Reincarnated as the Strongest Dragon

Chapter 66: Charlatan Luna

“I got a carriage waiting for us,” Nyssa said and pointed at a carriage located to the side of the adventurers guild.

We got on the carriage and sat down. Nyssa then knocked on the wall to notify the driver to start moving.

“Have you calmed down now?” I asked, slightly amused at the sight of Nyssa’s exhausted expression.

“I’m fine,” she replied, letting out a deep sigh. “I have never been overwhelmed before. Just who are you?”

“Surely you know who I am?” I asked with a smirk. “Didn’t you come to pick me up because of that?”

“All I know is that you are an adventurer who appeared out of nowhere and attained SSS rank in a flash,” Nyssa replied. “And that you apparently know how to cast without chanting.”

“Sounds like you know who I am then,” I said, giving Nyssa a smile. “But enough about me. I’m more curious about you.”

“Me?” Nyssa asked, surprised. “What about me?”

“You said owlkins were a rare sight even in the Beast Nation,” I said, looking at the feathers sticking out of her hair. “So why is one here working as a magic researcher?”

“Mages are a minority among beastkin,” Nyssa shrugged. “I couldn’t get any meaningful work done at home. That’s why I came here.”

“Oh? How come?”

“You haven’t met many beastkin, have you?” Nyssa asked, studying my expression to try and figure out if I was serious or not.

“Can’t say that I have,” I replied.

“Beastkin aren’t as versatile as you humans,” Nyssa explained. “Most beastkin follow a path that correlates with their innate abilities. Only a few are suitable mages, owlkin, for example.”

“So a catkin can’t become a mage?” I wondered.

“They can, but most don’t bother since it’s easier to be a fighter,” Nyssa continued with an annoyed expression. “That’s why I fled here. Those damn muscleheads were so annoying! Especially those damn bearkins!”

“Fled?” I said, pointing out the particular word.

“Ahem, I mean,” Nyssa said with a flustered voice. “Why I Left.”

“Is that so?” I smirked. “So you had to flee from the Beast Nation?”

“I didn’t flee. I just left without telling anyone,” Nyssa muttered. “Since there are so few mages, I wasn’t allowed to leave the country, but I couldn’t continue my work amidst a bunch of muscleheads.”

“Sounds a whole lot like fleeing to me,” I chuckled. “Are you sure you should tell this to a complete stranger? What if I was told to bring you back?”

“I doubt someone that hasn't talked to a beastkin before would do that,” Nyssa replied with a hint of panic growing in her voice. “And I’m not exactly hiding since I work in the capital. And I don’t think anyone is out to bring me back. And—”

“I was only joking,” I smiled, trying to get her to calm down. “You don’t have to worry.”

“Please forget this whole conversation,” Nyssa said, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm down. “I don’t know why I told you that.”

“What conversation?” I replied, keeping my smile. “I only remember asking about beastkin.”

“Ah, right,” Nyssa cleared her throat and tried to recompose herself, “So—”

The carriage suddenly stopped, followed by a knock on the wall and the driver calling out. “We have arrived.”

“I guess we should get off here then?” I asked, peeking out the window.

The driver opened the door to the carriage and let us off before nodding and driving away.

“Welcome to the magic institute,” Nyssa said, motioning to the big gate behind her. “I will show you inside.”

I looked curiously at the gate as we walked through and entered the courtyard of the magic institute. I had seen this place from the sky before, but it was quite different up close. It was fully enclosed within its own walls, and a few smaller houses could be seen to the sides, with a massive building straight ahead.

This place reminds me of school, alright.

“What do you think of it?” Nyssa asked as we made our way through the courtyard.

“More people than I imagined,” I replied, looking around at the students walking both to and from the main building.

“We have quite a few students,” Nyssa exclaimed proudly. “Everyone from commoners to royalty studies here.”

“I’m honestly surprised that both commoners and nobles attend the same school,” I said, glancing at the students passing by.

“They are in different classes, for… simplicity’s sake,” Nyssa answered, looking at two students walking in front of us. “Do you see that green emblem on the shoulder of their uniforms? Commoners have a green emblem while nobles have a blue emblem.”

“Good to have a visual aid so I know who to punch first,” I mumbled.

“Did you say something?” Nyssa asked, turning her head to look at me.

“I said that’s good to know,” I replied with a smirk. “By the way, what kind of lecture am I supposed to hold here? Grahl was rather vague on that point.”

“He was?” Nyssa asked with a surprised look on her face. “He only told me to book one of the training grounds for the lecture and that you would handle the rest.”

“Of course he did,” I said, letting out a deep sigh. “Foolish of me to expect something else.”

“Are you on good terms with the guildmaster?” Nyssa wondered, curious about my remark.

“We do our best to give each other headaches,” I chuckled. “So far, I’m in the lead.”

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Nyssa said with a grin.

“We have our moments,” I said with a mischievous smile. “What about you?”

“We are acquaintances, I guess?” Nyssa pondered. “The adventurers guild and the magic institute cooperate, so I see him occasionally.”

“So that’s why he knew about that,” I replied, glancing at her eye patch.

“It has come up,” Nyssa said as we arrived at the main building. “Let’s go inside.”

We walked into the main building and entered a large hall. Corridors lined with doors stretched out in the cardinal directions, and a few students hastily walked towards their next destination.

“We appear to be right on time,” Nyssa said as she noticed the students scurrying about. “The training grounds are this way.”

Nyssa took a few steps before she stopped and turned to me. “Oh, right! I have to run by my office quickly, but if you follow this corridor, you will find a large double door with the sign ‘Training Ground 2’. You can wait for me there.”

“Just follow this corridor?” I asked to make sure.

“Yes, you can’t miss it,” Nyssa replied before hastily walking in another direction.

I watched Nyssa disappear into another corridor, then let out a deep sigh and began to make my way to class.

As I began walking, I quickly found myself staring into a wall with corridors going to the left and right.

Just follow the corridor, you say? You didn’t tell me what to do when it splits in two. At least put up some signs.

I looked down both corridors, wondering what to do, when I heard a voice from behind. “Do you need help?”

I turned around to see a young woman, slightly taller than me, with blonde curly hair and hazel eyes. She was wearing a uniform with a green emblem.

“Uhm, yes?” I replied. “I’m looking for training ground two.”

“Ah, are you here for the special lecture by the adventurers guild?” She asked curiously.

“Uhm, that’s right—”

“I’m on my way there now as well, so I can show you the way,” she said with a smile. “I’m Zara.”

“I appreciate it,” I answered. “I’m Luna.”

“It’s this way,” Zara said, pointing toward the corridor leading to the right. “Let’s go.”

“Did you decide to come here because you want to be an adventurer?” Zara asked as we started walking toward the training grounds.

“Well, actually—”

“It has always been my dream to be one,” Zara continued. “I’m going to become one after I’m done studying here.”

“I see, but—”

“My parents are against it, but I have to live my own life, right?” Zara said, seemingly oblivious to my attempts to get a word in. “I’m almost eighteen. I can’t live at home forever.”

“I suppose—”

“I know that it can be dangerous, but I want to see the world,” she continued. “Are your parents the same?”

I don’t know if she is speaking to me or if she is just holding a monologue at this point.

“No, I—”

“Where did you hear about this lecture?” Zara once again interrupted me. “I’m sure it will be interesting in more ways than one.”

“Hey!” I called out, making her stop and look at me. “I can’t answer if you keep talking after asking a question.”

“I-I'm s-sorry,” she stammered with a flustered voice. “My friends always say I talk too much.”

“It’s alright,” I said with a smirk on my lips. “Now, you said it will be interesting in more ways than one. What did you mean by that?”

“Haven’t you heard?” She wondered as we began walking again. “I guess you wouldn’t have since you don’t attend the magic institute.”

“Heard what exactly?”

“There are some rumors going around that this lecture is a ploy by the guildmaster of the adventurers guild to gain more influence over the magic institute,” Zara explained. “And that the adventurer he sent here is a charlatan used for that purpose.”

“A charlatan?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“The chantless casting,” she continued. “Rumors are that they can’t do it and are using magic items to cast.”

What kind of senseless drivel am I hearing?

“On one hand, someone suddenly coming forward to teach a new way to cast magic is unbelievable,” Zara said. “But on the other hand, I don’t think the adventurers guild would try to do something like that.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Think about it. If it’s all a lie, it will come out sooner or later when no one else can learn how to do it,” she continued. “Even if the adventurers guild got more influence here, it would all be gone in a few months at most.”

She may be a chatterbox, but at least she isn’t stupid.

“It does sound rather unbelievable,” I replied, trying to hide a smirk.

“Training ground two is over there,” Zara said, pointing at a large double door up ahead. “Let’s head inside before the lecture starts.”

We walked through the doors and arrived at a large outdoor area, much like the training grounds at the adventurers guild. A fairly large gathering of people were already waiting there.

There must be over seventy people here. I was hoping for like twenty.

“Do you know who started the rumor?” I asked.

“Not exactly, but my friend told me she heard it from a blue-blood,” Zara shrugged.

“Blue-blood?” I asked curiously. “What does that mean?”

“Oh, uhm, I meant,” Zara said with a flustered voice, realising what she had just said. “She heard it from a student in the noble classes.”

“You call them blue-bloods?” I chuckled. “Interesting nickname.”

“Keep your voice down! And don’t tell anyone I said that, please!” Zara whispered in a slight panic, looking at the crowd of people to make sure no one heard her. “I’ll get in trouble.”

“You don’t have to worry,” I said with a grin. “So, why do you call them that?”

“I’m not really sure, but you know how nobles are,” Zara replied, still keeping her voice down. “And they have a blue emblem on their uniform.”

“I know very well how some of them can be,” I smirked, thinking of the reason I agreed to come here in the first place. “Do the other students have an equally charming nickname?”

“Weeds,” Zara muttered.

That sounds about right. I’m happy Liz never went to this place.

A minute or so later, the doors on the right side of the training grounds opened, and Nyssa entered with a man in tow. They walked to the middle of the area and, after spotting me, waved for me to come over.

“Huh, do you know Professor Nyssa?” Zara asked as she noticed her waving at me.

“Just a little bit,” I replied with a smirk on my lips. “It was nice meeting you, but I have to go do my job now.”

As I walked over to Nyssa, I looked back at Zara and saw the embarrassment on her face.

I doubt I would have heard about that fun rumor if she knew who I was before. It was fortunate that she didn’t let me speak. Still, I almost feel bad.

“I see you made it here,” Nyssa said as I arrived at the pair.

“No thanks to you,” I replied with a glare. “Just follow the corridor, right? What about when it splits?”

“It does?” Nyssa pondered. “Oh, right! It does. Sorry, I get lost sometimes. But you made it here anyway.”

Is this why we took a carriage for such a short distance?

“I had some help,” I said, glancing back at Zara. “So, shall we get this show on the road?”

“Before that,” Nyssa replied, holding her hand up to the man next to her. “This is Sir Thomas. He is a court mage advisor and will be observing the lecture.”

“Please, just Thomas will do,” he said with a smile. “I have heard a lot about you.”

“Nothing good, I assume?” I asked with a smirk, observing the man. He wore something resembling a military uniform and had short brown hair combed back and a groomed beard.

Is he here on behalf of the king? Or is it Bluhelt?

“Quite the opposite,” he chuckled. “I look forward to today’s lecture. It’s been quite some time since I was here as a student.”

My bet is on the king.

“But first, there is one thing I was asked to do,” he said, a hint of reluctance in his voice. “I was asked to identify your magic medium.”

“Oh? Do you perhaps think that I’m a charlatan?” I asked, faking a shocked expression.

“Not at all,” Thomas replied nervously. “It’s to quell certain… rumors.”

“Well, that might be a problem,” I replied with a mischievous smile. “Because I don’t use a magic medium.”

“You don’t?!” Thomas and Nyssa asked in unison.

“I’m afraid not,” I answered, giving them a wide grin.

Thomas looked at me skeptically for a moment before he started laughing. “I think this lecture will be even more interesting than I thought.”

“I’ll try my best,” I said, turning to Nyssa. “So, should I begin?”

“I’ll introduce you first,” Nyssa replied.

“Alright then.”

Thomas walked over and stood to the side while Nyssa turned to the crowd and clapped her hands.

“Let me introduce you to Luna,” Nyssa said. “She was sent here from the adventurers guild and will be in charge of today’s lecture.”

I took a better look at the crowd. Most of the students had green emblems, but a few blue ones were visible. About ten looked like adventurers, a few of whom I faintly recognized from the guild and a few people in normal clothes.

I’m starting to think I should have prepared myself better. Oh well, let’s get this over with.

“Let’s get right into it then. First—” I said before a snickering interrupted me. Glancing over the crowd, I located the disturbance. A tall boy with short red hair accompanied by two other students looked at me with a wide grin on his face.

What a surprise, blue emblems.

“Is there a problem?” I asked, glaring at the boy.

“None at all,” he snickered. “Do go ahead with your little performance.”

I glanced at Nyssa, who just shook her head. I sighed and continued. “As I said, the way—”

A snorting snicker once again interrupted me from the same direction.

Well, I tried.

“Listen, I don’t have time to play with you,” I said, glaring at the boy. “You can leave, or I can throw you out myself.”

“You can’t throw me out,” he grinned. “Do you know who I am?”

“A sniveling brat interrupting class?” I replied, tilting my head.

“You can’t talk to me like that!” He yelled, his eyes staring daggers at me. “My father is Count Vanberg!”

“Oh, my utmost apologies,” I said with a bow. “Count Vanberg’s brat, are you going to leave, or should I throw you out myself?”

Did I last a minute? It might have been less.

The other students either looked at me in horror or tried their hardest to suppress their laughter so as not to be noticed by the noble. Most of the adventurers looked at the exchange in amusement.

“Do you think you can talk to a noble like that and get away with it?” He scowled, taking a step forward.

“Rasmus Vanberg!” Nyssa called out from behind me. “You know very well that you aren’t allowed to use your rank here.”

“She is not a student nor a professor,” Rasmus smirked, pointing at me. “Therefore, school rules don’t apply to her.”

Nyssa looked like she was at a loss for words and looked at me. “But, she is—”

“She is simply a commoner who just insulted a noble,” Rasmus snickered. “I might be willing to forget this if you get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness.”

“How about instead of that,” I said, feeling my patience snap. “You leave now while you can still walk.”

“Is that a threat?” Rasmus asked, fuming. “Know your place, commoner.”

This is what happens when you don’t raise your kids. Damn nobles.

“It’s a promise,” I replied with a smile. “Now, what will it be?”

“As a noble, I can’t stand for this insult to my honor,” he said with a sinister grin on his lips. “I challenge you to a duel.”

“Luna, you don’t—” Nyssa tried to interject to no avail.

“I accept,” I smirked.

Nyssa burrowed her face in her hands while the crowd watched our exchange with bated breath. Rasmus pulled out his staff from his magic bag and approached me.

That sure is an expensive-looking staff.

“I applaud your bravado,” he said with a disgusting grin. “But I know about you, charlatan.”

If he really knew about me, he would cower in fear. I doubt he is the source of the rumors.

“So, what kind of duel will it be?” I asked, giving him a warm smile. “I’ll let you choose.”

“Perdal style,” he replied, still grinning.

Murmurs could be heard from the crowd.

“Absolutely not!” Nyssa said sternly, walking up next to me.

I leaned toward Nyssa and whispered. “What’s Perdal style?”

“A real fight,” Nyssa whispered back. “Often ending with only one side left standing.”

Which means I won’t be held responsible for his condition afterward? Lovely.

“Sounds fun,” I said, turning to Rasmus. “I accept.”

“Absolutely not!” Nyssa repeated. “We don’t have anyone authorized to be a referee for a Perdal duel here. Choose something else.”

“Sure we do,” Rasmus snickered, pointing at Thomas. “Right there.”

Nyssa turned and looked at Thomas, her eyes widening at the realisation. Thomas, who had observed the situation, sighed and approached us.

“Are you sure about this?” Thomas asked, looking at Rasmus. “It would be in your best interest to reconsider.”

“It would sully my honor to back out after my opponent has accepted,” Rasmus replied, grinning at me. “Besides, I’m not the one who should be worried.”

Nyssa looked utterly defeated, while Thomas sighed and nodded. “Very well.”

The crowd moved further back while Rasmus took his position a short distance from me. As I was about to move, Nyssa grabbed my arm. Her one visible eye stared at me as if she were looking into my very essence.

“DON’T kill him,” she whispered, her one visible eye staring at me as if she were looking into my very essence.

“I promised Grahl to be on my best behaviour,” I smirked. “Besides, he is at the top of his class, right? Surely, he must be strong.”

“He is strong. He can even use [Pyroclasm],” Nyssa sighed. “But compared to you, he might as well be a toddler.”

Oh? If I remember correctly, you need both fire and earth magic at level six for that. Is this twerp close to Liz’s level of skill?

“It will be fine,” I assured her. “Now go stand with Thomas. You’re interfering with the duel.”

Nyssa gave me a pained expression and walked over to Thomas. I took my place opposite Rasmus.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” Rasmus grinned, licking his lips.

Not as much as I will, I assure you.

Thomas cleared his throat and held up his right hand. “I, Thomas Aurdahl, will act as observer and referee for this duel. I hereby pledge to act as a neutral party and judge the duel fairly. As is customary for a Perdal style duel, neither side will be held responsible for the outcome of the duel, even in the event of death. Are both participants ready?”

“Wait!” Rasmus called out. “Have you made sure that she isn’t going to cheat?”

Thomas turned to Rasmus and smiled. “There is no chance of foul play since Luna doesn’t use a magic medium.”

“No magic medium?!” Rasmus began laughing hysterically before looking at the crowd. “You better watch out. This idiot might hit you instead.”

“Now, are you both ready?” Thomas repeated.

“Ready,” we both replied.

“Then,” Thomas said, holding his hand out and swiftly moving it down. “Begin!”

As soon as Thomas spoke, a surge of water rushed from my hands, enveloping Rasmus in a sphere of water before he could even raise his staff. He frantically flailed his arms, trying to escape, but to no avail. When his pained expression indicated that he was out of air, I canceled the sphere, letting him escape. Rasmus fell to the ground, gasping for air.

I can’t let my chance to blow off some steam end this quickly.

“Have you cooled down now?” I asked with a smirk.

“You just caught me off guard,” he coughed, getting back up. “Nothing more.”

“Is that so?” I chuckled. “Well then, I will give you the next shot.”

“You’re going to regret that,” Rasmus replied, a hint of uneasiness in his voice. The look in his eyes told me that he had figured out that maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t a fraud and that this wouldn’t be as easy as he thought.

“Do your best,” I cheered him on.

“[Pyroclasm]!”

The smoldering orb of brimstone, half a meter wide, quickly made impact. The following explosion whirled up the sand, causing everyone to lose sight of me.

“Hahaha! How do you like that!” Rasmus cackled.

As soon as the dust settled, the sight of me sitting on a chair I made with earth magic shocked both him and the crowd alike.

“Not bad,” I remarked, slowly clapping my hands. “But you’re a few thousand years away from being a match for me.”

“I’m not done yet!” He yelled, raising his staff.

As he was about to cast his next spell, I shot a small jolt of lightning from my finger, hitting his chest. He cried out in pain as his limbs began to uncontrollably spasm, dropping his staff as he collapsed on the ground.

You better not be dead from something like that. Anything stronger than a goblin would have survived… Oh, right. He is still drenched.

The crowd watched in complete silence as Rasmus struggled to get back on his feet, using his staff as a crutch. His expression had completely changed. It was now filled with fear.

“H-How do y-you,” he stammered, trying to steady his legs. “This isn’t what I was told.”

“Have you had enough?” I asked, giving him a wide smile.

Rasmus appeared to contemplate something before he shook his head. “Not yet!”

“That’s the spirit,” I smirked, glancing at his staff. “Well then.”

I shot out [Magic Tether] from my hand, wrapping it around his staff and yanking it out of his grip, causing him to fall down on one knee. I caught the staff and held it up.

This really looks expensive. I wonder what kind of equipment nobles can afford.

I used [Identify] on the staff and saw something that made me wonder if I should laugh or cry.

No wonder it was so weak.

“G-GIVE THAT BACK!” Rasmus shouted, fuming from anger.

“If you can’t cast spells without your fancy stick, you shouldn’t let it go so easily,” I replied with a mischievous smile. “But first, who is the real charlatan here? I looked at your staff.”

The color from Rasmus’s face drained as if he had seen a ghost. “I-I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I turned to Nyssa while holding up the staff. “Did you know that his staff is enchanted with [Pyroclasm Lv.8]?”

“What?! That’s not possible!” Nyssa gasped. “All magic mediums that students bring themselves are checked when they enroll.”

“May I see for myself?” Thomas said, walking over to me.

“Be my guest,” I replied, showing him the staff.

Thomas quickly confirmed my claim. He turned to Rasmus with fury in his eyes. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“I—” Rasmus tried to speak but was at a loss for words.

Thomas turned to Nyssa, his intense gaze causing her face to twitch. “Find out who was responsible for checking his staff.”

Nyssa frantically nodded and immediately ran out of the training grounds.

How important is Thomas really?

“Now then,” Thomas said, looking at me with a gentle smile before turning to Rasmus with a menacing glare. “Let’s resume the duel.”

“B-but,” Rasmus stammered, white as a ghost.

“I said, resume the duel,” Thomas said sternly. “You may begin.”

Uwah, scary.

Rasmus, who was almost quivering, looked at the staff I held in my hands.

“You want this back?” I asked, holding it up. “Alright, one moment.”

I grabbed the head of the staff and crushed the magic stone, utterly destroying it.

“Y-You BITCH!” Rasmus managed to yell. “You’ll pay for that!”

“Neither side will be held responsible for the outcome of the duel,” I recited, throwing the remains of the staff at his feet. “Since neither of us has a magic medium now, let’s continue.”

In a panicked state, Rasmus held out his hand and cast [Fireball]. However, without his staff, he missed me by several meters and hit the wall, leaving a tiny scorch mark.

This isn’t fun anymore. Time to end it.

“I have to get back to the lecture now,” I said, holding out my hands. A thick arc of lightning began to form between my hands, causing loud crackles to echo in the training grounds. “It’s been fun playing with you.”

“W-WAIT! WAIT!” Rasmus yelled, falling to his knees and putting his head to the ground, sobbing. “I yield! I surrender!”

I looked at Thomas, who quickly raised his hand. “The winner of the duel is Luna.”

I sighed as the lightning between my hands dissipated. The crowd stared in complete silence, not knowing how to react.

“You will be dealt with later,” Thomas said, glaring at the sobbing mess of a boy who was still on the ground.

Rasmus looked up at Thomas and then turned his attention to the crowd, who was still staring, not making a sound. With a look of complete embarrassment, he ran out of the training grounds.

I turned to the crowd, stretching my arms above my head. “If anyone else believes that I’m a charlatan, raise your hand. I would be happy to play some more.”

Not a sound. I’m not sure they are even breathing.

“No one? Good,” I said with a warm smile. “Let’s begin the lecture.”