The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

16.
One-on-one duels between knights and mages weren’t exactly common.

Unlike knights, who would clash swords the moment they felt bored, mages were the kind who didn’t see any reason to risk bodily injury through physical confrontation in the first place.
"Let us duel, mage, and test our chivalry!"
"Why would we fight? And what exactly would I gain from that?"
That’s exactly why such duels were rarely seen.

Even Ransell, who was practically numb to knight-versus-knight battles, didn’t have many instances of dueling a mage.
If he’d ever drawn a sword against a mage, it was usually during a war—or a hunt. Mages who’d entertain a practice bout were just that rare.
But this was the academy.

And if it was happening, the students had no choice but to participate.
"My name is Angel God. Over the past ten years, under my master’s guidance, I’ve completed intensive training and research, and now I’m preparing to graduate from 2nd-Class magic and step into the 3rd-Class..."
"Too much talking!"

"Wait, I haven’t even started yet—!"
As a knight rushed him, the mage hastily began drawing a sigil. Whoosh—a cold wind whipped around his body, crystallizing into shards of ice.
"Don’t underestimate me, knight! Taste the sting of ice sharper than needles!"

"Too late."
Before the ice could fully form into any dangerous shape, a kick reached him first.
"Kegh!"

The mage flew back from a single kick, and Ransell let out a dry chuckle.
"Kegh, kehehk!"
Clutching his side where he’d taken a direct hit to the ribs, the mage trembled.

It was the price of underestimating a knight’s movement speed.
"Don’t expect them to wait for your spell to finish. The moment they’re close, the match is already over."
"Heh, isn’t this too easy, Professor Ransell?"
The knight cracked his neck smugly after flooring the mage with a single blow.

"Getting cocky after one win..."
The gazes of the Magic Department sharpened. A woman in a wide-brimmed hat stepped up next.
"Lynn Iree. 2nd-Class Mage. I’ll go next."

"Wait, is that even allowed?"
The confident knight pointed to the mage’s hand.
She had already formed her casting sign before the match began. Magic was swirling around her, making her robe whip wildly.

Her spell was fully prepped.
"Is there a problem? What’s the difference between that and drawing your sword ahead of time? Or are you scared because you think you’ll lose?"
"Where does this rude commoner mage get off—"
"If you have no complaints, let’s start."

From a distance, Laura held up her fingers in an "OK" circle.
"It’s only fair for a mage to have their own preparation. I approve."
"Indeed. Consider it me giving you a head start."

"Tch."
With even Ransell agreeing, the knight clicked his tongue and raised his wooden sword.
"Begin."

The moment the command rang out, the mage gripped her wand.
"Air. Vibration. Surging wind."
As soon as the short incantation left her lips, a violent gust exploded from the ground.

"Ugh!"
The knight’s body momentarily lost balance, lifting into the air. Flailing weightlessly, he was caught mid-air.
The mage’s wand pointed downward, as if waiting for that very moment.

"Slam down."
The knight’s body twisted and slammed to the ground, headfirst, under the force of magic.
Boom!

"Grk!"
He rolled harshly across the field, blood trickling from his nose.
"Got him!"

"Heheh."
The mage smiled and immediately began another casting sign.
"How’s that feel? I can keep going as many times as you like."

"Ptuh! What an obnoxious spell."
The knight spat blood-tinged saliva and lifted his head with bloodshot eyes.
Ransell could see the magic energy welling in his body, concentrating at his feet.

‘He’s really pissed off.’
The woman still twirled her wand with a smirk.
"Go ahead and act all high and mighty. Looks like getting hit by a commoner mage really bruised your pride."

And then—
Power exploded from the knight’s foot.
BOOM—!

His front foot tore up the ground completely.
His body shot forward in a straight line.
The wooden sword drew a perfect arc straight toward the mage.

"Huh?"
Only when the blade was inches from her did the mage realize what was happening.
"Kyaaah!"

Bracing for the blow, she shielded her head—but the pain never came.
"Easy now. Trying to crack her skull open?"
Ransell had lightly deflected the knight’s blade with his own wooden sword.

The knight, stunned that it had been blocked so easily, stared at his now-empty hands.
His sword had been knocked far away, tumbling across the dirt.
"Uh, d-did I win?"

"Yes. You won. Mage Lynn Iree, defeated. Step back."
"M-my back... I can’t stand..."
Her legs gave out and she was dragged back by her classmates.

"Next. Who’s stepping in?"
.
.
.
Four more mages followed in succession, and every outcome was the same.

Not one made it past even a single knight. They were knocked down by a punch, a kick, or a clean strike of the wooden sword.
"This is all the Magic Department’s got?"
"Let me fight too!"

Confidence and laughter bubbled among the knights.
‘So the experience gap is still this wide.’
Ransell gave a bitter smile.

It wasn’t that the mages lacked ability.
To be handling 2nd-Class magic at their age was already proof of exceptional talent. Each one could be called elite without question.
With a bit of training, some of them could probably toy with any average knight. But that wasn’t the case right now.

"Cleaning duty... we’ll have to clean..."
"I can’t do it, I can’t... I just..."
"Huuu... aaaaaagh..."

The Magic Department already looked defeated.
It seemed they could already see themselves scrubbing the Knight Department’s dormitories from top to bottom.
"Merry. 1st-Class Mage."

Then came Marigold, seventh in line.
"Finally!"
"We’ve been waiting, Merry."

"Damn, I wanted to face that little brat."
Cheers erupted from the knights.
‘Popular, aren’t you, Marigold.’

But even as everyone called out to her, Marigold’s gaze was fixed solely on Ransell.
‘...?’
Her emerald eyes burned bright.

"I have a request, Professor Ransell."
"...What is it?"
"If I defeat all ten of them..."

Marigold’s eyes sparkled so fiercely it was as if they could emit light.
"Professor Ransell should accept a punishment too."
"...Huh?"

Ransell's mouth fell open.
"That cheeky little brat!"
The Knight Department cadets leapt to their feet in unison.

"How dare you speak to the professor like that!"
"To our idol, Professor Ransell! You lowly commoner!"
"Bow your head and apologize!"

‘I was their idol?’
That was news to him.
"Ahem. Quiet."

Ransell calmed the rowdy knights, then nodded at Marigold.
"If you defeat all ten, I’ll do just that."
"Thank you."

As Marigold turned away with a pout, Ransell scratched the back of his neck.
‘Are you sulking?’
17.

"Merry, I was getting bored. You’re just what I needed."
Even as a wooden sword whooshed through the air, Marigold’s expression remained strangely calm. She kept glancing sidelong at Ransell.
"Don’t lose. Show her the strength of a knight."

"Don’t worry, Professor!"
Every time Ransell encouraged the knight, her face twitched.
"......"

It didn’t take long for her moist eyes to fix on him.
Maybe she’d started feeling neglected the past few days since he had been keeping some distance.
‘Don’t take it personally, Marigold. I’m still a professor of the Knight Department—I can’t take your side.’

Ransell looked away deliberately and raised his hand.
"Ready."
Tension flared between Marigold and the knight.

"Begin."
At the command, the knight lunged first, charging straight at her.
"Merry. I’m gonna give you a nice big lump on the head!"

Two quick leaps brought him within striking range.
But Marigold didn’t seem the least bit interested in the approaching knight. She calmly closed her eyes and gathered mana.
"Fuuu."

Then—
She let go of her wooden staff.
"...?"

Ransell narrowed his eyes.
Marigold’s feet and staff floated gently into the air.
"Compress. Release."

BOOM—!
A deafening shockwave radiated from Marigold.
"Ugh!"

The knight was slammed by the formless force and skidded backwards several steps.
But Marigold didn’t stop there.
"Compress. Release. Compress. Release. Compress. Release."

The shockwaves kept repeating—six times, seven times, eight times.
BOOM! BOOM—!
The knight’s grunts became more strained.

"That’s 1st-Class magic. Mana Pulse."
"That kind of output...?"
Even the mages stood open-mouthed. The wind from the blast could be felt from a distance.

Marigold gripped her wooden staff again. At its tip, a glowing orb began to form.
Whoooom—
Mana gathered at the center of the orb, sucking in light, air, and heat.

Layer after layer, the orb compacted into a dense core. The surroundings around the orb began to distort.
"Ghhhhh..."
Marigold’s body trembled uncontrollably. Her teeth chattered with the intensity.

She was nearing the mana threshold.
"Now!"
Her eyes shot open.

The staff’s tip pointed at the knight.
"Go."
"...!"
BOOM—!

The orb shot out in a straight line.
"Shit...!"
A massive explosion detonated beside the knight as he dove aside.

KABOOM—!
Dust billowed skyward, and dirt and sand rained from above.
A crater, big enough to fit two or three people, had been blasted into the field.

"H-Huh?"
The knight, clutching his chest in relief, turned pale.
At the center, far larger than before, five glowing mana orbs slowly rotated around Marigold.

"I’m not done yet."
Through the cloud of dust, her eyes shone with radiant light.
"For the crime of corrupting Ransell-nim... face your punishment!"

‘What the hell is she talking about.’
Seeing the five massive spells flying in, Ransell immediately raised his wooden sword.
Her magic output was far too strong. Even a trained knight wouldn’t walk away intact.

"Merry. That’s enough—"
But before he could finish, Laura pointed her wand at the knight.
"Shield. Protect the knight."

A lattice-shaped magical barrier wrapped around him.
All five mana orbs slammed into it.
KRAAA-KOOM—!

A deafening sound rang out, followed by a huge gust of wind.
The ground was torn up in a broad fan shape.
Only the small area protected by Laura remained intact.

The knight sat down hard, completely drained of will.
"That’s magic..."
A stiff voice murmured from among the knights.

Seeing the true power of magic firsthand brought clarity.
Yes—while rare on battlefields, high-level mages were all formidable in their own right.
They were not weaklings to be underestimated by fledgling knights.

‘How powerful would a Grand Mage be?’
Ransell pondered.
Even if he brought back his self from the third loop, he wasn’t sure he could face a fully-realized Grand Mage Marigold.

Could he win?
And if he did, would he be unscathed?
"Merry-yang. You’ve got talent."

A soft admiration came from beside him.
It was Prince Aldehaar of Lucía, who had silently approached.
"To get that level of output with just 1st-Class magic... Merry-yang might be close to—or even beyond—my level of talent. With proper cultivation... she might become terrifying."

Close to or beyond?
Ransell scoffed quietly. Did Aldehaar even know?
Marigold wasn’t just talented—she was the only person on this continent with the potential to become a true Grand Mage.

There was no one in the entire world with more promise.
She could become anything.
‘Marigold... you really are the true protagonist.’

Ransell clicked his tongue, overwhelmed by the scale of her talent.
"Merry-yang wins!"
Laura’s bright voice rang out.

"She did it!"
Cheers erupted ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) from the Magic Department.
"Uugh...!"

And the moment Marigold’s feet touched the ground—she collapsed.
"Merry-yang!"
"P-Professor! She’s out of mana!"

"Damn it, get her to the infirmary. She needs rest."
The match couldn’t continue anyway.
The entire training field had been shredded into loose dirt by Marigold’s magic.

"So what happens to the bet?"
"Well."
At Professor Laura’s question, Ransell shrugged.

"Seven to one."
Magic Department: official loss.
.
.
.

That night.
"Marigold."
Ransell faced the full moon again.

More precisely, he faced a fully grown Marigold beneath it.
—Ransell.
Wearing a faint smile under the moonlight.

A towering, one-horned Marigold.
—Heehee...