How to Live Comfortably as an Abandoned Prince

Chapter 170. The Tower of Combat Magic

Radel stepped into the first floor of the tower together with Professor Lillian.

The moment the two of them entered the first floor, the air changed in an instant.

‘What is this?’

It was not merely a difference in mana flow between outside and inside like the other workshops.

‘This feeling is familiar. It’s like…’

Radel’s eyes rapidly scanned his surroundings.

And he was able to confirm his intuition.

The first floor of the Combat Magic Workshop, which had clearly been empty just moments ago, had somehow transformed into a forest.

Rustle.

The ground beneath Radel’s feet had long since turned into soil covered with fallen leaves and weeds. He could feel the soft texture of earth underfoot.

When he lifted his head and looked upward, instead of a stifling ceiling, a blue sky stretched above him.

Seeing Radel’s reaction, Professor Lillian smiled brightly.

“Surprised? Our Combat Magic Workshop is different from the others. Each floor has a completely different terrain waiting for you. It’s designed so you can train combat magic anywhere.”

As far as Radel knew, there was only one kind of place capable of completely transforming a single space into an entirely different location.

‘…A dungeon.’

Kreeeek!

As if on cue, a goblin with blood-red eyes leapt out from the bushes.

Radel’s guess proved correct.

Kraah!

And it was not just one goblin.

They continued to emerge, pushing through the forest.

Dragging things out here would only increase the number he had to deal with, given how goblins moved in groups.

Radel swiftly drew his sword.

‘Imperial Swordsmanship!’

The Imperial Swordsmanship he had learned from Shartea during the vacation shone brilliantly.

It was a sword style that had allowed him to stand his ground even against a high-ranking monster like a griffon.

Goblins, far weaker than a griffon, were sent flying the moment Radel’s blade touched them.

Boom!

After blasting one goblin away, Radel stepped forward, turned, and immediately thrust his sword at another goblin charging in from behind.

Clean, efficient movements that targeted only vital points flowed like water along his blade.

Slash!

Kyaaaak!

Before long, all the monsters near Radel lay collapsed on the ground.

Professor Lillian watched him with a satisfied expression.

“Well? There’s no way you wouldn’t get stronger here, right?”

Radel sheathed his sword and nodded.

“If you’re fighting monsters on every floor, you’d have no choice but to grow stronger just to survive.”

“Exactly. The first floor is just an ordinary forest with weak monsters, but the higher you go, the harsher the terrain becomes, and the stronger the monsters get. It’s a lot of fun.”

Professor Lillian excitedly explained the powerful monsters and unusual terrains one could encounter while climbing the tower.

She spoke of volcanic zones that spewed poisonous gas thick enough to make breathing difficult, and underwater zones where you would start submerged the moment you entered the floor.

Hearing that the tower, originally a dungeon, was being used as the Combat Magic Workshop, Radel could not help but think it was very much like her.

Who would ever think to use a monster-filled dungeon as an Academy workshop?

But Professor Lillian seemed extremely satisfied with her workshop.

Given the nature of Combat Magic, a place where one could experience real combat endlessly truly was the best possible training ground.

“To become strong, you have to risk your life. You only grow when you push yourself to the limit. In that sense, your quick response earlier was good—but relying only on swordsmanship you’re already accustomed to is a bit disappointing.”

Professor Lillian’s lips were smiling, but the gaze she directed at Radel as she advised him was sharp.

“At the very least, inside the Combat Magic Workshop, use only magic. Fighting like that won’t improve your magical ability. This is the Academy, not a swordsmanship training hall, right?”

“You’re right, Professor. I was short-sighted.”

Radel readily acknowledged his mistake after hearing her advice.

If he did not train combat magic at an Academy meant to teach magic, there was no point in studying there at all.

“For someone like you who used to rely on a sword, fighting with only magic won’t be easy. But it’s a path all seniors have gone through. No matter what kind of life you lived outside, once you’re here, everyone has to take up a staff.”

Hearing that, Shartea’s warning came to Radel’s mind.

‘You might not be able to use your sword, so be careful.’

So this was the path Senior Shartea had walked.

Radel nodded, put away his sword, and took out his staff.

Professor Lillian smiled at the sight of Radel taking her advice seriously.

Then, she subtly urged him on.

“Now, let’s go up. Your direct seniors should be diligently training as they climb the tower.”

“Professor, you said my direct seniors—but I haven’t chosen Combat Magic as my major yet.”

“Oh, was that so?”

As always, Professor Lillian gave him no chance to let his guard down.

***

Because the Combat Magic Workshop was a dungeon, many of its features felt familiar to Radel.

For example, each floor had a teleportation magic circle installed, making it convenient to move between floors.

Professor Lillian said she often used these teleportation circles to barge into different floors and guide the seniors.

Given her personality, it was easy to imagine what kind of “guidance” that entailed.

“This is the middle floor.”

Using a teleportation circle built into the tower, Professor Lillian brought Radel to a safe zone located at the midpoint of the workshop.

In dungeons, there were sometimes safe areas where the terrain did not change or monsters did not appear, and it seemed this was such a place within the tower.

“This is where students rest or spar with each other.”

Just then, Radel saw Combat Magic seniors who had been training while climbing the tower gathered in one place.

Some were preparing to spar in the wide circular arena at the center.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Seeing the students gathered, Professor Lillian told Radel to wait and took out her staff.

A delighted smile spread across her face.

‘What is she planning to do? Don’t tell me…?’

While Radel was still flustered, Professor Lillian released her magic power all at once.

Whooooom!

An overwhelming presence poured out from her small frame, and the moment the seniors sensed her magic power, all eyes snapped toward her.

“It’s the Professor.”

“Warning! Professor sighted at forty-five degrees ahead. I repeat, Professor sighted.”

“Don’t let your guard down. We might actually die this time.”

Just what kind of lives had these seniors been living…?

Watching them tense up and hold their breath as if they had spotted a high-ranking monster, Radel felt the Combat Magic major drift yet another step farther away from his heart.

A suffocating standoff followed between Professor Lillian and the seniors.

It was Lillian who broke the silence.

“O empty air, be torn apart.”

Professor Lillian’s staff moved.

In the very space where the seniors stood, the air itself split open, and a violent gale roared so fiercely that one could barely keep their eyes open.

“It’s started!”

“Everyone, put up defensive magic!”

The seniors swung their staffs to counter the Professor’s magic.

Judging by their movements, this was far from their first time dealing with it.

Even so, some of them were already being swept away by the wind.

Radel widened his eyes, determined not to miss the ferocious flow of magic pouring out of Professor Lillian.

She gave them no time to breathe and continued chanting spells.

“O sky, resound. O flames, fall. O light, race across the earth!”

Boom-crash!

Simultaneous casting!

Radel had seen Leon use multiple elemental spells at once, but this was the first time he had witnessed three large-scale spells cast simultaneously.

With an immense surge of magic power, thunder and lightning raged and struck the seniors all at once.

If they managed to evade that, a rain of flames awaited them.

“Aaaargh!”

“Hold out! Just hold out no matter what!”

The seniors’ screams echoed through the arena, yet some of them, as if accustomed to this, continued chanting spells in between.

Using every magic they could muster, they dodged or blocked Professor Lillian’s onslaught.

“Hahaha! Good! Try enduring this too! And this!”

Watching the brutal scene, Professor Lillian spread her arms wide and laughed loudly.

In Radel’s heart, the Combat Magic major retreated yet another step.

Woooooosh.

At last, Professor Lillian stopped her magic.

The dust settled over the devastated circular arena, and the surviving seniors gradually came into view.

One senior had been blown far away and lay crashed into the ground.

Another had cast defensive magic but was shoved all the way to the back.

Yet another was buried underground, with only their head barely sticking out.

It was complete chaos.

And yet, among them was one person who had not moved even a single step and stood perfectly unharmed.

It was the Fourth Princess, Estina, smiling brightly.

***

“Only Estina passes today.”

Professor Lillian smiled with satisfaction as she looked at the sole unscathed Estina.

Estina also smiled sweetly and replied.

“Yes, Professor. Then, would you give me a reward?”

At that, the look in Professor Lillian’s eyes changed in an instant.

“Of course, a sparring match?”

“Of course, Professor. But this time, I’d like to spar with someone other than you.”

From that moment, a sense of foreboding began creeping over Radel as he listened to their conversation.

What should have been a heartwarming scene between a Combat Magic professor and a student who passed her test had somehow turned into a discussion about choosing the next sacrifice.

“Very well. Have you chosen your opponent?”

When Professor Lillian asked with a smile, Estina answered with a smile in her eyes.

“Yes. I’d like to spar with the junior standing behind you.”

“Do you mean Radel?”

“That’s right. My half-brother.”

So she was openly pointing at me.

At this point, Radel realized there was no escaping.

With the Fourth Princess asking for her reward by naming him, what choice did he have?

Professor Lillian in front of him, Estina behind him.

At this point, it was better to comply and spar as the Fourth Princess wished.

“I’m fine with that as well. It’s an honor to have the chance to learn from a senior.”

Thinking of it as an opportunity to directly experience the skill of a Combat Magic senior, Radel stepped onto the circular arena.

Thanks to Senior Shartea’s warning, he had already prepared himself mentally before coming to the workshop.

“Nice to meet you, Radel.”

Estina greeted Radel in a gentle voice as he entered the arena.

When it came to manners, she really was polite.

“The pleasure is mine.”

Radel bowed in return, took out his staff, and prepared to chant a spell.

But Estina was far faster than he was.

“O earth, fold!”

True to her status as a fourth-year, Estina wielded an advanced spell.

The moment her incantation completed, the ground folded in on itself, shifting her instantly to Radel’s side.

Estina swiftly raised her hand and thrust toward Radel’s waist.

“O ice!”

A hand blade wrapped in sharp ice slashed across Radel’s side.

“Ghk!”

Gritting his teeth through the pain, Radel retreated backward.

As he pulled away, Estina leaned close to his ear and whispered with a smile.

“Arteo died a lot too. And you were left alive.”