Chapter 22
“Why are they taking so long?”
It seemed like it had been 30 minutes since Amilion asked Emily Franz to bring the first-year representatives, but she continued to wait in vain for the students who hadn’t arrived.
The final events for the tournament had been decided just last night, and while Amilion didn’t particularly like the chosen events, there was nothing she could do.
After all, the Vice Headmaster proposed the events, and the Headmaster approved them.
‘A tournament, they say. This is just a test for Ryu.’
The tournament events had been divided into three stages, resembling an entrance exam, and anyone could see that this had nothing to do with the traditional “Academy Tournament.”
A written test and an obstacle course… It was so blatantly obvious that she could only scoff.
‘But, well.’
Still, Amilion wasn’t overly concerned.
Since her one-on-one consultation with Ryu, her assessment of him had risen significantly.
After researching the first Crescent Emperor until dawn that day, Amilion noticed that the traits Ryu exhibited when using magic were remarkably similar to those of the first Emperor.
While it wasn’t certain, she instinctively felt it when she read a record that described the Emperor’s speed as “so fast that even mana, the origin of all things, couldn’t keep up with his movements.”
If she were to record Ryu’s actions in writing, she’d probably describe them in a similar way.
If only there were a single recording of the first Emperor using magic, she’d know more for certain, but with no such materials available, Amilion had to settle with what she’d found.
Furthermore, the fact that Ryu, a commoner, shared the same black hair as the first Emperor only raised her expectations even higher.
The resemblance was uncanny.
Perhaps Ryu was a descendant of the first Emperor’s bloodline, thought to have ended centuries ago…
Knock knock.
“…Yes?”
Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t even noticed the approach of footsteps outside.
At Amilion’s response, the door to the training ground opened, and Ryu entered, leading the four first-year representatives.
“You’re late.”
“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t convey the message clearly enough…”
Emily Franz stammered as she stepped forward to speak first.
Amilion hadn’t intended to scold them, but seeing the student’s anxious demeanor made her feel a bit guilty.
“No, it’s fine. Anyway, I assume everyone has seen the announcement. I gathered you here because of that.”
“Yes, we’ve reviewed it.”
Listening to Elaine’s somewhat indignant reply, Amilion began explaining her plans to her students, including how future lessons would be structured and how she would help them prepare for the Academy Tournament.
‘I must see Ryu use other forms of magic.’
She had other thoughts in mind as well.
***
“What’s this?”
“It’s surprising that only four first-years are participating, but the tournament events are even more surprising.”
Garrett Iskaea, the top student of Crescent Academy’s third-year S class, looked at the tournament events with a slight hint of disappointment.
Dungeon exploration, same as last year.
There were two additional events preceding it, but Garrett knew that those were practically meaningless.
He’d heard from his professor that the Academy had structured the tournament more like a test to appease the nobles who were disgruntled over the top-scoring first-year being a commoner.
“Still, it’s a chance to redeem last year’s tournament.”
“That’s true.”
“Sigh, too bad we’re only in our third year and can’t graduate yet.”
Garrett glanced at Verte, who had quietly added to the conversation beside him.
Verte Bernstein.
The daughter of the Bernstein family, one of the Six Great Houses, and Garrett’s closest rival in the S class, Verte was named to the third-year representative team.
Though she spoke in a calm and steady tone, her gaze flickered with a fierce competitive spirit.
In last year’s Academy Tournament, Garrett and Verte narrowly missed first place.
Typically, the tournament would end with third-years in first place, second-years in second, and first-years in third, but last year, Garrett and Verte’s second-year team almost claimed first.
In the end, they finished in second place due to some incident at the last moment.
“This year, it’s just you and me, so maybe it’ll be better?”
“Hmm. Maybe.”
This year’s Academy Tournament had the smallest number of participants in Crescent Academy’s history.
Four first-years, three second-years, and two third-years.
A total of nine participants.
Last year, twelve first-years alone had participated, but this year, the total didn’t even reach ten.
Having experienced dungeon exploration last year, Garrett and Verte knew all too well how risky it was to enter a dungeon as just a duo, yet they brimmed with confidence.
Both had grown much stronger since last year.
“Everyone’s looking over the details.”
“Oh, Professor.”
“Hello.”
A low voice sounded behind Garrett and Verte.
The man with blond hair, well-suited to his professor’s robes, was Cassis Sinclair, the homeroom teacher of the third-year S class.
Seeing Garrett and Verte reviewing the details of the tournament, Cassis smiled faintly and spoke.
“You both went through this last year, so I expect you’ll do even better this year.”
At Cassis’s words, Garrett also smiled faintly and nodded.
“Well, unless the dungeon structure is exactly the same as last year, it’s going to be different. In that case, it’s practically new to us.”
“Hmm.”
Verte nodded in agreement with Garrett’s words, and Cassis smirked as he looked at his two confident students.
“As you both know, the tournament events have been announced, and the schedule is set. Starting today, you’ll be having individual sessions with your homeroom professor. No complaints, right?”
“Of course.”
“Um, Professor, I have a question.”
“What is it, Miss Bernstein?”
“I heard that your younger sibling is among this year’s first-years.”
“…And?”
“You’re not going to go easy on her just because she’s your sister, right?”
Verte’s red eyes glinted as she looked at Cassis.
Her question was reasonable. As the daughter of the Bernstein family, one of the Six Great Houses like the Sinclairs, Verte knew all too well the weight and pressure that came with a prestigious family name.
Even the smallest actions could become big issues, and there were always people eager to criticize, whether in public or private settings.
Cassis was certainly aware of this, so it was only natural that he would want his sister, Elaine Sinclair, to perform well in the Academy Tournament. His family name and his sister’s honor were on the line.
Thus, it wasn’t surprising for Verte to suspect that Cassis might give Elaine special coaching, not as a third-year S class professor, but as her brother.
“Of course not.”
“You’re certain?”
“Absolutely. I stake both my honor and the family’s reputation on it. In fact…”
Cassis trailed off, carefully choosing his words.
“Even though she’s my sister, Elaine… she needs to learn the harsh realities of the world.”
“Oh.”
“…Wow. That sounds complicated. If it were my sibling, I’d want to protect them.”
Verte looked intrigued by Cassis’s words, while Garrett shook his head, as if the situation was exhausting.
“Anyway, there’s no need to worry about that. Any more questions?”
“No, none.”
“Prestigious families sure are complicated! I don’t have any questions either!”
“Garrett, once you graduate, you’ll start to understand naturally. I’ve heard that some nobles are already showing interest in the Iskaea family because of you.”
“Oh…”
Garrett scratched his head awkwardly at Cassis’s comment and then left.
Despite the presence of Verte Bernstein, the second daughter of one of the Six Great Houses, Garrett Iskaea, a genius, had never lost his spot as top student since he entered the second year.
‘Garrett would be perfect to properly teach Elaine.’
Cassis held Garrett’s skill and potential in high regard.
Hailing from a nameless frontier noble family, Garrett not only maintained his top rank at the Academy purely through his own abilities but was also gaining attention beyond the Academy.
Unlike the “Iron Wall” style that symbolized Sinclair swordsmanship, Garrett’s was an aggressive technique.
Proving that offense can be the best defense, the incident where he sliced through the Bernstein’s blue flame in one strike had become famous not only among students but also faculty members.
‘If only it were a duel instead.’
Cassis wished the Academy Tournament event had been one-on-one duels rather than dungeon exploration. That way, Garrett could have properly shown Elaine her place.
His sister Elaine hadn’t yet fully experienced the tough reality of the world.
Even when she lost the top rank to a commoner in this test, she nonchalantly said things like, “That commoner’s skills were exceptional.”
‘It’s unfortunate, but this isn’t so bad either.’
Although this year’s tournament only included S class participants, the fact that the first-year team boldly chose to compete with just four members probably had something to do with Elaine.
Elaine, with her nearly overconfident attitude, must have convinced that unknowing commoner that they could handle it.
“Professor?”
“Ah, let’s go.”
“Yes, but this tournament… the dungeon structure has changed, right? It seemed a bit rushed, and the schedule was moved forward too.”
‘Sharp.’
Watching Verte’s sharp gaze as she asked, Cassis held his tongue.
The clever Bernstein girl would understand his silence immediately.
“…Let’s go.”
“Ohhh.”
Cassis pretended not to notice the subtle smile that spread across Verte’s face.
—
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