Chapter 29: Ellen (4)
otgIf levels and magical ability determine the perfection of a technique, then the total amount of magical power can be equated with basic endurance.Xg71EBq
OXN6wNo matter how many impressive spells one learns, if the magical power to materialize them is insufficient, their meaning often fades.nUzPfKX
PcwIf someone asked why ordinary people can’t match the magical achievements of the nobility, there would be dozens of reasons, but one of the main ones is the innate amount of magical power.wDR
G9rBSWMages born into noble families often possess an exceptionally large amount of innate magic.AJ2E
ArdHqEspecially mages from families like Duplain, Beltus, and Belmierd—nothing more needs to be said.50O
BjmgGvtWhoosh!DWqUZ
GB1CThe first-level spell Ellen cast with her hand was so large in scale that even those at the entrance to the second level took notice.Hvf
ds2gjXgThe difference between the first and second levels is comparable to that of an arrow and a cannonball. There’s an inherent gap in power between the two, but when the number of participants is large, the meaning can shift.85Qjc4
g65ytIsSuch was Ellen’s spell. The wall of fire that exploded around her seemed to consume the entire world. Who could deny it? She was the most talented mage of the Belmierd family.RZIx
24raq93But her opponent was Aiselin Elenore Duplain.1WYeiv
EFGDGHer father was one of the few fifth-level mages on the continent, a man capable of casting massive spells without even blinking.n3tP
RUzAnyone witnessing such magic for the first time would be overwhelmed, but Aiselin had seen it before. She didn’t panic. Instead, she used her mana to cast the first-level spell Shockwave.4Ir
n0PZHRCBang!zSy
6cfPLIt wasn’t necessary to completely neutralize that colossal spell. It was enough to defend against it.to4
fmGfrR8Aiselin didn’t ignore flashy spells. In a magical duel where honor was at stake, there was more to it than size alone.IryD8a2
jAFtEllen knew that too, but she pressed Aiselin with an overwhelming spell, as if to say:hII
lMU“What now?”SmehIy
B9evWEach heavy strike carried Ellen’s sincerity, her desire to win.ka1USf
0kpUEf“Her mana amount is amazing…! But if she’s not careful, she’ll burn through it fast…!”yMnYl
3mSCZSweating from the increasing heat, she refused to let down her guard.vKSjj
p7zxh“The bigger the spell, the more chances to break through…! I see a gap…!”herg2H
79h1hEKAiselin observed Ellen, who was radiating mana. A swiftly charged magic arrow curved and shot directly at her.ImT3heO
uawyQTTThat was the moment of victory. Ellen’s mana-emitting form vanished in an instant, transforming into pure mana.fdH
8CHY7HAiselin immediately readjusted her stance. It was a confusion spell: Minor Illusion.v7Q
UyOSdIllusion magic, a hallmark of the confusion school, but even a first-level illusion was just a crude imitation barely able to move or resemble the original.iE8
RttLeA single hit, and it would vanish into mana—a mere decoy.mWI
Qt97JeHowever, in such an extreme situation, surrounded by magical fire, distinguishing the illusion wasn’t easy.TbyMK
1FfuWhen she regained her awareness, she saw Ellen’s figures everywhere. A closer look would reveal the flaws in each, but Ellen had no intention of giving her that chance.MhwHrPE
7HA9usuShe now understood why Ellen had cast such a large-scale spell, even at the cost of her mana. The goal was to continually pressure Aiselin, disorienting her.vNcTNB
Eb7lIn such chaos, if an unexpected attack occurred, even Aiselin might not react properly.H99j9
SluChI“Her technique has matured, and the way she uses it has become more varied…!”vkBFSO
LxwyAuAbove all, it was dazzling. It was the perfect scale for a magical duel between prestigious families, witnessed by many. Displaying magical prowess while honoring the family name was not unusual in these duels.IRFQhp7
JTn3From outside her line of sight, Ellen’s magic arrows flew in and latched on swiftly.QgXENR
GsNAiselin intercepted each with quick reflexes, but even a moment’s delay could change everything—a sharp strike that would decide victory or defeat.NqVyHk
Zh4d1XDeception and confusion were her tactics. Such maneuvers might seem petty if handled poorly, but Ellen’s diverse and vibrant use of them concealed any trace of cowardice. Almost like a ruse to defeat the opponent, yet the blossoming fire buried that intention.PB3T
mZVhIt was true: the spectators were captivated by the beauty of the blooming flames.huiVJ6X
xkvvIf Aiselin was a pure white lily, Ellen was a rose in full bloom, dazzling.UYDc6P
hTOAs if to prove it, she revealed her identity through her magic.E34C2
QUiRKWalking gracefully through the flames, swaying the hem of her skirt, she resembled a peacock preening its feathers. Her loose red hair blended with the fire.x1DQ
gM9KyIn Ellen’s brilliant display, Aiselin sensed the subtle influence of the white-haired mercenary.ID8Gh2V
6SgShe had absorbed the cunning and agility characteristic of mercenaries without losing her own grandeur.r41u
OhGA2T“Don’t get overconfident.”CWUTfL
lVZN8fAiselin fully understood the advice Dereck had given her.RJdp
mt9Unlike when he taught Diella, the mages trained by that boy often used strategies aimed at exploiting their opponent’s weaknesses.wteBx
pJmIhzvConsidering that confusion magic was one of his specialties, it was clear Ellen’s strategy was influenced by him.g4HZ
UDPL“Seems I have no choice but to use weapons…”dPQT1C
MH1JtAiselin didn’t like to flaunt flashy magic, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t.AJkw7ra
2iQeNqIIf she couldn’t outmaneuver her opponent with each move, like in a sword fight, then she too had to unleash a barrage of attacks.EZqDQ
O3fSo Aiselin summoned her magic and materialized dozens of large ice spears.nE9
tZV3Pe“Oh!”IIlmcc
4gSjTf“To summon magic of that scale with almost no chant!”D1jYUD
MgCmExclamations of awe rose from the spectators.IF06A
3bjAiselin’s spellcasting speed was such that even seasoned mages would nod in approval.ZmKn
XwhIuBHowever, the ice spears she summoned shattered before they could even find a direction and fly.cNn
IlNoBang! Crack!KIeP
5zRbTwWhen she realized, Ellen’s magic arrows had struck them precisely and exploded.FzYHk
GZ2VGEllen had experienced this with Dereck.0zl
HHfEven before the opponent could determine the direction of their spell, Dereck would respond first and neutralize it.bmno
IwRThat subtle manipulation of magic wasn’t something one could imitate after seeing it just once, but she had witnessed it dozens, even hundreds of times while exploring the labyrinth with him.5FYWqX
NmjMagic has direction. If you can read the opponent’s intent, you can tell where the spell is heading.jfzi
wZTFonmThe theories Dereck had tirelessly repeated were now materializing in her, used in a real battle.L8p
MAcItEllen felt a strange emotion. The everyday advice that boy used to give now made sense in practice.th0PjH8
LhEgdcTEven trivial words that could easily be ignored—she now realized—were practical, experience-based tips.VnC
oBL8RIn a real fight, there was hardly a better teacher than Dereck.nbZu
wFyVcGBoth Aiselin and Ellen understood this fact.L5fN
nXu05Aiselin’s eyes widened for a moment, then settled.Fz6E
vwJP7After subconsciously underestimating Ellen’s magical abilities, she soon realized such thoughts were born of arrogance.PyjHK
YHSHxafShe quickly reflected and adapted.CdV
82cTlCAiselin decided to reorganize everything from scratch and go all out.Jmmk
t1BQWoosh!U9AN
0TM1The feeling of going head-to-head with Aiselin.kIGr07
3kaNcAUEllen, who had been riding a wave of excitement, suddenly faced a cold reality.8RC
FTcAiselin’s magic, resolved to give it her all, began to engulf the duel field.juU6
SLl7XThen, it all happened in an instant.6lus4a
7fWd6The fiery festival that filled the arena vanished as if it had never been.GwhkJU
28qekAnd Ellen’s accumulated magic arrows were also destroyed by the overwhelming magic, disappearing as if they had never been there.VOfur
GiNEllen’s eyes widened.ljkDbVq
0ajabThe girl standing across the podium, like a flower of the Duplain family, made no grand gestures nor emotional expressions.PD5c
oYyJShe simply closed her eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and with her skirt fluttering from the magical energy around her, focused her gaze with determination.LScop
7yBAt that moment, the world turned calm.Vvuqs
of5VIt wasn’t even a rushed spell. It was the sheer volume of accumulated magic that crushed Ellen’s.c6Sle
mSffJNo technical skill was involved in the process.45O
Y6GT8JLike an adult overpowering childish techniques with brute strength… the girl neutralized all of Ellen’s magic with pure magical power.sAvGP6r
JUh8cA nearly second-tier mage, and a mage who had just matured into the first tier.KCLTP
7rOThe gap that had seemed small was in fact a massive chasm, and now was the moment to truly feel it.W3kqx
5Reg6All of this wasn’t to suppress Ellen’s magic. It was merely the setup for the next spell.L2Bc
uKtFbuHer posture remained elegant. As if the term “pure white lily” fit her perfectly, her hands, which had gently touched the hem of her dress, finally closed into fists.ApczW
K0hYg9SAt that moment, Ellen’s vision was blinded by a burst of light.nmoVY0
I2ImQBang!NQdp
nWveThe sound of the explosion followed shortly after.3jCNW3n
lSRs4Hw***HUT
rA72b— Dereck, honestly, I’m not sure I can beat Aiselin.C6p
wX99Ojv— I’ve been telling you all along. You’ll win.q9iqL
IFll0B— Are you really that confident?QPhUhuq
KYZ— Yes. In fact… exactly…yg8
RSFxGu6Ellen remembered the words the boy had said among the corpses of beasts.6FKa
VZyj— You’ll win.ZJ3A
BQeDThe boy’s affirmation that Ellen would definitely make Aiselin lose.ukQap
O6VShe had gone through hard times relying on that one promise, but now she found herself doubting his words once again.UUXAbD0
qjqiUEEWhen Aiselin’s eyes turned serious, magic burst from her hands in an instant: the second-level spell Fireball.lnQuaF
kLVMfn8Its explosion, large enough to swallow the entire stage, expanded, and cries of awe and admiration echoed among the spectators.l0W8pOE
pEkThe girl had just used a second-level spell.YMcKK
4nJAEven the observers from the magic academy widened their eyes at the display.R7V
sTF“This… is this reasonable…?”Y8zhLh
j9FXEllen managed to shield herself from the blast impact.mV946r
dwmhThe only reason she could maintain her protection spell while a second-level spell flew at her was sheer luck.KyqnC
RiBcOAiselin, still inexperienced with second-level spells, had tried her best to improve her accuracy, but her fireball missed completely, leaving Ellen only with the fallout.ZGi07dY
tiqc9iHad it been more accurate, the duel would have ended there.471KXJj
WJWsZZ“Haah… Haah…”B7Y
yhIAiselin panted, exhausted. From the situation alone, it looked like Aiselin was on the defensive, but the scale and impact of her attacks told the truth. The same tricks wouldn’t work against Aiselin.cfYww
meLjEach of her attacks rendered all tricks useless.DOpfM2
uc1eK5Faced with such a wide skill gap, what technique could have meaning?XjlVue
bt8KNevertheless, Ellen took a moment to catch her breath and quickly distanced herself, gathering her magic once again.MVDu5S
Rx6wyBWhile spectators marveled at the use of second-level magic, Ellen paid them no mind.FKiowb
YJ1VWith the firm determination to win, she cast her magic once more, using every type of spell to confuse her opponent as before.Sy7nTN
8JU9If she couldn’t win by brute force, she would use every means at her disposal to corner her.CZqx
T3OQniAfter exchanging several blows, when a second fireball flew, gasps once again rose from the spectators.SQyaCFv
UfwTZU3Its offensive power remained impressive, but it wasn’t easy to completely subdue Ellen with underdeveloped second-level magic. She barely managed to evade it, but even a scratch could decide the outcome.l3M
at5IAnd yet… even in the face of such a significant power gap, Ellen vaguely felt the tide turning in her favor.eKg
zP3GeAiselin’s face flickered in and out of view amidst the magic exchanges. The composure on her face had diminished greatly.rXpeckY
qUVsaaBeads of sweat revealed that she was slowly being pushed into a corner. It was then that all of Dereck’s strategies seemed to come together.eyd
v8lShe could never defeat Aiselin with her abilities alone.Q0Vo7
v4UyBut Dereck had also calculated for Aiselin’s honest nature.eWGD5J
nF3alOnce she recognized her opponent and considered them a worthy rival, the honest Aiselin gave it her all.b3KNT
XKAkShe would show all her cards, seeking a fair and serious duel. That was the kind of person Aiselin was. The problem lay in her second-level magic, still in a transitional and unpolished stage.FqMD3
bwbqr6Uncontrolled second-level magic was a monster that devoured mana. It would be more efficient with skill, but a hastily cast immature spell would quickly drain her energy.Cffq
mjCGiven her nature, if she decided to go all out, it was obvious she’d resort to second-level spells. In a duel, giving her all was a sign of respect and courtesy to her opponent.GcERf1
rdJYSaeThis would change the efficiency of mana usage between them. It seemed like a puzzle revealed—the reason Dereck had dragged the duel into a war of attrition.sVx16C
cQwFUqOHe had foreseen that Aiselin would soon master second-level magic.3GDuLDI
pj52Survive and win. There was no need to face her approach head-on.gDah0G
10no6MSo what if it was a little cowardly or underhanded? What was wrong with exploiting the opponent’s upright nature?asMb
iqfProud of her sense of honor, Aiselin, using unstable second-level magic, would soon show her vulnerability.C1assj
pC9GOr the duel would become a test of will—who could draw a bit more mana from their reserves.EYl
ifeAnd when it came to mental endurance, that was what Ellen had been building over the past weeks. The mental fortitude she had developed under Dereck’s relentless training was on a completely different level from someone pampered in a greenhouse.GEY
kAUMKRHad the young instructor considered all of this in his strategy? Ellen stepped back sharply and clicked her tongue.o2mZa
JOpDKEither way, she understood his reasoning. If things continued like this, winning the duel wasn’t impossible—second-level magic or not.UMsrB
lFiT2PBang! Clang!4L2yJ
zK1GJmBang!4KI
kwPbAfter about ten more exchanges, the duel neared its climax.RSi7MX
xcMY2U“Haah… Haah…”kKLeZw
tM1vzUBoth were completely drained of mana. There was still time before the tie bell rang.fii
xTpD6k1Ellen, who had started with her magic, began to tremble. She had exhausted her magic to the point of fatigue many times before, but she never got used to this exhaustion.NRIXgd
LJ1On the other hand, Aiselin’s fingertips were trembling. She seemed to have never experienced such reckless use of magic. What else could be expected? No instructor from the Duplain family would push their trainees this far.32F
5EuThat gap would decide everything. Under extreme conditions, Ellen gathered the last remnants of her mana. Clenching her teeth, she seemed determined to cast one more spell.FOJ
GYoy7HUgh, gasp… gasp…Drj7
o1GAiselin was also panting, trying to gather her magic, but this situation was unfamiliar to her, making it no easy task.xa5glo
PrkysWShe tried to gather what she could, but upon seeing the amount of magic flickering in Ellen’s hands, she had a feeling.7wtMN
7T5RShe would try to block it with everything she had, but the next strike… or the one after that… would decide it all.jwm
sUS6HtEven so, Aiselin clenched her teeth. Defeat loomed before her eyes, but she still fought with all her strength.CG2ar
ZEJL“…It’s over! I’ve got you cornered! I… I’ve cornered Aiselin…!”d4Z
3cdeEllen felt a surge of euphoria, even through her blurry vision.zgv
l9GpThe fact that she was overpowering Aiselin, that everything was going according to Dereck’s plan, seemed to dominate her thoughts.64ls
MhgIn that state of exhaustion, Ellen prepared her magic for the final blow.zD5iMUJ
IbE“…”f3rL
nWi2But upon seeing the determination in Aiselin’s eyes, it felt like cold water had been poured over her head.uaIaE
rAnIf the battle of attrition continued, the scales would surely tip in Ellen’s favor. Her magic level was high, but she lacked the finesse to distribute her strength properly… With that, she could declare victory over Aiselin, walk away smiling, and the future seemed easy to picture.akij
Pic9iHow long had she dreamed of a satisfying victory?C9L4
3KaHowever, silence enveloped the spectators.hyCNX78
XMbufnfHigh in the stands, leaning against the wall, watching the duel, Dereck stared at her.S7l
IIus6OqAiselin, completely exhausted, and Ellen, still able to clench her teeth and draw more strength.5JY2j
TlGq58The boy, who seemed to have anticipated this outcome from the start, watched with a blank expression and cold red eyes.EnMrvHa
6UXR4When those eyes fell on Ellen, it felt like a knife piercing her heart.X1gEXv
TRc5SF“…”vX4
3bJA brief pause.3Ct
Ugj5ngPThe dazzling exchange of magic ceased, and both women were panting, drained.r9R
u0FEllen couldn’t help but wonder quietly—why did she want so badly to defeat Aiselin? The answer was clear.ab7
JUHgiShe hated herself for envying and being jealous of an idol admired by everyone—alone. She wanted to beat Aiselin to escape from this inferiority complex.pJzuS7
0ahFBut now, she wasn’t so sure. Even if she won this war of attrition against Aiselin, would she stop envying the still-shining idol?Cuhm
vqUtzE8Could she free herself from the disgusting inferiority complex that had corroded her for so long?BzXm
TbAVThough cornered and gasping, Aiselin looked noble and radiant. Her eyes still gleamed, as if she could overcome any trial with ease.vDWKj
WliZjLZThere was a certain nobility in her demeanor.nWVZy8J
okP— Then let’s win.sgCvf
a3V“…”xltbiZ
8FmOahmEven when he declared, “Let’s win,”fngyX
3cv8Dereck didn’t show relief.He1r1ft
V3sywjEllen finally understood everything. She had thought she fully grasped Dereck’s intentions—but even that was arrogance.bjmaK
bRUNCO0What Dereck wanted to teach Ellen in this duel wasn’t how to win, how to corner Aiselin, or how to free herself from that disgusting complex.SnkGth
P36yOnly in this moment did Ellen finally realize. She had been fighting a battle she could never win.H0hh
DcbZPFNAs a cornerstone of the Belmiard family, she had learned all sorts of practical skills, but her heart was still that of a girl her age.8AksX
vU3qThere were things she couldn’t understand with an immature life. That is, humans live their whole lives feeling envy.RCb
QtccThe jealousy and resentment boiling in her heart—those she hated and tried to suppress—were like a part of her body she couldn’t get rid of. Because she was human.bkS1Fa
Yoa4UoLike everyone struggling in a harsh world, each carried their own burdens. This was something everyone came to understand eventually, fighting desperately to overcome those dark emotions again and again.1UqBQX
6qRrThat’s why Dereck had helped Ellen with all his heart.yyFQaW
sS5MThough they were close in age, Dereck sometimes seemed as though he’d lived decades more than Ellen.A4e
2kOaThe boy already knew.92y
ra5FTrying to suppress those feelings meant Ellen was fighting a battle she couldn’t win.X23P
ZibRWith that in mind, Ellen finally looked around her.crMwj
oTR1Among the spectators were those watching the duel with sweaty palms.zOR9X
j4mxAll their gazes of admiration were fixed on Aiselin. It was understandable.TNPLYF
oi41With her dignified appearance that captivated everyone, and her noble character that embraced all, she had even managed to cast a second-level spell in this duel. It was obvious to anyone that she was the protagonist here.J0XqWky
wIcCpRight below a bright source of light, there is always a cool shadow. Ellen, who had lived in that shadow, felt like she finally understood something she never had her whole life.5W55
HI6zl“…”R6x
G5a4qSilently, Ellen closed her eyes tightly, then opened them—and immediately smiled with dignity. It was a noble and beautiful smile.U1WlDF
mlbKAiselin’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight.IAJBeH1
i5Hl2m“Truly, I can’t compete with Lady Aiselin. My magic is completely exhausted.”zA6
C2ZTnAiselin, who had been watching her opponent carefully, had already sensed it.AWFnF
5hJ21iShe knew that if she scraped the bottom of her reserves, she could fight a little more. If this war of attrition continued, she would be the one to lose.dy4F2zy
3V4TJQEven so, Ellen, with a dignified smile as always, lifted her skirt hem and gave a polite bow.GPF
7Z6v“This is my defeat. It was a good duel.”SR0G6My
un6mGgsClap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!UNWF8OJ
CFbeNYWThen, the hall erupted in thunderous applause.hc5HoL
B6DkRespect for Aiselin filled the place.ZTic
Fso6***G4O9cq
kRL“Lady Aiselin! That was incredible! A second-level spell!”IYxD
9g77q“There were already rumors that Prince Valerian had enlightened House Duplain, but with Lady Aiselin too…! The Grand Duke will be thrilled.”uxe
flGToms“I’m Belia of the Redon family! I’ve always admired you… This duel… was so moving…”iohuvR
ITLRBSvAs soon as the duel ended, many people, along with Aiselin’s supporters, rushed to praise her.Y9yYW
krA2Y98Amid the crowd swarming her, Ellen could be seen adjusting her skirt in a corner of the arena.ClJ6
WLJezYZBefore Aiselin could catch her breath and call out, Ellen quickly gathered her skirt and slipped beneath the podium.BrM9H
g0kF“Ellen…!”tX1
rw6Before Aiselin could call out to her, she was already gone down the corridor. Watching her figure disappear into the distance, Aiselin rubbed her eyes, head bowed.dwHAo16
a2jDereck, leaning against the wall in a corner of the stands, stood up quietly and followed her.bS13TX
oeHegHowever, Dereck turned to bow politely to Aiselin.gsIn
RwfIIn the midst of the crowd singing her praises, Aiselin could only stand there, stunned, watching it all unfold.iQo
Odf3zvRegardless of what others said, Dereck was now one of Ellen’s subordinates.Txc
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