hey! Idiot mage! Stop being so cocky!”

Not just the magic school students, but even mages from the lower levels of Ganda’s Stairs who had been drinking heavily came rushing up with disheveled hair.

They all jeered at me. Among them, those around my age even changed my title to ‘idiot’. Being close to my age, they seemed more jealous and found me an easy target. ^[1]

“Hey~ idiot mage! Do you really think trash like you can beat an Eleven Hatchling? Stop showing off! If you land even one hit, I’ll deep-fry my hand in oil!”

A brat who looked about twelve years old shouted. The adult mages beside him seemed to be cautioning him about his excessive language, but their own thoughts didn’t seem much different.

But there was one title that kept bothering me.

“Eleven Hatchlings?”

Hearing my mumble, Fel quickly explained.

“It refers to eleven rookies under twenty-five who are recognized in the Tower of Covenant. Among Academy affiliates, only Lytol, the Flash Mage, has earned a place among the Eleven Hatchlings. He’s a genius… known throughout the Tower of Covenant.”

…Is that so?

I looked at the brown-haired man approaching with an imposing expression from the opposite side. He stood about 176cm tall, with a rather pretty face. His thin eyebrows were always furrowed, making him look irritated even when doing nothing.

Not an unpleasant appearance, but I wouldn’t want to grow up to look like that.

If given a choice, I’d prefer someone with a height over 185cm and a refreshing appearance like Fel.

“Lytol is renowned as the best technician among rookie mages. As befitting the disciple of the Mage of Domestication, he’s a master of visualization magic. Though lacking in raw power, he’s famous for his relentless pace, various spell nullifications, and unexpected counters. I only know this from rumors, not in detail.”

In an arena where everyone jeered at me, only Fel stood by my side.

“Well, you’ll win anyway… so show us another miracle, Divine Mage.”

Fel smiled and gave my back a gentle push. Pan-Dalus looked at Fel with an enigmatic expression.

I shook my head.

This fox-like man.

Just now, Fel had subtly placed a bet by affirming my victory.

Though not in covenant form, so the effect would be weak, the words had already been spoken. If I won, Fel would gain a small amount of magical power; if I lost, he would lose some.

Mages don’t make assertions about uncertain matters. That’s the rule. Knowing this principle, Pan-Dalus could only wear an ambiguous expression.

“Yahoo-! Jun-woo! Beat him quickly! It’s obvious that you’ll win, are all these people stupid?! I, Yuria, guarantee it. Baek Jun-woo will definitely win!”

“I-I, Monggu, also guarantee it! Of course our leader Ba-Baek Jun-woo will win!”

And there were others making blatant assertions.

Just as I was stepping into the center of the dueling ground, a shout hit my ears. It was Yuria and Monggu.

The two were screaming at the top of their lungs, asserting my victory. No, at this point it was closer to a covenant than a mere assertion. And a public one, at that, in front of countless people.

Numerous mages clicked their tongues and shook their heads. Among them, younger boys and girls openly hurled insults. But the two just kept squawking regardless.

“Hey! Hey! Are you going without even greeting your sister?”

I felt somewhat embarrassed and avoided eye contact until the end.

Still,

I couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my lips.

“You have reckless friends. Birds of a feather?”

At the center of the dueling ground, Lytol coldly sneered at me.

“Well. They seem like wise friends to me.”

Lytol twitched his brown eyebrows and smirked.

“Fine. Let’s end this quickly.”

He spread his arms and bent slightly at the waist in greeting. The mage’s formal salute indicating readiness for a duel. I returned the same gesture.

After observing our exchange, Pan-Dalus announced the beginning of the duel.

“This duel will continue until one side declares defeat or loses their life. I, Pan-Dalus, promise to fairly observe who is more suitable as a successor of magic. Now… the Flash Mage and the Divine Mage, begin!”

“#$%@!”

The moment it began, Lytol cast a spell.

Memorized spells <Clay Play> and <Shot>.

In truth, it was so fast I could barely catch it, but thanks to the [Simulation] I had run in the office, I was able to identify them.

Lytol’s Gift was ‘Time Acceleration.’ He could move alone at more than three times normal speed in slowed time, making his spell casting extremely fast.

Two spells cast in a split second.

Simple mana shapes—triangles, squares, waves, and diagonal lines—poured out of thin air, then clumped together like clay to form special shapes.

Square magical power formed a spiral to create a long barrel, triangular mana formed a bullet, and the remaining mana mixed evenly to create explosive power.

A cannon crafted from mana.

A spell that perfectly matched the name ‘visualization’ magic.

Kaboom!

With an intense explosion, the <Shot> was fired.

“Triple Shield!”

Kiiiing!

Simultaneously, my third Circle wailed as it created a three-layered shield. It was magic that Han Se-hoon had used, but now I had completely analyzed its mana pattern and made it my own.

Crash!

Two shields shattered to pieces and the last shield cracked miserably, but the <Triple Shield> admirably blocked the <Shot>.

Smoke rose thickly.

“Good. Keep blocking. Magic Ball!”

Lytol smiled coldly as he activated his next spell. There was still plenty of mana scattered in the air from <Clay Play>. This time, it clumped together to form an egg-sized sphere. The <Magic Ball> bounced around him like a rubber ball, making Thunk! Thunk! sounds.

To my eyes that could see mana, the process was perfectly clear, but to other mages who couldn’t see mana, it would just sound like something bouncing in empty air, going Thunk! Thunk!

“That’s one for now.”

Lytol declared as if making an announcement.

At the same time,

Thunk!

Kaboom!

<Magic Ball> and <Shot> were fired simultaneously.

This time I didn’t activate <Triple Shield>. Lytol was an expert in spell nullification. If I used a shield now, it would surely be broken instantly.

In the first of the five simulations I had run in the office, I had suffered shattered ribs from his nullification.

So this time I simply took it with my body. The <Shot> barely grazed my chest, and I let the <Magic Ball> that bounced Thunk! Thunk! to the side pass behind my back.

“…He dodged?”

“That movement… an enhancement Gift?”

“No, how did he even know to dodge in the first place?”

Murmurs spread among the spectating mages.

Lytol’s main attacks were <Shot> and <Magic Ball>. If <Shot> was a straight punch, <Magic Ball> was a jab.

They were monotonous attacks with limited firepower, but they had one advantage that offset all shortcomings: being pure energy attacks with no attributes, they were invisible.

But that didn’t apply to me who could see mana.

“Dodge…? Ha! Two, three, four… try blocking these.”

When things didn’t go as expected, Lytol bit his lip and created a barrage of <Magic Ball>. All the while, he was carefully watching to see if I would cast any spells.

Thudududunk!

A total of five <Magic Ball> bounced from all directions. They poured down like rain. The solid stone floor shattered, sending fragments flying and grinding it to powder.

Destructive power approaching an area-of-effect spell.

The terrifying part was that this wasn’t a one-time attack but a continuous one, and it grew fiercer as the number of <Magic Ball> increased.

‘He is impressive.’

Known as one of the top rookies in the Tower of Covenant, he certainly had the skills to match.

Even Kasha, the 4th Circle mage who had pursued us before, would not easily escape this spell.

The moment you try to block it with a defensive spell, an ultra-fast <Shield Nullification> spell would precisely intervene, causing you to take damage.

Even with my physical abilities, I could only dodge for a short while.

I threw myself into the air to avoid the shower of <Magic Ball>. The egg-sized energy spheres grazed my cheek and calf. Blood spurted red.

Kiiiing!

In that split second as the <Magic Ball> passed by, I moved my third Circle. The second spell engraved on the eight saw teeth manifested.

But before that, a spell cast at ultra-high speed through [Time Acceleration] enveloped me.

“Hmph! Shield Nullification!”

A special spell that silences ‘Shield’ magic below 4th Circle.

Among the protective spells I knew, none could evade this spell.

I could see Lytol’s smirk from a distance.

But, you fool.

What I used wasn’t a shield at all.

I pulled out a bow from my waist and shouted:

“Spatial Leap!”

Whung!

The scenery before my eyes distorted and flipped. Ping-! Simultaneously, a magically enhanced arrow left the bowstring, flying toward Lytol.

Kaboom!

The <Trap> spells—essentially landmines—that he had sneakily set around me exploded upon contact with the arrow.

In the second simulation, I had charged in with Spatial Leap without checking for these and had been torn to shreds.

Stone dust scattered, and a massive explosion echoed in the sky—Boom, Boom.

As the explosions subsided, a momentary silence fell. Through it, the spectators’ bewilderment surged.

“What?”

“Insane!”

“A 3rd Circle mage using Spatial Leap? T-then his Gift wasn’t physical enhancement after all?”

Unfortunately, it was neither.

Something I had learned from Lanches.

Mana User Lanches, with whom I had fought a bloody battle at the Red Tree Crossroad. I had finally recreated the Gift Spatial Leap that I had observed then.

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

The sound of <Magic Ball> bouncing in place echoed rhythmically.

Looking ahead, I saw Lytol glaring at me as if he wanted to kill me.

Oh dear,

He seems so angry that he’s forgotten when to attack.