Chapter 137 — Strongest VS Strongest

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A warrior and a mage.

These two opposing forces, eternally locked in conflict, have always fought like bitter rivals.

Since the dawn of humanity, when swords and magic were first wielded, the debate has never ceased.

Who is superior: the warrior or the mage?

Everyone across the continent knew the basic truth: a mage had the advantage at long range, while a warrior dominated in close quarters.

Yet, all of these endless debates stemmed from exceptional cases, not the general rule.

Especially when deciding who the strongest warrior or the strongest mage was, the discussions would always ignite with fierce passion.

“You beat Nia, huh? That makes you the strongest mage.”

“I suppose you could say that.”

“Haha, good. Let’s see how you measure up.”

Santo Leo’s competitive spirit was intense.

You could call him a hot-headed fool, or maybe just an overly optimistic person.

But one thing was clear—he was simple and straightforward.

He was a fool.

A fool completely obsessed with the sword.

A type of character you could find in countless stories, one who always played a significant role.

And to top it off, he was strikingly handsome.

His earnest, no-nonsense personality made him one of the most popular male characters in the story.

“You can choose your sparring opponent, but if there’s too much of a gap in power, the professor won’t allow it.”

“Then, let’s first form our teams. Each team must consist of a guardian, a warrior, and a mage. You have until the break to decide.”

The assistant instructor finished organizing the chaos.

This joint class was a three-hour lecture.

One hour was dedicated to forming teams, and the remaining two hours were for sparring matches, determined by random draw.

Everyone would start in the Iron League, gaining or losing points based on their performance and the match outcome.

It was, in essence, a rating system just like those seen in familiar games.

A small game within a game.

It provided content that allowed students to build their self-esteem within the academy.

When controlling the protagonist in the game, I easily climbed to the highest tier.

The difficulty level was just right, which made it a well-received feature.

“Once you’ve gathered your team, please report to the assistant.”

The hall quickly turned into a bustling marketplace.

The attention directed towards Santo Leo, Nia, and other top talents was palpable.

These students, now in their third year, had spent two full years at the academy.

They understood how things worked and knew that nothing came without a price.

Manus crossed his arms and surveyed the room.

As expected, skilled individuals naturally attracted a crowd.

The Eagles, the Serpents, the Deer.

Though they were in separate groups, the talk around them crossed boundaries.

“Hey, would you like to team up with us?”

“We’re in Class A, you know. We’re not too bad.”

Even Manus, who had been standing alone, received some visitors.

Their aura was quite strong.

A guardian, who seemed even more capable than Guillermo, and a rather skilled warrior had approached him.

Those who had been hesitating nearby looked on with envy.

“I don’t mind.”

“Great. I’m Aiden from the Deer Class.”

“Elena from the Eagle Class. I’m more of a ranger type, though. Is that alright?”

Manus gave a slight nod.

Elena, with her brown hair, was dressed lightly and carried a shortsword strapped to her waist. In one hand, she held a short bow, and on her back was a quiver full of practice arrows, which left quite an impression.

Manus recognized her.

She had been a member of Leveli-Malito, though she graduated soon after and had little interaction with the protagonist.

Her reason for joining Leveli-Malito had been purely for self-protection, right?

Yes, she was a rather intriguing character.

‘She could be a valuable card.’

A strategy quickly formed in his mind.

Excessive socializing was unnecessary, but having the right informant could prove useful.

After all, information could be more valuable than brute force at times.

Elena might become a key asset in that regard.

Of course, she herself was likely unaware of this fact.

Manus grasped the outstretched hand and greeted them with poise and dignity.

“Manus of the Caesar family.”

“Oh—”

Aiden nodded in admiration.

Elena, on the other hand, slightly averted her gaze.

Manus exuded a similar aura to Santo Leo, the idol of the Eagle Class.

It gave off an air of intimidation, making it hard to approach him.

This should be enough.

Manus began walking.

The two quickly followed, heading toward the assistant instructor.

“Who should lead the team?”

“I’ll take the lead. How’s that?”

Aiden spoke, casting a glance at Manus as if seeking his approval.

Receiving the look, Manus calmly nodded.

It was better to delegate such tedious tasks.

Even a minor leadership role came with responsibilities that would weigh on that person.

Manus remembered his early twenties.

The torturous group projects from those days came to mind.

No one wanted to be the leader, which inevitably led to awkward feelings among the group.

“Alright, I’ll take command.”

Normally, this was an inappropriate move.

Typically, the mage would lead the team.

Since mages were positioned in the rear and had the least movement, they could survey the entire battlefield, unlike the other two classes, who had to focus on the enemy before them.

Even so, Aiden took the initiative.

Manus remained silent, arms crossed, watching how the two operated.

“Oh, is this your team? Caesar Manus, Elena, and Aiden. You’re in Group D.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Who’s the team leader?”

Aiden raised his hand.

Here, the team leader referred to the person responsible for the overall command of the team.

“Hmm… I see. Alright. You may now take your positions. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to start syncing up with each other.”

“I have a question.”

Manus looked at the assistant instructor and opened his mouth.

He glanced toward Santo Leo, who was conversing with others nearby.

Manus was curious as well.

The strongest mage.

The strongest warrior.

What would happen if they fought?

People love to rank and compare, don’t they?

Even Manus had been the same back on Earth.

“Which group is Santo Leo in?”

“Group B.”

“I understand that if both sides agree, it’s possible to face a desired opponent.”

The assistant instructor hesitated but eventually nodded.

He followed Manus’ gaze toward Santo Leo.

It seemed that Santo Leo had sensed their stares, as he turned to look in their direction.

Aiden, noticing this, hurriedly blocked Manus.

He seemed uncomfortable, his expression slightly furrowed.

His reaction provided a glimpse into his personality, and the assistant instructor watched with interest.

“Wait, you’re not planning on fighting Santo Leo, are you? You can’t face a monster like him right off the bat—”

“No, Aiden. It’s exactly because he’s a monster that we should face him right away.”

Before Manus could respond, Elena jumped in.

She stepped between the two, looking at Aiden.

“You know we’d be at a disadvantage once the league starts and points are on the line, right?”

“…That’s true.”

After reconsidering, Aiden nodded.

It seemed that Santo Leo was a significant force among the third years.

Perhaps someone in a similar position to Manus himself.

Surprisingly, Group B’s lineup was no joke.

There was an unnamed guardian.

Santo Leo was in the warrior position, and in the mage position—

“Oh, hello! Looking forward to working with you, junior.”

“This… isn’t fair, is it?”

“Why not? It’s the most ideal team. The strongest warrior and the strongest mage from the third year are on the same team.”

Nia, wearing a smug smile, looked as sly as a cat.

Santo Leo and the unnamed guardian stood beside her.

Santo Leo, fiddling with the handle of his longsword, glanced at Aiden and Elena, offering them a friendly smile.

“Hello. You’ve formed a good team, Elena.”

“Not as good as yours! So annoying—”

“Haha, don’t be too harsh. Nia mentioned she wanted to spar with you too, Manus.”

“A rematch is due, after all.”

Her golden eyes gleamed mischievously.

While Aiden and Elena appeared flustered, Manus gave a simple nod.

With this kind of match-up, he could truly test the limits of the character Manus Caesar.

Not as a second-year, but a third-year.

How far could he rise here?

Aiden and Elena, however, were definitely the weaker cards in this match.

Their talent, their status, and the skills they possessed were lacking.

“Very well. Anytime you’re ready.”

“You know it won’t be like last time, right?”

“I won’t be so easy either.”

Nia had faith in Santo Leo.

No matter how monstrous of a mage Manus might be, even the strongest would fall before a well-coordinated attack.

Unless Manus was on the level of a grand archmage, the trio’s offense would surely be overwhelming.

Nia couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips.

How long could Elena and Aiden hold out?

She had brought in a dependable classmate from the Deer Class, one who excelled at defense.

“You better not screw this up.”

“Uh, um—got it.”

Though timid, he was someone she trusted for exactly that reason.

He hated getting hurt more than anything, which was why he wielded a massive tower shield.

Nia turned to the assistant instructor.

“Well, how about our team and theirs? It’d be a perfect opening match for the league, don’t you think?”

“Hmm, it is interesting. I’ll go ask the professor.”

The assistant hurried off to consult with the professor.

Meanwhile, Manus’s team and Nia’s team stood face to face.

A palpable tension filled the air.

Those with fierce competitive spirits began to feel their energies rise.

Naturally, all eyes were drawn to them, filled with eager anticipation.

Santo Leo looked at Manus and smiled.

“Let’s give it our best.”

“I’m counting on you to teach me something.”

Unlike Manus, who remained calm yet driven, Aiden and Elena wore expressions of dread.

They could already envision the suffering that awaited them.

Santo Leo’s seamless combination of power and finesse, his swordplay balanced between offense and defense.

Nia’s quick spells, which not only predicted her opponent’s actions but also overwhelmed them.

And to top it off, a guardian with unmatched defensive strength.

Could they even win?

“Well, we’re stuck with it. It’s the ‘league,’ after all.”

“I know. Guess we just have to trust in our prince.”

Aiden sighed deeply.

Elena turned away from him, stepping toward Manus, who stood there unfazed.

“Don’t feel too pressured.”

“Quite the opposite. I’m looking forward to it.”

After all, this was an opportunity to test his limits.

Elena, with a wry smile, quietly studied him.

In the meantime, the assistant and the professor approached.

The third-year elemental studies professor, Professor Edmund.

She too watched Group B and Group D with interest.

As someone had already mentioned, this would be an extraordinary battle.

Her fox-like eyes curled into a crescent shape.

“You want to kick off the opening match? That sounds fantastic! The strongest second-year and the strongest third-year! Let’s see them face off!”

She waved her hand.

As a barrier magician, she created a barrier using elemental magic.

It was this new theory that had led Chairman Nyx to recruit him as a professor.

Whuuuuu—!

In an instant, an arena of fire and ice appeared.

More accurately, it was a mana-constructed barrier.

The arena they would use for the rest of the semester had been completed.

“From now on, all league matches will be held here!”

The professor’s confident declaration marked the beginning of the league.

–TL Notes–
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