The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower
[Translator - Night]
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Chapter 259: Blooming the Flower (10)
What was falling was the blazing red sun.
A star of death that crushed and burned the surrounding air, as though it would bring about the end of the world.
And what stood against that immense tyranny was a single petal.
“Bloom—Cradle of All Things.”
From the vast white petal that spread like an umbrella over everyone’s heads, an overflowing vitality could be felt.
‘A petal? That’s absurd.’
Andre Bright was still debating whether to intervene in the duel.
Logically speaking, a petal could not block the sun.
‘If the defense fails, I’ll intervene immediately.’
The opponent was a Tower Master boasting overwhelming firepower.
If he was even a moment too late in stepping in, not only Lloyd but everyone present would be in danger.
Swallowing dryly, Andre shouted in a hurried voice.
“Draw up your mana! Everyone prepare for the shockwave!”
Kwoooaaang!
The star of death struck the petal, and the massive shockwave swept through the entire subspace.
“......This is—!”
Of course, the petal melted away instantly under the intense heat of the sun.
Seeing this, Andre was just about to stop the duel without hesitation when Oscar spread his arm to block him.
“Wait a moment.”
“You!”
Blocked at such a crucial moment, Andre frowned.
Disliking defeat in the Proof of Colors was one thing, but to stop him from intervening even now?
As Andre felt disappointment rise in him at such selfishness, Oscar spoke.
“Look.”
Andre’s gaze naturally followed the tilt of Oscar’s chin.
And then he saw it.
“......!”
The petals melted away helplessly—only to regenerate endlessly.
It was certain.
A single petal was holding back the sun.
“......”
The sight shocked everyone who watched, but the one most shaken was Kudel.
His eyebrow twitched sharply as he gripped the armrest of his throne so hard it threatened to break.
‘Blocked it? My magic?’
If it had been a spell he cast lightly, he might have accepted it.
But this was the strongest attack he could unleash from his liberated world.
Kudel Redmane stared at the unyielding sun and petal.
‘Impossible.’
Since childhood, he had always taken whatever he wanted.
Money, fame, power, magic—whatever he desired, he acquired.
He had only ever walked the path of a victor.
The boy now opposing him was nothing more than a by-product of that.
‘Lloyd Schultz.’
The key to reaching level 10, something he had long dreamed of.
To obtain him, he had cut off the White Tower’s funding, and the plan had worked.
Lloyd Schultz left the tower and kneeled before him.
‘And yet......’
That little brat from sixteen years ago, who was nothing more than a ticket to level 10,
now stood as a grown man blocking his way.
“How dare you!”
He remembered how Lloyd had once knelt of his own accord, head bowed low.
But now he stood tall, head held high.
Kudel despised it.
That boy from sixteen years ago had become someone else entirely.
As rage surged, his mana erupted like a volcano.
‘Infinite regeneration? Useless.’
If it regenerated endlessly, he’d just burn it until regeneration was no longer possible.
Nothing could withstand overwhelming firepower.
Kwoooaaaaa!
The red sun bore down even heavier upon the petal.
“Before you, I always bowed my head, staring only at the ground.”
Yet even then, his heart had always longed for higher places.
And today, at last, Lloyd faced the sun head-on.
“Let’s bring this to an end.”
Lloyd swung Sydney like a conductor’s baton, and the massive petal began to shine.
The brighter the sun burned, the brighter it glowed.
“......You dare to use my magic as mere nourishment?”
“Just as even in the gutter there are scraps to be found, there were things to learn beneath you too.”
The petal absorbed the blazing heat.
It shone so brightly it was painful to look at.
Looking at Kudel, Lloyd murmured.
“For showing me a back to chase all this time, I’ll offer my thanks.”
As the brightness reached its peak, Lloyd’s lips moved.
“Full bloom, Judgment of Sunlight.”
Ziiiiiiing!
Radiant light shot from the entire petal.
A destructive beam that obliterated all it touched.
Cracks began to form on the sun that took the attack head-on.
“......”
Kudel clenched his teeth.
He could never allow so many to see his sun broken.
His mana surged to protect the shattering sun.
And at that moment—
“You truly never fail to meet my expectations.”
Lloyd muttered, both relieved and bitter.
He had known that Kudel’s pride would drive him to protect the sun rather than counterattack.
‘Forcing your opponent into an unfavorable choice—’
That was the greatest lesson Lloyd had learned in sixteen years under Kudel.
He raised his left hand to the sky.
Mana answered, forming a magic circle in an instant.
“......!”
Sensing the anomaly, Kudel raised his head.
From the crimson sky, a colossal sword of wind was descending.
Its target—Kudel Redmane.
‘A sword that cleaves the heavens.’
He knew that spell.
He had once seen Oscar Sage use it.
The Heaven-Cleaving Sword always struck its target without fail.
‘A certain-hit spell in this situation—checkmate.’
Kudel stared at the sword falling toward him, weighing his options.
His world, Throne of the Sun, Solar Regia, centered on his throne.
By sitting there, he gained unmatched firepower but lost freedom of movement.
That was its nature.
Knowing this, Lloyd had forced two choices.
Either move to evade and abandon the throne, or remain and see both sun and pride shattered.
‘Whichever he chooses, his lofty pride will be scarred.’
Lloyd’s calculation was correct.
Kudel’s body trembled with fury.
‘To humiliate me like this...’
[Translator - Night]
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He could not choose either path.
For Kudel Redmane, that pride was his very being.
Thus, only one option remained.
“Enough.”
Kudel rose slowly from his throne.
The sun that dyed the world red, and the mirror-like sword overhead, all vanished.
Withdrawing that tremendous power, he caught the falling sword in one hand.
Crack, craaack—
The massive blade fractured like glass and shattered.
Yet Kudel brushed his hand off lightly, uninterested.
“Let’s stop here. Continuing this fight would be difficult.”
He glanced aside.
Everyone’s eyes followed.
Cracks had begun forming in the space itself.
Seeing this, Lloyd narrowed his eyes.
‘Damn Tower Master... what a sly old man.’
Far from losing pride, Kudel had made it look like he withdrew out of magnanimity.
Andre muttered as he checked the cracks.
“It seems even the subspace cannot withstand their power.”
“Yes, best to end the duel here.”
Oscar nodded and ushered everyone out.
He knew a ‘monster’ lurked beyond this space and did not want further cracks forming.
“Then, as for the outcome......”
Andre frowned in thought.
Kudel casually saved him the trouble.
“Let it be my defeat. Whatever the reason, I was the one who stopped first.”
“......Truly?”
“Click, or do you mean to force me into contradicting myself?”
Hands clasped behind his back, Kudel looked as though he had no regrets.
Andre seized the chance and nodded.
“His Majesty will surely praise your generosity.”
“Hmph, nothing but empty courtesy.”
Kudel then looked at Lloyd.
When Lloyd did not avert his gaze, Kudel snorted.
“Impressive. In just days, you’ve grown remarkably strong.”
“......”
Lloyd did not reply.
For the other, it may have been days, but Lloyd had spent years preparing for this.
With that, Andre declared.
“As referee of this Proof of Colors, I proclaim the White Tower’s victory.”
Thus, Lloyd Schultz became officially recognized as a mage of the White Tower.
And there was no need for separate “deflaming,” for Lloyd had abandoned his flames himself.
As the duel concluded, Kudel put on his sunglasses again.
“I’ll be off. No need for us to linger.”
“Very well.”
At Sasha’s reply, Kudel disappeared, hands behind his back.
Watching him go, Andre sighed softly.
“Whew, at last it’s over.”
“Were you very nervous?”
“Of course. He’s so unpredictable that even the Imperial Court regards him as dangerous.”
His personality was one problem, but his skill was worse.
Even today, had it been a true life-or-death fight, Lloyd would have died.
‘He’s grown, but still not enough to defeat Kudel.’
Today was a victory of strategy.
Lloyd had provoked Kudel’s pride and forced the outcome.
That was only possible because he knew him so well.
“We should be going now.”
“Safe travels.”
Andre departed with the Imperial mages, and Oscar approached Lloyd.
“You did well. A splendid battle.”
“......I haven’t reached him yet.”
Having fought directly, Lloyd knew.
Though his magic countered Kudel’s, he could not yet win outright.
The difference in skill was still too great.
“Even so.”
Oscar smiled broadly and congratulated him.
“What matters is that you won. Welcome home.”
“......Home.”
Lloyd repeated the word, a faint smile on his lips.
“Thank you for the welcome.”
“Think nothing of it. You must be tired—go rest.”
“Yes, then I’ll take my leave.”
With a calm face and a polite bow, Lloyd left the training hall.
Sasha hurried over, curiosity written all over her.
“Master, did you reveal your identity to him too?”
“Hmm? No, why?”
“It just felt strange that he was suddenly speaking formally to you.”
As Oscar pondered her sharp question, his eyes widened.
Oh?
[Translator - Night]
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