Book Eater

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 noisy as they huddled together. It was difficult for them to accept that Garcia, one of the best in their year, had been defeated. It was even more unbelievable that the student who defeated him was Theodore Miller. He had studied for an extra three years, but there was no way an extra three years of study could bridge the gap in talent. The students knew that better than anyone else, which only befuddled them more.

Professor Vince was the most surprised.

A pinpoint Fire Bolt, a flexible Shield, and a compressed Fireball? This is already on the level of an active war magician.

Vince reconsidered his thoughts as he noticed that Theo had never once seemed tense, nor had he taken a step from his initial position. It had been a one-sided victory. 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 done yet!"

Garcia's eyes were wild as he awkwardly scrambled to his feet. His magic power was uncontrollably flickering outside his body, and his distorted expression revealed his wounded pride.

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

His father, Viscount Carter, was famous in his own right, and his family was far more stricter and hierarchical than other families. If rumors spread that he had lost to the famous dunce, he would never be able to leave the Carter estate. He couldn't let that happen.

"This is the last one. If you can take this spell, then I will admit defeat, Theodore Miller!" Garcia shouted wildly at the calm-looking Theo.

Garcia knew it was nonsense, but he couldn't admit defeat like this. He started preparing the spell before Theodore had even replied.

Tsk, children of prestigious families...

In the end, Professor Vince clicked his tongue and stepped back. If Theodore had rejected Garcia's challenge, he would've interfered. However, Theo didn't seem to be bothered. Rather, he was carefully observing Garcia's boiling magic power with cool eyes, which were as sharp as blades; he almost seemed like a war magician on the battlefield.

Thus, the final confrontation between the two students began.

"「Red light streaking across the sky--」"

Garcia's voice took on a strange cadence as he spoke. He was reciting a chant that preceded a spell. It allowed one to imbue the same amount of magic power, but drastically increase the power of the spell. If this was used with high-level magic, it would often become a tactical weapon that could change the course of a battle.

But there was also a hidden benefit to this particular chant.

Wuuuong...

The jeweled pendant hidden underneath his uniform began resonating with its owner's will. The pendant was an artifact known as Roaring Flames, and was only given to a legitimate child of the Carter family. It greatly increased the magic power of its contracted owner and provided a boost to all fire magic. Garcia was well aware of both its attributes, and indeed, was counting on them.

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 Alfred's perception sensed a sudden increase in the opponent's magic power. Theo correctly identified the resulting spell to be 4th Circle magic.