The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 95: The Sage Festival, Edward’s All-In

Chapter 95: The Sage Festival, Edward’s All-In

—Boom!

A blinding flash of light and a deafening explosion, like a flashbang.

Ragna: “Uwa!”

I almost lost my balance from the sudden blast. 

The firepower wasn’t as strong as a dragon’s flame or Jelasis’s fire, but it dealt significant damage to my vision and hearing.

My vision was stolen. 

Amidst the ringing in my ears, I could faintly hear Edward’s voice.

Edward: “A true warrior hones their senses, but that can also be a weakness.”

I quickly used healing magic on the affected areas, but before I could fully recover, I was enveloped by something else. 

Within the closed-off view, I detected another spell, a fierce flame that was neither a loud noise nor a shockwave.

Edward: “Of course, I considered the possibility of you reconstructing it. I’ve seen it before.”

A barrier enveloped my body, and then a whirlwind, like a tornado, brought a flurry of wind blades. 

Following that, water bullets and stones came—a barrage of the four elemental magics.

It was like a small-scale typhoon, truly fitting for someone from the Aetherdam family, renowned for their mastery of the elements.

Edward: “This magic, no, considering that the very magical power flowing through my body repels everything to the minimum, the outcome of the battle will be determined by the first move.”

Ragna: “I see.”

The storm around me and the ringing in my ears subsided, and I could hear Edward’s voice clearly and close by.

[W-We can finally see again! W-What an incredible turn of events!]

The host’s voice echoed through the arena.

[Edward’s sword has pierced Ragna’s chest!]

The audience gasped, shocked at the brutality of the battle between students.

Ragna: “Ugh!”

Coughing up blood in front of Edward felt like poetic justice.

Edward: “If you always keep a barrier around your body, how do you maintain it? You can’t block everything.”

Edward’s serious eyes focused on the sword he was slowly pushing deeper as he continued.

Edward: “Is it set only for offensive magic? No, the Brave family prefers close combat over long-range magical battles. You must handle physical attacks as well.”

Ragna: “You observe well…”

Edward: “You live with your barrier always active. So, the key factor is speed. You protect against attacks with fatal speed… or so I predicted.”

To think he reached that conclusion just by observing me. 

His genius was almost envy-inducing. 

From the moment he used a previously shown spell, I was caught in a web of bluffs. 

He didn’t lower the oxygen concentration; he elevated something else.

The flashbang-like effect was likely due to hydrogen, which, in an oxygen-rich environment, explodes when the concentration increases.

It’s impractical with such minuscule amounts, but that’s what magic makes possible. 

Ridiculous, right?

Actually, controlling the composition of the air at a detailed level is the most absurd magic of all.

Edward, known for his impeccable gentlemanly manners, had now taken to manipulating the elements of air itself. 

By this point, jealousy was out of the question.

It was laughably absurd.

Using various spells to prevent me from reconstructing my barrier after the flashbang, he mixed in wind blades and stone projectiles, all as a bluff, only to slowly pierce my chest with his sword.

Ragna: “Gah, well done, Edward.”

I never underestimated Edward, but I was curious about his strategy. 

While I was ready to exchange moves, Edward had gone all-in from the start, outsmarting me.

Edward: “I told you I’d go all out from the beginning.”

Edward kept his eyes locked on mine, showing no openings, while speaking. 

As the audience held their breath, I laughed.

Ragna: “Hahaha!”

Edward: “..?”

Edward looked slightly confused by my laughter. 

He was truly impressive.

Ragna: “You are the first of our generation to break through my barrier while I’m at full strength.”

But you know what?

Ragna: “Your all-in was only enough to pierce my heart. Even with my heart pierced, I won’t stop.”

I took a step forward, making Edward falter.

Blood pooled at my feet, causing small gasps from the audience.

Ragna: “What’s wrong? If you swing the sword sideways, it could all be over.”

Edward: “…I’ve made it so I can’t move.”

While Edward had pierced me, he couldn’t swing his sword to cut horizontally or vertically.

Ragna: “Hahaha! Then why don’t you just let go of the sword?”

Edward: “Ugh!”

I punched Edward, sending him flying, and the sword hilt made a nasty tearing sound as it ripped from his grasp.

Looking at the hilt, I saw the skin from his palm, bloody and stuck to it.

Ragna: “I see, so that’s why you couldn’t let go.”

Edward: “…Ugh, in the midst of the magical storm, even a slight wobble of the tip could mean missing the target. So, I burned my hand to hold it in place.”

He was willing to hurt himself to ensure his strike.

Ragna: “That spirit is commendable. You’re strong, I acknowledge that.”

I pulled the sword from my chest and used healing magic to stop the bleeding.

It had been a long time since I felt my blood boil like this.

It felt as if even the blood flowing to the ground was radiating a fiery magical energy.

Ragna: “Alright, let’s move on to round two.”

—No, it’s my turn now, isn’t it?