The Story Of The Second Son Of The Baron Family [EN]: Chapter 48

If the insults had been directed at me, I might have felt a twinge of annoyance, but I could have brushed them off. I’ve done so until now, and would continue to do so, unless it was one of those days when everything rubbed me the wrong way, like today. However, I couldn’t simply ignore the insults directed at those who sacrificed themselves at the Terra Barrier.

It wasn’t just about my comrades being insulted, but because it was a contempt for the three years I spent there, for the courage and sacrifice of those who gave their lives for others, and even a betrayal of those they protected. It was a series of events that should never have happened.

“He abandoned his comrades and ran away… It’s not wrong.”

I reacted more sensitively to Willand’s words because I knew, deep down, that they held a grain of truth.

Even if I justified it by saying I would return stronger, that it was a strategic retreat, running away was still running away. But Willand should have kept those words to me alone. Because when my weak spot, as I see it, is poked, I react more fiercely.

“Knowing that you’re a dog that tucked its tail and ran away…”

“Have you ever even been to the Terra Barrier?”

Willand frowned, his mood souring even further at my interruption. It was impolite to interrupt someone, even if you weren’t a noble. But in a situation where he was picking a fight and I was responding, there was no reason to be polite.

“Ha, why would an elite like me go to a place where only failures gather? All you’d see there is wounded dogs licking each other’s wounds.”

Snort-

Listening to that absurd answer, I realized that perhaps that answer represented the average perspective of the Terra Barrier from the outside. Even I was quite disheartened when I was first sent to the Terra Barrier. But after spending three years there, I realized how simplistic and foolish that thought was.

Chuckle, chuckle-

“What’s so funny?”

“Chuckle. It’s funny. Where would you find someone who wouldn’t laugh when a toddler, barely able to walk, throws a tantrum at an adult, insisting they can run faster?”

Failures. That’s right. The mages of the Terra Barrier were, in the eyes of many, a group of failures. Those who couldn’t grow any further because they hit their talent ceiling, or those with insignificant backgrounds. To those with strong backing and exceptional talent, they would undoubtedly look like failures.

Even if you only compared their skills at the same age, the ‘elites’ would likely be superior. They would have learned magic from a young age under skilled instructors. They would have had excellent talent and put in considerable effort, and even external factors like luck would have favored them. But I could say this with certainty: if the mages of the Terra Barrier were failures, then these so-called elites were just youngsters wearing a mask of privilege.

“Are you talking about me now?”

“There are many toddlers, but it seems there’s only one in front of me who’s throwing a tantrum.”

Willand’s face turned red. It seemed that being called a toddler throwing a tantrum was particularly infuriating to him. That’s what happens when you’re always praised by others. They think what they do to others is natural, but what others do to them is not.

Thud-

The result was simple: a handkerchief thrown at my feet. And Willand was looking at me with the same gesture he used to throw the handkerchief, his face flushed. I knew what it meant. It was a challenge to a duel, a matter of etiquette used by nobles, and as a noble myself, I had learned most of what I needed to know.

“The brat is throwing a proper tantrum.”

#

The news that Willand had challenged Renil to a duel spread quickly. That was because both of them were people who attracted attention in their own ways. Willand was a promising talent in the Magic Tower, and Renil was a hot topic, so much so that it was pointless to even elaborate.

“Why a duel all of a sudden?”

“It’s obvious. Honestly… he’s an outsider. Besides, Willand wanted to become the Magic Tower Lord’s disciple. Jealousy of someone who has what he doesn’t must have played a big role.”

“It’ll be fun. A duel between the best prospect and the Great Disciple…”

“Who will win? Or how will they duel?”

Of course, a duel between nobles was bound to be a hot topic, but it was even more so because the protagonists were those two. And it wasn’t just the protagonists that became a hot topic. The method of the duel, the rewards depending on the outcome, and so on, were all discussed. Among them, the most talked about topic was the outcome.

“Who will win?”

“Well, does it really matter who wins?”

“To be honest, I hope the Great Disciple wins. Willand, I’m only saying this because we’re among ourselves, but he’s annoying.”

“If we’re talking about being annoying, the Great Disciple is the same. Calling us three-year-olds is talking about us too.”

“But is a fair duel even possible? Willand is a 3rd Circle mage, and that’s amazing enough, but the Great Disciple is said to be a 4th Circle mage, even though he doesn’t look like it.”

“Willand applied for the duel first, so he must have his own reasons.”

That’s right. Willand was angry, but at the same time, he wasn’t completely swayed by his anger. A duel doesn’t simply end with a win or loss. It concerns an individual’s reputation and, to a large extent, the family’s reputation. Nevertheless, the reason he could confidently apply for a duel, the reason he threw the handkerchief despite the visible gap, as others said, was simple: he thought he could win.

‘I admit there’s a difference in Circle. But it’s only a step. And it’s not even a complete step.’

3rd Circle and 4th Circle. In battles between mages, the difference in Circles was often seen as the difference between victory and defeat. Knights are only greatly affected by the presence or absence of Aura [a magical energy that enhances physical abilities], and if they can imbue their swords with Aura, the victory or defeat depends on their swordsmanship. Considering that, it might seem like too much emphasis is placed on one element, but it couldn’t be helped.

A higher Circle meant that, on average, they had more mana, could use more powerful magic, and could cast the same magic faster, stronger, and more often. But Willand had the confidence to overcome those general limitations.

‘That guy hasn’t been in the 4th Circle for long either. I can perfectly handle the 3rd Circle. I’ve also been learning magic for at least a few years longer.

The level of what I’ve been taught is also different. Except for being able to use more powerful magic, I’m better. I have nothing to lose. If I don’t give him the timing to cast high-Circle magic through calculated checks, there’s no reason for me to lose.’

That would have been quite a valid point if Renil had been an ordinary mage. Just as a weapon that is not properly handled harms its owner, there was no reason why magic would be any different. But Renil was a mage who was a little, no, a lot different from ordinary, and whether that confidence could last until the end could only be known when the duel took place.

#

“Still, you didn’t run away like a dog with its tail between its legs. I know you ran away well from monsters, but I guess I’m easier than a monster.”

“No adult is afraid of a child. And… it’s also an adult’s job to teach a tantruming child that they can’t achieve everything by just throwing tantrums.”

Squeeze-

“Considering how often you talk about adults, you haven’t shown an adult-like appearance even once. Ah! Perhaps running away like crazy because you don’t want to die is the virtue of an adult in your opinion? If so, it makes sense to call yourself an adult.”

“Children always mistakenly believe that they can become adults just by growing bigger.”

Numerous people took their places as spectators for the duel between me and Willand. That was because duels between nobles were rare sights. The mages staying in the Magic Tower were those who had decided to dedicate their lives to magic, but they didn’t always find joy in the process.

As it was more difficult and complex than any other field of study, the sense of accomplishment when they achieved something was great, but the process of achieving it was not only very difficult but also uncertain. As such, these small pleasures were a time for them to forget their complex worries, even for a moment.

“The rules are simple. Do your best to neutralize each other. I’ll step in if it seems dangerous, but I recommend raising both hands before that. It might be too late, you know.”

A middle-aged mage was in charge of the arbitration. As a noble and an excellent mage, he was the right person to arbitrate duels between nobles and mages.

“It starts from the moment my foot touches the ground outside the duel arena. May both of you have a fair duel that is not shameful as nobles.”

And the arbitrator’s foot left the arena.

#

Unconsciously, my hand went to the main pistol on my waist. I had no intention of using it in this duel, but just as habits don’t disappear so easily, I felt uneasy if I didn’t feel the presence of the pistol.

‘What should I do?’

I had never considered the possibility of ‘defeat’ in this duel. No, I refused to consider it. It was impossible. This duel was a duel that I had to win. For myself, for the comrades I left behind at the Terra Barrier, and for my family.

Above all, the picture of me losing simply didn’t compute. It wasn’t just because I was a higher Circle mage than Willand. Of course, being a higher Circle meant that the average stats were also higher, but I had too much experience to just believe in that and be reckless.

‘Whether you can use strong magic or not doesn’t matter as much in a real battle.’

What mattered in a real battle was how quickly you could use the most appropriate magic for the situation at hand. The most valuable thing I learned at the Terra Barrier was precisely that.

How to use the most appropriate magic, regardless of whether it was weak or strong. Not just being a mage as a weapon that pours out powerful magic while being protected by someone, but how to become a true Battle Mage.

So I had no intention of using 5th Circle, no, even 4th Circle magic. I wanted to suppress that guy with my utilization skills, not the raw power of magic. I wanted to imprint in his head that what I could learn at the Terra Barrier was by no means inferior to what he learned, but rather, superior.

‘Shall we see the skills of the Magic Tower’s promising talent, the treasure of the room-bound mages, those who pride themselves on being elites?’

My own welcome was fired at Willand.