Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! Chapter 176: 176-I’m The Better A-Class Mage

Read chapter 176 of Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! by A_Random_Turtle on NovelPedia.

Nora rushed into the hallway of the infirmary as soon as Oh Jihye’s fight ended. If anyone asked her why, she could honestly give no response in that regard. Her and Jihye were not what anyone would call close despite them being roommates. They barely spoke to each other, and whenever they did, their conversations erred on the side of insults and glares. However, Oh Jihye collapsing had caused Nora’s heart to skip a beat, and she was now standing in the hallway watching as Jihye lay unconscious on a stretcher while being rushed into the infirmary by medics. It was just a brief glance as Oh Jihye was carried past her, but Nora made out her roommate’s state vividly. Pale, wet, and almost lifeless. It reminded her of how Merlin had been just a few months back when they’d fought against Nikolai. The battle played in her mind over and over again in just a few seconds, each time ending with Merlin on her thighs as she cried. Nora’s stomach churned. Her brother was strong. Even if he was so meek that it almost felt like he wasn’t, she knew it. Without him, she wouldn’t be where she was as a mage. However, Crown Academy students were strong too. With the way the fights were going, one didn’t need to cast a world ending spell to do irreparable damage to another. And worse, the System could be the one to do the damage to Merlin. Nora clutched her hands. She couldn’t bear to see Merlin almost lose his life again. But there was nothing she could do to stop that. He was stubborn and desperate. She could only hope that it wouldn’t cause him any harm. ### Getting Sangook to engage in their little team discussion didn’t work. The boy was stuck-up and loose-tongued, and if there was a contest for Prestige Academy’s most irritable student, he would be topping the charts by a sizable margin. No matter how everyone tried to convince him that putting their heads together would only help boost his chances of winning, he insisted that he didn’t need their help. Apparently, the fact that Prestige Academy was losing after everything meant that our tactics were completely shit. Merlin agreed with Sangook there, if he was to be honest with himself, but there was also a possibility that their tactics were why they were not being completely dominated. Although, he knew from experience that trying to force Sangook into being a team player never bore fruit, so he left the rude brat alone, and so did everyone else. Caleb Turner was Sangook’s opponent. He was an A-Class Mage with black hair and green eyes, and a weird bit of freckles dotting his nose. He stood on the other end of the arena, scrutinizing Sangook with the most intense gaze of any of the opponents so far, even Lena Alvarez. And that said a lot on what the students of Crown Academy thought of the nuisance. They knew not to take him lightly. Perhaps, for once, Sangook being a brat was a boon. “Begin!!” As soon as the words left Instructor Park’s lips, spells were let loose. It was the fastest opening to a duel yet. None of the two contestants had any words for the other, and the way they weaved their mana as they flashed across the arena, throwing magic at each other, one wouldn’t be faulted if they assumed they were archenemies. Sangook conjured an ice spear—which was, honestly, a lethal spell, all things considered—and shot it at Caleb. The boy ducked underneath it and placed his hands on the floor of the arena. Mana spilled out of him and in the next instant it crackled to life, rushing towards Sangook like a spider’s web. Sangook gritted his teeth and slammed his feet on the floor of the arena. Ice spread out from underneath him, intercepting Caleb’s spell and instantly it broke apart. “Ice prevents conduction,” Sangook said with a slight grin on his face. “You should have picked another opponent.” Caleb stood up. “I like the challenge.” He dashed around the arena again, not seeking to get onto Sangook’s blindside. It was like he enjoyed running and just wanted to do it whenever he could. Merl