Grace's words worsened the already unfavorable atmosphere, gradually making it more serious.
Whether she knew it or not, Grace continued to taunt us.
"This person personally challenges you to a magical duel! Are you not going to be afraid and run away?"
Grace added fuel to the already unfavorable atmosphere.
Although it was directed at me personally, to the Rodren students who were unaware of the previous events, it probably seemed like an argument.
"What's going on?"
"Should we give it a try? Is this what you want?"
As the Rodren students spat out their words one by one, the Mirko students also appeared tense.
And even Keshurin, whom I was watching closely, had a perplexed expression, uncertain of what to do.
'Keshurin is a character with a weak heart. Anyway, I should deal with Grace first.'
Amidst the gradually escalating tension, I nodded.
"If you want a duel, I will accept it."
"Hehehe, good. Let's start the duel immediately."
He immediately pulled out a white cane from his belongings and aimed it at me.
Is this guy crazy? Although I want to teach you a lesson, there's no need to have a duel here.
"Let's go to a designated place for the duel instead of doing it here."
"What! Are you scared? Well, that's to be expected. You're just a novice magician who clung to Grace Mayern. It's too late to regret now! You will turn to ashes in front of my 'Roar of Dawn'!"
I almost forgot, his cane was a named-grade item.
I couldn't understand how he was recognized as the owner, even in the game, but one thing was for sure—it was an item that was too good for him to use.
"That's one thing, but having a fight here would violate the academy rules."
The fortunate thing is that there are many people around, so I have enough alibis.
Even if I attack from the moment the opponent raises his cane, self-defense will be justified.
Ooong.
Finally, the sound of the opponent's magic being manifested echoed.
As soon as I heard the sound, I drew my sword. Grace shouted at me, seeing me drawing my sword.
"You! I clearly requested a 'magical' duel! How dare you draw a sword in a sacred magical duel!"
"When did I say I won't use magic? This sword is my staff."
"What did you say?"
Shing!
Galakshur was engulfed in flames.
And the eyes of the people around us were filled with astonishment.
"What is that!"
The surrounding astonishment could be heard, and at the same time, the opponent's magic was complete.
I split the flame magic created by Grace with my sword.
And now, with familiar swordplay, I swung the flames.
Whoaack!
"This, this guy!"
As the magic of the Roar of Dawn was late in its completion, Grace desperately dodged.
His actions resembled those of a pig struggling to avoid slaughter.
I swung my sword gently to avoid causing too much harm, but even the gentle swordplay set Grace's clothes on fire.
"Aaaah! Save me!"
In a panic, Grace rolled on the ground, trying to extinguish the fire.
But the flames made of mana showed no signs of being easily extinguished.
'This could turn into a big problem.'
I was a bit taken aback because I thought he couldn't handle even that level of attack.
Grace, who was squealing like a pig, seemed to be screaming as if he were about to die, and I approached him to put out the fire.
Shwaaaack!
Fwooooosh.
However, someone beat me to it and used magic to extinguish the fire on Grace.
As the fire went out, Grace gasped for breath and collapsed.
"..."
An awkward atmosphere briefly passed, and as I stood there feeling awkward, the magician who put out the fire approached me and asked.
"That was impressive. Was it really magic? Or was it a sword made with artifacts?"
Now that I think about it, it was Keshurin Violega.
He briefly examined the collapsed Grace on the floor, confirming that he was fine, and immediately started asking me questions.
It wasn't something I had expected, but anyway, I ended up having a conversation with Keshurin.
"It was magic."
"That's truly amazing! As expected of the legendary sword mage! Could I see it once again?"
"Yes."
I participated because I wanted to get closer to you in the first place, so go ahead and ask for whatever you want.
I'll do everything I can for you.
Shing!
Suddenly, the people gathered in the banquet hall forgot about Grace and became interested in the new form of magic I displayed.
Not only the students from the Magic Department but also the students from the Knight Department showed interest in me, probably because I was using a sword.
"Can you use it in real combat?"
"Amazing! The color of the magic changes according to the color of the aura! I want to research the principles behind it."
"Are there any drawbacks? It must be challenging to calculate magic while wielding a sword."
Students from Rodren and Mirko expressed their thoughts one by one, enjoying the fusion magic I showed them without a care in the world.
As a result, they began to engage in discussions and opened the floor for conversation among themselves.
'Indeed, it seems that being top students makes a difference. They can go from being cautious to discussing rationally in no time.'
Indeed, there's nothing like meta-work to liven up the atmosphere.
Well, I didn't actually plan it that way.
Originally, I should have given him a real beating, but I missed the opportunity due to his unexpected reaction.
I still glanced at Grace, who was lying on the floor, pretending to be unconscious.
I hope his spirit is broken a bit.
.
.
.
.
Since the academy staff and teachers weren't present, the incident between me and Grace's "magic" duel quietly passed by.
Thanks to the series of events that refreshed the atmosphere, everyone, except Grace, enjoyed the exchange festival harmoniously.
Wheeeng!
"Now, this is the 'Rotation of Stars.'"
I was currently in a lecture related to magical circles within the Magic Department.
Today, among the exchange festival students, only the magic students were gathered together.
As the professor showcased a magical circle from the lectern, a round sphere floated gently, surrounded by smaller orbs that spun around it.
Although the setting was medieval, the artwork implied that the planet was round and hinted at the discovery of rotation and revolution.
"The key is to inscribe a counter-rotation spell near the rotation-related spells around the 60-degree mark. It won't be easy, of course, but be careful not to let the mana disperse by controlling it as much as possible."
While listening attentively to Rodren's lecture, Mirko's students didn't hide their interest in other students.
And among them, the one who received the most attention and focus was naturally Dianne Alben.
She was from a prestigious magical family and was last year's tournament champion.
With just these two titles, she easily overshadowed all the other students.
The attention I received on the first day had now diminished to a mere spark compared to the sun.
Dianne listened to the lecture with an arrogant expression, seemingly indifferent to the gazes directed at her. But I knew she was simply managing her expression.
Well, what else can you expect from a character I've played directly?
"Now, shall we all try it together?"
As the professor spoke, each of us was handed a piece of paper.
We were asked to create a magical circle freely based on the spells taught in the lecture. To be honest, I didn't have a clear idea of what to do.
'Rotation and counter-rotation spells, huh?'
Quietly observing Dianne, I noticed that she was already confidently sketching something.
On the other hand, Keshurin, known as the genius of magical circles, seemed to be contemplating.
'It seems like an interesting event that didn't exist in the game. It's a magical circle duel between Dianne and Keshurin.'
Since both of them were considered geniuses in magic, they could inspire each other.
'But wait. Can't I also give them inspiration?'
I might not be talented in magic, but don't I possess countless game experiences and knowledge about various magical circles?
Of course, drawing actual magical circles and performing them in games were different, but I was knowledgeable when it came to ideas and types of magical circles.
'I've dealt with quite a few magical circles that use either rotation or counter-rotation...'
What were some that used both?
The interpretation of counter-rotation was open to debate, as it could be seen as simply the opposite concept of rotation to demonstrate retrograde motion. But rather than just opposing rotation itself, it might be better to consider a different meaning for counter-rotation.
"Ah, it might be a bit challenging."
If I failed once, there was nothing I could do about it.
Since it wasn't an evaluation but a simple lecture, I started slowly sketching the spell onto the paper.
As time passed...
I lifted my head in response to the sudden exclamations of admiration.
"Wow!"
"Indeed, Dianne Alben. Is it really possible at the student level?"
In front of Dianne, a piece of paper given by the professor was floating in the air. Not only that, but drops of water were falling onto the paper, creating a beautiful scene as if it were raining. The droplets passed through the paper and defied gravity as they rose back up from a certain point. The drops were colored and formed a mesmerizing pattern resembling a shooting star endlessly repeating its path.
'It's a typical Dianne-like magical circle.'
As Dianne's impressive work captivated everyone's attention, she glanced at me, seemingly expecting my admiration. When our eyes met, I applauded with admiration, which seemed to elevate her already high nose even more.
One by one, the students completed their magical circles, and each time, laughter and cheers erupted. Finally, it was Keshurin's turn.
"I made my magical circle a bit larger. It would have been even more perfect if the paper were a bit bigger."
Although Keshurin spoke, the reactions from the people were just average. Only the Mirko Academy students looked at him with anticipation. I was also curious about what kind of magical circle Keshurin had created.
Whooong.
As mana was infused, the intricately engraved magical circle began to emit light. At the same time, the surrounding scenery gradually changed.
"Crazy..."
An immediate gasp of astonishment spread through the room, and even the professor, who was responsible for the lecture, looked stunned at Keshurin's creation.
"It's a maze created using rotation and counter-rotation. It's a bit simple, so there shouldn't be any problem escaping."
Experiencing it firsthand, all I could say was that it was truly incredible.
Creating such a fantastical magic on a small piece of paper, and it didn't even take much time.
'Indeed, when it comes to auxiliary magic and magical circles, there's no one to compare to.'
Perhaps in terms of magical circles, it might not be too different from Bart.
If he were to grow here, he would easily surpass Bart.
"Truly, amazing."
Even Dianne Alben, the renowned sorceress, looked around with admiration.
Compared to this maze, her magical circle seemed trivial.
Of course, in terms of direct combat abilities, she would have the upper hand over Keshurin, but they each displayed their talents in different areas.
'Come to think of it, Dianne is considered an intermediate among the geniuses. In terms of combat abilities, Lucia, who later healed the wounded, is overwhelming, and in terms of auxiliary magic and magical circles, Keshurin excels alone.'
Still, Dianne has her own strengths.
That is her magic related to space and time.
Of course, the magic she will eventually reveal after much growth will overshadow them both for now.
So, we admired Keshurin's fantastic magical circle and followed his guidance to exit the magic.
When we emerged from the magic, it felt like we had returned to a perfectly normal lecture room, as if nothing had happened. It almost felt like being possessed by a ghost.
Perhaps it was due to the overwhelming difference in talent.
After that, the other students' magical circles seemed insignificant, and they themselves couldn't lift their heads in embarrassment.
Unfortunately, Keshurin's turn was followed by mine.
'I guess it's the same for me. I worked hard to complete it...'
Even though I tried to put effort into it, it seemed pale in comparison to the grandeur Keshurin had shown.
The turns continued, and finally, it was my turn.
"Adrias Cromwell, would you like to show the magical circle you've created?"
Almost everyone's gaze was focused on me, as it was one of the last turns.
Feeling awkward, I rubbed my nose and infused mana into my magical circle.
"Flower?"
It was a single flower.
And it was still in its bud, unable to fully bloom.
Everyone looked puzzled at the unexpected and seemingly insignificant magic.
The fresh bud of the flower hovered slightly above the magical circle, merely existing.
"Hmm, Adrias, I asked you to incorporate the spells of rotation and reversal, but I can't see them in this piece. Could you explain?"
I nodded and opened my mouth to explain, but...
"Ah."
Keshurin, as if possessed by something, approached my flower.
Then, he sent me a trembling gaze.