[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 29

    Round of 16 in the Selection Tournament.

    For students aiming to become Superior Mages, the Round of 16 was the most crucial match.

    If they won here and advanced to the Quarterfinals, being among the top eight Superior Mages was guaranteed.

    Every magician in the Round of 16 gave their all in this match.

    Kaylen''s opponent was no exception.

    But—

    “Gasp... Gasp... Circle... Re... load. Ice Shield.”

    In the Round of 16, Elvin, a 3rd-Circle Meister renowned as one of the top talents, stood before Kaylen, panting heavily and suppressing his frustration.

    ‘What kind of bastard is this...?!’

    Having witnessed Kaylen''s disruptive performance in the preliminaries, Elvin knew from the beginning that victory would be difficult.

    Still, he wanted to leave a strong impression in front of the crowd...

    But the one leaving an impression was, undeniably, Kaylen.

    “Ice Spear.”

    Against a Meister of Water Magic, Kaylen overwhelmed him using the very same element.

    Even though Elvin was a 3rd-Circle Meister—a mage who had mastered the peak of a single attribute—this wasn''t how the match should have gone.

    A 3rd-Circle Meister''s power was typically comparable to that of a regular mage’s 5th-Circle magic. By all accounts, Elvin should have had the advantage in a battle of water magic.

    “Urgh...!”

    However, reality told a different story.

    Whenever Kaylen cast Ice Spear, the ice lances shot out instantaneously—without incantation.

    And not just one, but in greater numbers than Elvin could produce!

    Clang! Clang!

    That wasn’t all.

    The power of the ice lances striking his Ice Shield kept growing stronger with each wave.

    ‘This guy... is he holding back his strength?!’

    As his barrier began to shatter, Elvin forcibly cycled the mana in his heart again, but...

    “Circle... Reload! Ice Shie—”

    “It’s over.”

    Thwack!

    Elvin’s Ice Shield was mercilessly pierced by Kaylen’s Ice Spear.

    Surrounded by the remaining 14 ice lances, Elvin lowered his head in defeat.

    “I... lost...”

    A 3rd-Circle Meister of Water Magic had been defeated by a regular mage’s 3rd-Circle Ice Spear.

    The match was a complete loss.

    Before he could even counterattack, he was overwhelmed by the unending torrent of Ice Spears.

    “How is he doing that without a Mana Suit?”

    “Did you see him using Ice Spear? He must have an affinity for water as well.”

    “People barely have enough to master one attribute... Can he really handle two?”

    “His main attribute isn’t wind... It’s water! Water!”

    “What nonsense! Did you miss the Round of 32 match? The Wind Burst he used was 4th-Circle. He clearly has an affinity for wind!”

    “Ha! Haven’t you seen the hundreds of Ice Spears he’s been casting? He’s water through and through.”

    “Just listen to this guy...”

    The discussion among scouts grew heated, eventually escalating into a debate between representatives from the Towers of Water and Wind.

    A 4th-Circle mage from an insignificant family, without any factional ties.

    On top of that, a mage seemingly possessing the talents of a Meister in two attributes.

    From the perspective of a scout, it was enough to turn their heads.

    “Good work, my lord.”

    “Hmm.”

    “And... representatives from several Magic Towers have come to see you.”

    It was no surprise, then, that many people approached Kaylen as he descended from the arena.

    “That was a truly impressive match, Kaylen.”

    “You certainly have undeniable talent in water magic.”

    “But it’s nothing compared to your Wind Burst. Your wind affinity suits you best, Kaylen.”

    Since the Round of 32, when he sent Lina flying, scouts from the Tower of Wind had been vying for Kaylen’s attention.

    Now, even the scouts from the Tower of Water were making offers to recruit him.

    “I’m sorry, but I’d like to focus on the competition for now.”

    Kaylen turned down all their offers and left the arena.

    As he walked, people’s eyes followed him.

    But unlike before, those gazes were no longer filled with disdain—they were filled with awe.

    Unfazed by their stares, Kaylen confidently made his way forward, as if accustomed to such attention.

    “My lord, it’s certain now. You’ll be a Superior Mage.”

    “Hmm. It was easy.”

    While Alkas spoke with admiration, Kaylen himself remained composed.

    From his perspective, this competition was no different from a children’s talent show.

    In fact, he planned to drop out once he achieved his goals in this tournament.

    “So, if I forfeit now, I still get the title?”

    “Well... yes. Some participants who sustained severe injuries have forfeited in the past.”

    The official duels in the main tournament...

    Alkas stepped forward to shield Kaylen.

    “How dare you!”

    At the same time, he reached for his sword, but Kaylen caught his hand.

    “Wait.”

    Kaylen’s once icy expression softened into a faint smile.

    “I understand what you’re saying.”

    “I’m glad you’re quick to comprehend.”

    “Still, it wouldn’t make sense for me to forfeit tomorrow’s match, would it?”

    “Well, that’s true.”

    “So tomorrow, in the arena... I’ll make sure to meet your expectations.”

    Kaylen slightly bowed his head with a polite smile.

    Seeing this, Ruhos returned the gesture with a pleased grin.

    No matter how powerful a 4th-Circle mage might be, bound as he was by his family’s obligations, what choice did he have but to comply?

    “Good. You’ve made the right decision. It’s better for your future this way.”

    “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

    “The reward will come after the match,” Ruhos said, retreating with a self-satisfied smile.

    At that moment, he was under the delusion that he had successfully completed his mission.

    “Lord, let me break those dogs’ arms and legs,” Alkas growled.

    “No, Alkas.”

    “...What?”

    “The hounds aren’t the issue. It’s the master that needs dealing with. I was thinking of forfeiting, but... now I’ll stick around to enjoy myself a bit more.”

    Kaylen’s eyes, though smiling, were unsettlingly cold—a detail that Ruhos had completely failed to notice.

    The next day, the Quarterfinals began.

    Zaik stepped onto the arena with a lighthearted confidence.

    "They said everything was handled, after all."

    Kaylen might have dared to talk back to him in front of Lionus, but with Ruhos having assured him that the situation was tightly under control, Zaik felt no need for extensive preparation.

    "Still, I should teach that upstart a lesson. A vassal family daring to act so brazenly—know your place."

    Since Kaylen had allegedly agreed not to resist, this match would simply be a one-sided beating.

    Zaik couldn’t hide his excitement at the thought of crushing Kaylen’s arrogance. He wanted the boy to enter the arena already.

    Step. Step.

    “Participant Kaylen, entering the arena.”

    Kaylen stepped onto the field with a calm smile.

    Yet, for reasons he couldn’t explain, a chill ran down Zaik’s spine as he watched.

    Something felt... off.

    “Let the match begin!”

    Suppressing his unease, Zaik wasted no time and began his magic.

    “Circle Reload: Stone Spike.”

    One by one, jagged stone spikes materialized, quickly numbering in the dozens—a testament to his mastery as an Earth Mage.

    "He’ll pretend to struggle and eventually concede defeat," Zaik thought.

    Surely, Kaylen would show some feeble attempts at offense and defense before accepting his loss.

    "I’ll play along at first and then finish him decisively. Let’s teach this arrogant brat a real lesson."

    The unease from earlier was surely just nerves. Zaik smirked confidently as the barrage of stone spikes flew toward Kaylen.

    But Kaylen, standing still, merely opened his mouth.

    “Haste.”

    Zaik’s eyes widened in disbelief.

    Haste?

    Of all things, the supposedly compliant Kaylen had chosen an acceleration spell instead of a shield.

    Before Zaik could process the absurdity, Kaylen’s figure vanished.

    And then—

    Thud.

    Kaylen was standing right in front of him.

    "You—how dare yo—ugh!"

    Crunch!

    Before Zaik could finish his sentence, Kaylen’s fist smashed into his mouth.

    The sound was sickening, and the pain was overwhelming.

    ‘What... what is this...?!’

    Zaik barely had time to think before Kaylen grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him off the ground like a ragdoll.

    Then—

    SLAP!

    Kaylen’s palm cracked across Zaik’s face with a force that sent blood spraying from his mouth.

    SLAP!

    Another strike knocked loose teeth, which clattered to the ground amidst the splatter of blood.

    Thud. Crack.

    Zaik was flung aside like garbage, landing in a pitiful heap on the arena floor.

    The excruciating pain left him seeing white, his body wracked with shock.

    Amidst the chaos in his mind, Kaylen’s calm, chilling voice reached his ears.

    “Stop playing dead and put on your mana suit already, Senior Zaik.”

    “I’ll make sure to break it for you.”

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]