Chapter 145: Favoritism Hurts A Bit (3)


    Just as Iona had said, the one-on-one duel with Iona didnt end with just one urrence but continued every day.


    And every day, I got thoroughly beaten.


    No. As I got used to Iona and learned various things, the intensity of the duels increased, making the beatings I received more severe as the days went by.


    But today would be different!


    st Burn!


    A massive me of mass exploded upon themand word.


    Sharp fragments of me scattered. Each moved fast and on an irregr trajectory, but their destination was the same.


    The me materialized during a demonstration of elementalbination magic that Iris had shown before.


    Abination of me and earth magic developed into a more violent form, prepared especially for today.


    However, Iona simply smiled brightly in the face of the magic aimed at her vital points.


    Amazing! Amazing! This must be a secret of the Sylvan Mana Tower, right? Last time, you used a wide-area attack, but this time, you prepared a spell for personalbat! Good job, student Yandel!


    Would you mind getting hit a bit if you know!


    I dont want to! It seems like it would hurt!


    Iona yfully retorted, waving her hand from left to right. Following her trajectory, several ice spikes were formed.


    Was this a consecutive casting of Icicle Spear? Or multiple chants?


    Ice Arrow!


    No, it was Ice Arrow.


    Being able to create several at once or control their trajectory to some extent after shooting them was a characteristic of arrow-type magic.


    But why were these arrows so thick?


    While I internally panicked, Ionas Ice Arrow swiftly intercepted and annihted the fragments of my st Burn.


    <em>Bang! Boom!</em>


    And then, one remaining arrow pierced through the steam and, as a bonus, pierced through my heart as well.


    <em>Cough</em>


    A clear fatal wound. Of course, thanks to Blood Shift, there was no actual injury apart from a hole in my clothes.


    Only the pain clinging like an afterimage reminded me that Id been hit in return.


    Even though Blood Shift absorbed a certain level of pain along with wounds, I couldnt get used to this sensation of being on the brink of death.


    All the magic I prepared over the past few days with Iris through themunication crystal gets blocked like this.


    Not just exploding, but I still vividly remembered struggling to add a homing feature to the fragments.


    At this point, I started to get angry.


    Argh! Let me stab you just once! Please, just once!


    Of course, I couldnt even graze her clothes when I was fine, so what would change by charging in with my eyes flipped?


    No! No! No matter how angry you are, a magician shouldnt charge in so foolishly, student Yandel! And saying you want to stab <em>Tsk!</em> You shouldnt say such naughty things to a professor!


    This time, I got beaten down personally by Iona, who had strengthened herself with support magic.


    An event that had happened several times, something that could even be considered part of my recent daily routine.


    But perhaps the mental exhaustion from enduring only the shocks I could withstand was inevitable.


    As soon as Iy down on the ground, my eyes began to close.


    As my vision narrowed, I saw Iona, startled, rushing towards me, and then I lost consciousness.


    <hr>


    When I woke up, I was in the infirmary bed.


    It felt a bit less plush than the intensive care unit I was admitted to after defeating Edmerek.


    As I absentmindedly thought this, a grumpy-looking middle-aged priest approached from afar.


    He must be the priest in charge of this infirmary.


    Have you awakened?


    Ah, yes. I


    Dont worry. Theres nothing wrong with your body. Professor Iona is unnecessarily thorough in these matters.


    The priest tutted, gave a short prayer to bless me, and nodded.


    Rest for today. Ill speak to Professor Iona on your behalf.


    Thank you.


    As I nodded my head, the priest, who casually received my thanks, soon headed out of the room. And from the next room over, I could hear a bellowing voice telling someone to take it easy with their body.


    From what I could gather, it seemed they were busy due to the Knight Department students being brought in every day.


    Just having woken up, I was staring nkly at the ceiling when the door burst open, and Ca and Elisha came rushing in.


    Master! Are you really okay?! Ive never seen anyone faint in Professor Ionas ss before Youre not hurt anywhere, are you?!


    Ca, you heard what the priest said earlier. Stop making such a fuss But seriously, isnt Professor Iona going too far? No matter how important realistic dueling is, how can she push someone until they copse?


    Ca, worriedly grabbed my arm, and Elisha, subtly expressed her dissatisfaction with Iona.


    Tickling the chins of the two quickly calmed them down and quieted them.


    Well, dont be too hard on her. Not just anyone can take Professor Ionas one-on-one lessons, right?


    Thats true. It might be a bit harsh, but Professor Iona teaches how to fight as a magician without holding anything back.


    Yeah. Unless you be her ve or she takes you on as a personal student, its an opportunity that wouldnte.


    The academy was an educational institution meant to nurture talented individuals regardless of their background, but that didnt mean there were professors who taught everything they knew.


    Be it a Magic Tower, guild, or family tied to one, they kept their secrets for reasons of proprietary knowledge.


    And those who had seeded on their own without any particr background, even more so, kept their cards close to their chests for their own value.


    But Iona was different.


    Although her methods were rough, she truly did her best to teach me.


    She was trying to teach me everything except for blood magic or the vampire-likebat style that relied on tenacious vitality.


    This was almost akin to favoritism.


    And I was well aware of it.


    How could I not notice the drastic changes in just a few days?


    It wasnt that Id gained new magic or increased my mana, but I was confident that the current me could overpower the me of the past.


    But as grateful as I was, it was still frustrating.


    I need power.


    The kind of power that could give Iona a taste of her own medicine!


    Thats what happened. Iris, any good ideas?


    -Huh Didnt the professor say she was limiting her own power when fighting? And yet, you couldnt even touch the hem of her clothes.


    I had skipped a day of sses and only returned to the dormitory afterward.


    As soon as I arrived, I turned on themunication crystal and chatted away to Iris about everything that had happened today.


    While I wasying out myints, Ca silentlyid her head on my knee, gazing up at my face with a silly grin.


    And Elisha, not minding getting close to me in her attempt to see Iriss face, stretched her neck out long.


    Having gotten used to having the two of them by my side, I naturally continued to chatter away, poking and prodding here and there.


    Softly and squishily.


    Really, Iris? Isnt there anything? Like a forbidden spell or magic so powerful that it can only be used with unanimous approval from some sort of council?


    -Such magic can indeed be considered the romance of a magician, but the oues arent always great.


    Irisughed as if it were ridiculous, pointing at her rather ample chest.


    -First of all, I got caught trying to cast a forbidden spell myself.


    Ah.


    Even summoning spirits was considered a forbidden spell.


    -Thetter does exist, but I dont know of any. Even if I did tell you, such magics require the budget of a nation to use, so you wouldnt be able to use them personally.


    That much?


    -Indeed, thats why its strictly managed by those in high positions.


    Realizing she made a valid point, I couldnt help but nod in agreement.


    Ah, but Iris, is that padding?


    -Is it that obvious?


    Yes.


    Iriss chest could only be seen to be plump whenpletely exposed or touched.


    It wasnt something you could tell just by looking at her wearing loose clothes, like now.


    -I was too greedy Next time, Ill have to go for a more moderate size.


    Iris, looking slightly disappointed, took something round and jelly-like from her chest and tossed it away.


    Now, she was back to her usual self.


    So, theres no straightforward method, then?


    -At least, from what I can see, thats the case. If I had to say, creating a new elementalbination magic andbining it with the elemental resonance youve recently seeded in would be


    So, the reason Im getting beaten by Professor Iona isnt a matter of power, so increasing power wont really make a difference, right?


    -Exactly. But Im surprised. I knew Professor Iona was great, but shes a top-tier magician like me, after all. Honestly, I wouldnt be confident enough not to get hit at all if I limited my power that much.


    Well thats why she teaches the magicbat subject because she fights so well.


    It was not only because Iona had always been good at fighting, but also because the vampire race itself was strong.


    Iris might not be aware, but if we were topare thebat abilities of Iris and Iona, Iona would likely be far superior.


    Of course, someday Ill be stronger than Iona but how do I wait until then?


    If there was no other way, then I guess I just had to work very hard.


    As I sighed deeply in disappointment, Elisha, perhaps feeling sorry for me, stroked my neck while trying to look into themunication crystal.


    Dont get too down. Anyway, you just need tond a hit on Professor Iona, right?


    Yeah. Its so unfair to just keep getting hit.


    Then, although it might be a bit underhanded, how about looking for a weakness?


    A weakness?


    Did Iona even have a weakness?


    Wait a minute.


    Thinking about it, I realized I surprisingly didnt know much about Iona.


    That was because Iona was a character who couldnt be romanced in H&A.


    Since I couldnt add Iona as apanion, Id never seen her status window, and there was no event where I directly dueled her 1-on-1, so I didnt really know how she fights.


    If anything, there was only a brief moment where she fought in thetter part of a full-frontal battle, but it was so brief that it was hard to fully grasp.


    You couldnt know everything about a magician just by seeing one spell.


    Knowing your opponent is the very foundation of winning.


    Had I been neglecting even that, just moping around?


    First, I need to find out what Iona likes, dislikes, and any small habits she might have.


    Elisha, youre a genius!


    Eh? Me? Ahem. I am indeed! Please praise me more!


    Elisha is pretty! Your thighs are even more scandalous than Cas!


    What about other parts?!


    Your long ears are cute!


    Good! Ohohohoho!!


    Elisha didnt quite understand, but she enjoyed the praise as she fanned herself with a hand fan.


    The sight of her blue bun hair bobbing was incredibly reassuring.


    Was this what it felt like to have apetent subordinate by your side?


    I silently nned to stalk No, observe Iona, with a content smile on my face.


    This was my chance to find out things not mentioned in the setting book.


    I felt my fan heart for H&A reviving after various experiences.