The Conjurer of the Academy

Chapter 16

Babel, an educational academy for training elite hunters, is often praised for its training facilities designed to enhance students’ combat abilities.

The building was as large as a stadium, filled with measurement devices and basic exercise equipment.

Despite being frequented by hundreds of students daily for training and classes, it was always impeccably maintained.

More importantly, the facility could simulate various terrains through panel manipulation, making it an essential location for every combat-related class.

“Last time, we covered the theory. But seeing is believing, right?”

This was also the only place where Choi Tae-min took on the role of a teacher.

Standing in the center of the training room, Choi Tae-min scrolled through his smartphone during the special tactics lecture, with students lined up in rows.

“So, today…”

Choi Tae-min’s drawling voice.

At the moment he manipulated the panel on the remote in his hand,

Rumble-!

The floor around Choi Tae-min rose. The circular platform that emerged was so enormous it resembled an arena, and its edge couldn’t be seen from where we stood.

Immediately after the floor rose, a notification appeared faster than Choi Tae-min.

Main Quest No.3

Q. Win the Mock Duel

※ The rewards remain the same regardless of the opponent.

Moments after the quest window appeared, Choi Tae-min addressed the students.

“Today, we will conduct a mock duel in this arena.”

The students began to murmur among themselves. It was only the second class, and they were suddenly asked to spar with each other. While some might think Choi Tae-min was just trying to take it easy with his lesson, there was a reasonable rationale behind it.

“While the amount of mana you have is important, the most crucial aspect is how you use it. The way you utilize the mana given to you greatly affects your survival rate on the battlefield.”

With another manipulation of the panel, the floor opened, and a worn-out training dummy emerged.

“This is a magical device designed to closely simulate the upper half of a human body.”

The dummy had a gauge on its chest, displaying the number 0. Choi Tae-min took a basic stance, stretched out his waist, and then punched the dummy with all his strength.

Thud!

The dummy wobbled back and forth before finding its balance and returning to its original position. Immediately, the gauge displayed a number.

【1,321】

“No matter how much mana you infuse, if your striking method or usage isn’t right, you may only produce this much power.”

Then, aiming a flick at the dummy’s forehead, Choi Tae-min continued.

“But conversely, even with a very small amount of mana, if your striking method and technique are correct—”

Bang!

He flicked the dummy.

A casually taken stance and a seemingly simple flick. With a dull sound reminiscent of tearing metal, the dummy’s head detached and crashed into the floor behind the students.

The dummy, now headless, jerked and creaked, revealing a new number.

【9,999】

“Well, that’s the gist of it.”

With a yawn as if bored, Choi Tae-min glanced around at the students.

“Though it’s a mock duel, it’s still a combat exercise. Today’s lesson is for you to learn how to sense and control your mana during each moment of combat.”

As Choi Tae-min stated, the real purpose of this training wasn’t merely to determine victory or defeat. It was a time to truly grasp the feel of combat, and in the game, this was the point where the difficulty sharply increased.

‘Rollhunter was fairly tricky in terms of controls. I think I got defeated a few times during my first mock duels too.’

After repeating it several times, it was just an extension of the tutorial.

“My explanation ends here. So there’s no need to stress about winning or losing.”

Choi Tae-min concluded the brief theoretical explanation with one last comment.

“This is part of a fixed curriculum, so don’t think I’m skimping on the lessons.”

It seemed he was aware that he appeared lazy.

* * *

The first requirement for the mock duel was to choose a sparring partner. The students dispersed, searching for suitable opponents. I did the same.

‘The quest completion condition is simply victory, so it doesn’t really matter who the opponent is…’

Choi Tae-min said not to worry about winning or losing, but since victory was set as the quest’s success condition from the beginning.

“Hey, if you don’t have a partner, let’s do it together.”

“No way, your entrance rank is higher than mine. I’m bound to lose.”

Besides, how many students would truly not care about winning or losing? These are elites, sensitive to victory and defeat. Even if the purpose is to learn, naturally, they still want to win if possible.

“Ha-baek, let’s spar.”

“No, if you don’t have a partner, spar with me! His entrance rank is way too high.”

As a result, there were plenty of students trying to make me their sparring partner. They all called me by name as if we were friends, but none of them had really spoken to me properly in class.

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

“Someone in mind…”

Naturally, you can’t just choose a partner unilaterally. A mock duel can’t proceed without mutual agreement.

The straightforward approach would be to find someone who looks weaker and beat them, but…

‘That would waste too much opportunity.’

In Babel, except for fighting monsters, there aren’t many chances to directly match strength with another student. So, when given this kind of opportunity, I want to test my newly acquired abilities as much as possible.

‘I’d like to test the Sain-gum and Baek-Ah’s abilities in practical combat if possible.’

There were a few opponents I had in mind, but I wanted to extract the utmost efficiency. Ideally, someone who would go all out rather than just pass the time.

Of course, I had someone in mind. If I had to pick the person who met the conditions I mentioned:

“Get out of my way.”

Just then, Kim In-seong barged through the crowd. As the ill-tempered guy raised his head, the bustling students cleared a path. With the crowd parting, Kim In-seong stood before me and loudly declared,

“Seol Ha-baek, let’s fight.”

Who would have thought he’d approach me first? Before responding, I glanced around. Seeing some guys laughing in the distance, I roughly guessed what was going on.

‘Kim In-seong, this guy. He’s smarter than he looks.’

Right now, Kim In-seong’s position within his group is shaky due to the suspicion that I beat him up.

However, he can’t openly harass me either, because if he does, I might just reveal what happened that day, as promised.

So, the strategy Kim In-seong came up with to handle his situation was this:

“Are you scared?”

Crushing me in front of everyone. By doing so, the suspicion against Kim In-seong would naturally be cleared, and anything I say afterward would just seem like the excuses and outbursts of a sore loser.

“Ha, Ha-baek, you’re not seriously thinking of sparring with him, are you? His entrance rank is really high.”

A student, reluctant to let me go, whispered in my ear. I was well aware of Kim In-seong’s entrance rank. It was much higher than those trying to partner with me right now.

‘It would be safer to complete the quest by sparring with someone ranked lower, but…’

Even if I decline this challenge, the result will be the same. They’ll think I backed down out of fear.

If that happens, Kim In-seong’s harassment will continue, and I’ll be forced down the original storyline’s path. To prevent that, sacrificing immediate efficiency is worth it.

“Who said I’m scared?”

“Really?”

Kim In-seong smirked back at my retort.

He must have thought his provocation worked. But Kim In-seong didn’t know.

‘Honestly, I wanted to face you too.’

That he was a golden opportunity handed to me on a silver platter. Knowing all his abilities and patterns, Kim In-seong was the perfect test subject.

“Then the match is set.”

Now, I just need to carve up this opportunity that rolled in so eagerly.

* * *

The sparring matches began in order, based on the pairs that were decided. Our turn was the third. Throughout the earlier sparring matches, Choi Tae-min spent his time looking at his smartphone but had to stand up for procedural reasons.

“Alright, before we start, let me go over the safety rules. Listen carefully.”

Following protocol, Choi Tae-min sighed deeply as he recited the same instructions for the third time.

“You’re disqualified if you step out of the arena. You can use the provided weapons. The basic protective gear is provided, but targeting the face is not allowed… Alright, you probably know all this already, just put on your Protectors, and let’s start quickly.”

Then, Choi Tae-min handed over a tool resembling a wristwatch.

‘This is the Protector.’

Protector.

It’s a magical tool worn as a bracelet, and the gauge attached to the band displays the amount of stored mana in a battery format.

As the name implies, the Protector is a safety device that shields the body from impact based on the amount of mana it contains.

While its durability may not be exceptional, as it’s only a bracelet, this is a standard for real combat. It’s hard to believe that new students would fully deplete the mana in their Protectors.

Seeing it in person was a first for me as well.

In any case, it’s because of these Protectors that we can wield sharp weapons in sparring.

“Even with the Protector on, it doesn’t mean you won’t feel any pain, so be cautious. Also, though unlikely, if the mana in the Protector runs out, an alarm will sound. The match will be stopped immediately.”

After stating the final precaution, Choi Tae-min walked sluggishly out of the arena.

Now, with a walk to the end of the arena and a wait for Choi Tae-min’s start signal, all preparations for the match were complete.

“Hey, Seol Ha-baek.”

In the arena with no one listening, just the two of us, Kim In-seong glared sharply at me.

“Last time, I was caught off guard, but today will be different. I’ll beat you to a pulp, so get ready.”

“Caught off guard…? Is that something you, who’s been bullying others since the beginning of the semester, can say?”

Clearly, Kim In-seong himself couldn’t accept his defeat that day. Having always lived as the strong one, he couldn’t fathom having to submit to someone he viewed as weak like me.

“Get ready. From today, I’ll make your life so miserable you’ll wish you were dead.”

“…Do you fight with your mouth? Say that after you’ve won.”

Enough of the back-and-forth banter.

We both walked to our respective ends of the arena. When we faced each other from opposite sides, the distance was roughly 20 meters.

“Protector or not, I’ll really kill you.”

Kim In-seong, having reached his starting position first, lowered his stance. This was the posture he took when he was about to launch a full-scale attack, aiming to close in on his opponent.

He drew his dagger, and his biceps and triceps seemed to pulse as if alive.

“Making a lot of noise before the start, aren’t you?”

Facing Kim In-seong, I drew the Sain-gum. Compared to his razor-sharp dagger, my weapon looked clumsy and dull.

“Yomi, Baek-Ah.”

No need to act like the world is collapsing. Just like always, approach it like it’s no big deal as if it’s a simple, repetitive task.

The real world is full of anomalies, but if I don’t calm my mind, my body will only tense up.

[Yawn, what’s all the fuss now?]

[Eek, are we fighting?]

From my shoulder and from the gripped Sain-gum, their voices could be heard. The different energies overlapped, beating like waves through my heart and boosting my exhilaration.

“Well then.”

Choi Tae-min’s raised hand sliced through the air.

“Begin.”

The mock duel had begun.