Opening Ceremony

I understand that the product sold at festivals isn’t food, but atmosphere. Today, excluding the eight participants, is the day of the triathlon that all the academy students have been waiting for.

Both sides of the road leading to the stadium were packed with stalls prepared by famous restaurants from the capital and provinces over the past few days. Like when the first semester duel was held, the designs were unified with temporary tents, but this event, sponsored by the Imperial Family, used space expansion magic, making the interiors feel like large stores.

But even so, waiting in line was almost mandatory, thanks to the endless stream of guests pouring in from all over the continent.

The academy was already a lively place with just the students. Add to that merchants, gamblers, spectators, graduates, and students from other academies. With so many people gathered, you could feel the festive atmosphere everywhere from the energy they exuded.

Aria, as if it were obvious, said that eating breakfast at the cafeteria on a day like this was out of the question, and led the club members to a store she had been eyeing in advance.

Aria, under the guise of an evening stroll with Kane, had checked the tents being set up and planned the route in advance. A meticulous glutton.

After filling my stomach with a pasta full of meat from the morning, I headed to the basement 1st floor auditorium where the participants were gathering, cheered on by the club members.

According to the schedule, only the opening ceremony of the triathlon was planned for the morning. There was supposed to be a performance at night, but I wasn’t interested, so I didn’t know what it was. Anyway, perhaps because of the opening ceremony, a senior from the student council visited the club room a few days ago and handed over a new school uniform to wear for the opening ceremony.

I know it’s to show a neat and tidy appearance as the representative of the academy at the opening ceremony. So, yesterday, I went to a famous hair salon in the capital with Luna to get my hair done.

My stuffy hair, which had become almost a bob during the vacation, was transformed into a two-block style that revealed my forehead at Luna’s request. Perhaps because of my impression, I looked like a blonde delinquent, but Luna liked it so much that her face turned red. They also trimmed my eyebrows as a service.

As I was waiting with my arms crossed, wearing the stiff new school uniform, someone silently slipped into the seat next to me.

,Looks like you got a haircut. It suits you well.”

It feels like she put on more perfume today, the strawberry scent is stronger than usual. I turned my head and greeted her.

,Did you sleep well?”

Her obsidian-like beautiful black eyes shine. Her makeup is heavier than usual. It’s a special day, so she must have put in some effort. Ellie, wearing a new school uniform without a single wrinkle like me, looked straight at me and gave me a pretty smile.

,Yeah. I didn’t even dream. Ross, you weren’t too nervous to sleep, were you?”

,Not at all.”

I’m not bluffing in front of a girl, I really wasn’t nervous at all. It’s thanks to activating Unyielding Courage in advance, so I won’t get swept away by the enthusiasm of the crowd like in the last duel.

,That’s a relief. Then please take care of me today.”

Ellie smiled gently. Her face was no different from usual. She doesn’t doubt her skills. It’s a natural confidence in a way. She’s Nelson the Archmage’s disciple, after all. There’s no way she’d look nervous just from participating in the triathlon.

As time passed, the participants began to gather. I glanced at where the Elassium Academy was gathered, and saw a familiar face talking to someone.

A girl with lovely orange curly hair and freckles, Eunice. She must have built up a lot of trust at the school in just one semester, because there were seniors around her listening intently to the conversation. You can clearly see who the leader of the group is.

,…Do you know her?”

Following my gaze, Ellie suddenly asked in a low voice.

,No, I just noticed her because of her unique hair color.”

Ellie nodded slightly in agreement to my casual answer.

,I guess so. It’s like an orange.”

Ellie stared at Eunice for a moment, then turned her eyes to me. Her eyes are filled with curiosity.

,Do you like orange?”

At that question, I lowered my eyes.

,I don’t particularly like it. But I don’t dislike it either.”

I sent her a look asking why she was suddenly asking this, and Ellie smiled playfully.

,We’re partners, aren’t we? It’s my desperate effort to ease the awkwardness even a little before the game.”

It’s out of the blue, but it’s true. Our strange relationship and the subtle feelings I have should be put aside for a moment, and we should act like partners in the face of the upcoming game. Asking what my favorite color is isn’t something to worry about.

I’m not the type to refuse if the other person reaches out first. Rather, I’m the type to thank them and continue the conversation, even if it’s pointless.

As I was diligently answering Ellie’s questions, someone grabbed my shoulder from behind without my permission. Only one person in the academy is allowed such rudeness.

,Good morning. Everyone’s not nervous because it’s their first time, are they?”

Turning around at the gentle voice, Roel’s face was stiffer than usual for some reason. He’s not the type to be nervous about just a triathlon, is he?

,What’s wrong, hyung? You seem more nervous?”

When I asked, tilting my head, Roel nodded as if admitting it and sighed.

,Hoo… Of course I’m nervous when my younger brother comes out to the triathlon! To participate in the triathlon with me looking so cool… It still feels like a dream…!”

He looks like he’s about to burst into tears any second now, so you might think he’s a bro-con, but Roel doesn’t have such a strange setting. He’s just sincere to the people he cherishes. It’s just that he pays a little more attention to me, his brother.

,Heung, Roel oppa. Weren’t you worried about me?”

When Ellie asked playfully in a seductive voice, Roel took his hand off my shoulder and scratched his head, as if embarrassed.

,O-Of course I was. But Ellie’s good at everything… so I wasn’t too worried. You’ve prepared hard, too…”

I have no intention of interfering in a couple’s conversation without tact. Especially when they’ve been caught red-handed. Ignoring Roel’s pleading eyes, I was about to turn my body forward again when Ellie’s voice suddenly came.

,So, you were so worried about Ross because he’s not good at anything? Unlike me?”

Uduk- I stopped moving without realizing it. I turned my head and glared at Ellie, who had said something unnecessary, but she turned her gaze to Roel with an expression that feigned innocence, as if she didn’t know anything.

,Ah, no. That’s not it… I mean, compared to Ellie, he’s not good at… no, no… Ross is…”

With a flustered expression, Roel tried to make excuses, but he just kept making mistakes. If I left him alone, he might say something that would really hurt her, so I quickly answered.

,I know what you mean. It’s okay, hyung.”

Relieved to be out of the awkward situation, Roel finally breathed a sigh of relief with a look of relief.

,Ellie, why are you being so mischievous with your oppa…!”

Then he smiled and apologized to me.

,Sorry, I misspoke. But my younger brother knows what hyung’s true feelings are, right?!”

,…I know. Thanks.”

As we finished the conversation, Ellie, who had been quietly observing my expression, smiled with an inscrutable smile and continued the conversation with Roel.

I didn’t want to bother asking what her intention was in asking such a question. Unless it was about the game, I had no intention of paying attention to Ellie.

As I was mentally reviewing the plan for the last time, Professor Leora appeared from somewhere.

,From now on, we will move to the stadium to practice for the opening ceremony. You must concentrate hard during practice so that you don’t get confused about your turn. Don’t forget for a moment that you are the representatives of the academy.”

Her voice was as strict as ever. For some reason, her gaze lingered on my face for a moment while she was speaking. Does that mean I’m the only one who’s likely to cause an accident? If so, then my actions just now were a mistake. Because I’m a rebellious person who has to do it if I’m given bad expectations.

Everyone nodded, and Professor Leora led us to the stadium.

***

,Where are our seats?”

Aria asked, holding food in both hands. There was sauce on the corner of her mouth, but everyone didn’t bother pointing it out because it would just get smeared again anyway.

Lakar, who had changed the seats in advance so that the club members could sit together, took out the tickets from his pocket to check the seats.

,It’s in section D, 3rd row. 11 to 14.”

At Lakar’s words, Aria led the way. Aria diligently pushed through the crowd with the words, ,Excuse me, thank you, excuse me,” and arrived at the designated seats.

Kane, who was in charge of the club members’ drinks, set the glasses filled with drinks on the armrests of each seat. As everyone sat down, Kane, who was handing popcorn received from Aria to Lakar, suddenly remembered something and asked.

,Ah, are you eating lunch with the club president after the opening ceremony?”

,Well, maybe you’ll eat with your partner? Since it’s the first game.”

At Lakar’s words, Luna, who was quietly eating popcorn next to Aria, thought of Ross’s partner. His childhood friend and partner Ellie, who she couldn’t understand at all.

She said that saying she liked Ross was actually to test herself, but it was unknown whether that was true. Rather, the cliché of the romance novels that Luna often read was that she realized her feelings late.

,The two of them have been close since before! Of course they’ll get first place~!”

Luna, feeling a strange anxiety for some reason at Aria’s words, who was just swept away by the festive atmosphere and had been raising the corners of her mouth all day, sucked on her strawberry smoothie. There’s nothing she can do now. She can only hope that Ross, who is like an innocent and kind retriever(?), won’t be swayed by the sub-female lead who realized her feelings late.

The spectators were constantly moving around, looking for their seats. After enough time had passed for the popcorn that had been prepared in advance to run out, a splendid magic finally swept through the stadium, signaling the start of the opening ceremony.

The host, dressed in a neat suit, who rose from the stage floor, shouted in a voice amplified by magic.

[The 31st. Imperial Family-sponsored Triathlon! 4 academies compete for one goal. The splendid and heart-pounding opening ceremony that everyone has been waiting for…!!! Now, let’s start now…!!!]

Fireworks exploded along with the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd.

○○○

,Shall we track down the one named Lily?”

At the vice-leader’s question, a detached voice asked from behind the veiled screen.

,Do you want to?”

A bizarre voice that sounds like this is what an object would sound like if it could speak. A voice that gives the illusion of many voices overlapping. Even to the inorganic voice that doesn’t feel any human warmth at all, the vice-leader simply bows without any change in expression.

,She is the one who uses space magic that we have been looking for. I believe that we must take away her ability for the plan, no matter what sacrifices are made. If you allow me, I will gather the Confession and find her immediately.”

At the vice-leader’s words, a small moan of a mother connected to her child by the umbilical cord flowed from beyond the screen.

,Destruction is already promised.”

Something was ejected out of the screen along with the sound of something exploding. It was a mask that was liquid in shape but solid in nature. As the vice-leader carefully reached out, the mask was sucked into his fingertips and disappeared without a trace.

Tremendous chaos crushed the vice-leader’s body. Pain that presses down on his whole body. The vice-leader, who knows well that he will become even more powerful if he accepts it, endured the groans with tremendous mental strength.

Finally, as the vice-leader fully accepted the chaos, a voice rang out as if it had been waiting for that moment.

,You are to focus on the Saintess without any doubt.”

It was the leader’s order.