I'll Smash Everything with Passive Skills-Chapter 65: 0. Confirmation (2)

Evangeline de Wallenstein.

The Grand Duchess of the great Galia Kingdom, she is the ruler of the Duchy of Wallenstein, which is nominally a vassal state of the kingdom but is effectively recognized as an independent nation. She is a busy person.

"Is this all the ability of those who claimed to be competent?"

"...I apologize."

Evangeline struggled to hide her discomfort at the sight of her subordinate deeply bowing.

In truth, she had irresponsibly abandoned her territory and entered the Vera Empire. The reason was simple: she had obtained information about the leadership of her eternal nemesis, the Demon Cult.

However, even after coming this far, her responsibilities as the ruler of a small nation clung to her stubbornly. Even though she had entrusted all her authority to the trustworthy chancellor of the duchy!

"I don't have time for this."

Evangeline grew anxious.

She hadn't even properly begun the plan. In fact, it might be correct to say that there was no reason to sway a man like Veris to her side.

However... her intuition was telling her otherwise.

Veris von Vitelbach. She must draw that foolish man to her side.

"They are like bugs hiding in the house. Once you sense their presence, you must remember that it may already be too late."

"I will engrave the Grand Duchess's command into my bones."

Evangeline nodded in response to her subordinate's vow.

Then she hurriedly prepared and left her temporary residence, a mansion in the southern district.

'I wonder what he is doing today.'

The current # Nоvеlight # situation was undeniably urgent. Yet for some reason, Evangeline felt an unusual joy at the thought of meeting and conversing with him. And that was... partly due to the mysterious feeling she had faith in.

"...Hmm?"

Evangeline's steps were resolute as she had already secured the location of Veris's residence. However, she soon felt a strong wave of mana and was puzzled.

"How strange."

As far as she knew, there were hardly any individuals within this academy who could wield such powerful mana.

But why was it that a strong flow was detected not in the luxurious mansion of the southern district she was heading to, but in the western district?

"This feels good."

After a moment of contemplation, Evangeline turned her steps. It was true that the search was urgent. However, her curiosity was hindering her.

*

[Incredible! How on earth can you display such miraculous skills? This is clearly not the level of a student!]

The student council president, Valten, who was both the host and commentator of the duel, exclaimed in astonishment at the song of ice and fire.

His exclamation echoed through the magic loudspeakers, and the audience filling the duel arena showed similar reactions.

"That's insane, absolutely insane!"

"If someone asks about the future of the continent, let them look at the duel arena for the mid-evaluation!"

The continuous barrage of two elemental magics flying towards each other was a feast for the eyes.

The source of the undeniably powerful force made the bodies of the audience tremble involuntarily.

"Beatrice is highly regarded as a candidate for the next archmage. But how on earth does Her Highness the Princess possess such power? And how was such a capable individual classified as a B-Class student?"

The girl shooting ice magic from above the duel arena was now a familiar figure to the spectators: Maria Theresa.

She was a B-Class student, and surprisingly, she was evenly matched with the transfer student Beatrice. Of course, due to the elemental disadvantage, the battle did not seem easy.

However, the important fact was that the girl Maria was facing was no ordinary academy student.

A transfer student and a prodigious magical genius who had been granted permission to postpone her academic obligations as an imperial noble.

Beatrice von Haruen. With her hair flowing like a sword, she soared through the duel arena, already embodying the form of a fully-fledged magician rather than a mere student.

"Is this the semifinals? No final match has ever produced such a spectacle!" "I agree. It's a pleasure to witness such a sight!"

Indeed.

The mid-evaluation tournament had now reached the semifinals.

The four semifinalists were the four individuals frequently mentioned in people's conversations.

Maria Theresa von Winsburg de Vera. Beatrice von Haruen. Patrick Hessen. Veris von Vitelbach.

Moreover, the surprising fact was that among the semifinalists, only one belonged to A-Class.

Excluding Patrick, who wielded a mature swordsmanship, one was a transfer student, and the other two were B-Class students.

"We need to take down the entrance examiners!"

"Ugh! Those damn bastards are pocketing bribes; even my dog knows that." Naturally, many were voicing their dissatisfaction.

If there hadn't been two B-Class students in the semifinals, such discontent would not have flared up so strongly.

─Ziiing!

"Whoa?"

"Something big is coming!"

While some were hurling thick curses at the academy's admissions office, others were still marveling at the fierce exchanges taking place.

The duel was simple.

With the intent to burn everything, Beatrice unleashed fire-based attack magic, while Maria deployed ice-based defensive magic focused on defense and status ailments.

Of course, for Maria to win, she would need a chance to counterattack, but unfortunately, Beatrice was not an easy opponent.

─Boom!

"Is it over?"

Eventually, after a prolonged exchange, Maria allowed Beatrice's attack.

The entire duel arena was supported by mana, so she wouldn't be injured,

but...

"Oh, Maria has risen!"

Applause erupted for Maria, who staggered to her feet.

Around Maria was a thick layer of soot from Beatrice's recently hit magic. Fortunately or unfortunately, it seemed that Maria's defensive magic, which was effective throughout the duel arena, had overlapped to prevent a fatal injury.

"...I admit defeat."

However, Maria, who managed to hold herself up without collapsing, said that.

The fact that she had even matched her opponent was almost a miracle for Maria.

Her opponent was a girl from the Magic Tower, known for being filled with madmen obsessed with magic, and her power was anything but ordinary.

Though she had lost, it was still a valuable contest for Maria.

And there were blue eyes watching the duel.

"...Remarkable."

Evangeline the Grand Duchess did not regret her choice.

The clash of fire and ice that had unfolded just moments ago was not a scene one could easily witness.

That grand battle was reminiscent of the fights between two great magicians from myth. It was hard to believe they were students of an academy with such limited power.

As time passed, one could only wonder what kind of magic they would wield.

"Then... how strong is that man in terms of mana?"

Evangeline hurriedly began scanning the audience.

She was perceptive. While the dignity and arrogance of a Grand Duchess fit her like a well-tailored garment, she was not foolish enough to be oblivious to the intricate relationships between people.

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And from her perspective... Beatrice and Maria, two astonishingly skilled magicians, were floundering around that man.

For Evangeline, who had lived her life as a bold woman, it was clear that it was not merely due to attraction. Surely, the strange power that man possessed was the reason.

Evangeline thought Veris's mana was weak. Yet, even so, Veris displayed an unbelievable prowess.

[Winner! Beatrice von Haruen! What a fantastic match!]

Meanwhile, the student council president, seemingly still shaken by the astonishing duel that had just taken place, shouted with a trembling voice.

[The next match will be between Veris von Vitelbach and Patrick Hessen. The match will begin at 4 PM. Thank you.]

"What? 4 PM?"

"These damn bastards get people all excited and then make us wait!"

The thick jeers from the audience flew in.

The current time was 11 AM. This meant the next match was a full five hours away.

"Not bad."

The Grand Duchess stood up. While she was disappointed not to see Veris's duel immediately, she could always meet him in person.

Having made that decision, Evangeline began to spread a calm, serene mana.

She was not just a young girl revered as the guardian deity of the kingdom. The overwhelming mana befitting the name of the Duchy of Wallenstein began to move in search of a man, unnoticed by anyone.

"...Hmm?"

And then.

The Grand Duchess, who had visualized the mana she spread in her mind, let out a strange sound.

The reason was simple. The man with the familiar mana was not in this grand arena where the mid-evaluation was taking place, but in a place resembling another duel arena.

She sensed the mana of another person beside him.

Evangeline, who remembered people not just by their appearance and voice but also by their mana, recognized that mana.

"Isn't that the swordsmanship genius of the Empire?"

Could it be that she was nervous about the duel to come?

Evangeline thought Veris had requested a friendly match with Gunther von Haruen. After all, in her eyes, Gunther von Haruen was quite a strong swordsman. Of course, compared to her, he was merely a pitiful level, like a firefly before the sun.

"He's got a cute side."

Muttering to herself, Evangeline chuckled.

It was because she thought Veris was asking Gunther for guidance out of nervousness.

"I wonder if it will be of any help."

Evangeline possessed the power to see through 'mana.' Like a halo, seeing the mana a person possessed was her unique ability.

Thus, she thought Veris's mana was sadly weak. It was no wonder, as she couldn't see even a trace of mana from Veris.