Chapter 29

Chapter 29
### Chapter 29

If levels and magical skill determine the perfection of a technique, then the total amount of magical power can be equated to basic stamina.

No matter how many impressive spells one learns, if the magical power to materialize them is insufficient, their significance often fades.

If someone were to ask why ordinary people cannot match the magical achievements of the nobility, there would be dozens of reasons, but one of the primary ones is the innate amount of magical power.

Wizards born into noble families usually possess an exceptionally large amount of innate magic.

Especially wizards from families like Duplain, Beltus, and Belmierd; nothing more needs to be said.

*Swish!*

The first-level spell that Ellen cast with her hand was of such magnitude that even those at the entrance of the second level noticed it.

The difference between the first and second level is comparable to that between an arrow and a cannonball. There is an inherent gap in power between the two, but when the number of participants is large, the meaning can change.

Such was Ellen’s spell. The wall of fire that erupted around her seemed to consume the entire world. Who could deny it? She was the most talented mage of the Belmierd family.

But her opponent was Aiselin Elenore Duplain.

Her father was one of the few fifth-level mages on the continent, a man capable of casting powerful spells without even blinking.

Anyone witnessing such magic for the first time would be impressed, but Aiselin had seen it before. She did not panic. Instead, she used her mana to cast the first-level spell, *Shockwave*.

*Bang!*

It was not necessary to completely neutralize that colossal spell. It was enough to defend against it.

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Aiselin was not ignorant of flashy spells. In a magical duel where honor was at stake, there was something more than just size alone.

Ellen knew this too, but she pressed Aiselin with an overwhelming spell, as if to say:

“Now what?”

Every forceful blow reflected Ellen’s sincerity, her desire to win.

“Her amount of mana is incredible…! But if she isn’t careful, she’ll exhaust it quickly…!”

Sweating from the increasing heat, she refused to lower her guard.

“The bigger the spell, the more chances there are to pierce through it… I see a gap…!”

Aiselin observed Ellen, who was radiating mana. A rapidly charged magic arrow curved and headed straight for her.

That was the moment of victory. Ellen’s mana-emitting form vanished in an instant, transforming into pure mana.

Aiselin immediately readjusted her posture. It was a confusion spell: *Lesser Illusion*.

Illusion magic, a hallmark of the school of confusion, was a first-level illusion, but even an illusion was just a crude imitation, barely able to move or look like the original.

A single hit and it would vanish into mana—a mere decoy.

However, in such an extreme situation, surrounded by magical fire, distinguishing the illusion was not easy.

When she regained consciousness, she saw Ellen’s figure everywhere. A closer look would reveal the flaws in each one, but Ellen had no intention of giving her that chance.

Now she understood why Ellen had cast a spell of such magnitude, even at the cost of her mana. The goal was to continuously pressure Aiselin, disorienting her.

In the midst of such chaos, if an unexpected attack were to occur, even Aiselin might not react properly.

“Her technique has matured, and the way she uses it has become more varied…!”

Above all, it was dazzling. It had the perfect scale for a magical duel between prestigious families, witnessed by many. Exhibiting magical prowess while honoring the family surname was customary in these duels.

From outside her field of vision, Ellen’s magic arrows flew toward her and struck quickly.

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Aiselin intercepted every blow with quick reflexes, but even a moment’s delay could change everything: a direct hit that would decide victory or defeat.

Deception and confusion were her tactics. Such maneuvers might seem petty if handled poorly, but Ellen’s diverse and dynamic use of them hid any trace of cowardice. Almost like a ploy to defeat the opponent, but the fire burning in flames buried that intention.

It was true: the spectators were captivated by the beauty of the blooming flames.

If Aiselin was a pure white lily, Ellen was a rose in full bloom, dazzling.

As if to prove it, she revealed her identity through her magic.

Walking gracefully through the flames, with the hem of her skirt fluttering, she looked like a peacock preening its feathers. Her loose red hair blended with the fire.

In Ellen’s brilliant performance, Aiselin perceived the subtle influence of the white-haired mercenary.

She had assimilated the cunning and agility typical of mercenaries without losing her own grandeur.

“Don’t get too confident.”

Aiselin perfectly understood the advice Dereck had given her.

Unlike when he taught Diella, the mages trained by that boy usually used strategies aimed at exploiting their opponent’s weaknesses.

Considering that confusion magic was one of her specialties, it was evident that Ellen’s strategy was influenced by him.

“It seems I have no choice but to use weapons…”

Aiselin did not like to boast of flashy magic, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do it.

If she couldn’t overcome her opponent with every move, like in a sword duel, then she too had to launch a barrage of attacks.

Then Aiselin summoned her magic and materialized dozens of large ice spears.

“Oh!”

“Summoning magic of that magnitude almost without incantations!”

The spectators exclaimed in wonder.

The speed with which Aiselin cast spells was such that even the most experienced mages nodded in approval.

However, the ice spears she summoned shattered before they could find a direction and fly.

*Bang! Crack!*

By the time she realized it, Ellen’s magic arrows had hit them head-on and exploded.

Ellen had already experienced this with Dereck.

Even before the opponent could determine the direction of their spell, Dereck responded first and neutralized it.

That subtle manipulation of magic was not something that could be imitated after seeing it only once, but she had witnessed it dozens, even hundreds of times while exploring the labyrinth with him.

Magic has direction. If you can read the opponent’s intention, you can know where the spell is headed.

The theories that Dereck had repeated tirelessly were now materializing in her and being put into practice in a real battle.

Ellen felt a strange thrill. The daily advice that boy used to give now made sense in practice.

Even the trivial words that could easily be ignored—she realized now—were practical advice based on experience.

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In a real fight, there would hardly be a better teacher than Dereck.

Both Aiselin and Ellen understood this fact.

Aiselin’s eyes widened for an instant, and then returned to normal.

After unconsciously underestimating Ellen’s magical abilities, she soon realized that such thoughts were born of arrogance.

She reflected quickly and adapted.

Aiselin decided to reorganize everything from scratch and spare no effort.

*Swish!*

The sensation of facing Aiselin head-on.

Ellen, who had been enjoying a wave of excitement, was suddenly faced with a harsh reality.

Aiselin’s magic, determined to give her all, began to envelop the battlefield.

Then, everything happened in an instant.

The fire-filled festival that had filled the stadium vanished as if it had never existed.

And the magic arrows Ellen had accumulated were also destroyed by the overwhelming magic, disappearing as if they had never been there.

Ellen’s eyes widened.

The young woman on the other side of the podium, like a flower of the Duplain family, made no grand gestures or emotional expressions.

She simply closed her eyes tight, took a deep breath, and, with her skirt fluttering from the magical energy surrounding her, fixed her gaze with determination.

In that instant, the world went quiet.

It wasn’t even a rushed spell. It was the enormous amount of accumulated magic that crushed Ellen.

No technical skill was required in the process.

Like an adult overcoming childish techniques with brute force… the girl neutralized all of Ellen’s magic with pure magical power.

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A mage almost of the second level and a mage who had just reached the first level.

The gap that had seemed small was actually a huge abyss, and now was the time to truly feel it.

All of this was not aimed at suppressing Ellen’s magic. It simply prepared the ground for the next spell.

Her posture remained elegant. As if the term “pure white lily” described her perfectly, her hands, which had gently brushed the hem of her dress, finally closed into fists.

In that instant, Ellen’s vision was blinded by a flash of light.

*Bang!*

Shortly after, the sound of the explosion was heard.

***

— Dereck, honestly, I’m not sure I can beat Aiselin.

— I’ve been telling you all along. You will win.

— Do you really have that much confidence?

— Yes. In fact… exactly…

Ellen remembered the words the boy had spoken among the carcasses of the beasts.

— You will win.

The boy’s assertion that Ellen would definitely make Aiselin lose.

She had gone through difficult times trusting that promise, but now she found herself doubting his words once again.

When Aiselin’s gaze turned serious, magic sprouted from her hands in an instant: the second-level *Fireball* spell.

The explosion, large enough to engulf the entire stage, expanded, and cries of wonder and admiration echoed among the spectators.

The girl had just used a second-level spell.

Even the observers from the magic academy widened their eyes in astonishment at the sight.

“This… is this reasonable…?”

Ellen managed to protect herself from the impact of the explosion.

The only reason she was able to maintain her protection spell while a second-level spell flew toward her was pure luck.

Aiselin, still inexperienced in second-level spells, did her best to improve her accuracy, but her fireball missed completely, leaving Ellen with only the consequences.

If it had been more precise, the duel would have ended there.

“Ha… Ha…”

Aiselin panted, exhausted. To the naked eye, it seemed like Aiselin was on the defensive, but the magnitude and impact of her attacks revealed the truth. The same tactics would not work against Aiselin.

Each of her attacks rendered all tricks ineffective.

Faced with such a large skill gap, what technique could make sense?

However, Ellen took a moment to catch her breath and quickly distanced herself, gathering her magic once again.

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While the spectators marveled at the use of second-level magic, Ellen paid them no attention.

With firm determination to win, she launched her magic once again, using all kinds of spells to confuse her opponent as before.

If she couldn’t win by brute force, she would use every means at her disposal to corner her.

After exchanging several blows, when a second fireball shot out, the spectators again cried out in wonder.

Her offensive power was still impressive, but it was not easy to completely subdue Ellen with underdeveloped second-level magic. She barely managed to dodge it, but even a scratch could decide the result.

And yet… even in the face of such a significant power gap, Ellen vaguely sensed that the situation was changing in her favor.

Aiselin’s face appeared and disappeared between the magical exchanges. The composure on her face had diminished considerably.

The drops of sweat revealed that she was slowly being cornered. It was then that all of Dereck’s strategies seemed to click into place.

She could never defeat Aiselin with her skills alone.

But Dereck had also taken Aiselin’s honesty into account.

Once she recognized her opponent and considered her a worthy rival, the honest Aiselin gave her all.

She would show all her cards, seeking a fair and serious duel. That was Aiselin. The problem lay in her second-level magic, still in a transitional and unpolished stage.

Uncontrolled second-level magic was a mana-devouring monster. It would be more efficient with skill, but an immature spell cast hastily would quickly deplete her energy.

Given her nature, if she decided to give her all, it was obvious she would resort to second-level spells. In a duel, giving one’s all was a sign of respect and courtesy toward one’s opponent.

This would alter the efficiency of mana use between them. It seemed as if a riddle had been solved: the reason Dereck had turned the duel into a war of attrition.

He had foreseen that Aiselin would soon master second-level magic.

Survive and win. There was no need to face her approach head-on.

So what if it was a bit cowardly or dishonest? What was wrong with taking advantage of the opponent’s honesty?

Proud of her sense of honor, Aiselin, using unstable second-level magic, would soon show her vulnerability.

Or the duel would become a test of will: who could draw a little more mana from their reserves.

And as far as mental endurance was concerned, that was precisely what Ellen had been developing over the last few weeks. The mental strength she had acquired through Dereck’s relentless training was on a completely different level than that of someone pampered in a greenhouse.

Had the young instructor taken all this into account in his strategy? Ellen jumped back and clicked her tongue.

In any case, she understood his reasoning. If things continued like this, winning the duel was not impossible, second-level magic or not.

*Bang! Clang!*

*Explosion!*

After about ten more exchanges, the duel was approaching its climax.

“Ha… Ha…”

Both were completely exhausted of mana. There was still time before the bell for a draw rang.

Ellen, who had started using her magic, began to tremble. She had already exhausted her magic to the point of fatigue many times, but she had never gotten used to that exhaustion.

On the other hand, Aiselin’s fingertips were trembling. She seemed to have never witnessed such reckless use of magic. What else could be expected? No instructor from the Duplain family would push their students that far.

That gap would decide everything. In extreme conditions, Ellen gathered the last vestiges of her mana. Gritting her teeth, she seemed determined to cast one last spell.

*Ugh, gasp… gasp…*

Aiselin also panted, trying to gather her magic, but this situation was unfamiliar to her, making it no easy task.

She tried to gather what she could, but seeing the amount of magic flashing in Ellen’s hands, she had a premonition.

She would try to block it with all her might, but the next blow… or the next… would decide everything.

Still, Aiselin grit her teeth. Defeat loomed over her, but she continued to fight with all her might.

“…It’s over! I have you cornered! I… I’ve cornered Aiselin…!”

Ellen felt a surge of euphoria, even through her blurred vision.

The fact that she was dominating Aiselin, that everything was going according to Dereck’s plan, seemed to occupy her thoughts.

In that state of exhaustion, Ellen prepared her magic for the final blow.

“…”

But seeing the determination in Aiselin’s eyes, she felt as if cold water had been thrown over her.

If the battle of attrition continued, the scales would undoubtedly tip in Ellen’s favor. Her magic level was high, but she lacked the skill to distribute her strength properly… With that, she could declare herself the winner over Aiselin, walk away with a smile, and the future seemed easy to envision.

How long had she been dreaming of a satisfying victory?

However, silence enveloped the spectators.

At the top of the stands, leaning against the wall, watching the duel, Dereck stared at her.

Aiselin, completely exhausted, and Ellen, still able to grit her teeth and draw strength from weakness.

The boy, who seemed to have anticipated this outcome from the beginning, watched with an impassive expression and cold, red eyes.

When those eyes landed on Ellen, she felt as if a knife had been driven into her heart.

“…”

A brief pause.

The dazzling exchange of magic ceased, and both women panted, exhausted.

Ellen couldn’t help but ask herself in a low voice: why did she want to defeat Aiselin so much? The answer was clear.

She hated herself for envying and feeling jealous of an idol admired by everyone, and only by her. She wanted to strike Aiselin to escape from that inferiority complex.

But now she wasn’t so sure. Even if she won this war of attrition against Aiselin, would she stop envying the idol who still shone?

Could she free herself from the disgusting inferiority complex that had corroded her for so long?

Though cornered and panting, Aiselin looked noble and radiant. Her eyes still shone, as if she could overcome any adversity with ease.

There was a certain nobility in her bearing.

— Then, let’s win!

“…”

Even when he declared, “We are going to win,”

Dereck did not show relief.

Ellen finally understood everything. She had believed she fully understood Dereck’s intentions, but even that was arrogance.

What Dereck wanted to teach Ellen in this duel was not how to win, how to corner Aiselin, or how to free herself from that disgusting complex.

Only then did Ellen finally realize. She had been fighting a battle she could never win.

As a fundamental pillar of the Belmiard family, she had learned all kinds of practical skills, but her heart was still that of a girl her age.

There were things that, with her immaturity, she could not understand. For example, that humans live their whole lives feeling envy.

The jealousy and resentment that seethed in her heart—toward those she hated and tried to repress—were like a part of her body she couldn’t get rid of. Because she was human.

Like all those who struggle in a cruel world, each carried their own difficulties. This was something everyone came to understand over time, struggling desperately to overcome those dark emotions over and over again.

That’s why Dereck had helped Ellen with all his heart.

Although they were similar in age, sometimes it seemed that Dereck had lived decades longer than Ellen.

The boy already knew.

Trying to suppress those feelings meant that Ellen was fighting a battle she couldn’t win.

With that in mind, Ellen finally looked around.

Among the spectators were those who watched the duel with sweaty palms.

All their looks of admiration were fixed on Aiselin. It was understandable.

With her distinguished bearing that captivated everyone and her noble character that inspired admiration, she even managed to cast a second-level spell in this duel. It was evident to anyone that she was the protagonist.

Just beneath a bright light source, there is always a cold shadow. Ellen, who had lived in that shadow, felt that she finally understood something she had never understood in her entire life.

“…”

In silence, Ellen closed her eyes tight, then opened them and immediately smiled with dignity. It was a noble and beautiful smile.

Aiselin’s eyes widened, surprised by the scene.

“The truth is that I cannot compete with Lady Aiselin. My magic is completely exhausted.”

Aiselin, who had been watching her opponent closely, had already sensed it.

She knew that if she exhausted her reserves, she could fight a little longer. If this war of attrition continued, she would be the one to lose.

Still, Ellen, with her usual dignified smile, lifted the hem of her skirt and made a polite bow.

“This is my defeat. It was a good duel.”

*Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!*

Then, the room erupted in thunderous applause.

Respect for Aiselin permeated the atmosphere.

***

“Miss Aiselin! That was incredible! A second-level spell!”

“Rumors were already circulating that Prince Valerian had enlightened the House of Duplain, but now also Lady Aiselin…! The Grand Duke will be delighted.”

“I am Belia from the Redon family! I have always admired you… This duel… was so moving…”

As soon as the duel ended, many people, along with Aiselin’s supporters, rushed to praise her.

In the middle of the crowd surrounding her, Ellen could be seen adjusting her skirt in a corner of the stadium.

Before Aiselin could catch her breath and shout, Ellen quickly gathered her skirt and slipped under the podium.

“Ellen…!”

Before Aiselin could call her, she had already moved down the hallway. Seeing her figure disappear in the distance, Aiselin rubbed her eyes with her head bowed.

Dereck, who was leaning against the wall in a corner of the stands, stood up in silence and followed her.

However, Dereck turned to make a polite bow to Aiselin.

In the midst of the cheering crowd, Aiselin could only stand there, stunned, watching everything unfold.

Regardless of what others said, Dereck was now one of Ellen’s subordinates.