Chapter 44

◈ Chapter 44: A Dangerous Bet (1)

After Mr. Mari Ross's potion class ended, Eidan recalled the elemental sensation that Rudger had taught him and immersed himself in magic practice.

Beside him was Leo, who had become like a close friend, and Teishi, who had recently joined and often spent time with Eidan.

The three of them were in the first training ground, each trying to manifest their respective elements to master their elemental attributes.

"Phew. Almost there."

Eidan wiped the sweat from his forehead as he looked at the wind element he had manifested on his palm.

The memory of the warm and refreshing breeze he felt while running through the vast fields in the countryside.

It was now almost perfectly manifested before his eyes, even if not entirely perfect.

Eidan couldn't hide his excitement at the fact that he, who had known nothing about elemental attributes, could now manifest such an element.

It was all thanks to the methods Rudger had taught him.

'He's really amazing.'

His advice was so practical that there was nothing to criticize.

Not only Rudger's advice, but also his attitude towards magic during class was enough to touch Eidan's heart.

'Did I misjudge Mr. Rudger back then?'

Rudger's words and actions were always cold and distant, but his voice clearly conveyed his love for magic and his sincere contemplation of it.

Someone who loves magic can't be bad.

Most importantly, if Rudger were a bad person, he wouldn't have taught such valuable methods that others wouldn't share.

'I still don't know.'

Eidan had a vague feeling that there was something about Rudger, but he didn't feel that Rudger was a bad person.

Perhaps it was the conflicting emotions that made his head spin.

The wind element he had barely manifested eventually disappeared without a trace.

Eidan smacked his lips and looked at Leo and Teishi.

The two were also working hard on manifesting their elemental attributes, sweating profusely.

They were inspired by the warm flame Eidan had shown during the first class.

He didn't want to disturb their good progress, so he just watched quietly. Just then, a group of students entered the training ground.

'Those kids...'

One of the students caught Eidan's attention.

Dark blue hair with a slight blue tinge.

A neat hairstyle with a part that revealed his forehead.

Pale white skin and a prominent nose, with sharp, narrow eyes.

He seemed to be a second-year student, exuding a natural nobility, and all the other students were gathered around him.

'Who is he? For the noble students to gather like this, he must be someone extraordinary.'

As he watched, the student turned his head and looked at Eidan.

Their eyes met in the air.

Eidan suddenly recalled what Leo had said.

Not to make eye contact with noble students for too long and not to show interest in them.

'Why not, if we can become friends?' Eidan wasn't that naive, so he naturally turned his gaze away.

The other person didn't particularly point it out.

Eidan thought it was time to take a break and focus on magic practice again.

"Hey? Who's this?"

Before he could, one of the gathered noble students approached Eidan loudly.

Leo and Teishi, who were distracted by the voice, also withdrew their magic and looked at the person.

A male student was looking at Eidan with a smirk on his face.

"Oh, it's you."

The face was familiar; he was Jevan Pelio, the eldest son of the Pelio family, who had picked a fight with Eidan at the beginning of the semester and was scolded by Leo.

"Why is he suddenly acting like he knows us?"

Leo's expression soured instantly upon recognizing him.

Jevan, ignoring this, deliberately approached Eidan and his friends.

"Isn't this Eidan, who can't even properly manifest an elemental attribute?"

Jevan deliberately emphasized the part about not being able to manifest an elemental attribute.

Eidan and his friends couldn't miss his true intentions.

Leo responded with a sarcastic smile.

"Hey, Jevan. We're busy practicing magic, so why don't you go to that corner and disappear?"

"Hah. I thought you were someone else. You're that arrogant commoner, right? I see you two are still hanging around together."

Leo's gaze shifted to the noble students behind Jevan, who were watching the situation with interest.

They didn't seem to have any intention of stopping Jevan. The man standing at the center of their group particularly caught Leo's attention.

"Jevan. Are you trying to show off in front of the seniors?"

Leo knew very well who the senior at the center of the noble students was.

There weren't many such famous figures even in Seorun.

Froiden Ulbruck.

The eldest son of the Ulbruck family, one of the three duchies of the Exilion Empire, symbolized by the wolf.

It made sense why Jevan was suddenly picking a fight.

To catch the eye of the faction led by that man, Jevan was deliberately trying to make an impression.

"We don't have time for your games, so get lost. This is a place for magic practice."

Jevan responded with a sneer.

"A commoner like you. Don't tell me what to do, you lowly creature."

"You don't understand the situation yet... "

"And why are you, a brat, butting in when I'm talking to Eidan?"

Snap.

The word "brat" was almost a sore spot for Leo.

Leo was particularly short for his age.

While some girls found him cute, Leo hated being treated that way.

His small stature was his Achilles' heel.

"You..."

"Leo. Calm down. Just leave it to me."

Eidan stepped forward to stop Leo, who was about to get angry.

It seemed the situation wouldn't end if it continued like this.

"Jevan. I don't know why you're suddenly doing this, but just let it go. I don't want to fight with you."

Jevan's face twisted in anger at Eidan's words.

"Friend? Why would I be your friend? You dirty trash."

"Wait, we're not friends?"

"Are you crazy?"

That's why I don't like commoners.

It annoys me the way he looks at me with those clear eyes as if he's above everyone else.

"Commoners should bow before nobles."

"Jevan. I don't know what I did to annoy you, but I'll apologize here. I'm sorry. Can we just let this go?"

Eidan was trying to be considerate and make a concession.

The boy, who had never experienced unwarranted hostility, didn't want to provoke a fight.

Jevan responded with a sneer.

"Let it go? Fine. I'll let it go if you do one thing."

He pointed to the ground with his hand.

"Kneel."

"You...!"

Unable to bear the over-the-line behavior, Teishi stepped forward.

"Cut it out. Do you have no dignity as a noble?"

"What? A fallen noble like you has no right to butt in."

Teishi's face turned cold at his words.

"What?"

"Shut up. It's embarrassing to even call you a noble. I don't want to smell your disgusting stench."

"Are you... trying to die?"

The family's affairs were a taboo for Teishi.

But Jevan casually rubbed salt into Teishi's wound.

As Teishi's magic power surged, Jevan mocked her.

"Maybe you're afraid of being called a fallen noble, so you didn't get proper education. That's why you're like this..."

"Jevan Pelio."

"Wha?"

It was Eidan who called his name.

But Eidan's voice was different from usual. The deeper, more serious tone made Jevan involuntarily shudder.

"Jevan. I can't do anything about your dissatisfaction with me. If you want to insult me for that, fine. I can overlook it. But."

Eidan walked up to Jevan.

His eyes, burning with anger, glared at Jevan.

"I won't tolerate you messing with my friends."

"Haha. What will you do if I don't back down? What? Fine. Let's see what you can do."

Jevan, as if waiting for this, pulled a white glove from his pocket and threw it at Eidan.

"A magic duel. Run if you're scared."

Eidan shook his head as the glove hit his chest and fell.

"Do we really have to do this?"

"If we have to?"

"...Fine."

Eidan nodded.

"Eidan!"

"Hey, what are you trying to do?"

Teishi and Leo tried to stop Eidan, but he was serious. An instinctive feeling told him he couldn't back down here.

The fight with Jevan couldn't be avoided.

He didn't want to avoid it either.

"Fine. Then come at me. And the loser will kneel and apologize to the winner. How about it? Sound good?"

"If you promise to keep your word."

"Hahaha! Sure! Anytime! If you can beat me."

Jevan was confident.

Though they were both first-year students at Seorun, Eidan was still a beginner who hadn't even mastered the basics of magic.

He didn't know how Eidan had even gotten into Seorun, but as a commoner, he must have received some special treatment.

Jevan, who had been learning magic from a private tutor since childhood, was confident he could beat Eidan.

Just as the fight was about to start, a cold voice echoed through the area.

"What are you doing?"

The cold voice made all