The duel had come to an end.

As most students had anticipated, the second-year senior emerged victorious.

However...

Even though the second-year senior had won...

"Wow, he really looks angry, doesn't he?"

"I'm so frustrated."

"If I were in his shoes, I would have started throwing punches regardless of the duel's outcome."

In reality, since the duel had been a one-sided torment inflicted by Baek Yu-Seol upon Kallivan, no one considered Kallivan the winner.

"Watching Baek Yu-Seol fight in real life, he's really fast."

"He even sliced through the shield, right?"

"So, how should one handle that?"

"I mean, even the senior couldn't do anything but get beaten."

The first-years defeated the second-years.

Amidst the exhilarating scene of victory, Stella's students analyzed the just-concluded duel in an elite manner.

More precisely, they analyzed Baek Yu-Seol’s fighting style.

"What were those things Baek Yu-Seol was using?"

"Could they be a type of 'item' that was developed this time?"

"Yeah, it seems like it. The performance itself wasn't extraordinary, perhaps because they were experimental, but... if they are further developed, they could have some amazing features."

While some students evaluated the performance of the items.

"Did you see earlier? When the senior blocked his vision with a barrier and then released it, Baek Yu-Seol had already prepared a flash magic."

"He anticipated the shockwave and set up traps for escape routes and corresponding magic responses."

"From start to finish, he had planned the positions of the items..."

Alchemists typically engaged in combat by utilizing the terrain and objects around them.

They could turn the ground beneath their opponent into a prison or shape tree branches into solid weapons infused with mana to strike like swords.

Although their combat style might be passive, they could attack their enemies or defend themselves by utilizing the elements of nature.

Thus, it was extremely dangerous to directly enter the domain of a well-prepared alchemist.

While it was possible to design magic circles in advance, it was a time-consuming task, and the necessary materials were not readily available during a duel, making it impossible to use them in such a manner.

On the other hand, alchemy did not possess immediately activated spells, and they had to design every magic beforehand, so it was common for alchemists to suffer defeat as soon as the battle began.

However, Baek Yu-Seol, through his superior mobility, created advantageous terrains by installing items in his area.

Complex alchemical formations were unnecessary.

Since his essence ultimately lay in 'swordsmanship,' he utilized various magic devices, driving his opponents to the limit and seizing opportunities to strike.

It was his unique combat style.

It was not something anyone could do.

Even if they had both Flash and magic devices prepared, very few individuals would be capable of replicating his actions.

From start to finish, unless one was a strategist capable of predicting the opponent's magic and every move, fighting in such a way would have been impossible.

"Impressive..."

Ben, who had been watching the duel from beginning to end, blurted out those words after completing all the analysis.

"So, did you get the result you wanted?"

As student council president Miro Yoon approached from behind, Ben smirked. "The desired result..."

He looked around.

The second-year students had expressions of utter frustration.

The first-year students were being praised as supernovas, which naturally made many second-year students disdainful of them from the start.

Therefore, they had been eagerly waiting for an opportunity to put the first-year students in their place.

"I didn't expect the first-year students to be so strong..."

No one knew who might become the next victim.

Perhaps even he could end up like that.

It meant receiving the shameful title of a second-year senior who was defeated by a first-year student.

Until now, no matter how talented the first-year newcomers were said to be, they believed that they could easily suppress them if they put their minds to it.

But that turned out to be false.

No matter how much of a second-year student one might be, there was always a slight possibility of being defeated by a first-year student.

That was why now, second-year students... wouldn’t easily meddle with the first-year students.

If they accepted a duel challenge from a first-year student and lost, they wouldn’t be able to hold their heads up again.

Of course, not everyone would be like that.

Some stubborn individuals would continue to torment the weaker first-year students, and that was fine.

Just the fact that Ben managed to humble those arrogant classmates and reduce the chaos a bit, he felt quite grateful to Baek Yu-Seol.

"Well, I guess you could say it's the result I wanted. It has become quite an interesting situation," he said, turning away.

Indeed, Stella was an academy with interesting students. It made him think that he made a good choice to enroll.

The duel between Baek Yu-Seol and the second-year senior spread throughout the academy.

Although he didn't win, the content of thoroughly mocking the senior intentionally circulated.

The information was quite exaggerated, but rumors often became the truth as they spread from mouth to mouth, and most students accepted it as fact.

"Wow, he really humiliated the senior?"

"I have a recorded video of it. Want to see?"

"Show me too."

Classrooms, lecture halls, the cafeteria, study rooms, library, gymnasium, training grounds, and combat training areas...

Whenever the students gathered, they would engage in conversations related to it and watch the footage.

It wasn't just a matter of "a junior humiliating a senior," but also since Baek Yu-Seol’s battle was worthy of analysis as a magic warrior.

Why?

Because his fighting style this time had a slight resemblance to that of a dark mage.

It was a strategy of luring the magician into disadvantageous terrain and exploiting it with swift mobility.

In addition, the disposable items introduced by Baek Yu-Seol for the first time were enough to capture their curiosity.

"Wow... that's amazing."

"But did Baek Yu-Seol really create this?"

"He's close with Assistant Alterisha, right? They must have collaborated on many research projects."

"He's also known for being skilled in alchemy, and those magic tools were registered under his name."

"Impressive..."

And then, Edmon Atalek was not pleased with this situation.

"Stupid bastard."

The Crimson Hawk Club was in disarray.

The Hong Bi-Yeon faction members looked anxiously at
Edmon Atalek, who clenched his fists with a distorted expression.

Knowing that Edmon Atalek could do something crazy when he was in a bad mood, they had no choice but to be cautious now.

The faction members quickly flattered him, knowing the reason for his bad mood.

"We knew Kalivan was pathetic, but we never expected him to be humiliated by a first-year student like that."

"It's pathetic. Should I bring him here right away?"

"... Leave him alone."

"Yes!"

It wouldn’t be long before the students made a fuss about Baek Yu-Seol’s achievements.

In fact, with such a noticeable presence, the other second-year students wouldn’t just sit idly by.

While the C-class students talked about how Baek Yu-Seol managed to win somehow, the second-year students who were in higher ranks were by no means easy opponents.

Amidst such discussions, Hong Bi-Yeon was deeply engrossed in her own thoughts, unable to concentrate on their conversation.

‘Hmm... so this is the result of losing in the end.’

Throughout the 15 minutes, Baek Yu-Seol didn't even properly use his sword and simply humiliated the senior by using various magic tools.

That means, in other words, if he had intended to win, he could have won at any time.

However, he chose not to.

Well, the reason was obvious.

It would be strange if a first-year student defeated a second-year student.

It was clear that as a first-year student with no real combat experience, there were limits to growth.

Baek Yu-Seol was hiding his true abilities for some reason, and it was the same this time as well.

Personally, she thought Baek Yu-Seol would get fired up and crush the senior, but she never imagined he would humiliate him like this and then withdraw.

‘Anyway, what should I do next?’

She learned from this incident that any attempt to challenge Baek Yu-Seol within the academy’s regulations couldn’t pose any threat to him.

If he deliberately chose the path of being humiliated, there must be a reason and a plan behind it.

“... So, what are the second-year students doing now? I told them to educate Baek Yu-Seol separately.”

Edmon and the faction members were still discussing what to do about Baek Yu-Seol.

"Well... the second-year students haven't laid a finger on Baek Yu-Seol separately."

"What?"

Just because he was Edmon didn’t mean he could control all the students within the academy.

Only a very few second-year students were forced by Atalek's influence and others were coerced commoner students.

The faction members spoke cautiously, aware of Edmon's presence.

"Contrary to rumors, Baek Yu-Seol greets seniors with a 90-degree bow and listens attentively, and that guy... he speaks so eloquently..."

"Wait, what are you talking about?"

"He went with the intention to scold him, but instead, he ended up buying snacks and returning..."

Well, there were such absurd situations.

Edmon was speechless and his mouth hung open in disbelief.

Beside him, Hong Bi-Yeon burst into laughter unintentionally but quickly composed her expression.

"Ha..."

While Baek Yu-Seol certainly appeared hostile to seniors, not all seniors disliked him.

There were quite a few commoner second-year students who had no choice but to put on a show of scolding Baek Yu-Seol under pressure from the third-year students.

Baek Yu-Seol astutely noticed such seniors, and drawing on his 29 years of social experience, he found ways to flatter them by understanding what they liked.

His skill in social maneuvering surpassed that of any noble-born students!

He had experienced everything from construction sites to administrative positions in small businesses, adapting to those in power and catering to their preferences for personal gain.

Moreover, the other party was only 18 years old at best.

Baek Yu-Seol gradually polished his image in this manner.

"... It's not to my liking."

To think that he couldn't even deal with a commoner first-year student properly.

They were useless individuals.

But it didn't matter.

The space of Stella Academy was limited, and in the end, Baek Yu-Seol’s actions were limited too. If Edmon personally intervened, Baek Yu-Seol would undoubtedly falter and drop out. ...Getting rid of one useless bug like that was no big deal.

Around the time when he began to think about directly resolving the faction issue.

"Young Master!"

The door of the club's dilapidated building opened, and one of Edmon’s followers rushed in with a newspaper in hand.