The Book Eating Magician Chapter 16:

Here comes the Mutiny #4

“No way! Theodore won!”

“He defeated Garcia in battle magic…!”

“How is he a dunce?”

The students were truly very noisy . It was difficult for them to accept that Garcia, one of the best in their year, had been defeated . The even more frustrating thing was that the man who defeated him was Theodore Miller .

He had studied for an extra three years, but the gap in talent couldn’t be that much . The students knew that better than anyone else, so their surprise was greater .

Professor Vince was the most surprised person .

‘Great… Fire Bolt aiming at one point, a shield with a variation in shape, and a compressed Fireball… It’s already at a good enough level to be an active war magician . ’

No, maybe even more than that .  Theo’s face never showed any tension, and he didn’t take a step from his first standing position .  It was literally a one-sided win .  Vince raised a hand in order to calm the students and declare Theo’s victory .

However, at that moment…

“…Not yet, not yet! I’m not backing down yet!”

Garcia’s eyes were wild as he awkwardly raised his body from where he had fallen .  Clearly, he wasn’t in a normal condition . His magic power was running out of control outside his body, and his distorted face revealed his wounded pride .

‘If Father and Big Brother know that I’ve fallen in such an unsightly way, they will never forgive me!’

His father, Viscount Carter, was famous . His family was several times stricter and more hierarchical than other families .  If rumours spread that he had lost to not just any student but to the famous dunce, he would never be able to leave the Carter estate .

That was something that could never happen .

“This is the last one . If you can take this spell, then I will admit defeat, Theodore Miller!” Garcia shouted wildly toward Theo, who still had a casual expression on his face .

Garcia knew it was nonsense, but he couldn’t retire like this . He started preparing the spell before Theodore even replied .

‘Tsk, this is why children of prestigious families…’

In the end, Professor Vince clicked his tongue and stepped back .  If Theodore had rejected it, then he would’ve interfered . However, Theo didn’t seem to have any plans to resign either . Rather, he was carefully observing Garcia’s boiling magic power with cool eyes .  His eyes, which were as sharp as blades while concentrating fiercely, gave the illusion that he was standing on a battlefield .

Thus, the final confrontation between the two students began .

“「Red light streaking across the sky–」”

A strange voice emerged from Garcia’s mouth . It was a chant which accompanied a magic spell and displayed a different power compared to magic with only one or two starting words .  Even if the same amount of magic power was used, the power was increased overwhelmingly . Once it was high-level magic, it could be used as a tactical weapon .

Additionally, there was a function hidden behind the chant .

Wuuuong…

The jeweled pendant hidden in the uniform began resonating with its owner’s will . It was the artifact, Roaring Flames, which was only give to a legitimate child of the Carter family .  This artifact greatly increased the magic power of the contracted owner as well as the output of fire magic .

It was because Garcia trusted in this power that he requested for another round with Theo .

‘Now, I can use 4th Circle magic . No matter how hard the three-time dunce tries, it will end with this!’

Simultaneously, Theodore’s face stiffened as he sensed the suspicious magic power .  Alfred’s sensory perception sensed a sudden increase in the opponent’s magic power, and he knew it was 4th Circle magic . Theo frowned at the difference in the magic flow .

‘What? The amount of magic power in his body has suddenly increased . Is it a Carter family secret technique?’

Theo could suspect that it was due to the use of an artifact . However, if he made the accusation and it was wrong, then it was likely to backfire on him . Therefore, Theo prepared his defense instead of objecting . Anyway, Professor Vince would stop him from getting hurt .

Thanks to Garcia’s crude control, the magic formula was read and Theo found an effective means to stop it .

The material was dirt, and he would created a spherical barrier to withstand the heat and shock .

‘If I had to name this, it would be Earth Dome . ’

He could load the formula with magic power at any time to create it . So, now, he just needed to match the timing .  If he stacked a few layers of magic power, then it should be enough to stop a single 4th Circle fire magic . Theodore believed in his calculations and collected his trembling emotions .

Garcia soon completed the magic .  It was a crimson fireball, a magic bullet which would turn a person into charcoal if it touched them .

“Blaze Shell!”

Garcia called out the name of the magic with a confident expression . It was a high-ranked fireball and was considered one of the greatest spells to use against a person in the fire attack magic .  The slow speed, destructive power of the flames, and penetration power were supplemented for military use .

It was a fire spell capable of easily destroying a Shield of the same level .

“How about it, will you surrender now?”

Garcia was sure of his victory .

There was no way that Theo, a 3rd Circle magician, would be able to beat the 4th Circle magic . While the other students became restless because they didn’t know what would happen, Vince’s expression grew colder as he watched on .

However, Theo just replied with a blank expression, “Shoot . ”

“…What?” Garcia asked in disbelief .

“The class needs to finish, so shoot it . ” As Theo spoke, his voice didn’t shake at all .

Briefly, Garcia was lost for words . Then a thick vein bulged and the halted shell started to move through the air .  The 4th Circle magic, Blaze Shell…

‘It’s coming . ’

As soon as Theo confirmed it was moving, his magic power responded .  He poured magic power into the pre-designed magic formula and placed the greatest amount at the point where the shell would hit .

Luckily, Garcia was limited in making the Blaze Shell and couldn’t control its trajectory . Needless to say, there were no improvements such as rotation or acceleration .

“Earth Dome!”

Theo placed his two palms on the ground, and the floor of the academy wriggled like it was alive .  The ground crumbled, and the dirt and stone mixed together were hardened by magic power . A spherical dome, with Theo in the center, formed in an instant . The improvised magic spell was truly genius .

Then once the Earth Dome was completed…

The fire shell collided with the earth barrier .

Kwaang!

There was a loud rumble .

“Kyaaack!”

“Ack!”

The students covered their ears and, belatedly, their eyes as the dust fell down .  Indeed, it was a mess .

Only Vince was walking around with a wall blocking the dust, wind, and sound . It was common to use things such as smokescreens on the battlefield, so he was used to such measures .  Soon after, the dust settled down, and the scene within was revealed .

“N-No way… This—ridiculous…” Garcia Carter was sitting there with a pale face,

“…This, isn’t it just laundry magic?”Theo muttered as he cleaned his clothing .

‘How interesting . Where did I hear something similar?’ Vince laughed at the sight .

Blaze Shell and Earth Dome…

If he compared it to weapons, it was like a spear and a shield .  Today’s battle wasn’t a contradiction but the victory of a shield which boasted a stronger defense .

 

*     *     *

“Okay, it is over . ”

Vince clapped after he finished cleaning up the playing field .

The students, who had gathered in one place according to his instructions, looked around with disbelief .  Just five minutes ago, the academy grounds had been ravaged . However, Professor Vince had reset that destruction in five minutes .

‘He has truly amazing skills . ’ Theodore was also filled with admiration . These were the skills of Bergen Academy’s top magician .

He understood the formula and application of restoration magic, but he wasn’t confident he could produce the same result . Perhaps it was a trick to control magic, his experience, or the difference in techniques .

Professor Vince returned to the front of the students and frowned as he called a person’s name .

“Garcia Carter, get up . ”

“Huh?”

Garcia, who was still stunned by his defeat, got up from his seat . He was confused about why he was called, but the answer didn’t come back in words .

Ppak!

Vince’s fist hit Garcia’s chin .

“Keok, P-Professor?”

A war magician also knew hand-to-hand combat .  As proof of that fact, Professor Vince’s hands were callused and Garcia’s lips were bleeding .

Garcia trembled from the pain and shock as he grabbed his chin .

“You idiot . Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

“W-What are you saying…?”

“Roaring Flames . ”

The colour drained from Garcia’s face because he had secretly used an artifact .

This was a serious violation of the school rules . There was the possibility that Garcia would have to repeat a year or he might even be expelled . No, he had attacked another student with an unregistered artifact, so he was likely to face further punishment .

Vince then briefly explained why he knew about the artifact, Roaring Flames . “I served in the same unit as your father on the northern front . I thought he would’ve raised his child better . What a mess . ”

Garcia despaired after hearing the reason . “P-Professor! That isn’t…”

“Shut up!” At Vince’s yell, the other students flinched . Some students even lost control of their bladder .

“You will follow me as soon as the lesson is over . I will review your situation at the faculty meeting . Understood?”

“A-Ahh…ahhhh…”

“And Theodore Miller . ”

Theo raised his head at the sudden call .

“After class, finish your dinner and come to my laboratory . Understood?”

“Ah, I understand . ”

“Yes . ” Vince nodded after hearing the answer and looked at the frozen students . “Today’s lesson ends here . Next time, I will teach you about the attributes of magic . Dismissed . ”

After his words, Professor Vince immediately headed toward the faculty members’ office with Garcia .  The rest of the students didn’t know what to do, but they soon started moving toward their next class . They managed to melt the frozen atmosphere by wondering why Garcia was taken away .

‘After school, the professor’s laboratory…’

Only Theodore remained in place as he worried about why Vince had called him .