A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

When mages duel, they are said to open their spell worlds against each other.

Each of them wields the spells accumulated within their domain as weapons.

Galaph drew upon the rivers flowing through his own world.

“Strike with force.”

A staff appeared in his hand.

At its tip, a white gem gleamed, and from that point, a portion of the river gushed forth.

The torrent coalesced into a massive, concentrated mass before transforming into water shells, hurtling through the air like artillery.

“You think you can beat me while cursed?

Idiot!”

Galaph jeered as he unleashed his water shells.

Even as he attacked, Esther’s hands formed signs.

She revealed not her emotions, but her spell.

Fwoosh!

The instant her fingers completed their movements, flames ignited within her eyes. A fiery sphere manifested before her gaze and shot forward.

Two opposing elemental spells collided midair.

Boom!

A deafening explosion rang out as steam burst into the air.

The fireball vanished, while the torrent of water was knocked off course, crashing violently into the ground.@@novelbin@@

Splash!

The earth caved inward as plumes of steam veiled the surroundings.

Like a dense fog, the mist obscured their vision.

But just because they couldn’t see didn’t mean they would lose track of each other.

Mages followed the flow of mana, not mere eyesight. Their opponent’s presence was clear, even within the thick mist.

“You stupid bitch!”

The repeated insult irritated Esther.

She’d already decided on the words she’d say when she killed him.

Now wasn’t the time for them.

While Galaph hurled his taunts, he secretly sent two of his disciples behind Esther.

The others had been sent elsewhere for “business,” but he had kept these two.

Neither was an exceptional mage, but both were adept swordsmen.

‘Stupid bitch.’

Galaph repeated the words in his head as he chanted again and again.

His two disciples moved stealthily.

The mist provided the perfect cover, making it nearly impossible for Esther to detect them.

They had yet to establish their own spell worlds, meaning they wouldn’t register in her mana perception.

The disciples crept forward, slipping through the mist like phantoms.

One of them gripped his sword tightly, eyes darting through the fog for their target.

He planned to strike the moment he spotted her.

Then—

Thwack!

The disciple at the front was suddenly blinded.

Something wrapped around his face and squeezed.