Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 80

Episode 80 Agency (3)

Wizards are vulnerable to melee combat.

It was obvious. It was already overwhelming to expand the magic circuit and learn theories and magic, so there would be no time to train in martial arts or martial arts.

Besides, since there is magic in the first place, there is almost no need to fight by sticking close to it.

This was especially true for elemental magicians who specialized in destruction. That was why the nobles had no choice but to look at Verden differently.

“……Didn’t you clearly say you were an elemental wizard?”

“That kind of movement on top of the magic. Hehe, I can’t help but be surprised by this.”

Suddenly, the War Mage of the Western Empire came to mind.

Although it was a very distant country and had no connection to the principality, I knew that it was training a powerful magician force that used a unique fighting style that combined magic and martial arts.

But I soon changed my mind.

There are a very small number of wizards who do not rely on magic. It would be an exaggeration to think that a wizard who is skilled in close combat would be a soldier of a foreign country.

In the first place, there was no reason for the Western Empire to care about the principality. Even if there was, it would not have been revealed so openly.

The nobles who were quietly watching Verden.

Last year, it was Bloody Sword's turn, but this year, there were three candidates for the championship. No one knew who would win.

The nobles talked about the match without exception. The garden of the banquet hall was more bustling than usual, and those who had not yet participated in the betting placed bets on Verden.

After the first game, it was time for a break.

The king's servants were moving around busily, carrying food.

Verden looked around, holding a glass of champagne.

Even though there was talk of a match, there seemed to be some kind of rule, and the nobles and participants were forming separate groups.

Since I had nowhere to go, I walked towards where the participants were.

The participants who saw Verden glared. They looked like they were on guard after watching the match just before.

Then Jack approached.

“You are strong.”

I couldn't think of anything to say at the sudden words.

Verden, who had been thinking for a moment, opened his mouth.

"thank you."

“I can’t wait for the finals.”

After saying those words, Jack left.

Then, I ran into Ruknan on the way, but unlike when I met Verden, he passed me by as if he had no interest at all.

“……Something like a savage.”

Ruknan's expression distorted as he thought he had been ignored, but soon returned to his usual face.

Then he leisurely approached Berden, turning the champagne glass around.

“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Ruknan, and I am indebted to Count Davirk.”

He greeted me politely.

It was almost like he was imitating a nobleman, but I had no intention of pointing it out.

“This is Asher.”

“I know. The fight just before was definitely impressive. It was a rare sight to see a wizard engage in close combat.”

Luken twisted the corners of his mouth.

It was clearly a smile bordering on mockery.

“Well, I understand that each person has their own special talents. In your case, it would be a move that is not typical of a wizard. But to avoid a magical battle against a wizard is a shame, to be honest.”

Avoiding magic wars means not having confidence in magic.

Apart from his strength, he was a disgrace as a wizard. At least that's what Ruknan thought. For him, the ideal wizard was a true artist.

I thought it was right to subdue my opponent more beautifully and gently with magic. That's why I absolutely loathed Verden's fighting style.

“So I’ll make you an offer. Give up the second round. If you do that, you can at least save some pride.”

Professor Lukenen.

A former academy professor who is skilled in using 4th-tier mental magic.

In addition, he was able to use basic elemental magic, so he was good at destroying his opponent's mind and subduing their body.

It was a simple matter to break the spirit of the young wizard before his eyes.

Berden, who had been listening to the story silently, spoke to Lucunen.

“Before I answer, I have one question to ask.”

Before I knew it, the politeness had disappeared from my speech.

Luken furrowed his eyebrows.

“What is it?”

“Is it beautiful to interfere in your opponent’s match?”

For a moment, Luken's expression hardened.

“……What on earth are you talking about?”

“Do I really have to say it in words?”

Despite the watchful eyes of the Duke and the nobles, Robin, Verden's first opponent, showed his murderous intent.

Some expressions showed anger and hatred. It was not a feeling that could be felt toward Verden, who was a complete stranger, unless it was an enemy.

And crucially, I sensed a very faint magic from him. It was the same magic as that of Ruknan, who was now in front of me.

'Well, it was a match, but there was no rule that said it had to be a fair fight.'

So that's why they didn't impose sanctions.

Perhaps it was ordered by his employee, the noble Count Davirk, who wanted the arrogant wizard to be educated.

Or maybe it was Ruknan who was upset by Verden's remarks and was secretly plotting something.

Whatever it was, it didn't please Verden.

Ruknan was a man who was flashy on the outside but sinister on the inside, just like the magicians of the Magic Tower.

Ruknan, who had been silent for a moment, snickered.

“I see you are very tired from talking nonsense. You should not say things that you cannot prove. I think it would be better for you and me if I took special care to end the second round quickly.”

Luken turned around and left.

Verden glanced at her back.

I had never been to an academy and had no interest in what they taught there, but it was clear to me that I would never become a proper wizard if I studied under a professor like that.

“One more glass of champagne.”

“Here it is.”

Verden enjoyed the view of the castle while drinking delicious champagne.

And as time passed, the second game began.

* * *

“I guess the author will make it to the finals.”

The nobles' eyes turned to Jack.

In the first fight, he showed off his extraordinary physical abilities, and in the second fight, he showed off his powerful swordsmanship. His opponent's weapon, which he had been continuously blocking with his sword strikes, was unable to withstand it and was shattered.

It was a sword technique that actively utilized strength, in contrast to the Bloody Sword that used high-speed sword techniques.

The contestants who won the second match also showed decent matches, but they received less attention in many ways compared to Jack.

Finally, the last match of the day approached.

Verden and Lukenen. They were on stage, each holding their staff and cane.

Lukenen grumbled as he faced Verden.

He said he would knock out the contestants, including himself, within two minutes. If possible, it would have been better if he had died in an accident or suffered a miserable defeat in the first round.

'Now that it's come to this, I'll finish it off without giving you any room to resist.'

Magical power rose from Luken's body.

He is a 4th-tier wizard and a former professor. The audience's expectations are running high.

That's when Lake gave the starting signal.

<Mighty Fear>

Everything around me disappeared.

* * *

<Mighty Fear> is a spell that summons the strongest being that the caster can think of and the caster puts on its shell. The opponent who enters the mental realm sees an illusion of such a being in Ruknan.

'Helplessness soon leads to fear.'

People kneel before a powerful force that they cannot control, and beg for their lives. That is their instinct.

This magic was the most powerful of the mental magics that Ruknan had learned.

He looked around.

'It's in the mental realm. It was definitely a success.'

As a wizard, if there is a difference in rank, the chances of success drop drastically.

There are very rare cases where people are born with a mental magic that doesn't work on them. However, it seems that the arrogant wizard Asher is not one of them.

Well, I don't think he did it on purpose.

Luken walked forward.

After a while, Verden appeared from the darkness and they locked eyes.

"……huh?"

But the expected reaction did not come out.

Verden's expression showed no fear, but rather subtle irritation. Verden frowned as he looked at the familiar face standing before him.

'Again, the top of the tower?'

Users of psychic magic are rare.

He didn't try to resist, trying to experience how magic moves and how it affects the mind. Of course, he was confident that he could escape. Even the Soul Tree, which had caused nightmares for tens of thousands of people, including Layla, couldn't shake Verden's mind at all.

'But this is… … .'

It was far below expectations. If I had to compare, the nightmare that Soul Tree had unleashed was at least three levels higher. There wasn't really anything to learn from it.

Verden, whose interest had cooled, lightly tapped the floor with his staff.

The moment when Luken tilted his head at the incomprehensible behavior.

<Flame Strike>

A pillar of fire rose from the ground and engulfed Ruknan whole.

* * *

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

As soon as the match began, Lukenen rolled on the floor with a terrible scream. He rolled on the ground and waved his hands, beating himself as if his body was on fire.

This is a side effect of entering someone else's mind.

If you use it on someone who is mentally much stronger than the caster without knowing it, you could receive a backlash several times greater than this.

“Whoaaaaaaaah!”

“What are you doing, take me quickly!”

“Yes, yes!”

The soldiers rushed in and took away the panicked Ruknan.

As the screams began to fade away, Berden came outside. The match had barely been going on for ten seconds.

The nobles' gazes at him changed again.

“I wonder if we’ll really end up finishing each match in under 2 minutes at this rate.”

There was no one to refute it.

In fact, the combined time of the first and second games, in which Verden won, was less than a minute.

At that moment, the king clapped his hands and said:

“It was an interesting competition. It never gets boring even though new talents participate every year. It exceeded my expectations. Isn’t that what everyone else thinks?”

“I think so too, Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty, what you say is correct.”

The other nobles also began to clap their hands following the king.

Participants who received applause responded with a silent bow.

“Then let’s end the banquet here today. The participants of the competition will be eligible to attend the final banquet tomorrow, so feel free to come if you want. I hope that all those who made it to the semi-finals will come without fail.”

The King's gaze stopped at Verden.

He nodded slightly as if he was looking forward to the match tomorrow and returned to Wangseong.

Count Rodenmeyer approached Verden.

“You certainly have the skills to show off your confidence in front of His Majesty the King. It was over too quickly though, so there wasn’t much to see. The second match in particular was extremely disappointing.”

Although he said so, Count Rodenmeyer did not seem to be sorry, but rather satisfied.

After all, his priority was not the fierce spectacle but winning the match. He didn't care as long as he won fairly.

“Let’s go back now. It would be best to go to bed as early as possible after we get there. We’ll be extremely tired after suffering through the banquet tomorrow.”

“Is it because of the interest of the nobles?”

“It’s fortunate that it ends with interest. If you’re not careful, nobles who have daughters of their own may want to marry you. Even if your origins are uncertain, you have exceptional talent as a magician. And it’s the same externally.”

Verden frowned and turned pale.

This was especially true because I had never thought about being in a relationship before and had never had the luxury to do so.

“If something like that happens, please stop it.”

“Let me think about it after seeing what you do.”