18 – It’s a Crime to Grant a Wish (6)
“Hey, what are you, what are you doing?”
“What?”
“Wh-why aren’t you holding my hand quickly?”
I grabbed her hand in the opposite direction, ignoring Freyna’s urging.
Afterward, we won one more victory, advancing all the way to the quarterfinals, and finally made it to the semifinals.
In a situation where only four teams remained, the popularity of magic duels reached its peak.
As we entered the much larger arena, curious gazes, penetrating through the illusionary magic, were felt from all directions.
“Ugh, disgusting…! What’s there to be so curious about when all the factions have already been exposed? Every single one of those so-called magicians has lost their minds. You, hurry up and put on your hood.”
“Are you okay, senior?”
“A-Are you sure? And you were the one who suggested holding hands first? I really hate empty words like those from popular people!”
Freyna seemed to be in a half panic as she stood in front of so many people for the first time.
Nevertheless, she continued to mutter to herself as if making excuses, refusing to let go of the hand she firmly held in front of everyone’s eyes.
“I’ll buy you a meal next time-. You never even contacted me until the end. Remember the promise we made at the drinking party? Ah, you said it was all fun and games-. It’s just a way to brush it off…! Is conversing with people a joke? Words always come back to the one who spoke them. Ah, anyway, I don’t like it either, but I have to keep the promise you brought up, so I have no choice. I’m different from those irresponsible people.”
“But we can’t fight while holding hands.”
“Ah…!”
Since the opponent revealed themselves on the opposite side of the arena, Freyna had no choice but to let go of her hand.
Although it was doubtful whether she could use magic properly, it was actually better that way.
Now, she had to remove the label of the Haeju faction and reveal the truth to everyone.
And the protagonist who would put an end to this situation happened to be someone very familiar to me.
“Long time no see, Clark.”
“I think you’re mistaking me for someone else. I know everything about you…”
“You think I wouldn’t recognize you? Get rid of that pathetic acting.”
“….”
Why is she so angry again?
Five years ago, Sien had participated in the Magic Tournament, accumulating consecutive victories. Now she was a strong contender for the championship.
Due to the use of perception-distorting barriers and concealment spells, public opinion in the gallery was divided in half. But I was convinced that we would definitely lose this time.
“Sien, have you written anything on the gallery recently?”
“I told you not to write anything.”
“Then do you know anyone among the other famous nicknames…?”
“I don’t know. And right now, that doesn’t matter at all.”
Because I couldn’t use magic against Sien, who lived and built her reputation in the gallery.
Unless I revealed that I was a witch, it was impossible to cast a curse on her.
“Then I will step back.”
As Prina voluntarily retired and Sien also withdrew her fairies, we were left facing each other alone.
Although I was somewhat tempted by the magic stone, winning in the Magic Tournament was meaningless if I couldn’t use magic.
Unlike me, who planned to withdraw when a good opportunity arose, Sien was sincere.
“The completion of all things, her father is here. Strength is unified with the earth, and instead of ambiguity, only system and conviction will prevail.”
The Code of the Sage.
Reciting the three verses simultaneously, representing stability, exorcism, and persistence, the three swords emitted a faint light.
Now, as long as her mysterious sword remained intact, it would never break. It would cut through everything made of magic and maintain its state unchanged over time.
Sien pointed at my trembling lance and spoke.
“Clark, if you really think you can defeat me… don’t run away from this place. Since I was defeated by your lance, I have dreamed only of this moment.”
“Let’s do the bet we had last time, one more time. I’m definitely going to win this time.”
“What will you do if you win?”
My question, filled with pure curiosity, made the tip of her sword waver for a moment.
As the time for her response lengthened, I pondered whether I should try managing the gallery or something. But then, I heard her wish, which didn’t quite match the grammar.
“If I win, I want to join the same, the same Information Division as you!”
I didn’t like that.
From my perspective as a mercenary, the Information Division was a better organization the weaker it was.
I couldn’t grant her wish just because she might end up in trouble if she joined for no reason.
“But if I win, we don’t have to fight like this anymore, right?”
“W-Well… Do you hate fighting with me that much?”
“It’s not about that. This isn’t something meant for humans in the first place.”
What is an adventurer? It’s a profession where you accept requests and exterminate monsters.
Among them, there are those who are wanted or those who dabble in black magic, straddling the line between human and monster. But knights who specialize in wars or mercenaries have very different dispositions.
The reason why I’ve been avoiding duels with Sien for five years is simply because I couldn’t help her grow.
Not only did I not specialize in spear techniques, but I was also far from magic.
“Well, whatever.”
“Just a moment, what did you just say…”
“Come at me. Or I’ll go instead.”
Anyway, if I had to untangle the entanglement that had piled up until now, now was a good opportunity.
I picked up my location note and raised my spear.
“Rupert, how have you been?”
“Oh! It’s been a while, Sage! I was worried since I haven’t seen you for some time. How have you been?”
“I’ve been in a tough fight with those stray cats that were eyeing the leftovers in the cafeteria. It was a much harder battle than I expected, but I managed to win in the end.”
“Congratulations. You truly are a sage.”
Rupert, who was sitting in the audience, looked at Anes and gestured for her to take the seat next to him.
As she approached, she showed interest in the popcorn bag, but there was nothing inside.
“Have you finished it already?”
“I just picked up an empty bag. Since it’s an exciting match, wouldn’t it be more enjoyable to pretend to eat?”
“Hmm, I heard that there are many apprentices looking for the Haesoo School this year, so I thought things were getting better. Seems like we still have a long way to go.”
“Unfortunately, the only booth we had burned down, so we couldn’t take in any new recruits. But thanks to that friend, the problem we were worried about has been somewhat resolved.”
Rupert pointed to Clark, who was fighting fiercely against the ace of the Information Department.
Because he achieved good results in this magic tournament with Prina, the negative image of the Haesoo School had been diluted.
Although it was still mainly discussed within the gallery and hadn’t led to visible changes, it was clear that things were gradually improving.
“I knew it was a good decision when I marked him from the moment he entered the tower.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, I felt the same ambition to climb the tower as I did in the past. But it’s strange, it feels like he’s only half the size of the mystery I saw back then.”
“Really? I thought he had enough talent…”
Though he didn’t show it, Rupert was internally shocked enough to jump out of his seat.
The firepower that was burning the fireplace was only half as strong as before?
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Then why did you choose a weaker curse name?
Anya, who guessed Clark’s intention, did not show any disappointment.
“Well, as a smart child, she must have made her own judgment. It’s easier to write a name that is already starting to be forgotten, rather than a name that is more famous within magic tower.”
“Although the mystery of Iter is relative, it’s still strange. Even if the wizards are not interested in the world outside the tower, if Clark’s potential is more than twice the mystery I have confirmed, then everyone must have heard of him at least once.”
“Oh, are you that confident? Then, Rupert, how many of the heroes I’m talking about do you remember?”
Rupert was once an enemy of a small country called Gonguk, until he entered the magic tower.
He was knowledgeable not only about various rumors circulating in society but also about oral traditions and history that came from the neighboring empire.
However, the names that came out of Anya’s mouth were all new to him.
“The Five Swords under the Swordmaster? The Dark Master and the Ten Names? What on earth are they?”
“They are the ones who once tried to subdue disasters but failed. If you don’t remember, there’s no need to try to recall.”
This is ‘that curse,’ after all-. Saying that, Anya chewed on the unpopped popcorn under the bag.
In the arena, a duel between a spear and a sword was unfolding, which was not fitting for the name of magic.
Sien’s three swords pushed Clark roughly like waves, shaking the heavens and the earth.
On the other hand, Clark only seemed to be in a hurry to hold a longer-range spear and keep his distance.
His movements, which seemed to be aiming for only one blow, clearly seemed far from that of an excellent spearman.
But when the silver shining sword finally pierced his neck, Rupert, who saw the scene, snapped his fingers and said,
“Ah! There is still a group similar to the ones you mentioned. ‘The Great Three Adventurers.'”
“Do you remember?”
“Yes, of course. There’s no way I wouldn’t. They are the only ones among the adventurers from the previous continent who successfully subjugated disasters under the lord’s command.”
Most famous adventurers were known by their pseudonyms, so they were actually easier to remember.
However, since their activities did not overlap with the kingdom and the party had stopped their activities a long time ago, it was also hazy in Rupert’s mind.
“‘Flash’, ‘gunshots’, and the other one is clearly…”
Kwaaahhh!!
When he tried to recall the last name, a tremendous explosion could be heard from the stadium.
The defense spells cast by the audience were shattered by the overwhelming pressure that made it difficult to open their eyes.
After the shock wave that rivaled an earthquake subsided, Rupert discovered a spear embedded in the cracked floor of the stadium, like an ice sheet.
From that, Rupert was able to remember who the last adventurer was.
*
“We lost.”
When Sien regained consciousness, he realized that he was still impaled on the floor of the stadium, just like five years ago.
The only thing he remembered was Clark, who had stabbed the divine warrior with confidence in victory, leaping into the sky.
And the only thing that had come close to him in that fleeting moment was the tip of his spear.
“You’re not too badly hurt, right?”
“….”
“You blocked it well. Your average defense spell wouldn’t have worked.”
Could it really be said that he blocked it?
The mystery embedded in the sword was torn to shreds, and even though it ignited his entire magical circuit, it was only a minor detour.
However, he still grazed his ear with the edge of the spear that pursued him until the end, and he was swept away by the aftermath, leaving him completely exhausted.
This was nothing more than him taking care not to get seriously injured.
“… About what you mentioned earlier.”
“Hmm?”
“What were you using it for? Your spear.”
Before admitting defeat, Sien was certain.
The attack that soared through the sky and plunged towards the ground was not a technique designed solely to snipe humans.
Although it was currently only the height of the ceiling on the first floor of Matap, if the location had been a mountain range or a gorge?
Approaching steadily, Clarke, who retrieved the spear stuck in the ground, replied to her question with a short phrase.
“Hunting dragons.”
Marong.
The name that was known as one of the Four Great Disasters, along with the enemy of the sun, the Great Witch, and the King of the Underworld.