Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 988

Chapter 988

While Caten was flustered by his junior's words, the Frost Giant continued explaining.

-This duel proves how well a warrior uses both brute force and mana.-

"Indeed. I understand."

Yi-Han responded carefully.

Looking at that glacier's ice, being able to melt it with mana was certainly an advantageous factor for Yi-Han.

His recent experience utilizing mana with orichalcum would help too.

'But there might be an even more advantageous duel.'

It would be troublesome if he chose this only to have a more advantageous duel appear later. Yi-Han waited patiently.

-The next duel is this.-

Thud!

"...?"

The Frost Giant dragged his fallen companion over and placed him on a rock with a thud.

Yi-Han and Jijel were shocked by this unexpected event.

What kind of duel was this supposed to be?

-It's hitting his head hard enough to wake him up.-

"...Though I don't know much about Frost Giant physiology, hitting the head hard in this state seems likely to make him sleep forever."

-Hahaha! Challenger, that shows your ignorance. This helmet is magical.-

The Frost Giant laughed at Yi-Han's words and pointed to his fallen companion's helmet.

Surprisingly, magical energy could be felt from the helmet.

Even though Yi-Han's talent for detecting mana was not at all lacking, he hadn't noticed it before being told.

'Amazing. Is it because it's Frost Giant magic with a unique structure? Even considering that, it's extraordinary.'

A helmet that could hide magic from the outside like that was no ordinary artifact.

-It's an invincible helmet that blocks all impacts.-

"...But he collapsed earlier?"

-I hit his face. Even an invincible helmet can't protect areas it doesn't cover.-

The Frost Giant looked at Yi-Han as if he was saying something very stupid.

"Then do we wake him by hitting his face?"

-What nonsense are you talking about? Hitting a fallen warrior's weak point could make him sleep forever. Obviously you must hit the helmet.-

"You said it was invincible..."

-Though it's invincible, hitting it very hard still causes impact. That's exactly what this duel tests.-

"..."

Yi-Han resolved that from now on, he should consider about half of what Frost Giants say to be bluster.

For an invincible helmet, it wasn't very invincible.

'Indeed. A duel of applying impact through the helmet to kill... no, wake the opponent.'

This duel also had advantages for Yi-Han.

Since that helmet blocked impacts with magic, if he broke the magic itself, its function would disappear.

Even if it was Frost Giant magic, it seemed he could temporarily stop it by wielding Baldoorn's mana hammer.

'That helmet doesn't seem to have a separate magical structure prepared against mana hammer. High chance it will work.'

"Junior."

"?"

Caten had approached from behind.

The beast mixed-blood senior whispered worriedly.

"Will you be alright? If you just give the signal now..."

"Ah. I'm still fine. I'll listen a bit more."

"!!!"

Caten was greatly surprised.

He had come to check directly in case Jijel was mistaken, but to think Yi-Han would give the same answer?

"Are there perhaps other duels?"

-Yes. The final duel is a very enjoyable one. It's a duel of drinking poison wine.-

Drinking high-proof alcohol wasn't just a Frost Giant custom.

Such customs could be found throughout the empire, and giants and dwarves also liked...

-It's wine containing magically created poison.-

"...Pardon?"

Yi-Han asked again, thinking he had misheard.

But he had heard correctly. The Frost Giant brought over a large wine barrel and said.

-It's wine with plenty of poison made by our shaman. Warriors who want to prove how tough they are often chug this wine.-

Frost Giants didn't stop at strong alcohol but actually enjoyed wine with poison added.

Sometimes giants really died from drinking it, but that was the same with fighting. No giant would stop fighting just because there were casualties.

Caten finally made a firm decision this time.

"I'll draw my sword, Junior."

"How fortunate. This works out perfectly."

"?!?!!"

Caten looked with shocked eyes at the White Tiger Tower junior who was rejoicing.

...Could they perhaps have bad relations with Wardanaz?

'They seemed close though...'

  *

The duel naturally ended in Yi-Han's victory after choosing the third match.

-Urrrrrgh…-

"..."

However, Yi-Han couldn't rejoice even after winning.

Because the number of collapsed giants had increased to two.

-P-poison, drank too much…-

"Who will guarantee my honor if you collapse! Senior, do you know how to neutralize this poison wine?"

"Junior. How would I know that?"

Caten spoke proudly.

Not many people could say they didn't know something so proudly. Yi-Han found himself nodding in acceptance without realizing it.

'That's certainly true.'

"I've never seen that wine either, Wardanaz. It's Frost Giant poison after all."

"Has the Moradi family never fought with Frost Giants?"

"Not all families struggle with monsters from other realms."

Arguing with Jijel wouldn't solve anything. Yi-Han gave up and changed tactics.

Gonadaltes' Decline!

This strange magic that transferred the other's status ailments to himself wasn't very useful normally, but in a situation like this, it was different.

Since it didn't matter much if he took on the poisoning...

-Cough!-

The Frost Giant whose complexion had darkened from poisoning came to his senses.

"Are you awake?"

-D-did I lose?-

"Yes."

-I don't remember! I can't accept it! One more duel…-

Shing-

Caten put his sword to the Frost Giant's neck. The Frost Giant nodded.

-...To request that would sully a warrior's honor. I'll guarantee the challenger's honor with my name.-

"Thank you!"

The Frost Giant woke his helmeted companion sprawled beside him.

While grumbling.

-To decide honor with one duel. What's so wrong with two or three?-

"..."

"..."

The helmeted Frost Giant who belatedly woke up shouted.

-I should have swung a fist instead of the club... What happened!?-

-The challenger passed the test. I agreed to guarantee his honor.-

-Y-you foolish bastard...! If that was the case you should have passed it to me! You've stolen all our honor!-

-Hmph. Then you should have dueled first.-

The recovered Frost Giants growled sharp words back and forth among themselves.

And when their conversation ended, they kept glancing at Yi-Han.

-If we had one more duel, we might get the honor of being acknowledged by the king…-

-Honestly speaking, isn't one duel too few? True honor is built through multiple duels…-

"What kind of bastards are these?"

Jijel spat out in disbelief.

Their appearance was that of a majestic warrior race itself, but their actions were pettier than the giants living in Einroguard's mountains.

If they lost they lost, yet they kept glancing this way and whining things like 'ah one duel is too few' and 'wish we could have more duels'.

-Wh-what are you saying? We didn't say anything.-

-We won't tolerate insults, outsider!-

The Frost Giants, seemingly caught out, stopped whining and guided the way.

The other Frost Giants staying in the fortress of snow and ice located inside the valley showed puzzlement at the visitors.

-Who is this? What business do outsiders from another realm have here?-

-This is the honorable challenger acknowledged by the king.-

-What!? Then that honor should be…-

-It's already over. I challenged and lost, and promised there would be no more challenges.-

-Who are you to...!-

The Frost Giants rushed out in a group and angrily berated their companion.

Because of this greedy one, the chance for great honor had been lost!

"I understand your regret but what can you do? Everyone please give up..."

The Frost Giants didn't give up easily even at Yi-Han's words.

Someone muttered.

-If the one who promised disappears, wouldn't it reset? We might be able to duel again.-

-Indeed! ...Come over here for a moment?-

-How dare you?! You absolutely can't get rid of me!-

The Frost Giant who was in danger of disappearing after being dragged away by companions shouted in rage.

However, the other Frost Giants weren't pushovers either.

Since the chance for honor acknowledged by the king had just disappeared, they wanted to obtain it again even if they had to dispose of this selfish companion.

"That's enough, you trash. Are you still fighting over worthless matters?"

The Frost Giants showed anger at the human mage's voice from behind.

Though some of them had received acknowledgment, Frost Giants weren't a merciful race that would allow outsiders from another realm to freely insult them.

-Who dares... Gasp! Gonadaltes!-

-G-Gonadaltes!-

-Gonadaltes???-

The Frost Giants who were about to burst with anger were shocked when they checked the mage behind.

Though Frost Giants might be dull at distinguishing other races' appearances, they couldn't forget that appearance.

The nightmare of the giant race, Gonadaltes!

That very mage was standing at the valley entrance with his group of servants.

-What business do you have here?-

"My disciple visited as an envoy but it's taking too long."

The White Tiger Tower students who had followed behind the mad doppelganger kept nodding.

Though the skull principal's doppelganger was a dangerous great mage, at least now he was a great mage on their side.

'Show those Frost Giants!'

-He is Gonadaltes' disciple?!-

"Once."

-?-

"I showed mercy once. There won't be a second time, so guard that tongue well."

The Frost Giants nodded while hemming and hawing.

-To think he is that great mage's disciple?-

"...Yes."

Though it was a bit annoying that the mad doppelganger came late after the duel was all over, Yi-Han was just glad he came at all.

Thanks to him, the attitude of the Frost Giants who were going to keep whining changed completely.

'What did he do to giants in the past?'

Yi-Han had seen the young skull principal beating up everything from giants to demons in the distant ancient times.

But to think they would be this scared even after such a long time had passed. Even though they were a race from another realm.

'No. That's not what's important right now.'

"Everyone stop obsessing over honor and duels now! We must properly get to the main point!"

Yi-Han quickly shouted.

He had to firmly establish it while the Frost Giants were scared and make sure they could never bring it up again.

-Understood. We'll get to the main point.-

-Just wait a moment.-

The Frost Giants nodded in agreement but then each took something out from their clothes.

They were wax notepads.

Yi-Han became curious seeing them scribbling with their huge hands.

He grabbed the helmeted Frost Giant who had collapsed first and asked a question.

"What are you all writing?"

-Challenger, can you not read?-

"...I can't read Frost Giant letters, but I can read others."

-It's good to learn letters.-

When the user of one language looked at him pityingly, it was rather annoying.

But Yi-Han endured.

"So what does it mean?"

-This means 'honorable challenger acknowledged by the king'. It's a title referring to you, challenger.-

"...And below that?"

-Below that means 'disciple of the mage Gonadaltes'. This too is a title referring to you, challenger.-

"Then what's the last line?"

-It means since you have two honors that absolutely cannot be yielded to others, we must claim them first.-

Yi-Han nodded.

Then he resolved that he would have to confiscate the writing materials from the Frost Giants.