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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Proper Education
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"You're the fucking psycho, asshole. Get out here. I'm in a shit mood today anyway—let's throw down."
As I bellowed, Yang Hangil started glaring at me with a flustered stammer.
"C-Crazy bastard! F-Fight? Right here? Right now? Fighting in a bar would disturb everyone around. So let's postpone the battle until—"
I grabbed Yang Hangil by the scruff of his neck and dragged him outside.
"You piece of shit. You act like a total moron, then whine about bothering people? You're just scared I'm gonna beat the ever-loving crap out of you, aren't you?"
From getting expelled from the academy to taking this endless stream of shit-talking. In less than a day, I'd been mentally worn down to the bone. Text terror from disciples I trusted. That bitch Baek Hyunseo plastering my login records all over the intranet. And now this idiot scratching at my last nerve. I couldn't take it anymore. No, I wasn't going to. If I kept swallowing this crap, I'd be nothing but a spineless pushover.
"Hey, Yang Hangil. There's a Magic Duel Arena right next door. It's one of the places I sponsor, so let's settle this there. The manager said I could drop by anytime I needed it. No bystanders to bother—should be perfect, right?"
"C-Calm down, bro. I was just trying to comfort you 'cause you seemed stressed."
"That 'bro' shit again? I swear, call me 'bro' one more time and I'll rip your fucking mouth open. Cut the crap. You came here bragging that you got hired as an academy instructor in my place, didn't you, you fuck? Did you take a bullet to the head? Can't even remember what you said five seconds ago?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙A massive surge of mana gathers in your hand.
Right then, Seol Euna's voice came from the side.
"C-Calm down, Juwon. If you hit that bastard Yang Hangil with mana like that, you might actually kill him. You could end up a murderer."
At that moment, Yang Hangil's eyes rolled back in fury.
"Fuck! Seol Euna, who the hell do you think you are? Saying I might die to this guy? Don't talk shit! You pretty little bitch, I was gonna take you for a spin 'cause you're hot, but you're crossing the line!"
Drunk, and straight-up dissed by a girl he liked, Yang Hangil turned into a blind-raging maniac.
Gone was the trembling mess from before—he was frothing at the mouth now.
"Choi Juwon, you worthless piece of shit. Fine. Let's fight."
I grinned back.
"Sure. But the rule is simple: we go until one of us drops dead. Got it?"
"Hah, you think that'd make me flinch? Do whatever! Fuck, I'm gonna kill you today."
Thud, thud.
I dragged Yang Hangil by the scruff toward the Magic Duel Arena. The guy didn't want to look like he was being hauled, so he gripped my arm.
*Ding*
The manager running the Magic Duel Arena bowed deeply to me in greeting.
"Oh, Mr. Choi Juwon! We always receive your sponsorship funds without fail. I don't know how to thank you enough. Thanks to you, I've been able to buy things my daughter wanted. You have no idea how happy that makes me."
The manager here was a guy busting his ass raising a little girl on his own. I'd stumbled into this place by chance one day, saw he was struggling, and since I had more money than I knew what to do with, I'd been donating a few million won every month.
As a hunter, and later as an academy instructor, I'd amassed more cash than I could spend. So I funneled it into places like this periodically. It wasn't some noble noblesse oblige bullshit. Just self-satisfaction. I had no one else to blow it on anyway.
He straightened from his bow and finally noticed Yang Hangil at my side—and my expression. Worry creased his face as he asked,
"Mr. Ch-Choi Juwon... Is something wrong? You look really upset... Who's that guy next to you...?"
The manager glanced back and forth between me and Yang Hangil, still gripped by the scruff, his face full of anxiety.
The one I was pissed at was Yang Hangil. No need to snap at the manager too. So I softened my expression just for him.
"Manager, long time no see. Glad to see you're doing well."
"We ran into some trash on the street. Decided to settle it fair and square in a duel."
"That said, mind if we use the arena for a bit?"
"Of course! If it's you, Mr. Choi Juwon, I'd rent the whole place out."
"No need for the whole thing. Just one ring. And it won't take long, so don't worry."
"Even if it does, it's fine. We're closing early today anyway—no customers."
"Why close early? Something going on?"
As I chatted with the manager, Yang Hangil—still gripped by the scruff—thrashed and yelled,
"You crazy fuck! Making small talk now? Getting cold feet? Stalling for time?"
This guy's lost his mind.
I glanced back. Seol Euna was there—she must've followed us.
I turned to Yang Hangil.
"Get excited. I'm gonna make this a day you never forget."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Mana gathers in your hand. Telekinesis activates, hurling the target into the arena.
BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the air as Yang Hangil let out an agonized scream.
"Gaaahhh!"
His whole body shook violently as he coughed and hacked, then yelled at me once he caught his breath.
"F-Fuck... That's cheating..."
"We said no rules, remember, you dumb fuck? Where's the cheat? And you were the one who wanted to fight quick. I just sped things up for you."
Yang Hangil frantically gathered mana in his hand. In an instant, a massive fireball hurtled toward me.
Fuck... This is the kind of trash I was teaching? And now he's an academy instructor?
Yang Hangil's spell looked impressive on the surface—a big fireball—but the mana density was pathetic. Like a balloon full of hot air.
"All flash, no substance. You focus on pumping up the size, and end up with this inefficient garbage."
"Sh-Shut the fuck up! This is my lifelong refined fire magic! Something a punk like you could never imitate!"
"Oh... really?"
I pondered how to crush this idiot's pathetic pride.
Then a brilliant idea hit. I'd counter him with the most worthless, garbage-tier spell in my arsenal.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡Magic Missile
No incantation required. Condense mana into a small dot and fire.
In truth, I didn't need to chant for Magic Missile.
Just compress mana into a tiny point and launch. Done.
But I chanted anyway. 'Cause it'd piss him off more when it hit.
Pop!
In a flash, my Magic Missile punched straight through his fireball.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind followed as his fire spell disintegrated midair. To Magic Missile, of all things—the most ridiculed spell in magic.
"Wh-What the...?"
Yang Hangil stared blankly at empty space. I grinned at him.
"How's that? My lifelong research into Magic Missile. I dedicated my life to it. Poured my youth and health into crafting the ultimate Magic Missile. Shame I never got my hands on a forbidden tome from the Magic Tower. If I had, I could've fused it with dark magic and made the world's strongest one..."
"You fucking bastard! Don't mock me! Yeah, I fell for the temptation of the forbidden tomes once, but I'm still a proper Magic Tower wizard!"
"Hey, get your facts straight. You were 'affiliated' with the Magic Tower for a hot minute. And you only got in through connections, right? With skills like yours, the Magic Tower? Please."
"Gaaaaahhh!"
Yang Hangil began drawing every last drop of mana from his body. His hand darkened to an inky black.
BOOM!
The entire arena shook violently. Yang Hangil's body swelled grotesquely. And in his hand, an enormous mass of demonic energy gathered.
Demonic energy—distinct from mana, radiating a nauseating aura—grew stronger by the second.
This one's different. Forbidden tome magic, huh?
His earlier fireball had been hollow flash. This was huge and dense.
Does this idiot even know what he's doing?
Forbidden dark magic let you tap demonic energy to exceed your mana limits. But it cost a chunk of your lifespan.
This fool was burning his own life force.
From what I remembered, Yang Hangil was the type to pamper himself with tonics daily. For him to sacrifice lifespan over wounded pride in a fight? Unthinkable.
Idiot probably only read the incantation part and skipped the fine print.
Or maybe his fellow Tower mages kept the risks from him on purpose, hoping he'd croak.
Either way, if he kept slinging dark magic like this, he'd off himself without me lifting a finger.
I'd planned to cripple him halfway here. But seeing this moronic stunt, I changed my mind.
I'll nullify that life-draining spell in the most pathetic way imaginable.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡[S] Mana Enhancement
Magic power temporarily increased by 200%.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡[S] Mana Enchant
Divine Power selected. Magic infused with holy power. Strong resistance to demonic energy.
Hm... This should do it. Any more and I might level the whole arena.
One last touch.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡[S] Magic Shape Transformation
Select spell: Magic Missile. Form: Soap bubble (tiny).
Confirmed.
Right then, a demonic sphere rocketed from Yang Hangil toward me. He collapsed to his knees, strength drained from firing it, and screamed,
"F-Fuck you! B-Block this... You're done..."
I smiled sweetly at him and whispered,
"Magic Missile."
Hearing my chant, Yang Hangil burst into mad laughter, mocking me.
"Dumbass. Sticking to your gimmick? Gonna die playing pretend? Say your last words—I'll carve 'em on your tombstone."
I smirked back at him.
"Think this won't pierce your spell?"
At the same moment, I insanely compressed my mana and fired.
The world's most pathetic-looking, soap-bubble-shaped Magic Missile charged straight at Yang Hangil's dark magic.