Before the Festival Begins

The first day of classes had begun after the holiday period ended. Perhaps as a reaction to the end of the holiday, academy students were either sitting in their seats looking somewhat drowsy or gathered in groups chatting with each other.

“H…hello?”

“Oh, it’s Emi! Hello!”

“Hello.”

As we entered the classroom, Emilia awkwardly greeted us after spotting us sitting in the back.

After a brief conversation with Riel, Emilia returned to her seat when the homeroom professor entered.

Emilia’s seat was right across from me on my left side, so it wasn’t far away.

At that moment, I felt someone’s gaze and looked in that direction.

The owner of that gaze was, unsurprisingly, Allen Ludwig.

When I looked at him, he immediately averted his eyes, which seemed strangely suspicious and bothered me, but well, it wasn’t the first time he’d acted strange and suspicious since we began our confrontation…

“Everyone, attention please!”

All eyes turned to the homeroom professor, Leonora, at her words.

After scanning the room once, the professor began to speak.

“I have very unfortunate news right after the end of the holiday… Liliana Edwin has left us.”

Come on, she just quit the academy, why are you making it sound like she died?

See, as soon as she finished speaking, students everywhere started getting agitated.

“Pro-Professor! What happened to her?!”

See, even Allen is visibly flustered.

“Huh? Oh!”

Professor Leonora finally realized her mistake.

She waved her hands in embarrassment and said:

“N-No! Liliana has just withdrawn from the academy! Oh my, what was I thinking!”

Only then did the students understand the situation and look relieved.

However, there was one student who couldn’t accept just that explanation. That was, of course, Allen Ludwig.

“W-Why did she leave the academy…?!”

“Well? All I can say is it was due to family circumstances…”

“Family circumstances… Then where did she go?”

“I cannot disclose that information.”

Professor Leonora said firmly.

“There has been a request to keep her whereabouts confidential except to relevant parties.”

This is the first I’m hearing of this too, but I can only guess that Baron Edwin’s family made a separate request.

As I sat quietly after making that assumption to myself, I noticed Allen glaring in my direction.

…He’s probably arbitrarily assuming that I was involved again.

Well, it doesn’t matter to me.

As a slightly dark atmosphere began to spread, Professor Leonora clapped her hands as if trying to clear the air.

“Now! Everyone, pay attention! It’s sad that Liliana has left the academy, but you all still have two years left here!”

And with a bright smile, she continued:

“And you all know that the ‘Mushin Festival’ is coming up soon, right?”

At those words, murmurs spread throughout the classroom.

“The Mushin Festival…! It’ll be my first time seeing it in person!”

Riel also said excitedly.

The Mushin Festival.

Mushin Festival. Its official name is the Royal Capital Martial Arts Festival Commemorating the War God’s Birth, but everyone calls it the Mushin Festival for convenience.

Kallidos the ‘War God,’ who was said to have demonstrated godlike martial prowess as the right hand of the founding Queen Olivia.

It’s a traditional martial arts competition held in the royal capital to commemorate his birthday.

Originally, since it was the War God’s birthday, it was a competition for various martial arts like swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and spear techniques, but I know that a magic division was also established separately due to protests from magicians.

The Mushin Festival appeared in the original story, where the protagonist Allen participated and won first place, which became the catalyst for making his previously almost unknown name famous throughout the royal capital…that was the part.

As mentioned, the Mushin Festival has competitions divided by participant tiers, including one for academy students.

That competition is perfect for influential people to spot talented students, so students showcase their skills there to secure future employment opportunities.

“I’ve always wanted to see the Mushin Festival!”

“Not just the competition, but the performances and street vendors happening at the same time are amazing!”

“Who will be the special guest performer this time?”

“I heard Illina Nortier came last year!”

Voices expressing excitement about the Mushin Festival could be heard from all around.

As the professor intended, the mood seems to have been successfully changed.

Leonora’s expression was bright, as if she had accomplished her goal.

At that moment, Riel poked me from the side, and when I turned to her, she said:

“Are you going to participate in the Mushin Festival, Kyo?”

“Huh? Well… I probably will?”

Well… honestly, as someone who has been diligently learning swordsmanship, I had thought about participating in the Mushin Festival.

…It’s a bit awkward to say, but I have some confidence too.

“Yes! If you participate, I’ll cheer for you with all my heart!!”

“R-Really?”

“Yes! I’ll be looking forward to it!”

……

Alright, I’ll participate!

‘Mushin Festival…’

Allen, whose mind was preoccupied with thoughts about Liliana, recalled the Mushin Festival upon hearing the chatter around him.

And then he heard fragments of conversation from behind.

“Cheer… hard…”

“…Yeah.”

“…looking forward…”

Though he couldn’t hear clearly, it was Kyo and Riel’s voices.

As expected, it seems Kyo Wentos is planning to participate in the Mushin Festival.

‘My chance has come…’

Since that duel, he had been constantly looking for an opportunity for a rematch.

But due to the restraining order issued after the duel, the opportunity for revenge had not presented itself.

However, if they faced each other in the Mushin Festival, he could get a chance for revenge against Kyo Wentos regardless of the restraining order.

‘Definitely… I will definitely defeat you, Kyo Wentos.’

At that time, except for landing one hit due to interference from someone’s magic, none of his attacks had connected.

For Allen, who had been diligently walking the path of the sword, it was truly nothing but humiliation.

The flames of revenge burned fiercely in Allen’s heart.

‘You… I’ll defeat you… If I defeat you, then I’ll… to Riel…’

But alongside those flames of revenge, other dark emotions were also blooming.

Having decided to participate in the Mushin Festival, I informed Professor Leonora of my decision and then came to the training ground.

Riel said she was taking Emilia to the secret room in the library.

It felt a bit like their private secret place, which made me feel a little lonely, but since Emilia could be considered Riel’s first female friend, I thought it was fine.

Above all, I felt like I could trust her.

Perhaps because of the Mushin Festival, the training ground was full of people, but there was plenty of space in the large area.

“Tsk.”

I could see Allen Ludwig swinging his sword while sweating inside.

Not just Allen Ludwig, but Feris and the girls who followed him around were making noisy squeals every time Allen swung his sword.

No wonder people around them were frowning.

“Well, not my problem.”

After muttering that, I found an empty spot and began training.

From the basics I learned from my father as a child, to the applications I mastered while training with Her Highness Aine.

I swung my sword, going through everything from the beginning as if reviewing.

After swinging my sword in deep concentration, I was catching my breath when I felt someone’s gaze and turned in that direction.

‘Ugh.’

Turning around, I was honestly quite taken aback.

“Ah, sorry. Did I disturb you?”

“N-No. I just finished one set anyway.”

A woman with long black hair tied up high.

Though it’s called training clothes, it’s closer to gym clothes, but anyway, judging by the color of the pattern, she’s a second-year senior.

“Interesting swordsmanship. It doesn’t seem to be the kingdom’s military style. May I ask what school it is?”

But I knew who this woman was.

That’s because she is one of the sub-heroines who builds a bond with Allen during the holiday period, just like Emilia.

Gransen Academy second-year, Iris Likenair.

“It’s not really a school… It’s swordsmanship I learned from my father as a child… Senior.”

…Well, since all the sub-heroines I’ve met so far except Emilia had been somewhat problematic, I was a bit cautious.

“Hmm… It gave me the impression of practical combat-oriented swordsmanship that eliminated all unnecessary movements…”

Senior Iris began pondering to herself after hearing my words, lowering her head.

Well, this feels exactly like how she was in the original work.

Iris Likenair was portrayed as a senior swordswoman among the sub-heroines who diligently trained in swordsmanship, and her first appearance was meeting Allen, who was training hard for the Mushin Festival during the holiday period.

There, she begins to be drawn to him after seeing his hardworking attitude and his straightforward swordsmanship…that was the impression, but…

“Ah, I got lost in thought while someone was right in front of me. Sorry about that.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“…Well, may I ask your name?”

“Kyo Wentos.”

“Ah, Count Wentos’s…”

…For now, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly strange.

“…So, Kyo Wentos. There’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

“A request, you say…”

“It’s a bit awkward to ask right before the Mushin Festival… but could I request a practice match with you in the future?”

Iris Likenair.

In the original story, she’s the opponent Allen barely defeats in the finals of the Mushin Festival.

In other words, if I can’t beat her, I won’t be able to win the championship either.

…There’s no harm in having a practice match, right?

“If I’m acceptable, by all means.”

“Great, then I’ll ask for it next time.”

Senior Iris smiled brightly, said goodbye, and turned to walk away.

In the direction she was heading, Allen Ludwig was there.

Hmm… did her meeting with Allen already happen as it was supposed to?

That’s what I was thinking, but.

‘…Huh?’

She passed by Allen without even looking at him and went deeper into the training ground.

……

Could it be that her situation has changed too, just like Emilia’s?

I had no way of knowing for sure, but somehow, that’s the feeling I got.