episode_0066
by fnovelpiaThe second day at the Brittany branch. The morning dawned.
After having a light breakfast with Professor Esther, whom I met at the restaurant, we each led our assigned students to the training hall.
“This morning, it was delicious… .”
“That’s right. The seafood was incredibly fresh.”
Chloe and Elin licked their lips with satisfied expressions. As they said, the food at the Brittany branch was just as good as the main school.
Well, it’s true that a port city has delicious seafood. I thought to myself as I looked at my watch.
“Eight thirty… .”
The current time is 8:30. I heard that the second day’s training session would start at 9:00 AM sharp, so I arrived at the training center on time.
“How will the sparring proceed today?”
Professor Esther, who was walking next to me, suddenly poked her head in. I glanced at her face and answered.
“Probably, I’ll try to reduce the number further.”
“Umm… More here?”
“Yes.”
Professor Esther had a puzzled expression on her face, but I could tell.
The senior faculty, including President Damien, will try to reduce the number of students who survived the flag-capture on the first day to 64. Perhaps even to 32.
Even if the competition is held in a tournament format, each grade must play 63 games. If you count up to the third grade, that’s a total of 189 games.
Even if the semi-finals and finals are held on the last day and the time limit for each match is set to 10 minutes, it still takes too much time.
“Therefore, the number of students must be reduced further. Only then can we see the competition.”
“I see what you mean… .”
Professor Esther’s expression after hearing my explanation was complex and subtle. She moved her lips for a moment, then asked a question.
“Then, are we going to play capture the flag again?”
“Maybe so. But… .”
The General Damien I saw was not a boring person who would repeat the same old sparring methods. He would probably try to win in a different way.
I glanced at the students of the Magic Theory Research Department following Professor Esther. My gaze naturally turned to Laura, who was walking at the very front.
“… … .”
Laura von Adelheid. No matter what trials and tribulations come her way, no matter how unfavorable the fighting style, she will overcome them with steadfast determination.
That’s understandable, she’s Adelheid. She’s an extraordinary sorceress who inherited Adelheid’s blood.
“… Maybe, it could be done very simply.”
As I finished speaking to Professor Esther, I looked up at the large training ground.
There are only three days left for the grade-level training, including today.
Indeed, how will President Damien select his students?
We entered the training ground with curiosity.
* * * * *
The training ground had returned to its original appearance.
The maze made of mud walls had disappeared, and the center of the arena had returned to a flat dirt floor. The audience seats were already filled with students who had arrived at the arena, sitting huddled together, and a few branch school officials were also sitting there.
I looked at my watch. It was now nine o’clock in the morning.
“Let’s start slowly.”
As soon as Professor Esther finished speaking, the lights in the training hall slowly began to dim.
Naturally, the sound coming from the audience gradually died down, and everyone’s eyes turned to the monitor hanging in the center of the training hall.
Soon, the face of General Damien began to appear on the large monitor.
– Good morning to all the proud students of Chaldea Imperial Academy.
The soft voice of President Damien echoed through the training hall. The students who had been talking until the end closed their mouths, and soon complete silence descended upon the training hall.
– Let me leave the small talk aside and just say one thing.
The students’ eyes are turned to President Damien’s mouth. Not only the students who survived yesterday’s flag capture, but also the students who were eliminated from the flag capture were the same.
– First class, the pinnacle of standing on top. Jump towards that opportunity.
Chaldea Imperial Academy is the Empire’s premier academy. Students attending here naturally analyze their own defeats, plan for the future, and have the spirit to aim for the next leap.
Even students in the lowest level classes naturally analyze and understand other students’ sparring sessions and use them as a foundation for their own growth.
A strange heat enveloped the training ground. Each student’s eyes were filled with a different color.
In that suffocating atmosphere, President Damien continued speaking.
– Now, let’s meet today’s host. Professor Andres, a professor in the second-year Summoning Magic Department and also the head professor.
The screen went black for a moment, and then a familiar face appeared.
– Hello, everyone! It’s a really good morning to start sparring! Isn’t it?!
Professor Andres was impressive with his shiny bald head. At his cheerful greeting, the students’ tense expressions began to relax little by little.
He had been bright since our first meeting, but he had become even more cheerful recently. I think it might be because of the single strand of hair that had grown on his crown.
Professor Andres, with a bright expression, continued to shout.
– Let’s cut to the chase and get straight to the point!
Suddenly, the training ground began to vibrate. It was the same vibration as yesterday.
The gap between the stands and the arena rose, and the size of the arena, which had been narrow, became as wide as yesterday. However, it was smaller than the arena where the flag capture event took place.
Deacon Sophia, who was standing next to me and scanning the training ground, muttered.
“Every time I see it, I feel it, but magic is truly amazing… isn’t it?”
“That’s true.”
Our eyes turned to the monitor. How would this duel proceed?
– Chaldea Imperial Academy’s annual duel! The second day’s duel method is none other than protecting the king!
Protect the king.
A competition in which 64 students are thrown into the competition arena at once, divided into eight teams of eight students per grade, evenly distributed according to skill level.
Team members must protect a randomly selected king from their own team, while also attacking the opposing team’s king.
The ability to cooperate with teammates, the sense of duty to protect someone, and the quick reflexes and skills to catch the opponent off guard in a melee involving 64 students.
– The top four teams that survive until the end of this duel that requires all of these things will advance to the next duel!
The students nodded nervously. It was a simple but at the same time the most difficult sparring match.
Students will be evenly distributed according to ability, so each of the eight teams will be equal.
That means that this is a match where even students in the lower ranks can have a chance to turn things around.
– Today’s game! Just like yesterday, we’ll start with the first graders!
Along with Professor Andres’ shout, a thunderous roar erupted.
It was the start of the second day of training.
* * * * *
‘Protecting the king… .’
Chloe held onto her trembling hands tightly. The trembling leading to her magic wand had stopped a little.
The entrance to the training ground that I had accidentally rushed into. Inside, there were already seven students, excluding Chloe, huddled together.
“Hello!”
A female student came over and greeted her cheerfully. Chloe nodded and took the hand the female student extended to her.
“Are you a student in class A?”
“Yes. My name is Chloe from Class 1-A.”
“Ohhh…! Three students from Class A…!”
This time, a male student let out an exclamation. Everyone had seen this face several times while coming and going from the academy.
Chloe looked around, hoping to find Elin’s face.
‘There isn’t any… .’
Unfortunately, Elin wasn’t there. That meant that Elin would also be meeting on the opposing team. Chloe’s lips were tightly shut.
“Hello.”
At that moment, a sleepy-looking female student greeted her briefly. Chloe greeted her back and glanced at her face.
“By any chance, class A…?”
“That’s right. I’m Owen, a combat student in Class 1-A.”
Owen was talking to Chloe through half-closed eyes the whole time, and despite her small size, she had a huge greatsword hanging from her back.
“Great, great sword?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Yeah, no. Let’s work hard!”
“Yeah.”
Behind Owen, a tall boy poked his head out. He was also a student I had met a few times in Class A.
“Hello! I’m Hubert, a member of the combat department of Class A! As you can see, I’m good at dual swords! Please take care of me!”
“Please take care of me!”
When Owen and Hubert came forward to greet her, the rest of the students soon greeted Chloe warmly. Chloe accepted the greetings from the students, but wondered why they were being so warm to her.
Is it simply because I am a student in Class A? If so, I shouldn’t let down those expectations.
Chloe, determined, clenched her fists and shouted firmly.
“Let’s try our best!”
“Of course!”
“Okay. Let’s do our best.”
“But who is the king?”
As Chloe’s question fell, everyone’s eyes turned to her. Chloe asked back with a look of apparent anxiety.
“Who is that king… .”
“You.”
“… Yes?”
When Chloe asked back with a blank expression, Owen, who was still looking at Chloe with sleepy eyes, opened his mouth and pointed above Chloe’s head.
“Isn’t that a crown on your head?”
“… Huh?”
Chloe felt the top of her head. Sure enough, it felt cool and firm… .
“Uh, uh… ?”
It was a completely unexpected situation. The most important position within the team was almost like it went to Chloe.
In that case, the students who have been treating me kindly since earlier…
“Because I am the king… ?”
While Chloe was denying reality, the heavy door blocking the students’ view began to slowly open.
“Ugh… ! I don’t know… !”
The role of the king is already decided. Even if I fidget and panic now, nothing will change. Chloe thought so and steeled herself.
Let’s just use what we’re most confident in, right now, Chloe decided.
Soon, a cloud of dust began to blow through the open door. Chloe and her teammates slowly stepped toward the training ground.
– All the first-year students have entered the training hall! Who among them will survive?!
Leaving the door slowly closing behind her, Chloe looked around with more determined eyes.
An ominous atmosphere was permeating the training ground. Chloe unconsciously swallowed dry saliva and clenched her fists.
– You… have definitely come to an epiphany?
‘Flame magic… .’
He quickly moved his wand and began to form a magic circle. And then he thought.
Now is the time to live up to everyone’s expectations.
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