Finals

1st Year Round of 4, Match 2.

The victor of the duel between Rakar and Ellie was, as expected, Ellie.

Although Rakar fought valiantly, Ellie was a standout presence even among the first-year students.

Befitting her setting as a future Archmage, Ellie subdued Rakar with powerful magic.

,She certainly had the skills of the Magic Department’s top student.”

After the match, while gathered in the clubroom for a meal, Rakar recalled the match and readily admitted his defeat.

,That’s right, would I have lost for no reason? That kid’s a real genius!”

Aria, who was agreeing with Rakar’s words with a snort, turned her gaze to me.

,But Ross, you can win, right?”

,Huh?”

I stopped shoveling risotto into my mouth, feeling burdened by Aria’s gaze, which was full of trust. Not only Aria, but everyone in the clubroom was looking at me with expectant eyes.

,The odds are similar, so we just bet on the club president, right?”

Before I could wave my hands in denial, feeling the pressure from Kane’s words, Aria snatched the answer away.

,Of course! Betting on Ellie is betrayal! I’ll be checking everything!!!”

,Great, then I’ll bet all my allowance for next month!”

,Hmm, should I bet on the club president too?”

,I’ll bet on you too, Ross…”

As Rakar and Luna were swept up in the flow, I had no choice but to sigh and put down the spoon I was holding.

,Everyone, calm down. It’s not like you’re giving up already, but it’s probably better to bet on Ellie if possible.”

At my words, the noisy table fell silent with a *ttuk*. Questioning gazes turned to me. Their eyes demanded an explanation.

I scratched the back of my head and supplemented my lacking words.

,I can’t use space magic because of certain circumstances.”

,What?!”

At my words, Aria widened her eyes and let out a scream-like shout.

,Why! That kind of cheat magic is for times like these!”

Kane, who was sitting next to Aria, nodded vigorously at Aria’s words. Luna also seemed curious about the reason, as she looked at me with curious eyes.

I couldn’t reveal the details about the cult’s executives. I had to scratch my cheek and lie as if it were nothing.

,I made a promise with Principal Nelson-sensei.”

I could have told a more plausible lie, but nothing came to mind. Fortunately, thanks to the name value of Nelson, everyone nodded as if they understood without suspicion.

,Well, it’s so OP that the duel would end too easily.”

Listening to Aria’s words, who immediately understood at the mention of Nelson’s name, I mentally thanked Principal Nelson-sensei for always helping with my lies.

,Space magic…?”

Elena tilted her head with a puzzled expression, as if she hadn’t caught up with the conversation. Come to think of it, there were few people who knew about space magic. The club members and Nelson. And Roel, Ellie, and Bella, roughly.

Ah, I couldn’t leave out Estelle, who warned me not to use space magic.

In response to Elena’s sudden question, Aria answered for me.

,Ah, Elena-yang probably hasn’t seen it, right? He has magic certified by Principal Nelson-sensei. It’s really amazing magic! If he had that, he would have won easily… It’s such a shame!”

At Aria’s fuss, Elena flinched greatly for some reason and stared at me blankly.

,R-Really?”

,Yeah.”

Elena seemed greatly shocked by my words, trembled, and then lowered her head deeply.

,T-To think that wasn’t his full power…”

Feeling awkward at Elena’s gloomy face, I scratched my cheek.

,The fact that the club president advanced to the finals even with the restriction means that his skills are that outstanding.”

Rakar nodded, looking at me with a burdened gaze, and comforted Elena.

,Elena-ssi did well enough against the club president too.”

,That’s right, even with space magic, it would have been just as difficult.”

I added to Rakar’s comfort.

,Yeah… Thanks.”

Fortunately, the comfort worked, and Elena’s gloomy face brightened a little.

While I was inwardly sighing in relief that I hadn’t become awkward with Rakar’s fiancée, Luna lightly tapped my thigh under the table, avoiding the gazes of others.

,But I believe Ross will win…”

At Luna’s small whisper, the corners of my mouth unknowingly lifted. I bit my lower lip at her gaze, which was full of trust.

Luna seemed to remember something, suddenly pursed her lips, avoided my gaze, and began to ramble in a stammering voice.

,I-It’s not like I’m trying to put pressure on you to win, uh… It’s amazing that you made it to the finals, so, so my, my point is don’t feel pressured…”

Seeing Luna, who was worried that her words might be a burden to me but still wanted to cheer me on, I couldn’t help but burst into a small laugh.

,I know. I’ll do well.”

At my words, Luna, who had been muttering her disorganized thoughts, smiled beautifully with a flushed face.

,Okay!”

***

Upon receiving the signal from the staff and heading up to the arena, I heard the roar of the massive crowd, so loud that the floor of the arena vibrated.

As befitting the final match to determine the top student of the year, the crowd’s enthusiasm was intensely fervent.

As Ellie appeared from the opposite side of the arena, I took a deep breath, steeling my resolve.

Ross, who was below average, a lump of inferiority, and a disposable item, is facing off against the future Archmage for the top student position.

If I had heard these words when I first possessed the body, I would have laughed, telling them not to talk nonsense. It was impossible for Ross in the novel.

But now, there is no Ross from the novel. Only the newly changed Ross remains.

The reason I was able to come this far was thanks to everyone’s help. Nelson and Roton, and even my precious club members.

Just as Ross’s ending has changed, I have a new goal: to change the endings of my precious relationships.

The most perfect happy ending that I, the author, will create anew.

That was my goal now.

Today will be a huge turning point that divides the novel I created and this world I’ve possessed.

,Hi.”

At Ellie’s voice, ridiculously, my heart reacted first. Ross’s setting still remained within me.

But I had already accepted that feeling. There was no reason to forcibly suppress it or reject it. Now, all I had to do was let that feeling flow away.

,Nice to see you. I never imagined we’d meet in the finals, did you?”

At my playful words, Ellie’s obsidian-like eyes silently stared. A strange atmosphere different from her usual bright self.

Was she nervous before the finals? I licked my dry lips in embarrassment.

I heard the host’s voice, introducing me and Ellie before the finals, heating up the atmosphere even more.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, I heard the sound of ‘Combat Club, fighting!’, so it seemed that many students had come to cheer on the same Combat Club. Since it was a battle for the top student, it seemed that more attention was focused on it.

,No, I thought Ross would make it to the finals.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise at Ellie’s sudden words. A feeling of joy began to surge from deep within my heart at Ellie’s answer.

Black eyes like obsidian stared at me. That gaze contained several emotions. The things that had been stagnant at the bottom of my emotions began to float as Ellie’s gaze towards me was different from before.

My head was in chaos due to the sudden situation. I heard Ellie’s voice, filled with suppressed emotions, in my ear.

,Because I’m here.”

I didn’t understand Ellie’s words. The chaotic emotions now went beyond that and fell into confusion.

Before I could grasp the meaning of her words, the host’s countdown announcing the start of the match began.

I took a deep breath and shook my head. I had to focus on the match for now.

At the start of the match, a composite magic combining the elements of fire and wind appeared from the end of Ellie’s staff, drawing a spell.

Distorting the atmosphere as a whole, a huge fireball rushed towards me.

*Kwaaaang*–!!!

The composite magic was extinguished by the power of destruction along with a huge explosion. But its power was so great that the flesh of the palm holding the spear burst open.

Sparks flew in the air. Seeing Ellie swing her staff, I immediately threw myself forward.

*Kwaaaang*–!!!

A huge lightning strike hit the spot where I had been standing just a moment ago. A huge crack appeared in the arena floor along with an intense vibration that shook the ground.

Although she had used powerful magic in quick succession, Ellie swung her staff for the next spell without a single breath out of place.

I bit my lip and stood up. A larger ice spear than Elena’s rushed towards me. As I swung my spear to break the ice spear, sharp rocks immediately soared from under my feet.

I instinctively read the trajectory and blocked it with my spear, but I couldn’t fully absorb the impact.

As I fell from the air to the arena floor, the color of the artifact on my chest turned yellow.

I bit my lower lip and struggled to get up, then raised my head and met Ellie’s gaze. At the end of the staff aimed at me, a composite magic was already ready and waiting to be fired.

,Shit.”

A huge fireball of swirling magic filled my vision.