Chapter 97

### Chapter 97: 1-on-1 Duel (3)

“Looks like it’s starting. I’ll go too. Do your best in the main event.”

“Sure. Thank you. I’ll come to the lab after all the exams are over today.”

“Yeah. Got it.”

With the announcement that the match was about to begin, Im Sol returned to the spectator seats. While talking enthusiastically about magic research, he had even promised to visit the lab today. I need to start preparing now. There are only a few matches left.

There will be four matches in the quarterfinals, and the semifinals and finals will follow immediately after. The quarterfinals will likely be held before lunch, and the semifinals and finals will take place afterward.

The first match was between Kim Young-han. Since my match is next, if Kim Young-han wins here, I’ll face him in the semifinals. In the round of 16, his opponent was weak, so I couldn’t see his abilities, but I hope to see them this time.

The match began, and Kim Young-han used a unique skill. Thorns sprouted from his sword, and he dominated a girl named Jeong Yeon-ju throughout the duel.

“The sword is incredibly cool, but… it doesn’t feel right.”

It had the exact feel of a top-tier student. He is strong among the ordinary students, but he is different from the top-tier students like Nam Da-eun and Ellis.

‘I should be able to win easily against that level.’

I put aside my worries and prepared for my match. Since my match will start about 10 minutes after Kim Young-han’s match ends, I need to start warming up and head to the player waiting area.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Student Lee Ho-yeon, it’s time to prepare for your match.”

“Sure. I understand.”

The staff came to fetch me at the right time. I followed the staff to the player waiting area for my next match.

Kim Young-han’s match ended with a smooth victory. Now, it’s my turn…

“Of all people, it’s this guy.”

The match schedule showed the name Do Jin-hyuk.

Lately, I’ve become too famous, so he doesn’t directly confront me, but he’s the troublemaker from Class A who used to pick fights with me. Now, we pretend not to know each other and try to charm girls, but we ended up meeting here. Winning isn’t a problem, but it’s just inconvenient and annoying.

“Student Lee Ho-yeon, it’s time to start your match.”

“Sure. I understand.”

It’s already been 10 minutes. I headed to the sparring arena for the duel. The emcee’s enthusiastic commentary and the cheers of the spectators combined to make my ears ring. I looked around the first-year student seats and waved to Lumi. Lumi slightly raised her hand and waved back, but then shrank back under the gaze of those around her.

I looked around the VIP seats where the professors were gathered and saw Im Sol’s face. I waved to him, and he nodded slightly. The beautiful woman with cat-like features sitting next to him waved both hands excitedly and greeted me.

“Who is that person?”

She’s pretty, but I’ve never seen her before.

Im Sol seemed to be saying something to her, but it was too far to hear.

Anyway, I had to go up to the sparring arena, so I turned and went up. In front of me stood Do Jin-hyuk, radiating hostility.

“Don’t get cocky just because you’ve become famous lately. I’ll crush you.”

“...”

Why is he like this?

Thinking about it, I’ve never done anything to harm him.

Is it because I’m doing well?

In the original story, he started trouble because I, who had no skills, made it to Class A, but I was already in Class A from the beginning.

“Hey, do you hate me?”

“Yeah. I do.”

While the commentator was talking about our performances and predicting the winner, I asked Do Jin-hyuk.

“Why do you hate me? Have I ever harmed you? Or have I been insulting you? It’s all on you.”

Do Jin-hyuk remained silent.

“Or do you just have a sudden, inexplicable hatred for me? Do you want to kill me just by looking at my face?”

“... I won’t deny it. I get so angry every time I see your face. I can’t stand it.”

“Hmm.”

Judging from his reaction, it seems genuine.

Is he really set up as a villain?

Do Jin-hyuk is a villain in the original story.

Therefore, even with the story’s twist, he is destined to be a villain to me.

Just like how the most approachable heroine, Moon Su-rin, has her affection for me increase just by seeing me, Do Jin-hyuk is in a similar situation, just in a different direction.

The commentator finished recapping our careers, and the duel was about to begin.

“Alright. Do your best.”

I have no intention of saving him just because he’s pitiful.

If I overwhelm him, he’ll realize he’s no match for me and back off on his own.

Do Jin-hyuk’s mana surged from his body.

The tangible mana enveloped his body, forming a shield around him.

His specialty was a close-quarters battle with immense defensive and physical abilities.

Do Jin-hyuk’s speed as he charged at me was quite fast but easy to predict.

Thump.

My heart rate quickened slightly.

Even though Do Jin-hyuk is a promising student, his combat sense reacted a bit.

‘Eyes of the Tiger’

I prepared for battle and faced Do Jin-hyuk.

It would be good to end it quickly to show the difference in our levels.

I summoned fireballs to keep Do Jin-hyuk in check as he approached me.

Do Jin-hyuk tried to dodge the fireballs and punched me, but...

Bang!

My cotton guard, which even an ogre couldn’t penetrate, couldn’t be broken by someone like Do Jin-hyuk.

“Ugh!”

He was even taken aback by the recoil from his attack.

Whoosh!

I attacked Do Jin-hyuk, who was pushed back by the recoil, but his defense was indeed formidable.

The shimmering mana surrounding his body was effectively acting as a shield.

‘Still, he’s not a weakling.’

But there was a skill that was perfect for dealing with someone with such high defense.

I accelerated the mana around my body and prepared for a counterattack.

Do Jin-hyuk, sensing something was wrong, charged at me, but I was already ready.

I read the trajectory of his right fist and, while ducking, burst a weak flame in his eyes.

“Gah!”

When people are momentarily blinded, they instinctively step back.

Using ‘Acceleration,’ I followed Do Jin-hyuk and condensed spiral mana in my hand.

Do Jin-hyuk tried to regain his balance by twisting his body, but I used double casting to summon a pillar of fire behind him.

Do Jin-hyuk, startled, forced his body to bow down.

He was planning to roll to avoid the attack.

He probably thought he could endure it once, relying on his defense, but my ‘Spiral’ had even penetrated an ogre’s defense.

“Gah!”

I plunged the Spiral into Do Jin-hyuk’s back as he tried to avoid it, and the impact immediately triggered the safety setting.

If we weren’t in the mana field, it would have been a fatal blow.

The referee’s decision confirmed my victory, and the excited emcee hyped up the crowd.

The mana barrier in the sparring arena disappeared, and the cheers from the spectator seats hit my ears.

“Wow!”

“Lee Ho-yeon! Lee Ho-yeon!”

I glanced at the VIP seats and saw Professor Im Sol looking at me with wide eyes.

‘Professor, this is how strong my student is.’

I feel proud for no reason.

Do Jin-hyuk was still lying on the ground.

Even without physical damage, the pain would be transmitted, so he must have felt the pain of his back being torn.

He’s a bit pitiful.

“... So why did you challenge me? Tsk tsk.”

I clicked my tongue as I watched Do Jin-hyuk being carried away on a stretcher.

*

While the spectator seats were roaring, the VIP seats were filled with silence.

The duel Lee Ho-yeon just showed was so impressive that even the VIPs, who are used to seeing the best, were speechless.

“What was that last magic? It seems like a unique skill, and the destructive power is unbelievable.”

“This isn’t the mana control of a first-year student…! Not to mention the precision with which he condensed mana, there was no mana loss in the process!”

“There was also a skill that made his body faster. It also seems like a unique skill.”

As one person muttered, others began to chime in.

The match itself was short.

Do Jin-hyuk charged at Lee Ho-yeon, was blocked, charged again, and was countered.

In the 20-second match, Lee Ho-yeon showed incredible skill.

“Is the contact I asked for going well? What? No reply? Then go and beg this guy!”

“Without an official guild backing him, with that level of skill, we must secure him. Yes, the conditions are not important….”

“I think he is much stronger than Nam Da-eun. His skill is more overwhelming than what Nam Da-eun has shown so far!”

The scouts were busy contacting their guilds, and the guild leaders were pressuring the scouts.

Im Sol and Min Ye-ji were also shocked by Lee Ho-yeon’s performance.

“... Sol. Can I contact him for guild recruitment, not for business?”

“... Do as you please.”

Im Sol was amazed by his first student’s combat ability.

He is stronger than Im Sol was at 20.

Stronger than when he was called a monster and received all kinds of jealousy and envy.

Of course, Im Sol was called a monster not only for his combat ability but also for his ability to instantly understand any magic, but Lee Ho-yeon’s magical talent matched Im Sol’s.

“Wow, how did you spot such talent? Sol, you really have a firm grip on the magic side.”

“I need to protect him.”

“Huh? Protect what?”

To prevent my student from being hinder