NOVPUBThe audience’s reaction was one of complete bafflement.
They had expected the duel to be drawn-out and intense—but instead, it had ended abruptly, a one-sided victory.
“W-What... was that even real?”
“I heard the other guy was a professional mage, hired for an enormous sum by Luk Corporation...”
Everyone stared at Ludger with disbelief.
From the moment the duel began until now, Ludger hadn’t so much as moved a muscle. His staff remained raised in the same position.
Even his expression hadn’t changed—like victory had been the obvious outcome all along.
“The winner! Ludger Cherish!”
Elisa Willow’s cheerful voice marked the end of the duel.
Only then did the suffocating silence and stunned atmosphere begin to dissipate.
Clap. Clap.
One by one, people started to applaud.
Like ripples spreading from a single drop in still water, the applause multiplied, filling the entire banquet hall.
Clapclapclapclapclap!
“Unbelievable! Is this the standard for Seorn’s faculty?”
“That Luk Corporation mage wasn’t an amateur either, but it wasn’t even close.”
“What were those spells just now? The casting was so fast I couldn’t even see the formation process!”
“So it’s true, then—that rumor about him using strange spell structures!”
Though some guests felt the duel had ended a bit too quickly to be satisfying...
In the end, everyone found it to be an exhilarating surprise—especially for something so spontaneous.
“Well now. That was remarkable.”
Theodor looked to Elisa, who was grinning with a “just as planned” expression beside him.
“The aide I assigned to my idiot son was a mage with quite the reputation... and yet he got wiped out in an ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) instant. Are all Seorn instructors monsters like that?”
“Ahaha, not at all. To be honest, Mr. Ludger is... rather unique.”
“Hmm. I figured as much. It’s hard to imagine there being anyone else like that. Unless there’s someone even worse.”
“Worse? You flatter us. But tell me—are you alright? It can’t feel good to have your son humiliated in front of everyone like that.”
Theodor chuckled dryly and shook his head.
“No need to worry. It’s my own fault for raising such a useless son. It was a proper duel, and as a witness, I’ll acknowledge the result without complaint.”
He glanced at Ivan—who still sat collapsed in disbelief, unable to process what had just happened—with thinly veiled contempt.
“That fool probably won’t accept it and will throw another tantrum soon, but don’t worry. I’ll handle that myself.”
“You really are something, Chairman Theodor. So easy to talk to.”
“And, well... I did have one request.”
Theodor began to edge toward his real motive—but Elisa cut him off with a sharp shake of her head.
“Nope.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“You were going to ask to be introduced to Mr. Ludger, right? Come on. That’s obvious. I’m sorry, but please refrain from poaching our faculty.”
“...Hah. If you’re going to put it that bluntly, I’ve got no choice.”
At her quiet warning, Theodor could only raise both hands in surrender.
He wanted Ludger—badly. But not badly enough to risk souring relations with Seorn’s Headmaster.
Theodor Luk, a man of colossal influence in both the political and financial spheres of the Empire, still recognized there were some people in the world one shouldn’t carelessly provoke.
And Elisa Willow was one of them.
“Well... I suppose it would’ve been rather shameless to ask anyway.”
He glanced sidelong toward the banquet hall entrance.
“But they might not feel the same.”
“...You’re right.”
Elisa followed his gaze—and her expression tightened slightly.
A group of unwelcome faces was entering the banquet hall.
* * *
This is ridiculous.
I looked down at Ivan Luk’s aide, sprawled on the floor in a heap, and couldn’t help but feel a little stunned.
He’d seemed like a competent man—who could’ve guessed he’d collapse like that?
He made such a big show of how strong he was, so I figured I should take it seriously too...
I’d been slightly concerned about what kind of magic he might use, given how unpredictable duels could be.
But to my surprise, my opponent was a mage who specialized in high-speed spellcasting.
In mage duels, the single most important factor is speed—the speed of forming and activating spell structures.
Taking that into account, this man could be seen as someone practically born for one-on-one combat. At a stretch, he was nearly top-tier in that niche.
That’s probably why he so confidently stepped forward.
He was convinced he could take me down instantly with his specialty—fast casting.
But... why use that against me?
That was what baffled me.
I can use [source code].
Not to boast, but even 5th-circle mages can’t match my spellcasting speed when I use source code.
As far as 3rd-circle magic is concerned, I can cast faster than anyone.
And yet he chose me—of all people—to challenge with a speed duel?
At this point, it almost felt like he’d stepped forward specifically to lose.
Did he not know?
I had deliberately shown off the source code magic during my first class, and I’d made sure rumors spread.
Anyone in the know should have known by now.
And yet he’d tried to win a speed duel against me—meaning he either didn’t know at all, or simply didn’t believe it was real.
Which, well... wasn’t that unusual.
There were plenty of mages who scoffed at the very idea of such magic existing.
Still, it was a little insulting.
Well, I won. So I guess it doesn’t matter.
The aide, now unconscious, was carried out by Luk Corporation’s guards.
And Ivan—the root cause of all this—still sat there, dazed, unable to believe he’d lost the duel.
“Y-You...!”
He finally locked eyes with me, fists trembling with rage.
But unlike before, he didn’t shout.
Not because he’d learned anything.
But because his eyes were fixed not on me—but past me.
“Are you Ludger Cherish?”
A voice came from behind.
I slowly turned to face the speaker.
An elderly man with long white beard, leaning on a staff, stood before me.
He stood out.
In a room full of sleek tuxedos and elegant dresses, he alone wore a loose, oversized robe.
The kind of robe that would’ve gotten any normal person kicked out at the door for violating the dress code.
But that changed when there was a certain symbol stitched across the front of it.
“You’re from the Mage Tower, aren’t you?”
“Ohh. Sharp, aren’t you?”
The old man’s eyes sparkled as he let out a hearty laugh at my words.
A golden emblem framed around a towering spire—an unmistakable symbol.
This man was a mage from the Mage Tower.
And not just any mage—one of significant status.
Even a fool like Ivan Luk recognized that much and didn’t dare speak up.
“So, why exactly are you here looking for me?”
And he wasn’t alone.
Five other mages stood behind him.
“I saw the match just now. Your opponent’s casting speed was impressive, but yours... yours was on another level entirely. I’ve never seen anyone manifest magic that fast in my life.”
“I see.”
“Was that, perhaps, the [source code] magic we’ve heard so much about?”
So that was why they came.
I nodded—there was no need to hide it.
“Yes.”
“Oho! I knew it! Incredible!”
The old man reacted like a child who’d just found his favorite toy.
The deep wrinkles on his face contorted with glee, and the sheer energy in his expression made me furrow my brow without thinking.
I asked, a little brusquely,
“So, again—why exactly did you come looking for me?”
“Huh? Ah—haha, forgive me. I nearly forgot. We haven’t even introduced ourselves, have we?”
Rather than answer my question, the old man launched into introductions.
“I’m Altego Dantes, a senior council member of the Mage Tower.”
“...Ludger Cherish. Instructor at Seorn Academy.”
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
“Ah, so you do know. In fact, the only reason I went out of my way to appear at this pathetic little gathering was to meet you.”
Pathetic? This was still a banquet attended by noble and distinguished guests—wasn’t that a bit much?
“You mean me?”
“Yes, yes. I was going to go directly to Seorn, but who could’ve known that cunning fox would block me at every turn.”
Ludger immediately understood who that “fox” was.
“Oh my, isn’t that Chairman Altego?”
The presumed—no, the certain—subject stepped forward with a bright smile.
Altego’s expression twisted in open displeasure the moment he recognized who had spoken.
“Elisa Willow. To think I’d run into you here. Should a Headmaster even be mingling at an event like this? You act far too lightly. Might be time for you to step down.”
“And what brings you here, Chairman Altego? I thought you said fancy events like this didn’t suit you. Or are you pretending not to enjoy these crowds of young people?”
“Do I owe you an explanation for everything I do? I came here to meet someone. Not to chat with you.”
“Ahaha. Chairman, you’re so obvious. You came to see our new instructor, didn’t you?”
She put particular emphasis on the word our.
Elisa’s tone, which had been playful until now, grew noticeably sharper the moment she addressed Altego directly.
Well, no wonder. Someone like the young prodigy Headmaster would naturally be oil to the stagnant water of the Tower’s elder council.
The Elder Council was the symbol of the old Tower.
Elisa, by contrast, was from the new generation—embracing change and advancement.
Their clash of temperament was clear from the open hostility in their words.
“This place doesn’t really seem suitable for someone like you, Chairman. What could you possibly gain by being here?”
“That sly fox kept getting in my way, so I came myself. Now move. I’ve got no business with you.”
Altego deliberately tried to dismiss Elisa and turned to Ludger instead.
“Since we don’t have much time, I’ll get straight to the point. Won’t you join the Mage Tower? I promise you the highest treatment.”
“Chairman!”
Elisa barked, evidently shocked that he would be so shamelessly direct.
Altego, of course, responded as if she were an annoying little dog yapping at his heels.
Ludger, too, was surprised by Altego’s bluntness.
What the man was doing was flat-out rude.
Yet Altego ignored everyone else and kept speaking.
“A mage of your caliber—wasting your talent teaching a bunch of brats? When I first heard the rumors about ‘source code,’ I was skeptical. But after that duel, I’m certain. You belong with us at the Tower.”
“...”
“So how about it? I’ll personally write your recommendation. Come to the Tower and you’ll be guaranteed a high seat.”
Judging from his eagerness, he’d clearly tried to approach Ludger earlier—likely foiled repeatedly by Elisa’s interference.
Now, he’d seized the opportunity presented by the banquet.
“It’d be good for you, too. What, you think being a teacher at an academy gets you recognition? From whom—those ignorant little children? But the Tower is different. It’s the most coveted destination for every mage on the continent!”
Altego rambled on about the greatness of the Mage Tower, unable to contain his excitement.
To sum up his pitch: The Tower is the best. Everything else is trash.
It was arrogant beyond belief—but not entirely untrue. The Tower’s prestige was undeniable.
Ludger paused, pretending to consider.
Then he opened his mouth.
“If I were to agree to join the Tower, what would you offer me?”
“Oh?”
“Mr. Ludger?!”
Elisa’s expression turned to shock, while Altego looked overjoyed.
“Haha! What do you want? Money? The Tower’s annual budget rivals that of Seorn! I don’t know how much they pay you, but we can offer at least three times that!”
“...”
“Power, then? If you join under me and publish a few papers, I’ll have you appointed Chief Mage directly under the Elder Council! Or you want an artifact? We’ve got more than enough of those too!”
“In that case...”
Ludger cut in, expression calm.
“Would you give me a seat on the Elder Council?”
“...What?”
Altego’s face contorted like a man struck dumb.
The five mages behind him, who’d been quietly observing, stiffened.
Then, as understanding hit them, their gazes turned hostile.
“...What did you say? A seat on the Council?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
“Have you gone mad? You should be thanking us for offering to bring you in! And you ask for a Council seat?! Do you even understand what that is?!”
“I do. All too well.”
How could he not?
How could I not know what that seat represents?
“A position held by old fools who think age alone makes them worthy of respect.”
“...Are you seriously saying this? You’re not drunk, are you?”
“I’m perfectly sober.”
“Sober?!”
Altego now resembled a pigeon shot midflight.
He glared at Ludger, teeth grinding.
“You not only refuse the Tower’s offer—you insult the Council to its face? You think inventing a new magic system makes you somebody?!”
The gleeful elder from earlier was gone.
Altego’s face was red with rage, veins bulging on his forehead.
“There are things you can and cannot say—!”
“Perhaps I didn’t say it clearly enough.”
“...What?”
“So I’ll put it simply.”
Ludger looked down at the old man, whose eyes were steeped in arrogant elitism.
“I don’t care what title you offer me. I have no intention of setting foot in a place like the Mage Tower.”
