Chapter 10 - The Sparring Match (1)
As time passed, there were only 10 minutes left until the sparring match began.
In the meantime, I met with Roen and various other people, sharing all sorts of conversations.
But unfortunately, I couldn't obtain any information that would be of great help.
"So this is the waiting room."
After parting with Roen, I met my mother and had just arrived at the participants' waiting room.
However, I was the only one who entered the waiting room.
This was because entry was forbidden for non-participants.
Stepping inside, I first took a light look around the waiting room.
"Even a place like this is spacious."
Of course, that was a compliment.
There was nothing wrong with the waiting room being large.
'Plus, it's a private room, so I don't have to worry about others' eyes.'
It was satisfactory in many ways.
Sitting in a suitable spot, I lightly inspected my body.
Naturally, there was nothing wrong with my body, and my Aura moved well as I willed it.
Dong~ Dong~
Just then, the bell announcing 10 o'clock sharp rang.
Soon after, a rectangular magic tool attached to one wall made a static— sound.
—Ah, ah—!
When I turned my head, a video was streaming from the magic tool.
Thanks to that, the sparring arena and the grandstands surrounding it came into view at a glance.
I was curious about the other duels anyway, so this was perfect.
—A sincere welcome to all the distinguished guests who have attended this year's annual event! I am your host, Ronde Kianen!
The video focused on the host.
He bowed to the audience to show his respects, then began to explain the rules of the sparring match.
To summarize them, they were as follows:
First, only one person per family can participate.
Second, the participant's age must not exceed twenty.
Third, no one other than the participants currently in the duel may help the participants in any way.
Fourth, the match ends when one side declares defeat or becomes incapable of combat.
There were other minor explanations, but they weren't particularly important.
After the explanation was over, the host immediately introduced the first sparring participants.
In tune with the introduction, two young men who appeared to be in their mid-teens revealed themselves in the center of the arena.
The two were covered from head to toe in expensive equipment.
That alone showed how much their parents were expecting from this duel.
"Well, as for me… I just decided on this suddenly today."
In contrast, my attire was too shabby.
I didn't even have a single common robe in the first place.
Forget equipment, I had no choice but to change into clothes that were reasonably comfortable to move in.
Of course, I had no complaints about it.
Even if I had something like a robe, it would have been of no use to me anyway.
Beeeep—!
In time with the starting signal, a barrier spread out, separating the arena and the stands.
"Oh, it's starting."
This was the first time since reincarnating that I was watching a proper battle between mages.
Although the participants were young, they were participating as representatives of their families.
They must all be quite skilled.
I focused on the video, filled with great anticipation.
Boom! Craash!
Simultaneously with the start, the two shot magic at each other.
3rd Circle magic, Fire Pillar.
3rd Circle magic, Frost Wind.
The two spells collided, causing a large explosion.
Despite the strong aftershock, the two did not fall and immediately cast their next spells.
"…Hmm."
About 3 minutes after the duel began.
One person became unable to fight, and a winner was decided.
The sound of applause filled the stands.
"They fight well, but…"
To be honest, I was greatly disappointed.
Of course, the skills of the two themselves are excellent.
Appropriate magic selection, fast casting time, proper responses to the situation.
They showed the best that a 3rd Circle mage could show.
However…
'Nothing has changed.'
They say even mountains and rivers change in 10 years.
But a whole 300 years have passed, yet the level is still similar to back then.
It was only natural for this question to arise.
'Don't tell me it's their doing?'
The three Archmages who killed me.
If they had intentionally slowed the development of magic.
That would also explain why the duel just now wasn't much different from what I saw 300 years ago.
And if that was true, I could also deduce their purpose to some extent.
'They're afraid.'
The day when someone more talented than them appears and surpasses them.
They are afraid that day will come.
In other words, they want to become eternal absolute rulers.
Beeeep—!
The signal announcing the start of the next duel rang.
Breaking from my thoughts and turning my eyes to the video, two different people were already facing each other in the arena.
They were 2nd Circle mages.
"Hmm."
Similarly, it was an ordinary 2nd Circle mage's duel, not much different from 300 years ago.
Many duels continued, but I never once saw a new spell.
Time passed, and it was soon my turn to take the stage.
"Lael Peron-nim, please come this way."
Following the guidance of the person who came to the waiting room, I arrived at the entrance of the arena.
However, the previous duel had not yet ended, so I had to wait for a moment.
"Please sit here and enter as soon as the entrance opens."
I sat on the chair the guide had indicated. It was moderately soft, seeming to be a chair of considerable quality.
'Of all people, to think I'd be matched against the Bellona family.'
When I first received the match-up chart, I doubted my eyes when I saw my opponent's name.
Tiana Bellona.
She was the daughter of the woman who had picked a fight with my mother and me as soon as we entered the banquet hall.
Honestly, it was hard to shake the thought that the woman had pulled some strings.
'But well, whether she did or not, it doesn't really matter.'
No matter who my opponent was, I never thought I would lose.
Now that I had bloomed my Aura, there was no way I would be defeated by a mage who wasn't even an adult.
It was just that if that match-up really wasn't a coincidence, the intention of making her daughter duel me was unpleasant.
Creeeak—
Just then.
The firmly closed entrance began to open by itself.
"You may enter now."
The guide standing nearby said, pointing to the entrance.
I immediately stood up and stood in front of the entrance.
Then, a woman wearing gauntlets came into view beyond the arena.
'Gauntlets.'
At the appearance of unexpected equipment, I was both bewildered and pleased.
Using gauntlets instead of a staff meant that she was not an ordinary mage, but a Magic Brawler who used martial arts.
I let out a small chuckle and walked into the arena.
"Huh? Is that Lael Peron?"
"Who's he?"
"You know, that kid. The one who was once famous for having no mana at all."
"Ah~ The incompetent? What's he doing out here in a duel?"
"How should I know. Did he bribe his opponent or something?"
Those seated in the stands criticized in whispers, as if worried he might hear them.
However, because my hearing had become sensitive with Aura, their back talk came through very clearly to me.
'I'm past the age to react to every little thing like that.'
If I were really fifteen, I would have been hurt and angered by such words.
But the life I have lived was not so short.
I could easily let the criticism of those unrelated to me slide.
"Hey."
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Tiana from across the way spoke.
She had a somewhat dissatisfied expression on her face.
"Are you looking down on me?"
Her gaze quickly passed over my entire body.
It seemed she was dissatisfied with my appearance, wearing no equipment.
But still.
"Isn't it a bit rude to speak informally to someone you've just met?"
"Like I could speak politely to someone in your state?"
Of course, I also knew what it meant to come onto the stage without any equipment.
I can beat someone like you without any equipment.
A gesture filled with such disdain.
'That only applies in an ordinary setting…'
This is an event hosted directly by the Philhart Great House.
In a situation where they are watching the match with their own two eyes, what fool would do something to tarnish their family's image?
To not know something that could be figured out with a little thought and to be expressing anger at me for it.
"You've trained your body diligently, but other aspects of you are still like a child's."
Truly a pitiful matter.
"You bas—!"
Beeeep—!
In that moment, the sound announcing the start of the duel echoed through the space.
Fortunately, a barrier had formed between the stands, so it seemed no one but me had heard her harsh shout.
"Hoo…"
As the duel began, Tiana quickly calmed her excitement as if nothing had happened.
She then took a fighting stance.
It was the boxing stance, the martial art most commonly used by Magic Brawlers.
'What a mess.'
At a glance, her stance might have looked perfect, but to me, who had also been a martial arts instructor in a past life, it was not.
Her arms were too far apart, her body was facing too directly forward, and her head was held too high.
"Consider yourself lucky."
I said so and, for her to see, took a stance.
Someone who doesn't know much about martial arts would think I took the same stance as her.
However, one who has learned martial arts deeply would be able to see the gap between her and me.
If she is also such a person.
'You will grow further, and if not.'
You will be frustrated.
"…What are you."
Tiana's eyes widened as she spoke softly.
At some point, the way she addressed me had changed from 'you (informal)' to 'you (formal)'.
"How on earth do you know my family's martial art…"
"…What did you say?"
Her family's martial art.
Boxing was a martial art that anyone could learn if they wished to.
I couldn't understand her speaking of it as if it were her own.
"The stance you have taken is the Fist Art that only the direct descendants of the Bellona family can learn. But how is it that you, the eldest son of the Peron family, are using the Fist Art?"
Tiana explained, correcting her stance.
'How did it come to this?'
I was so bewildered that my stance faltered.
Who could have imagined that boxing, which was called the basis of martial arts, would become a family's secret technique after 300 years?
Suddenly, I had become a thief who had stolen a family's secret technique.
"…I just copied your stance."
"Nonsense. I hate to admit it, but you took a more perfect stance than I did. And you say you copied me? Did you think I would fall for such a lie?"
"..."
Unfortunately, Tiana had not learned boxing superficially.
Now that I had demonstrated a better stance than hers, the excuse of copying her would not work.
'…I don't know. I'll think about it later.'
The only silver lining was that this was a dueling arena.
A place to fight, not to chat.
There was no need for me to answer her every word.
Fwoosh!
I took my stance again and quickly approached Tiana.
The moment the distance between her and me narrowed to about one arm's length.
I twisted my upper body and threw a punch.
"Keuk!"
Tiana raised her arm to defend.
Just before my fist collided with her gauntlet, I moved the Aura in my body and concealed it within my fist.
BOOM!
Tiana's body was pushed back half a step.
She seemed a little surprised by the fact that she had been pushed back, but she quickly corrected her stance.
"It's no use against me."
In that moment, mana erupted from Tiana's body.
「Strengthening」
She recited a short incantation.
The surging mana enveloped her entire body and soon formed a thin film.
She had used the 3rd Circle strengthening magic, Body Hardening.
"You, with no mana."
From the 3rd Circle, magic is a power that transcends human ability.
It is impossible to face Body Hardening without magic.
She knows that too, which is why she can smile so confidently.
However, she was under a great misconception.
"Who told you I don't have mana?"
"…What?"
In the past, there was another name for Magic Brawlers.
Aura Imitators.
It means people who imitate Aura.
In fact, physical strengthening magic was created to imitate Aura.
Magic Brawlers were essentially the second-best option for those who failed to awaken Aura.
In other words.
"Come at me. I'll show you what real Fist Art is."
Her 'imitation' cannot beat my 'original'.