This Time, I Became the Fiance of a Duke’s Daughter. But She is Rumored to have Bad Personality, and Ten Years Older – Chapter 339

“Ridiculous.”

Laurentz countered the countless stone spears rushing towards him with stone spears of his own. His perfect accuracy, not missing a single shot, was honed through battles disguised as training with two Court Mages, making it indispensable. His skill had already surpassed the level of a student.

“…I never expected you to neutralize them all. Then, how about this!”

Brenda gritted her teeth and flowed magic into the ground. A greatsword of rock erupted from beneath Laurentz’s feet. However,

“I anticipated this the moment you amplified your magic power.”

Without erecting a barrier, Laurentz simply sidestepped a few paces, and the attack missed him entirely. Laurentz remained calm. Even if a fellow student from the academy appeared as an enemy, forcing him to search for Olivier and Jared, he wouldn’t panic. Compared to fighting two Court Mages, this was nothing.

Brenda Campbell was strong. Not only had she gained practical experience as a scholarship student, but just by exchanging magic attacks with her, it was clear she possessed exceptional talent as a magician. Undoubtedly, she was more talented than him. But he wouldn’t let talent alone decide his defeat.

“Next, I’ll attack.”

Without chanting, he circulated magic within his body and kicked off the floor. Brenda’s surprised face was visible in his vision as he took an action that Laurentz, as a magician and not a combatant, would normally never take. Laurentz himself understood he could never be a combatant. He was painfully aware that he was, and could only be, a magician.

So, he decided to expand the definition of a magician. Not to be a mere puppet that unleashed magic, but a magician who could think and act appropriately within battle—that was the ideal Laurentz Herring strived for. However, his physical skills didn’t reach the elite level. Therefore, he decided to compensate with magic.

“Pierce.”

Instead of chanting, he uttered a short command, giving direction to his magic. The amplified magic coalesced into a single spell, forming a stone blade above his head. Laurentz stopped in front of Brenda, reached out, grabbed the blade, and swung it down without hesitation.

“Hah, with such an attack—”

The sheer mass of the giant blade descended upon Brenda, whose eyes were wide open. However, she wasn’t inexperienced in battle. While flustered, she skillfully erected a barrier, managing to deflect the attack rather than block it. The stray blow shook the ground with a deafening roar and gouged it. Brenda broke into a cold sweat as the stone blade, which had created a large hole in the corridor floor, landed. Laurentz’s assault continued.

“My attack isn’t over yet.”

As the stone blade shattered, it changed its form. The single, massive blade transformed into numerous smaller blades, which descended upon the girl with a menacing roar.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaahhh!”

Brenda, letting out a scream befitting her age, was engulfed by the countless blades loosed at close range. She tried to escape the rain of blades by deploying a barrier and burst through a nearby window, fleeing outside. She judged she would lose if she remained indoors.

“I won’t let you escape!”

A beat later, Laurentz kicked off the window himself and leaped. Without fear of heights, he soared through the air. Brenda, who had already landed, was gathering magic in both her hands. “Not on my watch,” Laurentz thought, raising his staff in mid-air and pursuing her not with magic, but with the staff itself.

“Guh, ahh—”

Before she could unleash her magic, she was struck by the staff and rolled awkwardly on the ground. It wasn’t a powerful blow, but it was more than enough to impede her movement. As a result, despite taking minimal damage, she was covered in dirt, with both hands on the ground.

“You—!”

She grabbed sand and threw it, but it didn’t reach. Laurentz calmly struck her outstretched hand with his staff. Though no bones were broken, the force was more than sufficient to injure her, and Brenda grimaced in pain, groaning. She attempted to unleash a powerful spell by amplifying her magic, but

“I won’t allow that.”

With a curt phrase, the stone blade wrapped around his staff was pressed to her throat, and her lips, about to begin chanting, froze.

“With that much power, you were content to remain just a student?”
“I only recently gained this strength. Before, I wasn’t strong enough.”

He had once envied Jared, Brenda, and the other scholarship students. He had been angry, wondering why he wasn’t chosen. But now, he understood. The Mage Association and the Academy had made the right decision. He hadn’t had the strength to become a scholarship student. If he had been chosen back then, there was a chance he might have died fighting monsters alone. Now, he could only be grateful for the adults’ judgment.

“That’s a lie! I can tell. You were always envious of us. That’s why you fought with such ferocity in class, and that’s why you lost.”
“I admit it. Before, that was true. But I am different now. I no longer seek a position I am not suited for. Now, enough talk. Brenda Campbell—surrender.”

Laurentz prayed Brenda would admit defeat. Honestly, if asked if he was superior in skill, he would hesitate. His victory this time was only due to Brenda, who knew his fighting style, being put at a disadvantage by his adoption of a different tactic. By preventing her from using magic, he had won without prolonging the fight. However, if the battle were to continue, the outcome was uncertain.

“—No.”

Brenda trembled.

“I won’t!”

Her face, red with anger, lifted, and she glared at Laurentz. The surging magic told him she was about to unleash a spell. He immediately retreated, preparing to erect a barrier. As she thrust her arms forward, deploying layered barriers—countless stone blades shot towards him with a whistling sound. The magic-imbued blades pierced the barriers, wounding Laurentz’s body. Blood spurted from everywhere, and fresh crimson stained the air.

“—Gah, to this extent—”

He layered more barriers, but though the number of piercing blades decreased, they continued to wound him. He erected stronger barriers only in critical areas, but this alone rapidly consumed his magic power. He began to worry he might run out of magic. But—the attacks stopped.

“Hah—hah—Stop toying with me—!”

Panting heavily, Brenda glared at him with tearful eyes.

“What are you talking about?”
“That composure! Even though I’m trying to kill you, all your attacks are held back. Why would you show mercy to me, who sided with the fools who betrayed the country?”

He had no reply. As she said, if Laurentz had intended to kill Brenda, he would have done so already. He was struggling because he had decided not to kill her. Brenda’s talent as a magician and her combat experience surpassed his. However, Laurentz had extensive experience in fighting people and magicians, thanks to the two Court Mages. This experience allowed him to continue his offense and defense calmly. If he had wished, he could have driven the blade into her throat instead of just touching it. He didn’t because Brenda was a fellow student and a woman. And he believed—she could still return.

“You’re the same, aren’t you? You’re holding back on me. No matter how much I crave a fight to the death, you belittle me like they do?”

A quiet anger emanated from her, and Laurentz realized he had been mistaken. He had believed Brenda Campbell could return if she participated in combat. But he was wrong. She couldn’t. For reasons unknown, she wanted to engage in a fight to the death with full power. She didn’t wish to be held back, and she didn’t mind dying if she lost; she simply wanted to fight. Hence, she was enraged by Laurentz’s attitude.

“Understood.”

Laurentz discarded his staff and amplified his magic. He raised it to its limit, prepared to expend all his magic.

“I’ll get serious. I’ll use my strongest attack.”
“Fine. That’s right. This is what I’ve been seeking!”

Brenda’s expression changed entirely to one of pure joy, and she likewise amplified her magic. Their magic power was nearly equal. Both shared the earth attribute. What would decide the winner—was sheer will.

“Now—let’s kill each other! And let’s prove who is the stronger magician, who is more suited to be a Court Mage. I will definitely kill you, to make those who looked down on me because I am a woman regret it.”
“Is that your reason—”

He finally understood Brenda’s motive. Laurentz had heard rumors before. Despite being a scholarship student, she was not evaluated according to her abilities simply because she was a woman. He realized she was indignant about this. He could understand. It was a just anger. Hence, she hated being held back. She wished to fight equally, with all her might, even if it meant losing her life.

“You are my enemy. An enemy I must defeat—Brenda Campbell.”
“That’s right—I am your enemy. An enemy allied with rebels, an enemy that must be defeated!”

The girl, brimming with ecstasy, twisted her face in rapture as she amplified her magic to its limit. Laurentz followed, amplifying his magic beyond its limits.

“Now, let’s kill each other. Let’s decide who is stronger, who wins. —Great Earth God, I offer my magic—”
“Great Earth God, I offer my magic—”

Coincidentally, they chose the same spell.

“Earth Giant, awaken and wield your ruthless power to trample the enemy, Mother—”
“Earth Giant, awaken and wield your ruthless power to trample the enemy, Mother—”

“Crush the earth, swallow the petty humans, and bring forth new prosperity upon the land—”
“Crush the earth, swallow the petty humans, and bring forth new prosperity upon the land—”

The magic, amplified to a visible, high density, roared. The wind howled, the ground churned, and the magic seemed on the verge of explosion. The boy and girl had finished their chant.

“I will win, Laurentz Herring.”
“I will win. Come, Brenda Campbell.”

Raising their arms high, they unleashed the full torrent of their magic.

“—Lament of the Earth!”
“—Lament of the Earth!”

A sorrowful cry, as if cursing the world, enveloped everything. In an instant, the ground split and rose. It raged as if possessing a will of its own, attacking to swallow them both. Its form was like that of a rampaging dragon. Neither showing any sign of retreat, they were consumed by the furious earth.