The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

As soon as the Poor Girl used magic, she confirmed the activation of a spell that erased the mana released from somewhere in the room.

There was no one around.

That means there’s a magic circle somewhere.

She quickly rolled her eyes, watching the Basilisk getting closer by the moment.

It didn’t take long to find it. It was etched all over the room.

Specifically on the floor.

There was a huge magic circle large enough to wrap around this place.

If such a thing exists, it would definitely be tough for a newbie.

Because the sword techniques, magic, and arrows wrapped in mana would all become meaningless.

Just by looking next to me right now.

“Uh, what do I do, what do I do… Magic is… k-k, first of all, let’s run. We’ll… re-plan…”

The Poor Girl, trembling and clinging to my sleeve, was there.

It’s not that there isn’t a way to dispel it.

Judging by the markings on the floor and the disappearing magic of the Poor Girl, it’s about erasing up to 3rd Rank or 3rd Circle mana.

That means if you output more than that, it should be possible.

Telling a 17-year-old kid to do that is nonsense, but considering the name of the special exam and various benefits, it does make sense.

The six pillars of the Empire, who supposedly overcame such conditions at just 17.

I wonder how strong they will be.

“Hey! Hey! Hurry, hurry! We’re gonna die!! I—I can’t do anything!!”

The Poor Girl was almost halfway to sitting down.

Though not shedding tears, there were well-formed droplets clinging to her eyes, ready to fall at any moment.

Yet, she didn’t run off alone and insisted on taking me with her.

It’s kinda nice, even if it seems bad.

She acts like she’s faced all the troubles in the world, yet is surprisingly innocent.

Despite being a Mage, she doesn’t seem to care about practicality.

The more I look, the more bad memories arise, but I also find redeeming qualities that overshadow them.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the Poor Girl’s face.

“It’s okay.”

“Crazy woman! It’s NOT okay!!”

I placed a macaron on the trembling girl’s hand.

“You’re just a kid! What are you gonna do with such a lack of spirit? Back in my day, I would’ve smacked you upside the head, kid.”

The girl’s face contorted.

She plopped down, unable to scream.

But her hand still clung to my sleeve.

“Smack? Whatever, just let’s run… Okay? I’ll buy us some time…”

“Forget it. Just sit here and watch carefully.”

I gently eased her hand away from my sleeve.

“I’ll finish before you eat that.”

I turned my head to look ahead.

I could see the Basilisk crawling towards us, making a low growl accompanied by a predator’s bass sound.

With its massive body and fangs the size of me, the flames in its mouth scorched the air, and its vertically-split pupils evoked primal fear.

But I wasn’t scared.

Not enough to make me cower.

Compared to the Basilisk I’ve encountered before, this one was embarrassing and weak.

But it’s probably dumbing itself down since it’s just kids in front of it.

So, I won’t lose.

I will definitely win.

I gathered mana. In the dark labryinth, the pink aura of cherry blossoms blossomed. But it didn’t last long before disappearing.

Not because of the magic circle.

But because of me.

Specifically, all the mana was absorbed into my body.

I clenched my fist and moved.

My steps were light. There was no hesitation. The right amount of tension and excitement gave me speed.

As I painted thousands of images in my mind, I lifted the corners of my mouth.

Eventually, the Basilisk’s mouth opened as if it was about to spit fire.

CHACK—

And then it promptly closed.

A surprised glint appeared in the Basilisk’s eyes.

“…Huh?”

The Poor Girl, seeing the cute footprints on the Basilisk’s jaw, echoed a dumbfounded question.

“There’s no need to actualize even the mouth stench. Ugh.”

I grimaced at the foul odor, lowered my raised leg, and lunged.

The Basilisk reacted instantly, writhing its long body and lifting its head.

But I was faster.

Already on top of its head, I forcefully slammed its head down from beneath.

CRACK—!

With a heavy sensation, its head fell toward the ground.

With the missing foothold, my body floated in the air. I surrendered to the dizzying sensation, leaned forward, and clenched my fist.

The pink light born from within me enveloped my fist.

Like cherry blossoms swirling down, my fist descended toward the Basilisk’s head.

A hard, tingling sensation surged up my arm. Blood oozed from my skin, but I couldn’t help but smile at the vivid sensation I had never felt before.

“Ha.”

THUNK—THUNK—THUNK— Feeling the heightened rhythm, I grasped the Basilisk’s horns with both hands.

I firmly supported my left foot extended forward and twisted my right foot inward. A bouncy elastic sensation traveled up my waist. Following that, I straightened my nicely bent leg.

SWISH—!

My knee, extending sharply like a projectile, struck the Basilisk’s horn. Countless cracks appeared. I lifted both hands gripping the horn upward.

[KKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAA―!]

The Basilisk screamed as if it was in agony. That scream fueled my strength. The cracks turned into gaps, and the gaps widened, breaking its horn.

I held the broken horn in both hands. With my right foot that hadn’t touched the ground yet, I slammed down with a THUD—! and shoved the horn back into the Basilisk’s head.

CRUNCH—

Tearing through scales, slicing flesh, and crushing bones.

Deep inside. I reached its squishy brain.

The Basilisk’s body, bleeding from its eyes and drooling from its mouth, thrashed. From its eyes below, an ominous glow began to emanate.

If I were alone, it wouldn’t matter, but the Poor Girl was sitting there trembling in fear.

With no other choice, I jumped down from above, placed both hands on the ground, and kicked my legs up in a headstand.

I felt a pleasant rebound and struck the Basilisk’s jawbone with both feet.

As a result, its head faced the sky. The petrifying gaze activated. Thick gray lines struck not toward the Poor Girl, but in the opposite direction.

The sight made the Poor Girl’s macaron tumble out of her hands. Before it hit the ground, I was already atop the Basilisk’s body.

I charged ahead. The Basilisk wriggled madly to throw off the small human on its back, but it was pointless.

Its scales became footholds, the small horns on its back became grips. Ultimately, it had no hands.

All it had was one head attached to a massive body.

Such a body was like a neatly laid-out carpet.

So, I ran.

My pink twin tails flowed. Arriving at its head, I grabbed a sharp scale and smashed down with the horn already embedded in its head.

CRASH—! Cherry blossom-colored mana swirled as the horn burrowed deeper.

[KKKKKKKKKrrr…]

A powerless scream was heard from its mouth.

The once arrogant head sank down. However, its thrashing did not cease.

The tail, which had been drooping behind, quickly lifted and fell toward my position.

There was no way I could just sit still.

I easily leaped from its body.

THUMP— Unlike my graceful landing,

CRASH—! the beast’s tail violently swung and hit itself on the head.

“Phew…”

I smirked and gathered mana into my fist.

With my eyes on the terrified bright yellow pupils right in front of me, I unleashed my punch. —WHAM! My adorable fist dove into its eye. The unpleasant sensation wrapped around my arm like putting my hand into a giant jelly.

Inside, I spread my fingers. I dug in with my nails. With every scratch, agonized screams and thrashing ensued, but my other hand continuously slapped its jaw and kicked with my legs to calm it down.

Once. Twice. Thrice.

By the time the Basilisk’s left jawbone had crumbled to nothing, I withdrew my arm that had plunged into its eye.

*SHRIIIP! The optic nerves hung down, and the crushed eyeball splattered blood on the ground.

Still, it was still breathing.

I pondered how to finish it.

I could leave it be, and it would die, but I’d rather make sure to demonstrate my skills.

My fists were still weak.

So, I’d finish with my feet.

“Phew…”

Taking a deep breath, I shifted my weight to my left foot.

“Hey. Weakling.”

Then I called the Poor Girl.

“Uh, uh…?”

“Watch closely. This is my spear.”

Through tears, the Poor Girl said, trembling lips murmuring, “…You’re really insane…”

Regardless of that, I summoned my mana.

The fully formed cherry blossom-colored mana swirled around. It spread with a fresh fragrance of spring, gathering around my legs.

When I thought I’d gathered enough.

I twisted my left foot. I bent at the waist. Drawing a crescent with my elbows for resilience.

My forward-leaning upper body spun around.

Simultaneously, I kicked with my right foot.

The Basilisk’s head exploded.

*

As the Poor Girl, unable to get up, ate the broken macaron, I teased her for a while.

“Hey…”

Finally, the crying Poor Girl looked at me. With swollen eyelids and a red-dyed nose, she sniffled and asked.

“Was this, really a fake labyrinth as you said…?”

“What do you mean by ‘fake labyrinth’? Choose one.”

“No! I’m asking if this was a fake labyrinth!!”

“Can’t you tell? If it were a real Basilisk, we wouldn’t have caught it this quickly. I wouldn’t have smashed its head either.”

“Then, if it were real, it means… we did catch it, right?”

“Well…”

I definitely caught it.

To my vague reply, the Poor Girl stared silently for a while before shaking her head and beginning an odd deep breath.

“Ha… Hoo… Hah!”

As soon as she took the third deep breath,

The girl instantly stood up.

“…Thank you.”

Knowing she would soon say something rude again, I didn’t respond and stood up.

And just as I expected, a very rude comment slipped out.

“But you smell awful. Get away.”

“Shove it.”

“Ugh… Hey! Fix your terrible habit!”

“You should fix your speaking habits too, you brat. You’ve got a mouth perfect for picking fights.”

“Does the foul smell not make me say so? And you have an even worse speaking habit!”

“You’re hopeless. I’m going to smash your face into the Basilisk’s head. Come here. Come here, you little brat.”

URGH…

Did she even imagine that happening? The Poor Girl gagged.

Of course, I really intended to do that.

So I grabbed her by the arm, but—

WHOOSH—!

A refreshing breeze blew, carrying away the Basilisk’s filth and sweat stuck to my body.

And all the injuries on my fists healed completely.

“Oh? What? Cleanse and heal?”

“Yep. It’s a perfect spell for a smelly chimpanzee like you.”

There’s definitely a magic circle that dispels magic here.

Even so, the Poor Girl used magic.

In less than two minutes, she disrupted the magic circle and raised the mana output.

I couldn’t help but suppress a chuckle.

This girl is a true genius.

Although I didn’t voice it out loud.

“Even a loser like you can use magic like this?”

“Hey! I’m not a loser!”

With a huff, she approached the Basilisk’s corpse, clicking her heels.

“They say the monster for the special exam carries a synthetic magic stone. We’ll need to take this to certify our success.”

“I know.”

In fact, I had forgotten all about it.

“Eliaernes Eustetia.”

“Why?”

The Poor Girl, rummaging through the Basilisk’s corpse, grasped the synthetic magic stone in her hand and smiled brightly.

“My name is Stella.”

“Not a loser, but Stella Behrhaigen. Remember that. If you call me a loser again, I won’t let it slide.”

Hearing her name made me smile too.

“Ha…”

I laughed in disbelief.

-Ronan. My name is not a magic sack. Please remember it clearly.

-I will remain in history as the greatest Mage, my name is.

-Kaloso.

-I am Kaloso Behrhaigen.

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