Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Seo Dayun (4)

The most important thing in a mage duel was casting speed.

Even a powerful mage would die if caught off guard by a single hit. Most mages didn't have a warrior's sturdy body.

That was why, before a mage duel, both sides pre-cast four spells, ready to fire the moment an Incantation was spoken.

Predicting the opponent's hand and responding favorably.

That was where the duel truly began.

"Magic Missile, Shield, Haste. Some wiggle room on top. Should be fine, right?"

Seo Dayun proposed the three classic beginner spells.

The most versatile picks from attack, defense, and buff magic─likely what she'd studied hardest.

Her confidence was understandable, but the choice wasn't great.

"Dayun, your opponent is a third-year. He's already read that a freshman would be confident in those three."

"R-Really?"

"If he comes in with Haste and Wind Cutter, what do you do?"

If my assumption held, the red-haired senior would activate Haste immediately.

Magic Missile's speed was neither fast nor slow. At a reasonable distance, a Haste-buffed mage could see it coming and dodge.

That alone would neutralize Seo Dayun's Magic Missile.

Meanwhile, Wind Cutter was the fastest beginner spell.

Even with Haste, dodging was impossible.

If the red-hair attacked with Wind Cutter, Seo Dayun would have to block with Shield.

Red-hair would confirm Shield was gone, then Wind Cutter again.

Game over.

Seo Dayun's expression darkened as she understood.

She said uncertainly:

"Um, what if I close the distance to land Magic Missile?"

"Time isn't on your side. Someone who can strike first has no reason to wait for you."

"What if I cancel Wind Cutter with Magic Missile?"

"Don't bother. Hitting a projectile head-on isn't easy. And hitting a fast spell with a slow one is even harder."

"But it's not impossible, right?"

"Sure, it's possible. Want to bet everything on that slim chance?"

I shot down every answer Seo Dayun offered.

She sank into thought but couldn't find a solution, letting out a frustrated groan.

Finally, she raised the white flag.

"So Magic Missile, Shield, and Haste won't cut it......"

"Right. The win probability is way too low."

"Then what about building a counter around his setup? Bringing multiple Shields."

How was that a counter?

Even if Shield blocked every Wind Cutter, Magic Missile couldn't end the fight.

When I gave her a questioning look, Seo Dayun explained.

"Haste has a duration, right? If it's an endurance battle, I can win."

Seo Dayun showed baseless confidence.

Normally, a Combat Magic student having better stamina than a Magical Research student wasn't unusual.

But I'd watched Seo Dayun wheeze in the Mage Tower for days. She was absolutely not the stamina type.

When I shot her a skeptical look, Seo Dayun declared shamelessly:

"I can do it!"

"Okay, let's say you can. But will your opponent just run and do nothing?"

"Huh? Ah......"

Seo Dayun realized what she'd missed and groaned.

This wasn't a fight limited to four spells. The red-hair would prepare a new spell and press for the finish.

From that point, it became a casting speed battle.

Casting speed was a matter of proficiency.

Outside of a few spells she was confident in, Seo Dayun would lose a casting race every time.

"Th-Then what should I do?"

"Simple. Use Wind Cutter instead of Magic Missile."

"Ah......"

That sigh was less an epiphany and more self-pity.

The reason was obvious even without asking.

She wasn't confident she could pull off Wind Cutter in a real fight.

Seo Dayun asked, her voice quavering.

"But Professor, there's no guarantee the opponent only brings Haste and Wind Cutter, right?"

Her question wasn't the optimistic hope that maybe he'd bring something she could beat by luck.

Seo Dayun was looking ahead to the worst-case scenario.

I gave a light nod of confirmation.

"Right. If it were me, I'd bring four Shields. Or three Shields and Haste."

Magic Missile couldn't penetrate Shield and deal damage.

That meant she'd need to bring at least fire-attribute magic, the most destructive of the four elements.

But whether Seo Dayun could properly wield fire magic in combat was uncertain.

And with that, the match was decided.

Shield to stall, then prepare a new spell─there'd be no way to win. A third-year's casting speed and spell repertoire would overwhelmingly outclass Seo Dayun's.

This duel was essentially rock-paper-scissors.

Seo Dayun could only throw rock and scissors; the red-hair could throw rock, scissors, and paper.

And even a tie went to red-hair.

Rock-paper-scissors, but a grossly unfair one.

Seo Dayun whispered:

"I-I'll go practice...... so I can use other spells too......"

She knew herself how absurd that sounded.

There was no guarantee he'd bring exactly what they predicted.

He could bring anything.

"Which spell will you practice?"

"Huh? Well, I'd......"

"Wind Cutter? Fire Ball? Or every beginner spell?"

"Um, uh......"

The current hand clearly couldn't win.

And time was short.

No matter how hard she tried, she could learn one spell at most.

It was time to choose.

"Alright, let's decide. What spells do you think the enemy will prepare?"

"I don't know......"

This was the primary problem.

The inability to predict the opponent's hand.

To win, they had to strip away the red-hair's options.

"Then if you knew what he'd bring, do you think you could win?"

"I'd have a fighting chance...... but there's no way to know."

"There is a way. It'll be a bit of a burden, though."

***

─I heard a first-year and a third-year are dueling.

─Really? Are this year's freshmen that strong?

─Is it that top-ranked Park Seohu?

─No. It's someone from a magic department.

─Magic?

The duel between a first-year and a third-year.

An irresistible piece of gossip. Rumors spread across the academy in no time.

─Magic, so is it that guy? Runner-up Song Seokhwan.

─He's supposed to be a total maniac. If it's him, disrespecting a senior wouldn't be surprising.

─No. It's some girl apparently.

─A girl? What's her name?

─Never heard of her. Seo Dayun or something......

─Genuinely never heard that name.

Hero society was smaller than you'd think.

Especially at Florian, where only Korea's elite gathered, the world of graduated Heroes was tiny.

Four years above or below, and you'd be crossing paths for life.

So upperclassmen and underclassmen at the academy were deeply invested in each other.

─Who's she fighting?

─Han Daedong from Magical Research.

─Daedong's no slouch─solid grades. No way he loses to a freshman, right?

On top of that, this duel had extra reasons to draw attention.

The unspoken rule barring underclassmen from the Central Mage Tower had been gospel.

Yet a freshman had shattered that rule and challenged an upperclassman head-on.

Depending on the outcome, much could change.

If the freshman won, it would be a signal for other underclassmen to enter the Central Mage Tower.

─I hope Seo Dayun wins.

─Then we could go to the Central Mage Tower without getting in trouble, right?

─Exactly.

If the upperclassman won and the freshman was expelled, the "custom" would harden into permanent policy, and underclassmen would never get the chance to use the Central Mage Tower.

─Uppity freshman thinking she can......

─Like you were never a freshman?

─Han Daedong, if you lose to her, you're dead.

Once rumors spread, the duel was no longer just between Seo Dayun and Han Daedong.

Underclassmen versus upperclassmen.

It drew the attention of countless students─especially those in magic-related classes.

The Colosseum in Florian's central plaza began filling up like never before.

And the girl at the center of all that attention─

"Professor, th-there are too many people......"

......Yeah. I figured this would happen.

Seo Dayun was in the worst panic of her life.

I'd warned her, but even I hadn't expected this many.

The Colosseum, which could hold over a thousand spectators, was nearing capacity.

I was the one who'd spread the rumor.

In a personal conflict turned duel, I'd deliberately blown up the stakes.

That was the purpose.

In a personal fight, the opponent would bring an optimal strategy for guaranteed victory.

But once it became a pride match between freshmen and upperclassmen, those tactics were off the table.

An upperclassman bringing three Shields to the first cast against a freshman?

Nobody would recognize a win like that.

By inflating the scale, the red-hair was now psychologically shackled to "dominantly crushing the freshman as befitting an upperclassman."

On top of that, winning here would broadcast the name Seo Dayun across all of Florian.

Meanwhile, losing cost them nothing.

A structure where only our side benefited.

But there was one variable I hadn't accounted for.

"People...... this many people watching me...... what do I do?"

"What's the worry? They're watching, big deal."

"I want to hide...... I want to run away......"

I never expected Seo Dayun to panic this badly.

Maybe it was because she'd never gotten attention before. The extreme overload had completely short-circuited her.

She kept muttering, then started babbling nonsense.

"C-Could we maybe postpone this to tomorrow? Rain delay or something......"

"A duel isn't a concert. Postpone what? If you run, the third-year wins by default."

"Eek!"

Seo Dayun collapsed in a corner, curling up like a pill bug.

Ten minutes left.

Time to warm up and get ready.

I forcibly grabbed both her arms and pulled her up.

"N-No! Don't! Stop! Don't touch me!"

"Don't talk like I'm a creep."

"But, but......"

Now she was about to cry.

This was incredibly annoying.

I wanted to yell at her, but browbeating a girl with a fragile mentality in this situation might only make things worse.

I spoke in the gentlest voice I could manage.

"Then shall we call it off?"

"Call it...... off?"

"If you want, I can relay your forfeit."

Seo Dayun hung her head and began to waver.

Oh, come on─why was she actually considering it?

She was supposed to shake her head and refuse. Was she seriously debating this?

Seo Dayun said quietly.

"Th-Then I'll forfeit─"

SMACK─!

I brought my hand down on the crown of Seo Dayun's head with feeling.

She whimpered.

"Ow!"

"My heart hurts more, so snap out of it and get ready."

"Okay......"

Good grief.

Even at full focus her odds were below fifty-fifty, and in this state, I was worried.

No, forget fifty. Probably under thirty percent.

"You remember what I said?"

"Yes."

"Good. The skill gap is clear. To be blunt, you'd lose nine out of ten."

Seo Dayun's expression dimmed slightly.

"But if our strategy works as planned, and if you don't lose in your heart─you can win nine out of ten."

For someone with Seo Dayun's emotional swings, instilling confidence was crucial.

Even if she couldn't win. Even if the odds were minuscule.

You can do this.

Seo Dayun nodded with resolve etched on her face.

"Yes......"

"Always remember. No matter what happens, don't lose in your heart."

"Yes!"

"Good. Let's get ready."

Ten minutes left.

Seo Dayun began pumping her Mana Heart.

She activated her mana circuit and pre-cast the three spells she'd decided on.

Her casting was faster than ever.

After donning all her protective gear, Seo Dayun stood.

"Professor, I'm going."

"Yeah."

Seo Dayun walked down the corridor at the side of the waiting room.

The unlit corridor was dark.

She walked its length until she reached the door at the end.

Creeeak─

The door opened at the appointed time.

Beyond it─a massive roar of cheers.

─YEAAAHH!

"Ugh......"

Over a thousand students.

Their sheer energy momentarily overwhelmed her.

Seo Dayun shook her head in place, then strode forward.

She raised a clenched fist and shouted.

"Professor! I'll definitely win!"

Before me was the small, slight back of a girl.

And yet, somehow, that back looked dependable.

"Yeah."

A back that made me want to believe─just a little.