Prologue: Ω
“And now, we shall commence the closing ceremony of the Alzano Empire’s representative selection for the Magic Festival—”
The venue was the Academy Arena, located in the southeastern part of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy grounds.
In that spacious area, capable of accommodating roughly two thousand people, the gathered students stood in orderly rows.
Naturally, the uniforms worn by the assembled students were those of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy, though a small number of students, clad in uniforms from different schools, stood together in their own group.
At the center of the platform at the back of the arena stood a man—an elderly gentleman with a monocle—who surveyed the students with a commanding gaze and spoke words of appreciation.
“Students of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy, St. Lily Magic Girls’ Academy, and Kleitos Magic Academy—candidate representatives of our great empire. Well done enduring this past week.”
This was Lord Gratz le Edward, the Chief of the Queen’s Cabinet, who served as an aide to Queen Alicia VII in matters of state.
Looking across the platform, one could see other distinguished figures: Rick Walken, Headmaster of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy; Rona Rosenberg, the new Headmistress of St. Lily Magic Girls’ Academy; and Gaysorn Le Kleitos, Headmaster of Kleitos Magic Academy, all standing behind Lord Edward.
They were the judges who had overseen the Alzano Empire’s representative selection held at the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy over the past week.
The various trials imposed on the candidate students from these three schools had all concluded.
Now, all that remained was the announcement of the students who would bear the empire’s prestige and compete in the Magic Festival—a moment everyone awaited.
(Phew… finally, this blasted selection is over…)
Glenn, standing along the wall of the arena, let out a sigh.
Glenn had served as one of the examiners for this selection.
For the past week, he had been relentlessly busy with no time to rest, but now that the selection had concluded without incident, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
“—And so, those students selected as representatives must not grow complacent but strive further for the sake of our homeland. Those who were not chosen must not despair but always—”
On the platform, Lord Edward continued delivering a lengthy and sleep-inducing speech. Among the gathered students, an exasperated air of “Just get to the announcement already” was beginning to form, though the lord showed no sign of noticing.
Letting Lord Edward’s words pass through one ear and out the other, Glenn subtly shifted his gaze.
His eyes landed on a strikingly beautiful girl with silver hair, standing out even among the crowd.
It was Sistine.
Her expression brimmed with more tension than anyone else’s as she anxiously awaited the announcement of the representatives.
Observing Sistine’s nervous demeanor, Glenn’s lips curled into a faint smirk.
(…Tch, after putting up such stellar results, what’s she got to worry about?)
Indeed, Sistine had fought through the selection as a candidate representative over the past week.
Having already achieved remarkable growth far beyond that of an ordinary student, Sistine’s performance spoke for itself.
Her results were, quite frankly, beyond question.
Glenn glanced at Sistine, who fidgeted nervously awaiting the announcement, and shrugged.
And then—
“—Now, we shall announce the carefully selected representatives. Listen well, all of you. Honor them—these students who will bear the empire’s prestige—with resounding applause and the utmost reverence.”
Finally concluding his protracted speech, Lord Edward moved on to the announcement.
In an instant, a wave of heightened tension rippled through the students.
The sound of someone swallowing hard echoed unusually loudly in the arena.
“First, the most outstanding performer of this selection—the student who will serve as the Main Wizard of the representative team. I will say it again: this is an immense honor.”
Sistine, who had been clasping her hands as if in prayer, stiffened further.
Her eyes squeezed shut, she awaited the announcement with bated breath.
(Well, it’s pretty obvious who’s gonna be the Main Wizard.)
Meanwhile, Glenn yawned, looking utterly uninterested.
“That student’s name is—”
And so, from Lord Edward’s lips, the name of the student to receive the highest honor was finally declared—
—.
—.
—…
