Gray enthusiastically took a step outside…
"Our target's about to duel? Time to go, then!"
Gray hurriedly donned his Plague Doctor disguise and gave his loyal follower a large hoody. But just as he was finally ready to leave, Zhang gasped, his brows furrowed with worry.
"A-Actually, Teacher, I think we might have a problem! There definitely will be LOTS of skilled mages at the Training Grounds. Won't they see through such disguises?!"
"Ah?! Do you mean detection magic? Fair enough! Alright, let's try something then! Use some detection magic on me first." Gray ordered.
Zhang nodded, then approached and approached some more until he was directly touching him! Blushing a little, he went: "Sorry, Teacher. I-I'm not too skilled at this kind of stuff."
Then he showed a constipated expression before…
"I got it, Teacher! I managed to see that it's you even under the mask!"
Under the mask, was it? From this range he could definitely smell him too! But not losing his calm, Gray chuckled as he grabbed something from his soul….
"Try again now, and tell me how it goes!"
"Right away, Teacher!"
This time, Fatty Zhang's entire face turned purple from the effort. A little more and blood would have come out of his nose! But even after a solid 5 minutes of trying…
"A-Amazing, Teacher! I can't detect a thing at all?! How's this possible!"
"Oh, this? Just a little parlor trick. Here, let me show you."
As he waved his hand, something blue, translucent, and VERY suspicious-looking suddenly crawled on Zhang, the latter shaking with shock. It almost looked like Necromancy, and yet?
Gray's hypothesis had been 100% correct! Wearing Ectoplasm was the way to go!
Detection Magic → Detecting The Souls → Not Detecting Him!
"Now, there shouldn't be any issue, right?"
"None, Teacher Gale!"
With this, they were all set, and departed, Gray asking plenty of questions about their target on the way. He wanted to know EVERYTHING!
Luckily, the two weirdos didn't take long to reach the Training Grounds. Training dummies, hot-blooded young magi, and tons of action!
Magical projectiles flying all over? Yes!
Glowing weapons swung with draconian might? Also yes!
Injured students, their limbs severed from their bodies? Concerningly yes?!
But amidst all the ones training, a certain duel had a huge crowd around it! Had anyone told Gray this was a professional UFC match, he would have believed it!
Seeing this, he pushed his way to the front, a few turning back in anger.
"Hey, watch it! What do you think you're— Never mind!"
"Who's pushing m— Must have been the wind!"
"Bastard, I was here first. What — GASP?!"
But as soon as they'd notice the culprit, they'd instantly shut up! The Plague Doctor getup looked utterly intimidating, and then there was the Teacher Emblem?!
At this moment, they were too shellshocked to even dare complain. A teacher that strange? That was a first for sure! Also, why did he give the same feeling as the scary enforcers?!
Just like that, Gray managed to reach the front unbothered, his mere presence instantly quieting all gossip. That's when he finally saw the duel, both fighters looking glorious.
Godric Managold VS Ajax Something
Golden-Glowing Monk VS Flashy Fire Mage
Indomitable Godly Fists VS Fiery Flaming-Whip
Invincible Fighting Spirit VS Poor Mage at a loss
As for what was happening? Well, it was a one-sided beat-down! Godric Managold? The OP-looking Golden Monk? He was getting destroyed!
The mage's fiery whip would coil around him to trip him, directly smack him down, and leave plenty of burn marks on the latter's body, yet Godric did not give a fuck!
He was akin to an unstoppable Berserker who— SMACK!
Okay, perhaps a very stoppable Berserker, but his spirit was relentless. No matter how many times he went down, he instantly got back up!
Even while winning, the poor mage was at an utter loss. How could he defeat this invincible opponent? Said mage had to be running out of Mana, too!
"Impressive, truly impressive!"
Gray couldn't help but praise. Godric Managold? He was a new student, year one. But his opponent? It had to be a year 2 or 3 one at the very least!
Knowing this, Gray couldn't help but nod approvingly. This Godric dude had Balls, determination, and A LOT of mana, seeing as he was still going strong even now!
Gray watched with a grin a fight that seemed to last an eternity. In fact, the Teacher in charge of the Training Grounds was the one who finally ended it.
"Enough, you two. That's enough fighting for now! Take a small break!" That's when she turned toward Gray.
Long auburn hair, blue eyes, a small Wand Badge on her chest. Ah, never mind, the Badge was regular size, it just looked tiny in comparison.
Overall, she was a nation-toppling fox-like beauty. Good thing there were no nations in the Academy! Seeing the two newcomers, she raised a delicate brow.
"What brings you two here? No, what brings YOU here?" Her fox-like eyes rested on Gray, instantly noticing that he was their leader.
So this was Teacher Mei, eh?
She just happened to be his target's aunt.
How should he proceed? Beat around the bush? Not his style!
"Hehe, I'm here to recruit Godric Managold!"
Wasn't he a little too direct?!
— GASPS! GASPS! —
At this moment, the entire Training Grounds turned silent. The few who had still been training? No time for that, This was prime DRAMA!
"Recruit him?! Teacher Mei is already teaching him!"
"That's true, but they haven't registered it yet."
"Still, that can only mean…. Disciple Steal!"
"This guy is either insane or insane!"
"Teacher Mei will DESTROY him!"
Disciple Steal? It was akin to calling a teacher incompetent! Well, in some cases, it could simply be a matter of bad Student/Teacher compatibility, but here…NOPE!
Who else was better suited than Mei freaking Managold to teach her nephew Godric Managold?! They were part of one of the Great Magic Clans for a reason!
And as a Managold, Teacher Mei didn't back down:
"Oh? So you've come for my Nephew? Aren't you a brave one?"
"Brave? Incredibly so! Handsome? So much that I need to wear a mask! Mighty? Very! Well-connected? I had a private chat with the Headmaster just the other day!"
"….?!?"
Who the hell had asked?! More importantly, what was the point of bragging so much?! But, Teacher Mei hadn't been idle during his more than questionable introduction.
'C'mon, reveal all your secrets!' She was spreading her senses, engulfing him completely! 'He's…. DEAD?! No, that can't be?! A fake anti-detection layer!'
As she focused her mind, her massive chest heaved up and down from the effort. But just as her face was getting red, she finally pierced through!
This aura, it was a…. R-Ravenous Bunny?! Not one fake layer, but two?! She had already struggled so much with the first one! But before she could recover, he spoke again:
"In any case, would you mind moving, Teacher Mei? It's fine to be smitten by me, but you shouldn't stand still in the middle of the Training Grounds." Gray gently advised.
Smitten by you?! As if!
At this moment, every student present felt like rioting, Zhang included!
Teacher Mei was a goddess in their hearts, no way would she fall that easily, especially not for some weird masked fellow! That's when, as expected, came her snappy retort:
"Tch— Who's smitten by you! In any case, speaking to him is useless. The Managold Clan has and will always strive for excellence! Beat me, and he'll follow you willingly!"
"Best you, what do you mean?"
"Disciple Steal, obviousl—"
"I accept!"
Gray accepted the "challenge" faster than lightning, a scheming grin under his mask. Disciple Steal? It just happened to have a certain custom:
Challenger → Picked the venue for the fight
Challenged → Picked the contest itself
He had just the thing in mind…