episode_0034

Amidst the intense cheers from the audience, the dull clang of wooden swords colliding echoed through the air.

Finally, the announcer signaled the end of the last match in the round of 16.

The final eight contestants were announced.

A total of eight.

Naturally, Cain and I were among them.

Soon, there would be an intermediate event where Princess Rosaria, a student at the prestigious Ariel Academy and a member of the royal family, would interact with each of the top eight contestants, offering compliments and presenting them with floral necklaces.

Whenever a major event took place within the academy, Princess Rosaria, being a prominent figure from the royal family, was always prominently featured for promotion. I had been careless.

I had only intended to pass the preliminaries and receive a participation prize before quietly disappearing, but life, as expected, had other plans.

“The victors of the round of 16 and our promising students, please come up to the arena!”

Upon the announcer’s words, all the participants waiting in line made their way up to the arena.

Rox, Gareth, Neilok, me… Dyson, and even Cain.

I was placed in the middle of the lineup.

“Princess Rosaria is entering!”

The entire audience erupted in cheers as Rosaria made her entrance from the waiting room.

The academy’s flower.

Known for her pristine beauty and grace, Rosaria was the epitome of elegance among the royal family.

The response to her was tremendous.

Her impeccable image management and relationships seemed evident as not a single negative word was heard from the audience.

-Step. Step.

Rosaria ascended the steps of the arena, making eye contact with each of the eight contestants as she walked towards them.

Stopping midway, Rosaria flashed a smile.

Some of the victors from the round of 16 blushed, seemingly admiring Rosaria’s appearance.

“Princess Rosaria will now present flowers to the victors of the round of 16!”

At the announcer’s cue, Rosaria began draping floral necklaces around the necks of the contestants, followed by exchanging pleasantries.

The recipients of her compliments responded with grateful smiles and thanks.

After bestowing her compliments, Rosaria simply smiled and moved on to the next contestant.

In turn, she continued this pattern of presenting flowers and exchanging pleasantries with each participant.

Eventually, it was my turn.

“….”

“….”

Rosaria stopped in front of me, saying nothing.

She just gazed intently into my eyes.

I had anticipated this.

She had left abruptly without a word before, so I expected this silence.

Other contestants exchanged puzzled glances between me and Rosaria.

After a moment, Rosaria draped the floral necklace around my neck.

Then, she whispered to me discreetly.

“I’d like to talk separately later. I hope you won’t run away this time.”

“….”

With that, she stepped back a few paces, smiling as if nothing had happened.

I thought it might be difficult to evade her this time.

It was an order from the royal family.

Running away twice would be impolite.

Although I wouldn’t face any consequences, it could be seen as disrespectful… So, I decided to meet her halfway, demand appropriate compensation, and part ways amicably.

Somewhere along the line, I found many similarities between Cain’s heroines and Rosaria.

Despite trying to avoid it, life didn’t go as planned.

I resolved to do things properly from now on.

…For the record, Hedy is an exception.

Normally, I should keep my distance from Hedy as well, but we had grown too close for me to pull away.

I nodded respectfully to Rosaria.

As I did, she quietly moved on to the next contestant.

And just as Rosaria was about to present the floral necklace to the following contestant…

-Clang!

“….!”

The sharp sound of something hard colliding reverberated through the air.

The noise came from the direction Rosaria had just passed.

There, a bright green shield, meant for protecting spellcasters, was being deployed.

The spellcaster was Rosaria.

The pendant seemed to be enchanted with a protective shield spell, as it shone brightly in a green hue around her neck.

She seemed startled, clutching her chest and stepping back with a bewildered expression.

“Haha, I guess they were prepared for this after all.”

Someone swung a genuine sword at Rosaria.

It was Niloc, the 16th round victor who had just been awarded the flower necklace by Rosaria.

He began infusing magic into the iron sword blocked by the green shield.

“Be the sacrificial lambs for these swine-like sorcerers! Princess!”

-Woooo….

The atmosphere was overwhelmed by a sinister and ominous aura.

At that moment, I sensed it.

The magic Niloc was imbuing into his sword was not conventional magic.

Necromancy.

It emanated an aura of dark magic that mimicked magical energy by consuming life force.

I had read narratives where those who despised sorcerers would wield necromantic energies mimicking magic to defy conventions.

Therefore, upon seeing it, I immediately understood.

“How dare you threaten the princess…! Argh!”

“What, what’s happening! Ack!”

Two knights rushing to protect Rosaria fell to someone’s blade.

It was another participant standing beside Niloc.

“Did we come unprepared? These pigs are lying in the dirt.”

“These lunatics…!”

In that moment, other 16th round victors tried to defend Rosaria by charging at him.

However, among the victors, there seemed to be spies obstructing those approaching Rosaria with swords, unlike the pure 16th round victors who were at a disadvantage, holding hidden swords of unknown origin.

I, too, was already on the move.

Rosaria’s shield was gradually melting under the necromantic sword wielded by Niloc.

Rosaria, pale with fear, was losing strength in her legs, hesitatingly sinking down.

I had to stop Niloc.

“Argh!”

“Ack!”

“Ugh!”

Skillfully dispatching the spies blocking my path, I advanced forward.

Due to the enchantment on my sword, it matched the strength of the iron sword.

As Niloc saw me, he seemed perplexed.

About seven steps ahead.

Time seemed to slow down.

Looking beyond, Cain, who was relatively closer to Rosaria, also appeared to be struggling against other spies.

Perhaps he couldn’t use the enchantment yet.

The timing was off. Had the future changed due to some variable?

I distinctly remembered a narrative where Cain was supposed to save Rosaria.

Indeed, I was the only one who could protect her now.

Time sped up again, one step forward.

Rather than shattering Rosaria’s shield completely, Niloc changed his target to me.

He swung his sword at me.

-Aaargh!

A sharp clang echoed.

-Clang!

Our swords clashed as we exerted our strength.

“Damn! It was almost done, what are you. What are you! I haven’t heard about anyone reaching the mid-level of Grade 3 out of 1st-year students…”

Ignoring Niloc’s words, I shouted to Rosaria.

“Princess! Quickly, escape this gap!”

“Gasp…!”

Rosaria, who had been sitting helplessly, suddenly snapped back to reality upon hearing my words, urgently grimacing and reaching out towards me.

And from her hand emerged a yellow magic circle.

It was a spell of enhanced physical strength.

My body momentarily glowed yellow.

-Clang!

The swords locked with Niloc began tilting gradually towards his side.

It was his downfall.

“Damn! Damn you!!”

“Argh!”

His expression twisted in injustice.

He was a pure 3-star expert, so it was a dangerous situation.

I wielded the wooden sword, and he had the metal sword.

If the wooden sword clashed with the iron sword of equal aura, the wooden sword would break.

Even if he wielded dark magic, it was insufficient to break through my aura mimicking magical form.

Dark mages are more advantageous in curse-type magic rather than mimicking auras to fight.

If things continued this way, I would be able to withstand Neilok’s attack.

“I kept you alive for the purpose of striking the princess…! It can’t be helped!”

“……!”

Neilok began muttering something.

A sinister black energy started emanating from his body.

No matter who I am, I don’t know every magic that appears in stories.

At that moment when I was scrutinizing what he was using.

Neilok finished his incantation.

Immediately after, the black energies he emitted rushed towards me.

“……!”

“Hahaha! It’s all your own doing! You fool!”

What’s happening?

My body was getting heavier.

Is he a dark mage specializing in curses?

As my body grew heavier, Neilok’s sword, which had been at a disadvantage, began to rise.

In an instant, I found myself in a disadvantaged position, experiencing his attack.

“Princess!”

“Emil! Quickly, deal with him…!”

-Shwack!

“Kraaagh!”

Emil, who joined the fray late, rushed towards me and struck down Neilok.

Neilok, who was clashing swords, collapsed, spitting blood.

“Haah, haah….”

Despite the caster’s death, my body still felt heavy.

It wasn’t just heaviness.

The backlash was occurring.

Magic was seeping into his dark magic, showing abnormal symptoms.

At this rate, I would fall into a coma.

Rosaria ran towards me and cast purification magic, but it had no effect.

“It’s no use… Priest! Call for a priest! Emil!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Emil dashed out of the arena.

I sat down, planting the wooden sword in the ground.

As the backlash occurred and my body grew heavier, I felt like melting.

The princess continued casting purification magic, but there was no response.

A higher-level purification magic was needed.

It seemed unbearable until then.

In the distance, Cain stood awkwardly.

…That bastard.

Because I ended up doing what that arrogant guy should have done, things turned out like this.

Due to this incident, it would not be easy to easily shake off the relationship with Rosaria.

“…Xian!”

As my consciousness faded, I saw Hedy running towards me with a worried expression from afar.

…Is she going to faint for the second time in front of her?

Amidst the seriousness, a bitter smile escaped me.

I wonder what expression she’ll have when she wakes up again.

No, will she even wake up?

Continuing to think further was futile.

And like that, I lost consciousness.