Reborn with a Necromancer System - Chapter 77

Chapter 77: The Duel
Classes had been progressing well for Kai, though he had kept mostly to himself. That didn’t stop Willam and Emille from constantly bothering him, much to his frustration.

He narrowly avoided missing his sigilcraft class twice in the last week, and two nights in a row, he had to redo the weak barrier sigils on his belongings right before the day ended just to meet his quota. However, what frustrated him most was that he hadn’t had the chance to practice necromancy at all since arriving.

Kai sat at a seat, staring at the plant he was supposed to be magically nurturing in his Naturopathy class.

He tried his best to protect it with light barriers, but the plant still discoloured when he touched it. The first step of the class was to take care of the plant without magic. As the lecturer explained, it was the best method to understand nature before using magic to enhance it.

‘I don’t really need this magic, but I am interested in getting to the healing magic side of things.’

As the course material explained, normal healing magic wasn’t divine magic like clerics or paladins would wield, but something more akin to really potent medicine. It wouldn’t regrow limbs, or make it so cuts disappeared, but could stop blood flow from wounds, seal them shut, eliminate disease and sickness, and more.

After saying goodbye to Ayliah Evergreen, their naturopathy teacher, Kai turned to leave the classroom when he found himself face to face with Emille Lockheart. The fire elementalist had been a constant annoyance since their first meeting in Ylthara and then his first day at the academy.

Always prying.

Always pushing Kai’s buttons.

His noble lineage and status as a rank-nine fire mage made him one of the most prestigious students in the academy, and he carried himself with all the arrogance that title entailed.

‘Maybe I should have changed my rank at enrollment, but I don’t need even more attention. And I don’t think my elemental magic would reach rank nine, anyway.’

“So, Mirlin Orth,” Emille drawled, folding his arms. “You’ve been here a couple of weeks now, and I still don’t understand how a nobody got placed in s-class.”

Kai sighed, already tired of the conversation. “I’m not interested in whatever pissing contest you’re trying to start, Lockheart.”

The other students around them murmured in amusement and anticipation. Emille’s smirk widened.

“Oh, but I think you will be. I challenge you to a duel!” Emille shouted loud enough for every student in their vicinity to hear him.

Kai narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

Emille shrugged, feigning innocence. “If you’re as strong as they say, then you should have no trouble proving it. The conditions are simple. If you win, I’ll do anything you want. If I win, you drop down to e-class where you belong.”

‘I don’t know who “they” are, but I haven’t shown anything to make anyone think I’m special or strong. Is this because I pushed him over on my first day here?’

Kai paused, weighing the options. On one hand, humiliating Emille and having a noble under his thumb would be useful, but it would also widen the gap between himself and the rest of the student body. What he needed more than anything, beyond the academy’s knowledge, were allies. Moving to e-class, however, would allow him to find students who had real potential without the arrogance of nobility weighing them down. Besides, he could always rely on Willam to procure any necessary resources from the library.

After a moment, he gave Emille a small, unreadable smile. “Fine. Let’s do it.”

The students around them gasped, and Emille’s smirk turned predatory. They approached a lecturer to officiate the duel, and after reviewing the terms, the lecturer informed them that a senior student or faculty member had to witness the match for it to be valid.

Kai found Juno, the student advisor, and explained the situation. Juno raised an eyebrow but ultimately agreed. “Are you sure about this?” he asked.

Kai nodded. “It’ll be fine.”

“Very well. Already making waves? I’m on board. I’ll meet you at the duelling grounds in an hour. I’ve got to get a contract written up.”

The duel took place in the academy’s designated dueling grounds. A crowd gathered quickly, eager to witness an s-class student face off against a supposed nobody.

“This will be a fair fight! Only your magic may be used. Any outside interference will nullify the duel and those responsible will be expelled without question. Repeat after me to sign the contract stated between the two of you, with the obligations you will be under if losing: I promise to uphold the contents of this contract, under the losing conditions…”

“I, k- Mirlin Orth, promise to uphold the contents of this contract, under the losing conditions will agree to step down to E-Class.”

A golden chain appeared before Kai and wrapped around him. It constricted him for a moment before turning into a golden pattern on his skin.

“I, Emille Lockhart, promise to uphold the contents of this contract, under the losing conditions will do anything that Mirlin Orth asks of me.”

The chain wrapped around Emille as well.

Juno raised a hand.

“Three! Two! One! Start!” He swung his hand down.

As soon as the duel began, Emille wasted no time, summoning an enormous fireball that roared toward Kai like a miniature sun. Kai, anticipating such a reckless move, cooled the air around him to below freezing temperatures. The moisture in the air froze and shimmered in the air, but the fireball blocked Emille’s view of such an act. The thousand fragments of ice weakened the flames before they reached him. At the same time, he conjured several thin layers of shadow barriers, so faint they were nearly invisible to spectators.

The fireball struck.

Kai let out a scream and collapsed onto the ground, writhing dramatically. “Ahh! It burns! I-I forfeit!”

The crowd gasped, and Emille let out a victorious laugh, sauntering over to gloat. But when he reached Kai, his triumphant expression twisted into confusion.

Kai stood up, completely unscathed. His clothes and even his hair weren’t singed.

Juno stepped forward, announcing, “The winner is Emille Lockheart.”

The noble’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait! No! I want a rematch!”

Kai put on his best defeated expression and shook his head. “No way. You won fair and square, Emille. I can’t fight you, I’ll die!”

The students raced towards Emille. Girls wrapped their arms around him and guys pattes him on the back.

Emille’s fists clenched, his face burning with frustration. He had won, but somehow, it felt like he had lost.

Kai, on the other hand, had gotten exactly what he wanted. He had successfully frustrated the most obnoxious student in the school and secured his place in e-class, where he could work without the distractions of noble egos.

‘All in all, a perfect outcome.’