Chapter 6: I do not listen to anyone weaker than me.

Edelin clicked her tongue at the sight of the assistant vomiting blood from a single punch.

Deciphering the spell of a hostile mage was easy work for her.

But the skill level of an assistant who would openly cast magic in front of an enemy?

Edelin was disappointed by the training center’s standards.

– kekekekeke High school girl-chan KO’d him with one punch!
– Look at that glass cannon body, this is why I don’t play mage gg
– What are you talking about. You can’t play mage because your brain can’t handle it lol
– What? Which gateway are you on to be talking smack…( User has been timed out for 1 minute )

The viewers, unaware that the fist was imbued with mana.

Simply thought it was the chronic problem of a mage’s low health stat.

Unlike characters who invested in other stats, mages had to invest heavily only in the mana stat.

– But even if he’s an assistant, isn’t he around 2nd Circle?
– Is the Circle the problem? lolol If you punch before they cast magic, what meaning does the Circle have kekeke
– No, but still, it means a mage who just arrived broke through the Mana Shield.
– Huh?
– Come to think of it, yeah?
– How??

The Mana Shield, practically a mage’s lifeline.

Was a simple survival skill that blocked enemy attacks in proportion to the user’s mana level.

The method to break the shield was simple.

Either shatter it with overwhelming power exceeding the total mana.

Or use some ability that disrupts mana concentration.

– Am I the only one who doesn’t get it?
– No, but there wasn’t even an effect of the shield breaking?
– Then that means high school girl-chan ignored the mana and hit him. Is that possible?
– Guys, I replayed this at 0.25x speed, and the moment she hit, the mana scattered;
– That’s possible?

It was merely disrupting the mana flow to cause a backlash.

But thanks to the analytical viewers, praise for high school girl-chan surged once again.

“Keuk… Do you think you can get away with attacking your senior?”

Although she hit the back of his head, the assistant clutched his stomach as he got up.

Adelin knew very well that he was exaggerating his pain.

Making a fuss over the mana backlash from having a mere basic spell interrupted.

“Weren’t you the one who attacked first?”

“What…”

The assistant, about to retort ‘what nonsense’, recalled the missile formula he had been preparing.

Even though the magic hadn’t even manifested.

‘She read the mana flow in my body?’

It was something impossible unless one was a considerable Archmage.

Moreover, wasn’t the opponent a novice mage who had just entered the continent?

Thinking it impossible, the assistant decided to push forward shamelessly instead.

“The trainee attacked first.”

“In this training center, any hostile or aggressive act towards a senior is considered treason against the Empire.”

As the atmosphere grew serious, all eyes turned towards the assistant and Edelin.

To the other training assistants and prospective mages watching, Edelin appeared to be in the wrong.

In case of emergency, the other assistants were also ready to intervene at any moment.

“How amusing.”

“With that skill level, how do you plan to catch a traitor?”

“Catching one coincidental traitor is no trouble at all.”

“Then try and catch me.”

– Ahh… This is how high school girl-chan….
– Someone go stop them! Protect our stream!!
– This is going to end with her in jail lololol
– Who knows? Maybe our high school girl-chan can win?
– How can she beat a 2nd Circle NPC lololol Make sense

The prevailing opinion was that the gap between Mage Circles was absolute.

Starting from the number of usable spells, there was a difference even in the power contained within the magic.

The assistant also knew this fact, so he didn’t think Edelin, who had just arrived on the continent, could beat him.

“Tsk.”

“You still haven’t learned your lesson even after getting hit.”

Perhaps that was why.

The assistant dismissed the first attack as a coincidence and once again channeled mana in front of Edelin.

Thwack-!

“Kkuek!”

Edelin wasn’t one to stand by and watch.

She accurately swung her fist at the back of the assistant’s head again.

Once again, the assistant became one with the floor.

– ???
– kekekekeke
– kekekekeke Assistant, for real?
– 2-hit combo lolololol

“Looks like the damage was greater this time.”

Because he had used a 2nd Circle magic instead of the missile-type magic from the first time.

That much damage returned to the assistant.

“Geuoooo…”

The assistant, half-zombified, couldn’t get up from the floor.

“That’s enough.”

“Stop.”

The other assistants who were watching rushed in hastily.

Edelin, observing the mana flow with her eyes, knew they had no intention of attacking.

She simply stood silently with her arms crossed.

“Aigoo.”

“This idiot again.”

“Are you perhaps not a mage?”

The other assistants thought she might not be a mage.

It was nearly impossible for a fellow mage to penetrate a Mana Shield and inflict physical damage.

“This body is the greatest Archmage of this continent.”

“What did you say?”

But the answer that came back was completely different.

The assistants showed troubled expressions.

“According to Imperial law, attacking a training senior is a grave offense.”

“Come with us quietly.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Not just this Magic Tower.”

“Assistants from other classes located elsewhere will come to apprehend you.”

Another assistant’s finger pointed towards the way she had come.

Edelin’s gaze followed the finger to other facility buildings.

In her vision, she saw knights, archers, priests, and people of various other professions present in each building.

“Hmm…”

Edelin pondered for a moment.

Subduing the magic assistants before her wasn’t a huge deal.

But having NPCs from other job classes intervene was indeed a troublesome situation.

‘The amount of mana I possess decreased upon entering this region.’

Her total mana capacity was at the very beginning of the 1st Circle.

No matter how great an Archmage she was, subduing them with only 1st Circle magic and mana was impossible.

However, being captured obediently here was also problematic.

She wasn’t the one in the wrong, was she?

Caught in a situation where she could neither advance nor retreat.

“What is this commotion?”

A middle-aged mage walked out from the entrance of the Magic Tower.

As he emerged from the tower, all the assistants bowed their heads towards him.

“It’s nothing, Master.”

“A new trainee arrived, so we were just about to give a light reprimand.”

“Reprimand?”

“From what I see, it looks like you were the one being reprimanded.”

“I-I have no excuses.”

The assistant next to the fallen one bowed his head in his stead.

“Enough.”

“It’s obvious that idiot started it first.”

“Tell that fellow he’s confined for a week.”

“And…”

The middle-aged mage ignored the assistants and his gaze fell upon Edelin.

“You seem to be a young mage.”

“I apologize on behalf of my disciples.”

“I accept the apology.”

Edelin became interested in the mage who showed an unexpected reaction.

Unlike the trashy magic assistants, didn’t he possess relatively normal thinking and abilities?

“I thought the master would step forward since his disciple was struck.”

“That could happen, but only trashy people do such things.”

“Why else would a master be called a master?”

“Oho.”

“For a 3rd Circle, you have quite profound thoughts.”

As Edelin finished speaking, the middle-aged mage’s eyes changed.

For a novice mage, merely 1st Circle, to grasp another’s Circle meant.

She was either a mage of a higher Circle than himself. Or a genius well-versed in mana.

‘Outwardly, she certainly looks 1st Circle…’

The old, shabby robe provided to beginners on the continent also proved she was 1st Circle.

Could this child be a genius?

A child showing glimpses of mage talent not seen in a long time.

“What is your name?”

“This body is called Edelin Persephone.”

“Alright.”

“Edelin.”

“Would you care for a wager with me?”

“A wager?”

Although her manner of speaking was a bit arrogant, the mage didn’t mind much.

Geniuses were often found among eccentrics.

“That’s right.”

“If you win the wager, I promise not to interfere with you at all.”

“And if this body loses?”

“Become my disciple.”

The surrounding assistants began to murmur at the bold proposal.

However, Edelin was not pleased.

“I will accept the wager if you add one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“If you grant what I desire, I am willing to try.”

“I will grant it, excluding unreasonable demands.”

“Good.”

“This body accepts the wager.”

An impromptu wager was established to test Edelin’s genius.

She slowly walked and stood before the man called Master.

“So, what is the event for the wager?”

“The event is a magic incantation duel.”

The viewers, watching the situation with keen interest, erupted.

– Is the Tower Master crazy lolololol
– How can a 3rd Circle and a 1st Circle have an incantation duel lolololol
– Conscience where? Conscience where??

A simple magic duel to see who chants, activates, and attacks first.

It was a game commonly used when mages made bets among themselves.

– Can’t a 3rd Circle cast 1st Circle magic without chanting?
– I don’t know much about mages… but probably?
– Nah nah, no-chanting is a bit much. Shortened chant should be possible though.

Unlike the viewers’ worries, Edelin readily accepted and stood, putting distance between herself and the mage.

“The usable magic will be limited to 1st Circle.”

“Since you are 1st Circle.”

“The duel is won by whoever hits the other with 1st Circle magic first.”

“Are you ready?”

“I am ready.”

“This seems quite fun.”

Edelin showed signs of excitement at the prospect of a magic duel after a long time.

“Then let us begin.”

“Please start when the fireball before you disappears.”

An assistant, volunteering as referee, placed a Fireball between them.

The surrounding assistants and prospective mages also gathered to watch the exciting duel.

“Begin!”

Finally, when the Fireball flickered out and disappeared, the wager began.

『 O arrow made of mana · Appear 』

The first move was the middle-aged mage’s. The Tower Master’s magic.

A shortened chant, reducing the basic 3-part incantation to 2 parts.

“How can she beat a mage who can use shortened chants.”

The Tower Master instantly created a Mana Arrow.

The assistants thought their master would win.

However.

『 Mana Arrow · Emerge 』

“???”
“???”

– ????
– ????

“Wh-What did you say?”

Everyone’s jaw dropped as a Mana Arrow manifested from an incantation devoid of sincerity or passion.