334: Battle Universe III (Cecil's Side)

"Cecil, this is incredible magic. I’m certain you came up with this after observing the Demon Race."

"…That is correct."

Not long ago, a member of the Demon Race named Kimberly nearly killed me.

I had obsessively researched the mechanics behind his activation requirements—the way he had to step on a shadow to trigger his power—and then combined those principles with human magic.

It was a magic meant for me, and only me. Something only I could wield.

"For magic on this scale, even giving up the first move as a condition shouldn't be enough to balance the scales. What else did you sacrifice…?"

"This game only ends when Teacher Chloe admits defeat. However, I have no margin for error. I only have one chance."

The desire to neutralize my opponent without actually hurting them was nothing more than my own arrogant, selfish wish. This vow was a restriction I devised simply because I wanted to enjoy the game even further.

"That isn’t all, is it?"

Ah, she’s amazing. As expected of Teacher.

"If I lose, even once… I die."

That was my resolve. I was only alive because Battle Universe existed. Therefore, I absolutely could not lose. I had to keep winning, from now until forever.

Teacher Chloe was strong. I couldn't afford a single moment of carelessness—

"I surrender. It is my loss. I have no intention of fighting any further."

The next moment, because she had fully conceded defeat, the Gift was forcibly deactivated.

Consequently, Teacher Chloe would be unable to use Mana for the next twenty-four hours.

"Why did you give up?! Was it… was it because you didn’t want me to die?!"

"No. I always act for the sake of victory. Therefore, I do not fight battles I cannot win. Cecil, I know you are smarter than anyone else. You eliminated your sole weakness with that powerful resolve of yours. There was no way for me to win."

…Hehehe. That makes me pretty happy.

"However, you’ve made one small miscalculation. No matter how much I lack Mana, I am not weak."

She began to rhythmically swing her Whip—which was no longer infused with Mana—letting out a series of sharp whoosh-whooshes.

The power gap between a human with Mana and one without is usually greater than the gap between an adult and a child. Honestly, it’s more like a monster versus a toddler. And yet, Teacher Chloe still wasn't backing down.

Man, the teachers at this school really are terrifying.

But I won't hold back either.

This magic includes a Winner's Reward.

And that reward is—