episode_0077
by fnovelpiaThe second-year students’ sparring is over.
That means, now only the first-year students’ finals remain.
I smoked a cigarette in a bad posture, my arms crossed and my back against the wall. My head was full of all sorts of thoughts, and if there was a lid on the top of my head that I could open and close, I would empty them out.
Laura von Adelheid and Chloe’s duel. I don’t know what kind of waves it will create.
If Laura wins, nothing much will happen within the Academy, but I can’t even say for sure how I will react.
On the other hand, if Chloe wins.
It is certain that this will cause a great stir in the Academy. At a time when Adelheid’s name is so high, the magician who defeated Adelheid has appeared like a comet.
So, what about me? What kind of waves will it bring to me?
If Laura is defeated by Chloe, and Duke Adelheid sees this, he will be overcome with sadness and despair.
And, if I were to see such a sight with my own eyes, I would… .
‘I wonder if I should laugh.’
It was so vulgar and mean. Filthy and base fantasies swirled around in my head. I inhaled the smoke from my cigarette more deeply than usual.
I threw the cigarette butt I had just smoked into the ashtray and glanced at my wristwatch.
‘5:36 p.m.’
Although it was almost evening in terms of time, the sun, crossing the summer sky, was stubbornly chin-upping the horizon. I watched it for a moment, then stepped into the training ground.
As I walked along the long, narrow corridor that was as long as a large training ground, I began to see the infirmary and waiting room in the distance. I walked toward them.
To me, someone suddenly spoke to me.
“Ah, Professor Lucio. You’re here.”
It was Professor Esther. Her expression, which seemed a little more tired than usual, soon turned into a smile as she faced me. I nodded my head, looking at the corners of Professor Esther’s eyes, which were trembling slightly.
“Professor Esther.”
“Where have you been?”
“Let’s smoke for a moment… .”
“Ah.”
Professor Esther’s mouth closed. Following that, I closed my mouth too.
An awkward silence fell. Professor Esther’s lips moved, then closed tightly again. I turned my gaze to the monitor in the center of the training room.
Because of the brief break, Professor Andres’ face was not shown on the monitor. Inside the monitor, there was an empty chair for the moderator, sitting alone.
“It’s finally over.”
Professor Esther, who was standing next to me, opened her mouth. I looked at her quietly and accepted what she said.
“What are you talking about?”
“These are the grade-based sparring matches. Once this final is over, all sparring matches will be over.”
It was certainly so. I nodded to Professor Esther. Professor Esther continued.
“A week, no… If you include the time spent coming and going, we had six days of grade-level training. It’s not like there weren’t any similar events like grade-level training at my previous academy… But Chaldea Imperial Academy’s grade-level training felt really long.”
Professor Esther’s eyes become hazy. Is she recalling an event at the academy where she used to work? Or is she recalling the grade-level training that took place over the past five days?
Because I didn’t know, I kept my mouth shut and looked at Professor Esther.
“… Seriously, it feels so long. It wasn’t even a week… . Isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“There used to be a festival at the previous academy… . The festival at Chaldea Imperial Academy is probably held around October, right?”
“Are you already thinking about the festival?”
“Well, I heard that the festival at Chaldea Imperial Academy is really something to see. Since I got to see it myself this year, I guess I can get a little excited.”
Since I had nothing to say in return, I nodded and ended the conversation. Silence fell between her and me again.
“Professor Lucio. Can I ask you one thing?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“… This might be a bit personal, right?”
“If it’s a question I can answer, I will.”
Professor Esther hesitated for a moment to open her mouth, wondering what question she wanted to ask. I waited calmly for her to speak.
“Uh… It’s nothing, right? Duke Adelheid came this morning, right?”
“… Yes.”
“At that time, I kept thinking about Professor Lucio’s expression that was not normal… . Did something bad happen between the two of you in the past?”
“… … .”
I held back my words. I looked at Professor Esther’s face for a moment, then turned my head back to the monitor in the center of the training room.
“I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Professor Esther. In the first place, it wasn’t simply a matter of trust that kept me from talking about my relationship with Duke Adelheid.
It wasn’t hard to go around telling people about Duke Adelheid’s evil deeds and asking them to sympathize with my situation. But the reason I don’t do that is.
Because I was worried that Professor Esther’s gaze toward me would be mixed with pity, as if she were looking at a strange person.
The criticism or sympathetic gazes of third-party people who do not accurately understand the essence of the incident are harsher than expected and leave a deep wound that pierces the heart.
Having experienced it myself, I simply cannot go around telling my story to just anyone.
There have been countless cases where a box wrapped in the name of sympathy and empathy turned out to be full of arrows of criticism when the contents were opened. I had a strong desire to block such cases in advance.
Those who have put my story on the back burner and are causing me unbearable pain by obscuring the essence.
I am afraid that even Professor Esther will become like that.
After hearing my apology, Professor Esther looked at the distant mountains for a moment, then turned around and bowed her head toward me.
“… No. I asked the question too hastily. I was careless. I’m sorry. ”
“No, it’s not Professor Esther’s fault. It’s just… .”
The pain that doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. Friedrich Nietzsche, whose memory is now hazy, once said that.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for me. The pain that didn’t kill me only made me suffer more.
“… I’m just a frustrated person.”
Because I was a miserable person who lived without being able to die.
We looked at the training ground in silence.
– Okay, you’ve waited a long time!
With Professor Andres back in the picture, students who had been wandering around during break time began to gather in the audience. The duel was about to begin.
No matter what my circumstances, the world will eventually turn.
* * * * *
Chloe let out a heavy breath.
“Ugh… !”
My vision was dizzy, my breathing was irregular, and cold sweat began to flow.
No matter how hard she made up her mind, she was still nervous. Chloe looked ahead with trembling eyes.
The door is firmly closed. However, soon the door will open and you will enter the training ground.
Then, the duel with Laura von Adelheid begins. Chloe’s hands start to sweat as she thinks about being hit by her merciless cold magic.
Chloe clenched her sweaty hands. Her anxious heart gradually calmed down.
“I can… .I can… .”
Yes, you can. Chloe tried hard to remain hopeful.
Elin’s advice to use elemental magic of the fire series. And Professor Antonelli’s advice to believe in myself. Chloe did not forget those two pieces of advice.
“Trust me. Trust myself. Chloe, have faith… .”
– You’ve waited a long time! The Chaldea Imperial Academy’s annual duels! The final duel that will mark the end of the competition will begin now!
Professor Andres’ words are heard. Hearing those words, Chloe wipes the sweat from her hands and grabs her cane.
– The first-year class finals! Let’s meet the first protagonist who has ascended to that glorious position! Chloe, a student from the Magic Faculty of Class 1-A!
Finally, it was time to live up to everyone’s expectations. Chloe looked out the slowly opening door.
The training ground, which was firmly covered with dirt, had been seen many times before. The training ground must have become even more solid as the blood and sweat of countless students had melted into it.
Right, for today.
Finally, as the door opened completely, Chloe slowly took a step forward. Unlike before, when she had been nervous and trembling, her every step was filled with firm conviction and determination.
– If I don’t even believe in myself, then there will be no one in this world who believes in me.
Not the confidence that she will win, but the confidence that she will do her best. The determination that she will not disappoint everyone who is looking forward to her performance.
– Do you understand what I’m saying?
The tension had disappeared from Chloe’s face. She confidently stepped onto the training ground.
I will show you here. I will not lose to Laura in vain. I will not turn away and run away.
More confidently and bravely than anyone else, he would not yield even under the pressure of a half-confirmed defeat.
It was a will as strong as steel. In Chloe’s eyes, there was a wick as hot as fire.
– It seems like you’ve really made up your mind! Next, let’s introduce the student that Chloe will be dealing with!
‘Coming…!’
– This student is truly an amazing student! Aside from having a promising future, I can guarantee that he is a student who cannot be left out when discussing the title of genius wizard!
At the same time as Professor Andres shouted, the door at one end of the training ground slowly began to open. Chloe’s eyes turned towards it.
The final passage connecting the inside and outside of the training grounds, directly opposite Chloe.
As it opened, the air in the arena seemed to grow heavier. Chloe swallowed dryly.
– Introducing! Laura von Adelheid, a student from Class 1-A, Faculty of Magic!
The eldest daughter of the Adelheid family, a renowned magical family. A magical genius. The daughter of a great wizard. A prodigy in cold magic.
The one who combined all these titles into one was none other than Laura von Adelheid. She stepped into the arena.
Laura looked around the training ground with her usual dignified expression. There was not a single trace of tension in her expression, and Chloe almost got angry without realizing it.
Soon, Laura’s eyes, which had been scanning the training ground, turned to Chloe. She stared at Chloe for a moment, then slowly walked out to the center of the training ground. Chloe also followed her and walked toward the center of the training ground.
So, Laura and Chloe stopped about three steps apart. Laura, who was looking at Chloe who was standing silently, was the first to speak.
“…you.”
“Yes?”
“Do your best. Let him do his best, and let me do my best too.”
Don’t let me use my hands. Make me use my power.
What an arrogant statement. However, it was an acceptable statement under Adelheid’s name. Chloe nodded solemnly.
“Don’t underestimate me. You’ll get in big trouble.”
“Oh my, I wish that were true. I’m serious.”
With those words, Laura turned around and started to walk away from Chloe.
“… I’m serious.”
Other than muttering like that, he didn’t say much.
Chloe also moved away from Laura. Now, the two of them were at the same distance from each other as when they first entered the arena.
– The 89th freshmen of Chaldea Imperial Academy! The first-year students’ duels between grades, the finals will begin now!!
Chloe raised her magic wand. So did Laura.
“Liquid, Transformation, Absolute Zero, Compression, Compression… .”
“Absorption, ductility, property change, compression, compression… .”
Each of them created their own magic circles in advance, and different magic circles were deployed in front of the two.
The confrontation between Chloe, who dreams of a cheerful rebellion, and Laura, who, as usual, wants to trample on challengers and head to the top, continues.
-Dalian, Shizaaak—!!
“Freeze!”
“Shoot (πυροβολούν)!”
As Professor Andres finished speaking, the mass of frozen cold and the steel that had been transformed from the earth clashed violently.
It was the signal to start a duel that was more than just pride.
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