9 Second Lesson -Awaken-

"The magic battle between Mari Marigold and Yaritsuke will now officially...START!"

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Morning.

"Pervert!"

An incoming fist is flying straight at me.

I manage to dodge it, but barely.

"What the hell, woman? It's early in the morning, you know!"

"W-Why are you sleeping next to me?? Did you do something to me? You did, didn't you?"

"...I should be the one asking that question. Beside, this is my bed, you know?"

Her face turns into a shocked one.

"Wait... Then was I the one...?!"

"I think so."

Her face immidiately turn a bright red.

Seeing her reaction somehow amuse me.

"...W-Why didn't you say anything then?"

"You didn't seem any harm, so I didn't bother."

"So you're okay with the idea of a girl sleeping next to you?"

"I'd always slept next to my mother, what's about it?"

I don't understand what she is trying to say here.

"Sleeping with your mother doesn't count! A-And...b-because...when a man and a woman...sleep next to each other...they...might...do...lew...stuff..."

Her voice gets smaller and smaller, so I can't make out what she said at the end.

But umm...

I don't really get it.

"N-Nevermind about that! Forget what I just said, ok?! You still have a duel with Meri-"

"Mari."

"-Mari, right?"

"Yes, and I'll go prepare right now. After all, she...insulted my family."

That's right.

I cannot accept it.

Even if it's true.

"That's why I'll win."

As I'm about to leave the room,

"Be sure to win, alright?"

"...Thank you."

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"Big sister, are you going to fight him?"

"I challenged him, and he accepted it. But there's one thing I don't understand."

"?"

"Why did he get so upset about me talking the truth about the demon?"

"Ah, big sister, we just got a letter from the guard patrols."

Oh?

"What does it say?"

"Etou..."We spotted two demons near the Orchyd Crossroad. We pursued them, but both of them escaped."

What?!

This isn't good at all.

We need to report this to the kingdom quickly.

...Wait.

The Orchyd Crossroad is near here.

And the rumor about a demon intruding this school...

Plus his reaction, too...

Could it be that... that guy is actually a demon?

If it is, then it would all make sense.

"Dahlia, don't report this to the kingdom yet."

"Huh?"

"I want to try out something."

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"Yari..."

Hilda is currently standing next to me.

"...Don't worry."

I assure her.

I have no intention of losing.

"Umm. Good luck then."

It's time.

I make my way to the arena.

I see that Mari has already been here.

"So, you've come here to be beaten. Accept your defeat right now and I might spare you."

"Sorry, but I've no intention of surrender."

"You've missed your chance! Remember this! I, Mari Marigold, will become the world best sorcerer! And I'll start it by showing everyone that I'm stronger than you!"

She continues her boasting.

But by the looks of her, I can see that she's actually a hard worker.

This isn't going to be an easy fight.

And the reason why we were able to borrow the arena is just simply ask the teachers.

They accepted it right away and say something like battle between students isn't a bad thing and even encourage us to do more in the future.

Huh.

We each stand on the opposite side of the arena.

The students are cheering, mostly for Mari.

I can see that Hildagea and Lilith is here too.

But I've no time to worry about that.

One of the teachers stands in the middle and act as the one who decide who wins.

We stand still, awaiting the signal.

"The magic battle between Mari Marigold and Yaritsuke will now officially...START!"

My father once told me the best way to deal with mage is to force them into close combat.

And I do exactly that, despite this is a "magic battle".

I dash forward toward her.

Her face shows a shocked expression.

Good.

But as I get closer to her, that shocked expression turned into a smirk.

Crap!

It's the first time I've ever said this but...

I forgot.

She has high numbers in the Hand-to-hand combat.

"It's a good move for you to get close to a mage to prevent them from chanting, but... that won't work on me!"

Her fist is flying toward me.

I manage to dodge it by lowering my head as low as possible, before turning around.

"<<Light - Blast>>!!"

Damn.

Multiple of light beams are coming straight at me.

I'm running as fast as possible, but the beams are closing in.

"<<Earth - Wall>>!", I quickly chant a spell.

Like the spell implies, a wall of dirt rises up from the ground, blocking the attack for me.

"Not bad." She says, "How about this?! <<Fire - Ball>>!!!"

Five balls of fire appear at the same time and fly its way toward me.

Tch.

"<<Water - Ball>>!!"

Five balls of water appear on my side, and collide with the five fireball, cancelling them out, creating a cloud of steam in the process.

Damn it.

The steam is blocking my view of her.

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That's what he's probably thinking.

But thanks to my spells, this is nothing.

This is going according to plan.

"<<Light - Clairvoyance>>"

This spell allows me to see through any kind of sight blocker.

I see you now, Yaritsuke.

And now the finale.

"I'll reveal your true nature now, you demon in disguise!

O' the Spirit of Light

With my mana as sacrifice

Show me the way through the darkness

And enlighten them with your light.

<<Light - Reveal>>!"

If he was using any kind of disguising spell that allow him to hide his horn, then this spell with disspell it, no matter what Rank it is.

Time to reveal yourself, Yaritsuke.

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I can't see anything.

"~~~~~~~.

<<Light - Reveal>>!"

A spell chant?!

I look around to see where the attack would come from.

I see no sign of it.

Then, could it be from...

Above?!

I look up.

It was too late.

The beam of light hit me directly.

...As expected of Mari...

Huh?

What was that thought?

Putting that aside, the attack definitely hit me but...

No pain at all.

"And now, reveal your true self to the world, demon!"

What?

"Demon?"

"There's actually one here?!"

Everyone starts to discuss loudly.

The steam fades.

She's making a face of victory, but slowly it turns back into a face of shock.

"N-No, I was wrong?!"

I don't know what she was trying to do, but she's distracted.

"<<Water - Chain>>!!"

Four blue magic circles form a square around her, then coming out of it is chain of water, wrapping her body with it.

And now the final attack.

"<<FIRE ...- PILLAR>>!!!!"

A large red magic circle appears under her feet, before a pillar of fire rises up, burning her.

"AHHHH!!!"

I win.

...Hold up.

The spell is keep on going!

Hey!

At this rate, she's going to be cooked alive!

"<<Water - Downpour>>!!"

I don't know what I chanted but I must act quickly.

Dark clouds form above us and it start raining.

My fire spell is quickly put out, and the rain also stops.

"Hey! Are you ok?!"

I quickly run by her side.

No. No. No. No!

Not again!

I won't allow this!

"I-I lost?" She asks in a weak voice.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"You are strong. Remember that. Ah, I've failed you, Kati-sama."

Hey, don't talk like you're about to die!?

Please.

I beg of you.

Suddenly, my hands start glowing.

"What is...?"

Her body then glows a white light.

All of the burnt mark and injuries slowly heal themselves up.

And soon enough, she has completely recovered.

She seems to have calmed down too.

Then, her face turns a bright red.

"S-Stay away from me!"

She pushs me away, before standing up on her own again.

Her face's still a bright red as usual.

"Y-You will remember this!!"

Then she runs away.

"Erm...The winner of this duel is...YARITSUKE!!"

The crowds seem to be...cheering for me?

...

Oh boy.

But...I'm happy.

I've finally been able to save someone.

With my own power.

With my own magic.

"Heal".