episode_0049

49.

Vera was confident of her victory.

The red dragon-shaped fireworks embroidered in the sky were a work of art that was not easy to create.

Then it was the other cadets’ turn.

The cadets who came after Vera created various types of fireworks, but none of them looked better than the red dragon fireworks that Vera created.

Riel took the stage in 14th place.

“This is Riel Haze Youngae, known as the Goddess of the Academy! I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of fireworks she’ll show.”

Riel raised her magic wand above her head.

Lights flashed as if surrounding the night sky.

“Wow!”

“I’ve never seen anything so fantastic… .”

“Goddess… !”

Embroidered in the sky was the image of the goddess Riel served.

The goddess is depicted with golden magic holding the young Joshua God in her arms and breastfeeding him.

The audience erupted in cheers at the divine sight.

The judges also seemed impressed and covered their mouths in surprise.

Vera was also looking at the golden goddess statue that Riel had created in the waiting room.

“Ugh… .”

Vera bit her lip.

Even she could see that the fireworks Riel had created had great artistry.

“The judges’ scores are out. It’s 39 points! Cadet Riel sets a new record!”

Cheers erupted from the audience.

“, thank you! ”

Riel bowed his head repeatedly to the audience with a moved face.

30 minutes later.

The fireworks competition for all cadets has ended.

“We enjoyed the wonderful fireworks prepared by the 16 cadets. Let me announce the results. The winner is… Cadet Riel Hayes!”

-Wow!

A cheer rang out.

Then Riel came up to the stage.

“Thank you all. I’m glad you liked my expression of my faith in the Goddess through flames!”

Riel bowed his head again towards the audience.

The host took over the magic mic.

“The first-year contest is over, but aren’t you sad that it’s ending like this? The encore performances will continue, so please continue to enjoy!”

At the host’s words, all 16 cadets climbed up onto the stage and set off fireworks once again.

A fantastic atmosphere was created as countless fireworks exploded in the sky simultaneously.

#

Chris and his group were sitting in the audience watching the fireworks.

“It’s really gorgeous! Fireworks have really developed over the past 100 years.”

Ray exclaimed with a satisfied expression.

“They’re really pretty. There’s something about fireworks that makes my heart race.”

Lily couldn’t take her eyes off the fireworks that lit up the sky, holding a skewer of salted and smoked fish she bought from a street vendor in her hand.

“Hmm. I’ve only heard about the famous fireworks contest during the Academy’s final exams, but seeing it in person was really great.”

Chris felt the same way as the two men.

At that time, a female cadet approached Chris and his group.

“Chris Youngsik also came to see the contest?”

It was Riel.

Riel had spotted Chris on stage and came over to say hello.

“Riel Youngae. Congratulations on winning!”

“Congratulations!”

“Congratulations.”

Riel bowed her head to the three of them in embarrassment.

“Thank you. I never thought I would win. I was lucky.”

“It’s not luck. It’s skill.”

Riel blushed at Chris’s words.

“The contest is over?”

“Yes. The first-year students’ turn to take the test is over, and now the second-year students are competing.”

“Riel Youngae, you didn’t get to enjoy the fireworks because you were participating in the contest yourself, right? If it’s okay, would you like to sit here and play with me?”

Chris made a place on the mat and invited us to sit down.

“Then can I bother you? Actually, I was thinking of just looking around and then going back.”

“Of course. Let’s go and check it out together.”

Ray gave Riel a chicken skewer and a fish skewer in each hand.

“I bought a lot from the street vendor. If you need more, let me know.”

“Thank you. Actually, I’ve never had anything like this.”

Lily, who was chewing on a fish skewer, chimed in.

“Surprisingly, you are similar to me.”

“Yes?”

Riel tilted his head at Lily’s words.

*

“The contest for second-year students begins!”

The host’s voice rang out.

After a while, the sky was decorated with fireworks of various shapes.

“Wow… .!”

Riel looked up at the sky and his eyes sparkled.

“I didn’t realize it when I was competing on stage, but the fireworks I saw from the audience were this beautiful.”

“Hmm! It would have been better if I could have a drink.”

Ray muttered with regret.

The sale of alcohol at street stalls within the Academy grounds was prohibited.

“We have lemonade instead. Would you like a glass?”

Lily asked, holding up a bottle of lemonade.

“Please give me a drink!”

Dribble, dribble, dribble.

Red, blue and green sparks were reflected in the clear lemonade in the glass.

“The atmosphere is good!”

Ray downed the lemonade in one shot, like a glass of wine.

Chris and his group laughed happily at the sight.

*

There were eyes watching them from afar.

It was Vera Morgan.

She was suffering from the aftereffects of losing to Riel in the contest.

‘I can’t believe I lost to a girl who’s like a greenhouse flower!’

It was an unbearable reality for the proud Vera.

As I was walking with my shoulders slumped weakly, I saw Chris and his group in the center of the square.

They were sitting on a mat, each holding a chicken skewer and a drink, and watching the fireworks.

I could see Riel sitting naturally next to Chris.

Riel was covering her mouth and laughing as if she was enjoying something.

‘Why are you sitting there… .’

Vera’s teeth were chapped.

‘I should have been the one winning… I should have been the one laughing…!’

Tears welled up in my eyes.

There has never been a day in Vera’s life when she felt more self-destructive than today.

I even wondered if this was why I entered the academy.

The space before my eyes was filled with a rainbow of colors from tears and sparkling fireworks.

*

The next day.

Chris got up early in the morning to get his gear ready for the tournament.

He wore a rainbow breastplate, wrist and shin guards that blocked magical attacks, and a ring of magical power restoration on his finger.

“Come on! Come on! Our goal is to win the tournament, Chris!”

Ray also woke up early and was brimming with energy.

“You need to eat a good breakfast to feel energized. I prepared breakfast with fried eggs and bacon-fried potatoes.”

Lily set the food on the table.

“Oh, this looks delicious! Thank you!”

After a hearty breakfast, Chris headed to the Colosseum where the tournament was taking place.

*

The Colosseum was the main stadium built for tournaments and was located on the west side of the Academy grounds.

The large cylindrical building could accommodate 50,000 people watching the game at one time.

The tiered auditorium was already full of spectators.

Like the magic contest that took place yesterday, the tournament was also a fun attraction for the residents of Midreddin.

Prince Alex and Principal Graham were already in the VIP seats in the center.

“It is expected that some students will stand out.”

“Nick and Chris are the most interesting, but the other students might win unexpectedly. That’s always been the case with tournaments.”

Prince Alex brought his telescope and kept his eyes peeled.

What he saw were first-year cadets warming up under the central stadium.

*

“Cheer up, Master. I will be cheering you on from the audience.”

Unlike the summoner Ray, the maid Lily could not accompany her to the players’ waiting room.

“Yeah! Please cheer me on.”

Chris separated from Lily and headed to the players’ dressing room.

In the waiting room, the cadets were nervously preparing for their final moments.

There were cadets doing push-ups, cadets stretching to loosen up their tight muscles, and cadets swinging their swords repeatedly.

“Chris! Long time no see. I haven’t seen you since the snowfield.”

A skinny guy with short, light brown hair approached Chris.

It was Sean, the warrior.

Chris was partying up with Joe, the wizard, and Austin, the healer, in the Blue Lightning Swamp.

“Shawn, are you ready?”

“I did well just by passing the first round. But Chris, you’re a wizard, so shouldn’t you have gone to the magic contest?”

A wizard who learned offensive magic like Chris could participate in both.

As for Chris, it didn’t matter if he participated in the magic contest.

but,

“Nick, I think I have to settle things with that guy somehow.”

Chris was originally not obsessed with winning.

But Nick was the one who provoked him first, and he wasn’t the kind of person to just sit back and let it happen.

Since you started the fight, I thought you’d accept it.

‘Wow! That’s amazing. I’m really going to have a showdown with that genius Nick! “

It was something Sean couldn’t even imagine.

“Chris, you’re really a man. I’ll root for you too.”

Sean gave a thumbs up.

“First match, Cadet Chris vs Cadet Lane!”

Professor Oliver, who was the referee, called Chris’s name.

“Come to think of it, it was our first match!”

Ray’s eyes lit up.

“Chris, fight well!”

Chris waved at Sean and headed up to the main arena of the Coliseum.

The waiting room where the players wait is in the basement, so you have to climb up two flights of stairs to get to the main stadium.

As I climbed the high stairs, sunlight began to appear and the cheers of the crowd became audible.

A crowd of 50,000 people cheered Chris’s appearance.

Chris squinted slightly against the dazzling light as he ascended to the first floor where the main stadium was.