Chapter 94

◈ Chapter 94: Magic Duel (2)

The audience reacted as if they had no idea what was going on.

The duel, which was expected to be long and intense, ended too quickly with a one-sided victory.

“Is this even possible?”

“I heard the opponent was a professional hired by Luke Corporation for a hefty sum.”

They looked at Rudger with eyes that couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

Rudger’s posture hadn’t changed at all from when he raised his wand before the duel began.

His expression remained unchanged, as if winning was a given.

“Winner! Rudger Chelisi!”

Elisa Willow’s cheerful voice announced the end of the duel.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall, which had been enveloped in silence and shock, finally returned to normal.

Clap. Clap.

People began to clap one by one.

Like ripples spreading across a calm surface, the applause quickly spread and filled the entire banquet hall.

Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap!

“What a surprise! Is this the power of a Seolren teacher?”

“The magician hired by Luke Corporation wasn’t an ordinary one, yet he couldn’t even put up a fight.”

“What were those spells just now? Such rapid spellcasting! I couldn’t even see the incantations being formed.”

“Is it true that the rumors about Rudger’s unique spellcasting techniques were true?”

While the duel ended much faster than expected, the audience was still quite satisfied as it provided a significant thrill.

“Well, well. What a surprise.”

Theodor looked at Elisa, who was smiling knowingly beside him, and began.

“The advisor I assigned to my son was a well-known magician, yet he fell so quickly. Are all Seolren teachers this monstrous?”

“Ahaha. Not really. Actually, Mr. Rudger is quite unique.”

“Hmm. I see. I doubt there are many more like him. Unless there’s someone even more formidable.”

“Someone even more formidable? I’m sorry to hear that. But are you okay? Seeing your son like this in front of everyone.”

Theodor chuckled and shook his head.

“No need to worry. It’s my fault for having an incompetent son. This was a fair duel, and as a witness, I will accept the defeat gracefully.”

As he said this, he looked at Ivan, who was still sitting in a daze, as if he couldn’t believe he had lost.

“I……!”

Ivan finally looked at me, his eyes wide and his fists clenched.

But he couldn’t shout or make a scene like before.

His gaze was directed over my shoulder.

“Is this Rudger Chelisi?”

A voice came from behind me.

I slowly turned my head to see who was speaking.

An elderly man with a long white beard stood there, holding a cane.

He was a peculiar old man.

In a room where everyone was dressed in elegant suits and dresses, he stood out in a large, loose robe.

His attire was so out of place that he could have been kicked out by the guards at the entrance for not following the dress code.

But if the logo on his robe symbolized a specific organization, the story would be different.

“Did you come from the Magic Tower?”

“Ho ho. You recognized me right away.”

The old man’s eyes sparkled, and he laughed heartily.

The logo on his robe, a tall tower within a golden circle, confirmed that he was a magician from the Magic Tower.

And not just any magician, but one of high rank.

Even the foolish Ivan Luke, who was known for his arrogance, didn’t dare act rashly, recognizing the presence of the Magic Tower.

“So, why did you come to see me?”

He wasn’t alone, either.

Five other magicians accompanied him.

“I watched your duel just now. Your opponent’s spellcasting was fast, but yours was even faster. I’ve never seen anyone cast spells so quickly in my life.”

“I see.”

“Is that the famous [Source Code] magic I’ve heard so much about?”

So, this was why he came.

Since there was no reason to hide it, I nodded.

“Yes.”

“Oh! So it is! I knew it!”

The old man reacted like a child who had just discovered a great toy.

His wrinkled face showed an unexpected reaction, causing my eyebrows to furrow involuntarily.

I asked in a slightly stern tone.

“So, why did you come to see me?”

“Eh? Hehe. Oh, right. I haven’t even introduced myself yet.”

The old man immediately began his introduction.

“My name is Altego Dante, and I hold a seat in the Magic Tower’s Senate.”

“...I am Rudger Chelisi, a teacher at Seolren.”

“I know. I came here specifically to meet you. I was planning to visit Seolren directly, but that cunning fox kept interfering and putting obstacles in my way.”

Rudger immediately understood who Altego was referring to.

“Ah, President Altego?”

The person he was likely referring to, and indeed, was certain about, stepped forward with a smile.

Altego’s face twisted in obvious displeasure upon recognizing his interlocutor.

“Elisa Willow. I didn’t expect to see you here. Should a Chancellor be attending such a trivial event? Your behavior is too casual. Perhaps you should step down from your position.”

“Ahaha. President Altego, you’re so transparent. You came here to see our new teacher, didn’t you?”

Her voice emphasized the word “our.”

The Chancellor’s playful demeanor, which had been consistent until now, turned sharp and serious when facing Altego.

‘Well, a young genius like the Chancellor would naturally be at odds with the stagnant and corrupt Senate of the old Magic Tower.’

The Senate symbolized the old Magic Tower.

In contrast, the new Chancellor, who embraced change and sought more development, was the opposite.

Their sharp reactions to each other were evident.

“However, this isn’t a suitable place for someone like you. What do you hope to gain here?”

“That meddlesome fox has been blocking my path. That’s why I came here in person. Move aside. I have no business with you.”

Altego openly tried to ignore the Chancellor.

He then addressed me directly.

“Since we won’t have much time to talk, I’ll be straightforward. Would you like to join our Magic Tower’s Academy? I promise you the best treatment.”

“President!”

Elisa shouted in surprise, not expecting such a direct appeal.

Altego, on the other hand, seemed pleased.

The Chancellor, however, looked bewildered.

“Hehe! What do you want? A large sum of money? The annual funding for the Magic Tower is on par with Seolren! I don’t know how much they pay you, but we can offer at least three times that amount!”

“...”

“Or perhaps you want power? If you join me and submit magical papers, you can secure a position as a Chief Magician directly under the Senate! Or do you want a great artifact? We can provide that too!”

“Then,”

I cut to the chase.

“Would you give me a seat in the Magic Tower’s 12 Senate if I asked for it?”

“What?”

Altego’s face twisted in confusion.

The five magicians standing behind him, who had been listening to the conversation, reacted similarly.

They soon realized what I was saying and began to show hostility.

“...What are you talking about? A seat in the Senate?”

“I mean exactly that.”

“Are you insane? When you join the Magic Tower, you should be grateful. And we’re even offering you money! What? A Senate seat? Do you know what that seat means?!”

“I know. I know very well.”

How could I not know about that seat?

How could I not know?

“A seat for old men who brag about their age and do nothing, right?”

“...Are you serious? Or are you just spouting nonsense because you’re drunk?”

“I’m in my right mind.”

“In your right mind, you say?”

Altego’s face contorted like a pigeon that had just been shot.

He glared at me, grinding his teeth.

“How dare you not only reject the Magic Tower’s offer but also mock the name of the Senate? And you claim to be in your right mind? Do you think you’re someone special just because you developed a new magic?”

The jovial old man from a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

Altego’s forehead was flushed, and his face was bright red.

“There are things you can say and things you shouldn’t say...”

“I guess I was a bit too roundabout in my words.”

“What?”

“So, the gist of what I’m saying is this.”

I looked down at the old man before me, who was steeped in elitism.

“No matter what title you offer, I won’t go to a place like the Magic Tower.”

* * *

‘Well, well.’

I was quite taken aback by the sight of Ivan Luke’s advisor lying sprawled out in front of me.

I thought he was a competent person, but who would have thought he would fall so easily?

‘He was showing off how strong he was, so I took him seriously.’

It was true that I was a bit worried about what spells he couldn’t use.

But surprisingly, my opponent was a magician specialized in rapid spellcasting.

In a duel between magicians, the speed of spellcasting is the most crucial factor.

Considering this, the man before me could be seen as a talent specialized in one-on-one duels, perhaps even a first-rate one.

He must have been confident that he could knock me out with his specialty in rapid spellcasting.

‘But... why did he challenge me?’

This was the reason I found it absurd.

I can use Source Code.

It’s not a boast, but even a 5th Circle magician wouldn’t be able to match the speed of my spellcasting due to Source Code.

For 3rd Circle magic, I can cast spells faster than anyone.

So, for someone to challenge me with rapid spellcasting...

I was so surprised that I wondered if he had come to lose on purpose.

‘Could he have not known?’

I had deliberately spread rumors about Source Code during my first class, so shouldn’t everyone who needed to know already know?

Yet, he challenged me to a speed duel, which meant he either didn’t know about my magic or didn’t believe it was real.

There were plenty of magicians who would scoff at the idea of such magic existing.

It hurt my pride a bit.

‘But since I won, it doesn’t matter, does it?’

The fallen advisor was carried away by Luke Corporation’s security guards.

Ivan, the instigator of all this, still looked dazed, as if he couldn’t believe he had lost the duel.

“I……!”

He finally looked at me, his eyes wide and his fists clenched.

But he couldn’t shout or make a scene like before.

His gaze was directed over my shoulder.

“Is this Rudger Chelisi?”

A voice came from behind me.

I slowly turned my head to see who was speaking.

An elderly man with a long white beard stood there, holding a cane.

He was a peculiar old man.

In a room where everyone was dressed in elegant suits and dresses, he stood out in a large, loose robe.

His attire was so out of place that he could have been kicked out by the guards at the entrance for not following the dress code.

But if the logo on his robe symbolized a specific organization, the story would be different.

“Did you come from the Magic Tower?”

“Ho ho. You recognized me right away.”

The old man’s eyes sparkled, and he laughed heartily.

The logo on his robe, a tall tower within a golden circle, confirmed that he was a magician from the Magic Tower.

And not just any magician, but one of high rank.

Even the foolish Ivan Luke, who was known for his arrogance, didn’t dare act rashly, recognizing the presence of the Magic Tower.

“So, why did you come to see me?”

He wasn’t alone, either.

Five other magicians accompanied him.

“I watched your duel just now. Your opponent’s spellcasting was fast, but yours was even faster. I’ve never seen anyone cast spells so quickly in my life.”

“I see.”

“Is that the famous [Source Code] magic I’ve heard so much about?”

So, this was why he came.

Since there was no reason to hide it, I nodded.

“Yes.”

“Oh! So it is! I knew it!”

The old man reacted like a child who had just discovered a great toy.

His wrinkled face showed an unexpected reaction, causing my eyebrows to furrow involuntarily.

I asked in a slightly stern tone.

“So, why did you come to see me?”

“Eh? Hehe. Oh, right. I haven’t even introduced myself yet.”

The old man immediately began his introduction.

“My name is Altego Dante, and I hold a seat in the Magic Tower’s Senate.”

“...I am Rudger Chelisi, a teacher at Seolren.”

“I know. I came here specifically to meet you. I was planning to visit Seolren directly, but that cunning fox kept interfering and putting obstacles in my way.”

Rudger immediately understood who Altego was referring to.

“Ah, President Altego?”

The person he was likely referring to, and indeed, was certain about, stepped forward with a smile.

Altego’s face twisted in obvious displeasure upon recognizing his interlocutor.

“Elisa Willow. I didn’t expect to see you here. Should a Chancellor be attending such a trivial event? Your behavior is too casual. Perhaps you should step down from your position.”

“Ahaha. President Altego, you’re so transparent. You came here to see our new teacher, didn’t you?”

Her voice emphasized the word “our.”

The Chancellor’s playful demeanor, which had been consistent until now, turned sharp and serious when facing Altego.

‘Well, a young genius like the Chancellor would naturally be at odds with the stagnant and corrupt Senate of the old Magic Tower.’

The Senate symbolized the old Magic Tower.

In contrast, the new Chancellor, who embraced change and sought more development, was the opposite.

Their sharp reactions to each other were evident.

“However, this isn’t a suitable place for someone like you. What do you hope to gain here?”

“That meddlesome fox has been blocking my path. That’s why I came here in person. Move aside. I have no business with you.”

Altego openly tried to ignore the Chancellor.

He then addressed me directly.

“Since we won’t have much time to talk, I’ll be straightforward. Would you like to join our Magic Tower’s Academy? I promise you the best treatment.”

“President!”

Elisa shouted in surprise, not expecting such a direct appeal.

Altego, on the other hand, seemed pleased.

The Chancellor, however, looked bewildered.

“Hehe! What do you want? A large sum of money? The annual funding for the Magic Tower is on par with Seolren! I don’t know how much they pay you, but we can offer at least three times that amount!”

“...”

“Or perhaps you want power? If you join me and submit magical papers, you can secure a position as a Chief Magician directly under the Senate! Or do you want a great artifact? We can provide that too!”

“Then,”

I cut to the chase.

“Would you give me a seat in the Magic Tower’s 12 Senate if I asked for it?”

“What?”

Altego’s face twisted in confusion.

The five magicians standing behind him, who had been listening to the conversation, reacted similarly.

They soon realized what I was saying and began to show hostility.

“...What are you talking about? A seat in the Senate?”

“I mean exactly that.”

“Are you insane? When you join the Magic Tower, you should be grateful. And we’re even offering you money! What? A Senate seat? Do you know what that seat means?!”

“I know. I know very well.”

How could I not know about that seat?

How could I not know?

“A seat for old men who brag about their age and do nothing, right?”

“...Are you serious? Or are you just spouting nonsense because you’re drunk?”

“I’m in my right mind.”

“In your right mind, you say?”

Altego’s face contorted like a pigeon that had just been shot.

He glared at me, grinding his teeth.

“How dare you not only reject the Magic Tower’s offer but also mock the name of the Senate? And you claim to be in your right mind? Do you think you’re someone special just because you developed a new magic?”

The jovial old man from a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

Altego’s forehead was flushed, and his face was bright red.

“There are things you can say and things you shouldn’t say...”

“I guess I was a bit too roundabout in my words.”

“What?”

“So, the gist of what I’m saying is this.”

I looked down at the old man before me, who was steeped in elitism.

“No matter what title you offer, I won’t go to a place like the Magic Tower.”