C155: Unwelcome Guests (1)
The final is over.
Rather than cheering for the winner, the audience was full of questions because they didn't know what was going on. A bright light flashed, and when it died down, Devian, who had always had the upper hand, was defeated.
"What? What the hell happened?"
"I don't know. What happened in the light?"
Altego, who was convinced of Rudger's defeat, also shook his fist with a sniff of anger.
'What the hell is this? What do you mean, light attribute magic all of a sudden?'
No one knows what happened in that light. The process of the fight is only known to Rudger and Devian.
Altego couldn't calm down so he jumped out of his seat and left the stadium. The aides, who were wary, hurriedly stood up and chased him.
The students in the audience as well as the other teachers who came to see the duel and the guests outside stared at Rudger with strange eyes.
Devian was stretchered out, Rudger stood for a while and walked off the field.
It's an event match and there was no award ceremony for the winner so he left like this. Rudger's eyes, which entered the hallway, saw medical staff rushing from afar.
Rudger walked in the direction where the medical staff disappeared. Arriving in the emergency room inside the stadium, Rudger could find Devian Burtag lying inside. He was still unconscious with his eyes wide open.
"Mr. Devian come to your senses. Teacher Devian!"
Even if the doctor shook him, it was of little use. There was also Hugo, who was venting his anger at the medical staff as he saw Devian's condition.
"What's going on here?! Why is Devian still like this!"
"We don't know……."
"It's your job to figure it out!"
"There are no wounds on his body! I think we'll have to try a close-up to find out more.…."
As the medical staff rushed to make excuses, Rudger stepped forward.
"It's because he was traumatized momentarily."
Hugo's fleshy face was distorted when he saw Rudger
"With time, he'll recover on his own if he has a strong mentality."
"Do you know what you've done?"
Hugo screamed but Rudger had a face that he didn't understand.
"I don't know why you're mad at me."
"It was only a duel, you didn't have to go this far."
"Did you say I went too far?"
Rudger laughed quietly as if he had heard an interesting story.
"These days, it seems that sneaking into someone else's teacher's office and stealing medicine is less than enough."
"That…!"
Weren't they the first ones to set things up to keep him in check in the duel? Hugo, who was rolling his eyes, screamed at the innocent medical staff.
"Everyone, get out!"
The medical staff were wary and left the room as if they were running away.
Even though the hearing ears were gone, Hugo walked away.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Well, you said you don't know, so I won't say anything more."
Of course, there's no way Hugo really didn't know about this. Devian, whom he had never met before, secretly stole his medicine case, and since Devian was a member of the Burtag family, it was clear at a glance who encouraged him.
However, there was no clear evidence and he couldn't push Hugo anymore, so Rudger decided to stop here and move on.
He won and Devian lost. Above all, it was largely due to the fact that his head was still throbbing as he hurriedly suppressed the power of God.
It was best to avoid unnecessary arguments.
'You punk.'
Hugo wriggled his eyebrows. Here, if Rudger had asked persistently once more, he would have tried to force him by citing evidence in reverse, but this rascal escaped like a ghost.
"So what's your business here?"
"I came here because I was worried that he fainted."
Worry? Did he just say worry? Hugo seriously thought that at this point, Rudger might have come just to mock him. No, he was sure about it.
On the other hand, Rudger, who confirmed Devian's condition, was a little relieved inside.
'Looking at the state of things, it's not too serious.'
Him saying that he was worried wasn't a lie. Still, destroying the other person's ego in duel was too big to cover up and pass it as a simple accident. If Devian was seriously injured, it would have an effect on himself.
Looking at Devian Burtag's condition now, he'll probably get back to his original state if he rests well for about two days. Of course, the memory of that time will remain a trauma.
All of a sudden Rudger felt his forgotten headache come back to life.
'I quickly replenished my mana, but I'm still feeling a headache because I'm on the verge of a dangerous situation.'
Hugo, who did not know Rudger's innermost thoughts, had no choice but to grit his teeth at Rudger's attitude. His plan to defeat Rudger in front of everyone failed, along with the Burtag family's unsightly defeat.
It was as if he had fallen into the trap he dug.
'What the hell did he do? Was he hiding his skills?'
As far as Hugo knew, Rudger could only deal with five elemental attributes. He had never heard of him being able to use light magic but this time, Rudger used a new magic.
'In the first place, that's not the level a new teacher should be at!'
No matter how high the level of Theon's teachers is, there is a limit but Rudger has long since passed that. Most of all, what frustrated Hugo was that he didn't know how Devian was defeated by Rudger.
His body was fine, but he couldn't even guess what magic Rudger had to use to make his mind go out. For Hugo, this whole thing felt like a mess, like someone's bad joke.
At that moment, Chris Benimore opened the door to the hospital room and came in. He stiffened his face when he found Rudger and Rudger stared at Chris Benimore with indifferent eyes.
"Humph."
It was Chris Benimore who avoided eye contact first. He looked at Devian's half-asleep condition and told Hugo.
"Fortunately, his body is not affected. I think you should take a break for now. Just in case, I'll bring you some of the Benimore family's special healing potion."
"……Yes, thank you."
Hugo replied and stared at Rudger as if he were going to tear him to death.
"I'll hold you responsible for this!"
"Responsibility? I don't understand the responsibility at all."
"No matter what it was a duel but you harmed the other person."
It was then that a third party's voice rang the hospital room.
"Isn't it inevitable that something can happen during a duel? Everyone should be prepared for that."
Rudger, Hugo, and Chris' eyes turned to the door of the hospital room and President Elisa stood there. Her face was filled with a faint smile as if she had heard an interesting story.
"Isn't that what you said to me was, Mr. Hugo Burtag?"
"When did I say that?"
"Hmm? That's weird. When I was trying to stop the duel, Mr. Hugo said it and everyone was listening, right?"
Elisa said so, stepping aside slightly and looking back. Only then could Hugo see the people that Elisa was covering.
"Of course. That's exactly what I heard."
An old man stroked his beard and entered the hospital room. Hugo Burtag recognized him and his eyes grew so large that they popped out.
"Duke Heibaek?"
Heibaek Kadushan, one of the three great dukes of the Empire appeared here but that wasn't the only thing Hugo was surprised about. Caiden Lumos and many other nobles were also present.
"Maybe I'm too old and my eyes are wrong. Right?"
"Oh, no! No way!"
Hugo, who hurriedly explained, stared at the president, but the president responded with a smile. Hugo immediately changed his expression, took a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"I think I just got confused because I was out of my mind. Of course during a competition accidents can happen."
As if he had taken back what he said, he had no choice but to smile on the outside even though he shook his fist inside.
Elisha thought it was a good idea and congratulated Rudger saying that he did a good job.
"Congratulations on winning. How do you feel about winning in front of everyone?"
"It wasn't much."
Rudger, who had no intention of winning in the first place, so even his feelings were simple.
'Honestly, unlike what I expected, everyone was busy defending. We didn't exchange magic.'
But others didn't take it that way. No matter how many opponents he defeated, they were still teachers of Theon like him, and his remark made him look arrogant. However, when the winner does this, the feeling it's different.
Duke Heibaek smiled and reached out to Rudger.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Heibaek Kadushan. I am undeservedly seated in the Duke's seat."
"I'm Rudger Chelici."
"I enjoyed the duel, it was really cool especially when you fired magic at such an incredibly high speed. Besides, you're even a light attribute magic user? It's strange how people like you still haven't achieved fame."
Heibaek praised Rudger until his mouth was worn out, with no room for anyone else to intervene. Rudger tried to show discomfort in the action, but when he saw other nobles not approaching, he gave up the idea.
'Everyone's looking.'
Somehow, the people who wanted to make a connection with Rudger, the protagonist of today's event, don't even approach him.
Rudger stared at the old man standing in front of him with an unexpected gaze.
'Are you trying to stop them?'
The way Heibaek keeps clinging to Rudger seems like an old man is making a fool of himself. On the other hand, it was also a secret action to warn the nobles not to bother Rudger.
'Kadushan was the family that symbolizes mountain goats. There is a thorough calculation underneath his frivolous behavior. He is not the third duke that supports the Exilion Empire for nothing.'
Even his appearance that would look friendly and light to strangers was intentional.
Heibaek naturally led Rudger out of the hospital room and the other nobles had no choice but to watch the scene.
"Haha. People are too noisy, aren't they? Please understand. It's because everyone wants to see you so badly."
"I know. And even the fact that the Duke deliberately took me out of an uncomfortable place."
"You knew that?"
Heibaek chuckled, pretending to be surprised but his eyes, which were bent like a crescent moon, sank heavily.
'He's a rare talent with a good eye. Usually, a person who has achieved great achievements at that age becomes overbearing and misses little things.'
Heibaek decided to change his purpose since Rudger was not an opponent he could coax with a few words.
Some people can't be pleased just by saying good things and in that case, he could just move on neatly.
"If you need my help, come to me anytime. Kadushan will treat you as a VIP."
Heibaek, with his experience, realized that sticking to him would only give Rudger a bad impression. Rudger also nodded, thinking it was unexpected to see Heibaek stepping down.
"Yes, indeed. I look forward to our next meeting."
"Huh, yes."
Heibaek was a man who knew to get out when he had to. Seeing Heibaek stepping down cleanly without any regrets, Rudger realized that he was a formidable high-ranking aristocrat.
Soon after, Heibaek disappeared and Rudger thought he should leave but then a group of wizards rushed to Rudger from afar in the hallway.
One of the wizards, who appeared to be the representative, stepped forward and greeted him.
"Hello. My name is Luchek, and I belong to the New Tower. You're Rudger Chelici, right?"
"Yes, but…"
Rudger rolled his eyes. Most of the wizards were young, with no beard or creases compared to the wizards of the Old Tower.
The faces of the wizards of the New Tower surrounding him were all heavy and hard. Unlike the authoritarian Old Tower, the New Tower looked like an army, somewhat hard and rigid.
"What do you need from me?"
When Rudger asked that question, the wizards of the New Tower exchanged glances without a word, and then nodded their heads heavily.
Rudger narrowed his eyes at the sight.
'What? Are you trying to kidnap me? In the present situation where there are still a lot of guests in the stadium?'
Even the New Tower should be afraid of Theon right? While Rudger was thinking so, the representative of the New Tower, who introduced himself as Luchek, put his hand in his pocket with a solemn face.
Rudger strained his body and was ready to respond to any surprise. He couldn't fight hastily because he was lacking mana but he was ready to escape.
Rudger explored the escape route in case of an emergency. At that moment, Luchek hand was pulled out like lightning and headed for Rudger.
Rudger shuddered. It was not because he was scared, but because he almost pulled out the dagger hidden in his waist without realizing it.
What Luchek put out was white paper. Looking at the pure white paper with nothing else written on it, Rudger stared at Luchek wondering what the hell this is.
"Sir, please sign."
"……."