The Support Ate it All

Chapter 11: Placement Test (1)

Perhaps it was due to the menacing aura that Lee Soo-dok had exuded throughout his explanation, but the entire class seemed tense and on edge as they moved toward the arena.

In contrast, Go Hyeon-woos face was slightly flushed with excitement.

Ah, so this is what Shin-hyung meant by Big Day yesterday. I am quite looking forward to it.

Right, you seem like someone who would enjoy a good duel.

Duels with strong opponents are always fun. But how does this placement test work?

I held out three fingers.

Youll be randomly matched with three others, and you earn points for each victory. 300 points per win.

So if you win all three matches, you get as much as 900 points?

Exactly.

And if you lose or draw? Do you lose points as well?

You dont lose points; just nothing happens. A record of one win, one draw, and one loss would be 300 points, 0 points, 0 points.

I see. I understand.

If everyone begins the competition with zero points, its inevitable that lower-ranking students will be at a disadvantage.

To prevent this, at least to some extent, a placement test was conducted on the first day, and points were allocated in increments of 300 based on performance.

Led by Lee Soo-dok, Class 3 soon joined the other first-year students and then all converged towards the arena together.

This is because even though the classes were different, the placement test was held at the same time for all first years.

After walking a bit, a massive dome-shaped building filled my field of vision.

The structure of the arena was similar to modern stadiums, with the central stage where the games took place surrounded by spectator seats.

The difference lay in that stage.

It was the epitome of various magical and scientific technologies, capable of creating every imaginable type of terrain.

This included volcanic areas where meteorites fell and lava flowed, canyons with lightning striking like rain, and even deep lakes.

At that moment, however, there was nothing special; just grey tiles laid out.

Above them floated scoreboards, but instead of scores, something else was written on them since the placement test hadnt started yet.

MAP: [Round Arena]

RULE: [Deathmatch][5-minute limit]

The two elements that make up a duel are the map (environment) and the rule.

As you carry out requests as a hero, you realize that overpowering the opponent is not the only objective.

A prime example is escort missions.

In these missions, protecting the key figures takes precedence over subduing assassins.

If you just foolishly focus on enhancing your power, you will inevitably find yourself in the tragic situation where you wipe out your enemies with overwhelming force but the very individuals you were supposed to protect end up dead.

In order to prepare students for various environments and situations, the rules of duel battles change frequently.

The rule for this particular placement test, [Deathmatch], was a regular feature in duel battles.

It was a simple rule: the match wouldnt end until one person either ran out of all their stamina, became unable to fight, or declared defeat.

The additional [5-minute limit] rule meant that if there was no clear winner within five minutes, the match would conclude as either a victory by decision or a draw.

The environment was a round arena.

It was a circular space that was just the right size for two people to fight.

The large central stage was divided into several independent fighting rings, each set to host one-on-one student battles.

After seating the students of class 3 in the spectator area, Lee Soo-Dok explained these details.

The teacher from the neighboring class seemed to be giving a similar explanation a short distance away.

Lets begin. The students called should head to the arena. Choi Jeong-Pil. Park Kyung-Ah.

One male student and one female student stood up.

As soon as they stepped onto the magical circle in front of the central stage, they disappeared for a moment only to reappear in one of the several fighting rings.

The content of the scoreboard above changed to display:

[Choi Jeong-Pil 100% vs Park Kyung-Ah 100%]

[Remaining Time 5:00]

After confirming that everything was ready, Lee Soo-Dok nodded his head.

[3]

[2]

[1]

[Start!]

As soon as the match started, both contestants began to gather mana without any delay.

Shrouding themselves in swirling mana-like armor, they swiftly closed the distance and collided in the center with a loud crash.

Boom!!

With that explosion, the numbers on the scoreboard shifted:

[Choi Jeong-Pil 89% vs Park Kyung-Ah 92%]

[Remaining Time 4:43]

Lee Soo-Dok checked the scoreboard briefly before turning his attention elsewhere.

There were still many empty arenas and a long list of names to call.Foll0w current novÊls on nov/3lb((in).(co/m)

Next. Go Hyeon-Woo. Hwang Hyeok.

Oh! Its my turn.

Go Hyeon-woo was visibly excited and sprang up from his seat.

He seemed to be already itching for action as he began to absentmindedly stroke the iron sword at his waist.

Ill be back.

Go for it and do well.

While I was waiting for my turn, I brought up the quest that had just arrived:

[Side Quest: Placement Test]

Objective: Achieve a mid-tier or higher rank on the placement test.

Win at least once in the duel battle placement test (0/1)

Rank in the top 50% in the strategy battle placement test (Current Ranking: N/A)

Reward: [Copy-Skill] Slot +1

All I had to do was secure at least one victory in the duel battle and achieve a mid-tier or higher rank in the strategy battle placement test.

To put it simply, this task was a piece of cake, so in reality, it was no different from a passing quest for me.

But the truly important matter was something else.

Scouting.

The placement test wasnt just about performing well personally.

This duel battle test was happening in front of the entire first-year gathering.

This meant you could observe every detail of the other students matches.

Gathering various pieces of information was crucial for everyone.

If you could understand the other students weapons, skills, tendencies, habits, and weaknesses in advance, it would be immensely useful in the duel battles throughout the semester.

Those who were fidgeting and just waiting for their turn were useless. The quick-witted ones had already fixed their gazes on the arena.

Because they want to absorb every bit of information from even a single battle.

This was a great opportunity for me as well.

My first objective was to find out if there are any talents that can be nurtured to EX-rank in the future.

And the second objective was to remember students with skills or traits worth copying.

Both these were crucial in the long term.

I can see that one has a good sense of things. The specs are a bit lacking, but theyre not falling behind. Worth nurturing.

That ones just flashy. Its all about the equipment.

Thats a rare skill. Ill mark that down.

While I was scrutinizing each match, my name was eventually called.

Kim Ho. Hong Yeon-hwa.

I glanced around and noticed that no one else stood up alongside me.

Hong Yeon-hwa must be from a different class.

They probably had similar thoughts somewhere in the audience about now.

As I stepped onto a small teleportation magic circle, my view changed instantly.

I had been transported inside a round arena.

Soon, someone else was summoned on the opposite magic circle.

A female student with red hair.

Her not-so-long staff was embedded with a large ruby.

A student of the Ruby Magic Tower, huh.

A magic tower that specializes in fire-type magic.

Thanks to his destructive power and spatial control, the Ruby Magic Towers master was an S-class hero and a frequent main pick for me.

Facing a mage from such a magic tower as my opponent gave me mixed feelings.

It felt like a sense of guilt for bullying a subordinates disciple.

Poor thing But what can I do, its a placement test. I have to win.

I just needed her to be fooled by my act for a mere five minutes.

***

Hong Yeon-hwa was a promising talent who bore the expectations of the Ruby Magic Tower.

There was even talk among the elders of the magic tower that she should be chosen as the next master of the tower.

To make this a reality, she first needed to conquer this Dragon Slayer Academy.

By surpassing notable geniuses like the disciple of Sword Marquis, daughter of the Topaz Magic Tower, and other heirs of prestigious families, she would stand unopposed at the summit. Then, upon graduation, no one could deny her the position of tower master if she claimed it.

This placement test was her grand first step towards that goal.

However

The man who appeared as her first opponent only brought her disappointment.

Kim Ho? Its a name Ive never heard of.

Even in a placement test, defeating a somewhat renowned opponent would have boosted her reputation more.

It felt somewhat deflating.

And the weapon he brought was pathetic.

At first glance, it seemed to be the [Earth Staff (E)].

Even apprentice mages would overlook such a mediocre item.

It was a stuff that only slightly amplified the effects of earth-type and protective magic but to her, it was nothing more than a wooden stick.

Hes not an earth mage.

Although she didnt have a very good relationship with the Emerald Magic Tower, she was familiar with its mages.

She was certain this man wasnt from the Emerald Magic Tower.

The fact that he was not related to the Emerald Magic Magic Tower meant that the possibility of him having learned earth-type magic was drastically low.

By process of elimination, it seemed more likely that he chose the [Earth Staff (E)] for its defensive or utility magic support rather than for earth magic itself.

Furthermore, his use of a long staff suggested he favored power over mobility, which was typical of what youd call a cannon-type mage.

A support.

A cannon-type mage.

Then her strategy was clear.

Ill aim for a quick and decisive victory.

[Kim Ho 100% vs Hong Yeon-hwa 100%]

[Remaining Time 5:00]

As both sides took their positions, the scoreboard began the countdown.

[3]

[2]

[1]

[Start!]

As soon as the match started, Hong Yeon-hwa extended her stuff forward.

[Combustion]

Bang!

The opponents upper body was engulfed in a small flame explosion.

It was the E-grade fire spell of combustion.

Though its destructive power was somewhat lacking, it had very short casting time.

She could have easily penetrated any protective magic that the seemingly unimpressive support might cast, but a drawn-out match was not what she desired.

She aimed for a clean and overwhelming victory, giving her opponent no chance to cast any magic.

Wow, did you see that casting?

Something flashed, but it must have been a spell.

As expected of the Ruby Magic Tower.

Admiring comments from the audience reached her ears.

To Hong Yeon-hwa, such praise was too familiar.

However

[Kim Ho 100% vs Hong Yeon-hwa 100%]

[Remaining Time 4:41]

When she checked the scoreboard she couldnt believe her eyes.

She had expected that it wouldnt end with just that, but 100%?

Doesnt that mean she didnt even inflict 1% damage on her opponent?

Looking back, she saw Kim Ho still standing there, casually dangling his arms.

Whats going on?

Could it be that the Earth Staff was a decoy, and he was actually wearing a defensive artifact?

Then how about this?

Hong Yeon-hwa gathered her mana and began to cast once more.

She formed a sphere of mana above her staff and filled it with fire magic.

Kim Ho who had been standing still made his first movement.

He tilted his staff diagonally in a slow motion and stretched out his opposite hand forward.

It seemed like a gesture to disperse the opponents magic with his hand.

Seeing this, Hong Yeon-hwa frowned.

It was a movement no mage could be ignorant of.

Dispel.

A spell for negating magic.

But in her understanding, dispel was a spell used covertly, without giving away any hint.

Such an overt act of casting carried one of these two implications:

I am a novice and cant use dispel properly.

Or.

I can use it blatantly against someone like you and it will still work.

Thats pissing me off.

Though she thought the latter option was a bit of a stretch, Hong Yeon-hwas mood soured regardless.

Contrary to her boiling emotions, she cooled her head and focused on completing the spell.

Regardless, she already realized that he intended to use Dispel.

If that was the case, all she needed to do was to quickly complete her spell and release it before Dispel could take effect.

Kim Ho still had one hand stretched out towards her.

However, seeing that her magic was not being interfered with, it seemed he had yet to find the right timing.

Although he maintained a calm expression, she guessed that he was feeling the pressure inside.

Hong Yeon-hwa smiled triumphantly.

Its too late already!

A huge ball of flame the size of a human body was completed.

Hong Yeon-hwa hurled it directly at her opponent.

Dare to play tricks against me? Ill make you regret it!

[Flame Orb]

Boom!

The blazing fireball engulfed Kim Hos body.

The fireball erupted once again, engulfing the entire area in flames.

Feeling the heat brushing against her cheeks, Hong Yeon-hwa raised the corner of her mouth in a smile.

Its over.

If he had been hit by the Flame Orb in a real battle, he would have been reduced to ashes, but their school uniform had its own D-rank protective magic, and various safety measures protected students in the arena, so he wouldnt have died. Of course, it was clear he was now in no condition to continue the fight.

However

[Kim Ho 100% vs. Hong Yeon-hwa 100%]

[Remaining Time: 3:58]

Huh?

Hong Yeon-hwas mouth slowly opened as she checked the scoreboard.

When she hurriedly turned her gaze to the front, she saw Kim Ho slowly emerging from the diminishing flames.

He was unharmed.

Just like before he was standing there as if nothing had happened.

As if he were saying that this level of flames didnt bother him at all.

Did he really use Dispel?

Otherwise, there was no explanation for why he appeared unscathed.

Did he use Dispel in that brief moment just before the magic hit, causing it to dissipate?

But was it even possible to dispel a completed spell?

What surprised Hong Yeon-hwa the most, however, was that she couldnt even detect when he used Dispel.

A shiver ran down her spine.

Th-thats right. I let my guard down.

She reprimanded herself for underestimating her opponent based solely on his outward appearance.

After all, this man had too entered the Dragon Slayer Academy after overcoming numerous competitions as a hero candidate.

He couldnt be an easy opponent.

Taking a deep breath, she tightened her grip on her staff.

There was a good chance that her next spell could be disrupted as well.

In that case, she decided to compete using magic circle-based spells that were less susceptible to dispelling.

Boommm

Hong Yeon-hwa gathered up her mana.

The mana emanating from the ruby drew a crimson magic circle beneath Kim Hos feet.

His gaze briefly lowered to inspect the magic circle.

Magic would promptly fall to the location where the magic circle appeared.

It was a simple cause-and-effect relationship that anyone could understand.

Therefore, if a magic circle appeared beneath ones feet, it was only natural to move as far away from it as possible.

Hong Yeon-hwa had anticipated that Kim Ho would hastily evade, so she had prepared her next move to trap him.

However

Hes not moving?

It seemed like Kim Ho intended to hold his ground.

Instead of dodging, he slammed his staff into the ground.

This meant that he completely abandoned even the slightest amount of mobility he had.

Considering that he was likely to be a support, it appeared he intended to confront her head-on with powerful defensive magic.

Hah. Haha.

Hong Yeon-hwa couldnt help but laugh in disbelief.

There was no way he couldnt know that she came from the Ruby Magic Tower.

Even though he knew that her fire magic was unmatched in terms of destructive power, he dared to challenge her head-on with defensive magic?

If so, great.

Flash!

The ruby embedded in her staff emitted a radiant glow.

The diameter of the red magic circle doubled, with additional runes filling the empty spaces, and it took on an even more vivid shade of red.

Meanwhile, Kim Ho remained as still as a statue and his staff was firmly planted in the ground, simply waiting for her to make a move.

To Hong Yeon-hwa, it seemed as if he was silently asking, So, when are you going to use your magic?

No need to rush me, Im about to use it now!

Lets see you try to block this!

[Fire Pillar]

Whoosh!

A towering pillar of fire erupted from the huge magic circle bellow him.