Chapter 64: The Bet

Graceful as a swallow, Mii seemed to glide lightly across the terrain, while Fang moved as if he was flying.

A hundred kilometers had already passed, and unsurprisingly, Fang hadn’t fallen behind. However, to the magic academy students, what was shocking was that Fang’s breathing was incredibly stable.

How could this guy not be weary at all this far?

Fang wasn’t the only source of discussion—his roommate also stood out as they seemed to be taking a leisurely stroll across the road.

Regarding Blue, even Fang was surprised. “Blue, I didn’t know that you had so much endurance!”

“Don’t you remember what I said earlier?”

Fang lightly coughed. “Don’t be angry; it looks like we’ll both get that scholarship!”

---

With the mark of another hundred kilometers, the race only had a hundred kilometers remaining. Gradually, various people had stopped entirely, taking a breather and temporary rest until they could continue again.

Blue, Mii, and Fang still kept their speed, not slowing down at all.

The glaring sunlight broke through the winding branches of a forest as the air grew warmer and warmer. For the stretch of a hundred kilometers, the numbers had dwindled from a hundred to a couple of dozen, most having fallen back.

There was no way to know if they were within the top fifty or not, so the group continued onward.

About forty kilometers remained when suddenly, Fang turned to the two. “I’m going to head on ahead. Good luck!”

By then, Mii seemed to be exhausted, sweating heavily and unable to go on, while Blue stayed behind as well.

Right now, she was a student from the lowest class, and even running near the front was quite remarkable. However, if she were to continue with Fang, there’s no doubt that her attempts to stay low-key would be ruined.

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One by one, Fang passed many students until he estimated that there were about 20 kilometers remaining to the end. Not far from him was a student who, upon noticing Fang, stared maliciously at him, his eyes full of hostility.

Seeing those eyes, Fang was slightly surprised; though he definitely wasn’t liked by the majority of the magic academy students, the feeling he got from the other party was bitter hatred.

As they made eye contact, the male student smirked and slowly flicked up a middle finger at him.

This insulting gesture slightly enraged Fang.

He was just going about a fair contest of pure speed—nothing happened at all, but the other person insulted him so brazenly?

Instead of attacking the other student, Fang concentrated and increased his speed, surpassing the student within seconds. The student gazed at the shrinking figure before shaking his head and speeding toward Fang.

Soon enough, the man caught up to Fang and closely trailed behind, pushing each other to their limits as only ten kilometers remained before the entrance to the fields.

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Standing at the site, two elderly men stared at each other.

“Angus, I’m so sorry that not even a single person from your institute seems to be able to reach the top fifty, judging from the current results!” The elder was the same one who announced the competition earlier; the director of the magic academy. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

Hearing the boastful claim coming from the director, Angus coughed loudly. “You don’t have the qualifications to despise Garden College. Our institute has produced some of the most talented people in history, more famous than anyone from your academy!”

“Some may have in the past, but Angus, do you naively believe that there’ll be more of those people in the present?”

“There might be one already.”

“Oh really? Let’s make a bet then. A hundred gold coins. If someone from your institute manages to enter the top fifty, I’ll give you a hundred. But if you lose, you’ll only have to give me ten. Doesn’t that sound fair?”

“Do you think I need pity? If I lose, I’ll gladly pay a hundred!”

“It seems I’ll make a heavy profit today.”

“More like a heavy loss. You can’t back out of this bet!”

“That’ll be impossible; I already know I’ve won with the talentless capabilities of your institute!”

While the two men argued angrily, another competition took place just outside the fields.

Nine kilometers, eight kilometers, seven kilometers… five kilometers—an abrupt gust of wind rose up below the male student’s feet as he accelerated swiftly at an unexpected speed.

No wonder his endurance was good; he was a specialist in the wind element!

Although it was the last of his energy, he was confident that he could arrive before Fang as the entrance grew closer and closer.

You think you could be faster than someone who specialized in wind?

There’s no chance at all.

At that time, a rapid sound of footsteps rang behind him, and as he looked back, he saw that Fang was only a couple of meters away from him.

Is that Shadow Step?

He could use Shadow Step?

Seeing Fang closing the distance rapidly, the student tried to pull out more energy, but helplessly, he didn’t have any left to spare. By the time a wisp of energy had reappeared in his body, Fang was only a meter away from the entrance.

“17th place, Fang from Garden College!”

Although Angus vaguely recalled that a student named Fang had defeated someone of multiple levels higher than him, he hadn’t paid much attention to the matter. However, just now, it wasn’t one of the prefects from the top classes, but him who managed to hit the top fifty!

Laughing, Angus looked at the dumbfounded man. “It seems I’ve won a hundred gold coins. Thanks, you’re really a generous person!”

In shock, the director froze in place, thinking frantically. From his knowledge, Garden College had no students in the first year who had unlocked the wind element as their affinity and was not close to the strengths that the students at his academy were able to achieve. It was the reason he could make the bet, but unexpectedly, someone made it into the top fifty, and not just that, the top twenty!

Moreover, that person didn’t have wind affinity!

Who was this fellow?

With an unwilling heart, the elderly man handed over a hundred coins to Angus—never could he have expected that someone could reach the top twenty, and from that, be from the basic class.

But how could he have known that Fang had utilized compressed energy in that burst of speed!

Though the result left Fang quite drained of energy, he managed to beat the other student in speed, and on top of that, someone who had borrowed the power of the wind.

Limping forward, the wind student was depressed; he had sent the guy a middle finger confident in his ability to win, only to be defeated shamefully!

“18th place, Bris!”

From the announcement, Fang kept the other’s name in mind. He didn’t remember anyone with this name before, but he could never forget the malice that the other side showed.

Spitting viciously to the side, Bris gloomily looked at Fang before walking away.

Sighing, Fang put aside his thoughts and firmly recalled the position he obtained. At best, he thought he could reach within the thirties to forties, but it was a welcome surprise to realize that he reached 17th place.

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People arrived one after another, but as the fiftieth person came through, Mii and Blue were nowhere in sight. Only after the 71st person did they arrive, respectively placing 72nd and 73rd, missing the line for the scholarship by a bit.

Mii appeared a bit disconsolate. “Sorry, Fang, I couldn’t manage to reach the top fifty.”

Fang patted her shoulders. “It’s alright, Mii, you tried your best.”

“Did you reach the top fifty?”

“Yeah.”

“Really?” Her face lit up.

He smiled at her. “I hit 17th place!”

“Wow!”

“That’s pretty decent.” In surprise, Fang looked at Blue.

“It’s a pity that you couldn’t hold out for the last section, Blue. Otherwise, you would’ve definitely gained a scholarship as well.”

Do I look like I need your comforting?

Blue snorted. If she took it seriously, she’d no doubt reach first, beating the top student by at least two hours!