Things spiraled out of control after I told Rutis I’d participate in the inter-class competition in a way other than the four-person match.

Beatrix’s participation had already drawn not just the Empire’s, but the continent’s attention, to the Academy. But now, to add a living relic of swordsmanship into the mix? Naturally, the fallout was explosive. The wider the attention, the faster the rumors spread.

“There’s a suggestion to run this inter-class competition like the club fair.”

“Like the club fair, you say?”

“Yes. The idea is to open the Academy to outside guests, just like we did then.”

And this was the result: a situation where adults were practically begging to be part of what was supposed to be a kids’ event.

This is maddening.

The Principal calmly sipping his tea was all the confirmation I needed—opening the Academy to the public was as good as decided. When the academy’s top administrator ‘mentions’ a proposal in front of a government official, it means the decision’s already been made.

He could only sound so calm because the wheels were already in motion. Considering the chaos and hassle that will arise from suddenly opening the Academy, the principal would have wanted to reject the idea of opening if possible. The fact that he didn’t means that it was now out of his hands.

They’ve made up their minds.

I could easily guess the culprit. It must be the Crown Prince’s work. Even the Principal has no choice if the Crown Prince personally instructs the Minister of Education.

It was ridiculous for someone of the Crown Prince’s position to be involved in a mere Academy event, but it was a situation where Beatrix and I would simultaneously demonstrate our power before the public. It seems he wanted to maximize the effect by increasing the audience as much as possible.

Bastard.

I should have noticed it when he started talking about the Mandate of Heaven and such, but I didn’t think he’d be this serious.

At least this circus would be a one-time thing. After all, doing such events too often would lower their prestige.

“…Principal, you’ll have a lot of work ahead.”

Suppressing my bitter feelings, I offered a casual consolation to the principal.

Bluntly put, I just had to swing my sword once and I was done, but the principal would have to struggle with managing countless outsiders. Plus, it was ultimately the principal who had to take responsibility if any commotion occurred at the Academy.

“It’s alright. As principal, I’m glad to be able to raise the Academy’s prestige.”

Seeing the principal’s faint smile even in this situation, I couldn’t help but bow my head.

Come to think of it, this year has been another whirlwind for him—maybe more than last. With Beatrix coming to the Academy, countless mages applying for admission, visiting the club fair, me cutting the sky, and the flood of students coming from Armein… These were events one wouldn’t expect to happen in just a year.

While the Imperial Academy’s status would certainly rise, it was also true that the aging principal’s workload had increased. His peaceful twilight years have vanished in a blaze of glory.

“You’ll surely be remembered as an unparalleled principal in the Academy’s history.”

So, I carefully offered words of consolation, hoping my words would provide even a little comfort to this old civil servant.

“What a heartwarming thought. Thank you, Minister.”

I flinched slightly at being called ‘Minister,’ but it didn’t change how I felt.

A title like that was nothing compared to the burden this man had carried.

For the Academy students, the inter-class competition was traditionally an event where they’d stretch their legs a bit and then sit back and enjoy. Even if they went all in, the winning class was usually just the one with the highest-ranking noble in the third year.

Although the tradition briefly crumbled with overwhelmingly noble students in the first year last year, there were actually no other victims of it except for a few first-years. It was the students in that class who had to work hard for the noble students’ victory, not students from other classes and years.

But this year, everyone was getting dragged in—first, second, and third years alike.

“Back when this was just an internal event, sticking to tradition was fine. But the outsiders coming from all over the continent don’t know the tradition. We can’t show an insincere image as nobles.”

I nodded at Mar’s kind explanation.

The guests flooding in will include high-ranking nobles and maybe even elite knights or mages. Acting half-heartedly in front of such people would be damaging to one’s reputation and insulting to the outsiders. So now, every student had shed tradition and gone full berserker mode.

And it was inevitable that the student council, which was tasked with controlling these fanatical students, would have a headache. No wonder Mar looked so awkward when she smiled.

“I hope I’m not causing Mar unnecessary trouble.”

“It’s not a problem. I won’t lie and say it’s easy, but it’s more than worth it if it helps raise Carl’s reputation.”

Her gentle smile soothed my nerves. The Crown Prince threw me to the wolves, while Mar wrapped me in a blanket—talk about emotional whiplash.

“Beatrix might feel a bit hurt if she heard that.”

As I casually joked while looking at Mar—

“Unnie’s reputation has no room to rise anymore, right? She’ll understand.”

Mar responded with a joke of her own, and we both couldn’t help but laugh.

Right, Beatrix had no more reputation to gain. She’d spent nearly a century as the top authority in her field. If it were a game, she’d have hit the max fame cap at 99999 a long time ago.

“That’s true. Then, I’ll have to work hard for Beatrix’s share, too.”

I made a small pledge to raise my reputation including Beatrix’s maxed-out share. Mar smiled even more warmly at that.

I might not be a duke like her and never earn the matching title of ‘Sword Duke’ to go along with ‘Magic Duchess,’ but I might walk away from all this with some grandiose title like ‘Sword Saint’ based on how things were going. Not that I’d accept something as ridiculous as ‘Sword King’ or ‘Sword Emperor.’ That just screamed ‘future traitor.’

As Mar and I continued chatting about the upcoming inter-class competition, a familiar voice called out from beyond the student council room door.

“Mar, it’s me. May I come in?”

Oh.

Beatrix, who had just been the subject of our conversation, appeared.

“Yes, unnie. Please come in.”

Mar blinked in surprise, as if she found it uncanny how Beatrix always managed to show up right on cue.

As Mar gave permission, Beatrix entered and smiled gently upon seeing me.

“Oh, baby. You’re here, too.”

“Well, I don’t have many places to go.”

I answered naturally, but something felt odd. Beatrix’s words just now weren’t a simple greeting, but had a nuance of ‘what a fortunate coincidence.’

Did she come looking for me?

We talk plenty already. There was usually no need to find each other outside those moments.

“I was going to discuss it with Mar first, but let’s talk now since we’re all gathered here.”

Seeing me blink blankly, Beatrix sat next to me and continued in a calm voice.

“Baby, you said you’d cut the sky at the closing ceremony, right?”

“Ah, yes. I thought that people might not focus on the competition if I did it earlier.”

Although the inter-class competition had grown beyond control, its essence was still an event for the Academy students. If I’m going to do something flashy like cut the sky, then it’d be better to wait until the games were over.

Beatrix seemed to agree with this thought and nodded briefly.

“Then, how about doing it together instead of alone? I’m free after the four-person match.”

“Together?”

“Yes, together.”

The content of the joint performance she and I would showcase at the closing ceremony made my jaw drop involuntarily as she continued explaining it.

“U-unnie, are you serious?”

Even Mar stuttered while asking for confirmation. If it were anyone other than Beatrix, I’m pretty sure she’d have flat-out asked if they were out of their mind.

It was such an outlandish proposal, an idea that someone with a normal mindset could never conceive.

“There are no safety concerns, baby. And visually, it couldn’t be more spectacular.”

However, the being before us was Mar, the Mage Duchess. Someone who was far from ordinary, a celestial existence that turns the abnormal into normal, and the normal into abnormal.

Still, when Beatrix firmly reassured us, Mar’s eyes drifted toward me, as if silently pleading for me to talk her out of this madness.

“…”

“Carl…?”

I subtly avoided Mar’s imploring look.

Is that even possible?

Beatrix’s proposal was that intriguing. If anyone else had suggested it, I would have immediately asked them if they were crazy. But it wasn’t just anyone—it was Beatrix who certified that ‘there are no safety concerns.’ Moreover, as she guaranteed, there probably wasn’t a more spectacular performance than this.

…My heart is racing.

I didn’t particularly want to become a clown, but I wanted to show a truly insane performance if I had to roll with the Crown Prince’s scheme anyway. Maybe then he’d think twice about dragging me into this again.

“You’re really sure it’s safe?”

“Carl!?”

Sorry, Mar. But just for today, I’ll embrace my inner beast—heart and mind.

In the first place, it was the Crown Prince who wanted a spectacular performance.

The inter-class competition had finally come to an end. It was only my second time experiencing the event, but even I could tell how overwhelmingly massive this year’s competition had been.

“Olivia, the crowd control is finished!”

“Yeah! Everyone worked hard!”

It was even more exhausting than the disciplinary committee duties I’d heard about from the graduated seniors. Since those seniors wouldn’t have lied, this must have been a scale they had never experienced either.

“Ugh, I’m tired…”

I muttered while massaging my thighs. Even for someone like me, who prided herself on stamina, the disciplinary committee had been running around nonstop.

But at the same time, I couldn’t help but smile. We were busy moving around during the days of the inter-class competition, but it was equally rewarding. Despite so many people gathering, there were no incidents.

Hehe.

I feel proud. When I first became part of the disciplinary committee, a lot was unfamiliar—but now, I’m a proper veteran committee member. Unnie even praised me!

“It’s a shame we couldn’t see the four-person match. Where else could we see the Mage Duchess fight?”

“Well, they said it was recorded, so let’s watch that at least.”

Hearing the other committee members chat snapped me back to reality.

The closing ceremony!

I had forgotten for a moment. There was more important news besides the Mage Duchess participating in the four-person match.

Sky Cleaver!

My feet automatically headed towards the closing ceremony venue. Just as the Mage Duchess personally participated in the four-person match, the Inspector said he would demonstrate the sky-cutting technique at the closing ceremony.

As someone who also practices swordsmanship, I had to see it. Thank goodness I remembered in time!

The closing ceremony venue was already packed with people.

Darn it. I’d hoped to get a spot closer to the front.

…Does it matter since it’s the sky being torn anyway?

That thought helped ease my disappointment. Yeah, who cares if it’s far? As long as I can see the sky getting torn apart, I’m good.

“I thank everyone who has taken their precious time to gather here.”

As I waited with a pounding heart, the Inspector’s voice resonated.

I could barely make out his figure standing on the platform through the sea of people, but that didn’t matter. It’s enough to know he’s here.

“During the inter-class competition, future talents who will lead the Empire, and further, the continent, have shown their skills and engaged in friendly competition. As a senior who has walked the path they are about to take, it brings me great joy to witness it.”

Senior?

I tilted my head involuntarily. The Inspector isn’t an Academy alumnus, is he?

“Therefore, as a senior, I wish to give a small gift to the juniors who have shown such excellence. A glimpse of the peak that lies at the end of the path you now walk—a height that, if you never stop climbing, you may one day reach.”

Eh, whatever! Anyone who shows us something cool counts as a senior in my book!

The crowd was buzzing with excitement as his speech shifted toward the main event.

“The Mage Duchess, the great duchess of the Empire, shares this sentiment. She wishes to show the pinnacle of magic that couldn’t be fully displayed in the four-person match, here and now.”

A ripple of excitement spread through the crowd. I might not be into magic myself, but other magic department students must be anticipating the Mage Duchess’s magic just as I’m looking forward to the Sky Cleaver, right? That’s great!

“Ah, and I’d like to assure you that everything that’s about to happen has been proven safe, so please remain calm and watch without alarm.”

?

That’s a strange thing to say. Safety? Alarm?

The Sky Cleaver that the Inspector had shown at the Academy so far hadn’t affected people, and even the strongest spells don’t do much when fired into empty air. Why bring this up now?

Oh, I guess he’s saying it out of consideration for the non-martial guests. As expected, the Inspector is kind-hearted—

Huh…?

“Eh?”

I couldn’t help but utter a dazed sound at the sight I saw when I looked up at the sky.

A… rock?

No, is it right to call that a rock?

A colossal mass of stone was there in the sky, a boulder of ominous dark red color that suddenly appeared from above.

And that boulder was falling towards us.

“───!!”

“──! ───!”

The surroundings became noisy. I couldn’t make out what anyone was shouting, but it was loud. Very loud.

But I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the stone—no, the meteors. Now that I look again, it’s not just one. Two, three, four… maybe more.

“I’ll say it again: there are no safety concerns.”

My dazed mind returned at the Inspector’s voice.

“It won’t reach any of you.”

With those words, the meteor split in half.

The split meteor gradually cracked and then scattered like flower petals before dissolving into sparkling dust under the torn sky.

Watching the meteors break apart into glittering particles filled me with a strange sense of pride.

It somehow worked out.

The meteor created by the Mage Duchess, cutting it with Sky Cleaver, and then the Mage Duchess canceling the magic to turn it to dust—what a high-level operation.

Even I think it’s absolutely insane, but I have no regrets.

Damn, it looks incredible.

And it was honestly pretty cool, wasn’t it?

A mage casting meteors and a swordsman destroying those meteors. Where else would you see something like that?