Chapter 9

A new day began at the mansion as the sun slowly rose, spreading its golden rays over the vast green garden. Birds chirped joyfully, as if welcoming the start of a day full of events. In a quiet corner of the garden, Suero sat alone on the grass, his head bowed, and his eyes gazing deeply at the ground. His face reflected a mix of calm and distraction, as if his mind was drowning in heavy memories.

Inside him, Spailo's voice echoed clearly:

"Suero, you need to work harder to keep up with me! If you want to save the world... you must become stronger."

Those words kept swirling in Suero's mind, and he asked himself in confusion:

"What does he mean by this? Why has Spailo changed so much? He’s become a completely different person since his fall from that hill that day..."

As he was lost in his thoughts, Baysal approached quietly. She noticed his distracted demeanor and was puzzled by the strange aura surrounding him. She extended her hand and gently touched his shoulder. Suero turned slowly and looked at her with vacant eyes.

Baysal asked with concern:

"Are you okay? What’s on your mind?"

Suero replied in a calm but hollow tone:

"I’m fine..."

He stood up slowly, then turned toward her and asked quietly:

"Have they started?"

Baysal nodded and said:

"Yes, they’re in the meeting room now."

Suero responded briefly:

"Alright."

He left her and walked towards the mansion with steady steps, but she felt he was carrying an unspoken burden. She followed him silently, trying to decipher what was going on in his mind.

---

In the Meeting Room

The room was luxurious, adorned with embroidered couches and tables crafted from fine wood. Sitting inside were Moryo, Veb, Kamyo, Hambo, Alia, Jan, and Rita, waiting with varying degrees of patience.

Moryo asked coldly, looking at Veb:

"Aren’t they here yet?"

Veb responded curiously:

"Who do you mean? Baysal and Suero or Master Sbyam and Master Betma?"

Moryo sighed and said in frustration:

"I mean Baysal and Suero! That late duo is always tardy."

Veb offered:

"Should I go look for them?"

Before Moryo could answer, both Suero and Baysal entered the room and sat down beside the others. Moryo leaned toward Baysal, trying to hide his irritation, and asked:

"Where were you?"

Baysal casually replied:

"In the garden."

Moryo stared at her for a moment and said:

"Alright."

But Baysal added in a low voice:

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"But… Suero was deep in thought."

Moryo raised an eyebrow at her comment and asked with curiosity:

"What was he thinking about?"

Baysal glanced at Suero, who was still sitting silently, staring at the floor, and said:

"I don’t know, but something is definitely on his mind."

Before Moryo could probe further, Sbyam entered the room, accompanied by Betma.

Sbyam shouted sarcastically:

"My students!"

His tone caught everyone’s attention, and they turned toward him. Behind him, Betma walked in calmly and confidently. As the eyes shifted between the two teachers, Rita felt an overwhelming joy. She looked at Sbyam in admiration and thought excitedly:

"It’s Sbyam Brius!"

However, Sbyam, sensing her emotions, sighed and said with boredom:

"No, please don’t do that."

Rita dashed toward him enthusiastically, attempting to hug him. Before she could reach him, Sbyam raised his finger and released a quick black spark. The spark surrounded Rita’s body, freezing her in place, yet she remained excited despite being restrained.

Sbyam said sarcastically, putting his hand in his pocket and advancing slowly:

"Stay where you are."

Hambo observed the scene in astonishment and thought to himself:

"Is this one of their clan’s techniques? The Kurmo Technique?"

Sbyam sat beside his students, crossing one leg over the other, smirking sarcastically.

---

Rules of the Event

As side conversations continued, Alia asked curiously while examining Sbyam’s new white outfit:

"Why did you change the mage robes?"

Sbyam replied indifferently:

"I got bored of them."

Betma stepped forward calmly and stood between his students and Sbyam’s students.

Hambo asked seriously:

"Alright, what are the rules?"

Before anyone could answer, Suero interrupted, saying:

"Wait a moment!"

Everyone turned to him in surprise. Suero continued:

"I don’t know what the event is about."

Betma’s students exchanged glances while Jan said in astonishment:

"Are you new here?"

Sbyam laughed loudly and said:

"He’s in his first year."

Betma looked at Suero, studying him briefly, and said calmly:

"Alright, let’s explain everything from the start."

Everyone eagerly awaited the explanation as Betma began speaking in a serious tone:

"The Mana Event is a competition between students from one magic school and another. The goal is for each team to demonstrate its strength through one-on-one duels."

Suero asked curiously:

"And what’s the prize?"

Betma replied bluntly:

"There are no prizes."

Disappointment appeared on Suero’s face, and his feelings were mirrored by Baysal, who looked equally downcast.

Baysal said in frustration:

"Even though I already knew that, it’s still so disappointing."

Kamyo looked at her in surprise and asked:

"What’s wrong with you?"

Baysal replied:

"I wanted there to be something to look forward to."

Betma continued his explanation:

"Students will be paired off, and each will face a counterpart from the other team. The goal is to knock the opponent to the ground. Serious physical harm is not allowed during the fights."

Then he added:

"And while you’re busy with the event, Sbyam and I will meet with the organization leaders."

Suero raised an eyebrow and asked:

"The organization leaders? Who are they?"

Hambo answered:

"They’re the elders of the three clans, responsible for making decisions and laws within the mage organization."

...

Betma resumed:

"A sealed barrier will surround the event area, preventing anyone from leaving or interfering. The winner is determined when one student knocks the other to the ground."

Sbyam smirked sarcastically and said as he stood up:

"Of course, my students will win easily."

Then he turned and walked out confidently, leaving a heavy silence in his wake. Everyone stared after him until Betma broke the silence, saying calmly:

"Any questions?"

The students exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak. Betma concluded:

"Good. The event begins today."

---

Betma ended his briefing and stood silently as Moryo rose coldly from his seat, saying:

"Let’s go, everyone."

Sbyam’s students responded to his call, rising with enthusiasm. They followed Moryo out of the room one by one, leaving behind Betma and his students.

Alia turned to Betma with a serious tone:

"So, Master, now you must assign each of us an opponent from Sbyam’s students."

Betma sat down quietly, his gaze shifting among his students before he spoke:

"Alright. Hambo, since you’re the strongest among us, you’ll face the strongest of Sbyam’s students, which is..."

Hambo responded confidently and coldly:

"Moryo, right?"

Betma nodded:

"Yes."

Then Betma turned to Alia and said:

"Alia, you’ll face Sbyam’s second strongest student, Veb."

Alia replied with determination:

"I’m ready for him."

Next, Betma looked at Jan and said:

"Jan, you’ll go against Baysal."

Jan smiled and said:

"Alright, I’ll do my best."

Finally, Betma turned to Rita and said:

"As for you, being the weakest, you’ll face Kamyo."

Rita responded promptly:

"Understood, Master."

Jan then asked inquisitively:

"And what about Suero? He’s new. Shouldn’t we consider him as well?"

Betma replied coldly:

"Don’t bother with him. He doesn’t know much about the world of magic, and he won’t be a match for any of you."

Hambo nodded confidently and said:

"As you wish, Master."

He then turned to his team, standing tall and addressing them with enthusiasm:

"Let’s win this, everyone!"

The rest of Betma’s students shouted in unison with excitement:

"Yes!"

---

Elsewhere in the Mansion

Sbyam was sitting on the floor, leaning casually against the wall with one leg crossed over the other. He appeared calm as usual, but his calmness carried a subtle, mocking edge.

Suero spoke in an uneasy tone:

"Master, how will we be assigned opponents?"

Baysal interjected, sounding dejected:

"There won’t be any assignments."

Suero turned to her, confused:

"What? What does that mean?"

Veb replied coldly:

"It’s simple. We’re not being assigned like Betma’s team."

Suero exclaimed in frustration:

"Hey! What’s going on? Why are we different?"

Moryo responded calmly:

"Master Sbyam doesn’t care about assignments. We’re one team, and we work as one team."

Sbyam stood up, giving everyone a sarcastic glance, and said:

"What you see in front of you is all you need, my friends. No need to overcomplicate things."

Suero felt a mix of frustration and confusion, while the rest of the team remained calm as always.

---

Outside the Mansion

Baysal said enthusiastically:

"No matter what, we’ll win!"

Veb replied coolly:

"Don’t get too excited. Victory isn’t guaranteed."

Suero, however, clenched his fists with determination and shouted:

"Of course! Let’s win, everyone!"

Moryo led the team out as they prepared for the upcoming event. Despite Suero’s burning determination, his eyes reflected a mix of curiosity and anxiety about what lay ahead.

---

End of Chapter