I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
In the world of mages, the hierarchy is determined by Circles.
Mages were among the few professions in the aristocratic world where superior and inferior relationships were decided by pure skill rather than status or rank.
In that sense, Thessalos Walcher had just heard the greatest insult of his entire life.
—Passable.
‘Passable? Does he think a Mage is a joke?’
Mages are titled according to their Circles.
The 1st Circle is a Mana Walker.
The 2nd Circle is a Spell Blower.
The 3rd Circle is a Magic Walker.
And only after reaching the 4th Circle is one finally called a ‘Mage.’
The name itself signifies the stage where one is treated as a true practitioner of magic.
‘A mere Mana Walker brat said what? Passable?’
What was the status of a 1st Circle?
They were nothing more than small fry who had to grovel before a 3rd Circle and show absolute deference even to a 2nd Circle.
And yet, such a fellow had called a 4th Circle passable.
Passable.
Passable, passable, passable, passable.
That single word became a scale touched the wrong way in Thessalos’s mind.
The Circle residing in his dantian spun tensely.
It was to the point where it wouldn’t be strange for him to discharge magic at any moment.
He could have lost his reason and attacked right then, but fortunately, Ferda made a proposal that he could be grateful for.
A mere 1st Circle had actually requested a duel.
Thessalos intended to show him a proper lesson.
They had come out to an empty lot for the magic duel.
The two stood apart, making their own preparations.
“I have something I’m curious about. May I ask?”
Thessalos replied gruffly.
“What is it?”
“What kind of magic do you use?”
At that question, Thessalos shot back as if it were absurd.
“To ask about magic in a mage’s duel… isn’t that far too rude?”
“Was that a rude act? Hmm, my apologies. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a duel like this.”
Thessalos was flabbergasted by words that a 1st Circle could never utter.
‘What kind of arrogant brat is this!?’
In that moment, Thessalos made a vow.
That he would pour everything he had into killing that fellow.
In truth, Ferda wasn’t even thinking about Thessalos.
‘Right, now I’m starting to remember.’
As he said, it had been over twenty years since he had engaged in something called a duel.
Since then, for Ferda, there were only life-and-death battles, and that had become his norm.
‘A mage’s duel is like playing a card game across a veil.’
Not being able to gauge what cards the other holds or how many, and laying them out one by one.
It is a game that requires theory, skill, and wisdom.
‘Since he’s a mage who reached the 4th Circle, he’ll be able to use at least eight spells in a single combat. He’ll use 4th-tier magic as well.’
Tier magic is magic that can only be used by those who have reached a specific Circle.
Since Thessalos was a 4th Circle mage, he could use up to 4th-tier magic.
The mana he possessed would also easily exceed Ferda’s by several times.
‘It’ll be like striking a rock with an egg.’
Ferda already knew that everything was in Thessalos’s favor.
However, Ferda never once thought he would lose.
‘I’m not such a fool that I’d lose to a passable mage.’
That was what Ferda thought.
“Well, since the handicap is clear, I shall tell you one thing.”
Thessalos said with a oily smile.
There was no reason not to listen since he was offering information.
“What is it?”
“I, Thessalos Walcher, will use Magic Blast here. As a mage, I trust you know what that spell is.”
Rather than Ferda, the lords who had come out to watch were the ones who grew more surprised and whispered.
“If it’s Magic Blast…”
“Isn’t that a powerful spell focused on pure firepower?”
A spell that solely handles destructive power within the 4th-tier magic.
As much as its destructive power was exceptional, it was a technique easily countered by another 4th Circle mage.
But that wasn’t the case for mages below that level.
Especially for a 1st Circle mage like Ferda, there was no hope.
Thus, Thessalos was saying this:
—Submit even now, you bastard.
“Hmm, is that so?”
Ferda tilted his head before nodding as if he understood.
“Right, I see. I shall tell you one thing as well. The only magic I can use is ‘Mana Shot.’”
“Mana Shot? You think you can defeat me with such a basic thing?”
Ferda waved his hand and replied.
“Ah, there’s no need to worry about me. Unlike you all, I know a great deal.”
“This green brat…!”
The aura surrounding Thessalos fluctuated violently.
“I will make you vanish from this land without a trace!”
Even in a situation thick with murderous intent, it did not reach Ferda.
‘This man was also a possessor of a Red Circle.’
The fact that he grew stronger even after breaking his composure and letting out his emotions meant one thing.
He was a mage of a similar grain to Ferda.
He, too, was someone who had trained in magic based on inferiority.
‘It feels somewhat familiar.’
Ferda definitely knew this.
Like a chopstick that had fallen deep into a bottle.
It felt as though it was just at his fingertips but wouldn’t quite touch.
Something kept tickling within Ferda’s memories.
‘I should put that off for later and focus on the magic for now.’
No matter the circumstances, this was a fight between a 1st Circle and a 4th Circle.
Ferda had already gauged his own capabilities beforehand and retraced them.
‘The total number of Mana Shot orbs a typical 1st Circle can manifest is three.’
Even that was only because they were unfamiliar with magic, leading to a drop in concentration and sensation.
‘The total I can create is six.’
Five is the limit if I want to avoid the aftereffects of mana depletion.
So, there were five opportunities.
“Huuuup!”
The intensified flow of mana condensed in Thessalos’s palm.
The condensed mana swirled and drew a large circle as it was.
The circle of a magic square.
And the hieroglyphs within it were drawn based on what Thessalos had memorized.
Ferda felt it in the wind brushing his cheek.
The murderous intent was profound.
‘The output… he intends to kill me outright.’
But it didn’t matter.
If that murderous intent didn’t actually reach him, then it was meaningless, wasn’t it?
Just as the man had declared he would end it in one blow, Ferda also intended to finish this in one blow.
Ferda formed mana spheres at a much faster speed than him.
One for each finger, a total of five spheres rested above his hand.
Even while Ferda’s attack was complete, Thessalos’s Magic Blast was still being drawn.
“The conclusion is reached.”
Ferda said.
“I have won.”
With Ferda’s declaration of victory, five spheres flew toward Thessalos.
Five parabolas streaked toward Thessalos.
“What…!”
Thessalos, watching this, was startled, and before he could even finish his sentence, Ferda’s attack was over.
Pop!
Bang-bang-bang!
Thud!
From Thessalos’s position, a total of four explosions and one dull sound rang out.
The dirt of the clearing surged up, and dust settled thickly.
After a moment, everyone present was able to confirm the result.
“Ugh…”
Thessalos, who had been chanting the magic square, was sitting on the ground groaning.
The right hand he was clutching was swollen bright red.
Thessalos, trembling, looked at Ferda and said lowly.
“I have lost…”
The arrogant 1st Circle fledgling, Ferda, had won.
Thessalos faced a situation that could truly be called miraculous.
He reviewed the scenes he couldn’t understand in that moment.
‘The Mana Shot that flew toward my face.’
That sphere, manifested from the middle finger, had flown toward Thessalos’s eye.
If the head is pierced, anyone and everyone dies.
But it isn’t easy to make a mage panic under normal circumstances.
Even for a mage of the Red Circle, if concentration is broken, the magic breaks.
However, something flying toward the eye is different.
It is a situation where anyone, being human, cannot help but panic.
So, while chanting, Thessalos unfolded a defensive spell.
He was a 4th Circle mage capable of defense and offense simultaneously.
The three bullets he thought were flying toward his torso should have been blocked by the defensive magic if things went as expected.
‘What he was aiming for wasn’t my torso, but the magic square.’
However, they exploded in front of the magic square, destroying the square that was maintaining its form.
‘He destroyed the magic square…’
Thessalos felt wonder there.
Unless a magic square is perfectly woven, things called mana blind spots exist.
If an explosion occurs precisely at that blind spot, the effect of the magic square can be reduced.
But while reducing it is possible, destroying it is another realm entirely.
That man was employing a technical realm that one could only see and perform upon reaching at least the 5th Circle.
Thus, even the magic square was destroyed.
‘And for the final finish, a low-output Mana Shot to the back of my right hand.’
Lowering the output meant he had no intention to kill.
At the same time, it was a message that if he had set his mind to it, someone like Thessalos would have died.
Everything signified Ferda’s complete victory, and Thessalos, with blood rushing to his head, had no choice but to admit his defeat.
Even those who knew nothing of magic could clearly understand the result.
‘How can a 1st Circle mage defeat a 4th Circle?’
‘Did he use some kind of trick? Because he couldn’t let the consort die…’
‘The one who could pull such a trick is…’
They glanced around to see if perhaps the dragon had intervened.
Feeling those gazes, Ruri glared at them with her silver mystic eyes.
“Would you kindly look away before I pluck those eyes out?”
“Hieek!”
“K-hem!”
Ruri expressed her loathing openly.
Unlike with Ferda, there was no need for her to maintain formalities with them.
“Do you concede?”
“…I concede.”
Thessalos said this with a hollow laugh.
“I never… expected to see a master of this caliber here. The world is truly wide.”
Thessalos bowed his head politely, acknowledging Ferda’s skill.
“Your skills are also quite outstanding compared to other 4th Circles. I think it is a great relief to have a force like you.”
“Haha… It is an honor for me to encounter such a master away from the capital. Being demoted wasn’t entirely a bad thing.”
Hearing those words, Ferda’s body flinched.
“…Did you say you were demoted?”
“That is correct.”
“Due to political issues?”
“Yes.”
Words swirled inside Ferda’s head.
Red Circle mage.
Demoted due to political issues.
And inferiority.
Mana of a similar grain.
Vengefulness.
“What did you say your name was?”
“Thessalos Walcher.”
Only then did Ferda understand.
“Thessalos Walcher… Yes… I finally remember.”
“Do you know me?”
A question mark appeared over Thessalos’s head.
He searched his memory to see if they had ever met, but there was no point of contact between the Rosnova family and himself.
However, Ferda nodded.
“I know you. You are my benefactor.”
“Benefactor…? When did we meet?”
“It wasn’t in the past. This is a story of the distant future.”
“Distant future? What on earth does that—”
Pang!
The words did not continue.
A large hole appeared in Thessalos’s head.
The thing aiming at that hole was Ferda’s index finger.
He had pierced Thessalos’s forehead with a Mana Shot.
“Therefore, I cannot let you live.”
The people who had witnessed all of Ferda’s actions could not contain their shock.
Ferda had killed a noble.
No one could intentionally murder a noble, and that was something that could not be forgiven even for the fiancé of Archduke Valdrova.
How could he commit such an atrocious act!
It was a matter that deserved condemnation and blame.
However, Ferda also had sufficient reason.
‘Thessalos was also planning to kill him anyway…’
‘Should it be seen as… self-defense?’
The lords also knew what Thessalos had intended to do.
Out of personal emotion, he had unfolded 4th-tier magic, chanting a spell strong enough to kill the consort.
The fact that he had executed him outside of the duel was a flaw upon him.
Normally, they were piranhas who would have bitten down eagerly, but the lords only looked at each other’s faces.
Their thoughts were in unison.
Among us rats, who would dare bell that cat?
Ferda, having killed Thessalos, turned his head.
On Ferda’s face, the blood that had splattered as the forehead was pierced was clearly visible.
A face and blood where not a shred of emotion could be felt.
Those elements made all the lords shudder.
In truth, Ferda was completely unaware of that fact.
He was in no state to mind such things.
‘I’m dizzy.’
He had used every bit of mana within his body without leaving anything behind.
The difference between leaving 1% and 0% is very severe.
Ferda had poured it all out to leave no room for error, and as a reaction, he felt a headache and dizziness.
It was difficult even to maintain his consciousness, and because of that, it was also hard to manage his expression.
His face clearly looked like someone who was irritated.
“Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“Uhh… T-that is…”
Their eyes flicked down toward Thessalos.
Only then did Ferda understand.
“Ah, is it because of Thessalos? Do not be concerned. This man was someone who had committed acts deserving of death.”
He could not steady himself properly, as if he were drunk.
His facial muscles twitched and spasmed.
“If this man had stayed alive, he would have done something to make the Archduke sad.”
“The A-Archduke, you say?”
“Yes. The Archduke is a merciful person. She likes humans and is someone who fights for them.”
Just then, the headache surged.
It was so intense that his expressionless face distorted menacingly.
To the point where one might mistake it for him expressing loathing.
“I dislike people who make her sad.”
“Does that mean… the person from the Walcher family… made her so?”
“No, I simply did it because it was certain he would make her so.”
The lords who heard the answer were even more confused.
‘W-what kind of nonsense is that?’
‘It was certain he would? Then that means he hasn’t even done it yet.’
‘To think the man who is to become the Archduke’s consort is such a complete lunatic!’
They broke into a cold sweat at his unpredictable behavior.
Ferda felt fear from them.
Lest there be any misunderstanding, he emphasized his point once more.
“Do not worry. I truly do not care even a tiny bit about what you all do.”
Seriously.
Who would bell that crazy cat?
