The result of the Duel was declared by Beatrice.
As everyone saw, it was X's victory.
As X retrieved his sword, blood trickled down Kirke's cheek.
The blade, as good as a masterwork, had left a cut.
It was in the exact same spot as the wound on Lolla’s cheek.
“Hk…!”
Kirke’s body shuddered at the small wound.
“How did you do it?”
Kirke was more shocked by the process of the Duel than the wound itself.
“I’m asking how you did it!”
“How I did what?”
“Everything, from start to finish!”
It was certainly a shocking result.
X knew every single one of Kirke's combat methods.
I’d watched them over and over until the novel’s conclusion.
Naturally, I couldn't not know them even if I wanted to.
'She fought the exact same way as her first appearance in the original work, anyway.'
There’s a scene in the original novel where Kirke first appears.
It’s during a magic Sparring match with another student.
To emphasize that Kirke was the reincarnated Sage, the novel described in full detail how she fought by intelligently using magic.
'At the beginning, during the probing phase, she must have been checking my abilities.'
So I deliberately acted like I was at an ordinary level.
The level of a 1st Rank mage who could think on their feet a bit.
The best a 1st Rank could possibly do, so as not to arouse suspicion.
'And then I waited for her to cast her Grand Magic.'
The way to break the Grand Magic was to destroy the Ice Arrows that formed its Grand Magic Circle. All I had to do was shatter just enough of them the moment they moved.
'Obscure her vision with fire, then power myself up a bit.'
I created the wall of flames to block her view of me.
Then, I used everything from the Unidentified Gift Box.
I downed all three bottles of the Stat Enhancement Potion,
applied the Magic Nullification Oil to my sword,
and thoroughly sprayed my entire body with the Presence Concealer.
Thanks to that, my stats momentarily exceeded 2.0,
and Kirke became unable to sense X’s presence.
Of course, this wasn’t enough.
'The most important thing was to block her line of sight somehow.'
I needed one big move to disorient her and throw her into shock. That's why I chose the Fireball spell.
But it's difficult for a 1st Rank like X to cast a 3rd Rank Fireball quickly. So, I borrowed some external power.
『[Forcefully Manifest Magic at the Cost of Rebound] Required Points: 350』
I had memorized the Fireball magic circle I’d seen in the setting book.
I was confident that even a low-Rank mage could use it.
Even if I couldn't keep up with the magic class curriculum, I had studied consistently.
There were more than enough reasons for me to be able to use it.
I just used Setting Edit to be absolutely sure.
Unaware of this, Kirke was simply frustrated.
“What was that at the end that nullified my magic?”
“...What magic?”
“Don’t play dumb! What kind of trick did you pull!”
The 5th Rank Physical Reflection Magic that Kirke had cast as insurance was nullified by the oil.
I knew that she always cast that spell as insurance when fighting warriors.
There was no point in explaining; I’d probably just get a Plausibility Penalty.
“I don’t know what it was, but you must have made a mistake.”
“You think I’d make a mistake with magic…!?”
“You did.”
X's gaze hardened as he gestured with his head toward Lolla.
She was pressing a white cloth to her cheek, apparently not having received treatment yet.
Even so, Lolla was watching X with an anxious expression.
Seeing that, X spoke coldly to Kirke.
“You drew blood on a child, and you’re saying what? That you don’t make mistakes?”
“Th-That was…”
“Fine, let’s hear your excuse. Since you’re so confident you don’t make mistakes with magic, you must have had a reason to draw blood on a child. You’d better have one.”
The cold, burning dagger twisted in Kirke’s conscience.
Kirke couldn't answer.
No matter how she thought about it, it was an inexcusable mistake.
“...A rather impressive result.”
At Beatrice’s words, X immediately sheathed his sword and showed his respects to her.
Beatrice observed X with intrigued eyes.
A 1st Rank defeating a 4th Rank was quite a surprising situation.
It was an amusing moment, but first, she announced the result of the Duel.
“The winner may make one demand of the loser. I promise on my honor that this demand will be fulfilled.”
“Thank you, Imperial Princess Beatrice.”
The moment she finished speaking, the status window scrolled up.
『Potion Addict! You consumed multiple cheat-level potions in a single battle.』
『Fearless Sword! Your sword, lost in recklessness, feels no fear.』
『Great Comeback Victory! You have won against a powerful enemy!』
『Title [Potion Addict (F)] acquired.
100 Edit Points acquired.』
『Title [Reckless Duelist (D)] acquired.
1,000 Edit Points acquired.』
『Title [Comeback Warrior (A)] acquired.
100,000 Edit Points acquired.』
『New Titles Held
Potion Addict (F): Increased chance of poisoning when consuming potions.
Comeback Warrior (A): Permanent stat increase upon victory against a powerful enemy.』
『Upgraded Title Held
Foie Gras (E) -> Reckless Duelist (D): Mental resistance slightly increased, infamy slightly increased.』
'…This is huge.'
Potion Addict was one thing, but Comeback Warrior and Reckless Duelist were a bigger haul than I could have imagined.
With Foie Gras becoming Reckless Duelist, the Luck debuff was gone.
And Comeback Warrior gave a permanent stat increase.
It was too good of an ability. And that was strange.
'…Isn't the status window supposed to be the thing attacking me?'
『Potion Addict (F): Your stomach is full of potions. Drink more potions. Your future will become as colorful as those potions.』
『Comeback Warrior (A): As the weakest, you have defeated the strongest. A comeback is a gift for those who are prepared.』
The descriptions for Potion Addict and Comeback Warrior were also completely different. As if they were written by two different people.
'…What in the world is this?'
I didn’t have long to think.
A metallic, coppery taste filled my mouth.
Blood rose up my throat and trickled from the corner of my lips.
I realized what this abnormal phenomenon meant was coming.
“Are you crazy?! Were you in your right mind?!”
Lolla ran over and grabbed my arm.
Her face had been full of worry for a while now.
The concerned Lolla shouted in horror.
“What are you going to do about the Rebound!!”
Only then did I realize it.
The channels of Magical Power flowing through my body like blood vessels, the Mana Roads, began to burn hot. As the price for channeling magic I couldn't handle, destruction began from within my body.
It was the beginning of the Rebound.
“Cough.”
I could forcefully ignore the pain of my whole body being torn to shreds,
but I couldn’t ignore my body losing control.
“Aaaah! X! X!!”
All strength left my body, and I collapsed.
All I could do was spit out the blood choking my throat.
Watching the situation, Kirke frowned and said,
“What were you thinking, using 3rd Rank magic? Rebound is a phenomenon that can leave you a cripple for life if it goes wrong.”
I knew that from the settings.
But knowing something and experiencing it were two different things.
'So this is Rebound….'
I belatedly regretted underestimating it.
I felt like I was about to die from the agony and torment.
My whole body felt like it was splitting apart as blood began to flow.
As the blood drained, a chill quickly took over my body.
“Keuk…. Kuhuk….”
“Get a grip! I’ll go get a potion…”
“Rebound can’t be cured, not even by an Elixir. It’s a price you have to pay. All you can do is pray the price isn’t too high.”
Kirke approached and looked down at X, who was coughing up blood.
For some reason, her expression was complicated.
Her eyes wavered intensely before she squeezed them shut.
“...Make your demand as the winner before you die.”
The demand was already decided.
“When you’ve done something wrong, there’s only one thing you should do first, isn’t there?”
“...What?”
Did she not understand?
X used all his remaining strength to speak again.
“I’m saying I need to see an apology come out of that mouth of yours.”
“...You did all this just to get an apology?”
“Not to me. To her.”
I point to Lolla with a trembling hand.
I glanced at the scab now forming on her wound and said,
“If you’re old enough to know better, act like an adult…. What sin did these kids who are just starting to learn commit that you had to go all out….”
“Why do you keep calling me an adult…. What are you talking about?”
Ah, was that remark a mistake?
But I had already said it.
I had no more strength to speak. My eyes slowly closed.
'I can survive the Rebound if I'm lucky. It was only 3rd Rank magic. There’s still hope….'
In that moment, something appeared to crush that hope.
『Warning! It is impossible for a worthless bug who can't even use magic properly to see through all the strategies of a 'reincarnated Sage.'
Therefore, a Plausibility Penalty will be applied.』
『Plausibility Penalty Acquired: Rebound backlash strengthened.』
'…Well, I guess getting caught was inevitable after being so blatant.'
I wasn't surprised that a penalty would appear; I'd expected it.
I just didn't know the penalty would take this form.
'Still, I'm not just going to take this lying down.'
A method I thought of at the very last second.
I'll give it a try. Thank god. It works.
It works, but….
'Look at that price, seriously. You son of a bitch, status window….'
Having completed the final manipulation, X
finally lost consciousness.
*
A dark night, several hours after the Duel had ended.
Kirke's Dormitory Private Room.
She tapped her foot anxiously, a grave expression on her face.
A single thought kept echoing in her head.
- If you’re old enough to know better, act like an adult….
A sense of unease from those words kept nagging at her.
It wasn’t just his words, but his attitude toward her as well.
He spoke as if he knew her true Identity.
'He fought as if he predicted everything I was going to do.'
It was an impossible assumption.
But thinking it was a coincidence was also impossible.
After getting lost in thought and searching for possibilities,
'…Don't tell me, another Reincarnator?'
The only possibility emerged.
If X was a Reincarnator, it would explain everything.
And one who knew Kirke’s combat methods well.
One of the members of the Past Life Hero's party.
She herself had already been reincarnated like this.
It was entirely possible that someone else had been reincarnated too.
'No. That can't be.'
If that were the case, Kirke would be in big trouble.
A Reincarnator who used both sword and magic,
and knew Kirke’s combat methods.
There was only one such person in all of history.
'Protego…?'
If so, it was an irreversible, grave situation.
It would mean the Hero of a past life was dying because of a Rebound.
All because of a fight that started due to her own mistake.
“I have to check…!”
Her face pale, Kirke hurried to the Academy's Intensive Care Room where X was.
Soon arriving in front of the room, Kirke checked inside through the small window on the door. X was lying there.
He was receiving state-of-the-art treatment, surrounded by numerous machines and magic circles. It was thanks to the Imperial Princess, who had been the Mediator.
'As long as he's alive, somehow….'
Just as she was about to open the door and go inside, her hand froze.
She saw a girl sleeping, slumped over the bed next to X.
A girl whose eyes were puffy and swollen.
Her blonde hair was a complete mess.
It was clear she had been here for a very long time.
The moment she saw that, the door to the room felt heavy.
She couldn’t bring herself to go to that girl's side.
X's words grabbed onto her wrists and ankles, weighing her down.
- When you’ve done something wrong, there’s only one thing you should do first, isn’t there?
The moment she understood his meaning, Kirke let go of the door.
She had realized she didn’t have the right.
“Student Kirke.”
Just then, someone approached from down the hall and called her name.
“...Professor Amanda.”
“Why are you here? Are you thinking of getting revenge while student X is in a critical condition?”
Amanda's gaze was ice-cold.
Normally, she wouldn't have given it a second thought, but not now.
“No. I just came to see.”
“Don't think I’ll look kindly on you for having a Duel without permission in my class. You get an F for class attitude. Any objections?”
“...None.”
It didn’t matter if she got such a grade or not.
But soon, Amanda said something she couldn’t ignore.
“Student X also participated in the Duel, so giving him an F is unavoidable. I tried to argue for extenuating circumstances, but an order came down from the senior professors. The Disciplinary Committee will convene soon. And the Disciplinary Committee will move to expel him.”
“Expel, him?”
“Congratulations. You didn’t like him, did you? Now you can get him kicked out of here, just as you wanted.”
No. That wasn’t what she intended.
“Whether he dies as he is, or survives and gets expelled. Nothing but Hell awaits him no matter what miracle occurs. What a cruel Fate.”
She hadn’t meant to go that far.
“Kirke Odyssey. Personally, I would like you to become a person who takes responsibility for their actions. You’re not a child, are you?”
“Responsibility….”
“I suppose there’s nothing more to see. Let’s just hope I don’t hear an obituary from our very first class….”
Amanda gave her one last icy glare and turned away.
Kirke stared beyond the hospital room and muttered.
“Responsibility…. Responsibility….”
What was responsibility?
Was it not enough that she had sacrificed her life to save the world?
Carrying all these burdens was Protego's role.
But Protego wasn't here now.
Or perhaps, he was in there, dying.
Kirke takes her hand off the door.
The only thing she could do now,
was to step away from the door and leave.
*
“Keuk-”
Consciousness surfaces.
A status window quickly pops up before my eyes.
A long list of accumulated messages appears.
『Notification. Permanent damage to physical abilities has occurred. A change in Basic Stats has been detected.』
『Basic Stats
Strength: 0.1 [0.9 Decrease]
Intelligence: 1.5 [0.5 Increase]
Agility: 0.1 [0.9 Decrease]
Magical Power: 0.1 [0.4 Decrease]
Luck: 0.1
Charm: 0.1』
『Notification. The effect of Comeback Warrior has been activated. Permanent increase to Intelligence stat.』
'You've gotta be kidding me.'
A sigh escapes me.
The stats I’d worked my ass off to get had dropped again.
It was a miracle I wasn't crippled somewhere.
I can always just buy more Basic Stats if I have to.
'At least my Intelligence went up to 1.5. That's a relief.'
There’s something I need to check before that.
I check the previous system message.
『Setting Edit』
『[Somehow Survive the Rebound Backlash] Required Points: 100,000 - Approved』
『Current Edit Points Held: 1,100』
“The price for ‘somehow’ was getting my stats wrecked? I went through hell and back to raise them…!”
More than that, the 100,000 points I spent were such a waste.
How many Basic Stats could I have raised with 100,000 points?
The regret stings my heart.
'Whatever. I survived, that's what matters….'
Closing the status window, I realized I was surrounded by a huge number of magic circles and machines.
Looking around, I was in a hospital-like treatment room, and when I turned my head, I saw a surprising person.
'Why is she sleeping here?'
Lolla was sleeping, slumped over my bed.
Seeing how puffy and swollen her eyes were, I could guess why she was here. Contrary to her usual behavior, she was a very affectionate person.
That aside, I assess the current situation.
First, I read the document placed beside the bed.
It was a notice stating that the Disciplinary Committee would convene on Sunday and that I should attend.
'So, it came to this after all.'
I thought it might be okay since Beatrice had encouraged the Duel. I'd hoped I wouldn't get an F if I was lucky, but I guess it couldn't be helped with my Luck stat being what it is.
Still, I gained something.
And it was a massive gain.
The Plausibility Penalties that had appeared so far.
The titles filled with negative effects.
I think back on their wording.
『Screaming Weed (F): You ruined the sacred entrance ceremony by screaming. A withered appearance and an ear-piercing scream. The nickname Screaming Weed suits you.』
'Writings clearly filled with malice.'
In contrast, I think of the high-grade titles.
『Comeback Warrior (A): As the weakest, you have defeated the strongest. A comeback is a gift for those who are prepared.』
'Writings with very common-sense explanations.'
And the fundamental question.
'In the first place, something like a Plausibility Penalty doesn't make sense. If you want to argue it, you can find a way to justify anything. It feels like someone is inserting it to fit the situation.'
There is only one conclusion I can draw.
'There is a being interfering through the status window. And that being hates me and is dead set on killing me.'
Assuming that, another conclusion follows.
'That being can't interfere easily because of some established rules. If it could, it would have put in something like [Hold your breath for 1 day. Failure results in death].'
Then who is ‘that being’?
Who is this entity that has held malice toward me and tried to kill me since the moment I transmigrated?
A goddess? An Evil God? The Demon King? Or some other cosmic being?
No. Why would they be hostile toward me?
More importantly, they have no ‘reason’ to.
So, who is the being that does have a ‘reason’?
'What if… they knew me from before the transmigration?'
There is only one answer.
'The Author, 「Elicia」.'
I realize the identity of my true enemy.