The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 101

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 101

Zeles, an operative from the Information Department, possessed only mediocre combat prowess, but he was a master of disguise—so much so that virtually no one could ever discern his true identity. Thus, Zeles had disguised himself as me, while the real me had merely dyed my hair crimson red.
The cover story of being a distant cousin served as an excellent excuse for the resemblance between us.
Just then, someone from the Newspaper Editorial Department who was overseeing the proceedings came and called us over.
“The duel will commence shortly, so please make your way to the Arena.”
Mirea—the real me—nodded sharply and headed toward the Arena. The moment I appeared, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.
“Wooooow!”
Seeing the unexpectedly massive turnout, I fixed my expression into something resembling a rotten fish’s stare and gave the crowd a halfhearted wave.
I had competed before crowds during the athletic festival, but this was an entirely different matter. These spectators had gathered to witness me claim Khalid. Every single person seated here harbored that absolutely nauseating delusion!
My gaze caught on someone in the Spectator Seating holding a placard that read [Professor Huaderica ♡ Instructor Leoryna].
‘Should I kill them? Should I just kill them right now?’
I desperately wanted to storm into the stands and smash that placard to pieces, but I scraped together what little patience remained and barely restrained myself.
From the opposite side of the Arena, Seleya was walking out. Our eyes met, and she lifted her chin as she spoke.
“Whoever you are, you don’t seem like the type to lose.”
“Oh, I’d like to return that compliment.”
At my bold remark, Seleya’s eyes twitched slightly.
The caster and commentator managing the proceedings were rattling on about something to build excitement before the match began, but I deliberately tuned them out. It was undoubtedly some drivel about a love triangle, and listening would only spike my blood pressure.
Zigzagel entered the Arena as the Referee and instructed both Seleya and me to prepare ourselves.
Seleya drew her sword, and I raised my staff.
With one arm raised, Zigzagel confirmed we were ready and lowered it. The duel had begun.
The moment Zigzagel gave the signal to start, we both moved with lightning speed.
“Lacksolt!”
Boom!
At my incantation, the Arena floor cracked open in all directions, sending debris scattering across the ground. It became a formidable obstacle, more than sufficient to impede Seleya’s charge.
While Seleya hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty, I rapidly cast another spell at high speed.
“Bobato!”
Whoosh!
Black chains erupted from the fractured floor, attempting to bind Seleya. But she rolled her body and swiftly evaded them before launching herself into the air. Remaining on the ground would only slow her reaction time due to the Arena’s debris.
‘This person—I don’t know their true identity, but they understand how to fight.’
Unlike a research-oriented Mage, they possessed genuine knowledge of how to engage in combat using magic. If they truly were a seventh-circle mage, they would be a formidable opponent indeed. I could understand why Leoryna had put them forward.
While Seleya moved erratically, I remained planted in my original position, merely swinging my staff without budging.
“Don’t get cocky!”
Seleya flew toward me, swinging her blade. But rather than evade, I swung my staff and deployed a defensive spell. Though Seleya’s sword was reinforced with multiple enchantments, it proved ineffective against my defensive magic and simply bounced away.
“?!”
Seleya retreated and attacked again, but once more her blade was deflected by my magic, and a gust of wind I conjured swept her away. She lost her balance mid-air and was sent tumbling sideways.
As I swung my staff again, a massive circle formed with Seleya at its center. Before she could even react, it rapidly contracted, binding her in place.
“Viractophaora!”
As Seleya chanted while bound, the scattered debris from the Arena floor suddenly flew toward me all at once. Yet I continued to rely solely on defensive magic to block it all.
Frustrated that none of her attacks were landing, Seleya severed Leoryna’s binding magic with her own mana and chanted another spell.
“Rain of Silderia!”
Countless mana spears materialized in the sky before hurtling toward Leoryna. In that instant, Leoryna raised her staff.
“Lito, Pail, Duras, Banezoa!”
A spherical orb of mana bloomed from the tip of her staff and flew toward Seleya. As it traveled, it grew larger and larger, ultimately obliterating the Rain of Silderia before engulfing Seleya entirely.
“Aaahhh!”
With a scream, the unconscious Seleya plummeted onto the arena floor.
Leoryna cast a levitation spell to prevent her from striking the ground hard. Though Seleya was the one who had put me in this position, I couldn’t simply leave her to suffer such a fate.
In a duel, one could kill their opponent without facing punishment, but modern duels no longer claim the opponent’s life. Victory was determined simply by rendering the opponent unable to continue fighting.
Zigzagel confirmed Leoryna’s victory, even though Seleya still had breath in her body.
The crowd’s roar intensified.
“Yes! We knew you could do it!”
I wasn’t sure what they thought they knew, but it seemed they had secretly hoped for Seleya—who threatened to interfere with my and Khalid’s beautiful romance—to lose.
Leoryna curved her lips into a smirk and waved to the crowd before heading straight to the broadcast booth.
“Oh, what’s the matter, Mirea?”
The caster tilted his head curiously, so Leoryna flicked her hand and snatched his microphone. She cleared her throat several times, took a deep breath, and roared.
“Leoryna and Professor Huaderica are not dating each other!”
The people in the arena felt as though they’d been struck by a sonic magic spell, their bodies pushed backward by the sheer force of her voice.
“No matter what nonsense Professor Huaderica spouted, that demon has been doing strange things day in and day out, so how could you just believe it like that! Leoryna is wronged!”
People covered their ears, fearing their eardrums would burst, but Leoryna’s voice pierced through their hands.
“You understand, right?! You understand, right?! If you heard me, cheer!”
The crowd exchanged glances before reluctantly opening their mouths.
“Yaaay…!”
But that wasn’t enough for her, and she shouted again with force.
“You brats! Cheer!”
“Yaaaaaaay!”
The crowd desperately roared their approval, fearing that if they didn’t comply, Leoryna would descend into the spectator seating and check with each person individually whether they understood her words.
Finally satisfied, Leoryna hurled the microphone away and strode back to where Zeles and Khalid stood. Khalid’s face was bewildered.
“There, that’s done, right?”
At Leoryna’s words, Zeles clasped his hands together tightly as he looked at her face.
“Thank you, Mirea. You’re truly the only one!”
“How is it that I’ve never heard your name before when someone like you exists?”
Khalid gazed at Leoryna as though he’d discovered a hidden gold mine, but Zeles pulled him back by the collar.
“Mirea is like a hidden master. She doesn’t particularly enjoy making her name known to the world.”
“Why… why would you waste such talent…!”
While they were occupied with this, Seleya was carried in on a stretcher. She hadn’t remained unconscious for long, and was now lying on the stretcher with an ice pack pressed to her head by her own hand. When Khalid approached her, she sat up.
“Did you lie about dating Leoryna to get rid of me?”
Seleya glared at Khalid, but he scratched his ear and replied.
“I did lie, but you still lost the duel, didn’t you? So whether I lied about dating someone or not has nothing to do with you.”
“Did you hate me that much?”
“It’s not that I dislike you. It’s just that we’re not compatible enough to marry. Even if you’re a good person, there’s a difference between someone who suits me and someone who doesn’t.”
“….”
“So you’ll admit it now? Our engagement is broken.”
“…I understand.”
She answered while biting her lower lip.
I was debating whether I should comfort Seleya, who seemed to be drowning in the pain of rejection, when she suddenly turned to look at me.
“You’re Mirea, aren’t you? You were truly remarkable. None of my magic worked on you….”
“Well, it’s nothing particularly special.”
As I offered a modest deflection, Seleya suddenly sprang up from the stretcher and approached me with a question.
“Do you have a lover?”
I shook my head at Seleya, whose eyes were gleaming.
“I don’t.”
“Then….”
Seleya wore an awkward smile, as if embarrassed.
“Would you date me with marriage as the premise?”
“What? You do realize I’m a woman, don’t you?”
I widened my eyes in bewilderment, but Seleya nodded earnestly.
“Gender doesn’t matter. I fell for your strength, Mirea! So… so….”
I shook my head rapidly.
“No, I’m not really interested in dating women….”
“I was cast out from my family because of you! You have to take responsibility!”
“Why is that my fault? You were the one who challenged me to a duel in the first place!”
“Fine. I won’t ask you to take responsibility. But as you can see, I have substantial personal wealth and a reasonably presentable face.”
“That’s exactly why I’m refusing!”
I quickly fled the Stadium, but Seleya pursued me with equally impressive speed.
“Mirea! Just try dating me for one month! Your feelings will change, I’m sure of it!”
“You couldn’t even win over Professor Khalid, so why would I be any different?! I’m heterosexual!”
Khalid watched the scene with satisfaction and spoke to Zeles.
“Things worked out well.”
“…This is?”
Watching Khalid, who had thrown Mirea—or rather, Leoryna—in as a sacrifice and slipped away unscathed, I finally understood why Leoryna recoiled from this man. As Zeles wearing Leoryna’s face, I chuckled inwardly and silently cheered for her.
Another peaceful day at Halderion Academy.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————