Chapter 19: As Planned

—It's fun.

—This is so fun!

Given that the amount of magic power one possesses is limited, it is absolutely impossible to use magic continuously.

However, Luke had several of these seemingly impossible spells, including "Blessing of Darkness," which he developed himself as a counter to Amelia's "Sound Magic," as well as some defensive spells and information magic.

So what makes this possible?

It originates from another magic spell that Luke developed before he enrolled in the Aslan Magic Academy,

─── The "Dark Absorption".

It is a very simple magic that takes advantage of the characteristics of the dark attribute, absorbing magical power.

Up until now, rather than using this on others, Luke was using it on himself to improve his "magic power recovery rate".

But now that he was dealing with an opponent, he couldn't resist the desire to try this on him.

This is why the paradox of using magic and having one's magic power not only not decrease, but actually increase, was created.

After much study and research, Luke has also succeeded in improving the "absorption" characteristic of the dark attribute to an extremely high degree.

As a result, this paradox has now become incredibly significant.

In other words, Luke has almost no "magic power loss," which is a magician's greatest weakness.

However, Yolande succeeded in "resisting" Luke's "dark absorption".

This alone should give you an idea of how good a magician Yolande is.

However, it is also true that Yolande would have been the first to run out of magic power due to the difference in the amount of magic power possessed if they had continued as they were.

Yolande knows this fact instantly, which is why he provoked him.

He's convinced that Luke would know that it's a provocation and would surely take advantage of it.

In fact, he's right.

Certainly, if he just continues to use the "Dark Absorption" he's sure to win.

Especially if it's Luke, who's left with the extra strength to further strengthen this magic.

But─── it's boring.

Luke wants to see this man using all of his powerful and matchless magnetic magic.

On top of that, he wanted to beat him head-on.

This irresistible and extremely arrogant desire.

That was the only reason.

But for Luke, that was enough.

"Ahahahahaha!"

"───You're strong."

The sword's attacks and blocks, carried out at a speed that easily transcends the boundaries of being human through magic, was breathtaking.

No one around them spoke a word, as if it was not entirely a battle between magic users.

Instead, they were all simply captivated.

The battle was so beautiful that they felt too lazy to even blink.

All of them─── and especially "Abel", could not take his eyes off this battle.

(… this is it.)

Why?

Because he was convinced.

(The ultimate place I should be aiming for… is up ahead!)

The appearance of Yolande, who was not supposed to be involved in the original story.

And that Luke, who should have been drowning in talent and not striving, pursued strength with an insatiable heart.

Various unexpected events that could not have originally happened created all kinds of branches in this story, which in turn encouraged Abel's growth.

Luke thought every time he crossed swords that in terms of pure speed Yolande was slightly faster than him using "physical reinforcement x 2".

(Awesome. Completely above Abel's at this point, huh.)

"Magnetism," the attribute possessed by Yolande, is a magnetic magic that can generate both attraction and repulsion by endowing magnetic properties.

This is a very powerful magic, but it is not necessarily easy to handle.

(Overwhelming acceleration with the application of magnetic force. And anomalous movements that seem to taunt the laws of nature… Kuku, with insane magic precision.)

However, this still equates to half of Yolande's magic being blocked.

It is due to the "Armor of Darkness" invoked by Luke.

This magic prevents not only physical attacks, but also any kind of magical interference.

Therefore, Yolande was unable to invoke a magnetic effect on Luke.

Whether a warrior or a magician, an ordinary person would have surely won or lost at the moment Yolande closed the distance between them.

Naturally, Luke understands this fact.

He made a decision because he knows…

That is─── remove the entirety of magic power from someone's body.

If magnetism can be given, Yolande's magnetic magic can even affect magic.

But this is not the case when it comes to Luke's dark magic.

Darkness swallows everything.

And Yolande's magnetic magic is no exception.

Once he uses his other dark magic spells, the battle would become terribly easy.

But no.

What Luke wanted was different.

To stand in the opponent's ring and then wrestle them down with an overwhelming force.

To make a complete victory with no room for excuses.

That was the victory that the extremely arrogant Luke was seeking.

He had no doubt that he was capable of this selfishness.

It was by no means an unfounded confidence.

It was a confidence that was backed up by everything that he had been done so far.

(If you look at swordsmanship alone, he's inferior to Alfred's. But the annoying nature of his magnetism compensates for it. It takes time to get used to it.)

(…I can't hit him. Luke is completely focused on defense. Everything is blocked with a fine line. It feels like I'm cutting water. I see, he has good eyesight. —It's beyond what I imagined.)

The two people's thoughts connected.

For those who could barely follow the battle with their eyes, Luke and Yolande appeared to be evenly matched.

It was the right thing for Luke to do now that he was restricting the use of his other magic spells.

But that was only for the present.

Luke grows at a violent pace in battles.

He grasps the breathing, timing, and unique rhythm of his opponent as if sneering, creating foresight that was like precognition.

With the addition of the attribute called magnetism, the combination of Yolande's sword forms are close to infinity.

Not only does it have irregular movement, but Yolande can even change the intensity of the magnetism, making it even more flexible with smoothness.

However, as human beings, we all have feelings.

And this feeling cannot be completely eliminated.

There will always be likes and dislikes in sword style.

Which turns the infinite into the finite.

(… It's awesome)

The moment he thought so, the offense and defense reversed.

She was disturbed by this scene.

It was Alice who said so.

Question marks danced around her head.

(Is he really… my brother…?)

Everything up to this point denies this fact.

However, everything unfolding before her eyes affirmed this fact.

Her mind boggles.

And frustrated resentment slowly bites deep into her chest.

(… I was lied to.)

She felt anger at being betrayed.

At that time, Alice had no idea of the atrocious treatment she had just inflicted on her brother.

(...…)

The next emotion that filled Alice's heart was "frustration".

Luke was smiling so happily.

By fighting with her brother who she looked down on.

She could never satisfy Luke with her current self.

That fact was irresistibly frustrating.

(More…)

—I want to be strong.

—I want to be stronger.

Alice thought so sincerely.

—I want to see myself in Luke's eyes.

Just for that.

She was also a person of great talent.

Originally, she would not have craved strength so much.

But — A man like Luke was making an effort.

This mere fact was driving the story crazy.

"…"

More than a thousand sword blows were exchanged.

The battle, which seemed to go on forever, was suddenly and unexpectedly settled.

As a result of necessity.

Yolande's sword flicked off and flew through the air.

"I won… didn't I?"

"… yeah, I lost."

A moment of silence.

Then came the overflowing cheers and applause.

""Wooooooooo!!""

It was a generous admiration for both of them.

Everyone praised them.

In the midst of all this, Yolande thought.

(───Just as I planned.)

As a matter of fact, Yolande had seen Luke and Abel fighting.

At that time, he had witnessed Luke's ability and already knew he could not win against him.

It was unexpected that Luke would not use the great magic he had shown against Abel, but other than that, things were generally as Yolande had expected.

Then why did Yolande challenge Luke to a duel?"

Was it for Luke─── no.

For the growth of students─── no.

It was to satisfy his own desires.

(Oh… how miserable I am… to provoke Luke in my position as an instructor, to fight him, and then lose while being a lecturer… And to be seen in such a miserable state by Alice…)

"… hah… hah."

Yes, everything was for the purpose of exposing this disgrace to Alice.

A burning passion was raging in Yolande's heart.

He knelt down as if he could no longer stand.

"Sensei, are you all right? Shall I go get the priest?"

"I'm fine… hah… hah… just a little tired."

At that moment, Yolande's eyes met Alice's.

Alice, whose eyes are full of contempt, was as if she were looking at filth and not a person.

(ah …aah… aahhhhhhh────)

"Huh, Sensei? What? Everyone, it's serious!! Yolande-Sensei has lost consciousness!!"

The abnormally elevated evil emotions easily took Yolande's consciousness away.

＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋

As we left the campus, evening darkness was beginning to spread.

I started walking towards the dormitory.

I was a bit tired.

Still, an unfathomable sense of happiness filled my heart.

The duel with Yolande was fun.

I really enjoyed it.

When was the last time I was so excited?

Frankly, it was many times more fulfilling than the battle with Abel.

Is that why?

My steps, which should have been heavy due to fatigue, were very light.

"Luke."

Then I heard a voice.

"───Yolande."

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yeah."

I'm feeling good right now.

It would be more difficult to find a reason to say no.

A cool breeze brushes against my cheeks.

Under the sky with a hint of night.

I walked away with Yolande.