Overpowered Archmage Doesn’t Hide His Talent

Chapter 21 Can’t You Tell?

“The world of women is really brutal, don’t you think, Louis?”

Martin muttered this while sitting next to Louis.

They had chosen seats a bit away from the other students, as Louis preferred to watch in peace.

The two were discussing the recent mock battle between Becky and Hailey.

“The world of women?”

“Yeah, the world of women. But I guess you’re too handsome to care, huh?”

Martin clicked his tongue and continued.

“You know Flan, right? Everyone’s been talking about him lately.”

“Flan… Yeah, I know him.”

Louis nodded immediately.

There was no way he wouldn’t know. If you asked the A-rank students who the most talked-about person was these days, the answer would undoubtedly be Flan.

Rumors of cheating, refusing to use scrolls, almost making a dropout bet with Aria… he was at the center of all the gossip.

“He confessed to Hailey, but now he only hangs out with Becky. That’s why Hailey just beat her up like that.”

“Is there really a need for that?”

“It’s a power play. She’s showing him that the girl he’s hanging out with is pathetic. A final confirmation, if you will.”

Louis looked over at Becky and Hailey.

Hailey was helping Becky get up.

To him, it just looked like the winner helping the loser after a mock battle—a wholesome scene.

“I still don’t get it.”

“You’re so dense. You should really stay away from women.”

Martin shook his head, then suddenly smirked and nudged Louis with his elbow.

“Louis, don’t you think Hailey likes you?”

“We’re just friends.”

“Friends? I don’t think so. Oh, the next match is starting.”

As Violet snapped her fingers, a frog spat out a name card. The name was announced.

“Aria Fontaine.”

Aria swept her pink hair back as she stepped into the arena. Violet spoke.

“You can choose your opponent, or we’ll draw one.”

“Please choose Flan.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Aria chose Flan. Violet nodded in understanding.

Martin, watching this, shouted excitedly.

“Of course! This is going to be fun!”

“What’s so fun about it?”

Martin responded enthusiastically.

“Flan’s going to get completely beaten up. What’s more entertaining than seeing a cheater exposed?”

“…You should watch your words. We don’t know for sure yet.”

“At this point, it’s pretty certain. And I’m already toning it down.”

Violet once again set up a barrier between the spectator stands and the arena to prevent any intense magic from spilling over.

“Hm.”

Meanwhile, Louis pondered Martin’s words.

“Exposed, huh.”

The idea of Flan being exposed took on a different meaning for Louis.

Flan’s confident demeanor, the telekinesis that had silenced Aria…

“Could a commoner really act like that?”

He seemed completely unconcerned about the kind of things a commoner would usually be mindful of—like the status of others, or worries about consequences. There was something entirely different about Flan.

A hypothesis began to form in the depths of Louis’s mind.

“Oh, he’s entering. Are you watching, Louis?”

“I’m watching.”

Louis stared at the boy walking into the arena.

His face and expression were razor-sharp. The aura of dignity and self-assurance he exuded was impressive.

Every step he took seemed to claim the space around him as his own.

Surely, there must be something more to him.

However…

The energy emanating from his frail, skinny body was so… ordinary.

So ordinary that…

“Sigh.”

Louis let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes.

Maybe there really was nothing special after all.

◈

I looked over the three randomly assigned scrolls I had received from Violet.

*『Rapid Freezing』, 『Targeted Strike』, 『Sweeping Flames』*—those were the three scrolls given to me.

After examining the spells, they seemed to be, in order: an elemental freezing spell, a localized impact spell, and a destruction spell imbued with fire.

I didn’t really want to use any of them.

However, Violet had emphasized that we must use at least one. Even if we didn’t use them during the exploration, we were required to learn how to utilize them.

“Flan.”

While I was deep in thought, Aria Fontaine had approached me in the empty arena.

“Have you decided what you’ll do after you drop out of the Academy?”

I didn’t respond and instead focused on gathering my mana.

I wasn’t yet sure what scrolls Aria had acquired, so I considered numerous possibilities and prepared myself accordingly.

Violet glanced back and forth between Aria and me.

“When you’re ready, both of you, move to opposite ends of the arena.”

We moved to our respective ends of the arena. The distance between us was considerable, making her look like a small dot.

Violet called out loudly.

“I’ll count to three, and then you begin. One.”

Aria Fontaine began taking deep breaths.

“Two.”

She placed her hand on the scroll hanging from her waist. I calmly tried to predict what kind of scroll it might be.

Given that she seemed intent on activating it right away, it was likely a summoning or materialization spell.

“Three.”

Violet’s figure disappeared, and Aria confidently unfurled her scroll. A massive shadow quickly loomed over me.

*Kwoooong!*

As expected, it was a summoning spell. A golem, at least five times larger than a human, appeared on the other side.

Even at a distance, the sheer size of the golem was imposing.

Aria then threw a scroll toward the golem. With a roar, the golem’s body was engulfed in flames.

The flames wouldn’t go out—just like the scroll Maybel had misused, ending up in the infirmary.

Aria controlled the direction of the flames with deep breaths, spreading them evenly over the golem’s body.

Finally, she activated her third scroll.

Her body was surrounded by a blue aura.

‘Resistance to interference?’

It appeared to be a spell that increased her resistance to external interference.

All of this happened in precisely three seconds. Having quickly completed her sequence, Aria drew a large formula in the air.

The barrier between the arena and the spectator stands slowly turned black. Soon, the spectators were completely obscured from view.

Aria smirked.

“Can’t have anyone watching, can we? I’m going to beat you until you’re half-dead.”

*Kwoooong!*

Simultaneously, the flame-clad golem charged toward me.

I remained rooted in place.

Aria had boosted her resistance to interference, so it would be best to target the golem.

I spread my mana out like a net around me. As the golem entered my range, I began to analyze its structure.

It took more than half my mana to figure out the golem’s mechanics and physical makeup, but it was worth it—a fair exchange.

I recalled my mana net in one go.

*Crack!* My mana infiltrated the golem through tiny, nearly invisible gaps.

The golem’s movements slowed noticeably, but its momentum remained. The massive figure still charged straight at me.

Should I move to dodge? No, my pride wouldn’t allow it.

I simply accelerated the speed of my invading mana.

Gradually, the golem’s charging speed slowed further.

The charge became a run, the run turned into a walk, and eventually, it came to a complete stop.

*Kwoooong!*

The golem roared, frustrated by its slowed movements. Its intelligence wasn’t high enough to understand why it was being hindered.

“What are you doing? Keep going!”

Aria was equally frustrated, shouting at the golem. However, she was too busy supporting the golem’s life force to do anything else.

If she stopped assisting it, the golem would collapse, so Aria was essentially tied up.

All I did was push my mana deeper, lightly tapping the golem’s back with telekinesis.

“Why is this happening? Is it because it’s low on mana?”

Aria furiously shoved more of her mana into the golem. It only made my interference easier.

The limitations of scrolls were clear.

If the caster’s abilities weren’t superior to the scroll’s magic, they wouldn’t even understand the cause of the problem and would end up being consumed by the magic.

I adjusted the paths of my mana that had thoroughly infiltrated the golem. The invading mana found the circuits that recognized Aria as the golem’s master.

Once those circuits were identified, my next course of action was obvious.

The golem, which had trudged all the way up to me, raised its fist.

*Kwoooong!*

A massive fist descended like a meteor.

At the exact moment that enormous fist was about to reach me…

*Snap.*

I snapped my fingers, and the golem froze in place.

“…?”

Aria’s face filled with bewilderment.

“What are you doing? What’s the hold-up, damn it!”

Aria had no means to recognize or counter the interference. She could only shout in frustration.

*Krrr—*

“…?”

At that moment, the flaming golem turned toward Aria.

Its thigh, shoulder, heel… I had interfered with every part of the golem. The massive summoned creature was now nothing more than a puppet under my control.

The golem now set its sights on Aria Fontaine.

“…?”

The golem, which had regarded Aria as its master just moments ago, suddenly charged toward her.

*Boom, boom, boom!* Every step the colossal creature took sent rocks flying into the air. Aria’s face turned

pale.

“Why, why is this happening? Don’t come closer! I said don’t come closer!”

Desperately trying to control the golem, Aria poured all her mana into it.

It was futile. Our mana densities were worlds apart.

*Boom, boom, boom!* The golem continued its relentless march toward Aria.

“Eek…!”

Aria finally gave up on controlling the golem. Like a fire had been lit under her feet, she bolted to the far end of the arena.

At that moment, I felt the gazes of Violet and Leonard watching me from somewhere.

‘They said to use at least one.’

Rules were rules. I unfurled the 『Sweeping Flames』 scroll and activated it.

However, I directed the flames at the ground, not at Aria.

*Whoosh!*

Flames erupted on the ground, limiting Aria’s movements. She could no longer escape to the open area.

“Ugh…!”

Her only option was to retreat to the corner. Aria backed up until she was pressed against the wall.

*Boom!* The golem took another step toward her.

With no more room to retreat, Aria looked up at the towering creature with a pale face. A massive shadow engulfed her.

Her legs shook as if an earthquake was happening beneath her. Meanwhile, I calmly walked toward the golem.

I examined the magic Aria had cast that blackened the barrier’s surface. I activated the 『Targeted Strike』 scroll, aiming for the critical point.

With a crack, the spell struck like an arrow, creating a white fissure in the black barrier.

The fissure, initially just a point, soon spread like a spiderweb. It wouldn’t be long before the entire audience could see Aria’s predicament.

I walked and walked until I was finally standing beside the golem.

Aria looked between me and the golem.

“What… What is this? What’s going on?”

She muttered helplessly.

I quietly responded to Aria’s empty question.

“Can’t you tell?”