Presumably, he too would struggle for decades in pursuit of happiness, just as he had in the simulation.
A person's fate was not simply dictated by innate factors, just as life could always find a way out of despair.
Just as he had become a hero and saved Medusa.
To admit it would mean denying the very foundation of his becoming a hero.
That was why Moran had intervened in the debate between Kayneth and Waver.
He could not ignore such claims about innate and acquired factors.
After the heated confrontation between Moran and Kayneth, the El-Melloi classroom could no longer maintain its original atmosphere.
Quite a few people had their thoughts led astray.
Some thought Moran was a lunatic with delusions.
Some believed Moran was putting on airs.
Others thought Moran might actually have a trump card.
Click—!
A sound that did not belong in a magus's setting.
It was the sound of a camera, a product of modern technology.
"Moran... He actually dared to confront Professor Kayneth like that... Amazing! So amazing...!"
A female student in the back row.
With the camera hanging from her chest, she secretly took pictures of Moran.
When she had heard those words about innate qualities not deciding everything, Camus could not help but tremble inwardly.
She too was someone of low bloodline.
To her, Moran was dazzlingly radiant.
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Boom—!!
Smoke and dust slowly rose, spreading outward.
The floor had been blasted into a shallow trench by the brutal impact, and the clash between strength and beauty was perfectly displayed in this training ground.
This place was located beneath the Clock Tower.
It was a training ground where students could fight and study to their hearts' content.
"Advanced Self-Defense Arts—this is a course where magi use their physical abilities to demonstrate the vitality of life. Though the process is quite brutal, it is a foundational course that effectively reveals a magus's talent and level."
Kayneth stood with his hands behind his back, explaining indifferently.
Two students from the El-Melloi classroom had been fighting in the arena, and they had just finished an intense battle.
For modern magi, studying self-defense arts was common sense.
It was necessary for dealing with unexpected situations.
"Ah... Self-defense class... This is the class I hate most...!"
Waver clutched his head in frustration.
Just as Kayneth had explained at the beginning.
The intensity of self-defense arts was linked to a magus's talent and level.
If a magus possessed exceptional talent, they could use magical energy to reinforce their body, crushing the ground beneath their feet and tearing steel apart with their hands.
As for a magus with Waver's talent.
When he reinforced himself, at most he could hope that getting hit would not hurt too much.
The difference in capability between Waver and outstanding magi was simply too vast; they could not be compared on the same track at all.
That gap in capability was what reality meant.
In other words, what Kayneth called bloodline and talent.
"Moran, I said I would give you an opportunity to prove yourself. I believe nothing is more suitable than this Advanced Self-Defense Arts class to make you and Waver understand that bloodline and talent are everything. Do you still wish to prove your point to me?"
Kayneth spoke calmly and unhurriedly.
Maintaining the elegance of both an aristocrat and a Lord.
Yet without losing his arrogance.
In his view, even the most foolish student should understand by now that bloodline and talent were everything.
If Moran properly admitted his mistake and apologized.
Then, as his teacher, Kayneth could still pretend nothing had happened.
After all, those of inferior bloodline had limited horizons.
He could understand the dissatisfaction low-ranking magi felt toward themselves, and he did not think there was anything wrong with how he had handled the matter.
As a teacher and as a traditional aristocrat.
Kayneth had acted quite properly from either perspective.
"Professor Kayneth... I..."
"Of course I do! If I prove it, Professor Kayneth, will you admit that you were the one who was wrong?"
Moran did not give Waver a chance to speak.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, he said it bluntly.
Quite a few people slapped their foreheads and held their heads in bewilderment.
Even at this point, he still refused to admit his mistake. They were astonished that someone in the class could be this foolish.
"Oh? That truly is beyond my expectations...
Even now, you remain stubbornly true to yourself. As far as affirming one's self-awareness goes, that is worthy of praise. However, this is impossible. In my view, you lack the ability to fulfill this condition."
Kayneth said with a mocking smile.
It was a reasonable inference based on the current situation.
Waver beside him had long since short-circuited mentally. He had no idea where Moran intended to drive this self-destructing truck.
"Professor Kayneth, you wouldn't happen to be afraid to bet, would you?"
Moran said unhurriedly.
He used the most classic form of provocation.
"Heh... Afraid?"
Kayneth's gaze sharpened.
A faint but terrifying aura spread from him.
Soon, he calmed down again.
His mind had not lost its ability to think merely because he had been provoked.
After pondering for a moment, he deduced that Moran was provoking him deliberately, perhaps intending to make him personally step into the arena.
Once he, a Lord, entered the arena himself.
Then regardless of whether Moran and Waver won or lost, it would reflect poorly on Kayneth.
Moran and the others had absolutely nothing to lose.
If they lost, they could use the excuse that a Lord had relied on his power to oppress them.
Win? Kayneth had never considered that Moran could beat him.
What cheap tricks. Does he really think I, Kayneth, cannot see through such a blatant provocation?
Kayneth had indeed seen through it.
But his pride would not allow him to avoid it.
Moran had seized precisely on that arrogance.
"What is there to fear? From any angle, why would I, a Lord, be afraid? Moran Edelfelt, do you know what price you will pay for provoking me like this?"
"Of course. I am not an idiot either. If I cannot prove it to you, then I can declare that I will never use magecraft again for the rest of my life. Is that stake substantial enough?"
Moran possessed equal confidence.
His words caused an uproar among everyone present.
This was even more extreme than giving up a career in magecraft.
Making a magus give up pursuing the Mysteries was already like taking their life; forbidding them from using magecraft was practically the same as forbidding them to breathe.
For a magus, there was no more cruel price.
Even Kayneth was somewhat surprised.
"Professor Kayneth, I've put up such a large stake. It would not do if you did not put up something as well."
"Hmph. What do you want?"
"Let me think~"
Moran had not originally wanted anything.
But since things had progressed this far, it would be unreasonable not to get some benefit from Kayneth.
"I've decided. One of the three furnaces in your Three-Prism Magic Core, Professor Kayneth! I've wagered everything I have as a magus, so that is not an excessive demand for this bet, is it?"
"You bastard, you really are asking for the moon! That is the supreme Mystic Code of my El-Melloi family! Do you know what you are saying?!"
Kayneth was so angry that he laughed.
How could his family's secret treasure be used for gambling?
Yet, looking at Moran's confident expression.
Did he truly believe he would win?
No matter how Kayneth thought about it, he felt Moran could not possibly win, yet he also found Moran's demeanor incomprehensible.
Something he could not understand was happening.
Even he, hailed as a genius, could not make sense of it.
"However, if it is merely the right to borrow it, I can grant that to you as the head of the El-Melloi family."
"Fine, then it's settled."
Moran had merely wanted to casually gain a little something to make things more interesting.
No matter how valuable the magic core furnace was, it was probably not as precious as his blood.
He agreed without the slightest hesitation.
This made Kayneth even less able to see through Moran. He had no idea what gave him the confidence to bet against him.
Interesting. He found it very interesting.
For the first time in his many years as a lecturer, Kayneth had encountered such a thing.
If someone of Moran's inferior bloodline could win this wager, that would truly be what one called a miracle.
He could not predict what form that miracle would take.
Even he, praised as a genius, had a moment when his skills fell short.
Unconsciously, he wanted to unravel the unknown.
He wanted to see what miracle Moran possessed that allowed him to bet against him.
P.S. Once again, please send flowers, monthly tickets, and recommendation tickets! I'm begging! The results aren't strong enough, and this author is writing anxiously!
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