Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! Chapter 80: 80-That Was A Good Fight

Read chapter 80 of Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! by A_Random_Turtle on NovelPedia.

Merlin was still in his thoughts, beating himself up for not realizing sooner the relationship between Professor Dmitri and Nikolai, when Nikolai grabbed his arm. His attention drew back to the boy who was now feigning a smile as he lifted himself to his feet. “Thank you,” Nikolai said, one arm still around his stomach. “That was a good fight. I learnt a lot. You’re really strong.” Merlin was lost as to what to reply to that statement with, so he simply nodded as he watched Nikolai take his leave from the stage, his head slightly lowered. I really need to work on my social skills… His current train of thoughts was forced to take back stage in his mind when he saw Choi Sangook approaching with a grin on his face. The bastard already had his Grimoire floating before he had even gotten into the arena. Merlin wondered if the lad was so eager to fight him because of the bad blood that had erupted between them, or if there was something else he had missed. At the end of the day, though, it didn’t matter. He was not planning to lose, especially not to someone like Choi Sangook. “Who do you think will win?” a spectating student asked as Choi Sangook walked into the arena. “I know Nikolai’s a D-Class Mage, but Merlin had still toyed with him. Doesn’t that mean he’s like at the level of a C-Class Mage?” “Can a C-Class Mage fight C-Rank Ice Wyverns alone?” another replied. “I’d say he’s a bit stronger. Maybe B-Class. Which would honestly be absurd, considering he’s a Deficient Mage.” One snorted. “B-Class, my foot. There’s no way a Deficient Mage is on par with a B-Class Mage. You’re just giving him undeserved credit. A Deficient Mage is a Deficient Mage, anti-magic or not.” Merlin’s lips twitched. Some people would never see him as more than trash no matter what he did, it seemed. He sighed. He didn’t care what that person thought, though. They could despise him for all he cared, he had more lofty goals than receiving acknowledgements from teenagers. “Then why didn’t you put your hand up?” Park Yuri asked, her question directed at the boy who had taken it upon himself to undermine Merlin’s achievements. Merlin’s attention was drawn to her with his brows arched. “I’d gladly trade my spot for you if you want to test the ‘Deficient Mage’s’ range of abilities. You’d like that, won’t you?” The lad grimaced. He glared at Park Yuri, but he dared not say anything sensitive to her. He knew who she was—everyone knew. A single say from her could stop him from getting into a guild that was amongst the top five guilds in South Korea—if he got to the point where he was shortlisted, that was. Keeping his mouth shut on her interference was the best course of action. He scoffed and turned back to the stage with his arms folded. “Heh… There’s no need for me to fight him. If he’s on par with a B-Class Mage, then we’ll find that out soon enough. Sangook’s an A-Class Mage. A B-Class Mage should be able to hold his ground for at least a while, right?” “Isn’t he just scared of fighting him?” one scoffed, and the boy reddened. Merlin, on the other hand, was taken aback that Park Yuri had sort of come to his aid. But he recalled that she had been that sort of way with Kim Yiseo as well. Well, of course he and Kim Yiseo differed in more ways than one, a few none other than the fact that she was roommates with Park Yuri and the daughter of a well renowned individual. However, it seemed Park Yuri was just that type of character. Not all golden spoons are bad, huh? Merlin recalled Chima’s statement to Lee Jaehyun and smiled. “Don’t focus on them, Deficient Mage,” Choi Sangook said, making Merlin’s smile rather short-lived. He pointed a finger at Merlin and back at himself, his lips still pushed to the side. “Eyes on me.” Merlin sighed. If only the lad could be as peaceful as the rest of his peers. “Don’t worry, Choi Sangook,” Merlin replied, channeling his mana to his fingertips immediately. “My eyes are on you.” Choi Sangook tilted his head as he perused Merlin, w