Chapter 210 — If You Can Predict It, Try It

Kael had a flash of inspiration as soon as she heard Manus’s words in the lobby.

The instruction to try using just one magic.

Would Cadenza count as one type of magic too?

If so, she thought she could train Cadenza to her heart’s content.

That’s why she stepped forward with a bit of greed.

It felt like she couldn’t achieve her goal of catching up to Manus if not now.

Manus nodded readily.

“Even Cantati would find it hard to predict Cadenza.”

“Yes. It won’t be easy to predict.”

She showed strangely confident behavior.

Perhaps gradually taking on the appearance fitting of the original protagonist.

Manus read a strange confidence in Kael’s eyes.

“I’ll be back.”

“Go wild as much as you can.”

“Yes!”

Her short hair scattered in the light desert wind.

Anais and Alano momentarily saw Manus’s face in her appearance.

They say you grow to resemble those you like, and it’s true.

The two exchanged meaningful smiles looking at each other.

So one more added to the arena.

What kind of warrior would be waiting this time.

Cantati nodded seeing this side’s preparation.

[Round 2. Come out!]

Kuung-!

This time not mummies but something more massive.

Dust-covered masks.

And two heads.

Similar visuals to a ‘Twin Head Ogre’ from fantasy.

And one warrior that seemed to make ranged attacks.

Now their side seemed to come out with quite a composition too.

“Won’t be easy.”

“They have ranged too, only natural.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll block them.”

Melanie said confidently.

Kael nodded and finished battle preparations.

[Huhu, then let’s begin round 2.]

The other side took initiative again.

Thick arrows flying without warning.

Melanie responded nimbly and caught the arrows.

Emerson’s support, and spirit eyes.

Her time now flowed slower than most veteran warriors.

Cantati’s eyes narrowed again.

He began writing something hurriedly.

‘Investigation starting already.’

Must be starting to gather information.

Will send out warriors accordingly in future rounds.

Manus crossed his arms.

Could hide cards — that is, characters — as much as possible.

But that would hinder growth, so he told the kids to stubbornly push through with one tactic.

Additionally, Manus pondered what to train.

“Haaaaap-!”

[Double Spread]
[Adoleo]

Kael pushing strongly from the start.

A tremendous holy strike instantly eliminated one warrior.

The masked one shooting arrows from behind.

The Chariot 5 demon disappeared without even screaming.

Though not as much as Manus, Cantati’s eyes widened at the extraordinary power.

His mind began racing.

The blue-haired woman using magic in strange ways.

‘Indeed, no wonder Andrea struggled. No, was completely helpless?’

Actually, standards between dead and living weren’t that different.

The dead are born from those killed by the living.

Only with death can seeds of birth be sown.

Cantati knew this infinitely cycling truth, and thus knew living standards quite well.

Know the enemy and know yourself, and you won’t face shameful defeat.

Heard there were key figures.

Certainly a difficult opponent to analyze.

[Kuooooo!]

The desert warriors began raging at losing their companion.

A giant club rushed toward the frail human body.

A strike that could easily destroy buildings.

Those who don’t know might think it dangerous.

But it looked completely different to Cantati’s eyes.

Arrogant, no… those were eyes overflowing with confidence.

[Banno]

Perfect evasion technique.

A guardian skill normally learned at level 40, but used even past level 90.

A skill to perfectly evade enemy attacks for one turn.

Draw aggro and use [Banno], and you’d perfectly pass the turn barring instant death skills.

Guillermo was already using it well knowing the application.

The mindset of dodging enemy attacks while landing his.

He too was gradually changing the Buckley family mindset of just stubbornly blocking.

[Kuok!?]

“Take this, pig.”

Guillermo sneered and threw his shield.

A pose reminiscent of a certain famous comic’s Captain.

Unlike the original character throwing with normal strength, Guillermo threw with superhuman mana power.

Kwarururu-!

The rotating shield sounded like a waterfall.

Such a fierce and powerful strike.

‘Seems about 4th class level.’

Plus that skill was chain hitting — that is, an attack skill covering the whole area.

Manus realized that though early in the original work, he had mid-late game skills.

[Orbis]

The spinning shield flew and struck the demon’s mask.

Kwagagak-!

The shield responded like a yo-yo when Guillermo pulled his hand sideways.

Like ping pong.

[Kuoooook-!]

The demon landed a decisive blow then got countered.

In game terms, it would be a critical hit putting the enemy in a groggy state.

Kael kept her eyes closed.

[Enemy weakness is ice attribute! Seems weak to ice magic, maybe because it’s desert!]

Emerson’s message transmitted clearly.

Her analysis had never been wrong, so could trust and follow.

Combining two 4th class magics was quite difficult.

Which magic matches with what, and how to combine them.

Kael devoted all time outside classes to researching Cadenza.

Others visibly awakened special magic and grew rapidly.

‘I couldn’t fall behind either.’

She had a grand goal.

Becoming someone Manus could entrust his back to.

For that goal, she diligently worked in unseen places.

Though her physical abilities might be lower than others.

But she was confident in magic’s destructive power alone.

Anais who ate away at opponents, Alano who froze them completely immobile.

Nia who dug into weaknesses, nullifying defense.

‘Though I have none of those-‘

[Double Spread]
[Tfanta Hyemo] — [Aegis]
[Stiria]

Giant petals froze becoming ice blades, mana operation became a blender grinding anything.

Giiiing-!

Blades grinding the air rushed toward the enemy’s abdomen.

Stiria was a recipe Manus used quite well too.

Not just physical damage but inflicting cuts and frostbite too.

Ice fragments spinning and scattering, even smaller particles sufficient to destroy demons everywhere.

Magic too cruel to use on humans.

‘Seeing it in person is even more terrifying.’

Manus silently swallowed his impressions watching the duel.

Like being ground in a jet engine, the demon simply disappeared.

More precisely, became a blood fountain scattering in the air.

[Hooh… this is…]

Cantati saw.

Same pattern but not the same.

Same start but different results.

This wasn’t something he could analyze.

‘This will be difficult. To counter that…’

An unexpected variable appeared.

But does he know?

The real variables haven’t even appeared yet.

He was busy writing something continuously.

That’s why he came out as host too.

To gather materials to stack neatly in the library.

His library was layered with wisdom and knowledge of not just the dead but the living too.

He was certain of gaining something valuable this time too.

2

Kuung-!

The giant form fell.

Just round 2.

Though 98 more fights to go, Guillermo already felt slightly out of breath.

Though mana circulated endlessly creating superhuman strength, recovery speed couldn’t keep up with tired body’s fatigue.

The shield-holding hand was quite stiff.

‘How many more fights can I manage.’

Recalled Manus’s words.

Said to face everything with just one tactic until the end.

Realized after just two battles it wasn’t as easy as expected.

“Whew… next.”

“Senior, are you okay? Here’s a potion.”

“Thanks.”

“It’s tough doing as Senior said.”

“Agreed.”

Would have struggled more without Kael and Pierson.

Of course, wasn’t tired or dropping out at this level.

Just needed more strength than usual and more things to mind.

Drank potion promoting muscle recovery and replenishing lacking mana.

Potion effects were amazing, quickly recovering stiff arms.

Guillermo checked his shield’s durability.

Unlike mages, warriors and guardians were quite equipment dependent.

‘Need to replace shield with a good one soon.’

Experienced guardians with enough money used self-repairing shields.

Seemed to fight more battles than them, yet why no support from family?

Guillermo chuckled and looked up at Cantati.

“How many versus how many next?”

[Huhu, good. Very good. The audience is excited too. Next is 2v2, boss battle.]

“Boss battle meaning…”

[One-on-one fights, winner advances to next opponent, you know? But don’t worry. Battle stops anytime you shout surrender.]

“Should be fun.”

Guillermo quietly smiled.

But his enthusiasm quickly deflated at the sound from behind.

Manus’s heavy voice rang out.

“I’ll do this one.”

“I can still fight more though.”

“Boring to just stand with crossed arms after coming this far.”

“Hah, then put me in second.”

Manus looked around.

Everyone nodded.

All here knew Guillermo’s pure desire to become stronger.

“Taking a break today?”

“Seems we can keep facing them taking turns?”

“Good. Melanie, Kael, Pierson, let us participate next too.”

“Of course! This isn’t as easy as expected.”

Built quite good responses after just one round.

More things to consider and needed more focus using abilities.

Faced first experience of difficulty having to counter enemy responses with just what they had.

Until now used method of turning back if couldn’t do it.

Manus spoke passing by Guillermo.

Should show this time too.

What feeling Manus prescribed.

How far needed to reach to be called a true specialist.

[You’ll already have few who can handle you in martial arts. At that age… might even lead knights’ vanguard.]

[Aren’t you going too far?]

[Do my eyes look like rotten fish eyes to you?]

Professor Jennifer said so.

Manus himself somewhat guessed too.

Eyes looking at him like a monster, professors and students alike.

Youngest whatever-whatever, such conversations.

His ability was absorbing talent itself spread through the world.

Talent meeting talent, heart meeting heart was creating the current Manus.

Then now, after quite some time, what results were the layered talents producing?

[Krururu…]

Chariot 4.

One of the strongest among normal demons.

Cantati decided to quietly watch the match.

‘That one?’

The human Andrea was so wary of.

Couldn’t forget that sight of raging about all plants being killed.

How would that skill work against warriors.

Chose something bit wasteful to send out in round 3.

Thought to break living ones’ spirit once.

[Then, let’s begin!]

Should show a good fight though.

Cantati watched the match thinking positively.

Originally should have gone to different level guardians.

Thought would never lose in direct one-on-one.

Kwaaaaa-!

Thought so until the human’s fist extended.

–TL Notes–
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