Chapter 21 (2/2)

But he actually was a coward who only acted confident to hide the fact that he had a timid personality.

No matter how much he hated me, he was not one to show such insane killing intent.

I activated my ‘Player’s Eye’ and read Michael’s Status Window.

And that’s how…

I figured out why Michael was showing such an appearance.

Michael Galehill

3rd-Class Magician

Potential: High

Specialty: Double Casting

Special Condition: Berserk (Hidden)

‘Berserk’

That category only appeared in the Status Window under one circumstance.

It was when someone consumed an unstable compound during Potion Crafting class.

On top of that, with ‘Hidden’ written next to it, I could easily guess that he took an illegal potion and drank another potion to hide the fact that he drank the first potion.

The one who checked for potion doping before the test was Professor Elrick.

Who is the uncle of Michael Galehill.

‘Damn it…’

This was the reason Michael was unnaturally confident.

It all started to make sense.

Then, the judge continued to talk.

“Ok. The only magic banned in the spar is black magic. All magic based on the 4 Elements are allowed and we consider the level of magic that hits the opponent to measure your score. However, if you use a spell with the intent to kill, you will instantly forfeit. Any questions?”

I swiftly raised my hand.

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“If one were to consume an illegal potion and this fact is discovered, what happens?”

“They forfeit their right to take the text and is failed. Depending on the severity, an examination to determine expulsion could also proceed. But, why do you need to know?”

“It’s nothing.”

Michael’s eyes narrowed at my question.

It was like he was saying,

‘You, how did you…?’

Huhu.

Why should I answer that?

That’s right.

The only thing I had was nothing but a ‘hunch’.

There’s a limit to asking them to believe this ‘Status Window’ that only I could see.

That’s why, for now, I needed to find evidence.

Conclusive evidence.

“Ok. Everyone to their positions.”

At the judge’s command, Michael and I both stood in our ready positions on the circular disk.

And then, NNNNNNGGGGG—

The batteries that had come to life coupled with the sound of mana resonating, and the judge shouted in a loud voice,

“Sparring, begin!”

“Ruin! Die!”

The first to act was Michael Galehill.

* * *

The magic Michael had cast against me.

Frozen Tree.

The branches that bursted out from the ground tangled the opponent’s ankles and slowly reached out and around their whole body, restraining them.

It was the most basic Nature Type Restraining magic, but the effects were significant.

In a single moment of hesitation…

Ssssssshuk.

The branches shot out from the ground in an instant and wrapped around my ankles.

It was hard to believe even with my eyes how fast it was.

Michael Galehill’s first strike had successfully hit.

“The next one will end you!”

After determining I was perfectly bound, Michael started to cast Flame magic.

However,

Shuk.

I lifted my leg out of the binding with a kick.

And then,

Crack! Crunch!

“W-what?”

The branches made a crunch sound and all the roots started to break away from my ankles.

Michael wasn’t the only one surprised.

“H-how did he untie them so easily?”

“Did Michael’s spell not hit properly?”

“……”

No.

The magic hit its target perfectly.

However, there was a variable that Michael had failed to consider.

My strength.

+++

At some point, my strength had increased to 1200.

I didn’t really know what strength of 1200 meant, but after gaining 300 strength from using , I was able to fight the ogre on equal footing.

The could suppress my magic, but it couldn’t suppress my natural strength.

That was why breaking a few branches was really nothing to stress about.

“You bastard… Die!”

Seeing me easily nullify his own magic, after being shocked for a split second, Michael finished casting his Flame magic and poured it out on me.

“Fire Breath!”

Fwoooosh!

Fire Breath.

A huge skull materialized above Michael’s head, and that skull started to spew out burning fire.

“F-fast!”

“Was Michael always this strong?”

It was an area attack spell that was hard to dodge, and this time too, the casting speed was faster than normal.

I dodged this with the Haste spell and took cover behind a pillar I saw before.

As I hid behind the pillar, Michael taunted me, madness in his voice.

“Ruin! Are you going to keep hiding? L-looks like you only know how to hide!”

However, I did not reply and started thinking while standing outside his range.

‘The casting speed became faster…’

This meant he drank a potion that increased his mana collection rate and quickened his mana empowerment.

Also, the area affected by his Flame magic had also widened.

‘Increase in casting speed and magic power’.

As someone who had gotten full marks in all the written tests in the last five years, there wasn’t a potion that I didn’t know about.

After a brief calculation, a few potions came to mind.

“Get out here noing, Michael.”

I threw my body at him.

——