Chapter 360: I’m a Mage Too (2)

Hubert pointed a trembling finger at Delmud, shouting.

"What, what is this?! Why are you stepping in?!"

"Why? Is there some rule saying I can't?"

Delmud's icy retort silenced Hubert. He had no counterargument.

It was customary, for the sake of decorum, for tower lords and elders to abstain from duels. But in the old days, it wasn't uncommon for elders to fight one another.

Delmud's entrance reversed the atmosphere once again. The Scarlet Flame Magic Tower mages were at a loss, fidgeting anxiously.

"Who will come forward?"

Delmud's sharp gaze scanned the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower side. Those who met his eyes quickly looked away, bowing their heads.

Since Delmud, a tower lord, had stepped forward, Hubert was expected to do the same. But Hubert lacked the courage.

In the end, Vanessa stepped forward, her expression resolute. She had already been slated as the final participant.

"No, don't go," Alpoi said, grabbing her arm and shaking his head.

She looked at him with trembling eyes.

"Lord Alpoi…"

"No matter how strong you are… even as the director of a research institution… you can't beat him. Going out there is suicide."

Even risk-takers need to know their limits. Alpoi knew Vanessa's capabilities better than anyone.

While her knowledge and innate talent might surpass Delmud's, she was still a lower-circle mage with far less mana.

Despite Vanessa's brilliance, the power gap was insurmountable.

"But… there's no one else."

Hubert and the elders were too terrified to step forward, trembling like leaves. Seeing their pitiful state, Alpoi gritted his teeth and spat out his words.

"Then let's just admit defeat. Tell them we've lost."

"He won't accept that."

"Then we fight. All of us together have a better chance of surviving."

Alpoi turned and yelled at the mages behind him.

"Dammit! What are you all doing?! Don't you see what's happening? They're here to kill us all! They're determined to wipe us out!"

Hubert looked at Alpoi with a trembling gaze.

"Alpoi…"

"Get it together! If we don't fight, we'll all die! Everyone, get up here! You idiots!"

His commanding voice startled everyone. But Hubert noticed something odd.

"Then… Why are you retreating?"

Alpoi, still gripping Vanessa's arm, was inching backward with a grim expression.

"…"

He said nothing but stopped moving.

Feigning determination, Alpoi glanced around nervously before taking another cautious step backward.

While everyone was still stunned, Delmud's voice cut through the air, dripping with malice.

"Someone step forward. Now."

Hubert was paralyzed with indecision. Anyone who stepped forward was as good as dead. There was no one here capable of stopping Delmud.

No one—except one.

Ghislain, who had quietly risen from his seat in the spectator area, was already walking closer.

"Count Fenris, you must intervene. Please, mediate this match."

Hubert was out of options. Ghislain was his last hope. If a full-blown war broke out, it would spell the end for the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower. He couldn't let that happen on his watch.

Ghislain nodded a few times, then turned to Delmud.

"They wish to end this here. What is your opinion, Tower Lord?"

"Unacceptable. I have no intention of stopping. And I would remind you that it is overstepping your bounds as a noble to interfere in the affairs of mages."

Boom!

A surge of powerful mana radiated from Delmud, making it clear he wasn't backing down.

Still seething from the death of his first disciple, Delmud was brimming with rage.

He knew Count Fenris couldn't intervene openly without overstepping. First, he would crush the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower, then deal with the Count.

Wiping out everyone here would be much easier that way.

Ghislain nodded slightly again and turned to Hubert.

"The Tower Lord of the Crimson Magic Tower isn't wrong. It's customary for me to limit my involvement."

'You're the last person to talk about customs!'

Hubert felt dizzy. Of all people, Ghislain—a man who disregarded every norm—was now citing tradition.

If Count Fenris didn't intervene, they would have to fight. But against a 7th-circle mage, any fight would be hopeless.

Hubert glanced at the elders. They all shook their heads with horrified expressions.

'Is this really the end of our tower, under my leadership?'

He realized he would have to step forward himself. He could probably hold out longer than anyone else, but Delmud would undoubtedly kill him.

'This bastard must have planned to destroy our tower from the start.'

Why else would Delmud act so recklessly with Count Fenris present? He must be confident that he could handle any political fallout.

'What can I do? Do we really have to fight this out?'

Hubert couldn't bring himself to send anyone to their death. He didn't want to die either. And even if someone sacrificed themselves, there was no guarantee the match would end there.

Fighting together was the only remaining option. One of the towers had to be destroyed for this to end.

With a despairing expression, Hubert turned to Ghislain.

"Count, please step away. It seems we have no choice but to see this through."

But Ghislain responded casually.

"If you're unsure, why not use a guest mage?"

"What? Vanessa is a 6th-circle mage. She can't win. But if you insist on sending her…"

"No, no. Someone else."

"Who…?"

Ghislain smiled brightly.

"I'll go."

"What?"

Before Hubert could say anything, Ghislain stepped forward.

"I will participate in this duel as a guest mage of the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower."

Delmud's eyebrow twitched at this absurdity. Was this some kind of joke?

"Count, do you think you can stop this duel with a stunt like this?"

"This isn't a stunt. I'm seriously entering the duel."

"This is a duel between mages. You're not a mage."

"Says who? Who says I'm not a mage?"

"What?"

A cold smile spread across Ghislain's face.

"I'm a mage too."

Hubert and the elders thought to themselves in unison.

'Oh no, here he goes again.'

While they were grateful for his intervention, they couldn't help but feel exasperated at his antics. If he was going to bluff, he could at least make it more believable.

But Ghislain ignored their reactions and slowly spread his arms.

Boom!

Suddenly, several glowing dark-red spears appeared behind him, floating ominously.

Everyone's jaws dropped at the sight.

"What… what is that? What kind of magic is this?"

"It looks like mana, but also doesn't…"

"Is Count Fenris really a mage?"

The power Ghislain wielded was a mix of mana and spirit energy—an unusual blend derived from his unique mana core.

Even experienced mages couldn't identify the exact nature of his abilities.

Delmud was also taken aback by Ghislain's display.

'He uses magic?'

Neither Count Desmond nor the Duchy had ever mentioned this. There were no rumors about it during the war either.

'They said he was an exceptional knight, but this…?'

Even at a glance, the power radiating from Ghislain was extraordinary. It wasn't something acquired through casual training.

'Was he hiding his strength all this time?'

Delmud had always found Ghislain intriguing based on reports. Seeing him in person was even more astonishing. How had he hidden such power while dominating battlefields and defeating Count Desmond?

Narrowing his eyes, Delmud focused on the spears of energy hovering behind Ghislain.

'This isn't pure mana. What kind of power is this?'

The energy felt murky and ominous. As a 7th-circle mage, Delmud sensed that its source was deeply unsettling.

'Has he dabbled in some form of dark magic? No matter—it changes nothing.'

Delmud smirked cruelly. He was one of only two 7th-circle mages in the kingdom.

It didn't matter if Count Fenris had hidden power—he couldn't be a match for a 7th-circle mage.

'If anything, this makes things easier.'

Since Ghislain had volunteered for the duel, no one could interfere. Killing him first would make it easier to eliminate everyone else.

'This duel will give me the perfect excuse to avoid political backlash.'

Feigning reluctance, Delmud spoke.

"Even if I were to acknowledge you as a mage, Count, it's improper for a noble to interfere in a tower's duel…"

"Hey, you lapdog of the Duchy."

"What?"

"You came here to kill everyone anyway. Why waste time pretending otherwise? Let's settle this right here, just the two of us."

Ghislain grinned fiercely. Delmud froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Haha! Hahaha!"

Boom!

The sheer force of Delmud's laughter caused those around him to cover their ears and retreat.

Such was the overwhelming power of a 7th-circle mage—his laughter alone could harm those nearby.

Still laughing, Delmud fixed his gaze on Ghislain.

"Fine. I'm sick of this pretense anyway. I don't even know why I've been holding back when it'll all come down to force in the end."

Delmud had only restrained himself because of the Duchy's instructions. Suppressing his destructive tendencies had been difficult. As a 7th-circle mage, he had rarely been able to unleash his full power.

But now he doesn't have to hold back anymore. Both Count Fenris and the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower were destined to fall.

"Today, I'll reduce you all to ashes."

Boom!

Delmud began to levitate, his body radiating immense power.

Hubert, watching, shouted.

"Activate the mana barrier! Now!"

Zing!

A mana barrier enveloped the area, but everyone knew it was futile.

The power of a 7th-circle mage couldn't be contained by such a barrier. It would be shattered effortlessly.

"Fall back! Everyone, retreat!"

As Hubert and the elders yelled, the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower mages scrambled to create distance. The Crimson Magic Tower mages had already moved far back.

"Lord!"

Vanessa tried to rush forward, shaking off Alpoi's hand. But Gillian blocked her path.

"Gillian! The Lord—"

Gillian shook his head. Having received prior instructions from Ghislain, he wouldn't let anyone interfere.

"Trust the Lord."

"But…"

Vanessa looked at Ghislain with worried eyes.

As a mage, she understood why 7th-circle mages were called superhumans. Their power was on a completely different level, capable of supernatural feats.

Delmud would be the strongest opponent Ghislain had ever faced.

Floating above, Delmud smirked arrogantly as he looked down at Ghislain.

"Because of you, the Duchy's plans in the North were ruined. Today, I'll pass judgment on you."

Ghislain looked up at him and laughed.

"You said everything would be resolved with force, right?"

"Exactly. Once you're dead, Amelia will take control of the North. With only the East left, the entire kingdom will fall into our hands, and the civil war will end swiftly."

"That's great to hear."

"What?"

"There's something I say often."

"What's that?"

Red light flared in Ghislain's eyes as he grinned.

"I love solving things with force too."

Boom!

Dozens of red spears behind Ghislain shot toward Delmud.

Delmud scowled in irritation at the sight.

"Arrogant fool."

With a wave of his hand, he summoned an enormous surge of mana, dominating the surrounding space.

"Firestorm."

Flames erupted around Delmud, intertwining and twisting into a massive storm.

Boom!

The fiery storm consumed the red spears and surged toward Ghislain.

"Lord!"

Vanessa finally broke past Gillian and tried to rush forward.

Meanwhile, others moved farther back, fearing the storm might breach the barrier.

Everyone watched in terror. Someone muttered in despair.

"Th-this is 7th-circle magic…"

The flames dominating the area were no longer mere magic—they were a natural disaster.

"It's over."

"There's no way…"

"We should run while we can…"

Hubert realized how wrong he'd been. No matter how many mages they had, they couldn't defeat Delmud.

The gap between circles became insurmountable at higher levels, and he felt that reality keenly.

They had to flee. It was their only option.

"E-everyone, retreat! We need to call for reinforcements from Count Bribant—"

"Whaaa!"

Before Hubert could finish, a roar erupted from the crowd of disciples.

Boom!

The fiery storm split apart as Ghislain emerged, unscathed.

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